Hollerin' at West Virginians to wake up to the truth! "Mountaineers are always free" is the real but forgotten State Motto that needs to be re-asserted before it is no longer true.
An alternative, non-partisan, independent media blog for West Virginia breaking through the official propaganda of contracted news and the distortions of Talk Radio.
This excellent interview with someone who knows what he's talking about and who helped Colin Powell make the "case" for Iraq before the U.N.. Congress should carefully consider his experienced viewpoint instead of listening to AIPAC, the neoconservatives, and "the McCainiacs" (see previous article by Pat Buchanan) who support it for the sake of the aggressive "new middle east" Israeli agenda.
Congress should also listen more to the vast majority of the American people who oppose a strike on Syria. Yes, that especially includes Rep. Shelly Moore Capito who is inclined to support wars for AIPAC and seldom listens to war dissent from West Virginians. (Sen. Manchin has the same tendency until its popular to withdraw). Surprisingly, she has been reluctant thus far to support the Syrian strike, saying
“I’ve been in Congress for a long enough time to know that, just because the intelligence says it’s so on first blush, I’m not sure we’re all going to accept that without the deep detail that I think we need to have and that the President should bring to Congress,” she said.
It all hinges on the pretended "intelligence". And also which party presents it, unfortunately. But is that still enough reason to support American military conflict in another Middle East conflict that does not threaten Americans? Another Middle East engagement will certainly hurt our economy and deficit spending as oil prices will rise again and Congress will spend billions more.
She [America] has, in the lapse of
nearly half a century, without a single exception, respected the independence of
other nations while asserting and maintaining her own. She has abstained from
interference in the concerns of others, even when conflict has been for
principles to which she clings, as to the last vital drop that visits the
heart. She has seen that probably for centuries to come, all the
contests of that Aceldama the European world, will be contests of inveterate
power, and emerging right. Wherever the standard of freedom and Independence has
been or shall be unfurled, there will her heart, her benedictions and her
prayers be. But she goes not abroad, in search of monsters to destroy.
She is the well-wisher to the freedom and independence of all. She is the
champion and vindicator only of her own. She will commend the general
cause by the countenance of her voice, and the benignant sympathy of her
example....
She well knows that by once enlisting under other
banners than her own, were they even the banners of foreign independence, she
would involve herself beyond the power of extrication, in all the wars of
interest and intrigue, of individual avarice, envy, and ambition, which assume
the colors and usurp the standard of freedom. The fundamental maxims of her
policy would insensibly change from liberty to force.... She might
become the dictatress of the world. She would be no longer the ruler of
her own spirit.... [America's] glory is not dominion, but
liberty. Her march is the march of the mind. She has a spear and a shield:
but the motto upon her shield is, Freedom, Independence,
Peace.This has been her Declaration: this has been, as far as her
necessary intercourse with the rest of mankind would permit, her
practice.
--John Quincy
Adams, Independence Day Address 1821
"It is the policy of the United States to seek and
support the growth of democratic movements and institutions in every nation and
culture, with the ultimate goal of ending tyranny in our world."
-- President George W. Bush, Inaugural
Address 2005.
It is more than ironic that while Republicans appeal to America's Founders (most justly) that they fail to heed them when it comes to foreign policy. George Washington warned of "entangling interests" or alliances as dangerous and Presidents like Adams above extolled America's restraint in interference. Their view was not that America should be a militaristic global policeman (and they never extolled "democracy" as ideal) but only an example of freedom and liberty. It's time for the Founder's view of Foreign Policy to be given a fair hearing.
In this regard, Pat Buchanan, a Republican with credible expertise in several Presidential administrations, is a breath of fresh air compared to both the Republican Establishment's and Democrats' "utopian view" (as he calls it) on foreign policy and alleged "necessary" wars, none of which are for the self-defense of America. His views are seldom permitted in either conservative debates and forums or in the liberal Mainstream Media. So listen to him here for at least an alternative, and in our opinion more rational view, about war.
He condemns American involvement in "regime change" started by the neoconservatives (which too many republicans applauded without just cause) in the Middle East since 2001 during the Bush administration.
He condemns American involvement in Syria to overthrow the Assad regime (which Obama and the democrats, and republicans like Rep. Shelly Moore Capito applaud) and articulates why it is stupid and actually supports radical Islamic groups that are bound to be no better.
He explains why the American Empire in foreign policy (which actually began during the Civil War when Washington invaded the Southern States to consolidate power by force) is a foolish "utopian view" for changing the world (really toward global government, abolishing sovereignty) for the pretense of "making the world safe for democracy" (as democrats W. Wilson and F.D.R. used) or to "end tyranny in the world" (the phrase George W. Bush invoked on his Second Inaugural Address).
He also is adamant that if this course is continued, especially in backing any attack on Iran, it will bring terrible consequences to "my Country" (now here is a better view of American patriotism demonstrated by judicious self-restraint instead of war-mongering) as well as to "the whole world". Indeed, both America's economy would be greatly ruined (i.e. the consequences on oil prices, which would harm the entire economy, as well as national debt) and a probable world war in the Middle East would result.
It's time that a more sober view of foreign policy and its consequences should be considered, before it's too late, as AIPAC and radical pro-Israel and radical "world democracy" revolutionaries continue to drown out Americans' influence in our own Congress. What America needs is a true National Defense instead of a National Offense policy, which takes us to war without constitutional declarations of war, per the historic Christian 'Just War' Theory of self-defense alone, by Congress. Until America changes this it is engaging in Global Vigilantism and supporting what could be called justly a Global Democratic Jihad, with terrible consequences on our own nation.
