Cry Treason! … by Alan Caruba

Cry Treason!
By Alan Caruba

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Treason is generally defined as the offense of attempting to overthrow the government of one's country or of assisting its enemies in war. Benedict Arnold burned his name into U.S. history by conspiring with the British to turn over West Point to them. When his plot failed, he fled to England.

Having all formerly been traitors to the Crown, the framers of the Constitution defined treason narrowly. Historians tell us this was to lessen the possibility that those in power might falsely or loosely charge their political opponents with treason.

Article III, Section 3 of the Constitution says “Treason against the United States shall consist only in levying war against them, or adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort.”
Let it be said that probably all presidents have been called treasonous by their political opponents.

A growing body of popular opinion, however, is beginning to regard the actions of Barack Obama as treason because they coalesce into a pattern that suggests a deliberate effort to undermine national security and the economy. The liberties we take for granted, privacy, freedom of speech, and others are seen to be in jeopardy.

What is troubling to many was the way Obamacare was foisted on a nation that clearly opposed the takeover of one sixth of the economy. The political process by which passage was achieved was ugly, but it was not treason.

Now the Cap-and-Trade Act is being ushered hastily into the Senate for a vote despite widespread opposition to the fact that it is based on a total fraud, “climate change”, otherwise known as “global warming.” Can a law based on a lie be lawful? Is passing such a law treasonous?
The President’s displeasure with the Arizona law that mirrors almost word for word the federal law regarding illegal aliens presages a likely effort to grant amnesty to millions here illegally; a measure that is also widely opposed by the majority of Americans.

The hasty passage of any or all of these laws, now that the midterm elections loom in November, is completely legal, but they all represent a refusal to acknowledge the will of those in whom the Constitution posits ultimate power, the People.

The Tea Party movement, taking its name from an act of insurrection against the Crown, is ample evidence of the unrest among many Americans. The effort to smear members as racists or violent suggests the seriousness with which the White House takes the movement.

Given the virtual free hand any president has to determine foreign policy, he has consistently offended our allies and raised questions among them as to his judgment. That is not treason, but it is harmful when the U.S. needs to call upon them for support.

His actions regarding Iran have been a green light to continue their quest for nuclear weapons. His actions toward Israel are nothing less than astonishing given the long record of cooperation and mutual support that has existed since its founding.

Surrounding himself with White House staff, one of whom was an admitted communist, another who praised Mao Tse Sung, and still others whose views reflect bizarre “scientific” theories or proposals, raise questions and legitimate concerns regarding his true political philosophy, but it is not treason.

The takeover of General Motors, his firing of the company’s CEO, the disgraceful treatment of investors and creditors should have raised serious constitutional questions. When Harry Truman tried to take over the nation’s steel manufacturers, he was rebuffed by the Supreme Court. The U.S. retains an ownership position with AIG, the insurance company.

Obama’s attacks on insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies, even physicians, then migrated to attacks on Wall Street despite the fact that banks receiving TARP funds swiftly repaid the loans. There is at this point no aspect of life in America that has not been sharply criticized by the President.

None of this can be called treason under the strict and narrow definition of the Constitution, but taken together it is a pattern of acts that pose what many are coming to see as a clear and present danger to the nation.

The midterm elections in November represent the only constitutional means to rebuke the passage of legislation that has saddled the nation with greater debt than all previous administrations, with the takeover of key elements of the economy, and the prospect of the further erosion of our national security and sovereignty.

Everything that President Obama and the Democrat leaders in Congress have done has the sanction of law, but not the approval of the people whose lives will be affected by it.

It is not treason, but it has the look, the feel, and the smell of treason.

© Alan Caruba, 2010

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Alan Caruba writes a daily post at http://factsnotfantasy.blogspot.com/. An author, business and science writer, he is the founder of The National Anxiety Center.

A US Constitution for the 21st Century!

A Constitution for the 21st Century!
A Commentary by J. D. Longstreet

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The push for a new constitution for the United States of America has begun.

