The People Respect Ron Paul

Cecilia Poole
December 22, 2007

The truly laughable most recent “hit piece” the New York Sun attempted on Ron Paul shows the pure ignorance of the staff writer. Implying Ron Paul or “We the people” would try to “buy Washington’s respect” is just another high handed attempt to try to discredit Ron Paul’s honorable character, his candidacy, his campaign, and “We the people”.  Ron Paul has more respect from accross the spectrum than anyone in Washington, with all their lobbyist’s trillions combined, could ever hope to buy, and they know it.

The NY Sun and other hits, coming much more frequently now, shows “the establishments” obvious desperation about Ron Paul’s surge from 2 recent record breaking fund raisers, each held within 24 hour windows, raising over 10 Million dollars in only 48 hours. Ron Paul’s campaign coffers are over $18 Million for the 4th quarter, and there’s still a full week remaining before the close. Every time I check the site, people’s names are still flashing more donations. It’s 3 days before Christmas and middle class America is suffering one of the worst economies  I’ve seen since the 70’s, yet people are still donating, every minute to the Ron Paul campaign. What does that tell Washington?

The establishment knows this is the end of  their elitist entitlement era syphoned off the backs of the American people. Try as they have to contain, restrain, ignore and delude the American people about Ron Paul’s message of freedom, peace and true prosperity, for all Americans, not just for the elite whose wealth has ballooned 400 times greater than the average American citizen’s, they have failed. Washington’s greatest fears have become a reality; “We the people” have awakened to their lying, scheming, meandering, underhanded methods of keeping us “barefoot and pregnant” by a government system designed to reward only the elite.

They also know that with or without Washington’s or the GOP’s blessing, or even the Republican nomination for Ron Paul, (isn’t the nomination determined by the voters? How can such a bold prediction be made before an election?), they can’t stuff us back in the box now. They’ve never seen anything like this current outbreak from the American people, it’s certainly never occurred by this magnitude during my lifetime. And “they” know, their time has come to an end and they’re watching their house of cards falling in, with a force they know they can’t contain, right on top of them. 

Exuding flagrant arrogance and hypocrisy toward the American public that has become so commonplace from Washington the title of the article taunts; “Ron Paul Can’t Buy Respect”. This slap in the face is not only directed at a man whose impeccable principles and character have been well observed through his lifetime. Honorably serving “the people” for over 20 years in congress by adhering strictly to his oath to protect and defend the Constitution of these United States, which protects the people’s individual rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for ourselves and our future generations, not a bloated out of control government that will cluster us into groups, pit us against each other, then play Robin Hood with not only our current livelihoods but for too many generations of our posterity to count. Professionally, as an OB/GYN doctor, Ron Paul has been known to perform his services when necessary as charity, or to work out manageable arrangements with patients in need. Personally, he has been married to the same woman who is apparently the apple of his eye for over 50 years, along with their 5 children and 18 grandchildren. I’m sure Ron Paul’s stellar reputation for consistency in his positions that benefit the American people, whom they can’t find a single credible speck of dirt on, completely confuses and galls their senses.

So they turn their attentions to “We the [many]people” who support him and issue warnings disguised in their pompous ridicule, to anyone more before they dare consider him. This is where the article becomes truly ludicrous; Do “they” honestly believe that “Washington’s respect” would resonate as a “good” thing with the American people? Washington’s corrupt and reprehensible reputation combined with this very type of thumbing nose arrogance toward the people is what helped to wake up our senses and it’s exactly what we are tired of. The 2006 election upset didn’t wake up their senses. The democrat and republican exodus into third parties hasn’t resonated to their understanding. Now they have the audacity to tell the people that by supporting a candidate who represents the interest’s of the average American we are trying, or should even need to try, to buy Washington’s respect?

I have some news for this arrogant establishment, they are the ones who should be working for the respect of the American people. “We the people”, nor Ron Paul are not the ones who succumb to the millions in lobbyist’s money.  Money that is gleaned off the very backs of the American people in one fashion or another. Then used against us in other ways, only to pilfer more again, and again! Washington should be begging for our respect, certainly not bullying us into thinking the money we donate to the campaign of a candidate who is the choice of many of the majority, and growing steadily every day, is some form of a contemptible bribe. But that simply shows how Washington’s collective minds work. They set up a system that only obscene sums of money can buy the publicity required to get a candidate onto their monopolized airwaves. Then when the people meet their requirements in order for more people to hear a different view, “they decide” it just doesn’t matter anyway. This system is obviously designed to squeeze out average America’s view points or anyone who hasn’t succumbed to their one minded agenda. Whether left or right, since the money didn’t come from their special interest lobbyist’s, or fit their corporate, elitist, fascist or socialist agenda, they simply tell you the party’s over! Effectively saying; play by the rules or not, there’s nothing you, that means “We the people” can do to win. As always, they make the rules and can change them on a whim. Just what happened to that Constitutional Democratic Republic designed to protect the people from scams such as this?

So we wonder, why would they take such an attitude? Why would they have such arrogance? Surely there must be some merit, after all, they wouldn’t say it if it weren’t true, would they? They wouldn’t do it if it wasn’t ethical, would they? Then we have to remember that they’ve used this system they’ve so carefully and cleverly crafted against us for years! Ron Paul isn’t the first candidate who has represented the people’s interests and choice that the establishment has so diligently worked to stifle and squeeze out. But he’s surely the one, with the help of the Internet where so many can now learn truth beyond only the propaganda they want us to hear, think and believe, who has stokes the fires in our hearts, minds and souls to look beyond their smoke and mirrors to see the truth. Yet, as usual they turn the true story completely backwards. Are “We the people” trying to buying Washington’s respect? If that were true, with the money they’ve absconded from the citizens of this country “Washington’s respect” should have been bought and paid for many times over, if money is what it takes for Washington to respect it’s constituents. Great inflation, reduced earnings, NAFTA relocating our jobs and industry and high taxation, largely without representation, highlight only a very few of Washington’s Robber Baron abuse against American citizens.

Who in Washington truly represents your interests? This disdain for Ron Paul’s campaign, which is almost entirely a citizens movement, represents a complete upset of their apple cart. They see the fire that’s burning in the hearts and minds of the majority of the American people from this knowledge and they know we just aren’t going to take it anymore. You can imagine they’re more than a little nervous about this loss of control over the citizens who can see so clearly through their lies and deceptions now. If that’s the type of respect they think “We the people” want from Washington, to just keep our heads in the sand, and “just go out shopping” so they can take care of the rest;  Washington, just keep on dreaming. You know it must really frost the boys knowing they CAN’T buy Ron Paul and that he gets more respect without trying than Washington could ever hope to buy.

Highly favorable characteristics of arrogance and audacity is literally sought after, like a requirement, in the elitist’s world when selecting their up and coming superstars. Reference the selection process of the trilateral commission and other elite groups, ie: Rhodes, Yale, etc. It’s an essential trait to maintain a powerful edge over others. Again, I thank George W. Bush for bringing this contemptuous indignant attitude and behavior toward the people to light. But he and his audacious administration doesn’t deserve all the credit, thinking of Bill Clinton, in spite of his quick smile and baiting personality, his wife’s current bid for office, Giuliani’s reign as mayor, several other Presidential candidates, many others within government, which includes mainstream media, (the largest special interest lobby in Washington today), it’s very easy to recall the times and ways of those who brush the people’s interest aside as a one would a mere pesky insect. It’s easy to both remember and see the blatant disregard and complete disrespect for the American public and our intelligence.