A history of the Rise & Fall of the Roman Empire and its aggressive PAX ROMANA should suffice to be a most conspicuous example to any naysayers against our criticism of this dangerous bipartisan foreign policy toward a global PAX AMERICANA or PAX DEMOCRATICA which has been in progress for 150 years now. Who would deny that the Isles of Great Britain once fought against the tyranny of the Roman Empire? After all, one type of "tyranny" is often replaced by another, always under the pretense of "liberation" (or things like "Operation Iraqi Freedom"). Doesn't this all, then, look so familiar, from a historical perspective? "American exceptionalism", frequently invoked to cloak all American wars as moral and just, should not blind anyone to this truth and republicans and democrats ought to heed the speeches and examples of America's Founders and early Presidents once again.
HOW TYRANNY IS ESTABLISHED: IT COMES PIECE BY PIECE UNDER THE PLEA OF "NECESSITY".
"Necessity, the tyrant's plea." -- John Milton
"Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. Necessity is the plea of tyrants, the creed of slaves". -- William Pitt
Beware of politicians making use of alarmist and inflammatory rhetoric when they propose the "necessity" of new laws "to secure the Homeland". Here's why, with a familiar quote:
First they came for the communists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Jew.
Then they came for the Catholics,
and I didn't speak out because I was Protestant.
Then they came for me
and there was no one left to speak out for me
-- Pastor Martin Niemoller, 1946
First they came for the Islamists. Now they are coming for Americans.
Now during the Obama Administration there has been significant talk about "home grown terrorists"--i.e. Americans, instead of just "radical Islamists" coming in from the outside. It was the Obama Administration's Janet Napolitano (or Napolean-tano) that sent out watch bulletins like these just a few years ago which proves the danger of government assessments about "home grown terrorism".
Ever since 9/11 (that false-flag event done to change America completely as well as its global foreign policy) this blog has pointed out the dangers of America's post-9/11 government and its new unconstitutional superstructure, especially of the new Department of Homeland Tyranny (aka Security; a very fascist, anti-Constitutional Dept. that blends domestic, federal policing, usurping the States, with the Dept. of Defense), the so-called USA PATRIOT ACT (which violates 4th and 5th amendments toward totalitarian surveillance and arrest powers, and destroys personal privacy and makes ID theft easier), and the REAL ID Act (which coerces states to turn drivers licenses into National ID cards with biometrics) to name just three major changes. All this was done by tricks in legislation and often with "must-pass" defense authorization bills and funding. Whenever you hear about a "must-pass" piece of legislation in Congress be very worried and read the fine print.
Well now President Obama signed what he knew was controversial very secretly this last New Year's Eve (while Americans were very distracted) after Congress passed it as "necessary to protect us against terrorism". Buried in the fine print of the National Defense Appropriations Act of 2012, passed by our totally untrustworthy bipartisan Congress before the end of last year, was the most dangerous and unconstitutional provision that permits the arbitrary and absolute detention of any American citizen based upon the very fallible, and sometimes politically or sinisterly motivated, designation by someone in authority within the Federal government that said individual is a terrorism threat or "material supporter of" such--without grand jury, trial, or even a judge-signed warrant for their arrest. The purpose of the Constitution is to keep Americans safe from the Government while this dangerous legislation permits the Feds to take any American citizen, by-passing all Constitutional provisions in the Bill of Rights that keeps Americans free.
The Founding Fathers warned us about governments that do this which is why the wrote a Constitution to prevent it! This is just another column and support of the creeping totalitarianism being erected in America under the exaggerated threat of "terrorism" (while many more Americans, including West Virginians, are reported in the newspapers to be killing each other daily) since that infamous (and conveniently date-labelled) 9/11 "catalyzing event". How long will Americans continue to let this happen, while waving flags, by Presidents and Congressmen who have sworn to "defend and uphold (the supreme law of) the Constitution of the United States"? The truth is that Americans are no longer "free" but like the proverbial gradually-boiling-frog-in-the-pot of a Totalitarian stew.
WHAT REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE SHELLEY MOORE CAPITO SAID ABOUT IT
When a letter was sent to republican Representative Shelley Moore Capito against this bill in December, this is the letter we received back, fully supporting what President Obama signed on Dec. 31st:
But contrary to Rep. Capito's letter, and writing in bold that "American citizens will NOT be detained under this bill", while she boasted it passed the committee "with my support", the following will prove that this is not the understanding of many from both left and right politically the way this law was written! Intentions aside, many claim that the law actually gives broad arbitrary powers to any Presidential administration or federal authority to hold any American at will contrary to their Constitutional rights under the 5th amendment. Let us call witnesses from the right and left and let's also call Fox's Judge Napolitano (3rd video) to give their view to the reader.
BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT ARE AWAKENING TO THE TYRANNY NDAA 2012 REPRESENTS
We will now prove that this article is neither hyperbole nor partisan whatsoever but is concerned with the real freedom of all Americans under the Constitution by evidence showing growing alarms from both left and right about this tyrannical and sinister legislation.
EXHIBIT A--From the Right: Surprisingly, but more likely because Obama is in office instead of Bush, even Rush Limbaugh gets it:
EXHIBIT B--From the Left. Article from Counterpunch:
Each year, Congress authorizes the budget of the Department of Defense through a National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The NDAA of 2012, however, is unlike any previous ones. This year’s legislation contains highly controversial provisions that empower the Armed Forces to engage in civilian law enforcement and to selectively suspend due process and habeas corpus, as well as other rights guaranteed by the 5th and 6th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution, for terror suspects apprehended on U.S. soil. The final version of the bill passed the House on December 14, the Senate the following day (ironically, the 220th birthday of the Bill of Rights). It was signed into law by President Obama on New Year’s Eve. With his signature, for the first time since the Internal Security Act of 1950 and the dark days of the McCarthy era that followed, our government has codified the power of indefinite detention into law. This pernicious law poses one of the greatest threats to civil liberties in our nation’s history.
All Americans, therefore, should be concerned, yet the U.S. Media has been strangely silent about it.
Bush introduced Preventive War (not truly pre-emptive war upon imminent threat)--a dangerous foreign policy (offensive instead of defensive wars) whilenow Obama has signed into law Preventive Detention--a dangerous domestic policy.
