So What's the Fuss Over "Jerusalem, Israel"?

One would think that America's agreeing to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital city somehow flies in the face of mountains of historical evidence that it has always been a Muslim and/or Palestinian city. Not so.

Historically, "Palestine", derived from the Egyptian & Hebrew term "peleshet" meaning migratory wanderers, has NEVER EVER been a country with a capital, much less with the trappings of a nation. 

When the Romans invaded Israel, and as an affront to the Jews, they renamed the country Palaestinia. As for its forever being a prominent Muslim city, not so. While Jerusalem is mentioned over eight hundred times in the Bible, it is not mentioned once in the Koran. It has never been an important place or destination for Muslims. Jerusalem is significant now only because it is the capital of a Jewish state. Drill this history lesson into your brains.

Religious Freedom: What the 1st Amendment Really Means

Though it is sometimes a tedious exercise, with respect to freedom of religion let me again briefly remind my fellow Americans what the original meaning and intent of the 1st Amendment really is. (And if I can understand it, then anyone can.)

To reassure Baptists in Connecticut, in 1802 President Thomas Jefferson penned the metaphoric phrase "a wall of separation between church and state". (Important to note that at the time of his writing this letter, Mr. Jefferson was regularly attending church services in the Capitol itself !!! So much for a "wall of separation", huh?)

The 1st Amendment clearly and unambiguously states that "Congress shall make no law respecting the ESTABLISHMENT OF RELIGION (no state-mandated religion) or prohibiting the FREE EXERCISE thereof (freedom of religious expression without government interference)." Nowhere in the Constitution or the Amendment does it contain the words "a wall of separation between church and state".

However, in 1947 one Leo Pfeffer, an ACLU attorney (surprise, surprise), used Jefferson's metaphoric words to convince a dunderheaded Progressive-dominated "Supreme Court" (Everson v Board of Education Ewing Township) that the Amendment should be interpreted as a complete separation of church and state. That interpretation, of course, grossly and manifestly violates original meaning and intent. It doesn't take a genius to see that! (Well, apparently it does.)

In short, instead of abiding by the Constitution as written, the activist Progressive justices came down on the side of Pfeffer. Upshot: errant case law trumped the 1st Amendment.

Since then, our religious rights have been routinely and successfully violated by jurists, politicians, atheists and agnostics with impunity. Why? Because most Americans simply took little notice or merely rolled over like whipped little puppies. We've become very good at that. Make no mistake: the anti-religious forces in this country will not relent until the last coins inscribed with "In God We Trust" are melted down. And if we let that happen, we have only our unprincipled, spineless selves to blame.

TALK IS CHEAP, MILLENNIALS

TO THE 50% OF INDOCTRINATED MILLENNIALS AND THEIR LIB PROFESSORS who prefer socialism over capitalism, wake the hell up! 

In Venezuela, Bernie's and de Blasio's socialist paradise, soaring inflation, painful food shortages, epidemic malnutrition and starvation abound. To augment their diets, 75% of the population is now routinely picking through garbage fills and dumpsters, killing any jungle animals and pets they can find, including malnourished and sick zoo animals. 

Yeah, snowflakes, you talk a big game while shielded by the plenty which capitalism provides, but are you prepared to walk the ideological walk? Talk is cheap, kids.

BEWARE: Leftist Push Still On to Eliminate Electoral College.

To eliminate effective State control over an increasingly top-heavy federal government, in the early 19th century the Progressives successfully persuaded Americans to ratify the 17th Amendment (direct election of Senators). Prior to that God-awful 17th, State Legislatures, acting as sovereign members of the federal union, appointed delegates to represent them in the Senate; thus, Senators acted as the direct representatives for the duly elected State legislatures. This provided States considerable sway over the direction and policies of the federal government. And, of course, this is precisely what the Founders had in mind to ensure State parity with the DC Leviathan. Passage of the 17th was a major defeat for constitutional governance and the founding principle of dual state-federal sovereignty. In one short-sighted stroke, the States became vassals of the federal government, Senators became nothing more nor less than 6-year term congressmen--NOT what our framers had in mind at all. And our republic has been spiraling downhill ever since.

Now the libs want to abolish the last thread of electoral sanity by eliminating the electoral college. If that happens, folks, the playing field will be anything but level. The smaller States will have no influence over the outcome of presidential elections.The east and west coasts and other Progressive-dominated metropolitan areas would RULE. To hell with fly-over States who would no longer have a voice in the selection of a President. The final nail in the coffin of our constitutional government.

Unless we are educated and engaged, the relentless liberal efforts to undermine what remains of constitutional governance in this country will be successful. What will ensue will be tyranny and, unless we've drunk the kool-aid and learned how to bow and scrape by then, it will necessarily result in civil war and disunion. Patriots should not tolerate such brazen tyranny. Don't be fooled by the Progressive propaganda about fairness. Fairness is not their aim. POWER and CONTROL have always been their game. Be vigilant and push back.

TOXIC LIB HYPOCRISY UNRELENTING

As if we need yet another reminder how insufferably condescending and hypocritical liberals can be, Sarah Huckabee Sanders is still under attack by lib elites for her frumpiness and now her "southern accent". And , of course, the inane and illogical conclusion is drawn that, therefore, she reflects the "mediocrity" and ill-preparedness of the Administration. (Doesn't this viewpoint remind you of the simple-minded thought process of a 10-year old?) I guess Sarah is also responsible for the apocalyptic global warming plague as well. 

Where are the women's rights groups? (Oh, I forgot. Their standard of fairness applies only to liberal women.) Hypocrisy on steroids, for sure! What this reveals is the culture of meanness afflicting dyed-in-the-wool liberals who are simply incapable of or ideologically unwilling to acknowledge the lack of honor, objectivity, sensitivity and plain ol' decency within their rank and file--and I underscore "rank".

