2007-07-08 10:16 am

N.H. Gov. signs bill that rejects federal Real ID law

Originally published at Twixel.net. You can comment here or there.

N.H. Gov. signs bill that rejects federal Real ID law
July 05, 2007 (Computerworld) — New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch last week signed into law a bill that forbids New Hampshire government agencies from complying with the controversial federal national identification act, or Real ID bill.

The New Hampshire Legislature had overwhelming passed the bill this past spring and handed it off to Lynch, who signed it on June 27.

“Real ID is intended to make us all safer, which I think we can all agree is a laudable goal,” said Lynch in a statement. “However, I strongly believe Real ID’s proposed haphazard implementation and onerous provisions would have the exact opposite effect. The federal government obviously did not think this burdensome system through and that is why we in New Hampshire are right to reject it.”

Right on, New Hampshire - Now everyone else needs to do the same. Apparently Congress is incapable of doing the right thing here - the States will have to do it for them.

2007-05-11 02:12 pm

Leahy, Others Speak Out Against New ID Standards - washingtonpost.com

Originally published at Twixel.net. You can comment here or there.

Leahy, Others Speak Out Against New ID Standards - washingtonpost.com
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick J. Leahy (D-Vt.), citing concerns about Americans’ privacy, signaled yesterday that he will push to repeal a provision of a 2005 law aimed at creating new government standards for driver’s licenses.Leahy, who has co-sponsored bipartisan legislation to repeal the provision, spoke out as the debate intensified over the Real ID Act, which requires states to create new tamper-proof driver’s licenses in line with rules recently issued by the Department of Homeland Security. States must begin to comply by May 2008 but can request more time. After 2013, people whose IDs do not meet those standards will not be allowed to board planes or enter federal buildings.
A similar Democrat-backed bill to repeal the provision is pending in the House. At least seven states have passed laws or resolutions opposing implementation of Real ID. Fourteen states have legislation pending. By yesterday, the DHS had received more than 12,000 public comments in response to the rules.

Real ID legislation was tacked onto a 2005 emergency spending bill by House Republicans, without Senate debate, and signed by President Bush. The bill’s passage cut short negotiations between states and the federal government to improve driver’s license security. Advocates of a repeal want to restart the negotiations.

Let’s hope we can get this repealed. Very bad legislation.

2007-05-10 11:25 am

Department of Homeland Security - Alabama Branch - Who are Domestic Terrorists?

Originally published at Twixel.net. You can comment here or there.

From DHS Alabama anti-government page

(edit: They removed the page. Here is a Google Cache version)

First of all they, the DHS Alabama site (and the DHS Pennsylvania site), use the Gadsen flag on a page representing Domestic Terrorism. Unbelievable.

Now - who is a terrorists?

Some bullet points (straight from the site)

Gun Control = Enslavement

Constitution has been subverted

The U.S. has lost its sovereignty

” In general, these terrorists claim that the U.S. government is infringing on their individual rights, and/or that the government’s policies are criminal and immoral. Such groups may hold that the current government is violating the basic principles laid out by the U.S. Constitution and that a new world order is attempting to enslave humanity.”

“Anarchists groups are the 21st Century’s version of left wing or communist groups of the last. Anarchists believe that any government or organization that has power over others, no matter how good, will eventually become corrupt and abusive. So far, without major causes to incite mass public opinion (such as civil rights and the Vietnam war were in the 1960’s), and without a national organization or coalition of organizations, these groups have focused on specific limited issues.
Most of these groups operate around larger urban areas and colleges/universities.
A diverse mix of organizations, many target hate groups for often violent counter-protests. Some are focused on issues such as World Trade, International Debt, and military involvement in foreign cultures. Meetings of the World Trade Organization or the International Monetary Fund are guaranteed to attract protests.
The theme is always the same. Big is bad. Rich are using the poor to stay rich. Our government in particular is using its power immorally.”

Looks like they are covering all the bases. Painting with a very broad brush. Generally speaking, if you disagree with “the government”, you just might be a domestic terrorist.

