Incompetence Reigns... June 16th, 2013

The cure for the evils of democracy is more democracy!

H. L. Mencken, Notes on Democracy, 1926

It has been noted by many that in certain instances, a minimal amount of information provides the greatest total sum of insight into a situation.

It is with that perspective that the Madison Conservative offers the following snippet of the interaction this past Thursday at a congressional hearing with testimony, under oath, offered by the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The issues at the time were the details of the IRS investigation into the tax agency’s targeting of Tea Party and conservative groups.

The President and Attorney General had all proffered assurances that the FBI would doggedly pursue the issue, so that ‘those responsible will be held to account for their actions’.

The FBI after all is the investigative arm of the government, and with images of Eliot Ness & the Untouchables planted firmly into the national psyche, surely the nation can rest assured of quality professionalism from such an august institution.

However, Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, seemed to rattle FBI Director Robert Mueller for not knowing the specifics surrounding the IRS probe.

The following transcription is courtesy of the Associated Press:

“You’ve had a month now to investigate,” Jordan said. “This has been the biggest story in the country and you can’t even tell me who the lead investigator is. You can’t tell me the actions the inspector general took which are not typically how investigations are done. You can’t tell me if that’s appropriate or not. This is not speculation. This is what happened.”

Mueller repeatedly declined to answer Jordan’s questions, saying he couldn’t because the investigation was ongoing or that he’d have to get back to the lawmakers with answers.

When Jordan asked again,” Can you tell me who the lead investigator is?” Mueller responded, “Off the top of my head, no.”

Consider the chilling reality of this exchange – the Director of the FBI has no information as to who is handling the investigation into the single greatest abuse of a government agency upon the America people in recent memory. It is inconceivable this is true, yet it is allowed to stand as factual, sworn to under oath testimony.

The political class and their media hacks are continually spouting off as to their confusion to the American people having less and less confidence in all aspects of the government, given how the government is doing all these wonderful things providing comfort and fairness to the people. They may be trampling the Constitution of the United States, lying and exhibiting the worse type of cowardice in the process, but surely such details do not matter in pursuit of a more beneficent autocracy. Their rationale apparently goes something like – “the people don’t really care about lying under oath and the suspension of their fundamental constitutional rights, especially because they’re getting free health care and we are keeping them safe from those nasty terrorists”.

With the presentation of the above congressional transcription, the Madison Conservative responds to the aforementioned confusion thusly:

Enough said.

The Fourth Amendment - Again. 6-9-2013

The cure for the evils of democracy is more democracy!

H. L. Mencken, Notes on Democracy, 1926

Sadly, this issue has again come to the forefront of the body politic, with even more dangerous imbecility by the political class and their cowardly media hacks.

Those who claim that the Constitution is a relic, a vestigial remnant of a different time and hence no longer viable, as well those who claim that it is conversely a living document and thus may be changed at will to fit the current needs of society are both ignorant and should be shunned by all who are within earshot. The Constitution is the culmination of mankind's dream of self-rule, millennia of people who could only dream of living free.

It is difficult to amend for a reason, for its precepts have withstood the test of time.

To that point, and in defense of freedom:

Here is, again for many in the current administration, in it’s totality of 54 words, the Fourth Amendment to our governing document, the Constitution of the United States:

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Merely for comparative use, the Affordable Care Act, a/k/a Obamacare, is currently at just over 2,400 PAGES, though the legislation is incomplete with the accompanying regulations, most of which have yet to be published.

The Patriot Act, which is at the heart of the latest debate, stands at 342 PAGES.

The disclosure this week that the NSA has been collecting phone records of American citizens is an affront and an abomination to the Constitution.

To support that point of view, the Madison Conservative will now address the claims, from all sides, who attempt to provide intellectual legerdemain and political cover.

Consider the comments from the political right, who claim that this is a necessary part in waging the war on terror. Their premise hinges on the belief that such actions will help deter another 9/11 attack. These are the same folks who believe that removing our shoes at the airport will keep us safe. They assert that there are legal protections in place, that the information cannot be investigated unless authorized by a federal judge. They assure the American people there is nothing to fear.

