Consent Of The Governed

Obamaville

2009-12-16T05:30:00.001-05:00

These people are definitely NOT seeing green shoots.

What a disgrace - but unfortunately a foreshadowing of what could be in store for more people in this country as we travel down the road of more insane government spending and destruction of our currency and businesses. We are at 17.2% unemployment now, with many more small businesses hanging on by a thread.

By the way - the sign ought to have read: "Bush-Obamaville" or maybe "US-Congressville".

"I place the economy among the first and most important virtues, and public debt as the greatest of dangers." - Thomas Jefferson

December 15th - Bill Of Rights Day

2009-12-15T06:00:00.000-05:00

"A bill of rights is what the people are entitled to against every government on earth, general or particular; and what no just government should refuse, or rest on inferences." --Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 1787. ME 6:388, Papers 12:440

Today is Bill of Rights Day. To Americans, the Bill of Rights are key amendments to the U.S. Constitution, that protect our individual rights.

On March 4, 1789, the Constitution of the United States of America was ratified by the (former) 13 colonies, and went into effect. States and individuals were concerned that the Constitution did not properly cover and protect a number of rights of individuals. The Constitution was signed by the original 13 states with the requirement, or understanding, that a Bill of Rights would be created, amending the new U.S. Constitution.

On September 25, 1789, the First Congress of the United States proposed to the state legislatures 12 amendments to the Constitution. 10 of these amendments were added to the Constitution on December 15, 1791.

The Bill of Rights

THE PREAMBLE TO THE BILL OF RIGHTS

Congress of the United States begun and held at the City of New York, on Wednesday the fourth of March, one thousand seven hundred and eighty nine.

THE Conventions of a number of the States, having at the time of their adopting the Constitution, expressed a desire, in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers, that further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added: And as extending the ground of public confidence in the Government, will best ensure the beneficent ends of its institution.

RESOLVED by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, two thirds of both Houses concurring, that the following Articles be proposed to the Legislatures of the several States, as amendments to the Constitution of the United States, all, or any of which Articles, when ratified by three fourths of the said Legislatures, to be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of the said Constitution; viz.

ARTICLES in addition to, and Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America, proposed by Congress, and ratified by the Legislatures of the several States, pursuant to the fifth Article of the original Constitution.

Amendment I - Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Government can neither impose a state religion upon you nor punish you for exercising the religion of your choice. You may express your opinions, write and publish what you wish, gather peacefully with others, and formally ask government to correct injustices.

Amendment II - A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

Individuals ("the people") have the right to own and use weapons without interference from the government.

Amendment III - No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

The government cannot force you to house its agents.

Amendment IV - The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

You may not be arrested or "detained" arbitrarily. No agency of government may inspect or seize your property or possessions without first obtaining a warrant. To obtain a warrant, they must show specific cause for the search or seizure and swear under oath that they are telling the truth about these reasons. Furthermore, the warrant itself must state specifically and in detail the place, things, or people it covers. Warrants that are too general or vague are not valid; searches or seizures that exceed the terms of the warrant are not valid.

Amendment V - No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

No one outside the military may be tried for a serious crime without first being indicted by a grand jury (of citizens). Once found not guilty, a person may not be tried again for the same deed. You can't be forced to be a witness or provide evidence against yourself in a criminal case. You can't be sent to prison or have your assets seized without due process. The government can't take your property without paying market value for it.

Amendment VI - In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.

Trials cannot be unreasonably postponed or held in secret. In any criminal case against you, you have a right to public trial by a jury of unbiased citizens (thus ensuring that the state can't use a "party-line" judge to railroad you). The trial must be held in the state or region where the crime was committed. You cannot be held without charges. You cannot be held on charges that are kept secret from you. You have a right to know who is making accusations against you and to confront those witnesses in court. You have the right to subpoena witnesses to testify in your favor and a right to the services of an attorney.

Amendment VII - In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise reexamined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

The right to trial by jury extends to civil, as well as criminal, cases. Once a jury has made its decision, no court can overturn or otherwise change that decision except via accepted legal processes (for instance, granting of a new trial when an appeals court determines that your rights were violated in the original proceeding).

Amendment VIII - Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

Bail, fines, and punishments must all fit the crime and punishments must not be designed for cruelty.

Amendment IX - The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

You have more rights than are specifically listed in the Bill of Rights.

Amendment X - The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

The U.S. federal government has only those specific powers granted to it by the Constitution. All other powers belong either to the states or to individuals.

The Ninth and Tenth Amendments, taken together, mean that the federal government has only the authority granted to it, while the people are presumed to have any right or power not specifically forbidden to them. The Bill of Rights as a whole is dedicated to describing certain key rights of the people that the government is categorically forbidden to remove, abridge, or infringe. The Bill of Rights clearly places the people in charge of their own lives, and the government within strict limits - the very opposite of the situation we have allowed to develop today.

On this Bill of Rights Day, COTG hopes that you celebrate your American Citizenship, and spend a few minutes reflecting upon the freedoms that you enjoy and take for granted. These freedoms do not exist in many countries of the world. It is also a time to reflect on how many of those freedoms have already been infringed upon by unconstitutional laws put in place by our Government, and what you will personally do to restore the protection of those rights and stop the further erosion of these rights; If not for yourself, then surely for your children and grandchildren.

"All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent"- Thomas Jefferson

The Environmental Hoax - Environmentalism Is Just A Substitute For War

2009-12-14T06:00:00.002-05:00

These two videos expose the hoax, as well as those hacked emails.

It's all about taxing you more.
It's all about money.

There is much money to be made by people like Al Gore on carbon credits and cap and trade.

And they want to limit how many kids you can have.
Not only in China, but elsewhere too.

Environmentalism is just a substitute for war. (and that is discussed in Chapter 24 of G. Edward Griffin's book, "The Creature from Jekyll Island")

Since bankers and governments can profit from war - but war causes much destruction of capital - the elites (the "powers that be") needed to find other ways to make huge profits, and thus the environmental movement was born.

"In searching for a new enemy to unite us, we came up with the idea that pollution, the threat of global warming, water shortages, famine and the like would fit the bill ... All these dangers are caused by human intervention and it is only through changed attitudes and behaviour that they can be overcome. The real enemy, then, is humanity itself." — in The First Global Revolution, pp.104-105 by Alexander King, founder of the Club of Rome and Bertrand Schneider, secretary of the Club of Rome

With environmentalism the elites (i.e. those sitting on the Council of Foreign Relations) can control population growth, get richer from taxation, gain more power, control every aspect of our lives, and usher in a socialist one world government.

These people are not fooling around, and have done everything to scare us all about planetary demise by using the media to subject us to a barrage of environmental propaganda; So much so, that they are even scaring our children into believing the hogwash that humanity is to blame for global warming! Honestly, our kids worry about this garbage.

And with Al Gore calling the people who disagree with him, "deniers" - he is injecting overtones of religious fanaticism to his discourse - or even a hint of comparison to the same terminology used towards those who deny the Holocaust happened. It's a clever and strong linguistical ploy being used by Al Gore. But let him call me a "denier".... the truth is, that he and his ilk are liars bent on profit and control.

We are all being lied to by so-called "scientists", the media and politicians, so people like Al Gore, and global bankers can control us all and get richer and more powerful in the process.

Sure - Being prudent with our environmental resources makes sense - but taxing cow farts and penalizing you for how many children you have is just plain wrong.
These people pushing this fabricated alarmist environmental agenda need to be stopped.
Our liberty is at stake.

Happy Hannukah!

2009-12-11T15:00:00.001-05:00

To all who celebrate Hannukah - I hope you have a healthy and happy holiday!

Remember Judah Maccabee....

"Macabbee, Maccabee I'm a rebel can't you see?"

and lastly - Maoz Tzur.... Rock of Ages

Lyrics:

Maoz tzur y'shuati l'cha naeh l'shabeach
Tikon beit t'filati v'sham todah n'zabeach.
L'eit tachin matbeach mitzar hamnabeach
Az egmor b'shir mizmor chanukat hamizbeach.

Translation:
Rock of Ages let our song,
Praise thy saving power;
Thou amidst the raging foes,
Wast our shelt'rng tower.

Furious they assailed us,
But Thine arm availed us,
And Thy word broke their sword,
When our own strength failed us.
And Thy word broke their sword,
When our own strength failed us.

Happy Hannukah!

Ron Paul On Beck To Audit The Fed

2009-12-11T06:00:00.003-05:00

Hey Beck... Ron Paul isn't sounding so crazy now, is he?

Read The Creature From Jekyll Island and learn the truth.

Audit the Fed.
End the Fed.

Hartford's Gun Buy Back Program Deemed A Success... And Yet....

2009-12-10T10:35:00.004-05:00

WTNH reported this story:

The Hartford Police Department is calling a recent gun buy back program a success with more than 75 guns being turned in.

On December 5th, folks were given a gift card if they turned in a gun.

“This is a great community program that provided an opportunity for people to dispose of unwanted firearms in a safe manner," said Hartford Police Chief Daryl Roberts.

The guns will be processed to make sure they were not used in a crime before they are destroyed.

WTIC reported this:

Hartford Police Chief Daryl Roberts says the city is a bit safer after citizens turned in 78 unwanted firearms during a gun buy-back program last weekend.

People turned in handguns, rifles, numerous rounds of ammunition and gun magazines. All the weapons will be destroyed, unless forensic tests show they were used in crimes.

The program offered a $75 Kohl's gift card for a semiautomatic weapon, $50 gift card for a revolver and a $25 gift card for a shotgun or rifle.

It was a joint effort by police, Hartford Hospital, St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center, Connecticut Children's Medical Center and the Community Renewal Team.

Now what I really want to know is why the people who transported those guns were not arrested and fined and jailed for transporting those firearms illegally!!!

CGS 29-35:

"(a) No person shall carry any pistol or revolver upon his or her person, except when such person is within the dwelling house or place of business of such person, without a permit to carry the same issued as provided in section 29-28. ..."

Most likely the participants in this buy-back program transported the firearms without proper permits and probably not in accordance with transporting them in a vehicle in which they must be locked up:

"transporting a pistol or revolver" means transporting a pistol or revolver that is unloaded and, if such pistol or revolver is being transported in a motor vehicle, is not readily accessible or directly accessible from the passenger compartment of the vehicle or, if such pistol or revolver is being transported in a motor vehicle that does not have a compartment separate from the passenger compartment, such pistol or revolver shall be contained in a locked container other than the glove compartment or console. "

They clearly broke the law.... so where is their punishment?

