As with anyone that starts a business, a Twitter, a Facebook, or anything that just has to deal with getting an idea out there is always a single question that most will ask: "Why?"
I worked at a company called Ziplocal (formerly PDCpages). I was in their Inside Sales Department as a Media Advertising Consultant (fancy name for Salesman!). I would have page after page of businesses to call from Kansas to Oregon, Idaho to California. When I talked to business owners, managers, or just the individual that answered the phone I knew there was a single thought of their mind, second only to "How much this going to cost me?" That thought was what Paul Schween, a speaker in Arizona, calls the "W.I.I.F.M." frequency. That stands for "What's In It For Me?" (By the way, I recommend Paul Schween to anyone business owner needs help with their sales. Great speaker. Heard him in both 2005 and 2006 in Arizona.)
Now you maybe asking yourself "What's In It For Me to follow another blog?" Here is what I can tell you what's in it for you to follow the Lone Eagle Review (LER).
LER is a website dedicated to promoting the principles of the Founding Fathers and the Constitution of the United States. I have studied the Constitution quite regularly. Just left of this computer screen is a little holder for my checkbook, pens, and there is a copy of the Constitution. Maybe you'll learn a thing or two that you didn't know about the Constitution and the Founding Fathers. And I would love to learn from your comments to my posts.
Never stop learning. People often accuse others that they don't know what they are talking about. I had this happen most recently with my own grandfather who I'm named after. He accused me of just being a follower of Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, and FOX News. Not only have I not listened to either man since mid-Summer of this year I haven't watched FOX News since we turned off our DISH Network around the same time period. Getting thoughts and ideas from new sources are a way to expand your knowledge, connect with new individuals and share your own opinions and values. The more information you tap into the more you learn and the more you learn the better you are at handling yourself when either promoting or defending your values and views.
Conservative and Constitutional opinion without the conspiracy. This maybe the part that gets me into trouble, but I will be straight forward with you. There are a lot of "conservative" websites out there that are nothing but lies and full of conspiracy theories. At LER you won't find that. I may comment every now and then on a theory I just find completely out in left field but nothing like that will be published here. Here you can expect real conservative and real constitutional opinion.
Fun! How often do you get bored with reading the same old political blogs and websites day in and day out? I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you. Oh, not really. I read three websites every day on a regular basis: MSNBC, The Associated Press, FOX News. But I'm not going to load this blog with tons and tons and tons and tons and tons (do I have enough tons in there?) politics? I'll be mixing it up with a movie review here, a game review there, a report on an evening out on the town here in Utah Valley. I'm not boring and neither will LER.
Well, I don't want to bore you to death about LER because this is already quite a long blog post. But those four points should answer the "W.I.I.F.M.?" Grand Question.
Follow-up to 26th October 2009 Post
By Charles A. Hall
Back on the 26th of October 2009 I posted my great disappointment for Congressman Jason Chaffetz (R-UT). I stated in that article, quote: "Why am I disappointed? Well, maybe it is too much to ask but I've never heard a single word back from Congressman Chaffetz since he won the Republican Nomination back in 2008 and has been in office since January 2009. Not one word!" At the time of my writing that article that was very true, I hadn't heard a single word from my Congressman.
What many individuals don't know is that your Congressman in the House of Representatives is suppose to be your direct link to the Federal Government. The Founding Fathers set up the Federal Government that the House of Representatives (also known as The Lower House) was to represent The People directly within certain districts of a state. The Senate (also known as The Upper House) was to represent the States, giving the States a voice in the Federal Government with two Senators each. The 17th Amendment (http://bit.ly/ft274w) changed that in 1913. Now The People both elect their Congressman and two Senators.
Your direct life line to the Federal Government is your Congressman, your Representative in the House. If that individual doesn't communicate with you what they are doing in Washington, D.C., what they are doing with your tax dollars, what they are doing to represent you that individual no longer deserves to represent you. That is how I felt about Congressman Chaffetz ten months into his first term. Since then my opinion has changed.
I have written the Congressman several times and have heard back from him on different issues. I am very confident in his voting record and standing up for the People of his District, the State of Utah, and the US Constitution. The October 2010 of The New American's Freedom Index showed that the Congressman had a 93% rating (http://bit.ly/fGQXLK). That for his votes in the 111th Congress the Congressman was in line with the Constitution 93% of the time. So there is some room for some improvement, but not much. For that I am thankful.
