Truth vs. Credibility

"Towson State University vs. Jane Hargadon" NOT GUILTY!!!

2011-12-15T10:00:00.000-08:00

Letter of appeal written to Towson. Court date 12-15-2011 "Towson State University vs. Jane Hargadon"

I received a parking citation at Towson University on October 19, 2011 for being parked in a handicapped access route. I had parked there after dropping my physically handicapped mother at Stephens Hall for a hearing test.

It was raining, and I made sure I had my disabled parking pass displayed as well as my receipt, obtained from the kiosk, as I was directed to do. When I parked the car I noticed the sign instructing not to block “access” (see photo 1). The parking on the opposite side of the street is parallel with traffic, and I parked head-in. I assumed that, “access” was referring to pulling in tight to keep from blocking traffic. I was shocked to find a ticket on my windshield when I returned to my car after my mom was done. A citation for $250.00 for something that I do not think is very clear!

If the parking space is to leave room for wheelchairs why not place concrete curbs or beams to indicate to the extent that cars are to pull in? (see photo 2). I have never appealed a ticket. I also have never experienced a parking area with this extensive pavement painting. I feel that the sign was vague and would suggest either placing physical restraints, or specify on the sign, that “access” refers to “handicapped access” where the hash marks are at the front of the parking spaces.

Thank you for considering my perspective.

A Non-establishment Delegate

2011-12-02T19:31:00.000-08:00

One of the less noticed elections during the presidential primary, is the election of delegate to the convention. Each Congressional district will elect three delegates and three alternate delegates for the Republican National Convention. I am a candidate for Delegate to the Republican Convention, even though I have only been registered as a Republican for six months. Less than a year ago, I was the Vice Chairman of the Constitution Party of Maryland, so if I can make the switch, you could also.

This election may be our last possibility of salvaging some remnant of our great constitutional republic. The Democrat establishment, with their Obamacare and socialist agenda, do not suit my liberty loving conservative frame. The Republicans however, with all of their establishment warmongering, are also unacceptable, but with one exception: Congressman Ron Paul.

Once registered as a Republican, even if only for six months, you will be eligible to vote in the Republican primary for a presidential candidate, three delegates and three alternate delegates. The delegate candidates appear on the ballot as undesignated, or for a particular presidential candidate. A delegate candidate, who wishes to be listed on the ballot for a particular presidential candidate, must have that presidential candidate’s campaign certify them. The delegates, listed with the presidential candidate that wins the popular vote, have historically won the delegate slots as well. Once elected, the delegate travels to the party’s national convention to officially nominate the Party’s presidential candidate and establish the platform. I have requested to be certified by Dr. Paul’s campaign.

This year’s Convention delegate rules have changed, in that the delegate is bound to vote for the candidate who won the district on the first vote, but if the candidate fails to secure 35% of the vote, or the candidate releases his delegates, or the Convention goes to a third ballot, the delegate is free to vote for whomever he or she considers the best candidate. This could be historic.

Our government has lost its constraints of the constitution. The establishment in both parties has worked the welfare/warfare paradigm to strip us of our liberties, bankrupt us, and retire our constitution to the status of relic to be used for pseudo patriotic outings. We hear talk about the 10th amendment and state’s rights, but there is no state’s rights concept within the power structure of the Republican Party establishment. State parties toe the party establishment line with every directive from the national party. One needs to look no farther than the last Presidential election in Maryland to see what is acceptable in the GOP, and what is not.

In 2008, I also ran for delegate to the Republican Convention, as well as Congress in Maryland’s 7th District. The Republican primaries in five of Maryland’s congressional races were won by non- establishment candidates, myself included. The five of us, along with Roscoe Bartlett’s campaign, were honored by Dr. Paul coming to College Park to publicly endorse our efforts. Three fourths of the party’s general election congressional candidates were endorsed by Congressman Ron Paul. Wouldn’t you think that the party leadership would turn out, if not for Ron Paul, than at least for the individuals who sacrificed to keep the GOP on the Maryland ballot? This was arguably the biggest event for five of these campaigns, yet the state’s GOP establishment essentially boycotted the event, with only one Republican committee person, from the state and 23 county central committees, in attendance.

I once believed that principles would win out, regardless of party. This lesson was shattered after I ran as candidate for Lieutenant Governor in 2010, under the Constitution Party. Principles, such as strict 2nd amendment adherence, or being a foe of state funded abortions, were treated as meaningless, by our not being in the two-party duopoly. The local gun groups, the Baltimore Archdiocese, and several other “conservative” advocacy groups would not recognize us with an acknowledgment, an endorsement, or a simple declarative sentence in their election supplement, even though, we agreed with the principles of these groups more than any of the other candidates on the ballot.

The Maryland Republican Party may be showing some backbone in the straw poll taken at the state Fall Convention. Ron Paul finished in practically a dead heat tie for 2nd place. Could the state party be preparing to interpose the constitution over national directives? Don’t count on it. Neoconservative Congressman Harris just announced he will be Co-Chairing the Maryland effort for former congressman, Newt Gingrich. Newt is the epitome of establishment, with his concern about climate change, his fortune he has slurped from the government trough as lobbyist, and his public advocacy of violating international law with plausible deniable lethal attacks against sovereign nations.

Our only hope is to run over the establishment Republican Party. There are almost as many unaffiliated voters in this state as there are registered Republican Party members. Add to that, the disgruntled Democrats, the Libertarians, and those Republicans who insist on a party of true constitutional principles. We can take back our nation, through the Republican Party:
• A party that promotes the value of honest money: End the Fed.
• A party that yearns for personal liberty: End the Patriot Act.
• A party that pursues a non-interventionist foreign policy: End Undeclared Wars.
• And a party that depends on the restraints of our constitution: End Judicial and Executive legislation.

Let’s salvage our constitutional republic? Register, and vote, Republican.

Speak Now, While We Still Can!

2011-11-14T18:25:00.000-08:00

media@nationaljournal.com

To Whom it May Concern:

I watched the debate on CBS on Saturday night with an open mind, but after 90 minutes of an almost total black out of Ron Paul, I was angry and upset. It is obvious what your media outlet is doing to Dr Paul, as well as most other so-called unbiased media outlets.

Call it what it is- a blatant avoidance of a man who only speaks truth and follows our nation's Constitution to the letter. He is avoided because he does not buy into unconstitutional wars, and he wants to bring all of the troops home. Why else would he receive more donations from active military than all of the other candidates combined?

You should be ashamed of yourselves. You are not journalists- you are slaves to lobbyists and foreign powers. Thank you for your time.

Jane Hargadon
Concerned Citizen

"The Establisment's U.S. Catholic Church"

2011-11-10T17:48:00.000-08:00

Raymond Arroyo:

How can you go on discussing the presidential race and not mention Congressman Ron Paul. I find it troubling if not sinful, to not honestly cover the full story. What gives you the authority to pick who you will ignore. Are you the Catholic political guru?

We first noticed your unbalanced coverage about a month ago. We complained when you gave Rick "Gardasil" Perry about a two minute spot on your "The World Over", by airing a video of Perry's stump speech on faith.

Then two weeks ago, you continued shilling for the establishment. Dr. Paul had just won the Ohio straw poll, the California straw poll and the Value Voters straw poll! But in your Buchanan interview, you backed Pat into a corner, only bringing up certain candidates. You neither asked him about Dr. Paul, nor asked Buchanan who he liked.

We asked Chris Manion what he thought could be your motivation? Here is his read:
"The bishops receive approximately three billion a year from the government.
Ron Paul would end that.
Raymond likes bishops.
Conclusion?"

This week, you did it again. You allowed an establishment talking head to canonize Newt without even mentioning Ron Paul. Congressman Paul easily polls at his 5% minimum cut-off, but you said nothing. Maybe you should have Chris Manion on for a political segment. He isn't afraid to mention Dr. Paul's name.

This Lady Has Character

2011-10-28T16:12:00.000-07:00

My girl friend of almost forty years has more conviction and character than most men I know. Here is an example of how she told-off Raymond Arroyo, a popular host on the Catholic Channel (EWTN), for being an establishment shill.

Jane Hargadon
to raymond@raymondarroyo.com
date Fri, Oct 28, 2011 at 4:23 PM
subject Pat Buchanan

Raymond,

I can't believe you did it again! How can you continue to ignore Ron Paul? He has won the Ohio straw poll, the California straw poll and the Value Voters straw poll! The MSM did not cover that bit of news, so maybe you missed it.

I feel as if you backed Mr Buchanan into a corner. I bet if you came right out and asked him which of the GOP candidates he would support, he would have answered "Ron Paul". I feel as if you phrased your questions in such a way that he had to react to the names that you brought out.

Have you seen the FB group called Catholics for Ron Paul? Ron Paul is pro-life in every aspect of that phrase- he is against abortion, war, euthanasia and the death penalty! He is the only one who has been consistent in his views for the past thirty years. He has upheld his oath to the Constitution for the past fifty plus years! Please stop ignoring him! Thank you.

Jane Hargadon

Hiding Behind a Pro-Life Label

2011-06-22T09:16:00.000-07:00

Too often, politicians and talking heads play-up to the pro-life constituents to gain their socially conservative credentials, only to find them cave-in on a crucial life issue. Or, they may flip, and support an agenda or candidate that is counter to the pro-life cause, as Santorum did by supporting Spector.

How can this be? How can we be on guard against opportunistic politicians who have little if any allegiance to pro-life causes?

The answer came to me as a friend and I were producing a Pro-Life Unity radio program on Blog Talk Radio. My friend is a self professed atheist. He has been a regular on our radio program, over the past three years whenever we produced shows. As an atheist, he often disagrees with other pro-lifers on ancillary issues.

To avoid possible conflicts, he is constantly in favor of keeping abortion, as a stand alone issue. He believes that the other positions "bundled" with a pro-life position, only weaken the pro-life block. That may work well, if you could believe a simple statement of being pro-life. Because we cannot trust someone to stay the course, it behooves us to look at associated issues which may add credibility to, or provide a contradiction to, the logic of the person in question.

Those who would stand for the protection of innocent human life in the womb, might also be expected to stand in defense of all innocent human life outside of the womb. Should there be an expectation of pro-life candidates, to be appalled by unconstitutional, unjust, and undeclared wars that kill innocent people? The common response is to acknowledge the legitimate place for war, and recognize that there is collateral damage in war. The problem of course, is that our recent “wars”, have not been declared, not been constitutional, and not been just. This is especially true when our CIA has been doing the killing.

Is the innocent human life in the womb more valuable than an innocent person gunned down by government sanctioned thugs? So one might find a contradiction in a reported pro-lifer, who looks dispassionately as our military or its agents, kill innocent people.

I contend, that if we require a blind eye to other issues, to be bundled with our pro-life position as we evaluate leaders, our pro-life stance is doomed. Consistent Life Ethic!

Racial Profiling For Heaven!

2011-06-05T19:49:00.000-07:00

Having been isolated at times, by my family, due to my criticism of the deviations and creativity that is often found in our current Novus Ordo Mass, I have learned to suck it up. Realizing that some of my remarks could be overly critical, I have attempted to not comment, unless there are four infractions or obvious deviations on what I might expect as Catholic theology during a Mass. Four disputable points is kind of like a liturgical tetris: it just drops.

This Sunday, my wife, and I attended Holy Mass at the 8:00 am, at a Roman rite Catholic Church in Maryland. It was the celebration of Ascension Thursday, but they don’t do that any more in this diocese. It used to be a “Holy Day of Obligation”, but now some dioceses celebrate it on Thursday, and some on the following Sunday. My wife and I had done the readings for Ascension Thursday, on Thursday, so we were prepared. So much for the universal, "catholic", Catholic church? That’s one!

At the homily, the priest started with a joke. Don’t you love it, when the celebrant has a need to just tell a joke. It had nothing to do with his message. It was just his attempt to try out for Comedy Central. That’s two!

During his homily, he announced that anyone who came to church this morning was assured to go to Heaven. He dug up a scriptural quote to build his case based on an assurance that anyone at Mass, loved God. Not a word about our free will to sin, much less discussing that presumption, presumption that we are assured heaven, is one of the two unforgivable sins against the Holy Spirit. That’s three.

Finally, as the celebrant was preparing to conclude the Liturgy, he hesitated before giving the final blessing. The Pastor came forward to address those in attendance. He instructed the ushers to give out papers and pencils, and requested that we write down how many people in our group attended the service, and what our racial classification would be. Luckily my wife grabbed the paper, before I could get a hold of it. That’s four, and that’s Liturgical Tetris

It certainly was not the Catholic Mass I was raised on, but at least they are getting an idea on the racial make-up of heaven.

Have You Ever Known A Muslim?

