Bad News
Today, I write with a heavy heart, saddened that I must give you this news.
Liberty has died.
Liberty in the United States died on New Year’s Eve. No, that’s not an exaggeration or just plain old spin, Liberty really DIED!
You see, this past New Year’s Eve President Obama signed into law the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of 2012. That single stroke of the pen drove a dagger into the heart of Liberty.
For the first time in the history of the United States the president can now order the military to arrest and indefinitely detain you.
Yes, that’s right, the Military can arrest you or your loved ones and hold you indefinitely!
Unbelievably, Congress gave President Obama the power to claim YOU are a suspected terrorist and lets the military arrest you and hold you without trial indefinitely!
How could such a shocking and egregious act ever pass Congress? It’s simple, by their actions Congress told us they don’t care about Liberty!
In a 299-120 vote on May 18th last year the U.S. House of Representatives passed the bill.
You can see here how your Representative voted to give President Obama this radical new power: http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2012/roll291.xml
Sadly, things in the Senate were not any better – check out the 93-7 vote here: http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=112&session=1&vote=00218
The NDAA declares the homeland to be part of the battlefield in the “War on Terror.”
In simple terms, the NDAA allows suspected – not convicted – American citizens to be detained indefinitely – without charges or trial until the “War on Terror” is declared over…all based on the say-so of President Obama or any future president.
Now the question arises, why would a U.S. Citizen be suspected of terrorism? To be safe, all you have to do is remain within the law, right? Why then should anyone worry about this? Well, the criteria for “suspected of terrorism” is not so logical or narrow as one might think.
Here are just some criteria which may result in YOU being suspected of terrorism:
- Do you have 7 days’ worth of food in your home?
- Are you a critic of the federal government?
- Do you favor local and state authority?
- Do you support animal rights?
- Is there ammunition in your home?
- Are there guns in your home?
- Have you participated in a “Tea Party?”
- Have you participated in the “Occupy” protest?
- Are you an environmentalist?
- Do you oppose gun regulation?
- Do you own a gun?
- Are you a veteran?
- Do you dislike the IRS, BATF, or the Federal Reserve?
- Do you oppose war?
- Do you support third parties?
- Do you support the Constitution?
- Have you ever used a Gadsden flag?
The passing of this bill is a direct attack on your Liberty. We have the right to bear arms, we have the right to property, and we sure have the right to keep food in our homes.
If the President deems you are demonstrating suspicious activity he can have the military arrest and detain you until the “War on Terror” is over.
- No evidence has to be presented.
- No phone call to your lawyer.
- No chance to face your accuser.
- No right to due process.
- No notice to your family.
The good news is we may still be have time to resurrect Liberty…
This law must be repealed. Specifically, sections 1021 and 1022, those which are offensive to the God -given rights of humanity, can and must be repealed but only if you act.
Sign the petition today demanding that sections 1021 and 1022 of the National Defense Authorization Act be repealed.
Dangerous legislation like this will only be overturned by a clear message from our Republic’s citizens to Congress. Silence equals consent. Don’t think for a second that your voice cannot help change the course on which Congress has embarked. Help protect yourself and your loved ones – sign the petition today.
Action Alert: Traffic Cameras
Tuesday, Feb. 1st, there will be a public hearing of the House Committee on Transportation at 3:30 PM.
House Transportation Committee
Hearing Room B
John L. O’Brien Bldg
Olympia, WA
Please plan to attend if you are able to let the legislators know that you support a repeal of the laws allowing Automated Ticketing Machines, not just a legislative Band-Aid.
Read more about our efforts to fight Automated Ticketing Machines!
4th Legislative District Deserves Representation!
On January 5, 2011, the state senate seat in the 4th Legislative District was vacated when 30-year Senate veteran Bob McCaslin retired.
State law specifies when a state legislative seat is vacated during an elected official’s term, the precinct committee officers in that district gather to nominate three people for the job. It is then the duty of the county board of commissioners to select and appoint one of these nominees.
If the commissioners fail to act within 60 days, the Governor has the authority to make the appointment.
Time is of the essence
On Saturday, January 15, 2011, Precinct Committee Officers (PCOs) from the 4th Legislative District in Spokane County, met to select nominees to fill Senator McCaslin’s seat. The nominees are:
- Matt Shea, an attorney and sitting State House Representative from the 4th LD
- Jeff Baxter, a local businessman and former school board candidate, and
- Roy Murry, also a local businessman.
As reported on the Spokane County GOP website, Representative Shea was the first nominee selected and also received the highest number of votes.
The nominees have been submitted to the Spokane County Board of Commissioners; now the commissioners must choose an official replacement. The commissioners have set an extraordinarily long due diligence review period, until March 4, 2011.
In the interim, the 4th Legislative District is without senatorial representation.
Why is it taking so long to appoint a successor?
Local political insiders note that the Spokane County Board of Commissioners may be facing pressure from outside groups and interests.
Meanwhile, voters from the district are understandably frustrated that they are without representation during this critical period of the legislative cycle when bills are being introduced and agendas set in Olympia.
The commissioners are on record indicating that they feel they must complete a diligent review. Surely the sentiment is commendable, but it doesn’t add up. Why would it take up to 60 days to complete a review?
The law is unambiguous about the process, the elected party officers have made their choice, the next steps are clear. It leads to the uncomfortable question – are the commissioners playing politics?
Urge the commissioners to action
We encourage all citizens to contact the commissioners at the numbers below to provide input to the decision-making process and encourage a speedy resolution. The Commissioners have set a February 2, 2011 deadline for public comment on the nominees.