I'm happy and proud to state that I voted for the Congressman during the 2010 Midterm Elections. I'm glad he is getting on the right track. Rumor has it that he maybe getting a Chair in one of the House Subcommittees in the 112th Congress.
The Goals of the Lone Eagle Review are not simply to create another blog with political ramblings, but to have a place to interact, share ideas, and promote the Constitution of the United States. But it isn't limited to politics either. No, it will include more: movie and game reviews, information about my family and our adventures, and other topics.
It is my hope to also launch a YouTube channel so you can heard my opinions and views, just not read them. Lone Eagle Review has a bright future in store! Hope you become a part of it!
Where is the Constitutional Authority? 10 September 2009 By Charles A. Hall, “Tony”
I believe I’ve become a U.S. Constitution Watchdog and an activist for the Supreme Law of the Land – the Constitution of the United States of America – to be followed and no longer ignored. In American politics I believe in two things: The People and The Constitution. Please note that order: The People and The Constitution. The first three words of the Constitution clearly state “We the People”. It wasn’t “We the Federal Government” or “We the States”. No, it was “We the People”. The People did “ordain and establish [the] Constitution of the United States of America.”
I have read the Constitution in its complete form within the last two months and I believe that is more than can be said for probably the President of the United States, Barack Hussein Obama, Vice President Joseph Biden, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), Democrats and Republicans in the United States Congress.
I was listening to the Glenn Beck program last week and a caller called in and talked about how she and others hand addressed envelopes and provided a mailer out of their own pocket to members of the United States Congress. This mailer had a piece of paper about their mission for the mailer, a copy of the Constitution of the United States of America, and a small 3x5 card that they asked for them (Congressman and Senators) to sign that they would read the Constitution. She received only one card back. She did this back at the beginning of the year. Why is it so hard to read the Constitution and send a card back making a promise you’ll read the Constitution and live by it? Very interesting, right?
The People of the United States of America ordained and established the Constitution of the United States of America because they had been oppressed by King George and the British Empire. The Founding Fathers – George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, Benjamin Franklin, and many others – didn’t trust a strong Federal Government! They wanted the powers of the Congress to be limited to those outlined in Article 1, Sections 8 and 9 (http://www.usconstitution.net/const.html#A1Sec8 and http://www.usconstitution.net/const.html#A1Sec9).
“Now wait, Charles, the last line of Article 1, Section 8 states: To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.”
Ah, yes, the “necessary and proper” clause. Okay, let us look at that. It says they can “make all Laws which are necessary and proper for carrying into the Executive the FOREGOING Powers.” [Emphasis Added] What is FOREGOING powers? They are the ones listed in Article 1, Section 8! How about the “Constitution for Dummies” version: “To make laws to carry out the powers listed above in Article 1, Section 8.” That is quite simple, right?
“Now wait, Charles, the first line of Article 1, Section 8 states: “The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;”
Does the “general Welfare” mean a National Health Care system? NO, IT DOESN’T! Look at the beginning of the clause: “To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises.” It is giving Congress the power to do that awful “T” word: Tax. By laying (making tax law) and collecting taxes Congress is to: pay off National Debt, provide for defense and security (armies and navies found later on in Section 8), and general welfare.
“Now wait, Charles, again, what is ‘general Welfare’?”
I couldn’t say it any better then this: “Unlike most General Welfare clauses, however, the clause in the U.S. Constitution has been interpreted as a limitation on the power of the United States Congress to use its powers of taxing and spending” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Welfare_clause). Does that sound like National Health Care is allowed?
In 1791 Alexander Hamilton wanted to create a “National Bank,” meaning it was run by the Federal Government. “However, as early as February 1791, Hamilton had treated the subject of the general welfare in his ``Opinion on the Constitutionality of the National Bank''--written after Washington's Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson, and his Attorney General Edmund Randolph, had both declared the creation of a national bank unconstitutional” (http://american_almanac.tripod.com/welfare.htm). Now if they, the Founding Fathers (namely Thomas Jefferson – Author of the Declaration of Independence and Third President of the United States), in 1791 thought the creation of a National Bank was unconstitutional though Hamilton cited the “general Welfare” clause how then would the Founding Fathers now view present-day Congress trying to create a “National Health Care System” under the same clause. I believe they would strike it down in a heartbeat.
