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The American Struggle For Freedom

by Bob Pappas

Recent Tea Parties all over the United States are a latter day revival of what was a momentous event at Boston harbor more than 234 years ago. One can trace the roots of American Independence directly to that event. It is a constant and indelible reminder of the American genesis that direct citizen action has become the hallmark of freedom loving people everywhere.

On this date in 1776 fifty six gallant men signed their names to the Declaration of Independence.  On that date they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor so that American citizens would be able to live free from oppression and tyranny forever; this date gave birth to the American dream and that dream has changed the course of human history. 

The Declaration of Independence was the culminating genius of the Continental Congress written primarily by Thomas Jefferson with assistance from John Adams and Benjamin Franklin. When they signed that hallowed document, they had no idea that their pledge would exact a personal price that few ordinary men could bear.  But these were extraordinary men of means, power, influence and the courage of their convictions. Their pledge cost them dearly during the course of the War that followed with all but a handful feeling the full wrath of the British Crown.

And, among those who supported continued unity with Great Britain one ignoble, treacherous person was Benedict Arnold.  To this day the ultimate insult to one’s patriotism is to be labeled a “Benedict Arnold.”

If patriotism could be displayed on a continuum with Benedict Arnold representing the worst, then George Washington was the best not because he was the first President, but because the leadership he exercised propelled him there. It was his selfless dedication and combat leadership throughout the Revolutionary War that despite setbacks, culminated in victory and wove Washington’s name permanently into the fabric of American history.

Successors owe the founders an enormous debt of gratitude but not only to them, millions have sacrificed much to  protect the flame that has illuminated the path of freedom for two centuries; they sacrificed so that the nation would embody those words forever inscribed; “that all men are created equal and endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these rights are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” and that the American conscience would not abide denial or abuse of those rights to any American.

To that end the Constitution emerged as the foundational document upon which Americans could implement their dreams, and although it was imperfect, its stated purpose that:

“We the people, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare and secure the blessings of liberty for ourselves and our posterity…”

guided successive generations to more nearly achieve those objectives.

Today, as never before in the history of this country, there are forces at work that seek intentional destruction of America, and will unless patriots deflect the challenges to liberty that they pose.  It is abundantly evident that government no longer exists for ‘the people,” rather, “the people” exist to support government’s pervasive, overreaching programs and burgeoning power. 

When Government chooses to enact law through devious means, such as the “Stimulus Bill” that not one Representative or Senator read but voted for, the time is nigh for patriotic Americans to act upon the words:

“That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government,…”

The ongoing struggle for the soul of America is between traditional values and secularists; between free markets and government control; between those who have abused America’s economic freedoms for selfish gain and ordinary citizens who invest the fruits of their labor to purchase a slice of the economic pie; it is a struggle between errant politicians’ lust for control and people whose aspirations are to achieve their dreams; between tyranny and freedom; between good and evil.

Thomas Jefferson wrote, “The government that governs least governs best,” and John Adams dying words, “Independence now, Independence forever” gives real meaning to President Ford’s immortal words, “a government big enough to give you everything you want is a government big enough to take from you everything you have.”

God bless and protect the United States of America!

Semper Fidelis

Copyright © July 2nd, 2009 by Robert L. Pappas. With proper attribution, this essay may be quoted and redistributed. It may not be used in any way, in conjunction with any advertisement without the author’s expressed written permission.

He Should be Forgiven, and He Should Resign

by Bob Pappas

In an avocation where words (you remember, “words, just words”) express the thoughts, logic, rationale and essence of a one’s position on a wide range of issues, the Governor Sanford affair is one of the more complex challenges. 

One can understand the temptation presented by stunning beauty, but that should have no effect on a healthy, nurtured and fulfilled marriage. However, in a marriage that is challenged, even adversarial or dysfunctional one can understand if not empathize with the agony of a heart torn between ones religious beliefs, commitment and contractual obligation, and psychological and emotional self-preservation; one can understand the interminable yearning, gnawing, inner hunger that propels an unrelenting search for a soul mate and/or unrequited love.

The psychological forces in a situation like that become immense, so great and incessant as to occupy virtually every waking moment unless otherwise engaged. And when there is a transient moment of solitude the mind coiled tight, instantly snaps back to finding a resolution to the seemingly endless eternity focused on life’s most important question at that moment in time, “how to proceed?”

