Updated

Breaking News – in a 5-4 decision the US Supreme Court has struck down Section 4 of the Voting Rights Act as unconstitutional.

Striking down an Act of Congress “is the gravest and most delicate duty that this Court is called on to perform.”  Blodgett v. Holden, 275 U. S. 142, 148 (1927) (Holmes, J., concurring). We do not do so lightly. That is why, in 2009, we took care to avoid ruling on the constitutionality of the Voting Rights Act when asked to do so, and instead resolved the case then before us on statutory grounds. But in issuing that decision, we expressed our broader concerns about the constitutionality of the Act. Congress could have updated the coverage formula at that time, but did not do so. Its failure to act leaves us today with no choice but to declare §4(b) unconstitutional. The formula in that section can no longer be used as a basis for subjecting jurisdictions to preclearance.

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I guess some author at BuzzFeed regurgitated a list from a book by a health food goo-roo and added some scary CAPS; “Eight foods that we eat in the US that are banned in other countries.”  

Derek Lowe, a Biochemist, who himself has a blog, notes that…

Many science-oriented bloggers have taken on what’s been called “chemophobia”, and they’ve done some great work tearing into some some really uninformed stuff out there. But nonsense does not obey any conservation law. It keeps on coming. It’s always been in long supply, and it looks like it always will be.

It’s not just food, Derek.  It’s not just food.

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“Liberals are stalwart defenders of civil liberties – provided we’re only talking about criminals.”   —Ann Coulter

Jamaal Moore, who had a considerable criminal history was shot after attempting to flee the scene of a robbery and a high speed chase through a residential neighborhood.  Five offenders, including Moore, “piled out” of the car, and attempted to run. Moore and a police officer fought. Moore threw the officer to the ground twice. “The officer was thrown around like a rag doll,” Police said.An officer warned that Moore had a gun. Moore then went after a female officer and who fired twice, killing Moore.

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President Barack Obama vowed to tackle climate change during his second term as President of the United States – and now he has promised to unveil a national climate action plan at Georgetown University on Tuesday. In his upcoming address, President Obama will propose a new strategy to reduce carbon emissions, prepare for the impact of climate change, build a green economy, and empower all Americans to do their part to “preserve God’s creation.”

Inhabit is another TreeHugger type site – environmentalism all the way (and, in fact, there is some cross-over in some of the writers).  We all know that President Obama has decided that tomorrow he is going to tell us how our energy usage is going to look like going forward (emphasis on tell) and Inhabit decided to comment on it; the above is how they started their post.  One of those changes will be, I’m sure, is to fulfill one of his 2008 campaign promises:

“You know, when I was asked earlier about the issue of coal, uh, you know — Under my plan of a cap and trade system, electricity rates would necessarily skyrocket. Even regardless of what I say about whether coal is good or bad. Because I’m capping greenhouse gases, coal power plants, you know, natural gas, you name it — whatever the plants were, whatever the industry was, uh, they would have to retrofit their operations. That will cost money. They will pass that money on to consumers.”

The Legislative process in Congress decided to NOT do a Cap N Trade – there just was not a consensus that the benefits were not worth the cost (either to us financially or to them politicially).  However, given the size and the overreach of the Federal Government, the EPA decided that it could be both Legislative and Executive Branches all on it own say so to dramatically change the make up of America’s energy sources.  No Congress, No President, no law, no free market – just regulation.

This is the hallmark of a Representative Republic? 

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Now that Grokster Susan has outlined that you have voted to limit debate on “new and devolved” Schumer Open-Border Immigration bill, it may be too late to note that this is turning into yet another “We have to pass the bill to see what is in it”.  With almost a total rewrite of the original bill with the Corker / Hoeven Amendment of 1200 pages, you only had about 72 hours to read the bill AND UNDERSTAND all of the ramifications (again, is this REALLY how a Representative Republic is supposed to work – by voting for bills nobody understand?  Obamacare redeux!).  A bill that was more convoluted, referencing pages within itself and to existing law and deleting other law, than most code I get to at.  I don’t wonder why that code doesn’t work, and with the worse spaghetti orientation in this bill (so I’ve been told) I will not be surprised in what is in it – or the harm this will cause.

For instance and just like in Obamacare, you and your other Senatorial chuckleheads have delegated much of your “higher level” authority and oversight to the Executive Branch (even as the bill micromanages things that SHOULD be delegated to the Executive Branch).  So, Kelly, did you know that you voted, not for Obamaphones, but for Obamacars??

That’s right – the ability for the Executive Branch to use some of the slush funds you just voted for to purchase “transportation” for our newly “legalized residents” (as that’s what “Provisional” means – instant legality for formerly illegal aliens at the press of your button press and Obama’s signature); from Big Government:

Breitbart News has learned there is a provision included in the immigration bill that could be used to give free cars, motorcycles, scooters or other vehicles to young people around the country over a period of 15 months after the bill passes.  The new provision is a result of the latest addition to the Corker-Hoeven amendment, which is essentially an entirely new version of the bill.

…“The original Gang bill ended with a section designated Title IV, which was headlined REFORMS TO NON-IMMIGRANT VISA PROGRAMS,” York wrote on Sunday. “The Hoeven-Corker version of the bill added a Title V, with the headline JOBS FOR YOUTH. The measure would provide $1.5 billion in the next two years to provide jobs for Americans between the ages of 16 and 24…

A provision under that new stimulus program title allows for the use of spending the taxpayer money on the program to provide transportation for youth to and from their jobs.

