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Apparently the leaders on both sides of the aisles (as they say “inside the beltway”) of Congress, have taken a refresher course on the U.S. Constitution. They are conceding that there is only one set of laws in the U.S. and that they apply to them as well as us.

Unfortunately, the President has stepped in and exacerbated the situation, impeded the enforcement of the law and undermined his own Justice Department, all in the name of harmony. We don’t need harmony, we need to know that nobody is above the law; especially those who write it. The system of “Checks and Balances” is not about creating harmony.

Speaker Hastert said: “I am confident that in the next 45 days, the lawyers will figure out how to do it right.” Here’s he right way Mr. Speaker: Use the exact same standards and procedure as with all suspected criminals — knock and then kick the door down. Anything less, means that we no longer have a government of laws, but one of men.

Justice Louis Brandeis would have splained it to Nancy and Dennis this way: “If the government becomes a lawbreaker, it breeds contempt for law: it invites every man to become a law unto himself: it invites anarchy.”

Upholding the U.S. Constitution is an appropriate way this Memorial Day to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

C.B.

Uncategorized CB 8:02 am

According to the story in last Friday’s Baton Rouge paper, Rep. “Tank” Powell, R-Ponchatoula wants tax-exempt financing and a 25-year tax property tax break so that he can build a hotel. Nothing wrong with asking for tax relief. Everyone in LA needs tax relief. However, Rep. Powell seems to want US to pay for HIS public services. Not only does he want us to pay for his and our services, but he wants us to pay even more taxes.

In the period between 2000 and 2004, Rep. Powell voted to impose on us over $2 BILLION in taxes, including the “Stelly Tax” on our personal income.

If Rep. Powell had not voted for all those taxes, perhaps he wouldn’t need any tax breaks to build his hotel. He could just build it like the rest of us would have to do. We’d have to borrow the money from the bank and pay our property taxes.

To ask for a tax break after voting to impose over $2 BILLION (see records on left side of this website) on his constituents takes real guts. It’s also called hypocrisy.

C.B.

Uncategorized CB 8:09 am

The leadership on both sides of aisle (as they say “inside the beltway”) in Congress are full of righteous indignation over the FBI raiding Congressman “Frozen Dollar Bill” Jefferson’s offices on Capitol Hill.

I don’t know much about Federal Law or jurisprudence, but methinks they doth protest a bit much. After all, we are talking about a CRIMINAL investigation.

Along with the “Separation of Powers” we also are supposed to have a system of “Checks and Balances.” Until Congress starts investigating crimes that are committed by its members, someone has to do it. According to the logic of the “leadership” a Congressman could run a drug operation out of their Congressional Office and nobody could investigate it.

As I understand the situation, the chief Federal Judge signed the search warrant. I believe that is part of the concept of “Due Process.” I also seem to recall that the U.S. Senate confirms all Federal Judges. Seems like an interference with the executive branch to me. Funny thing, I don’t recall the “Separation of Powers” being raised when the FBI raided the offices of Federal Judges (in New Orleans and Florida for example). If they did, the courts failed to overturn the convictions because of it.

Makes one wonder what they hide in those offices.

Lost in all this righteous indignation is the fact that these offices belong to the people of the U.S. and the people who work in them are OUR employees. If there is some violation of the Constitution, obviously our Founding Fathers didn’t anticipate lawmakers becoming lawbreakers. Time for an amendment.

Finally, is it too much to ask a Congressman involved in illegal activity to do it on his own time and in the privacy of his home or private office?

Perhaps some of you legal scholars can explain what am I missing?

I’m commonly indignant over the righteous indignation of my employees.

C.B.

Uncategorized CB 7:46 am