I’m taken back to a line in the movie Batman Begins where, after twenty years since Thomas Wayne (Bruce Wayne’s father) was murdered, they (Wayne Enterprises Board of Directors) were talking about heavy weapons manufacturing. One board member said, “I don’t think Thomas Wayne would have view heavy-weapons manufacture as a suitable cornerstone for our business.”
The Chairman of the Board says, “That was twenty years ago, Fredericks. I think after twenty years we can allow ourselves to stop thinking about what Thomas Wayne would have done.”
Do you think that President Obama and members of Congress are thinking the same way? “I think after two-hundred plus years we can allow ourselves to stop thinking about what the Founding Fathers would do.” I certainly hope not!
What has the Office of President and the United States Congress done that isn’t listed as a power in the Constitution?
-Bank Bailout (under President George W. Bush) -Auto Bailout and “Stimulus” Package (under President B. Hussein Obama) -The House passed Cap-and-Trade -Government takeover of General Motors -Health Care Reform
Those are the major issues they have used their non-existent powers on!
-Powers delegated to the Federal government are few and defined -Powers remaining in the State governments are numerous and indefinite
The powers delegated (given) to the Federal Government are “FEW AND DEFINED” [Emphasis Added] and the “REMAINING” [Emphasis Added] powers to the States are “NUMEROUS AND INDEFINITE” [Emphasis Added].
Here is the Father of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights clearly stating, “Congress! These powers are it! You have no more and no less powers then these powers right here! No More, No Less! Everything else is to the States!” How much more clearly can you get then straight from the horse’s mouth?! The Father of the Constitution should know, shouldn’t he? “If it doesn’t list it here it isn’t yours!”
The Tenth Amendment in the Bill of Rights clearly states: “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.” What powers are those? The ones found in Article 1 for Congress! The ones found in Article 2 for the President! The ones found in Article 3 for the United States Supreme Court! NO MORE, NO LESS! “If it doesn’t say it’s yours then it is theirs, the People and the States!”
I don’t read anything in the Constitution of the United States that says the Federal Government, the President, or Congress can pass any legislation or sign any legislation on bank bailouts, automaker bailouts, cap-and-trade, government takeover, health care reform, or any other brilliant yet unconstitutional “idea”! They don’t have the power to do it so don’t do it!
Here is a great video to watch on Article 1, Section 8 that I found put out by a U.S. Constitution Patriot and Watchdog like myself:
Article 1, Section 8
They, the President and Congress of the United States of America, DO NOT, repeat DO NOT, have the power to do even 95% of the things they do! We need to stop ignoring them and start checking them out! Yes, vote them out! Place term limits on them! Make them follow our governing document. The Constitution was created of some really bright guys, brighter then anyone in Congress or the President is now or ever will be!
STOP MAKING UP CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY THAT DOESN’T EXIST!
Question: Where is the Constitutional Authority? Answer: It doesn’t exist!
First, let me thank you for representing me and my family located here in Utah's Third District. Both my wife and I voted for you and I am so far very pleased with your voting record during your Freshman Year in the House of Representatives.
Second, thank you for voting against HR 2454 (Cap and Trade). Though it did pass the House I already have personal word from Utah Senators Orrin Hatch and Bob Bennett that they will be voting against it in the Senate. Thank you for your effect to defeat the bill.
Third, I would like you to vote against Universal Healthcare being presented in the House (and Senate) at this time. I do not agree with it and I believe it is overstepping the boundaries of the Federal Government. It is taking away my freedom of choice, my wife’s, focusing more taxes upon me and my wife in an already difficult time for us. Vote No!
Last, I have a few questions about Constitutional Authority on several issues:
1. Where does Congress get its authority for Cap and Trade under the Constitution of the United States?
2. Where does Congress get its authority for universal health care under the Constitution of the United States?
3. Where does the United States Attorney General get his authority to issue arrest warrants for Taliban insurgents at the request of the President of the United States under the Constitution of the United States?
I would very much like you to get me those answers as I have not yet found them.
Again, thank you very much for all your do representing me and Utah's Third District.
