It's About a Country Being Worn Inside Out Thing

Dear America,

it was a telling statement, an innocent, rambling thought that just spilled out for all the world to hear...if watching Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace, that is.  And no, it wasn't so much what Chris said, it was broad-casted from an all too familiar face sitting alongside him -- the constant and politically correct puppet of the Left, Juan Williams.

I will have to paraphrase it, unfortunately; for it hit me so hard over the head, it took a minute or two to find my balance or a pen.  But it went something like this -- oh, and the subject that set it off?  Gay Marriage -- so here ya go:  'you can't say in one state you can and in another you can't.'

Oh Juan.  juan, juan, juan, juan juan.

Have you no recollection of the most acute semblance of common sense thrust upon mankind since the discovery the world was round?  Have you no shame, man?  Oh how far we have fallen from the vision and foresight of our founders...The level of sensitivity and prudence for every living breathing detail of our lives was carefully thought out and outlined for posterity and beyond -- and pretty much left intact and untouchable -- and what have we done?  We've unraveled nearly every bloody thread.  poof! our republic was here just a minute ago...

Ya see, this is why we never should have messed with the Senate chamber -- turning over direct control of the election process of a State's representative body to the people.  Who's great idea was that? [purely rhetorical; many thanks to the progressives hellbent on achieving fundamental transformation, early 20th century style...and basically upending the checks and balances of the federal government, while losing all representation of the sovereignty of the state, just  like that...geesh.]

The whole idea back behind the U.S. Senate -- originally a decision delegated to the individual state legislature, and not through the process of the popular vote -- was to elect  representatives fully committed to the interests of the state.   The House of Representatives was intended to be the voice of the people; the Senate, the voice of the State; with the President being in full control of the limited voice of the federal government.  The Judicial branch then wraps it all up in a tidy little bow.

Enter the Seventeenth Amendment.  Thus, we arrive at the day cementing the loss of State Sovereignty; thus, the detached body previously only interested in the interests of the state, is decidedly decimated.  poof!

And from here on out...America has never been the same.   All things usurping the interests of the state became vogue.  It was a new day, a new deal, donning new threads, and all re-imaging and re-imagining the power of the federal government.  Vanished into thin air -- boundaries.

But back to the fool rushing in to make her review of the comment expressly produced by Juan...

The original thought anchoring our Republic was centered upon maintaining a real, true balance in between branches -- with no aspect of government superseding the other.  Here is Alexander Hamilton:

"This balance between the national and state governments ought to be dwelt on with peculiar attention, as it is of the utmost importance.  It forms a double security to the people.  If one encroaches on their rights, they will find a powerful protection in the other.  Indeed, they will both be prevented from overpassing their constitutional limits, by certain rival-ship which will ever subsist between them."

The thing is, what is so wrong with states keeping a certain allegiance to what the will of it's people really, really want?  Whether with regard to it's natural resources, it's people, it's ability to produce and trade it's share of goods and services -- it's stance on social/cultural beliefs -- why not, why can't the state have the power to demonstrate and define the things of importance and relevance?   Or why have state lines at all? [oh you laugh...]

Proven by the electorate time and time again, a majority of states are not ready for same-sex marriage.

More important, states have rights, too.

Don't we already do that with each state deciding it's own tax code?  Isn't giving total  freedom and jurisdiction over federal law --  as in giving states like Washington and Colorado the authority to sell an illegal substance, like pot, like candy at the Five and Dime -- exemplifying such an idea?   Haven't we gone through enough with the fight to keep our Right to Work states?

Matter of fact -- originally -- according to the Tenth Amendment:  "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the People."  At first blush, that would have worked out well, no?

It was James Madison who gave us great clarification on such, saying:

"The powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the federal government are few and defined.  Those which are to remain in the State governments are numerous and indefinite.  The former [federal powers] will be exercised principally on external objects, as war, peace, negotiation, and foreign commerce...The powers reserved to the several States will extend to all the objects which, in the ordinary, course of affairs, concern the lives, liberties, and properties of the people, and the internal order, improvement, and prosperity of the State."   Federalist Papers, No. 45, pp 292-93 -- pulling the quotes from both Hamilton and Madison from The 5000 Year Leap, by W. Cleon Skousen.

