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Protecting a Piece of Paper
Author: BobR    Date: 2011-04-13 10:36:28

In Nov 2005, former president George W. Bush reportedly said the U.S. Constitution was just a "goddamned piece of paper". Although that has since been discredited, he has been recorded on record as saying that things would be better in a dictatorship as long as he "was the dictator". The assaults on our Constitution have been a constant thread in the fabric of our country's history, and it is a testament to the strength of that document and the blueprint for democracy that it created that it still survives to this day. We tend to focus on those horrid policies and legislation that curtail the rights of citizens (Jim Crow laws, the Patriot Act, etc.), so it's good to see those occasions when steps are taken in the right direction.

The Republicans current raison d'etre is to protect and serve Business, more so than country and more so than their own regressive social agenda. Nowhere is this more evident than in the bank holiday for Big Business in Rep Paul Ryan's (R-WI) "Budget Proposal" (I put that term in quotes for good reason - it's been universally panned by anyone with any economic sense). The tacit permission contained therein for businesses to feed at the trough is based on the Republican mindset that Business = citizen, that Corporations have the same rights under our Constitution as people (based on a faulty SCOTUS ruling).

That may change if a proposed Constitutional Amendment gains traction and passes. The idea is to circumvent the court ruling and establish an amendment that clearly states only persons are entitled to Constitutional rights, not business entities. This deserves the support of every citizen of the United States, regardless of one's political ideology.

On a smaller scale, a US Court has upheld a stay against the implementation of Arizona's immigration law. In an apparently non-intentional bit of irony in a single sentence, Gov Brewer stated:
"I remain steadfast in my belief that Arizona and other states have a sovereign right and obligation to protect their citizens and enforce immigration law in accordance with federal statute," she said.

It was this sort of "sovereign" talk that led to the Civil War. This will likely go to the Supreme Court, who will hopefully bury it in the bad idea file.

Close to home for me, Mayor Vincent Gray and several DC council members were arrested Sunday for blocking the road in front of the Senate building. Their complaint? Besides the ongoing "taxation without representation" travesty, the budget compromise deprives DC of its ability to make decisions about its own tax money:
The city will likely be unable to spend its own tax dollars on abortions for low-income women. It may also be banned from spending city money on needle exchange programs believed vital to curbing the spread of HIV in the district, where the disease is considered an epidemic. Also back: a school voucher program favored by Republicans.

So Kudos to Mayor Gray and council members for making a stink about this. Our country was based on the notion that if we pay taxes we should have some say about how that money is spent. The people of DC have their purse strings held by congresspeople from everywhere BUT DC. It's against the spirit of our Consitution and needs to change. Mayor Gray seems to be literally putting his ass on the line for this cause.

Finally, former rivals John Kerry (D-MA) and John McCain (R-AZ) are teaming up to create a "Privacy Bill of Rights". While this could be a LOT more comprehensive, it's nonetheless a good start, and an indication of what can be accomplished for THE PEOPLE when partisanship is set aside.

With actions moving forward to ensure that the rights of We The People are not being subjected to They The Big Business or fear, and to gain a voice for the voiceless taxpayers, my cap is doffed to these fine people. I salute those that work to protect that "goddamn piece of paper".
 

54 comments (Latest Comment: 04/13/2011 23:59:31 by TriSec)
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Comment by wickedpam on 04/13/2011 12:40:20
Morning


I still believe that if DC doesn't have voting rights then they need to treat the city like they would Puerto Rico, Guam any other American territy that doesn't have voting rights in Congress. Stop taxing people when they don't have the full rights of a regular citizen.

Comment by Raine on 04/13/2011 13:28:09
good morning! Excellent Blog, Bob.

I just spent a few moments reading this , about the Budget compromise. As many of you know, I often use ThinkProgress as a huge source of information, so I read this with trepidation. That said, this is a writer whom I deeply respect as well. She makes some VERY cogent points.

Comment by TriSec on 04/13/2011 13:40:26
Morning, comrades!

Ya know, it seems to me that the whole DC Taxation without Representation thing is something those Pee Tarty folks should be rallying around.

But, you can't really point out historical irony to them can you?



Comment by Raine on 04/13/2011 13:46:17
Could you imagine being a non participant on this Cruise ship?

Hurry! Hurry! Hurry! Sign up now for the 2011 “WND Tea Party at Sea,” a week-long cruise to Alaska, Aug. 26 to Sept. 2, as a star-studded cast of speakers “sharpen and edify one another . . . sailing the pristine and majestic Alaska coastline.”

WND, the animated Web ad says, stands for WorldNetDaily, which is the conservative media operation that focuses on, among other things, concerns about President Obama’s birthplace and various conspiracies to undermine our nation’s freedoms.

