Thursday, October 15, 2015

America’s Great Need

The state of our nation coupled with the perception of our citizens brings about much fear for the future of the USA.  For seemingly the first time in history, we have lost our way to such a degree that people (at least what the ‘polls’ tell us) do not understand what is required to have a safe, strong, and stable nation.  It appears that at least half of the citizens have little clue about what made and makes us great, the sacrifices required, and the attention which must be given to our Liberty – “IF” we are to survive.
Admittedly, I have not watched (and probably will not watch) the Democratic Party’s Presidential debate, but I have watched some snippets online.  What I saw and what I see in the substance of the debate concerns me greatly.  Before you choose to attack me for what I’m about to write, just remember these are on MY THOUGHTS, not yours, not a Political Party’s, and certainly not ‘right’ or ‘wrong’, these are some of the truths that I have gleaned from watching this disturbing process.
The first hint of how far away from our “Founding Fathers” vision for this nation is seen in the fact that Bernie Sanders is even allowed on the stage.  I am ‘stunned’ that a self-proclaimed SOCIALIST is even being validated by any true American.  I cannot find the right words to describe my feeling; ‘stunning’, ‘shocking’, ‘frightening’, and the list goes on but none seem sufficient.  Haven’t we learned anything from history?  Socialism broke the back of the old Soviet Union and will ultimately break the back of the greatest nation to ever exist on the face of this planet, the USA.  To think that a Socialist is receiving this much attention in America, is disheartening at best and heartbreaking at worst.
Then there is the “Hillary” factor.  In the aftermath of our current president being elected (who is probably our first Muslim-Socialist president) one of my good African-American friends said to me, “Isn’t it great that we elected an African American President?”  My response was and STILL IS this, “It was time for us to elect an African American as President, I just wished it could have been a person who possesses American ideals, morality, and ethics.”  Today, I wished I had been wrong about this president, but I wasn’t.
With every news conference, executive order, the approach to social programs (I.E. socialist), his anti-Christian policies, and his inability to work with people who are not of his mindset, he proves that my thinking was and continues to be, accurate. 
Today, many want this country to have a ‘female’ president.  While I am not philosophically opposed to this, wouldn’t it be great to look at qualifications and not feel the need to have unspoken ‘quotas’ to fill our top position (I.E. race, gender, etc).  We need the most qualified LEADER we can find.  This includes a history of service, integrity, and accomplishment.
Hillary seems incapable of seeing her past through transparent glasses.  Her words are “I’m not here to talk about emails” and my response is, “Well, you better be because if you are to be the “Commander-in-Chief” of this nation, you better be trustworthy with matters of national security.”  It is highly disturbing that the ‘mainline media’ is giving her a pass on this issue.  Already found are over 400 ‘Classified Emails’ handled carelessly, placed illegally on a private server, & thus made available to hackers and others.  The emails are a big thing that needs ‘big-time’ explanation.  If we don’t vet this issue now, then if she happens to sit in the Oval Office, will we either be forced into a war because of her lack of discernment and discretion or will we surrender to our enemies (of which the list is growing because of our country’s growing weakness)?
But if we are not going to talk about the emails, how about Benghazi?  As Secretary of State, she sat on her hands and (this is hard to believe) until American Ambassador Chris Stephens and 3 other American were killed.  As of this date, the truth of this night has been avoided by the main stream media, has been so politicized, has been ignored by her constituents, and the Republican are so afraid to push the investigation, that she will likely never have to answer for it.  SO, she probably don’t care to talk about that. 
Well then, let’s talk about Whitewater.  No?  Then (and the most frightening) let’s talk about the almost 50 people who are connected to her and Bill through political means or business deals who are dead from seemingly unexplained or suspicious deaths.  Even the Liberal-leaning  “Snopes” has to explain away the deaths because they cannot deny that the people are dead.  So the explanations of each person’s passing, which is suspicious, if no other reason than, the timing and manner of death.  My observation is that being in business with the Clintons is dangerous, either to your natural health or ????????????????
Let’s say that if half of what is known or suspected about Hillary is untrue, that still leaves much to be concerned about when she is running for the TOP OFFICE in the land.  The “I’m not here talk about that” line that she learned from her husband SHOULD NOT be allowed to stand because it is not allowed to stand with other candidate.
Here is my reason for writing this article. 
Are these candidates really the best leaders that America and Americans have to offer? 
Have we become such a people that our choice to lead us comes down to a Socialist and/or a person who has more baggage than a Kardashian on a World Tour? 
Please tell me that the Democrats (and even Republicans) have better options for us.  If not, our continuation as a nation may be in question.

