Arizona defies the Federal Government

It’s a scary thought, but here it is: If some red states were to openly defy the authority of President Obama in the exercise of his constitutional duties, would today’s Republican Congress side with him? Or would they honor the insurrection?

I wish it could be said with confidence that the legislative branch would oppose a rebellion against the executive branch of government. But I’m not so sure.

Last month, the Republican-led Arizona House of Representatives passed, on a 36-to-24 party-line vote, a bill sponsored by tea party Rep. Bob Thorpe (R-Flagstaff) that “prohibits this state or any of its political subdivisions from using any personnel or financial resources to enforce, administer or cooperate with an executive order issued by the President of the U.S. that has not been affirmed by a vote of Congress and signed into law as prescribed by the U.S. Constitution.”

If adopted by the Arizona Senate and signed into law, executive orders issued by the president would have no force or effect in that state. What’s more, the Arizona House has passed a number of other bills aimed at nullifying policies, rules and regulations of the Obama administration that have not been approved by Congress.

The word “insurrection” does come to mind. Yet the resistance out West to federal authority has been received in virtual silence on Capitol Hill. It’s almost as if the GOP Congress wanted an uprising against the president.

This country has drifted far beyond the rough-and-tumble give-and-take that historically occurs between the parties. It’s one thing to oppose the president’s policies. It’s quite another to refuse to acknowledge presidential authority.

That’s what we are witnessing in the Arizona House. That’s what we also saw with the 47 Republican senators who wrote to the Iranian government, warning that Obama is seeking a nuclear agreement that won’t last beyond his administration.

Sabotaging Obama shows up in other ways.

This week, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) told countries involved in negotiating a U.N.-brokered international climate change agreement that they should “proceed with caution” because of intransigent opposition to Obama’s efforts to significantly scale back U.S. carbon ­emissions.

McConnell also seeks to undermine presidential authority here at home. In a March 3 op-ed in the Lexington Herald-Leader, McConnell told states to ignore the Environmental Protection Agency’s mandate for clean power regulations. “Think twice before submitting a state plan,” McConnell implored the states. “Hold back.”

The Arizona insurrection, the GOP senators’ attempt to undermine negotiations over a nuclear agreement, the Senate leader’s effort to rupture international climate change negotiations and his call for open defiance of federal regulations are all aimed at marginalizing Obama by rendering him powerless.

Sometimes, in their zeal, the Republicans get out of control.

Recall the March 2012 edition of the newsletter of the Republican Party of Greene County, Va., which called for an “armed revolution” if Obama won reelection that November?

There was, of course, some after-the-fact tut-tutting by Virginia GOP leaders who weren’t about to take up arms. The county’s GOP leadership, which cut loose the writer, Ponch McPhee, announced boldly, “We do not believe that if the results end up with the re-election of Barack Obama, that will necessitate what the author suggests.” Not quite a stinging denunciation, but these days the president’s supporters must take what they can get. But they, the president and the Constitution deserve more.

American history teaches that we are on a dangerous path. And history has a way of repeating itself. A little more than 150 years ago, this country experienced another bombastic phase. Hatred of a president and his government’s policies produced a bloody schism that eventually led to an accord grounded in hope but which papered over a disharmony still lingering today.

Then, as now, there was a president, Abraham Lincoln, accused by those who detested him of misusing presidential power, subverting the Constitution and trampling over states’ rights. Then, as now, that president was characterized as a ruthless tyrant bent upon destroying a superior civilization.

Then, as now, that president was portrayed as a simpleton, a buffoon and a coward.

Wisconsin newspaper editor Marcus M. Pomeroy wrote as the election of 1864 approached: “The man who votes for Lincoln now is a traitor and murderer. . . . And if he is elected to misgovern for another four years, we trust some bold hand will pierce his heart with dagger point for the public good.”

’Course, we have our own Ponch McPhees.

