|
|||
 |
|||
| Wednesday, May 31, 2006 Two Frightening Words Dear Mr. Whitehead: I read with VERY extreme interest your April 24th commentary, "Detention Camps on American Soil." There are two words that, when used seriously by people in government, send frightening chills up my spine: MARTIAL LAW! What is "martial law"? It's technical definition is, simply, "the law during war"; however, when applied in the context of the United States, it means the sweeping disregard for the United States Constitution--that "supreme law of the land" to which every person in government must take an oath or affirmation to "defend and protect." Please note that we are not even engaged in a valid, constitutional war, since the Congress has not formally declared war, even though it certainly had the opportunity. Also note that the federal oath of office provides for the defense and protection of the CONSTITUTION of the United States. It is NOT an oath mandating that government keep people "safe." If the CONSTITUTION is truly protected and upheld, then the people will have the freedom to provide for their own protection and safety. The Constitution absolutely does NOT provide any branch of government with the power to declare "martial law" under ANY circumstances! Recently, legal scholars and politicians have been talking about the "inherent" powers of the president. There's just one problem: there are none. The Constitution is a document providing ONLY for the explicitly delineated PRESCRIBED powers, AND NO OTHERS! Federal officeholders with a very dangerous, anti-constitutional mindset, including Bush, are "pushing the envelope" in every case brought to the courts with regard to the scope of presidential power. Often, when a case is about to be appealed to the Supreme Court, the Justice Department does everything it can to avoid Supreme Court review. For instance, Jose Padilla, who was slapped with the label of "enemy combatant" by Bush, was transferred from military custody to civilian custody right after a strongly conservative federal appeals court (Fourth Circuit in Richmond, Virginia) ruled that holding citizens in military custody is constitutional. The government's transfer of Padilla to civilian authorities was a tactical move to keep the Supreme Court from reviewing the issue of military confinement of civilian United States citizens. Supreme Court review could have set a "dangerous" precedent, in the government's view--a precedent unfavorable to the government. Another alarming example is an ACLU case challenging the constitutionality of the permanent-gag provision of a USA PATRIOT Act section relating to National Security Letters, which the government uses to obtain private, personal information and records on people, including citizens, without valid Fourth Amendment warrants. It is clear that the Justice Department wanted to keep certain people from testifying in Congress while renewal of the expiring provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act was pending. Within six weeks after the Congress, unfortunately, renewed the expiring provisions of the law, the Justice Department dropped its appeal, and these people will now be able to speak publicly about their experiences on being served with National Security Letters, although the timely opportunity to testify before Congress is now lost. This was a clear case of the government's abuse of a law to shut people up for political purposes--not for legitimate national security purposes. This dangerous political use of a clearly unconstitutional unlimited-gag law is one example of why I believe we have people in power with an extremely dangerous mindset who cannot be trusted. On another matter, Bush keeps regurgitating unending platitudes about "border security" and "opposing amnesty" for illegals while pushing for what is, in effect, amnesty legislation, even while it is well known that terrorists and very dangerous drug-connected gangs are crossing the border with other illegals and, in some cases, with the heavily armed protection of corrupt Mexican federal police who have, at times, fired upon our border patrol. In total disregard for the Eighth Amendment, Bush and Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld have authorized the torture of captives. Possibly-soon-to-be-CIA Director, General Hayden, while at the NSA, set up and supervised the blatantly unconstitutional and illegal NSA warrantless-wiretap program. The illegal and anti-constitutional atrocities of our government continue, and history is likely to be repeated by people who either don't know it or don't realize or care about the constitutional consequences of their actions. I now believe that those presently in power are "pushing the legal envelope" so hard because they envision an elitist, authoritarian future for the United States with considerably less or no freedom. In order to do this, executive power must be expanded well beyond constitutionally