BUSH DENIGRATES CHENEY, RUMSFELD & TRUMP

POOR GEORGE. Maybe he really did have a silver spoon shoved in his mouth--and brain as well. 

In his upcoming book, "The Last Republican" (hope he's right) which I alluded to in my post below, he not only lambasted Trump as a "blowhard", but attacked Trump's America-first ideology. And, yes, George defended his globalism as well. (Geez, George. Why weren't you as openly critical of your successor? And you're wondering why folks think you're a tad out of touch?) 

And to shore up his own legacy, an annoying dynastic preoccupation afflicting both sides of the aisle during these waning days of the republic, he attempted to diminish VP Cheney and Defense Secretary Rumsfeld by pointedly asserting that "they did not make any f****** decisions." (Touchy. Touchy. And such naughty language too for a Bush.) 

Is it my imagination, or are these dinosaurian establishment types becoming increasingly unhinged, defensive and overly self-absorbed. George and his Dad are nice guys, but I'm afraid their desperate need for immortality now supersede their sense of proportion, decency and objectivity. 

While I did read Rumsfeld's book, an excellent work, I think I'll pass on "The Last Republican", and merely rejoice in the title of the book itself.

Can Outsider Trump Succeed?

IN AN UPCOMING BUSH BOOK, 93-yr old George H.W. Bush described Trump as a "blowhard" and, partially because of Trump's rough treatment of his son, Jeb, H.W. actually voted for Hillary in the 2016 election. His son. GW, though similarly disconcerted with Trump, chose a wiser, more balanced approach by voting for neither Hillary nor Trump. (To me, the younger GW clearly displayed sounder judgement than did his understandably protective Dad.)

But, like so many others, what neither of these fine, intelligent men seem to understand is WHY Americans, desperate, frightened and totally disillusioned with both parties, voted for outsider Donald Trump. And, let's face it. The Bush dynasty's globalist, big government, establishment-based views of governing were contributing reasons as to why Trump is currently occupying the Oval Office--not just Hillary's larcenous & pathological behavior or Obama's mendacity, divisive PC and subversive lawlessness.

Is Trump flawed, narcissistic? You betcha'. But, no more so than any politician who has ever before sought the highest office in the world. (It is common knowledge that an inordinately well-developed ego is always a hallmark of those seeking positions of authority. It's human nature.)

So, the question as yet unanswered is this: Can Trump do any worse than his predecessors? No. Can he do any better? Quite possibly.

And because he is unshackled from a self-serving establishment mindset and is not burdened with a driving personal need to enrich himself while in office, his presidency bodes well for the restoration of the Rule of Law, individual Liberty and both our economic & military strength.

Though he has many serious hurdles to overcome, the most challenging being the entrenched establishment and heavy-handed federal bureaucracy--to say nothing of the destructive domestic cultural & ideological war he has inherited--to what extent he is able to tame and/or constructively re-direct those tyrannical, subversive forces will determine the level of his and America's success in the near future. In truth, this could be our last chance to get it right. We shall see and wish both him and America the best.

Our Founders Couldn't Be Elected Today

A TROUBLING THOUGHT: Isn't it more than ironic that today both the Right AND the Left routinely idolize, deify and politically invoke the virtues of Lincoln. Why?

This might surprise some of you, but like Lincoln, both the modern Left and Right subscribe to a consolidated, monopolistic central government model. (Yup, our hero was a big government, one-party rule kinda' guy. And in shaping such a top-heavy government, he played the game for keeps.)

In effect, we now have Left-wing totalitarians and Right-wing socialists (neo-Cons, RINOs). Exceptions like Paul, Lee, Gohmert, Blackburn etc. comprise but a tiny minority within the ruling class. Thus, our leaders' and our own faithfulness to the principles of limited, efficient government and dual federal-state sovereignty are, at the very best, tenuous and, most certainly, of scant constructive effect.

There are many, many years of bad governing habits to overcome if we are to once again return to our Founders' bedrock principles of government. And in this what's-in-it-for-me bread and circuses atmosphere, I'm no longer sure that most of us are any longer fully committed to returning to those principles.

In truth, given the severe foundational damage wrought by years of violations and neglect since the Constitutional Convention, my guess is that brilliant luminaries like Madison, Jefferson, Morris, Adams and Franklin wouldn't stand a chance in the once hallowed halls of Capitol Hill in 2017. Hell, they'd be lucky to even get elected.

Yup. We've come a long way--in the wrong direction.

Kneeling Football Players: Useful Idiots of the Left

So, the owner of the Houston Texans colloquially asserts the trusim that "we can't have the inmates running the prison", and the overly super-sensitive, indignant players take a knee in protest. Hmmm. Now, where have we seen this adolescent acting-out before?

Of course, the anti-American Dims, incorrigible race-baiters, dissemblers and dividers that they are, piled on by speciously claiming that the owner was thoughtlessly describing his players as "commodities", a deliberately incendiary and gratuitous reference to, what else, slavery. Oh my. So predictable. So shameless.

To be more accurate, perhaps the owner might have pointed out that OWNERS--NOT EMPLOYEES--are in charge. But even if he had said something like "we can't let the patients run the asylum", the players and their neo-Marxist puppeteers would still have taken umbrage because, to them, the owner would be either characterizing these misbehaving employees as criminals (not altogether inaccurate) or fruit cakes (also not altogether inaccurate). SO, the point is that no matter what the owner says in this regard will be viciously and mindlessly attacked and mischaractized by the Left.

