HR 1505: Giant Land Grab For The Police State
Montana Republican Congressman Denny Rehberg lent his support for ceding more power and authority to the federal government’s emerging police state by supporting HR 1505, the “National Security and Federal Lands Protection Act.” This monstrous bill empowers the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to confiscate to itself tens of thousands of acres of land across the US northern border. This is for “national security” reasons, of course. Gag!
My friend, Dr. Ed Berry, has written a very astute summary and analysis of HR 1505 on his web site, PolyMontana.com. I am going to be borrowing heavily from his research in this column.
Dr. Berry rightly notes that the DHS is the giant head of no less than seven federal agencies: Transportation Security Administration (TSA), US Customs & Border Protection (CBP), US Citizenship & Immigration Services (CIS), US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), US Secret Service (SS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and US Coast Guard (USCG).
Dr. Berry says pointedly, “FEMA is the one with the small cages to put you in if you do not behave. TSA is the one that gives you a useless body scan before you get on an airplane, bus, etc. DHS is the one adding its sensors to streetlights around America and the promoter of E-Verify and Real ID as a cradle-to-grave biometric tracking system for every American.” And it is CBP that the DHS is using to seize property along the US northern border.
According to Denny Rehberg, the reasons the DHS needs to seize all this property are: 1) to stop the “turf war” between federal agencies, 2) Drug growers are hiding in our forests, 3) to catch criminals hiding in our forests, 4) to stop illegal aliens from coming in America.
Let’s first acknowledge that the federal government has absolutely no natural right or constitutional jurisdiction to claim (much less seize) land and territory outside of the District of Columbia. In many of the western states of the US, for example, the vast majority of land in any given State is now regarded as “federal” land. Ask yourself, where is the constitutional authorization for this federal land grab? When did the various State legislatures vote to give these properties to the federal government? When did the various State governors sign the State laws giving these properties to the federal government? When did the citizens of the various states vote to give these properties to the federal government? The answer is, nowhere, and they didn’t!
How is it, then, that we have elected representatives such as Denny Rehberg–people who took an oath to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States–who are either so ignorant of the Constitution that they took an oath to uphold, or who are so flippant and careless about that oath, that they so quickly and routinely trample, not only the federal Constitution, but the natural laws and principles of God, and the sovereign rights and authority of the several states?
Now, let’s look at Rep. Rehberg’s reasons why he supports HR 1505 one at a time:
*To stop the “turf war” between federal agencies
This is a very specious argument, to say the least! No federal agency has any claim to State land! The land doesn’t belong to those miscreants inside the Beltway! It belongs to the people of the several states! Therefore, it is the responsibility of the State governor and county sheriff to determine who is and who is not allowed access to these lands. All this talk of a “turf war” between federal agencies is just a bunch of hooey!
On this point, we must note that Rep. Rehberg has introduced a “Sheriffs First” amendment to HR 1505. If approved, this amendment would recognize county sheriffs’ law enforcement power over federal agencies and personnel. Of course, this is power sheriffs already have!
For the record, I don’t believe for one second that Denny Rehberg cares one whit whether county sheriffs exercise their authority over these Nazi-like federal agencies. He came up with this amendment as a way to mollify the people of Montana after he discovered that a sizeable number of his constituents are rightfully “mad as hell” about his support for this draconian piece of legislation. After all, he is campaigning for a US Senate seat.
One disagreement I have with Dr. Berry’s analysis is his statement, “The exception to a sheriff’s ultimate authority should be our Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) which may be our only way to remove corruption among local police.” The way to deal with corrupt local police officials is for the governor to intervene. Per the Tenth Amendment, law enforcement is the exclusive jurisdiction of State government.
*Drug growers are hiding in our forests
In this regard, Dr. Berry’s analysis is absolutely spot-on: “America’s War on Drugs is a scam. It keeps the price of drugs high by limiting supply, so drug cartels and our CIA can make money selling drugs. It hires police to catch pot growers and smokers who overflow our prisons. But wealthy drug dealers who pay off the police have a free run. The solution is not to give DHS control over our land. The solution is to stop the War on Drugs.”
Dr. Berry is also correct when he states, “Virtually all drugs used in America come across our southern border and DHS has not been able to stop it. So why should we allow DHS to control non-existent drug traffic [over] our northern border when they can’t stop the problem where it exists?”
*To catch criminals who are hiding in our forests
Again, law enforcement is the responsibility of State and local government. If there are criminals “hiding in our forests,” it is the job of the State law enforcement agencies to find and apprehend them. Moreover, Dr. Berry astutely observes that to use this argument as justification to cede more authority and territory to DHS “shows the real intent of HR 1505 is to control American citizens.” Amen!
