I’m serious!  It is not politics that I have a problem with it is politicians.  I realize that it is virtually impossible to separate the political process from the individual politician and therein lies the problem.  Politicians, for virtually all of recorded history, have demonstrated their propensity for ‘untrustworthiness’ and their lack of resolve to be ‘trustworthy.’

           Politicians have, for as long as I can recall, demonstrated a drive to ‘serve self’ rather than be a ‘public servant.’  They seem to believe that once elected to whatever office they hold instantly makes them smarter than those who voted for them and gives them license to engage in the dirty business of political opportunism.  Their reelection becomes more important than the Constitution or their constituents.  Their position on the power grid becomes more important than the Constitutional duties they have been elected to perform.  They almost immediately begin to seek inclusion into the exclusive club of “Establishment, Elite, and Professional Politicians” and become completely deaf to the cries of those who voted for them.

           Politics is a necessary part of a Republican Democracy as was established by our Founding Fathers via our Constitution and Bill of Rights.  There is a process and that process is called politics.  There is a definitive method that is supposed to transpire in the introduction, passage, and enactment of bills that become laws.  Yet, each bill introduced in Congress comes out so filled with “pork” that it often has little or nothing to do with what the title of the Bill suggests.  That is because of politicians and their desire to participate in ‘cronyism’, satisfy ‘special interest groups’, and endear themselves to those who will line their coffers and help them secure a position in the political power hierarchy. That, my friend, is what politicians do to politics!

            Is it exclusive to one party?  Heavens No!  It seems to be the inherent characteristic of most if not all politicians once elected.  Few actually hold true to their principles throughout their entire time in elected office.  Most participate in some type of ‘graft’, ‘corruption’, ‘insider-trading’, ‘cronyism’, and ‘political shady dealing’.  The sad thing is that much of it is never brought to the view of the public and certainly not to the constituents who are charged with voting for or against these politicians.  They do it in the shadows and behind the walls of Congress or the White House and what comes out on the floor of the Chambers of Congress does not tell the whole story.  It is in the ‘back rooms’, the ‘bars’, and other venues that they cut their deals, plan their schemes, and build their networks.  It would be nice if somehow the voting public could know exactly what deals have been made, what buy-offs have transpired, and what the politicians actually do when they get behind closed doors.

             The quote by Robert A. Heinlein – “Political tags – such as royalist, communist, democrat, populist, fascist, liberal, conservative, and so forth – are never basic criteria. The human race divides politically into those who want people to be controlled and those who have no such desire.”  It seems that most politicians fall into the first category and want people (other than themselves) to be controlled and most of us fall into the latter category, they want us controlled.  That creates a great chasm between the voting public and the politicians but they still manage to either dupe enough people or enough people decide that they have little choice and vote them back into office.  I long for the time, that I will likely never see, when we can actually choose candidates based on their character and core beliefs rather than political party.  I long for someone to enter politics out of a genuine desire and with strength of character to protect and defend the Constitution of these United States of America.  I long for people who will pursue elected office that demonstrate integrity, character, and honor both God and the Constitution respecting the God-given and Constitutionally guaranteed rights, freedoms, and liberties we have.

             So, it is not Politics that bothers me it is Politicians!   May God watch over you, guard and guide you, and may God send forth people of character to lead this nation!

            When I’ve made this statement in front of Big Government Liberals and RINO’s I usually get the same question, “What do you mean LIMITED?”  Many of them will agree that the federal government of today is an over-reaching, over-bloated, over-spending, over-regulating entity but none of them want to change it if it means touching their “golden goose.”  It is the same old thing, “Well we have to be compassionate” or something of the like.  I’ve been told “You must have human compassion, help the needy, and protect our national security.”  I agree that the needy (the truly needy) should have help but that should come from citizens, churches, and local entities not the Federal Government making them wards of the state.  I totally agree that protecting our national security is important but sometimes I have to ask, “At what cost?”  When it is a government that has demonstrated narcissistic, tyrannical tendencies I have to dig my heels in the dirt and say WHOA!  I’ve known for a long time that once you let government through the door you never get them out of the house.  Once a program is begun it never seems to cease and certainly never gets smaller.  Big government is insatiable in its thirst and hunger for power, control, and money and if you give it an inch it will take ten miles.

