Video of the Week: Andrea Mitchell plays ‘blame game’, bashes GOP, ends up speechless

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Affordable Care Act, Afghanistan, Andrea Mitchell, Army Rangers, Fallen Soldier, Government Shut Down, Killed in Action, Marine, MSNBC, No Soldier Left Behind, OBAMACARE, Patient Protection Act, President Obama Won't Compromise OR Discuss, Senate Obstruction, Soldier's Family's Death Benefits, Survivor Benefits, U.S. Congressional House Representative Sean Duffy

In a heated Obamacare discussion on MSNBC, Congressman Sean Duffy turned the tables on news anchor Andrea Mitchell about the ongoing government shutdown.

“The media won’t even ask the question about why are you treating families different from big businesses.” said Duffy, “You need Jon Stewart on Comedy Central to ask Secretary Sebelius, ‘Hey, why won’t you treat these two equally?’

Duffy then went on to add that any individual can sign up on a voluntary basis now — assuming the online health exchange websites work — but that the mandatory nature of Obamacare should be delayed for consumers as it already has for business.

And Mitchell? She literally opens her mouth but nothing comes out.

Finally…”Thanks for your advice,” responded Mitchell in a sarcastic tone.

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What does seeing Washington’s War Memorial Tribute to our veterans mean to those veterans? Watch…

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Barack Obama, Barricading Veterans out of their park, Elkhart County VFW trip to Washington D.C., Heroes, U.S. Senate, Washington D.C. War Memorial, WWII Veterans

Elkhart County’s VFW Post Visits Washington D.C.’s War Memorial for the First Time

For those who haven’t already seen the video, this is Elkhart County’s VFW Post’s first trip to Washington D.C. to see the War Memorials honoring them for their service. See how proud and excited they are. Sadly some are no longer with us. I tried to make sure that every veteran who participated in the trip is identified and included on the video.

Who with a heart would keep one of these brave men from SEEING THEIR MEMORIAL?

Indiana lawmakers want YOUR input on Syria…also find out where THEY stand

Tags

Al Qaeda, Assad, Boots on the Ground, Central Banks, Chemicals, China, Contact your Representative, Dan Coats, Dan Coats' Stand, Imperialist, Iran, Israel, Jackie Walorski, Jackie Walorski's Stand, Joe Donnelly, Joe Donnelly's Stand, Marlin Stutzman, Marlin Stutzman's Stand, Military Intervention, Natural Gas, Petrodollar, Pipeline, Qatar, Resources, Russia, Syria, Syrian Army, Syrian Rebels, Syrian Strike, War, War Drums, WMD

Congressman Marlin Stutzman doesn’t sound too keen on taking military action against Syria

from Marlin Stutzman’s facebook Page

“I am deeply skeptical of American military involvement in Syria. After ignoring his own ‘red line’ in recent days, President Obama again outlined no clear strategy or objective today should we take military action.

“The American people deserve to have their voices heard regarding whether the United States takes military action in this volatile region and I look forward to hearing the thoughts of Hoosiers as well as the analysis of our intelligence community, and the strategy of this Administration in the coming days.”

To contact U.S. Congressional Representative Marlin Stutzman:
PHONE:
Washington: (202) 225-4436
Winona Lake Distict: (574) 269-1940
Ft. Wayne District:(260) 424-3041
Marlin Stutzman’s Facebook Page: CLICK HERE to leave a message for Marlin on his facebook page
Tweet: @RepStutzman

Tweets and comments to U.S. Congressional Representative Stutzman…

Update on the Situation in Syria

from Jackie Walorski’s Newsletter

“President Obama announced that he would seek a congressional vote to authorize military action in Syria. I respect this decision, because the American people deserve the opportunity to have their voices heard in Congress regarding this difficult situation.

“I urge Congress to return to Washington immediately so that President Obama can make the case to lawmakers and the American people as to how military action could fulfill a comprehensive strategy to protect our national interests and shield our allies.

“The president’s red line was already crossed, yet it still remains unclear how his recent consideration for a ‘limited, narrow act’ will deter the Assad regime, and I look forward to hearing the Administration’s specific plan.

