Expanded war powers: history repeats itself

Expanded war powers: history repeats itself

 

Echoes of the 1930s are reverberating through Congress today because President Obama made a request for expansive war powers. http://www.news9.com/story/28067347/obama-to-send-his-new-war-powers-request-to-capitol-hill Memories of Americans may be shallow yet 82 years ago a request for expanded powers came from a little known leader in Germany. Under the Enabling Act the German leader was granted plenary powers. Invested Hitler was the ability to make laws by-passing the Reichstag, the German equivalent of Congress. Obama has already usurped Congressional authority with unconstitutional Executive Orders. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enabling_Act_of_1933 If Obama’s requested authorization is enacted there would be no geographical, political or technical boundaries which would be off limits to him. Many of the President’s requests to Congress have been to expand his authority at the expense of Civil Liberties. Most recently the FCC has proposed wide ranging controls on an internet that is now free to all users. Once his war powers request is enacted Obama could make the case to shut down the media, bring more foreigners to American soil and even reconfigure the economy. History is fraught with examples.

 

President Obama’s inability to conduct foreign affairs, on a level befitting an American head of state, is evident across a wide range of actions he initiated. In each case his mismanagement was so gross the outcomes were exponentially worse than anyone expected. From the Arab Spring to the assault on Americans in Benghazi Obama has clearly demonstrated a profound ineptitude to protect this country’s interests abroad. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_Spring

 Further, he has displayed a propensity to side with groups whose ambitions are not in the best interests of the United States. Handing a person, such as described here, expansive war powers can be deleterious to a nation that has fallen behind the rest of the international community in power and prestige. Americans have forgotten their history from a few generations ago. Present day America is not the country millions have fought and died for. President Obama’s war powers should be restricted allowing those whose countries have been invaded to fight their own battles. Open ended conflict, as Obama proposes, may be the ticket he has been looking for to further decimate the rights of Americans. Perhaps one person in Congress will have the wherewithal to question Obama’s true motives, as many in the conservative media already have.

 

Mark Davis MD, President of Davis Writing Services, www.daviswritingservices.com platomd@gmail.com Author of Demons of Democracy and Obamacare: Dead on Arrival, A Prescription for Disaster.

Kids, Guns and America's Failing Education System

Here is a novel idea that would help bring value back into our failing education system.   Start teaching kids gun safety in schools and let the local sheriff departments and responsible community members like those in Tea Team USA help set the courses up.

Every Time A New Pope Is Elected...

By Findalis of Monkey in the Middle

There are many rituals in accordance with tradition, but there is one tradition that very few people know about.

Shortly after a new Pope is enthroned, the Chief Rabbi of Rome seeks an audience. He is shown into the Pope's presence, whereupon he presents the Pope with a silver tray bearing a velvet cushion. On top of the cushion is an ancient, shriveled envelope. The Pope symbolically stretches out his arm in a gesture of rejection. The Chief Rabbi then retires, taking the envelope with him and does not return until the next Pope is elected.

A new Pope's reign was shortly followed by a new Chief Rabbi. He was intrigued by this ritual and that its origins were unknown to him. He instructed the best scholars of the Vatican to research it, but they came up with nothing.

When the time came and the Chief Rabbi was shown into his presence, they faithfully enacted the ritual rejection but, as the Chief Rabbi turned to leave, the Pope called him back.

"My brother," the Pope whispered, "I must confess that we Catholics are ignorant of the meaning of this ritual enacted for centuries between us and you, the representative of the Jewish people. I have to ask you, what is it all about?"

The Chief Rabbi shrugged and replied: "We have no more idea than you do. The origin of the ceremony is lost in the traditions of ancient history."

The Pope said: "Let us retire to my private chambers and enjoy a glass of kosher wine together; then with your agreement, we shall open the envelope and discover the secret at last." The Chief Rabbi agreed.

Fortified in their resolve by the wine, they gingerly pried open the curling parchment envelope and with trembling fingers, the Chief Rabbi reached inside and extracted a folded sheet of similarly ancient paper.

As the Pope peered over his shoulder, he slowly opened it. They both gasped with shock —

It was a bill for the Last Supper — from "Moishe the Caterer."

Remark: that joke is probably as old as Papacy, but right now it's relevant again, for a while...

Dumbing Down History in North Carolina and America

Dumbing Down History in North Carolina and America
Revising History to Favor Socialism and Marxism
A Commentary by J. D. Longstreet
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Another leftist plot is afoot here, in North Carolina, to reinforce the ignorance of our young students of their history, their heritage, and their REAL American culture. And this is not the first time the left has tried this move in North Carolina. We urge you to go to NCSOUTH’s blog site and read the entire article there. This is a must read! Go HERE!

http://ncsouth.blogspot.com/2010/02/dumbing-down-history-again.html

In an article at "Common Core" entitled "Dumbing Down The Tar Heel State," James Elias says the following: "Newly proposed standards would mean that, over their high school career, students in North Carolina would take an ambiguous course called global studies in 9th grade, take study civics and economics in 10th grade, and study U.S. history from 1877 to the present in 11th grade." He goes on to say: " The Lexington Institute’s recent report, The Teaching of American History: Promise and Performance, documents the country’s growing indifference toward its own history. How can students assume the responsibilities and privileges of democratic citizenship if they don’t know the basic facts of our national experience?" You may read the entire article HERE.

