Does Barack Obama Have A Concept of Freedom?

The fact that Oh Blah Blah's only coherent foreign policy theme is conciliation with Islam does not bode well for his domestic policy. After all, if America does not stand for personal freedom in Iran (where he thinks a fraudulent election is OK) or Turkey (where he is helping a mullahcracy take over) or Afghanistan (where he says he does not want victory) it does not look good for freedom in America either.

What happened with the abortive revolution in Iran is the foreign policy equivalent of what Bush did with Hurricane Katrina. Oh Blah Blah dropped the ball. He could not have helped the Iranians, but he could have mustered some of the outrage he expressed over the murder of abortionist George Tiller.

Do you really want economic policy created by a man who is comfortable with Islamic theocracy? What do you think? As always, comments are welcome.

Those Pesky Rules!

"All the ancient, honest juridical principles and institutions of England are so many clogs to check and retard the headlong course of violence and oppression."

Edmund Burke
Letter to the Sheriffs of Bristol

This Should Go Without Saying

As we await the elevation of Tyne Daly to the Supreme Court, Estase would like to discuss the "legal" philosophy of Ruth Bader Ginsburg. No, it isn't enough merely to make up American laws from the bench, but Ginsburg believes we now need to let legislatures in other countries vote on American laws. In an address to the American Society of International Law, Ginsburg said we, "should not . . . abandon the effort to learn what we can from the experience and good thinking foreign sources may convey." This is not a philosophical debating society we are talking about. This is the law of the United States, and looking for clever sophisms to replace our laws strikes at our republican democracy. How about speech laws from Red China, or family law from Iran? Why have a U.S. Congress if the Supreme Court is going to force us to live under other nations' laws anyway? The main reason against this is the reason we fought England to form our country- - the founding fathers did not want us to live under laws we had no voice in creating. So unless we get to vote for politicians in Sweden, Swedish laws should have no bearing on our laws.

China Confidential: Turkey's 'Trial of the Century' Begins

China Confidential: Turkey's 'Trial of the Century' Begins
Is it really surprising that the pro-Islam Hawaii Forty-Four is on the side of the would-be mullahcrats?

Limits of Judicial Review

"Nor should it ever be lost sight of, that the government of the United States is one of limited and enumberated powers; and that a departure from the true import and sense of its powers is, pro tanto, the establishment of a new constitution. It is doing for the people, what they have not chosen to do for themselves. (p. 144) Constitutions are not designed for metaphysical or logical subtleties, for niceties of expression, for critical propriety, for elaborate shades of meaning, or for the exercise of philosophical acuteness, or juridical research. (p157) To resign an exposition so sanctioned, would be to deliver over the country to interminable doubts; and to make the constitution, not a written system of government, but a false and delusive text, upon which every successive age of speculatists and statesmen might build any system, suited to their own views and opinions. (p 378)."

Justice Joseph Story
Commentaries on the Constitution

Vested Interests

The bailouts at Chrysler and General Motors remind me of the classic vested interests case, the Charles Bridge Case. In the early 1800's, a group of investors chose to build a toll bridge to replace a ferry in Boston. The local government then made this investment useless by building a free bridge over the same river. The employees and stockholders in Ford Motors are about to be screwed in the exact same way. Their investment is about to be damaged or lost due to Oh Blah Blah's choice to subsidize the production of "eco-friendly" cars. These cars will compete with Ford products, and Chrysler and General Motors will be relieved of the pressure to do what all companies in a capitalist system are expected to do- - make a profit.

The Spirit of 89

Where does the wording and concepts of the American Constitution come from? Some of it comes nearly verbatim from the Britisn Declaration of Rights.
British By raising and keeping a standing army within the kingdom in time of peace without the consent of Parliament and quartering soldiers contrary to the law.
American No Soldier shall, in time of peace, be quartered in any house, without consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

British By causing several good subjects, being Protestant, to be disarmed at the same time when Papists were both armed and employed contrary to the law. That the subjects which are Protestants may have arms for their defence suitable to their conditions and as allowed by law.
American A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.

British That it is the right of the subjects to petition the King, and all commitments and prosecutions for petitioning are illegal. And that for redress of grievances, and for the amending, strengthening and preserving of the laws parliaments ought to be frequently held.
American Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

British That the freedom of speech and debates or proceedings in parliament ought not to be impeached or questioned in any court or place out of parliament.
American They [Congressmen and Senators] shall in all Cases, except Treason, Felony, and Breach of the Peace, be privileged from Arrest during their Attendance at the Session of their respective Houses, and in going to and returning from the same; and for any speech or debate in either House, they shall not be questioned in any other Place.

