Freedom Party - Advice from a Patriot

Updated 07/27/2013
The progressive-socialist-democrats are experts at divide and conquer.  If race baiting doesn't work, its a war on women or some other social issue that is simply a distraction - but a dividing distraction. 

If we all set aside personal agendas, and get only a slate of candidates that will support and defend the constitution, while furthering a conservative free market capitalist agenda (fiscal conservative) - we will have a Constitutional Conservative. 

This whole 'compromise' thing is simply giving in.  The progressive-socialist-democrats are also experts at digging in their heels and not budging - so the GOP believes the progressive-socialist-democrats when they say 'if you want the [pick a minority or group] vote, you need to 'compromise' with us' and, sure enough, the progressive-socialist-democrats get what they always wanted - progress towards their goal and distancing conservatives from theirs. 

The standard response (see below) of every Constitutional conservative, when asked about a personal and social issue, should be 'That is a personal social issue.  With the individual being the largest minority, our position is for the individual to address their personal needs and beliefs and for us to prosper by the fiscal conservative values of free market capitalism while supporting and defending our Constitution.'  I will guarantee success - continuing the path of the GOP is failure.

Originally posted 06/30/2013
There is talk - particularly from Mark Levin and Sarah Palin - of leaving the GOP (Gone Obviously Progressive).  I like Mark Levin a great deal and people like him would be strong leaders.  I have agreed with some of Sarah Palin's positions. She was brought in to save a fledgling progressive RINO candidate and it failed; she was then summarily thrown under the bus. People forget - or didn't pay enough attention to know - that the Obama and McCain campaigns were both bankrupt in the fall of 2007, closing doors - Clinton and Romney were far ahead in the polls and up to the February primaries had significant leads. Suddenly Obama and McCain surged, had tons of money and could hardly lose a primary.

One of Obama's first acts was to publicly remind McCain that he had won the election -- and McCain has been a suck ass since. McCain being a progressive is also what forced Palin to propel herself - she had to forever separate herself from McCain. Imagine them two in office (McCain would not have run again - and I think that was part of the plan - Palin versus Clinton 2012).

It is time for a new party – one committed to our Constitution.  I like 'Freedom Party' (or LiberTea Party).  This party must be very mindful of two things, as detailed in my book – the definitive guide to the direction of our Country, and solutions based on our history:
1. Party platforms – planks if you will – and candidates need only to keep two key issues:  a) Constitutional Freedoms; and b) Fiscal Freedom

• Constitutional Freedoms:  If it is not defined in our Freedom Documents, it is essentially irrelevant and up to the sovereign states and sovereign People.  Social issues are divisive and the GOP fails to accept that the Democrats will continue to use these issues against the GOP.  More important, internally they are destructive to the party.

• Fiscal Freedom:  If it is not a free market capitalist issue and solution, it is essentially irrelevant.  The economy is not a ‘trickle down’ – it is a continuous circle, emanating from the center and rippling out.  It is socialism that breaks this continuum.
  

2. Return to the core principles that founded this Country.  The new party – Freedom Party – should truly be founded on the principles of our Declaration of Independence and supported by our Constitution.  The Anti-Federalists, such as Thomas Jefferson, warned of issues and events that have slowly emerged in the 19th & 20th centuries, coming to fruition in the current century.

Socialism is unconstitutional and anti-American; therefore, socialism is equal to traitor.  The Tea Party and Libertarian Party both oppose big government, onerous taxation and big government through onerous taxation.  Democrats and liberals favor big government and onerous taxation.  Progressives, socialists, social equality and social justice all support big government through onerous taxation.  The current GOP has jumped the rails to the latter group.  It is the Parasitic Cult versus the Fiscal and Freedom Cultures of America.  Socialism versus Capitalism and our Constitution.

The GOP is too committed to compromise...compromising their core...and holding onto social issues that the Democrats use against them to divide the voters. They had a chance to work with Libertarians and Tea Party, but chose progressive – abandoning our Constitution.

The GOP has lost its way - and the time is now for a united party and a united People – Patriotism!   A new conservative party needs to be grounded in the roots of our Country's history - the Constitution and the economy.  Efforts towards social conformity should be abandoned, and only focus on fiscal responsibility and our Constitution - two things the socialists want – and must have – abandoned.  To not pay attention to either is to give in to socialism.  To support socialism is unconstitutional.

The Freedom Party must embrace the Constitution and stay away from all social issues.  If asked about a social issue - the only response should be 'We are about supporting and defending our Constitution and the freedoms.  That [social issue, race baiting, etc.] is not a Constitutional issue and we will not be detracted from our purpose by [social issue, race baiting, etc.].  The votes we earn are of the American people.’

The time is now to grow a new party from the ashes of the core history of our Founding Fathers and the Republican party.  Every member of the Freedom Party should be required to take the original oath of office, "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support the Constitution of the United States."

In the event that a Freedom Party is created to dismantle the GOP, crush the Democrat socialists, correct the ill-fated course of our Country, and support our Constitution and free market capitalist values, I will endorse and join the same.