Sec. 29-37. Penalties. (a) Any person violating any provision of section 29-28 or 29-31 shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than three years or both, and any pistol or revolver found in the possession of any person in violation of any of said provisions shall be forfeited.

(b) Any person violating any provision of subsection (a) of section 29-35 may be fined not more than one thousand dollars and shall be imprisoned not less than one year or more than five years, and, in the absence of any mitigating circumstances as determined by the court, one year of the sentence imposed may not be suspended or reduced by the court. The court shall specifically state the mitigating circumstances, or the absence thereof, in writing for the record. Any pistol or revolver found in the possession of any person in violation of any provision of subsection (a) of section 29-35 shall be forfeited.

(c) Any person violating any provision of subsection (b) of section 29-35 shall have committed an infraction and shall be fined thirty-five dollars.

In order to transport a firearm you MUST have a Permit to Carry, and you MUST transport it properly, otherwise the law is very clear as to the consequences.

And while we are on this subject, here's a provocative article by David Codrea at Examiner.com and the comments are also very much worth reading.. I especially liked this one:

I would be interested in knowing if 'donors' have to give their names, addresses, phone #s, DOB, SSN & DL #s on turn-in for "Tax Purposes", since they are receiving $$$ for their property the State might want to issue them a 1099 for their compensation. "Please give us all your information, so we can identify you six-ways to Sunday, forfeit all of your rights, and here's your $200 gift card, Have a nice day!"

and

"Encourage non-knowledgeable people to pick up uncleared weapons, and transport them in violation of carry laws. Hey, what could go wrong with that?"

Acorn Cookies At The White House Xmas Party

2009-12-10T05:58:00.002-05:00

Could the White House be any more arrogant?
It's just unbelievable.
No doubt paid for by YOUR tax dollars.

...at the Obama White House, "A" may be for acorn -- as in acorn cookies served at Monday's annual Christmas party.

The chocolate cookies shaped like an acorn were quite a hit with Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa.

"I didn't expect to see such stark symbolism," King said in an e-mail.

President Obama worked with the community organizing group ACORN in the mid-90s. But now ACORN faces a host of allegations related to voter fraud in the 2008 election and has been weakened by an undercover expose that shows employees offering tax advice to a couple posing as a pimp and prostitute.

The irony of the White House dishing out acorn-shaped chocolate cookies seemed a little, well, "nutty" to King. The Iowa Republican is one of the loudest voices calling for Congress to investigate ACORN."

This brings Audacity to a whole new level.

Technology - A Car That Runs On Compressed Air

2009-12-09T17:52:00.001-05:00

That's pretty neat.

Why Switzerland Has The Lowest Crime Rate In the World

2009-12-08T06:46:00.001-05:00

Switzerland does not maintain a military force as we do in the U.S., rather they have provided a well-armed, well-trained home militia that can be mobilized at virtually a moment's notice. That is what this country used to have. A militia is for DEFENSIVE purposes only, in contrast to our military force which is used for OFFENSIVE purposes (and also used to police the world). Imagine the annual savings we would realize if we eliminated the vast military-industrial complex in this country.

Being able to defend oneself and one's property versus being a victim...
If most people carried a gun or had one at home, then criminals might be less emboldened to invade you house or assault you in broad daylight. If criminals know that most people are unarmed, or afraid of guns, then thugs wouldn't give breaking into your house or mugging you a second thought.

"The key to freedom is to be able to have the ability to defend yourself".

On the flip side - look what happens when a country bans handguns.

Bin Laden Been Dead?

2009-12-08T06:00:00.001-05:00

I posted something way back about the possibility that Osama Bin Laden was dead.. and here something else surfaces from "Veterans Today".

Conservative commentator, former Marine Colonel Bob Pappas has been saying for years that bin Laden died at Tora Bora and that Senator Kerry's claim that bin Laden escaped with Bush help was a lie. Now we know that Pappas was correct. The embarassment of having Secretary of State Clinton talk about bin Laden in Pakistan was horrific. He has been dead since December 13, 2001 and now, finally, everyone, Obama, McChrystal, Cheney, everyone who isn't nuts is finally saying what they have known for years.

However, since we lost a couple of hundred of our top special operations forces hunting for bin Laden after we knew he was dead, is someone going to answer for this with some jail time? Since we spent 200 million dollars on "special ops" looking for someone we knew was dead, who is going to jail for that? Since Bush, Rumsfeld and Cheney continually talked about a man they knew was dead, now known to be for reasons of POLITICAL nature, who is going to jail for that? Why were tapes brought out, now known to be forged, as legitimate intelligence to sway the disputed 2004 election in the US? This is a criminal act if there ever was one.

In 66 pages, General Stanley McChrystal never mentions Osama bin Laden. Everything is "Mullah Omar"now. In his talk at West Point, President Obama never mentioned Osama bin Laden. Col. Pappas makes it clear, Vice President Cheney let it "out of the bag" long ago. Bin Laden was killed by American troops many many years ago.

Hmm... truth or more fiction?

If fiction, then how much money, and lives, are we spending chasing phantoms?

