Congressman Phil Hare Doesn't Care About Constitution

Mark Steyn On Multiculturalism

Terrorism Resurges In The Caucasus

The South: Last Bulwark Against Tyranny

In the modern political arena; politics are often couched in terms exclusive to the that of the two major parties.  What is conspicuously absent from this fairly recent understanding, is the role regionalism has played for most of American history.  Although the differences between Democrats and Republicans often take center stage; the issues that divide regions can be even more sharp. 


This has manifested itself most profoundly between the South and the New England States. From the War of 1812; when the New England States threatened secession over economic issues, to the War Between the States, when the Souths right of secession was denied.  The two regions have sparred over economic, cultural, and political issues.  One of the most contentious issues has been what the role, and the extent of federal power should be.  Dr. Clyde Wilson has written an excellent essay about the recent health care vote and why the South was the only region solidly opposed to it. Story here.

Reprisal In Russia?

Ron Paul On The Fallacy Of Obamacare

Nullifying Tyranny

Castro Gives Ringing Endorsement For Obamacare

In my discussions with those who supported the health-care reform bill, I often evoked the notion of health-care being the cornerstone of socialism.  Of course, this is always dismissed as an unfair characterization of their views.   They never seem to want to admit that the basis of their belief system is in fact socialism.  So, they devise euphemistic terms such as "liberal", and "progressive", in an attempt to conceal the obvious.  Also, in an effort to deflect criticism, they will often attempt to paint those who disagree as having irrational fears  of said proposals.  This is precisely the tactic used against Republicans by President Obama in order to silence criticism. Now comes support from Fidel Castro for Obamacare.

Revealing a gross ignorance of the intended purpose of one of America's founding documents, the island dictator stated:

"It is really incredible that 234 years after the Declaration of Independence ... the government of that country has approved medical attention for the majority of its citizens, something that Cuba was able to do half a century ago,"

Perhaps this really is a "Bolshevik Plot." Story here.

Bentonville Battlefield

     

Centurion

Getting The Constitution Right

Showdown In Switzerland

 

The recent vote by the Swiss people to ban the construction of minarets was met with the usual contempt by its governments elite class.  In many ways the United States and Europe suffer from the same pathologies inflicted from an elite class that loath their own culture and heritage.  However, unlike the United States, where elections are divorced from the making of public policy; the Swiss (at least) have managed to preserve a federal system that is actually representative of the wishes of the people.  The Swiss cantons are sovereign entities, not unlike the States of the American Union were, prior to the War Between the States. Quite apart from the recommendations made by the Swiss government, the people have voted against their elites, and instead have voted for preserving their own culture. Excellent essay by Dr. Srjda Trifkovic here.       

States Rights And The Union

One of the more troubling aspects of the mainstream American political discourse is the constant emphasis on party politics. Its as though Americans have been conditioned to believe that solutions are to be found ONLY within the political duopoly in Washington. What is often conspicuously absent from any discussion is the power of the States to check and arrest laws which they deem to be unconstitutional. This is commonly referred to as state interposition or nullification. It is folly to assume that government will somehow limit itself. Thomas Jefferson, warned that if the Federal government became the final arbiter regarding the extent of its own power, the result would be tyranny. Consider that the Kentucky Resolutions state that:

"the several States composing the United States of America, are not united on the principles of unlimited submission to their General Government; but by compact under the style and title of a Constitution for the United States and of amendments thereto, they constituted a General Government for special purposes, delegated to that Government certain definite powers, reserving each State to itself, the residuary mass of right to their own self Government; and that whensoever the General Government assumes undelegated powers, its acts are unauthoritative, void, and of no force:That to this compact each State acceded as a State, and is an integral party, its co-States forming as to itself, the other party: That the Government created by this compact was not made the exclusive or final judge of the extent of the powers delegated to itself; since that would have made its discretion, and not the Constitution, the measure of its powers; but that as in all other cases of compact among parties having no common Judge, each party has an equal right to judge for itself, as well of infractions as of the mode and measure of redress."  

It was upon these principles of nullification, that the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions were penned. Now it appears that more State legislatures are awakening to the dangers of Federal tyranny, and are reasserting State sovereignty. Wyoming is now the latest State to reassert its reserved powers concerning the issue of gun rights. Story here.

Counter-Jihad In The Caucasus

The EU And The Attack On Leviathan

Just wanted to do a follow up post on the controversy concerning the British MEP member Nigel Farage,  and  the new European President Herman van Rompuy.   Dr. Srdja Trifkovic, has written yet another outstanding piece regarding the recent dust up, and the attendant implications of a European super state. Story here.

