Founding Fathers Of Our New Country
Politics / US Politics Sep 28, 2009 - 03:02 PM GMTBy: James_Quinn
“Government is not reason; it is not eloquent; it is force. Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master.” – George Washington
“I hope I shall possess firmness and virtue enough to maintain what I consider the most enviable of all titles, the character of an honest man.” – George Washington
“Truth will ultimately prevail where there is pains to bring it to light.” – George Washington
The Great American Republic was shaped by individual events which are now part of American legend. The Battle of Bunker Hill, The Winter at Valley Forge, Washington Crossing the Delaware, the Constitutional Convention, and George Washington stepping aside after his 2nd term as President, evoke pride and honor in the hearts of many Americans, if their public schools still teach about these historic events. The politically correct “history” books today are more likely to concentrate on the impact of Marilyn Monroe on the culture of America. The Founding Fathers, including James Madison, Samuel Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, Alexander Hamilton, John Adams, John Jay, Benjamin Franklin, and George Washington, risked their lives to create a republic. These revolutionaries declared their independence from an overbearing oppressive regime. The British Empire had been taxing the colonies to pay for their foreign adventures. The Founding Fathers were willing to risk being hung rather than live under tyranny, when they made the following declaration:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
After risking their lives and fighting an eight year War for Independence against the most powerful military on earth, they came together and drafted the greatest governing document ever conceived. The U.S. Constitution and its Amendments struck the perfect balance, as it constrained the Federal government and allowed its citizens maximum freedom. It was designed to prevent the concentration of power by the Executive branch. Power was balanced between the three branches of government and jurisdiction was delegated to the States. Governance was placed in the hands of the people. This sublime document has served as our guide for over two centuries. Since the early 20th Century, America has gradually allowed this document to become tarnished and trivialized.
James Madison was the architect of this brilliant inspirational document in 1787. It is a remarkably concise document. The Constitution consisted of a preamble, seven original articles and the Bill of Rights. The beauty of this document is its clarity and brevity. An 81 year old Benjamin Franklin, whose health was rapidly failing but whose mind was as luminous as ever, on the last day of the Constitutional Convention urged passage of the Constitution with the following words of wisdom:
“ In these sentiments, Sir, I agree to this Constitution with all its faults, if they are such; because I think a general Government necessary for us, and there is no form of Government but what may be a blessing to the people if well administered, and believe farther that this is likely to be well administered for a course of years, and can only end in Despotism, as other forms have done before it, when the people shall become so corrupted as to need despotic Government, being incapable of any other. I doubt too whether any other Convention we can obtain, may be able to make a better Constitution.
Much of the strength & efficiency of any Government in procuring and securing happiness to the people depends, on opinion, on the general opinion of the goodness of the Government, as well as of the wisdom and integrity of its Governors. I hope therefore that for our own sakes as a part of the people, and for the sake of posterity, we shall act heartily and unanimously in recommending this Constitution (if approved by Congress & confirmed by the Conventions) wherever our influence may extend, and turn our future thoughts & endeavors to the means of having it well administered.
On the whole, Sir, I cannot help expressing a wish that every member of the Convention who may still have objections to it, would with me, on this occasion doubt a little of his own infallibility, and to make manifest our unanimity, put his name to this instrument.”
Mr. Franklin in his plea to those attending the Convention also issued a warning which we have not heeded. A Constitution is only as good as the people who administer it. If the people become corrupted, the government will become corrupted, and the Constitution will become a worthless piece of paper. The wisdom and integrity of the governors of the Constitution are the strength that makes the document so powerful. The American people have failed to take note of Benjamin Franklin’s warning. We have allowed our desire for material goods, acceptance of easy wrong solutions to complicated problems, putting our selfish short term desires ahead of the long-term needs of the country, and meddling in foreign lands, to corrupt our government and its leaders. Wisdom and integrity are rare traits in government officials today. They were plentiful during the American Revolution. These traits defined George Washington, the father of our country. These traits also define the U.S. Representative from Texas, Ron Paul.