Tuesday, October 06, 2015

The Rule of Law

Kim Davis spent 5 days in jail at the hands of the United States District Court Judge David L. Bunning.  Think about that, 5 days in jail!  While many might believe that she ‘deserved what she received because she broke the law’, the truth is, there was ‘no law on the books to break.’  She was incarcerated because the APPOINTED judge took issue with how the ELECTED county clerk performed her job.  This incident is one that most ‘Older People’ would have never deemed possible in the USA – and candidly, is not possible UNDER Constitutional Rule of Law. 

Our Founding Fathers who penned our founding papers and Framed our Government, were deep thinkers.  In fact, we have VERY FEW (if any) people today who think as deeply as did these men.  They were able to set up in abstract what we know in substance.  Their “Crowning Document” is known as the US Constitution.  This is a relatively short, interesting, and binding document.  Well at least, it’s SUPPOSED to be binding.  Well, until the last 7 years, it has been ‘somewhat’ binding.  From the Founders & Framers, it was SUPPOSED to be binding which is why every elected officials takes his/her oath of office by declaring to ‘preserve, protect, and defend the constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and DOMESTIC.” 

The Constitution is genius in setting up the three branches of government with checks and balances to make sure no one arm of the government oversteps its authority.   All of us know the responsibilities of each branch;  The Legislative Branch is to pass or make Law, the Executive Branch is to enforce the Law, and the Judicial Branch is to interpret the Law.  This is either 9th Grade Civics or 11th Grade American Government. 

White this is clear and maybe simple, it is certainly not the case today.  For the last 7 years, the leader of the Executive Branch has refused to enforce laws it didn’t like (I.E. DOMA, Immigration, etc) and led by the POTUS, it has attempted to transform an Executive Action into Legislation.  For more years than this, the Judicial Branch has attempted to transform a ‘LEGAL OPINION’ (which is all the courts are authorized to do) into LEGISLATION.  At the same time, the Legislative branch seems to argue more about Politics and their own personal careers than to ‘care for the public interest’ which is honestly what public servants are supposed to do.  It seems to me that the only one NOT TRYING TO PASS MEANINGFUL LEGISLATION IS THE ONE BODY WHO IS CHARGED WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY OF MAKING LAW.  In a vacuum, something or someone always attempts to fill the void, right or wrong.  This could well be what is happening in the halls of Congress and Legislatures across the USA.

When the Supreme Court offered its “Opinion” on Obergefell vs Hodges, it was just that, an opinion.  (By the way, it was an opinion offered by at least 2 Justices who were biased before the received the case, these two were not objective in their deliberations and probably should be removed from the bench because they didn’t recuse themselves from this case – but this is another blog).  Their opinion does not constitute law UNDER THE CONSTITUTION.  The next Constitutional step was for the CONGRESS to take up the action of the Court in order to pass legislation that they deemed legal, in light of the Constitution.  Furthermore, when Judge Bunning sentenced Kim Davis to jail (against the desires of the Plaintiff’’s attorney), he was not acting in accordance with any law, but his.  Again when any judge takes the law into his own hands, the law should take HIM into its hands and remove him.  Every Judge MUST be held accountable to the Constitution or BE ASSURED that he will face legal action.   In his defense, this activity did not begin with him, BUT it should serve as a warning for us that our Judicial system is out of control and must be reigned in.

When Judges, who  are just as fallible as any of the rest of us, offer Opinions – many things form and forge those opinions.  Judges do not always get it right.  While I have and hold deeply religious beliefs about this particular case, for the millions of ‘non-religious American’, this case might be your ‘Victory Dance’, but if left unchecked YOU might be the next American to be jailed because a judge took it on himself to invoke punishment not outline in law.  This is dangerous for our republic.

A judge does not possess “Ultimate authority” to do as he/she wishes and under the “Rule of Law” as set up by our Constitution, is limited BY LEGALLY PASSED LEGISLATION as to what the sentence for any crime might be.  For Kim, she was in contempt of court BECAUSE Judge Bunning acted ILLEGALLY.

My call today is for us to return to the Rule of Law from the Rule of Man (I.E. judges making decisions based on their preferences and feelings.)  This Great Nation was not founded on the “Rule of Man” but the “Rule of Law” which was also based on the “Law of God.”  Until around 1930, one of the basic textbooks for legal training was “Blackstone” (1763).  He put down in word what had been practiced since around the 10th or 11th Century.  His book was used widely in the development of our system of government and jurisprudence and is based largely on Biblical Principles.  Since 1930, we have seen a dramatic shift from “Rule of Law” to the “Rule of Man” and are witnesses to the Courts saying we have “RIGHTS” of which the Framers would have no knowledge, certainly would not guarantee, and certainly not protect.

You may like the direction our country is headed because you may be one who adheres to the “Rule of Man” premise.  I urge you to be careful, the next person who is wrongly incarcerated might well be you!

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