Learn the answers history of our Country, Founding Fathers and Founding Documents in detailed newly published ‘Beers with our Founding Fathers’ – all formats (paperback, Kindle, Nook, etc.) are available from http://www.beerswithourfoundingfathers.com/order.html.  The paperback is now available from Amazon for $17.76!

Dean A. Beers, author
American Patriot

www.BeersWithOurFoundingFathers.com
Blog - www.WeLoveOurUSA.com
www.facebook.com/BeersWithOurFoundingFathers.com

Originally posted 06/25/2013
President's Legacy Tour:
Avoiding Scandals and Scams

The president is on another campaign tour.  These have been happening with more frequency, as they happen when scandals and scams are revealed – which has been happening with more frequency.

The latest scam that needs distracting from is immigration ‘reform’.  It is not reform – it is an overhaul that does more to endanger our culture and economy, and our sovereignty as individuals, states and our Country. (see http://www.beerswithourfoundingfathers.com/3/post/2013/02/immigration-reform-continues-to-be-vote-pandering.html)

To distract the voting public, inflicted with ‘Tunnel Intelligence’ from this – and all the scandals and criminal activities of the alphabet agencies, the president is on an interim trip speaking tour.  Having just returned from Ireland for G8, and preparing to take a $100 MILLION dollar family vacation to Africa, there is no time to be a leader, there are speaking campaigns to have!

Today he spoke at a university about … climate change – and how it is causing wild fires and low snow fall, leading to dry seasons and drought.  For a person that has repeatedly known nothing, and what he does know he has learned on the same news programs we watch (I doubt he watches the same I do, but maybe those of the Tunnel Intelligence crowd he does) – he has a lot of knowledge on global warming and climate change.  WRONG!

Fellow fraudulent Nobel Prize recipient Al Gore has been proven wrong.  He was given the Nobel Prize for his global warming sky-is-falling presentations (he also got some Hollywood award for the same thing – that should all be self-explanatory).  He gathered a select group of people to produce information to support a cause that earned him millions, and that he defies daily as he has one of the largest private carbon footprints of any other person.  The president is taking this information to push a new initiative – something the anti-conservative EPA will enforce.  Pollution emissions are down 44% since 2006, but that is not enough – natural disasters (key word – NATURAL) are our fault.  What he claims are natural disasters – such as many wild fires – are man caused.

The economy remains one the worst in the full history of our Country.  International tensions, even after his apology tour, are high.  Under sequestration – a joke of itself – taxpayer foreign aid and domestic taxpayer funded government handouts, and taxpayer funded vacations are all on the rise.  His new agenda is strengthening another government agency, that is also facing a new scandal, and building on the foundation of his fledgling ‘legacy programs’ – this is part of his ‘legacy tour’.   (see http://www.beerswithourfoundingfathers.com/tunnel-intellligence.html)

Here are some of the scandals and scams.  I have previously provided commentary on several – visit www.WeLoveOurUSA.com for my book blog of current events that were also covered in my book.  There is a keyword search option for your convenience.

• Fast and Furious - Mexican gun running
• SEAL Team 6 Extortion 17 and disclosing covert activities
• State Dept. lying about Benghazi
• Convictions of supporters for voter fraud
• Uncounted military absentee votes not counted
• Growing CIA and FBI use of drones – domestically
• Sending funds and arms to Muslim Brotherhood and Syrian rebels that still hate our Country
• The IRS targeting conservatives
• The IRS seizing tens of millions of medical records under a financial records search warrant
• The DOJ spying on the press
• Sebelius campaigning for Obamacare funds
• The NSA monitoring all domestic electronic communications and transactions
• The DHS ordering the release of nearly 10,000 illegal immigrants from jails and prisons and blaming sequestration
• The president’s extensive travels and vacations – hundreds of millions – at a time of sequestration, White House tours canceled and redirecting entire aircraft carrier groups for his vacation
• The president's use of executive orders, cabinet appointments and ‘czars’ – all bypassing Congress
• The president's repeated failure to submit a budget – his entire first and current terms – in violation of the law
• The State Department sexual misconduct under former Secretary Clinton and interfering with an Inspector General investigation
• HHS employees being given insider information on Medicare Advantage
• Clinton, the IRS, Clapper and Holder all lying to Congress – and Lerner asserting the Fifth after giving a testimonial statement and remaining at an undisclosed location, refusing to return and testify

For more scams and scandals, see the commentary http://www.beerswithourfoundingfathers.com/3/post/2013/05/nationalized-train-wreck.html

Updated 08/21/2013
It has been two months since updating this commentary - and that certainly is not to imply the scandal has faded, been investigated or resolved - it has grown like a hydra.

There is not much to update here...just more prove of corruption, including that the NSA does capture more than an estimated 75% of Internet traffic and does not limit its practices to terrorists, suspected terrorists or terrorists activities, or foreign operatives and persons.

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence took the unusual step of declassifying more than 100 pages of documents, amid the escalating public debate about government surveillance programs. The release comes several days after a report showed that the NSA had violated privacy rules and overstepped its authority thousands of times. 

