Author Archives: roybeaird

THE SUPREME COURT IS A TOP PRIORITY…


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When the Republicans use tactics normally employed by the Democrats the Left cries foul.  The Republicans refused to bring the nomination of Merrick Garland before the Senate and opted to wait until the next administration was in place to hold any confirmation hearings on any candidate to succeed Antonin Scalia for a seat on the illustrious court.  That could have backfired in a major way had Hillary Clinton won the election, for it is entirely possible that she would have appointed Barack Obama to the position and he would likely have received confirmation.  That would have been even more disastrous than his 8 years in the White House.  It would have been the beginning of a Liberal Leftist Court during her term in office that would have completed Barack Obama’s drive to ‘fundamentally transform’ America.  It would have, likely meant the effective shredding of our Constitution, and transformed it into the “Living Document” Status the Left clamors for.  America would have been the clear loser!

The Constitution requires the Senate to give ‘advice and consent’ but nowhere does that document mandate that the Senate give a hearing or a vote to a nominee.  Failure to give a hearing is an answer to the ‘consent’ portion of the directive for if you can give consent you can also withhold it.  That is exactly what the Senate did with regard to Judge Garland.  Now the new president Donald J. Trump can nominate someone to the court and hopefully he will present a nominee that adheres to the expressed views of the Founding Fathers and the Framers of the Constitution.  The Framers and Founders believed the Constitution was a legally binding document that formed a covenant between the American people and their government.  An agreement that would keep the government in check while providing a safeguard for our inalienable rights and liberties as citizens.  The Framers and Founders would be outraged over the idea of the Constitution being a “Living Document” that would morph into whatever the whims of those in power might deem it to be at any given time.  To the Framers and Founders, it was ‘etched in stone’ until and unless changed by the people through the proper channels.

Thomas Jefferson stated his position eloquently saying, “On every question of construction carry ourselves back to the time when the Constitution was adopted, recollect the spirit manifested in the debates and instead of trying what meaning may be squeezed out of the text or invented against it, conform to the probable one in which it was passed.”  There is nothing ambiguous in that statement.  James Wilson said, “The first and governing maxim in the interpretation of a statute is to discover the meaning of those who made it.”  James Madison echoed those sentiments arguing, “Can it be of less consequence that the meaning of a Constitution should be fixed and known, than a meaning of a law should be so?”  The Father of our Country and First President, George Washington contended that UNTIL and UNLESS the Constitution was changed by the people following the prescribed process it was AUTHENTIC and OBLIGATORY upon everyone.  Those men offered nothing that would remotely suggest they viewed the Constitution as anything but definitive and timeless.

James Madison went even further in highlighting the distinction between a so-called “Living Constitution” and the “Constitution of a Republic.”  He said, “The important distinction so well understood in America, between a Constitution established by the people and unalterable by the government, and a law established and alterable by the government, seems to have been little understood and less observed in any other country.”  He recognized the uniqueness of our System of Government and the importance of strictly adhering to it and interpreting the Constitution based on ORIGINAL INTENT.  Jefferson agreed and said, “Our peculiar security is in the possession of a written Constitution.  Let us not make it a blank paper by construction… If it is, then we have no Constitution. To take a single step beyond the text would be to take possession of a boundless field of power.” 

Harry Truman made an incredible statement about the Constitution that is worth considering.  He said, “It can be lost, and it will be if the time ever comes when these documents are regarded not as the supreme expressions of our profound belief, but merely as curiosities in a glass case.”  The danger of the left can be summed up in the words of the former Vice President, Joe Biden.  He said, “Just talk to me as a father – not what the Constitution says.  What do you feel?”  This is not about what I feel it is about what the Constitution states and a frightening revelation of how the Left views the document. That document MUST be maintained as the Law of our Land or we have lost our Constitutional Republic.  I will fight to prevent that and it is my prayer that the new President will nominate a person for the Supreme Court who holds the same sentiments as our Founding Fathers and the Framers of the Constitution and interpret it by ORIGINAL INTENT, not current political winds and political correctness.

God, bless you and God bless America.  We need to Pray for our leaders and make the SCOTUS a matter of serious prayer!

THE ME, ME, ME PRESIDENT…


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I am not referring to President Donald J. Trump but the former President Barack Hussein Obama.  The media, talking heads on television, political pundits, and many politicians have sought to make Donald Trump the “It’s all about me, president or politician.”  They seem to have incredibly short memories or they have failed to do any semblance of research and examination of the many speeches the former president has given.  They seem to be oblivious as to how many times Mr. Obama has referred to himself when he speaks.

I saw a political cartoon that pictured both Mr. Obama and Mr. Trump and suggested that when Trump speaks it is “me, me, me, me…” but when Mr. Obama speaks it is all about “you, you, you, you….”  When I saw that I laughed out loud and thought, “Surely you can’t be serious” but the cartoonist was deadly serious.  Wrong, but deadly serious!  I have seen reports from the Leftist and the MSM that suggested that Mr. Obama’s farewell speech was completely devoid of ‘self-references’ and was magnanimous and clearly focused on America and Americans.  But, then, they have doted on him treating him as some kind of god for 8 years.

In Mr. Obama’s farewell addressed he referred to himself 75 times.  This is not the first incident of his narcissism and self-focus but in this particular event he used “I” 33 times, “my” 20 times, “me” 10 times, and “I’m or “I’ve” 12 times.  If you remember or care to research, back in July he mentioned himself 45 times in a speech given, supposedly for the slain officers in Dallas.  The only thing the MSM and the Leftist seem to hear are his closing words where he encouraged Americans to TUNE IN, “because, for me, it’s always been about you.”  THAT IS HILARIOUS!  It has never been about you, me, or America it has always been about Barack Hussein Obama and his leftist agenda.  Contrast that to Mr. Trump’s Inaugural speech and you clearly see who is referring to SELF the most.  The winner is Barack Obama!

In January of 2016, Mr. Obama made a speech announcing new gun control orders.  In that speech, he referred to himself 76 times.  Following the mass shooting in Roseburg, Oregon he mentioned himself 28 times in a short 12-minute speech.  When he visited New Delhi, Barack Obama referenced himself 118 times in 18 minutes.  I cannot imagine anyone not acknowledging that he is a narcissist and if we are honest we would have to acknowledge that the most important person in Barack Obama’s world is BARACK OBAMA.

We now have a new president and hopefully, we will move toward a much more people-centered administration and a more constitutional one.  Hopefully, we will find that we have an administration that truly wants to place America First rather than seeking to ‘fundamentally transform’ her and punish America for the perceived sins of the globalist and haters of our system and freedom.  Hopefully, we will find inroads into returning government to the hands of the true owners, THE PEOPLE.  Mr. Obama has never viewed America in the same light as the founding fathers or the framers of our American constitution.  He has viewed our system of government as flawed and the constitution a hindrance rather than a document that was designed as a safeguard for our inalienable rights and liberties.

The historic record reveals that in President George Washington’s farewell address in 1796, reminded everyone that “all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion, and morality are indispensable supports.”  Barack Obama gave himself a high-five for undermining them during his address as he reflected on his two terms in office.  During his tenure in office, he has pushed for and pushed America to lessen its historic religious commitment and moral fabric and urged Americans to move even further away from our founding principles.  I found it laughable that he attempted to transform George Washington into a fellow progressive as he ignored Washington’s plea for religion and morality in America.  Mr. Obama’s argument about Washington’s view of ‘self-government’ was a plea to abandon our core convictions and embrace diversity at the expense of religious and moral conviction.  George Washington contended, in his farewell address, that self-government is dangerous IF it becomes disconnected from conservative and righteous principles.  He repeatedly warned against the abandonment of religion and morality and allowing the intrusion and inclusion of self-sufficient humanism.  He believed that to do so would result in a government that was tyrannical and produce, at best, an elitist oligarchy and, at worst, a hard tyranny.  Both, Mr. Obama contends for and Mr. Washington warned against.

For the former President Barack Obama, it was “All About Him” and never about “America or Americans.”  I am praying that this new President Donald Trump will focus on America and Americans and keep any narcissism in check and be willing to do what is right for this nation not simply to make himself look or sound good.  He will not be afforded the media support and every act and action will be questioned.  He will find an antagonistic congress like virtually no president has ever experienced.  Can he succeed?  Only if we who pray do so. Only if we who love freedom and America demand cooperation in Congress.  Only if we the electorate stay focused and in each successive election prune the political tree and get rid of the deadwood.

God, bless you and God bless America again!

WHAT IS AMERICA’S GREATEST NEED TODAY???


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Many things come to mind when I ask or am asked that question and I’m sure that each one will have a different perspective and idea.  As I have been in prayer and musing on America, where we are, where we have been, and where we are going there are some agonizing thoughts have come to mind.  When I witness, what in my mind, is an assault on our American foundation, the pillars of freedom and the principles upon which America was founded, I become agitated.  I wish I could say that it was always ‘righteous indignation’ but sometimes it is unadulterated blood boiling anger that could easily morph into hate and I fight against that with a passion.  I do not want hate to fill my heart and although I hate sin and the result of sin I do not want to hate the sinner.  I hate the attempts to dismantle and unravel our constitutional framework and diminish the principled fabric of our society but I do not want to hate those who disagree with me about what is best and the direction we should take.  Hate will never produce genuine and lasting victory and progress.

What is the greatest need of America today?  HEALING!  You may not agree and that is your right and privilege.  I will not argue that there are not some incredibly imposing and threatening dangers facing our republic, there are!  Yet, I know from the Bible and history that a house divided against itself cannot stand, become incredibly weak, and open to an invasion of ideologies and forces that would dismantle and destroy us.  NONE OF US TRULY WANT THAT.  The Bible offers us a prescription for HEALING in 2 Chronicles 7:14, “and My people, who are called by My Name, humble themselves, and pray and seek (crave, require as a necessity) My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear [them] from heaven, and forgive their sin and heal their land.”  [Amplified].

I have watched the MSM, the political pundits, activist, and the protests in the aftermath of this election in which the Leftist Democrat was defeated by the Republican and it is a sad reflection of our divide.  If we allow ourselves to focus on our particular ideology, pet agenda, personal preference, or pet-peeve we will expand the divide.  If we allow ourselves to be drawn into HATE and continue to fan the flames of discord, we will fail as a nation and thereby will suffer individually and collectively.  I do believe that one of the things President Trump said in his inaugural speech is vitally important for us to focus on.  He said that UNITED, America is Unstoppable!  He said other things about setting aside our prejudices, biases and realizing that we are All Americans and America should be first not personal preference.

I do not suggest anyone abandon their convictions or principles.  I would never do that but I do suggest that we need to resist and reject HATE.  I do suggest we seek common ground through which we can work together for the good of America and Freedom at home and abroad.  If you hate me or I hate you based on the color of skin, we both lose.  If I hate you or you hate me solely based on personality, we both are reduced to incredibly small people.  If I hate you or you hate me based on which side of a political issue we stand, we dig a chasm that will prevent us from finding a solution to our nation’s problems.  I see the signs of protesters, “Love Trumps Hate” and next to that sign will be one that calls for assignation or some other incredible act of violence and hate.  LOVE does triumph over HATE but we dare never forget that Hate and Love do not flow out of the same fountain or heart at the same time. 