It seems they are forgetting that the Attorney General of the United States provided sworn testimony to a federal judge to obtain a warrant to investigate a reporter, claiming he was potentially a ‘co-conspirator’ in compromising national security. When pressed on the issue under oath, the Attorney General first claimed ignorance of such actions, despite having personally signed the authorization. He then further asserted that he had simply made that claim to gain the warrant, that his office never had any intention of pursuing prosecution against the reporter.

Consider that fact for a moment – and then consider the assurances given relative to the phone records safety’

It is chilling, and a warning to those who hold freedom and liberty dear.

The tired claims by the political left are so imbecilic as to warrant being ignored, but they will be addressed.

Their defense comes down to two major points – it is all George Bush’s fault, since he authorized the Patriot Act, and more alarming is their assertion that the ‘American people understand there needs to be a sacrifice of some freedom for some security’, or as the President so alarmingly stated –

“I think it’s important to understand that you can’t have 100 percent security and then have 100 percent privacy and zero inconvenience. We’re going to have to make some choices as a society,”

In a statement attributed to Benjamin Franklin, Americans have actually accepted the axiom that “’those who sacrifice a little freedom for a little security are deserving of neither freedom nor security”

The march towards tyranny begins with comments such as the Presidents’. This is not hyperbole. What the President is saying is that the government needs to inject itself into every aspect of American society in order to ‘keep us safe’. There is no guarantee of safety in the world, and any pretexts to the contrary are lies. We are a free and open society, and while we may accept certain inconveniences in accessing privileges – air travel, for example, is not a right, remember – we as a nation, as a people, a society, must never accede to the proposition that the government will keep us ‘safe’ if we surrender our rights, for what in essence is ‘our own good’.

History has repeatedly shown us that tyrants and despotism begin with the seeds of providing security for the downtrodden and helpless.

America must stand together, as a people, for the people, to be governed solely by the people, not those who ask for freedom in exchange for security.

An Open Letter to Attorney General Eric Holder

The cure for the evils of democracy is more democracy!

H. L. Mencken, Notes on Democracy, 1926

Mr. Attorney General,

It has been an eventful week for the administration, and for you specifically.

Given the range of issues and the responses from yourself and the spokespeople for the administration, there is a groundswell of opinion that the president must either fire you, or that you must resign.

The Madison Conservative urges you to resist these cries for your dismissal and provide the American people with true leadership.

The four major issues at hand can be addressed by you in a voice that carries substantial weight. We are a nation of laws, and you are the chief law enforcement of this nation.

As such, you can provide legal clarity to the following:

Benghazi – Please determine who first included the notion of a video no one had ever seen as being the impetus for the assassination of four Americans. Inquire as to exactly where the President of the United States was during the critical hours of the assault on the diplomatic compound. Please provide former Secretary Clinton with the answer to her question – “what difference does it make now?”. I am sure you understand the need to school Mrs. Clinton on the realities of her question and the answer. Lastly, who gave the order for the troops who might have made a difference to stand down?

The HHS Secretary – Please investigate why Secretary Sebelius is soliciting funds from the organizations most directly affected by the Affordable Care Act to promote said legislation. Initial answers that there is nothing illegal about it do not seem sufficient and the ethics of such actions must be properly adjudicated.

The IRS – Given the ability of the IRS to intimidate, harass and harangue the American people on a whim, surely in this instance laws were broken. Please investigate why the President was not aware of anything until, as he has stated publicly, he saw it on the news. This strains credibility to the breaking point. You must stand against the tide and pursue this matter. The American people cannot be allowed to be in fear of a government that was established for, by and of the people. The claim by the political left that the IRS is somehow an autonomous entity is obfuscation at its best – are they unaware that the IRS is under the Department of the Treasury? You must pursue this to wherever it leads, and if you do so, I guarantee the American people will have your back.

The AP – Please explain to the American people two critical points on this matter. First, exactly why was it necessary to illegally obtain phone records from a media source? Surely, the freedoms of speech and of the press were infringed upon, and those responsible must be held accountable. Secondly, why exactly did you recuse yourself? Placing responsibility on an underling is inappropriate. You must take the reins of the investigation and present to the American people the facts, however and wherever you find them.

In short, Mr. Attorney General, DO YOUR JOB!

Given the cowardly assaults on personal freedoms by this administration, and your decision to acquiesce to such choices, you cannot expect to be taken seriously.

