by Chuck Baldwin
On the heels of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), otherwise known as the “Indefinite Detention Act,” comes another draconian bill designed to give the federal government the power to turn American citizens into enemies of the state for virtually any reason it deems necessary. Stephen D. Foster, Jr. has the story.
“Congress is considering HR 3166 and S. 1698 also known as the Enemy Expatriation Act, sponsored by Joe Lieberman (I-CT) and Charles Dent (R-PA). This bill would give the US government the power to strip Americans of their citizenship without being convicted of being ‘hostile’ against the United States. In other words, you can be stripped of your nationality for ‘engaging in, or purposefully and materially supporting, hostilities against the United States.’ Legally, the term ‘hostilities’ means any conflict subject to the laws of war but considering the fact that the War on Terror is a little ambiguous and encompassing, any action could be labeled as supporting terrorism.”
Foster goes on to say, “I hope I’m wrong, but it sounds to me like this is a loophole for indefinitely detaining Americans. Once again, you just have to be accused of supporting hostilities which could be defined any way the government sees fit. Then the government can strip your citizenship and apply the indefinite detention section of the NDAA without the benefit of a trial.”
See Foster’s report at:
Ever since Congress passed the Patriot Act back in 2001, it seems the floodgates have been opened for more and more intrusions and abridgements of those fundamental liberties expressly protected in the Bill of Rights. From the Patriot Act, to the Military Commissions Act, to the NDAA (Indefinite Detention Act), and to now the Enemy Expatriation Act (EEA), these big government toadies in Washington, D.C., are clearly and unmistakingly declaring war on the American people.
I invite readers to see my column on the NDAA at:
http://chuckbaldwinlive.com/home/?p=4382
Have we forgotten the MIAC report out of the State of Missouri back in 2009? In that official State report, supporters of Ron Paul, Bob Barr, and Chuck Baldwin were identified as potential dangerous “militia members,” and Missouri State law enforcement officials were notified to be on guard. Beyond that, anyone that identified themselves as being pro-life, pro-Second Amendment, anti-Federal Reserve, Christians who believe in the return of Christ, and even returning Iraq War veterans were likewise targeted as potentially dangerous to Missouri State law enforcement personnel.
After the MIAC report surfaced, Ron Paul, Bob Barr, and I sent a letter to the governor of Missouri demanding that the report be removed and that the State of Missouri repudiate the report. After a firestorm of outrage by thousands of Americans all over the country (not just in Missouri) the State of Missouri did indeed remove and repudiate the report.
Totalitarian regimes throughout history have attempted to marginalize those people that the state intended to target for persecution. Once a group or groups of people had been sufficiently marginalized, it wasn’t long before public condemnation and then military retaliation took place. Legislation such as the Patriot Act, the Military Commissions Act, the NDAA, and now the EEA authorize military power to be used against US citizens, and given the propensity of government propagandists in the National Press Corps to marginalize groups of people whose ideas are thought to be politically incorrect, it’s only a matter of time before the executive branch of the federal government begins utilizing the dictatorial powers that have been granted to it by Congress. And, unfortunately, many State governments seem more than willing to participate in the Machiavellian machinations put forward by Washington, D.C. The MIAC report in the State of Missouri is a prime example.
Sadder still is the way so many Christian pastors and churches have become little more than glorified cheerleaders for Statism and Militarism. While the Trojan Horse of Big Government sits unnoticed in Town Square, so-called Christians spend most of their time either trying to kill each other because of differences of opinion over secondary doctrines, or trying to turn their worship services into miniature versions of Walt Disney World.
I ask you, did you hear anything from your pastor regarding NDAA? Did you hear anything from your pastor regarding the Patriot Act or the Military Commissions Act? If not, do you really think you will hear him say anything about the EEA? Again I ask you, are not the fundamental principles of liberty as valuable and as scriptural as the so-called “family values” we hear pastors talk so much about? I would argue that without the undergirding foundational principles of liberty (codified in the Declaration of Independence and Bill of Rights), the so-called “family values” would become moot very quickly! Before Hitler’s government could begin marching people off to concentration camps, it had to destroy the foundational elements of liberty in the hearts and minds of the German people–including German pastors and churches. A government that doesn’t respect your liberty will not respect your life, your family, your religion, or your morality!