Here are some great quotes from some famous domestic terrorists:

“I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom ofthe people by the gradual and silent encroachments of those in power,than by violent and sudden usurpations.” - James Madison

“Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves.” - William Pitt, 1783

“Government is not reason, it is not eloquence, it is force; like fire, a troublesome servant and a fearful master. Never for a moment should it be left to irresponsible action.” - George Washington

“It will be found an unjust and unwise jealousy to deprive a man of his natural liberty upon the supposition he may abuse it.” - George Washington

“Over grown military establishments are under any form of government inauspicious to liberty, and are to be regarded as particularly hostile to republican liberty.” - George Washington

“The marvel of all history is the patience with which men and women submit to burdens unnecessarily laid upon them by their governments.” - George Washington

“The time is near at hand which must determine whether Americans are to be free men or slaves.” - George Washington

“Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote.” - Dr. Benjamin Franklin, 1759

“The history of liberty is a history of the limitation of governmental power, not the increase of it.” - Woodrow Wilson

“The true danger is when liberty is nibbled away, for expedients.” - Edmund Burke

“The oppressed should rebel, and they will continue to rebel and raise disturbance until their civil rights are fully restored to them and all partial distinctions, exclusions and incapacitations are removed.” - Thomas Jefferson, 1776.

“Convinced that the people are the only safe depositories of their own liberty, and that they are not safe unless enlightened to a certain degree, I have looked on our present state of liberty as a short-lived possession unless the mass of the people could be informed to a certain degree.” - Thomas Jefferson to Littleton Waller Tazewell, 1805.

“A bill of rights is what the people are entitled to against every government on earth, general or particular; and what no just government should refuse, or rest on inferences.” - Thomas Jefferson (writing to James Madison), 1787.

“My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government.” - Thomas Jefferson.

“Of liberty I would say that, in the whole plenitude of its extent, it is unobstructed action according to our will. But rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add ‘within the limits of the law,’ because law is often but the tyrant’s will, and always so when it violates the right of an individual.” - Thomas Jefferson to Isaac H. Tiffany, 1819.

“Most codes extend their definitions of treason to acts not really against one’s country. They do not distinguish between acts against the government, and acts against the oppressions of the government. The latter are virtues, yet have furnished more victims to the executioner than the former, because real treasons are rare; oppressions frequent. The unsuccessful strugglers against tyranny have been the chief martyrs of treason laws in all countries.” - Thomas Jefferson: Report on Spanish Convention, 1792.

“They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.” - Benjamin Franklin

“The trade of governing has always been monopolized by the most ignorant and the most rascally individuals of mankind.” - Thomas Paine

“No man is good enough to govern another man without that other’s consent.” - Abraham Lincoln

“You need only reflect that one of the best ways to get yourself a reputation as a dangerous citizen these days is to go about repeating the very phrases which our founding fathers used in the struggle for independence.” - Charles A. Beard (1874-1948), U.S. historian

2007-05-09 08:57 am

thegavel: Did The White House Miss It? National Guard Readiness Is A Serious Issue For The States

Originally published at Twixel.net. You can comment here or there.

thegavel: Did The White House Miss It? National Guard Readiness Is A Serious Issue For The States
http://www.speaker.gov/blog/?p=349
Today, White House spokesman Tony Snow claimed the crisis in Kansas was not a result of the National Guard being strained and stretched thin by the war in Iraq, but rather a result of Governor Kathleen Sebelius’ failure to communicate the state’s needs to the federal government. But the problems with National Guard readiness country-wide have been at the forefront of the Iraq debate this year and last. In fact, Gov. Sebelius sounded the alarm last year when she told the New York Times, “We are not only missing National Guard personnel…We are also missing a lot of the equipment that’s used to deal with situations at home, day in and day out.” Perhaps the White House missed it.

Not to mention the fact that Bush has basically federalized National Guard troops. The Executive Branch now has primary control of the NG. It’s total crap to try and blame this on the Governor of Kansas. This change in command has happened on Bush’s watch. The National Guard of each state was formerly, and rightly, under the control of each State’s respective Governor. Another effect of this is that the states no longer have any protection from the Federal military to protect their rights (if it came to it).

John Warner National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007
Where the States lost control of the Guard
National Governors Association Objection Letter
Where the Governors all objected
Stateline.org article on loss
Where the loss is declared

2007-04-07 11:23 am

Keene Free Press - NH House of Representatives votes 268-8 to reject federal Real ID Act

Originally published at Twixel.net. You can comment here or there.

Keene Free Press - NH House of Representatives votes 268-8 to reject federal Real ID Act
Concord, April 5th - In an overwhelming, bipartisan vote today, New Hampshire representatives sent a clear message to Washington DC that the state will not stand for a National ID card. In a lopsided 268-8 vote, the House passed HB685, which declares that New Hampshire will not participate in the federal REAL ID act. This vote also sends a clear message to the State Senate, which gutted and killed a similar bill last year. At the time, Governor Lynch had indicated that he would sign such a bill.

Right on, New Hampshire. Time for all the States to wake-up!