Reservist Wants to Verify His CINC

As plaintiff in Hollister v. Soetoro, Individual Ready Reservist Hollister seeks verification of the legitimacy of his Commander In Chief.  In a motion to dismiss, the Obama/Biden legal team asserts that

“Although plaintiff alleges he “is literally caught between a rock and a hard place,”
plaintiff has not alleged that he has personally suffered any injury. See Dkt. #1 at ¶34. In
addition, even if these peculiar claims built on a hypothetical recall to active military duty are Case 1:08-cv-02254-JR Document 9 Filed 01/26/2009 Page 6 of 11 taken at face value, plaintiff is engaged in the rankest speculation: He does not even allege a basis for believing that his return to duty is likely, much less probable. Instead, plaintiff’s  allegations expressly concede that his renewed military service is pure conjecture at this point.”

So Hollister has to wait until he is actually activated to make his challenge?  Why so much effort to avoid meeting eligibility challenges head on?

GITMO Judge to POTUS: Not so fast

A gutsy chief military judge at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Army Col. James Pohl, takes a stand for the rule of law and the independence of the military judiciary.

“The Commission is unaware of how conducting an arraignment would preclude any option by the administration,” Pohl wrote in an opinion obtained by The Washington Post. “Congress passed the military commissions act, which remains in effect. The Commission is bound by the law as it currently exists, not as it may change in the future.”

“His Honor” is an apt title indeed for Col. Pohl.

You’re Going to Need This

It has never been more important to use our representative form of government as it is now.   Every citizen has 1 voice in the House and 2 in the Senate to ensure that YOUR views are heard and YOUR money is spent properly.   In addition, House and Senate leadership–the Speaker of the House, Majority and Minority Leaders, and Whips–receive input from all citizens and not just their own constituents.   Here is a site that can put you in touch with the leadership, and here is one to contact your members of congress, and here is one to contact your senators.

Speck vs. Log in Obama’s Aye

There’s more than a little irony in the open speculation about the legitimacy of Barack Obama’s oath of office given the flubbed administration by the Chief Justice.  At issue is the failure to strictly follow the Constitutionally prescribed presidential oath in Article 2,  Section 1:

Before he (the President) enter on the Execution of his Office, he shall take the following Oath or Affirmation:

“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”

It is fascinating that the position of an adverb attracts more media visibility than do the ongoing legal challenges to the President’s basic eligibility to hold office.  In the same Section of the same Article of the Costitution are these requirements:

No person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President; neither shall any Person be eligible to that Office who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty-five Years, and been fourteen Years a Resident within the United States.

Yet, unknown to most Americans is the fact that the same oath-administering Chief Justice will be conferencing with the Associate Justices just three days after the inauguration to consider a case that again challenges the President to prove his status as a “natural born Citizen.”

UPDATE

As reported on DRUDGE REPORT this evening:

At 735 pm, Roberts administred the oath of office again to obama in the map room. Robert gibbs said the wh counsel, greg craig, believes the oath was fine Tuesday, but one word was out of sequence so they did this out of a "an abundance of caution."

So it seems that Constitutional precision, literally to the letter, is of the utmost importance to assure the legitimacy of the Chief Executive.

Neo Patriotism?

Remember this shrill statement from Hillary Clinton?

“I am sick and tired of people who say that if you debate and you disagree with this administration somehow you’re not patriotic.  We should stand up and say, we are Americans and we have a right to debate and disagree with any administration!”

Will Madame Secretary stand by this statement now that she’s part of  “this administration”?  Or will patriotism be redefined in a way that encompasses only political assent?

Good piece here on the topic.

A Parable

Israel vs. Hamas: Why Do the Nations Rage?

“Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!”  Ps 14:7

From OneJerusalem.org:

In a news-making and fact-filled presentation, Israel’s former Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, briefed American and international bloggers on Israel’s defensive action against Hamas, Iran’s role in the conflict and its threat to the free world, and the need for Israel’s friends to set the record straight — by repeating the facts.