The hard-partying, fun-loving trip leaders include WND founder and editor Joseph Farah; “Obama Nation” author Jerome Corsi; “How Evil Works” author David Kupelian; conservative superstar and Willie Horton ad producer Floyd Brown; and Aaron Klein, author of the best-selling “The Manchurian President: Barack Obama’s Ties to Communists, Socialists and Other Anti-American Extremists” — probably not including the executives at Morgan Stanley and Citigroup whom Obama (and Bush) bailed out.

The cruise also features perrenial candidate Alan Keyes, who lost presidential races in 1992, 1996, 2000 and 2008. (He lost a Senate race to Obama in 2004.)

But wait! That’s not all. There will be some rising stars on board you may not have heard of but should not miss. First there’s Molotov Mitchell, who is listed as a “film director,” “political communications strategist” and “president of the award-winning Illuminati Pictures.” What’s more, “Molotov has produced over 100 music videos, commercials and short films, documented Christian and Occult subcultures, run for his life from knife-wielding voodoo priests” and “directed a film about building better marriages,” the ad says, noting, “You’ve probably never met anyone like Molotov Mitchell (born in 1979).”
Oh, YES, there is more at the link.

Comment by BobR on 04/13/2011 13:52:41
Quote by Raine:
good morning! Excellent Blog, Bob.

I just spent a few moments reading this , about the Budget compromise. As many of you know, I often use ThinkProgress as a huge source of information, so I read this with trepidation. That said, this is a writer whom I deeply respect as well. She makes some VERY cogent points.

Excellent link!

Comment by Raine on 04/13/2011 13:57:41
Just posted this to the Sexy Liberal page:

Please come to Boston in the springtime...

But seriously, I'm hoping y'all finally come to DC. The Arlington Drafthouse is a PERFECT Venue!


Comment by TriSec on 04/13/2011 13:59:36
Mmmmm.....and how many tea partyers have no idea who Vyaschachev Molotov is?



Comment by Raine on 04/13/2011 14:01:38
Quote by TriSec:
Mmmmm.....and how many tea partyers have no idea who Vyaschachev Molotov is?


I loved that snark in the article...
No doubt. Unclear if he’s related to Stalin’s foreign minister, V.M. Molotov, of Molotov-cocktail fame.


Comment by wickedpam on 04/13/2011 14:04:35
Quote by Raine:
Just posted this to the Sexy Liberal page:

Please come to Boston in the springtime...

But seriously, I'm hoping y'all finally come to DC. The Arlington Drafthouse is a PERFECT Venue!



We need to keep them away from MD! Everytime someone does a show in the DC Metro that I want to see they book MD and on a weeknight!

I think they are looking at this area and a weekend though

Comment by Raine on 04/13/2011 14:06:44
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Raine:
Just posted this to the Sexy Liberal page:

Please come to Boston in the springtime...

But seriously, I'm hoping y'all finally come to DC. The Arlington Drafthouse is a PERFECT Venue!



We need to keep them away from MD! Everytime someone does a show in the DC Metro that I want to see they book MD and on a weeknight!

I think they are looking at this area and a weekend though
That is why I figured we could suggest not just a City, But a VENUE as well.

I know the Arlington Drafthouse is notoriously progressive, and I think HAl has played there in the past.


Comment by Scoopster on 04/13/2011 14:06:56
Mornin' all..

http://s-ak.buzzfed.com/static/imagebuzz/terminal01/2011/4/10/16/fox-news-finally-gets-it-right-26256-1302466064-16.jpg


Comment by wickedpam on 04/13/2011 14:10:31
Offical HOA word - we have lost a second teabagger! 2 down 1 to go!

Comment by wickedpam on 04/13/2011 14:12:34
Quote by Raine:
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Raine:
Just posted this to the Sexy Liberal page:

Please come to Boston in the springtime...

But seriously, I'm hoping y'all finally come to DC. The Arlington Drafthouse is a PERFECT Venue!



We need to keep them away from MD! Everytime someone does a show in the DC Metro that I want to see they book MD and on a weeknight!

I think they are looking at this area and a weekend though
That is why I figured we could suggest not just a City, But a VENUE as well.

I know the Arlington Drafthouse is notoriously progressive, and I think HAl has played there in the past.


That works for me! At it will be warm and I can come out to play with the big kids! WooHoo

Comment by Raine on 04/13/2011 14:13:27
Quote by wickedpam:
Offical HOA word - we have lost a second teabagger! 2 down 1 to go!


I knew this would happen if you just hung in there. Remember it's a the long haul that matters.