imposed limits. This is exactly what is being done at this time. We now have cases involving the kidnapping and torture of innocent civilians and "war" captives; warrantless wiretaps; the warrantless seizures of private, personal records with a permanent-gag mandate for those served with NSLs; never-before secret arrests and detentions ("the disappeared") often used by banana republics; among other atrocities. The above behavior proves that the United States is becoming (or has become) a banana republic. This is exactly the depraved behavior pattern into which our public officials have fallen. They are turning (or have turned) the United States into a banana republic that disregards its own constitution. This legal situation in the nation in which we now live has the effect of places us in an unannounced and, possibly, a permanent state of martial law. Sincerely, S.P. Tuesday, May 30, 2006 Administration I liked John's article on the National I.D. card. This administration is REALLY scary!!! Let's NOT be sheep!!! --RON The First Attack I can recall coming from the enemy -when an unjust judge ordered the Schofield Barracks Cross removed -And the mere politicians said that was not a fight they wanted to join. Then the enemy ordered the Mohave Desert Cross/Memorial removed. Now it is the Mount Soledad Cross/Memorial. IT is not unreasonable to suggest the enemy will not stop until America finds backbone enough to stand against their evil. They operate under the guise of defending the Constitution-and Rule of Law-but they violate the Rule of Law as taught by James Wilson and Blackstone (As seen in the display of that Harrisburg PA courthouse) And violate the clear language and intent of the US Constitution as well. I was trained in the US Army to oppose the Soviet Communist- the deepest treason is while our armed forces successfully prosecuted the Cold War to a victory-- Our mere politicians were embracing the enemy via the United Nations-and dreams of global villages. School Shooters I personally think that there's so much "white guilt" in the elite academic arena that their "corrective measures" are starting to get under people's skin. Thanks for your ear. Friday, May 26, 2006 The Long Run Mr. Whitehead couldn't have said it better when he says in this article, "After all, the terrorists on 9/11 used identifications issued by the government." This is a great point, on why or even how a national ID card could or would make anyone of us any safer. How is giving up freedom of privacy, to a bunch of incompetent elitist, going to make us any safer? I think Ben Franklin said those who give up liberty for the sake of security deserves neither. Does not anyone anymore understand the wisdom the intent, the very passion for liberty when he spoke these words. No matter what happens this sheep's Shepard in the long run is gonna kick some wolf ass. D. Newland Wednesday, May 24, 2006 Unfortunate It is unfortunate that John Rutherford fully bought into the claims of Percy Walton's lawyers that their client is mentally retarded and/or ill and thus should be spared from execution. I beg to differ. Past grotesque actions as well as an extensive court-imposed examination of Walton's mental psyche over the past three years have undercut the Walton lawyers' claims. While awaiting his trial for murdering three of his neighbors in Danville, Walton enthusiastically described and repeatedly re-enacted his every move during their killings for fellow inmates at the City Jail. Furthermore, Walton openly bragged that he intended to "play crazy" in the court room to cause a commotion. In 1999, during a meeting with a Corrections Department psychiatrist, Walton acknowledged that he ""[I] just enjoy playing around with folks, I just like messing with them." Court appointed impartial psychiatrist Mark Mills examined Walton in early 2004 and was asked to determine the matter of whether Walton was coherent of his legal circumstances. During their meeting, Walton expressed awareness that: He was incarcerated for being 'a killer' He understood what execution was and that it was for killers. He understood that people who die go to the graveyard. Nor is Percy Walton mentally retarded. His mother never noticed any slowness or deficient behavior in her son as he developed. However, his demeanor changed once he began running with the wrong crowd, resulting in his being expelled from school and the start of numerous criminal convictions. This is a man of moderate intelligence, but keen criminal tendencies. He is far from being considered as the village idiot who knows not of the actions he commits. Percy Walton has reveled in his experiences of shedding innocent human blood and continues to attempt to manipulate the system into believing he is the victim. Respectfully, Orson M. You Should Know I appreciate many of your views, but you should know that the main purpose for capital punishment is not the deterrent to