A Noble Experiment - A Noble Leader
The ruling elite, backed by the powerful banking cartel, who control the political reins, the mainstream media, the military industrial complex, and the foreign policy of the United States, have trampled on the U.S. Constitution. They take every opportunity to denigrate its principles, call it an antiquated document meant for a simpler time, and scorn and ridicule those who risked their lives to write this noble governing document. The mainstream media attempts to protect its liberal agenda by disparaging the Boston Tea Party, Patriots, and the Founding Fathers. Millions of dazed and confused Americans know nothing about George Washington other than his face is on the dollars they use to buy Snuggies or fried Twinkies. They think his chief claim to fame is cutting down a cherry tree. The maligning of the Constitution and belittling of the men who created it, is part of the plan to retain and increase their power and control over the American people. If the broad swath of Americans decided to reinstitute the founding principles of the Constitution, the existing power structure would come crashing down in a heap of smoldering ashes. A Second American Revolution is brewing. The anger and rage of thinking Americans is palpable. The only question is whether this Second American Revolution will be peaceful or bloody. The Founding Fathers proved that an irate tireless minority can win.
George Washington is not a hollow, vacuous, meaningless symbol of a far simpler time. George Washington was a man of unquestioned integrity, tremendous leadership skills, true humbleness, and love of his country. He was truly the Father of our Nation. Henry Lee, in his eulogy of George Washington, captured the true spirit of the man:
“First in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen, he was second to none in humble and enduring scenes of private life. Pious, just, humane, temperate, and sincere; uniform, dignified, and commanding; his example was as edifying to all around him as were the effects of that example lasting...Correct throughout, vice shuddered in his presence and virtue always felt his fostering hand. The purity of his private character gave effulgence to his public virtues...Such was the man for whom our nation mourns.”
George Washington was born in 1732 in the British colony of Virginia to aristocratic parents. He could have lived a life of leisure on his plantation. Instead he chose a life of service to his country. He never involved himself in politics. He was a self taught surveyor and soldier. He did his duty on behalf of the British monarchy during the French and Indian War. He was living an aristocratic lifestyle in Virginia during the 1760’s when the British Parliament began passing its series of unfair tax acts (Stamp Act, Townshend Acts, Intolerable Acts). This imperious stomping on the rights and liberties of American colonists, led Washington to attend the 1st Continental Congress in 1774. After the opening shot was fired at Lexington & Concord, Washington arrived at the 2nd Continental Congress in military uniform. He was ready to risk his life and serve his country. The Continental Congress appointed him commander in chief of the Continental Army. He held this position for the next eight years of trial and tribulation.
A lesser man would have balked at such an overwhelming life threatening task. Instead, he rode to Boston and assumed command of an undisciplined army of citizen farmers. He led this army through dark days and against insurmountable odds, outmaneuvering, outthinking, and ultimately defeating the vaunted British Regulars and the most powerful Navy on the face of the earth. Despite the lack of troops, lack of training, lack of ammunition, lack of food, lack of supplies and lack of support from the states, George Washington never lost his faith in his troops, his righteous cause of liberty or himself. The two events that embody all of the noble characteristics of Washington and the fledgling Republic were Washington crossing the Delaware to attack Trenton on Christmas night in 1776 and the winter at Valley Forge.
After losing a number of skirmishes with the British in New York and retreating into New Jersey, the morale of Washington’s army was at a low point. Soldiers were deserting and re-enlistments were declining. The weather was dreadful and even Washington feared the end of the revolution was at hand. The future of the fledgling country hung in the balance. On the night of December 25, 1776 General Washington and 2,400 troops set out on their rendezvous with destiny. General Washington’s password for the surprise attack on Trenton was Victory or Death. No words could have been truer. If Washington’s surprise attack failed, the war was lost. The boldness, audacity and brilliance of Washington’s plan was representative of the spirit and daring of the Patriots in there desperate struggle for independence. Crossing the ice clogged Delaware River in small wooden row boats in the middle of the night during an ice storm while two supporting groups failed to get across the river was a feat in itself. He then led his troops on a 9 mile march to Trenton. They attacked the Hessians and captured 1,000 out of the 1,500 man garrison. This victory over Regulars in the British Army rejuvenated the revolution. Washington followed this victory with another at Princeton. The Revolution had been in doubt only a week earlier, and the army was on the verge of collapse. With this bold victory, soldiers agreed to stay and new recruits came and joined the ranks.
One year later after losing battles at Brandywine and Germantown, Washington abandoned Philadelphia and retreated to Valley Forge in December 1777 with his weary, ill-fed, ill-clothed, ill-equipped and ill-trained army of 12,000 citizen soldiers. Undernourished and lacking boots and uniforms, living in cramped, damp quarters, the army was devastated by illness and disease. Typhoid, jaundice, dysentery, and pneumonia were among the assassins that felled 2,000 men that winter. Washington voiced his despair in letter that winter:
"that unless some great and capital change suddenly takes place ... this Army must inevitably ... Starve, dissolve, or disperse, in order to obtain subsistence in the best manner they can."