Comment by Raine on 04/13/2011 14:14:52
Quote by wickedpam:
That works for me! At it will be warm and I can come out to play with the big kids! WooHoo
YES!!!!

You know, We'll have your suite ready, Ms. Mala.


Comment by wickedpam on 04/13/2011 14:19:05
Quote by Raine:
Quote by wickedpam:
Offical HOA word - we have lost a second teabagger! 2 down 1 to go!


I knew this would happen if you just hung in there. Remember it's a the long haul that matters.



and you know part of me feels bad for trying to shove then off the board by holding them to the rules and digging in, but the other part knows that the only reason they were their was to be bullies and go after houses that they dont' like.

Comment by wickedpam on 04/13/2011 14:20:07
Quote by Raine:
Quote by wickedpam:
That works for me! At it will be warm and I can come out to play with the big kids! WooHoo
YES!!!!

You know, We'll have your suite ready, Ms. Mala.


XD I love sleepover's a Casa Raine & Bob


Comment by Raine on 04/13/2011 14:28:01
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Raine:
Quote by wickedpam:
Offical HOA word - we have lost a second teabagger! 2 down 1 to go!


I knew this would happen if you just hung in there. Remember it's a the long haul that matters.



and you know part of me feels bad for trying to shove then off the board by holding them to the rules and digging in, but the other part knows that the only reason they were their was to be bullies and go after houses that they dont' like.
Feeling aren't fact. You knoew what they were doing.

That is fact.


Comment by wickedpam on 04/13/2011 14:30:30
Quote by Raine:
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Raine:
Quote by wickedpam:
Offical HOA word - we have lost a second teabagger! 2 down 1 to go!


I knew this would happen if you just hung in there. Remember it's a the long haul that matters.



and you know part of me feels bad for trying to shove then off the board by holding them to the rules and digging in, but the other part knows that the only reason they were their was to be bullies and go after houses that they dont' like.
Feeling aren't fact. You knoew what they were doing.

That is fact.



true - but as I've often been told I am a golden retrieve who just wants to make everyone happy

Comment by Raine on 04/13/2011 14:35:53
Some people will never be happy until they get ALL the marbles. If those people had thier way, in combination of your desire of making everyone happy, you would have found that in the end, you were unhappy.

That is what being a bully is all about. Getting all the power, and making people unhappy. The feelings of others is not a consideration.

I was bullied as a kid, and I see it happen all the time. You did the right thing because you stood up for the greater good instead of personal desire.



Comment by Raine on 04/13/2011 14:40:45
The AP just lost a LOT of credibility for me. They fell for a VERY big hoax.

Comment by wickedpam on 04/13/2011 14:41:22
Quote by Raine:
Some people will never be happy until they get ALL the marbles. If those people had thier way, in combination of your desire of making everyone happy, you would have found that in the end, you were unhappy.

That is what being a bully is all about. Getting all the power, and making people unhappy. The feelings of others is not a consideration.

I was bullied as a kid, and I see it happen all the time. You did the right thing because you stood up for the greater good instead of personal desire.




awww thanks

Sadly bullying isn't limited to just kids.

You know the weird thing is - they did have the majority and they just imploded

Comment by wickedpam on 04/13/2011 14:44:45
Quote by Raine:
The AP just lost a LOT of credibility for me. They fell for a VERY big hoax.


wow - I think I would have fallen for it too, it looks really offical.


Comment by Raine on 04/13/2011 14:45:00
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Raine:
Some people will never be happy until they get ALL the marbles. If those people had thier way, in combination of your desire of making everyone happy, you would have found that in the end, you were unhappy.

That is what being a bully is all about. Getting all the power, and making people unhappy. The feelings of others is not a consideration.

I was bullied as a kid, and I see it happen all the time. You did the right thing because you stood up for the greater good instead of personal desire.




awww thanks

Sadly bullying isn't limited to just kids.

You know the weird thing is - they did have the majority and they just imploded
Some people just don't know how to lead responsibly.


Comment by Raine on 04/13/2011 14:47:36
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Raine:
The AP just lost a LOT of credibility for me. They fell for a VERY big hoax.


wow - I think I would have fallen for it too, it looks really offical.

Except for one VERY big detail, GE was never going to get a refund.

You an dI could fall for it, but the Associated Press? How hard is it to do a little research? It's been ALL over the damn news that GE didn't PAY taxes. So why would they get a TAX refund??

People like us don;t have the contacts and access to to nexus lexis, etc., but the AP does.

Comment by wickedpam on 04/13/2011 14:54:36
Quote by Raine:
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Raine:
The AP just lost a LOT of credibility for me. They fell for a VERY big hoax.


wow - I think I would have fallen for it too, it looks really offical.