crime but the administration of justice. Certain crimes that are committed justly deserve capital punishment because of their abhorrent nature. Christopher W. Suggestion My suggestion is this: Consider opposing the nonsensical drug laws, especially those concerning marijuana, imposed upon Americans and enforced with draconian measures. I am personally a supporter of the National Organization to Reform Marijuana Laws (NORML) and believe their approach to be a balanced and fair one. It would be so very productive were an organization with the kind of respect yours has to add its voice to the growing concern about drug laws and their use to encroach upon other freedoms. Thank you for all you do. Lou G. Monday, May 22, 2006 Karma of Journalists Marc P. Is There a Da Vinci Code? I'd like to hear more discussion on the possibility that Leonardo was influenced by the Renaissance explosion of Hermeticism among scientifically minded intellectuals. The only truly different opinion I have found relates his symbolisnm to his obvious fondness for Hermetic style androgynes and his preoccupation with John the Baptist, a cult figure related to the Templars and much more prominent in the Italian Renaissance than the cult of Mary Magdalene. This viewpoint, which even explains the so called "John Gesture" can be found at altreligion.about.com as "A Different da Vinci Code". Fred F. Friday, May 19, 2006 Fiction I don't understand why everyone is so worked up over fiction these days. The movie "The Da Vinci Code" is a work of fiction. It's a fictional story about the Bible which is also a fictional story about fictional characters like God and Jesus. None of this is real. I haven't seen people so worked up over a movie since we found out that Darth Vader was Luke Skywalker's father in Star Wars! Will I watch the movie? Probably not. I think I'll wait for the X-Men movie because the characters are more realistic. Marc P. DaVinci the Dolt Why waste time writing about the subtleties in a fictional painting by an artist born centuries after the Last Supper? Leonardo never met Jesus nor anyone else he stuck in his painting, so he had no more knowledge than did Walt Disney. Golly, I'm sick of reading about this. I bet the movie bombs.... JD Thursday, May 18, 2006 I Hope You Win Good for you and for the church and for the implementation of our Constitution of which local boards are ignorant. Glad you are advocating for this congregation and I hope you win. --C. Phone Call Marc P. Tuesday, May 16, 2006 Insightful Dear TRI staff, Thank you for your commentary on School Shootings. It is a very insightful and well written article. The only thing that I would add is the fact that many of the school shootings are acted out by young adults who are taking prescription psychiatric medication. This is a major factor. The medication causes serious side effects, suicidal ideation and a spiritually-deadening affect to the person taking the drug. There has been much evidence and research in recent years regarding the serious side effects of the medication, including causing suicidal and homicidal behavior. It is not the young people that should be feared, but the overdrugging of America's children. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Denise Hope and Healing Ignorant Americans Your site today reveals how very ignorant Americans are today about the BIBLE. There is only ONE Faith, God says--not many. Jesus Chrst said in the N.T. that ONLY through His name can sinful man reach God. Education is certainly lacking here, and even Abraham Lincoln said, "a man is not educated, until he has studied God's Word". Thank you for your valuable web site!! JH Preferential Treatment Clearly the school needs to find additional nonprofits wanting the space on Sunday mornings, and rotate among them. Nothing in the Constitution requires or even permits preferential treatment. --Rey B. Cradle to Grave --Niki Monday, May 15, 2006 A Difficult Question Every time the government goes about doing good, it has the capacity to pervert its actions. The answer is that we must always be re-examining and re-evaluating what government is doing. Unfortunately, many look to the government for support, solace, comfort. The residents of New Orleans believed that the United States government had some responsibility to help them because they chose to live in a place that is below sea level. Residents of New Orleans and the press regard government as their friend instead of viewing it as what it is, a perpetual threat to individual liberty. Our founding fathers distrusted, probably disliked, government, but they recognized that it is a necessary evil. Unfortunately, we have come to regard government as our friend and benefactor instead of recognizing that throughout history government has proved to be the primary threat to freedom. Regards, Philip R. Schools Can and Do Give Moral Advice "But the schools, where any religious references have