Category Archives: Law Enforcement

National security or my iPhone…

nsa-leakerAs we debate the issue of combating terrorism in the 21st Century, a number of things come to mind. Ben Franklin once reflected that those who would sacrifice freedom for security deserve neither. I support that assertion. History tells us the eventual providers of the “security” we seek, often become the tyrants who rob us of what remains. Nevertheless, we are faced with a global enemy who means to exploit our freedoms in order to murder innocents, (9/11, Boston Marathon etc…). So where is the balance? Frankly, I’m not sure there is one.

To be sure, “We the People” simply cannot allow our government carte blanche access to the privacy associated with our individual and unalienable rights as outlined in the Constitution. We must however accept that “terrorism police work” often requires the same “NCIS” tactics which glue us to the flat screen on Tuesday night. Consequently, in order to occupy that “national security” middle ground everyone is talking about, judicial oversight must be ever-present, relentless, and transparent, with swift and significant accountability for any abuses. Our freedoms are far too unambiguous and precious. Moreover, what we are seeing today is proof that “clandestine” data mining and the like, can corrupt even the most well-intentioned of efforts, especially if government is involved. So as keepers of that government, and if we continue to immerse ourselves in the wonders of rapidly advancing technology, then we must also be steadfast and diligent in policing its misuse.

Posted in "Patriot64", America, Constitutionality, First Amendment, Foreign policy, Fred Comella, History, International, Judiciary, Law Enforcement, Media, Military, Terrorism, The Middle East | Tagged , | Comments Off on National security or my iPhone…

Ten Gallon Tax Expert…

Jim Hightower

I try and stay away from most Facebook debates as they tend to morph into ideological wars, leaving behind any productive and factual exchange of ideas. But recently I was compelled to investigate a post comment by a clearly Liberal individual regarding the IRS scandal, and how he felt these “Right Wing Groups” somehow got what they deserved. He cited an article by stalwart progressive Jim Hightower concerning what “he” believed was illegitimate application of the 501 (c) (4) tax status. Moving past the obvious bias of the author, I did read the article and was somewhat amused by it. Hightower refers to the many abuses of the C3 and C4 as if “Rush Limbaugh” wrote the classifications into the tax code himself. His continual references to “whining and notorious” political players like Rove and the Koch brothers made it clear there would be little substance contained in the rest of the article. Nevertheless, I read on and then decided to do a little of my own homework. Here’s what I discovered.

For starters, let’s look at the obvious. The U.S. Tax Code reads like a Bernie Madoff manifesto. Generations of smooth talking politicians and bureaucrats have manipulated the Constitutional basis for taxation, (the 16th Amendment etc…), into what in many ways resembles something which should be investigated under the organized crime statutes. In any event, after hours of perusing this categorized collection of fiscal injustice imposed upon a complacent citizenry over the last couple of hundred years, I narrowed my search and found a PDF file, readily available through our POTUS’s personal information gathering company, “Google”, http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-tege/eotopicm95.pdf which basically tells us everything we need to know. There you will find fairly easy to understand criteria which one would have to meet in order to qualify for the exemption. Hey, what do you know? It appears the witnesses who testified freely before “The Ways and Means Committee” last week, and their respective initiatives, seem to fit right into those categories rather nicely, despite what some would have you believe.

irsoverhaul12Inevitably there will always be those (on both sides) of the political argument who misuse or misrepresent the tax code. Having said that, the notion or implication that these mostly “Average Joe” or “Tea Party Types” are somehow assaulting the American Taxpayer by seeking a particular exemption, is just another example of Liberals using, “the best defense is a good offense” strategy that they use quite often as a means to navigate around the facts. Moreover, when one looks closely at the number of organizations joining Mr. Rove’s on any list receiving the aforementioned exemption(s), one finds the ACLU, NAACP, AARP, DLA, The Humane Society, The “Colbert” Super Pac, and so on and so on…

