Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Another Possible Presidential Candidate

I found out today that another possible candidate for President has been putting out some feelers, and forming an exploratory committee. Now I have met this guy, talked to him on the phone recently and think he would make a good Presidential Candidate. I have edited his National Issues Position statement enough to take out the obvious references to his career. Without knowing who this man is, do you like his positions on the issues, and would you support him if he were to run?




Economy – Lower taxes, smaller government, and less spending will reduce the deficit and enable economic growth and a truly “stimulated” economy.

I believe in the reduction of taxes at all levels, and a need to reform the tax system by studying and implementing a “flat tax” or “fair tax,” which relies on a national sales tax instead of a tax on income.

We also need to return American manufacturing to our Country by revoking unfair “free trade” agreements which have severely damaged our economy through loss of jobs and skill development. We need the phrase “Made in America” to mean something again.

We must cut the deficit and balance the budget using accurate data unlike budget projections used by the present administration.


Constitution – ......................, I know that the Constitution of the United States is the Supreme Law of the Land and all officials, state and federal, Legislative, Executive and Judicial are bound thereby.

Separation of Powers, Checks and Balances, States’ Rights, and our Bill of Rights are integral parts of the Constitution which we must observe.

All actions of state and federal officials must conform to the Constitution and it should only be changed by amendments by the people, not decisions of activist judges.


Immigration
– We must stop the flow of illegal aliens across both our northern and southern borders. Open borders are a threat to our national security and to our economy.

We must allow willing states (like Arizona) to do their own job of protecting the health, safety, and welfare of its citizens.


Health Care
– We do not need socialized medicine which will ultimately lead to loss of quality and affordability of health care, as well as loss of access to the latest medical technology.

Businesses should receive tax credits for employee health care coverage, and health insurance should be available between the states for competition and quality care.

Churches and charitable organizations should be encouraged to help the needy and poor.

Military - As a former military officer, Vietnam veteran, and graduate of West Point, I believe in a strong military defense, and I have always been a strong advocate for the men and women who now serve in the Armed Forces.

More funding should be available to develop a missile defense system and to bring back our Navy, Air Force, Army, Marines and Coast Guard to the most modern technological advances including weapon systems.

Homosexuality should be against military policy as was the law prior to Bill Clinton.

We should not be entangled in foreign wars merely at the whim and caprice of any President. Only in dire emergencies should a President as Commander-in-Chief employ the use of arms as set forth in the War Powers Clause. In all other cases action by Congress is required under the Constitution.


Energy – We need independence from foreign oil by freeing access to our own natural resources and developing other sources such as nuclear, solar, wind, and fossil fuels. Coal and oil supplies should be developed. Off shore drilling should be increased but subject to reasonable regulations.


Education
– the federal government should not hamper the education systems of various states as there is no authority for federal involvement under the Constitution.

Competition between the states and freedom of various educational structures should be available to parents who are charged with the responsibility to teach their children.

Charter schools, vouchers, tax credits, home schooling, Christian schools, and technical training should be encouraged.

Foreign Affairs – America should serve as a good example to other nations, not as a police force to force our will upon others.

We must treat sovereign nations as we would want to be treated.

Respect for our strength is our best defense. “Walk softly and carry a big stick” is and should be our guide.

We should not be subject to UN control and direction and should not rely or support UN treaties like LOST (Law of the Sea Treaty), Convention on the Rights of the Child, and Kyoto Protocol, which Barack Obama unsuccessfully tried to force on our Country. Such treaties only undermine our sovereignty as a nation.

We must stand strongly with our allies and act with authority and discipline with those who would undermine and destroy our national security.

We must maintain a strong nuclear defense and not rely on nuclear reduction treaties which will leave us vulnerable to foreign powers.


Family – As a husband, father, and grandfather I know the importance of the future we leave to our posterity.

A strong family based on marriage between one man and one woman is and shall remain our only guide and model.

I oppose abortion, same-sex marriage, civil unions, and all other threats to the family.

Funding for Planned Parenthood or any form of abortion using federal funds should be stopped.

We must remain a moral and virtuous people, and remain one Nation under God.

I strongly support freedom of worship and faith in God upon Whom we have always relied in peace and war.



I'll post his name on Friday.

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

I'm Back

I simply haven't taken the effort to post anything for a long time. Too many other things going on. Since I intend to start posting again, I'll try to tell about some of those things in the coming weeks.