The Director of Intelligence recently lied to Congress in committee testimony.  In the 2011 declassified documents, it was noted by the FISA court that "For the first time the government has now advised the Court that the volume and nature of the information it has been collecting is fundamentally different from what the court had been led to believe," John D. Bates, a judge on the surveillance court, said in October 2011.

Of course some have claimed that this is to be questioned because an 'ultra right-wing news organization' released this data.  "Well, at least we have effective oversight. The court caught them doing something unauthorized, and hauled them up short. We can think of many examples in American history where Congressional, Presidential, or court oversight has caught someone with their hand in a cookie jar and made them put back the cookies. No different in this case. But, yes, if it makes you feel better, Dean, you were right."

What?!  Every single item I disclosed in this commentary and discussions has come to fruition by disclosure, yet it is still a 'wait and see' approach for many.  How do we put back these cookies?  You are condoning their actions until caught.  The point is they don't need the cookie jar, in the cookie jar or the cookies from the cookie jar.  That cookie jar is mine, in my house and its hands off.  If they suspect drugs or other illegal contents - get a warrant for my house and the cookie jar.

I graduated in 1984, now we are living it.

Updated 06/21/2013
Move along, nothing important here...just proof that the NSA does more than keep 'phone numbers and dates'...

"The new documents show that the NSA collects, processes, retains and disseminates the contents of Americans’ phone calls and e-mails under a wide range of circumstances."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/new-documents-reveal-parameters-of-nsas-secret-surveillance-programs/2013/06/20/54248600-d9f7-11e2-a9f2-42ee3912ae0e_story.html?hpid=z1

Are You an Enemy of the State?
Fourth Amendment and NSA Activities

Originally posted 06/19/2013
In full disclosure, I supported and defended the Patriot Act as passed in 2001.  Unfortunately, lesson learned, each renewal of the Patriot Act has included broader powers.  Originally the Patriot Act permitted the collection of data when it involved electronic communications of foreign individuals and groups with indicators (profiling) of reasonable suspicion of activities threatening national security.  This data would be used by analysts to assist and determine if further focused investigation was warranted, and this information would support a probable cause affidavit for a FISA warrant (Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act).  The activities had to involve a foreign entity.  The Patriot Act also brought the multiple intelligence and law enforcement agencies together.

I still support these underlying investigative principles and the purpose.  What disturbs me is the apathy towards our Fourth Amendment by some.  I truly understand their principles, but I disagree with the overreach and rights violations by our government.

The NSA testimony today (06/18/2013) was not new or enlightening. Everything said is essentially common knowledge and as expected. What was mentioned, but not expanded on, was that call data is obtained without a warrant and over 1,000 contract analysts are involved. Not very comforting - 1,000 people can leak any of billions of records to our enemies. Some call the NSA Analyst turned whistleblower, Edward Snowden, a traitor for alerting the American public to this. What if he, or any of 999 other analysts, gave this data and processes to our enemy?

The hearings are simply more CYA, pandering and appeasement.

My issue is the collection of all electronic communications data of all customers for cell phones – and one NSA official lied to Congress in an earlier hearing of this – and direct tie-in with ISP servers for emails and website visits. Government has misused and abused programs – including this one.  It is government overreach and it is just wrong. I will not accept compromising our rights when there are viable alternatives to the same means. The end never justifies the unconstitutional means – this apathy is what is destroying our Constitution. (http://www.beerswithourfoundingfathers.com/3/post/2013/06/constitutional-apathy-is-destroying-our-country.html)

The key components of the program are:

• All of the electronic communications of all persons – domestically – are collected.  This includes sender and receiver data (i.e. phone number, email address, IP addresses, etc.), all dates and times, and all length of communication.  Enough to pin point a person and their location at any given time. 
• Nine ISPs are directly accessed by NSA with live monitoring and storing of this data.
• Don’t believe that only Verizon customers are involved – most criminal use ‘drop phones’ or ‘pay per use’; and Verizon is a large landline provider.
• Over 1,000 contract analysts have access to this information.
• No reasonable suspicion is needed to collect this data – the service providers transmit these records daily.
• A FISA warrant is required, under the amended Patriot Act, only when the content of the communications is needed.

This data is retained for a minimum of five years and actual retention is based on any law enforcement or prosecution need.

First, why Verizon?  I believe Verizon is the primary target because, as the largest provider, every cell phone user frequently either calls and / or is called by a Verizon subscriber – this will lead to the pre-paid type cell phones; it is an investigative work around – so an innocent person’s data is used to target a suspect.

Below are a series of common justifications for the NSA scandal.  These are bulleted and followed by my commentary.  I certainly welcome yours.

• Collecting these phone numbers does not jeopardize or violate any person’s privacy.
• Only when collected data is clearly linked those of known terrorists now operating are those people investigated further.
• Those involved in criminal conspiracies such as terrorism do not have a right to privacy.
• NSA, the FBI, and the White House have identified over 50 thwarted incidents, and many of these have now been identified to the public.
• The end, preventing loss of lives by interrupting terrorist plans and operations, does justify the means and is legal.