America’s greatest need, in my mind, is HEALING.  I am totally convinced that Healing can only truly come from God.  I was appalled when Barack Obama won in 2008 and significantly discouraged when he won again in 2012 but I did not stop being an American and wanting what was best for America.  Did I oppose Mr. Obama?  Yes, I did.  Have I been vocal?  Yes, I have.  But not one time did I call for his murder, the rape of his wife or children or seek to destroy the framework of our society, government, commerce, or community.  I found almost nothing good in the policies of Mr. Obama. You may find nothing good in the policies of Mr. Trump.  But if we love America and are willing to suppress our prejudices, biases, and resist the tendency to HATE that which is different we can not only survive but thrive as a nation.  HEALING is America’s greatest need and it is my greatest need as a human being. 

I hate the message and actions of Islamic jihadism.  I hate the murder of innocent babies in the womb.  I hate the attempts to strip all reference and mention of God from our public stage.  I hate the ‘fundamental transformation’ of America into something other than the nation we were established to be and the principles upon which we were formed.  I hate the works of evil no matter what form that comes.  HOWEVER, I do not want to be filled with HATE and thereby prevented from having LOVE for my fellow man.  I want to be a part of the HEALING of our Nation not a part of the perpetuation of division. 

I know that my sermon will not be well received by some but I hope you hear my heart.  I DO NOT want anyone to abandon their principles, and discard their core convictions.  I want you to protest what you believe is wrong but do so in a civil, peaceful, constitutional, and legal manner.  I want all of us to be able to stand for what we believe is right but to do so as rational and mature people.  I am praying for HEALING in our land and am committed to interceding for America.

God, bless you and God bless America is my prayer and desire!

 

SHOULD ANYONE BE BEYOND THE REACH OF THE LAW???


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I ask that question for any number of reasons including the Hillary Clinton email imbroglio.  We are told that it is complicated, even embarrassing, and somewhat confusing for Law Enforcement, but the message is she was and is deemed above the law. If that was not their intentional message they failed because that is the message conveyed. However, that is only one reason for my question, another is the Lawlessness of the Obama administration and the view of those working for him and his loyal followers.  To them, it seems, the Law is whatever he says not what has been enacted by legislation and firmly established by the constitution.

Back in April 2015, there was an article written by Suzanne Hamner where she referred to the ICE Director Sarah Saldana’s testimony before Congress that “ICE followed President Obama’s policies, not the Law.”  That is nothing short of incredible but the open admission and the many declarations and actions of Barack Obama indicate that is his and their law.  He (Mr. Obama) has said, “I’m president, I can do what I want.”  NO, Mr. Obama, you may have done whatever you want but Constitutionally and Legally you cannot and should be held accountable for any directive that coerces anyone to violate existing law.  He has declared that he is willing to circumvent Congress, the Courts, and the Constitution saying, “If Congress won’t do what I want, I will go it alone.  I have a pen and a phone.”  YES, you do and you have done just that, at times, but it is still Unconstitutional and Illegal and you should be held accountable.  I do not fault you as the lone culprit for your actions because your entire history has been one of getting and doing whatever you want with a sense of entitlement and exemption from the rules that apply to everyone else.  You have dealt with a weak-willed Congress for 8 years, therefore one can understand why you’d feel you can order anyone to do whatever you desire and be immune from the consequences.  You are your own god, so it seems and anyone disagreeing or resisting your edicts is a person to be destroyed and eliminated.

Representative David Young of Iowa asked Ms. Saldana about a concern, which continues to this date, that ICE officials and agents were uncertain whether they should follow the LAW or obey the Policies of Barack Obama.  That should be an easy decision, although it might cost them their jobs.  However, from a Constitutional and Legal position, it should be an easy decision.  Even in the military, we were obligated to follow ‘LEGAL ORDERS’ and not follow ‘ILLEGAL ORDERS.’  Congressman Young argued that if there was a policy that violated the law, the normal expectation should be to follow the law.  The ICE Director said, “And that’s where you and I probably have a fundamental disagreement.”  Her continued testimony revealed that she considered the wishes of the president to be a higher law than AMERICAN LAW.  That should have been grounds for her immediate dismissal and should have resulted in an in-depth investigation to determine if the President had, in fact, issued decrees threatening anyone because they followed the Law and rejected his wishes.  It didn’t happen and therein is a revelation of how we are in the mess we are in. 

I remember President Obama threatening ICE agents saying, “If someone’s working for ICE, and there is a policy and they don’t follow the policy, there are going to be consequences to it.”  His policy violated the Law and the Constitution and he threatened people’s jobs if they obeyed the Law and the Constitution.  THAT IS LAWLESSNESS!  Her argument and many on the left that in every level of life and business employees are expected to follow company policy regardless.  That will not hold water because no matter what the policy is IF it violates the law and especially federal law there is no exemption for the employee.  You cannot use, “I was just doing what I was told as a justification.”  The Law is the Law and NO ONE is or should be EXEMPT.

The tragedy over the past 8 years is that Barack Obama and the Liberal Left have effectively “transformed” or enabled the ‘mutation’ of our country through his ‘fundamental transformation’ into a state where the Law of Obama supersedes the Law of America.  If through Executive Order or Executive Action a President can suspend the Law and the Constitution with impunity, we have lost the Republic.  We dare not allow our nation to become one in which the Head of a Department, Military Commander, CEO, or President can issue a decree and it take priority over THE LAW.   That would place us squarely in chaos nationally and would mutate the Republic into a Dictatorship where the only Laws that apply are those the sitting potentate deemed enforceable and only apply to those no part of his/her regime.  We were established as a Constitutional Republic and have been one for a long time.  Are we willing to allow that to be subverted and abandoned?  I AM NOT! 