Here in this MSNBC video where President Obama met with Republicans to square off in some debate (where he proves to be extraordinarily skilled at both recitation and rhetorical presentation of facts for debate purposes, without a script or teleprompter) he finally comes clean on his policy for coal. This clip shows Rep. Capito questioning Obama on this issue important to all West Virginians and his response. This should remove any doubts that in the long term Obama's goal is to "put the old [i.e. energy source--coal] out of business", just not "right away". These are his words addressed directly to Capito's forthright question below (after mentioning he has met and enjoyed working with Governor Manchin, a "divide and conquer" strategy). Note Obama ducks for water and prepares himself as if he knows the question coming.
The ambiguity is now removed. The Obama administration wants coal phased out "in the long run". Governor Manchin should mark this whenever he deals or meets again with the President or his EPA administration. Senator Byrd has already alluded to this long term policy by pushing back West Virginians from making harsh criticism. Is this why Obama never campaigned in West Virginia? Will West Virginia be "phased out" as a major energy supplier "in the long run"? This is what "change" is all about in the energy policy front, and here in West Virginia. Now everyone knows for certain which way the "powers that be" are pushing.
It appears that Rep. Capito formed her Coal Caucus just in time, which just added Rep. Mollahan (D) to its ranks to form a defense against this aggressive (and rather Statist) policy to control energy industries for a Utopian global agenda.
There is a very silver lining in the rather dark cloud of financial reform legislation the U.S. House just passed. This would be a historical first and could bring real change. This is a first step toward Congress finally exercising its Constitutional authority over the PRIVATE Federal Reserve Bank System, which has never before been held accountable for anything. Now if only the Senate does the same.
There is enough bipartisan support in the Congress very likely to overcome an Obama Veto (since thus far he has shilled for the Banksters, with the help of former New York Federal Reserve Bank Chairman, Timothy Geithner.)
I have just received confirmation from a very credible Congressional source that the bill to audit the Federal Reserve is included in the House financial reform legislation which passed today. My source says:
The Fed audit provision which passed the Financial Services Committee a few weeks ago is part of the bill. This is a real milestone, as it means that the full House of Representatives has passed a bill that mandates a complete audit of the Fed.
The effort to audit the Fed - supported by 79% of the American people - is gaining traction.
My source says that it will take a couple of days for the GAO to assemble all of the amendments into a single text.
In the meantime, you can view the version of the bill provided by Congress' Thomas website here or here.
On June 20, 2008 - 293 Representatives voted in favor to invalidate the 4th Amendment--including Shelly Moore Capito and democrats like Nancy Pelosi.
But before they voted, this is what our leaders in Washington had to say about HR6304
AMENDMENT IV:
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
"A legislative act, contrary to the Constitution, is not law". --Chief Justice John Marshall
ACT NOW TO BLOCK PASSAGE OF THIS IN THE SENATE, using DownsizeDC.org's legislative contact system with this message:
"Please do everything you can to defeat the Senate version of HR 6304, the FISA Amendments Act of 2008. Please use your power to filibuster."
West Virginia Primary and General Election Ballots
Find your county's candidate list or sample ballot for the West Virginia Primary and General Elections here.
The lists and sample ballots are posted for viewing using the Acrobat Reader. For information about how to download and use the free reader, see Acrobat Reader Help. If your county information is not yet available, you may request a sample from your county clerk.
Since every candidate must swear to defend and protect the Constitution of West Virginia and of the United States, think about who WILL defend the Bill of Rights the most, that ensures our freedoms, that we are losing!
We can think of a few who would be better than their rivals:
--Ron Paul (R) for President, still in race, will increase delegates for voice in national convention; strict Constitutionalist, most conservative member of Congress on taxes and gun rights, limited government, personal liberty. [McCain is a RINO neoconservative (not conservative), deceives on war hero status, does not uphold the Constitution, blindly loyal to Israel, McCain-Feingold on illegal immigration, Keating Five member, megalomaniac on war policy, CFR member (world government), wants National ID, etc.]
--Edward Burgess for Delegate (R) St. Albans--strict Constitutionalist, activist
--Bob Bastress for Supreme Court (D)--only expert on the West Virginia Constitution. This is important since many issues of the state could involve controversies on the State and Federal Constitutions; i.e. mandatory drug testing, REAL ID, surveillance cameras, PATRIOT ACT powers, mandatory vaccination laws, home schooling, free speech issues, a rogue Legislature and Governor that trample the Constitution(s) through laws and executive power (e.g. tables games, privacy rights, private property rights, law enforcement powers, etc.)
--Dan Greear for Attorney General (R)--Law education, seems intellectually honest rather than partisan as top prosecutor.
--Corey Polumbo for Senate (D)--lawyer, intellectually honest, open, admitted table games were likely not Constitutional (but voted at the end for it anyway, glaring inconsistency; better be his last)
--ABSOLUTELY NO on Shelly Moore Capito (R) for US House of Reps--did not defend and uphold the Constitution on REAL ID, USA PATRIOT ACT, Military Commissions Act, domestic surveillance, unjustifiable Iraq and Afghan wars (for neocon regime change, not threats to US), gross overspending of tax dollars, Abramoff (convicted) recipient, Scooter Libby (convicted) supporter, partisan instead of Constitutional, lack of oversight in Page incident, little evidence of weighing constituents views contrary to party loyalty, liberal on social issues (abortion, government health care), not strict enough on 2nd amendment rights.
--ABSOLUTELY NO ON ANY INCUMBENT WHO VOTED FOR LEGISLATIVE PAY RAISE.
