Redstate

Posted at 10:23am on Jul. 1, 2008 Are ANC members terrorists? That all depends on your definition. [UPDATED]

By Marcus Traianus

The President has now signed this bill. The event was not complete without Democrat Barbara Lee taking a shot at Ronald Reagan;

Your Democrat Congress is of course hard at work. Preeminent in their plethora of issues is the topic of homeland security. They have opined ad nauseum about "change" and their ability to secure our nation. Now they have set out to prove it with this;

Negotiators from the Senate and the House agreed Thursday night on a final version of the bill to remove from U.S. databases the names of the former South African president and anybody else marked only because of a relationship with the African National Congress.(snip)

Rep. Howard Berman , D-Calif.,introduced the bill to remove the stigma from Mandela and other ANC members.

One can not argue either intellectually or scrupulously the end of Apartheid in South African was an unpropitious event. However, does the end justify the means?

Please read on.

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Posted at 8:52am on Jun. 30, 2008 Attacking John McCain. The Return of Desperate Democrat Politics

By Marcus Traianus

As conservatives some of us have our differences with John McCain. We indeed continue to hope his Vice Presidential decision results in providing foresight of a more traditionalist future. That said, on matters of national security and the very concept of keeping this country safe John McCain is a principled, experienced vanguard.

It is therefore not surprising we have begun to see the attacks from Barack Obama's surrogates. The mantra of hope and change has indeed brought us to a new level of despicable lows including this;

"A lot of people don't know… that McCain made a propaganda video for the enemy while he was in captivity.

Putting that bit of disloyalty aside, what exactly is McCain's military experience that prepares him for being commander in chief?"

Americablog's John Aravosis

Please read on.

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Posted at 2:21pm on Jun. 27, 2008 If Barack Obama had his way, this child would be dead

By Marcus Traianus

Barack Obama's opposition to the declaring an infant born alive, human, has been framed by his campaign another "misunderstanding". But the fact is that Obama voted "present, then "no" on Illinois proposed Induced Infant Liability Act.

This extreme position was even beyond that of leading pro-choice advocate NARAL who did not oppose the federal version of this act, the Born Alive Infants Protection Act. At the time NARAL said

" Consistent with our position last year, NARAL does not oppose passage of the Born Alive Infants Protection Act ... floor debate served to clarify the bill’s intent and assure us that it is not targeted at Roe v. Wade or a woman’s right to choose.

Now we have this;

A mother who decided to abort her son because he may have inherited a life-threatening kidney condition is overjoyed that he survived the procedure.(snip)

In November, Finley was born three weeks premature. He had minor kidney damage but is expected to lead a normal life.

I am curious if Barack thought this child was worth it?

But there is more....

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Posted at 12:46pm on Jun. 27, 2008 I Promise, You Won’t Get Pregnant

By Marcus Traianus

Some have perhaps been unfortunate enough to partake in the title conversation. Irrespective of which part of that dialogue you participated in, it is a quintessential moment of personal responsibility and a metaphor for life. One’s response and action at that moment can spawn a life changing epiphany regardless of which decision you made. The effects can be physical, emotional or philosophical. Did it make you bitter, angry, confident or proud? Are you more dependent on others, less trusting or regretful? One prevailing issue is certainly inescapable; that moment taught you something about individual accountability.

Specific to this issue, we certainly see some positive signs but there are others which are less comforting. In the end, many parents may blame themselves. Did they do enough to help their children make responsible decisions? Were they too concerned with their own lives? Do they still continue to deny and demur writing it off as a sign of the times and societal change? Are they dismissive and part of an oleaginous cultural shift which passes events off as the ultimate responsibility of our government? These are certainly all pertinent questions in the unsettled countenance of our upcoming elections. Why you might ask?

Please read on.