We must insist that this dictatorial oligarchy of political elitist and professional politicians end.  We must evict as many as possible who are following or allowing that mindset and practice to exist.  It is high time that you and I TAKE BACK OUR GOVERNMENT at the ballot box and with our pocketbooks.  We can but it will be a long and difficult fight and there will be casualties.  IS FREEDOM WORTH THE FIGHT?  Is America worth the commitment?  I cannot answer that for you, but for me and my house, the answer is YES!

God, bless you and God bless America!

 

INAUGURATION DAY – January 20, 2017…


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The 45th President of the United States of America will be sworn in in Washington, DC on Friday, January 20, 2017.  That man will be Donald J. Trump along with his Vice President, Mike Pence former governor of Indiana.  Mr. Trump will face opposition like no incoming president has ever experienced.  I am quite sure that virtually all Presidents or Presidential Candidates were or are ‘egotist’ and possibly suffer from some degree of ‘narcissism’.  Mr. Trump is no exception and has demonstrated that he is not a ‘diplomat’, in the normally understood sense of the word.  He is also not a ‘statesman’ in the minds of most.  He is an individual whose history and background has made him a fighter.  He is an action-oriented individual that does not like ‘red tape’ nor does he follow the normally accepted and demanded ‘protocol’ of politics.  His background is business and in business, you ‘make deals’ to achieve your objective and often bypass steps in the ‘pomp and ceremony’ of what is deemed political decorum.  We have seen this before in Washington but never in an environment where every word and deed is reported around the world in a matter of minutes.  He will be under the microscope 24/7/365 and those who hate him will continually seek for any flaws or failures perceived or real.

The American people deserve a government that is not intrusive but for many reasons we do not have that any longer.  There have been sinister forces at work for well over 100 years to sabotage our system, fundamentally transform it into something other than the government “of the people, for the people, and by the people” our founders and the framers desired.  We have shifted from Citizen Representatives to Professional Politicians. We moved from Senators being representatives of their individual states to power brokers and a political aristocracy.  We have transitioned from Representatives who served a term or two and then went back to private life and lived under the laws, rules, regulations, and restrictions they imposed on the rest of us.  We have allowed the politicians to make the rules, determine the game, and call the plays as we enjoyed liberty and the fruit of capitalism.  They are guilty and we are guilty of allowing our Republic to get in this state.  They (politicians) like leopards won’t change their spots so the change must come via WE THE PEOPLE.  That will not be easy nor will it be quick.  It did not happen overnight and will not be corrected overnight or even in a decade or two.  The tentacles of corruption run so deep that major surgery is required and radical surgery is never easy nor painless.  Do we have the fortitude and commitment to achieve that objective?  TIME WILL TELL.

The Next President, Donald J. Trump has made some bold promises and he will be judged positively or negatively based on his fulfillment of those pledges.  Some of them, most of us knew when they were made, were hopes rather than reality.  Some of us have observed Washington for enough years to know that the politicians are not going to cede power that easily and will resist in a unified coalition to defend their turf.  If they were Citizen Representatives, Constitutional Defenders, and had entered politics to serve America and Americans they would welcome some of the changes he has suggested, but they will not. They will seek to appear to support while taking actions that will hinder if not prevent them from becoming reality.  Position, Power, and Purse are more important to the Elitist Political Establishment than America or Americans.  History is far more reflective than campaign promises and that is true from top to bottom in the political food-chain.

Friday, even with the outcries and opposition, planned disruption, and behind the scenes scheming, God willing, we will have a new President and Donald J. Trump will become the 45th President of these United States of America.  My prayer is that those in his inner circle will positively influence him to do what needs to be done even if it is not popular or understood by many.  America First, truly needs to be the mantra by which his administration operates.  We have issues domestic and international that require strong, definitive, and swift action.  We can see our economy restored by removing the stranglehold of the federal government on business large and small.  We can see our borders secured by addressing the porousness of the Southern border and enforcing our laws.  We can see our national security strengthened by identifying our enemies, providing our Armed Forces with that which they need and becoming a friend to our friends and a danger to our enemies.  We can see our nation healed but only if we are willing to set aside our personal biases, preferences, and prejudices. We must put America First. 

My prayer for the new administration is that it will be willing to consider all options and place America’s needs ahead of ideology or preference.  I pray they will make the Constitution the cornerstone of their governance and take the oath of office to heart as they promise to ‘protect and defend’ the American constitution.  I pray that this administration will take actions that will allow us to return to our moral moorings and once again become the United States of America.  I realize that my prayer will require a miracle to become reality for there are millions who are committed beyond concession to DEFEAT, DESTROY, and DAMAGE the new President.  I am not a Donald Trump cheerleader, as someone accused, but am an American and realize that for him to fail, America is the real loser and that I do not want.

The politicians and celebrities boycotting the Inauguration in protest of Mr. Trump are, in my view, disrespecting the office and our system of government.  The Inauguration is a symbol and reflection to the world that America enjoys the peaceful transfer of power, not bloody coups.  I believe that out of respect to the Constitution, the Presidency, and our System of Government, as well as their constituents Elected Officials should attend. Their presence does not mean they support the new president but that they respect the office.  But, the Democrats boycotted Abraham Lincoln’s Inauguration so this is nothing new.

God, bless you and God bless America!

 

ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION AND THE FALSE NARRATIVE…


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Illegal Immigration is a serious problem in America and will continue to be so UNLESS we take definitive action to secure the border, identify the illegals, and deal with them.  I know, some will chide me and declare that I am being insensitive to the ‘Dreamers’ and those who are not engaging in further criminal activity but are simply here trying to find a better life.  I have empathy for their situation but the matter of America, our National Sovereignty, and National Security must also be part of the discussion.

