A Baker's Dozen from 2009

As I look back over my blogging the past year, I am thankful to all who have taken the time to read my posts. To remember 2009 the following are posts that you may want to go back and read. Thanks for the support, and hopefully, 2010 will be filled with much more quality content.

Here is a baker's dozen from 2009

1. Ginsburg's Comments Underscore Deeper Disregard for Constitutional Authority

2. What's In A Name? (Why Conservative Used to and Should Still Mean Libertarian)

3. Why Abortion is Unconstitutional

4. Which Price Will You Pay?

5. Socialized Medicine: A Threat to the Constitution and Responsibility

6. Consistency in our "Fidelity to the Law"

7. The Battle for our Continued Revolution

8. Consistency in our Pursuit of Privacy

9. Lindsey Graham: A Souless Man

10. If That Isn't the Kettle Calling the Pot...Well...You Know

11. My Thoughts on KSM and Those at Gitmo

12. Unconstitutionality Trumps Grandma

13. Nullification Post

Already Rep. Lynn Faces Attacks for Nullification Statements

Already the fear-mongering and unfounded claims of slavery support have been thrown at Rep. Susan Lynn for her recent statements regarding nullification.

Read the following post for all the details, but here is a taste:

Rep. Mike Turner, chairman of the House Democrats’ political caucus, said Tuesday Lynn’s comments harkened back to Civil War-era arguments. In the Nullification Crisis of the 1830s, South Carolina passed a law nullifying federal tariffs, but the state backed down after President Andrew Jackson sent Navy warships to the Charleston harbor.

“Susan Lynn is yearning for times gone by,” Turner said. “Maybe we could put the poor people back to sharecropping and slavery and let the people up at the big house have all the nice things. We’ve already had that fight about states’ rights.

“I’m probably against everything that Susan Lynn’s for. I know people in her district without health care insurance. I know people in her district without jobs. These people are suffering. I’m just not sure she lives in the same world as everybody else.”

Lynn responded, “I can’t even imagine that’s a serious comment.”

This is why we we must work to combat ignorance by those who seek to do away with the constitution and violate our freedom. Nullification is right, and it is constitutional. Let's prove it without be discouraged by foolish attacks like those made by Rep. Turner.

Good News on the Nullification Front

There is new nullification news here in my home state of Tennessee, and it is really good news.

Recently, State Representative Susan Lynn spoke on the matter during Mike Church's radio show (transcript here). While there she let it be known that the Tenth Amendment is alive and well in the volunteer state.

When asked what could be done to fight against the unconstitutional healthcare bill's possible final passage, Lynn replied, "Well, I wrote a letter to our attorney general, asking him to please prepare to take any appropriate legal action against the federal government in case the healthcare bill passes. And this is because this is clearly a violation of equal protection. But more than that, it’s an affront to our state sovereignty."

Later on when asked if there were nullification plans in the works for this "affront to state sovereignty," Rep. Lynn replied, "Yeah, it’s my understanding that a nullification bill is going to be filed in Tennessee."

There you have. Some in Tennessee do intend to fight the proposed healthcare reform bill if it goes into law through nullification. Hopefully, this fight will bring the principle of nullification back into the public eye, and we are able to show how the principle is constitutional, beneficial, and just, perhaps we can begin to turn back an out-of-control federal government and reestablish constitutional rule.

If you are interested in the concept of nullification, please check out my recent article on issue.

More Talk of Preemptive War

No doubt we live in a dangerous time. Weapons of mass destruction are owned and produced by major powers with the constant threat of theses same weapons falling into the hands of rouge groups or even individuals. While terrorism is nothing new, since the attacks of September 11, 2001 and the actions following that attack, we have seen much blood spilled and many lives taken in the so-called "War on Terror."

What has happened over the past decade, however, is not the only danger we have faced and continue to face. Rather, our very own foreign policy has become a massive danger to our republic and our very existence. We have turned away from the sound principles of a strong national defense to an offensive approach of undeclared, preemptive war.--something to be lamented.