National security is a top priority, and so are our Constitutional rights. Neither need be compromised - although both have been greatly - to accomplish the mission. It is not true that the data is not used unless there is a link to known terrorists.  The data is collected and analyzed with algorithms to determine patterns of activity, identify potential terrorists and terrorist activities.  I support this use – it is how the data is collected that I disagree with.  It simply cannot be believed that this is not government overreach or that these programs and agencies have not been abused.  If this is justified and lives are saved - why not go around and collect computer data from private homes and businesses and store it - just in case it is needed?  Or, the government can require the ISPs to covertly download individuals’ computer hard drive data, for the same reason?  That's the philosophy of these programs.  No one would agree that this type of activity would be justified.

As long as we do not snoop on law-abiding Americans, and these measures do not come anywhere near that.

• We do have judicial review of Patriot Act cases in the form of FISA search warrants.
• It is critical that we not get carried away with holding aloft the banner of individual rights of Americans.
• The FISA court has to approve these search warrants.  This provides judicial review and oversight of our counterintelligence officers.  This is the same way our local, state and federal law enforcement officers have to seek judicial review for their search warrants.
• Analysts will not listen to anyone's calls or investigate anyone if they are not communicating with terrorists.  If they are, these individuals give up their right to privacy by virtue of their own criminal actions.

As I mentioned at the beginning of this commentary, I supported the initial concept of screening those with which reasonable suspicion was determined and capturing data and transmission was by subsequent probable cause warrant. There is NO justifiable reason to capture the call / email transmission data of virtually every electronic communication on a daily basis. This is invading the privacy of every American – domestic (remember, this is a foreign intelligence agency and activities.  What is a law-abiding American?  Traffic, petty offense - or just national security concerns?  I know we have, disgustingly, Americans actively involved in terrorist activities and plots - Boston Marathon bombers are, Fort Hood killer is. These individuals, their plots and attacks were not analyzed – and no system is perfect enough to prevent 100% of any attempt.  Terrorists are always at least one step ahead – they know what they want to do and plan accordingly – it is those plans our intelligence network is trying to detect and prevent.  No person can justify why their data is captured and retained.  Billions of records and 300 disclosed incidents – this demonstrates more focused investigative methods and enforcement are required. 

As an example, I could agree to phone numbers, web addresses and email addresses being analyzed, live, with algorithms to determine patterns of activity, identify potential terrorists and terrorist activities.  No person would see the data, nor would it be retained – simply crunched for patterns and an analyst alerted.  At this point there is reasonable suspicion and the capturing of this data for further analysis would be justified and legal for further analysis to determine and support a probable cause search warrant for the actual communications.  Exigent circumstances, currently justified and used by law enforcement, would also be provided for.

In the course of our justice system we are all familiar with, law enforcement has judicial review because they are prevented from making any detention without reasonable suspicion or arrest without probable cause.  They cannot collect data ‘just in case’ it is needed for an investigation of a crime that has not been conspired or committed.  The above analogy of judicial review is wrong – but is appropriate because if there were full judicial review, I would not have the problems with these existing intelligence activities.  Law enforcement cannot cast a wide net hoping to get a little evidence.  That's my issue - completely bypassing the Fourth to capture ALL data without a minimum of reasonable suspicion.  Imagine if our society was told that in order to stop the illicit drug trade or other organized crime, the activities of the NSA would also be used.  Who is to say it would not happen.  The NSA has recently disclosed that 50 incidents were discovered and stopped.  Most, if not all, of these incidents were already known; nothing new was released and won't be.

I value enforcing Constitutionality, not an overreaching government.  As an example of recent overreach - the IRS seized 60 million medical records of 10 million people in California, including judges and their clerks, under a warrant sworn out for financial records.  This is before the IRS officially enforces the new healthcare program.  No overreach there. We can certainly trust the NSA and FBI, and of course the translucent White House, to keep themselves in check.  Obama, "If people can't trust not only the executive branch, but also don't trust Congress and don't trust federal judges to make sure we're abiding by the Constitution and due process and rule of law, then we're gonna have some problems,".

Presently, if any of the 1,000 contract analysts determines additional data is needed for investigative purposes, they then query the data and use that for the probable cause affidavit supporting a warrant for the content of the communications. That is completely backwards of our Fourth Amendment and judicial process. That is why our Constitutional rights are being violated.  Moreover, criminal actions do not negate right to privacy - what they do is provide probable cause to lower the protection of privacy – that becomes the search warrant.

Who is preventing who from exploiting the data that is captured or retained? FISA only sees what is presented to them. The IRS and DOJ have ignored laws and policies - how are we guaranteed this won't be. Virtually 100% of every person’s electronic communications data is collected and retained. Why? Don't tell me that if a person has nothing to hide, not to worry - we all have the right to not have our privacy compromised.

