In 1775, a group of patriots gathered in a North Carolina town known as Cross Creek. Now part of Fayetteville, North Carolina, the spot where the tavern they gathered in is only a few miles from my home. These men gathered at the tavern not for a night out with the boys, but to sign a document known as the Liberty Point Resolves. Their gathering was in reaction to the then recent events a Lexington and Concord in the colony of Massachusetts. The text of their document is…

Resolved, That the following Association stand as the Association of this Committee, and that it be recommended to the inhabitants of this District to sign the same as speedily as possible.

THE ASSOCIATION.

The actual commencement of hostilities against the Continent by the British Troops, in the bloody scene on the nineteenth of April last, near Boston; the increase of arbitrary impositions, from a wicked and despotick Ministry; and the dread of instigated insurrections in the Colonies, are causes sufficient to drive an oppressed People to the use of arms: We, therefore, the subscribers of Cumberland County, holding ourselves bound by that most sacred of all obligations, the duty of good citizens towards an injured Country, and thoroughly convinced that under our distressed circumstances we shall be justified before you in resisting force by force; do unite ourselves under every tie of religion and honour, and associate as a band in her defence against every foe; hereby solemnly engaging, that whenever our Continental or Provincial Councils shall decree it necessary, we will go forth and be ready to sacrifice our lives and fortunes to secure her freedom and safety. This obligation to continue in full force until, a reconciliation shall take place between Great Britain and America, upon constitutional principles, an event we most ardently desire. And we will hold all those persons inimical to the liberty of the Colonies who shall refuse to subscribe to this Association; and we will in all things follow the advice of our General Committee, respecting the purposes aforesaid, the preservation of peace and good order, and the safety of individual and private property.

By 1775 this was merely another in the long list of documents and pledges that had already been approved, signed, published and sent to King George.

The first was the Virginia Resolves, pushed through the Virginia House of Burgesses in 1765 by the newly elected Patrick Henry. He accomplished this with truly impressive oration and without the use of a teleprompter. As described by u-s-history.com:

On May 30, Henry gave his maiden speech in the assembly and defended his resolutions. He expanded the scope of his criticism to include not only Parliament, but the king as well. Speaking of George III, he stated that, “Caesar had his Brutus, Charles the First his Cromwell and George the Third — .” At that point he was interrupted by cries of “Treason!” from delegates who easily recognized the reference to assassinated leaders. Henry paused briefly, and then calmly finished his sentence: “…may profit by their example. If this be treason, make the most of it.”(emphasis mine)

This was Henry’s first speech as a member of the House of Burgesses, one that I consider a true classic and resulted in the passing and signing of the Virginia Resolves in reaction to the Stamp Act of 1765. These Resolves read:

Resolved, That the first adventurers and settlers of this His Majesty’s Colony and Dominion of Virginia brought with them, and transmitted to their posterity, and all other of His Majesty’s subjects since inhabiting this His Majesty’s said Colony, all the liberties, privileges, franchises, and immunities, that have at any time been held, enjoyed, and possessed, by the people of Great Britain.

Resolved, That by two royal charters, granted by King James the First, the colonists aforesaid are declared entitled to all liberties, privileges, and immunities of denizens and natural subjects, to all intents and purposes, as if they had been abiding and born within the realm of England.

Resolved, That the taxation of the people by themselves, or by persons chosen by themselves to represent them, who can only know what taxes the people are able to bear, or the easiest method of raising them, and must themselves be affected by every tax laid on the people, is the only security against a burthensome taxation, and the distinguishing characteristick of British freedom, without which the ancient constitution cannot exist.

Resolved, That His Majesty’s liege people of this his most ancient and loyal Colony have without interruption enjoyed the inestimable right of being governed by such laws, respecting their internal polity and taxation, as are derived from their own consent, with the approbation of their sovereign, or his substitute; and that the same hath never been forfeited or yielded up, but hath been constantly recognized by the kings and people of Great Britain.