             The founders of this Republic understood that the federal government had to be LIMITED or it would become TYRANNICAL.  That is why they attempted to place the ultimate power in the hands of WE THE PEOPLE and limit the size and scope of all three branches of government.  They choose three branches as a means of checks and balances hoping that we would remain diligent and involved in government and giving oversight to politicians, but we have been far less than diligent.  The idea of LIMITED GOVERNMENT is a theme that is so intrinsically woven into the fabric of the Constitution that it is impossible to miss.  Just a cursory glance at how the First Amendment begins identifies that theme – – “Congress shall make no law…”  The founders believed, and so do I, that the only real source of governmental authority must naturally and exclusively come from the consent of those governed – WE THE PEOPLE.  Yet, politicians of all stripes seem to believe that they are the sole source of authority and once they walk the halls of Congress or the White House they forget their campaign promises, the wording of the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.

            It is the Constitution where WE THE PEOPLE have expressed explicitly that the federal government is to be LIMITED to only those things that are clearly defined as powers given to them by us.  In order to achieve LIMITED GOVERNMENT the founders instituted a three branch system of government which is the doctrine of “separation of powers.”  They feared and warned of allowing any branch to gain too much power and exercise too much authority.  They knew and we are finding out that to allow this is to open the door for TYRANNY.  In the monarchies of old, the central power of government was in the hands of the monarch and today we have a President who believes his office makes him a regal, a Congress that believes the same but believe that they are also members of the ruling gentry, and a Court System that has bought into the same doctrine viewing themselves as the arbiters of the Constitution.  James Madison declared that the “accumulation of powers” was by definition TYRANNY!

             Under our Constitution and Bill of Rights, the President is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, giving him a powerful position in a time of war.  But even in that the founders were concerned that this would be too unlimited and in an effort to limit the power that one branch had provided that Congress had to ‘declare war’ not the President.  So if the President tries to launch a war effort that Congress believes illegitimate they can pull the plug on it by refusing to continue funding the deployment.  Likewise if Congress passes a law that the President believes is either ill-advised or unconstitutional he can VETO it. Congress can override that veto but it takes a two-thirds majority in both houses to accomplish that and it is very difficult to do.  The Supreme Court then has the power through judicial review to overturn laws that are unconstitutional.  That sets the stage for some dramatic confrontations but most of the time it opens the door to compromise from the varying and differing branches.  When we complain about ‘gridlock’ we need to remember that the founders knew that their checks and balances would produce a certain amount of that to work.  So, all gridlock is not necessarily bad it just might be the system working.

            A key element in our system working and having LIMITED GOVERNMENT is FEDERALISM.  In our federal system there are some key powers held by the centralized national government and others are reserved exclusively for the individual and various state governments.  In truth, American federalism existed before the Constitution.  The 13 States or Colonies had already grown accustomed to wielding their individual power, autonomy, and authority and were not at ease in turning over those powers to a federal government.  If you think about it the American Revolution was, in part, a revolt against a distant all-powerful centralized government so what would be a reason to recreate anything that would be potentially tyrannical?  The founders knew that in order to preserve a union and have a nation that had a chance of survival they had to have a centralized government with certain powers and responsibilities but strove diligently to LIMIT THAT GOVERNMENT.  Federalism helped to bring that into reality.  This was where the division of powers between the states and the national government came into play and was, in truth, a compromise.  The goal was to equip and empower the national government to do a limited job and enable the states to retain their sovereignty and autonomy.  In this we had a check and balance between the state governments and the national government both limiting the power of the other.