2011-03-06T17:18:00.000-08:00

I attended a patriot type meeting at which a lady friend, came up to discuss local politics, and what part religion might play. She was concerned about the zeal of some Christians, and how it might turn off Jews. This was her concern, but she had completely written-off Muslims. I thought she might be suffering from a bad case of Islamaphobia. I had never seen her this negative about anyone, as she regurgitated what she had been told about Muslims. So I asked her, “Have you ever known any Muslims?” Her answer was an emphatic “No!”
I explained to her that I have known about a dozen Muslims, and that I liked them all. I found them to be respectful, and easy to talk to. I realize that many people who hale from these local parts, may not know any Muslims. I also acknowledge that in any group of people, there are good and bad. The bad Muslims are being sold to the public, so I would like to introduce my Muslim friends.

The first Muslim I ever met was a dental patient who immigrated from Africa with his Peace Corps wife. He had a great sense of humor, was good natured, and deeply spiritual. He reportedly prayed five times a day, and was constantly in and out of different fasts. One day while doing his check-up, I found myself studying his living-out of his faith. I asked if he thought his God, that he called Allah, was the same as my God. His confident response sliced through our discussion, “God is unique!” “There is but one God for us to pray to. He is unique!”

My second Muslim acquaintance, was a man named Mohammad. He rented an apartment from me, for a couple of years, with his two friends, Mohammad and Mohammad. He was very soft spoken, and was never late with their rent. The Mohammads painted some of the rooms, and gave notice when they left. The apartment had never been so easy to keep.

My third association with a Muslim came in the streets of Calcutta, India. I had gone on pilgrimage with about sixteen guys to help Mother Theresa’s Missionaries of Charity. We gathered at the front of a former Jesuit school where we stayed, to make our first journey to the Mother House. A bearded man with a white head wrap approached me. He mistook me as a priest, or the person in-charge. He spoke very good English, and said he was a butcher. I informed him that we were on a spiritual pilgrimage. He smiled, and asked if I knew what was the ultimate question that every person needs to answer?
I guessed, “Do you love God?” Do you love Allah?
“No!”, he countered, and stressed his question again. “What is the question that everyone from Adam, to the two of us standing here on this street in Calcutta, need to answer?”
Absent my answer he gave it: “Who is my Master?”
Why do we do, what we do? Who do we serve? Who is my master? I was challenged in the reality of my faith in the gutter of a Calcutta street, by a Muslim. (Luke 7:9 "I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.")

My fourth Muslim acquaintance came out of my favorite place for my morning coffee, 7-11. There was a short guy ,who worked the morning shift. He didn’t talk much, but was very efficient. This was about the same time when hate-Muslim e-mails began to permeate the web. These often inaccurate e-mails irritated me, and I would often voice my complaints in the office. During one of my ventings, my assistant volunteered that she recently had a flat tire in a downpour, on her way to her daughter’s school. She said that a guy stopped, and changed the tire in the pouring rain, and would not take any money. He told her that he worked at the 7-11 and was Muslim. It was my 7-11 coffee maker. (Luke 10:37 He answered, "The one who treated him with mercy". Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise.")

My wife and I attended a continuing education class for our computer system. It was an all day course and the class of about 25 decided that maybe we should send-out for pizza. I volunteered to go, and the guy who was sitting behind us bragging about his kids, offered to accompany me. We were all chipping-in, and he contributed for the lunch. When we returned, I noticed that he did not take any pizza. He told me he was Muslim, and was in the midst of a fast. I offered him his money back. He refused.

A couple years ago I gained three new patients of a husband, wife, and son who moved into the area. The son was a charming, polite kid, who loved to play soccer. In our conversation, I discovered that they were Muslim. With all the anti-Muslim hype, I cautioned the mom as she left from her last appointment, “Be careful!” Her beautiful dark eyes took-on a depth that was pure fear.

Lastly, in the most recent election that I participated in, I was invited to give a stump speech at the Baltimore Islamic Center in West Baltimore. All the politicians were well received. I was amused to see Neo-Cons, who had previously attacked me for being soft on “Islamic fascism”, because I was against Iraq and Afghan war. They were hob-nobbing with this room full of Muslims. One very distinguished doctor from the Center, spoke with clarity and directness. He said we do not want you to change your laws. He spoke with an urgency and seriousness that hinted of accusations that are unfounded. I liked him.

When I returned home from the patriot meeting I found this post on facebook. Hate Comes to Orange County.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NutFkykjmbM
If we begin attacking Muslims, who will be next?

Catholic Action Alert: You Get What You Pay For!

2011-02-06T14:32:00.000-08:00

Being a pre-Vatican II Catholic who still treasures the teachings of the Church, I can commiserate with a sense of loss of our culture.
The Catholics in the Archdiocese of Baltimore are about to experience a new low. Senate Bill 116, which redefines marriage, has elicited an Action Alert from Maryland Catholic Conference. The Conference’s alert pleads with everyone to contact your senator, to express your concern for the principles that are the foundation of our families. They also direct people to a letter written on traditional marriage by Archbishop O’Brien, “Irresistible Promise of Happiness”. In his letter written in mid-January, the archbishop clearly articulates the benefits of traditional marriage, and goes on to state, “we can ill afford further efforts to undermine marriage”.
This failure to protect traditional marriage in SB 116 will add insult to injury to traditional Catholic culture when one considers our state’s funding of abortion and embryonic stem cell research (ESCR).
It is unfortunate that we don’t have a political party or candidates who are against state funding of abortion, and ESCR, and for protection of traditional marriage. Well, we did. The political party is the Constitution Party of Maryland, and their candidate for governor was Eric Knowles.
Maybe the Catholic Conference should have issued an action alert back in November. It could have called the attention of church members that the Constitution Party’s Eric Knowles, was the only ballot access candidate who answered the Catholic Conference’s survey in agreement with our church on all three issues. Maybe the Archbishop should have demanded that his Catholic Review (C.R.) print at least one declarative sentence in their eight page Election Supplement, to acknowledge that Knowles was the only ballot access candidate who agreed on all three: against state funding for abortion and ESCR, and for protecting traditional marriage.
I can only guess that a sentence stating this agreement in these non-negotiable issues may have been deemed to be too political. I am not sure, because the Archbishop has not responded to my written attempts to answer this. With the C.R.’s election supplement giving a full page, plus, on each of the two major candidates for governor, it calls to question the importance the hierarchy actually places on these non-negotiable principles.
Recognizing that the CR’s circulation in 2009 was noted at 120,000, some would think that a sentence stating Knowles’ agreement might go a long way to helping this third party to achieve 1% of the vote for governor, needed to maintain ballot access.
As the Constitution party scrapes to gather 10,000 signatures for ballot access, the old adage; “you get what you pay for” proves true. If you give free print and exposure to candidates who are pro-choice, pro-state funded ESCR, and, or weak on defending traditional marriage, while at the same time ignoring candidates who represent our interest, we loose.

Let Jenkins Do His Job!

2011-01-16T19:48:00.000-08:00

I love living in Frederick County! A county that has not forgotten the ultimate responsibility of the local sheriff to protect and defend his citizens from all enemies both foreign and domestic. Our republic is based on law that recognizes the ultimate authority vested in this elected officer. We expect him to even interpose his authority between state or federal government agencies, and Frederick County residents, if these agencies would violate the rights of our citizens in our county. I expect Sheriff Jenkins to: protect us from criminals, protect us from the problems with illegal immigration, and protect us from governments that would limit our constitutional rights!

We in Frederick County, are blessed with the best sheriff in Maryland, because he understands this responsibility. He was not appointed by some political lobby. Frederick County residents voted for him, as intended. Deciding who gets a permit to conceal carry, and in a more timely basis, is exactly what our sheriff should do. Make the gun permitting proposal a reality.

Congressman Bartlett answers my question on TSA!!

2010-12-21T09:25:00.000-08:00

Dear Mr. Hargadon:

Thank you for contacting my office regarding the newly enacted Transportation Security Administration (TSA) procedures for passengers at U.S. airports. I appreciate the opportunity respond.

These new TSA procedures include arguably invasive pat downs and x-ray scanner images. I understand many American's concerns that these procedures threaten our civil liberties and are inappropriate and embarrassing. Amendment IV of the U.S. Constitution states, "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated..." There needs to be an appropriate balance between the privacy and freedoms travelers give up and the effectiveness of the security procedures. Moreover, heightened security measures must not infringe on our constitutional liberty.

I do not believe the federal government has proven to Americans' satisfactions that the new intrusive airport screening procedures are necessary to ensure safe air travel. That is why I support Congressman Darrell Issa's (CA-49), the incoming Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, call for stronger evidence that TSA, as currently organized and administered, is competent to ensure air travel security. Furthermore, I support Congressman Issa's Blueprint for Oversight of the Executive Branch. This report details how "the vast expansion of the power and reach of the Executive Branch of government under both Republican and Democratic administrations has only increased the need for vigorous, unflinching Congressional oversight."

Thank you for contacting my office. I hope you will continue to keep me informed on federal issues that are important to you. In the meantime, I encourage you to visit my Internet website http://www.house.gov/bartlett where you can sign up to receive e-mail updates regarding my legislative activity. It is a privilege to serve you in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Sincerely, Roscoe Bartlett
Member of Congress

A Non-responsive Church/State

2010-12-12T09:14:00.000-08:00

There seems to be little, if any, separation between Church and State when it comes to answering direct questions concerning essential issues, such as doctrinal application or our constitution, respectively. I attempted to contact both Congressman Roscoe Bartlett of Maryland's 6th District, and Archbishop Edwin O'Brien of the Baltimore Archdiocese on the 18th of November, on two separate matters, both of which constitute essential policy. Congressman Bartlett's office was was originally contacted by phone, followed by a website e-mail. The Archbishop was contacted by e-mail, and then a personal mail. I have yet to receive a responsive answer to either.

Congressman Bartlett: (I left this e-mail through his website. December 2 at 8:38pm)

"I left a message at your Washington Office over two weeks ago as to why you had not spoken out on the TSA violations of our 4th amendment. Your staffer was unable to tell me where your position was on this critical issue. He also told me that I would be receiving a letter explaining... your position. I am still waiting! Do you support the 4th amendment of our constitution?"

(Summary of phone conversation posted on Facebook November 18th.)

"I called Congressman Bartlett's office to see what his position is on the TSA affront to our 4th amendment. His staffer said, "The Congressman will have to get back to me in a letter." A letter??? I don't need no stinking letter. I need someone to protect the constitution!!!!"

December 7th, 2010
Dear Archbishop O’Brien: (Follow-up letter to the e-mail)

"I sent you an e-mail on November 18th, under the subject of Election Supplement. It addresses my concerns with the presentation of candidate views in the Catholic Review’s, Decision 2010, Special Voter Guide insert. I have not received a reply.

As my party prepares for the next election cycle, my concern as to the political motivations of the diocese’s newspaper continues to fester. The Church preaches the truth on essential issues, and John Paul II the Great admonished the laity to become political. But, when we do, we are ignored and marginalized by the very Church that encouraged us to go forth and defend the essential matters of faith and morals.

It is difficult to defend a Church that preaches one thing, yet does nothing to direct the faithful, while at the same time, only contributes more to the tidal wave of media hype for politicians who promote state funded abortion, state funding of embryonic stem cell research, and gay marriage.

I guess you may not have seen my earlier e-mail. Be that what it may, I just needed to have a clear conscience, as I move forward making comments about the sincerity of the Baltimore Archdiocese."

(Original e-mail expressing my election concern.)
Archbishop O’Brien: Nov. 18th, 2010

I attended the dedication of the new chapel at St....

This November, I was on the ballot as the Lieutenant Governor, along with Eric Knowles for Governor under the Constitution Party of Maryland. Our party’s chairman, Mike Dawson requested that the Maryland Catholic Conference resurvey all the candidates before the general election, because the earlier primary survey was only done for the Democrat and Republican candidates. The Catholic Conference agreed. Thank you!

I was not however, appreciative of how the results were presented to the faithful: The Catholic Review’s Election Supplement. This supplement was given to all Catholic churches in the Baltimore Archdiocese just before the general election. The Catholic Church identifies defense of human Life, opposition to Stem Cell Research, and support of marriage, as being essential issues. The Election Supplement though, did not state in simple prose, that the only ballot access candidate to agree with the Church’s position on these three issues was Eric Knowles. Each candidate’s answers were presented in a line, and it was necessary to decode the “A, D, or blank space”, with the questions which were printed earlier in the supplement. Not one sentence in this eight page special insert stated this pure distinction of ballot access candidates on these non-negotiable issues. This inability to simply state a candidate’s positions was not an issue however, when it came to each of the two major party governor candidates. Both had a record in opposition with the Church’s teaching, yet both were provided a full page of print along with photos. What a deal? This had to be about $2,000.00 worth of print exposure.

To promote these non-negotiable principles, and fail to clearly and simply state each candidate’s position of these issues, while at the same time aiding and abetting those who have positions directly opposite of Holy Mother Church, is pure, in your face, dereliction of duty.

