Fear and Loathing

I was going to post on Politico’s interview of Eric Holder.  I know – me, link Politico?  But do go read it.  I swear Holder is a race-baiting piece of work.  He wants to make it easier for the Feds to file trumped-up charges of civil rights violations against those who dare defend themselves against thugs of color.  He hopes to start an Eric Holder Institute for Race and Justice – that is not a joke!  What is sad is that there is surely a university all too willing to stoop so low.

But I want to get more personal.  Back in the first half of 2009, I felt under perpetual bombardment from Obama, Holder, etc.  It seemed it was something every day.  I feared for my country.  I feared for our – and my – freedom.  I said the collect from Morning Prayer, “Defend us thy humble servants in all assaults of our enemies” with added fervor.

It even affected me physically, wearing me down at times.

Now I get the awful feeling it is happening again.  And I am getting that same feeling of dread again.

It really should not be happening again.  After last year’s election repudiating his party, Obama has far less lawful power than he had in 2009.

But “lawful” is the key word there.  Now that Obama does not have another election in front of him to hold him accountable, his concern for what is lawful is less than ever.  And the Republicans we elected to stop him are doing precious little to do so.

So his regime, more lawless than ever, pushes a new enormity every day it seems.  His FCC, independent in theory only under Obama, passes so-call net neutrality, increasing Fed power over the internet, without even publishing ahead of time what they were voting on. 

That’s how totalitarian governments work.

Obama is seeking to ban a type of AR-15 ammo; the 2^nd Amendment be damned.

The ATF is confiscating property without court authorization or even a criminal charge.  Who gave it that power? Eric Holder.  And does he have the lawful power to do that? Shut up with your questions and concerns about civil rights.  Civil rights are to protect favored classes like thugs of color, not red neck gun owners.

Obama’s Treasury paid insurers $3 billion without explanation and without Congressional authorization – yet another annoying Constitution clause ignored.

This is just stuff that came out this week.  And I’m sure I’ve missed something.  Who can keep up with all of Obama’s lawlessness and attacks on our freedoms?

I knew we had a lawless president.  But I had hoped that the past election and his lame duck status would have constrained him.  Instead, his last election past, he is all the more throwing off the restraint of the Constitution and the rule of law.

I fear for my country . . . and for myself.

By the way, in part for that very reason, I am considering a future change to this blog.  But I will get there when I get there.

Victims of Obama’s Released Criminal Immigrants to Testify

Remember when the Obama Regime released thousands of illegal immigrants from detention beginning in 2013? (Hmm, that’s right after his re-election – a coincidence I’m sure.)  Obama and his kept news media sure would like for you to forget.  For the release has had tragic and predictable consequences.  And now victims of Obama’s released criminal immigrants are speaking out.

Family members of people who were murdered by illegal immigrants after those immigrants had previously been detained and released pursuant to President Obama’s policies will testify before House lawmakers Wednesday morning.

The testimony is intended to illustrate a pattern of the Department of Homeland Security releasing criminal immigrants rather than deporting them, according to a Republican congressman who said that DHS had released 36,000 convicted criminal illegal immigrants since 2013.

“Of those 36,000, already now 1,000 of them have already been convicted of new crimes,” says the lawmaker. “These are people who have gone through the court system, even. And yet, rather than them get repatriated, they’re released, and now there are new victims because of the recklessness of the policy.” 

Which begs the question - what is the point of fully funding DHS if it willfully is not defending our borders under this administration?

By the way, the Democrat noos media is being quiet about these crimes and this hearing . . . of course. 

A Personal Note on Ember Days and St. Matthias’ Day

Tomorrow Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday are the Ember Days for the season of Lent.  For helpful information on these, one may go to the discontinued (Alas!) Low Churchman’s Guide to the Solemn High Mass.

You are very welcome.

On an even more serious note, I have two intentions for these Ember Days and would appreciate your joining me in prayer concerning them:

1. I am seeking discernment as to how to further my education.

2. More short term, I am seeking discernment as to how to best promote my novel Pilot Point.

If Pilot Point never becomes a best seller (SNORT!), I am okay with that.  But I do want to be diligent in promoting it without getting obnoxious or out of proportion about it.