Why would we possibly want respect from the corrupt, criminal, contemptuous “Washington” establishment? What gives them the right to demand it from us? Respect is something that must be earned, and they certainly have not tried to earn ours, just once again they are trying to yield something from the American public it has no right to receive.

Quotes in the article from some supposed “who’s who” of Washington reeks with the stench and pure audacity,  of the elite trying to put the “common-folk” back in their place, completely dismissing  the people, dismissing our choices. Effectively saying, you and I, “We the people” don’t count, and yes, further our votes won’t count. Washington will conduct business as usual, regardless. 

Another vain attempt to discredit Ron Paul offered an online venue, asking; “Who are Ron Paul Supporters?”  Itundoubtedly hoped to reveal the “fringe, foul, rude and insane, internet geeks” they’ve so dubbed us. Instead, reading through some of the posts, (far too many to read them all before it closed to new submissions) one quickly discovers the wide and varied descriptions of many intelligent people from all walks of life, who have awakened out of our deep slumbers and united for the cause of liberty. We’re hardly the “fringe” the Washington establishment would like you to believe.

So have you ever wondered why mainstream media doesn’t photograph or show snippets of Ron Paul’s speeches or rallies? We’ve seen Duncan Hunter and John Edwards in their blue jeans talking with people at barbeque’s, Hillary, Obama, Rudy, and Mitt’s rallies are constantly thrust in our faces. Since Richard Haas, President of the CFR, (please pay particular attention to the last sentence under the heading “Mission”), has joined Mike Huckabee’s campaign we’re being entertained as he plays his guitar. Ron Paul, admittedly has had some media exposure. The New York Times magazine did a feature story last summer, using a picture from a debate which was enhanced, unlike the online version, to depict a man who looks very tiny on a large empty stage. At Ron Paul’s Philadelphia Freedom & Veteran’s Day Rally, CNN stood out in the cold in the nearly frigid wind, for hours throughout the entire rally, as if to capture a story precisely as they wanted it portrayed. There were no real no shots of Ron Paul’s rally where you could hear his words, no shots or real mention of the veterans who attended, and no shots of the massive crowd the rally drew. Since the media loves entertainment so much, still, no shots of the band. Waiting until the end with Ron Paul behind the stage, they ushered a few supporters behind him and he was interviewed.

What do you think? Are these ploys to convince the American public, that Ron Paul has little support? That his campaign is not credible? Or the terms “fringe” or “disaffected” are used to make you believe “We the people” are a small group of lepers with which you don’t want to be associated?

Then perhaps the establishment just looked out their window and saw the giant “Ron Paul Revolution” blimp, sporting “Who is Ron Paul” & “Google Ron Paul” which was funded solely by a few grassroots supporters. Maybe that’s all it took to spike their outrage and obvious desperation! I surely hope these guys and girls of the Washington establishment keep their heads in the sand, with their hands out, and their tongues wagging.  Such arrogance to think Washington’s twisted sense of “respect” would be anything that would appeal to the American people obviously shows, as usual, they just don’t get it. This attitude and behavior is exactly what the American people are tired of.

But this time, it’s ok, I hope they keep up the good work, because the people have seen very clearly now through their circus acts and they will make our win that much easier. “We the people” who “believe in the United States of America as a government of the people, by the people, for the people…” will take care of the rest. I just hope “they” can learn to be graceful losers. Look on the bright side Washington, we’re not, after all, a lynch mob,  just a peaceful mass of American people, growing larger everyday, who are determined to take our liberty back. Washington’s respect for the American public should be a given, we’ve certainly earned it. And I’m so happy to be, only one, of the lion’s share of people, who is showing and telling them them that their secrets are out in the open, and yes, their party’s over! “We the people” are moving beyond Washington politics as usual. Just because they don’t report it, doesn’t mean it isn’t happening, and I’m delighted, no I’m ecstatic, to know because of the people, it isn’t too late. There really is “Hope for America” and I’m very proud to “Be a part of it!”

5 1/2 hours left to Restore the Republic!

 

Remember, Remember, the 5th of November” is from a poem. The entire purpose of the poem is to remind people that committing treason will not be tolerated.

Summary:
Fact 1: “Remember, Remember, the 5th of November” originates from an English poem where the idea is that committing treason will not be tolerated.
Fact 2: November 5 is celebrated only in Britain.
Fact 3: Britain celebrates November 5 by burning Guy Fawkes in effigy, because after all he is a traitor. – by Faxxy

We still have 5 1/2 hours to go! 

From the desk of Patriotess Dame:

The goal for this 5^th of November is to raise a record breaking sum for Ron Paul’s presidential campaign.

This will put Ron Paul’s campaign on the radar. It will provide funds for very expensive media ads on tv, radio, etc to get his name and message out to more voters to win the nomination.

At this time in our USA, we have one of the most corrupt governments in US history. Congressman Ron Paul presents us with the opportunity to restore our America; “the land of the free” in every sense of that assertion. Our monetary system will be restored, providing true opportunities for real personal financial gain by introducing competition for the Federal Reserve, the private cartel of bankers who have plugged us in to this survivalist matrix. This would curtail this great inflation we’re challenged with every time we make a purchase from food to housing, making our money stronger for us personally, thus our nation will become strong economically again. Also, by eliminating the Federal Income tax, the almost half of our annual earnings would stay in our own pockets as opposed to feeding this monstrous government who takes our money to use for things we likely would prefer not to have to support; think of the military base they’re currently building in Iraq which is larger than the Vatican, as just one example! Can you think of somewhere your half years earnings could be better applied?  

Imagine just the economic implications of a Ron Paul Presidency!  It would restore the American Dream. It’s true that money isn’t everything, but how many of us are working practically non stop on a treadmill that doesn’t seem to provide much daylight, much less sunshine for our future, not only for ourselves, but our children and grandchildren? My background is money and financing, and this was the greatest issue that first drew me to Dr. Paul. He has a very keen understanding of economics and how to restore economic strength to this country, with strong emphasis on what is good for “the people” individually, not just for the elite.

For those who are skeptical when they hear statements that we are headed into bondage or enslavement, I believe many people conjure up images that don’t really portray the real meaning behind that concept. Let’s diminish the images of chains on our wrists and examine it from a little different perspective. After working with people through different economies over the past 30 years I’ve been privy to their most intimate life details; personal financial portfolios, their hopes and dreams, their attitudes. Today, more than any other time through those 30 years, people are struggling harder to provide for their living expenses, much less a comfortable lifestyle and advancement. It generally takes at least 2 household incomes, just to get by! We generally work 5 months out of the year just to pay our taxes! What is left in our pockets is eaten up by the exorbitant price tags on everything we must buy, never mind what we would like to buy! There is little time for family, friends, personal or leisure.  We are working, slaving away, for the government through taxation, and the capitalist elite through the huge price tags on what we must buy and the exorbitant interest on many of our purchases! If that isn’t bondage and enslavement, what is? What choices do we have? Who is in control of our lives? I remember seeing George W. Bush speak with a woman who was expressing that she must work 2 jobs just to get by, and he responded, “That’s great! That’s the American way!” Then also remembering a video of him also saying; “yes, the people are good tax payers!” That’s all we are to him and not only him, listen carefully to most all the candidates on either side of this political duopoly.

