Which part of "shall not be infringed...?"

RE: McDonald v. City of Chicago

While I have high hopes that Liberty will prevail in this case, I hold some trepidation as well. You see, we have incrementally lost our Second Amendment freedoms over time, especially since 1934. I do not see this court, with its penchant for observing stare decisis, as being bold enough to roll back every gun law since the National Firearms Act of 1934 was passed (and then upheld by Miller when it was clearly unconstitutional).

So color me unenthusiastic about incremental gains when my fundamental freedoms are at risk. We are either free people or we are not. The government either answers to us, or it does not. If it does, we need no additional laws to limit our Liberty. If it doesn't, we need no additional government and must recapture Liberty, by arms if necessary. Thomas Jefferson wouldn't have it any other way.

Newbius
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The trappings of power

Sometimes I wonder if the current president is only in it for the trappings of power.

Gosh, he gets to stump for his hometown's Olympic bid. He gets to travel like American Royalty. He gets personal chefs, private limousines, and an armed escort for his protection. He doesn't have to actually solve anything or do anything. He is the president...with all that the title implies.

So, is it enough to just hold the office and make pretty speeches?

From where I sit...if that is all he did, I could live with it. 2012 is just around the bend...

Newbius
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Sanction

Why is government in the business of sanctioning activities considered beneficial (as opposed to proven beneficial) to a society, without giving equal treatment to all who wish to enter into that activity?

Which amendment in the Bill of Rights gives that "right" to Government?

What about "Equal Protection"?

More questions, fewer answers...

Pax,

Newbius

Tired...

Sorry...

Work is kicking my backside and I am losing the battle in the short run. The irresistable force has hit the immovable deadline, and I am getting crushed between them.

More content when I figure out how to make a coherent sentence incorporating Firearms, Hannah Giles, and Bacon.

Catch you all later...

Pax,

Newbius

Open your eyes

...and look at what is being wrought in Congress and the White House.

If you were to look objectively at the policies being proffered by the people in power today, would you conclude that they were trying to make our country better? Stronger? More secure? More competitive? More Free?

If the answer is "no", would it be reasonable to conclude that these policy decisions were being made with something else in mind?

Occam's Razor time: Are the President and the Congressional Leadership making their decisions based upon ignorance (willful or otherwise) of the cause-and-effect consequences of their choices? Or, are they making their choices and enacting their policies with an intent to remake our society into something radically different than the America we grew up in?

If Ignorance, how do you explain the people writing the policies and advising the leadership? The people like Van Jones, Marc Lloyd, Valerie Jarrett, George Soros, Andy Stern, the Rathkes, ACORN, SEIU, TIDES, Apollo Alliance, Bill Ayers, Jeremiah Wright, Jeff Jones, Cass Sunstein, Rahm Emmanuel, David Axelrod, and many, many more.

If Malice, how do you explain YOUR complacency while observing it happening?

It is one or the other. It cannot be "both" or "neither".

Eventually, the CITIZENS will have to decide upon a course of action in response, in order to restore our Constitutional Republic to its foundational roots. Are you a Citizen? Are you ready?

Newbius
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Reset

Sometimes "Self-Destruct" is the only rational response to an irrational and/or irreconcilable set of conditions.

Think about that.

Newbius
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Augmenting the "Must-have" list

I have decided that I need 2 more guns.

No, really.

I need a reliable rifle in .22LR, maybe a 10/22 (my current likely candidate) or something similar.

I also need a handgun in something other than .45ACP. (I know, I know...heresy!) Seriously, though. From a tactical standpoint, in a SHTF situation, having something in another caliber allows scrounging potential (or trading potential) to expand your sufficiency and ability to defend.

For the handgun, I REALLY like the xD-M in 9mm. (Go ahead, try and talk me into something different!)

I am hoping for more input on the rifle though. This is intended to be a squirrel and rabbit gun, or for situations where a .223 or .308 is overkill.

Any suggestions? The comment box is now open.

Pax,

Newbius

The First Rule of Blogging

... is "try and post something every day".

I am working on some ideas, but have no content of my own right now.

