Today I was honored to witness something I have never seen. Down at the Federal courthouse here in Nashville, immigrants were sworn in as legal, naturalized citizens.
I was there to watch my friend, Leo, become an American. He was one of 60 people from 29 different nationalities being sworn in. Some of these individuals hailed from countries such as Canada, Guatemala, Cuba and Iran.
My friend was born and raised in Mexico. His wife is an American and they had met while she was vacationing in his home country. After some time, they got married and he moved here to the United States.
As long as I have known Leo, he has wanted to get his American citizenship. Today, after years of work and many fees, he earned it.
Right now we have anywhere between 15 and 20 million illegal immigrants residing here in the United States. None have gone through the process to become naturalized citizens nor do they appear to want to. They have not even begun to make the efforts that Leo has.
In the meantime, our politicians are fighting to grant these law-breakers citizenship without having to go through the same process as everyone else. In other words, our own elected officials are willing to have illegal immigrants jump in front of those working towards their citizenship and receive it first and possibly for free.
It cost my friend roughly $3500 in applications, travel, and other related expenses to get where he is. Would these politicians force those here illegally to pay the same monetary price?
Any politician who preaches amnesty also preaches putting an individual above the law. They feel that someone who breaks our laws is entitled to as little punishment as possible and the cherished gift of citizenship.
Each of those 60 people who became American’s today worked incredibly hard to earn this. They undoubtedly cherish what they now have. How do they feel knowing that politicians are willing to give their gift to someone else who did not sacrifice for it? Would those here illegally cherish their gift of independence?
The judge presiding the ceremony made an excellent observation: each person
Receiving their citizenship today gets to celebrate two days of independence every year. They get to bask in the festivities of the 4th of July to honor our nations independence and they get to celebrate every January 27th their own personal holiday. They celebrate their own independence.
No one in that room would dare take for granted what they have achieved. We should all be honored that they went to these great lengths to become our countrymen. This is something that our politicians should not desecrate through an amnesty bill. The achievements made are something that should never be legislated.
Matt Nemeth is the host of the West Nashville Eggs and Bacon Summit. It meets every 3rd Saturday of the month at the Shoney’s on White Bridge Rd. Matt works as a salesman and currently lives downtown with his dog, Sam.
To those who think the only good Muslim is a dead Muslim and to those who get all of their news about the Muslim world from Islamophobic groups like ACT for America, you probably missed this good news:
Egypt's Muslims Attend Coptic Christmas Mass, Serving as 'Human Shields'
Egypt's majority Muslim population stuck to its word Thursday night. What had been a promise of solidarity to the weary Coptic community, was honoured, when thousands of Muslims showed up at Coptic Christmas eve mass services in churches around the country and at candle light vigils held outside.
From the well-known to the unknown, Muslims had offered their bodies as "human shields" for last night's mass, making a pledge to collectively fight the threat of Islamic militants and towards an Egypt free from sectarian strife.
"We either live together, or we die together," was the sloganeering genius of Mohamed El-Sawy, a Muslim arts tycoon whose cultural centre distributed flyers at churches in Cairo Thursday night, and who has been credited with first floating the "human shield" idea.
I was surprised to see the Nashville fairgrounds story make the New York Times. In my view this is a balanced report on the issue.
In Nashville, Debate Over Racetrack Pits Nostalgia and Change
By CAMPBELL ROBERTSON, New York Times, Published: January 20, 2011
NASHVILLE — Shannon McCullough has a favorite lullaby, and it begins with the revving of a carbureted V8 engine. From her house on Merritt Avenue she could hear it most of her life, the hypnotic, oscillating drone as the stock cars approached and receded, approached and receded. (link)
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is the latest victim of the Muslim Jihadist witch hunt. The anti-Muslim bigots looking for Jihadist under every bed are not going to be happy until they have tarnished the reputation of every Republican who does not share their bigotry.
Chris Christie is a solid conservative and a rising star in the Republican Party. Chris Christie's crime, however, is that he appointed a prominent Muslim immigration attorney to a judgeship. As an attorney, this appointee had defended several Muslim-Americans who were picked up for “suspicious” activity following the September 11th attacks. All of the men were subsequently cleared of any kind of connection to the attacks of 9-11.
Pamela Gellar has said Christie is "in bed with the enemy." Others have said he has taken the first step to turning New Jersey into a Sharia state.
