Saving America: Time to hit the streets? (Senator Jim DeMint call to action!)

Augusta Chronicle ^ | Sunday, February 22, 2009 | Augusta Chronicle Editorial Staff

[Syncro]

Saving America: Time to hit the streets?

Augusta Chronicle Editorial Staff

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Jim DeMint's gentlemanly air and refined tone belie a power and an urgency in his words.

The stately senator from South Carolina sees America's unique centuries-old system of freedom dying out.

And he thinks we may have to take to the streets to save it.

"I would think it's time to start thinking about peaceful demonstrations," he told us last week.

Seriously?

"Seriously.

"The power of the people is there. Freedom is in the people's hands right now, and it's about to slip through."

Of course, the recent "stimulus" debate is what's fresh on DeMint's mind. Despite DeMint's putting 15 aides on it overnight, no one in Washington was able to read the bill, which was the most expensive in American history -- as well as being perhaps the most irresponsible.

The worst since the adoption of the income tax, DeMint figures.

It's not just the amount of money involved, some $780 billion -- although that, alone, is corrosive enough to American freedom. "I've seen it happen inside government agencies: 'What can we do to get it spent?' It's the only way (the agencies can get money)," DeMint says. "I see that happen in Afghanistan and Iraq, where our aid programs are basically based on people being able to spend the money within a certain period of time so we can say we did something. And it just leads to a bunch of waste."

Perhaps even worse than the money is the strings that come with it. It's the growth of the federal government's reach and influence too. The "stimulus" bill has increased the federal role in, among other things, education -- and gets the government's nose fully in the tent of private medical decisions.

The slab has been poured underneath what some want to become nationalized health care.

"Your medical treatments will be tracked electronically by a federal system," writes Betsy McCaughey, adjunct senior fellow at the Hudson Institute. "Having electronic medical records at your fingertips, easily transferred to a hospital, is beneficial. It will help avoid duplicate tests and errors.

"But the bill goes further. One new bureaucracy, the National Coordinator of Health Information Technology, will monitor treatments to make sure your doctor is doing what the federal government deems appropriate and cost effective. The goal is to reduce costs and 'guide' your doctor's decisions."

In short, rationing.

In truth, the leviathan that is the stimulus bill is just the most recent in a chain of actions by an aristocratic and arrogant Washington that is eroding our freedoms.

With our tacit permission.

"The American people will never knowingly adopt socialism," American socialist Norman Thomas famously once said, "but under the name of liberalism they will adopt every fragment of the socialist program until one day America will be a socialist nation without ever knowing how it happened."

DeMint sees it -- from a front-row seat in the U.S. Senate.

"We're being drawn in with a lot of promises -- and the fact that so many people are already dependent on the government and so few actually pay taxes," DeMint says.

Sadly, DeMint saw that dependence in full bloom -- in the faces of South Carolina leaders who tried to twist his arm to vote for the stimulus bill to get their own goodies.

"Just about everybody who came in my office, even the mayors from all over the state, they would usually say, 'DeMint, I agree with you -- this is a bad bill. But it's got this in here for us, and we want our piece.'"

Historically, the federal government has been about 18 percent of the gross domestic product. By next year, it could grow to nearly 40 percent, according to Newsweek .

"The late sociologist Seymour Lipset," writes National Review editor Rich Lowry, "wrote a brilliant book on why the U.S. didn't embrace socialism, called It Didn't Happen Here. In a few years, its conclusion might look premature."

DeMint is hopeful -- but not when he looks around Capitol Hill.

"I've become increasingly aware that the thoughtful, well-informed leaders are very few and far between in the Congress -- people who seem to be well-read and continuing to kind of grow their skills. It's become rhetorical and political ..."

Instead, DeMint is looking to the people -- where he still sees a "remnant" of freedom-loving still stirring.

Only a remnant?

"That's all it is," he concludes. "But that's all it takes.

"Freedom is in our hands; it always has been. We've entrusted it to people in Washington, and increasingly they have picked our pockets and pulled power from us. We're just going to have to take it back.

"The real shame of all this is, I feel Republicans had said that we were going to carry that banner of freedom -- and they completely betrayed that. And it's going to be hard to get it back."

But with all except three Republicans in Congress voting against the stimulus bill, perhaps getting that banner back has started. There are a few rising conservative stars on the national scene, including Reps. Jeff Flake of Arizona, Jeb Hensarling of Texas and Mike Pence of Indiana.

Still, DeMint says star power isn't what we need. "I think what we need to look for first is to find the principles that will bring us together. I'm not looking for a face right now."

Continued below.

[Syncro]

Yes it is time to be heard. Big Time.

More about Senator DeMint:

NEWS WATCH: US ‘Fairness Doctrine’ Threatens Christian Radio

Sunday, February 22, 2009 (3:45 pm)

By Joseph DeCaro, BosNewsLife International Correspondent

WASHINGTON, D.C., USA (BosNewsLife) -- A high ranking American senator will force a vote next week to prevent the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from reinstating the 'Fairness Doctrine', amid fears it could jeopardize Christian radio and conservative talk shows.