We have all hear the expression “A Living Constitution” – meaning the constitution of 1787 is a document that should be interpreted by taking into account and consideration that Americans live today in different times, not in the 18th century when the current constitution was first drafted. And many will claim the 21st century American is much more sophisticated than his ancestor who fought a world super power to gain their freedom -- and won, and then drafted a constitution, created a government for a country that would show the way to people seeking freedom anywhere in the world, and would, reluctantly, become the police force of the planet.

You know, if the current leaders of America had just a tiny portion of the integrity and sophistication of the men who framed the constitution, they would revere the constitution those 18th century “rabble-rousers” created. They would recognize that it was, and is, an American constitution for all time, and that includes today. They would also recognize that it deserves protection from the likes of those who would gut it, re-interpret it, and re-write it into some limp, compliant, document that would say whatever the leaders of this country WANT it to say WHEN they want it to say it. In other words, there are those in America today who would use a “Living Constitution” against the people of America – in a heart beat! It would no longer be a protector of Americans it would become a weapon to be used against Americans by ruthless leaders who don’t give a whit about the liberty and freedom guaranteed American citizens by the original US Constitution.

Unfortunately there is a growing clamor from the Political Left in America for a new constitution. Frighteningly, their numbers are growing. Many politicians in power today are amongst them -- as are many in the judicial community across America -- and even among the federal judiciary.

Before we continue, allow me to assure you that I am not among those who advocate for a new constitution nor do I believe the US Constitution is a “living document.” No, I believe the original constitution is responsible for making this country great. It has made Americans the freest people anywhere on the planet today and as far back in history as you care to look. Even today when Americans are enduring a period of financial uncertainty, we are still the most prosperous people in history. The original US Constitution made that possible.

The original constitution placed restraints on the government of America and those restraints allowed the American people to be, as the US Army used to say: “…
All they could be!” As a result, America became one of the most creative nations in history.

For many decades there has be a rather large number of Americans who have sought to crush America’s liberty, America’s freedom, and create a so-called “New America.” They seek to create a “collectivist” society in America. WE call it Socialism. For many decades those people have pulled the strings of their marionettes in our national government – and they have done it from the shadows. Now, however, their marionettes are in high positions of power within the US government.

Their actions tell us they intend to kill off the America we know and replace its government with a government not shackled by the democratic process, a government free of the burden of acting as representatives of the American people. Ultimately, they intend to replace the US constitutional republic. They will remove all control of the government by the people. America will become that proverbial “Socialist Dung Heap.” The constitution will be dead.

When we Americans look about, at our country today, we can readily see she bears little resemblance to the America of five or six decades ago. There is a reason fore that.

There are a number of Americans today who believe that the Shadow Government has been slowly, but surely, maneuvering a judicial form of government into place in America. Think about this -- more and more laws are being made by the federal judiciary than by the national legislature, the Congress, these days. In many case, judges legislating from the bench were appointed to their current positions for life. They are going to be there for while and they are doing a great deal of harm to our country. But, they have little to fear from the electorate as they, themselves, were not elected, and will never have to stand for election.

On the surface, America’s legislative process appears to be the same as always, but it is becoming more obvious, as time passes, that the responsibility for making America’s laws has been slowly shifting to the federal courts.

America is a nation in jeopardy of losing itself today. The original constitution, which has been the protector of our freedom and liberty since 1787, is in deep trouble today. There are those among us who would shred it, in a heartbeat, to get what they want – unbridled power. It is the duty of every American to protect the original constitution from the forces of evil at work in our government today.

America is in need of rescue today. I contend that she has never, in her long history, been as threatened by power hungry men and women as she is today.

Ben Franklin, one of the founders of the country, told us they had given us a Republic, and he added these important words: “… if you can KEEP IT.”

As I write today, there is serious doubt that modern Americans are up to the challenge of safeguarding America’s liberty, and freedom. You may question how I can say that. I would counter by asking, how else, then, do you explain the socialist government in Washington, DC, today?

I will be going to the polls today to vote in the Primary Election here in North Carolina. I intend to vote for the most conservative candidates on the ballot. If we are to save America, THIS is where we begin.

J. D. Longstreet

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© J. D. Longstreet. All Rights Reserved