Conservative vs. NeoConservative
December 4, 2008 1 Comment
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Young Americans For Liberty
December 3, 2008
A new organization has been formed called Young Americans For Liberty. As the name implies, it is a youth oriented movement. This new group is being formed from the remnants of the Students For Ron Paul. Chapters exist in campuses across the country. It is naturally endorsed by Ron Paul.
Organizations like this are sorely needed to counter an education system that produces what Rush Limbaugh refers to as “young skulls full of mush”. I wish them the best of luck. If you are interested in learning more about the group, visit their website at www.yaliberty.org
You can sign up for their email newsletter to keep up with what the group will be doing.
They have a YouTube video on their site that is too good not to share, so I am including it here.
Reading is Fundamental, Sarah
The Constitution-Free Zone of the United States
December 2, 2008 1 Comment
Nearly 2 out of 3 Americans live within 100 miles of US land and coastal borders.
Click on the map picture above, and you will be taken to the ACLU website. People who know me will be shocked that I would link to the ACLU, and will be even more shocked to know that I agree with them! (At least on some things.) In recent years, a great many things which I consider to be un-American have been done in the name of “The War on Terror”. The ACLU, Libertarians, and true liberals and conservatives have been resisting these actions. The Constitution-Free Zone dictated by Homeland Security is but one of them. My thanks go out to my friend Rex Brocki, of Yakima, who made me aware of this issue on his radio show, which can be heard weekdays at 2PM PT, on-line at Restore the Republic Radio.
The issue revolves around 4th Amendment protections against unreasonable search and seizure. The ACLU points out that historically, courts have given the government greater flexibility when conducting searches, if it involves border security. The Bush administration has latched onto that, and by REGULATION granted itself power to conduct “border” searches up to 100 miles inland from land and water borders. The ACLU created this map to illustrate how widespread this area is. With 2/3 of the population within this declared area, alarm bells should be going off across America.
This area is so large, that entire states are being denied 4th Amendment protections. Sorry if you are a resident of Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont. The Constitution no longer applies in your state.
Here in Washington, most of the state is not covered by the US Constitution. 93.94% of the state population is within the Constitution-Free Zone.
As a commercial truck driver, I was subject to these types of searches on multiple occasions. Federal Border Patrol agents stopped me in California and Texas several times, asked me questions, and sometimes even used X-Ray machines on my truck-trailer. Sometimes this was done within a few miles of the border, but I also was stopped 50-100 miles inland from the border in west Texas. As a federally regulated driver, I had no choice but to accept the searches. However, this type of treatment is now being extended to everyone, whether a truck driver or not. All Americans are now subject to being stopped at checkpoints, and being asked to provide “papers” in order to move about the country. We should not accept infringement on our right to travel within our own country, by our own government. If you are ever “asked” for permission, in order for agents to search you, or your vehicle: Just Say No! Do not give up your rights for no good reason.
Our children and future generations of Americans will thank us for protecting the rights and freedoms that we inherited ourselves.
Yakima County Republicans To Recommend New County Prosecutor Dec 6
December 1, 2008
The outgoing Yakima County Prosecutor is the retiring Ron Zirkle. At this time, there are three candidates to fill the position, until an election for the office in November 2009. The annual salary for the position is $148,832. Yakima County Republicans will be conducting a vote of Precinct Committee Officers on December 6, which will rank order the candidates. A recommendation will then be sent to the Yakima County Commissioners who will actually make the decision on who will fill the vacancy. Although the recommendation is non-binding, it is worth noting that all of the commissioners are Republican. This means the recommendation will be most likely be given serious consideration. As a Republican Precinct Committee Officer from Sunnyside, I will be participating in the upcoming vote.
Candidates for the position are county deputy prosecutors Ken Ramm and Troy Clements; as well as U.S. Attorney Jim Hagarty. Each candidate will have an opportunity to speak to the Precinct Committee Officers (PCOs) before the rank ordering vote is taken.
Interestingly, outgoing prosecutor Zirkle has endorsed Ramm. Under Zirkle, Ramm was promoted to chief criminal deputy prosecutor. According to the Yakima Herald, Ramm has worked in the county prosecutor’s office for 20 years, and says he wants to mentor younger prosecutors. He says he would emphasize gang violence, as well as some property crimes, such as burglaries and car prowls.
Hagarty, has prior experience as a county prosecutor, serving in Klickitat County from 1999 to 2001, before becoming a federal prosecutor. In addition, he was chief criminal deputy prosecutor in Skamania County. Hagarty states the prosecutor’s office is “broken”, and has lost the faith of local law enforcement. If selected, he would emphasize moving cases through the justice system more efficiently. Hagarty feels that law enforcement is concerned about cases being filed but not prosecuted.
The third candidate, Clements, has experience in the prosecutor’s office and knowledge of the legislative process in Olympia. He is the son of former state lawmaker Jim Clements. Clements would prioritize prosecution of repeat offenders, which he deems “career criminals”. His emphasis would also include meth addicts, which Clements contends are responsible for many thefts in Yakima County. Lower Valley residents will recall the prosecution of Mid Valley Recycling in Grandview, for buying stolen metal. This prosecution, which was coordinated with the Yakima County Sheriff’s Office was led by Clements. He also states that violent gang members and graffiti vandals will face strong prosecution if he is selected.
I am still researching the records of these three men, and will not make a decision on which way I will vote until after hearing them address the PCOs at the upcoming meeting. However, if you have any comments about the prosecutor’s office, and especially the candidates for Yakima County Prosecutor, I am anxious to hear them. Please leave comments or send me an email.
See the write-up in the Yakima Herald:
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