But Juan, allow me to get to the real thing clamoring for attention.  It comes from an American historian, John Fiske; but prepare yourself, for it's quite stunning --  it may just blind you for a moment [and for avid readers of G...I beg of you, please don't shun me for the season over season repeat...how garish, gaudy and gauche is that, right?]

"If the day should ever arrive (which God forbid!) when the people of the different parts of our country shall allow their local affairs to be administered by prefects sent from Washington, and when the self-government of the states shall have been so far lost as that of the departments of France, or even so closely limited as that of the counties of England -- on that day the political career of the American people will have been robbed of its most interesting and valuable features, and the usefulness of this nation will be lamentably impaired."

Well, I'll be...we've plum been there and done der that, haven't we now?  [guessing we can take the country girl to the city but we can't take the hillbilly out of the girl.]

We've been robbed.  We've been robbed of our most interesting and valuable features.  Oh woe is me, what is to come of us now?

Me thinks I need a piece of fluff to read -- you know, to get my mind off all the stupidity of man (as in man in the general, not necessarily in the particular).   Anywho, having just recently watched the modern adaptation of the Clare Boothe Luce book, The Women --  I'm hungering to read it from the genuine article.   Consider it on the official Christmas list -- currently making that little item wish number eight, if keeping tabs. [ While crazy is as crazy does, this wish might actually be a doable and durable good for us all to get our hands on...you, too, can buy it here] 

Now talk about a woman ahead of her time -- scratch that -- making her own time...in fame, politics, talent, industry, and all with an overwhelming sense of knowing herself.  It might just lead me to a double header for the wish list for one day -- enjoying the company of this woman over dinner.  [I know, I know -- maybe in heaven we can get together once or twice...]  An ambassador and congresswoman for the ages; don't we just love how conservative women just do it already, no fanfare required, as I undress and digress all at the same time.

That's it then, Juan. It's all I have to say to you this morning.... Mr. all-about-town-and-totally unaware-you're-wearing-your-country-inside-out. [maybe it's not your fault...perhaps you're just throwing it on without thinking for yourself.   It's a fad!   Hopefully, it will pass]

Make it a Good Day, G

 oh this is rich.  from yahoo! news today..."59 is the Age women should stop wearing red lipstick..."  get a load of this comment from 'Franky":  "After a certain age - women don't give a flying f-k what others think they should wear" -- it got 4258 thumbs up at last count (63 thumbs down).   I love my country! 

It's Just What Happens When We Let Ourselves Go Thing

Dear America,

you know what I'm thinking this morning...I'm thinking much of what we are witnessing today, experiencing today, enduring today, stems from having let ourselves go in America.

Initially this thought came from an unexpected candid remark of a remarkable and conservative and beautiful woman, my mom.   But that's what happens, right?  Something takes root inside us, we marinate on it for a little while, and just when we begin to think we have totally let it go, escaping  all recollection, it rebounds off the back of our mind like a boomerang.  bing.

It takes great effort, and good energy, to keep something alive, to stay in relationship, to uphold the integrity and strength of any given thing.

It's not like we can buy a home and expect it to maintain itself.

It's not like we can buy a plant and expect it to water itself.

It's not like we can bear a child and expect the darned thing to raise it's self [as a mom, I feel privileged to say things like that in an endearing way, of course.]

It's not like we can be in a marriage and expect it to nourish itself.

And we could go on and on....but will keep it to just one more:

It's not like we can live in America and expect it to honor itself, all on it's own, without every single one of us doing our duty to protect and defend and most importantly, understand, what this great land is all about.

The ideals set forth by our founders required all generations that follow to actually follow!  And they knew -- because they also recognized the weaknesses of being human -- that it would be a constant challenge; "If men were angels, no government would be necessary.  If angels were to govern men, neither external controls on government would be necessary."  (James Madison, the Federalist Papers)

The founders counted upon the nation to maintain the integrity of  the Republic by recreating an informed, educated, virtuous, and morally upright citizenry.   As Madison said:

"Is there no virtue among us? If there is not, we are in a wretched situation.  No theoretical checks, no form of government, can render us secure.  To suppose that any form of government will secure liberty or happiness without any virtue in the people, is a chimerical idea.  If there be sufficient virtue and intelligence in the community, it will be exercised in the selection of these men; so that we do not depend upon their virtue, or put confidence in our rulers, but in the people who are to choose them."