I am and will be praying for guidance in these two areas with the modest realization that one of the lessons of today, the Feast of St. Matthias, is that the Lord’s plans for us are often quite different than what we imagine!

Again, prayers for discernment in these two areas are coveted.

Obama the Historian

When Obama finally leaves the White House, I’m sure he could get a plum tenure somewhere, at Harvard perhaps, as an authority on the history of Islam and of America’s founding . . . or perhaps not.

“Here in America,” Obama stated, “Islam has been woven into the fabric of our country since its founding.”

Nice try, Mr. President.  But, as Ben Shapiro, writing for Breitbart, notes, the first Muslims did not immigrate to the United States until well after the Civil War; and the first mosque in the United States was not built until 1915, by most reports.  Shapiro goes on to say:

“Islam had zero impact on the founders or their philosophy – less than zero, given that the founders despised the religion, or what they knew of it.”

Which is understandable given the founders, particularly Thomas Jefferson, had to deal with the Muslim Barbary pirates.  But Obama botched that bit of history as well.  Read here to get more color on that.

Christopher Johnson also goes to town on Obama’s comments.

So perhaps Obama ought to stick to community organizing after his presidency. . . . Oh heck, who am I kidding?  Higher education in the U. S. is so devolved and corrupted, any number of universities would love to have Obama use them to push his falsehoods.  Revisionist liars historians have to be combated and debunked in every generation thanks to corrupted academia.

By the way, is there any subject about which Obama will not tell falsehoods?

Obscuring Evil

After 9-11, I was appalled by those who were eager to blame the act on us, on U. S. literally, as if we had done something to deserve it.  (Actually, we helped Osama Bin Laden against the Soviets in Afghanistan.  Some thanks we got.)  Instead of denouncing the utter evil of the terrorists, some, particularly callow youth, were eager to make excuses for them and to blame America.  And I saw this attitude even from people who were not particularly radical.

The episode was an eye-opener for me how wedded some are to moral equivalence to the point that that they would makes excuses for the perpetrators and blame the victims even in the case of 9-11.

Fast forward to now, and this crowd is in charge of the White House. And in even in the face of the pure evil of ISIS, they are reluctant to call evil by its name.  Their language instead obscures evil when it distracts from today’s evil from Islamonazis by pointing to alleged past evil by Christians.  (BTW, does it concern that the Obama Administration is a bit eager to blame Christians, far more eager than they are to blame extremist Muslims?)  Not to mention blaming a lack of jobs.  Yes, a jobs fair is the answer to ISIS.

Some may think I am nitpicking diplomatic language.  But one does not have to read 1984 to know that a regime that uses language more to obscure than to explain is not healthy for a society. As Jonah Goldberg just said (during a really good rant, by the way), “Societies get themselves into trouble when language becomes a tool not for describing reality but concealing it.”

Yes, being diplomatic is usually the way to go in foreign affairs.  But one can be diplomatic without being delusional or deceptive.

May I suggest that calling out evil is better way to go?  Whatever happened to saying evil people do evil things because they are evil?

Yes, I am a cranky old man.  Now get off my lawn.

One sex ed pusher really was after your kids.

If you have ever wondered about the motivations of those who push perverse variations of sex education on young children . . . well, it’s not paranoia if they really are out to get your kids.

The former Ontario deputy education minister who oversaw the development of a controversial sex-ed program before facing child sex charges will plead guilty to a number of those charges.

Benjamin Levin, born 1952, was arrested in 2013 in the wake of an international child porn sting that led to his North York doorstep. He was not only accused of making and distributing child pornography, but also of arranging for a sexual offense with a child, and with possessing and accessing child pornography.

Levin’s lawyer Clayton Ruby confirmed Friday in court that his client will plead guilty to some of the seven charges, without clarifying which ones, reported the Toronto Star. Ruby also indicated that a guilty plea means there will be no trial.

Levin will be sentenced in March.

Under his watch as Ontario’s top education official from 2004 to 2009, Levin oversaw the development of an update to the provincial sex-education curriculum. Critics immediately slammed the proposal for encouraging the early sexualization of children and promoting a homosexual agenda.

Under the umbrella of “sexual diversity,” the curriculum teaches children to question whether they are a boy or a girl . . .

And I don’t want to type anymore of that.