“When the House reconvenes, I look forward to participating in a robust debate with my colleagues before any final decisions are made.”

To contact U.S. Congress Representative Jackie Walorski:
PHONE:
Washington Office:(202) 225-3915
Mishawaka District Office:(574) 204-2645
Rochester District Office: (574) 780-1330
E-mail: Click HERE to e-mail Jackie Walorski
Jackie’s Facebook Page: Leave Jackie a message on her facebook page by clicking HERE
Send Jackie a tweet: @RepWalorski

Tweets and comments to U.S. Congressional Representative Walorski…

Senator Dan Coats talks to 21 Alive in Fort Wayne

“Indiana Senator Dan Coats told Fort Wayne television station, 21 Alive that he’s working to gain more information to make sure if aid, or weapons are provided that they won’t be used against America.

“Still the possible use of chemical weapons in Syria is something that’s alarming to Senator Coats, and makes him think the U.S. should do something to stop that from happening.

“The Senator says he isn’t against intervening if it will be beneficial to Syria, but he’s concerned about starting another war in the middle east.”

To contact Senator Dan Coats (It is my personal opinion, that Senator Coats is confused and needs to hear from more people to get past his indecision):
PHONE:
Washington:(202) 224-5623
Fort Wayne District Office:(260) 426-3151
Indianapolis District Office: (317) 554-0750
Dan Coats’ Facebook Page: Leave Dan a facebook message by CLICKING HERE
E-mail: CLICK HERE to e-mail Senator Dan Coats
Tweet Senator Dan Coats: @SenDanCoats

Tweets and comments to Senator Coats…

Sen. Joe Donnelly Says U.S. Should Take Action in Syria

U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly visited Evansville’s AmeriQual plant and Eyewitness News got his thoughts about Syria. Donnelly tells us he believes the U.S. should take action there. But stops short of saying what.

“What we see in Syria is a very, very dangerous situation,” said Donnelly, “that we’re trying to go make sure doesn’t spread, number one, anywhere else- and, number two, that within Syria, can be controlled and can be turned into a better situation.  And the reason why is the expansion of what is going on in Syria can set the entire Middle East in flames.”

Senator Donnelly says he has faith the U.S. is using what he calls a measured, common sense approach to deciding what action should be taken. Donnelly was visiting AmeriQual as part of his “Serving Those who Serve” defense jobs tour.

To contact Senator Joe Donnelly (Senator Donnelly isn’t the least bit confused but I think he is wrong. If you also think Senator Donnelly is wrong and don’t want the U.S. getting into the Syrian conflict, Senator Donnelly REALLY, REALLY, REALLY needs to hear from you.)
PHONE:
Washington:(202) 224-4814
Indianapolis Office:(317) 226-5555
South Bend District: (574) 288-2780
Evansville District: (812)-425-5862
Hammond District: (219) 852-0089
Senator Joe Donnelly’s facebook: CLICK HERE to leave a message on Joe Donnelly’s facebook page
Tweet Joe Donnelly: @SenDonnelly

Tweets and comments to Senator Donnelly…

NOTE: As far as Indiana constituents are concerned, according to Facebook, twitter, newspaper comment sections and political forums, ALL are opposed, VERY OPPOSED, to intervention in Syria. WILL OUR CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVES LISTEN OR CARE?

They better.

Justin Amash, U.S. Congressional Representative from Michigan says it all with less than 140 characters.

CLICK HERE, HERE and HERE to see where your lawmakers are standing on military intervention in Syria.

116 members of Congress seek authorization vote on Syria

Tags

Assad, China, Congress Authorization, Constitution, Foreign Relations, Hagel, Iran, Kerry, Military Strike, NATO, Obama, Russia, Separation of Power, Syria, UN, War, War Drums, War Powers Resolution of 1973, Warpath, World War III

Oklahoma marches in opposition to a military strike against Syria.

As President Barack Obama considers the United States’ response to Syria’s (alleged) chemical attack on civilians, a growing bipartisan coalition in Congress came together today to “strongly urge” congressional approval of military action.

