Detention

As I was purchasing my Sunday newspaper I was questioned about Senators John McCain and Scott Brown supporting the idea that Federal Agents have the right to enter one's house without a warrant and detain one indefinitely.

I would like to start by differentiating between those engaged in combat on the battlefield, against US forces, and criminals, to include terrorists.  An example of the former would be the Confederate Army.  Such people, taken on the battlefield, in consequence of combat operations, get no Constitutional protections for their actions.  They should become Prisoners of War and subject to detention for the duration.  No right of habius corpus.  No right to a trial.

But, those who might be involved in some terrorist event and residing in the United States should have all the possible Constitutional protections.  They are not wearing a recognizable uniform.  They are civilians and should be detained based upon the rules for dealing with civilians.

If Mssrs McCain and Brown voted to abrogate the Constitution in this matter they were wrong.  In case I was not clear on this point, they acted wrongly, acted in a manner that undermines our Constitution and our Freedom.

They should be ashamed.

And, this is not about some terrorist, but about the rest of us.  Governments tend to overreach in these areas.  Our Constitution is about protecting us from Government, which is big and powerful and against which individuals are defenseless unless they band together with like minded citizens.

Regards  —  Cliff

Yes, Merry Christmas! Let's have a FundRaiser!

I propose that the LRCC to host a fundraiser for both Brown and Golnik very soon. They are both unopposed, at least Brown is, but they are up against the money mill Dems. The LRCC should host and officially endorse our GOP candidates as soon as we can. Proposal to be submitted at the next LRCC meeting.

Merry Christmas

Regards  —  Cliff

As We Pause in Our Lives

Happy Thanksgiving

Regards  —  Cliff

Lefty / Righty

Could we rethink the terms we use to describe positions.  Are Republicans the "Conservatives"? Are the Democrats the "Liberals"?

For starters, it seems to me that a lot of Republicans, and in a Venn Diagram sort of way, a lot of the various Tea Parties around the country, are trying to change things.  They don't want to conserve things, they want to shake things up.  I know I do.  We are not about the status quo.  We are the traditional, or Classical Liberals, the original Liberals, trying to bring freedom and economic growth to the nation.

In contrast, the Democrats, as exemplified by House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Vice President Joe Biden, as well as President Barack Obama, want things to continue on the path they are on.  They wish to CONSERVE the status quo.

The Mainstream Media actually understands that (perhaps).  That is why the color for Republicans on TV and in the newspapers is red.  Red is the color of revolution.  It is time for those of us on the Republican Party side to embrace our inner revolutionary and work for CHANGE, both at the State and National levels.  The future of our nation depends upon it.

Now, I am not advocating Che Guevara t-shirts.  I am not advocating OWS type nonsense.  I am advocating learning, talking, organizing and voting.  We have to study, both the philosophy of government, but also how it operates in real time.  We have to talk to one another and to those who don't yet see the light.  We have to build up some structures, from the ground up, not the top down, to help (1) find candidates and (2) get out the vote.  And, finally, we do have to vote.  And, speaking of voting, every registered Republican who did not vote in our recent municipal elections needs to rethink their priorities.  Voting needs to be more than a habit.  It needs to be a compulsion.

Regards  —  Cliff

MacDonald Says Thanks

I found in my door a flyer from Candidate for City Council John MacDonald saying "Thank You For Your Support".  I had a lawn sign.

I thought John did a great job of organizing and running his campaign.  With the low turnout, his "Republican" associations may have worked against him.  I am looking forward to checking out the numbers on my own and to seeing what John and others have to say.

I say, thank you, John, for running, and thanks to all the other candidates who ran.

Regards  —  Cliff

Thanks, Veterans!

Today is the day we honor all our Veterans, regardless of war, branch of Service, gender, race, religion or nation of origin.  While certainly not unique amongst nations, our ability to give everyone a role is demonstrated by the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, during WWII.  Here is the lede from the Wikipedia article:

The 442nd Regimental Combat Team (Japanese: 第442連隊戦闘団) of the United States Army, was composed of Japanese-American enlisted men and mostly Caucasian officers. They fought primarily in Europe during World War II, beginning in 1944.[2] The families of many of its soldiers were subject to internment. The 442nd was a self-sufficient force, and fought with uncommon distinction in Italy, southern France, and Germany. The unit became the most highly–decorated regiment in the history of the United States armed forces, including 21 Medal of Honor recipients. The motto of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team was “Go for Broke.”