And who has been the understudy (and writing the scripts) for Bin Laden in the "videos" and "audios" that we have seen mysteriously surface now and then, at very opportune moments, since Dec. 2001?

Sherry Peel Jackson Dying In Prison For Lack Of Decent Medical Care

2009-12-07T14:00:00.000-05:00

Is she being denied adequate care on purpose?

Sherry Peel Jackson was one of the stars of Aaron Russo's America: Freedom to Fascism. She was the former IRS agent who cried out, "SHOW ME THE LAW!". Right now she deserves the support of the entire Freedom Movement. We can give it to her by calling her Congressional Representative imploring him to intercede to save her life. For her service to the Cause of Liberty, WE SHOULD DO NO LESS!!

Sherry Peel Jackson is an ex-IRS agent who left the IRS when she discovered that there is not law requiring American citizens to pay income tax. Since than she has gone public on this issue and has been fighting two of what some people believe to be America's greatest crime syndicates, the IRS and the Federal Reserve. Sherry Jackson is a true American hero.

Sherry Peel Jackson is being held at Coleman Correctional Institution after demanding to know what law requires Americans to pay income tax before she gave over her family's hard earned money. For this, she was punished with a 4-year sentence on February 14th 2008. Regardless of what people think of her stand, she is now being denied treatment for Graves Disease and needs national attention brought so that she is humanely treated. We urge people to get involved to demand humane treatment for Sherry and visit freesherry.com for information, coordination, and future plans.

Issues

Sherry was imprisoned for asking the IRS to "show me the law" that requires Americans to pay income tax.
Sherry is suffering from Graves Disease and the Coleman medical staff is not providing her with adequate care.
Sherry is a wife and mother of four.
Sherry wasn't "caught" withholding taxes; she simply asked for proof that she had to pay them and was never answered.

She has been incarcerated for the last 21 months. She is getting very sick and they are denying her medical help in jail. Her husband has pleaded with the public to contact Representative Hank Johnson, representing the 4th Congressional District of Georgia.

Please Call and fax him and demand immediate medical attention for Sherry:

Washington, DC Office
1133 Longworth HOB
Washington , D.C. 20515
Phone: (202) 225-1605
Fax: (202) 226-0691

People are asking the question: Charlie Rangle has committed income tax FRAUD for years and he is a lawmaker.. Why isn't Rangle in prison instead of Sherry?

Sherry's letter:

I am Sherry Peel Jackson, your former CPA. I am writing you because I am concerned about my health and my life. Prior to becoming a political prisoner I was the picture of health.

In late June, 2009 I started experiencing a rapid heart beat on an irregular basis. Since this had happened infrequently in the past I did not think much of it. However, in Mid July it started happening on a regular basis and I became concerned. I went to the medical staff twice in Mid July only to be given a one-minute EKG test and powerful meds without proper diagnosis. I did not take them because I had not been seen by a specialist.

One week later, on July 21 at 12:45am I left the dorm in flip flops to go tell the officers that I was having a heart attack. The officers on duty called the ambulance and the ambulance checked my heart on their portable EKG machine. It was beating at 150 beats per minute. They took me to Leesberg (spelling) hospital where I remained until Friday, July 24th at 11:30pm. During the hospital stay it was determined that my heart was healthy but my thyroid was producing too much hormone, thus speeding up my heart.

This is called hyperthyroidism or Graves disease. I was given two medications by the hospital - Methimazole, which is an anti-thyroid agent used to reduce the amount of thyroid hormone produced by the body and Metoprolol, which is a beta blocker used to slow the heart. The hospital doctor told me that in four weeks (approximately August 21) the prison medical unit was to do blood tests to determine how the thyroid medication was affecting my body.

The blood test was taken in late August and I was told that I would be placed on the appointment schedule to come over and review the results. I was never called. I went over in early September and inquired of Dr. DeLeon as to how to get blood test results. He told me to put in a request to staff, so I did that on September 15th. It simply asked to see the results of the tests.

Sometime after September 23rd I received a response in writing, from Ms. Marich, that stated that I could either make a sick call (come over early in the morning wait in line and fill out forms) or come to Open House to see the results. Open house is held only on Thursdays from 3:00pm to 3:30pm. I went to Open House Thursday September 30th and was told by Ms. Marich that she could not find the results! I watched her look through and around several piles of folders in her office but at no time did she look on a computer for them. She told me to check back later.

On Wednesday October 28th I passed out around 4pm and was taken to medical and cleared. On Friday October 30th my lips started turning black as if I had been a lifelong smoker. By Sunday November 1st my lips were fully black.

My boss, the Chaplain, called medical and a male nurse was sent over from the medium security men's prison on this complex (there are two maximum security, one medium security and one low security men's prisons on this complex with the women's camp). He took my blood pressure and oxygen and said there was nothing else he could do. He told me to go to sick call Monday morning, which I did. I showed Mr. Coucho my lips and told him that something was wrong with my blood, I could tell. (I am leaving out gross details here). He said I would be put on the schedule.

However, the very next day, Tuesday morning, November 3rd, I found blood in my stool and rushed over to medical because I am smart enough to know that this is a major problem. I was chewed out for coming over to medical without a staff member telling me to come. I told Charlie, the female nurse and Mr. Coucho the PA that I was in the hospital in July, never got the blood work results and something was terribly wrong. I was 46 years old and I know my body! I finally convinced them that I was not playing and was not stupid, so they 'treated' me with a packet for a stool sample test.

