All the Other Stuff, Liberty, Michigan, Michigan Politics, Opinion

A Question To Ask

by  •  • 3 Comments

Can the Federal Government own land?

Apparently so, if one reads the constitution.  “The Congress shall have Power to dispose of and make all needful Rules and Regulations respecting the Territory or other Property belonging to the United States; and nothing in this Constitution shall be so construed as to prejudice any claims of the United States, or of any particular state..” Stated in Article IV reads fairly clear.

But where are the limits?  If one were to go with that part as it has been interpreted, the congress then has power to declare all land to be under it’s jurisdiction, and subject no longer to the respective states, right?  Obviously not if practice is our guide. At some point there is a limit where the states retain control over their respective borders.  A further restraint on the ability of the federal government and Congress to simply take over land.

Yes, it is ALSO in the constitution.  And YES, it has been ignored. Article 1 Section 8 clearly sets forth a manner under which the federal government may acquire and control property.

“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, dockyards, and other needful buildings; ..”

Emboldened parts being relevant.

READ MORE ►

You Betcha! (11)Nuh Uh.(0)

2020 Presidential Election, All the Other Stuff, Conservative News, Cronyism, Democrats, Economy, Government Incompetence, Immigration, Michigan, Michigan Politics, Republicans

Hispanic Women for The Wall Rally – February 9th

by  •  • 2 Comments

From my inbox:

Trump supporters, 100% Fed Up and SHUR (Sterling Heights/Utica Republicans) invite you for a “Build the Wall” Rally.

Join us with your family and friends, at Van Dyke Ave., north of 15 Mile Rd. in Sterling Heights. It will be on Saturday, February 9th from 1:00 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Snow, Rain or Shine, we will be walking on the sidewalk. Dress warm.

Bring your signs (be respectful) and/or flags. Let’s show our county, state and country that WE SUPPORT OUR PRESIDENT. Trump Unity Bridge will be with us!!!!

We will meet at the Marketplace Court street Mall at the east side of Van Dyke Ave., north of 15 Mile Rd. It is across the street from the Chrysler Sterling Stamping Plant. You can park by the street mall. Then, we will spread out along Van Dyke Avenue. See map below.

More details will be coming up soon. Stay tuned! The event is free, but please register to plan accordingly.

 

You Betcha! (8)Nuh Uh.(0)

Michigan, Michigan Politics, Opinion

Gridlock Is Good.

by  •  • 7 Comments

Something we could have used after 2012 was a little disagreement by the legislature and the governor.

After 2012, the state lost control of the insurer of last resort, Obamacare was adopted, and gas taxes skyrocketed.  Snyder failed on the Flint fiasco, both on public perception of the problem and with the team sent to fix the problem when he knew it was happening.

Democrats, and Gretchen Whitmer in particular, are not going to let that particular crisis go to waste, and attempted a rewrite of the DEQ under the auspices of clean water.  The GOP controlled house says “:wait just a minute there GRRRL power:“

Rep. Jim Lower, the resolution’s sponsor, said he considered the executive order an overreach that “constituted a direct attack” on legislative powers. He also defended the panels’ merits and said they provided a needed layer over oversight.

“We shouldn’t be silencing the voices of people with on the ground, commonsense experience,” said Lower, R-Cedar Lake.

Jim Lower is correct, but there is more.

What Whitmer was attempting stinks of former state house member Dan Scripps’ scurrilous attempt at controlling underground water resources. The cost of such efforts is too high, and a price Michiganians ought not bear.

While clean drinking water should be expected by those who live in cities like Flint, we should remember that it was a failure of government, and the underlying accountability of the executive branch to manage such a disaster.  Granholm Whitmer has the ability to deal with such things as they arise without additional tools that threaten personal use and add cost.

Fact:  Regulation is a tax and this is a big one if allowed to go forward.

You Betcha! (11)Nuh Uh.(0)

2020 Presidential Election, All the Other Stuff, Michigan, Philosophy

Encore

by  •  • 5 Comments

Truth be told, I had been anticipating the President’s State of The Union a bit.

Pelosi opened the people’s house to the speech, and I was not sure if she understood that Trump has no limit switch. He was not likely to roll over and behave in a way that made her or the (currently) Democrat controlled house look very good.

Donald J Trump did not disappoint. He was persuasive, challenged the non-stop efforts to make his job difficult, and showed the country that all that the white suited (cult like) XX congress critters wanted was Grrrl Power. His words drew them out, revealing that the heroes on the president’s guest list weren’t worthy of their praise or approval, including holocaust, cancer, and extreme violence survivors.

He exposed them.

He brought out socialism, and forced those in attendance to face the demon in the room.  Bernie Sanders may have had to change his shorts soon after the speech, as the redness of his face on Trump’s declaration that “America Will Never Be A Socialist Country” indicated he (Sanders) was likely baking a cookie.

The President then closed out with one of the best examples of a sincere conviction that our best is yet to come, but only if we come together.  The epilogue finding itself as probably the best DJT speech on achievement and aspiration I have witnessed.

Truly worth a second look.