I know each and every one of us must watch every dime we spend, particularly in this economy, and I’m always somewhat hesitant when I post requests for donations because I understand very well the state of our economy. But if we look at the larger picture, beyond today and tomorrow, we will realize that every other candidate out there is running with either less economic knowledge and understanding than Dr. Paul or has a self serving economic and perhaps otherwise self serving agenda. We are down to the final 3 months for Ron Paul to win the Republican nomination. Dr. Paul presents us the only opportunity we have to restore our nation, our economy, our freedom. He is our best and may very well be our last hope to regain our “freedom” in every sense of the word. If we can make a few sacrifices now, to help get this man into office, “We the people” will be able to see not only daylight, but sunshine ahead and get off of this treacherous treadmill!

Please seriously consider donating to Ron Paul’s Campaign today! It’s an investment in our future, for ourselves, our children and our grandchildren. I remember the “cash” economy before Nixon eliminated the gold standard on our money. I remember when our gold backed currency had value and our purchasing power was strong, then people were able to save for what they dreamed for their future. We still worked hard, but we were able to enjoy a life beyond work. I remember a time when people were able to buy what they wanted with cash and it wasn’t illegal for citizens to own gold or keep or carry more than $10,000 without having Federal Agent’s threatening to confiscate your money questioning if you’re a terrorist. I remember an economic era that didn’t encourage people to “shop till you drop” on credit which has caused us to start worshipping at the FICO alter and ultimately has robbed many unable to keep up with the inflation & exorbitant interest charges of purchasing on credit. I remember when many middle class American’s owned acres of land and could afford it! Or had more than 2.5 children and could afford them!

We can restore this country and our economy. We have the opportunity to return this country to the “land of opportunity” and restore the “American Dream”. But, now is the time, and we may never have another opportunity like this again. Personally, I don’t want to imagine where another 4 or 8 years like the previous 7 will take US. We’re well on our way to a bankrupt nation, among other perils, and we’ve all been directly impacted by this administrations many and varied types of assaults.

I hope you’ll join this “Hope for America” and help us restore “the land of opportunity” and this great nation for our lifetime and for our future generations. Our founders sacrificed their lives, their blood, and their fortunes to give us this great Republic. I’m not asking for your fortunes, but a few small sacrifices now can help us all to regain personal restoration in every sense of the word “freedom”.

Please, if you haven’t already done so, go to http://www.ronpaul2008.com/ and make your best donation today!

For Freedom, Peace & Prosperity!

7/16 Last Day to Tell the DOT; “No Mexican Truckers on US Soil!”

Truckers and ALL concerned citizens need to respond to this! Tell this treasonous government, NO! This forum for public comment ends 5 pm today, Monday, July 16. Mexican Foreign National truckers will be taking more jobs Americans WILL do. Neither are their safety codes in compliance with US driving or otherwise standards. These foreign nationals are from 3^rd world Mexico as surely as the illegal’s who are currently risking American lives every day demonstrating their disregard for a problem America had finally decreased. If this is permitted, get ready for an influx of more drunk drivers, now in 18 wheeler rigs. 

This is an extension, (wrapped within) the SPP, (Security and Prosperity Partnership) between George W. Bush, Mexico and Canada, over riding our Constitution by passing Congress & “the people”, taking us into a North American Union. Piece by piece, bit by bit, they are eroding our Constitution. A “superpower” of elite will “dictate” law, usurping constitutional legislation, (as they are trying to do here). Do you feel safer & more secure? Didn’t George Bush ask the American people, shortly after 9-11 when we all felt the greatest threat this country had ever known upon our own soil, something to the effect; “just go back out shopping, return to your lives, I’ll take care of your safety and security?” That’s not a direct quote, but that is essentially what he asked of US, to “trust” him to live up to his Presidential oath to protect our country and our Constitution? And we believed his promises, his sacred oath.

Now we have “The Patriot Act”

The “Real ID”

“The Military Commissions Act”

A war, seemingly without end, where our troops are sacrificing their lives, limbs and sanity for the greed of a few powerful elite. (Who’s benefiting from this war?)

And a whole host of other despicable, nefarious, tyrannical acts against America, it’s citizens and other parts of the world.

Do you feel safer and more secure now? Security and Prosperity Partnership? For whom? The already powerful (can’t touch this)& wealthy elite? You can rest assured they indeed will be safe!

 This MUST be stopped! 

From: ACGR [mailto:acgr@comcast.net]
Sent: Friday, July 13, 2007 10:14 AM
To: ACGR
Subject: FW: ACTION ALERT: TIME SENSITIVE: Tell the DOT what you think about the Mexican Trucking Program!
Importance: High From the desk of:An American Chauvinist in Maryland! 

Please see below info regarding the DOT & the proposed Mexican Trucking Program.Links are provided for you to make comments through Monday, July 16.

REGISTER WITH DEPT. OF TRANSPORTATION (DOT) AND TELL THEM WHAT YOU THINK OF MEXICAN TRUCKERS ALL OVER OUR ROADS IF BUSH HAS HIS WAY!!! AND SEND THIS OUT TO EVERYONE. IT IS TIME SENSITIVE:

Subject:	FW: TIME SENSITIVE: Tell the DOT what you think about the Mexican Trucking Program!
Date:	Sun, 08 Jul 2007 23:49:55 +0000
From:	rancherswifecw@att.net
To:	qtmail3 SHERYL <qtmail3@sbcglobal.net>,

 Got this from a watchful Minutewoman.  You have until close of business Monday to tell them to stop this horrible program to put 3rd world trucks all over our highways!
 The Transportation Dept extended the deadline for comments until the close of business Monday.To submit a comment go to http://dms.dot.gov/submit/. To view comments that have been filed and government documents relating to the cross-border trucking program go to http://dms.dot.gov.  click on “simple search” and under “docket search” enter the docket number 28055The bush administration is pushing the program which it says is the first step to fulfill an obligation under the North American Free Trade agreement to open the border to commercial truck traffic from both countries.

Harold Poole

Thanks for Dick Cheney

Thanks for Dick Cheney

Joel S. Hirschhorn

When someone in high elected office shows the nation how vulnerable our Constitution is, we should be thankful for the wakeup call.  Like many ruthless dictators, evil kings, and monster generals, Dick Cheney is the leading practitioner of the ends-justify-the-means mentality, where only his vision of the desired ends counts.  And if this means disregarding and disobeying the Constitution, torturing prisoners, killing thousands of American soldiers, disrespecting Congress, destroying our environment, embracing the invasion of illegal immigrants, increasing out national debt, and disregarding the will of the vast majority of Americans, so be it.  Serving corporate interests rather than serving the people is Cheney’s brand of patriotism.

Cheney’s self-righteous ego is bigger than George W. Bush’s, and what makes Cheney more striking is that he is enormously smarter and more competent than Bush, his token boss.  He is so dangerous and frightening that no impeachment of Bush effort ever stood a chance.  Not as long as “President Cheney” enters your consciousness.  Cheney became Bush’s shield.

When reality hits the fan we use the-lessons-learned approach to stay sane.  With his finger-in-the-eye disdain for what anybody else (or history) thinks of him, Cheney offers a far better lesson learned benefit than the stumbles and fumbles of Bush-the-smirker.  Bush is a joke.  Cheney is a monster.

Take Cheney’s current view that he is a part of the legislative branch, not the executive, so he does not have to comply with an Executive Order on reporting use of secret materials.  It is wildly inconsistent with his prior claims of executive privilege.  But Cheney has no use for logical consistency.  Only what Cheney wants matters.  (The only law that Cheney regularly obeys is gravity.)

When we witness the brazen acts of Cheney and Bush we should envision these types of constitutional amendments. 