Resolved therefore, That the General Assembly of this Colony have the only and sole exclusive right and power to lay taxes and impositions upon the inhabitants of this Colony, and that every attempt to vest such power in any person or persons whatsoever other than the General Assembly aforesaid has a manifest tendency to destroy British as well as American freedom.

Resolved, That His Majesty’s liege people, the inhabitants of this Colony are not bound to yield obediance to any law or ordinance whatever, designed to impose any taxation whatsoever upon them other than the laws or ordinances of the General Assembly aforesaid.

Resolved, That any person who shall, by speaking or writing, assert or maintain that any person or persons other than the General Assembly of this Colony, have any right or power to impose or lay any taxation on the people here, shall be deemed an enemy to His Majesty’s Colony.

The Virginia Resolves were the first and the Liberty Point Resolves were 10 years later but they did not stand alone. The Virginia Resolves were followed by Declaration of Rights and Grievances (October 1765), An Inquiry into the Rights of the British Colonies (1766), Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania (1767), Massachusetts Circular Letter (February 1768), Boston Pamphlet (1772), Sheffield Declaration (January 1773), Chestertown Resolves (May 1774), Bush River Resolution (March 1775), Suffolk Resolves (September 1774), Orangetown Resolutions (July 1774), Mecklenburg Resolves (May 1775), Liberty Point Resolves (June 1775), Tryon Resolves (August 1775), Halifax Resolves (April 1776), Fairfax Resolves (July 1774), Hanover Resolves (July 1774), Fincastle Resolutions (January 1775), Virginia Declaration of Rights, (June 1776).

Every group of dissatisfied citizens across the Colonies had something to say about what they wanted for their colony and their soon to be, and in many cases unthought-of, Nation. The two examples I posted above each had portions that should ring familiar to Americans even today. Many of the thoughts and desires of the colonials who wrote and signed these many and varied “Resolves” and “Declarations” found their way into our founding documents.

So today, when many find fault with the “Mount Vernon Statement” it should not disqualify the statement as a viable and foundational document. It took 19 documents to state the desires and beliefs of somewhat over a million colonists in 1775. I have no idea how many it will take to state the beliefs and desires of 300 million Americans today. The “Mount Vernon Statement” is but one of the many which should and must follow. Every Tea Party and 9-12 group should write and sign their own, reflecting their own local values. Then hold their local politicians feet to the fire. As our political consciousness is flooded with these Resolves, we can map our path to a new found dedication to the documents which “opened all eyes to the rights of man.”

There have been a dozen blogs and thousands of comments across the blogosphere lately bemoaning our lack of a candidate for 2012. Invariably, the ones that start the harsh words and ill feelings are the ones that begin to eliminate possible candidates. I don’t need to go over the downfalls of any of the candidates here to remind anyone of the shortfalls that others see in their personal favorite. I would just like to draw an analogy and suggest a course of action.

In 1939 FDR and others saw our inevitable involvement in what was shaping up to become WW II. With this in mind FDR appointed General George C. Marshall as the Army Chief of Staff with an eye towards preparing us for this future involvement. In 1939 the United States Army consisted of seven Infantry Divisions and One Cavalry Division, for a total manpower of roughly 150,000. By 1941 the Army had 29 Infantry Divisions, 5 Armored Divisions and 2 Cavalry Divisions. In 1945 the Army was at a strength of 67 Infantry, 16 Armored and 5 Airborne Divisions, for a total strength of over 5 million men. General Marshall planned and oversaw this expansion.

Marshall’s previous assignments had provided him a unique view of the resources available in the Army of 1939. The resource that made the difference was his knowledge of the Officers available to help make the change. It is a common rumor in the Army that Marshall kept a “Black Book” filled with the names of Officers he had a place for. Some of those names include…

Dwight Eisenhower, a Lieutenant Colonel in 1939, working for the former Army Chief of Staff, General Douglas MacArthur in the Philippines, Eisenhower was promoted to Brigadier General and assigned to the US Army HQ as the Chief of Plans in 1941. By 1944 he was Supreme Allied Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force (SHAEF), responsible for the Allied War effort in Europe.