In an article by Molly Henneberg at "The Water Cooler" entitled: "North Carolina Schools May Cut Chunk Out of U.S. History Lessons" Ms. Henneberg says: "He may be the president who governed during the Civil War, freeing the slaves, but under a new curriculum proposal for North Carolina high schools, U.S. history would begin years after President Lincoln, with the presidency of Rutherford B. Hayes in 1877." She goes on to say: "State education leaders say this may help students learn about more recent history in greater depth." Ms. Henneberg continues: "Under the proposed change, the ninth-graders would take a course called global studies, focusing in part on issues such as the environment. The 10th grade still would study civics and economics, but 11th-graders would take U.S. history only from 1877 onward." You may read the entire article HERE.

What we have, here in North Carolina, is a bold-faced move, by the political left, to isolate young Tar Heels from their history, their true culture, and their true heritage.

There has been a movement by the left, for a number of decades now, to dumb down our students -- especially as to their history, the history of their respective states, and the history of western civilization -- especially the history of America. Why? Well allow me to answer that question with another question: Had the American electorate actually known American history, the history of western civilization, do you seriously think they would have elected Obama to be President of the United States? The answer, of course, is a resounding NO!

This is all about the indoctrination of America's young to favor socialism/Marxism, at an early age, while they are still within the government/union-run indoctrination machine we refer to, laughingly, as the Public Education System in America. This is about creating a generation(s) of young socialists/Marxists. AND IT IS WORKING! If you doubt me, look at Congress and the Office of the President of the United States. Today America has a socialist government!

For more on the indoctrination of our young students, go to the Internet and look for something called "Organizing for America." You will learn that Organizing for America is the grassroots arm of the Democratic National Committee. You will also learn how the Obama Regime is using America's high school students as a leftist army of young people supporting Obama's socialist/Marxist agenda. You will also learn that some high school students have been given applications for employment at Barack Obama's personal political wing: Organizing for America (OFA). Included on the 20-page application is a recommended reading list that includes the most radical propaganda literature imaginable. Prominent on the list: Saul Alinsky's Rules for Radicals, which is a step-by-step guide to the violent overthrow of the United States government. You may read more about this and see the "Intern application" for "Organizing for America" for yourself HERE.

Why aren't you hearing about this in the Mainstream Media? Do you REALLY have to ask that? The MsM is so deep in the tank for Obama, and his socialist/Marxist agenda, that it is embarrassing!! Had the Republican National Committee done this, the MsM would have been howling to high heaven! Of course, we all KNOW they are not biased!

According to Wikipedia: "Organizing for America is a community organizing project of the Democratic National Committee. Founded after the presidential inauguration of Barack Obama, the group seeks to mobilize supporters in favor of Obama's legislative agenda." Read the entire article HERE.

What is happening in North Carolina Public Education is inexcusable! For Tar Heels to sit on their hands, and do nothing to stop it is even worse. North Carolinians should be contacting their state representatives and state senators about this issue by personal contact, letters, telephone calls, faxes, and e-mail -- any way they can -- to make sure the General Assembly KNOWS, without a shadow of a doubt, that Tar Heels want their kids left alone! We do not want our children indoctrinated in leftist politics while spending those precious hours in an attempt to gain, at least, a rudimentary education!

The Department of Public Instruction should understand that we want our children taught the true, un-revised, history of the North Carolina, of the United States of America -- and of Western Civilization. We want our children to know WHO they are, and WHERE their ancestors came from, and WHY. We want them to understand their TRUE culture -- and just as important -- we want our children to know and understand their true HERITAGE!

If you wish to control a people, any people, these are the things from which you isolate them. You cut them off from any ties to their history, their culture, and their heritage -- and you do it FIRST and you do it EARLY in their development.

It is not difficult to see and understand what is happening in North Carolina. It is happening all over the United States. Americans are watching a coup de tat take place right before our eyes!

Americans have lost their government to socialism/Marxism. The country is on its knees economically. It is weakened, humbled, and very, very, vulnerable. The enemies of freedom, within our country, know this and they are striking now to take advantage of America's preoccupation with its current economic woes. We cannot allow them to win. We cannot allow them to crush, to destroy, the experiment in freedom that was America.

We can, and we must, begin the struggle to fight back right here in North Carolina.