It is a problem that turns over and around in the mind like a ball afloat on a column of water, rolling randomly in different directions, accompanied by random changes in velocity of rotation. The challenge is to stabilize the direction and velocity of that “ten ton” ball in the desired direction at the desired velocity without stopping the flow or dislodging the ball, all by concentration and force of will.  It can be exhausting, debilitating and maddening. 

Worse, it can affect judgment, and the ability to govern; and those two critical issues confront Governor Sanford and South Carolinians. Sanford to this point is unlike Bill Clinton who valued power more than any other thing, and who, though beset by a wife whose quest for power was at least equal to his own, the Clinton’s on the surface survived their repeated brushes with Bill’s scandals. But consider the wasted years and the moral and ethical damage they inflicted on the country.

Sanford’s tearful confessions do nothing to repair his marriage or the breach of trust with the people of South Carolina.  His public profession that he is trying to “fall back in love with his wife” is both hollow and unrealistic.  Were he to stay, his “out of the barn” behavior would be grist for political soap opera until he is gone and the political damage to his party would be incalculable given the leftist predisposition of the media.

Sanford’s conduct was unprofessional, immature, silly; even childish; and, could be criminal.  These give rise to the salient question about his ability to govern. Conventional wisdom is that he would be severely handicapped, and further, he has no near term future in a leadership role.  One is compelled by force of reason and logic to agree with that assessment.

If life were simple and fair, if there were no competing interests, if the people of South Carolina could rely on Sanford’s breached integrity as he confronts multifaceted interpersonal relationships, none of them good, not to mention the weight of the responsibility to govern the State, that would be one thing; but, it does not take a rocket or nuclear scientist, (or even a mental health expert ?) to conclude that all concerned, and that includes all Americans would be best served by Sanford doing the right thing… resign.

Semper Fidelis

Copyright © July 1, 2009 by Robert L. Pappas. With proper attribution, this essay may be quoted and redistributed. It may not be used in any way, in conjunction with any advertisement without the author’s expressed written permission.

The Obama Mess and the Way Out

by Bob Pappas

For nearly a hundred years the United States was one of the world’s preeminent powers. To the south beginning with Mexico tin horned dictators in Central and South America were just that.  In the 1920s they felt the “guiding” hand of the United States whenever their empire building became overly ambitious. But before then, the U.S. entered WWI, “the war to end all wars,” then later, albeit reluctantly, WWII to save Europe from Hitler and the Pacific Rim from Hirohito. Then there was that little matter of the Cold War during which the U.S. stood in the gap as freedom’s bastion, lasted nearly fifty years and at the end of which President’s Reagan and Bush brought the totalitarian evil empire to its knees. In this more enlightened era of liberal socialism, enter, Mr. “America has been nothing but wrong” Obama. Where he wooed the lemmings who were naive enough to believe him, the real world does not abide his “Godlike” floating above the din. 

Just for openers: Ahmadinejad told Obama to apologize for interfering in Iran’s internal politics; China and Russia, disgusted with his monetary policy are leading the charge to “change” the world’s currency from the dollar to some other more stable international medium of exchange; Muslim countries wonder if he envisions himself the reincarnation of Mohammed, or more likely a Christian, Trojan Horse in their midst; and Israel runs for cover; North Korea thumbs their nose at him, in fact sticks it in his eye; Japan and South Korea question the future of their security arrangement with the United States; Europe snickers; India wonders what is going on, and African nations are “present.” Oh, yes, Obama’s buddy, Chavez is about to invade Honduras, just what the Americas need; and South America is cozying with Obama’s communist buddies in China. They voted for change, and we got it and that’s a fair summary of the state of Obama’s international leadership.

At home things are not any better.  In his effort to “totally change” the U.S. economy he has created havoc and is underscoring that with what is potentially the most disastrous single piece of legislation, (Cap and Trade), ever enacted in the history of the world, much less country.  This “piece of work” is worse than Jimmy Carter; and Carter was the worst, in leadership and just about all other terms than any President in history of the U.S. with the single exception that his work for Habitat for Humanity is notable. I wrote months ago that Obama was an empty suit, and even stated that he was possessed of an U.S. hating, socialist vision. His ignorance is obscene, yet the “smartest brains in the room,” the so called mainstream media fawns at his feet because he can read a teleprompter. Someone asked if Obama were dethroned, “then what, Joe?” At this point, “Joe,” Biden, that is, would be refreshing.