Music Break

The EU: Free Speech Comes At A Price...Literally

It is always a treat to hear the UKIP MEP leader Nigel Farage speak about the current state of European politics.  He has a way of speaking with directness that few American politicians can match.   The transformation of the formerly sovereign and independent European countries into one consolidated leviathan, is reminiscent of 19th century America.  Of course, the EU has many who subscribe to the totalitarian socialist model and would like nothing more than to silence any opposition to their vision.  Now comes an official fine from the European Parliament for Nigel Farages comments regarding the former Prime Minister of Belgium. Story here.

Weekend Warrior Break #5

Does Hollywood Ignore Islamic Terrorism?

Following the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990's, came widespread speculation as to where/when (and in what form) the next major threat would emerge. In took nearly a decade for the United States to awaken to a gathering threat, that much of the world was already familiar...that of Islamic fundamentalism. Despite the many unequivocal declarations of jihad by Al-Qaeda, and the subsequent attacks on 9/11 , Hollywood has remained strangely disengaged.

Igor Toronyi-Lalic, has written an excellent essay on the virtual Hollywood blackout of movies featuring Islamic villains. Story here.

Caucasian Games

The newly re-elected Abkhazian president Sergey Bagapsh vowed a swift response would follow any aggression on the part of Georgia, concerning its recent secession. The small nation in the Caucasus has the backing of the Russian Federation, and currently hosts a small Russian military contingency. 

Switzerland: In Qaddafi's Crosshairs

 

It appears that Switzerland (of all places)  has managed to raise the ire of one of the Middle Easts most notorious rulers. Strange as it is to say;  given its long standing commitment to peaceful neutrality.  Nevertheless, Muammar Qaddafi of Libya has called for a "jihad against it with all means." Apparently the "infidel" state of Switzerland has angered the Libyan dictator by its recent referendum on the banning of the construction of minarets.  Story here.

Weekend Warrior Break #4

Kosovo Marks 2nd Anniversary Of Independence

Glenn Beck Gets It Wrong On Lincoln Part 2

In the second half of the interview with Lewis E. Lerhman, the conversation continues with Beck declaring that the Constitution is a "suicide pact."  Apparently he has it on good authority, we are led to believe, as this is what Lincoln's war allegedly "settled."  Thus the "union" is to be maintained by bayonet point as Beck declares "there's no way out."

I find much to like about the Glenn Beck show, but in this case, the line of reasoning employed is pure sophistry.  Secession was a known and accepted mechanism by the founding generation, to be used in  cases of governmental tyranny.  Force should never be the arbiter for deciding issues of principle.  But by suggesting that the issue has been settled by war, this is exactly the idea that Beck advances. 

Glenn Beck Gets It Wrong On Lincoln

For some time now, I have been watching with passive interest,  the Glenn Beck show.  The main reason for this was due to its emphasis on historical and Constitutional matters.  How did we get here, and what would the founders think of our current situation.  This being in counter distinction to other programing that typically focuses mainly with contemporary politics.  Beck typically places the blame for our overreaching federal government on the policies instituted by Woodrow Wilson and F.D.R.  I had been waiting with bated breath for Beck to mention the actions of Lincoln during the WBTS in hastening the arrival of our current leviathan state.   

On last nights program there was an interesting exchange between Beck and a guest author Lewis E. Lehrman regarding Lincoln.   Some of the comments I found problematic,  as they both were in agreement on giving Lincoln a complete pass on  his many Constitutional violations.  Lehrman made several assertions such as the following:

" The states had certain rights delegated to them by the Constitution." 

This is simply false as the states do not derive their rights from the Constitution.  Rights are inherent and not subject to  governmental approval.   Furthermore, the Constitution cannot delegate rights precisely because it is the creation of the states.  It is the relation between a superior and an inferior.  This is of course the whole nature of sovereignty.   Lehrman continues:

"The federal government had certain rights delegated to them." 

This is true as far as it goes, but it is important to remember that the "delegated rights", proceed not from the Constitution but from the states and the people.  It is also true that these are not "rights" as such, but rather delegated, "powers."  Lehrman:

"Lincoln embraced the rights of states."

There are so many problems with this statement that one scarcely knows where to begin.  Clearly, Lincoln didn't believe in the fundamental sovereignty of the states, or in the idea of consent of the governed.  More to come in a follow up post. 

The Hunt For Red October?

It turns out that truth really is stranger than fiction.  The CIA has finally admitted after 30 years of denials, the details of "Project Azorian", a daring mission to recover a Soviet nuclear submarine that sunk off the coast of Hawaii in 1968.  Story here.

De-Christianizing Kosovo

In the postmodern world that we find ourselves in,  the social model most idealized by the elite class is  the notion of multiculturalism.  Despite all this talk of the joys of living in a multicultural society; the remaining Christian Serbs (and other minorities) in Kosovo, have yet to be afforded the blessings of living in such a pluralistic society.  Ironically, the ongoing persecution of minorities in Kosovo is happening under the full knowledge of NATO countries including the United States and Great Britain. Story here.   