             Today, we have drifted so far from that foundation that it is hardly recognizable. The power grabs, corruption, and cronyism that exists in Washington and most state governments is repugnant and repulsive.  It is a far cry from what we were found upon and should be desirous to return to.  I am committed to keeping pressure on my elected officials and touch as many people as possible trying to rekindle the desire to return to a Constitutional Republic in America.

             May God bless you and may God bless America!

            I could easily ask, “What would Jesus do?” and that would be appropriate but from a strictly constitutional perspective I ask – “What Would Jefferson Do?”  Just a few days ago some Top Secret information was released to the press that shows that the NSA’s data mining was far more extensive than first thought and that the court giving oversight has been rubber stamping whatever Eric Holder wanted.  It revealed that the operatives in the NSA, not the court, the supervisors, or even the Attorney General could, on their own, make the decision to “snoop”, gather information and use it.  That is pretty lax and creates so much room for incredible abuse that it is, to say the least, ALARMING!

            The Patriot Act was written with a built in design to attempt to balance “civil liberties” and “privacy” with the need to do surveillance on an active terrorist or suspected terrorist.  It is quite clear that has been tossed aside and the NSA, FBI, CIA, and who knows what other agency has trampled on our liberties and privacy in the name of security.  The Constitution that our founders gave us along with the Bill of Rights does not give this kind of authorization to Congress or any federal agency but they ignore the founder’s intent and the clear wording of our constitution and do what they desire.  Is it all in the interest of keeping America and American’s safe?  HARDLY!  As we have seen with the EPA, the IRS, and now the NSA this material is used for political purposes against individuals, businesses, and organizations that are in opposition to the current administration’s policy and agenda.  IS THAT ACCEPTABLE?  Not to me but then I’m not a “low information” voter and exercise the ability and right to think for myself.

            As I look at some of the statements made by Thomas Jefferson regarding LIBERTY I have to believe that he would be leading the opposition to what is happening today.  Let me give you a few select quotes from Mr. Jefferson:

•  July 1774 – – “The God who gave us life, gave us liberty at the same time.”
• Jun 1775 – – “Our attachment to no nation upon earth should supplant our attachment to liberty.”
• July 4, 1776 – – “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”
• December 23, 1791 – – “I would rather be exposed to the inconvenience of attending to too much liberty than to those attending too small a degree of it.”
• October 20, 1820 – – “The boisterous sea of liberty is never without a wave.”
• “The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.”
• “The beauty of the Second Amendment is that it will not be needed until they try to take it.”
• “I am not a friend to energetic government.  It is always oppressive.”
• “What country can preserve its liberties if its rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance.”

           So when I ask – “What Would Jefferson Do?”  The answer should be clear from the above quotes and multitudes more that can from his mouth and pen.  Thomas Jefferson and the other founders said the incredible danger of an ALL POWERFUL, OVER-REACHING Federal Government and continually warned us of it.  They put checks and balances in place that have been overlooked, disregarded, and despised by the Political Ruling Class.  It is time that WE THE PEOPLE flex our muscle and SEND THEM HOME at the next election.  We need fresh blood in Washington to even have a hope that we can restore the Republic.

 May God watch over, guard, and guide you and may God bless America again!

            With a rogue administration who views the United States Constitution as a hindrance to their desired agenda the Constitutional Right of “State Nullification” becomes, a very current need and a must for today.  If the various States do not exercise this right this current government led by Barack Obama will plunge American into a state of dictatorial tyranny like never before seen in this nation’s history. 

             State Nullification is that the states can and must refuse to enforce unconstitutional federal laws.  It has been exercised by some states with challenges in court by the administration but is something that hopefully every state will practice in the days to come over the rogue actions of this administration.  The Department of Justice and the White House would have you believe that this was not what the framers had in mind but Thomas Jefferson would disagree.  If you examine the draft of his Kentucky Resolutions in 1798 you will find this word “nullification.”  Mr. Jefferson not only believed that the states had the right to do so but that it was mandatory for them to do so as the “rightful remedy” for wrongful, unconstitutional, and diabolical federal laws and actions.  Mr. Jefferson stated that when the federal government expands beyond its constitutional powers and violated the constitution the states were “duty bound to resist”. 