Donald Trump campaigned on the promise that he would deal with our border security and the millions of illegals currently in the United States.  How is quite another question, but one that must be addressed.  Many, including some of my very conservative friends who insist they believe in the constitution as written, are at odds with Mr. Trump and me on this issue.  They advance the idea of ‘birthright citizenship’ for the children of illegals and I believe that to be a misunderstanding and misinterpretation of the constitution.  If you will give me a chance I will explain my position and then you can agree, disagree, or take it under advisement for further review and consideration.  I am not alone and those opposing my view are not alone, so we disagree.  The central issue is THE CONSTITUTION not any of our opinions.

I have seen reports that Congress has plans to offer legislation that will legalize Barack Obama’s illegal action in allowing DREAMERS to stay.  Dick Durbin, D-IL and Lindsey Graham, R-SC have partnered in this effort to protect the DREAMERS should Donald Trump repeal the Executive Action before Congress takes up the matter.  Senator Durbin has named the bill the BRIDGE ACT.  They are joined by other Senators and the program is designed to create a three-year program to give temporary protection for those eligible for DACA and those who already have DACA status would be grandfathered in when their DACA lapse and could apply for temporary protection.  This is touted as a morally right and humane thing to do.  I disagree!

Although I cannot envision the United States doing a mass round-up of illegals and deporting them in the millions it is an issue that must be dealt with.  To allow illegals to gain legal status without having gone through the process that others have and are not going through is to make shambles of our Immigration System and encourage people to come here illegal, have babies and gain legal status.  That is a recipe for disaster!  I am very interested in being humane, morally right, biblically correct, and constitutionally sound in my response to anyone and everyone legal or illegal.

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Professor Edward Erler, a professor at California State University and a Claremont Institute senior fellow has expounded on this issue in a powerful manner and he disagrees with Senators Durbin and Graham and those who have adopted ‘birthright citizenship’ as a constitutional right of the children of illegals born on American soil.  Professor Erler, right stated that “Congress has the authority under Section Five of the Fourth Amendment, to define the jurisdiction of the United States.  Congress has, in my view, exercised that power on numerous occasions including the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996.”  Senator Howard Jacob, the author of the citizenship clause of the Fourteenth Amendment spoke about this and his definition should be considered carefully.

He said, “Every person born within the limits of the United States, and subject to their jurisdiction, [meaning the states – their jurisdiction] is, by virtue of natural law and national law, a citizen of the United States.  This will not, of course, include persons born in the United States who are foreigners, aliens, who belong to the families of ambassadors or foreign ministers accredited to the government of the United States, but will include every other class of persons.  It settles the great question of citizenship and removes all doubt as to what persons are or are not citizens of the United States.  This has long been a great issue in the jurisprudence and legislation of this country.”  Did you catch that?  IT DOES NOT INCLUDE, foreigners, aliens, or those whose who belong to families of ambassadors or foreign ministers!  IT DOES NOT INCLUDE!  I don’t know how that could be any clearer regarding the children of illegals born on American soil.  Their parents are not citizens and are under the jurisdiction of the country of their origin and their children are to be classified the same as the parents!

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The Civil Rights Acts of 1866 defined citizens of the United States as ‘all persons born in the United States and not subject to any foreign power, excluding Indians not taxed.’  NOT SUBJECT TO ANY FOREIGN POWER!  Thomas Jefferson said, “Aliens are the subjects of a foreign power.”  Senator Trumbull stated during the drafting of the national birthright law that the goal of the legislation was to “make citizens of everyone born in the United States who owe allegiance to the United States.”  He went on to say, “if the negro or white man belonged to a foreign Government he would not be a citizen.”  On March 1, 1866, the Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, James F. Wilson of Iowa declared, “We must depend on the general law relating to subjects and citizens recognized by all nations for a definition, and that must lead us to the conclusion that every person born in the United States is a natural-born citizen of such States, except that of children born on our soil to temporary sojourners or representatives of foreign Governments.”  John Bingham, a Framer of the 14th Amendment stated, as is recorded in Sec. 1992 of the U.S. Revised Statutes that this meant, “every human being born within the jurisdiction of the United States of parents not owing allegiance to any foreign sovereignty is, in the language of your Constitution itself, a natural-born citizen.” Senators Howard and Trumbull both staunchly demanded that the provision was, “all persons born in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens.”  That, in their words and view meant that the central issue was SUBJECT TO THE COMPLETE JURISDICTION THEREOF.  What does that mean?  They do not owe allegiance to anybody else or any other country.  ILLEGALS owe allegiance to the country of their origin!  Sen. Trumbull further restates the goal of the language: “It is only those persons who come completely within our jurisdiction, who are subject to our laws, that we think of making citizens…”  I would ask that you note that Senator Trumbull does not say temporarily within our jurisdiction, but “completely within our jurisdiction”. 

We do not recognize double allegiance for by our laws a citizen is required and bound to be ‘true and faithful’ alone to the government of the United States.  To argue that ‘subject to the jurisdiction thereof’ somehow affirms the feudal common law doctrine of birth citizenship to aliens would be to embrace the idea of ‘double allegiance’ between separate nations!  Aaron Sargent, a Representative from California argued during the debates regarding the Naturalization Act of 1870 that the Fourteenth Amendment’s citizenship clause WAS NOT a de-facto right for aliens to obtain citizenship.  That was not disputed then and should not be now.

If we allow Congress to act in such a manner as to completely shred our Immigration Laws, we will effectively destroy our borders and damage our National Security and National Sovereignty.  I pray their plans fail and Mr. Trump takes definitive action to correct our illegal immigration problem.

God, bless you and God bless America!

 

WHAT GRADE WOULD YOU GIVE BARACK OBAMA?