In six months Obama has done more to destroy the United States than all wars in its two hundred year history combined, and he may just succeed unless the lemmings at home and Congress wake up.

Here’s the solution to the economic, health care and illegal immigration crisis; the sun’s snooze is taking care of global warming.

Offer bonuses to all illegal immigrants to return to their homelands. Given that there are about twelve million of them, pay each thirty thousand dollars which would cost $360 billion and which would be recouped in decreased health care costs in less than five years. There would be additional $75 billion annual savings in educational cost savings, $35-100 billion a year in criminal justice system costs savings. 

Second, terminate bailouts. That would decrease Federal government outlays by between two and three trillion dollars and the funds saved there could be used for retraining and economic support of those temporarily dislocated by the economic slowdown. The ten million people currently out of work could be retrained at a cost of thirty thousand dollars per capita annually at an annual aggregate cost of $300 billion dollars. Out year money saved by repatriation of illegal immigrants would more than pay the bill; a twofer with money left over; but don’t tell a Democrat…or a “compassionate conservative.”

Finally, at least ten million jobs would be available that are presently being filled by illegal immigrants. The inevitable all but irrelevant question arises, “who would do the work they do since no U.S. citizen would do it?” The facts are that illegal immigrants are taking jobs from U.S. citizens in virtually every sector from construction, to artisans, to office workers, assembly line workers, restaurants and high tech. To argue that “illegals” perform only menial work is to exhibit an abysmal lack of knowledge of the facts.

If these simple steps were taken the job market would immediately improve for U.S. citizens, medical care would be more readily available and cost less because of the decreased drain on health care resources presently inundated by illegal immigrants, the economic downturn would immediately begin a turnaround, and with a bit more ingenuity the country could be on its way back to world leadership (but who cares?).

The final remaining item would be to find a President who is worthy of the title and the responsibility, and until he reveals his birth certificate (not the certification), presently under lock and key, Obama is not the one. (So much for transparency!). Will the lemmings ever get it?

Semper Fidelis

Copyright © June 30, 2009, by Robert Pappas. With proper attribution, this essay may be quoted and redistributed. It may not be used in any way, in conjunction with any advertisement without the author’s expressed written permission.

An Open Communication to Governor Linda Lingle, Hawaii

22 June 2009
Governor Linda Lingle
State Capitol
Honolulu, Hawai`i 96813

Dear Governor Lingle,

I am hereby requesting, in the legal sense, “demanding” to know the factual eligibility of Barack Hussein Obama to serve as President of the United States under the provisions of Article II Section 1 of the Constitution of the United States of America. You have the ability to settle that matter once and for all by directing that the vault copy of Obama’s birth certificate be made available for forensic examination and public viewing.

It would seem common courtesy, much less satisfaction of Constitutional requirement for one to show proof of eligibility for the office of President. The requirement does not have to be translated into law, it is in the Constitution. But, Obama has denied access to his records including his birth records and you are enabling potentially the most egregious violation of the Constitution in U.S. History.

Dr. Fukino’s attempt to put Obama’s eligibility issue to rest has not succeeded:

“There have been numerous requests for Sen. Barack Hussein Obama’s official birth certificate. State law (Hawai‘i Revised Statutes §338-18) prohibits the release of a certified birth certificate to persons who do not have a tangible interest in the vital record.  Therefore, I as Director of Health for the State of Hawai‘i, along with the Registrar of Vital Statistics who has statutory authority to oversee and maintain these type of vital records, have personally seen and verified that the Hawai‘i State Department of Health has Sen. Obama’s original birth certificate on record in accordance with state policies and procedures.”

Hawaii law in force at the time of Obama’s birth would allow one born at the South Pole to register birth in Hawaii. So, Dr. Fukino’s statement means exactly nothing.

Millions have taken an oath, fought and sacrificed to uphold and defend the Constitution, that law of all man-made laws, that foundation upon which all other laws in the nation rest and that makes possible the nation’s civil discourse.

We, soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen have earned a right to know that orders issued by the Commander-in-Chief are valid, and they are not valid if he is ineligible to hold the office notwithstanding election results and pompous ceremonies. To refuse to substantiate eligibility he and you effectively make a mockery of the law, the Constitution and the lives that stand in the breach between evil and good. 

Make no mistake, the enemies of this nation are evil and we are good no matter what Obama has said overseas to the contrary. We have and will sacrifice much, but what if there was suddenly reason to refuse obedience to his orders that arose from the question of legitimacy? Then what? A handful have stepped forward, but most are too busy fighting, surviving and winning or dying to have time to think about this at the moment; but they will.

I do not know to whom to attribute this quotation but it captures the essence of the dilemma for this present and all future generations: “The irresponsible confirmation in the Senate of the irresponsible tallying of votes in the Electoral College does not supersede the clear meaning of Article II, Section 1.  If it is allowed to stand, disregard of the Constitution by all branches of the government would be openly established.  To all who believe that the Constitution is the government’s basic law, that the Constitution is the only instrument that gives the enactments of Congress and the commands of the Executive validity, it will be clear that the rule of law in the United States is a fiction.”

It is my understanding that you directed that Mr. Obama’s records be sealed. As you are well aware, that act stands squarely in the way of military members’ right to know whether or not Obama’s orders are valid without regard to the their morality. The uncertainty attendant to potentially invalid commands undermines the good order and discipline of the Armed Forces, military readiness and the ability to defend this nation.

Like it or not, you are at the center of the gathering storm surrounding the eligibility issue. The more it is stonewalled, the greater the potential storm; and yet you have it in your power to settle the issue with the stroke of your pen.

I have two requests:

First, please provide a copy of your order that sealed Obama’s birth records, or point the way to its official location that it can be studied.

Second, given the enormity of importance to all U.S. citizens I urge, indeed in the legal sense demand that you to release a certified copy of the vaulted original of President Obama’s certification of live birth.

Thank you for your consideration,

Semper Fidelis
//Signed//
Robert Pappas,
Colonel, USMC (Ret)

Copies: POTUS, Governors, U.S. Senators, U.S. Representatives

Is Obama Transparency Americans Can Believe In?

by Bob Pappas

Little did I realize that when I wrote an open letter to Shepard Smith of Fox News that it would generate the enormity of feedback that it has. Thank you, and thank God that there are people who are still awake.

Many have expressed well founded disappointment and outrage at "Shep." Although I was, and remain interested in applying pressure on him, it was not and is not my only purpose to exact an apology for his childish backhand.  Rather, it was to build a fire and motivate him and Fox News to actually conduct a serious Fair and Balanced, in-depth investigation regarding Obama's eligibility to hold the office of President. A major part of that is to apply pressure for Obama to release all of his personal records, including applications for various educational programs, applications for passports, financial records, medical records, scholastic transcripts, written papers, adoption records, naturalization records, birth records, hospital records, travel and etc.

Those who have served in uniform have a special interest in the eligibility issue given legitimate questions that range from transparency that Obama summarily trashed from day one, to the validity of his assertion that he was born in Hawaii. Any patriotic American, especially those from Missouri, want him put it to rest factually, without gamesmanship and political spin.

Unlike most politicians, those who served or serve in the Armed Forces today have a special connection to the issue given their sworn allegiance to the Constitution, submission to the authority of the Commander-in-Chief and the obligation to risk ones life at the Commander-in-Chief's command, in the vital interests of the United States. 

The posted birth certificate is a problem although that is not all. I acknowledge that at first blush I accepted it without question. However, after learning that Philip Berg, a democrat and supporter of Hillary Clinton planned to bring suit in Federal Court that was impetus for me to look at the issue dispassionately. It was then that I discovered legitimate questions that have not been answered and issues that had not been put to rest; that is, other than the Shepard Smith "baseball bat" approach.

Much has been written, so it is not my purpose here to conduct another review. It is evident to anyone with any knowledge of the subject that Obama, the real source of the problem and the one who could immediately put the matter to rest, refuses to do so. Unfortunately, that singular fact raises the "B.arbra S.treisand" flag and heightens the tension about the legitimacy of his and his Administration's Federal oath of office.  Like he did to the fly, he should put the eligibility issue to rest quickly, and that could be done with the release of all his personal data.