Of course, the Dims' real goal in their self-serving criticism of the owner is to portray these poor set-upon football players as the victims of an evil, heartless, capitalist, whitey-dominated system of enslavement--and, unwittingly, these clueless players are submissively playing their roles perfectly. For the culture warriors on the Left, It's always about advancing their ideological goal of dividing, undermining, and destroying our system.

My advice to those who are still capable of fearless and honest opinionating: Don't play their game and don't surrender any room for them in which to play. Don't be cowed. Be honest and tell it like it is. And to the addicted football fans out there, don't continue to financially enable the players' childish victim fantasies by subsidizing their antics in any way.

MAKE NO MISTAKE, folks, these spoiled adolescent players/employees are unwitting high profile tools of the Leftist assault on our very way of life. The neo-Marxist puppeteers COULDN'T CARE LESS about the players. It's always about the Left's subversive ideological goals, and they will use anyone and any means to achieve that terrible aim. In other words, folks, our focus must be on saving the republic, not on short-sightedly enabling either the players or their political handlers.

America Ruled by Delphic Oracles

I BRIDLED AT THIS QUOTE appearing in one of today's conservative sites: "If President Trump is able to appoint even one more conservative replacement for one of the liberal Justices, conservatives across the nation will feel safe knowing that the constitution will be protected for many years to come." Wowee! Bottom line takeaway: even conservatives have been ensnared in the prevailing foolish notion that the Supreme Court alone is delegated the authority and power to protect our Constitution and our liberty. NOT SO! We the People are and have always been the final arbiters of what is and what is not constitutional. But, tragically, decades of ignorance and indoctrination have permitted even patriots to adopt this destructive, suicidal thinking. And we wonder why all the grotesque social engineering by the "Supreme" Court goes unchallenged.

That said, it appears that the judicial patron saint of liberalism, 84-yr old High Priestess Ginsburg of ACLU infamy, has decided to remain an oracle on America's Mt. Delphi. However, swing voter High Priest Kennedy and his fellow oracle, very liberal High Priestess Sotomayor have both expressed a desire to retire, the former owing to weariness, the latter owing to Type 1 Diabetes. So, looks like Trump will only be able to replace two more justices in the foreseeable future which, of course, would be a win for patriots. Of course, a bigger win would be when and if WE and our States understand our authority over our Mt. Delphi oracles.

Civil War History vs Race-Baiting in the Media

HISTORY IS NOT THE MEDIA'S FORTE. In response to Gen. Kelly's observation during a Fox interview with Laura Ingraham on Monday night that the "civil war" could have been avoided had there been a "willingness to compromise", some reporters (always the race-baiters) at the White House Press Conference today smugly inquired if Gen. Kelly may have been referring to compromising on slavery. (Oh, the humanity!!!) It was painfully obvious these PC ignoramuses hadn't a clue about "civil war" history. Sanders fielded the veiled attacks gracefully by alluding to the fact that "historians, both north and south" today agree that the war could have been prevented. (Perfectly stated and well-handled,)

Having read many politically INcorrect books about the so-called "civil war", aka the War of Northern Aggression, I could only have hoped that I had been present to take on those fools.

Prepared for their attacks, I would have quickly noted that the Confederates in 1861 dispatched delegates to DC to discuss peace, but that Lincoln flatly refused to meet or negotiate with them. (Not only was he unwilling to compromise, he outright rejected all southern attempts to negotiate.)

Though there are countless verifiable quotes attributable to Lincoln, I would have highlighted these two: In his 1862 letter to newspaper editor Horace Greeley he asserted that "My paramount objective in this struggle is to save the Union, and it is not either to save or destroy slavery." And earlier in his political career during his 1858 debate with Stephen Douglas he said this: "I have no purpose to introduce political and social equality between the white and black races." Also, shortly after his inauguration, he pledged his support for an amendment to the Constitution which forbade any amendment which would have permitted Congress to either abolish or interfere with the institution of slavery. Etc. Etc. Etc. And then I would have demanded the reporters prove me wrong, finishing up with "So, do you think Lincoln statues should come down too? Or do we learn from history and understand that historical figures are never, ever perfect?"

I would also have pointed out that most objective historians who haven't deified and mischaracterized Lincoln have clearly demonstrated that the paramount cause of the civil war was decades of oppressively unfair and intolerable tariffs imposed by the federal government on manufactured goods entering Southern ports, this to ensure that the South was compelled to purchase less expensive goods of lesser quality from northern manufacturers. (The tariff issue was seen as early as the 1830's as a lit match which could only lead to either peaceful secession of the south or needless and preventable bloodshed precipitated by industrial greed of the northern States.)

Three vital points: 1) the "civil war" was not, by definition, a civil war; it was an invasion of a sovereign, independent nation by the north; 2) it was fought over the issues of the right of a State to freely withdraw from a voluntary union (as contended by our Founders) and the grossly unfair and non-uniform imposition of federal tariffs on the southern States; 3) because the south was so dependent upon cotton, rice and indigo requiring intensive labor, from an economic standpoint, it was also fought over the issue of slavery.

So, Kelly and Sanders knew their history and, unsurprisingly, the indoctrinated ivy leaguers in the press room were clueless.

Merkel Victory May Portend Islamic Control in Central Europe

Faced with a menacing growth in assaults and rapes (up 52% over last year), most of which are perpetrated by Muslim migrants, Germany's Merkel has fecklessly decided to distribute pepper spray to German women to enable them to protect themselves. Yeah. That's the way to deal with the invasion.

As if that 's not enough, and though hard to fathom, despite the disastrous impact of Merkel's mindless open-door policy, she was handily re-elected. My God!

For me, this troubling poll clearly suggests an entire nation's willful slide into national suicide. One has to wonder how a nation can harbor so much guilt for past sins that only the self-destruction of its institutions, culture and families can satiate its desperate need for atonement.