Respectfully,

Mike Hargadon

Maryland's Neo Quads

2010-11-13T16:44:00.000-08:00

The Neo family’s announcement of their recent Maryland birth of quadruplets: Neo-Lifer, Neo-Family, Neo-Gunner, and Neo-Liberty, may not have been noticed by many citizens. The excitement of the recent election probably caused some to miss the announcement. The proud parents, Neo-Conservatives, have long been known for their espousing of conservative values, while supporting unconstitutional international foreign wars, and an unchecked stripping of our citizens’ individual rights. The Neo-Conservatives laid the groundwork for our current fascist regime, ensuring the continuation of the establishment’s raping of our economic wealth. The Neo family members, like many, are proud of the meaning contained in their very name: “a combining form meaning “new,” “recent,” “revived,” “modified,” The Neos four newest additions to the political elite, promise to be regulars, so it would behoove us to recognize these cute little modifications.

Neo-Lifer had a long gestation. Early indications of his presence were seen during the 2008 Ron Paul campaign. In the Republican primary for the 2008 election, National Right to Life basically ignored Dr. Paul’s pro-life credentials, and his outstanding record in defense of innocent unborn children. Dr. Paul did not consent to Neo-Lifer’s daddy’s support of unconstitutional wars and deficit spending. Two years later, in Maryland, this little guy came busting out, as the Constitution Party of Maryland (CP) ran a group of candidates, who all professed to be pro-life. Even though several of the CP candidates have records of their submission of the Maryland Right to Life survey, no CP candidates were endorsed. Neo-Lifer is more concerned with nursing from the established party teat, than Life.

Neo-Family, showed his true self in the Catholic Review’s Election Supplement, which was given to all Catholic churches in the Baltimore Archdiocese just before the general election. The Catholic Church identifies defense of human Life, opposition to Stem Cell Research, and support of marriage, as being essential issues. The Maryland Catholic Conference did go through the trouble of resurveying all the candidates before the general election. The Election Supplement though, did not state in simple prose, that the only ballot access candidate to agree with the Church’s position on these three issues was Eric Knowles. Not one sentence in this eight page special insert stated this pure distinction. This inability to state a candidate’s positions was not an issue however, when it came to each of the two major party governor candidates. Both had a record in opposition with the Church’s teaching, yet both were provided a full page of print along with photos. What a deal? This had to be about $2,000.00 worth of print exposure. The Catholic Review baptized Maryland’s, and their own, Neo-Family.

Neo-Gunner fired his first shot for Second Amendment advocates in Maryland. This little guy was so ambitious that he took it upon himself to decide for all the members of the Associated Gun Clubs of Baltimore. After surveying all the candidates and inviting many candidates to give a second amendment speech, this little guy decided to trash any third party candidate into the unelectable bin, and just provide election recommendations based on the two party duopoly. Our little Neo-Gunner takes after his uncle who has also directed the NRA to ignore 3rd party candidates.

Neo-Liberty has got to be the runt of the four. She came forth stuttering the word, “libbbberty”. Like so many young ones, she had no idea of the words meaning, or where its importance lies. Take the non-partisan group Americans for Prosperity who hustled around the state giving rallies with non-partisan speakers like, Andy Harris, Ellen Sauerbrey, and Mrs. Bob Ehrlich. Many of their speeches were saturated with the word, “constitution”, but try to get an answer from them, as to where our war mongering powers are in the constitution? Maryland’s Neo-Liberty also cried from the Dr. Paul spin-off group, Campaign for Liberty. The state coordinator of Campaign for Liberty had been asked several times before the election to survey the candidates for governor in Maryland. He was asked because the governor of our great state may be the last person able to contain this run away Federal government. It never happened, and Maryland’s own Neo-Liberty took its first breath.

So now you have been introduced. Don’t make yourself a stranger! The next time you hear the Catholic Church talking a bunch of family tripe, or Maryland Right to Life pleading for funds for their political advocacy, or gun groups crying about no politicians are aware of a gun owner’s plight, or liberty groups demanding strong states rights, don’t be fooled. It’s just those Neo kids again.

Less Than One Percent Is "Not Enough".

2010-11-04T12:08:00.000-07:00

Even before our candidates declared their intent to run for office, the motto of our Constitution Party of Maryland has been “principles over party”. We assumed this would not be disruptive to our party, since all potential candidates and officers are vetted on their adherence to our seven main principles; LIFE, LIBERTY, FAMILY, PROPERTY, THE CONSTITUTION, STATES RIGHTS AND AMERICAN SOVEREIGNTY. We also assumed that as advocacy groups viewed our positions, they might endorse us, or throw us some print media. We figured that the one percent in the governor’s race, which we needed to maintain ballot access for the next election, should be doable. It was not! It may take a few days to process our loss at the polls, but I think I got the message: We just were, not enough.

Take our first principle, “Life”. We just were not pro-life enough. Even though our party’s executive committee questioned each potential candidate, and rejected half for their weak life position. Even though each of our candidates professed before our Executive Committee that: they believe that life starts at conception, that the rights of each human life should be protected using our constitution, and that Roe v Wade should be taken for what it is: not a law, just an opinion. Maybe you didn’t notice the accolades? There weren’t any. Our governor candidate, Eric Knowles, challenged a life-long career pro-abort, and a flaming liberal incumbent. We just weren’t pro-life enough? Not one of our pro-life candidates, were endorsed by Maryland Right to Life; not even our chairman, Mike Dawson, who ran for Delegate in 34b. He is arguably one of the best pro-lifers in Maryland, but the Maryland Right to Life failed to endorse him. Even Janet Baker, who writes regularly in Defend Life, and her blog, could not give our governor candidate a nod. This became perfectly clear as we sat at the Annual Pro-life Appreciation Dinner at which 500 people gathered for a great evening to celebrate those who support human life. Our table of ten, (half of them candidates), was placed next to a complimentary candidate information table, dominated by Harris propaganda, and bordered with “Ehrlich/ Harris” lawn signs. We just were “not pro-life enough?”

How about our second principle: “Liberty”. Liberty is the new word that the GOP just recently learned to say. After the 2008 defeat, the GOP was lifeless, and in dire need of support. Following George [Patriot Act] Bush, the GOP needed to tap into the grass roots energy, which their ostracized Congressman Ron Paul seemed to garner. So, they practiced some of his commonly used words like: the “constitution”, “free markets”, and “liberty”. Many of our candidates had a background, or an association, with Dr. Paul’s liberty effort, Campaign for Liberty. We were part of this movement. But, when we asked the Campaign For Liberty state leadership to survey the candidates for Governor, as to their liberty positions? “No can do.” The highest office in the state, the Chief Executive, the person responsible to interpose against a run amok federal tyranny on behalf of our residents, was just not important enough?

Oh, and then there is “Family”. Family is the main reason I have been active in the Constitution Party and this campaign. I loved my childhood family of my nine brothers and sisters in my little Catholic community. I knew that if the Catholic community were aware that a pro-life, and pro-family ticket was on the ballot, the 1 % should be chump change. That’s why our chairman, Mike Dawson, insisted that the Maryland Catholic Conference, against their original intent to just use the earlier two party primary survey, resurvey all the candidates for the general election. I personally assured that our governor candidate filled out this survey. In fact, he was the only gubernatorial ballot candidate to complete all questions in the survey. His answers were in agreement with Catholic family life on abortion, marriage, and embryonic stem cell research. This, you would think, should be big? Well, the Voters Guide Supplement to the Catholic Review, which presented Eric’s completed answers on one line, separate from the questions, required a bit of puzzle solving ability. Compare this one line listing of Knowles’ answers, to the full page, and photo, that took up a third of the supplement, on each of the pro-aborts, the one who promotes the gay agenda, and the one who fired Bob Smith for quoting the Catechism. We just were not pro-family enough?

Let’s not forget the issue that encompasses the constitution and states rights: our beloved second amendment. All of our candidates are supportive of our right to bear arms. Eric Knowles is a veteran and a huge supporter of a person’s ability to carry an arm for defense. Early on, Maryland Shall Issue, a guns rights advocacy group, presented themselves as interested in hearing from, and evaluating our candidates. Maryland Shall Issue is associated with the Associated Gun Clubs of Baltimore along with some 20 gun clubs. After the surveys were filled out, and great speeches were delivered, the table was set for encouragement. When the recommendations were published, the Legislative Committee for the Associated Gun Clubs passed-over third party candidates. When questioned on this, we were told, “Candidates must be electable, not just pro 2nd Amendment.” So why even bother filling out the survey and making a speech, if the gatekeeper has already deemed third parties as not electable enough?

We expected this from the two main parties, the controlled media, the Republican Party disguised as Americans for Prosperity, and maybe even groups like the “non-partisan”, Jewish council who sponsored the WJZ debate, which excluded all third party candidates, but advocacy groups? Where were the people, the members, and the Boards of these advocacy groups that discounted constitutional conservatives who tried to hold the line? I also did not see surveys from the Christian Coalition or the National Riffle Association.

I think we will all soon suffer from not doing enough.

Write your air carrier TODAY!

2010-10-27T10:30:00.000-07:00

Please take a minute to convey your concern regarding our passing of our 4th amendment to be secure in our person.

"Dear Southwest:

Southwest has been our airline of choice in flying from BWI to Nashville, Indianapolis, and Chicago. Most, if not, all of our trips have been for family gatherings. My wife and I are concerned about the enhanced security measures at many airports. We have several trips planned, but we have no intention of going through nude imaging or intensive secondary screening. Please, insist on some decency for us and your other customers!"

THEIR RESPONSE:

Dear Michael,

Thank you for taking the time to contact us. We appreciate the opportunity to address your concerns regarding the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

It's important to explain that the implementation of imaging technology is solely determined by the TSA and not by the airline. The TSA has a responsibility to ensure the security of the traveling public. However, they also recognize that there is a delicate balance between privacy and security; therefore, imaging technology is optional for all passengers. Please visit the TSA’s web site for more information (including locations where imaging technology is currently being used) regarding this screening method.

Again, we appreciate your taking the time to share your thoughts. Should your future plans require air travel, we hope we will merit your consideration.

Sincerely,

Edna, Southwest Airlines

[Jefferson to S.W.]

Dear Edna:

Thank you for responding to my progeny's concern.

There is nothing "delicate" about attracting attention to the fact that a person values his or her 4th amendment, by shouting, "Opt-out! We have an Opt-out!", and then proceeding to examine a person's crotch and buttocks. What is '"optional, the nude photo, or the feeling-up of a person's privates? How about neither?

Maybe if enough people stop flying, Southwest will tell these "blue shirts" to back off. Until then, I'll suggest, that all who value individual liberty hold tight to what is remaining of, "being secure in one's person...."

Thomas Jefferson

Progging

2010-03-03T15:08:00.000-08:00

When I started this most recent effort, I made the following statement,

"For my part, I will write every day,but here is the twist of faith. I know God is real, and I have waxed and waned in my sense of relationship with Him. I hope to use this daily blog as a means of reestablishing or deepening this relationship; not to preach, but to discuss Truth vs. Credibility. For His part, He may use me to do His will, and possibly show others that He is real, and He loves each one of us."

Since then, I have discovered that my original idea, although intended to be more structured, will have to be customized to fit my state in life. I intend to stay on tract with the following clarification.

"I will write everyday" does not necessitate blogging everyday. The definition of blog is- Blog: A frequent, chronological publication of personal thoughts and Web links. The key word, is "publish". I have been feeling a need to publish everyday, but this was unsuccessful, and rushing my spirit. My confusion about blogging is seen in my statement about a "daily blog". My effort is not to blog everyday, but to write everyday.

The "twist of faith", that guides this effort, of "reestablishing or deepening this relationship" with God, is prayer. Christ instructs us, "But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen." Matt6:6. For my effort to achieve this spiritual intimacy, I need to close the door. The second part of the original spiritual effort was that, "He may use me to do His will, and possibly show others that He is real, and He loves each one of us." This is where I may open the door, and hit the publish key. This is where my written prayer with God results in a Blog.

I have learned that spiritual time is not always secular. God created creation in "seven days" but were these 24 hour days? When I was in Africa, I became aware of African time. A seminarian explained that we Americans needed to relax. He explained, if there was to be a gathering at 10:30 am, it wasn't 10:30 am, until the gathering came together. The clock did not dictate to the people, the people dictated the time. This seems almost impossible unless those who are gathering agree to this loose clock.

Therefore "day" used in this effort will be the period of time between one writing and the next. If it takes 48 hours to sit down and write my thoughts, then that will be my "literary day". I still intend to prayerfully write for a year's worth of literary days. When the result is meaningful, I will blog. I call this effort Progging.

