"Hundreds of people turned out across the Tri-State this weekend for what was billed as a 'Day of Resistance'. These are peace protests in support of the second amendment. Are these people really concerned about their second amendment rights? Vice President Joe Biden says 'No'." Continue reading →
"When asked if they thought it was 'constitutional or unconstitutional for the president of the United States to order the killing of American citizens who are suspected of being terrorists,' 57 percent of respondents said they thought it was unconstitutional, including 65 percent of Republicans, 64 percent of independents, and 44 percent of Democrats." Continue reading →
"In a huge win for the Bill of Rights, the Montana House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved a bill to ban indefinite detention in Montana by a vote of 97 to 1. Introduced by state Rep. Nicholas Schwaderer, HB 522 would also 'prohibit state cooperation with federal officials' who try to enforce the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The lone no vote was cast by Democrat Bob Mehlhoff. HB 522 previously passed the House Judiciary Committeeunanimously. The bill now heads to the state senate for approval." Continue reading →
"I am getting more and more confirmation from unrelated sources that the Obama 3.8% tax on unearned income cannot be offset by the Foreign Tax Credits of U.S. citizens abroad. To put it simply: U.S. citizens abroad, who via taxation in their country of residence, pay for health care in their country of residence, are now required to pay for health care for U.S. residents. Oh well: I guess that’s consistent with the definition of citizenship that Obama gave in his State of the Union address. U.S. citizens abroad must accept their obligations to those remaining inside the U.S." Continue reading →
"In these attacks, known as 'signature strikes,' drone operators fire on people whose identities they do not know based on evidence of suspicious behavior or other 'signatures.' According to anonymously sourced media reports, such attacks on unidentified targets account for many, or even most, drone strikes. Despite that, the administration has never publicly spoken about signature strikes. What is the legal justification for signature strikes? What qualifies as a 'signature' that would prompt a deadly strike? Do those being targeted have to pose a threat to the United States? And how many civilians have been killed in such strikes?" Continue reading →
"In what has to be one of the more cynical moves in recent US political history, the White House has announced (see above) that more information freely distributed is better than less information available on via subscription. This turn of events come about six weeks after the death information activist Aaron Swartz, who supposedly killed himself when faced with severe prosecution over the intent to distribute 'non-legal' publicly-funded information to the public. Swartz faced over 30 years of jail time for his 'crime,' and apparently committed suicide over his prosecution, we learn, after all, that such 'laws' are fungible and can be changed." Continue reading →
"Earlier this month, the Obama administration began preparing new legislation to force U.S. banks to disclose more information on foreign investors to those investors’ home governments. Could this because the IRS has only an empty hand to offer when it comes to reciprocity? However, the Obama administration has an uphill battle in convincing Congress to enact such coercive legislation. Many in Congress fear that foreign investors could pull trillions of dollars out of U.S. banks if the proposal becomes law. That could dramatically reduce foreign purchases of U.S. Treasury debt and crush the U.S. dollar. More blowback." Continue reading →
"Secretive, unaccountable agencies are making life and death decisions which effect our most basic rights. They provide 'secret evidence' to courts which cannot be checked … and often withhold any such 'evidence' even from the judges. The government uses 'secret evidence' to spy on Americans, prosecute leaking or terrorism charges (even against U.S. soldiers) and even assassinate people. All of this happened in Germany – as in America today – because the governments whipped up so much fear of attack by demonizing the enemy and declaring an open-ended war that people became complacent and stopped thinking for themselves." Continue reading →
"Mr. Constitutional Law Professor insisted that he signed the bill with 'serious reservations.' He also promised that he would never, ever use NDAA's powers -- he merely collects such prerogatives as you or I would books or china cups, so he can set them on a shelf and admire them. And for a guy who so unenthusiastically signed the legislation in 2012 -- and in 2013 as well -- he has most vigorously defended it. Judge Katherine Forrest declined to cooperate with evisceration of the Constitution and suspended the NDAA. Ole Reluctant Signer immediately appealed to the Second Circuit to overturn her ruling. That hearing took place yesterday in NYC." Continue reading →
"In a letter to Democratic Senator Diane Feinstein, who chairs the Senate Intelligence Committee, Ralph Nader and former Reagan administration official Bruce Fein point out that the drone-killings 'combine prosecutor, judge, jury, and executioner in a single person'. Rather than allowing critics of this program to testify in Brennan’s confirmation hearings, Senator Feinstein has limited testimony to the nominee himself. The same Senator Feinstein, of course, is promoting severe restrictions on private firearms ownership. She sees nothing at all wrong with disarming the population while giving the president an unrestricted license to kill American citizens." Continue reading →