If Germany is an accurate barometer of the direction of western civilization, we're in big trouble...

Germans File Over 1,000 Complaints Against Merkel For Treason

Over 1,000 legal complaints for treason have been filed by German citizens against Chancellor Angela Merkel since the beginning of the migrant crisis in 2015, German newspapers reported today. The revelation comes less…

TRUTHREVOLT.ORG

NAACP: "Useful Idiots" of the Left

Recently, the NAACP shamelessly condemned Cowboys coach Jones for insisting that his players stand for the national anthem. 

Speciously invoking the Constitution to justify its position, NAACP asserts that compelling players not to kneel during the anthem is "unconstitutional". If that assertion weren't so painfully ignorant, it would be laughable. 

Three things NAACP attorneys should know--and I'm sure they really do: 1) league rules require players to respectfully stand during the anthem in a clearly defined manner; 2) how the league deals with those players who violate league rules is outside the purview of the Constitution. The kneeling issue is a contractual workplace matter--NOT NOT a Constitutional matter. (Isn't it more than suspicious that the NAACP doesn't cite chapter & verse of the Constitution to justify its position? It knows that such chapters and verses don't exist.); 3) the 1st Amendment limits government interference or regulation of speech; it does not dictate workplace rules of behavior. 

The NAACP's inane and divisive assertion insults our intelligence which, for the NAACP of late, is nothing new. In the modern era, it has become a tool of the Progressive ideological machine whose goal it is to undermine American traditional values and to sow division. And like useful idiots, most NAACP members are in lockstep with their unprincipled Progressive comrades.

Left Manipulates Immigration Terminology

I brought this up before, but I think it bears repeating.

Over the years, we have painfully learned that the propagandists on the Left are merciless and shameless. 

In their relentless attempt to add a patina of legitimacy to illegal entrants, their future voters, all manner of linguistic and verbal inventions are employed to mislead the American public and to validate the manufactured right of illegals in the US. As an immigration counselor for 22 years, this has always been an annoyance to me, and I wrote about it in my book, "A Patriot's Call to Action".

In short, in US law there is no such thing as an "undocumented citizen", "undocumented immigrant", "illegal immigrant". These inane terms are politically-motivated, self-contradictory fabrications.

An "immigrant" is, by definition, a legal entrant. S/He was properly inspected and officially permitted entry, either temporarily, conditionally or permanently, into the United States. Therefore, it is impossible to be an "illegal immigrant" or, even more laughably, an "undocumented citizen", as such terms are patently oxymoronic.

To simplify, if a person is not properly inspected and officially approved for entry into the United States, that person can only be an "undocumented alien", an "illegal alien", or an "illegal entrant". When folks misuse these terms, either deliberately or ignorantly, correct them!

Abolishing Slavery Wasn't the Principle Cause of War Between the States

Throughout this chaotic and misinformed debate over historical statuary, remember this: the "civil war" is a grossly ignorant misnomer. A "civil war" is fought by two or more factions to achieve political control over a country. That wasn't at all the case with the Confederate States of America (CSA) which fought a purely defensive war to preserve its independence. It had no interest in taking over the entire union by seizing control in DC. And at the time of its withdrawal from the union, its departure from the union enjoyed wide public support in the North which viewed such a separation as a natural expression of our founding principles.

The War for Southern Independence was NOT fought over slavery which was, at best, a contributing economic-related cause of that conflict. Advancing slavery as THE cause for the war was a cynical and desperate Lincoln ploy to ennoble the North's invasion of the South and to address flagging army enlistments by rallying Northern support for what was a very unpopular war. Most importantly, proclaiming his desire to free the slaves as the fundamental cause for his invasion of the CSA was intended to discourage European intervention on behalf of the CSA which enjoyed strong support among European powers.

In Lincoln's own words, abolishing slavery was not at all his concern or interest. In truth, the dubious "Emancipation Proclamation", which effectively freed not one slave, was but a ruse to advance his war aims against the CSA.

Economically and politically oppressed by the North, the South embarked upon the only Founder-sanctioned remedy available to it--secession/recision/withdrawal.

(Among other books, and for starters, please read "The Politically Incorrect Guide to the Civil War" and "The Politically Incorrect Guide to the South". Also "Lincoln Unmasked", "The Real Lincoln" and my own "A Patriot's Call to Action".)

Never Yield to Fascist and neo-Nazi Tyranny

This morning, when I viewed Fascist Antifa/BLM protesters tearing down, then kicking and spitting on a Confederate statue which, since 1923, commemorated all those young men in the Confederacy, both black and white, who courageously sacrificed their lives to defend their homeland and families from invasion, I was totally sickened and enraged.

Immediately, the vision of Stalinists as well as of Italian and German Fascists airbrushing and distorting history by burning mounds of books and destroying statuary which didn't comport with their self-serving authoritarian version of history came into painful focus, and I was at once very worried that too many of us have, by our silence, come to tolerate the intolerable.

Tyranny by what is now a small but vocal and violent minority is tyranny. Remember that it was a tiny, vocal and violent minority that brought us Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy and Stalinist Russia. So, who's going to stop them and when?

These Fascists and neo-Marxists have no heart, no empathy, no sense of honor and decency, and, most importantly, they do not respect human life, our history, our Constitution and the sacrifices of our fallen brothers. This also applies to neo-Nazis and white supremacists on the alt-Right.