In a letter sent to the president this evening, Rep. Scott Rigell, a second-term Republican from Virginia, joined 97 of his Republican and 18 of his Democratic colleagues in demanding that the president first acquire consent from Congress, citing the War Powers Resolution of 1973, before responding militarily to the Syrian government’s purported use of chemical weapons on Aug. 21.

Here is a full copy of the letter,

followed by the 116 signatures

August 28, 2013

We strongly urge you to consult and receive authorization from Congress before ordering the use of U.S. military force in Syria. Your responsibility to do so is prescribed in the Constitution and the War Powers Resolution of 1973.

While the Founders wisely gave the Office of the President the authority to act in

U.S. Rep. Justin Amash talks about Syria: During a visit to Brownstone Coffee Shop in downtown Battle Creek on Wednesday U.S. Rep. Justin Amash talked about Syria. (John Grap/The Enquirer)

emergencies, they foresaw the need to ensure public debate — and the active engagement of Congress — prior to committing U.S. military assets. Engaging our military in Syria when no direct threat to the United States exists and without prior congressional authorization would violate the separation of powers that is clearly delineated in the Constitution.

Mr. President, in the case of military operations in Libya you stated that authorization from Congress was not required because our military was not engaged in “hostilities.” In addition, an April 1, 2011, memorandum to you from your Office of Legal Counsel concluded:

“… President Obama could rely on his constitutional power to safeguard the national interest by directing the anticipated military operations in Libya –which were limited in their nature, scope, and duration — without prior congressional authorization.”

‘U.S. Hands off Syria’ protest in Minneapolis.

We view the precedent this opinion sets, where “national interest” is enough to engage in hostilities without congressional authorization, as unconstitutional. If the use of 221 Tomahawk cruise missiles, 704 Joint Direct Attack Munitions, and 42 Predator Hellfire missiles expended in Libya does not constitute “hostilities,” what does?

If you deem that military action in Syria is necessary, Congress can reconvene at your request. We stand ready to come back into session, consider the facts before us, and share the burden of decisions made regarding U.S. involvement in the quickly escalating Syrian conflict.

Sincerely,

Rep. Scott Rigell (VA-02)

CNN coverage of Anti-Syrian-Protest in Washington.

Rep. Matt Salmon (AZ-05)

Rep. Mo Brooks (AL-05)

Rep. Scott Garrett (NJ-05)

Rep. Tom McClintock (CA-04)

Rep. Tom Marino (PA-10)

Rep. Dan Benishek (MI-01)

Rep. Tom Rooney (FL-17)

Chicago says “Hands Off of Syria”.

Rep. Steve Pearce (NM-02)

Rep. Tim Griffin (AR-2)

Rep. Justin Amash (MI-03)

Rep. Raul Labrador (ID-01)

Rep. Joseph Pitts (PA-16)

Rep. Trent Franks (AZ-08)

Rep. John Campbell (CA-45)

Rep. Paul Gosar (AZ-04)

Rep. Lynn Westmoreland (GA-03)

Rep. Joe Wilson (SC-02)

“Great is the Guilt of Unnecessary War!”

Rep. Charles Boustany (LA-03)

Rep. Tom Cole (OK-04)

Rep. Louie Gohmert (TX-01)

Rep. Austin Scott (GA-08)

Rep. Bill Posey (FL-8)

Rep. Randy Forbes (VA-04)

Rep. Phil Gingrey (GA-11)

Rep. David Roe (TN-01)

Rep. Mark Sanford (SC-01)

Protesters in Washington DC in front of the White House chant, “NO WAR WITH SYRIA!”

Rep. John J. Duncan, Jr. (TN-02)

Rep. Reid Ribble (WI-08)

Rep. James Lankford (OK-05)

Rep. Bill Cassidy (LA-06)

Rep. Stephen Fincher (TN-08)

Rep. Trey Radel (FL-19)

Rep. Chris Stewart (UT-02)

Hatem Abudayyeh speaking at Aug. 29 Chicago rally against U.S. military attack on Syria. Over 300 people marched and protested.