Who's Day Is It Anyway?

Weekend Warrior Break #3

Snow in Southeastern North Carolina!?

Well, it looks as though we have finally gotten a little snow here in eastern North Carolina.  Got a little bit last year, but only just enough for a light dusting. Of course, the big one (for us) was way back in 1989. 

Londonistan

The Feather Men

I recently learned that one of my favorite books will be getting a big screen adaptation. The book "The Feather Men", written by Sir Ranulph Fiennes, concerns the deaths of former British soldiers under mysterious circumstances.  The story centers around a group of vigilantes (The Feather Men) who go outside the law to protect fellow SAS soldiers against a group of contract assassins known as The Clinic.   

The movie re-christened "The Killer Elite",  will star Jason Statham. Story here.

Truth On Trial In Amsterdam.

Weekend Warrior Break #2

"I said I never had much use for one, never said I didn't know how to use it."

The Messiah makes another gaffe...

NeoCon Game

Another great one from SA...

The Case For The Crusades

In the wake of the terrorist attacks on 9/11, it became fashionable to speculate as to why such attacks would be perpetrated against the United States.  In the search for a motive to these atrocities, much of the media and academia identified the Crusades as the culprit for much of the animus that Muslims have towards the West.   

Such speculation had a particular attraction to those on the political left, as they are forever searching for ways to blame the West for any perceived injustice alleged by other cultures. But many self described conservatives also parrot the same assumptions embraced by the left concerning the motives fueling Islamic terrorism.  In his new book titled,"God's Battalions", Dr. Rodney Stark asserts that this is simply not true.  Dr. Stark argues persuasively that the Crusades were NOT unprovoked, nor did they represent an early foray by Europeans into colonialism. They were in fact a belated response to Muslim aggressions into historically Christian lands that had been occurring for centuries.  

 The Crusades began with Pope Urban II, outside the French city of Clermont, urging soldiers of Christ to aid in the restoration of the city of Jerusalem.  What is conspicuously absent from this narrative is the fact that Jerusalem had been overrun by Seljuk Turks.  The Eastern empire of Christendom, and its capital city Constantinople where also under constant threat from the rising Turkish onslaught. Dr. Stark's, "God's Battalions", makes clear that the Crusades simply cannot be used as a justification for the Islamic terrorism that the Western world is grappling with today. This tomb is an excellent guide for exploring the forgotten history that preceded the Crusades and helps to clarify its real causes.  

Weekend Warrior Break #1

The Last Confederate

I had the pleasure recently of viewing this little known movie set during the tumultuous years of the Civil War.  The Last Confederate tells the true story of a soldier torn between the love of one women,  and the duty to ones country.   It is a bit of an understated film compared to the current Hollywood fare, but that is what I personally found most appealing about it. Not many explosions or CGI to be found here.  It didn't resort to the common vilification all who fought for the Confederacy.  Nor did it couch the war as strictly one fought to end the institution of slavery.  Instead it approached it from the perspective of a soldier who was fighting for home and hearth.

Live Free or Die

Glenn Beck has a new documentary about the origins of totalitarianism,  and its attendant crimes committed during the 20th century under the guise of progressivism. One of the real strengths of his program is the exploration of the events of history and the consequences of  these ideas, in the shaping of modern America.  Much of the focus has been with the progressivism of Woodrow Wilson and Franklin Roosevelt and how policies championed by them have led to the centralization of power. While it is important to shine the light on these administrations, it would also be instructive to cast our gaze to the Lincoln administration during the WBTS. It was, of course, Abraham Lincoln who championed an indivisible union divested of state autonomy.  This gave rise to the modern consolidated state.While I do not intend to make comparisons between Hitler and Lincoln, it is however instructive to compare the views of both in regards to the union   It might surprise some to learn that Hitler found much to like in Lincolns version of the American union. In regards to the union Hitler stated:

 "The individual states of the American Union...could not have possessed any state sovereignty of their own. For it was not these states that formed the Union, on the contrary it was the Union which formed a great part of such so-called states."

  So, perhaps it it is time to look back a little further to the 19th century for the origins of American nationalism, and the birth of the American Caesar.

Haiti: Is the price tag too steep?

 

Kosovo....The other side of the story.

Came across this documentary film titled "Can you imagine", recently.  It concerns the present situation in Kosovo following the 1999 NATO bombing.  I have yet to see the film, but the preview is most compelling, and  shows a dimension to the story not familiar to most of us who follow Western media.  Having been to Kosovo recently,  I can believe in the veracity of the evidence presented.  The expulsion of Christian Serbs is (unfortunately) the likely outcome of severing the region from Serbia.

The Avett Brothers

Here is some music from one of my favorite bands.  They are an up and coming band from my home; the Tarheel state.