All I’m trying to say here is that this is clearly a two-way street. But some folks and their efforts were certainly scrutinized far beyond what is acceptable, and in some cases what was legal. The fact that some fool doesn’t like the “Tea Party” or what they stand for should mean absolutely nothing in the grand scheme of things. Personally, I think the “Coalition to Stop Gun violence” is a sham which regularly spreads inaccurate data to further an un-Constitutional agenda. However, until the tax code says differently, they will continue to receive tax exempt status in compliance with the letter of the law. And one more thing, what do you think my “Facebook commenter” and Mr. Hightower would say if the IRS started asking the folks over at the AARP or Planned Parenthood how many times a week they pray or don’t pray, or if they planned on participating in any illegal protests in the near future. Answer that with a straight face…

Posted in "Patriot64", America, Congress, Constitutionality, First Amendment, Fred Comella, Gun Control, Health Care, Law Enforcement, Politics, Religion, Right vs. Left, Taxes | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Ten Gallon Tax Expert…

End-run around Congress???

Kathleen-SebeliusIt should come as no surprise that funding for the “Affordable” Care Act simply doesn’t exist in real money. So notwithstanding what we know to be the Administrations true desire for a “single payer” system of healthcare, it now appears HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius is strong-arming health care execs for cash ahead of the official 2014 roll-out of all the budget busting parts of “Obamacare”.

As we watch the IRS scandal unfold before our eyes, and we hear the likes of Eric Holder attempt to explain away lying to Congress and breaking the laws he’s supposed to enforce, and as the truth of Benghazi ebbs and flows like blood through the cracks of an al-Qaeda prison cell floor, this latest departure from ethical government leaves me to contemplate the words of our President back in 2009. “I will also hold myself as president to a new standard of openness …. Let me say it as simply as I can: Transparency and the rule of law will be the touchstones of this presidency.” – President Barack Obama 

What a complete and total crock!

I ask the Left, as well as the media sycophants who unbelievably continue to turn a blind eye to the obvious, are you comfortable with this? Is this your idea of our children’s America? Is this your answer to the dreaded George Bush? Shame on you, all of you…

Posted in "Patriot64", America, Benghazi, Congress, Constitutionality, Economy, Election 2014, Election 2016, Foreign policy, Fred Comella, Health Care, Home and Family, Law Enforcement, Media, Military, National Debt, Politics, Rhode Island Local, Right vs. Left, Socioeconomic, Taxes, Terrorism, The Middle East | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on End-run around Congress???

Side show???

obama_press-conference_3-620x413It appears the Obama Presidency is unraveling with astonishing speed. That said, I’ve always felt the POTUS’s aversion to accountability and the Constitution would be his undoing. Ideologies aside though, many Americans are finally beginning to see the light in terms of what we expect from a Commander-in-Chief. I say this because whether or not he believes it himself, and for good or bad, the buck will eventually stop at Mr. Obama’s desk. It’s simply part of being President of the United States.

Nevertheless, it’s imperative all Americans understand where we are. When looked at collectively, Benghazi, the IRS scandal, and now the troubling issue of secret subpoenas and wire-taps at the Associated Press speak to an alarming pattern of behavior which suggests a discernible tone of indifference from top to bottom in the Obama government, for the Constitutional rights of Americans on every level. Accordingly, if the Administration and those agencies under its direct supervision, as well as supporting and ideologically driven politicians like Rhode Island’s Junior Senator Sheldon Whitehouse are comfortable with the facts so far, then “We the People” should be concerned, very concerned.

My quick email to Senator Whitehouse:

I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God.

Notwithstanding “so help me God”, as I’m sure you might have us do away with the phrase, what part of the above do you not understand Senator?