"Independent", or independent

2010-02-26T13:35:00.000-08:00

Maryland voters may not be aware that the word Independent on the voters registration pertains to a political party. Mr. Dawson, Chairman for the Constitution Party of Maryland, met yesterday with the Maryland Election Board to discuss his concerns. I have taken the liberty to reprint several paragraphs from his position.

Dawson argues that the use of the term ‘independent’ as the name of a political party is misleading at best. Because the layman’s terminology for an unaffiliated registered voter is oftentimes referred to as ‘independent,’ the very idea that a partisan political organization would name itself the Independent Party is downright deceptive. Further, he adds it is very likely that many, if not most of the party’s 28,798 registered voters never intended to be registered with a partisan political party.

As evidence, Dawson looks to the registration statistics for clues to irregularities in voter registration behavior. In September 2008, the first month of the Independent Party’s existence, the number of registered voters climbed from zero to 2,292. It managed to do this with a no national organization, no previous history, no public presence (web, advertising, public figure, personality, etc.) and with a voter registration application (VRA) yet to be updated with the newly-recognized party’s name.

He offers by way of comparison, when the Green Party, as the state affiliate of a national party and recognizable by the general public in name and ideology, first attained recognized party status in August 2000, it grew by 370 registered voters in its first month.

Dawson also contends that state agencies, such as Social Services or the MVA, who have been charged with aiding voter registration efforts, have not exercised the appropriate care and diligence to secure the integrity of the voting process, with which they have been, by default, entrusted. He argues these agencies, either through lack of knowledge or laziness, have failed to accurately record and transfer the will, desire and intent of the registrant to the VRA, or completed the form on behalf of the registrant based on the word/term used by the applicant (e.g. ‘I want to be independent.’) translating it to the VRA as a registered voter affiliated with the Independent Party.

Dawson had originally filed his complaint four months ago. Since then the Board of Elections has place "Party" behind each of the political parties. This may help eliminate some of the confusion with the registration form, but anyone who has already registered, or people who change their party without the official form, need to be aware of this.

Buubbbllllleeeeeeesssssssss

2010-02-25T19:28:00.000-08:00

Years ago, I recall asking my wife, "How do they do it?" "How do people afford to live in all those $500,000.00 plus homes?" We had always been aware of which bills were due, and there wasn't as much surplus available, as most people might expect for a dentist. We lived in a $250,000.00 home and I could not imagine a mortgage for a home worth twice what ours was. Now that the housing bubble has burst I find that those people really could not afford their homes. They simply owed more than they could possibly repay.
The other area of the economy that always puzzled me, was the banks. I would always scratch my head in wonder, "How my local bank branch could afford to have three managers and all those tellers?" Having run my own dental business for twenty- five years, I had a sense of what was involved in working to produce a profit while maintaining a payroll for one or two employees. "How do they afford to keep all these ladies, dressed professionally in all the branches. It would require a huge amount of crown and bridge charges on a continuous basis. Now that the demise of the dollar has become public knowledge, it makes sense. If banks are charged nothing, or close to nothing to borrow money, to lend at a six to ten point advantage, that's a lot of tellers salaries. This bubble has not officially burst yet, but it will.
The counterfeiting printing presses of the Federal Reserve private banking cartel must be working overtime. As the Fed continues to dump worthless dollars into the economy, the resultant actual value of the paper Federal Reserve Note is diminished. It has lost its meaning.
It would be like adding extra letters to sentences, to the point that the letters loose their meaning. The letter "a" has a meaning when used in the word "cat". It does not mean cat, but a vowel, with certain phonetics sound. Nooooowwww iiiiifffff wwwwweeeee sssssttttttaaaaarrrrttttt iiiinnnncccccrrrreeeeaaaassssiiinnnnngggg ttttthhhhheeeeee nnnnnnuuuuuuuummmmmmbbbbbeeeeeerrrrrr ooooofffffff llllllleeeeetttttttttteeerrrrrrsssss
ttttthhhhhheeeeeeee lllleeeeeettttttttttteeeeeerrrrrrrrsssssssss llllllllloooooooooosssssseeeeee ttttttthhhhhhheeeeeeiiiiiirrrrrr mmmmeeeeaaaannnnniiiiinnnnggggg aaaaaannnnnndddddd vvvvvvvaaaalllllluuuuueeeee

INFILTRATION

2010-02-24T19:47:00.000-08:00

We finally got the Sheriff Mack event formalized, and started the word going around. This is a relief to start the talk. A friend who belongs to a Liberty group shared that his group has been infiltrated. A man who he respected, started pontificating on how we should have a safe international road, to facilitate movement of people, in a secure manner. This is Security & Prosperity Act. This is the NAFTA Road, North American Union, and it costs our sovereignty. This is being discussed as a good thing in this liberty group. Medina is running against "One World" Perry in Texas on this very sell-out of our country. If sovereignty is not an issue, than Glenn Beck is not a turd? Naaaa!
Infiltrating groups is a common discussion. A 40 year veteran of one patriot group, reports to be able to see a pattern. A person gets inside the group, and then causes disputes, to just cause disputes. I can see this in the Catholic Church. A church that by definition, is suppose to be universal, in many respects is anything but universal. From reception of the Eucharist, to what you can wear in church, to the rubrics in the New Mass, to the promotion of evils through groups like Campaign For Human Development, there are ways that are accepted and some censured. There is no enforcement. Priests do whatever they want, and the people are hurt and left without spiritual leadership. Its been infiltrated. We need a clerical enforcer with authority, otherwise its all disordered. It certainly isn't catholic, and who cares enough to stop the confusion.

DECISIONS

2010-02-23T19:49:00.000-08:00

Keeping on track when people chime-in is sometimes difficult. The need to engage a group for their input is essential, but a decision making committee needs to be in place. The sooner the decisions are made the less confusion. If we can make the decisions, and not turn anyone off, maybe it will work.

We tried to go to Mass today but the Mass had been changed at the Grotto: no more Mass at 12 Noon. We just had a chapel visit. When we got to the office I received a invite to a parish retreat from Fr. Miles. I hadn't heard from him for about a year. We first got to know each other when he shared his opinion of Fr. Maskel of Keough High School scandal fame. We have been friends ever since. You gotta love an honest priest, when you find one.

I also called a girl back, who wanted to work as a hygienist. Wouldn't you know, that when I finally come to meet the girl who might just fit my practice, the book slows up to the point of my being indecisive about hiring her.

Monday Mass

2010-02-22T18:37:00.000-08:00

I had a treat today. I went to Mass while my car was having brake shoes replaced. I went to Our Lady's Center, and ran into several people I knew. I sat next to a woman, that Jane was just talking about yesterday. She had noticed this lady, an acquaintance from our daughters' High School, as a friend of one of her friends on Facebook. I had walked from the dealership, and saw a pair of hawks that hang in the woods around the chapel. I was walking back to the dealership, when a woman, who was coming from Mass, stopped, and offered me a ride. Where else would a strange woman offer a unknown man a ride? When we got back to the office, Jane found she had a friend request from her acquaintance. Mass is neat!

Being at Our Lady's Center was what I needed. Today there were funerals for two men who promoted retreats in my life, as a spiritual necessity. Necessary to stop, and just be: be with the Lord. I even lit some candles. And when it came time for the intentions, I prayed for: the poor souls for Bud the salesman, thanksgiving for Father Bayer, and wondrous amazement in how God has used Deacon Scheank.

The Priest, the Deacon, and the Salesman

2010-02-21T18:51:00.000-08:00

Jane and I attended two viewings of men we knew who recently passed-on. The first was Father Edward Bayer who I mentioned in an earlier post. Father Bayer was laid-out in a church where friends, family, and former members of his parish came to show their respects. I first met Father Bayer on a Cursillo Retreat. After twenty years of not being an ideal Catholic, and not going to Confession, I figured that this retreat, with some strange priest who I would probably never see again, would be perfect to unload a boat load of serious sins. It was great! The next Sunday at the end of Mass they announced to come over to the hall to meet our new pastor. As we moved closer to the front of the reception line I could not believe who I saw, Fr. Bayer. Being an exceptional priest, he didn't seem to recognize me as the sinner I was.
The second man was Bud Peroutka. Bud was a retired salesman who was in charge of organizing weekend retreats for Knight's of Columbus. I had the pleasure of driving two hours, to and from the retreat facility, once a year, for about six years. He taught me how to sell: "get your customers to talk about themselves". He was a huge fan of, "How to Win Friends and Influence People". He was a great philosopher and lived his faith. He always prayed for the poor souls, and said he never set an alarm clock, but trusted his angel to wake him. He was a great Catholic friend.
While at the funeral parlor, I noticed, Paul Schenck. Paul, who was with his wife, is a former Episcopal pastor, father of about seven children, and had left his church to become a Catholic. Our paths had crossed about six times, and rumor was, that he was going to become a Catholic priest. He was attired in a Roman collar. He told us that he was ordained a transitional Deacon last night, and was scheduled to be ordained a Catholic priest in June.

Sheriff Mack Event

2010-02-20T20:14:00.000-08:00

I am going to use this blog to help sort out this upcoming event with Sheriff Mack. I attended a Save A Patriot (SAP) meeting tonight and presented my proposal, which developed due to:

1. George Otto has approached me several times discussing the importance of the "sheriff" in our order of protection.
2. Mike Peroutka gave a great lesson at a First Friday in which he described "interposition". The state is to interpose between the federal government and the people, and the sheriff is to interpose between the state and the people.
3. Several months ago George wondered why we couldn't get someone like Sheriff Mack to come to SAP.
4. John Kotmair has discussed the need to shed the wacko tax protester brand that SAP has. It keeps people from coming to the hall and John has been passed over in at least one hearing.
5. John wanted to get a meeting of many of the liberty groups to introduce SAP and pitch the radio program.

After the approval of the idea tonight, we are set to make some plans. As soon as his wife, Dawn, instructs me as to how to buy the Southwest ticket for him, we should be good for Monday, the 29th. She said he can speak for one and a half to two hours. He doesn't like questions because it often ends up with people getting on their own soapbox. He will however hang around and answer individual questions. We could start at 6:30 with invocation, pledge, introductions, welcome from John Kotmair and then the Sheriff. The Sheriff would actually be from 7:00 - 9:00 pm. A few issues that have come up are: larger venue, invite sheriffs, charge for a ticket?
1. Unless there is an avalanche of interest, I would keep the event in the SAP hall for reasons covered in #4 and # 5 above. Sheriff Mack has spoke before 20 to 1500, so he'll be fine. Moving it somewhere else will cost more and not serve to bring people to SAP. It would probably be better if SAP were full than getting a big hall and only filling it half way. Some at the meeting seemed to think the hall would hold 60 - 80 but I would bet it will hold 100- 120. John K. suggested I keep Deborah informed, so she might be a good Chairman for the Hall needs and set-up.
2. Inviting some sheriffs from the local counties would be appropriate as long as it is done very professionally and respectfully. I would like to get a Chairman for the Sheriffs Committee to do up a nice invite and research names of sheriffs who we might invite.
3. Charging for the ticket makes sense, to account for the attendance, and controlling ticket dispersal (say, $10.00). The group in Pennsylvania where Sheriff Mack is going after our talk, is charging for a ticket. If SAP sponsors the event but CP, RLC, C4L or other groups would like to co-sponsor, we could ask for a donation of $100.00, and they could be given 10, $10.00 tickets, to give to their members, sell, or whatever they wish. We could compliment attending sheriffs a free ticket. We could hold tickets to get the money, and assure the seat will be taken. We can always comp the tickets if the sales are slow as the date approaches. The event will probably cost between $1100.00 and $1300.00 if we keep it simple at SAP Hall.

Lastly, there should be a Hospitality Committee. The Sheriff needs to be picked-up from BWI on Monday and brought into the area. We will need to either pay for a room or have someone host him for at least Monday night. His next event is in Pennsylvania on the 31st, and the organizer has offered to come down and meet half way.

The Thaw, a Great Priest and a Brave Sheriff.

2010-02-19T19:45:00.000-08:00

The days are getting longer which means we are coming out of this winter. Today, it got dark at 6:00 pm. The snow is slow to go, and gets dirtier with each passing day. The dental schedule has dropped off, and predictions for more snow early this week will not help the production figures. One person explained that the Farmer's Almanac is calling for another big snow fall before the winter is over. I recall that most of our blizzards in the past came in early March, so why not?
I heard today the Fr. Ed Bayer died. He was a great priest who was a little cerebral, which made him a good teacher. He traveled to the other side of the world to teach in a seminary when most people would have been looking for a rocker. While he was the pastor at Holy Family Church he became familiar with the conflict between my sister and my parents, against the Archdiocese of Baltimore. He took it upon himself to write the Chancellery, and had words with their office, because he expressed concern for the diocese's handling of my family's situation. A mysterious reader has commented with the funeral arrangements.
We are firming up the event of bringing Richard Mack to Maryland to give a talk on states' rights and the need for sheriffs to step-up. We also want to use the event to bring liberty minded people together, as well as to bring people to SAP. This is an answered prayer for Maryland.