Unfortunately, as long as the Federal Judiciary, that branch of government that comprises the bulwark against tyranny, refuses to act on the "establish justice" provision of the Preamble to the Constitution and address the matter, it will at the least, fester. Substantive questions should be directed, in writing, to the Public Information Officer, Supreme Court of the United States, Washington, DC 20543.

For those who have asked for an email address for Shepard Smith of Fox News, it is: Foxreport@Foxnews.com. If you should elect to email "Shep," you may want to consider sending a copy to Executive Vice President, Corporate Communications, Brian Lewis at brian.lewis@foxnews.com. I urge all communications to center on the facts as far as we know them in a professional and even handed manner. Is Obama transparency we can believe in? Not so far.

Semper Fidelis

Copyright © June18, 2009 by Robert L. Pappas. With proper attribution, this essay may be quoted and redistributed. It may not be used in any way, in conjunction with any advertisement without the author's

An Open Letter to Shepard Smith, Fox News

Dear "Shep,"

I am a regular viewer of your program, specifically the evening news, since I work. I appreciate your show and the news you deliver. As one who watches Fox because of its Fair and Balanced coverage, It is most unsettling that you would refer to those who challenge Obama's eligibility as "right wing crazies." Your definitive statement, "there is no truth whatsoever that Obama is not a natural born citizen" is problematic.

As one not given to "conspiracy theories" the larger issue surrounding Obama's eligibility strikes at the heart of the Constitutional underpinning of virtually all oath's of office at the Federal level, including Obama's. Your comments trivialize that exceptionally important issue for all Americans and for me personally and millions of past, present and future military service personnel or for that matter anyone who takes an oath of office to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States.

First, your assertion suggests that you have seen his original birth certificate. Okay, since you are in effect a "star witness" in a case of monumental proportions with millions Fox News viewer's being the jury, have you? If not, you might consider doing some no kidding investigative journalism and apologize to your viewers for the unfounded blather.

Second, there is considerable anecdotal evidence that Obama is not a natural born citizen. His eligibility is complicated further by his sojourn in Indonesia, or did you know that? It is my understanding that his step-father adopted him, is that true, or not? If so, the question then would be, "did that act confer Indonesian citizenship?" If so, where are the documents that "restored" his U.S. citizenship, if indeed he was natural born?

It is complicated even more by the fact that at the time of his birth his father, "The Old Man," was a British citizen, which alone would not be a show stopper, but given his paternal (Obama's father) grandmother's claim that she was present at Obama's birth in Kenya raises a legitimate question about citizenship, not to mention the "natural born issue." Is he a British citizen born of an underage American girl in Kenya? Would he then be a British citizen or an American citizen? Or, is he a dual citizen, and can a person with dual citizenship be President of the United States of America?

I would appreciate a definitive explanation of your rationale and sources i.e. where did you get your information and an explanation so that would I can put this to rest. Because I would like to do exactly that, but it bugs the hell out of me that he is so clinched fisted about it, and so far you are an accomplice. I would expect that of MSNBC, CBS, ABC, and CNN, but it disappoints me greatly that Fox News would stoop, no grovel for Administration approval at the expense of the right of the American public to know.

On the other hand, if you do not have any definitive data and please don't brush anyone off with the "old saw" that "Hawaii issued a certificate," especially since it is well known that Hawaii issues or issued certificates for people born elsewhere, please make it your business to find out.

Given Mr. Obama's commitment to be totally transparent with the American people, please explain in detail why he has gone to such lengths to deny discovery of any of his records. Or, is that an untrue allegation? If he has nothing to hide, what's the problem? Either way, you have a responsibility to the public to find out not summarily sweep the matter aside especially with unbecoming derisive comments.

One must conclude that you have a set of journalist integrity problems:

1. Either you have your mind made up without regard to the issues, or
2. You have been told what to say by someone with power over you.
3. You don't know what you are talking about,
4. Someone is buying you off,
5. You are biased and don't care about truth much less letting the truth to be known,
5. You are too lazy to discover the facts, or
6. All of the above, and more.