Adequate clothing was scarce. Long marches had destroyed boots. Blankets were in short supply. Tattered uniforms were rarely replaced. At one point these deficiencies led 4,000 men to be listed as unfit for duty. A lesser man and citizen soldiers who cared more for their own farmsteads than their country, would have abandoned this seemingly forlorn cause. Instead, Washington and his dedicated patriot soldiers used the next six months to become a true army. Baron von Steuben, a onetime member of the staff of Frederick the Great in the Prussian Army, volunteered to help General Washington turn his men into an army. And this he did. From dawn to dusk his familiar voice was heard in camp above the sounds of marching men and shouted commands. Soon companies, regiments then brigades moved smartly from line to column, column to line and loaded muskets with precision. In June 1778 Washington’s Army departed Valley Forge as a cohesive unit ready for five more years of war. These men had forged a fresh spirit towards the birth of a new Republic. They had conquered the weather, doubt, and lack of training through sheer force of will, hard work, dedication and willingness to sacrifice, all for the good of a nation.
After the final victory in 1783, Washington could have become the King of America. Instead he resigned his commission as commander-in-chief and retired to Mount Vernon, reflecting his view that the new government should be a citizen government. He was persuaded to come out of retirement and preside over the Constitutional Convention as its president. His congenial personality and stature as a hero kept the delegates focused on the task. The delegates created the Presidency with him in mind and would allow him to define the office. His support of the Constitution convinced the Virginia legislature and many others to support ratification. Washington was unanimously elected President in 1789 and 1792 by the Electoral College, despite not seeking the position. President Washington proved a highly proficient administrator. A first rate delegator and evaluator of aptitude and moral fiber, he held regular cabinet meetings to deliberate issues before making a final decision. In handling everyday tasks, he was "systematic, orderly, energetic, solicitous of the opinion of others but decisive, intent upon general goals and the consistency of particular actions with them", according to historian Leonard White. He planned to retire after his 1st term but the growing divisions between the newly formed Federalist and Democratic-Republican parties, along with the current state of foreign affairs, would tear the country apart in the absence of his leadership and convinced him to serve a 2nd term. He refused to serve a 3rd term, retiring again to Mount Vernon, dying two years later at the age of 67.
This wise, larger than life man was more than a myth. He was genuine human being whose tremendous attributes founded our great Republic. He deserves the utmost praise and respect for his continuous 45 years of dedicated service in creating a nation of and for the people. His writings, speeches and Farewell Address clearly reflect his belief in the Constitution and the American people.
The Constitution is the guide which I never will abandon. - George Washington
The basis of our political system is the right of the people to make and to alter their constitutions of government. – George Washington
Foreign Policy
The Constitution of the United States of America clearly delineated the powers between the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches. Regarding foreign intervention, Article 1, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution is clear regarding Congress’ responsibility:
- To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;
- To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years;
- To provide and maintain a Navy;
- To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces;
- To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;
- To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining the Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress;
George Washington was a military hero who, as President, preached non-interventionism, free trade, and the danger of a too powerful military. He did so because he rightly knew that foreign entanglements would be detrimental to the people. His Farewell Address to the American people couldn’t have been clearer.
“Observe good faith and justice towards all Nations; cultivate peace and harmony with all. In the execution of such a plan, nothing is more essential than that permanent, inveterate antipathies against particular Nations, and passionate attachments for others, should be excluded; and that, in place of them, just and amicable feelings towards all should be cultivated.
Sympathy for the favorite Nation, facilitating the illusion of an imaginary common interest, in cases where no real common interest exists, and infusing into one the enmities of the other, betrays the former into a participation in the quarrels and wars of the latter, without adequate inducement or justification.
As avenues to foreign influence in innumerable ways, such attachments are particularly alarming to the truly enlightened and independent Patriot. How many opportunities do they afford to tamper with domestic factions, to practice the arts of seduction, to mislead public opinion, to influence or awe the Public Councils! Such an attachment of a small or weak, towards a great and powerful nation, dooms the former to be the satellite of the latter.
The great rule of conduct for us, in regard to foreign nations, is, in extending our commercial relations, to have with them as little political connection as possible. So far as we have already formed engagements, let them be fulfilled with perfect good faith. Here let us stop. Harmony, liberal intercourse with all nations, are recommended by policy, humanity, and interest. But even our commercial policy should hold an equal and impartial hand; neither seeking nor granting exclusive favors or preferences; consulting the natural course of things; diffusing and diversifying by gentle means the streams of commerce, but forcing nothing.”