To the anti-Muslim bigots, guilt or innocents doesn't matter; all Muslims are the enemy and the only good Muslim is a dead Muslim. The anti-Muslim paranoids do not only not believe in freedom of religion, neither do they believe in the presumption of innocents and the right to the accused of due process. They do believe in guilt by association. (link)
This has been a fun weekend! I attended the inaugural concert on Friday night, and the prayer service, the inauguration and the ball on Saturday. It was a weekend of celebration, spiritual renewal, good will, sharing a good time with a brother and sister, networking and hobnobbing and greeting friends, patriotic stirrings, reflection, and dancing and partying.
One thing that struck is, that despite the terrible events of Tucson just a few days ago, our elected officials are still very accessible. Thre was no checking of handbags, or pat downs or metal detector scans. I had the opportunity to shake hands and exchange pleasantries with Governor Haslam, Governor Winfield Dunn, and Senator Bob Corker. While, I recognize the security risk for our elected officials, I am glad they are still accessible and that our concern for security had not curtailed our freedom of assemble or our ability to interact with our elected officials.
Below is my report of inaugural events:
The Concert: The concert was a benefit for TN Achieves a scholarship program for community college students. This is a great program that makes it possible many students to attend a community college who otherwise could not afford to do so. The show featured opening act Bo Bice who did a three-song set, accompanied only by a single guitar player. It was low-key but Ok for an opening act. Bice has had some success and was second to Carrie Underwood in the fourth season of American Idol but I was not familiar with him .
The second act was Diamond Rio. For those who don't know them, they have been around since 1984 and have had had the same band members the whole time. They got their start at the old Opryland theme park. They have had a string of hits and won numerous CMA awards and ACM award and nominations for Grammy awards. They are talented performers and musicians. They played past hits and material from a new album. If you are not sure who they are, Meet in the Middle and One More Day were two really big hits from the band. They provided a high-energy show and preformed for about an hour. I had seen them a couple times in the past so was very familiar with their performance. One thing they did that was different is they performed a set of 70 rock classics with a banjo and mandolin in a bluegrass style. They put on an enjoyable show.
Sara Evans closed out the show and also performed for about an hour. She has also had a string of CMA and AMC awards. One of her biggest hits of recent years was "Suds in the Bucket and clothes on the line." She has a tremendous voice and can hold a note forever. I enjoyed her performance much more than I anticipated.
Bill Haslam and Christy were seated front and center and before the show and during the intermission between Rio and Evans, well-wishers had the opportunity shake hands and greet them. Also, former Governor Winfield Dunn was there sitting in front and was gracious in greeting the public. Kix Brooks of the Brooks and Dunn duo addressed the crowd with remarks honoring Haslum and Haslum spoke briefly.
I was surprised that the show was not a sold-out show. The 4500 capacity venue was only a little over half full. $10 is a cheap price for a concert with two hit acts and the money went to a good cause. I would have thought that country music fans would have attended the show, even if they were not die-hard Republicans.
The Prayer Service. This event was very moving and spiritual. I got a blessing. The Bible passages and prayers called for people to pray for our leaders and to love and respect one another and to seek God's guidance.
The event was in the Ryman auditorium. The Ryman is my favorite venue in town. It is historical, has great acoustics and while it can seat over 2300 people, it has an intimate feel and there are no bad seats. The sun was shining through the colored windows of the building creating a nice glow. The building was at capacity.
The Nashville Choir was fantastic! I was not familiar with them prior to this performance. There must be 250 members and they were great! They performed the Doxology and Agnus Dei and it was very moving. Later in the program they sang How Great Thou Art. Other performances in the program was a solo by Melinda Doolittle, a graduate of Belmont University and another American Idol winner who has gone on to have a successful gospel music career. A version of Amassing Grace was performed a capella by the Oak Ridge Boys.
The program was ecumenical. The opening prayer was by Davidson County General Sessions Judge Leon Rueben, who is Jewish. Other prayers were delivered by Father Edward Steiner of the Cathedral of the Incarnation and a pastor of a Baptist Church and a pastor of a Presbyterian Church.
Selected bible passages were read by various dignitaries including Beth Harwell, Speaker of the House; A. C Warton, Mayor of Memphis; and former Governor Winfield Dunn. A sermon was delivered by Reverend John Wood of Cedar Springs Presbyterian church, Bill Haslam's home church in Knoxville.
Reverent Wood reference the passage from Jeremiah that had just been read by Governor Dunn. The passage calls for the captive children of Israel to seek the peace of the city where they were held captive. The passage says that if those holding you do well, it benefits you. Reverend Wood, said if God wished for the captive of Israel to pray for the peace of the city in which they were captives, should we as free people not wish the best for our nation and those who are govern us even if they are of another party.