At this point, I invite readers to watch my address from last Sunday, January 8, 2012. In this address, I deal forthrightly with the NDAA and show the scriptural instruction regarding how unlawful and illegitimate government is the chief source of “tribulation” that the Bible talks so much about. I also give a scriptural outline as to how Christian people are to relate and respond to government–both good and bad. Watch my Sunday address at:
http://chuckbaldwinlive.com/home/?p=4400
While we are on the topic of liberty, someone has produced a fascinating clip of Congressman Ron Paul showing the predictions he made on the floor of the US House of Representatives back in 2002–along with the fulfillment of those predictions in subsequent news headlines. People who view this brief You Tube video might just begin to understand why Congressman Paul is the only Presidential candidate who truly understands the causes of this loss of liberty taking place in our land. See Dr. Paul’s speech on the House floor at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGDisyWkIBM
Given the way congressmen and senators from both major parties are willing to grant dictatorial powers to the President, it seems likely that the EEA will pass in much the same way as did the NDAA. It seems to me that the longer we keep expecting Washington, D.C., to solve our problems, the more our problems will increase. Remember the sagacious words of President Ronald Reagan: “Government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem.” Listen to that quote at:
http://chuckbaldwinlive.com/home/?p=145
If we are going to “guard and defend” (Daniel Webster) our liberties, it is going to take states and local communities to do it, because those miscreants in Washington, D.C., are doing everything they can to dismantle our liberties, not protect them. We need State governors, lieutenant governors, attorney generals, and sheriffs to stand in the gap NOW! And in that vein, I invite readers to follow the Fanning-Baldwin Montana gubernatorial campaign at the following Facebook and Twitter pages:
http://www.facebook.com:80/pages/Fanning-Baldwin-2012/120415194744039?sk=wall
https://twitter.com/#!/FanningBaldwin
In the meantime, beware! The Enemy Expatriation Act is coming soon, and with the way things are going, YOU could be deemed the enemy!
(c) Chuck Baldwin
@RonPaul_2012 @RepDanGordon This is just ridiculous. The bills that are coming out all at once.
@RonPaul_2012 McCain is endorsing Romney. Gingrich is a warmonger. Obama, Romney or Gingrich all the same on Civil Liberties = Zero
@RonPaul_2012 REALLY! So Congress and Lieberman want to strip people of their Nationality like they used to do to the Native Americans.
@RonPaul_2012 We need to start putting term limits on Congress and the Senate They really know how to Fuck up a Country
Wonder if you still have to pay the 30% expatriation tax.
http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/international/article/0,,id=97245,00.html
State citizenship exists independent of the Constitution or the powers of the federal government. Even if the Constitution granted Congress this power, and it doesn’t, Congress cannot take away your State citizenship.
In addition, we are not citizens of the federal government. That government is simply the agent created to stand in place of the individual States in foreign affairs and relations between the States.
Alexander Stephens discussed the nature citizenship in his 1868 book, A Constitutional View of the Late War Between the States:
“Is there any such thing as citizenship of the United States, apart from citizenship of a particular State or Territory of the United States? To me it seems most clearly that there is not. We are all citizens of particular States, Territories, or Districts of the United States, and thereby only, citizens of the United States. I was a citizen of Georgia; being a citizen of Georgia, I became, thereby, a citizen of the United States, only because Georgia was one of the United States under the Constitution, which was the bond, or compact, of the Union between the States thus united. Had Georgia never united with the other States, her people would never have been, in any sense of the word, citizens of the United States.
There is no such thing as general citizenship of the United States under the Constitution.”
John C. Calhoun, then a member of the United States Senate, made the following statement concerning citizenship:
“[E]very citizen is a citizen of some State or Territory, and as such, under an express provision of the Constitution, is entitled to all privileges and immunities of citizens in the several States; and it is in this, and in no other sense, that we are citizens of the United States.”
In his classic work of 1878, The Republic of Republics, Bernard Janin Sage, a constitutional attorney, wrote the following on citizenship:
“The citizens are the state; the only citizenship is of the states; and necessarily the only allegiance is to the states. These are the ideas of both federal and state constitutions, as well as of the fathers.
It is beyond question that the only citizenship originally existent in the states that joined themselves in union, was citizenship of a state; and allegiance to, a nation, or a national (or federal) government, was never provided for, if it was even thought of. This is quite evident from the following clauses: ‘The citizens of each state shall be entitled to the privileges and immunities of citizens in the several states’ (Art. IV. §2.) ‘The judicial power of the united states shall extend * * to controversies between citizens of different states; between citizens of the same state claiming lands under grants of different states; and between a state, or the citizens thereof, and foreign states, citizens, or subjects.’ (Art. III. §2.) See also amendments, Art. XI. If there were any citizens of a nation, they were not recognised or provided for. There were no other citizens than ‘citizens of each state,’ and their citizenship and allegiance was never transferred. The reason is quite obvious. States were the constituents of the federal system; and these very citizens were the states?each being a member, and integral part of his state; and if such transfer had taken place, there would have been no more ‘citizens of each state,’ and it would have contradicted and defeated the constitution itself; there being no provision for any other citizens than those of a state, who must, of course, remain untransferred in order to answer to those descriptions and provisions as to ‘the citizens of each state,’ ‘citizens of different states,’ &c. &c. ” p. 417.