             Thomas Jefferson did not invent the idea for we find in the historical writings of Federalist supporters of the Constitution at the ratifying Convention of 1788 in Virginia assured Virginians that they would be “exonerated” should the federal government attempt to impose “any supplementary condition” upon them.  Simply, that if the federal government should attempt to exercise a power over and above the ones the states had delegated to it they had the right to refuse.

 The basic principle they based this on was:

1. The states preceded the Union.  (The Declaration of Independence speaks of “free and independent states” that “have full power to levy war, conclude peace, contract alliances, establish commerce, and to do all other acts and things which independent states may of right do.”  The ratification of the Constitution of the United States was not done by a single vote but by each individual state, each assembled in a convention.
2. In the American system no government is sovereign. (The citizens of the states are the sovereigns, something that Barack Obama, who is supposedly a constitutional scholar, does not understand, ignores, and most assuredly disagree with.  The people within the various states apportion powers between themselves, their state governments, and the federal government.  That action is exercising their sovereignty.
3. Since the people of the states are sovereigns, then when the federal government exercises a power of dubious constitutionality on a matter of great importance, it is they themselves who are the proper disputants, as they review whether their agent was intended to hold such a power.

            James Madison expounded in his Virginia Report of 1800.  It is something that too few are willing to exercise on too many occasions and it is up to us to force our states to step up to the plate and exercise the right of nullification when the federal government goes rogue as it is today.

            Thomas Jefferson warned that if the federal government is allowed to become a monopoly on determining the extent of its own power, we have no right to be surprised when it keeps discovering new ones.  James Madison in his Report of 1800 reminded all Virginians and should remind us today, that the judicial branch is not infallible, and some remedy must be found for those cases in which all three branches of the federal government exceed their constitutional rights. 

            I realize that some will argue that “nullification” violates the Constitution’s Supremacy Clause but there can be no doubt that Jefferson knew and understood the Supremacy Clause and believed that it applied to constitutional laws not unconstitutional ones.  Today we have a government, and a President that is operating as if the Constitution was simply a list of suggestion not regulations controlling the scope and power of the federal government therefore it is vital that the various states exercise their Right of Nullification whenever there are Unconstitutional Laws and Executive Actions issued from Washington and the White House.  I would encourage you to put pressure on your state officials from the Governor down to the State Representatives to act whenever the Obama Administration or any Administration implements or attempts to implement UNCONSTITUTIONAL LAWS or EDICTS.  We the People are the ones the Constitution gives the power to but unless we exercise our rights and our states exercise theirs the federal government will continue to grow larger, more powerful, and become more and more tyrannical.

            May God watch over, guard, and guide you and my God bless America again!

            As I look at the “Gang of Eight” and their Amnesty, Pathway to Citizenship, or whatever you want to call the bill before the Senate it is bad on so many fronts and levels that I do not have time to enumerate all of them.  Suffice it to say that when you have a bill that is almost a thousand pages long you know you have a problem in not only understanding, interpreting, but enforcing the measure effectively, efficiently, or even as the framers of the bill intended.  When you have a measure that puts “Border Security” behind “Amnesty” you have the cart before the horse.  When you have a bill that has triggers that only kick in if Janet Napolatino of Homeland Security says they are not doing a good job, you know that the bill is a farce at best.  When you have a bill that Barack Obama, the Democrats, the media, Karl Rove, and RINO’s like you know that there is probably something in it that is not good.  When you have a bill that the “Promises” far exceed the actual “Bill” you have a bad bill and one that is not only wrong but dangerous for America and our National Security.