--VOTE AGAINST MANCHIN FOR GOVERNOR, who does not uphold the Constitution on REAL ID (4th and 10th amendments), free speech (signed unconstitutional ethics legislation in first month; threatened, intimidated Blankenship who ran ads against him, settled out of court), violated State Constitution on table games, 4th amendment privacy rights (favors mandatory drug testing; traffic surveillance cameras across state began in late 2007), heavy taxation (WV ranked 4th in total taxes as fraction of population income, with high food stamp population,highest State gas tax, corrupt anti-constitutional casino game tax scheme; credits himself on food tax, but resisted it, forced it to be gradual only; state is rich in revenue while people are comparatively poor), is partisan instead of law and issue oriented, political ambitions over good of West Virginians, arrogant (self made inaugural parade) and extravagant (Christmas parties at state expense, Gov. Mansion remodel, new gold dome) relying on political "noble family" status while feigning "buddy", flag waver instead of Constitutional defender, uses State money for subtle personal travel (bowl games, plane trips, extensive foreign travel), cronyism for political appointees (frankly, alot of Italians in key positions of power--see Knights of Columbus; wife and brother in state positions), Knights of Columbus member (loyalty to ideology of secret society that pushes militant Roman Catholic world view toward empire; not loyal to Constitution; persecutory toward Protestant Christians and others--see oath), and WVU-Heather Bresch Affair demonstrates favoritism, political protectionism and real family values of "privileged" status.
[These opinions are only those of the West Virginia Holler editor. Not paid for by any candidate or candidate's committees.]
Restrain the government within the Constitution! This powerful proposed law would require Congress to explain (i.e. enumerate) where in the Constitution the proposed legislation is authorized. Consider their inability to justify REAL ID, PATRIOT ACT, Military Commissions Act, domestic spying, and even War with Iraq (without a declaration of war)! This law has the power to REFORM THE CORRUPTED LEGISLATIVE PROCESS TO FORCE CONSIDERATION OF THE CONSTITUTION AS SUPREME LAW.
"A legislative act, contrary to the Constitution, is not law".
-- Chief Justice John Marshall
The "plea of necessity" is the tyrant's plea (as the West Virginia Constitution warns of as well--see excerpt at top of blog), as the founders and early Americans noted well, which has been employed liberally with the Bush administration (as well as many before it).
"The powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the federal government are few and defined. Those which are to remain in the State governments are numerous and indefinite. The former will be exercised principally on external objects, as war, peace, negotiation and foreign commerce." -- James Madison, Federalist No. 4
TELL REP. SHELLY MOORE CAPITO (or Rahall or Mollahan) TO CO-SPONSOR AND SUPPORT THIS IMPORTANT LEGISLATION, TO REFORM THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS OF CONGRESS, TO "DEFEND AND PROTECT THE CONSTITUTION", AND RESTRAIN FEDERAL POWERS. (Link below provides means of doing so).
Bring John Shadegg's 'Enumerated Powers Act' to a Vote
The specific, "enumerated" powers of Congress are spelled out in Article of I Section 8 the Constitution. There are twenty of them, and you can read the list for yourself on our Background page.
Because these powers are delegated from the people, they are the only powers Congress has. But our Founding Fathers went further -- trying hard to make enumerated powers so obvious that even a politician couldn't miss the point. They passed the Ninth and Tenth Amendments to shut the door to claims of additional power . . .
Representative John Shadegg (R-AZ) has introduced The Enumerated Powers Act (EPA) - HR 1359 [You can read the entire bill on our Background page]. EPA would require Congress to reference the specific clause(s) of the U.S. Constitution that grant them the power to enact laws and take other congressional actions.
"The powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the federal government are few and defined.
How the governor can oppose a bill that upholds the Constitution of West Virginia as well as the U.S. (see REAL ID info at top of blog) is beyond the scope of reason or justification. This bill has bi-partisan support and only OUTSIDE PRESSURE from Homeland Security and the "security merchandisers" (who profit from REAL ID at the expense of citizen's liberties), who also might play an influencing role in the governor's personal political ambitions, could be the possible agents of opposition. It is has been introduced in the House but taken a detour to a transportation committee (to be leaned on by the DMV most likely).
The governor has sworn to uphold both the State and Federal Constitutions (including 4th and 10th Amendments) and so have the legislators. They are therefore duty bound by law to support and sign this important legislation, without amendment, and IMMEDIATELY BEFORE THE FEDERAL DEADLINE, to ensure that "Mountaineers are always free" from federal or state despotism, under the "plea of necessity". Is the governor against our liberty and freedom, and the Constitution? Over 17 States have passed legislation against the REAL ID Act. Most recently Montana rejected it, and the Democrat governor of Montana has been vocal about a full rebellion by the states, collectively, against it! How does the Daily Mail call this "long odds" with all this opposition, and only "three dissenting votes"?
Hats off to the Republicans in particular, like Senators Vic Sprouse (who co-sponsored Senate bill 248) and Clark Barnes, who are finally leading republicans in beginning to defend "individual liberty" and the Constitution, consistent with the republican platform. This also demonstrates a clear case where Rep. Shelly Moore Capito was wrong in supporting this unconstitutional federal legislation, which was coerced through by craft under another measure. Republicans are playing a key national role in its rejection by the states. A good conservative blog against REAL ID can be found at REAL ID WATCH.
Democrats have usually defended (constitutional) privacy rights in particular, and should help turn the Governor back to Constitutional restraints on government, which have been eroding in West Virginia as privacy has been trumped by surveillance propagandists and Mayors and County Commissioners who are pushing tyrannical "security" measures.
See our previous posts under the label "REAL ID", and see the video to right where a Senator from Maine argues against REAL ID, resulting in that state's justifiable and first rejection of it.
Bill attacking REAL ID wins Senate passage despite long odds
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) -- After seeming dead in the morning, a bill objecting to a federal driver's license law passed the Senate Wednesday night after passionate debate.
The measure, ultimately passed with three dissenting votes, would block state participation in the REAL ID Act, which aims to create a national standard for driver's licenses and other identification cards in the name of homeland security.
The bill blocking participation in the REAL ID Act has drawn opposition from the state Division of Motor Vehicles and Gov. Joe Manchin.