Sage continued:
“But there is a provision, which some have thought, or pretended to think, referred to, or provided for, another citizenship, when really, taken with the above clauses, it is the strongest possible evidence to the contrary. ‘The congress shall have the power (not to naturalise, but) to establish a uniform rule of naturalisation, and uniform laws on the subject of bankruptcies throughout the united states.’ As to citizenship, the object of the clause was to produce uniformity and homogeneousness throughout the states. New ‘citizens of each state’ were to be made of immigrants, and as the thirteen states were necessary actors in naturalising and aimed at uniformity, they ‘delegated’ the power to the congress they created, ‘to establish a uniform rule,’which, of course, they obligated themselves to act by. States were the only authorities that could endow foreigners with all civil rights, so as to make them equal to native born citizens?which is the object of naturalisation?and at the same time protect them in all civil rights given; for these new citizens were to become their members and subjects; and their machinery of government includes the only courts that have plenary jurisdiction over all the civil rights of citizens.”
@Bob Greenslade
When we take all written as the word of almighty do we relinquish ourselves and our capacities. So many times we find ourselves in dispute of that which we read. Each dispute as valid as the next unless all accept otherwise.
Citizen represents city and the community within it to determine its course by its convictions, communications and understandings as well the actions of said community. It also very much represents life within these communities and to pretend it does not is simply pretending.
It can be shown that a city is a community of life, in this community is the people and public who do the acts of support of said community, citizens being those doing the acts of support.
This is not a legal issue so many want it to be, this is a life issue and its allowance is to be. I do not need a legal right to be here, I only need to do the act of support or my actions in no way support it.
How do we get so defined by ideas of some? Because we dare not look past that which was written. Why are these the final terms because no one was willing to explore and discover for self and defy what was said? Does the act of discovery for self serve as support for said community?
When is it truth is revealed? When I tell you or when I can show you and you find yourself with no questions of it?
No lawyer ever had you in mind, no legalese ever supported your own willingness to discover for you. These acts have done everything possible to limit your actions, your thoughts and your abilities. If I am lying show me I am, for I have proof around the world opposite acts are taking place.
Lets stop reciting and let us explore and discover the truths sitting in our presence based upon what we know is true and stop guessing or using old symbols arranged for some others idea or perversion.
@Bob Greenslade
I think if Congress gives the Executive Branch the Power to consolidate our Beloved ‘CONSTITUTION’ WILL BE NO MORE..
Last night, Obama said, “The executive branch also needs to change. Too often, it’s inefficient, outdated and remote. That’s why I’ve asked this Congress to grant me the authority to consolidate the federal bureaucracy so that our Government is leaner, quicker, and more responsive to the needs of the American people.”
WHY NO CONGRESSMAN HAS SAID EVEN A WORD ON NATIONAL TELEVISION IS AN OUTRAGE!
He has said many times that the ‘Constitution’ is outdated and remote.
In other words–A TOTAL DICTATORSHIP. NOT IN AMERICA!
Too many of our Beloved Fprefathers gave their life so we could have Freedom.
I’d like to hear your thoughts on this.
@RepublicRed @Bob Greenslade
The Founders said the States would protect the people from any usurpations by the federal government. Have they done their job or failed us?
@Bob Greenslade @RepublicRed
Are you sure, I was pretty sure the founders said the people within these states would stand up for such states. Since states have state Government who often operate very much like federal government, what makes them different? I know I live in one and my state in no way has any intent on protecting me. As long as these big spenders can get a slice of federal funding, BAM they are on the go and screw the people.
I know we are supposed to correct that by voting right? I know many insistent on voting the idiots out and the are like flies on fly paper stuck in our house. So by this statement only shows what the founders truly meant.
Remember all words are ideas and the ideas that work are the ones we can experience and know for certain, so what was it our founders were intent on freeing us from? I am pretty sure this includes all of them in any form in any nation or any state abusing authority by becoming a federal state for bad old ideas, like taking the money to support some pathetic out of control spending campaign.
To be independent of the state by state or the greater the body of life is such a state We The People which is we are the life in any state. Which acts support us our actions of support or the actions of a few within a state? How is that working?