Mark Richard
(509) 448-6160
(509) 251-3643 cell
(509) 477-2742 office
Todd Mielke
(509) 220-2200 cell
(509) 477-2267 office
Al French
(509) 994-4351 cell
(509) 477-2741 office
Comments may be emailed to derickson@spokanecounty.org or mailed to:
Daniela Erickson
Clerk of the Board
1116 W Broadway Ave
Spokane, WA 99260
How would you feel if you were being denied representation on procedural grounds? Contact the commissioners today!
Washington State Campaign for Liberty is a 501(c)4 lobbying organization which neither promotes nor opposes candidates for public office.
TSA Porno-Scanners – Follow the Money
The most important question you’ll ever ask yourself as a political activist is,
“If I believe what ‘they’ tell me, how does the politician benefit?”
Who are “they” in this sentence? Well, “they” are the politicians themselves, their staffers, the lobbyists, the party insiders and last but not least the media.
For example, if I believe that Automated Ticketing Machines are all about safety, then ATMs seem like a good idea….until I do the second most important thing any activist does,
“Follow the Money”.
Once you discover that traffic cameras increase accidents at intersections, it begs the question – what are they really about? Money.
Why else would our “friends” at Goldman Sachs buy a large enough stake in the camera company to seat two Goldman members on the cameras company’s board?
If I believe that giving up personal liberty somehow makes me safer, then it stands to reason that I need the government to protect me, right? Well, let’s look at the TSA’s new porno-scanners that do a virtual strip search. All about safety, right? Well, not exactly.
First, the head of the US Airways pilots union advises his members not to go through the porno-scanners because of the radiation exposure. Does that sound “safe” to you?
Secondly, the political class claims that there are “credible threats” from which they must protect us. Besides the obvious question of, “Oh really?”, how does doing a virtual strip search of 85 year old grandmothers and small children defeat these “credible threats”? And why has the GAO reported “it remains unclear…” if the porno-scanners would have even found the underwear bomber’s device?
Now it’s time to “follow the money.”
- Did you know that Michael Chertoff as head of Homeland Insecurity in 2005 ordered the first porno-scanners from Rapiscan Systems? Right after the attempted underwear bombing on Christmas Day 2009, Chertoff used his position as the past head of Homeland Insecurity to pimp porno-scanners all over the media. Hmmm…
- Why the big push for porno-scanners? Did you know that Michael Chertoff is head of a consulting firm called The Chertoff Group? And did you know one of his clients is none other than Rapiscan? That’s right, the very makers of the porno-scanners!
- Did you know that Homeland Insecurity has already spent about $173 million of mostly “stimulus” money to purchase Rapiscan porno-scanners? Pretty cool, huh?
Now here is the challenge for Homeland Insecurity and TSA – the American people won’t put up with dangerous, radiation emitting, porno-scanners. So what’s an agency to do?
Hey, here’s an idea. Why don’t we force people to be humiliated by sexually assaulting them if they won’t use our porno machines? Gotta love those bureaucrats, just looking out for your safety – the fourth amendment be damned!
Here is another interesting question. Do the fine folks at TSA change their gloves for every passenger? They don’t? Really? So let me get this straight; If I refuse to jeopardize my health by passing up on radiation exposure, then I get to have some stranger grope me with dirty gloves?
Well, think about this (when you are not eating). That means TSA screeners are running their hands through urine splatter, down moist body crevices, and then touching ties, collars, hair…and then going to the next person in line. So, as a bonus, the TSA screeners could be spreading germs, parasites, bed bugs from hotel rooms, and who knows what else from your fellow travelers on to you. Do we need to start checking out the backs of heads in the security line in front of us for lice?
In America, people have right to “…be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizure”. Further, this right, “…shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.”
What are we the people going to do about this unconstitutional assault against Liberty?
As some of you know, Congressman Ron Paul introduced HR 6416 – The American Traveler Dignity Act (see video here) which puts an end to porno-scanners and sexual assault by TSA agents.
Contact your congressman and demand that
they co-sponsor HR 6416 – The American Traveler Dignity Act.
Bellingham City Council Votes Monday on Traffic Cameras
They said they’d have a public hearing and then changed their mind. Don’t let them vote without hearing from you!
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Read on for details…
You may be aware that Bellingham City Council has decided that they don’t want to allow a public hearing to discuss one of the most controversial acts that will have ever been passed in this county…..the installation and operation of automated ticketing machines and speed trap cameras by a company that is located in Arizona. The $125 tickets – which are supposed to make us all safer – are nothing more than an outright unconstitutional attack on our liberties for the sole purpose of generating revenue for the city.
A couple of small issues you might not be aware of though:
- Revenue Sharing – First of all, the company that installs and operates these cameras and issues the tickets, ATS, makes its money from taking a percentage of the fines as their fee.
- Shortening Yellow Lights – Obviously they are highly motivated to see as many tickets issued as possible and have even been caught doing such things as shortening the yellow light time in order to guarantee more tickets issued.
- No Oversight – Our own police department or city officials have no oversight or responsibility for the camera operations, that is all taken care of by the out of state company. The city just gets to sit back and collect a percentage of the revenue generated from this obviously unethical and unconstitutional form of taxation without representation.
- Banksters – The company that our city council is getting in bed with in order to rob all of us who are unfortunate enough to get ticketed, is partially owned by none other than Goldman Sachs.
Is there is a name for this type of arrangement where a private corporation joins forces with government to immorally if not illegally extract funds from it’s citizens?
Come and join us along with Johnny Weaver and a large contingent from Young Americans for Liberty from WCC, and Alex Rion our Executive Director from Washington State Campaign for Liberty for what will prove to be an extremely enlightening and entertaining city council meeting – hopefully the likes of which will not be forgotten by the citizens of Bellingham, as well as the politicians who will not be happy to see us all show up!
Hope to see you there for the fun and fireworks!
John Busch
Whatcom County Coordinator
Washington State Campaign for Liberty