The facts include:

• Eight years of rockets being fired on innocent Israeli citizens
• Hamas’ commitment to the destruction of the State of Israel
• Israel’s humanitarian treatment of Arabs caught in the crossfire

In answer to the charge that Israel is targeting civilians, Mr. Netanyahu reminds listeners that during World War II, Britain carpet-bombed German cities. In contrast, Israel’s air strikes have been directed against military targets. Netanyahu also noted that Israeli hospitals are treating wounded civilians from Gaza.

In response to a question about the goals of this operation, Mr. Netanyahu said that objectives are to re-establish Israel’s security and to end the supply of armaments for Hamas.

Time and again, Mr. Netanyahu reminds the audience that Hamas is a proxy for Iran. Defeat of Hamas is a defeat for Iran. Netanyahu ended the call with an interesting insight into the dangers of Iran any any radical Islamic regime that possesses nuclear weapons. Mr. Netanyahu further recalled President-elect Obama’s comment about raising children under the threat of enemy rockets.

We Are With You, Israel

Interesting interview today with General Eitam, an Israeli war hero, a foreign cabinet minister, and a senior member of the security and foreign affairs committee in the Knesset.   May God protect this land and this people from those who seek their destruction.  (h/t Atlas Shrugs)

General Eitam receives regular updates and participates in frequent meeting with Israel’s minister of defense and the defense forces chief of staff. He has two sons fighting in Gaza and  has just returned from an official visit to the front lines.

It was magnificent to hear a great warrior speak unapologetically of defending the Jewish people. He was clear and concise. It is comforting to know that men of his caliber, fortitude and clarity are helping drive the bus. He gave a brief overview of the millions of Israel under seige for years – suffering the relentless rain of rockets from Gaza. He said Hamas military infrastructure was targeted and destroyed with very few civilian casualities.Hamas has been beaten and suffered a lot of damage – physical infrastructure and their will to been melted. He thinks the population has turned his back on this brutal, irresponsible leadership. They are captives now of this irresponsibility of government.

He discussed the depravity of the Hamas thugs, their use of human shields and residential homes as firing bases.Shockingly, he revealed that Hamas was shooting civilians in the feet to stop them from running away.

I asked Eitam if the massive anti-Israel, jew hating rallies across the world had effected Israeli resolve. Was it affecting popular opinion or was Israel focused on her objective. Eitam said Israel was somewhat surprised – not by the reaction in the Arab world. It’s to be expected in Islamic countries. But the rallies in Europe and the US were troubling and the result of large Arab immigration.

Other bloggers on the call were Omri from Mere Rhetoric, Anne from Boker Tov, Jerry Gordan of Iconoclast, among others– Ted Belman Israpundit who noted these points:

1. Israel will continue with its assault for another two weeks. Rather than enter into to Gaza City and fight street by street, Israel will invite the Gazans to leave the city and go to the sand dunes of Gush Katif where a temporary city will be set up for their care. Then Israel will pulverize Gaza City from the air until Hamas surrenders.

2. Israel, even then, won’t rush into a ceasefire agreement but will manage the aftermath carefully. Ultimately IDF will return to Israel.

3.  Israel will insist in any settlement that Corporal Shalit be returned.

4.  There will be no more smuggling of arms. Period.

5. The Defeat of Hamas will not move the peace process forward. There is no peace process. The Arabs have to choose between the status quo or a fate similar to the fate of Gazans. The Arabs prefer Israel protection to having their own state. Everything is improving in Judea and Samaria and the Arabs know it.

6. Israel is unified and committed to preventing Iran from getting the bomb. From what he said I got the impression that the attack on Iran is not far away hopefully with international support.

He said that he has never seen the people of Israel so strong in their resolve. They are unwavering. Eitam, said the lessons of the Lebanon Hezbo war were well learned. Israel learned well from hr mistakes.