Editor's notes: understand that "RedState" is a huge conservative blog. The reference to RedState occurs in another conservative political blog, DougRoss@journal. Ross celebrates the conservative effort but is not excited by the content of the Pledge. He has his list -- one worth reading. We have ours. Most of our points are NOT in the Pledge in terms of specifics.
Our grade for the GOP Pledge to Aermica: A for intent and purpose ; B- for content
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Editor's notes: understand that Obama is not a dictator, but he often functions as if he were. The problem? Certainly it is Obama but more than that, it is the system of presidential powers that has been allowed to increase over the years. Among the first order(s) of business with the 112th Congress (taking office on January 20th) is a review and a revision of presidential authority. If the reader has suggestions or criticisms, please address your thoughts to midknightmail1@aol.com
1. Czars: If the appointment of "czars" is allowed to continue, the number and job description must be authorized by [at least] the Senate. As it stands, now, Obama has nearly 50 czars, folks appointed by him and without Congressional approval. As "czars," they are considered to be presidential staff and are not subject to subpoena or Congressional review at any level. In the case of the "pay czar," we have an administrator not elected by the people, not approved or vetted in any way by Congress, not subject to subpoena power, reviewing and restricting executive pay for private business. There is no appeal for his decisions. He is -- in every respect -- a dictator.
2. Executive Order: the fact that it is entirely possible, apparently and according to recent news reporting, for Obama to give amnesty to 12 million illegal aliens is evidence of a president who is out of control. We need to limit executive order and use the threat of impeachment when those rules are violated. Because of Obama, we now know that a true "dictatorship" is possible via a creative president using the powers that are allowed to him, the executive privilege given to his position, the complicity of a Marxist oriented free press and the regulatory powers of Federal agencies such as the EPA, the FCC, the FTC, and NEA (look for definitions at end of article), to name a few, under his control.
3. Presidential time in office: the two term limit for a sitting president is the result of the 22nd amendment to the Constitution -- making it much more difficult for a dictator minded individual to become just that, a long term dictator. Congress needs to review this amendment with a view of ensuring its continuation. There must never be a short-circuited legislative reversal to this amendment.
The socialist, FDR, was elected to four presidential terms - the only president in American history to serve more than two terms. With all the talk of how the American people loved this guy, it is curious that immediately after his time in office, the 22nd amendment was proposed, passed and ratified by the several states - a process that took 4 years (1947 to February of 1951) .
4. Proof of Citizenship: since the free press has abdicated it's self-appoint responsibility to fully vet presidential candidates, the qualifying issues of age and citizenship should become a matter of a mandated evidential procedure of some sort. When folks asking for proof of age or citizenship are regarded as "wacko's," it is time for Congressional mandates on the issue.
5. "Treason" needs to be defined and enforced or officially disregarded.
6. GITMO needs to be continued and modified to meet current practical and populace demands. The detention center cannot be closed. From time to time, we will capture foreign enemies, hell bent on killing Americans, who cannot be tried in a civilian court of law for reasons of national security. Understand that the Supreme Court allows for such a circumstance. We need to aggressively pursue a revitalization of the use of GITMO or a similar institution.
7. Powers of a Lame Duck Congress: under no circumstance should a lame duck congress be allowed to legislate new laws introduced after mid-term and presidential elections. If particular issues have not be formally introduced into the legislative debate well before a congressional/presidential election, they should not be allowed to be presented in the time following those elections and the last day of that congresses activities (January 19th following the specific election. The work of a lame duck Congress should be limited to the completion of legislation already introduced. If nothing else, all legislation introduced and/or passed by a lame duck congress must be reviewed by the new congress.
Tom Harken , a Marxist leaning Senator from Iowa, wants to use the lame duck Congress to pass the "card check" that would allow unions to take over factories, shops and companies without a secret ballot vote. This should not be allowed as a matter of law.
Understand that a new congress comes into power every two years -- after the so-called 'midterms' and, again, after the presidential election.
8. 5 Day review: all written legislation must be posted to the Internet for at least 5 working days (not including the weekends). If our politicians refuse to read the laws they pass, certainly the people those laws will govern should.
9. "Reconciliation" -- the rules for reconciliation need to be redrafted to insure its limited use - for budgetary matters only and to the original bill in question.