IRS, Mack, and Mercy

2010-02-18T19:13:00.000-08:00

A man snapped today. He evidently had enough, flying his plane into an IRS building in Austin. He wrote a six page suicide note. Some of the sections from this note, that they read on a you tube, I could not disagree. One thing that he concluded was that nothing is going to change in this country without violence. He may be right? Fox news called John Kotmair to see if he had a statement. He told them, "No"!
BTW: Has anyone ever seen the law that says that a U.S. citizen has to pay taxes on his or her earnings?? If you have not seen, "America, From Freedom to Fascism", do so. Great film!

We may have Sheriff Mack come to Maryland to give a talk on the rights of a state and the duty of a sherff. This would be exciting, especially if we have it at save a patriot.

Parable was on tonight, and they talked about the parable where the wheat is contaminated with weeds. It was good. I am the wheat, and sometime I am the weeds. The reason the owner does not pull all the weeds is Mercy. Without mercy, I would have been pulled long ago. Its only because the Lord gave me the time to grow in the mix, that I have a shot at making it to heaven.

Ash Wednesday

2010-02-17T18:52:00.000-08:00

Lent started today, and spiritually I am not ready. Time waits for nobody, so I guess I better get myself ready. We did go to Mass at a different church, and got our ashes.

We spent two hours earlier this afternoon viewing the new movie with Mel Gibson, "Edge of Darkness". It was very good and scary, because the plot is believable. Especially in light of a report I saw today, in which the U.S. government has a list of citizens that it intends to assassinate. This whole police/military state was the topic of Chuck Baldwin's earlier commentary. Where is our country?

So, as the prayer goes, "Remember man that thou are dust, and unto dust thou shall return." We are all gonna die, so we may as well stand for what we believe in. My resolution for Lent will be to spend more time talking to God. In the spirit of Lent I would just say, "Thank You for Mercy". I don't need to be scrupulous, nor look back very far, to remember some of the sinful ruts I have been in. I have just been blessed with time, mercy, and grace.

Judas Goats: Beck and Jones?

2010-02-16T19:33:00.000-08:00

Last year I blogged about three of my best pets, my goats. Belle, Rudy, and R. J. were my Nubian goats. A breed with long ears, and known for their use in the production of milk and meat. My goats were more like friends, and helped me keep up with the tree trimmings and yard waste. There is one use of a goat however that really gives goats a bad name. It is the Judas goat. The Judas goat is often used at stockyards to lead sheep, and cattle up the ramp toward the slaughterhouse. The Judas goat relates to the animals and then moves up the ramp with the herd following. Just as the animals are about to enter their last room on their hooves, the goat is diverted off through a side gate, to be used again, and again.
As we proceed within this herd that: eats more than it produces, has forgotten how to run free in God's creation, and has surrendered its instinctive suspicion of everything, beware of the Judas goat. Eustace Mullins, who I wrote about earlier, made the statement that if someone is a regular on our major network programing, they are being controlled. We just recently saw how Glenn Beck attempted to lead the herd away from instinctive suspicion. Even Alex Jones is acting in a way that has disrupted a liberty rally, and he seems to be hell-bent on starting a violent confrontation.

Did You Ever Notice Dad?

2010-02-15T18:55:00.000-08:00

Did you ever notice, the less our government has, the more it spends?
Did you ever notice, absolute truth is pure, and relative truth contains a lie?
Did you ever notice, if we spend from our future, we probably won't get there?

This writing completes my first week of blogging on a daily basis. Make the time. Pick the thought. Write! Writing daily reminded me of the quintessential man in my life, my dad. I shared my dad with nine siblings. He took me fishing when I was six. He'd reconnect with his eyes, after working a week of police shift work, and family absence. He understood there was more to life than grades, yet he knew we'd have to play the game. He attended my baseball games, chased a salesman out the door of our home, loved a week at the shore, and often melted into my mom in a kitchen full of kids. He was my coach, my parole officer, my conscience, my debater, and my friend. Early in our family, he led us to the confessional. Later, he would caution our naivety in a changed church. He was a simple man who knew how vicious life could turn.

He died in his bed last year, after waiting for me to help him from his day long perch on his couch. He was tired, but knew I needed to tell him. Tell him straight out, "Dad, you know I love you?" And for that, I got a toothless smile that almost cracked his cheeks.

He came to mind, because of his telephone answering machine greetings. For a couple of years, he would make a new telephone greeting each day. They all began with: "Did you ever notice...." They were unique, thought provoking, and witty. Many who knew of these treasures, would call the house, just to hear the newest question.

Did you ever notice, if a society bankrupts its morals, it's future identity is relative?

Love: The Conscience of Credibility

2010-02-14T19:04:00.000-08:00

St. Valentines Day is about Love. After thirty-five years of marriage, my wife and I have this holiday down to a science: "a card will be fine!" Thanks to my better half, the kids, grand kids, and parents, also get a card. I also love my friends, my patients, and others. I love God! I love our constitutional republic. I love gutsy people who have stood in the gap, out of faith, or patriotism. It is probably why I have been distracted recently by the courage of Debra Medina. This mother of three is making a stand against the most powerful cartel in the world, and the conservative talking heads call her a "loon". She is a martyr for the republic of stateS, and she deserves our financial assistance, our political support, and our love.

Love is also important in our instinctive discernment of Truth vs. Credibility. For those who believe in the second person of the triune God as Jesus Christ, know that He is Truth. For my friends who do not believe, I yield to their moral sense. For those who understand the New Testament, also know that God is Love. So we believers, could in fact, substitute Love for Truth, to look at Love vs. Credibility.

I am not referring to an emotional love, but a decision. A decision to want the very best for those that we love. The best for their purpose in life, and not necessarily the best of the nice things in this world. St. Paul connects love and truth in his famous definition of love in 1 Corinthians 13, "Love rejoices in the Truth." This should give us a clue. Our conscience should rest in peace, when it rests in the Truth. This inner joy may not be happiness, but possibly a sad peace. But, peace! When a situation concerning our love relationship, is presented to be credible, but we don't sense an inner joy, our lie alarm should go off. If our relationship to some one, or some group, is negatively affected by believing what is presented as credible, question it. Question the credible label as to truth, because it effects our love. For by accepting a lie as truth, we stop the love.

The danger: A culture without a God or a Constitution

2010-02-13T19:30:00.000-08:00

We ventured into D.C. today to hear Jim Traficant address a couple hundred patriots. The ex-Congressman had served seven years in prison for questionable crimes of corruption. He was most impressive with his principled outlook on our country's future. He painted a dangerous political climate that has been bought and sold by powerful lobbies. "Change is needed", he said, "but don't expect it to come from within. It must come from without, from us: a mandate from the people". He seems to have decided to run for Congress, and believes a third party is necessary. Because of his history of telling it like it is, attacking the IRS tax structure, and attempting to discuss the power wielded by the Israeli Lobby, he fully expects to draw unfavorable press. The Conference was presented by the American Free Press and it was great to see Mark Anderson, a reporter who had done a great interview on Collins Bailey and myself, when we ran for Congress. We knew a few other people, including a guy who had promised to send me a video on sedition, and why government officials should be charged with this crime. The truth was evident in the lack of any media coverage of the conference, during a time when reportable events in DC was a snow emergency.
Jane and I got lost two times, which is normal, for a trip into the District of Corruption. On the way, I luckily realized that Valentine's Day is February Tomorrow. I also received a phone call from a County official in the Republican Party, who invited me to address his meeting about the principles of the Constitution Party. He sees a need for the GOP to realize the party needs to move toward the third party movements that are gaining strength. Jane read a great commentary by Chuck Baldwin in which he compared our country to a ship without a rudder. He also painted a dangerous political environment that operates with no morals, and no restraints. No God and no constitution.

Thanks Glenn!

2010-02-12T18:52:00.000-08:00

Glen Beck has stepped out from the partisan commentator role, to become the true hero of the liberty movement. His radio interview with the popular tea party Texas gubernatorial candidate, Debra Medina, only appeared as hostile. He single handily managed to bring the cause of Truthers onto a public forum.
His staged ambush of Medina, was brilliantly topped with his request to french kiss Governor Perry. Patriots immediately wondered who their Glenn had the hots for? Perry's record as a Neo-Conservative, a regular Bildeberg attendee, and the political front-guy for the fascist maneuvers of the United Banks of Amero, caused some apprehension amongst his political family.
Beck's counter position, as a shill for the right wing warfare state, may now be in jeopardy. His ploy not only revived the 9-11 mysteries, and exposed a one world governor, but triggered a huge bump in donations for Debra Medina.
Thanks Glenn!
This is an attempt at sarcasm.
Truth conflicts with credibility when the credibility of a situation or person is used to present a lie as truth. If a credible lie occurs as a result of someones intent to deceive, a natural feeling of contempt arises from within. We could get seriously upset, or we could make an attempt at sarcasm. Wikopedia defines Sarcasm as the rhetorical device of using a characterization of something or someone, in order to express contempt.[1] It is closely connected with irony, in that the two are often combined in the same statement. Wikopedia defines irony:is a situation, literary technique, or rhetorical device, in which there is an incongruity, discordance, or unintended connection with truth, that goes strikingly beyond the most simple and evident meaning of words or actions. When however, the irony is an intentional connection of a lie to truth, for the purpose of acceptance, the lie becomes credible.

Some Truth About the Incredible Beck?

2010-02-11T17:14:00.000-08:00

The truth about radio and television host, Glenn Beck, showed itself today, and his credibility paid the price.
Beck has been playing up to tea party folks while practicing his pronunciation of the operative word that Dr. Paul taught him, "liberty". Many believe this popular Neo-conservative commentator, who supported the Patriot Act, is on a learning curve. They think that his courting of Dr. Paul, only to discount him, was an innocent consequence of Mr. Beck's political growth. They also believe that his beating of the war drums, his unconditional support for Israel, and his intolerance of anyone who dare question the government's version of what happened on 9-11, are areas where Glenn may eventually learn to question openly.
Mr. Beck ambushed Debra Medina, Florida's governor candidate, who has effectively challenged the status quo. He painted her as a "Truther", discounted her candidacy, and ended the segment with, "I could french kiss Perry", (the establishment's incumbent).
He attacked an accused "Truther" and he lost. He challenged an honest candidate with his credibiklity. The beauty is that more and more people are questioning. More and more people are looking for truth. More and more people are seeing the lie, in the incredible. Bring on the Truth!!

362 Days to go.

Day 2: A Life of Confronting the Lie.

2010-02-10T17:43:00.000-08:00

The conflict between Truth and Credibility became obvious today as I watched a YouTube: "Eustace Mullins presents: The World Order". I was recommended to checkout this guy, as a truthful patriot from the middle of the 20th century. His recent death had been noted by a few patriots. Most of his issues were controversial, conspiratorial, and attacked some of what I had accepted as credible. I liked him. I sensed truth. He spoke powerfully about Ezra Pound, the Federal Reserve, Zionism, 9-11, Fluoride, controlled media, and more. He was the personification of Truth vs. Credibility.
His case against the Creature from Jekyll Island, and fiat money was thorough and convincing. The Creature is going down. The Creature does not stand a chance against the Creator. The Creator is Truth, and the Creature is becoming less and less credible.

363 days to go.

Let's Get'er Done!

2010-02-09T03:13:00.000-08:00

Last night my wife watched a DVD about a girl who blogged for a year, about J. C. (not sure of spelling), a famous woman who mixed humor and French cooking. It was entertaining and informative. She got to know the woman, even though they never met. She stabilized her life. She even wrote a book.
I have had this Blog since shortly after my run for office, so why not write? I have issues with which I could use some stability. And, I have always toyed with the idea of writing a book. Many published authors will say, "You need discipline, You need to make yourself write, everyday". So, why not?
The issues have already been entitled in this blog, "Truth vs. Credibility". Exposing the believable lies vs. the absolute truth, will be the year-long project. For my part, I will write every day,but here is the twist of faith. I know God is real, and I have waxed and waned in my sense of relationship with Him. I hope to use this daily blog as a means of reestablishing or deepening this relationship; not to preach, but to discuss Truth vs. Credibility. For His part, He may use me to do His will, and possibly show others that He is real, and He loves each one of us.
It may be coincidence that the catalyst, that got me to commit, had the initials, J.C. I believe that absolute truth has a name with the same initials, Jesus Christ. Therefore, we might think of this blog with a subtitle, Jesus Christ vs, believable political lies. With that agenda, we could end up anywhere. Starting with the quote for this blog title that came from a book about the legalized counterfeit robber-bankers, The Federal Reserve. Then, there is the lie that has paralysed our country and media, that has been countered by the 9-11 "Truthers". This could go anywhere.
This is Day 1. Only 364 days to go. Let's get'er done!