The Constitution is crystal clear. President Washington was crystal clear. Our country has not heeded the requirements of the Constitution or the wisdom of our greatest President. The United States has troops stationed in 130 countries throughout the world. The United States’ direct military spending in excess of $700 billion per year constitutes 48% of all the military spending in the world. Essentially, the United States spends as much as the rest of the world combined. The U.S. spends another $300 million per year on costs related to prior wars and the interest on the debt incurred to conduct those wars.
The U.S. military has 1.5 million active personnel and another 1.5 million reserve personnel. The U.S. Navy has 280 ships and 3,700 aircraft. The U.S. Air Force has 5,573 aircraft, 446 ICBMs, and 32 satellites. The U.S. Army has 7,851 M1 Abrams tanks, 6,724 Bradley fighting vehicles, 15,000 armored personnel carriers, 80,000 HUMVEEs, 1,300 attack helicopters, 3,000 other helicopters, and a few other miscellaneous odds and ends. The U.S. Marine Corp has thousands of vehicles and aircraft to fulfill their mission. Does this force seem adequate to protect the United States from attack by Iran, Afghanistan or North Korea? The U.S. military is clearly a BIG hammer. When you are a BIG hammer, everything looks like a nail. Former supreme commander of the military and President of the U.S. George Washington, had this to say about overgrown military establishments:
“Overgrown military establishments are under any form of government inauspicious to liberty, and are to be regarded as particularly hostile to republican liberty.”
Another former general, Dwight D. Eisenhower, in his own Presidential Farewell Address warned of the implications of the military industrial complex:
“This conjunction of an immense military establishment and a large arms industry is new in the American experience. The total influence -- economic, political, even spiritual -- is felt in every city, every State house, every office of the Federal government. We recognize the imperative need for this development. Yet we must not fail to comprehend its grave implications. Our toil, resources and livelihood are all involved; so is the very structure of our society.
In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist.”
The military industrial complex is stronger, more insidious, more powerful, and more dangerous than any time in our 220 year history. The defense industry lobbyists bribe Congress with contributions to their political campaigns and reward them with lucrative jobs when they leave government “service”, in return for billions in weapons contracts. Our best and brightest technical minds are focused on producing technology to kill people more efficiently. In the meantime, our bridges collapse into rivers, our water pipes burst, and our energy infrastructure rusts away. Only Congressman Ron Paul, who has not been bought by the defense industry, has been brave enough to speak the truth:
“War is never economically beneficial except for those in position to profit from war expenditures.”
Only the defense industry and their bought politicians profit from the $1 trillion that the U.S. borrows from the Chinese to fund our foreign intervention policies. Is it possible that those within the defense industry promote instability and war throughout the world? That couldn’t be possible, because they have noble intentions, just like the citizen soldiers at Valley Forge. The fact is that the United States is the most powerful country in the history of the world. If Defense spending was cut by $500 billion, we would still be the most powerful country in the history of the world. Ron Paul put it quite succinctly in 2007:
"There's nobody in this world that could possibly attack us today... I mean, we could defend this country with a few good submarines. If anybody dared touch us we could wipe any country off of the face of the earth within hours. And here we are, so intimidated and so insecure and we're acting like such bullies that we have to attack third-world nations that have no military and have no weapon."
Of course, the politicians occupying the halls of Congress for the last 50 years have completely ignored their Constitutional obligation to declare war before sending American troops into harm’s way. George Washington knew the danger of committing American troops without proper authorization:
“The constitution vests the power of declaring war in Congress; therefore no offensive expedition of importance can be undertaken until after they shall have deliberated upon the subject and authorized such a measure.”
The last time that the U.S. Congress carried out its Constitutional obligation and declared war was World War II. Below are 50 combat operations since World War II where Americans have been sent into battle with no declaration of war. This is a compete flaunting of the U.S. Constitution.