Tonight however, I want to point you to a phenomenal article in the latest issue of Imprimis. This in not an endorsement of the publication, Hillsdale college or the author. I simply desire to urge you, maybe even implore you to go to the website and read this piece. It is amazing on about 5 different levels.

I've been getting Imprimis since Paul Harvey was offering free subscriptions way back in the late 90's. Most of the time it goes in the round file with the rest of the neo-con, faux conservative propaganda.


The Floating Dollar


I welcome your comments. What do you think??

Sunday, July 11, 2010

Concealed Carry

Iowa has been, for years, I don't know how long, a state where the sheriffs issued concealed carry permits based on the discretion of the sheriff, or what is commonly called a may-issue system.
The sheriff may issue a permit based on his own discretion, and is not required to issue a permit.

Those of us who are purists have real trouble finding the concept of may-issue permits in the text of this Constitutional statement,

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

In my humble opinion is takes a real serious case of mental absurdity to find in that text the ability of some two-bit County Mountie to deny a God given right. Of course I'm not a sleazy lawyer, nor do I desire to play one on TV.

In the last legislative session here in Iowa, a friend of mine introduced for the second year in a row, a bill was based on a Vermont style carry law. Here is an excerpt of a position paper from Gun Owners of America of which I am a member on the subject.

Several states are considering adopting "Vermont-style" concealed carry legislation. Most of the Carry Concealed Weapon (CCW) laws in the country require citizens to first get permits. But in a couple of states, like Vermont, citizens can carry a firearm without getting permission . . . without paying a fee . . . or without going through any kind of government- imposed waiting period. There are many reasons for a state to adopt a genuine right to carry law:

1. Carrying a firearm is a "right" not a "privilege"

The Second Amendment guarantees that "the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed." This means that law-abiding citizens should not need to beg the government for permission to carry a firearm. That would turn the "right" to bear arms into a mere "privilege." Likewise, one should not have to be photographed, fingerprinted, or registered before they can exercise their Second Amendment rights. Criminals certainly do not jump through these "hoops." The Second Amendment is no different than any of the other protections enumerated in the Bill of Rights. That is, honest citizens should not need a government issued permission slip; rather, they should be able to carry as a matter of right.


What we got instead was a compromise deal between the NRA and the sodomy loving Demoncrat president of the Iowa Senate, which allowed a bill that made shall-issue the law in Iowa. Now this is an improvement over what we had, but we were one vote short of getting the Vermont style law last year. And in an attempt to keep that from happening, the NRA sold out the Iowa gun owners to claim victory in getting a shall-issue bill.

As a side note, it should not surprise anyone that the NRA may endorse Harry Reid in his Senate Race in New Mexico. Anything it takes for NRA to keep itself in a position of power seems to be the current mode of operation at NRA.

Anyway, Iowa is now going to be a shall-issue state. The sheriff must issue a permit, unless he can provide a written reason explaining his reason for refusing to issue a permit. This legislation passed near the end of April, and goes into effect later this year.

I still intend to fight for a Vermont style law. I'm assuming I will be fighting against the NRA and it big money interests, but I will continue to fight.

I was motivated to write about this issue after a verdict was announced in a recent court case here involving an acquaintance of mine. Rather than try to explain the details I'm just going to link to several articles on the subject, ......

Concealed Carry Denial

Too Little (Almost) Too Late

First Amendment Violation

And I going to reprint this one, the highlights are added by me,

Wall Street Journal

They say you’re never too old to learn, but one sheriff who ran afoul of the First Amendment won’t have a choice.

A federal judge upbraided Osceola County, Iowa, Sheriff Douglas L. Weber this week for denying a concealed weapon permit to an Iowa man because he engaged in frequent political advocacy. So egregious were the sheriff’s actions, the judge found, that the judge ordered Weber back to school for a court approved course on the Constitution. See here for story in the Sioux City Journal. (h/t: The Volokh Conspiracy)

“In denying Paul a concealed weapons permit, Sheriff Weber single-handedly hijacked the First Amendment and nullified its freedoms and protections,” wrote Federal Judge Mark Bennett in the opinion. “Ironically, Sheriff Weber, sworn to uphold the Constitution, in fact retaliated against a citizen of his county who used this important freedom of speech and association precisely in the manner envisioned by the founding members of our nation.”

Paul Dorr, who filed the suit, was denied the permit because people considered him strange as a result of his political activities, which included gathering information on the size of the county budget. By way of explanation for the denial, Weber wrote on Dorr’s application, “Concern from Public. Don’t trust him.”