The state motto of North Carolina is: "To BE rather than to SEEM." There is a reason that phrase was chosen as our state motto.

The tenacity of North Carolina’s Confederate troops is still extolled where real history is taught. During America's War Between the States North Carolina Troops were known to be "FIRST at Bethel, FARTHEST at Gettysburg and Chickamauga, and LAST to surrender at Appomattox." The bravery of Tar Heels is legendary. North Carolina actually declared its independence from Great Britain BEFORE the other colonies. THIS is only a tiny fraction of the history Tar Heel students should be taught. No matter if the history is good, bad, or even ugly, our students should know it. It is THEIR STORY.

We urge our fellow Tar Heels to contact your North Carolina state representative and state senator and demand they step in and stop this move to dumb down North Carolina's students. Do it for the sake of the students, for the sake of North Carolina, and for the sake of America.

J. D. Longstreet

The Failed Presidency of B. H. Obama

The Failed Presidency of B. H. Obama
A Commentary by J. D. Longstreet
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A conservative friend, early on in the presidential campaign of Obama, informed me that the man was an empty suit. There was no "THERE" there, my friend insisted. I was assured Obama was, and is, running a con game on the American people.

Now that I, along with all of America and the world, have had a chance to observe the man in action (actually, that should be "INACTION"... about the only action we have seen from him is his mouth moving during those hundreds of speeches he made over the past year) I have to admit there was more than a little truth to what my friend said. So far as getting anything done, well, what did he DO?

There can be no question Obama's presidency is a failure. In my opinion Obama is a phony. He ain't that smart and he ain't that articulate. Take away the TelePrompTer and the man is clueless.

I have been a public speaker practically all my life and I must tell you, speaking with notes is quite different than speaking extemporaneously, without notes, off the top of your head, so to speak. (No pun intended.) The use of a TelePrompTer basically requires that you show up for the event and that is about all there is to it.

A well-written speech can make anyone look exceptional. The President, all presidents, have a battery of speechwriters to do just that. One of the best, in my humble opinion, is Peggy Noonan. The lady has a way with a phrase, any phrase. If I learned that Ms. Noonan had written a speech -- I wanted to hear it. She is THAT good!

The American Thinker, in a piece by Geoffrey P. Hunt entitled: "Another Failed Presidency" said the following: "... It's not so much that he's a phony, knows nothing about economics, is historically illiterate, and woefully small minded for the size of the task-- all contributory of course. It's that he's not one of us. And whatever he is, his profile is fuzzy and devoid of content, like a cardboard cutout made from delaminated corrugated paper. Moreover, he doesn't command our respect and is unable to appeal to our own common sense. His notions of right and wrong are repugnant and how things work just don't add up. They are not existential. His descriptions of the world we live in don't make sense and don't correspond with our experience.
In the meantime, while we've been struggling to take a measurement of this man, he's dissed just about every one of us--financiers, energy producers, banks, insurance executives, police officers, doctors, nurses, hospital administrators, post office workers, and anybody else who has a non-green job. ...” You can read the entire article, and we encourage you to do just that, HERE.

It is a shame there is no constitutional mechanism by which Obama can be removed from office before he does even more harm to the country. Alas, there isn't.

But what of there was? Back in August of 2007 Robert Dallek wrote an op-ed piece for the Washington Post entitled "Ouster By the People." He proposed a constitutional amendment which would allow a national referendum to decide whether to remove a President and Vice-President by voting "Yes" or "No".

In the article Mr. Dallek said the following: "Such an amendment would need to set a high bar for removal and include a process that would be the greatest possible expression of the popular will. This could best be achieved through a recall procedure beginning in the House and the Senate, where a 60 percent vote would be required in both chambers to initiate a national referendum that would be open to all citizens eligible to vote in state elections. The ballot would simply ask voters to say yes or no to removing the president and vice president from office immediately. Should a majority vote to recall both incumbents, the speaker of the House would succeed to the presidency and, under the provisions of the 25th Amendment, would choose a vice president, who would need to be confirmed by majorities in the House and the Senate." Mr. Dallek concluded by saying: "The nation should be able to remove by an orderly constitutional process any president with an unyielding commitment to failed policies and an inability to renew the country's hope."

Mr. Dallek was lamenting the "failed presidency of George W. Bush" at the time. What is truly frightening about such a "law" is the current Speaker of the House of Representatives is... Nancy Pelosi! I'd vote "NO!" Yes, I admit it! I'd vote to keep Obama rather than place the country in the hands of Madam Speaker. You may read the entire article HERE.

(By the way, there are eighteen states that allow recall elections for removing a sitting governor.)

Obama has made it clear to Americans that the office of President has become far too powerful. His appointing "Czars" to by-pass Congress, and carry out his wishes, smacks of abuse of power. I am still not comfortable assuming Obama's Czars are constitutional. I have been waiting for someone to challenge the Czars in court, but I know of no such litigation.