So, in the interest of pointing my readers (all 9 of you) to things I like, or care about (or just plain silliness if the mood strikes), and to honor "Rule One", I give you Walter Williams' three most recent columns - Washington's Lies, Inflation and Deficits, and Education

When the Hannah Giles bikini photos get back from the printer, I'll let you know...

Pax,

Newbius

Unintended Consequences

The book, by John Ross.

I heartily recommend that all patriots read it.

I also heartily recommend that all Federal office holders and agency enforcement personnel read it as well. It can't hurt...

Pax,

Newbius

How's that ACORN thing working out for you?

ACORN is a nut that hasn't fallen very far from the source "tree". Considering this "tree" occupies influential positions up to and including the Office of the President, you should wonder if this rampant corruption hasn't already polluted that office as well...

Just saying...

Newbius
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Still working on the 9-12 post...

Hang in there. I will get it up as soon as I have time.

UPDATE: Just posted the story. See below:

Pax,

Newbius

One of the "Tens of thousands"

9/12/09: #2 child and I attended the rally in Washington. We were part of the "tens of thousands" that the AP under-reported, and which was gratefully spread by a lazy media desiring to sweep this story away as rapidly possible. Sorry, guys, no can do. We are not going away.

Arrived at the Vienna Metro station in Fairfax shortly after 9:00 AM to take the train into town. When we arrived, the lines for the ticket dispensers were huge, extending far into the parking lots on both sides of the station.

PLEASE CLICK ON ALL PHOTOS TO SHOW THE FULL PICTURE

METRO




It took us 90 minutes to get a pass for the boy and get to the train. Everybody was polite. The crowds were helpful and friendly. There was almost a party atmosphere, even on the train which was packed tightly like sardines in a can.

We got to Freedom Plaza shortly after 11:30. Yes, an hour Metro ride! - Metro was doing scheduled maintenance and rail was restricted to a single track for trains going both directions on ALL of the main lines coming in from Virginia. I am sure that this was incompetence in scheduling and not malice...

Anyway...

The main body of protesters having already left, we walked down Pennsylvania Avenue towards the Capitol with some of the late arrivals. Now remember, we had a few thousand people in line behind us at the Vienna Metro station, just like the reports I heard from people at other stations leading into DC. So, hundreds of thousands in front of us, and many tens of thousands behind us and this was after the official 11:30 start time of the march. Here are some pictures of the march down by the late-arrivers following the main group.

LEAVING FREEDOM PLAZA


10th and PENN


IN FRONT OF THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES



Aerial photo of Capital grounds and East end of the Mall The march route was down Pennsylvania from Freedom Plaza (14th and Penn) to the Capitol Building.

CONSTITUTION AND PENNSYLVANIA


The crowd was just about stopped out to here and movement forward became more difficult.


By 3rd Street, you couldn't move hardly at all.



The entire area from 3rd street forward to the Capitol, and bounded by Constitution and Independence, was a solid mass of people with more continuing to stream into the area from all directions. The police had to redirect the people coming down Pennsylvania onto 4th street and down to Maryland Avenue to handle the flow of people streaming onto the Capitol grounds.

Here are some more images to give you some perspective on the scale of the crowd, and also that this was a peaceful event:




AMERICA'S FUTURE






Gadsden Flags, First Navy Jacks, Culpeper Minutemen flags, and The Stars and Stripes were well represented (and are all available HERE). Although, you can certainly tell that the mood of the country is "back against the wall" given the number of Gadsden Flags compared to all of the rest.



I think that this sign about says it with regard to the feeling of Middle America. People who treasure our Republic and want it preserved want to know:



There is a storm brewing in the Nation's Capital.



For the politicians who fail to heed the people, a warning:




(Note: Sorry for the late posting on this. Trying to sort out the photos and give it contextual coherence took longer than I expected.)

Newbius
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9-12 protest rally in DC

Spent all day in DC at the rally. I will post tomorrow with pictures.

The "mainstream" media is reporting "tens of thousands". Pffftt!

I was there. It is only "tens of thousands" if you are just counting the people in front of your building...