Finally, we either have a Constitution or it is an anachronistic piece of paper. In addition to the "natural born" requirement which is arguably suspect in Obama's case, it appears that there is a legitimate argument that the courts are shirking their responsibility by refusing to adjudicate the matter. So, absent the legal process, how does one clear the air? It would not matter that 100% voted for Obama, if he is not qualified, he cannot be President under the provisions of the Constitution.  To repeat what I've already noted, we either have a Constitution or we do not.

Sorry, but your backhanded and insulting treatment of those who have a right, not merely a desire, but a right to know, and that includes every American citizen, diminishes both you and Fox News.

Please reconsider your comments at the least, or better, do some serious growing up with respect to those whose sacrifices have given you the right and opportunity to be who you are and dig into it. You have an historic opportunity and you are blowing it.

Semper Fidelis
Robert Pappas,
Colonel, USMC (Ret)

The Price of Oil, the Economy, Global Warming and “God”

by Bob Pappas

I get really fired up every time I read about the escalating price of oil. It is at best worth $10 per barrel although some suggest as high as $60 this despite well-head cost of under $5 per barrel.  However, speculators have already forced it up to $70 with projections of $250 in the near future.

If the “BO” wants to do something for all Americans, especially the poor, he would get of his skinny little behind and stand up for Americans rather than showing his rear to the world while kissing the hand of Saudi royalty.

If there is any one thing he could do besides cut taxes and roll back government spending to stimulate the economy, it would be to work to keep energy prices as low as possible not force them up in some misguided notion that he is saving the planet from global warming. Nonsense! Is anyone besides me following weather reports of a record cold summer?

I’ve about had it with this jerk who fancies himself as the “Messiah” or as News Week Editor Evan Thomas stated, “I mean in a way Obama's standing above the country, above the world, he's sort of God."

Well?!  Has Obama denied it? Has he told the media that they can’t refer to him that way? Remember his blackout on “Hussein” or being labeled a “liberal?” He evidently thinks he is “God” and given the bootlickers, in his sick mind, he may be somewhat justified.

Revealing isn’t it?

Semper Fidelis,

Copyright © June11, 2009 by Robert L. Pappas. With proper attribution, this essay may be quoted and redistributed. It may not be used in any way, in conjunction with any advertisement without the author’s expressed written permission.

Watch Your Spending! Huh? Duh!

Watch your spending." This from Obama, the man who is on track to spend more money than all previous Administrations in the history of the country combined including all wars, and has done so in less than six months with the help of his accomplices in the Democrat controlled Congress. One hopes that he is learning, but it is more likely that BO's recently "born again" fiscal commitment is nothing more than bait for his pathetically ignorant, lemming base.

Viewed from the perspective of his life (from his books) Obama is an angry vengeful man who views everything through the prism of his biracial heritage, but who rejected his mother's race as genetically evil, no matter his toothy smile.  Behind that winning smile is a politician whose tactics, temperament and objectives reflect the very "finest" of Chicago "thugery."

His outward temperament as Mr. Kool, the orally halting, reflective intellectual are belied by actions that have the effect of crushing economic independence, and in my opinion are driven by an inner, raging furnace of class warfare and racial acrimony.

He has an historic opportunity to serve the nation well if he would take the time to actually learn American History, what America is all about and not assume that the poor are there because someone stole their birthright. Most that are poor were poor before slavery and despite the recent half century of benevolent programs, most remain in their depressed socio-economic status. Their condition exists despite the fact that "the poor" have been given vast, if not unconstitutional opportunity at the expense of generations who had nothing to do with their plight. 

He should get over it and concentrate on fostering an environment in which the entire nation can thrive. That way he would best serve those who for some obscure reason, he perhaps unconsciously wants to keep in, or return to slavery. Who knows? But his present course leads to further economic decline and more harm to the poor, while negatively affecting everyone else.

Increasing numbers of analysts are stepping up to the plate to declare that Obama's economic programs are a disaster in the making. How many stop and caution lights will it take to get his attention?

The one hundred percent successful approach to stimulating the economy is by cutting non defense related spending, and by lowering income and corporate taxes, and cutting government spending.

We'll see if Obama is as smart as his bootlickers in the media and body politic say that he is.

Semper Fidelis

Copyright © June 9, 2009 by Robert L. Pappas. With proper attribution, this essay may be quoted and redistributed. It may not be used in any way, in conjunction with any advertisement without the author's expressed written permission.