Source

I thought Senator Lindsey Graham was leading the charge to storm the White House. We do live in interesting times. States defying the federal government. This is getting interesting.

Fight marijuana prohibition in Virginia

From NORML PAC:

Representative Jim Moran of Virginia's 8th congressional district is retiring. This is important news in the world of marijuana law reform because Representative Moran has been a long time ally in our fight for ending federal marijuana prohibition and reliably co-sponsored all of the various pieces of federal reform legislation that have been introduced over the years. While we wish Rep. Moran all the best after many years of dedicated service, we must now fight to ensure his successor is just as strongly in favor of marijuana law reforms as he was. In a crowded field of candidates, only one stands out as a true reform leader: state Senator Adam Ebbin.

That is why NORML PAC has endorsed Senator Ebbin in his campaign to be the next US Congressman from Virginia's 8th. While serving in the Virginia General Assembly, Adam Ebbin introduced marijuana decriminalization legislation and called for ending the egregious, racially disparate marijuana arrests in the commonwealth. Senator Ebbin has publicly called for the legalization of marijuana noting that "marijuana is less harmful than liquor" and that some of the worst racial disparities in marijuana arrests occur right in the 8th congressional district. In Arlington County, African Americans make up just over 8% of the population, but account for over 50% of all marijuana arrests. Senator Ebbin has taken a stand in favor of ending this discriminatory policy while serving in the state legislature and would be a great champion for our cause in Washington, DC.

SEND A MARIJUANA LAW REFORM CHAMPION TO CONGRESS

NORML PAC is standing with Senator Ebbin and doing all we can to send him to Washington, DC to fight for reform at the federal level. Will you stand with us? This will be a highly competitive election and every dollar helps print campaign literature, fuel get out the vote efforts, and put Senator Ebbin's message before as many voters as possible before the June 10th primary. We can't afford to lose one of our reliable supporters in Congress, it is imperative we elect Senator Adam Ebbin as Jim Moran's successor, not just for Virginia, but for the state of reform nationwide.
Contribute $20, $50, $100 or whatever you can afford to Ebbin for Congress and together we can send a true marijuana law reform leader to Washington, DC.
We need to support candidates who support us.

CLICK HERE TO STAND WITH NORML PAC AND SENATOR EBBIN.

NOTE: The NORML PAC is the political arm of NORML that permits us to provide campaign contributions to office holders and candidates for public office who support NORML-friendly public policy and legislation.

Rainbow Mafia forces itself on the people of Virginia

From Public Advocate:

Less than two weeks after Public Advocate protested at his inauguration, Virginia’s liberal Governor McAuliffe is making national headlines in his war on traditional values.

His attorney general, Mark Herring, has announced that his office is joining a lawsuit AGAINST Virginia’s real marriage amendment.

That’s right.

Instead of defending Virginia laws as he is supposed to, he is attacking them.

Obama and his solicitor general used the same tactics last year.

Instead of defending the Defense of Marriage Act as he was supposed to, Solicitor General Donald Verrilli lobbied to strike it down!

The Homosexual Lobby does not care about rule of law or legislative procedure.

They think they have the right to simply rewrite the laws as they see fit.

And Governor McAuliffe and his gang are no different.

They think they are above the law.

Within hours of being sworn in -- and in spite of Public Advocate’s protest right outside the inauguration -- McAuliffe signed the Gay Bill of Special Rights into law by executive order.

Completely bypassing the legislature.

And now his attorney general has decided he personally has the right to determine which laws Virginia should have.

Even though marriage is defined in Virginia as one man and one woman by a Constitutional Amendment.

An amendment which was passed by an overwhelming popular vote.

Of course, this is just part of a larger pattern.

The Homosexual Lobby is forcing homosexual “marriage” through against the will of voters across the country.

CBS News reported just days ago that “Almost overnight, Virginia has emerged as a critical state in the nationwide fight” over marriage.