I am aware that some taxpayer funded lowlife will find this letter to you and attempt to take retribution.

No need. As an American, you know where to find me.

I dare you.

The Immigration Debate - part 3 - The Constitutional Perspective

The cure for the evils of democracy is more democracy!

H. L. Mencken, Notes on Democracy, 1926

Given the lapse between blog posts, it is perhaps instructive to repeat the comments made by Attorney General Eric Holder during an April 24th speech to the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund with respect to what is being proffered as the Obama administrations’ perspective on the immigration debate:

"Creating a pathway to earned citizenship for the 11 million unauthorized immigrants in this country is essential. The way we treat our friends and neighbors who are undocumented – by creating a mechanism for them to earn citizenship and move out of the shadows – transcends the issue of immigration status. This is a matter of civil and human rights. It is about who we are as a nation. And it goes to the core of our treasured American principle of equal opportunity."

With equal parts frustration, exasperation and incredulity, it is difficult to decide where to begin with such an idiotic and ignorant statement, but the Madison Conservative will attempt to do just that.

“A pathway to earned citizenship” – There already exists a pathway to citizenship – it is the immigration law of the United States. The Attorney General is the chief law enforcement official in the government – perhaps he should familiarize himself with the laws already on the books to deal with immigration.

“Unauthorized immigrants”. As previously noted, the language of the debate is critical. ‘Immigrant’ is a legal status – it is impossible to be an ‘unauthorized’ anything and retain legal status.

“The way we treat our friends and neighbors who are undocumented”. We should treat them with respect surely, but by using euphemisms such as 'undocumented’ attempts to convey that they are simply returning a gift without a proper receipt. There is a legal process to attain status under the law in this nation. Breaking that law should not be shrouded in colorful and sympathetic language. People who have broken the law should be referred to by their true legal status – ‘defendants’, and treated as such. By all means, if the administration wishes to change the law for future peoples, that is surely their right – under the law. In the same way a law cannot be enforced retroactively, so then a privilege cannot be conferred retroactively.

“By creating a mechanism for them to earn citizenship and move out of the shadows”. It must be noted here that it was a choice of these individuals to break the law, thus forcing them into ‘the shadows’. Few criminals flaunt their location to the authorities. If they choose to accept responsibility for their choices, there exists a ‘mechanism’ for them to earn citizenship – the immigration laws of the United States. It is troubling that the Attorney General seems oblivious to this reality.

“This is a matter of civil and human rights.” Actually, it is not, in any fashion or form. If one was to accept this idiotic statement, the next question must be answered. Why have any borders? If it is a matter of ‘civil and human rights’, then we should allow any person who wishes to live here to be allowed in. There is thus then no need for immigration policy, border agents and border security – any and all aspects of sovereignty for a nation no longer exists. Surely the billions of people around the world who are not enjoying the fruits of democracy should be allowed immediate entrance to then what was once the United States of America, a nation which would cease to exist , given the abolition of borders, all in the name of ‘civil and human rights’. This is a classic lie foisted by the political left. To prove this point, the Madison Conservative would ask the Attorney General if he would accept this proposition. Allow all the current illegal aliens some manner of legal status, save for forbidding them to vote for the next thirty years.

Exactly. No one of the political left would accept that concept. The question is why not? If this is about human and civil rights, fine, just omit the option for them to vote. The hypocrisy and cynicism of the Administration is thus revealed to the American people, who must enjoin the immigration debate with that understanding.

“It is about who we are as a nation.” The accepted political mantra from the left is always “we are a nation of laws”, a phrase invoked at every opportunity to castigate and chastise their opposition. Fine, we are indeed a nation of laws. Perhaps the Attorney General of the United States should start enforcing them on people who flaunt them.

“And it goes to the core of our treasured American principle of equal opportunity.” Yes, Mr. Attorney General, equal opportunity for the citizens of the greatest nation the world has ever known, but not for those who attempt to circumvent the due legal process, processes enacted to "support, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States”.

That was part of the oath you swore to when you accepted the position of Attorney General. The American people would only ask that you honor your oath, instead of playing cynical political games and exhibiting political cowardice for simple political expediency.

The American people deserve better.