KOREA |
1951-53 (-?) |
Troops, naval, bombing , nuclear threats |
U.S./So. Korea fights China/No. Korea to stalemate; A-bomb threat in 1950, and against China in 1953. Still have bases. |
IRAN |
1953 |
Command Operation |
CIA overthrows democracy, installs Shah. |
VIETNAM |
l960-75 |
Troops, naval, bombing, nuclear threats |
Fought South Vietnam revolt & North Vietnam; one million killed in longest U.S. war; atomic bomb threats in l968 and l969. |
CUBA |
l961 |
Command operation |
CIA-directed exile invasion fails. |
LAOS |
1962 |
Command operation |
Military buildup during guerrilla war. |
CUBA |
l962 |
Nuclear threat, naval |
Blockade during missile crisis; near-war with Soviet Union. |
IRAQ |
1963 |
Command operation |
CIA organizes coup that killed president, brings Ba'ath Party to power, and Saddam Hussein back from exile to be head of the secret service. |
PANAMA |
l964 |
Troops |
Panamanians shot for urging canal's return. |
INDONESIA |
l965 |
Command operation |
Million killed in CIA-assisted army coup. |
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC |
1965-66 |
Troops, bombing |
Marines land during election campaign. |
GUATEMALA |
l966-67 |
Command operation |
Green Berets intervene against rebels. |
CAMBODIA |
l969-75 |
Bombing, troops, naval |
Up to 2 million killed in decade of bombing, starvation, and political chaos. |
OMAN |
l970 |
Command operation |
U.S. directs Iranian marine invasion. |
LAOS |
l971-73 |
Command operation, bombing |
U.S. directs South Vietnamese invasion; "carpet-bombs" countryside. |
CHILE |
1973 |
Command operation |
CIA-backed coup ousts elected marxist president. |
ANGOLA |
l976-92 |
Command operation |
CIA assists South African-backed rebels. |
LIBYA |
l981 |
Naval jets |
Two Libyan jets shot down in maneuvers. |
EL SALVADOR |
l981-92 |
Command operation, troops |
Advisors, overflights aid anti-rebel war, soldiers briefly involved in hostage clash. |
NICARAGUA |
l981-90 |
Command operation, naval |
CIA directs exile (Contra) invasions, plants harbor mines against revolution. |
| LEBANON | l982-84 | Naval, bombing, troops | Marines expel PLO and back Phalangists, Navy bombs and shells Muslim positions. |
| GRENADA | l983-84 | Troops, bombing | Invasion four years after revolution. |
| HONDURAS | l983-89 | Troops | Maneuvers help build bases near borders. |
| IRAN | l984 | Jets | Two Iranian jets shot down over Persian Gulf. |
| LIBYA | l986 | Bombing, naval | Air strikes to topple nationalist gov't. |
| IRAN | l987-88 | Naval, bombing | US intervenes on side of Iraq in war. |
| LIBYA | 1989 | Naval jets | Two Libyan jets shot down. |
| PHILIPPINES | 1989 | Jets | Air cover provided for government against coup. |
| PANAMA | 1989 (-?) | Troops, bombing | Nationalist government ousted by 27,000 soldiers, leaders arrested, 2000+ killed. |
| SAUDI ARABIA | 1990-91 | Troops, jets | Iraq countered after invading Kuwait. 540,000 troops also stationed in Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, UAE, Israel. |
| IRAQ | 1990-? | Bombing, troops, naval | Blockade of Iraqi and Jordanian ports, air strikes; 200,000+ killed in invasion of Iraq and Kuwait; no-fly zone over Kurdish north, Shiite south, large-scale destruction of Iraqi military. |
| KUWAIT | 1991 | Naval, bombing, troops | Kuwait royal family returned to throne. |
| SOMALIA | 1992-94 | Troops, naval, bombing | U.S.-led United Nations occupation during civil war; raids against one Mogadishu faction. |
| YUGOSLAVIA | 1992-94 | Naval | NATO blockade of Serbia and Montenegro. |
| BOSNIA | 1993-? | Jets, bombing | No-fly zone patrolled in civil war; downed jets, bombed Serbs. |
| HAITI | 1994 | Troops, naval | Blockade against military government; troops restore President Aristide to office three years after coup. |
| SUDAN | 1998 | Missiles | Attack on pharmaceutical plant alleged to be "terrorist" nerve gas plant. |
| AFGHANISTAN | 1998 | Missiles | Attack on former CIA training camps used by Islamic fundamentalist groups alleged to have attacked embassies. |
| IRAQ | 1998-? | Bombing, Missiles | Four days of intensive air strikes after weapons inspectors allege Iraqi obstructions. |
| YUGOSLAVIA | 1999 | Bombing, Missiles | Heavy NATO air strikes after Serbia declines to withdraw from Kosovo. NATO occupation of Kosovo. |
| MACEDONIA | 2001 | Troops | NATO forces deployed to move and disarm Albanian rebels. |
| AFGHANISTAN | 2001-? | Troops, bombing, missiles | Massive U.S. mobilization to overthrow Taliban, hunt Al Qaeda fighters, install Karzai regime, and battle Taliban insurgency. More than 60,000 U.S. troops and numerous private security contractors carry our occupation. |
| PHILIPPINES | 2002-? | Troops, naval | Training mission for Philippine military fighting Abu Sayyaf rebels evolves into combat missions in Sulu Archipelago, west of Mindanao. |