Look, I know not everyone who writes or chooses sex education curriculum has bad motives.  And I do think there a paranoia about men working with kids that drives off good men and thereby impoverishes education, in both secular and church contexts.

But, without going into sordid details, a lot of the garbage pushed on kids under the guise of sex education is madness and does beg the question of the motivations of those who push said garbage on children.

And in this case, the motivation appears to be, at least in part, predatory. 

Leo the Great on Lent and the Temptation of Christ

I got into a somewhat Lenten mood early last night around the fire and therefore read one of Pope Leo the Great’s sermons on Lent.  I found the following reflection on the Temptation of Christ (And remember that Jesus’ 40 days and 40 nights in the wilderness is one of the themes of Lent.) particularly on target.  On this Ash Wednesday, I present it to you along with my prayers for a blessed Lent.

As we approach then, dearly-beloved, the beginning of Lent, which is a time for the more careful serving of the Lord, because we are, as it were, entering on a kind of contest in good works, let us prepare our souls for fighting with temptations, and understand that the more zealous we are for our salvation, the more determined must be the assaults of our opponents. But "stronger is He that is in us than He that is against us," and through Him are we powerful in whose strength we rely: because it was for this that the Lord allowed Himself to be tempted by the tempter, that we might be taught by His example as well as fortified by His aid. For He conquered the adversary, as ye have heard, by quotations from the law, not by actual strength, that by this very thing He might do greater honour to man, and inflict a greater punishment on the adversary by conquering the enemy of the human race not now as God but as Man. He fought then, therefore, that we too might fight thereafter: He conquered that we too might likewise conquer. For there are no works of power, dearly-beloved, without the trials of temptations, there is no faith without proof, no contest without a foe, no victory without conflict. This life of ours is in the midst of snares, in the midst of battles; if we do not wish to be deceived, we must watch: if we want to overcome, we must fight.

Catholic Charities Supports Obama’s Immigration Action (But Fed Judge Doesn’t)

Just after my bedtime overnight, there was good news, for a change, on immigration. Federal Judge Andrew Hanen issued a temporary injunction against Obama’s Executive Immigration Action at the request of Texas Governor Greg Abbott.

Granted, this is only one ruling of many to come.  But it is important to stop Obama as much as possible before a final resolution of this dispute. Once millions of illegals are supposedly legalized, that would be very difficult to undo.  Obama cannot be allowed to put facts on the ground with impunity.

If you wish to dig into the legal details of the ruling, here and especially here are good places to start.

By the way, I know readers may not agree with me on immigration.  But I would hope we agree that Presidential dictates violating the Constitution and the rule of law are not the right way to reform immigration.

But if you are fine with Obama’s tyrannical acts on this matter . . . well then shame on you.

Speaking of supporting tyranny, I noticed this poster at what was a favorite Mexican food spot:

I know enough Spanish to know that the poster promotes an effort to assist both illegals and Obama in breaking the law by assisting illegals to take advantage of his illegal immigration action.

And look who is supporting this as noted on the lower right hand of the poster – Catholic Charities.

This is not the first time Catholic Charities has supported Obama’s tyranny.  They, particularly its new president, Sister Donna Markham, cheerleaded Obamacare even while many Roman Catholics were opposing its attack on religious freedom and support of abortion-on-demand.

It is sad that there are always those who use Christ’s name to support tyranny.  Catholic Charities are among them.

21 Holy Martyrs of Egypt, Pray for Us!

God’s Holy Army of Martyrs grew by 21 over the weekend at the hands of ISIS Islamonazi murderers in Libya.

Towards the end of my Morning Prayer today, I asked for the prayers of these new martyrs, Egyptian Coptic Christians, several of whom were seen praying at their execution.  And already many are asking for their prayers as well.

Indeed, those who prayed with trembling at their impending unjust execution for bearing the name of Christ now under that Holy Name pray in joy and perfect peace.

Justice Ginsburg Should Recuse Herself

In America, we have a tradition that justice is supposed to be impartial. . . .

Sorry if I made you snort coffee on your keyboard there, but yes, it’s true even if ignored.  Therefore, to avoid the appearance of partiality among other reasons, judges are not to comment on cases before them.  That just Is. Not. Done. . . . unless you are a activist liberal justice apparently.

