THE FOUNDATION
"Liberty cannot be preserved without a general knowledge among the people, who have a right, from the frame of their nature, to knowledge, as their great Creator, who does nothing in vain, has given them understandings, and a desire to know; but besides this, they have a right, an indisputable, unalienable, indefeasible, divine right to that most dreaded and envied kind of knowledge; I mean, of the characters and conduct of their rulers." --John Adams, Dissertation on Canon and Feudal Law, 1765TOP 5 RIGHT HOOKS
Mississippi Mud
The mudslinging isn't over in Mississippi. Longtime incumbent Thad Cochran beat Tea Party favorite Chris McDaniel in the runoff primary vote 50.8% to 49.2%. The whole election between the Republicans was dirtier than a cup of Mississippi River water. Despite the millions of dollars national Tea Party groups poured into the state, Cochran won because he appealed to Democrat voters -- who could vote in the runoff thanks to a lax voting law in the state -- by bragging about his record of bringing pork spending into the state. McDaniel said he would contest the election results, saying, "[T]here is something a bit strange, there is something a bit unusual, about a Republican primary that's decided by liberal Democrats." More...Comment | Share
IRS Has Lost Trust
Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) slammed IRS Commissioner John Koskinen for failing to earn trust. "We have a problem with you," Issa said, "and you have a problem maintaining credibility." Issa continued, saying while the IRS has provided an "impressive number" of documents, they have deliberately excluded the ones that would "embarrass" the agency. "You promised to produce the documents; you did not," Issa added. "You promised to be candid and forthcoming; you were not." Furthermore, Issa continued, "You believe you earned trust before you came here and it was yours to lose. I believe you needed to earn our trust and you failed at this task." But the primary point was Issa's last: "[T]he American people do not believe the IRS is dealing fairly with them in this investigation."Comment | Share
Really Bad First Quarter
In May, first quarter GDP was reported to have grown, albeit by a scant 0.1%. But it wasn't long before observers were warning that was too optimistic, and, sure enough, first quarter GDP was soon revised to a loss of 1%. Then economists said it was probably closer to a 1.7% loss. Now, in a revision of a revision, the Commerce Department says the economy actually contracted at a 2.9% annual rate. That's the worst performance since the first quarter of 2009, when the economy shrank 5.4%. Neil Irwin of The New York Times, for one, was shocked: "What makes the sharply negative number all the more stunning is that it didn't feel like an economic contraction at all in the first quarter." He pointed to new jobs, consumer confidence and second quarter forecasts as evidence. But he didn't mention one key thing -- Barack Obama is still president, and Obamanomics is torching what should be a real recovery. More...Comment | Share
Dire Threat to Homeland
If the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) carves out a state from Syria and Iraq, one of the goals of the "nation" will be to bring war to the United States, according to a congressional report. The report quotes ISIL leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi's threat against America when he said, "Know, O defender of the Cross, that a proxy war will not help you in the Levant, just as it will not help you in Iraq. Soon, you will be in direct conflict -- God permitting -- against your will." With language like that, Baghdadi sounds like he's trying to add one more surah to the Koran. Does he forbid people from recreating his image? Currently, the ISIL has hundreds of fighters with Western passports. After the conflict, they may return and carry out attacks, according to The Washington Times. This is the dire consequence of Obama's foreign policy malfeasance. More...Comment | Share
Reuniting Illegals With Illegals
It appears the Obama administration is giving some young illegal aliens infiltrating the border exactly what they want -- amnesty. Rep. Paul Broun asked DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson to verify rumors that some detained aliens were being reacquainted with illegal families inside the U.S. "These kids that come here illegally, they are law breakers already, and you place them with families, and it's my understanding that some of these families may be illegal themselves," Broun stated. "Is that correct?" Johnson responded, "I'm sure that's true." Breitbart's Caroline May notes, "Under a Bush-era law, unaccompanied minors who are not from Mexico are detained at the border are transferred into the custody of Health and Human Services, which unifies the child with a parent, relative or sponsor in the Untied States." Considering this is one of the few laws this administration is actually enforcing, we're surprised Johnson didn't contend, "It's Bush's fault!" Then again, expanding the Left's Hispanic voter bloc is Team Obama's primary goal. Enforcement (and finger pointing) only applies when it's politically expedient. More...Comment | Share
For more, visit Right Hooks.
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Let Your Voice Be Heard
The Patriot Post serves as a beacon of Liberty for conservatives across the nation -- but it's only possible because of the generous support of our readers. Since 1996, Patriots like you have kept this publication afloat. Help us remain a leading voice for the restoration of First Principles in our government by making a secure online donation to our Independence Day Campaign. If you prefer to support us by mail, please send your donation with our printable donation form. We have approximately $225,400 left to raise by Independence Day in order to make budget."A sincere thank you for being the Voice of Essential Liberty for us all. We stand tall and proud as Patriots of this great country, but feel constantly trod upon by those who are either un- or ill-informed. It is your publication that continues to give us strength to stand up for what we believe in, no matter the consequences. Thanks for helping to keep conservative voices heard above all the Washington political rabble. Keep up the good work! " --Patti in Alabama
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RIGHT ANALYSIS
Administration Forced to Release Drone Memo
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An American-born Muslim, Awlaki became virulently anti-American while in the U.S. He moved to Yemen and worked for al-Qaida as a propagandist. He inspired thousands of young Muslims to become jihadis -- including Fort Hood murderer Nidal Hassan and Undi-bomber Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab -- with his sermons and lectures on the Internet, along with his many columns and articles. He also made numerous YouTube videos in English, appealing to American Muslims. A slew of U.S. counterterrorism officials have testified that Awlaki played an "operational" role in al-Qaida.
