Thoughful and timely. The recent debacle of "immigration reform" revealed for all to see: that the US has devolved into a situation where an elite class has usurped the prerogatives of the people, who are the "sovereign" power under the law. We saw a bipartisan cabal of would-be oligarchs, participants from both the executive and legislative branches, who overtly scorned and sought to disregard not only the people's opinion, but the legitimacy of the people's right to express their opinion.
The concept of the Ruling Class was anathema to the Founders and should be equally repulsive today--but the people, we in our indolence, have allowed these usurpers to believe they belong to some kind of exclusive club. They even talk about the Senate as a "club," an obscenity to any right-thinking American. When Trent Lott talks about this current issue, he talks to and about other Senators and himself--not to the people or about the people's will. When "Conservative" John Kyl ignores what the people tell him, but is pleased to inform the people that "this is the best you are going to get" so swallow it, idiots like Michael Medved think he is being honest. He is not. He is playing out a role as a part of the club. The will of the people does not figure into his thinking except as an obstacle to be overcome for the benefit of his colleagues and clients, whoever they may turn out to be.
The intense grass roots reaction to the "immigration" abortion perpetrated by Kennedy and his staff(some "compromise"--another lie) may be a sign of life, and hopefully will be. It is an indication that we still have some power if we are willing to use it. Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty, it is said. Only now, sadder and wiser, we realize the truth that the vigilance which counts the most is against the usurpers of both parties who would scam us into subservience. We learned again that the real enemy of freedom will not come from abroad but from the headquarters and caucus rooms of our parties. The Founders knew this, and now we know it too. We cannot ever forget.
I am especially struck by your reference to John Kyl. I campaigned heavily for Pat Toomey in his bid to unseat Arlan Specter, and one of the things I would tell people was that, if Specter did not return to the senate, chairmanship of the judiciary committee would mostly likely go to Kyl. Most of the people with whom I spoke here in PA were not familiar with Kyl, so I attempted to acquaint them with him, and praised his experience, abilities, and integrity. I now feel terribly betrayed, so cannot even imagine how his Arizona constituents must feel.
Your last paragraph echoes Lincoln's lament:
At what point shall we expect the approach of danger? By what means shall we fortify against it? Shall we expect some transatlantic military giant to step the ocean and crush us at a blow? Never! ... At what point, then, is the approach of danger to be expected? I answer, if it ever reach us it must spring up amongst us; it cannot come from abroad. If destruction be our lot we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen we must live through all time, or die by suicide.
Best to you and yours in these trying times ...
~ joanie