           Barack Obama said, in support of the bill, “The time is now to give young illegals a pathway to citizenship.”  He did not call them ILLEGAL only that they broke the rules getting here and should not be allowed go GAME THE SYSTEM.  I find that laughable in that this President is one of the chief GAMERS OF THE SYSTEM on so many fronts that he would even suggest that the ILLEGALS are going to pay any penalty.  He refuses to enforce our IMMIGRATION LAWS now and has rendered the ILLEGALS to a mind-set that says, “We are not going to be prosecuted or deported so why not GAME THE SYSTEM.”  They already have FREE – education, health care, welfare, and in many cases vote so why would they even care about LEGAL STATUS?  Most of them do not care about American citizenship or America they are here for what they can get and they are getting it FREE OF CHARGE!

             I find this bill a tool to expose the true colors of “so-called” conservatives in Congress and identify them for what they are – Political Hacks who are only interested in projecting an image and thinking, mistakenly, that they will secure the vote of the illegals in future elections.  No, the blacks vote En masse for the Democrats and Obama, the Hispanics vote heavily for the Democrat Liberal Agenda, as do most of the other “so-called” minorities.  Republicans you won’t get their vote by trying to press this type of legislation and you will lose some of the conservative vote in the process.  The end result is that your vote totals will decrease not increase.  You will grow the government again, and this situation with ILLEGALS will not be solved, the border will not be secured, and we will be talking about this again in a decade or so.  It will be costly and is ill-advised.

            We MUST secure the border if we are to have any hope of solving the ILLEGAL problem with regard to immigration.  Anything short of that and ahead of that is a bad idea.  My Senators and Congressman know how I feel but now is the time to advise them again because the bill is being debated in the Senate and they will add a few amendments that will allow them to say, “Well we fixed the issues and now I can support it.”  This is a very bad idea, because the amendments WILL NOT FIX the problem or the bill.  IT is time to SAY NO to this legislation, focus on Border Security and then we can talk about what to do about the ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT problem.  That being said, I still have a problem with the ILLEGAL component of the problem.  When did ILLEGAL become a good thing?  When did it become honorable to BREAK THE LAW?  When did increasing the voting base of the Democrats and the Liberal Left become a desirable thing for any Conservative, American Patriot?  Sorry, but Senator if you vote for this bill you made it to my NO MORE LIST.  Same goes for you in the House of Representatives. 

             I am not anti-immigration but I am against this piece of legislation.  If someone wants to come here LEGALLY then you are welcome.   If you make an effort to become assimilated into our American Society then you are welcome.  If you obey the Laws you are welcome.  BUT if you come here ILLEGALLY you should never be granted a pathway to citizenship ignoring your crime.  SECURE THE BORDER first then let’s talk about the Immigration problem.

             We are told that these people are in the “shadows” and to find out WHO THEY ARE we have to give them AMNESTY.  I find that almost laughable seeing as how our government can track all of us LEGAL CITIZENS via phone, email, etc. but can’t discover who these people are without AMNESTY.  That is such an incredible indictment on our investigative abilities it is a crime or at least a crying shame.  No, this is a political football and nothing more.  Even the RINO John McCain admitted that this bill will not garner ONE VOTE for the Republicans it will only say, “Look at us we don’t hate Hispanics.”  We don’t, but we do not endorse ILLEGAL ACTIVITY including immigration and that is not, hating someone it is supporting the United States, our Laws, and Constitution.  Sorry Mr. McCain you and Mr. Rubio along with all the other RINO’s have missed the boat on this one.

             May God be with you and may God bless America again!

            There have been times when the American people stood “As One” against enemies of liberty and freedom and prevailed.  There was a time in this nation when the common thread that ran through our society and even our government was that of a unified desire to do what was right and best for this nation while following the “rule of law” and the “constitution.”  That day has vanished with the Obama Administration and the phrase “We Are One” is applicable to them but not to the rest of us.  They are ONE in the truest sense of the word and we, who are conservative, law-abiding, followers of the Constitution, and patriots are considered “Enemies of the State” by this administration.