Rep. Lynn Jenkins (KS-02)

Rep. Jeff Duncan (SC-03)

Rep. David McKinley (WV-01)

Rep. Gus Bilirakis (Fl-12)

Rep. Joseph Heck (NV-03)

Rep. Dennis Ross (FL-15)

Rep. Billy Long (MO-07)

Rep. Randy Hultgren (IL-14)

Rep. Steven Palazzo (MS-04)

Rep. Kevin Yoder (KS-03)

Rep. Doug Collins(GA-09)

Opponents of a United States military strike against Syria protest at Times Square in New York City, Saturday, August 31.

Rep. Michael Fitzpatrick (PA-08)

Rep. Beto O’Rourke (TX-16)

Rep. Zoe Lofgren (CA-19)

Rep. Peter DeFazio (OR-04)

Rep. Kurt Schrader (OR-5)

Rep. Rush Holt (NJ-12)

Rep. William Enyart (IL-12)

Rep. Timothy Walz (MN-01)

Rep. Christopher Gibson (NY-19)

Rep. Trey Gowdy (SC-04)

Rep. Frank Wolf (VA-10)

Rep. Michael Capuano (MA-07)

“No U.S. Bombs Against Syria”, say Indiana protesters standing in front of the statehouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Rep. Michael Simpson (ID-02)

Rep. Michael McCaul (TX-10)

Rep. Thomas E. Petri (WI-06)

Rep. Robert Pittenger (NC-09)

Rep. Walter Jones (NC-03)

Rep. Tom Latham (IA-04)

Rep. Richard Nolan (MN-08)

Rep. Jim McDermott (WA-07)

Rep. Kerry Bentivolio (MI-11)

Rep. Mike Coffman (CO-06)

Americans do NOT want military aid given to the Syrian rebels OR military strikes against Syria.

Rep. Sean Duffy (WI-07)

Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01)

Rep. Morgan Griffith (VA-09)

Rep. Brad Wenstrup (OH-02)

Rep. Mark Amodei (NV-02)

Rep. Roger Williams (TX-25)

Rep. Doug LaMalfa (CA-01)

Rep. Brett Guthrie (KY-02)

Rep. Sam Farr (CA-20)

Rep. Steve Daines (MT)

Rep. Robert Hurt (VA-05)

Rep. Steve Southerland, II (FL-2)

“War against Syria is built on a lie” say the protesters in front of the White House.

Rep. Michele Bachmann (MN-06)

Rep. Ralph Hall (TX-04)

Rep. Randy Neugebauer (TX-19)

Rep. Robert Wittman (VA-01)

Rep. Anna Eshoo (CA-18)

Rep. David Schweikert (AZ-06)

Rep. Todd Rokita (IN-4)

Rep. David Loebsack (IA-02)

Rep. Scott Tipton (CO-03)

Rep. Frank LoBiondo (NJ-02)

Rep. Earl Blumenauer (OR-03)

Constituents in INDIANA protesting the United States intervention in Syrian crisis.

Rep. Sam Johnson (TX-03)

Rep. Tom Price (GA-06)

Rep. Mark Meadows (NC-11)

Rep. Paul Broun (GA-10)

Rep. Markwayne Mullin (OK-02)

Rep. Steve Stockman (TX-36)

Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner (WI-05)

Rep. Chris Collins (NY-27)

Rep. Diane Black (TN-06)

Rep. Daniel Webster (FL-10)

Rep. Peter Welch (VT)

“Syria, same as Iraq”, “U.S., NATO, Hands Off Syria” say the HUNDREDS who turned out to protest at NYC’s Times Square last Thursday.

Rep. Lou Barletta (PA-11)

Rep. Tim Murphy (PA-18)

Rep. Gregg Harper (MS-03)

Rep. Jim Jordan (OH-04)

Rep. Ted S. Yoho ( FL-03)

Rep. Bill Flores (TX-17)

Rep. Michael Burgess (TX-26)

Rep. Jim Matheson (UT-04)

Rep. Cory Gardner (CO-04)

Rep. Alan Nunnelee (MS-01)

“Who lied? Who died? Who pays? Who profits?” Americans overwhelmingly do NOT want to bomb Syria.

