Monday, August 03, 2009

I think everyone now should have to prove their citizenship

Notwithstanding the fake Kenyan birth certificate, issues by a "republic" before it was a republic, signed by a brand of soap...IT DOESN'T MATTER.

One does not need to be born in the US to be a citizen:

Birth Abroad to One Citizen and One Alien Parent in Wedlock:
A child born abroad to one U.S. citizen parent and one alien parent acquires U.S. citizenship at birth under Section 301(g) INA provided the citizen parent was physically present in the U.S. for the time period required by the law applicable at the time of the child's birth. (For birth on or after November 14, 1986, a period of five years physical presence, two after the age of fourteen is required. For birth between December 24, 1952 and November 13, 1986, a period of ten years, five after the age of fourteen are required for physical presence in the U.S. to transmit U.S. citizenship to the child.
To those who say such a birth makes one not "natural born," there is no agreement on the intention of that phrase, but from Wikipedia:

One possible source of the clause can be traced to a July 25, 1787 letter from John Jay to George Washington, presiding officer of the Convention. Jay wrote:

“ Permit me to hint, whether it would be wise and seasonable to provide a strong check to the admission of Foreigners into the administration of our national Government; and to declare expressly that the Commander in Chief of the American army shall not be given to nor devolve on, any but a natural born Citizen. ”

Another possible source, worded differently, comes from Alexander Hamilton, a delegate to the Convention. On June 18, 1787, Hamilton submitted to the Convention a sketch of a plan of government. Article IX, section 1 of Hamilton's plan provided:

“ No person shall be eligible to the office of President of the United States unless he be now a Citizen of one of the States, or hereafter be born a Citizen of the United States.
Thus it's reasonable to say that "natural born" refers to someone who is a citizen at birth.

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Wednesday, July 29, 2009

In case you hadn't noticed, we already have single payer government run health care

Or at least these people do:


Seniors
U.S. servicepeople
Injured veterans
Poor families
Low-income children
Congresspeople

(thanks to Political Animal)

As Bill Kristol said on the Daily Show this week, servicepeople deserve the best health care and they have it. Oh, then he tried to backpedal. Oops. I guess government can run a huge program reasonably well.

And that bullcrap about not wanting a government bureaucrat between me and my doctor? I'll take him over the profit-motivated insurance company stooge I have now.

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Sunday, July 26, 2009

If she looks like a lame duck and quacks like a lame duck, she's a lame duck

Next time Palin runs for office, I'm hoping some reporter will ask her whether she believes all "lame ducks" should resign 18 months early.

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Saturday, July 18, 2009

It was forty years ago today...

Janis even made a BeeGees song sound great...

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Sunday, May 31, 2009

Yes. He Said It

It would be easy to dismiss G. Gordon Liddy if the only place he had to say these things were a street corner. Listen to the whole thing, but pay special attention to 33 seconds in:

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Saturday, May 30, 2009

On Sotomayor

I'm among those who have a problem with Sotomayor's statement about making better decisions that a white judge, a statement she has now backed away from. But the real point comes from Hilzoy:

I honestly don't know why so many people focus so much attention on their somewhat overwrought interpretations of one line in a speech and so little attention on ascertaining what kind of judge Sonia Sotomayor has been. Her decisions are not classified documents. They are public, and anyone can read them. Moreover, they plainly provide the best evidence of the kind of judge she will be.

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Sunday, May 10, 2009

What did the President know, and when did he know it?

Sound familiar? Can't wait for a repeat of that question in a Senate hearing room!

From today's Face the Nation:

SCHIEFFER: How much did President Bush know specifically about the methods that were being used? We know that you– and you have said– that you approved this…

CHENEY: Right.

SCHIEFFER: … somewhere down the line. Did President Bush know everything you knew?

CHENEY: I certainly, yes, have every reason to believe he knew — he knew a great deal about the program. He basically authorized it. I mean, this was a presidential-level decision. And the decision went to the president. He signed off on it.


Oh man, nothing has pulled back the curtain on the wizard better than this one. What does this mean: "He basically authorized it." ? If anyone doubted Dick was running the show for about seven of the eight years...

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Thursday, April 30, 2009

Monday, April 27, 2009

Washingtonpost.com needs pop music re-education

It wasn't the Beach Boys -- it was Ronny & The Daytonas.

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