Would You Buy a Used Constitution from this Man?

The challenge was to do a Google-Images search for "Ted Cruz smiling" and see if you could come up with a picture of Ted that didn't look creepy.

It can't be done. Please note that only one of those pics appears to be doctored. And the creepiest are the official photos (i.e., the ones with the flag). Can you trust a man who creeps you out when he smiles?

In Which Senator Mike Lee (R. UT) Pushes My Button

Disappointed that my regular Friday-lunch, co-worker friend was not around today, I hoofed it up to Jimmy John's for my usual No. 5. Walking back to the Federal Building, I got in an elevator with some already aboard. I pushed No. 6 and it didn't light up so the man in the corner pushed it again, being nice, I guess. Had he spent more time in the Federal Building, he would know that Elevator No. 1 doesn't light up for floor No. 6 on the left of the door, but it does on the right. Maybe the guy will get a clue and raise an issue with GSA or stop defunding the government or . . . Wait! That's Senator Lee!

Dang! I can't believe there's a pic of Senator Lee with the same Skousenite Constitution held by the Malheur Occupiers!

Glenn Beck: Losing His Religion?

Something is up.

Both Anonymous D and the blogger, Chris Henrichsen, have noticed. Read Henrichsen's piece here. D has this weird fascination with Beck and actually listens to him sometimes.

Chris Stewart, Politician. And Glenn Beck loses it (again).

Back in the days when Chris Stewart and Beck were buddies.

My Congressman, Chris Stewart, seriously disappointed his mentor, Glenn Beck, yesterday. Stewart did the most outrageous thing by voting to keep John Boehner as Speaker of the House! Beck wanted him to vote for Louie Gohmert or any of the other crazies in the Republican tea-party caucus. You can see Beck in all his whining glory at this link.

Now I'm not the world's greatest fan of Speaker Boehner, but it delights me to see my apocalyptic-novelist Congressman break ranks with the Beckians and support Boehner. It's a bold move to part with the forces of money-grubbing, phony patriotism. Maybe, just maybe, Chris Stewart has learned a little something about how the Congress actually works - politics - the art of the possible for who gets what, when, and how. The process is played, or should be played, under the rules of our Constitution - Supremacy Clause, Fourteenth Amendment, and all.

Blanding Conspiracy Theorists Charged for Trespass on Public Lands

See any evil here? I don't

Work-related. Caveats in place. Not talking about inside information. And, I haven't yet been invited to secret Agenda 21 meetings to destroy truth, justice, and the American Way because such meetings simply don't exist. In fact, if more people actually believed in truth, justice, and the American Way and practiced them, we wouldn't be having this discussion.

I am not directly working on the four-wheel trespasses on public land administered by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management for the multiple use of US Citizens (and even foreign visitors) under law, regulation, and the US Constitution. I wasn't going to comment at all until I saw the hand-held poster of one of the riders in an article of the Salt Lake Tribune. Check out the photos. The guy trying to hold on to the poster about Agenda 21 is also attempting to hold on to a young child. It is not clear which will slide off the moving vehicle first, the guy riding side-saddle, the poster, or the young child. I try not to go pejorative on the blog, but . . . .

Boehner Presents Foolproof Plan to Get Wicked Obama

Speaker Boehner explains his brilliant plan to a confused Dorothy (representing America, of course)

Yes! The Brilliant Munchkins of the 113th Congress finally have the opportunity to do in the evil President Obama once and for all! Speaker Boehner just announced his plan to sue the President over his delay in implementing the Obamacare mandate!

Executive Orders - Since George Washington, 1789

First Executive Order Proclaiming Thanksgiving, October 3, 1789, George Washington (Library of Congress)

Once again, I'm very disappointed and concerned that friends of mine apparently believe (and posted on FB) the insane rantings of Glenn Beck, who, along with Bachmann, Palin, and others, are accusing the President of assuming "dictatorial powers" as the President has clearly and forthrightly stated that where Congress won't work with him, he will issue EO's (that's how we abbreviate them since I went to law school 30 years ago) under any legal authority he has.

Why I'm Not Going to my Rep's Town Hall Meeting

My U.S. Congressman of the whatever gerrymandered District we're in now, is holding a town hall meeting this month that I will not be attending. There are some questions I would like to ask, but I don't think they'll get me very far with my political tea-partier, erstwhile Mormon-pop, apocalyptical-fiction* writer, and Beck-buddy Representative. My questions follow:

Beck Is Either Stupid or Dishonest (Maybe Both!)