George S. Patton, a Colonel in 1939 due to his familiarity with Tank (Armored) Warfare, played a vital part in the formation of the Armored Divisions and soon found himself picking up the pieces of one of Marshalls other choices, General Fredenall in North Africa. His first Division Command was the 2nd Armored Division, “Hell on Wheels”. (the only Division is US Army history to wear their Unit Insignia over their heart rather than on their sleeve, because General Patton was buried with that patch worn over his heart.)

Omar Bradley, known as “The Soldier’s General”, one time Commander of the 82nd Infantry Division (later the 82nd Airborne Division), and the man who held Patton in rein during the Campaigns in Europe.

These are only a few of those suspected to have received a bit of help from the Chief of Staff, the legendary military leaders who learned their leadership from General Marshall is long and honorable. The invasion of Sicily saw Captain “Jumpin’ Jim” Gavin lead a handful of men to seize a key intersection and hold it till armored re-enforcements arrived. That same man was a Major General when he led the 82nd Airborne Division on their jump hours before the allied landings on June 6th, 1944.

What does all this wonderful history, and these Soldier’s meteoric rise in rank, have to do with the Presidential Elections in 2012 and the arguments that causes here among conservative activists? Everyone remembers a year ago when the conservative movement was declared dead and was in the same undermanned condition as the US Army of 1939. Well, we are now at the 1941 strength and still growing as Obama, Pelosi and Reid continue their progressive socialization of America. This November will see us at our 1945 levels and we are already now a force to be reckoned with.

What we need to do now is what Marshall did, concentrate on the build up and training of our forces and note those who deserve increased responsibility later. Later, because the 2012 Presidential Election is later, our first mission MUST be the election of 2010. Once that is finished and we have every seat we can possibly take, then, and only then, can we turn our attention to the “black book” we have been keeping and begin to propose our candidates for 2012.

We do not have the luxury of a George C. Marshall to have kept that list, but we know who the possibilities are, and still more will arise as we go through the elections and the legislative battles this year. Be patient, our fighting forces cannot be re-built over night, the time necessary will reveal even more good choices and we will have several to choose from before the beginning of the campaign season. Bemoan our lack of choices now, but do not despair a viable candidate in another year. That year will be as revealing as Obama’s first year in office, and we will profit from the revelations!

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“Duty is the most sublime word in our language. Do your duty in all things. You cannot do more. You should never wish to do less.” General Robert E. Lee

Salon.com is currently carrying a piece in its “Family” section entitled, “How to leave a soldier: The war on terror may be impossible to resolve. Ending my marriage was easy.” Personally I prefer Cassy Fiano’s response to it, How To Destroy A Soldier’s Life on Hot Air. I urge you to read the Cassy’s, it describes enough of the Salon putrescence without glorifying their website with another “hit.”

Read More →

It is now the day after the passing of Pennsylvania Congressman Jack Murtha. I have chewed through my lips biting them to wait this long, it’s long enough. More than he deserved. These are my opinions and do not reflect the opinions of The Minority Report or RedState. But I must speak them aloud.

There is a “Brotherhood of Arms” in the United States Military, as there has been in the best military units since the dawn of time. If Soldiers cannot be loyal to their brothers, how can they be loyal to the Nation, or in our instance, the Constitution, that they serve?