You Betcha! (16)Nuh Uh.(0)

All the Other Stuff, Conservative News, Cronyism, Democrats, Economy, Elections, Government Incompetence, Immigration, Michigan, Opinion, Republicans

Lead, follow or get out of the way!

by  •  • 3 Comments

Did you catch the story about Virginia wanting to pass an infanticide law? Don’t worry, someone threw a similar bill in the hopper here in Michigan.

The answer is probably not. The democrats speaking out in favor of that story got it buried after their democrat Governor was exposed liking to pose either in blackface or with a sheet over his head (and no, I don’t mean cosplaying as the villain in a Scooby Doo episode).

Did you catch the story about the democrats plan to address health care in America? As if, Obamacare isn’t as much of a spectacular train wreck as it is. Probable not, it seems that Team “d” is still working out how to package it, in order to make it palatable to voters.

Did you catch the story about the democrats plan to “reform” tax rates? The economic wunderkind from The Bronx is looking at taking 70% of your paycheck before you even see it. Her muslim comrade house colleague is shooting for 90%. Again, probably not.

How about the American jobs and economic numbers for the previous month?

What! Are you kidding?

Now, this might come as a shock to most readers, but despite the top-notch job for what passes for news media here in America today, (I know, I know, that whole “global warming”-thing really took a toll on everyone last week), President Trump will be giving his State of the Union Speech this Tuesday from the floor of the US House Chambers.

What might be part of that speech you may ask yourself?

Let me throw out there an idea (or two).

{Click below to continue}

READ MORE ►

You Betcha! (6)Nuh Uh.(0)

Cronyism, Michigan, Michigan Politics, Opinion, Philosophy, State Convention

Clueless Elitist or Corrupt Elitist?

by  •  • 14 Comments

Roughly three weeks out from a state convention, and ordinarily I’d be armpit-deep in some to-do list, but I’ve spent most of the past nine weeks considerably preoccupied. (If you really want to know why, then the obituary is here, and the funeral is here.) However, about four weeks ago, I had reason to have a rather lengthy and interesting conversation with one of the candidates for Michigan Republican State Committee Chair (the actual full title). I gotta tell you, it’s kinda nice to see that certain things really don’t change.

READ MORE ►

You Betcha! (21)Nuh Uh.(1)

Government Incompetence, Michigan, Michigan Politics, Opinion, Philosophy

A State Of Emergency

by  •  • 9 Comments

Years ago I wrote on the EPA regulations that essentially write off the future of coal for electrical generation.

Shortly after that that I wrote another piece which described the layers of problems facing the folks in rural areas, and specifically the Upper peninsula with the failure to support our coal burning electrical platform.  However, the meat of the piece better describes the way in which natural gas providers have also played a a part in defeating coal.

Coming amidst an impending decision by the EPA on the Utility MACT (maximum achievable control technology)  rule that is expected to lead to job loses, plant shutdowns, and rolling blackouts across the country, this strange partnership raises a question.  What does Chesapeake stand to gain, by pouring money into a seemingly disparate organization with extremely different objectives and priorities? Politico writes:

The ads come as the coal industry is at war with the Obama administration over new rules to curb pollution from coal-fired power plants. The EPA is expected to issue new rules on Friday to curb air toxics from power plants, which are estimated to cost industry about $10.9 billion each year.Stricter rules for power plants are expected to offer a competitive advantage to the cleaner-burning natural gas industry.

Oh, so its an end-justifies-the-means kind of thing.  Rent seeking.  But when questioned, Chesapeake officials have stated that the flood of cash to ALA is merely business as usual for the company, which donates to “a wide variety and number of health and medical-related organizations.  Well that’s very responsible of them, bravo for being so charitable.

Of course we all know better.

READ MORE ►

You Betcha! (18)Nuh Uh.(1)

2020 Presidential Election, All the Other Stuff, Conservative News, Cronyism, Democrats, Economy, Elections, Government Incompetence, Michigan, Michigan Politics, Opinion, Republicans

And the democrats will now do…what?

by  •  • 12 Comments

Well, this one caught everyone off guard.

I think that you’ll all know where I’m going at with this. Not much of a hook is required today.

{Please click below to continue reading the post}

READ MORE ►

You Betcha! (11)Nuh Uh.(0)

Opinion, Philosophy

Sunday Sermon – Best Sermon Ever

by  •  • 0 Comments

Grace and peace to you in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Chris, Amen.

What is the best sermon that you have ever heard?

For some of you it may be the sermon that brought you to saving faith in Jesus Christ. For others it may the sermon that brought you great comfort in a time of great sorrow, or clear guidance in a time of indecision. Or for others still it may be the sermon that brought you back to God after wandering away from him.

Of all the sermons that have ever been preached in history, no one has ever preached a better sermon than the first one that Jesus preached in his hometown of Nazareth. The sermon is a marvelous example of Jesus’ teaching, which was the primary focus of his ministry while on earth. Jesus’ teaching contains glorious truths about himself, and how anyone can receive the good news he spoke about. So I’m not going to hold you in suspense, I’m going to say right out, the first Christians sermon was the best the world ever received.

I am under no illusions as to my skill level in preaching compared to Jesus Christ, but even so, let’s examine an example of Jesus’ teaching as set forth in Luke 4:16-30, our Gospel lesson today.

READ MORE ►

You Betcha! (6)Nuh Uh.(0)