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Things do not always go as planned but when it comes to Barack Obama’s presidency, I’m not sure that he has not succeeded in advancing his core ideology.  However, if we were grading his administration in its contribution to America’s advancement and Constitutional integrity we would give him a failing grade.  I’m sure he would assess his 8 years in office as a rousing success.  Perception is not truly a reality in a factual sense but becomes reality to those willing to accept the rhetoric and spin presented.  Facts are often inconsequential and unimportant and perception is of paramount importance. 

In the State of the Union address in 2016, Mr. Obama stated that one of his chief initiatives was to “Secure the Paris climate agreement.”  That was not submitted to Congress as a treaty and can be ignored by the incoming President, Donald J. Trump.  He also sought to achieve his “Iran nuclear deal.”  This was another example where Mr. Obama viewed his powers as that of a dictator and omnipotent ignoring the requirement to submit it as a treaty to Congress.  It opened the door for Iran to proceed unimpeded to nuclear proliferation.  Iran has violated the accord on numerous occasions and did so from the beginning. This opens the door for the new administration to either rip it to shreds or resubmit it to Congress where it would almost assuredly be rejected.  Either way, it should be a dead deal that was a very bad deal.

One of the items that Mr. Trump highlighted in the campaign was the “Trans-Pacific Partnership” which Mr. Obama has called one of his signature accomplishments.  Even Hillary Clinton was forced to acknowledge that it was a bad deal and has almost no true support in Congress or the public.  Another of his initiatives that can only be deemed a failure.  Mr. Obama virtually ignored precedent, history, Congress, and the American people in his “Reopening Cuba” and ignoring the incredible atrocities in human rights of the Castro Regime.  He has proclaimed that ISIS or ISIL was nothing more than the Junior Varsity, was being destroyed, dismantled, and contained.  WRONG AGAIN and the Grade we, must give you sir is an “F”! 

He will be remembered for his unwise actions regarding Afghanistan and Iraq that has produced more instability in the region and emboldened the terrorist.  His desire and attempts to “Close Guantanamo Bay” has repatriated terrorist leaders who have reentered the fight to bring havoc to the world and has killed Americans.  He thinks he has “Rebalanced the Asia-Pacific Region” but rather than rebalancing he has opened the door for China’s continued expansionism and aggression.  His record regarding “Cybersecurity” reveal abysmal failures one after the other and we are highly exposed to an EMP (Electromagnetic Pulse) by the terrorist or an adversarial foreign government and the power grid, electronics, transportation, and much more would come to a screeching halt and America would be dangerously exposed to attack.  HE HAS FAILED on virtually every front and if the next President, Donald J. Trump, and the Republicans do not take definitive actions to REPEAL many if not most of his policies and RESTORE the Republic to a Constitutional Status we are in real trouble in America.  I would predict, trouble that we will never dig our way out of.  BUT, WE CAN CHANGE THIS DIRECTION!

It is my view and that of many who are far more astute on these matters than I that Mr. Obama’s 2nd Term has been a colossal failure.  However, my view of failure and his view of success are assuredly not the same.  I am quite sure that the Progressives, Liberals, Socialist, Globalist, and haters of America view his two terms as roaring successes.  They would likely lament that he did not or was not able to go far enough in his ‘fundamental transformation’ of America. Those of us who are lovers of Freedom value the American Constitution, and desire to see limited government and a return to Constitutional Republicanism view him as a failure.  He advanced no policies that bettered America.  He has not strengthened our Constitution but has weakened our ability to enjoy our inalienable rights.  He has fanned the flames of racial discord, created a greater chasm with regard to class envy, and advanced political correctness to a position that it is destroying this nation.  HE HAS FAILED THE REPUBLIC but SUCCEEDED in advancing his ideological agenda.  That is good for the terrorist, the progressives, the globalist, and our enemies and bad for America as the Free Constitutional Republic.  I PRAY THAT WE SEE CHANGE that is Pro-America in the next four years!

 God, bless you and God bless America!

 

THE MASSIVE FEDERAL BUREAUCRACY IS… H-U-G-E!!!


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Sorry, I couldn’t resist using that word and while it does not fully convey the gargantuan size of the federal bureaucracy that now exists.  Our founding fathers would be livid were they able to appear on the scene today and view what we have allowed to transpire in our federal government.  We have become something quite other than what they envisioned and exactly what they warned us against.  We slept while the bureaucrats stole our republic and now we have the exhausting and grueling task of fighting to take it back and cut off the far-reaching tentacles of the federal bureaucracy.  Can we accomplish it?  I doubt it, at least not in our lifetime but if we do not begin now attempting to do so, we will have doomed the generations of our grandchildren and beyond to the tyranny of bureaucratic regulations that virtually suspend our constitution.  WE SURELY DO NOT WANT THAT!

Barack Obama has been on a rampage in issuing new regulations that will cost BILLIONS if not TRILLIONS over their lifetime and further cripple our economy and endanger our republic.  Congress could have acted long before now to reign in this type of rogue sunset destruction but they opted to neglect their duty and we have what we have.  Mr. Obama is hell-bent on making life difficult if not impossible for the incoming president Donald J. Trump and the Republicans in Congress.  There are things they could, should and must do if we have any hope of turning this runaway train around and begin the slow and deliberate process of returning to fiscal and political in America.  Will they?  WE WILL SEE!

The House Freedom Caucus Chairman Mark Meadows, R-NC released a list of more than 200 rules, regulations, and executive orders they hope the incoming president will target and repeal.  Unfortunately, with a list that massive, it would be too easy to get lost in the enormity of the problem and only superficially deal with the issue.  There must be prioritization and those items at the top of the list MUST be seriously addressed immediately.  The first 100 days are incredibly important and the first 6 months are critical if the Trump administration has any hope of achieving many of its stated objectives found in his campaign promises.  I will work diligently to ensure that my Representative with his C-Liberty Score and the two Senators who have an A (Cruz) and F (Cornyn) Liberty Score move with dispatch to address the prioritized issues.