King Henry explains it well, perhaps the best. For those of you not familiar with Agincourt, a British force of roughly 5000 stood before a French force of 4 or 5 times that. And won, but Henry’s words below were delivered before the battle began. Henry knew the impossible odds, but his loyalty to his men, his respect and love for his men led him to say :

If we are mark’d to die, we are enow
To do our country loss; and if to live,
The fewer men, the greater share of honour.
God’s will! I pray thee, wish not one man more.
By Jove, I am not covetous for gold,
Nor care I who doth feed upon my cost;
It yearns me not if men my garments wear;
Such outward things dwell not in my desires:
But if it be a sin to covet honour,
I am the most offending soul alive.
No, faith, my coz, wish not a man from England:
God’s peace! I would not lose so great an honour
As one man more, methinks, would share from me
For the best hope I have. O, do not wish one more
Rather proclaim it, Westmoreland, through my host,
That he which hath no stomach to this fight,
Let him depart; his passport shall be made
And crowns for convoy put into his purse:
We would not die in that man’s company
That fears his fellowship to die with us. !
This day is called the feast of Crispian:
He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
Will stand a tip-toe when the day is named,
And rouse him at the name of Crispian.
He that shall live this day, and see old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,
And say ‘To-morrow is Saint Crispian:’
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars.
And say ‘These wounds I had on Crispin’s day.’
Old men forget: yet all shall be forgot,
But he’ll remember with advantages
What feats he did that day: then shall our names.
Familiar in his mouth as household words
Harry the king, Bedford and Exeter,
Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester,
Be in their flowing cups freshly remember’d.
This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne’er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remember’d;
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne’er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition:
And gentlemen in England now a-bed
Shall think themselves accursed they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin’s day.

William Shakespeare: Henry V Act IV Scene III

When St. Crispians Day came about for USMC veteran, Jack Murtha, there were no names “freshly remembered”, only curses for his brothers in arms. He was always more than happy to “strip his sleeves and show his scars” but he never said “I earned these on Crispian’s Day”, he said “I was a warrior but you are rapists and murderers.”

I had the inestimable privilege of Leading American Soldiers in battle; I will never forget that privilege, or the Soldiers I was privileged to lead. As King Henry said, through Shakespeare, we truly are “brothers, he who sheds his blood with me shall be my brother; be he ne’er so vile”, those days we shared gentled their condition, those Soldiers have earned my undying loyalty and I will not forsake that honor. Not for earmarks, not for a position or a job and not ever for political favor, “from this day to the ending of the world.”

Representative Murtha’s family should issue the apology to the USMC that the Corps (pronounced “Kor” for those of you using teleprompters) deserves, if they are not the selfish, corrupt, despicable human beings that Jack Murtha was.

Saint Crispin and his brother Saint Crispinian’s Day is the 25th of October. Feel free to add this little known holiday to Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day and further honor those who gave their lives fighting for us and our way of life. And take a moment to reflect upon Loyalty, Loyalty to those who serve you and those whom you serve, may you all fare better than the selfish and corrupt among us.

Barring the summoning of a demon from the fourth circle of hell and inventing a term no one can pronounce, this might be the best campaign idea I’ve seen in a while!! And unlike the demonsheep, it will work for the candidate who devised it.

Thursday, February 11 6:30pm until the ammo runs out! (10pm)

Jim’s Guns
4632 Yadkin Road
Fayetteville

MP-5s and Uzis will be available to shoot
$25 per magazine
Includes Carolina BBQ dinner and refreshments

FREE GUN GIVEAWAY
All attendees will be eligible to win an AR-15 from Jim’s, and other door prizes
CLICK HERE TO RSVP TODAY!
For more information, call 910-848-0200

You must be 18 or older to attend

I’ve written about Tim D’Annunzio before, he captured my conservative heart by announcing his candidacy for NC 8’s Congressional Seat by describing himself as “A Conservative Running as a Republican”, now this! How can I resist two of my favorite things in the whole, wide world; fully automatic weapons and sending a progressive politician home?

It pretty much explains his stance on the Second Amendment doesn’t it? If you like Tim you can show him how much here.

“Caesar had his Brutus, Charles I his Cromwell, and George III… …may profit by their example. If this be treason, make the most of it.”