Compounding this notion with a thought from Thomas Jefferson :  "Virtue is not hereditary."

Meaning, we have to work at it -- collectively and individually, we must learn and develop and maintain and dare I say, even nourish! our own virtuous life in the every day.   For if we were to let ourselves go, then "no form of government can render us secure."

In The 5000 Year Leap, the author, W. Cleon Skousen, spends a great deal of time on our nation's foundation; I'm inclined to say 'America's foundation' is the red thread throughout the entire book.  Everything seems to bounce back to the firm, structurally sound, reliance on good self-government in order to create a good, foundation-ally and functionally enlightened Republic to last the generations.

Not only do we in America no longer teach the ways and means of a virtuous life - - we neither model it, speak it, or defend it....in the collective, that is....generally speaking, of course.

We can't even talk about living by our virtues (and that especially goes for all the time our children spend in the public school  domain) -- unless of course, we wish to be quickly labeled a fanatic, an extremist, a religious zealot.

Indeed, "a wretched situation" may be upon us.

The aim of our founders was an emphasis on creating an enlightened electorate in every stretch of the imagination, in order to keep this republic whole.

"If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be.

...a crusade against ignorance; establish and improve the law for education the common people.  Let our people know that the people alone can protect us against these evils [of misgovernment]."

...all in for more Jefferson, all the time.

It takes work --  it takes effort -- it takes energy, to maintain a free people in a republic; we cannot expect it to grow and nourish itself.

The wretched thing is, we seem to be more disenchanted these days to do the work; or, we expect other people to do the work for us.  And now, it appears, to even utter so much as one word about it, we might as well have committed an act of violence against all humanity.

Take for example Bobby Jindal, yesterday....

Oh wait... first, it all started with this -- Mitt Romney, to supporters on a recent conference call:

“In each case they were very generous in what they gave to those groups,” Mr. Romney said.

 “With regards to the young people, for instance, a forgiveness of college loan interest, was a big gift,” he said. “Free contraceptives were very big with young college-aged women. And then, finally, Obamacare also made a difference for them, because as you know, anybody now 26 years of age and younger was now going to be part of their parents’ plan, and that was a big gift to young people. They turned out in large numbers, a larger share in this election even than in 2008.”

Romney said Obama followed what he called the “old playbook” of seeking votes from specific interest groups, “especially the African-American community, the Hispanic community and young people,” the New York Times said. “In each case they were very generous in what they gave to those groups,” Romney said.

continue reading here.

Mitt was only calling attention to a reality created by, and for,  the political life-force of progressives (we can't even call them liberals anymore).

But just how did Jindal -- aka one of his own -- respond?

"I think that's absolutely wrong," Jindal said. "We have got to stop dividing the American voters. We need to go after 100 percent of the votes, not 53 percent. We need to go after every single vote. ... So I absolutely reject that notion, that description. I think it's absolutely wrong. I don't think that represents where we are as a party, where we're going as a party. That has got to be one of the most fundamental takeaways from this election."

continue reading here.

With all due respect, dear Bobby, the GOP is NOT the party doing the wooing and the dividing; that civic infidelity honor goes to the progressives.  And it isn't anything new, by the way; they have been working this demographic bombardment for a century.  How about we talk about that, Jindal?

For the Left, for the typical progressive, this kind of divide and conquer is so fundamental to their trickery and tactics, apparently, for some of us, it goes unnoticed, as if totally acceptable -- as if the Left holds a special clearance, some kind of politically-warped exception to the rule,  to systematically, unilaterally  (and oh so clandestine) be allowed to go there.

The problem is NOT in the governor going there.  The problem is that we, the Right, behave as if we are afraid to go there.