Mr. Coucho looked on the computer for the blood test results from August and found them there! The blood test showed a problem with the thyroid way back then! He said I would be put on the schedule for new blood work later that week because these results were too old. He had a short conversation with Dr. DeLeon in Spanish and then said the thyroid count was off. This was November 3rd. I administered the stool tests and returned them to Nurse Charlie on Friday November 6th.

Today is November 26th, Thanksgiving. I have not received the results of the stool test. I have not been given any new blood test. My neck is swelling up like a blow fish and I am having trouble talking. I have been feeling very ill for the last two weeks.

Congressman, I don't want them to kill me in here. As you well know, I am being punished for exposing government fraud. However, millions of people don't file tax returns and I was just used as an example by the DOJ for their new program called the Tax Defiers Initiative.

I have a wonderful husband and two beautiful children. I have already spent 21 months in prison for a non crime, and I refuse to come out dead or maimed for life. I have not caused these people any problems. This is no threat but just for your information. I also wrote the warden today. Things can't go on this way as I languish in here for someone's political gain. God doesn't like ugly and He is the ultimate judge and vindicator.

Sherry Peel Jackson 59085-019
FCI COLEMAN MEDIUM
FEDERAL CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION
P.O. BOX 1032
COLEMAN, FL 33521

FCI Coleman Medium
On December 2nd, 2009 CptDave says:

phone number: 352-689-5000

fax: 352-330-0552

December 7th 1941 - A Date That Will Live In Infamy

2009-12-07T06:00:00.000-05:00

From Today In History:

At 7:55 a.m. Hawaii time, a Japanese dive bomber bearing the red symbol of the Rising Sun of Japan on its wings appears out of the clouds above the island of Oahu. A swarm of 360 Japanese warplanes followed, descending on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor in a ferocious assault. The surprise attack struck a critical blow against the U.S. Pacific fleet and drew the United States irrevocably into World War II.

The day after Pearl Harbor was bombed, President Roosevelt appeared before a joint session of Congress and declared, "Yesterday, December 7, 1941--a date which will live in infamy--the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan." After a brief and forceful speech, he asked Congress to approve a resolution recognizing the state of war between the United States and Japan. The Senate voted for war against Japan by 82 to 0, and the House of Representatives approved the resolution by a vote of 388 to 1. The sole dissenter was Representative Jeannette Rankin of Montana, a devout pacifist who had also cast a dissenting vote against the U.S. entrance into World War I. Three days later, Germany and Italy declared war against the United States, and the U.S. government responded in kind.

Dec. 7, 1941 - 68 years ago - 2,403 Americans, most of them service personnel, were killed in this attack. Much of the American fleet and air forces stationed in Hawaii were destroyed.

The next morning, the United States declared war. That war ended less than four years later, and destroyed most of the Japanese empire and its military, and also brought on the advent of nuclear weaponry.

As a result of war being declared, my father joined the army and was subsequently stationed in the Fiji Islands. My mom was a war-bride. He was one of the fortunate guys who came home to raise a family and serve his community. He was a boy scout leader and he volunteered in many civic organizations. My dad passed away in 1997, and I am proud to say he served his country honorably and bravely.

Let's take a moment today to remember those who fought for freedom and triumphed over the tyranny of their time.

Florida Congressional Candidate Lieutenant Colonel Allen West

2009-12-06T08:24:00.001-05:00

This should be an interesting race to watch in Florida.

Allen West For Congress

Saturday Satire - Are You Unemployed?

2009-12-05T22:33:00.001-05:00

17.2%

Ben Gets Grilled - DeMint, Bunning and Sanders Stoking The Flames

2009-12-04T07:30:00.002-05:00

According to DeMint, "Mr. Bernanke has been one of the chief proponents of the Fed's easy money policy that created the current financial crisis. He ignored asset bubbles, dismissed concerns about the weakness of the dollar, and helped encourage the credit mania that led to the financial panic. Even worse, Mr. Bernanke has refused to accept any responsibility for his role in these actions prior to financial crisis."

It is Congress that is given the task of regulating our money, as laid out in the Constitution. There is NO mention at all in the Constitution of any central bank or federal reserve.

The US Dollar has lost 96% of its value since 1913, when the Federal Reserve was entrusted with protecting it.

Fire Ben.
Audit the Fed.
End the Fed.

The Other Surge

2009-12-04T06:00:00.001-05:00

While everyone seemed to be cheering that the last number reflecting unemployment claims in November dropped by 5,000 from 462,000 to 457,000, it seems that a statistic that everyone seems to have completely overlooked then was the huge uptick of Emergency Unemployment Compensation. EUC is the program which was extended and allows unemployment insurance benefits to go far past their ordinary expiration date. EUC went up 265,300 in one week to an all time record of 3,859,553 for the week ending November 14 (up from 3,594,253 in the prior week).

The official jobless rate was 10.2 percent in October, up from 9.8 percent in September. Many economists see that number as being much higher, and probably more like one out of every six workers — or 17.5 percent that were unemployed or underemployed in October. The 10.2 percent number excludes certain categories of people - like recent college grads who can't find work, or those who have given up looking for work, or those who are underemployed as well as discouraged workers who have looked in the past year, and millions of part-time workers who want to be working full time. The previous recorded high for unemployment was 17.1 percent, in December 1982.