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Posted at 1:35pm on Jun. 20, 2008 Foreseeing Barack Obama’s First Term Agenda

By Marcus Traianus

Clearly the most epochal concern we should have about Barack Obama as the Democratic nominee for President is his substantial dearth of experience. Some may fairly argue this is a common thread which conjoins the numerous issues plaguing Mr. Obama’s candidacy. Whether it his personal affiliations, extirpation of common sense or foreign policy proclamations it is fairly evident he either has extraordinarily bad judgmental flaws, is philosophically corrupt or purblind as to the tenets of our precious Republic.

We all realize the just a few years ago Mr. Obama was a community organizer and then leveraged associated contacts to join the Illinois Senate. More recently, he has spent even less time in Washington, but long enough to become its most liberal member. Ergo, even the most partisan of stalwarts would have a difficult time explaining this is the resume or achievements of someone we can trust with our sacred office of President. Yet still, some plunge headlong into the natatorium of anger and vote using emotion as an inspiration instead of intellectual examination. What would Mr. Obama's Presidency look like? If past is prologue, here is a preview;

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Posted at 1:45pm on Jun. 13, 2008 Our Constitution Weeps. Will John McCain be the Sanative President?

By Marcus Traianus

The Executive therefore ought to be so constituted as to be the great protector of the Mass of the people. -It is the duty of the Executive to appoint the officers & to command the forces of the Republic: to appoint 1. ministerial officers for the administration of public affairs. 2. officers for the dispensation of Justice. Who will be the best Judges whether these appointments be well made? The people at large, who will know, will see, will feel the effects of them. Again who can judge so well of the discharge of military duties for the protection & security of the people, as the people themselves who are to be protected & secured?
GOVERNEUR MORRIS* -Constitutional Convention – July 19, 1787

I will claim no expertise in matters of law related to our Constitution. Nonetheless, being one of the citizens subject to its mandates for our Republic I am immensely familiar with both the content and founding history. From a parochial perspective that latter posture is unquestionably wise and can be framed as nothing other than sagacious pursuit. After all, shouldn’t one be familiar with the basis for freedoms they so readily enjoy? Is it not good policy to understand democracy, government and the limits of power which would in absence of such guidance eventuate tyranny?

Please read on

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Posted at 2:09pm on May 14, 2008 Observing the Death of our Party

By Marcus Traianus

In 1858 Abraham Lincoln gave a speech in Springfield Illinois with words that rang immortal. His famous “House Divided” speech was of course about the important issue of slavery which threatened our precious union. It was out of this chaos and the need for a new beginning which the Republican Party was born; think about that for a few moments and humor me with your patience.

One of the most fitting "House Divided" sentences providing apt metaphorical representation of our party’s present day conundrum is the following; “I do not expect the house to fall - but I do expect it will cease to be divided. It will become all one thing or all the other." On reflection, that is perhaps a fitting party epitaph? Nevertheless, let’s move on.

Cogitate or philosophize on the aforementioned in its entirety if you will for a few seconds to gain some additional perspective. Please include in your intellectual review the loss of our majority, a failure to fight increased spending, increased federalism, judicial activism, immigration, potential entitlement disaster and abuse of power. That’s certainly a “big tent” isn’t it?

Please read on

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Posted at 1:21pm on May 9, 2008 OPEC to World; Up Yours - Again

By Marcus Traianus

As if OPEC needed any more image challenges in the current energy environment we now had this. Here’s the salient quote;

This year, the U.S. had contributed $362.7 million to WFP just through May 4, according to the website. That figure does not include another $250 million above the planned yearly contribution that was promised by President George W. Bush in the wake of WFP’s April warning that a “silent tsunami” of rising food costs would add dramatically to the world population living in hunger. Nor does it include another $770 million in food aid that President Bush has asked Congress to provide as soon as possible.

On the other hand, Saudi Arabia, with oil revenues last year of $164 billion, does not even appear on the website donor list for 2008.

Yes, but they all really like us; well at least the one's Obama wants us to talk to anyway.