• I am not concerned at all about the government collecting records of numbers I call on my cell phone or landline.
• No one takes the time to look at my records unless I were to call a known terrorist. Then I would, and should be, scrutinized more closely, this time with a FISA warrant.
• The Supreme Court has already ruled that methods of this type DO NOT violate the Fourth Amendment.
• As a computer forensic examiner, I would agree with you, Dean, that not every American should have everything on his hard drive available for government inspection - unless or until he or she engages in criminal activity. Then, with the proper warrant, the government can look at all that information with proper authorization from a court. I see no overreaching by the government in using these methods.

That apathy is dangerous and apathy is destroying our Constitution.  This is not just numbers called.  Virtually all of the electronic communications of all persons – domestically – are collected.  This includes sender and receiver data (i.e. phone number, email address, IP addresses, etc.), all dates and times, and all length of communication.  Enough to pin point a person and their location at any given time.  The activities are not incumbent on communicating with a ‘known terrorist’.  The data is collected and analyzed with algorithms to determine patterns of activity, identify potential terrorists and terrorist activities.  How about NSA or FBI coming in daily to collect every individual’s computer data and store it? Just in case and that way when they need and get a FISA warrant, they have it. A person does not have to be a known terrorist – that is completely untrue. How about the reporter who was accused of espionage in an affidavit and potentially facing prosecution (only to have the AG say there was no intent to prosecute)? How did the DOJ know what 20 AP numbers to capture all data and communications from? How did they know to do the same with the reporter – and his family (surely they were not accused of espionage)? Moreover, the Attorney General perjured himself when he signed the affidavit How about the two new whistleblowers who have proven their electronic communications were captured and recorded?

I completely and 100% want effective anti-terrorist efforts and success - but I am 100% opposed to this data mining as a 'just in case'. This data capturing of all electronic data is without anyone engaging in any criminal activity - that is the point and is what violates our Constitutional rights.

• In this digital age - and in the ongoing state of war we are in and will be for some time - different measures and tactics must be used.
• If the government abuses our trust and misuses this data, it will come out, and heads will roll, as they have in the latest IRS fiasco.
• I believe my privacy, personally, has not been compromised in any way. No one cares or wants to know which bill collector I have called, what doctors I am making appointments with, the fact that I called my wife or daughter or next-door neighbor. But they will care if I happen to call a terrorist in Yemen who is already known to be hatching plots against the good ol' USA!

IF 'the government abuses our trust and misuses this data' - this abuse and misuse is growing by the day and no heads have rolled, but the rights of thousands of law-abiding Americans have been violated without justification.  This apathy of privacy and rights - no harm unless compromised - is the point. When the government has reasonable suspicion to believe a person is doing more than making routine phone calls and email communications, then perhaps the process of capturing that individual’s data – but not everyone's - exists. We are to be protected from the abuse and misuse of government - not complain after it happens.

Now that the IRS is seizing medical records under a financial records warrant - perhaps there is cause to reel them in. But that's just the IRS, not the NSA, FBI or other agency. The banner of our Fourth Amendment is more important than the banner of just-in-case security.

Apathy - it doesn't concern me because I have done nothing wrong – is destroying our Constitution.  Why not stop every vehicle to make sure no one is driving intoxicated - that should prevent all alcohol related traffic fatalities. If a driver has nothing to hide, a few extra minutes to and from their daily work and errands should not be a violation of rights, privacy or any concern.

The US Supreme Court is not always right - they were wrong on Dred Scott, and I am not obligated to agree with their decisions that condone tearing at our Bill of Rights.  For those feeling apathy towards these activities and our Constitution, let's stop everyone for DUI checks, capture everyone's hard drives, and forget reasonable suspicion and probable cause - because if the government wants it, that's all good...just in case, and there is nothing to fear unless you have done nothing (yet not defined) wrong.

For that matter, why not let the government come in and catalog all of your firearms, serial numbers and ammunition.  Just in case.  If you have nothing to fear, this violation of your Second Amendment should not concern you.  Similarly, when this data is used to prosecute a person for exercising their First Amendment, what will be said?

I am simply stating that at the very least reasonable suspicion is the minimum to begin collecting the electronic communications data, and probable cause is the minimum for capturing the communications content.  That satisfies all arguments. That's my unapathetic position.

Dean A. Beers, author
American Patriot

www.BeersWithOurFoundingFathers.com
Blog - www.WeLoveOurUSA.com
www.facebook.com/BeersWithOurFoundingFathers.com

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/06/17/supreme-court-arizona-citizenship-proof-law-illegal/

Supreme Court:
Arizona law requiring citizenship proof for voters is illegal

I have not read this decision, so I'm sort of speaking out turn and uninformed.  I wholly disagree with this decision to overturn and  that the states cannot legislate in order to protect the rights of citizens.  Our Constitution provides that only citizens can vote.  Beyond that, it is my opinion that it is incumbent upon the states to ensure that each person that is eligible to vote can do so, and those that are not eligible to vote cannot do so.  That is the check and balance of the federal and state governments.