An amendment could explicitly state that the Vice President is a member of the Executive Branch, and the Office of the Vice President must comply with Executive Orders.  And perhaps we should consider a statement of the criteria that the President can invoke for firing the Vice President with the consent of Congress.

And why not consider a different method of breaking ties in the Senate.  If someone from the Executive Branch can do it, then why not someone from the Judicial Branch?  Why not the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court?  Or, better yet, why not make the constitutional solution what is the House uses.  A tie vote means that the question fails.  We could eliminate the position of President of the Senate.

As another example, consider the frequent assertion of executive privilege by Cheney and Bush to withhold information that Congress believes it needs.  The Constitution does not provide for executive privilege.  Considering how strong the presidency has become and the predilection to invoke executive privilege, we need an amendment that explicitly says there is no such thing as automatic executive privilege.  Any assertion of it should be presented to the Supreme Court and only it should rule that it is appropriate in a particular case to protect the national interest.

As the final example, consider the clear need for an amendment that prohibits the President from using any kind of signing statement to announce and justify not obeying part of a newly signed law.

We can give thanks for Dick Cheney just like we give thanks eventually that a catastrophe or disaster makes us stronger in the future.  He has exposed constitutional weaknesses.  The principles that define the best of our nation must be protected through amendments that learn from history.  In particular, how the ingenuity and boldness of people has allowed them to disobey and dishonor those principles.  Dick Cheney sought and achieved power sufficient to make a mockery of our nation’s finest principles and he was enabled by George W. Bush who apparently sought more guidance from his God than from our Constitution.

One thing is clear.  History provides little confidence that Congress will propose constitutional amendments that deserve full public discussion.  Now is the time to use what our Constitution offers us: an Article V convention for proposing amendments.  If we are to make our federal government work for the good of we the people, then we require the nation’s first Article V convention – the goal of Friends of the Article V Convention at www.foavc.org.  Why is it now so appropriate?  Because Americans now have so little confidence in Congress, the President, and the Vice President, and because the corruption of politicians by money has reached unprecedented heights.

As much as politicians deserve our mistrust, we the people deserve to have an Article V convention.  Politicians fear it because they know the public will support amendments that make the government subservient to us – the sovereign American citizens.  Politicians are not supposed to rule us.  They are so supposed to justly represent us.  But they do not.  They represent the moneyed interests that control them.  As Thomas Jefferson said, “An elected tyranny is not what we fought for.”

Our Constitution should not allow the government to make us victims and our nation hated by so much of the world.  That’s what Cheney should teach us.  Now, it’s up to us. 

Pray that a petulant Bush does not learn from Cheney, exploit the Constitution by resigning, and create President Cheney.

[Joel S. Hirschhorn is the author of Delusional Democracy and a founder of Friends of the Article V Convention.]

Is the Real ID Right for Americans???

From the desk of:
An American Chauvinist in Maryland!

“I have unwittingly ruined my country… We have come to be one of the worst ruled, one of the most completely controlled and dominated governments in the civilized world. No longer a government by free opinion, no longer a government by conviction and the vote of the majority, but a government by the opinion and duress of a small group of dominant men.” — President, Woodrow Wilson

Is the Real ID Right for Americans???

Currently there is a lot of discussion throughout our country regarding the Real ID Act. Questions abound — Will it protect us against terrorism? Will it dissuade illegal aliens from entering our country? Will it track uninvited guests to our country? How will it affect my privacy? How will it affect my children and future generations?

First, let’s look at some of the reasons proponents of the Real ID Act use to encourage our support. (These are directly from NumbersUSA)

• The Real ID Act, which specifically precludes creation of a national ID card, does not create a national database of driver’s licenses.
• Real ID establishes minimum standards for the issuance of driver’s licenses and ID cards that states must meet if these documents are to be recognized by the Federal government as secure proof of identity – a critical step in improving national security.
• Real ID will significantly decrease illegal immigration by limiting their access to drivers licenses.

These are only three of the reasons why Americans should support the Real ID, according to proponents of this legislation. Due to time constraints, I have chosen these three to respond to. And although I have great respect and admiration for the accomplishments of NumbersUSA, Grassfire.org and FAIR, I must respectfully disagree with their synopsis on this issue. I honestly don’t believe they have researched this thoroughly; nor have they validated the Feds’ responsibility to enforce without trampling on individual freedoms.

• The Real ID Act does not “create” a national ID card — the Real ID “IS” a national ID card! EVERY compliant state in the United States, and eventually Canada & Mexico, (North American Union???) will be tied into a central database of ALL DMV’s. Furthermore, the Department of Homeland Security and Department Of Transportation will determine the “minimum standards” required for compliance. NOT THE STATES! And DHS can reevaluate and update these standards at any given time!
• A few months ago, a DMV employee in Florida, with access to the SAVE system, was apprehended after falsifying documents allowing numerous illegal aliens to obtain drivers licenses. Does the Real ID guarantee this will not occur in the future? NO!
• Does the Real ID provide protection of the information contained in this massive database? NO! There are even less “safeguards” in this system than in our Social Security cards! Think — how many times in the last two years has our sacred personal information been lost or stolen? Anyone remember the Veterans Administration incident in August, 2006? And now they want us to trust them with “our” valuable financial info (Social Security #’s) which can be accessed by any possibly unscrupulous DMV clerk or law enforcement officer. NO! NO! NO!
• This one I love! Just think about it for a few minutes. By limiting access to drivers licenses by illegal aliens, states, and thereby the Feds, are going to drastically reduce illegal aliens in the United States.

HOGWASH! BS! LIES!

Nearly every illegal caught driving on U.S. highways doesn’t even have a fake drivers license — they have NO drivers license!!! They don’t even bother to apply! How will this legislation/law preclude those illegals from driving? Driving intoxicated? Killing innocent Americans on “our” highways?

IT WILL NOT!!!

The Real ID Act managed to work its way through the House, where it overwhelmingly passed. Interestingly though, it went deadly silent, and then magically reappeared, not by itself, but as an attachment to a completely different bill, the “Emergency Supplemental Appropriation for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Tsunami Relief, 2005″.

Now really, who would vote “No” on funding for our troops fighting “terrorism” or even think about voting “No” to a financial relief package for the survivors of the December, 2004 tsunami in the Indian Ocean area.

Not if they wanted to be reelected by their constitituents. So, in order to get The Real ID Act signed into law, Congress had to bury it in legislation deemed sure to pass.

“The Senate, however, never voted on the REAL ID Act, though many predicted that if it had, the bill would have failed. Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-GA) introduced it as an amendment to the Senate’s supplemental appropriations bill but withdrew his amendment before a vote could take place. A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that the REAL ID Act should not be part of a final House-Senate supplemental appropriations conference report was offered but never voted on.”

Now let’s take a further look inside …..

• This was initially advertised to be a “voluntary” program. Guess what? If you wish to travel with your family to the Caribbean or elsewhere outside our country, you had better have a Real ID compliant identification. Otherwise you may not be allowed to return home! Do you receive a Social Security check monthly? Unless you participate in the federally mandated Real ID program, you can kiss your check goodbye!

• The numerical limit on the number of aliens granted asylum who may become lawful permanent residents in any fiscal year has been removed. NO LIMIT!!!
• Oh, by the way, thank you Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD). You attached an amendment (the ONLY Senate amendment) that exempts seasonal workers who have worked in the U.S. in previous years from the national cap of 66,000 H-2B visas. Effectively, Sen. Mikulski’s amendment will negate the cap placed on H2-B visas, thereby further depleting jobs available for American workers. In other words, if you were here on an H-2B visa previously, you are not counted against the 66,000 for that year or any subsequent year. Therefore, the number of H-2B workers in this country will rise exponentially each and every year. Can you say, “In-source more cheap labor”? You gotta love Bill Gates!