Its all about Population Control

2010-01-25T17:51:00.000-08:00

Having done our weekly radio show the day after the Annual March for Life in Washington D.C., where 300,000 people clogged the streets for three hours, I found an answer the question: Why?

During this year's radio show we joked how Nellie Grey would invite one Neo-Con (Brownback) as pro-lifer, after another Neo-Con. Many of these pro-lifers had previously dropped the torch, and endorsed radical pro-aborts. But Nellie brings them back as "pro-lifers"? Having attended the March for probably twenty years, I have become disappointed in how Nellie, and her committee have allowed the March to become a political rally for Republicans stumping a strong pro-life message.

Just two years ago we were instrumental in barely arranging Ron Paul to be able to address the crowd. Was the resistance to Dr. Paul, that he was constitutionally pro-life? Was the problem with the congressman's message to drastically reduce our military industrial complex? It was both. The broader question might be what is their agenda, who pays the bills, and what is the source, that promotes population control?

Then there was the media black-out. The Washington Post completely ignored the crowd, yet the Washington Times covered the March on the front page. Why? Why does the more hawkish paper cover the pro-life hoards, whereas the pro-abortion paper kills a story that only incriminates the paper's credibility? The answer is population control, and it is a world agenda!

Controlling the human population is essential to maintain power. It is easiest with abortion. Killing 3,000 children a day is effective population control! Therefore those sanctioned pro-lifers, who espouse to support protecting human beings from slaughter, must however hold strong to the world master's ability to control the populace through the barrel of a gun. Disarmed individuals, with unchecked growth of the military, and the general removal of most basic liberties is the perfect recipe for global government. A politically minded individual who protects the rights of human life, will not receive recognition, unless he or she supports the world master's ability to place us in the cross hairs of their control trigger.

The world agenda, with its Central banking funding, and the media coverage, flows together only to those who can provide population control.

An Ineffective Church.

2010-01-20T13:20:00.000-08:00

We need another Bishop Hughes. Bishop Hughes was the Bishop in New York in the early 1800's during a time when Catholic's were being persecuted, and churches were being burned. He confronted the bigotry, and was instrumental in developing Catholic schools. The church burnings stopped. In contrast, the current Baltimore Archbishop stated in "An Appeal to Those Who Seek or Hold Public Office" published in the Catholic Review Oct 30, 2008, that "I will not be confrontational". That's nice, unless you are the next baby that is about to get speared with surgical scissors.
The Catholic Church is an ineffective Church. Each year at this time, pro-life Knights of Columbus councils provide buses for the March for Life, that are sometimes half full. They spend their time trying to put school children and mothers in the seats. If Catholic men actually believed that innocent children were being butchered in our neighborhoods, our states, and our country, (soon to be on our dime), don't you think they should be eager to storm DC in protest? Shouldn't the mall in D.C. be jammed with men?
The Fourth Degree in the Knights of Columbus promotes "patriotism". During my campaign two years ago, I was a member of the fourth degree, and I received an unlabeled invitation to come out, and watch a sports game. The election was coming to a head, and there was little new activity. My reply to the unlabeled mailing list, was that there is a bigger game at stake: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. I was careful not to reference my campaign, just that there was an election coming soon, and maybe these seventy some men could be a help to the effort. To that, I received a reply of warning, that I might be jeopardizing the Knight's tax status by mentioning politics.
I have since resigned from the fourth degree due to the obvious irony of a group that espouses to patriotism, but as the country sinks into a bottomless hole, cannot rally the men of the church to get involved. Now that's patriotic?
This problem is subtle from its origin. There are only so many hours in a month that most men can spend outside of the household duties. Many men feel as if they have exercised their social duty by belonging to a group like the Knight's. Attending a monthly meeting of a group that has a position on Life, to many men, constitutes a public statement of their position. This is good in itself, but when the group prohibits itself from working for, or encouraging individuals to work for, a candidate who supports those views, is this an effective use of the men in the church?
The peak of this counter productive use of church men is the deaconate. Deacon's are often gleaned from those men in a parish who are more outspoken in their faith. They feel called, and are encouraged to become deacons. One such candidate informed me of his decision to enter the deaconate to which I expressed disappointment. I told him that its no wonder our Catholic views are trampled upon. We encourage our outspoken men to become deacons, and as deacons they are silenced in any political debate, because they cannot be political; they are ordained. Oh, they can have political positions, they just can't promote or support the men and women who dare to stand for life.

Treatment Planning "Real Teeth"

2009-09-17T08:10:00.000-07:00

I have been blessed for over a quarter of a century to be a member of one of the greatest professions, dentistry. In cleaning out some of my old, and less used, accumulations, I found a freshman dental school textbook, “Treatment Planning”. It discusses many concerns for a new practitioner, such as what method and means of treatment would be appropriate for a particular patient. After twenty-five years of practice, most of these questions are answered automatically. Is a tooth restorable? How best to restore proper function in chewing, biting, slicing, and speech. Can the patient’s expectation for appearance be achieved? Last but not least, would the proposed treatment violate that universal dogma, “Doctor, do no harm”? My textbook on treatment planning was obviously void of many options on today’s dental landscape. There have been advances in most subspecialties, the dental implant has become a treatment, and now they are talking about genetically growing “real teeth”.

Real Teeth? Could this be anything like the “real teeth” Pope Benedict XVI has proposed in his latest encyclical, Caritas In Veritate? This 51-page letter on Charity and Truth, is addressed to everyone from Bishops, to all people of good will. Under section 67, he makes his diagnoses: To manage the global economy; there is urgent need of a true world political authority. His plan of treatment for this situation is proposed earlier in the same section, “so that the concept of the family of nations can acquire “real teeth”.

What in the world could my Pope possibly be planning?

Real teeth that chew-up open ecclesial opposition, and silence, to an earlier encyclical on human life, Humane Vitae?
Real teeth that can slice through the scandal, of honoring the most pro-death President in our history, at our nation’s most “Catholic” institution, Notre Dame?
Real teeth that bite-off the mockery of using a Divine Liturgy, for the purpose of honoring one of the most pro-abort senators in recent history.
Real teeth, positioned properly, to allow the proper sounds to words that condemn the book and lifestyle of homosexual Bishop Weakland?

I humbly suggest that my Pope ponder the inverse of the question for Bishops, “If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?” 1 Timothy 3:5 NIV. I say, “If anyone does not know how to take care of God’s church, how can he take care of the world family?”

My diagnosis is simple: the Catholic Church in America is edentulous. The treatment plan: Pray for “real teeth”! And, the universal, or catholic, doctrine holds true, “Papa, do no harm!”

The Price of Freedom

2009-08-03T13:45:00.001-07:00

The value of freedom, for you and for me,
May vary as far as the eye can see,
The freedom to speak, to assemble, to pray,
Are guarded throughout this U.S. of A.

But what of the freedom to compete with your trade,
To market your wares, without a blockade.
Or worse even yet, let’s say for the day,
Big brother comes in and gives it away.

The market is gone, the need erased.
You’re left with a hollow, an empty place.
The reason for this, is simple you see.
It’s political econom-mix, it only takes three.

One is the lady, who pulls on the purse,
To fund number two, who drives freedom’s hearse.
And three is a voter, a you, or a me,
Who grabs at this freebee, and runs off in glee.

What have we got, as we rest for a breath?
It isn’t as free, as we’d grown to expect.
It comes at a price, too high and too dear.
Our free market’s been sold, to a red ink balloteer.

Dr. Mike Hargadon, 1992

Feeling Our Abortion

2009-05-31T19:23:00.000-07:00

One month ago, two of my liberty-loving friends and I attempted to produce a weekly two-hour pro-life radio program. We call it, “Pro-Life Unity Radio”, and it airs in Ocala FL, on 104.3 FM, and on the Liberty Works Radio Network lwrn.net. We had a guest last weekend, Pastor Johnny Hunter from LEARN Inc., a group working to educate the African American community to the racial dimension of abortion. During our conversation, we concluded, “What good is affirmative action to an aborted black baby”? We then expanded the question to, “What good are liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”, to a dead baby?

These are philosophical concepts that lose their relevance without life. Affirmative action was a brainstorm to correct a perceived imbalance of liberty and the pursuit of happiness. History has shown that a person’s freedom and their ability to move within the economy are interrelated. When these two rights are taken away, the person begins to loose his or her identity. Taken to its extreme, the person could loose life. We use liberty, and our pursuit of happiness, to protect life. This is probably easiest seen with abortion.

In an early term abortion, the killing team can attack the person within the womb. If this occurs at an early enough stage, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are ended, within the veil of an adult female person. No fight! Nary a word. No problem?

The fight, the cruelty, the problem, become more evident when the child is brought out of the womb in the procedure commonly known as partial birth abortion. Its official name is intact dilation and extraction. What is inferred in this official procedural name is the third step in this “procedure”, the “killing” of the partially born child.

Here is the gruesome description:

Usually, preliminary procedures are performed over a period of two to three days, to gradually dilate the cervix using laminaria tents (sticks of seaweed which absorb fluid and swell). Sometimes drugs such as synthetic pitocin are used to induce labor. Once the cervix is sufficiently dilated, the doctor uses an ultrasound and forceps to grasp the fetus' leg. The fetus is turned to a breech position, if necessary, and the doctor pulls one or both legs out of the birth canal, causing what is referred to by some people as the 'partial birth' of the fetus. The doctor subsequently extracts the rest of the fetus, usually without the aid of forceps, leaving only the head still inside the birth canal. An incision is made at the base of the skull, scissors are inserted into the incision and opened to widen the opening,^[8] and then a suction catheter is inserted into the opening. The brain is suctioned out, which causes the skull to collapse and allows the fetus to pass more easily through the birth canal. The placenta is removed and the uterine wall is vacuum aspirated using a cannula.^[9]

A healthy child in the womb may: float in amniotic fluid, suck its thumb, listen to its mom’s heart, be fed, and stretch. This is the economy of the womb. The womb allows a child to exercise its rights of free movement, within a boundry, that allow for growth. To change the cervix, and contract the uterus, at a premature stage in development is an attack on the economy of the womb. The child’s pursuit of happiness has been taken. To grab the child’s foot, and pull he or she through the birth canal is the attack on its freedom, its liberty. Having lost both protective rights, the child becomes a defenseless victim.

The cervix of our economy has been dilated. Our money is worthless. We have allowed private powerful bankers to expand our money supply, print fiat paper money, and throw economic realities to the wind. The government now controls most aspects of our economy, so they have started the pitocin drip of fear. They are contracting the uterus of our civilized society with war as a way of life, with the unnatural as natural, and with the demolition of skyscrapers and our economic security.

Lets prepare ourselves for the next dose of pitocin: explosions, contrived riots, marshal law. We will need a little more induction before we can be guided into our birth canal camps: something to justify disarming us. Who would grab the foot of a little one if he or she was packing a 357 revolver? Once they take our guns, and the rest of our Bill of Rights, we will be defenseless.

Feel them grabbing for your foot? They will drag us through our canal of freedom, to be prepped for the completion of this procedure, “post birth abortion”, our abortion.

Time to Act!

2009-05-10T02:38:00.000-07:00

We did our first two-hour radio program, "Pro-Life Unity Radio", on Liberty Works Radio Network yesterday, May 9th. Aside from some initial technical difficulties, it went fairly well. In the fifth of six segments, we discussed the Notre Dame scandal, as they intend to honor Mr. Obama. Allen Keys and 21 other were arrested yesterday, for "trespassing", to demonstrate their disapproval of this planned event. They were charged with trespass, a misdemeanor, and $250.00 fine. I believe the protest is misdirected.

The only real leverage in this matter is the Church. That really is the point. That is the scandal! The Catholic Church is not a democracy or republic. So, why petition? Why demonstrate? Expect the Church to act. The Catholic Church is an organization with rules, and a chain of command that depends on obedience, with jurisdictional matters decided by the local Bishop. In Pope John Paul II's teaching document Ex Corde Ecclesiae, this authority is referenced in five separate places. The local Bishop has the authority and the responsibility to proclaim a college or university, "Catholic".

As this confrontation builds, the lack of leadership within the Church will be front and center. This problem never should have gotten this far out of hand. The remnant faithful in our Church, and the country at large, will be confirmed in our principles, if and when the local bishop, Bishop John D'Arcy, does more than just "disapprove". It is great that he has enough moral compass to recognize this scandal, but he has a responsibility to his flock. He is responsible for the Catholic Church in his area. What the Catholic or "universal " Church does in South Bend, affects the church in Baltimore.

Bishop D'Arcy should find the Notre Dame administration in violation of Ex Corde Ecclesiae, and give them a deadline, as to when he WILL remove ND's Catholic credentials. It's that simple. The Bishop has to take ACTION! This is not meant to second guess the bishop, rather it is just a statement of the obvious. The Church either acts now, or we scatter. It takes a special father to ACT in this politically charged environment. Pray for spiritual testosterone for Bishop D'Arcy.

