It's Not That Simple

Feb 28th, 2012

While highlighting the works of Gordon S. Wood at his "bookclub," David Frum makes a fine point:

"I’ve long chafed at the phrase, “The Founders,” to refer to the revolutionaries and Constitution writers of the 1770s and 1780s.

The phrase seeks to cut the history out of American history. In 1776, the bigger American colonies were societies more than 150 years old. Those societies in turn carried with them the cultural DNA of even older societies, both European and African.

What was founded between 1775 and 1789 was the American Republic, not the American nation. But even for that new polity, there was no “year zero.” The American Republic was built out an inherited past. The process of detachment from that past was long, traumatic, and still incomplete as of 1789."

In my view, it's no more complete as of this writing.

America wasn't immaculately conceived. Neither was it fully formed at conception. The "founders" (a phrase I have been known to use if only to irk the Tea Party set) understood that the nation would evolve constantly even if their idolaters do not.

Newt Calls Himself "Historian"

Jan 5th, 2012

And then there's this from Buzz Feed:

"Newt Gingrich is already in New Hampshire and kicked off his day with a town hall meeting in Concord. Gingrich fielded a number of questions about drug policy, including one from a man who said that many in the Live Free or Die state don't like the federal government's involvement in stopping weed growing operations. "Would Thomas Jefferson or George Washington be arrested for growing marijuana?" the man asked.

Gingrich responded, "I think Jefferson and George Washington would strongly discourage you from growing marijuana, and their tactics to stop you would be more violent than they would be today."

Gingrich, a historian, did not mention that both Washington and Jefferson grew hemp on their plantations." EMPHASIS OURS

S1867 - Still In Play, Still A Threat

Dec 9th, 2011
UPDATE: 12/12/2011 The original image we included was found to be tremendously upsetting by some readers (it is available HERE). We think this replacement still makes our point.

It increasingly appears that, one way or another, the covert arrest of American citizens on our own soil and their indefinite detention without trial or open review, dictated by 'classified' officials, will become the "law" of the land, perhaps, along with a return to "enhanced interrogation."

Without the free and open judicial system that was an essential predicate of our founders, this means that the shocking image above and to the left actually could be your father, your son, your wife or even your daughter.

They could be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

For the sake of argument, let's say that some online password to a bank account gets hacked and a few hundred dollars gets transferred to "the enemy." This transfer qualifies, under the pending legislation, as "terrorist support." Let us now admit that investigators, as they so often have done, might get it wrong.

The wrong guy gets followed. The wrong house gets raided. The wrong family's dog gets shot.

It. Happens. All. The. Time.

Now; let's picture an American citizen who has been wronged this badly being denied access to a civil attorney or even a phone.

How can they possibly communicate that they have been unjustly arrested? Or abused? They cannot, potentially, ever.

Within the provisions of the 2012 NDAA, it is more than plausible that an arrest under such circumstances might not be much different than a Chilean disappearance under Pinochet.

Where openness is abandoned, tyranny reigns.

Donny Shaw writes for Open Congress:

"At this point, the House and Senate have both passed their versions of the bill (H.R.1540 andS.1867), but they have disagreement on several provisions, including a provision opposed by the Obama Administration that would require the military to indefinitely detain terrorism suspects, including American citizens living in the U.S., without charge or trial.

With the House having voted 406-17 to “close” portions of the meetings and avoid public scrutiny, members from both chambers and both parties are meeting in a secretive conference committee to work on reconciling the differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill. On the military detention provision, their main task is going to be to find a solution that can pass both chambers (again) and not draw a veto from President Obama."

We have beaten our heads against the walL trying to draw attention to this madness HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE.