by Bill O'Connell on March 22, 2011
The constitutional powers of the President as Commander-in-Chief to introduce United States Armed Forces into hostilities, or into situations where imminent involvement in hostilities is clearly indicated by the circumstances, are exercised only pursuant to (1) a declaration of war, (2) specific statutory authorization, or (3) a national emergency created by attack upon the United States, its territories or possessions, or its armed forces.—War Powers Resolution of 1973, Section 2(c)
How many times have we heard both during the 2008 presidential campaign and since that Barack Obama was a constitutional scholar? Where did he find the time? Between being a community organizer, a Illinois state legislator, a law school professor, U.S. Senator and presidential candidate, when did he find time for his constitutional scholarship?
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by Bill O'Connell on January 22, 2010
The Incumbent Protection Act, aka McCain-Feingold, took a big hit yesterday from the Supreme Court. It is particularly timely with so many incumbents nervously eying the exits. The McCain-Feingold bill prohibited corporations and unions from “electioneering communications” within in 30 days of a primary, or 60 days of a general election. Those time limits probably match pretty nicely with when most people start paying close attention to elections. So if this kind of communication is cut off, who is left with the power of name recognition? That’s right, the incumbent and that is probably why 90% of incumbents are re-elected.
Outrage on the Left
President Obama immediately came out swinging saying it was a victory for “big oil, Wall Street banks, health insurance companies, and other special interests.” He somehow overlooked the SEIU union whose president topped the list of visitors to the White House. Unions will have unfettered communications as well. Chuck Schumer promises hearings and the Naderite Public Citizen group is proposing a constitutional amendment banning free speech for “for-profit” corporations. I’ll give you a moment to ponder that; a constitutional amendment to eviscerate the First Amendment.
The Momentum is Building
On April 15 it will be the first anniversary of the Tea Parties that were held across the country. Let’s raise a cup of tea, that the Ship of Liberty that was foundering on the rocks may at last be turning it’s guns on the enemy and turning the tide of battle. Virginia, New Jersey, a close loss in NY23, Massachusetts, the First Amendment, the momentum is building. But let’s not forget the words of Churchill:
Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning. — Winston Churchill
Don’t let up until we have our country back.
by Bill O'Connell on May 27, 2009
Wobbly Republicans
The drumbeat is starting. The Democrats are gleefully opening their playbook to the right page and holding it open for the weak kneed Republicans to see. “If you vote against Judge Sotomayor, the Hispanic vote will go against you and make you pay.”
Ah, the politics of class warfare. Republicans fall for it almost every time. That’s why we got John McCain as our nominee. The news analysis will point out how fewer Hispanics voted for McCain than for Bush, with Bush getting 40% and McCain only 31%. Maybe it was because McCain was a weak candidate? Bush put forward Miguel Estrada for the Supreme Court, he appointed Alberto Gonzales as the first Hispanic Attorney General, McCain and Bush were both for open borders. Boy, did that pay off!
Bush appoints Colin Powell as the first black Secretary of State, followed by Condoleezza Rice as the first black woman Secretary of State. So how did the black vote turn out for Bush?
So let’s get over copying the Democratic practice of appealing to groups and get back to our conservative principles of appealing to individuals. Don’t worry about the black vote, the Hispanic vote, the gay vote, the union vote, the Catholic vote. Worry about doing the right thing for all Americans. The Democrats want us to worry about all these blocs so that they can get us to meekly wave through their nominees. But when the tables are turned (e.g., Clarence Thomas, Michael Steele, Miguel Estrada, et. al.) they will be vicious, slanderous, mean and ugly. They don’t give a damn about offending the black or Hispanic vote because they think they own them. And when we put up candidates that are a weak imitation of the Democratic candidate, they do.
We need to stand for Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness and not back down from that. The votes will follow.
by Bill O'Connell on November 1, 2008
It has been reported that Barack Obama has kicked three newspapers off his campaign plane for the remainder of the campaign. The newspapers whose reporters have been kicked off are:
- Dallas Morning News
- Washington Times
- New York Post
These are not small time newspapers. It is also reported that these newspapers will possibly be replaced by Essence and Jet magazines. What is the common thread among these three newspapers? Their editorial boards have all recently endorsed John McCain.
This is the man of proclaimed even temperament, who wants to reach out, to heal the divisions in Washington.
Silence the Opposition
One of the first steps typically taken by a dictatorship is to silence the media. One of the fundamental liberties embedded in our constitution is freedom of the press. However this and other instances indicate that such freedom is under attack. There have been other accounts were Obama lawyers has threatened radio stations for playing certain ads or having guests with a viewpoint critical of Obama. There are instances of videos being yanked from YouTube because they cast Obama in a bad light. This is a very troubling side of Obama that many Americans do not see or realize.
by Bill O'Connell on October 30, 2008
Some insights into the inner workings of the Obama campaign from someone who says she’s seen enough to vote for McCain. She says she became a strong Hillary supporter. Interesting… and frightening
What do you think?