The Inauguration: It was very stirring event. I still get goose bumps when the National Anthem is played and when a mass of people recite the Pledge of allegiance. I enjoy the military band music, the presentation of the colors, the taking of oaths and all of the ceremonial aspect of events such as this.
The sun was shining bright, and the air was still and the 45 degree temperature did not seem cold. Everyone spoke well of each other. Outgoing Governor Phil Bredesen got warm applause and praise and everyone was gracious. Bill Haslam gave a good speech saying that to compete for jobs, Tennessee must continue to improve education. He said we are not only competing with other states for jobs but compete with other countries and improving education would be his number one goal as govenor. He said the challenges for governing the state are huge. He said government must do more with less. He quoted columnist Thomas Fiedman who recently said government at all levels could no longer give more to people but must enter a phase of taking away benefits and services from people.
Prior to the speech by Governor Haslam, during a performance by a military band, there was a loud boom. I don't know if I was the only one, but I immediately felt fear and thought it was an explosion. However, it was the first cannon of a cannon salute. I am not sure how many times cannons fired but it was several as the band continued to play. At the end of the performance, there was a fly-over of military aircraft flying at roof top level. That was very impressive and exciting.
The Ball. The ball was a blast. It was at the Opryland Hotel, which has had $185 million dollar makeover after the devastating flood of seven months ago. The Opryland hotel is fantastic- the large atriums with fountains and streams and palm trees and waterfalls and art work throughout the hotel. The hotel is also massive. If you have never seen it, see it. It is an experience. You feel like you are somewhere other than Nashville.
For most of us, there are few time in our life to get dressed in our best and party. I enjoy it. I love women in glittery clothes, wearing very high heels and showing cleavage and everyone in a giddy mood. I am normally a fugal person, but rather than deal with self parking or shuttle buses I paid for valet parking just like a rich Republican.
My sister Kathleen who often has to lobby the legislature as Executive Director for the Parks and Greenways Foundation was with me and she knew a lot of people in attendance and met and introduced me to a lot of legislators. Also, my brother Tim and his wife Amy were in town from Knoxville and if was fun being at this event with family.
Louella, Rod, Amy, Tim and Kathleen
It is hard to estimate how many people attended. There was one band playing in the ball room where prior to the ball there had been the dinner. In one of the large atriums, spread out and on several levels, there was a party and another band. While the bands had a little variety in their music, both bands were similar and they were both primarily Rhythm and Blues party bands. The dance floor was packed and people partied hard as the band played. Shout, (Well, you know you make me wanna' (Shout) Kick my heels up and (Shout) Throw my hands up and (Shout) Throw my head back and (Shout) Come on now (Shout) ...) seemed to go on for every and wore me out.
We had a great time. My darling wife Louella was a fashion plate wearing a velvet black dress with a slit up to mid thigh and stockings with seems up the back and very high hills. She looked fabulous.
This was a great weekend and left me feeling joyful and happy and optimistic.
According to leading conservative Frank Gaffney, CPAC has come under the influence of the Muslim Brotherhood, and told World Net Daily that Islamism has infiltrated the American Conservative Union. Suhail Khan discusses these absurd claims.
by Rod Williams, Jan 12, 2011- There are allegation that proponents of Shariah Law and Muslim Jihadist have infiltrated the conservative movement.
The most important conservative political gatherings in the nation is the Conservative Political Action Conference. It was founded in 1973 and anyone who is anyone in the conservative movement attends this annual gathering. It is often the launching pad for conservative candidates who seek and often win the Republican Presidential nomination. Ronald Reagan, Glen Beck, Rush Limbaugh and Newt Gingrich have been keynote speakers at the annual CPAC conference.
The sponsor of the CPAC conference is the American Conservative Union. ACU has been around since 1964 and is a leading voice in grassroots American conservative thought and activism. In addition to ACU, over 100 organization including The American Rifle Association, Human Events, and Eagle Forum are participants in CPAC.
There are two specific claims to support the charge that CPAC has been infiltrated by jihadist:
1. Suhail Khan a Washington lobbyist and attorney, who was on the staff of the George W. Bush White House, is apparently a member of a group called Muslims for America and he is also on the board of the ACU.