Please do read on

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Posted at 9:07am on May 5, 2008 Douglas Rediker is Finally Proud of America; it’s a Team Obama Thing

By Marcus Traianus

I had the opportunity to attend an event in D.C. last week which included each candidate’s economic advisor. The forum featured Gary Gensler (Hillary Clinton), Douglass Holtz-Eakin (John McCain) and Douglass Rediker (Barack Obama). In brief summary, let’s just say that if you were not already convinced to support John McCain this session would have been the "coup de grace".

The first of many eye opening statements was offered by Barrack Obama’s representative Douglass Rediker. Besides trying to endear himself to the audience by stating his status as a “reformed” investment banker (sorry, I missed the joke along with numerous other colleagues) Mr. Rediker also offered an explanation for supporting Obama. He and his wife were effectively in a self imposed London exile because the country was racked by partisanship and headed in the wrong direction. However, Barrack Obama had a candidacy built on “telling the truth” and gave them something to “believe in”. I am guessing Douglass Rediker is of the same mind as Michelle Obama and they can now sit together, hold hands and finally be “proud” that Barrack is running. Honestly, is it a requirement for Team Obama acolytes to hate this country? Unfortunately, this was just the beginning.

Please read on.

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Posted at 9:27am on Apr. 7, 2008 Lieberman and Graham Get it Right on the Surge and Petraeus

By Marcus Traianus

Many conservatives have often found reason to disagree with Senators Joe Lieberman and Lindsey Graham. For Senator Lieberman we can at least respectfully disagree on the more liberal aspects of his political philosophy while without question applauding his continuous support for our efforts in Iraq. Senator Graham has vexed many conservatives with his involvement in the “Gang of 14” which frustrated our judicial nomination process and other issues such as his views on Guantanamo Bay. However in today’s opinion journal they come together and get it right. Here is a quote from the article;

No one can deny the dramatic improvements in security in Iraq achieved by Gen. Petraeus, the brave troops under his command, and the Iraqi Security Forces. From June 2007 through February 2008, deaths from ethno-sectarian violence in Baghdad have fallen approximately 90%. American casualties have also fallen sharply, down by 70%.

Please read on

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Posted at 2:06pm on Apr. 4, 2008 The Liberal Destruction of America Starts with our Children

By Marcus Traianus

In the salad days of our youth we experience a fair degree of occurrences which are forever seared in our memories. These are defining moments in our lives which help to shape not only who we are as an individual, but also as a citizens of this great nation. They exist as carefree days of discovery, invention and learning; written on the largely unfinished pages of what will hopefully be a long novel. In that perspective is an implicit connotation of innocence and intellectual discovery encompassed in a heightened au courant, obligatory companion to an open mind. We therefore seek within ourselves ability to factually, methodically and subjectively form politically unadulterated perspectives and principle which guide us for the rest of our lives.

Some of the age old perennial rites are events we experience in High School such as proms. These are moments filled with youthful expectation enveloped in the latent nature of future events. It is a time in which we as parents seek to provide our offspring with wise advice obtained from our own experience and in some cases, mistakes. It is accordingly a moment of adroit, lucid explication not to be obscured by emotion, gratuitous opining or other people’s proclivities and prejudices. This is an instance where art and knowledge form a unique oratorical nexus designed to produce focused, informative and most importantly brief provocative thought. I therefore greeted news that my child’s school event information session had become a political event with extreme dismay and umbrage. What, I thought, has our schools purpose become under the guidance of overwhelming liberal tutelage and pervasive politicization? More directly, what in Heavens name do “weapons of mass destruction” have to do with perspicacious guidance?

Please read on

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Posted at 9:30am on Apr. 2, 2008 The Federal Reserve Bailed out Congress

By Marcus Traianus

First, this is undoubtedly one of the most well crafted, succinct passages on the Bear Stearns – Federal Reserve situation I have read. In today’s post by blackhedd he responds to some mendacity (my words) from Senator Dodd. He seems to note it as a digression in his piece; however it is really a quietus;

… you're not proposing to give Main Street the same medicine that Wall Street got. As near as I can draw the analogy, that would require that you find everyone who's behind on her mortgage, seize all of her assets and her obligations, and give them to her neighbor at a fire-sale price. Please don't insult the intelligence of millions of Americans by telling us that Wall Street got bailed out.