Rep. Jason Smith (MO-08)

Rep. Charles Fleischmann (TN-03)

Rep. Tim Walberg (MI-07)

Rep. Marsha Blackburn (TN-07)

Rep. Collin Peterson (MN-7)

RELATED ARTICLES:

• Want to know how your senator voted on arming and funding Syrian Rebels? You can’t.
  
• Ben Swann’s Reality Check: “We already ARE involved in Syria”
• BBC: “Syrian Rebels ‘used sarin’
• Thomas Massie: “When you deliver missiles into somebody’s country, that is an act of war.”

Want to know how your Senator voted on arming & funding Syrian rebels? YOU CAN’T! That’s classified…

Tags

Arms, China, Funding, Killing Christians, News, Putin, Russia, Syria, Syrian Al Qaeda Rebels, Training, War, Weapons

It is a DONE DEAL.

President Obama, Mike Rogers, John Boehner and John McCain, who have OPENLY been ‘chomping at the bit’ to arm the Syrian “Mercenary” Rebels got their way, much to the dismay of Fox News’ National Security Analyst, KT McFarland. Don’t miss her furious and ‘spot on’ response in the above video.

There is NOTHING any of us can say OR do about it either. Our elected representatives can’t let us know how they voted. For our own good and security, that information is ‘classified and secret’.

Last week, the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence gave its approval to an Obama administration plan to provide weapons to rebels in Syria, but how individual members of the committee stood on the subject remains unknown.

There was no public debate and no public vote when one of the most contentious topics in American foreign policy was decided – outside of the view of constituents — who oppose the president’s plan to aid the rebels by 54 percent to 37 percent (according to a Gallup Poll last month).

In fact, ask individual members of the committee, who represent 117 million people in 14 states, how they stood on the plan to use the CIA to funnel weapons to the rebels and they are likely to respond with “none of your business:” It’s classified.

Those were, in fact, the words Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., chair of the committee, used to clarify her position for her constituents. She declined. “It’s a difficult situation”, she said. And, “It’s classified.”

She was not alone. In a string of interviews over days, members of both the Senate intelligence committee and its equivalent in the House could not be pinned down on their view of providing arms to the rebels. The senators and representatives said they weren’t allowed to give an opinion — or at least a detailed one — because the matter was classified.

It’s an increasingly common stance that advocates of open government say undermines the very principle of a representative democracy.

“It’s like a pandemic in Washington, D.C., this idea that ‘I don’t have to say anything, I don’t have to justify anything, because I can say it’s secret,’” said Jim Harper, director of information policy studies at the Cato Institute, a Washington-based libertarian think tank.

“Classified” has become less a safeguard for information and more a ‘shield from accountability’ on tough subjects, said Steven Aftergood, the director of the Federation of American Scientists’ Project on Government Secrecy.

“Classification can be a convenient pretext for avoiding difficult questions,” he said. “There’s a lot that can be said about Syria without touching on classified, including a statement of general principles, a delineation of possible military and diplomatic options, and a preference for one or the other of them. So jumping to ‘national security secrecy’ right off the bat looks like an evasion.”

Al Qaeda Syrian Rebels, trained in Jordan, await their new American weapons.

Muslim Westerners from the United States, Europe and Australia joining the Extremist Rebel Syrian forces have raised fear among American Intelligence experts of a new threat of terrorism when the radicalized fighters return home.

Related articles

• For Congress, ‘it’s classified’ is new equivalent of ‘none of your business’

White House Moves to Quash Amash

Tags

4th Amendment, Barack Obama, HYPOCRISY, Justin Amash, NSA

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 23, 2013

Statement by the Press Secretary on the Amash Amendment

WH:”We’re against Amash/Conyers amendment because it’s not an “OPEN” process”(unlike what the FISA court & NSA do in total secrecy.)