We have turned the principles of liberty envisioned by our Founders completely on its head. We are no safer for the trouble, and thousands of our brave men and women--as well as numerous innocents--have lost their lives.

We have set a dangerous precedent--that of preemptive war. Therefore, I shutter at the future if we continue this reckless and immoral foreign policy into the years to come.

As I read the following Politico story, it seems that at least for now the policy of reckless preemptive war shows no sign of stopping.

Politico reports:

Sens. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) and Arlen Specter (D-Pa.) were on Fox News Sunday describing Yemen as an emerging hotbed of terrorist threats — and calling for pre-emptive action against the failing Islamic state on the Saudi peninsula if necessary.

Lieberman: "Somebody in our government said to me in Sana’a, the capital of Yemen, Iraq was yesterday’s war. ... Afghanistan is today’s war. If we don’t act pre-emptively, Yemen will be tomorrow’s war. That’s the danger we face."

Specter said an attack against targets in Yemen should be "something we should consider."

How can we even consider this? What real threat can that nation truly pose to us? When will these wars stop? How many must die until their thirst for blood be satisfied?

These questions demand answers. I am truly troubled by talk like this coming from our elected officials.

Now, I am no peace-nick hippy. Moreover, I believe that war can be and is at times justified, but I cannot understand the current foreign policy pursued by our leadership.

Hopefully, we will change our attitudes before it is too late. Otherwise, I fear we will never have any peace and our nation will crumble by the weight of its own commitment as world policeman.

Merry Christmas: The Christ Has Come!

The Birth of Jesus Christ (from the Gospel of Luke)

2:1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

The Shepherds and the Angels

8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” [3]

15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

21 And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

Jesus Presented at the Temple

22 And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, 28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,

29 “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,
according to your word;
30 for my eyes have seen your salvation
31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and for glory to your people Israel.”

33 And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed 35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

Neocon Pundits Amp Up Demonization Efforts in Response to Possible Ron Paul 2012 Run

Neocon Pundits Amp Up Demonization Efforts in Response to Possible Ron Paul 2012 Run--what we have to look forward to as those who support liberty.

The last presidency has radically changed the way the American Right views what is right. Conservatism, which according to Reagan had libertarianism at its "very hearty and soul," (see here) has been radically reshaped to stand for war-mongering and liberty-bashing. I, for one, am tired of statists from both sides who are in a philosophical bed together pointing to libertarians as some new fringe movement. Those who loved liberty built this country and made it great. The values we hold were those of our Founders. Their values were those of our oppressors.

Be warned: if you value life, liberty, and property, be prepared to continue to face demonization by these party shills and philosophical midgets.

Paved with Good Intentions

As we creep closer to socialized medicine, I am continually reminded that many enemies of liberty do not understand why, though they shackle us with unconstitutional legislation, they are not greeted as liberators.

It is because our current struggle in which we see our liberties further eroded is, for the most part, nothing more than a symptom of a broader problem--the problem of good intentions.

Now, good intentions are not bad. In fact, I work in accordance with good intention as I am sure most do. The problem arises when we let our desire for good blind us to the results of our actions.

The good intent of wanting to help granny get down the steps quicker cannot justify me giving her a little push. Yes, intentions count, but so do results.

Not all actions by our elected officials have noble origins. Corruption, immorality, and the like rule quite often at all levels of government. But on occasion, good intentions back legislative decisions. However, what we must realize is that government is not a game of effort, but rather, it involves human lives--human lives whose life and liberty are often in peril when met with government interference.

So let us always stand against action of bad intention, but also, let us guard against what is proposed for our "own good."

We must remember that however noble the intentions, the results are what matters. Perhaps many in Congress desire passage of Obamacare because they truly want to help. But when its passage results in loss of life and liberty, there noble intentions will be nothing more than a kind start to a bitter end.