However, I disagree that the Tenth takes authority from SCOTUS (there are other components of the Constitution that address this - for one, this is registering to vote in federal elections).  BUT...what does apply is that state law cannot be less restrictive than federal law, and therefore the states can enact an ID requirement in order to protect the right of the citizens.  As an example of this state vs federal law - there is a federal law that requires at least one person of a phone conversation have knowledge of a party recording the conversation.  Colorado follows federal law, whereas California is more restrictive and requires both parties have knowledge / consent.  No states can allow the recording of a telephone of a conversation without the knowledge / consent of at least one part.

This decision, a surprise from Scalia, is dangerous to not only our election process, but the security of our Country.  It is disturbing when judicial hurdles are created. Simple concept - citizen - vote; not citizen - no vote. No hurdles needed. It should be incumbent upon the registrant to prove their citizenship, just like they have to prove to make a bank withdrawal, legitimately get a job, etc.

Justice Scalia, for the majority:
Federal law "precludes Arizona from requiring a federal form applicant to submit information beyond that required by the form itself,".

Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito were the only dissenters from the court's ruling:
The Constitution "authorizes states to determine the qualifications of voters in federal elections, which necessarily includes the related power to determine whether those qualifications are satisfied,".

Justice Thomas has it right, Justice Scalia ... apparently the NSA and IRS got to him and two other justices.

From 'Beers with our Founding Fathers'
The Tenth Amendment "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."

The Tenth Amendment has been as overlooked as the Ninth Amendment – until recently as the federal government continues to encroach on both the individual and states’ rights.  This amendment specifically provides that the federal government is limited to those powers designated and enumerated in the Constitution.  Additionally, it provides that any powers not so enumerated are reserved to the states, and by inference further to the people not so designated to the states. However, our Founding Fathers, in favor of states’ and individual rights with less government, intentionally gave more latitude for the interpretation of state sovereignty.  It is important to understand this essential interpretation – otherwise you have a ‘what came first, the chicken [state’s rights] or the egg [individual rights]’ question – individual rights come first, which cannot be infringed upon by the state or federal governments, and states’ rights cannot be infringed upon by the federal government.

With the current events of arming rebels of a foreign - and enemy country - I though it would be good to share a brief synopsis of a relevant chapter from this book.

It must be unequivocal that we do not support, fund, arm or provide infrastructure or logistical aid to our enemy.  The current administration is now following up on the 'Apology Tour' of his first term.  Syria is not a friend or ally of the United States.  It is an enemy and the rebels are simply an exchange of one enemy for another.  Humanitarian aid is not going to be the mission and will not be the success.  The decision to send support, funds, arms, and provide infrastructure and logistical aid is contrary to our foreign policy and Constitution.

Funding terrorist countries and organizations, enemies of allies and others that have fomented hatred towards our Country and principles – capitalism and Judeo-Christian principles – are to be defunded completely.  Any strategic threat or threat to national security should be met with elevated and immediate force.  On an international scale, it is like having childhood teams with no winners or losers, touchy-feely and everyone is equal and a friend, which is total nonsense. There are winners and losers, inequality and people – including countries – do dislike each other.  There is no ‘shall’ in funding our enemies or those opposed to our principles.  There is complete discretion.  The concepts of ‘shall’ and ‘discretion’ begin in our home Country.  This would include human relief efforts.  I’m not heartless, but let’s look at the return on the investments made.  1) It takes military intervention to assure humanitarian aid, and with so many constraints (i.e. rules of engagement – or preventing engagement), the missions are nothing more than international babysitting; and 2) Provide one country – just one – in which our international and occupational efforts have been fruitful in the short-term and beyond a form of peacekeeping.  You simply will not find it.  One bad enemy regime replaces another, international borders change and the whole cycle continues – and has for decades.  I am not opposed to mission specific international relief efforts for those that endeavor to be free, such as the Berlin Air Lift from June 1948 to May 1949.

The growing healthcare Parasitic Cult is not limited to our Country.  It is the first wave of distribution of wealth and further socialist agendas.  It will reach international proportions with the United States (taxpayers) being expected to fund this – much like it has the majority of the United Nations, World Health Organization and International Monetary Fund support is from the United States (taxpayers).  Why are we funding our demise?  What is a solution to the necessity of preserving our own freedoms, spreading the goodwill of democracy through freedom, and establishing a containment perimeter around the enemies of freedom?  The answers, like those presented in this work, are more complex than the problems.  However, a nice dessert often comes from a simple recipe.  Like battles, these must be picked wisely.  We must keep our friends close, and our enemies closer; however, we do not need to embolden them, fund them, or apologize to them – we must simply keep them close enough to know what they are doing and prevent them from repeating the attacks on our Country of September 11th 2001.  For that, I return to re-establishing our Country’s strongest strategic alliances, re-establish our Country’s positions as both economic and military superpowers, and put a boot in the ass of the enemy when appropriate.  I fully support pre-emptive strategic missions.  Like preventive medicine, selective and with a purpose and not for every cough and sniffle.  Most important, our Country needs to re-assert its national sovereignty and that of the several states.