What's next for the neo-Marxist race-baiters and subverters? The Jefferson Memorial? The Washington Memorial? Both owned slaves. But, how about the Lincoln Memorial? (One needs to remember that throughout Lincoln's slash and burn invasion of the Confederacy he did all he could to elicit the support of black leaders to encourage their black brethren to migrate to Liberia and locations in central America. He never believed blacks should achieve an equal footing in American white society, and said so. He intended to maintain a white-dominated America. Of course, we only remember his Emancipation Proclamation, a politically-induced ruse intended to address flagging Northern enlistments and to ennoble an otherwise very unpopular war in the North.) In truth, and aided and abetted by the neo-Marxist Democrat Party, the removal or destruction of these monuments, like so many other national monuments in both the south and north, are already on the Fascist chopping block. And what will YOU do then? Or will it be too late?

IF the proverbial historical pendulum doesn't start swinging the other way soon--and only the weight of patriotic Americans can make that happen--this republic is t-o-a-s-t. And we have no one to blame but our go-along-to-get-along selves.

"Compromise" No Longer Honorable

In the distant good ol' days when American political parties shared patriotic fervor and limited government principles, and when their oath to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution was considered a solemn covenant with the People of the United States, "compromise" was a sensible, noble and commonsense way to govern a republic for which all shared a deep and abiding respect.

Well, today, with the Democratic Party taken over by an alien neo-Marxist ideology (Progressivism) and too many in the Republican Party no longer faithful to their republican principles, but choosing instead to co-opt big-government Progressivism simply to remain in power, "political compromise" is no longer noble, responsible or honorable.

Today, legislative compromise now more accurately connotes appeasement with un-American, anti-republican political forces bent on the fundamental transformation of America into an authoritarian system of command and control.

For genuine patriots and objective students of history, "compromise" today means exactly what it has become: accommodating an alien ideology, appeasing the enemy within, and surrendering to subversion. In short, there's NOTHING at all lofty and principled about compromising when it means subverting constitutional order and, in the longer term, committing national suicide.

To a man, our Founders would have unhesitatingly adjudged the likes of Senators Pelosi and Schumer, among other big-government Progressive elites in DC, both left and right, loathsome traitors to constitutional republican government. Sadly, the truth is often ugly and very unpleasant. Better get used to it because it isn't going to become any less pleasant.

BEWARE the Conceal Carry Reciprocity Act (HR 38)

With the passionate support of the NRA and GOA, the "Conceal Carry Reciprocity Act" is currently under consideration by the House. In effect, the federal bill, if passed, and irrespective of State Constitutions, allows a qualified individual to carry a concealed handgun into or possess a concealed handgun in another State that allows individuals to carry concealed firearms. Gee, nothing illegal about that, right? And, of course, being able to conceal carry across State lines with impunity would certainly be more convenient. Yes, indeed.

Just ONE BIG PROBLEM, fellow gun owners: ANY federal law that would force States to recognize conceal carry permits issued by other States is 100% unconstitutional, plain and simple.

Think about it: 1) the underlying Constitutional purpose of the 2nd Amendment is to ensure that able-bodied persons in each State are suitably armed and trained to defend the liberty and sovereignty of the State as part of the Militia when called upon, and the critically important right to bear arms is predicated on that foundational principle; 2) while self-defense is a natural right, it is no more important than the Militia's ability to defend the liberty and sovereignty of the communities, for without one's ability and right to arm and defend himself, a Militia is impossible, and, finally; 3) IF CONGRESS CAN CONFER A RIGHT TO CARRY FIREARMS ACROSS STATE LINES, REGARDLESS OF STATE LAWS, THEN A FUTURE CONGRESS COULD JUST AS EASILY RESTRICT THE CARRYING OF FIREARMS THAT ONCE CROSSED STATE LINES, REGARDLESS OF STATE LAWS, AND IT COULD ESTABLISH A NATIONAL ARMS REGISTRY IN THE PROCESS.

Gee, doesn't sound so attractive anymore, does it.

The point is this: the federal government cannot constitutionally regulate gun ownership or State gun laws--nor should a free people who take their rights seriously approve such a frightening overreach.

Let the States work this out--NOT Leviathan!!! Since there is NOTHING in the Constitution which delegates such 2nd Amendment authority over the States by the federal government, let's leave well-enough alone. (Of course, we could push for an amendment to the Constitution permitting such federal authority, but I wouldn't advise it.)

What appears attractive can often kill you as well. So, were I you I'd carefully think about the downside of HR 38 before blindly supporting it. The feds have usurped enough State and individual powers already. Are you willing to surrender more? Once you give away your freedom, it's nearly impossible to get it back. My advice: be VERY VERY CAREFUL, gun owners and gun rights organizations.

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Postscript: a respondent enquired as to why a federally-mandated reciprocity law would constitute infringement. My answer: The 2nd Amendment was intended by the States and their citizens to restrict the feds in such matters, principally to safeguard State sovereignty from both foreign invasion and national tyranny. It was not intended to be a restriction on the States. That said, one needs to carefully look at one's State Constitution to ensure that one's 2nd Amendment rights are unabridged. Accordingly, any State Statute which purports to require a permit before one may carry a gun is probably unconstitutional under that State's Constitution, but, in any case, is certainly unconstitutional under the federal Constitution. Why?  Because Congress may lawfully require able-bodied male Citizens to acquire firearms and ammo and to receive training by the Militia, this per the Militia Act of 1792. However, this 1792 Act DOES NOT permit gun control/regulations by the feds. So, this is why reciprocity is a State function and why reciprocity should be handled on an inter-State basis without federal intrusion. I hope this explanation helps. The NRA and GOA, of which I am a member, are very myopic with respect to the downside of HR 38. Reciprocity is a pretty bauble maybe, but with very sharp edges.