Republican Jim DeMint, who chairs the Senate Steering Committee, said his anti-Doctrine bill would halt attempts by the FCC to "censor" opinionated programs, and suggested the White House supported his proposal, BosNewsLife learned Sunday, February 22.

"I’m glad President Barack Obama finally confirmed his opposition to the Fairness Doctrine, which attacks the right of free speech on talk radio,” explained DeMint. "But many Democrats in Congress are still pushing [the Doctrine]. With the support of the new administration, now is the time for Congress to take a stand against this kind of censorship."

He added he wanted to push for an amendment within the next few days "so every senator is on record: Do you support free speech or do you want to silence voices you disagree with?"

"CONTRASTING VIEWS"

The 'Fairness Doctrine' mandated from 1949 to 1987 that broadcasters presented contrasting views on controversial issues.

Yet, instead of bringing political diversity to the airways, the Fairness Doctrine had a "chilling effect" on broadcasting debate as many networks  ceased airing controversial opinions to avoid giving opponents free airtime, critics said.

Amid mounting pressure, the FCC determined in 1985 that the Fairness Doctrine may have violated the First Amendment of the Constitution.  Two years later courts ruled that the FCC was no longer obligated to enforce it as it wasn’t mandated by Congress.  Soon after, Congress attempted to pass legislation restoring the Doctrine, but Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush vetoed the bills.

More at the hotlink in the title.

I also posted that on this thread

Congress Reconsiders the Fairness Doctrine (And why they shouldn't reinsate it)

Sunday, February 22, 2009 2:50:47 PM · by Syncro · 15 replies · 216+ views

Associated Content ^ | Feb 22, 2009 | Pricilla King

[Rome2000]

Once called for it can not be stopped and the Constitution will be destroyed. Freedom will die instantly.

I don't agree. The Constitution has already been destroyed, it means absolutely nothing.

The Federal beast is out of control.

DC politicians will not reign it in, even Reagan was unsuccessful in stopping its growth.

Tyrannical democrat lawyers in black robes rule by decree.

The socialists steal elections in broad daylight without consequence, and the mass media serves as their propaganda wing.

The DC politicians tell us what is acceptable to say and think, and take ever increasing amounts of the fruits of our labor and distribute them to the lazy filthy scumbags who vote for them.

The time has come for the remaining free States to make a final attempt to cripple the federal beast or walk away.

A Convention that ends up making the situation worse is improbable but were it to happen the solution would be obvious.

A new Republic comprised of Americans United Against Socialism must be formed.

[txnativegop]

I agree with your last line, but . . .

[visualops]

BTTT

[yorkie01]

DeMint’s gravitas is the antithesis to zero’s and his kneepadders’ agitation for wealth redistribution.

[visualops]

Yep.
DeMint is honest and humble.

[John 3_19-21]

Our Governors’pretty good too!

[Grateful One]

I don’t think we have time to rely on elections anymore, especially with the recent power and money given to ACORN............

And therein lies the problem. The left-wing dictatorship is rapidly forming, and at some point it will be too late to fight it through the system.

The GOP, with the exception of people like Jim, has helped to bring us here. They are as much to blame as the Democrats.

A new mass movement is needed.

We can sit by and watch what the next few months will bring, and complain until our own ears can’t stand it any more, or we can organize.

There is no other way.

[redgirlinabluestate]

LOL. Clearly, it was the rest of you that were wrong last time — not him. :-)

[perfect_rovian_storm]

Get the hell out of here with your Romney BS.

Don’t taint Jim DeMint by teaming him with that loser RINO socialist punk from MA.

[Syncro]

I wasn't wrong, I knew that Romney would not be president.

[redgirlinabluestate]

Obtuse much?

It was DeMint who was smart enough to know Romney should be and who did everything in his power to assist him.

[perfect_rovian_storm]

There are a lot of things that Romney should be. Unfortunately, he isn't any of them.

[perfect_rovian_storm]

And BTW, any Romney support from DeMint was merely a mistake from an otherwise strong conservative.

[thesearethetimes...]

BTTT

[redgirlinabluestate]

DeMint, the Romney national co-chair, and the rest of the Romney supporters, have a guilt-free conscience. They know they did the right thing.

[perfect_rovian_storm]

BS. The only Romney supporters with guilt-free consciences are the sycophants like you. Jim DeMint is a real ideological conservative. The kind of guy that Romney secretly despises and only attempts to use. I would hope that Senator DeMint has made himself aware of the ways of Slick Willard since the primaries.

[DissentFromDayOne]

Maybe GOE and Free Republic can sync of with these people who are organizing a march on DC this May:

http://www.resistnet.com/group/wethepeoplemarchonwashington

I’ll be there...let’s roll.

[fieldmarshaldj]

I give Sen. DeMint the benefit of the doubt for being fooled by one of the biggest con-men in politics, because he fooled and deceived a LOT of people, but as for most of the remaining other “supporters”, I think they confuse a guilt-free conscience for not having one in the first place.

[perfect_rovian_storm]

Agreed 100%.