Have You Ever Wondered?

by Bob Pappas

During the Sixties a theologian advanced a thesis, “God is Dead.” It created quite a stir.  In that context the following questions are food for thought.

What is a country?

What constitutes a nation?

What is a state?

What is a sovereign Nation-state?

What is a Constitution?

Why do Nation-States have Constitutions?

What is a government?

Without regard to any other factors, i.e. Constitution or laws, what is (are) the legitimate role(s) of government?

Now, answer the same questions in light of the U.S. Constitution, limited to the Constitution and Amendments; nothing else.

Does a nation have the right to defend its borders against all types of invasion? Why? How?

If a country is invaded by force or attacked, does it have a right to repel the invasion and/or conquer the enemy? 

If it is not successful in stymieing an attack does a country have the right to pursue the attackers?

If attackers were not another nation, but were harbored, assisted or supported by a sovereign state, nation or nations, would the attacked nation-state have the right to overthrow the harboring nation-state?

Should government have the right to dictate what one can eat, drink, smoke, do or be, how many children a family can have, who can adopt, who can marry, decide what constitutes marriage? Why?

Should government have the right to dictate how families raise their children, what parents are allowed to know about their children? If so, what gives government that right?

If a fetus is a non-entity without Constitutional protection, why is it murder, (the taking of the life of another), if someone kills the fetus as in the Peterson case, but not murder if the mother elects to abort it?

After a hard days work of which stealing from investors or gambling in the Stock Market does not qualify, should government have the right to take any of the fruit of ones labor? If so, for what purpose(s)? Why?

If someone gets a grade of “A” should others be entitled to the same grade?

Should someone be appointed or denied appointment because of ones race, color, creed, or national origin?

Should a judge who happens to be a sexual pervert, i.e. homosexual, (that is gay, lesbian, bisexual, transsexual or any other sexually deviant behavior), be allowed to rule on cases involving sexual issues? Why?

If someone steals, should the person be punished? Why?

Should law be enforced as to letter, or spirit?

Should otherwise guilty criminals be given a pass on technicalities or mistakes by law enforcement officials? Why?

Should the law require that everyone work? Why?

Should everyone have to work the same? Why?

Is everyone entitled to a job? Why?

How much should a person be paid? Why?

On what should compensation be based, ability or need? Why?

Are all people entitled to the same pay? Why?

If a person broke into someone’s house and refused to leave, should the owner of the house be required to provide a job, medical care, and retirement? Or, should the owner have the right to throw the person who broke in, out?

If one works (of which stealing from investors or gambling in the Stock Market does not qualify), for a living should anyone have the right to dictate how much that person can earn? How many hours they can work? If so, why? How many hours? How much pay? What are the criteria for any limitations? Why?

If someone lives in a city should that person be able to protect themselves and their property? Why? How?

Does a nation through its government have the right to set behavioral standards? Why? How?

If one spends more than one earns, whose responsibility is it to pay the debtors? Why?

If one buys stock, should the company from which the stock was purchased have the right to issue stock beyond the authorized amount? Why?

What determines the value of money?

Should anyone have the right to arbitrarily change the value of money? Why?

Where in the U.S. Constitution does government have the right to devalue the currency? Own companies or entire industries? Dictate salaries? Engage in commerce? Restrict gun ownership and ammunition? Tax only the wealthy or exclude anyone? Prioritize who gets what and how much? Spread the wealth around?

What are the functions of Government as stated in the U.S. Constitution?

What do the Ninth and Tenth Articles of Amendment to the U.S. Constitution state?

Where does the Constitution state that prayer is not allowed by public officials or on public property?

Obama told a Turkish audience that the U.S. is not a Christian nation? Was he right? If so, why? If not, why?

Obama told an interviewer that the U.S. one of the largest Muslim nations in the world? Was he right? If so, why? If not, why?

Can the U.S. Constitution tolerate Isalm? Can Islam tolerate the U.S. Constitution?

Has anyone in the Federal government or “Kalifornia” considered the possibility that government is too big, too complex, too overreaching, and too expensive?

Where do you think Sonia Sotomayor stands on each of these questions?