Trump's Ban/Refugee Suspension Temporarily OKed

From my reading of the SCOTUS ruling this morning, here's what my understanding is:

In the interest of national security, 9 justices have ruled that the Trump ban is in force pending a final SCOTUS decision on the matter some time after the court reconvenes in October. This ban applies to persons in the six countries (Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Iran, Iraq) covered in Trump's revised travel ban order (EO-2) and will apply to all persons in those countries EXCEPT bonafide students (already accepted by a university), employees who have been offered and have accepted employment by a US company, invited lecturers and those with a "close familial relationship" in the US. It also broadly validates the President's authority to exercise immigration policy as part of his constitutional authority to conduct foreign policy.

From my reading of the ruling, this also validates the President's authority to immediately enforce a suspension of refugee admissions into the US pending the President's review of the current vetting process. Exception is granted to those foreign nationals with "close familial" ties in the US. Also, the 50,000 refugee cap is authorized, but can be exceeded to accommodate those refugees with close family ties. (Lots of greedy refugee resettlement workers here are loudly wailing and moaning. Get the anti-depressants out.)

Though pleased, am shocked the court actually upheld the law for a change. How very novel. That said, we can still count on more case-by-case litigation from leftist loons. Chaos is their God.

SCOTUS "Ruling" on Trump Ban Imminent

An immigration and refugee administrator/counselor for 22 years before my retirement in 2003, I would be appalled and sickened if SCOTUS once again flouts congressional intent by siding with the flawed "rulings" of the 9th and 4th circuits.

And what is especially odious and terrifying to me is the fact that we today have come to believe that SCOTUS jurists, America's NINE un-elected, unaccountable, black-robed, divinized judicial Delphic Oracles are somehow empowered by the Constitution to nullify executive or legislature edicts/laws.

Article III grants SCOTUS no such authority, and never has!!!!! The Court can opine, but NOT RULE and enforce. The weight of their opinion is that of moral suasion and nothing more. Their OPINIONS regarding the constitutionality of matters brought before them are no more nor less valid and sacred than the opinions of the sovereign States, their creators, or of the Executive and Congress. Jefferson and his fellow founders warned of this judicial tyranny. Well, it's here and what the hell are WE and our so-called "representatives" going to do about it? I suspect WE will whine and our representatives will duck and cover--AGAIN. Not the way a constitutional republic is supposed to operate.

There's a reason this bumper sticker appears prominently on the rear window of my vehicle: "Secession Sounds Better Every Day". I dream of a return to Jeffersonian republicanism which existed before Lincoln's Revolution, aka Lincoln's War, which turned this government and this republic into a top-down crony capitalist nightmare. Wilson, TR and the Roosevelts merely accelerated our rendezvous with national suicide.

Yes, I'm extremely angry and fed-up with the lawlessness and our leaders' faithlessness to and ignorance of our founding principles. Because enough of us understand what is really going on, and are incensed by this lawlessness, history teaches us that this grotesque state of affairs is not going to end well for any of us. The lines of division have been clearly drawn.

That said, in the case of the Trump ban the immortal SCOTUS judges may actually do the right thing--how novel--and summarily dismiss the lawless "rulings" of the 9th and 4th circuits. And, of course, I would be pleased with such an outcome. BUT, no matter what these divine Oracles "rule", the foundational problem of an overreaching judiciary will still afflict us all.

Confederate States of America: A Model of Jeffersonian Democracy

DID YOU KNOW that the Confederate States of America was an economic powerhouse before Lincoln's lawless and needlessly ruinous slash & burn invasion?

By a huge margin, Per Capita income in EVERY southern state exceeded that of every state in the North, and economic historians described the CSA economy in 1861 as the 4th most powerful in the world. (So, it wasn't a backward, poor and medieval swamp deserving of invasion.) Man, have we been sold a bill of goods all these years by Lincoln apologists passing themselves off as objective American historians.

And just how Jeffersonian vs Hamiltonian/Lincolnian was the CSA governmental structure? Intended to inhibit federal overreach/tyranny/corruption/crony capitalism, here's just a sampling of the restraints incorporated in the CSA Constitution:

1. To restrain general gov't spending, thus containing the growth and corruption of that gov't, the CSA Constitution required a 2/3 vote in each legislative chamber just to INTRODUCE a spending bill !!!!!

2. Bills were clean, i.e. no tack-ons unrelated to the bill under consideration = no pork, no 3,000 page indecipherable omnibus bills catering to an army of lobbyists.

3. Spending for Internal improvements, aka infrastructure, had to be financed by the States and/or private sector--NOT the central government !!! (This is also a requirement in our Constitution though you wouldn't know it. Trump, take careful note !!!)

4. The one 6-yr term President possessed the line-item veto

***5. By a 2/3 vote in each chamber any State in the confederacy was empowered to impeach ANY federal officer operating in that State's territory requiring a timely trial of that offending officer by the national Senate. (You can be sure that reduced federal abuse, overreach at the State level, huh?)

6. Only 3 States (roughly 25% of the States) were needed to propose amendments to the Constitution, and 2/3 of all States were required to ratify same. (Our Constitution under Art V requires 2/3 of States to propose amendments and 3/4 to ratify.)

7. For new States to be admitted into the confederacy, a 2/3 vote in both the House & Senate was required. (Currently, our Constitution requires but a simple majority in both houses of Congress to admit a new State.)

This is just a sampling of the enlightened Jeffersonian provisions contained in the CSA Constitution, some or all of which today's Convention of State advocates should seriously take a look at. (We should carefully consider these provisions for incorporation in our our own US Constitution.)

The more I read about the REAL Confederate States of America the more I come to realize how painfully misinformed we have all been regarding the prosperity, productivity and educational level of the CSA (1 in 248 Southerners were college educated vs 1 in 780 in the North). And BOTH whites and blacks shared in this prosperity. (There's a good reason why so many 'slaves' gallantly fought on the side of the Confederacy.)