Support for the measure was rallied on the Senate floor by Sen. Clark Barnes
"As West Virginians, we have some tolerance of the federal government, but very little,'' the Randolph County Republican said.
Barnes said the REAL ID Act amounts to a violation of privacy because it would tie state DMV computer records in with a national database
It's time to put fear in its proper position and events in more rational light. Over the last six years in America there have been no terrorist attacks despite the fact that we were told there are "sleeper cells" and that everyone should be "on guard" yet "go about their daily lives". The media, and particularly talk radio and editorial columnists, have constantly told us of the "very real threat" of "jihadists that want to kill us every day". But if we are to believe their propaganda we must conclude that the "Islamo fascists" are either waning in zeal or are not very determined after all to wage "terrorism on the West". Any group of high schoolers could have created more terrorism than the pretended "sleeper cells" from the "radical one percent" of Muslims living in the U.S. (this is the mantra from the "terrorism experts"). There has not been so much as a firecracker in a mall. What there has been, however, is random shooting in schools, bridges collapsing, the usual high amount of traffic deaths, and of course crimes throughout the U.S.. While seeking to strain for the gnat we have swallowed the proverbial camel.
In West Virginia there have been no acts of terrorism. Last year there was another airport profile scare, the arrest of an innocent Muslim woman who had over packed her toiletries at Tri-State Airport, one of which set off a detector, a gross and flagrant crime in the new Amerika. (The FBI handled this quietly. We are unsure whether this was a test drill for security or simply a mistake). Then there was the very "danger" of some men purchasing large quantities of cell phones--very openly and conspicuously, as if real terrorists would draw attention to themselves. (These always occur at key political moments too). Meanwhile in the fanaticism and propaganda after 9/11, West Virginia joined with other states to lobby for the new loot of a newly created Homeland Security bureaucracy, established a state office of the same as Emergency Services, and obtained two Homeland Security boats. (Why not get new toys from this terrorism business?). The security merchandisers, making the most of 9/11, lobbied and won massive government contracts to implement new security measures, training exercises for state police, "counter terrorism" operations, and surveillance cameras have become the new obsession in government budgets. (Just ask Danny Jones). The merchandisers for REAL ID cards also lobbied and gained new contracts from the DMV, before even receiving any state government approval. (We also wonder how many have financial conflicts of interest within government who expect their portfolios to increase with these new security company contracts).
Yet for all this there have been no acts of terrorism in West Virginia. What there has been is many "crimes of passion", both husbands and wives (like the impenitent Morgantown nurse who smiled upon her sentence) murdering each other (largely for treasonous infidelity which the State winks at, and a previous governor and senator paraded openly without shame or apology) as reported in newspapers, crimes and shootings of various sorts, traffic deaths on ATVs and automobiles, hunting accidents, and some deaths due to medical malpractice, treatment with heart stints, or from taking pharmaceuticals that caused heart failure. There was one "bomb" that killed several in the state, but it was an exploding propane tank in Ghent, improperly maintenanced.
The truth is that West Virginians have more to fear, statistically and rationally, from each other--i.e. from domestic acts of treachery, local crime and traffic accidents than from the pretended "jihadists that want to kill us every day", that Shelly Moore Capito parroted from 58 Live "newspeak" when voting for another surge of troops. You have more chance of being killed by motorists who drive like terrorists, or by a deer on the highway than from the mythical "Islamo Fascists". Given that terrorism has been the dominant and primarily Republican (neoconservative) message, it must be stated for what it really is, a message that is irrational and paranoid in the light of plain evidence and facts. It is a wild over-reaction that is also killing our freedoms and inflames fanaticism, the irrational and psychopathic fuel of unjust wars. (Over one million Iraqis have been killed, through sanctions or war, that never attacked the U.S.).
At some point we must stop listening to the boy who cried wolf, and those who cry out with him, and who do so for their own agenda. And if another incident does occur it should be investigated and judged on hard and solid evidence rather than from mere allegation and repetitious propaganda (contrary to the evidence), or from anthrax notes from New Jersey that say "Allah is great" on them, as if planted evidence is uncommon in crimes to shift the authorities attention away from the real perpetrators.
Enter now a new book released earlier this year to speak truth and reason in the face of fanaticism. You remember about the boy and the Emporer's New Clothes? Well the professor who wrote this book dares to stop the irrational over-reaction and insane wars and put the "terrorist threat" into statistical perspective that no one can refute. Multitudes more people die in traffic accidents in a year and you have (statistically) more chance of being killed by local criminal acts than from "Islamic jihadists that want to kill us every day".
Every federal and state official, governor, congressman, and the American public should read this book. It demonstrates with more definitive data that Americans are being manipulated through propaganda-induced fear that could be called paranoia into an agenda of complete fanaticism, i.e. irrational behavior toward unjust wars and a growing Security State that is overthrowing common sense and particularly Constitutional rule of law, the very "freedoms" that "terrorists hate us for". It is an irrational course, that is still being pushed upon us through particularly the republican establishment and 2008 candidates (with the exception of Ron Paul) and the neocon "terrorism experts" constantly interviewed by the sycophant media.
This book refutes the fear-mongering and propaganda, and is the rational basis for repealing the anti-constitutional and tyrannical laws that have been coerced through Congress by the mantra that "911 changed everything". No, it only changed what the government told us, which is full of lies. This book also is the basis for refuting most of the agenda proclaimed by the 2008 Presidential candidates (except Ron Paul) who want to continue down the road from freedom to fascism and their global Democratic Jihad for "regime changes".