In light of the recent unauthorized disclosures, the President has said that he welcomes a debate about how best to simultaneously safeguard both our national security and the privacy of our citizens.  The Administration has taken various proactive steps to advance this debate including the President’s meeting with the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board, his public statements on the disclosed programs, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence’s release of its own public statements, ODNI General Counsel Bob Litt’s speech at Brookings, and ODNI’s decision to declassify and disclose publicly that the Administration filed an application with the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court.  We look forward to continuing to discuss these critical issues with the American people and the Congress.

However, we oppose the current effort in the House to hastily dismantle one of our Intelligence Community’s counter terrorism tools.  This blunt approach is not the product of an informed, open, or deliberative process.  We urge the House to reject the Amash Amendment, and instead move forward with an approach that appropriately takes into account the need for a reasoned review of what tools can best secure the nation.

(Presented without comment. Bold emphasis is mine.)

TO SUPPORT AMASH-CONYERS AMENDMENT CLICK HERE FOR YOUR HOUSE REPRESENTATIVE’S PHONE NUMBER.

Obama’s most transparent administration in History, is NOT!

Tags

1st Amendment, 4th Amendment, AP Scandal, Barack Obama, Constitution, Edward Snowden, Glenn Greenwald, NSA, Overreach, Rosen Scandal, Secret Court, Spying, Surveillance, The Guardian

Remember when Richard Nixon told David Frost, “When the President does it, it is NOT illegal”?

Richard M. Nixon, TV interview with David Frost, May 20, 1977.

Remember when President Barack Obama announced:

My Administration is committed to creating an unprecedented level of openness in Government. We will work together to ensure the public trust and establish a system of transparency, public participation, and collaboration. Openness will strengthen our democracy and promote efficiency and effectiveness in Government.

What happened?

“We were hopeful when Obama came into office that some of what we had seen in the Bush years would be reversed,” said Gary Daniels of the ACLU. “Instead, not only has it continued but it has EXPANDED.”

Guardian Journalist, Glenn Greenwald, and whistle blower, Edward Snowden, recently revealed that Obama has, for years, been in charge of a ‘Big Brother’ surveillance state that would make Richard Nixon blush with envy. The FBI, the NSA, DHS, CIA, plus Federal, military and “privately contracted” agencies, more than you can count using every finger on both hands, has a database of all your iMessages, your photos, your videos, your e-mails, your music playlist, your web search history, your documents and connection logs and your cell phone text messages.

Since Sept. 11, 2001, the top-secret world created to respond to the terrorist attacks has grown into an unwieldy enterprise spread over 10,000 U.S. locations

They have put your phone calls into their data base, including recordings of the contents and the ping triangulations — which can enable analysts to track your every movement of every day, even inside your home, if you are carrying your phone. Obama’s spy network has photocopied the front of every one of your snail mail envelopes. There’s evidence the federal government has collected information on your financial and credit card transactions in addition to your health records.

Obama’s spy agencies don’t just snoop on citizens.

Federal agencies used security badge access records to track the chief Washington correspondent for Fox News’, James Rosen’s, comings and goings from the State Department (court affidavit here). They traced the timing of his calls with a State Department security adviser suspected of sharing the classified report. They obtained a search warrant for Rosen’s personal e-mails.

Washoe County’s Mobile Fusion (Spy) Center. To see pictures of the inside and to read more about the Mobile Spy Center click: https://www.ldvusa.com/vehicles/emergency-response/recent-deliveries/494-washoe-county-sheriff-mobile-fusion-center

Associated Press executives and First Amendment watchdogs ALSO have criticized the Justice Department for the broad scope of phone records it secretly subpoenaed from more than 20 phone lines of AP offices in Washington, Hartford, Conn., and New York.

Given the First Amendment’s protection of press freedom, is it ever legal for government to spy on, persecute or prosecute reporters doing their jobs? Just conducting an investigation is intimidating. According to Associated Press CEO Gary Pruit, “the message the government is now sending is — if you talk to the press we are going to go after you.”

To extend his executive power and oversight even further, Barack Obama has ordered federal employees to spy on their colleagues.

“See something, say something” appallingly has overreached into every nook and cranny of our personal lives.

But, if it keeps Americans safe what is the problem? Its not like any of us regular people are troublemakers who might, for example, do something rabble-rousing like doubt the “settled science of climate change” out-loud.