At a time when “We the People” of Rhode Island are looking to our elected officials for clarity of purpose and Constitutional integrity, we instead have you Sir, towing the party line and sounding like a mindless sycophant. Regrettably, it is understood politics in Washington has become a game of one-upmanship and ideological demagoguery on both sides of the aisle, devoid of true and thoughtful representation. That said, I think we are coming back to a period when folks may be demanding a little more than what you are providing Senator Whitehouse. Your allegiance to this President does not negate fact and reason, and may not be substituted for the above oath. Please, at the very least, try and consider who it is you serve.

Oh, and no return “campaign letter” is necessary in consideration of this correspondence. 

 

Posted in "Patriot64", America, Campaign 2012, Congress, Constitutionality, Election 2012, Election 2014, Election 2016, First Amendment, Fred Comella, Law Enforcement, Media, Politics, Rhode Island Local, Right vs. Left | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Side show???

Who the hell is Kermit Gosnell???

Kermit-Gosnell-Philadelphia-Abortion-Clinic-27054632What could possibly be more horrific than partial birth abortion? Inducing labor on a 17 year-old to cause the delivery of a living breathing baby, only to snip his tiny spinal cord with medical scissors and discard him in a plastic shoe box for later “disposal”, that’s what!

Now I try to temper my writing on the issue of abortion as it evokes strong personal emotions for me. I’m also inclined to see it in terms of the oaths I’ve taken over the years as opposed to any particular political belief. Having said that, I think it’s important to recognize the role, or lack of role the media has played in the case of accused abortion clinic murderer Kermit Gosnell. Clearly, we are witnessing a circling of the wagons if you will, as a complicit “lame stream media” barely raises a collective eyebrow to the monstrous and barbaric charges involved in this case, because they cast a wholly appropriate cloud of evil over the Left’s defense of everything “Planned Parenthood”.

Once again I would ask decent Americans to take a good look around. From the unsupervised birth control “rights” of a 15 year-old child, to the brutal rape and forced captivity of three innocent young women in Ohio, to Kermit Gosnell’s “house of horrors” in West Philly, “We the People” seem lost for the outrage these types of events would normally elicit. Indeed for some, that outrage has been replaced by a morbid but disconnected curiosity satisfied only by the next 24 hour news cycle. Moreover, the news media we once sought to ask the tough questions on society’s behalf has now embraced a particular ideology in spite of truth and reason. What does all this mean for the value of human life, and ultimately for the longevity of a nation with our creed and Constitution? Anyone???

Posted in "Patriot64", America, Election 2014, Election 2016, Fred Comella, Health Care, Home and Family, Law Enforcement, Politics, Right vs. Left, RIP, Socioeconomic, Women's Issues | Tagged , | Comments Off on Who the hell is Kermit Gosnell???

“War on Terror” 101…

519160126Listening to the fringe on either side of the political argument these days can be frustrating. It all depends on your mood I suppose, and how receptive you are at any given moment, to the myriad of ideological rhetoric littering the air waves, television and the internet. Moreover, the currently super-charged environment which exists because of the events in Boston further complicates matters as every news agency and their affiliate want to be first with “the scoop”. I’m actually not even sure why I bother some days…Truthfully, I bother because I care about the future of my son’s country and I prefer to be an educated participant in the debate.

With this in mind and despite what some of my detractors would have you believe, I’ve never been much of government “conspiracy theorist”. My politics are much more human in terms of my confidence that our elected/appointed officials will actually adhere to their respective oaths. Nevertheless, as I listen to some credible media (and government) sources now reporting, at the very least, some face to face federal interaction with accused bomber Tamerlan Tsarnaev, I’m concerned about whether we either dropped the ball, or purposely looked away. Now I’m not in any way suggesting government involvement in the attacks, so you Lefty nuts can put a sock in it. I am suggesting however, that our current politically correct posture in this country may be compromising our ability to see the threat clearly, thereby compromising “We the People”.

Look, when a Jihadist psychopath yells “allahu-akbar” and guns down 12 soldiers and 1 civilian on a military installation, it’s not “work place violence”, it’s a terrorist attack damn it, and anyone who says differently is someone whose motives we should question.

