Category Archives: Constitution

UPDATED: Anti-Federalists Prophesied The End Of Freedom (Gave Us The Bill Of Rights)

Constitution, Federalism, Founding Fathers, History, Political Philosophy, States' Rights, The State

“Anti-Federalists Prophesied The End Of Freedom” is the new column, now on WND. An excerpt:

“On the eve of the federal convention, and following its adjournment in September of 1787, the Anti-Federalists made the case that the Constitution makers in Philadelphia had exceeded the mandate they were given to amend the Articles of Confederation, and nothing more. The Federal Constitution augured ill for freedom, argued the Anti-Federalists. These unsung heroes had warned early Americans of the “ropes and chains of consolidation,” in Patrick Henry’s magnificent words, inherent in the new dispensation. …

… As “strong advocates of States’ Rights,” Anti-Federalists held that “self-government, independence, and individual liberty were best protected at the local level. A distant and powerful central government,” the kind cooked up at the Philadelphia convention, was anathema to these “cherished values.” To that end, Anti-Federalists fought to preserve the “loose-knit relationship” that had existed between the “Confederation government and the States.” …

… As the saying goes, “a prophet is not without honor save in his own country.”

To observe Obama (and predecessor) in action is to realize that Massachusetts delegate Elbridge Gerry and New York Anti-Federalist “Cato” were prophets who deserve a lot more honor in their own country. Both forewarned of an imperial presidency in the making. “‘The president,’ wrote “Cato,” has so much power that his office ‘differs very immaterially from the establishment of monarchy in Great Britain.'”

Indeed, President Barack Obama habitually “uses executive orders to circumvent federal legislation.” He exempts his “friends or political cronies” from oppressive laws his subjects must obey. And he orders the suspension of “duly enacted [immigration] law”—even “barring enforcement”—because he does not like the law.

A propagandized population has a hard time choosing worthy heroes. It is high time Americans celebrate the Anti-Federalists, for they were correct in predicting the fate of freedom after Philadelphia.

To deny that the Anti-Federalists were right is to deny reality. …

The complete column is “Anti-Federalists Prophesied The End Of Freedom.” Read it on WND.

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UPDATE: BILL OF RIGHTS. The Anti-Federalists gave it to us. Absent their insistence on instantiating individual liberties in the Constitution, we’d have been without the the Bill of Rights.

The Plus Side Of The President’s Proctology (I.E., Zero Care)

Barack Obama, Constitution, Founding Fathers, Healthcare, Law

Although it might serve to plant a meaningful suggestion in American consciousness, it is somewhat meaningless for Beltway libertarians to fuss over the sundering of the U.S. Constitution under this president.

The Constitution has been a dead letter for ever.

Michael Cannon, Cato Institute’s Director of Health Policy Studies, “testified before a congressional committee about the constitutional limits imposed on the presidency and the implications of President Barack Obama’s disregard for implementing the Affordable Care Act as written.”

“The consequences of the president’s behavior were potentially grave,” warned Cannon. “… the precedent set by Obama could eventually lead to an armed revolt against the federal government.”

And that’s a bad thing?

Complacent cowering America is overdue for what Thomas Jefferson called “a little rebellion.”

“A little rebellion, now and then, is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical.”

Meanwhile, to a standing ovation from his staffers—who are not true users of Zero Care, because subsidized to the tune of thousands a year—“the president declared that his signature health care reform law was not going to be repealed”:

Obama said that ACA opponents’ alternative to the health care reform law is to champion repeal and going back to the health care delivery system status quo ante. He specifically cited Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) who he said was asked directly for an ACA alternative and refused to provide one.
“He just repeated repeal over and over again,” Obama said. “And we heard that from a lot of folks on that side of the aisle.”
“Look, I’ve always said I will work with anybody to implement and approve this law effectively,” the president continued. “You got good ideas, bring them to me. Let’s go. But, we’re not repealing it as long as I’m president.”
With this, the attendees and the president’s staff rose to their feet and delivered a 20-second ovation for the president.

Sundering What’s Left Of The Founder’s Senate

Constitution, Democrats, Federalism, Founding Fathers, Republicans

Today, Senate Democrats “effectively overturned more than 200 years of Senate precedent, not only on the judicial filibuster, as the Washington Post notes, but by moving to change the chamber’s rules without the traditional two-thirds majority in support, something previously done only to alter relatively minor rules.” (Reason.com.)

Say bye-bye to the legislation-stalling filibuster.

The filibuster is a powerful parliamentary device in the United States Senate, which in recent years has meant that most major legislation (apart from budgets and confirmations) requires a 60% majority to head off a filibuster. In recent years the majority has preferred to avoid filibusters by moving to other business when a filibuster is threatened …

Harry Reid and Barack Obama once shouted from the rooftops in support of these venerated Senate rules that have enabled “a minority to thwart the agenda and will of the party in power. …”

President Pinocchio lied. Again. But who’s counting?!

Reminds Reason.com: “The ability of a minority to thwart the agenda and will of the party in power is a feature, not a bug, of the constitutional order, but ‘majority rules’ is, unsurprisingly, popular with the majority.”

Mark Levin Trashes Secession But Looks To The States For Salvation

Conservatism, Constitution, Federalism, Liberty, States' Rights

For the umpteenth time, conservative radio talker Mark Levin got unhinged today over the quintessentially American ideas of state nullification and secession. “Neo-confederates” is Levin’s latest pejorative for patriots who think that these Jeffersonian principles are the last hope for freedom.

To reclaim the republic, Levin and his listeners look to the states and their role in the amendment process, as stipulated in Article V of the Constitution. Never mind that the states, contrary to the mistaken predictions and hopes of the Constitution makers, have never initiated a constitutional amendment; and never mind that even in the event that the states demand a constitutional convention, there is no mechanism to compel Congress to act.

The great constitutional scholar James McClellan was no “neo-confederate.” Yet even an ardent defender of the Constitution as McClellan conceded that, sadly, “the Framers relied on the good faith of Congress for the observance of the requirement” and that “there was no way to force Congress to act.” (“Liberty, Order, And Justice: An Introduction to the Constitutional Principles of American Government,” p. 310.)

Levin and his listeners are deluded if they think that from the “free” states—all four of them (New Hampshire, Colorado, South Dakota and Alaska)—will come our salvation. The legislatures of two-thirds of the states have to unite to call on Congress to hold a national Constitutional convention for the purpose of amending the dead-letter Constitution.