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg made very warm noises towards both same-sex marriage and Obamacare in an interview with Bloomberg.  That when Supreme Court rulings on both matters are pending.  It is indeed an “amazing impropriety,” an “astounding” disregard of basic judicial ethics.

Now that she has so clearly made up her mind beforehand and made it all the more obvious that she has done so and helped poison the atmosphere for the other side to boot, she should do the right thing and recuse herself from both rulings.

She will not, of course.  And few, if any, from the left of center are calling for her to do so.  Instead, many Leftists are applauding her comments.  Things like judicial ethics and judicial restraint are trivialities to Leftists like Ginsburg.  The Cause is so much more important, don’tcha know.

Ready to Defy the FEC and FCC

With Obama attempting to use the FCC to cram “net neutrality” – which is just a ruse by the totalitarians to control online speech; they must control all the things – down our throats and with the Federal Election-Rigging Commission (FEC) considering (again) regulating (conservative) blogs, Patterico has revived the Patterico Free Speech pledge:

If the FEC makes rules that limit my First Amendment right to express my opinion on core political issues, I will not obey those rules.

Well I am taking that pledge here and now.  Further, if the FEC comes knocking concerning this blog and my online presence, I will tell them two things:

1. Go read the 1^st Amendment and the rest of the Constitution for that matter.

2. Go . . . do something I will not print here . . . But get off MY property first.

And if that subjects me to arrest . . . well Patterico says it well:

If we actually reach the point where my engaging in such core political speech might subject me to arrest . . . then I’ll make sure that television cameras are there to watch the authorities slap on the cuffs.

There comes a time to tell tyrants to . . . do something I will not print here.  

We are very close to that time.

Shameless Valentine's Day Promotion

(Disclaimer: Forgive the promotion.  But I haven’t mentioned my novel in a while.  And Valentine’s Day is this weekend. So…)

Being very single, I do not do much for Valentine’s Day, much less use it for promotion.  But this morning it occurred to me that my novel Pilot Point just might be a good Valentine’s Day gift.

No, my novel is not that romantic.  And it is certainly no replacement for flowers or chocolate; at least I do not think it is.

But one focus of Pilot Point is a relationship that has depth but also more than its share of difficulties.  Then . . . well, I am not going to give away spoilers.

But perhaps someone out there is in a relationship that has its difficulties, but that you know is worth fighting for, that you know you want to succeed?

Then I think Pilot Point would make a thoughtful and distinctive gift . . . to accompany the flowers. ;)  And yes, it is available in both print and Kindle.

You’re welcome.  (And remember that I have no tip jar on this blog.  So feel free to use a purchase of Pilot Point for that kindness.  Thanks.)

Alabama Same-Sex Marriage Update: Clarence Thomas Gets It

At least two Supreme Court Justices get it that the Court is out of line in its disregard for the rights of the states.  Clarence Thomas, joined by Justice Scalia, spared few words in taking apart the majority’s decision not to grant even a stay to the State of Alabama on same-sex marriage.

His attack on “this Court’s increasingly cavalier attitude toward the States” is about as strong as it gets from this notoriously quiet Justice.  Do go read the highlights of his opinion for yourself.

Back in Alabama, resistance to federally imposed same-sex marriage continues.  To which I say, GOOD!

Obama-Crusade Linkfest

First, I think I owe my readers an apology.  I’ve studied medieval church history at Oxford no less and should be able to debunk Obama’s statement last week at the National Prayer Breakfast in my sleep.

But sometimes a statement that is off is wrong is so many ways that it takes a lot of time and effort to give it the thorough debunking it deserves.  I just did not feel that in me last week.

So I hoped I would come across one powerhouse article or item that would put Obama in his place and do the hard work for me.  But I just did not find it although this tweet comes very close:

Mr. President, the Medieval Christian threat is under control. Please deal with the radical Islamic threat today. http://t.co/YI7Ck4qW7r
— Gov. Bobby Jindal (@BobbyJindal) February 6, 2015

But I did come across a very good collection of links and excerpts late in the week.  So I commend these to you.

And here is a 2009 book review at First Things that is more relevant than ever.

And I hope I will be better prepared the next time the Crusades are dredged up and twisted to excuse Islamist evil.