If you want to stop this train wreck - start with this book blog and then order the book!
www.BeersWithOurFoundingFathers.com/order.html

Thank you and may you make the decision in the interests of the security of our Country and We the People.

Dean A. Beers
American Citizen and American Patriot
www.BeersWithOurFoundingFathers.com

Constitutional Apathy is Destroying Our Country
"If you are someone that supports government unvetted domestic spying, and because we have nothing to fear unless we have done something wrong, and therefore nothing to hide – you are absolutely wrong and endangering everyone with your apathetic thought process.  It may seem like human nature to feel that way, but we cannot give up our liberties for fear." -- Dean A. Beers, author and American Patriot

We can no longer fathom, or certainly accept, the constellation of criminal acts by this presidential administration and government.  Several have slowly emerged over the years – beginning with the unvetted inexperience the current president brought to the table as a candidate in 2007.  His campaign, along with John McCain’s, was going bankrupt in September 2007 – suddenly, in January they were both collecting record donations.  Until that time, Hillary Clinton and Mitt Romney were the leaders of their respective parties.  That was no longer true by the end of February, Obama and McCain began surging to the lead, never losing it again.  

The first term as president was primarily pushing the grab for control of one of the largest economies – healthcare.  This will be enforced by the Internal Revenue Service.  In California the IRS seized, under a warrant for financial records, 60 million medical records – including judges and their clerks.  The lawsuit against the IRS has gone essentially unnoticed.  Lately, we have seen many other scandals emerge – some have existed and fully erupted late.  From a ‘National Train Wreck’ to a ‘Tri-Fecta of Scandals’ – I have written about these, and others, on the Beers With Our Founding Fathers book blog at www.WeLoveOurUSA.com.  I also write of The Domino Effect – the loss of all rights because so many do not believe the scandals and feel that the perception of personal security, or opinion of what it is, is more important than the protection of our rights as a whole.

Obama, "If people can't trust not only the executive branch, but also don't trust Congress and don't trust federal judges to make sure we're abiding by the Constitution and due process and rule of law, then we're gonna have some problems,".

To use his famous over-used words, let me be clear – we do have some problems, and he is the eye of the storm.  I am opposed to accepting resignations at this stage – I want impeachment (see the blog for sending in your impeachment request to Speaker Boehner).  The violations of our Bill of Rights has not gone unnoticed, but until recently has gone under-reported.  Not by me, I reported the NSA cell phone records extraction before any major US news outlet, from the news outlet in England that first broke it.  With the earlier scandals, particularly the IRS scandal, I firmly stated that this was only the tip of the iceberg and would be relatively insignificant to what other criminal activities we would see revealed.  If you think, or believe, that the cell phone scandal is limited to Verizon, and is to collect data in the event of a criminal investigation, you are only fooling yourself.  Yes, those records do disappear from the cell phone companies – they cannot keep billions of records indefinitely.  That is not why the national security infrastructure is spying on citizens.

Since the break of the cell phone scandal – the National Security Agency, for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, has been collecting data daily for 100% of Verizon’s domestic customers – we have learned that the NSA is directly tied into the servers of nine major Internet Service Providers (ISPs).  Everything a person searches, such as via Google or Yahoo, websites they visit and emails they send and receive, are collected by the NSA.  These will be housed in a Utah facility, presently under construction, that will hold 60 zettabytes of data – that is 62 billion cell phones stacked one on the other, each with 32 gigabytes of memory, and will reach past the moon.  This should have your sphincter bunched.  But, some say that they have done nothing wrong and have nothing to hide.  These people, who are apathetic to the destruction of our Constitution, are more dangerous than the government that is destroying our Constitution…because they are letting them.

Our Fifth Amendment provides that no person shall be required to give any statement or testimony, and is specifically protected from being required to give statements or testimony that may incriminate them.  Some incorrectly conclude that this indicates guilt, should a person refuse to answer questions.  Similarly, those persons feel that the capturing of electronic communications as a pre-emptive measure for future criminal investigation and prosecution is to only be feared by those who are guilty of criminal activity.  Our president and government should be fearful, but we should not.

This assumption of fear only in the face of wrongdoing is not what our Constitution promises us as an unalienable birthright.  The Fourth Amendment reads, “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.”  I spend a chapter dissecting every amendment of our Bill of Rights, but let us look at the applicable components of this amendment and current activities.

• Secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects;
• Against unreasonable searches and seizures SHALL NOT BE VIOLATED;
• No Warrants shall issue without probable cause.

‘Unreasonable’ – that is as important as all of the other words.  Unreasonable means is best understood by defining ‘reasonable person’:  A person who exercises average care, skill, and judgment in conduct.  Would you consider the unvetted seizure of all electronic communications, of all persons in our Country, for the future possible purposes of investigation of a preservation of evidence for a crime that is neither anticipated or exists?  I hope not.