British That excessive bail ought not to be required, nor excessive fines imposed; nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
American Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

The International Community Did Not Make Us

The right of the Iranian People to not be beaten or murdered does not come from "consensus" or "norms."

President Algernon SIdney

President Obama needs to stop using pedantic language about the Iranian tyrants violating "international norms," and instead admit that they

China Confidential: Abandoned by America, Iranians are Massacred

China Confidential: Abandoned by America, Iranians are Massacred

Forcing Morals Upon Others

The Christian Congressman took the floor of the House amid boos and objections. The opposition called him a fanatic and said he was trying to force his religion on others. Any one who wanted to debate this right would be stopped by a coalition of those who supported it. The Congressman tried to oppose the right, and claimed it was unconstitutional to suppress debate in this way. The oppostion claimed their right was part of the Constitution. This did actually happen. The date was May 26, 1836. The Congressman was John Quincy Adams. And the right was slavery.

The Strange Death of Humor

The disgusting sexual assault by Sasha Baron Cohen against Eminem at the MTV Movie Awards points out something about American comedy. It isn't funny. The trend started with degenerates like Lenny Bruce and George Carlin, neither of whom could say anything without filthy language and gross references to sex. Movies such as American Pie included jokes about sick things like the ingestion of semen. It has moved past comedy now- - when Rachel Maddow referred to the Tea Parties she referred to them with an oral sex reference. Is it possible for anyone to get a laugh with the kind of word play humor Groucho Marx specialized in? Does anyone wish to treat any subject with taste anymore?

Involuntary Association, Part Three

"In some cases the subordinate relations are voluntary, in others they are necessary, but the duties are all compulsive. When we marry, the choice is voluntary, but the duties are not a matter of choice; they are dictated by the nature of the situation. Dark and unscrutable are the ways by which we come into the world."
Edmund Burke, "An Appeal From the New to
the Old Whigs"

Making College Count, Part Two

"The whole trouble is that the American system from beginning to end is gauged to the run-of-mine American rather than to the picked American. The run-of-mine Frenchman does not get any nearer the University than the adjacent woodpile. He does not get into the equivalent of our undergraduate college. If he gets through the French equivalent of our secondary school, he does so by what our ancestors called the uncovenanted mercies of Providence, and every step of his progress is larded with bitter sweat. The chief reason why my Italian friend found no educated American under sixty years of age is that forty years ago the run-of-mine American did not, as a rule, get much nearer the founts of the higher learning than the run-of-mine Frenchman does to-day, and for the same reason- - he could not, speaking strictly, "make the grade." The newspapers some time ago quoted the president of Colombia as saying that durin the past half-century the changes in school and college instruction, as to both form and content, have been so complete that it is probably safe to say that to-day no student in Columbia College, and perhaps no professor on its faculty, could pass satisfactorily the examination-tests that were set for admission to Columbia College fifty years ago."
Albert J. Nock, 1937

Appeasement Does Not Work

The foreign policy of Oh Blah Blah seems to be based on the idea that if we can just give enough money and sympathy to our enemies, particularly those who attacked us in 2001, they will decide that we are nice people and stop killing Americans. This is the logic behind nonsense like using American money to rebuild what Israel destroyed in its war in Gaza.

Unfortunately, the Catholic Church in America seems to believe the same sort of thing. If the bishops can flatter secondary liberals by endorsing their socialist vision as a "consistant life ethic" or a "seamless garment", they will stop doing the things the Church disapproves of. The most recent example of this is Notre Dame honoring Hawaii Forty-Four despite the fact that he is not only pro-choice, but has also declared war on the Catholic hospital system. Obama and his allies will not reconsider their policies simply because America's premier Catholic university did something nice for him.

Lockean Liberalism vs. The Political Commercial Complex

As shown in the Declaration of Rights, the idea that we are the masters of our own fate led to the belief that citizens have the right to arms for the defense of their own lives. Not only do advocates of entangling politics and commerce not support the Second Amendment, they now apparently believe that patriotism means sacrificing not for Mother, Country, and God, but for Chrysler. Obama solomnly declares private businessmen should accept 39 cents on the dollar because "we all have to make sacrifices." Funny, I do not see the UAW making sacrifices- - they are making out like bandits. The Oh Blah Blah way is making everyone but his political supporters suffer.