The November numbers were sobering.
New numbers are supposed to be out today.
It'll be interesting to see what positive spin will be put on them.
Meanwhile, nearly 4 million people are collecting unemployment insurance.
Now that's a real surge, but at least 30,000 people will be put to work in Afghanistan.
Heaven knows there is no work for them here stateside.

Question is, how many more people will be paid by government, given government jobs, or put on the government dole? And what happens when government has an empty treasury? (Oh right.. they'll just print more money)

Here's the Department of Labor's Data

Chuck Baldwin - Homeland Security Or Homeland Enslavement?

2009-12-03T08:00:00.001-05:00

Wow - Chuck got this one right..
and something is not entirely right with this picture.

Here's an excerpt of what he had to say over at the Tenth Amendment Center:

By now, most readers are familiar with the story of how a Virginia couple, Michaele and Tareq Salahi, crashed the White House State Dinner last Tuesday evening. President and Mrs. Obama were entertaining Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in the first official State Dinner of the new administration. The Salahis were not on the invited guest list, but were still allowed to walk right into the White House....

I well remember what I had to go through when I was an invited guest of then-Vice President George H. W. Bush at the White House. ... Needless to say, security was tight.

Upon arriving, we had to show the proper credentials to White House security, along with a photo ID and the personal invitation that had been sent to us ahead of time. I remember how some of the folks who had actually received invitations were denied entrance due to bureaucratic mix-ups or unintentional lapses in proper protocols. And these were people who really did have an invitation to be there. I can tell you this: there was absolutely no way that an uninvited person could have gained access to the White House that day. And remember: that was nearly two decades BEFORE 9/11!

That an uninvited couple could be granted access to the President and Vice President in this day and time is more than a “fluke.” It betrays something much deeper.

For the last 8 years, the American people have been told they must sacrifice certain liberties in order that the federal government might protect them. And for the most part, the American people have been happy to accommodate this incessant intrusion into their personal liberties. They know the feds are monitoring their emails, personal phone conversations, and even their personal letters when received from overseas. They have sat silently as their banking institutions have monitored and reported virtually any and all financial transactions to the federal government. In today’s super-security world, one cannot even cash a check without showing the bank teller his or her driver’s license, which is recorded and made available to the feds. Sometimes, we are even required to provide our thumbprints. Beyond that, even certain service personnel that must come into our homes to provide in-home repair services, home inspections, or general services are often required to report what they see to various law enforcement authorities. All of this is done in the name of “national security.”

All the while, America’s federal buildings today more resemble castles of ancient Europe than they do buildings that house the people’s servants. Concrete barriers along with super-reinforced, “bomb proof” structures remind one of castles of old, with their guard towers and crocodile-filled moats. Today, people must walk through metal-detectors and surrender their pocketknives to even visit their local supervisor of elections office (or just about any other public office, for that matter). Again, this is all done under the rubric of “homeland security.”

In the name of “national security,” veterans who have been accused of some kind of domestic disturbance or who have affirmatively answered an ambiguous question on a VA form regarding whether they have feelings of “anger” or “depression” are having their right to keep and bear arms stripped away. That’s right, in the name of “homeland security,” some of the very men who were entrusted with lethal weapons to fight America’s wars are now being told they are not fit to purchase or possess their own firearms.

Yet, in spite of all of the above, an uninvited couple is allowed to calmly walk right past Secret Service personnel and have personal audiences with the President and Vice President of the United States in what is ostensibly the most heavily-guarded, tightly secured building in the country: the White House.

Furthermore, this story comes on the heels of the mass shooting on what one would think would be a rather secure location: the US Army base at Fort Hood, Texas. And, have we forgotten the fellow who brought a gun into the Capitol Building (the home of the US Congress) in Washington, D.C., a few years ago and killed two police officers?

Dear Reader, ask yourself this question, Do you really think those schmucks in Washington, D.C., actually believe that protecting you and me is more important than protecting American soldiers, US congressmen, and especially the President of the United States? “Are you serious?” ...

The point is, all this talk about “national security” is simply a ruse for Big Government elitists to steal our liberties and make slaves out of us. They don’t care about security; all they care about is POWER.

So, the next time you are required to be strip-searched by an airport screener, or to surrender your pocketknife at your local county commissioner’s office, or to show your driver’s license to your bank teller, or to submit to a random police checkpoint; the next time you make a phone call that you know is monitored by a federal agent (and they all are), or drive under a video camera, or visit these castle-esque federal buildings, remember Michaele and Tareq Salahi. And, if you are old enough, remember the time in America when we really were the “land of the free.” And also remember that it’s not security they seek – it’s the abolition of our liberty.

Amen.

"Those who give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." - Ben Franklin

Bushbama

2009-12-03T05:52:00.003-05:00

For all of you who actually thought that Obama was going to be different and bring "Change" to Washington and to end the war ... think again.

With regard to the "War on Terror" - it is really more of the same old same old.