Obama has shown disdain for the constitution, he has embarrassed a huge portion of the country by bowing to foreign leaders, and making that world-wide “Apology Tour” in which he spoke ill of America while on foreign soil. That was unforgivable.

By delaying a decision on sending more troops to Afghanistan, in my opinion, he was directly culpable in the deaths of American servicemen during the months he delayed those reinforcements. Those were wasted American lives.

Obama has placed America in unbelievable debt. America is so deeply in debt that our grandkids and great grandkids will be stuck with the bill. It will take generations to pay it off.

The Obama Regime knows that if it expects to get anything done he must do it now -- before the Mid-Term Election in November. The handwriting is on the wall. Consider what happened in Massachusetts. It was a referendum on the Obama Regime and it is the bellwether of things to come for the Democratic Party.

Obama has secured his place in the history books. America's first African-American President. Other than that, well, there's not much to tell, really.

J. D. Longstreet

New Life for an Old Symbol: “Come And Take It!”

Whether it’s Obama’s elitist disdain for the great unwashed who, “cling to guns or religion,” or McCain’s disregard for the majority of American citizens who don’t want to grant amnesty to ILLEGAL ALIENS, one symbol stands out as the symbol of the day! It’s the Come And Take It" symbol, flag, and slogan used in the Texas Revolution in 1835. This symbol is no longer hiding in a dusty history book. It is now being resurrected as the symbol of America’s fight against Illegal immigration.

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Since the 1980’s gun-rights advocates have modified the original cannon symbol; using instead an aggressive looking assault rifle. But the original cannon has behind it the strength and subtle symbolic power of our long history with Mexico. The symbol of that little original 6 pound Come And Take It cannon now belongs to all American citizens who stand up in defiance of the Mexican invasion!

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We will not be overwhelmed!

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Imagine May Day 2009. Instead of retching at the sight of Mexican flags flying over our American streets, imagine a sea of white and black Come and Take It flags flying as a sign of American Unity against illegal immigration!

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Imagine walking into your local grocery store or Wal-Mart any day and seeing many other Americans proudly wearing their Come And Take It T-shirts or ball caps.

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Imagine thousands of bumper stickers in this election year with the simple words “Come And Take It!” Talk about sending a message to both candidates!!!

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If we can’t see ourselves flying the Come And Take it Flag, or wearing the T-shirt or ball cap, then we better be able to envision ourselves living under the domination of Mexican Flag!

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Note to Mexico: Those who fail to remember history are doomed to repeat history!

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Here’s the brief history of Come And Take It from the Gonzales, Texas Chamber of Commerce.

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“In 1831 the Mexican government loaned the citizens of Gonzales a six-pound cannon as protection against the Indians. In September of 1835, as political unrest grew, Mexican officials at San Antonio de Bexar demanded the cannon be returned.”

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Well that just didn’t happen! Read the entire story here.

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Here’s how it ended:

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“There, in the early-morning hours of Oct. 2, 1835, the colonists crossed the river with their cannon, surprising the troops and waving their hastily fashioned flag, which proclaimed "Come and Take It." Almost immediately the cannon fired, killing one of Castenada's men and scattering the rest, forcing them to retreat to San Antonio de Bexar. Thus was fired the shot that set off the struggle for Texas independence from Mexico.”

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It’s such a simple symbol that anyone with a black permanent marker and white cloth can quickly duplicate it! But wouldn’t it be nice to find a place where we can buy Come and Take It! items?

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When I suggested a line of Come And Take It gifts, clothing, and caps to Texas Fred, he immediately got with the folks at CafePress and added an entire page of Come And Take It goodies. Fred wisely included both the original and modified symbols on his products.

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Disclaimer: I am not involved in Texas Fred’s financial ventures but I applaud his initiative in getting the ball rolling! Check out the Come And Take It gifts here.

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Bloggers can also join the new Come And Take It blogroll here.

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Here are some Come and Take It Flag resources:

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Battle Flags Etc.

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Come and Take It! Flags

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News from ALIPAC Vast majority of states passing immigration enforcement bills!

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“ . . .The truth is that the overwhelming evidence proves that a super majority of Americans oppose Comprehensive Immigration Reform, Guest Worker Program, Temporary Worker Program, Path to Citizenship, etc... That is why the supporters of amnesty have to keep changing the name!

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A majority of Americans support the enforcement of our existing immigration laws only, which results in illegal aliens returning home on their own or with government assistance.

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Any lawmaker, candidate, reporter, activist, or organization that supports the current lack of enforcement of the existing laws, or supports the overthrow of these laws by passage of new legislation, which a majority of Americans oppose, is a traitor to the American republic and an enemy of the citizens of the United States. . . .”

Digg It!