| COLOMBIA | 2003-? | Troops | US special forces sent to rebel zone to back up Colombian military protecting oil pipeline. |
| IRAQ | 2003-? | Troops, naval, bombing, missiles | Saddam regime toppled in Baghdad. More than 250,000 U.S. personnel participate in invasion. US and UK forces occupy country and battle Sunni and Shi'ite insurgencies. More than 160,000 troops and numerous private contractors carry out occupation and build large permanent bases. |
HAITI |
2004-05 |
Troops, naval |
Marines land after right-wing rebels oust elected President Aristide, who was advised to leave by Washington. |
PAKISTAN |
2005-? |
Missiles, bombing, covert operation |
CIA missile and air strikes and Special Forces raids on alleged Al Qaeda and Taliban refuge villages kill multiple civilians. |
SOMALIA |
2006-? |
Missiles, naval, covert operation |
Special Forces advise Ethiopian invasion that topples Islamist government; AC-130 strikes and Cruise missile attacks against Islamist rebels; naval blockade against "pirates" and insurgents. |
SYRIA |
2008 |
Troops |
Special Forces in helicopter raid 5 miles from Iraq kill 8 Syrian civilians |
“The moral and constitutional obligations of our representatives in Washington are to protect our liberty, not coddle the world, precipitating no-win wars, while bringing bankruptcy and economic turmoil to our people.” – Ron Paul
As I watched the disgraceful Republican Presidential primaries during 2008, I wondered what had happened to the conservative Republican Party. It had been hijacked by the neoconservatives. These people are as far from conservative as you can get. Their agenda is to aggressively use American economic and military power to bring liberalism and democracy to foreign countries, whether they like it or not. Ron Paul was the only candidate to stand for the true principles of the Republican Party. He pointed out that the Republican Party had been non-interventionist throughout the 20th Century and as recently as the year 2000, it was still the hallmark of the party:
“Throughout the 20th century, the Republican Party benefited from a non-interventionist foreign policy. Think of how Eisenhower came in to stop the Korean War. Think of how Nixon was elected to stop the mess in Vietnam. How did we win the election in the year 2000? We talked about a humble foreign policy: No nation-building; don't police the world. That's conservative, it's Republican, it's pro-American - it follows the founding fathers. And, besides, it follows the Constitution.”
As I watched the kindergarten military experts Guliani, Romney, and Huckabee scornfully lecture Ron Paul on American foreign policy, I was taken aback by their utter hypocrisy and lack of Constitutional knowledge. Three men who never spent one second in the U.S. military, even though two were in their twenties during the Vietnam War, lecturing a man who served in the U.S. Air Force from 1962 through 1968 as a flight surgeon. These men join the other neo-cons that avoided service in Vietnam, George Bush and Dick Cheney (applied for 5 draft deferments) in the neo-con hall of shame. The military “hero”, John McCain, was disdainful towards Mr. Paul’s contention that the invasion of Iraq was unconstitutional. McCain’s impeccable military record of graduating 894th out of 899 at the Naval Academy, crashing 3 planes, being shot down over Hanoi, and cracking under torture by the North Vietnamese, certainly qualified him as an expert in casting aside the Constitution forged by George Washington and true patriots. Ron Paul was the only true conservative Republican, in the spirit of Ronald Reagan, on that stage.
“Legitimate use of violence can only be that which is required in self-defense.” – Ron Paul
“History teaches that war begins when governments believe the price of aggression is cheap.” – Ronald Reagan
Join me at www.TheBurningPlatform.com to discuss truth and the future of our country.
By James Quinn
James Quinn is a senior director of strategic planning for a major university. James has held financial positions with a retailer, homebuilder and university in his 22-year career. Those positions included treasurer, controller, and head of strategic planning. He is married with three boys and is writing these articles because he cares about their future. He earned a BS in accounting from Drexel University and an MBA from Villanova University. He is a certified public accountant and a certified cash manager.
These articles reflect the personal views of James Quinn. They do not necessarily represent the views of his employer, and are not sponsored or endorsed by his employer.
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Comments
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The Geoffster
29 Sep 09, 16:59 |
The Constitution
John- Excellent work, as always. I was required to memorize the founding documents in high school. I doubt current students know what they are. |