Consider this from the so called anti-war candidate and Nobel Peace Prize winner:

Obama: 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan

Obama: "We Did Not Ask for This Fight"
Bush: "We Did Not Seek This Conflict"

Obama: "New Attacks are Being Plotted as I Speak"
Bush: "At This Moment ... Terrorists are Planning New Attacks"

Obama: "Our Cause is Just, Our Resolve Unwavering"
Bush: "Our Cause is Just, Our Coalition [is] Determined"

Obama: "This Is No Idle Danger, No Hypothetical Threat"
Bush: "The Enemies of Freedom Are Not Idle"

Obama: "We Have No Interest in Occupying Your Country"
Bush: "I Wouldn't Be Happy if I Were Occupied Either"

Obama must have used Bush's speech writer.
(Actually, the puppetmasters just have a new puppet)

and here is Ron Paul's comment on the Afghan build-up.

Change? Really?
Same "stuff" different day.

Meanwhile, has anyone considered that we are training Iraqis and Afghanis and the probability is pretty good that some of them will ultimately some day use this training against us. Are they truly going to be able to maintain law and order and good government after we leave? or will we have to have a permanent presence? The people have to want liberty for themselves ... it cannot be given to them. Our model of government cannot just be replicated somewhere else because we think it should be there. Come to think of it, we don't even adhere to our own Constitution anymore anyway.

Sure - there are bad people in the world and we must protect ourselves from them... but is this really the way to do it? It is seemingly becoming a war we cannot win (in the way we have won wars in the past) and we certainly cannot afford.

And by the way, while everyone is now pre-occupied with Obama's speech and Tiger Woods' affairs - what is happening to the Senate healthcare debate? Can you say - DIVERSION?

Finally, what is our government doing to oust the Al Quaida terrorists who they know already live among us in THIS country? Oh right... removing our rights bit by bit and searching little old ladies at the airports in order to "make us safe". (I forgot)

No Change here (except for wealth redistribution and other economic mayhem) ... move along.

(H/T Daily Paul)

The Judge Opines On Military Tribunals

2009-12-02T07:00:00.002-05:00

"It's a violation of the Constitution to use the panels without a declaration of war -- and just calling it a 'war' on terror doesn't count." - Judge Andrew Napolitano

Great piece by Judge Napolitano in the LA Times.

In the uproar caused by Atty. Gen. Eric H. Holder Jr.'s announcement that the alleged planners of the 9/11 attacks are to be tried in U.S. District Court in New York City, and the suspects in the attack on the U.S. destroyer Cole will go on trial before military tribunals at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, the public discourse has lost sight of the fundamental principles that guide the government when it makes such decisions. Unfortunately, the government has lost sight of the principles as well.

When President George W. Bush spoke to Congress shortly after 9/11, he did not ask for a declaration of war. Instead, Republican leaders offered and Congress enacted an Authorization for the Use of Military Force. The authorization was open-ended as to its targets and its conclusion, and basically told the president and his successors that they could pursue whomever they wanted, wherever their pursuits took them, so long as they believed that the people they pursued had engaged in acts of terrorism against the United States. Thus was born the "war" on terror. ...

Virtually all of those seized who survived interrogation have been held at Guantanamo Bay. Bush initially ordered that no law or treaty applied to these detainees and that no judge could hear their cases, and thus he could detain whoever he decided was too risky to release and whoever he was satisfied had participated in terrorist attacks against the U.S. He made these extra-constitutional claims based, he said, on the inherent powers of the commander in chief in wartime. But in the Supreme Court, he lost all five substantive challenges to his authority brought by detainees. As a result, some detainees had to be freed, and he and Congress eventually settled for trying some before military tribunals under the Uniform Code of Military Justice and subsequent legislation.

The casual use of the word "war" has lead to a mentality among the public and even in the government that the rules of war could apply to those held at Guantanamo. But the rules of war apply only to those involved in a lawfully declared war, and not to something that the government merely calls a war. Only Congress can declare war -- and thus trigger the panoply of the government's military powers that come with that declaration. Among those powers is the ability to use military tribunals to try those who have caused us harm by violating the rules of war.

The last time the government used a military tribunal in this country to try foreigners who violated the rules of war involved Nazi saboteurs during World War II. ...

The recent decision to try some of the Guantanamo detainees in federal District Court and some in military courts in Cuba is without a legal or constitutional bright line. All those still detained since 9/11 should be tried in federal courts because without a declaration of war, the Constitution demands no less.

That the target of the Cole attackers was military property manned by the Navy offers no constitutional reason for a military trial. In the 1960s, when Army draft offices and college ROTC facilities were attacked and bombed, those charged were quite properly tried in federal courts. And when Timothy McVeigh blew up a federal courthouse in Oklahoma City; and Omar Abdel Rahman attempted in 1993 to blow up the World Trade Center, which housed many federal offices; and when Zacarias Moussaoui was accused in the 9/11 attacks,all were tried in federal courts. The "American Taliban," John Walker Lindh, and the notorious would-be shoe bomber, Richard Reid, were tried in federal courts. Even the "Ft. Dix Six," five of whom were convicted in a plot to invade a U.S. Army post in New Jersey, were tried in federal court. And the sun still rose on the mornings after their convictions.