The only thing concrete I remember from my high school civics class was the teacher saying to one of my classmates, who was Nisei, how proud she should be of her heritage.  He said that he had been an officer in the 442nd, and could testify to their performance.

Regards  —  Cliff

The New Deal a Good Idea?

Over at the Ricochet blog site♠ we have a very short piece that asks the question, "Why Can't We Call The New Deal a Wrong Turn?"  The conversation was started by someone known as genferei.

There may be something to be said for this position.  The New Deal brought a lot of new regulation and a lot of new Federal Bureaucrat institutions.  That did not bring the end of the Great Depression.  The New Deal including some Keynesian stimulus spending, but not much. That did not bring the end of the Great Depression in the United States.  Frankly, World War II brought the end of the Great Depression.

There is some concern out there, including amongst the followers of Lyndon LaRouche, about the partial repeal of Glass-Steagall (1933) by the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Action of 1999.  It is now seen a step backward.  I would not be opposed to that view.  That said, I would caution, however, that the more Congress, or its created agencies, get into trying to regulate "markets" the more they will find themselves falling behind the Quants, Accountants and Lawyers on Wall Street.  Playing "catch-up" ball is a very tough game.  It is harder when your team has 535 players, all on the field at the same time.

Hat tip to the Instapundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

♠  As we know, the Blog-mistress discourages outgoing links and encourages incoming links.  For my last post I had one of each, which I hope sort of balanced out.

Republican State Committee Meeting

Here we are in Newton for the monthly Republican State Committee meeting.

The first folks I saw were Lonnie Brennan, of "Vote Core Values".  Also present is "Iron Mike" Farquhan, running for the Middlesex and Worcester seat (male).

Our Reps, Jeff Wilson and Susan Slade, from Groton (First Middlesex), are present for duty. 

In breaking news, Jeff is NOT running for reelection to the State Committee, and there are only six or seven weeks to turn in papers to be on the ballot.  Susan is running for reelection.

Sandi Martinez and Peter Delchinos, from Chelmsford, are both present.

Sandi suggested I talk to Chanel Prunier, who told me that several people are thinking of running for Jeff's seat.

It is now 1923, and the meeting has yet to start.  A certain amount of milling around still.

UPDATE:  At 1936 the meeting is called to order.

Newly elected State Rep Keiko Orrall (12th Bristol) is present and leads the Pledge of Allegiance.

Roll Call.

UPDATE:  Report on Republican National Convention in Tampa next year, by Ms Jody Dow.

Mr Ron Kaufman talks about the 2012 Election and says we will be Ground Zero.  Maybe $25 Million on each side.  and this changes the local races.  A lot of indirect support for General Court candidates.  this is going to be a great year.  We need a name on every single line on the ballot.  Maybe even your wife or husband, if no one else.

Regional Reports.

UPDATE:  The Rules Committee reports out for the State Conference.  Due by the end of the month.  Some of the rules are dictated by Commonwealth Statute or the National Committee.  They went to the State Committee People Friday, via EMail.  A lot of it is about selecting delegates.  There are some proposed amendments. 

Alex Veras, from Haverhill wandered by and said hello.  He encouraged us to reach out to the Cambodian population in Lowell.

Still working the two Amendments to the Rules.  finally agreed.  The sticking point was some wanting to make the cutoff 25%, versus the current 15%.  The point was won when one woman noted that we, as a State, are often bypassed in search of larger fish and upping to 25% will only make it worse.

Then there was a discussion of organizations authorized to use "GOP" or "Republican" in their name.  It is a trademark and quality control issue.

Adjourned at 2120.

FINAL UPDATE:  I have two final points.

The selection of a new Chairperson, to replace outgoing Jennifer Nassour, Esq, was put off, which I found strange, given that she is a dot at the end of October and our State Committee Reps only gather four times a year.

During the discussion of the rules for picking delegates one of the State Committee members said that former Governor Mitt Romney would be our "Favorite Son".  There was a guffaw back in the peanut gallery, where I was sitting.

FIRST CORRECTIONS:  I confused, in my editing, the hometowns for Jeff and Susan with the hometowns for Sandi and Peter.  I corrected it in the text.  My apologies to all concerned.

Also, Jeff Wilson opined to me this AM in an EMail that there will be another meeting before January, to deal with the Chairman issue.  He says that four is the minimum number of meetings a year.  Given that the resignation was just dropped Friday last, there appears to be a need for a bit of politicking for the job.

Regards  —  Cliff