Why should we be concerned about surveillance if we have nothing to hide?

Here’s why…

Privacy isn’t simply the option to hide bad things. Privacy enables us to freely pursue the things that we enjoy, on our own terms. Privacy is your right to control the flow of information about yourself. You choose what details to share, when, where, and with whom. You may not be a terrorist, but there are details in everyone’s personal lives that they want to keep private. Privacy should be important to all who value freedom and the security of a comfortable voluntary lifestyle. It would be awkward to have your mother read through your every email and monitor your phone calls — forever. Let alone some stranger from the government.

Who hasn’t used the Internet to learn about and discuss political ideology? Which  is something that the government is more likely to take a serious interest in than your embarrassing late night texts to your ex-boyfriend.

Should you trust government with the power to listen to private conversations—some undoubtedly concerning politics — whenever they want?

The answer should always be: no. Some Democrats are willing to defend the NSA-Verizon scandal because Barack Obama is in the Oval Office, just as some Republicans were willing to downplay wiretapping under George W. Bush.

That’s partisan political games.

The protection of civilian privacy is an issue far more important than red versus blue. No one should give any president, any power that they wouldn’t trust with their WORST enemy. A Democrat is POTUS today, but a future presidents could be  Republican, Libertarian, from the Green Party or whatever. Parties have come and gone. So far, the Constitution has stood.

“The right of the people to be secure in their persons, papers and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.” ~4th Amendment

Our fourth amendment has been 100% compromised. As well as our first. Most of us did NOT consent. It was kept secret. When confronted by Senator Mark Udall (D-CO) and Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR), the Obama administration LIED. They denied what was going on.

Any individual courageous enough to inform the public about secret abuses of our rights risked being prosecuted at unprecedented levels under the Obama administration. Even the Nixon administration was wussy in comparison. Fear of repercussions and intimidation enabled America’s “top secret world” to  become so large, so unwieldy and so secretive that no one knows how much money it costs, how many people it employs, how many programs exist within it or exactly how many agencies do the same work.

“Watch your back.”

Allowing it to go on and stand unchallenged does far more damage to the republic than any law breaking. It sets new boundaries and rules for our government. It confirms what Richard Nixon argued for: “When the president does it, that means it is not illegal.”

The sheer breadth of America’s behemoth “top secret world” confirms the inadequacy of secret courts. Courts exist to enforce our rights in the face of government abuses. That’s one of the central geniuses of the founding fathers and the system of checks and balances they constructed.

When the decisions are secret, they stop being judicial in character. Law is built on mutual references among courts. When the law can’t reference itself, it stops being law, and emerges as something very different: in this case, a rubber stamp allowing any manner of dragnet violations impacting law-abiding Americans and our fundamental rights.

MUST READ: Top Secret America: a Hidden World, Growing Beyond Control. I can’t recommend this Washington Post article enough. It’s about the scope and size of America’s domestic spying and is shocking. CLICK HERE TO READ ARTICLE — YOU NEED TO KNOW THIS

Jackie Walorski Takes on Washington to Aid Elkhart County Vets

Tags

Helping Veterans, Jackie Walorski, Veterans

Last week, U.S. Rep. Jacki Walorski sent a letter to President Barrack Obama requesting a plan to address the lack of timeliness for VA claims, particularly a decision about the electronic transfer of medical information between the Department of Defense and the VA.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs office in Indianapolis has a “horrible track record,” Walorski said, and claims filed through the office can take, on average, 443 days to be processed or 612 days for a first-time filer. “There is a backlog and we’re aware of that. Everybody’s aware of that,” said Ron Lundy, head of the Elkhart County Veterans Service Office.

Walorski also wondered about the potential impact of a controversial 2.3 percent medical device tax on military veterans needing, say, artificial limbs due to injuries suffered in combat. She and others in Indiana’s legislative delegation sent a letter to the Department of Veterans Affairs on May 1 asking for more precise information on how the department plans to deal with increased costs brought on by the tax, which went into effect Jan. 1.

Rep. Walorski presses VA Undersecretary Petzel about health care benefits for veterans.