Oh, and all Ft. Hood soldiers involved should receive their purple hearts and other “combat” related metals Mr. President. “War on Terror 101”

Posted in "Patriot64", America, Fred Comella, International, Law Enforcement, Media, Military, Political Correctness, Politics, Right vs. Left, Terrorism, The Middle East | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on “War on Terror” 101…

“Left Wing Media” way out of line…

130417220526-boston-marathon-single-image-cutDespite a flood of emails, I have hesitated out of an abundance of reason to comment on the events of last week. I think it wholly appropriate at this juncture however, to recognize the exceptionalism of city, state and federal law enforcement, as they relentlessly pursued this unconscionable evil for the sake of society, as well as the heroic efforts of EMS and civilian bystanders who risked their own lives and ran immediately to aid the wounded at the scene of the bombings. As for the doctors and nurses of some of the finest hospitals in the world, your expertise and readiness were immeasurable in terms of their value during that nightmare week. God Bless all of you!

Having said that, I also wanted to express my disdain for those members of our corrupt media culture who foolishly and irresponsibly injected their political agendas and ideologies into the discussion over how and why this event occurred, in some cases even before some of the victims had been transported to the hospital. These disgraceful individuals were not back room pundits either, but rather on-air personalities who frankly, should wear the label “enemy combatant”. Their blatant disregard for all things appropriate and respectful is just more evidence of the decline of modern journalism in our country today. Consequently, the rejuvenation and/or re-emergence of the true American spirit will only take place when objectivity and the pursuit of truth and reason are returned to the so-called “main stream media”.

Posted in "Patriot64", America, Fred Comella, Gun Control, International, Law Enforcement, Media, Military, Political Correctness, Politics, Right vs. Left, Terrorism | Tagged , | 1 Comment

The Politics of Gun Control…

gun-control-posterWhen you ask the average American, “Are you in favor of background checks for people buying guns?”, the obvious answer will be yes. As with all “polls” however, when you adjust the question to reflect the hidden details, you get a different (and more educated) answer. My point is that the President’s assertions about American’s feelings on gun control are skewed and highly political to say the least. Moreover, how in the world can we have a logical discussion on making our children and our nation safer, when our ideological chief executive’s contribution is to exploit the parents of Sandy Hook by flying them around from sound-bite to sound-bite on Air force One.

If there is anyone out there who believes the President of the United States cares about anything other than positioning himself politically by attempting to demonize and divide the opposition, please remove your head from the partisan sand before you suffocate.

“This is not about me.” Really Mr. President? I think this is all about you.

Posted in "Patriot64", America, Congress, Constitutionality, Education, Election 2014, Election 2016, Fred Comella, Gun Control, Law Enforcement, Media, Politics, Rhode Island Local, Right vs. Left, Second Amendment, United Nations, Women's Issues | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

“NIGHTLINE” nuttiness…

nightline1I picked up on a “Twitter” post highlighting “Nightlines” hit-job on “GLOCK”. It intrigued me so I had a look at the piece. Basically it was another example of how objectivity in modern journalism has taken a proverbial nose dive of recent. Moreover it reflected the ideological trending of the “Lame Stream Media” in the 21st Century.

That said, there is always something one can pick out of these media debacles, one bit of contrived propaganda they try and slip by you for effect. In this case it was “Nightlines” claims that “one” study showed women are three times more likely to be murdered in homes with handguns, and that sixteen times more women were killed by men they knew and not by strangers.