From a web search, it appears that Muslims for America is a pro-American, patriotic, bi-partisan organization. They state they have, "zero tolerance for any kind of terrorism." Their web site denounces terrorism and features news of Muslim clerics and Muslim leaders and Muslim pop stars who denounce terrorism.
Khan's father, it is alleged, was a founder of the Muslim Brotherhood in America and Khan was also reportedly on the board of CAIR (The Council on American-Islamic Relations) and served on committees at ISNA (the Islamic Society of North America). Both CAIR and ISNA have been classified by the US government as terrorist organization and have a relationship to Hamas.
2. The other connection is Grover Norquist. Norquist, who is married to an Arab-American Muslim women, is on the board of ACU. He is a founder of Americans for Tax Reform and is a former Executive Director of the National Taxpayers Union. He has a long history of conservative and anti-communist activism including, during the cold war, assisting the Contra rebels in Nicaragua and building support for other anti-soviet movements in the world.
Americans for Tax Reform is a 501(c)(4) lobbying organization and was founded in 1985 and is dedicated to resisting increases in the personal or business income tax. Norquist is co-founder of an organization called the Islamic Free Market Institute. It is alleged that Norquist is also associated with other Muslim organizations that allegedly have ties to terrorist organization.
This latest charge of CPAC ties to terrorist organization may destroy CPAC. There has already developed a splintering in CPAC, not due to the allegation of ties to Muslim terrorist, but due to the admission of GoProud as a sponsor. GoProud is a gay conservative group and a couple of the family values type conservative organizations are pulling out of CPAC because CPAC admitted GoProud. CPAC has also been hit with an embezzlement scandal.
The allegations of CPAC jihadist ties have primarily been reported by World Net Daily, however they have also been made by other influential conservatives including Michelle Malkin, Pamela Geller, and David Horowitz.
I have no way of knowing if the allegation of conservatives with ties to terrorist organization are true or not or if the paranoid wing nuts are off on a tangent of character assignation looking for Jihadist under every bed. Certainly there have always been traitors and efforts of our enemies to infiltrate American organization and there have been front groups doing the bidding of foreign interest. It has always happened. Benedict Arnold and Alger Hiss were real people. Prior to American entry into World War II, Germany helped fund American anti-war groups and during the cold war there were numerous organizations that had domestic and foreign communist ties and supported the interest of our enemies. Still, I find it hard to believe someone of Mr. Norquest's stature and commitment to conservative causes is a Muslim Jihadist traitor.
Being part of a front group or doing the bidding of foreign interest is much different than simply having association with others who are associated with terrorist organization. People who are politically active and who try to influence opinion in the Muslim world are no doubt going to have associations with unsavory characters. People who seek to influence the opinion of others have to engage them. I am not going to declare someone guilty by association. Being married to a Muslim does not make you guilty of being a jihadist.
If Mr. Khan and Mr. Norquest are guilty, by association, of having ties to terrorist organizations, so am I. You see, I either am currently, or have been, a member of The American Conservative Union, The National Taxpayers Union, and Americans for Tax Reform. So, if Norquest is guilty of being a member of an organization that has ties to organizations that supported terrorist organizations then I am guilty of belonging to an organization that was heading by a person that was a member of an organization that had ties to organizations that supported terrorist organizations. If Mr. Khan is guilty of being the son of a founder of a terrorist associated organization , I am guilty of being a member of an organization that has on its board a man who is the son of a founder of a terrorist associated organization.
While I am confessing, I also once taught a homebuyersQuran. Also, some years ago I visited Turkey on a 15-day vacation and enjoyed it very much. I ate with Muslims and had long conversations with Muslims and stayed in Muslim-owned pensions and bought some beautiful oriental rugs from Muslim merchants. I visited the Grand Mosque and the Blue Mosque and some other mosque, the names of which I cannot recall.
The Weekly Standard has a great article profiling Representative Paul Ryan of Wisconsin of and Tennessee's Senator Bob Corker. Author Fred Barnes say, "Paul Ryan and Bob Corker are unusual members of Congress. They know a lot."
In the Senate, Bob Corker, the only new Republican elected in 2006, figured out on his own that knowledge creates leverage in Congress. By 2008, he was a major player on the auto industry rescue and reform of financial market regulations, though he wound up voting against both of them. Over the past year, he started from scratch to learn about America’s decaying missile force and grabbed a significant role in passage of the arms control treaty with Russia last month. And in his bid to cut government spending and reduce debt, he’s found an ally outside the Senate—Ryan. (link)
Daniel Greenfield: Who Needs the Constitution Anyway?