been removed, cannot give badly needed moral guidance. " Rubbish. Schools can and do give moral advice, far better moral advice than any religious source. For example, the immorality of slavery, prejudice, and discrimination based on sex is clearly taught. Not so in the Bible, where such things are condoned. In public schools, children are taught the dangers of unprotected sex and recreational sex. Lack of mythology-based morality is not the problem in our schools. Most likely not enough time spent with parents is a key factor. Let's keep religion out of it. John M. The Work You Do Thank you for the work you do! DeAnn G. Tuesday, May 09, 2006 Introduction Every time the government goes about doing good, it has the capacity to pervert its actions. The answer is that we must always be re-examining and re-evaluating what government is doing. Unfortunately, many look to the government for support, solace, comfort. The residents of New Orleans believed that the United States government had some responsibility to help them because they chose to live in a place that is below sea level. Residents of New Orleans and the press regard government as their friend instead of viewing it as what it is, a perpetual threat to individual liberty. Our founding fathers distrusted, probably disliked, government, but they recognized that it is a necessary evil. Unfortunately, we have come to regard government as our friend and benefactor instead of recognizing that throughout history government has proved to be the primary threat to freedom. Regards, Philip R. Monday, May 01, 2006 Nail On The Head Dear Mr Whitehead, That JFK interview was the best thing I've read on the assasination in years, and I've studied the subject extensively. Words can not convey how very impressed I am with the present direction you are pointing your organization. You are certainly hitting the nail straight on the head, and I would like to draw your attention to some very important information I uncovered during my research into my most recent book, which is being suppressed. I will post the info to you shortly , but in the mean time, if you are interested you can take a quick look at my web site for a preview (www.questionauthority911.com). If you wouldn't mind, I'd very much like to be considered for an interview like the one you did on the JFK issue. My package to you should arrive soon. Sincerely, James H. Ditto He points out many of the indicators that our government is completely abandoning both the Constitution and Biblical foundations of our country, while traveling headlong on its way to tyranny. We as a nation desperately need to return our government to the Constitution, and the hearts of our people to God's Word. The concentration camps may well be the last stop for those who will not shut up and go along with the program; those who aren't willing to trade their liberty for government provided security, and those who are not willing to give up their rights from God in exchange for token privileges. Since most politicians in power do not have the understanding or guts to reverse our nation's headlong flight into darkness, it is up to the little guys--the ordinary people of this country--to pass the understanding, and will to resist to future generations, and to stand up and say no, whether anyone will listen or not (Ez 2:3-10). And, if the situation merits, it is up to us, the little guys, to take resistance as far as necessary to hold on to what few freedoms we have left, and to restore as much as we can restore. No one will do it for us, or for our children, who wait on us to give them some thread of liberty to inherit. In light of this, I would posit that we need to retain the Second Amendment more than ever. http://www.comeandtakeit.com/txhist.html For Liberty, David T. |
Archive June 2004July 2004 August 2004 September 2004 October 2004 November 2004 December 2004 January 2005 February 2005 March 2005 April 2005 May 2005 June 2005 July 2005 August 2005 September 2005 October 2005 November 2005 December 2005 January 2006 February 2006 March 2006 April 2006 May 2006 June 2006 July 2006 August 2006 September 2006 October 2006 November 2006 December 2006 January 2007 February 2007 April 2007 May 2007 June 2007 July 2007 August 2007 September 2007 October 2007 November 2007 December 2007 January 2008 February 2008 March 2008 April 2008 May 2008 June 2008 August 2008 September 2008 October 2008 November 2008 December 2008 January 2009 February 2009 March 2009 April 2009 May 2009 June 2009 July 2009 August 2009 September 2009 October 2009 November 2009 December 2009 January 2010
|
||
 |
|||
| The Rutherford Institute P.O. Box
7482 Charlottesville, VA 22906-7482 Phone :: 434.978.3888 (8:30 AM - 5:00 PM Eastern) | Fax :: 434.978.1789 General Inquiries:: staff@rutherford.org | Legal Assistance:: tristaff@rutherford.org Technical comments :: webmaster@rutherford.org ©2007 The Rutherford Institute | Privacy Info |
|||