Read the reviews here from Amazon for yourself, and note the book can be purchased from our Bookstore at bottom of the blog:
Overblown: How Politicians and the Terrorism Industry Inflate National Security Threats, and Why We Believe Them (Hardcover) by John Mueller (Author)
Book Description Why have there been no terrorist attacks in the United States since 9/11? It is ridiculously easy for a single person with a bomb-filled backpack, or a single explosives-laden automobile, to launch an attack. So why hasn't it happened? The answer is surely not the Department of Homeland Security, which cannot stop terrorists from entering the country, legally or otherwise. It is surely not the Iraq war, which has stoked the hatred of Muslim extremists around the world and wasted many thousands of lives. Terrorist attacks have been regular events for many years -- usually killing handfuls of people, occasionally more than that.
Is it possible that there is a simple explanation for the peaceful American homefront? Is it possible that there are no al-Qaeda terrorists here? Is it possible that the war on terror has been a radical overreaction to a rare event? Consider: 80,000 Arab and Muslim immigrants have been subjected to fingerprinting and registration, and more than 5,000 foreign nationals have been imprisoned -- yet there has not been a single conviction for a terrorist crime in America. A handful of plots -- some deadly, some intercepted -- have plagued Europe and elsewhere, and even so, the death toll has been modest.
We have gone to war in two countries and killed tens of thousands of people. We have launched a massive domestic wiretapping program and created vast databases of information once considered private. Politicians and pundits have berated us about national security and patriotic duty, while encroaching our freedoms and sending thousands of young men off to die.
It is time to consider the hypothesis that dare not speak its name: we have wildly overreacted.Terrorism has been used by murderous groups for many decades, yet even including 9/11, the odds of an American being killed by international terrorism are microscopic. In general, international terrorism doesn't do much damage when considered in almost any reasonable context.
The capacity of al-Qaeda or of any similar group to do damage in the United States pales in comparison to the capacity other dedicated enemies, particularly international Communism, have possessed in the past. Lashing out at the terrorist threat is frequently an exercise in self-flagellation because it is usually more expensive than the terrorist attack itself and because it gives the terrorists exactly what they are looking for. Much, probably most, of the money and effort expended on counterterrorism since 2001 (and before, for that matter) has been wasted.
The terrorism industry and its allies in the White House and Congress have preyed on our fears and caused enormous damage. It is time to rethink the entire enterprise and spend much smaller amounts on only those things that do matter: intelligence, law enforcement, and disruption of radical groups overseas. Above all, it is time to stop playing into the terrorists' hands, by fear-mongering and helping spread terror itself.
This in the face of the propaganda that the troop surge works, and that "if we leave it will bring an increase of violence and chaos". Really--will it? Take a look at what happened in Basra then.
Welcome to Human Behavior 101: When occupation and oppression ceases people stop fighting and seek to govern themselves. You cannot "liberate" through conquest, nor "defend freedom" by erecting tyranny. The only incentive to the Iraqi's for the surge to work is to lay low to make the invading U.S. troops leave. Yes, there are rival factions, but that is their business, not ours, and it is impossible for Iraq to be "liberated" as is claimed, until U.S. occupation ends.
Shelly Moore Capito will be met by protesters Tuesday (while the troops will not be home for Thanksgiving) who demand (as do the polls of 70 percent of Americans) an end to U.S. involvement in the war (i.e. invasion, occupation) of Iraq. She ought to consider this report closely.
The neocon propaganda machine parrots that "the left" (whereby they impune and lump in traditional republicans and conservatives) and "anti-war protesters want us to lose". But the truth is the war party does not want the violence to stop, except by U.S. occupation, in order to maintain a perpetual military presence in Iraq to continue the neoconservative blueprint for a "new middle east". This is why the Congressional Budget Office has done the financial numbers through 2017!
The British army says violence in Basra has fallen by 90% since it withdrew from the southern Iraqi city earlier this year.
Around 500 British soldiers left one of Saddam Hussein's palaces in the heart of the city in early September and stopped conducting regular foot patrols.
A spokesman says the Iraqi security forces still come under attack from militants in Basra, but the overall level of violence is down 90% since the British troops left.
Britain is scheduled to return control of Basra province to Iraqi officials next month, officially ending Britain's combat role in Iraq.
Remember as you read this, this will stop the unconstitutional and arbitrary use of Executive power, irregardless of party. Would you want Hillary or Obama to have the currently claimed executive powers, for "domestic spying"? History proves it has always been used against political enemies.
D o w n s i z e r - D i s p a t c h
This is important. Please, please, please, forward this message far and wide.
Quote of the Day:
"Should we wander in moments of error or alarm, let us hasten to retrace our steps and regain the road which alone leads to peace, liberty, and safety." - Thomas Jefferson, upon repealing the "Alien and Sedition Acts"
Subject: Support Ron Paul's "American Freedom Agenda Act of 2007"
This is what we've been waiting for. Please forward this message far and wide. Make sure everyone knows about it. The "American Freedom Agenda Act" is a bill . . .
The full text of this bill can be found on our Background page for this campaign. This legislation will . . .
Repeal the "Military Commissions Act of 2007" and thereby restore the ancient right of habeas corpus and end legally sanctioned torture by U.S. government agents
Restore the "Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act" (FISA) and thereby outlaw warrantless spying on American citizens by the President of the United States
Give Congress standing in court to challenge the President's use of "signing statements" as a means to avoid executing the nation's laws
Make it illegal for government agents to kidnap people and send them abroad to be tortured by foreign governments
Provide legal protection to journalists who expose wrong-doing by the Federal government
Prohibit the use of secret evidence to label groups or individuals as terrorists for the purpose of criminal or civil sanctions
This one simple 3-page bill will . . .
Restore basic Constitutional protections
Empower Americans to support human rights, democracy, and the rule of law in the world at large, free from the stink of hypocrisy
Protect Americans and American soldiers from blowback by foreign powers in retaliation for our government's transgression of America's most hallowed principles
Next, forward this message to friends and ask them to do the same. We need to flood Congress from all directions, and keep doing it until they bring this bill to a vote and pass it.
This bill has trans-partisan support. It comes from Ron Paul. It's what we've been asking for. Let's support this bill with everything we've got.