Is it any wonder that our masters will not trust us with guns when they assume the private investor should suffer for the good of Chrysler and the UAW?

The Declaration of Rights, 1689

Whereas the late King James the Second, by the assistance of divers evil councillors, judges, and ministers employed by him, did endeavour to subvert and extirpate the Protestant religion and the laws and liberties of the kingdom.
1By assuming and exercising a power of dispensing with and suspending of laws, and the execution of laws, without the consent of parliament.
2By committing and prosecuting divers worthy prelates for humbly petitioning to be excused concurring to the said assumed power.
3By issuing and causing to be executed a commission under the Great Seal for erecting a court called the Court of Commissioners for Ecclesiastical Causes.
4By levying money for and to the use of the crown by pretence of prerogative, for other time and in other manner than the same was granted to parliament.
5BY RAISING AND KEEPING A STANDING ARMY WITHIN THIS KINGDOM IN TIME OF PEACE WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF PARLIAMENT AND QUARTERING SOLDIERS CONTRARY TO THE LAW.
6BY CAUSING SEVERAL GOOD SUBJECTS, BEING PROTESTANTS, TO BE DISARMED AT THE SAME TIME WHEN PAPISTS WERE BOTH ARMED AND EMPLOYED CONTRARY TO THE LAW.
7By violating the freedom of election by members to serve in parliament.
8By prosecutions in the Court of King's Bench for matters and causes cognizable only in parlia-ment ; and by divers other arbitrary and illegal courses.
9And whereas of late years, partial, corrupt, and unqualified persons have been returned and served on juries in trials, and particularly divers jurors in trials for high treason, which were not freeholders.
10Excessive bail hath been required of persons committed in criminal cases, to elude the benefit of laws made for the liberty of the subjects.
11And excessive fines have been imposed; and illegal and cruel punishments inflicted.
12And several grants and promises made of fines and forfeitures, before any conviction or judgment against the persons, upon whom the same were to be levied.

All which are utterly and directly contrary to the known laws and statutes and freedom of this realm. And whereas the said late King James the Second having abdicated the government, and the throne being thereby vacant, his Highness the Prince of Orange (whom it hath pleased Almighty God to make the glorious instrument of delivering this kingdom from popery and arbitrary power) did (by the advice of the lords spiritual and temporal, and divers principal persons of the Commons) cause letters to be written to the lords spiritual and temporal, being Protestants; and other letters to the several counties, cities, universities, boroughs, and Cinque Ports, for the choosing of such persons to represent them, as were of right to be sent to parliament, to meet and sit at Westminster upon January 22, 1689. . .

And thereupon the said lords spiritual and temporal and Commons. . . do in the first place (as their ancestors in like case have usually done) for the vindicating and asserting their ancient rights and liberties, declare: 1That the pretended power of suspending of laws, or the execution of laws, by regal authority, without consent of parliament, is illegal.
2That the pretended power of dispensing with laws, or the execution of laws, by regal authority, as it hath been assumed and exercised of late, is illegal.
3That the commission for erecting the late Courts os Commissioners for Ecclesiastical Causes and courts of the like nature are illegal and pernicious.
4That levying money for or to the use of the Crown, by pretence of prerogative, without grant of parliament, for longer time, or in other manner than the same is, or shall be granted, is illegal.
5THAT IT IS THE RIGHT OF THE SUBJECTS TO PETITION THE KING, AND ALL COMMITMENTS AND PROSECUTIONS FOR SUCH PETITIONING ARE ILLEGAL.
6That the raising or keeping a standing army within the kingdom in time of peace, unless it be with the consent of parliament, is against law.
7THAT THE SUBJECTS WHICH ARE PROTESTANTS MAY HAVE ARMS FOR THEIR DEFENCE SUITABLE TO THEIR CONDITIONS AND AS ALLOWED BY LAW.
8That election of members of parliament ought to be free.
9THAT THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND DEBATES OR PROCEEDINGS IN PARLIAMENT OUGHT NOT TO BE IMPEACHED OR QUESTIONED IN ANY COURT OR PLACE OUT OF PARLIAMENT.
10THAT EXCESSIVE BAIL OUGHT NOT TO BE REQUIRED, NOR EXCESSIVE FINES IMPOSED; NOR CRUEL AND UNUSUAL PUNISHMENTS INFLICTED.
11That jurors ought to be duly impanelled and returned, and jurors which pass upon men in trials for high treason ought to be freeholders.
12That all grants and promises of fines and forfeitures of particular persons before conviction are illegal and void.
13AND THAT FOR REDRESS OF GRIEVANCES, AND FOR THE AMENDING, STRENGTHENING AND PRESERVING OF THE LAWS, PARLIAMENTS OUGHT TO BE FREQUENTLY HELD.