Except for one VERY big detail, GE was never going to get a refund.

You an dI could fall for it, but the Associated Press? How hard is it to do a little research? It's been ALL over the damn news that GE didn't PAY taxes. So why would they get a TAX refund??

People like us don;t have the contacts and access to to nexus lexis, etc., but the AP does.



aahh, I see what you're saying now I should have paid closer attention

Comment by Raine on 04/13/2011 14:57:49
Quote by wickedpam:


aahh, I see what you're saying now I should have paid closer attention
Actually the AP should have done its job. We are supposed to be able to trust mainstream media.


Comment by Raine on 04/13/2011 15:08:35
Syracuse?!?!?!!

Well good for Syracuse. At least it is NY!

Comment by wickedpam on 04/13/2011 15:10:14
woohoo wine increase!

Comment by Raine on 04/13/2011 15:13:04
Quote by wickedpam:
woohoo wine increase!
What?

Are we talking about Momma drunk dialing Chris and Hal?


Comment by wickedpam on 04/13/2011 15:13:52
Quote by Raine:
Quote by wickedpam:
woohoo wine increase!
What?

Are we talking about Momma drunk dialing Chris and Hal?



wine sales increased in 2010

Comment by Raine on 04/13/2011 15:14:17
I had a skunk live under my porch. It never, ever sprayed.

Comment by wickedpam on 04/13/2011 15:29:48
did JK Rowling call the show?

Comment by Raine on 04/13/2011 15:40:29
Quote by wickedpam:
did JK Rowling call the show?

ooh I missed that call.



Comment by wickedpam on 04/13/2011 15:41:28
Quote by Raine:
Quote by wickedpam:
did JK Rowling call the show?

ooh I missed that call.




it was just a very posh sound british lady gushing over Hal

Comment by Scoopster on 04/13/2011 15:57:11
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Raine:
Quote by wickedpam:
woohoo wine increase!
What?

Are we talking about Momma drunk dialing Chris and Hal?

wine sales increased in 2010

You're welcome!

Comment by Raine on 04/13/2011 16:05:58
I really hope they find that serial killer on Long Island. This story strikes a little too close to the heart. I have spent many an hour on those beaches. From what I am reading most of those bodies have been found on town beaches, mostly Babylon.

I lived in Babylon. I used to go to the town beaches because Robert Moses State Park would get filled up so quickly. Plus they were quieter and less crowded. (and I could swim, and Fish -- no lie. )

Comment by Raine on 04/13/2011 16:06:57
Quote by Scoopster:
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Raine:
Quote by wickedpam:
woohoo wine increase!
What?

Are we talking about Momma drunk dialing Chris and Hal?

wine sales increased in 2010

You're welcome!
I would like to say that as well. We have MUCH enjoyed drinking wine here in Virginia...

Comment by Raine on 04/13/2011 16:07:50
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Raine:
Quote by wickedpam:
did JK Rowling call the show?

ooh I missed that call.




it was just a very posh sound british lady gushing over Hal
I heard that in the background. And yes, I must agree!


Comment by wickedpam on 04/13/2011 16:12:43
my guess, Thom has never seen Predator

Comment by BobR on 04/13/2011 16:14:15
Comment by livingonli on 04/13/2011 16:21:18
Good day everyone. Another crappy day here in New York. And last night was probably a rarity because both NY teams were home and both got rained out. Tonight the Knicks and Celtics play the last regular season and then play each other in round 1 of the NBA playoffs and the Rangers start their playoff series against the Caps tonight but at least I don't have to work tonight and I have MASN 2 the next two nights after that.

Comment by TriSec on 04/13/2011 16:50:54
With the Celtics slumping and the Sox sucking, all hope rides on the Bruins.

Angels and ministers of grace, defend us.



Comment by wickedpam on 04/13/2011 17:16:43
well, Thom is just a joy today

Comment by velveeta jones on 04/13/2011 18:25:10
OH SNAP! Mr. President!!



Comment by Raine on 04/13/2011 18:27:30
Quote by velveeta jones:
OH SNAP! Mr. President!!




Comment by wickedpam on 04/13/2011 18:40:11
what happened? I thought it wasn't till 4:30?

Comment by Raine on 04/13/2011 18:51:29
Quote by wickedpam:
what happened? I thought it wasn't till 4:30?
no.

there was a terrible amount of disinformation about the time of this speech. A lot of people thought it was a prime time speech from the oval office.


Comment by wickedpam on 04/13/2011 19:04:42
Quote by Raine:
Quote by wickedpam:
what happened? I thought it wasn't till 4:30?
no.

there was a terrible amount of disinformation about the time of this speech. A lot of people thought it was a prime time speech from the oval office.



dang it.