In my lay, no law school, opinion – this does NOT describe a pre-emptive investigatory right of the government.  It is a restriction of the government and protection of the individual – as is the whole of our Bill of Rights and is why all of them are important, not just personally selected rights.  What basis could there be for probable cause BEFORE a crime has been committed?  None – impossible.  This, in my opinion, also applies to law enforcement collecting DNA upon arrest, and not upon the issuance of warrants for the search and seizure of the DNA.  I would even go so far as to postulate that invoking the Fifth Amendment until retaining a lawyer should be done and is appropriate to prevent arrest DNA collection.  That would be giving evidence that would incriminate you. But that’s my legal investigator opinion talking, so I digress back to my civic duty as a citizen.

If you are someone that supports government unvetted domestic spying, and because we have nothing to fear unless we have done something wrong, and therefore nothing to hide – you are absolutely wrong and endangering everyone with your apathetic thought process.  It may seem like human nature to feel that way, but we cannot give up our liberties for fear.  If you are uncertain about why this is so bad, let me give you two simple analogies – your home and your vehicle.

Home
In order to solve crimes, it is necessary to collect data from local residents – because they throw their trash away every week, and may consequently, but unintentionally, throw away evidence of crimes that another family member may have unknowingly committed. 

Every day a law enforcement officer stops by and downloads all of your phone logs, computer logs, emails, and faxes.  You have no concerns of this intrusion because you have done nothing wrong, and are certain no one living in your home has.  While  they are at your home, they collect DNA and fingerprints from all of the residents, and also from specific items in the home – just in case they need to determine who has been in your home, for your protection.

Vehicle
In order to reduce, or prevent, traffic accidents and fatalities caused by intoxicated drivers, every vehicle is stopped at their driveway on a daily basis.  It is important to stop and prevent these incidents before it is possible for them to be anticipated or occur.

The vehicle is checked for containers and indications of alcohol and other drug use.  Papers and receipts are collected that may reflect travel to purchase alcohol and other drugs, including receipts for purchase.  You might imbibe in the privacy of your home, but just in case you are involved in an incident – and it should be anticipated that you will be – this evidence is collected.  While  they are at your home, they collect DNA and fingerprints from all of the residents, and also from specific items in the home – just in case they need to determine who has been in your home, for your protection.

Before you express that this is impossible – and it logistically is impossible – simply replace the logistics of capturing electronic communications.  Imagine your receipts are captured and stored, directly from the point of purchase.  Imagine every purchase you make being reported to the government.  Take the implementation of the new national healthcare and attempts at gun control.  Every item you buy at the grocery store is captured, for your own personal well-being, by the government.  Knowing that you are buying your medications and not buying unhealthy foods will be the government’s right because they (with taxpayer funds) will be paying for your healthcare.  In the interest of preventing and reducing crime, you firearms and ammunition transactions are reported.  I submit that this is coming – from stores and credit / debit card companies.  As a legal investigator, I can tell you that privacy has long been dead – this adds new meaning.

I want bad guys, from criminals to terrorists, found and charged – and constitutionally convicted and punished.  I want our Country and my family to be safe.  However, I will not condone or accept that our civil liberties be compromised – or worse, as is presently – completely overrun for our protection.  That is nonsense.  When the Patriot Act was first proposed, I supported it – because it was based upon a warrant for the seizure of electronic communications in the course of an investigation – not as a pre-emption to an unknown incident or in anticipation of an investigation of the same.  It was intended to be selective – not 100% of a company’s customers, and not every major provider of electronic communications.  Not 100% of the time and not simply based on the preservation of evidence for a crime that is neither anticipated or exists.

The Department of Justice now reports there will now be an investigation, by the people violating your Constitutional rights, of the people that learned and informed you of your Constitutional rights being traitorously violated by the people that will now be investigating.  Here is what you will find out:  1) that the information they collected in the course of this investigation was paramount in the arrests and convictions of those who reported the criminal activities of our government; and there will be key events that will be solved because of these unconstitutional programs of seizing electronic communications of US citizens that were otherwise without the probable cause circumstances of an investigation or criminal act.

Let me be clear – if you want to live in a country with none of the protections afforded by our Constitution, and / or that promises the utopia of socialism, please do two things:  1) leave well enough alone; and 2) leave this Country for that special place that exists elsewhere.

If you love this Country and the ideals on which it was founded, fought for, as a beacon of independence and freedom, and the Constitution – please stand firm, stand strong and stand proud.

Remember what Obama said, "If people can't trust not only the executive branch, but also don't trust Congress and don't trust federal judges to make sure we're abiding by the Constitution and due process and rule of law, then we're gonna have some problems,".  Yes, we have problems.  Notice he said "If people can't trust…” – it is our civic duty to question – to NOT trust.  How dare he patronize us by stating that trust is an absolute.  Trust is an unknown commodity, much like the eye of a storm and our president.

If you want to stop this train wreck - start with this book blog and then order the book!
www.BeersWithOurFoundingFathers.com/order.html

Thank you and may you make the decision in the interests of the security of our Country and We the People.

Dean A. Beers
American Citizen and American Patriot
www.BeersWithOurFoundingFathers.com