10. Filibuster Rule: without this procedure, the minority party has little to no power in the Senate. The Dems bitch about this procedure now, but loved the filibuster when they were the minority party. It is a Constitutional feature and needs two-thirds vote in the Senate to change PLUS a vote of 2/3 of the States in our Union. Understand that without the filibuster, the majority party in the Senate can pass any of its legislative agenda with just 51 votes instead of the current requirement of 60 votes. Understand that we do not need to make controversial legislation easier to pass.
11. "Deemed to have passed" -- this is a rule in the House that allows a bill to be declared as "deemed to have past" without the House actually voting on the bill. This needs to be taken down. It is an issue, today, because of the Dems refusal to committee, debate and vote on a fiscal budget for 2010/2011. Instead, they have opted for passing a spending bill offered IN THE PLACE OF A BUDGET under the rule of "deemed to have passed." No vote is taken. Bills in Congress can be passed without anyone reading the legislation
12. Repeal of the Wealth Tax: a tax of 1.8 % (soon to be 25% or more) of the estimated worth of all the assests of those deemed as "wealthy." Understand that the highest tax bracket will rise from 35 % to 39% federal, 10% on average in many states, and now, a summary tax on on thier accumulated worth. Remember the good old days we talked against "double taxation ?" When exactly did that bit of rhetoric go down the drain?
13. Privacy of voter information: it is clear with the Obama crowd that if voter registration information including names and addresses was to continue as "public information," it would be used to 'harass' the dissenting voter. This information needs to be protected information for the same reason the ballot should remain a "secret" ballot.
14. Limit Federal agencies such as the EPA, FTC and the FCC, preventing them from expanding or originating federal law without said revisions being provided by the Congress of the United States. An example of regulatory excess is found in this story: http://www.thedailytimes.com/article/20100721/BIZ/100729990 In this story, we have the EPA accomplishing the environmental will of the Obama Administration.
15. Defeat the notion of "sanctuary cities" as illegal and punishable as a criminal offense in addition to funding rejection by the Federal Government.
16. Legislate a refusal to Federally fund private news media.
17. Revisions to the July 2010 FinReg Reform law need to include opening up the SEC to "freedom of information" requests and Congressional review demands. Note that we do not call for a complete repeal of this law. We can find few conservative economists who are calling from a complete repeal.
18. The Fed: this central bank needs 5 year audits [at least] under the purvey of the Senate Finance Committee and a report written with Fed concerns in mind. NO MORE SECRECY for this private organization in charge of our national well being. It is a banking institution, not a "for profit" entity. Someone needs to let these folks know this.
19. Repeal 1099 rule in FinReg: as if the IRS does not have enough to do, they will have to check out 1099's written for supplies of fuel and product of $600 or more - adding $17 billion in accounting costs to business and thousands to the IRS employment roles. The cost of this law far out weighs any good that might come of its implementation.
20. The pay czar, under the Obama Administration, needs to be legislatively abandoned. In the case of the "pay czar," we have an administrator not elected by the people, not approved or vetted in any way by Congress, not subject to subpoena power, reviewing and restricting executive pay for private business. There is no appeal for his decisions. He is -- in every respect -- a dictator. (Note: "czars " are regarded as presidential staff and are protected from being forced to testify to anyone via subpoena.).
21. Permanent repeal of the Estate Tax, commonly known as the "death tax." The tax typically raises 23 billion per year, equal to the total cost of "earmark" add-ons. This tax is immoral on its face. Understand that individuals and corporate entities effected by this tax cannot pass on their businesses, property, homes and farms to family and friends without paying a huge penalty at the time of their death. They have been taxpayers all their lives and, in the end, this country and, especially, the Deomcrat Party, rape them shortly after their funeral(s). This is wealth redistribution and nothing more. One in ten commercial farms will be hit by this tax, effecting nearly a million new jobs. For example, if a farm is worth 3 million dollars, under the new regulations, two million will be taxed at the rate of 55%. In this scenario, your Dad dies and leaves you the farm. Suddenly, you owe the stinking government 1,1 million dollars !!
End notes: EPA - Environmental Protection Agency; FCC = Federal Communications Commission; FTC = Federal Trade Commission; NEA = National Education Agency.
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