Earth to the new reality, and to the so-called new demographics we must compete against, and to the republican establishment that wishes it were bigger, brighter, bolder just like the democrats -- find some balls, juevos rancheros, cajones, before speaking up in public.  [yeah, and I don't even care if I spelled any of that wrong]

It is US - -conservatives in general, the masses in particular, and the liberals in droves -- who seem to have let ourselves go.

We have let ourselves go -- virtually without a fight for what I can see -- to those just waiting to pounce and take advantage of the unimaginable evolution of a certain wretched situation amongst us!

One of my favorites from Samuel Adams:

"The Utopian schemes of leveling [re-distribution of the wealth] and a community of goods [central ownership of the means of production and distribution], are as visionary and impractical as those which vest all property in the Crown.  [These ideas] are arbitrary, despotic, and, in our government, unconstitutional."

Perhaps Mitt stopped just shy of calling our new, cool governance "unconstitutional" -- but why not?

It is true, Bobby.

It is as true today, as it was in yesterday, in yesteryear.

[These ideas -- our Nation's Ideals]  Just because we have stopped teaching it, leading with it, modeling it in every way, doesn't make it any more unreal or untrue in the real world.

we've let our Truth go, America...

that is just the sad, sad truth.

But make no mistake:  Our Truth about Good Governance is not the problem; it is not the evil one. Our truth about maintaining Good Governance is by the Grace of God what has protected us, united us, and enriched us in every possible way....until quite possibly now... clearly stuck, aimlessly, it would seem,  in a wretched situation.

Contrary to popular belief -- or is it just a wave of modern day mainstream propaganda -- our ideals truly do work for every one, equally under the law, in true free form.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with the foundation -- unless of course, you consider how humanity has perverted, corrupted, abridged, defiled, and defied our most precious principles, virtues, and Constitution, bringing it's very integrity into question and, ultimately, ripe for utter ruin.

other than that, let's keep on keepin' on, right?

Make it a Good Day, G

Dear America,

If I could turn back time.  Never liked the song but love the sentiment right about now.

I would take a Jimmy...or even a Clinton -- even if it takes reliving the escapades of getting it on in the oval office.   I would take either of them in a heartbeat.

I guess the weekend brought us all kinds of little sweet somethings in the political bag of tricks...it was a smorgasbord of candidates stepping down left and right.  Starting with the NY state of mind in a congressional district 3500 miles from my front door, Scozzafava was the first to call it in and turn off the porch light.  A lesson for all of us and hopefully a disposition of days to come.

Then around the world, the Abdullah Abdullah va va va va va stepped away from the race, leaving Karzai all alone in the dark.  Such a disappointment really after all of the hullabaloo.

The funny thing is...there ain't nothing holding back our scare-dy-cat of a President from making a decision now, batta -bing batta boo; will it be door number one or door number two -- or even door number three -- exemplifying the prophetic all or nothing or somewhere in between? 

My guess, Monty, as celebrity deaths and no stone goes unturned happens in threes -- Obama-San was pushing for door number three all along. And who am I to also point out it will maintain a smack daddy Bush-Lite version -- stay in, but half-assed, and not give in to what the Commander General, really, really wants -- you know, in order to save face and mask the taking of the better part of a year in a state of ambivalence and insecurity, as if it were well thought out months of  contemplation and angst -- and let it ride. He's just not that into it.

Oh my mistake, correction, it was Michelle dressed as the feline this weekend, the President merely attempted to pass himself off as Presidential -- busting out in a Mr. Roger's sweater -- as they were both hosts in the redistribution of candy to area students ages 5 to 11. 

Trick or treat smell my feet, give me something good to tweet. Why do I find the whole thing so contrived?  Is it just me?

So anyway, candidates seem to be dropping like glucose after a couple days of speed-balling Smarties® and Air Heads®.

Just waiting for Daggett to see a ghost, as he's got a snowballs chance in he** to make it and all he's doing is muddying the water; even though that's normal for Jersey, no need to add to the polluted political state of disarray.  Never been to Atlantic City, but my money's on an upset; throwing down a marker on red anything is looking pretty good.