The terrorists of 9/11 evidently taught us one thing, FEAR. But oddly enough, not fear of their terrorist threats, but rather FEAR OF OUR OWN GOVERNMENT!!!

Remember these?

• “National Security and Homeland Security Presidential Directive”, May 9, 2007
• “The Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act” or “Patriot Act” of 2001
• NSA warrantless wiretaps
• DOJ declaring NO “habeas corpus” in Constitution

And they still want us to trust them implicitly???

NOT A CHANCE!!!

“When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty. – Thomas Jefferson

I truly believe our government experienced “fear of its people” when the Congressional telephone switchboard, inundated by angry calls from constituents back home, crashed from the overload on its circuits. Subsequently the Senate resoundingly defeated the President’s “Comprehensive Immigration Reform”.

This law, Real ID, does more harm than good. It will be a bureaucratic nightmare to enforce, is threatening to individual privacy, makes citizens increasingly vulnerable to ID theft, and will further burden taxpayers due to the massive unfunded federal mandates on all the states. Once again, the “burden of proof” is placed on law-abiding American citizens – NOT the criminals. Sounds a lot like so-called “gun control” doesn’t it?

If our government wants TRUE security, they should adhere to the following guidelines (as previously enacted):

• BUILD THE FENCE!
• ENFORCE EMPLOYER SANCTIONS!
• DEPORT LAW-BREAKING ILLEGAL ALIENS!
• ENFORCE THE PREVIOUSLY MANDATED “EXIT VISA” SYSTEM!

You must decide for yourselves. But, I for one, will NEVER knowingly cede my freedom or liberty to an oppressive government such as the one that currently occupies Washington, DC. I will resist and fight for the freedoms guaranteed by our forefathers. I will succumb not to the Real ID nor a Federally mandated State drivers license!

What’s in your wallet???

Below are a few of the links I have researched in the last several days. Please feel free to peruse these and come to your own conclusion. I sincerely hope it is the correct one.

Harold Poole

Contact info:
Americans for Comprehensive Government Reform, or the ACGR Yahoo Forum, or “On The Edge” blog, or My Email

“… Political Correctness remains just what it was intended to be: a sophisticated and dangerous form of censorship and oppression, imposed upon the citizenry with the ultimate goal of manipulating, brainwashing and destroying our society.” — NewsMax.com

FAQ: How Real ID will affect you
Starting three years from now, if you live or work in the United States, you’ll need a federally approved ID card to travel on an airplane, open a bank account, collect Social Security payments, or take advantage of nearly any government service. Practically speaking, your driver’s license likely will have to be reissued to meet federal standards.
The Real ID Act hands the Department of Homeland Security the power to set these standards and determine whether state drivers’ licenses and other ID cards pass muster. Only ID cards approved by Homeland Security can be accepted “for any official purpose” by the feds.

National ID cards on the way?
Proponents of the Real ID Act say it’s needed to frustrate both terrorists and illegal immigrants. Critics say it imposes more requirements for identity documents on states, and gives the Department of Homeland Security carte blanche to do nearly anything else “to protect the national security interests of the United States.”

National ID Cards Won’t Stop Terrorism or Illegal Immigration
Think this sounds farfetched? Read the REAL ID Act, HR 418, for yourself. Its text is available on the Library of Congress website. A careful reading also reveals that states will be required to participate in the “Drivers License Agreement,” which was crafted by DMV lobbyists years ago. This agreement creates a massive database of sensitive information on American citizens that can be shared with Canada and Mexico!

HR 418- A National ID Bill Masquerading as Immigration Reform
Mr. Speaker:
I rise in strong opposition to HR 418, the REAL ID Act. This bill purports to make us safer from terrorists who may sneak into the United States, and from other illegal immigrants. While I agree that these issues are of vital importance, this bill will do very little to make us more secure. It will not address our real vulnerabilities. It will, however, make us much less free. In reality, this bill is a Trojan horse. It pretends to offer desperately needed border control in order to stampede Americans into sacrificing what is uniquely American: our constitutionally protected liberty.

Your papers, please
Uncle Sam wants you — to show him your passport. The U.S. State Department and the Department of Homeland Security announced Tuesday that by 2008, Americans returning home from Mexico, Canada, Panama and Bermuda must have a passport to get back in. Currently, U.S. citizens returning from these countries don’t need this document.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told The Associated Press that the United States had to take every precaution to screen out “people who want to come in to hurt us.” This requirement won’t do anything to prevent terrorists from getting into the country; instead, it will inconvenience Americans who otherwise have no need to obtain passports.
Do government officials really think this requirement would stop terrorists and prevent another Sept. 11? Guess what. All the Sept. 11 hijackers entered this country legally. Passport requirements would not have kept them out. Does anyone actually believe such a directive will put a dent in illegal immigration? Along the Mexican border, thousands of undocumented immigrants cross over each day. Passport requirements will not keep them out.

Identity Crisis
In May 2005, the Real ID Act was signed into law after it sailed through the Republican-controlled House to the Senate where it was attached to a supplemental spending bill for hurricane relief and troops in Iraq — making the bill almost impossible to vote against.

Papers Please
And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. — Revelation 13:16-18

One day left to fight the US national ID card – ACT NOW!
Now instead of listening to the states, the US Senate is trying to force them to comply through the back door. As part of immigration legislation being considered next week in the Senate, an employment verification system will be created that requires everyone to have a REAL ID in order to get a job.

RFID — 1984
SPYCHIPS: How Major Corporations and Government Plan to Track Your Every Purchase and Watch Your Every Move

Do we need internal passports?
Whatever the politicians promise you, the results are likely to be the opposite.
We were promised that the groundwork laid for a national identification system by the REAL ID Act would protect us from terrorism. Believe that promise at your own risk. National identification systems — internal passports — are one of the hallmarks of police states. Ignore this at your own risk.

National ID Cards and REAL ID Act
The REAL ID Act of 2005 creates a de facto national identification card. Ostensibly voluntary, it would become mandatory as those without the card would face suspicion and increased scrutiny. It is a law imposing federal technological standards and verification procedures on state driver’s licenses and identification cards, many of which are beyond the current capacity of the federal government, and mandating state compliance by May 2008. In fact, REAL ID turns state DMV workers into federal immigration officials, as they must verify the citizenship status of all those who want a REAL ID-approved state driver’s license or identification cards. State DMVs would far move away from their core mission — to license drivers.

REAL ID Act of 2005 Update
On another positive note, the bill will lift the cap on the number of applicants granted conditional asylum who can qualify for longer-term status each year The bill also preserves an amendment sponsored by Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski (D-MD), to lift the cap on the number of H-2B visas for temporary seasonal workers.

REAL ID enacted: Imposes rigid driver’s license requirements
The Senate did, however, approve a noncontroversial immigration amendment to exempt seasonal workers who have worked in the U.S. in previous years from the national cap of 66,000 H-2B visas. This provision, sponsored by Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.), was not in the House bill but became part of the supplemental appropriations conference report subsequently approved by the House and Senate.