Semper Fidelis

Copyright © 060809, by Robert L. Pappas. With proper attribution, this essay may be quoted and redistributed. It may not be used in any way, in conjunction with any advertisement without the author’s expressed written permission.

Homosexual Marriage is an Oxymoron

by Bob Pappas

“Freedom for everyone,” said former Vice President, Dick Cheney in a statement supporting his daughter’s sexually perverted relationship with another woman. However, whereas one may agree with the Vice President on much that he advocates, the present debate is not about whether or not homosexuals have a legal right to engage in their perverted version of procreation, it is about redefining the eons old definition of marriage; that is, the traditional, healthy and normal union of a male and a female for the purpose of procreation, not recreation.

For those who don’t know, the American Psychological Association has come to its senses and at last backed away from its decade old claim that sexual perversion is genetic.  Any one with common sense knew that even as the Association was desperately trying to justify aberrant sexual behavior.  In the interest of non-politically correct language, male and female sexual perverts are just that, perverts, no matter whether they are labeled “gay,” “lesbian,” “transgender,” “transsexual,” “transvestite” or most any other term describing sexual perversion.

(Incidentally, this is not an attack on sexual perverts. One is saddened by the knowledge that they are trapped in their addiction and are thus incapable of rational thought or argument on the merits. This is about policy makers who should have their heads screwed on straight, but too often are themselves, perverts.)

In their effort to continue to build the pseudo science, “mental science” practitioners have devised an extensive vocabulary to describe sexual fetishes.  The “science” has focused its attention away from behavior modification of their client to societal adaptation, (that is, telling normal folks to get used to it). Perverts become so addicted to orgasm that a sex act with a snake might be called “serpenstomagamy.”  Then in classic liberal reaction claim such behavior as a right of privacy even as they spread “serpenstomasyphilis” incident to the behavior, at which time it becomes a public health issue, but remains a “right of privacy.”

The foregoing is one likely example of hundreds that liberal “progressives” have or would cram down the throats of unwitting or unwilling members of society.

Perverts make a lot of noise about their right to love, they have it. They make a lot of noise about what they do in the privacy of their bedrooms is their business, they have it. They make a lot of noise about equal rights, in at least 13 states they have the right to some sort of civil union that bestows virtually every right of a normal married couple.  Having noted this last, in most of the states that have law granting sexual perverts the rights of normal married folks, court action played a large part in those rights, majority wishes be damned! Oh, yes, one remembers, the courts protect the minority from a tyrannical majority, while the tyrannical minority proceeds to trample the rights of the too tolerant majority.

This leads to the question of whether or not judges have the right to make law such as would be the case should Judge Sonia Sotomayor should she be confirmed as a member of the Supreme Court.  If she were not a racist, if she were not an activist judge, and if she were a Constitutionalist, she might make a seminal judge. But Sotomayor is a racist, notwithstanding Obama’s apology for her not choosing the right “word(s),” (Words, just words! Remember?) she is an activist judge (“where policy is made”) and she is not a Constitutionalist except in the general sense.  In short, she is a liberal’s dream.

The cacophony of perverts in California to the halls of Washington, there led by Pervert-in-Chief, Barney Frank, their noise is becoming bothersome for increasing numbers of normal folks.  This issue, contrary to the former Vice President’s sadly empty moral opinion, is not about “Freedom for everyone.” It is about overt effort to hasten the decline into a moral abyss that has seen the United States abandon its position as the “shinning light on a hill” in the relentless march to the pit of decadence led by liberal “progressives” who have successfully crammed their godless, immoral agenda, with few notable exceptions, through the courts in the name of “equality,” “justice,” or “privacy.” 

One must decide if one wants further erosion of an already battered Constitution not to mention morality, and ultimately freedom, or a return to the spirit and framework spelled out therein.  The danger in confirming Sotomayer is further erosion of the Constitution that she would supplant by Court directed enactment of policy/law based on political or emotional whims and “rich experiences of a Latina woman” Sonia Sotomayor. It’s time to push back, so call, write or otherwise inform your Senators to scuttle Sotomayor’s nomination.

Semper Fidelis

Copyright © 060209, by Robert L. Pappas. With proper attribution, this essay may be quoted and redistributed. It may not be used in any way, in conjunction with any advertisement without the author’s expressed written permission.