At 11:30, the Park Police was leaking figures in excess of 1 million. Judging from some of the wide-angle shots from webcams, figures around 2 million are not unreasonable guesses.

That is "tens of thousands" x "tens of thousands"...

ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC/MSNBC, WashingtonPost, and the NYT (registration required for both...sorry) can spin it all they want, but this tells the story better than I can right now.

More tomorrow...

Pax,

Newbius

9/11

I remember where I was in 2001. I remember watching the second plane hit the tower. I remember the news reports of the plane hitting the Pentagon. I remember the report of the plane crashing in the Pennsylvania countryside.

I remember cleaning my pistol and my shotgun and not knowing what was going on but needing to prepare, just in case. I remember not being able to get through to friends in DC, and wondering if they were alive.

I remember just being there with a bottle of Jack and an uncritical ear, helping my next-door neighbor to unburden some of the horror after he got home from the Pentagon, still sooty and smelling of smoke and needing a friend who would listen.

I will never forget.

Pax,

Newbius

Refresher: The Constitution and presidential succession

Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you the Supreme Law of the Land:

The Constitution

The First Ten Amendments, The "Bill of Rights"

The remaining Amendments (11-27).

And, just in case you have forgotten about the rules of succession to the Presidency in the event of incapacitation or death, the applicable Amendment is the 25th, text below:

"AMENDMENT XXV

Passed by Congress July 6, 1965. Ratified February 10, 1967.

Note: Article II, section 1, of the Constitution was affected by the 25th amendment.

Section 1.
In case of the removal of the President from office or of his death or resignation, the Vice President shall become President.

Section 2.
Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of the Vice President, the President shall nominate a Vice President who shall take office upon confirmation by a majority vote of both Houses of Congress.

Section 3.
Whenever the President transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written declaration that he is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, and until he transmits to them a written declaration to the contrary, such powers and duties shall be discharged by the Vice President as Acting President.

Section 4.
Whenever the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive departments or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as Acting President.

Thereafter, when the President transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written declaration that no inability exists, he shall resume the powers and duties of his office unless the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive department or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit within four days to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office. Thereupon Congress shall decide the issue, assembling within forty-eight hours for that purpose if not in session. If the Congress, within twenty-one days after receipt of the latter written declaration, or, if Congress is not in session, within twenty-one days after Congress is required to assemble, determines by two-thirds vote of both Houses that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall continue to discharge the same as Acting President; otherwise, the President shall resume the powers and duties of his office."

The 25th Amendment was codified into statute under the Presidential Succession Act of 1947 (3 USC 19) which denotes the line of succession in the event that the Vice President is unable to act, or the office is vacant. The current line-up to succeed the President can be found HERE.

Pax,

Newbius

Republicans, where are you?

A Texan gets it right. Go. READ.

Newbius
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Hubris

Want more proof that the Dems are "Astroturfing" while blaming ordinary citizens of doing the same? Via Gateway Pundit: SEIU thug who beat Gladney files Workman's Compensation claim. Because he was on the clock at the time...

Newbius
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It is NOT about race

Hey, Carl! Pull your head out of your ass. The Van Jones scandal is not because he is black. It is because his ideas are destructive to America.

The backlash against Obama is not because he is black. It is because his ideas are destructive to America.

If Van Jones and Barack Obama were lily-white and came from Topeka, Kansas or Ames, Iowa instead of Oakland and Chicago, their ideas would still be destructive to America, just like yours are. Got that, Carl?

Newbius
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Progressives and Labor Day

If you understand that the modern Progressive Movement, as embodied by the Congressional Progressive Caucus, advocates all of the tenets of Marxist principles, then you will understand why normal Americans are naturally distrustful of the current Congress and President. Take a look at this list and note that the most powerful committees in the House are chaired by Marxists Progressives. When they talk about "change", they are talking about "fundamental transformation", but not within the normal understanding of the rules of American Politics where the Constitution actually matters.

Not at all.