The Democratic left insists that we don't need a document to protect our rights, because they'll protect us. Our rights just get in the way of them being able to offer us sweet juicy entitlements and preventing us from shooting ourselves in the head, or getting sick or doing the other stupid things that we do when the smothering blanket of the Nanny State isn't completely covering our heads like a socialist burqa. Where the Constitution held that we need to be protected from government, the Democratic left insists that we need to be protected from ourselves. And anyone who disagrees is obviously shilling for the big corporations. You know the ones whose health insurance we're now obligated to buy, by an unconstitutional law passed to protect us from ourselves. (link)
From The Washington Times: Liberal distaste for the Constitution Today, Lincoln's vision of reverence for the laws is needed more by the government than by the people. The point of reading the Constitution on the floor of Congress is to remind those who tread the marbled halls of power that they are not philosopher kings sent to Washington to give life to their every pet theory, every caprice, every whim. If the United States is to survive as a free nation, the government must return to first principles.(link)
Charles Krauthammer: Constitutionalism
What originalism is to jurisprudence, constitutionalism is to governance: a call for restraint rooted in constitutional text. Constitutionalism as a political philosophy represents a reformed, self-regulating conservatism that bases its call for minimalist government - for reining in the willfulness of presidents and legislatures - in the words and meaning of the Constitution.
Hence that highly symbolic moment on Thursday when the 112th House of Representatives opened with a reading of the Constitution. Remarkably, this had never been done before - perhaps because it had never been so needed. The reading reflected the feeling, expressed powerfully in the last election, that we had moved far, especially the past two years, from a government constitutionally limited by its enumerated powers to a government constrained only by its perception of social need. (link)
Read the Constitution
If you have not recently read the Constitution, I encourage you to read it. Below are some excerpts. The first excerpt is the first ten amendments which is the Bill of Rights. Everyone should know this, but if you forgot it, please note that rights are not grants from the government but restrictions on government. Amendment number 10 is no doubt the most often ignored of the Bill of Rights. Amendment 10 is a major restriction on the power of the State.
1.Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances
2.A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed
3.No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law
4.The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, 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
5.No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation
6.In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defense
7.In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law
8.Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted
9.The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people
10.The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people
Another excerpt which captures the essence of the Constitution is Section 8, Clearly Congress does not have the authority to do whatever it may wish, whatever may even reflect the popular will, or whatever may seem like a good idea. The powers of Congress are limited and specific and enumerated.
The Congress shall have the power
1.to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises, to pay the debts and provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States; but all duties, imposts and excises shall be uniform throughout the United States
2.To borrow money on the credit of the United States
3.To regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several states, and with the Indian tribes
4.To establish an uniform rule of naturalization, and uniform laws on the subject of bankruptcies throughout the United States
5.To coin money, regulate the value thereof, and of foreign coin, and fix the standard of weights and measures
6.To provide for the punishment of counterfeiting the securities and current coin of the United States
7.To establish post-offices and post-roads
8.To promote the progress of science and useful arts, by securing for limited times to authors and inventors the exclusive right to their respective writings and discoveries
9.To constitute tribunals inferior to the supreme court
10.To define and punish piracies and felonies committed on the high seas, and offences against the law of nations
11.To declare war, grant letters of marquee and reprisal, and make rules concerning captures on land and water
12.To raise and support armies, but no appropriation of money to that use shall be for a longer term than two years
13.To provide and maintain a navy
14.To make rules for the government and regulation of the land and naval forces
15.To provide for calling forth the militia to execute the laws of the union, suppress insurrections and repel invasions
16.To provide for organizing, arming and disciplining the militia, and for governing such part of them as may be employed in the service of the United States, reserving to the states respectively, the appointment of the officers, and the authority of training the militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress
17.To exercise exclusive legislation in all cases whatsoever, over such district (not exceeding ten miles square) as may, by cession of particular states, and the acceptance of Congress, become the seat of the government of the United States, and to exercise like authority over all places purchased by the consent of the legislature of the state in which the same shall be, for the erection of forts, magazines, arsenals, dock-yards, and other needful buildings: And,
18.To make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers, and all other powers vested by this constitution in the government of the United States, or in any department or officer thereof
As the author of A Disgruntled Republican I often post items which I think may be of interest to the conservative, Republican, libertarian or the greater community. Posting of a press release or an announcement of an event does not necessarily indicate an endorsement. Rod
Posts