Consistent Pro-life Message

2009-03-10T18:26:00.000-07:00

Jane and I attended the 30^th annual Maryland March for Life. The organizers did an excellent job, the speakers were great, and Steve Peroutka’s treat for refreshments, made this year’s event, the best.

Before the March, Archbishop O’Brien con-celebrated the Holy Mass with about a dozen priests. The Archbishop painted a dismally honest picture of our struggles ahead with this pro-abortion administration. He also challenged the pro-lifers’ positions on the death penalty and immigration. His plea was to have a “consistent pro-life message”. He concluded his homily with the statement, “We have much to pray about”. The Archdiocese of Baltimore is blessed to have a man of the Archbishop’s stature.

I am on board with his anti-death penalty position, but I have reservations about how illegal immigration warrants a mention, when trying to save unborn children? Either way, it is good news, that there will be consistency in how the Bishops deal with these issues.

Having seen Bishop Madden marching next to the Governor and Lt. Gov., to the “repeal the death penalty rally” in Lawyer’s Mall (C.R. 3/5/09), I expected to see a bishop at our March for Life, which rallied at Lawyer’s Mall. If one was there, I didn’t see him.

It is also good to know that Bishop Madden will take these repeal the death penalty events, as opportunities to specifically mention the need to “repeal abortion”. Let’s be consistent.

Honest Money Update

2009-03-10T13:09:00.000-07:00

During our effort to promote the Honest Money Resolution, some of us took the time to lobby Delegates at the Maryland House. Others promoted the effort to friends and family, and still others networked with existing groups who may be like-minded. I was excited about this resolution and I volunteered to help with all three. I specifically volunteered to contact Save a Patriot to ask for their support.

Save a Patriot’s founder, John Kotmair, was glad to see the effort. He got right on it, and made several suggestions on the wording of the resolution, to make it more constitutionally correct.

When I contacted Joe Arminio, the lead proponent of the Honest Money Resolution in the Maryland Republican Liberty Caucus, he was not interested in considering John’s suggestions, and wished to distance the effort from Mr. Kotmair and his SAP group. I disagreed, and have not received any further updates from Joe. My understanding is that the resolution is awaiting its death in Rules Committee.

If you are interested in John Kotmair’s view of Honest Money, John will be speaking at the Maryland Constitution Party’s Meeting, Saturday morning, April 4th, 10:30 a.m. at the Howard County Central Library.

Yeave Me A Yone!

2009-03-05T18:31:00.000-08:00

My wife and I attended the Campaign For Liberty Forum, last Friday evening, as part of the CPAC Convention in Washington D.C. We listened to six great speakers, which included Congressman Ron Paul, Thomas Woods, and Judge Napolitano. The ballroom had to be stuffed with at least four hundred liberty-loving patriots. We cheered for over two hours as we were enlightened, and inspired, by statements like Judge Napolitano’s, “Lincoln was our nation’s worst president!”

One of the guest speakers enumerated some of our liberties: freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, the right to bear arms, etc. Then he condensed them into a broad but encompassing right: “The right to be left alone!” This is what the American, and for that matter foreign, freedom lovers really want: to be left alone.

Our empire, is not only entangled with 135 foreign countries, is destroying the economic future of our financial system, our families, and the dollar, but has its crosshairs set on our right to own a firearm, and a mandatory draft. Our foreign neighbors are hollering, our free market is hollering, and our families are hollering, “Leave us alone!”

When my youngest son, who is 21 years old, was three, he prophetically coined our battle cry. He has always been strong willed, and at three, he had not quite mastered the roll of the tongue, which is necessary for the “l” sound. That didn’t stop him from exercising his freedom of speech. Whenever he was corrected, and decided he had had enough, he would let loose an emphatic directive, “Yeave me a yone!” He didn’t need the “l”; we knew what he said.

Having lived through this almost primordial sound of command, I could not get Friday’s message out of my mind. The truth of government's intrusion into our lives, begs the question of credibility. Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, are they still recognized rights in the USA?

So today, as I drove through a suburban wooded park, I opened my window, and let it rip: “Yeave me a yone!” It felt great. Try it. The revolution has begun.

Belle, Rudy, and R.J.

2009-02-28T16:06:00.000-08:00

Belle, Rudy, and R. J. were some of the best pets I ever had, and they were goats.

My first goat, Belle, was a black, brown and white Nubian (the kind with long floppy ears). I purchased her as a project for my children to produce goat milk. The first thing I learned about goats, and sheep for that matter, is that they are herd animals and need company. Just as I was about to be cited by my neighborhood for having a screaming solitary goat, she solved her problem. She had two adorable kids. We learned to milk Belle, played with her kids, and sold them to a friend.

To get the milk operation back up, and solve Belle’s increasing bleating, we mated Belle. We hoped she might throw three kids, so we might try some goat meat. She only had one, and we decided to keep him as company for Belle. He was a beautiful tan color, so we named him Rudy.

Rudy was all play, loved sweet corn, and quickly grew in excess of two hundred and fifty pounds. Once he ripped his side flank open on a nail while rubbing against the walls of the barn. It was our first and only home-visit by the vet, who promptly asked, “Who is responsible for this obese goat?” Rudy would play by standing on his hind legs, rear back, and lean his forehead into you: a slow-motion butt.

My wife and I went to Ireland for our 25^th anniversary. On our return, we were greeted at the airport with the sad news, “Rudy had hung himself!” Evidently, he had lost his footing while reaching for some honey suckles on the back fence, and his collar got stuck on the fence. He hung there for two days until my son found him.

About the same time, a neighboring pig farmer had inherited a 4-H goat. The farmer didn’t have any other goats, and Belle needed the company, so I offered to keep the 4-H goat. It had coloring very similar to Rudy, and had won 1^st place in the County Fair. We named it RJ, for Rudy Junior, and he got along great with Belle.

Belle eventually passed away. Now, to keep RJ company, I thought I might get a sheep and try producing some lamb. Another friend had been raising lambs for years, so I purchased a young female. She was skittish, flighty, most unfriendly, and pregnant. She would always stay two lengths behind RJ, as RJ could never get enough pets and rubs. R.J. was another lovable goat. There was a natural calmness in placing my forehead against R.J.’s, all the while keeping eye contact with those wide-set peaceful eyes.

The sheep gave me two lambs, which were great in the freezer. We bred her again, and she had one lamb, which we also took to market. R.J. eventually went lame with hoof rot, and both he and the sheep went to their earthly judgment: the livestock auction.

I tell this short story in an attempt to defend the reputation of goats. Goats have been a convenient target of failed judgment from the scripture of the Final Judgment. Both Roman rite and Eastern rite priests have consistantly painted the image of the ornery, smelly, disobedient, and impossible goat. The connection is made that these supposed characteristics of goats, in people, will place you to the left, and doomed. “And he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left… ( Matt 25: 32-33).

Instead of Christ actually making a character judgment on goats; could it be, might it be, that all Christ meant, is that there is a difference? As easily, and matter of fact, as a shepherd, or I, can tell the difference between goats and sheep, so to, will Christ be able to tell “the difference” between: those who have lived for Christ, and those who have rejected Him. There is a difference between those who accept Truth, and those who knowingly accept a credible lie. Could it be as simple as, “there is a difference”? God knows!

Implication of Doing Nothing

2009-02-07T03:58:00.000-08:00

This past November, I ran for the House of Representative seat of the 7^th district in Maryland. The most common advice I received was, “Start lower on the ladder: dogcatcher, school board, or State office”. This would have made more sense to me, if I had a passion for any of these positions, or if the current incumbent had a serious challenger.

Now that the election is over, we find our country is accelerating into a self-destruct hole of federal interventionism, worthless paper money, and an economy of eugenics. The Union is out of balance, in that the three branches of government are no longer “checks” of each other; they are enablers. The sovereignty of our individual states, may be our only hope of retaining our inalienable rights?

This past Thursday, I ventured down to the General Assembly in hope of affecting some influence, through our State government. I visited some of the offices of our state delegates, to get co-sponsors for a house resolution to resist this national decline. This resolution, introduced by Delegate Rick Impallaria, is titled, Federal Money and Banking. It urges the United States Congress to restore honest money backed by silver and gold in accordance with the requirements of the United States Constitution, phase out Federal Reserve notes, and return to the free market banking practices that the Founding Fathers codified in the United States Constitution. At this writing, we have fourteen co-sponsors. The delegates were friendly, and encouraged my participation. I was surprised though, by some of the reasons the delegates had for not wanting to co-sign on a resolution, that only “urges” a responsible constitutional monetary policy.

I was only a small part of this effort, and found the staff at these delegate offices to be exceptionally helpful. I spoke personally with a half a dozen delegates, but most would not commit. Several of them specifically gave the reason of, "I don't know enough about it." Article 1 section ten of our Federal Constitution states, “No state shall…make any thing but gold and silver Coin a Tender of Payment of Debts,”. One might think that a delegate should realize that our founding fathers were obviously attempting to secure value within the Union. Another conservative delegate, supported the premise, but wanted to know the "implications", if this resolution would pass? He didn't want to be blamed for the collapse of the dollar.

If, and when, the dollar collapses, it certainly won’t be due to the state of Maryland urging the Federal government to restore a value to our currency. The truth is, that the value of the dollar is collapsing as the credibility of paper money collapses. Colorado, Indiana, and New Hampshire also have honest money bills. We, the states, not only need to urge, but we need to tell the Federal government to stop ignoring our Constitution. When our elected officials take office, they swear an oath on the Bible, to protect and defend the Constitution. In their lack of defense of the Constitution, these officials should be concerned with breaking their oath to God, an implication of doing nothing.

Honest Money in Maryland

2009-02-05T18:00:00.000-08:00

The Maryland Liberty Republican Caucus is supporting Delegate Rick Impallaria in his effort to pass a resolution for honest money. The first draft of the bill is listed below.

By: Delegate Impallaria

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

Federal Money and Banking

For the purpose of urging the Unites States Congress to restore honest money backed by silver and gold in accordance with the requirements of the United States Constitution, phase out Federal Reserve notes, and return to the free market banking practices that the Founding Fathers codified in the United States Constitution.

WHEREAS, There is a nationwide economic crisis that needs a speedy resolution; and

WHEREAS, Future recurrences of a similar crisis should be prevented; and

WHEREAS, Federal Reserve notes are unconstitutional, inflationary and at the heart of the present economic distress; and

WHEREAS, Free market banking practices are in the best interests of the citizens of the United States; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, That the United States Congress is urged to:

(1) Restore honest money backed by silver and gold in accordance with the requirements of the United States Constitution;

(2) Phase out Federal Reserve notes; and

(3) Return to the free market banking practices that the Founding Fathers codified in the United States Constitution; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be forwarded by the Department of Legislative Services to the Maryland Congressional Delegation: Senators Barbara A. Mikulski and Benjamin L. Cardin, Senate Office Building, Washignton, D.C. 20510; and Representatives Frank M. Kratovil, Jr., C. A. Dutch Ruppersberger III, John P. Sarbanes, Donna Edwards, Steny Hamilton Hoyer, Roscoe G. Bartlett, Elijiah E. Cummings, and Christopher Van Hollen, Jr., House Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20515.

An Alternative?

2009-01-16T16:23:00.000-08:00

For those Maryland liberty loving conservatives who wish the Republican Party would speak boldly against:

The Federal Reserve,
Our involvement in the Middle East,
Our irresponsible debt,
The never ending growth of government,

THIS MAY BE FOR YOU?

Michael Bertocchi announces a meeting of The Constitution Party of Maryland on Saturday, January 24, 2009, from 11 am to 1 pm at: Howard County Central Library,10375 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia, Maryland 21044. Call 410-313-7850 (The library is 3 blocks from the Columbia Mall.)

Guest Speaker -- Brad Botwin from Help Save Maryland ( http://www.helpsavemaryland.com/ ). He'll talk about the effects of illegal immigration on Maryland citizens.

The Constitution Party of Maryland will also hold their elections for Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary, & Treasurer. (You must be a registered voter with the Constitution Party to vote & hold office.) Please bring your voter registration card so we know you are a registered voter with the Constitution Party along with a photo ID such as your driver's license. You may change your political affiliation to the Constitution Party by going to http://www.elections.state.md.us/about/county_boards.html

Other topics to be discussed are:
• The upcoming Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) meeting on Thursday, February 26 through Saturday, February 28 Omni Shoreham Hotel
• The Spring National Committee meeting -- Thursday, June 11 through Saturday, June 13 Newark, New Jersey.
• Discussion and talk concerning Alain LaReau’s decision to run for Congress in the 3rd Congressional district.

contact:
Michael Bertocchi
Rockville, Maryland
Constitution Party of Maryland
301-814-2005

The Complainer!