Over the years, self-serving revisionist historians hellbent on rendering the North--and Czar Lincoln in particular--the "good guys" have sold us a pack a lies. After all, it is the victor who writes the history, inclusive of all the misinformation and spin, of course. (If you get a chance, for starters check out Donald Livingston's videoed historical commentaries about all aspects of that otherwise terrible and deliberately mischaracterized period in our history. Very enlightening, educational. Might even piss ya' off when you realize how hood-winked we've been all this time.)

For some time now, I have understood that the South can take justifiable pride in its illustrious history and the statuary honoring its heroes, the latter which the crazed Fascist Left revisionists have been intent on destroying these last several years.

Oh, and why did the South lose its War for Independence? Very simply, it was badly out-gunned and terribly out-numbered. 

Alternative to a Union on Life Support?

Been giving some thought to how best to solve our country's slide into self-induced oblivion. With that in mind, I posted this on Real Conservatives and other sites. What's your take?

Alternative to a Union on Life Support?

Bearing in mind that the founders were very careful not to include the word "perpetual" to describe the union of States the Constitution fashioned, and understanding that history dictates that no nation is immutable, then why not a purposeful re-organization of this system to better ensure its stability and adherence to republicanism and constitutional order?

What has been proposed in the past is the political break-up of the union into 4-5 Administrative Regions, each comprised of legislative representatives based upon the 1:30,000 ratio rule suggested by our founders. (Today's unmanageable ratio is 1:730,000), Each of those Regions would also elect a Regional Governor. Those Regions would be essentially self-governing except in those areas which have already been specifically delegated by the States to the general gov't. (Think Swiss cantons, the purist federal system existing in the world today.) And as the 1:30,000 ratio is exceeded, a Region is duly downsized by the creation of additional Regions as needed. What matters is the retention of a manageable ratio of reps-to-constituents, this to ensure a genuine representative republic.

In turn, these Regions would appoint an equal number of Regional "delegates" to the general government, the latter which would pretty much look like it does today, except that the national legislature would be unicameral. All three federal branches would remain, but the Regions would have considerably greater latitude in striking down/nullifying federal executive and judicial edicts as well as administrative regulations.

Short of this remedy, the ONLY peaceful founder-sanctioned remedy is recision/withdrawal/secession by the various States followed by the formation of various independent confederacies which may well opt for a close economic/political/military alliance among themselves. Populated by people with differing cultural outlooks, each confederacy would be republican in nature and would act in its own interest and with its own peculiar ideological biases incorporated into its manner of governing. Those citizens with a more traditional, conservative bias and those with a more utopian/socialist outlook would naturally gravitate toward like minded regions, a reordering which would reduce the current level of cultural/political/ideological turmoil, thus obviating the need for full-on secession.

Whichever remedy works best works for me. Either remedy would be lawful and go a long way to arresting our national suicide. But I hope one or the other occurs SOON!!! Expecting fleeting kumbaya moments of faux unity and the occasional short-lived tamping down of inflammatory rhetoric to solve the fundamental breakdown in constitutional order and the abysmally deep cultural/ideological divide existing today is nothing short of delusional.

Trump Tries to Rein in Federal Domestic Imperialism

As I mentioned previously, the Enclave Clause (Art 1 Sec 8 of the Constitution) specifically limits federal land ownership/control "over all places purchased by consent of the [State} legislature...for the erection of forts, magazines, arsenals, dock-yards and other needful buildings." THAT'S IT! No other purposes! Thus, if the feds want to expand that list to other objects, then the Constitution needs to be amended. Neither Congress nor the President is empowered to issue edicts or to pass laws in this regard which do not comport with the Constitution, the supreme law of the land.

So, while I'm pleased Trump and Zinke are trying to administratively reduce Obama's and his predecessors' obscenely greedy land grabs within various State territories, my advice to the Administration is to consult the Constitution and fulfill your Constitutional obligations. Respect and uphold Art I Sec 8 of the Constitution.

Let there be no mistake, folks. The blame for this federal imperialism falls squarely on the feckless, spineless States themselves. Their lack of principle, their ignorance of their constitutional authority in such matters, and their greedy acceptance of massive federal handouts over the years (bribes) have enslaved them and their citizens. And now they whine and look to their enslavers, the feds, to bail them out of a situation they themselves created by permitting this lawless federal land grab in the first place. Jerks!

Here We Go Again: Another Subversive Lib Assault on Trump's Legitimacy

As part of the Liberals' orchestrated assault upon the legitimacy of Trump's presidency, and on the basis of their shoddy understanding of the Constitution's "emoluments clause", two Liberal Attorney Generals (Maryland & DC) have recently sued Trump for earning income from his properties while he is President. Unsurprisingly, their contention is utterly without foundation. To counter idiotic leftist arguments in this regard, it is important you arm yourself with facts. Don't permit lawyerly spinmeistering to dictate your viewpoint. When in doubt, ALWAYS consult the Constitution. Here are the facts:

An “emolument” is a perk attached to an office. See Webster’s 1828 dictionary which is more contemporaneous to our founding period http://webstersdictionary1828.com/Dictionary/Emolument.
See also the 12 Federalist Papers which mention the term “emoluments” http://www.foundingfathers.info/federalistpapers/

"Emoluments” are mentioned at Art. I, Sec. 9, last clause, and at Art. II, Sec. 1, next to last clause.

Art. I, Sec. 9, last clause, prohibits any federal officer from accepting (without the consent of Congress), any present, Emolument, Office, or Title from any foreign State.

Art. II, Sec. 1, next to last clause, prohibits the President from receiving additional Emoluments from the United States or from any State.

The Emoluments now attached to the office of Presidency include living in the White House, with a full staff, Air Force One, security protection, and similarly relevant perks. Those perks can’t be increased or decreased by the United States or any of the 50 States. And Trump can’t get a job lobbying for any foreign State while he is President.