Bennett writes in his ruling that it is often difficult to determine what drives an individual’s decisions in a case like this, but Weber’s testimony was so forthcoming that it didn’t leave a shred of doubt.

“The court finds a tsunami, a maelstrom, an avalanche, of direct, uncontroverted evidence in Sheriff Weber’s own testimony to conclude beyond all doubt that he unquestionably violated the First Amendment rights of at least Paul Dorr,” he wrote.

Dorr, unsurprisingly, was quite happy with the ruling. “Justice is served,” he told the Sioux City paper Wednesday. “I get my permit back and the sheriff is being sent back to school. The harm done by Sheriff Weber against the 6th and 9th commandments has been made right.”

The paper couldn’t reach the sheriff for comment on the case or the required class. Judge Bennett, for his part, seems quite comfortable giving a lecture himself:

“This is a great reminder that the First Amendment protects the sole individual who may be a gadfly, kook, weirdo, nut job, whacko, and spook, with the same force of protection as folks with more majoritarian and popular views.”





And I want to say that this kind of behavior by sheriffs is exactly why I want a Vermont style law as opposed to the Shall-Issue which we will soon have as Law.

If a sheriff will knowingly violate the rights of a citizen thy way Sheriff Weber violated Paul Dorr's rights, by what logical standard can we expect that same kind of sheriff to justly and fairly exercise his position when the shall-issue system is in place. I believe that some sheriffs will find every way possible to continue to deny gun owners the right to carry by using every illegal, immoral and underhanded tactic they can think of to refuse to issue carry permits. Just like Sheriff Weber did to Paul Dorr. They will have to work harder at it, they will have to issue more permits than they previously did, but my guess is that we will continue to hear accounts of lawful citizens denied they Constitutional rights by sheriffs who have no regard for the rights of the citizen,

Friday, June 4, 2010

Maybe I could ride the Tour De France?

I used to ride a bike a lot when I was a kid. Had one for getting around when I was in college. Went on several rides around Saylorville Lake in those days. Now that I'm old, I haven't been on a bike for several years. But, I wonder could I take up competitive cycling if I had one of these bikes?






I have a fair collection of Dewalt cordless power tools. And I've always wondered how they could be used to power a bike. I think we have an answer.


And no I couldn't ride competitively, unless they have a class for fat guys.

Monday, May 17, 2010

The Lastest News from the farmers place.

First, this picture is for Res Ispa.

A while ago you asked if there were common around here. And the answer is, sorta.

Since so much of the land is tilled for agricultural purposes, the areas where you can find them are limited. But, in those areas, we seem to have the proper rainfall and temperature for a healthy crop. A good friend of mine found several hundred of them earlier this year. I went to a county park and looked for a while one evening, found nothing.

This evening one of the twins was mowing along the grove and found these.







Now an update on the chickens. They are at the ugly stage. Lost all the downy yellow fuzz, and have very small feathers on the wings. Otherwise they are butt naked and butt ugly. On the second week we had them we had a cold snap in the weather, it got too cold in the barn, even though they were under heat lamps. So I put some old Ron Paul campaign signs around the room for the chickens and hung a LB White, LP gas heater in there for about a week and a half. We lost 12 from them piling up when it got too cold.









On Friday I took the day off. At 7:00am we left the kids at a friends place, then the lovely Mrs. farmer and I drove to western Iowa pulling a 24 ft trailer with a couple of sign/billboards to put in the back of a pickup for a parade. I'm helping a group of concerned citizens here in the area fight back against the lawless decision of the Iowa Supreme Court, which advocated granting sodomy permission certificates.

After we dropped off the sign in western Iowa, we went to my folks place, picked up a busted lawn tractor, which I need to work on as well as an old chicken nesting box which needs some major work. After we get these broilers raised, we may get a few laying chickens.

From my folks place we went to Des Moines for a meeting at 3:00, then parked the trailer in Ankeny, then visited some relatives for a few minutes.

We left Ankeny, went down East 14th to Euclid, went west two blocks and ate our supper at the Iowa Beef Steakhouse. Good food, decent price, good service. No complaints.

With our stomachs full we then ventured into downtown Des Moines to the Embassy Suites. Campaign for Liberty held a regional conference there. I joined Gun Owners of America for a year. Shook hands with several political types. Then heard speeches from Jan Mickelson of WHO Radio,( a Christian Libertarian), Thomas Woods author of Meltdown, and the honorable Ron Paul. A very enjoyable evening.

Picked up the trailer in Ankeny on the way back north. Got home about 11:30.