The Tea Party Movement in 2009 set a precedent that hasn’t been seen since the original Tea Party. The last time so many Americans gathered to tell their government that they were dissatisfied with the direction it was going they were speaking to a British Monarch. I don’t need to point out to anyone that it was a totally unexpected and unprecedented occurrence on the American political scene, then or now.

The original Tea Party Movement was in the years leading up to the American Revolution. The original Tea Party, in Boston Harbor, 1773, was perpetrated by the “Son’s of Liberty”. Ushistory.org describes the beginning of the Son’s Of Liberty…

Read More →

The “most viewed” Health article on the UK Telegraph yesterday was a bit of progressive tripe by Richard Alleyne, entitled “Too much choice leaving us bewildered and depressed”, some of the brilliance espoused is below…

From the foods we eat, to the television channels we watch, to the schools we send our children too and the career we choose to pursue, society has never offered us so much variety.

But while the ability to choose is generally a good thing, too much freedom of choice is crippling us with indecision and making us unhappy, claims the new research.

Read More →

The 16th Annual Index of Economic Freedom show’s the United States falling to 8th place after Obama’s first year in office. Where’s Miracle Max when you need him?

Brian Garst , on Big Government.com:

Freedom took a hit in 2009.  One year into the Obama presidency and America is no longer classified as having a “free” economy, according to the 16th annual Index of Economic Freedom, a joint report by the The Heritage Foundation and The Wall Street Journal.  The land of the free and the home of the brave is now only “mostly free” for the first time in the report’s history.

Now ranking as just the 8th freest nation in the world, the United States saw scores decline in seven of the 10 measured categories, including government spending, property rights and business freedom.  These results are significant because freer nations have proven more resilient and thus fared better during the current global recession. (emphasis mine)

Fred Maidment: “America is less free today than it was before Barack Obama took office as
President.”

Vizzini: “INCONCEIVABLE!”

Indigo Montoya: “You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.”
(Thanks Fred)

Conservatives in America have been thrust into a Civil War.  We didn’t ask for a Civil War, we have made a big deal out of our dissatisfaction with the GOP “Establishment”, a euphemism for the RINO’s and “squishes” that currently hold the reins of power in our party, but we didn’t secede from the party.  We may have rebelled, we may be “traitors” but the definition of rebel and traitor rests with the group currently in power.  Or, more correctly, with the group that is victorious and in power after the civil war.  Our Founding Fathers recognized that when Benjamin Franklin pointed out that they ”must hang together, or assuredly we will hang separately.”

We didn’t ask for this Civil War, all we asked for was to be recognized as the base of the party, to be recognized as the force that we are, for the power that we each bring to the polls.  We have been belittled and repulsed at each offer and request.  We ask for conservative candidates who will work against the progressive statist agenda being thrust upon us.  Instead we get nominal Republicans who vote for the Porkulus, we get nominal Republicans who vote for Crap and Tax; we get “brilliant tacticians” who help to advance Healthcare through the Senate.  So we will fight.

There is something the Republican establishment has failed to take into account before declaring their Civil War.  In addition to being the true base of the Party, we are the ones who fight.  We don’t scuffle like a couple of angry schoolchildren, we fight.  We begged the Republican establishment to fight the Porkulus, and they betrayed us.  We cried out for the Republican establishment to fight Crap and Tax, and they turned on us.  We gathered across the country and pleaded with the Republican establishment to fight the rise of tyranny, we marched on Washington to show the Republican establishment that we were there with them to fight the loss of liberty in America, and they voted to bring the Healthcare bill to the floor of the senate and debate it.  We flooded town halls across the country in August and tried to show the establishment how to fight tyranny but they rolled over.

We don’t fight like the Republican establishment; calling us names won’t stop us.  Wounding us in the pages of the NYT won’t stop us.  The first casualty in this Civil War will be comity, there will be hard feelings, you don’t have to like us but you will fear us.  The only way the conservative base of the Party knows how to fight is Total War.  No brilliant tactical skirmishes, no half hearted attempts to win without hurting someone’s feelings.  Total War.