glock17render4Okay, Let’s move by the fact these assertions are made by the “Violence Policy center”, an ardent anti-gun agency with a proven track record of misinformation and questionable statistics. Let’s also move past the “Kleck” study which suggests firearms are used successfully for self-defense in more than two million unreported instances every year, and that in every state with a “right to carry” statute, there has been a marked reduction in violent crimes over the last ten years, to include the rape and murder of women specifically. As a matter of fact, let us also set aside the “notion” that women are sixteen times more likely to be killed (not necessarily shot), by men they know, for the sexist insinuation and societal issue it really is. No, let’s look at this for what it truly is, a corrupt and irresponsible news media which has placed its full faith and credibility, in the radical Left wing policies of an Administration with little regard for the Constitutional liberties which made this nation great. MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell removed all doubt of these media “tendencies” when she scolded her fellow reporters for letting the “Assault Weapons Ban die”. Therefore it should come as no surprise to GLOCK, COLT, or any other legitimate firearms manufacturer, that they have few friends other than the NRA in the wider messaging war.

220px-Andrea_Mitchell_MSNBC_mic_cropAs a seasoned firearms instructor my message to Patriot Women around the country is this. I know it’s tiresome. I know you’re busy with your careers and families, and I know firsthand how deciphering the statistical data can give you a splitter. But you owe it to yourself and your children to do the research. Please don’t bet your lives on the likes of Andrea Mitchell or the fools over at Nightline…

Posted in "Patriot64", America, Constitutionality, First Amendment, Fred Comella, Gun Control, Law Enforcement, Media, Political Correctness, Politics, Right vs. Left, Second Amendment, United Nations | Tagged , , | Comments Off on “NIGHTLINE” nuttiness…

Not just in Rhode Island…

second-amendment-rifleThe fight for Second Amendment rights in Rhode Island is always interesting. The Ocean State’s unique political landscape lends itself to all kinds of curious interpretations. As a general rule, Rhode Islanders tend to be the quintessential procrastinators, prone to reactionary politics. That said, firearms owners in the state are a passionate bunch when roused. Appropriately and for the purposes of this writing, I think it’s important to identify the two opposing groups on the matter of gun control here in Rhode Island.

Firstly, the states entrenched Leftist politicians oppose the right to “keep and bear arms” as outlined in the federal Constitution and reinforced by an even less debatable state application. Their foremost agenda is “registration” as a means to eventual confiscation. Truth be told, if you hang around in political circles long enough, you’ll hear them say that very thing. Regrettably, their media sanitized efforts are often disguised by a blatant mischaracterization of the Amendment itself, as well as the exploitation of murdered innocents as an acceptable means to the aforementioned end. This is the most despicable kind of political gamesmanship, made even more indefensible by a deliberate end run around the Constitution(s) these elected officials swore an oath to defend.

On the other side there are the ardent few defenders on Smith (Capitol) Hill. Emboldened by a rising tide of awakening gun owners, folks like Representative Chippendale (R) 40 and Costa (R) 31 are often hampered by boatloads of media misinformation, political pandering and a lack of understanding on the part of the general public when considering the true intent of the Second Amendment. It’s always troubling when some in this camp go on about hunting and sport shooting, neither of which have anything to do with the Amendment. This ignorance, willful or otherwise, only makes the task of countering a well-organized and focused opposition more difficult. Ultimately, factual unity around the Second Amendment’s true origin and meaning provides the clarity necessary to understanding how “the right” facilitates/protects additional benefits like hunting and other sporting uses of firearms. Moreover, every gun-owner who values his or her time at the range or in the woods should understand that while the Second Amendment was not drafted for “recreational” purposes and/or reasoning, many of these cultural traditions as well as the God-given right of self-defense, are also protected by way of our founders wisdom, experience and the subsequent Constitutional right to “keep and bear arms”.

Please take some time to read “your” founding documents, as well as the letters and papers of those who wrote them. You will discover they are anything but outdated. In fact, the content could not be more necessary and applicable to our current national posture.

Posted in "Patriot64", America, Congress, Constitutionality, First Amendment, Fred Comella, Gun Control, History, Judiciary, Law Enforcement, Media, Politics, Rhode Island Local, Right vs. Left, Second Amendment, Sports | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Not just in Rhode Island…