Schneier on Security: REAL ID
The REAL ID Act requires driver’s licenses to include a “common machine-readable technology.” This will, of course, make identity theft easier. Assume that this information will be collected by bars and other businesses, and that it will be resold to companies like ChoicePoint and Acxiom. It actually doesn’t matter how well the states and federal government protect the data on driver’s licenses, as there will be parallel commercial databases with the same information.
Even worse, the same specification for RFID chips embedded in passports includes details about embedding RFID chips in driver’s licenses. I expect the federal government will require states to do this, with all of the associated security problems (e.g., surreptitious access).
REAL ID requires that driver’s licenses contain actual addresses, and no post office boxes. There are no exceptions made for judges or police — even undercover police officers. This seems like a major unnecessary security risk.
REAL ID also prohibits states from issuing driver’s licenses to illegal aliens. This makes no sense, and will only result in these illegal aliens driving without licenses — which isn’t going to help anyone’s security. (This is an interesting insecurity, and is a direct result of trying to take a document that is a specific permission to drive an automobile, and turning it into a general identification device.)

Real ID intrusive, says state lawmaker
Katie Boyd, spokeswoman for U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala., said that the state’s senior senator, a former chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, is concerned about privacy rights and wary of the government’s ability to safeguard information.
“The senator has serious concerns regarding the ability of the government to obtain and warehouse your most sensitive, personal information without a guarantee for its security,” Boyd said.
Shelby also is concerned about mandates such as the requirement to digitize and centralize documents necessary to apply for a driver’s license, Boyd said.
She said Shelby believes a rogue hacker or dishonest driver’s license division employee could misuse personal information.

Don’t want national ID? Surrender your passport (UK)
British citizens who refuse to provide personal details for the planned “voluntary” national identification card have been told they will be denied passports and be unable to leave the UK.

A Crisis of Public Confidence Faces America’s Political Class

Mark Tapscott June 21, 8:42 AM

Nothing is so critical to the continuing health of a republic than the confidence of people that their elected representatives have their best interests at heart in their decision-making. Once that confidence is lost, a revolution of one sort or another becomes likely. In America, such a crisis could be right around the corner.

Consider the latest Gallup Poll, which finds only 14 percent of the American people have “a great deal of” confidence in Congress or “quite a lot,” compared to 19 percent a year ago. That is the lowest confidence rating Gallup has ever recorded for Congress since the survey firm began measuring public opinion on major American institutions in 1973.

Congress is far from alone in suffering plummeting confidence ratings. The presidency dropped from 33 percent to 25 percent and the Supreme Court from 40 percent to 34 percent during the same period. The trend line for all three branches has been downward since 9/11.

The “fourth branch” of government, the mainstream media, also has declining public confidence ratings. Television news dropped from  31 percent to 23 percent, while newspapers were down to 22 percent, compared to 30 percent a year ago.

The highest confidence levels were for the military at 69 percent, small business at 59 percent, and the police at 54 percent. Organized labor remained among the lowest at 19 percent, along with HMOs at 15 percent and Big Business at 18 percent.

If we define America’s political class – aka “the chattering classes” or the “Washington Establishment” – as consisting of the three branches of the federal government, plus the mainstream news media, some tentative conclusions are suggested:

First, the dramatic reversal of partisan political power seen in the November 2006 election was either simply a fluke or, more likely in my view, an inevitably lost opportunity for the winning Democrats. Short of an historically unprecedented philosophical reversal of course by the majority, it is hard to see Congress regaining anything remotely like a high level of public respect any time soon.

Seen in this light, Rep. Rahm Emanuel’s recent declaration that the American people “are very happy with the things we have done” seems especially out of touch.

In fact, having raised and then frustrated public hopes for a fundamental change of course in Washington, the Democrats lost opportunity could well end up accelerating the crisis of public confidence that became increasingly evident as the previous GOP congressional majority frittered away the support that had kept it in power for a dozen years.

Second, Republicans should take no comfort in the Democrats’ declining ratings. President Bush’s insistence on pushing a bi-partisan immigration reform measure that is opposed three-to-one by people who are familiar with its provisions is indicative of the overall alienation of the political class from the views and concerns of everyday Americans.

The opposition to the Bush/Kennedy/McCain immigration reform appears to be hardening, too, as indicated by this UPI/Zogby International survey that finds only three percent – three percent! – of those surveyed approve of the way Congress is handling the issue. Bush gets only a nine percent approval rating on the issue in the survey, which has a 1.1 percent margin of error.

This is why there is no evidence of increasing public support for the GOP in recent weeks despite the failling ratings of the Democratic majority in Congress. The root problem is a bipartisan inability – or refusal – to adopt policies supported by clear majorities of the American people.

Those policies for the most part involve a significantly lower level of government activism, whereas the political class for the most part seeks only a higher level because it benefits, financially and otherwise, from the higher taxes, greater federal spending and heightened importance of public institutions.

Third, the experience of the fourth branch in recent years is perhaps indicative of what is ahead for the rest of the political class.  The decline in public confidence in the mainstream media was evident more than a decade ago.

Until the advent of the Internet and tools like blogs for making it a convenient tool for mass communication, however, that public frustration had no positive outlet, other than Talk Radio. Now that blogs and other online news and commentary tools such as the Porkbusters and Sunlight Foundation approaches to public policy advocacy are developing at a rapid pace, the decline of the mainstream media as the crucial bridge between the public and policy-makers is evaporating.

When people have an affordable, effective alternative to a failed product or service, they will go to it. As things currently stand, however, there is no viable alternative to the two major parties that make up the heart of the American political class.

There is no guarantee for incumbents and beneficiaries of the two major parties that this state of affairs will last much longer.

How to send illegals back home

How to send illegals back home 

World Net Daily Commentary

By Earl Clampett

Mr. Bush and his supporters in the current immigration debate are saying it is impossible to deport 12 million illegal aliens in this country. We simply cannot. Really?

If the supporters of this latest amnesty bill will look to the not-too-distant past, they would observe that our country as recently as 53 years ago under President Dwight D. Eisenhower successfully deported or forced into voluntary repatriation an estimated 1.2 million aliens within a single year period of time using only about 750 border agents.

I won’t say the name of the operation because it is not politically correct. Many go apoplectic when they hear the name of the operation, so let’s call it by another name. Since I’m of Irish descent, let’s call it hypothetically “Operation Leprechaun” so I won’t be labeled as bigoted. That is not its real name, but it will do for now so I can have a chance to explain why it worked in the past and can certainly work in the present.

All we have to do is continue to apply pressure to our government to enforce the 1986 immigration laws on the books currently.

All we have to do is build the original border fence that was passed into law (without funding) last year.

All we have to do is enforce the employer sanctions that were part of the 1986 law that were rarely, if ever, applied.

All we have to do is to support our Border Patrol instead of criminally prosecuting border officers based on political pressure from Mexico.

All we have to do is to start interior enforcement. When word gets out we are serious about enforcing the 1986 law, many, many will understand the seriousness of repetitive law breaking and will depart on their own just like they did in 1954.

All we have to do is to communicate very loudly and clearly and often that we are not interested in becoming the North American counterpart of the European Union and that we have done quite nicely, thank you, being a sovereign nation.

This immigration bill has caused a revival of our citizens to finally awaken from their slumber of watching “American Idol.” Politicians who dismiss these revived patriots as “bigots” and “nativists” need to be told by means of e-mail and telephone calls that unemployment is a very near reality for them.

All we have to do is to rally in the streets of “elite-land” Washington and remind our out-of-touch representatives just who is serving whom.

All we have to do is to be even-handed about who is required to leave and go to the back of the legal immigration line. (As you said, Mr. Bush, “We are a nation of laws”… or were you only kidding?) All colors, races and creeds (yes, including white Irish Leprechauns) would be subject to the same scrutiny.

