Friday, July 09, 2010

Lessons in Federalism

The definition of federalism is a two-tiered system of national government grounded in a delineation of delegated and reserved powers. Drawing on the theory of Thomas Hobbes that power to govern does not come from divine right of the king, but from the freely given consent of the governed the source of those powers to be delegated to governments is the lowest level in the hierarchy. The layer of government closest to the people in the US is the state. It is the states where power arises and the states which delegate authority to the feds and reserve power for themselves.

Apparently somebody doesn't understand or agree with that concept:

Unhappy With a Verdict? Call Eric...

Isn't he the Attorney General that is suing Arizona for enforcing federal laws? Now he wants to usurp state authority to prosecute, try and pronounce sentence on local criminal charges. If you don't like the outcome of a trial, you don't bother with respect for the verdict in Holderland. You simply define a minority status for yourself and then claim your civil rights were violated. What about the civil rights of the accused? Oh, I forgot. The accused was white.

But, possibly the most irresponsible statement I've seen in months is this one:

(Representative Barbara) Lee said she stands with Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums, the City Council and community leaders in supporting people who want to express themselves.

A US Congresscritter and the mayor of the city are supporting people who "want to express themselves" by rioting, burning, destroying property and breaking the law.

4 comments:

Murphy's Law said...

Come on--it's Ron Dellums. An open and proud socialist who was recruited to ruin by anti-war activists during the Vietnam war. One of the first things he did once elected was set up a display outside his office which condemned US Servicemen as murderers. He's opposed our military ever since, trying to kill of weapon system after weapon system and advocating on behalf of everyone from the Nicaraguan Sandinistas to the Cubans on Grenada. There aren't many districts in this country that would keep re-electing such an unpatriotic SOB, but He's found one of the few that will.

MagiK said...

The whole of California needs burned to the ground. Seriously.
well at least from San Francisco south to the border....just plow it all under. Nuke it till it glows :P

Ok thats a bit much but jeez that place irritates me and Holder is just one of "them"

bongobear said...

Leave northern Californis alone...it's some of the most beautiful country I've seen.
Apparently this administration is open to anything if it might buy them a few votes.

bongobear said...

That would be northern California as opposed to Californis.