@RonPaul_2012 @RepDanGordon @OccupyMARINES @KYnyts @OccupyWallSt @OWS_Live @AnonymousPress @CongressOccupy @justinwedes
First who is making up this definition of terrorism? Terrorist?
Here we have individuals in a Congress doing acts against life in its own nation. To strip us of Independence, to incarcerate us with no chance of trial and if we refuse, Death?
What I say are the acts of terrorism and who are the terrorized?
When a few pick up authority for themselves over all others, what act I ask is this?
If I am defined as life independent of such acts known to be liberty and some other chooses to strip this away, what act is this I ask?
We pride ourselves on the man made laws in this country which has no law in it because in no way does it adhere to the Rule of Law. So we have lawless making up false authority to be above or over us as Life. Which life authorized this authoritative life above you ? Certainly not I.
Again I ask who made up this definition of Terrorist? The terrorist?
When did God authorize one life to be above some other life? When I ask, yes some pretend this to be the case but it is an act of pretending.
These acts against us in this nation are illegal terrorist acts against Independence of such acts, against life and its own authority to decide for itself, these are acts that go against our constitution which is an act of its own to secure such liberty by ruling over those attempting to rule over us.
Republics within this republic are communities in states of Republics. This has in it the rule of law, the act of life to sustain and protect itself especially against other life attempting to take our lives or some false control of it. Republics are for communities to share their ideas with each other, to bring about examples of life in support of life in communities, these examples are used in states to present sustainable practices, these state Republics then bring these examples to be used in a national Republic as workable sustainable practices and not a bunch of lawyer made up bull crap.
Again I ask who is making up these laws of Terrorism? Terrorists?
@WilliamSchooler
I agree with you–The Definition of Terrorism-This Endless War on Terrorism–which by the Way–Our Government Supports Terrorism to Fight Terrorism-sounds strange but I read this in an Article and it makes sense. That a Government Can Decide What Terrorism Is–When Terrorism Laws should be Enacted and then Used Against its Citizens is an Outrage!
And I agree GOD did not authorize any one life to be above another! The Government IS NOT GOD and therefore does NOT have any right to Determine who should die and who should live!
The REAL TERRORISTS are this ‘Regime’ we now have for Legislators and Government–TERRORIZING the American People.
Red
@RepublicRed
Awesome, thank you for getting this.
@WilliamSchooler
Your Welcome. By the way did you hear this statement regarding the ‘Executive Branch’ in last night’s State of the U ion Address?
Last night, Obama said, “The executive branch also needs to change. Too often, it’s inefficient, outdated and remote. That’s why I’ve asked this Congress to grant me the authority to consolidate the federal bureaucracy so that our Government is leaner, quicker, and more responsive to the needs of the American people.”
As I stated in a previous post: EVERY MEMBER OF CONGRESS SHOULD BE ON MAIN STREAM MEDIA RIGHT NOW–SCREAMING AT THE TOP OF THEIR LUNGS–THIS SOUNDS TO ME LIKE OUR BELOVED ‘CONSTITUTION’ IS GOING TO BE DECLARED FOREVER GONE’.
@RepublicRed
If people could only figure out we are all simply idea generating life and some generate really good ideas and others create really bad ideas and how do we SEE the difference.
Simple is what makes sense because it is common sense and idiocy is complex and has no sense at all. For those making ideas that they are the only one capable of such a task do we see perversion. Realizing you are great at generating good ideas now becomes a stance against the very poor ideas of our time as well the times before.
The best ideas ever documented lay in our Declaration of Independence because they are true as we create these ideas, the Constitution in its original idea was to secure us from bad idea creation and allow us to create awesome ideas. For this reason good ideas should be recognized from bad ideas so us who create ideas can create better ideas to over throw very bad ideas that do not work but attempt to control what we create.
The only dumb ideas were the ideas all of us do not create ideas, and to be honest that is the dimmest idea of all.
No I didn’t watch Obama because I knew he would not generate one good idea of his own so why watch a bunch of bad ideas shared with bad idea deciding idiots.
duel citizen needs to be deported or jailed
HR 3166 was not acted on so was dropped need to resubmit it.
Thank you for keeping me informed.
Ok, first on the EEA list would be Lieberman and Obama?
How this man keeps getting voted in is beyond me. Easier to keep an eye on him in cangress, though, as opposed to when he becomes a lobbyist.
When can we regulate lobbying to sensible, non-profit type endevors? Corporate doesn’t need extra help.
I knew it was going to happen. The problem is it makes “Americans” the enemy! So, just like the Patriot Act sounded good, but was ultimately evil, removing our 5th amendment right and infringing on many other of Constitutional rights, this bill is EVIL and is another way of eroding and dismantling our Constitutional Liberty, Rights and Freedoms. What is going on in Washington — Treason — Tyranny? And all for SECURITY? What security? There is no security without freedom!