But this has nothing to do with Trump’s private businesses!

George Washington’s Mount Vernon was a large business enterprise selling whiskey, flour, among other produce. When Washington’s farm sold its produce, the proceeds weren’t “emoluments” within the meaning of the Constitution – they were the income from his farm.

It has been so long since we had a President who did something besides live off the taxpayers while in public office, that we have forgotten that real men can have successful businesses BEFORE they run for office. In fact, it was the purpose of the founders to send "citizen representatives" to Washington for short periods of time who would, after performing their civic responsibilities as stewards of their country, return to their regular vocations/businesses. The founders did not intend that income earned from their private enterprises automatically be denied these citizen representatives while they were fulfilling their civic responsibilities in Washington. Today, of course, most representatives to Washington become careerists and blood-suckers who haven't a clue as to the original meaning and intent of a Constitution most of whom have never even read - NOT what our founders anticipated or intended.

Why do these AGs do this? Recall the Democrat Goal: RULE OR RUIN

TIGHTROPE

In TIGHTROPE, Jim Delaney candidly chronicles his unique professional challenges and personal trials as director of a humanitarian operation in Laos before, during and after the Communist takeover there in 1975. Available at Amazon.

Book signings at Alpha and Omega Bookstores: July 8 (Noon-2) Penfield store; July 15 (3-5) Greece store.

British Dingbattery

Dingbattery! There's gotta' be a psychological term for delusional folks like the Manchester Mayor and other Islamic terrorist apologists. Cognitive Dissonance? Dissociative Disorder? And on a macro societal level, such disorders are, of course, suicidal? The Mayor's PC shamelessly dishonors the victims of the terrorist attack.

Manchester Mayor: Bomber Was Not A Muslim.

The mayor of Manchester says that Salman Abedi, the son of Libyan migrants who killed 22 people including children in the name of Allah, was actually not a Muslim.

CONSERVATIVENEWS.COM

How Best to Protect Refugees and Our Children

No terrorist attacks in Japan, Poland, Slovenia and Hungary. NONE! And I wonder why. Simple really. Because these countries which value the security of their children utterly reject PC strong arming to resettle refugees from Muslim countries. DUH!

Of course, needy, persecuted Muslim refugees deserve protection, but NOT resettlement. It's well past time to seriously establish well-protected and well-provisioned "safe zones" overseas. But, since such a remedy is commonsense and workable, those in the suicidal globalist Leftist circles will continue to reject such a sensible proposal. They're insane.

Exposure of Democrat Party Perfidy Inescapable

LIKE MANY OF YOU, I'm sure, I too have been carefully reading many reports of late which strongly suggest that the insidious Democrat Party apparatchiks--the Clintons, the DNC, and their unprincipled political cronies and allies--are, quite literally, awash in heinous scandals which, up to now, have been either fairly well concealed or conveniently ignored.

That said, however, I'm increasingly encouraged that the full scope of their corruption and perfidy is finally seeping through their well-crafted web of lies, deceit and disinformation. And as proof of their misdeeds are exposed to public scrutiny, the breadth of their criminality will become harder and harder to hide and cronies within will begin to crack and scurry for cover.

So, take heart, folks, I honestly believe that it's only a matter of time when the on-going investigative efforts--by both private and public entities--will converge and, in turn, lead to full and painful exposure of the Democrat Party's AWFUL lawlessness and subversion. It's not going to be pretty. It will be painful for a nation already racked by division and conflict. The exposure will likely turn the DC political world upside down. But, the sooner all the terrible truth is fully exposed the sooner we can bind our wounds and move on as a nation where Rule of Law is once again fully honored.

Our job, of course, is to remain vigilant, engaged, informed and, yes, appropriately angry. Like Gingrich recently counseled, to save America we must all "FIGHT!"

In the Battle for America's Soul, Who Will Win?

THIS IS DEADLY SERIOUS, folks.

In the face of an unrelenting blitzkrieg of debilitating Lefty attacks on this Administration, Newt Gingrich offers up some timely and sobering advice to the SPINELESS GOP: “Further surrendering will destroy America as we know it. Far from making America great again, we will have yielded our country to left-wing THUGS, LIARS and INTIMIDATORS. Those of us who truly want to make America great again have one choice: Fight!”

Folks, we really are at a crossroads. Leftist tyranny and thuggery are manifestly out of control--and they're winning!

Take the time to at least telephone Mitch McConnell and Paul Ryan to get off their unprincipled duffs by leading a powerful resistance against Leftist subversion of both the Administration and the Republic. Tell them to fight as if the survival of our country depended upon it--because it does!

In this toxic ideological battle for our souls, the silent and the meek will be crushed.

Alert: Gingrich Says Americans Only Have 1 Choice on Trump... GOP Appalled

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich didn't hold anything back... but will enough Americans listen?

CONSERVATIVETRIBUNE.COM

Leftist Hypocrisy in a Nutshell

This sums it up very nicely.

Some words were cropped out of the Ass's comment. It should read "That just means we should keep investigating."

If this doesn't validate why Trump and the GOP must engage in TOTAL POLITICAL WAR against the Liberal weasels, nothing will. It's well past time to throttle the unprincipled, shameless Left. And while you're at it, TAKE NO PRISONERS!!!!! Enough is enough!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's time to pull all stops and begin intensive investigations in the Left's corruption and subversion.

Presumed Guilty

Cartoons Share on FacebookShare Tweet Email Email PrintPresumed Guilty By A.F. Brancoon May 15, 2017 at 8:24am Share on FacebookShare Tweet Email Email PrintAdvertisement - story continues below What do you think? Scroll down to…

WESTERNJOURNALISM.COM