You know way back in 2008, the most important issue for the voters was the Economy; of course, this was after Barney Frank and sidekick Dodd set up the old one-two punch; first the left hook, the self destructive real estate regulations and misappropriations of credit worthiness just begging to be cracked kr pow! and then the eminent bank failure wham! -- the collision and collusion's creating whirlwind devastation, leaving no neighborhood safe, and pummeling Bush's presidency into the ground -- at the same time, sealing any Republicans fate draped in doom and gloom.

A year ago, the concern of the economy was at 60%, while both the Iraq War and Health Care were holding steady and tied at about 13% a piece.  

Fascinating how susceptible we are to public opinion -- while the root cause is initiated from controlled messages from our government, it digs in and settles into our mindset like a cavity so great, if we only drank milk for the rest of our lives the damage may still run too deep to fix. 

Why are we so namby-pamby -- we go from fickle to freak at light speed, while allowing our government to masquerade around us, creating a firestorm of fear and concern --connivingly bewitch us and tease us with benevolence -- all the while point their long twisted finger with a wart on its tip to everyone and everything accept that which can save us -- and that being taking full responsibility for our actions.

Look, if we put our faith in anything before going to the polls or answering a polling question or embracing any idea that may be of value for our children and this country, its starts within each and every one of us.  It is NOT the governments place-- nor is it one that can guarantee long term security -- to decide anything for us.  Our true liberty is in keeping the power, and only then can we control our day to day lives and the antics that carry on around us on the political front -- no matter where they happen in the world.

The scary thing is, we are simply too vulnerable to the whim of political production and corruption.

I had an ah ha moment while awaiting trick or treatr's.
The epiphany came when realizing even Halloween has been compromised and twisted into the secular realm, totally obliterating the first cause and the root of its higher intention and reason for the season; originally, it was All Hallows Eve.  Ring any doorbells for any of you?

It was celebration of the evening before a fairly new Holy Day of Obligation which dates back to the era of Pope Gregory IV, who anchored the Catholic Church between years 827- 844; having incorporated All Saints Day on November 1st under Pope Gregory III (731-741).  Over the years, the ritual has been prostituted for commercial gain, also having fallen victim to pagan origins and attributes which totally dismiss the original message and feasts of the Church -- which begs the question, isn't anything sacred anymore?

Much like Christmas and Easter and any other tradition or ritual based on the teachings of Christianity or Judaism -- holidays have been ripped out of our hands and stolen right out from under us; and it is in the words of Jesus -- the ONE person I turn to most, Ms. Anita Dunn -- I find shelter -- noting "forgive them father, for they know not what they do."

And if you will be so kind as to allow me to stray, the newsprint of the past week picks up on this very notion and includes stories that victimized a Home Depot Employee of wearing a christian sentiment upon his apron, another story of a hotel owner requesting his employees to speak English, while another story of women on a job interview being told she could not wear her abaya headpiece to the office -- all of which the endings do not play out the way that you would think, being that this is America and all.

"Where it is a duty to worship the sun it is pretty sure to be a crime to examine the laws of heat."

An old Brit said that over a hundred years ago.  He also claims this of himself,

 "I am a cautious Whig by temperament,

I am a Liberal by training,

and I am a thorough Radical by observation and experience".

Oh a penny for a free radical from yesteryear; aww, heck, I'd turn over every Reese's® peanut butter cup. 

We can't sit back and think that life continues on just as it ever was and will be for evermore; things are changing fast and furious and without caution.  Oh sure, you see the man think in the big white house, but what we don't see is the action back behind his every move, and at a pace which far exceeds his limits. 

For this administration makes its moves in the dark; going door to door picking us off one by one. 

We are mesmerized in this false prophet standing before us; and all I got to say is snap out of it! 

Something wicked this way comes.

This is where we brush the lamb of God upon our door, bearing down for the long cold winter ahead, perhaps stockpiling a little unleavened bread for the task of finding a mass exodus out; a counter-insurgency rested in faith and time tested for generations.

Make it a Good Day, G

"All, too, will bear in mind this sacred principle, that though the will of the majority is in all cases to prevail, that will to be rightful must be reasonable; that the minority possess their equal rights, which equal law must protect, and to violate would be oppression."
                                                        Thomas Jefferson

"In politics the middle way is none at all."

            John Adams

"I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments by those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations."  
                            James Madison