Posted on 05/26/2005 4:46:34 AM PDT by Chairman_December_19th_Society
We will not tire, we will not falter, and we will not fail!
Good morning!!
Do not let the victims of the attacks on New York and Washington, nor the brave members of our Nation's military who have given their lives to protect our freedom, die in vain!!
The place is England, the year is 1066. The Norman prince William had just settled the question of English succession through military force, and had become William I, King of England.
William, of course, did not grow up in England, and did not speak Anglo-Saxon, but rather French, a version referred to now as Low French. Low French became the language of the court. It, however, didn't become the language of the land. The people continued to speak Anglo-Saxon, and were thus separated from their leadership through a language barrier.
Over time, people picked up a word of French here and there, and it worked into the language, and the Court picked up Anglo-Saxon, and a sort of new language began to emerge, English. It didn't have all of the trappings of today, indeed Low English would be in many aspects unrecognizable by most folks who would attempt to read it today. Continued seeding of words by the French-speaking English nobility further enhanced (or corrupted?) the language into Middle English, the real merger of the Court toungue and that of its subjects. Middle English, the language of the British middle ages, was as different from French as say, Norwegian, but at least the leaders and the led could reasonably communicate without the need of intermediaries.
Along with the continued movement of the English language began a movement of the English people, in the creation of the greatest Empire the world has ever known. One of the places settled was a strange and forbidding land that became known as America.
Eventually, the Court of England saw fit to assert control over the lands settled by the English people in America. Those in America saw this, but didn't understand their strange language--providing taxes to a government in which they didn't participate? Having to quarter troops without being asked? Seeing officials appointed without any review or input?
Unlike William, however, the inhabitants of America successfully asked the interlopers to leave, thus allowing the governance of the land to those who lived there.
These governors, over time, saw fit to establish a contract between themselves and those they led, thus establishing the notion the governed did so at the mercy and pleasure of those so ruled. The rules of this Government were to be laid out in the toungue of the land so that all who read the guidance would be able to clearly understand.
One of these rules, located in Article II, Section 2, Clause 2 of this document, commonly referred to as the Constitution of the United States ("America") provided certain powers to the Chief Executive and read thus:
He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States, whose Appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by Law: but the Congress may by Law vest the Appointment of such inferior Officers, as they think proper, in the President alone, in the Courts of Law, or in the Heads of Departments.
Of particular interest are the words provided by these authors relating to nominations:
...and he shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States, whose Appointments are not herein otherwise provided for,....
Thus in the English of the day, the late 18th century, was established the notion the Chief Executive would nominate Judges. No other body in the Government, according to the public contract, could perform the function. The Senate would provide advice and consent on those nominations. In other words, it would deliberate and vote. Very clear, and easily understood by the people of the time.
Two hundred years later, a new language is being proposed by the leaders, particularly those located in the Senate, that body that will "advise and consent" upon the nominations of the Chief Executive, the President.
Senators, at least 14 of them, have decided that "advice" occurs before the nomination, and is an essential part of the "advice and consent" process. In analyzing the new toungue of leadership, it becomes apparent that logic is not a key component of that language. For Senators are free to provide all the advice they wish, and often they do, to the President at any time they desire on any topic they choose. This would include potential nominations.
That, however, is NOT the "advice and consent" discussed in the contract with the people, it is run-of-the-mill horsetrading. Some Senators, in their new language of the Court, have decided, however, the contract with the people codifies this horsetrading within the "advice and consent" role.
Again, another indicator that logic is not exactly a key component of the new language of the Court (Senate).
For this to be so, there would be times when pre-nomination language would be within the "advice and consent" role, and there would be times when it wouldn't. And how could you tell? It's entirely possible that George Orwell couldn't sort that one out.
Certainly the drafters of the Government's contract with the people couldn't have figured it out, so it stands to reason that isn't the meaning of the clause. Clearly there has to be something upon which to advise and consent. Until a nomination is actually made, there cannot be advice, or consent, as nothing exists. Except in the new language of the Senate.
So, it appears that Senators are free to advise and consent officially, advise and consent unofficially, advise and consent maybe, or advice and consent not at all. The people of the land, however, haven't a clue as to what this new language of the leaders mean; the Senate speaks in strange toungues the likes of which were the case with the Norman conquerors.
The Norman conquerors liked the situation they had, it allowed to keep the masses ignorant. It could be that Senators like their new language for the same reason.
Like the Norman's that preceded them, the American Senators have adopted a language that belies understanding by the people who are governed.
Like the Norman's that preceded them, they will be forced to eventually adopt a tougue that can be understood by the masses.
For AMERICA - The Right Way, I remain yours in the Cause, the Chairman.
LET'S ROLL!!!
Good morning, everyone!
G'Morn... I just heard on the radio at 7:30 that some official source is confirming Zarqawi is badly hurt, at least.
Sorry I didn't catch who... must be breaking, because they didn't have that story at 7.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1410760/posts
Iraq minister says reports Zarqawi wounded are true
Dog has it here...
Said that Zarqawi has been wounded and is out of the country. Took two doctors with him. They have a temporary replacement for him. Hopefully with the help of the US military it will be very temporary for both of them.
Ohhhhhh...history! Love it, Chairman....
Memorail Day Observance at Vietnam Veterans Memorial...
Warner of Nuclear Option Fox News transcripts
David Frum on the Deal another viewpoint
What a Deal Ross Mackenzie
Mr. Narcissus Goes To Washington Peggy Noonan
Judicial filibuster 'compromise' Christopher Adamo
LOL I read your recipe as Dunkin Donut muffins.
The recipe sounds delicious!
Great links, Molly. Thanks.
Hah! If I had that recipe, we'd be either in big trouble or rich :-)
MIL going to senior center??
In less enlightened times, those 14 singing "How great WE art" would have their toungues cut out for lying.
On retrospection, they might have been more enlightened times, for look at what it doth wrought...
Here is a bit of trivia on the mixing of French and English. We use the French words (pork, beef, mutton) to refer to the cooked meat because the nobles were the ones who consumed it. We use the Anglo-Saxon words (pig, cow, sheep), to refer to the livestock, because the peasants raised the animals.
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to post an obscure trivia item that I have had rattling around in my head for decades! LOL!
Not today, but I may take her to her sister's for a few hours.
Yea, thou doth speak truly. We have come unconstitutionally to the Valley of Death, where freedom and logic expire and where the few seek to be kings.
That's interesting.
Hope you enjoy your day.
Thank you for that bit of trivia. I had no idea.
I would like to point out that while I know a lot of stuff like this, I am very bad about balancing a checkbook or remembering appointments. Maybe it is because I have a head full of useless knowledge.
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