You see, Mr. and Mrs. Globalist and New World Order politicians, we who love our country as originally designed do not care what color or ethnicity illegal aliens happen to be. To remain a sovereign country you need to actually enforce your borders and immigration laws across the board. Then we could allow in legal immigrants of all races who have played by the rules.

You see it’s not about race, you spinners of the truth; it’s about legal immigrant status.

Or do you have something else planned for the ignorant masses? Perhaps a new national entity like the North American Union that this amnesty bill would help bring about?

All we have to do to control immigration is to get serious about the fact that we have the capability to begin to deport (the legal consequence of breaking and entering our country) the 632,000 who have “absconded” by having snubbed their noses at court orders to appear in immigration proceedings.

All we have to do is deport those who have overstayed their student or tourist visas.

All we have to do is to deport anyone illegally here who has committed an additional state or local crime.

Then the outpouring of voluntary repatriation will begin in earnest, just like it happened in 1954. Those who violated our laws got the idea that we were serious about immigration law enforcement, and they began to leave in droves. After 80,000 were deported, the Border Patrol estimated another 500,000 to 700,000 left on their own. All of this occurred with in the first year.

If we won’t enforce the 1986 immigration laws, why would we possibly think President Bush would finally get serious about border enforcement in this bill?

Perhaps we will finally get serious about deportations after the next series of domestic attacks occur, this time with dirty radiation bombs and suitcase nukes that will take out millions of our citizens. Al-Qaida has a fatwa that promises to take out 10 million of us to even up the score. They are serious and they are already here.

They came in through the open back door.

Which is it? We cannot or we will not?

Are Americans Unready to Boil?

June 21, 2007

Are Americans Unready to Boil?

By Joel S. Hirschhorn

The frog-in-boiling water model helps us understand political upheavals: how citizens wake up early enough (or too late) to respond to social and economic oppression.  Sometimes the greed and arrogance of Ruling Classes makes them careless and social waters heat too quickly.  Sensing doom, alert citizen-frogs escape or revolt.  Or they stay complacent and boil.  The Bush Administration has turned the heat up on us, explaining why nearly 75 percent of Americans believe their country is on the wrong track and 70 percent think the economy is worsening.

 

Mexico is the richest Latin American country but has extreme economic inequality, which measures social temperature.  Mexicans are jumping out of oppressive waters en masse, right into the U.S., exacerbating our rising inequality.  The Chinese have learned to offset oppressive communist forces with materialistic capitalism – like our affordable materialism keeps Americans distracted and docile (with help from Chinese imports).  In colonial America the greedy British motivated our Revolutionary War, but with oppression now coming from within, will Americans wait too long?

 

Some Americans keep warning us – people like Michael Moore, Cindy Sheehan, Aaron Russo, Dennis Kucinich, Lou Dobbs, Ralph Nader, Ron Paul, Bill Moyers, Jon Stewart, and Keith Olbermann.  They entertain complacent “frogs” and preach to the choir of alert “frogs” that also know the temperature is rising dangerously.  Many of the former keep hoping that putting better Democrats or Republicans in office will get us back on the right track.  Many of the latter are ready to jump to what our Constitution offers us: an Article V convention.

 

And once you know that plutocratic elites from both major parties have for decades opposed the Article V convention to propose constitutional amendments, YOU should favor what THEY oppose.

 

We frequently see a knee-jerk fear reaction to an Article V convention.  Such fear is misplaced and baseless.  Only the rich and powerful elites running and ruining our nation should fear a convention.

 

It is fatalistic to fear that a convention could make things worse by removing valued parts of the Constitution or adding terrible things.  Naturally, no one knows with certainty what a convention might propose.  But we do know with certainty that whatever a convention proposes must satisfy the Constitution’s rigorous ratification requirement.  That two step process is part of the genius of the Constitution.  Recall that a convention is the alternative to Congress proposing amendments.  And what do Americans think of Congress?

 

A measly 23 percent view Congress positively.  Expecting Congress to enact really good laws, spend our taxes wisely, and keep the president and executive branch agencies from abusing us is like a joke on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.  It is laugh-at-loud funny to put trust and faith in Congress.  It matters not whether Democrats or Republicans control Congress.  Nearly all members are under the thrall of moneyed interests.  Congress is a national embarrassment.  Our misrepresentatives are partners in corruption, dishonesty and oppression.  Over decades they have allowed the presidency to accumulate imperial powers.  Do you really believe they are worth $165,200 a year, with generous health and pension benefits?

Still, we live in a great nation.  But great nations rise and fall.

 

America is no longer close to what it should be – or once was.  It no longer fairly serves and protects all Americans.  Too many Americans are working poor, hungry, homeless, poorly educated, imprisoned, debt-ridden, crime victims, facing economic insecurity, nonvoters, and lacking health care.

 

What we have is a plutocracy run by and for the Upper Class that sucks up a huge fraction of the nation’s wealth.  Lobbyists ensure that public policy increases economic inequality and rewards corporate interests, even if it requires preemptive wars like the Iraq fiasco, sanctions massive illegal immigration, and sends good jobs overseas.  That so many people escaping other nations (with hot or boiling water) want to come to the USA should not blind us to the creeping decline of our democracy and the heating of our social waters.

 

How much worse does American democracy have to get before public outrage demands what the Constitution’s Framers gave us in case citizens lost confidence in the federal government?  Haven’t Americans lost enough trust to use what elites have fought and feared?  Can’t we trust ourselves to have a peaceful populist rebellion through an Article V convention before we boil?

 

If America’s distracted citizen-frogs stay glued to their large plasma TVs, SUVs, electronic devices, and obese-friendly foods they may find themselves boiled.  Our constitutionally protected freedoms will be gone.  George W. Bush has shown how easily that is done.  Our middle class will be gone.  Our national sovereignty will be gone – sold out through globalization chicanery.  For all but the rich, our quality of life and standard of living will be gone.  The Upper Class will be richer and happier in their opulent gated McMansions and private entertainment and vacation spots, protected and pampered by their private police and servants.

 

If Congress finally obeys the Constitution some fear that convention delegates will be corrupted through special interest money just like current politicians.  That is highly unlikely.

 

First, many Americans will actively watch and influence how state legislatures select one-time delegates.  Second, the incredible novelty of the nation’s first Article V convention will ensure intense coverage by domestic, foreign and Internet media.  Third, that novelty will also engage enormous numbers of Americans – especially school and college students – now rightfully turned off by our political system, ensuring citizen oversight of delegates and the convention.  Fourth, the only group working for the first convention – Friends of the Article V Convention – has committed itself to creating and ensuring strong oversight of the convention process.

 

Imagine our first Article V convention under intense scrutiny in today’s techno-media world.  It will be the ultimate reality show, enticing Americans to use their brains over shopping and mindless entertainment.  Conversations about possible amendments will flourish.  Surveys and polls will constantly determine what Americans support and oppose.  The convention will remind Americans that citizenship requires civic engagement.  Convention delegates will know that they are being scrutinized.  They will know that their proposals must be ratified by three-fourths of the states.  They will be listening to US.  In sum, we have more than enough safety nets to prevent the convention harming our Constitution.

 

Why not dream about a restorative convention with hundreds of smart, patriotic Americans as delegates?  We have enormous numbers of brilliant, wise and honest Americans – just not in politics anymore.  If we can trust the lives of people to juries, we can trust carefully selected convention delegates to find intelligent ways to improve our government and political system through amendments.  In the last part of the process, we can tell our state legislators whether we want them to ratify specific proposed amendments.