             I am convinced that Lois Learner did not develop a hatred for the Tea Party, Jews, and Conservative groups once she assumed her position in the IRS, I believe she arrived at that position with that ideology firmly intact.  Susan Rice did not develop her willingness to spin falsehoods for the administration regarding Benghazi at the behest of Barack Obama she assumed her position because of her ideology.  It is an ideology firmly entrenched in Obama’s psyche and core belief system.  Samantha Power did not develop her disdain for Israel and the Constitution once she was placed in the position she held and holds by this administration because of her beliefs and those of her husband, Cass Sunstein.   Van Jones was chosen because of his ideology, as well as every other appointee of this President.  They are “Peas in a Pod” and “Ideologically Inseparable.”  Obama does not have to give them a directive to target the Tea Party, Jewish Groups, or Conservatives they know what he believes, believe the same and know that he will have their back, if at all possible.  Eric Holder and Barack Obama share the same ideology and Mr. Holder knows that Obama will back him and if worse comes to worse Obama will pardon him should he be indicted and convicted of anything.

            Sadly, today the left and the Democrats have become so in tune with the political ideology of Socialism, Marxism, Big Government, and the destruction of the American Constitution and National Sovereignty that when you see or hear one you hear Barack Obama.  They are willing to deny any and all truth to push their agenda.  They will scheme, connive, cover-up, stonewall, distort, divert, and divide whenever they can to accomplish their political and ideological purposes.  They do not love America as was founded and has been enjoyed for over 200 years.  They want a Totally Dominant Federal Government that controls every aspect of the lives of the citizenry.  They, being the ruling class of elites, will be exempt from the very laws that they write but not so for the rest of us.  They gave us Obamacare but are exempt. They are apologist for the unimaginable actions of the IRS and accuse those victimized of being the problem not the predatory agency that is advancing Obama’s agenda.  It would be akin to telling a rape victim that she was the blame for the attack for whatever reason.  No, the rapist is to blame and should be held accountable and so should the IRS.  I agree with Ted Cruz and others who seek to abolish the IRS and replace it was a “Flat Tax”, “Fair Tax” or “Consumption Tax” whatever you want to call it where there is no need for this massive rogue agency that has the power to literally destroy lives and businesses at will.

             Barack Obama’s administration has given new meaning to the phrase “We Are One” in that it identifies not only do “birds of a feather flock together” but that they are ALL THE SAME!  They drink at the same fountain of ideological thought. They live at the same address of ideological thought. They work at the same job of ideological thought. They live, breathe, eat, and sleep the destruction of America as we know her and replacing it with a Totally Dominant Federal Government that has complete control.

            We have the “Death Panel of One” identified as the U.S. Health Secretary Kathleen Sebelius in denying a 10-year-old a lung transplant and said, “Some live and some die.”  So much for being the Party of Compassion as the Democrats like to identify themselves!  If you examine the various and sundry things that have transpired under this administration’s watch you would wonder if the Democrat Party values anything except their Political Agenda and Place.  They remind me of the Sanhedrin when discussing what to do about Jesus when they said, “If we don’t do something the Romans will come and take our nation and our PLACE.”  They were concerned about their POSITION not the nation or anyone or anything else and that is what I see in today’s politicians. 

             America is in trouble and needs our help.  The only question is are we willing to give her the help she needs and deserves?  Will we, as patriots of old, rise to the occasion and do what is required to preserve our Freedom and Liberty?  Are we willing to go the distance for our nation?  I am and hope that you are as well.  Exactly what that will require is yet to be determined so my stance is that I am interceding for this nation, working diligently to put and keep pressure on the elected officials, and informing as many as possible of what is happening and at stake.  Is that enough?  Probably not but it is what I feel directed to do at this time.  That being said, I am willing to sacrifice all for my God, my family, and my nation.

             May God be with you protecting you and guiding you as you pursue Peace and Freedom and may God bless America again!