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Senator Dianne Feinstein (D., Calif.), one of the chief apologists of the NSA domestic spying program, said on CBS’s Face the Nation that oaths are very serious, especially if you’re a would-be whistleblower. When asked about Edward Snowden, Feinstein said, “I don’t think this man is a whistleblower,” adding that he should have stayed and “faced the music.”

“He has taken an oath, and these oaths mean something,” she said.

True – and many are debating that very point – a blanket that stifles the exposure of malfeasance?  Or one that say (I cannot believe I’m about to say this, again) “speak truth to power”.  But I remind the long serving US Senator (Progressive – CA) of this (Matt 7:3):

And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

I do remember that she took an oath to defend the Constitution – a “higher calling” compared to that uttered by Snowden.  That that would include:

 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.

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“No”is the answer here.  But we have seen that the Federal Government will retaliate against its Citizens when bureaucrats believe that “citizens have lost sight of their proper place” (IRS targeting TEA Party, Constitutionalists, Pro-Life groups; Dept of Labor and the IRS going after high net worth donors to Romney, and the EPA targeting energy provides that do not bow down to its Environmental alter for just a few examples).  Here in NH, the “Dept of Environmental Services” expand their own reach and set of regulations – go ahead, ask water front owners who really controls their land (for ownership means naught when someone else owns the actual control) and the trouble they can get themselves into if even a wildflower is removed “counter to regulations”.

Seems like its counterpart in Tennessee has the same attitude – “You might be a terrorist if you complain about us!” (emphasis mine):

A Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation deputy director warned a group of Maury County residents that unfounded complaints about water quality could be considered an “act of terrorism.”

“We take water quality very seriously. Very, very seriously,” said Sherwin Smith, deputy director of TDEC’s Division of Water Resources, according to audio recorded by attendees. “But you need to make sure that when you make water quality complaints you have a basis, because federally, if there’s no water quality issues, that can be considered under Homeland Security an act of terrorism.”

“Can you say that again, please?” an audience member can be heard asking on the audio.

Smith went on in the recording to repeat the claim almost verbatim.

Hmm, and you thought I was kidding when I said:

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J. Christian Adams has a revealing piece over at PJ media–hat tip to reader for sending me the link–in which he informs us that PJ Media has sued US Attorney General Eric Holder for failing to comply with a Freedom of Information Request.  What does that have to do with New Hampshire?

After James O’Keefe’s voter ID sting during the last presidential primary the NH AG’s office apparently coordinated with the US Attorney General’s office, to investigate the matter (and James O’Keefe) at great length, with many public employees getting involved.  PJM contends that given the scope the recent release of documents in response to..

...A Freedom of Information Act request for these documents was made on May 10, 2012.  New Hampshire did not comply with the request until June 13, 2013.  Associate Attorney General Richard Head said that the request was delayed because “there was an open investigation regarding Project Veritas and Mr. O’Keefe.”

The documents were only provided after O’Keefe conducted an ambush interview of Richard Head at his office in New Hampshire and asked Head why he did not comply with the public records request.  

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If you’re going to perpetrate a serial fraud to intimidate legislators to impose failed laws New Hampshire does not need, you’d best be thorough.  So having read the names of these folks you are going to have to add this guy as well.

Patrons had been lining up all week — at least of them one since last Monday — to get the new Nike LeBron X EXT shoes. …

Reports indicate the crook used a gun to try and rob everyone one in line. But one person wasn’t having it. An armed citizen in line used his own gun to fight back — he opened fire on the man and hit him. The crook ran a little ways before collapsing and dying.

“He really stood up for all of us,” Taylor White — a fellow patron — told WSB. “And I salute him, to the homie that did that.”

So a line of patrons is being robbed at gun point…

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Lets be frank, our politicians are trying to force Comprehensive Immigration Reform down our throats because it benefits the politicians themselves even though it hurts most Americans.

With 20 million unemployed or underemployed Americans, we don’t need the low skilled, poorly educated immigrant workers who flood this labor pool driving down wages and taking jobs Americans desperately need.

They tell us this cheap immigrant labor keeps prices down, for example, that immigrants provide us with cheap lettuce and apples because Americans won’t pick fruits and vegetables for the average farm worker pay of about $8.65 per hour.

But many Americans already work at the current wages, so many more unemployed or underemployed Americans would take jobs held by illegals if the jobs paid more.  Employers would have to pay more if the labor market was not flooded with low skilled (immigrant) workers.  Labor is only about ten percent of the produce cost so doubling farm labor pay would provide a decent income to workers at only a minor cost to consumers.  (Small compared to the food stamp program cost for each net income tax payer of about $1066/year.)

The worst cost of illegal immigration is that many Americans are victims of accidents and violent crimes committed by people who shouldn’t even be here.  The next worst cost is probably to the poverty, depression and dependency that harms so many low skilled Americans because of illegal aliens.  But, let’s consider the financial cost of this “cheap” labor.

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I got a great email from a reader who was a bit confused about my position, the NRA/Pro-gun position on background checks with a keen interest in where to learn more that might help them understand how I obtained or sustain my worldview.  They are from out of state and looking for perspective.  One point that was of most concern was why we (pro-gun folks) would be against background checks?  I don’t actually know any that are against them in total, just the latest ones, for reasons explained in my reply, so I tried to stick to what drives me.  The Second amendemnt’s purpose, the effect of law abiding gun owners on crime, and a side of check this and that out to expand your world a bit.

Here’s my reply.

Hey xxxxxxxxx,

First, thanks for reading.  I appreciate it.  Second, I get insulted, called names (from Democrats and Republicans), receive implied death threats…you are very polite, and thanks for writing to me.  So….

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