In that same article, Virginia is linked to the fight over marriage in Utah.

Out west, Judge Shelby of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled to strike down Utah’s pro-marriage Constitutional Amendment 3.

Thankfully the U.S. Supreme Court has issued a stay of execution on the ruling at the request of Utah’s governor Gary Herbert.

But that is only temporary.

In order to assist Gov. Herbert, Public Advocate is gathering support and raising awareness of the issue using our cutting-edge tactics.

Now we need to expand that program to Virginia as well.

You see, all of these court decisions are interconnected.

The Homosexual Lobby is already bragging that the Utah marriage decision will cement the fate of marriage in California and other western states.

And as I said, radical Attorney General Herring is using that ruling as political cover in Virginia.

Public Advocate already fired a shot across McAuliffe’s bow with our inauguration day protest.

We handed out badges supporting real marriage and waved signs calling out the new governor for his unconstitutional executive order.

And now he is pushing back.

My friend, the Homosexual Lobby is pressing on every front.

They know that it’s much easier to win when they focus on just one state at a time.

Every state they win in gives them more momentum and more legal precedence.

That’s why it is up to you and me to shore up our pro-Family allies in these individual states.

We will soon be taking this fight to the US Congress, demanding they take action against these activist judges.

But first we need to come to the aid of Utah and Virginia.

If their real marriage amendments fail, then even more states will suffer.

I hope you will continue to stand with Public Advocate as we enter this critical fight.

For the Family,

HON. EUGENE DELGAUDIO
President, Public Advocate of the U.S.

P.S. Will you chip in $5 or $10 to help Public Advocate fight for family values against the radical Homosexual Lobby??

Public Advocate protests Terry McAuliffe's inauguration

From Public Advocate:

Public Advocate caused major headlines in Virginia this week with our program to expose new governor Terry McAuliffe’s anti-Family agenda.

Last Saturday, Public Advocate took to the streets to protest at the inauguration of Virginia’s new governor.

And the whole state took notice of our pro-Family challenge.

Our dedicated volunteers turned out despite the torrential rains to support real marriage and family values.

You see, Governor McAuliffe has said he wants to overturn Virginia’s real marriage law in favor of “homosexual marriage.”

He also quietly promised the Homosexual Lobby that he would sign an executive order bringing the Gay Bill of Special Rights to this pro-Family state.

This executive order bypasses the legislature and gives homosexuals and transsexuals preferential employment status and protections.

But despite all the warning signs, Public Advocate was the only pro-Family organization to show up to protest.

As McAuliffe’s guests lined up for the event, our volunteers waved signs and handed out inaugural badges supporting real marriage.

Here you can see some pictures of our group in action:

Our brave group called out Governor McAuliffe's anti-Family threats against laws defending real marriage.

We showed state leaders that Public Advocate and the pro-Family Movement are a force to be reckoned with.

We also caught the attention of the local news, and as you can see, I was being interviewed here.

Public Advocate has earned the distinction of leading the very first protest against Virginia’s new governor for his anti-Family stance.

Numerous radio stations, blogs and even the local CBS station reported on our protest.

And the governor’s bureaucrats have already taken an interest in Public Advocate, asking for our documentation for the first time ever.

We believe it is the result of our proper and legal actions during the inauguration.

Of course, McAuliffe will be hearing a lot more from Public Advocate in the future.

As we warned, McAuliffe did sign the Gay Bill of Special Rights executive order before the day was over.

Public Advocate works both on the national level and in select state fights.
The Homosexual Lobby is relentlessly attacking on both fronts, and so we have to be prepared to defend both fronts.

But this street protest would not have been possible without your support and the support of thousands of other Americans.

The organization, transportation and materials -- none of it would have happened without generous donations.

So I hope you will continue to stand with me in the future.

You are a critical part of making all this happen, and I thank you for it!

For the Family,

HON. EUGENE DELGAUDIO
President, Public Advocate of the U.S.