Some bills that were introduced and should be reintroduced include, H.R.712 – “Sunshine for Regulatory Decrees and Settlements Act”.  This addresses the issue of outside groups ‘suing and settling’ with the federal government behind closed doors and the settlement results in ‘new regulations’.  The House passed this 244-173 in 2015 but McConnell never allowed it to come to a vote in the Senate.  Thanks, Mitch!  There is H.R. 427 – “Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act.”  I love the acronym because with Mr. Obama’s current barrage of regulations at a cost of BILLIONS Congress needs to be required to approve those with the hefty price tags many of the have.  This too was passed by the House in 2015 but never voted on by the Senate.  There is H.R. 4768 – “Separation of Powers Act”.  This would reverse the doctrine created by the Supreme Court in 1984 called the Chevron Doctrine.  What that doctrine allows is for the courts to defer to federal regulatory agencies’ interpretation of perceived ambiguities in the federal law.  THAT IS RIDICULOUS!  This act would require that both the Supreme Court and lower courts rule on regulations based on merit, not deference.  This was passed by the House in 2016 but the Senate seemed to be oblivious to its existence.  Then there is H.R. 5982 – “Midnight Rules Relief Act”.  This would allow Congress to disapprove multiple regulations finalized by federal regulatory agencies within the 60 days allowed by Congressional Review Act.  This passed the House but no vote in the Senate.  Do you see a pattern?  The House passes something but the Senate ignores it.  One of the number one issues that the Trump administration SHOULD deal with is the Repeal and Replacement of Obamacare.  The government is out of control and now is the time to act!

If Congress does its job and the Trump administration fulfills its promises, we will move toward restoration of Article I of the Constitution and once again see true ‘Separation of Powers’ and genuine ‘Checks and Balances’ in Washington.  That is good for WE THE PEOPLE and good for the Republic.  I also, pray that Congress will pass a Balanced Budget Act and stick to it.  I would like to see us move from a ‘baseline budget’ to a ‘zero-based budget’.  That would allow us to stop having automatic 5-10% increases and calling anything less a ‘budget cut’.  With ‘zero-based budgeting’ we would require every agency to begin at ZERO and justify the funds it needs and not simply perpetuate itself but operate with fiscal reality.  The same with our subsidies and foreign aid funds.  Begin at ZERO and those countries MUST have demonstrated their loyalty to us as an ally otherwise they get ZERO and many of them should get ZERO regardless.  Those are among my 2017 Wishes for the New Administration and the 115th Congress.  TIME TO ACT NOW!

God, bless you and God bless America!

 

A NEW PRESIDENT – My Hope and My Concern…


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January 20, 2017, is Inauguration Day and the 45th President of the United States of America will be sworn in.  The designation of President-elect will transition to President and Donald Trump will become the President.  What does that mean?  To some, it is their worst nightmare and to others, it is a ray of hope breaking through the clouds of gloom we have known for the past 8 years.  For some, it is a wait and see attitude and others it means war to stop him at all costs.  America is a deeply divided nation and while I hope we will see a mending of fences, bridging divides, and common ground, that is not what appears to be what is going to happen in Mr. Trump’s term of office.

Mr. Trump follows a president that has, in my view, blatantly ignored the Constitution and our Constitutional Legislative method of government.  Mr. Obama stated, “I am president and I can do what I want.”  He also said, “If Congress won’t act (do what I want), I have a pen and a phone and I will go it alone.”  He lamented more than once that the Constitution was a nuisance and hindrance to what he wanted to do because it limited government or progressive liberal ideological agendas.  Mr. Obama abused the Executive Privilege in his, sometimes, lawless Executive Fiats, Orders, and Actions.  Tragically  Congress, for the most part, either ignored his lawlessness or refused to offer more than a whimper in protest.  He set a precedent that could produce a far more Tyrannical Executive Branch, further render the Legislative and Judicial Branches impotent and ‘fundamentally transform’ us from being a Constitutional Republic into an Oligarchy or a Soft or Hard Tyranny run by a Despot in the White House.  That is or should not be acceptable to any American.

My Hope is that Mr. Trump will have the support of Congress and legally enact legislation to fulfill his campaign promises and the will of the people as expressed in the many states he won.  My Hope is that Mr. Trump will faithfully execute his oath of office and duties as President to “Protect and Defend” the Constitution.  My Hope is that he and Congress will remember the campaign promises and take quick and definitive steps to make them a reality reversing the course and repairing much of the damage done over the past 8 years by Barack Obama and the leftist.  That is my HOPE!

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My Concern is that Mr. Trump may become frustrated by the obstructionism and lack of support by Establishment Republicans in enacting his agenda that he follows the path of Mr. Obama and takes matters into his own hands to get done what he knows needs to be done.  I pray that does not happen for it would further damage our Republic and weaken our System of Government moving us away from Federalism and Republicanism toward Tyranny.  Even if Mr. Trump took steps to bypass the Legislative and Judicial system and his desire was to achieve something that I fully support, I would be opposed to that way of achieving the goal.  The end does not always justify the means and subverting the Constitution is not in the best interest of America or Americans. 

I am fully aware of how inept Congress has been at times, and how frustrating their inaction, cronyism, protectionism of their elitist class of professional politicians, and self-serving actions can be.  I understand how slow the wheels of Congress often turn in producing something good and lasting and how quickly they sometimes turn producing bad laws.  I realize that Donald J. Trump is a ‘take action’ personality that will find business as usual in Washington incredibly frustrating.  My Hope is that he will use his bully pulpit to motivate the American people to apply sufficient pressure on Congress to ACT POSITIVELY in achieving the Campaign Promises that are needed.