The latest from Nazi-memorabilia collector Glenn Beck is his call to impeach the President for "treason." Because he (the President, not Beck) is sending some aid to international groups and "vetted" Syrian rebels. Politico reports today:

“We did not get into bed with Hitler to defeat Japan. We did not do it,” Beck said. “It’s the height of insanity. But I also believe it is impeachable. I believe it is treason.”

Well, he's sorta right. We did not sleep with Hitler to defeat Japan. No, we had another Ally that admittedly came in late against Japan but was pretty heavily involved in our defeat of Hitler.

Soviet Flag on top of the Reichstag at the Capture of Berlin, May 1945

Racist Rush & Nazi-Collector Beck

I'm calling it. The great, big intellect of conservative thought said on this radio show today that President Obama's policy on Syria is not "shock and awe," but "shuck and jive" This is from Politico, a right of center source (although they are clearly mainstream Republican right, so they are not inclined to be big fans of Rush).

Rush is a racist - no question about it. If you think what he said is funny or you don't understand how it could possibly be racist*, then you are a racist too. Just because you are a racist doesn't mean that you are all bad. And you can always repent, change, learn, and grow.

Sheer Lunacy

"I am Moon, the Great and Powerful!"

Big sigh. It's always more disturbing to see troubling images than just to imagine them. MediaMatters.org put up an extensive rundown review of Glenn Beck's "Man in the Moon" show and, yeah, it's kind of disturbing. In a separate piece they also put up a whole bunch of pictures from the moonstruck extravaganza. If you had any doubt that Beck is somehow connected to the tea party, unrestricted gun enthusiasts, survivalists, President-haters, fringe elements, etc., those pictures should clear it up for you. It is troubling that this was in Utah. Even more troubling are some pretty clear links to the LDS fringe.

Chris Stewart, Politician - But Not that Great of One

Sitting here tonight in thunderstorms grateful for the water on my lawn and gardens, my mind wanders a little south to the outdoor amphitheater where Glenn Beck is to be holding his 'man in the moon' extravaganza. He declared a miracle, a sign of approval from above, when a flock of geese flew over his last rally in DC. I know it would be really, really wrong to pray for a lightning strike. And I suppose if he lucks out and he doesn't get washed out he'll claim the miracle again. But my issue is with Congressman Chris Stewart, Utah 2nd Dist.

Why bring up Beck? Well, the problem is Congressman Stewart is a good ol' buddy of Beck's.

Chris Stewart - old buddy of Glenn Beck

Mormon Conspiracy Theorists

Well, leaving the infamous Bro. Beck to the side for a moment, Anonymous D and I have been highly entertained this week by the LDS Church debunking anti-government conspiracies about modifications to the Church's welfare canning operations. The Church put out this statement:

Over the past several weeks, misinformation and unnecessary concern has been circulating on blogs, over social media channels and by email regarding changes in operations at the Church’s home storage centers, which are located in the U.S. and Canada. No home storage centers are being closed, but the Church is making welcomed modifications in its operations at most of these centers that will help to better serve the needs of members of the Church, as well as significantly improve efficiency.

There's a bit more to the statement you can find at the link above or by going to Newsroom at LDS.org.

Anonymous D and I went to some of the websites spreading "misinformation" which I decline to link here. But you can find them. One has a special 3-DVD course you can buy on home storage for only $150!! It also has gun training for women, etc. Another is by a Cleon Skousen wannabe who I just don't think is brazen enough to get as far as Bro. Skousen (SLC Police Chief, Teaching at BYU, etc.) But you can buy this new guy's books on his site too!! (Seems to be a common theme here I'll leave for now.)

Anyway, D had some great insights I wanted to share, so take it away D!

Suspect #2 - Innocent Until Proven Guilty

Watertown, Mass. Residents cheering law enforcement

Boston Marathon Bombing Suspect #2 is in custody, alive, yet seriously wounded. The citizens of Watertown are rightfully applauding Law Enforcement local, state, and federal leaving the scene. While we preserve presumption of innocence, it seems like a fairly easy case to prosecute based on all the solid information we know.