The change that the citizen is beginning to see is a takeover by entrenched special interests advancing a "communization" of our society. It is becoming obvious to the citizens now. Especially, when the citizens see that "change" is being astroturfed organized by Radical Leftists, Race-baiters, Anarchists, Communists, Animal Rights extremists, a few corporations which didn't exist 10 years ago (but which now stand to gain from most of the proposed pending legislation), SEIU, and the AFL-CIO.

Which brings me to Labor Day. Labor Day was created as a paean to the labor unions and the "contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country". It is official recognition of the power that the Labor Unions hold over politicians from labor-organized and labor-dominated states. Big Labor delivers votes, and votes are all that politicos count. Until a movement threatens that status quo, it will continue to be discounted and ignored.

Ponder that one while you enjoy your "Workingman's Holiday" viewing parades to exhibit to the public "the strength and esprit de corps of the trade and labor organizations".

Newbius
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One down, Forty five to go

Van Jones has resigned amid the uproar over his radical past.

One down. Forty five more to go.

Newbius
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Reminder

Gun Control laws are NOT about the guns. They are about the CONTROL. They are about removing the only effective means of resistance to tyranny that the citizens have at their disposal.

Those who advocate policies of control only want power over you, and ultimately the power over whether you live or die. Do not give them that control over you in any aspect of your life. Not over Guns, Medicine, Speech (internet), Travel ("watch lists"), Property (Kelo v. New London), Energy (Cap and Tax Trade), or Business (Card Check, General Motors, Chrysler, TARP).

Government justifies itself by continuing to infringe upon all aspects of life it can get away with. It is the nature of government and must be held in check to the irreducible minimum necessary to preserve a functioning society, and nothing more.

Above all, never forget the price paid for your freedom. Good men and women of honor paid the ultimate price in blood for your liberty. Honor that sacrifice.

Newbius
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Objective reality and non-contradiction

A is A - (Objective Reality)

The Law of Non-Contradiction states: "One cannot say of something that it is and that it is not in the same respect and at the same time." - Aristotle

Restated: A cannot be both "A" and "Not-A" simultaneously.

"Gee, that's great Newbius, who cares?"

You should. Contradictions do not exist in reality. "Whenever you are faced with a perceived contradiction, check your premises. You will find that one of them is wrong." John Galt - channeling Aristotle.

We are facing a situation where our government is saying things that appear to contradict reality. You want to trust your government. You've been raised to be a rule-abider, a lawful citizen, an Oath Keeper. Yet, you perceive things which do not comport with your worldview and your understanding of how our Republic is to operate.

Check your premise.

Either your understanding of our Constitutional Republic is wrong. Or, your understanding and acceptance of our government's actions as lawful and Constitutional is wrong. There are no other choices.

Take a cold, hard look at the objective facts, as published by many respectable sources. Compare them with the stated "facts", as represented to you by your CongressCritters and President. Then re-check your premise.

Be prepared to act based upon your own conclusions. Trust your understanding of the objective reality of where we are today, and the law of non-contradiction. Make rational preparations. Speak to your neighbors, friends, and relatives, and urge them to do the same.

Or, as Ronaldus Magnus said: "Trust, but verify" (paraphrasing Acts 17:11).

I do not have answers today. In fact, recently I have only had questions. I think the answers lay in the small towns, cities, and suburbs, discussed over coffee with loved ones and trusted advisors. So, have a "cuppa" and a chat with someone you trust.

See you on the Mall on 9/12.

Pax,

Newbius

What if?

What if everything we are seeing in our government, but refusing to acknowledge as possible, is really happening?

What if our representatives refuse to relent, and continue down the path of this most-current power grab?

What if the President really does want to fundamentally transform the United States into a Marxist totalitarian country (Constitution be damned)?

What if the citizens currently being dismissed as right-wing nut-job extremist astroturfers decide that there really IS a line in the sand this time?

What then?

Think about it...

Newbius
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Nothing to write about

So I will write about have nothing to write.

I will say for posterity that I am beginning to see many more blogs coming to the same conclusions as I did about the future of our nation. Namely, we will either get our Government to understand that they pushed too far and they will step back from the brink. Or, the Government will continue to push further still and precipitate bloodshed.

Given the nature of Power, the former is unlikely...

Keep 'em oiled.

Newbius
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