 

Will the first convention be mesmerizing and entertaining?  Will it help educate and inform Americans about our Constitution and government?  Will it put Ruling Class elites on notice that we the people are seriously pursuing governance we can trust?  Yes, yes and yes.

 

Should we wait until 95 percent of Americans think the nation is on the wrong track?  Until just 5 percent approve of Congress?  Until we belatedly find ourselves boiled?  No, no and no.

 

Support the effort to get the nation’s first Article V convention, especially if you sense our societal waters becoming hotter – sometimes faster, as under Bush.  Sign up at www.foavc.org.  Don’t let self-delusion and false hope in Republicans or Democrats blind you.  Let freedom ring.  Make Thomas Jefferson proud.

 

[Joel S. Hirschhorn is the author of Delusional Democracy www.delusionaldemocracy.com and a founder of Friends of the Article V Convention www.foavc.org.  This article responds to the hundreds of comments on his previous article Americans Unready to Revolt, Despite Revolting Conditions that received enormous attention, with over 100,000 readers.]

Authors Website: www.delusionaldemocracy.com

Authors Bio: Joel S. Hirschhorn is the author of Delusional Democracy – Fixing the Republic Without Overthrowing the Government (www.delusionaldemocracy.com). His current political writings have been greatly influenced by working as a senior staffer for the U.S. Congress and for the National Governors Association. He advocates a Second American Revolution, beginning with an Article V Convention to propose constitutional amendments.

The 2008 Presidential Election?

From the desk of:

An American Chauvinist in Maryland!

There will be NO Presidential election in November, 2008!

To paraphrase Glenn Beck, here’s how I got there.

If you think back to September, 2001, you might remember that in the aftermath of the WTC destruction, Rudolph Guiliani unsuccessfully attempted a power coup in NYC. The Mayoral primary elections were scheduled and Rudy saw an opportunity and grabbed it! He tried to convince NYC to cancel, or postpone indefinitely, the elections. He tried to convince them that he should be allowed to continue as Mayor until NYC was through the 9/11 crisis. I guess it would be his decision (decision maker, sound familiar) as to when the crisis was officially over.

Fortunately for everyone in the United States, the smart and reasonable peoples of NYC told Rudy to “kiss their ass” (Bronx lingo). They could, and would, elect their next Mayor and it would NOT be Rudolph Guiliani!

OK. Now we have a similar situation growing in Washington, D.C.

On May 9th, President Bush signed into law, “National Security Presidential Directive/NSPD 51″ and “Homeland Security Presidential Directive/HSPD-20.”

Paragraph 1 states:
(1) “This directive establishes a comprehensive national policy on the continuity of Federal Government structures and operations and a single National Continuity Coordinator responsible for coordinating the development and implementation of Federal continuity policies. This policy establishes “National Essential Functions,” prescribes continuity requirements for all executive departments and agencies, and provides guidance for State, local, territorial, and tribal governments, and private sector organizations in order to ensure a comprehensive and integrated national continuity program that will enhance the credibility of our national security posture and enable a more rapid and effective response to and recovery from a national emergency.”

And paragraph 6 states:
“(6) The President shall lead the activities of the Federal Government for ensuring constitutional government. In order to advise and assist the President in that function, the Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism (APHS/CT) is hereby designated as the National Continuity Coordinator. The National Continuity Coordinator, in coordination with the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs (APNSA), without exercising directive authority, shall coordinate the development and implementation of continuity policy for executive departments and agencies. The Continuity Policy Coordination Committee (CPCC), chaired by a Senior Director from the Homeland Security Council staff, designated by the National Continuity Coordinator, shall be the main day-to-day forum for such policy coordination.”

These Directives assign explicit power to the executive branch to run the federal government. The legislative and judicial branches of government become irrelevant. In effect, we have a dictatorship.

And under what circumstances can Bush invoke these Directives?

Paragraphs 2b and 2d explain it thoroughly:
(2) (b) “Catastrophic Emergency” means any incident, regardless of location, that results in extraordinary levels of mass casualties, damage, or disruption severely affecting the U.S. population, infrastructure, environment, economy, or government functions
(2) (d) “Continuity of Operations,” or “COOP,” means an effort within individual executive departments and agencies to ensure that Primary Mission-Essential Functions continue to be performed during a wide range of emergencies, including localized acts of nature, accidents, and technological or attack-related emergencies

Guess what? Another Katrina, a presumed act of aggression by Iran, North Korea or just about anyone else, will allow Bush to institute martial law under these Directives. As Jerome Corsi says, “NSPD-51/HSPD-20 also makes no reference whatsoever to Congress. The language of the May 9 directive appears to negate any requirement that the president submit to Congress a determination that a national emergency exists, suggesting instead that the powers of the executive order can be implemented without any congressional approval or oversight.”

So let’s get this scenario straight — In December, 2007, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad farts in the general direction of the Afghanistan border. President Bush interprets this as a hostile and aggressive act. He then orders a nuclear air strike on Iran and declares a “catastrophic emergency”, thus invoking the “National Security and Homeland Security Presidential Directives”

Next President Bush declares martial law, and declares emphatically, “There will be NO elections until after this “catastrophic emergency” is over and since I’m ‘The Decider’, I’ll have Tony Snow let you know when that will be. In the mean time, I’m headed to my bunker. DO NOT DISTURB!!!“

All humor aside, this is an extremely serious situation!

A dictator is at the helm and he will not relinquish power!

He can declare martial law at the time of his choosing!

American citizens have NO habeas corpus protection from his tyrannical rule!

The Third Reich is alive and well in the United States of America!!!

Letters to the Hearing Impaired

From the desk of:

An American Chauvinist in Maryland!

Mr. President,

It is imperative that you immediately authorize enforcement of our current laws to restrict illegal immigration.

You have had 6 years to secure our borders but, unfortunately, you have instead encouraged millions more illegal aliens to enter our nation unlawfully, encouraged the creation of sanctuary cities and attempted to destroy our sovereignty by implementing the Security & Prosperity Partnership.

And when you don’t get your way, you accuse your opponents of being afraid of diversity and of being unpatriotic.

Let’s get one thing straight right now — WE ARE PATRIOTS, and we will be in D.C. June 14th – 16th to exhibit our patriotism to the nation.

 

Might I suggest, Mr. President, look out your windows in the direction of the Washington Monument to see REAL patriotism!!!

 

“We the people …” say, “Enforce current immigration law and secure our borders NOW!!!”

 

 

and,

Ladies & Gentlemen of Congress,

Get your heads out of your rectal darknesses!

Approve ONLY legislation that will provide for America’s security!

And, when President Bush states unequivocally that the Senate bill is NOT “amnesty”, bear in mind his obscure knowledge of the English language. He undoubtedly doesn’t have a clue to the meaning of the word “amnesty”!

Forget about your so-called friends at the CFR, Trilateral Commission & the Bilderbergs! They do NOT elect you to the office you presently occupy!

Listen to your constituents! They DO further your political ambitions!

It is YOUR mandate to secure our borders — that YOU fund and provide border security, workplace enforcement and deter illegal immigration!

 

It is YOUR Constitutional duty to provide for our security and that of future generations of American citizens.

 

If you refuse to do so,  “We the people …” have an abundance of pink slips available, and we will NOT hesitate to hand them out to each and every one of you!

 

Remember the 2006 elections?

 

Remember the Alamo!!!