*To stop illegal aliens from coming into America
I cannot believe Denny Rehberg could say this with a straight face! Yeah, we have a real problem with all those illegal Canucks coming across our northern border, don’t we? That’s so absurd; I doubt that anyone reading that statement could do so without laughing out loud!
For the record, I live about 75 miles south of the Canadian border, and, ladies and gentlemen, I can tell you unequivocally that there is absolutely no problem with illegal aliens coming across that northern border! In fact, the western states that border Canada enjoy some of the lowest crime rates anywhere in the country.
I’ll tell you where we have a problem will illegal aliens (not that I have to): it’s along our southern border! So, what are the DHS and the rest of the federal government doing to protect our southern border? Not much! The DHS often imprisons Border Patrol agents who attempt to do their jobs. The federal Justice Department sued the State of Arizona for its attempt to stop illegal immigration and constantly hassles and harangues Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, because of his no-nonsense enforcement of Arizona immigration laws. Furthermore, the Obama administration secretly used federal police agencies to actually supply sophisticated firearms to Mexican drug cartels–firearms that were used to murder a US Border Patrol agent, no less. Does this sound like a federal government that is truly concerned about illegal immigration to you? And now we are supposed to believe that HR 1505 is designed to stop illegal immigration where, for all intents and purposes, it doesn’t even exist? Get real!
Dr. Berry inserts one more salient point into his column: “Do you see a pattern here? All the claimed reasons for HR 1505 are the result of federal laws or lack [of] enforcement of our Constitution. Now the feds want another law to supposedly cure the problems they created.”
See Dr. Ed Berry’s column at:
http://tinyurl.com/44vnu9q
I implore readers to contact their US congressman or congresswoman and find out where he or she stands on HR 1505. This is a monstrous bill that lurches the United States forward into a federal police state in giant strides! The implications and ramifications of this bill, should it become law, are staggering–and scary!
P.S. Let me once again remind readers that my son Tim Baldwin and I have just released the second edition of our blockbuster book, “Romans 13: The True Meaning of Submission.” I am absolutely convinced that if churches and Christians throughout America could get a good grasp of the true meaning of Romans 13, we could literally change the direction of the country! This imbecilic “obey-the-government-no-matter-what” misinterpretation of Romans 13 is as much responsible for America’s demise as is anything else that one can name. I strongly encourage readers to purchase this book for themselves and for their friends and relatives–and especially for their pastors and fellow churchmen.
To learn more about this hard-hitting new book, or to order, go to:
http://www.romans13truth.com/
*If you appreciate this column and want to help me distribute these editorial opinions to an ever-growing audience, donations may now be made by credit card, check, or Money Order. Use this link:
http://chuckbaldwinlive.com/home/?page_id=19
© Chuck Baldwin
Alleged Plot to Attack U.S. Officials Was Inspired by Online Anti-Government Novel, Authorities Say
An alleged plot to attack federal and state officials by suspected members of a fringe north Georgia militia group was inspired by an online anti-government novel, authorities said.
Court documents state that 73-year-old Frederick Thomas, a suspected member of the group, told others that he intended to model their actions on the online novel "Absolved," which involves small groups of citizens attacking U.S. officials.
The four suspected members, who federal authorities arrested Tuesday, were expected to appear in court Wednesday.
They were part of a group that also tried to obtain an unregistered explosive device and sought out the complex formula to produce Ricin, a biological toxin that can be lethal in small doses, according to a federal complaint.
Authorities said the group intended to use the plot of the novel "Absolved," written by Mike Vanderboegh, a blogger who has closely followed the botched federal investigation known as "Fast and Furious." He also runs a whistleblower website called Sipsey Street Irregulars.
During a phone interview with FoxNews.com on Wednesday, Vanderboegh claimed he was not responsible for the alleged plot.
"What kind of moron uses the phrase 'save the Constitution and then goes out to try and distribute Ricin?" Vanderboegh said. "This has got to be the Alzheimer's gang. What political point is made there? I don't understand what was going on in the minds of these Georgia idiots."
The four listed in the indictment are Thomas; Dan Roberts, 67; Ray Adams, 65; and Samuel Crump, 68. The men live in the north Georgia towns of Cleveland and Toccoa.
They had been talking about "covert" operations since at least March, according to court records, discussing murder, theft and using toxic agents and assassinations to undermine the state and federal government.
In one of the indictments obtained by FoxNews.com, authorities said Thomas is recorded saying, "Let's shoot the bastards that we discover are anti-American. And to me the best way to do that is to walk up behind them with a suppressed .22."
