Imperial Presidency

Obama couldn’t eat at Hill meeting without food ‘taster’

"Following President Obama’s lunch meeting with Senate Republicans on Capitol Hill, Maine Republican Senator Susan Collins described the food served and said the president was not able to eat since his 'taster' was not present. 'He looked longingly at it,' Collins continued. 'He honestly did look longingly at it, but apparently he has to have essentially a taster, and I pointed out to him that we were all tasters for him, that if the food had been poisoned all of us would have keeled over so, but he did look longingly at it and he remarked that we have far better food than the Democrats do, and I said that was because I was hosting.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingObama couldn’t eat at Hill meeting without food ‘taster’

Bush-era state secrecy expert: Presidents abuse power like in Kafka or Orwell novels

"William Leonard, who was entrusted with ensuring proper treatment of state secrets by government agencies in the immediate aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, said that over the past decade both the Obama and the previous Bush administrations had manipulated their classification authority to create new executive powers without congressional oversight or judicial review. Leonard, the former head of the Information Security Oversight Office from 2002 to 2007, said that what was at stake was 'the abuse of the very form of government we are operating under, as unilateral executive powers go unchallenged.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingBush-era state secrecy expert: Presidents abuse power like in Kafka or Orwell novels

Rep. Walter Jones: Dick Cheney is going to hell for the Iraq war

"Republican Rep. Walter Jones of North Carolina said Saturday that former Vice President Dick Cheney would likely end up in hell because of his role in the Iraq war. At a Young Americans for Liberty conference, Jones said it was impossible under current law to prosecute a president for intentionally manipulating intelligence reports to make the case for war. He co-authored a bill to change the law, but the legislation was killed in committee by Lamar Smith of Texas. The conservative Christian turned against the war after witnessing American causalities and once it became clear Iraq was not building any weapons of mass destruction." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingRep. Walter Jones: Dick Cheney is going to hell for the Iraq war

Ron Paul: Congress, Drones and The Imperial Presidency

"The administration's outrageous response to the most serious Constitutional question of all − when a government can kill its own citizens − is clear evidence of an executive branch out of control. Many of the drafters of the Constitution envisioned the presidency as an office with very limited powers, but even the most dedicated proponents of a strong presidency at the time would be shocked to see the concentration of power in the modern presidency. Today the presidency is viewed as the center of the federal government, with each successive administration expanding the power of the executive at the expense of Congress and the people." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingRon Paul: Congress, Drones and The Imperial Presidency

Why Rand Paul Is in Position to Become DC’s Most Powerful Pol

"While Paul received some criticism from both sides of the aisle, the Democratic criticism was muted by the obviousness of Paul's position and the inadequate response from the Obama administration. Now, House Democrats have done what modern US politics dictates they must do: They have sent a letter to Obama asking him to clarify his position on drone strikes. Paul easily seized leadership on this issue because it is one that appeals to both right and left. There are libertarian sensibilities on both sides of the aisle, and it was this coalition that Ronald Reagan capitalized on when he built his successful political run for the presidency." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWhy Rand Paul Is in Position to Become DC’s Most Powerful Pol

Is It Seditious to Oppose Drone-Killing? If So, Count me as a Seditionist

"While Senator Rand Paul’s drone filibuster will not restrain the Obama administration’s use of drones to carry out targeted killings of alleged terrorists and militants, it has laid bare an interesting alignment on the political landscape. Some nominally liberal commentators, such as Newsweek’s Eleanor Clift, accused Senator Paul and other opponents of the drone program of inciting sedition. America was founded on principled hostility to power, not unqualified submission to it. The Founders most likely wouldn’t recognize as Americans people who would entrust the president with the power of discretionary killing." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingIs It Seditious to Oppose Drone-Killing? If So, Count me as a Seditionist

Forbes: 1.6 Billion Rounds Of Ammo For Homeland Security? It’s Time For A National Conversation

"Homeland Security has issued an open purchase order for 1.6 billion rounds of ammunition. As reported elsewhere, some of this purchase order is for hollow-point rounds, forbidden by international law for use in war, along with a frightening amount specialized for snipers. At the height of the Iraq War the Army was expending less than 6 million rounds a month. Therefore 1.6 billion rounds would be enough to sustain a hot war for 20+ years. In America. Add to this perplexing outré purchase of ammo, DHS now is showing off its acquisition of heavily armored personnel carriers, repatriated from the Iraqi and Afghani theaters of operation." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingForbes: 1.6 Billion Rounds Of Ammo For Homeland Security? It’s Time For A National Conversation

Will Grigg: “No Hesitation”

"Among the training targets are images depicting 'non-traditional threats,' such as pregnant women, children, and grandmotherly women – in other words, 'Little People' – carrying guns. The company’s marketing team explains that the 'non-traditional targets' were created at the request of police officers and trainers, who are seeking to dis-inhibit the killing instincts of police 'when deadly force is required on subjects with atypical age, frailty or condition…. This hesitation time may be only seconds but that is not acceptable when officers are losing their lives in these same situations….'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWill Grigg: “No Hesitation”

“Gun Control” Means More State-Licensed Gun Violence

"Barack Obama paid a brief visit to Minneapolis today to rally support for his administration’s proposals to restrict private firearms ownership. Significantly, he didn’t address the public; instead, he met with police officials at the Minneapolis PoliceDepartment Special Operations Center. The White House praised Minneapolis as 'a city that has taken important steps to reduce gun violence and foster a conversation in the community about what further action is needed.' One of those steps was the overt militarization of law enforcement through the promiscuous use of SWAT teams." Continue reading →

Continue Reading“Gun Control” Means More State-Licensed Gun Violence