Of course he could not have done this without a complicit Congress, largely by republican majority. Now suddenly we hear the 2008 candidates are "scolding" republicans on big spending, big government, while they themselves were absolutely silent, actually cheer leading, during the entire process. ARE THE NEOCONSERVATIVES AND THEIR NEO-REPUBLICANS PROUD OF THIS? Methinks they would do it all over again, and plea "necessity". The democrats make the same plea, while Americans are caught in the median and forced to bow. Had enough yet? Is the two-party system serving Americans, or the "powers that be" behind the curtain?
The source of this is Cato Institute, which like Ron Paul advocates limited, constitutional government instead of the federal Leviathan that devours taxes like water from Americans, and ravages the world militarily for its PAX AMERICANA.
Who will kill this federal monster? There is only one candidate that can be trusted. But Americans appear to want more of the same while, like the proverbial ostrich, they bury their heads in the sands of sports and entertainment. Consequences come, only taking personal responsibility to alter something prevents them.
A Conservative versus the Neoconservatives who puts honesty above partisanship.
Everyone, especially republicans, need to hear what this experienced veteran has to say about the neoconservatives, the Israeli Lobby, Iraq, Iran, and America's new Homeland Security government. Great opportunity to listen to someone who has great experience in UN weapons inspections and military foreign policy.
October 25: "Preventing Fascism at Home at Imperialism Abroad"
A Seneca 2 Forum featuring author Scott Ritter. 7:00 PM at the WV State University (Institute, WV) Student Union and co-sponsored by WVSU Political Science Dept. Scott Ritter had an extensive and distinguished career in government service. A retired Marine Major, he served under General Schwarzkopf with the US Central Command headquarters in Saudi Arabia. He spent 12 years as an intelligence specialist in the US Marine Corps and joined UNSCOM in 1991. He resigned in August 1998 citing US interference in the work of the inspections. Ritter is the author of six books. Free to the public and free parking on campus.
Below is a TIME article where he was named their PERSON OF THE WEEK.
Former inspector Scott Ritter, center, speaks at the Iraqi National Assembly
RAMZI HAIDAR/AFP
Never mind the naysaying European heads of state, the anxious Arab leaders or the skeptical senators — the unkindest challenge to President Bush's plans to take out Saddam Hussein this week came from erstwhile true-blue American hero Scott Ritter. Familiar to Americans as the rock-jawed Marine intelligence officer who stood up to Saddam's bullies in 1998 while serving with the UN inspection team, and got himself singled out for expulsion even before UNSCOM was withdrawn, Ritter was back on America's TV screens this week, but with a dramatically different message: President Bush had no proof of any new weapons of mass destruction threat emanating from Iraq, Ritter says, and he was lying to the American people to get them to go to war. Once a favorite guest of hawkish Republicans who regularly invited him to testify at congressional committees about the dangers of turning a blind eye to Iraq's weapons programs, this week Ritter was instead addressing the Iraqi legislature, decrying his own country's claims — and warning that readmitting inspectors was the only way to avoid a war.
"The prohibition is general. No clause in the Constitution could by any rule of construction be conceived to give to congress a power to disarm the people. Such a flagitious attempt could only be made under some general pretence by a state legislature. But if in any blind pursuit of inordinate power, either should attempt it, this amendment may be appealed to as a restraint on both."
--William Rawle, U.S. Attorney appointed by G. Washington, 1791
This is not new and why Congressman Ron Paul calls GOA "the only no-compromise gun lobby in Washington". NRA, despite their poster celebrity Charleton Heston's "cold dead hands" rhetoric, has a pattern of ceding gun rights in increasing compromises. Here GOA calls them on it publicly. Shelly Moore Capito and other republicans should pay close attention.
It should never be a crime, as it is now, to be armed (i.e. concealed carry, registration permits, et al).It should only be a crime to make illegal use of arms, or the Second Amendment means nothing.The "security state" is replacing the "freedom state" that America once was, all under the tyrant's politically-correct plea of "necessity". FEAR is the weapon they use to create "must pass" legislation, as usual. Local talk show hosts have bowed to the same pressure. Eventually, West Virginia will become like Giuliani's New York City fascist police state instead of a place where "Mountaineers are always free". Think about it, and read this.
Gun Owners of America 8001 Forbes Place, Suite 102, Springfield, VA 22151 Phone: 703-321-8585 / FAX: 703-321-8408 http://www.gunowners.org
Thursday, October 4, 2007
It may be a cliche, but it is true: This letter is written not in anger, but in sorrow and concern. It is written to our friends about NRA staff who, tragically, have taken a course which, we believe, would be disastrous for the Second Amendment and the pro-gun movement.
Two of us are Life Members of the NRA -- one of whom was an NRA board member for over ten years. And our legislative counsel was a paid consultant for the NRA.
So we certainly have no animus against the NRA staff, much less our wonderful friends who are NRA members.
In fact, over the last thirty years, GOA and its staff have worked with NRA to facilitate most of our pro-gun victories -- from McClure-Volkmer to the death of post-Columbine gun control to a gun liability bill free of anti-gun "killer amendments."
But those who staff the NRA, without consulting the membership, have now made a series of strange and dangerous alliances with the likes of Chuck Schumer, Carolyn McCarthy, and Pat Leahy. And we believe that, if allowed to continue, this will produce anti-gun policies which the NRA staff will bitterly regret.
Christ said, in the Sermon on the Mount, that "by their fruits, ye shall know them." And, frankly, these fruits are not likely to produce much pro-gun legislation.
Substantively, the Leahy/McCarthy/Schumer bill, which NRA's staff has vigorously supported without consulting with its membership, would rubber-stamp the illegal and non-statutory BATFE regulations which have already been used to strip gun rights from 110,000 veterans. It would also allow an anti-gun administration to turn over Americans' most private medical records to the federal instant check system without a court order.