If you don’t like our Constitution, then you don’t like America. !!!
They can pass all the paper in the world…….
Need to vote everyone that voted for the NDAA OUT!!!! From the congress to the prez.
It’s time for some reverse legislation. Don’t forget the Govenors in your State…. need to do some voting out there too if they no good and doing the same.
Under this act, maybe we could “expatriate” Obama and his minions?
I proudly served this country, I had to raise my right hand to take an oath to defend & protect the Constitution & if I were to break this oath I would have been punished,,, so the question I have is don’t all the politicians have to take an oath to do the same??? How do they get away with it ???
I’ll fly the plane so we can push them out over the huge island of junk pushed out to sea from the tsunami in Japan.Ovomit and his whole crew of suckups MUST GO !!
Wouldn’t this act be in violation of the Supremacy Clause since it contradics the Constitution? Wouldn’t it also be rendered Moot because of the Clause?I don’t know I’m just asking. =D
Same with NDAA right?
Constitution? Constitution? Obama don’t need no steeeeenking Constitution. ;D
…how is it that this kind of legislation, NDAA inclusive, doesn’t make the sponsors themselves, let alone the voters for such an act, as anti-American if not Treasonous?
How does that kind of legislation not make one an enemy of or at war with American citizens?!?!?
Since I don’t believe in Democrat Party “core values”, I shouldn’t vote for someone who does, so I’m voting for Obama.
At least he bailed out Wall Street, assassinated an American citizen, gave tax payer money to Solyndra instead of Blackwater, and only bombed Libya instead of putting boots on the ground. While there are several Democrat core values that I oppose, since I am yet to find no conflict with my beliefs and those of the actions of President Obama, he should be elected to a second term!
this guy should have been gone, long ago
Joe Lieberman and Charles Dent should be taken to the nearest Tree and hung by their Boots for ALL AMERICANS to see what Traitors they truly are! ADD THE SIGNING TRAITORS OF THE HORRIFIC NDAA ALONG WITH THEM!
Enough is Enough! THIS TYRANNICAL PIECE OF LEGISLATION IS IDENTICAL TO ‘THE NUREMBERG LAW’ under NAZI GERMANY!! Adolf Hitler established and enforced this Law so he could take ‘Certain Groups’ of People to the Gas Chambers! This INCLUDED some Germans, Russians, French, etc.–ANYONE he thought was against him or his Regime.
Lieberman tried to have this passed (2) Years ago. This HAS TO STOP–WE THE PEOPLE CANNOT AND SHOULD NOT ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN!
WE THE PEOPLE MUST BE RELENTLESS IN OUR FIGHT TO KEEP OUR CONSTITUTION AND THE BILL OF RIGHTS!!
WE THE PEOPLE MUST BE RELENTLESS IN OUR PURSUIT OF LIFE, LIBERTY AND HAPPINESS..
OUR DEAR FOREFATHERS FOUGHT AND MANY DIED TO GIVE US OUR FREEDOMS..MANY BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN HAVE SINCE DIED FOR US TO RETAIN THAT FREEDOM..
NOW WE THE PEOPLE ARE ON THE VERGE OF LOSING THAT FREEDOM..WE THE PEOPLE MUST NOT, CANNOT AND WILL NOT ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN.
WAKE UP AMERICA!! WE ARE ON THE ABYSS OF A NAZI REGIME!
RED
@RepublicRed
To be independent from old practices is liberty and to loose liberty is to resume old practices which means our enemy still exists before us. What is the old practice? It is the legal system of Government and the rule of law of the people which is life in support of life by our actions to sustainable practices. We allow them to impose their old ideas upon us, stop allowing the old practices, stop using the legal system to reestablish our Independence. The constitution is the guide book for them to adhere and keep us free from old practices of proven abuse by Government, financiers and the lawyers that support these old ideas.
Realize the terror, who these people are and the ideas they support by their actions. In the rule of law all we need is the sheriff to apprehend criminals. We shall only use judges who have supported the rule of law by actions and juries of our peers to convict them of these crimes. Use the rational approach you yourself would expect to have unless they become aggressive then be as aggressive or give them the mutual lack of respect they give but secure them in jails with trials to be set and convict for proven criminal acts against life. Always keep in mind that life is in support of life, when you become is support of death you are no different than they are.
@J4LYN @barackobama The National Defense Authorization Act is on your hands #Obama
@oxcindyxo @ImAnyelina: They are passing them so fast, it is hard to keep up with.