"I am of the, uh, old school, Mafia; one behind the ear with a .22 is all you need," Thomas allegedly said. "Of course a .40 Smith and Wesson or .45 ACP is just as good, even better, cause it makes the whole head explode."
Investigators also say Thomas openly discussed creating a "bucket list" of government employees, politicians, corporate leaders and members of the media he felt needed to be "taken out."
"I've been to war, and I've taken life before, and I can do it again," he told an undercover investigator, according to the records.
Thomas' wife, Charlotte, called the charges "baloney."
"He spent 30 years in the U.S. Navy. He would not do anything against his country," she said in a phone interview with The Associated Press.
Thomas and Roberts are accused of buying what they believed was a silencer and an unregistered explosive from an undercover informant in May and June. Prosecutors say he discussed using the weapons in attacks against federal buildings.
Prosecutors say Crump also discussed making 10 pounds of Ricin and dispersing it in Atlanta and various cities across the nation, suggesting it can be blown out of a car speeding down an interstate highway.
Adams, meanwhile, is accused of showing an informant the formula to make Ricin and identifying the ways to obtain the ingredients.
Thomas is accused of driving to Atlanta with a confidential informant on May 24 and scoping out an IRS building there and an ATF building "to plan and assess for possible attacks," the indictment states.
"We'd have to blow the whole building, like Timothy McVeigh," Thomas said during the trip to Atlanta, the indictment states.
Charlotte Thomas said her husband was arrested in a restaurant in Cornelia, Ga., and federal agents were at her home when she returned from the grocery store Tuesday afternoon. She said the agents wouldn't let her in her home.
"They tore up my house," Charlotte Thomas said.
She said her husband doesn't have an attorney yet.
Margaret Roberts of Toccoa said FBI agents showed up with a search warrant and went through her home, handcuffing her and taking a computer and other items. She said her husband is retired from the sign business and lives on pensions.
"He's never been in trouble with the law. He's not anti-government. He would never hurt anybody," she said.
Listed numbers for the other two suspects could not be found.
Attorneys for the men were not identified, and the federal defender's office had no immediate comment.
U.S. Attorney Sally Quillian Yates said the case is a reminder that "we must also remain vigilant in protecting our country from citizens within our own borders who threaten our safety and security."
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/11/01/4-suspected-us-militia-members-charged-in-plot/#ixzz1cgYfga5K
This Asteroid Is Getting Way too Close to Earth
This pixelated grayscale image was taken by the Arecibo Planetary Radar Facility in Puerto Rico on April 2010. It shows an asteroid the size of an aircraft carrier on direct interception course with Earth's orbit.
The arrival day: November 8. This is its trajectory.
Pretty damn close. In fact, The 1300-foot-wide (400-meter) asteroid called 2005 YU55 will get closer to our home planet than the Moon itself: 201,700 miles (324,600 kilometers). That's 0.85 the distance from our silver satellite. So no, it will not kill us. But it will get close enough to get uncomfortable.
According to NASA, the "trajectory of asteroid 2005 YU55 is well understood," so there's no dangers whatsoever. Its gravitational influence will not affect anything in our planet, so don't expect volcanos to go off, tectonic plates to sink into melting magma or tides getting New York under the Atlantic ocean. It will just pass by as scientists observe it using the Goldstone and Arecibo antennas, so expect some asteroid porn in the coming days.
Full sizeIt's just a friendly, slowly spinning spherical asteroid darker than charcoal saying high... I WILL GET YOU THE NEXT TIME! (in 2028)
This Asteroid Is Getting Way too Close to Earth
This pixelated grayscale image was taken by the Arecibo Planetary Radar Facility in Puerto Rico on April 2010. It shows an asteroid the size of an aircraft carrier on direct interception course with Earth's orbit.
The arrival day: November 8. This is its trajectory.
[Check the animated GIF below]
Pretty damn close. In fact, The 1300-foot-wide (400-meter) asteroid called 2005 YU55 will get closer to our home planet than the Moon itself: 201,700 miles (324,600 kilometers). That's 0.85 the distance from our silver satellite. So no, it will not kill us. But it will get close enough to get uncomfortable.
According to NASA, the "trajectory of asteroid 2005 YU55 is well understood," so there's no dangers whatsoever. Its gravitational influence will not affect anything in our planet, so don't expect volcanos to go off, tectonic plates to sink into melting magma or tides getting New York under the Atlantic ocean. It will just pass by as scientists observe it using the Goldstone and Arecibo antennas, so expect some asteroid porn in the coming days.
Full sizeIt's just a friendly, slowly spinning spherical asteroid darker than charcoal saying high... I WILL GET YOU THE NEXT TIME! (in 2028 )
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