Total war is a conflict of unlimited scope in which a belligerent engages in a mobilization of all available resources at their disposal, whether human, industrial, agricultural, military, natural, technological, or otherwise, in order to entirely destroy or render beyond use their rival’s capacity to continue resistance.

When we ask the Republican Establishment to fight for us they think of two children on the playground, calling each other names, circling and threatening till someone’s lip is bloodied and the fight is over.  When we are forced to fight we think Sherman’s March to the Sea, we think The Battle of the Marne, we think Patton’s race across France.

We will drive a stake through the heart of the statist agenda, we will destroy socialism in America, and we will once again bind our bloated, greedy government with the chains of the Constitution.  Step in front of the statist agenda if you want to, shield the bloated government and your undeserved career with your bodies if you feel you must, just realize that you are not on the playground, and we’re not playing.  You’re stepping onto a battlefield…  and it’s not going to be pretty.

Originally Posted on The Minority Report

I am pleased to announce North Carolina’s 8th district entry in the David Hinz Memorial Butt Kicking of 2010. Tim D’Annunzio has just announced his candidacy for the NC 8th Congressional Seat.

Tim is a Veteran, a Non Commissioned Officer who served as a Parachute Rigger and eventually a member of the Golden Knights, the Army Parachute Team. Since leaving the service in 1985 he has been in business, building his own from the living room of his house and growing it into Paraclete Armor and Equipment Inc. He sold Paraclete and currently operates the Paraclete XP SkyVenture, the world’s largest freefall simulator wind tunnel (indoor skydiving).

As if discovering that a former NCO, Paratrooper and businessman was running against my nemesis, Larry Kissell, wasn’t enough; here are some snippets from his website: (emphasis mine)

“I consider myself a conservative running as a Republican. I know that smaller government, lower taxes, and a strong military are the most important tenets that prove to strengthen and contribute to the success of our great nation. Like many of you, I am gravely concerned with the direction our government has taken and I have decided to do something about it and I am fired up. I ask you to join me and together we can save this great state and our country from the tax and spend policies of our current politicians, I’m not giving up.”

“As a business owner, I provide health insurance to my employees and have seen first-hand how costs have escalated in recent years. Reforming our health care system must be undertaken responsibly and without government intervention. Above all, there is no authority in the Constitution for a nationalized health care system. Forming another unfunded entitlement program, similar to Medicare or Social Security, is not only unconstitutional, but it is irresponsible and will only lead our country deeper into debt.”

“I think we have lost the language battle if we allow the MURDER of children to be defined as “abortion.” … …These same people once argued that life began at birth, next it was only once totally birthed, then only after birthed if there was no intention to murder the child before birth. Now in the current administration we have those arguing, and who have argued for some time, that a human isn’t a human until long after birth and an identity and personality is developed.”

“As a Lifetime Member of the National Rifle Association (NRA) , I fully support the right of law-abiding Americans to purchase, use, and possess firearms. It seems that whenever the government passes another law regarding this issue, the rights of honest Americans are diminished. Additional regulation will not solve gun violence.”

“The United States is a nation of immigrants who came to this country seeking a better life for their families, but we are a nation of laws. There are an estimated 13 million illegal immigrants in the United States coming from countries all over the globe. This includes an estimated 385,000 living in North Carolina, costing the taxpayers of this great state of $1.3 billion a year. Additionally, gaps in our border have become virtual “WELCOME MATS” for would-be terrorists who hope to do us harm. This is unacceptable.
Those here illegally broke the law; it’s that simple. I am against any form of amnesty for those here illegally.”

Here in his own words (and some very good borrowed ones):

See for yourself.

Donate.

Tim’s is having a Town Hall Meeting in Fayetteville on December 3rd, anyone else in the area?

Contributor to The Minority Report