Let me address unsolid information for a moment. Many are speculating on motives, international conspiracies, government conspiracies, ties to international terrorism, and all kinds of things ALL without evidence. (Glenn Beck, I'm talking to you - and many others!) Some are using this politically to denigrate religious groups and immigrants in general. That is the ugly side of America. These people are wrong and feed the sickness and evil of the world by tearing down what is best in America - Constitutional Law including freedom and justice for all. Pay attention to these negative people only to reinforce that they should not be supported or encouraged.

Glenn Beck Creates Own Moon: Better than Original?!

Used for satirical purpose as part of a legitimate review of  upcoming event
(providing free publicity to boot: http://www.glennbeck.com/maninthemoon)

Anonymous D provides us with this piece of Glenn Beck's latest self-promotion:

One wonders what the real psychological diagnosis of Glenn Beck would be. The kicker is the description of the event written and approved by Glenn Beck himself. I mean you can’t have some hack ghost writing for, how was it put, oh, yeah, “America’s premiere storyteller”…wait he did that with at least his last novel. I just can’t decided if Beck takes himself seriously or if he is just putting you on. I tend to believe that he is the worst of both worlds a true believer and a huckster all at the same time. 

Book of Mormon Pride Cycle (Liberal View)

Every active member of the LDS Church can draw the Book of Mormon Price Cycle with their eyes closed. I would make an attempt, but it is easier explained with a clear graphic:

My son wrote a very popular Guest Post on Humility and Pride on this blog. Anonymous D has hit the Pride Cycle theme in rather direct terms here, here, and here. And keep reading the blog. I don't think he's through yet.

Glenn Beck's "Disneyland" America

Post from Anonymous D:

Ok, so my paranoid fantasy about Glenn Beck wanting to build his own Theme Park wasn’t over estimated, matter of fact, I underestimated Glenn’s megalomania. Click here.

  

So, he wants to call his new theme park/city Independence, does he?  Why not throw caution to the wind and just call it Zion? But this Zion will cost you a heavy fee. I honestly thought he’d just call it Galt’s Gulch, but whatever.  When will this man reign it in?  I wonder if Glenn realized that if he builds a city he is going to have to govern said city?  Provide services, follow County, State, and Federal Law? I suppose that’s why he wants to make it a business. If Government is business and if your residents are employees, you don’t have to offer them the same rights as you would an actual citizen. Yikes! I know I sound crazy. When I listened to Glenn at the beginning of the week, I could see what his twisted little mind was getting up to.  It’s scary to me that I can occupy even a little of his head space.

Chris Stewart - Politician

As a citizen of the new, gerrymandered 2nd Congressional District with Jim Matheson scooting off to the new 4th to face tea-partier Mia Love- at least I won't have Rob Bishop. I'm voting for Jay Seegmiller. The Republican candidate, Chris Stewart, is just another politician telling people what they want to hear. And he's being promoted by his part-time employer, Glenn Beck.

Watching the Farmington Festival Days Parade last Saturday, Stewart supporters came along the crowd handing out  pamphlets. I politely (yes, politely) told the supporter, "No, thank you. He should go back to writing books." My son-in-law reading through the pamphlet noted that Stewart says that our Founding Fathers were patriots not politicians. I beg to differ.

The Liberal Mormon and the Irony of Romney & Huntsman

I'm not saying that Romney and Huntsman are liberal. That would just be silly. But I am struck by the odd situation that in spite of the very strong political conservatism that runs through cultural Mormonism, when I see Huntsman and Romney in the midst of the Republican field for the presidential nomination, they are the sanest members of crazy-town. And I don't think I''m the only one that has noticed.

Now, both of them certainly have their problems and are unlikely to get my support in a general election. Huntsman just pegged Romney accurately as a "well-oiled weather vane" which also does in Huntsman's promise to run a "positive" campaign. But there is a basis for rational, progressive politics in Mormonism, even if you set aside Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, as most Mormons and conservatives tend to do anyway.

The Constitution Is Not Dead

Do you realize the implication of those like Justices Scalia and Thomas, along with Beck and the late Skousen who argue against a "living Constitution?" I hope they are not saying the Constitution is dead. I much prefer a living Constitution to a dead one.

As far as I can tell, I don't believe those who promote a living Constitution believe it is a "free-for-all" to interpret however we want. To draw a little scriptural analogy, which many on the right are so fond of anyway in spite of the First Amendment and the "no religious test" of Article VI, why can't we "liken the Constitution unto us" and consider its principles as applied to our current situation?