Leahy would give government unrestricted access to emails

In yet another rampant example of federal hatred of the Constitution and the basic right to privacy, a re-written bill by Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy would give a slew of government agencies (22 to be exact) virtually unrestricted access to emails, Facebook posts and Twitter messages of the American people.

According to a report by CNET, Leahy’s original version of the bill actually protected Americans from warrantless searches of personal information. After complaints from law enforcement and government entities arguing that obtaining warrants would have an “adverse impact” on investigations, the senator re-wrote the bill and added provisions that destroy personal privacy and allows government agencies access to information without warrants or oversight.

The bill would give the Federal Bureau of Investigation complete access to American’s personal information through their Internet Service Provider without notification of the account holder – or even a judge. The bill essentially eliminates privacy and personal security and recklessly gives unrestrained access to federal agencies – a power that is ripe for abuse.

Under the bill, agencies like the Federal Reserve, OSHA, the Federal Trade Commission and the National Labor Relations Board would gain easy access to American’s information. It is puzzling why any of these organizations need access to personal information of the American people, especially without basic due process of obtaining a warrant.

A vote on the bill is scheduled for next week. However, after public outcry over the blatant and transparent destruction of the privacy of all Americans, Leahy backed off of his support of his own bill, a damage control move by the senator in an attempt to save any shred of credibility he may still have with the American people.

Leahy’s attempt at damage control is meaningless, however. The bill remains scheduled for a vote next week. American’s privacy remains at stake, and the career Vermont politician is doing his best to skirt the line between getting the bill passed in the Senate and dodging responsibility for the continued destruction of privacy in the United States.

After such a public outcry, it is unclear how many in the Senate are in support of this bill, although one would hope a bill this transparently destructive to the privacy of all Americans would garner very little support – with or without negative publicity.

Federal government raids legal CA marijuana dispensaries

Posted by Steve Adcock

In September, the federal government raided several California-based marijuana dispensaries and issued letters to dozens of others threatening the shops to comply with federal law, even though the shops are perfectly legal within the state.

The hell with state’s rights. The federal government will stop at no law or regulation when it comes to enforcing regulations put in place by unaccountable career politicians. Apparently to the Drug Enforcement Agency, a state’s ability to design their own set of laws for its own people takes second fiddle to the power of Washington D.C. The feds have shut down more than 500 peaceful, legal dispensaries in the past couple of years.

Virtually unrestricted federal reign over legal state matters has no place in a free society.

Citizens in several states, including Colorado and Washington, voiced their discontent with Washington’s drug policy and voted in November to legalize the recreational use of pot. 17 states have already voted to legalize the medical use of the drug. Federal law, however, prohibits the drug’s use in any circumstance.

In a land where the federal government rules, state’s rights be damned.

Sorry, but I cannot simply “get over” the destruction of my country

Posted by Steve Adcock

I am naturally drawn to bumper stickers. Crowded or empty streets, day or night, I always seem to pick out and read the contents of bumper stickers on the backs of cars, and I have read some pretty interesting points of view plastered on bumpers. But today, I read something downright disturbing: “He Won, Get Over It”.

What part should I get over, exactly? Should I get over the fact that our president, wholehearted embraced by Communist Party USA, has put into place a systematic agenda of consolidated power and control into the hands of career politicians practically falling over themselves to spend the people’s money – and demonstrably lie, cheat and steal to do it?

Or, perhaps you would like me to get over the destruction of personal sovereignty at the hands of an expensive and perpetually wasteful government-run health care program and regulatory mess (Obamacare, of course)? Maybe you would like me to get over government control over the course of business, the independent choices of the American people, over Barack Obama’s unmistakable disdain of freedom and liberty, of the most basic human rights that has stood as the fabric of this nation for centuries?

Okay, it might not be that. Instead, maybe I should simply move on and get over the transparent cover-up of the Benghazi disaster and the death of innocent Americans in the region as this government purposely turned a blind eye. Perhaps Americans should do to our government what Obama did to military leaders and an ambassador in the region during the attack: ignore them, pretend nothing is happening, and just get over it. What is done is done. It is over.

Oh, it’s over alright. Worse, our president has no intention of hiding his dangerous agenda, but still, Americans gave this man another chance. Another chance for what? Maybe too many people ended up with an “Obama phone”.

I will not get over the destruction of American civilization as we know it at the hands of an unaccountable president and political class. I will not get over the entrenchment of a recklessly corrupt government superstructure and the elimination of virtually any limit to government control over more and more of the lives of the American people.

No Constitution, no amount of legal restraint or the rule of law, will stand in the way of this administration and the goals of centralization of money, power and control in Washington D.C.

No, Mr. or Mrs. slave of the state. I will not “get over it”.

Compromise cannot be the cornerstone of Republican recovery

Posted by Steve Adcock

It is darn tough to be a Republican these days. The Republican Party in Washington remains steadfastly opposed to fighting for the principles that they supposedly believe in. Their candidate lost to one of the more beatable Democratic presidential candidates in recently history and, not even a full work week after the loss, had their Congressional leader promise compromise on one of the biggest and most costly regulations this nation has ever seen.

John Boehner is in the hot seat in Washington. The House Speaker appears to understand that the United States government cannot continue reckless spending, but holds a muddy view on the solution. Is the fix less spending or more revenue? Again, Boehner promised compromise with Barack Obama who has repeatedly stated his desire for higher taxes on the wealthy. More revenue is no solution.

Further, the Republican leadership has seemed to give up entirely on the issue of Obamacare, declaring the complex new set of regulations to be the law of the land. Not only did the Republicans fail to prevent its passage, but they now seem comfortable and content with its presence in the American economic landscape for years to come.

It is no wonder that the Republicans failed to pick up a more powerful voice in Washington during the 2012 elections. Quite frankly, they do not appear to have much of a voice at all. What is their direction? When is enough enough? How many more failures will the GOP endure before they realize that compromise and limp-wristed policy-making is no way to re-build a clearly flailing political party?

Small government is the solution to the Republican party. Americans consistently embrace the principles of a more Libertarian and laissez-faire government and economic policy structure, but few are prepared to place their vote for anyone other than a Republican or Democrat. The Republican base is looking for a reason to vote again. They will take almost anything, any semblance of reform, of true change, of a smaller and more freedom-loving government. All the Republicans need to do is offer it up.

Will the Republicans respond?

Obama demands tax hikes on rich before any compromises

Posted by Steve Adcock

Days after the re-election of Barack Obama, the president said that any compromise from his office on the issue of taxes and the national debt will hinge on the inclusion of tax increases for wealthier Americans in an fruitless effort to slow our nation’s rising debt and limit the ensuing economic calamity.

“I’m committed to solving our fiscal challenges, but I refuse to accept any approach that isn’t balanced,” the president said. Apparently to Mr. Obama, “balanced” means nothing more than offsetting any spending cuts with further tax revenue from this country’s job providers.

Obama insists on raising taxes on those who make more than $250,000 a year, although hard numbers on how much of a rise remains unknown. According to Obama, a majority of Americans also believe this nation’s punitive tax system should be strengthened for those who are considered “wealthy”.

“I just want to point out, this was a central question during the election. It was debated over and over again. And on Tuesday night, we found out that the majority of Americans agree with my approach,” he said.

This news comes at a time when deficits remain at all time highs. October, the first fiscal year in 2013, has already seen a massive increase in budget deficits — $6 billion above the estimated $114 billion.