Awlaki's death, said one American official, "sets a sense of doom for the rest of them. Getting Awlaki, given his tight ... security, increases the sense of fear." But some Islamists claim that Awlaki will become a martyr and "motivate the Muslim youth to struggle harder against the enemies of Islam."
The ACLU and The New York Times lawsuit forced publication of a previously secret White House memo from 2010. It explains the administration's justification of lethal drone strikes on Americans. It mostly concerns the Awlaki mission, using basically the same arguments the administration successfully used in a case defending the government from lawsuits brought by families whose relatives were killed. It also outlines the legal justification for the government's drone-targeted killing program, calling the killings justifiable acts of war. Additionally, it claims the Department of Defense and other agencies may carry out extrajudicial killings even if the targets are Americans and despite any loss of innocent life.
According to the memo, "DoD ... [will] make every effort to minimize civilian casualties and ... the officer who launches the ordinance would be required to abort a strike if he or she concludes that civilians casualties would be disproportionate ... or that [it] ... will ... violate the laws of war. The CIA and Pentagon would conduct the operation [against al-Awlaki] according to international humanitarian law [emphasis added], to avoid undue suffering and make every effort to minimize civilian casualties."
In a recent speech, Attorney General Eric Holder laid out the administration's position: "Some have argued that the President is required to get permission from a federal ... court before taking action against a United States citizen who is a senior operational leader of al Qaeda or associated forces. This simply is not accurate. 'Due process' and 'judicial process' are not the same, particularly when it comes to national security. The Constitution guarantees due process [emphasis added], not judicial process."
"That is not to say," Holder continued, "that the Executive Branch has -- or should ever have -- the ability to target any such individuals without robust oversight. Which is why in keeping with the law and our constitutional system of checks and balances, the Executive Branch regularly informs the appropriate members of Congress about our counterterrorism activities." Just like in the Bowe Bergdahl deal, that is -- after the fact.
The use of drone strikes raises a host of thorny issues. First, killing U.S. citizens abroad without due process is problematic. Holder's justification is sheer double talk. Due process cannot be waived by the government despite what Holder says. Given this lawless administration, it's no surprise they claim the authority.
Another issue is the long-term effect of international drone use. Currently, only the U.S., Great Britain and Israel are known to have used them, but experts predict that within 10 years every nation in the world will have access. Then what? The only successful arms limitation agreements were those between the U.S. and the Soviets, which were driven solely by the prospect of mutually assured destruction -- something that won't restrain jihadis. Can the U.S. develop an anti-drone defense system to protect the homeland? With the possibility of another Democrat president, we're not betting on it.
Finally, there is the possible threat of drones used domestically. "Chilling" doesn't quite describe Holder's recent testimony before a congressional committee. CNN reports he didn't completely rule out a drone strike against Americans on U.S. soil: "Holder said it was possible 'I suppose,' to imagine an 'extraordinary circumstance in which it would be necessary and appropriate' under U.S. law [emphasis added] for the president to authorize the military to 'use lethal force' within the United States. Holder said of course the question was 'entirely hypothetical.'" But in the Jabberwocky world of this administration, the true meaning of Holder's equivocation is anybody's guess.
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Supreme Court Splits EPA Baby
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Read the rest here.
Profiles of Valor: U.S. Army Sgt. Ryan J. Pitts
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Read the rest here.
For more, visit Right Analysis.
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TOP 5 RIGHT OPINION COLUMNS
- Walter E. Williams: The Education Establishment's Success
- John Stossel: Omission Control
- Michelle Malkin: How the VA Red-Flags 'Disruptive' Vets
- Arnold Ahlert: Detroit: How the Left Made Water More Expensive Than Cell Phones
- Ken Blackwell: Iran: The Existential Threat
OPINION IN BRIEF
Edmund Burke (1729-1797): "Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could only do a little."Economist Walter E. Williams: "In a 1990 survey -- and there's been no improvement since -- almost half of college seniors couldn't locate the Civil War within the correct half-century. More recently, 60 percent of American adults couldn't name the president who ordered the dropping of the first atomic bomb, and over 20 percent didn't know where -- or even whether -- the atomic bomb had been used. The same people didn't know who America's enemies were during World War II (Germany, Japan and Italy). In a civics survey, more American teenagers were able to name The Three Stooges (Larry, Moe and Curly) than the three branches of the federal government (executive, legislative and judicial). A third of the people who were asked the origin of the statement 'From each according to his ability, to each according to his need' responded by saying it's from our Bill of Rights, when it's actually from 'The Communist Manifesto.' I'd say that the education establishment has been successful beyond its wildest dreams in reducing Americans' ability to think and therefore causing them to have little knowledge of or love for our founding principles."
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Columnist Burt Prelutsky: "Those of you who only know the names of Richard Cloward (1926-2001) and his wife, Frances Fox Piven, born in 1932 but still alive, from Glenn Beck might not know that their claim to fame was an article written in 1966, titled 'The Weight of the Poor: A Strategy to End Poverty,' that appeared in The Nation. ... Basically, the plan they proposed called for overloading the U.S. welfare system in order to precipitate a crisis that they believed would inevitably lead to replacing it with a guaranteed annual income. As they saw it, the bonus is that it would shore up support for the Democratic Party. ... To see the strategy at work before your very eyes, you need only look to the southern border, where every day hundreds of illegal aliens, many of them children, are throwing themselves on the mercy of our welfare system."
Comedian Conan O'Brien: "Joe Biden called himself 'the poorest man in Congress.' Usually in Washington when you hear, 'that poor guy,' it refers to the person stuck in a conversation with Joe Biden."
Semper Vigilo, Fortis, Paratus et Fidelis!
Nate Jackson for The Patriot Post Editorial Team
Join us in daily prayer for our Patriots in uniform -- Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen -- standing in harm's way in defense of Liberty, and for their families.
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