There are those on the left who hope that the obstructionism the left is planning and the apparent lack of support and cooperation from the Establishment Republicans will so frustrate Mr. Trump that he either takes action that opens the door for impeachment or he will become so frustrated at the ‘do-nothingness’ of DC he will quit.  I pray neither become a reality.  If Mr. Trump is unable to achieve his objectives and the fulfillment his promises he will become frustrated, I would.  Hopefully, he will find a way to negotiate with Congress to achieve many if not most of his objectives and bring America back to a path of vibrant economic health, a secure border, increased national security, strengthened positive relations with foreign nations who share the view of Freedom and repeal Obamacare.  I also hope he will be able to counter Mr. Obama’s massive regulatory stranglehold on business.  Those and more are on my wish list of accomplishments for the next administration.

Whether Mr. Trump is to be a one-term president will hinge on how he goes about his duties, exercises his power, achieves his agenda, and fulfills his promises.  If he has no plans to serve two-terms he will act differently than if he does and that will likely become evident in the first 12-18 months if not sooner.  I am elated that Hillary Clinton is not going to be the 45th President and believe that we have been offered a window of opportunity to return to more of a Constitutional Republican System as was the original intent.  I am supportive of Donald Trump and the new administration but would not be supportive of side-stepping the Constitution.  I want the White House, Congress, and the Courts to FOLLOW THE LAW and ADHERE TO THE CONSTITUTION.  

That, in brief, is my Hope and Concern for the coming 4 years!  I believe that with prayer and continued effort on the part of WE THE PEOPLE we can ensure a more representative Congress in 2018 to advance the Constitutional Agenda we need.

God, bless you and God bless America!

BETRAYAL OF OUR FRIENDS – Obama’s Parting Shot…


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There has never been a question, in my mind, as to where the current president stands regarding Israel or his allegiance to the Islamic nations and Islam.  He claims to be a Christian but his strange way of demonstrating that leaves one wondering who or what he is truly following.  He defends a religion that has the worst human rights record and history than virtually any religion and one that is so intolerant of any other view their so-called holy book demands the slaughter of those deemed to be infidels.  That is not the case with Christianity or Judaism but according to Mr. Obama our Christian history and that of Judaism are to be decried while Islam is to be praised.  Love thy neighbor is not a tenet of Islam but is it a tenet of both the Jewish faith and the New Testament.

Mr. Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry along with their minions are claiming that the UN Resolution is a step toward peace. They claim the U.S. had nothing to do with the crafting and drafting of the resolution.  However, Egypt and Israel along with other sources reveal the fingerprints of this administration and Messrs. Obama and Kerry all over the resolution and suggest a stealthily coordinated effort to enact it.  Of course, the United States Ambassador to the UN abstained as though that somehow acquitted our nation of complicity and responsibility.  We have Veto Power and could have blocked this action but Mr. Obama’s parting shot at Israel is to endanger that nation and further unsettle the entire Middle East if not the world.  That is inconsequential to him for his thin-skinned narcissism demands that he take his last shot at a nation he clearly holds contempt for.

The United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334 will not produce peace but will likely escalate matters and place the incoming President in the position of potentially sending troops into harm’s way to defend a long-standing ally, Israel.  This is a move, which Barack Obama has desired.  He wants to roll the borders back to pre-1967 boundaries in Israel.  That would include Israel losing access to or control of East Jerusalem.  It demands that Israel immediately cease and desist in all settlements in the Palestinian occupied territory including East Jerusalem.  The UN is demanding that the boundary lines be prior to June 4, 1967, and would mean the Jewish people would no longer have access to the holiest site of their religion, the Western Wall of the Temple Mount. They would be barred from entering the Old City founded by King David over 3,000 years ago and erase from history the Israeli victory in the Six-Day War in 1967.

I find it interesting that there was no push back on Jordan when Israel warned them to stay out of the conflict in 1967.  There was no sanction, penalty, or criticism of Jordan for trashing over 50 Jewish Synagogues, and other atrocities.  This is not a call for Israel to swap “land for peace” it is a call for Israel to unilaterally give up land and rights of sovereignty.  The fact that the United States had Vetoed similar proposals suggests that the Palestinian Authority (PA) would have consulted with this administration before trying this again.  This is nothing more than an Anti-Israel action by a body (United Nations) that has repeatedly taken positions that are incredibly Anti-Semitic.  Now, the United States has joined that coalition against the only true ally we have in the region.

Can Mr. Trump and Congress correct this?  I don’t know but I do know there are some things that can be done including withholding our sizeable contribution to the United Nations.  We pay the lion’s share of their budget and, in my view, it is time to defund and evict them.  I have seen reports that our portion of the budget is about $3 BILLION or 22% of their total budget.  Our share is equal to the bottom 176 member countries and we pay as much as the four other permanent members of the Security Council combined.  France, Russia, China, and the U.K. pay a combined $2.5 BILLION to our $3 BILLION.  How did we ever allow this to happen?  The UN has condemned Israel 20-4 times more than the rest of the world.  They UN has condemned Iran, North Korea, Russia, and Syria ONE TIME EACH.  We should also withdraw from all peace talks UNTIL this resolution has been repealed and should not give the UN one red cent UNTIL that action has been taken.  Will the Trump administration accomplish that?  I do not know but I hope they give it the old college try.  Now is the time to act, since some leading Democrats have declared their opposition to Mr. Obama’s actions.  This could be and should be a bipartisan action and we need to send a message to the world that we stand by our friends and will not tolerate bullying from the UN or any other entity.

You may not believe we should defend Israel, but I do and based on my view of friendship and the value of allies as well as my faith and biblical worldview, I firmly stand on the side of defending Israel.  I believe it is in the best interest of America to do so and when our best interest is in the mix America should STAND WITH FRIENDS and PROTECT OUR INTEREST.

God, bless you and God bless America!