And they do claim, demand, and insist upon all and singular the premisses, as their undoubted rights and liberties; and that no declaration, judgments, doings or proceedings, to the predjudice of the people in any of the said premises, ought in any wise to be drawn hereafter into consequence of example. To which demands of their rights they are particularly encouraged by the declaration of His Highness the Prince of Orange, as being the only means for obtaining a full redress and remedy therein. Having therefore an entire confidence that his said Highness the Prince of Orange will perfect the deliverance so far advanced by him, and will still preserve them from the violation of their rights, which they have here asserted, and from all other attempts upon their religion, rights, and liberties. The said Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, assembled at Westminster do resolve that William and Mary, Prince and Princess of Orange be, and be declared, King and Queen of England, France, and Ireland, and the dominions thereunto belonging, to hold the Crown and royal dignity of the said kingdoms and dominions to them the said Prince and Princess during their lives, and the life of the survivor of them; and that the sole and full exercise of regal power be only in, and executed by the said Prince of Orange, in the names of the said Prince and Princess, during their joint lives; and after their deceases, the said Crown and royal dignity of the said Kingdoms and dominions to be to the heirs of the body of the said Princess; and for default of such issue to the Princess Anne of Denmark and the heirs of her body; and for default of such issue to the heirs of the body of the said Prince of Orange. And the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and the commons do pray the said Prince and Princess to accept the same accordingly.

Kristol Clear

"The enemy of liberal capitalism today is not so much socialism as nihilism. Only liberal capitalism doesn't see nihilism as an enemy, but rather as just another splendid business opportunity."

"The New Left, though it echoes this proposition when it is convenient for its purposes, is actually dedicated to the counterbelief- - which is the preliberal proposition- - that to be good is to be free. In the war between these two heresies, the idea of a free society that is in some specific sense virtuous (the older bourgeois ideal) and the ideal of a good community that is in some specific sense free (the older "socialist" ideal as represented, say, by European social democracy) are both emasculated; and the very possibility of a society that can be simeotaneously virtuous and free, i.e. that organically weds order to liberty, becomes ever more remote."

"The danger is rather that the large corporation will be thoroughly integrated into the public sector, and lose its private character altogether. The transformation of American capitalism that this would represent - - a radical departure from the quasi-bourgeois "mixed economy"to a system that could be fairly described as kind of "state capitalism"- - does constitute a huge potential threat to the individual liberties Americans have traditionally enjoyed."

All of the above are from Irving Kristol, and all are prophetic of what Obama is doing to America.

Unlaw

Here's another quote, this one being by a Dr. Freeman in the Fortnightly Review of September of 1871.

"We have reached the state which our fathers called Unlaw, not the state where law is silent, but the state where law is turned about and become its own opposite, the state when the institutions which were meant to declare right, and truth, and freedom, had been turned into engines of wrong, and falsehood, and bondage."

Three Political Experts

Sometimes a person's following has nothing to do with how much sense they make. Mao Zedong was not only a psychotically anti-American communist, his theory that the will to be wealthy and productive was all that China needed to be wealthy and productive lead to famine and decades of poverty. His thoughts would be of only historical interest if it weren't for the fact that many on the left still hold them. One wonders if Oh Blah Blah hasn't adopted these thoughts, since his Norman Vincent Peale economics seems to be that you can spend four trillion dollars and have economic growth by mouthing the words "fiscal responsibility."

Jesse Jackson said at the 1992 Democratic Convention that the Virgin Mary should have had an abortion. This would just be an odd religious belief if so many didn't see Jackson as a "black leader."

Ann Coulter confronts the insanity of Muslims claiming everyone should be Muslim by the insanity that everyone should be Christian. People still invite this Hillary Clinton fan to speak about what she thinks conservatism means.