But perhaps even worse, the bill was hatched in secret, without hearings or testimony, and passed out of the House without even a roll call. And now, the sponsors are trying to do the same thing in the Senate -- in an effort to ram the bill through without votes or floor debate, led by anti-gun Senator Chuck Schumer. If it is good legislation, as its proponents claim, why such fears of a roll call vote or debate in committee?
Indeed, in the face of horrific dissent from the NRA's own membership, its staff has tragically ignored arguments and dug in its heels -- in an almost "because-we-say-so" attitude.
Understand this:
* Passage of McCarthy/Leahy/Schumer will not quell the calls for gun control. To the contrary, it will embolden our enemies to push for the abolition of even more of our Second Amendment rights. Already, the Brady Campaign has indicated its intent to follow up this "victory" with a push for an effective ban on gun shows.
* Passage of McCarthy/Leahy/Schumer will not be viewed as an "NRA victory." To the contrary, once the liberal media has used the NRA staff for its purposes, it will throw them away like a used Kleenex. Already, an over-confident press is crowing that this is the "first major gun control measure in over a decade."
* Taking the BATFE's horrifically expansive unlawful regulations dealing with veterans' loss of gun rights and making them unchangeable congressionally-endorsed statutory law is NOT "maintaining the status quo."
* We are told that the McCarthy/Leahy/Schumer bill should be passed because it contains special provisions to allow persons prohibited from owning guns to get their rights restored. But there is already such a provision in the law; it is 18 U.S.C. 925(c). And the reason why no one has been able to get their rights restored under CURRENT LAW is that funds for the system have been blocked by Chuck Schumer. It is no favor to gun owners for Chuck Schumer -- the man who has blocked funding for McClure-Volkmer's "relief from disability" provisions for 15 years -- to now offer to give us back a tepid version of the provisions of current law which he has tried so hard to destroy.
Finally, there is the cost, which ranges from $1 billion in the cheapest draft to $5 billion -- to one bill which places no limits whatsoever on spending. Thus, we would be drastically increasing funding for gun control -- at a time when BATFE, which has done so much damage to the Second Amendment, should be punished, rather than rewarded.
We would now respectfully ask the NRA staff to step back from a battle with its membership -- and to join with us in opposing McCarthy/Leahy/Schumer gun control, rather than supporting it.
And, to our friends and NRA members, we would ask that you take this letter and pass it on to your friends and colleagues.
Sincerely,
Senator H.L. "Bill" Richardson (ret.) Founder and Chairman
“The two enemies of the people are criminals and government, so let us tie the second down with the chains of the Constitution so the second will not become the legalized version of the first.”
– Thomas Jefferson
The Last Defenders of Limited, Constitutional Government
The Truth must prevail over Political-Correctness for Just Judgement to rule
The men the American public admire most extravagantly are the most daring liars; the men they detest most violently are those who try to tell them the truth.
--H. L. Mencken
Judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter.Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey.
--Isaiah 59 During times of universal deceit telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act.
--George Orwell
"Truth, crushed to earth, shall rise again, The eternal years of God are hers; But Error, wounded, writhes in pain, And dies among his worshippers."
America's Government: Militant Democracy or Constitutional Republic?
Democracies have ever been spectacles of turbulence and contention; have ever been found incompatible with personal security, or the rights of property; and have in general been as short in their lives as they have been violent in their deaths. -- James Madison In a democracy there is a centralization of governmental power in a simple majority. And that, visibly, is the system of government which the enemies of our republic are seeking to impose on us today. Nor are we "drifting" into that system ... We are being insidiously, conspiratorially, and treasonously led by deception, by bribery, by coercion, and by fear, to destroy a republic that was the envy and model for all of the civilized world. -- Robert Welch
“We should expect tyranny to result from democracy, the most savage subjection from an excess of liberty”.--Plato, Republic, Book VIII, 564 a
History teaches that wars begin when governments believe the price of aggression is cheap.
--Ronald Reagan, Address to the Nation, Jan 16, 1984
In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem...It is my intention to curb the size and influence of the federal establishment and to demand recognition of the distinction between the powers granted to the federal government and those reserved to the states or to the people. All of us need to be reminded that the federal government did not create the states; the states created the federal government. --Ronald Reagan, Inaugural Address, Jan 1981
The Rise of Democratic Federal Despotism Began Here
The True Nature of the Civil War
West Virginia Should Not Comply with REAL ID
A state senator in Maine (the first state to refuse REAL ID) makes a compelling argument how REAL ID would not prevent terrorism and is a burden to the people. WV legislators should pass legislation against REAL ID now.
The Power of the Israeli Lobby--Scott Ritter, former Marine, UN Weapons Inspector
FOX Reported Israeli Spies in U.S.-- arrests after 9/11
FOX reported it so you decide. Between 60 and 130 Israeli's, including active military, arrested after 9/11 using PATRIOT ACT. Elaborate and extensive Israeli spy network proven, even targetting FBI and other law enforcement agencies. Ties to 9/11 information considered. Tony Snow, ironically, appears in 4th segment. Israeli company has exclusive control of ALL American phone records.
Bush's Complicity in 9/11 Proven, By His Own Words
Bush (flippantly) claims he saw the first WTC strike, live, on a TV, prior to entering the school in Florida on Sept. 11th. This could not have been done without prior knowledge and arrangements to monitor the "surprise attack" live. Argue with Bush himself if you want. We just report, you decide.
London's 7/7 Train Bombing Proven a False Flag Attack
Bush on Bin Laden--Disinterested, "if he"s alive at all"
9/11: Firefighters and Architects Testify of Controlled Demolition
Pilots for 9/11 Truth Interview John Lear about 9/11
John Lear, son of founder of Lear Jet; Begin listening at 7:00 minute mark. States the impossibility of unskilled (even skilled) to hit WTC towers on first try.
Aaron Russo tells of Nick Rockefeller"s account of 9/11 Lie and Hoax for "War on Terror", and more
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