The framers of the Constitution feared letting the president alone decide with whom we are at war, and thus permitting him to trigger for his own purposes the military tools reserved for wartime. They also feared allowing the government to take life, liberty or property from any person without the intercession of a civilian jury to check the government's appetite and to compel transparency and fairness by forcing the government to prove its case to 12 ordinary citizens. Thus, the 5th Amendment to the Constitution, which requires due process, includes the essential component of a jury trial. And the 6th Amendment requires that when the government pursues any person in court, it must do so in the venue where the person is alleged to have caused harm.

Numerous Supreme Court cases have ruled that any person in conflict with the government can invoke due process -- be that person a citizen or an immigrant, someone born here, legally here, illegally here or whose suspect behavior did not even occur here.

Think about it: If the president could declare war on any person or entity or group simply by calling his pursuit of them a "war," there would be no limit to the government's ability to use the tools of war to achieve its ends. We have a "war" on drugs; can drug dealers be tried before military tribunals? We have a "war" on the Mafia; can mobsters be sent to Gitmo and tried there? The Obama administration has arguably declared "war" on Fox News. Are Glenn Beck, Bill O'Reilly and I and my other colleagues in danger of losing our constitutional rights to a government hostile to our opinions?

As always, a great analysis with superb understanding of the Constitution.

Boston Tea Party 2009

2009-12-02T06:32:00.001-05:00

The Modern Tea Party movement was actually started with the Boston Tea Party 2008. Committees of Safety and Walter Reddy, held a Boston Tea Party on December 14, 2008, at Faneuil Hall in Boston to highlight freedom and liberty and sound money - The Speakers were Edwin Vieira , John McManus, Katherine Albrecht, and Walter Reddy, to name a few.

After the December Faneuil Hall tea party event was held, we heard Rick Santelli on CNBC on the floor of the Chicago Exchange calling for a tea party in Chicago - and that is what touched a nerve in this country.

Building on the State Sovereignty/10th Amendment Movement, the 2009 Boston Tea Party will focus on taking the next step and how to put teeth into the 10th Amendment. The theme is 'Reclaiming the Power of the Purse and the Power of the Sword' -- Sound money and the Second Amendment.

Presented by Committees of Safety. To order tickets, click here - $17.76 for general admission. Enjoy an intimate private dinner with the speakers at the historic Warren Tavern in Charlestown, MA. for $100.

No Experience Necessary

2009-12-01T06:14:00.001-05:00

Apparently, Hope and Change does not spring from private sector experience....

Wow...
and this from Reason...

Schulz notes that public sector employment has been below 20 percent of the population since the 1950s, making a 90+ percent public service cabinet all the more remarkable.

and here is the original Forbes report - definitely worth a read.

Black Friday - More People Spent Less

2009-11-30T09:00:00.001-05:00

Zerohedge presented a factual analysis of Black Friday - (you know, the day when retailers are supposed to be in the black for the holiday shopping season)

The National Retail Federation has reported that the average Thanksgiving spend has declined from $372 in 2008 to $343 in 2009, as more shoppers sought out rock-bottom 5 am bargains: the estimated number of bargain hunters increased from 172 million to 195 million.

So while more people came out to look for rock bottom prices... less people actually bought anything.

The average Black Friday spending declined from $372 in 2008 to $343 in 2009.
And that is a change of -7.80%.

Add to that the fact that most people who bought anything most likely bought loss leaders (the items that are under-priced in order to get you into the store), so obviously stores are sacrificing their gross and operating margins, in order to get as many people out and shopping this holiday season.

Of course cable news will spin this much differently.

It's worth noting that this year there will be one extra shopping day between Thanksgiving and Christmas, and Hanukkah begins on Dec. 11 this year versus Dec. 22 last year, which may aid sales in week two of December. Also remember there are roughly 5,613,750 Americans living on unemployment checks, while soup kitchens are filled and community food pantries are growing bare. The job market is worse than it’s ever been for years. This is all going to have a great bearing on holiday shopping numbers, and it is said that holiday sales make up a third or more of retailers’ annual profit.

My favorite quote from a commenter on the Zerohedge post was this (pardon the language):

"Am I the only one who finds it rather depressing that the great hope for global recovery comes form more people buying shit they don't need with money they don't have?"

Well said, nonetheless.

LAPD Wants You To Spy On Your Neighbors

2009-11-30T07:00:00.001-05:00

What a despicable ad.

Yeah, yeah, yeah I know there are already neighborhood watch programs.. you know, where you look to make sure that the moving truck next door is really supposed to be there and isn't just some burgler emptying out the Joneses house, but this just video encourages people to spy on and report people - and in the name of "America" (iWatch my America)

Suspicious activity?
Terrorist activity?

Who is this week's bogeyman?
Is your neighbor a terrorist?
Hmmmm.....

A population in fear is easier to control.

Nazi propaganda accomplished the same thing. promoted the same thing. They knew that as long as the public felt threatened, they would obey commands that would, in their eyes, remove that threat.

"All propaganda has to be popular and has to adapt its spiritual level to the perception of the least intelligent of those towards whom it intends to direct itself." -Adolf Hitler, Mein Kampf ("My Struggle"), Vol. I

I think the terrorists are the ones plundering our treasury.
Shall we report them?

Peter Schiff - Gold

2009-11-29T08:00:00.001-05:00

"The Federal Reserve is going to print the dollar into oblivion" - Peter Schiff

The Obama Plan

2009-11-29T00:26:00.003-05:00

Stacking the deck indeed.
So much for Hope and Change.