2009-01-06T18:26:00.000-08:00

One of the Republican friends I met during this last election cycle, made a point of reading my blog. He later confided that he understands my positions, but is convinced that I complain too much. He instructed me, that I would have a better chance of winning people over, if I did not complain about them. “You should talk about your ideas, but not criticize others. If you complain about a particular person, or persons’ position, they will not listen to you, associate with you, or have you to dinner.”

My response was, that maybe that is what is wrong with the Republican Party. Maybe everyone is so intent on going along, to get along, they forgot how to complain. They forgot to complain when a Republican justifies war, to create “a beachhead for democracy”. They forgot to complain when Bush pushes through a bill that creates a DNA bank for newborns in the U.S., or when Posse Comitatus was violated, or when Ron Paul supporters were hassled by the security at the GOP Convention, or when the supposed facts of 9-11 are so unbelievable, that pilots, engineers and architects, and some clergy are demanding the truth.

And then there is the Gaza War; dare I complain?

Neo-Conservative Steele

2009-01-01T18:50:00.000-08:00

We here in Maryland are supposed to be all excited that one of our own, Michael Steele, is in the running for the Chairman of the R.N.C. I am still awaiting a reply from Mr. Steele to my inquiry concerning his apparent cave-in on ESCR.

His chummy relationship with FOX news, also concerns me. FOX would not allow Ron Paul in the New Hampshire primary debate, and in a later debate, they showed their true Neoconservative color, when they tried to embarass Dr. Paul, by insinuating that he didn't belong on the stage.

As a Ron Paul Republican, looking for a humble foreign policy, I find Mr. Steele's Iraq position unconstitutional. We go to war to "establish a beachhead of democracy"? I hope the nearly one million civillians who have been murdered in the anarchy we created feel the same. Oh, they're dead.

Q: Do you believe the war has been worth the price we've paid in lives and costs?
Steele: I think the war has been worth it to the extent that what we're trying to establish there is a beachhead of democracy. When we walk out of Iraq, what do we want? Do we want an Iraq that's an ally of the US, or do we want an Iraq that is an enemy of the US? We want an ally, so it's been worth it to us to establish this beachhead of democracy and an ally in an area where we've had some trouble in the past.
Source: 2006 Maryland Senate debate on Meet the Press Oct 29, 2006

And, I thought the former seminarian, Steele, would use the constitution to attempt to save some babies. Dr. Paul suggested that we, through the Congress, through the constitution (Article 3 section 2), tell the federal courts to stay out of questions related to the life of the unborn, and let the states decide. Steele is fine with Roe v. Wade. I hope the thousands of babies that are aborted are also fine. Oh, they're dead.

Q: Would you hope the US Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade?
Steele: My desire is that we follow what stare decisis is at this point.
Source: 2006 Maryland Senate debate on Meet the Press Oct 29, 2006

Levels of Disagreement?

2008-12-21T14:00:00.000-08:00

Last night about thirty politically concerned citizens met in Annapolis at the Maryland Republican Headquarters, to discuss formation of a chapter of the Republican Liberty Caucus.
Del Joe Boteler and Del Rick Impallaria spoke about: building the Republican Party, “all politics is local”, Churchill’s quote: “never, never, never give-up”, foreign entanglements, and the frustrations of being in the minority in a big spending liberal state. They spoke fondly of our Constitution and Declaration of Independence. Steve Wright, Harford County Central Committee and Rt. 40 Republican Club, mentioned that most patriotic statesmen and women would disagree on something.

He is correct. I disagree with the State Party’s inability to criticize the national leaders, attack their policies, and to make a clear statement that reflects the obvious sellout of our nation by both national parties, and the media.

I may have missed it but:
Has McCain been properly discarded by the Maryland Republican Party for his support of the $700 billion bailout?
Has the Maryland Republican Party publicly complained that President Bush has violated Posse Comitatus?
Has the Maryland Republican Party made a public statement about our loss of personal liberties, our foreign entanglements, and the constitutional problems with the Federal Reserve?

During our second round of introductions, I shared that three of my grown children came home to work the polls during the election. Each one confessed that the “Republican” label was a negative, and immediately ended most conversations. We need to converse, and talk about liberty is long overdue. “Politics may be local”, but when our national party: is supporting measures that contradict our principles, is not protecting your rights, and is damaging the good name of the state parties, where is the outrage?

Ultimately, the question for Ron Paul supporters, is how much disagreement can one withstand amidst the levels of one’s “own” party: national, state, caucus, and local?

Neo-conservatism?

2008-12-20T08:18:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine, who is definitely conservative, and leaning toward our liberty movement, asked me to define "neo-conservatism"?
I started by explaining that it is when one professes to live by conservative principles, but in fact does not. He asked for a for-instance? So, I suggested to him a conservative's support of our foreign policy of empire building, vs. a humble foreign policy. He questioned Korea? Japan? I injected Iraq. He countered Afghanistan?
Then I suggested a conservatives support of "Foreign Aid": Redistribution of our wealth to a foreign entity.

Is there a clear definition of what a neo-conservative is, or how one thinks?

"Oogedy boogedy"? Cute

2008-12-08T11:38:00.000-08:00

The following Letter to the Editor was submitted 12-08-08 to the Sun Paper in response to Kathleen Parker's commentary and Jim Maher's letter published in the Sun.

I entered the debate on the problems with the GOP, "Readers speak out: the religious right and the election," Nov. 29, reacting to Kathleen Parker’s commentary in which she blamed the dismal election results on the "religious" problem, "the evangelical, right‑wing, oogedy‑boogedy branch of the GOP". She revisited this notion in her Dec. 5th commentary,” Them Oogedy‑Boogedy Blues”, as she felt obliged to define this new word, “oogedy-boogedy” that her friend had coined.
My description that,“Ms. Parker’s attempt to blame the “great big problem, GOD”, for the Republican Party’s woes, is classic liberal sleight of hand.” caused Jim Maher to laugh “out loud”, and onto your editorial page, Dec 2nd, “Kathleen Parker certainly no liberal”. This response to my challenge of her "conservative columnist" label, generated some twenty comments on baltimoresun.com.
In reviewing Parker’s archives for the past few months, I see that Mr. Maher was partially correct. She is not a liberal, but she is not a conservative. Parker puts out about nine commentaries each month. Most, of them only flirt with conservative principles. They seem to be sarcastic, witty, personality and policy critiques, which stay well within the status quo. They do not challenge on true conservative principles.
In foreign policy, has Ms Parker spoken out against our presence in the Iraq War, or Condi Rice’s statement to the Council on Foreign Relations, that the U.S. is in the business of spreading democracy? Has she written anything against the Federal Reserve, or Congress’s dereliction of duty to coin money and regulate its value? I also failed to find an opinion attacking the unpatriotic Patriot Act.
Maher was partially right, “Kathleen Parker certainly no liberal”. She is a neo-conservative! McCain is what our media and the national neo‑conservatives arranged for us to pick from. When defending conservative principles against liberals or neo-conservatives, is there really a difference?
Michael Hargadon

Response to Kathleen Parker

2008-11-24T19:06:00.000-08:00

The following Letter to the Editor was submitted 11-21-08 to the Sun Paper in response to Kathleen Parker's commentary published in the Washington Post and the Sun.

Letter to the Editor

As part of my recent run for Congress in Maryland’s 7^th district, I renewed my subscription to the Sun Paper, after fifteen years of doing without it. The layout is different, but the content doesn’t seem to have changed, with shallow liberal opinions like Kathleen Parker’s, “Religious base is killing the GOP”. Her conclusion, “either the Republican Party needs a new base- or the nation may need a new party.” completely misses the real problem. The national Republican Party is not republican.

The national Republican Party has been taken over by a pack of neo-conservative wanta-be-democrats. Ms. Parker’s attempt to blame the “great big problem, GOD”, for the Republican Party’s woes, is classic liberal slight of hand.

GOD didn’t give the liberty-starved grassroots of the Republican Party, the worst possible candidate to represent our true values of: Sound money, Humble foreign policy, Limited Federal Government, and Personal Liberty. McCain is what our media and the national neo-conservatives arranged for us to pick from, so that writers, like Ms. Parker can poke fun at sacramentals, and make sophomoric religious references in cheap columns.

McCain voted for the bailout, and said nothing while the FED increased the Credit $600 billion dollars in the same week. He laughed about 100 more years of undeclared war in Iraq. He and his neo-conservative buddies spent money, and bailed out special interests, as well as the Democrats. The unpatriotic Patriot Act is part of being at war with everybody. This is before he would give our country away to illegal immigrants, or use fetuses for research. John McCain is not a grass root Republican!

The true Republican party was in Minneapolis at the Rally for the Republic. We packed the Target Arena on our own dimes, listened to libertarian and conservative speakers including Congressman Ron Paul, and we shook the rafters with chants of “End the Fed!” We were as diverse there, as was my campaign committee, comprised of Christians, atheists, Muslims and Jews. We were, and are the Republican grassroots.

During my campaign we approached issues from a constitutional basis. I can see however, why some people may rise up in defense of their beliefs. Religion is hard to keep “in the privacy in one’s heart” when we encourage 6 year olds to see the joys of sodomy, or our president of “change”, defends the latest technique in leaving a born child in a utility room to die. I hoped Ms. Parker was going to enlighten me to the meaning of this infamous “change”. She penned this brilliant line, “The change Barack promised has already occurred, which is why he won.” What does that mean?

It is sad to see that there has been little substantive change in the Sun in 15 years.

Reflections on My Campaign as a Republican

2008-11-20T11:55:00.001-08:00

Since the election, many people have asked me what I thought about running for Congress as a Republican? I write down my reflections as a learning tool. This is not meant as a criticism of any group or person.

I wish to thank the Republican Party for allowing me to run as a Candidate for Congress in Maryland’s 7th district. I would specifically like to thank Jim Pelura. At the onset of our campaign, he had all the congressional candidates to the State Party office in Annapolis to provide us with contact information on state Party members, and a thorough description of our specific district. The last time I saw Jim, he was on a television report on election night standing in an empty ballroom explaining that some Republicans had lost their principles.

Of all the Republican groups that I had contact with, the Patapsco Valley Republican Club was the best. They allowed me to deliver my first stump speech at their meeting, and they didn’t hesitate to drill me on my positions. We did not agree on everything, but they invited me to share their booth at the Catonsville Arts and Crafts Festival, invited me to address them at a Palin dinner, and contributed $500.00 to my campaign. They treated me like a real candidate!

I thank the Baltimore County, Howard County, and Baltimore City Central Committees for introducing me at most events. These polite introductions were important, but paled in comparison to the overflowing hype Andy Harris consistently received, whether in his district, Rich Matthew’s, or my district. He enjoyed an unmistakable push within the Party, which often times indirectly reflected poorly on any other Candidate who happened to be at that event.

Steve Wright from the Rt. 40 Republican Club has also become a great friend. He personally showed interest in my and other Republican Liberty Candidates’ campaigns. He went out of his way to make a place for us at the more formal Republican gatherings. Steve’s presence in College Park, at the public endorsement of five of the eight Congressional candidates by Congressman Ron Paul, was most appreciated. This event was also held to remember Patrick Citroni. Patrick loved the Republican Party. I am writing these reflections in hopes that in some small way they may help bring the party back to its principles.

Sometimes there seemed to be an uncomfortable distance between many of the loyal Republicans and the Republican Liberty Candidates. The Party might consider a vetting procedure before a candidate could run under the Republican label. This would allow an executive committee to quiz a potential candidate to possibly disassociate the Party from a candidate before he or she runs as a “Republican”. The Constitution Party vetted candidates when I was on their Executive Committee. It was just this procedure that opened my eyes to the problem that took me away from their ranks. I might also suggest a protocol, where candidates for federal office, who are known to be present at an affair, should be encouraged to speak before the crowd, even if just to introduce someone.

Moving forward, I would specifically suggest that the Maryland Republican Party:

* Attack McCain’s failings as a true Republican, and admit Ron Paul was correct.
* Position the Maryland Republican Party to be the friend of people who espouse principles of Personal Liberty, Sound Money, Humble Foreign Policy, and Limited Federal Government.
* Refuse to allow the main stream media to marginalize any candidate. The proudest moment I experienced as a Republican was during the Primary, when the New Hampshire Republicans pulled out of the sponsorship of the Fox debate, when Fox excluded Ron Paul. If we continue to allow the mass media to pick out candidates, shame on us!
* Identify those Neo-conservative personalities who wish to move the party away from its roots. Distance the State Party from their rhetoric
* Recognize that this new administration will be taking orders from the same international power junkies that ruled Bush. Be prepared to attack either national party when our military ventures, deficit spending, or loss of liberties escalate. The states, the state of Maryland’s Republican Party, needs to speak out for our constitutional republic. I pray Dr. Paul’s comment, “We have crossed the Rubicon”, is not the case.

In Liberty,

Mike Hargadon