Emphasis mine.

Democrat Party politics seems quite willing to frame this in terms that take advantage of emotion, rather than intellectual exploration. That seems to be a trend for liberals nowadays and the acolytes buy it hook, line and sinker. This is absolutely insulting, but apparently the audience does not get it, nor do they apparently care. What they smell is class- warfare rhetoric and hand outs, courtesy of their favorite political contrivance. They also hide in the shadows the root of our current crisis is firmly planted at the doorstep of Congress.

Please read on

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Posted at 2:15pm on Mar. 19, 2008 The Fallacy of Racial Politics

By Marcus Traianus

I suppose it was around 1970 when an event which helped shape my views on race occurred. My folks were intent on selling the home which we had outgrown in order to move further out into the suburbs. It was the age old American tradition driven by financial considerations and the search for a more bucolic atmosphere. Unbeknownst to me at the time, it was also an age of a burgeoning focus on civil rights and equality for all men. Equality for all men a concept I had already learned at that tender young age was embodied in the text of our founding documents and the spirit of this Republic.

As part of the quest to implore our populace into accepting principals which we hold so dear, Congress in its wisdom had created Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act or the “Fair Housing Act”. To this day, I frankly still find it worth disquisition that a country founded on the principals of egalitarianism had to promote by law such basic sagacity. But alas, we did embark on this path to further establish that which should have been intuitive rather than coerced by decrete; such is the path many times throughout this world’s history.

To further provide appropriate context, this all takes place in Northern New Jersey, which in that era was not exactly the racial cauldron to be found in many other places. Nonetheless, with this legislation came the inevitable test of enforcement, New Jersey or not, which leads me back to where I started.

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Posted at 12:00pm on Feb. 13, 2008 Dangerous Platitudes

By Marcus Traianus

The recent ascension of Barack Obama to likely Democratic Party nominee has been accompanied by the usual banality associated with political campaigns. Without the vigor, excitement and gratuitous regularity thrusting him into the spotlight, this supportive palaver of acolytes and fans would probably be uneventful in an election season.

Irrespective of the emotional plea, we have history to help guide us towards a more sober and wise reality; that platitudes and prosaical commentary are never a solid basis for judging a candidate. Nonetheless, we witness the following comments;

.. remarkably pleasant in feature as if his nose, his lips, his teeth and his eyes had had their separate life while he was growing but could now live in family peace. Yes, he was quiet in his charisma, and no massings of energy rose like thunderheads from his brow. You could come near him in a room before you were aware he was there. Nonetheless, his aura was hardly the same as other people's. Happiness came off him. It was as if he knew that God had given him intelligence and good work that would make sense, and so he could give his strength to the world and get new strength back. The emotional meat of the heart might be free of the common bile.

Please read on

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Posted at 12:25pm on Feb. 11, 2008 Educing our Sins through John McCain

By Marcus Traianus

Own his own, John McCain has invariably created numerous dichotomies for conservatives. To wit, while he was indeed assumed the presumptive nominee by many prior to this primary season, Mr. McCain appeared to purposely confound key conservative endeavors. Whether it was the “Gang of 14”, McCain-Feingold, McCain-Kennedy , McCain-Lieberman, ANWAR or the Bush Tax Cuts, Mr. McCain always seemed all to willing to hone his maverick teeth on core conservative issues. Some might even say he purposely contravened on matters that were important to the overall party platform and on which a great deal of political energy had been expanded.

In their entirety, McCain’s actions have lead conservatives to perform a significant amount of sole searching vis-à-vis McCain’s motives; and that is generally never a sagacious exercise. Nonetheless, we are left to make several considerations; are his actions grounded in resentment towards conservatives - thus borne of an attempt to vitiate the movement? Is it a lack of firm belief for our basic principles? Finally, is it an exercise of self gratification in which the key metric is compromise?

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