The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.–That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, –That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.–Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.
He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.
He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.
He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.
He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences
For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:
For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.
He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

Sarah Palin speaks at a 2008 rally (Photo by Derek Walter)

When Sarah Palin took to the stage at last year’s Republican National Convention, she gave the best speech of the week and single-handedly resurrected John McCain’s fledgling campaign. At the time, I wrote a glowing review while blogging the convention for The Fresno Bee (I’m even ashamed to admit I used the phrase “Sarah Barracuda”).

During that week Palin seemed like the perfect vice presidential candidate to complement McCain. The buzz was that she was a popular, conservative governor who had worked with Democrats and fought corruption. The message was complete. It was the Reform Ticket.

Fast forward to last weekend. Palin’s speech to the tea party gang was simplistic, cliche-ridden, and just downright bad. Not to mention she ought to think twice about criticizing President Obama’s use of  a teleprompter given that she opts for a Sharpie. She had no issue sharing the stage with other buffoons like Tom Tancredo.

I have to believe that any ounce of Palin’s well-spoken deliveries or talking points were the result of the McCain campaign team. No wonder they muzzled her. If the Sarah we have now was acting like this back then, McCain would have lost by another 50 electoral votes.

She has evolved into a non-stop self-promotional machine. Which is fine for a celebrity. But another thing for a prospective stateswoman. If she wanted to convince us she was ready to be president, she would have put her head down and gone to work in Alaska as governor. How about some legislative accomplishments? Maybe even a state of the state speech or two?

No, instead we have a Fox News studio in her house in Wasilla and $100,000-a-pop speeches. Trips to Oprah’s couch and an unending feud with her grandchild’s father. The reality show has finally come to American politics.

Palin and the Tea Party group are going to hang around, but their influence won’t be that fruitful. Just as it did in 2008, the battle for the middle will dominate elections in 2010 and 2012. It was independents that helped put Scott Brown in the Senate in Massachusetts. These voters aren’t that interested in someone who speaks in 1980s conservative rhetoric, misspeaks, and has the same tired attack on Obama. She’s going to have to develop some actual ideas and policy points, or people may get bored and tune out.

I already have.

10. People will stop calling the iPod touch an iTouch.

9. I will never again hear a voicemail from Tiger Woods.

8. Sarah Palin will stop speaking. Not lose her ability to speak, but just realize most of what she has to say is not that bright.

7. The Episcopal Church will brush up on 1 Corinthians and stop suing churches that have left this apostate mess. For an organization that is always shouting about inclusiveness and accepting others, it sure is quick to bring out the lawyers and make threats and intimidation against those who do not follow their beliefs. Here is hoping to a successful 2010 for the Anglican Province in North America.

6. The exclusivity agreement between AT&T and Apple will end. AT&T’s coverage has been abysmal, and maybe some competition from Verizon for iPhone fans will get them to right the ship.

5. The GOP will kick Michael Steele to the curb. He is an embarrassment at a time when the party needs leaders.

4. The Seahawks will fill their team holes: quarterback, offensive line, running game, secondary, and a run defense.

3. An actual television news agency will spring from the ashes of the right-wing Fox, left-wing MSNBC, and often-clueless CNN. (Hey, remember it’s a wish list).

2. Apple will finally introduce this magical, mystical wonder tablet so we can stop listening to rumors.

1. The TSA will get a clue about security. Making people hold their bladder longer on flights is not a viable solution to stopping chemical bombs.

It didn’t help when one of the Department of Education’s recommended activities was for students to write a letter detailing how they could help Obama. Yet even this overreach was not worthy of the paranoia exhibited by the Glenn Becks, Rush Limbaughs, and other inhabitants of the Land of the Stupid.

Some have argued that they feel the President should not be playing the role of wise sage or moral teacher. There may be a dash of over sized ego in our ubiquitous President, but I am inclined to give him a pass as the contents of the speech are nothing to be alarmed about. We also should keep in mind that much of the public’s desire to elevate the President goes back to the founding of the Republic. It was George Washington who was known as, “His Excellency” and, “the man who unites all hearts.” FDR’s Fireside Chats soothed a nation at war, and there is no shortage of conservatives who have an altar to Reagan above their mantle. Rightly or wrongly, the President carries considerable force and influence in our country.

Partisan debate is often good for a democracy, but hyper-partisan toxicity never is. During the later part of George W. Bush’s term the environment wasn’t that different than what Obama is experiencing: there was nothing Bush could say to avoid being roasted daily by critics.

Abraham Lincoln spoke of how a house divided against itself could not stand – arguing the nation would either condone slavery everywhere or nowhere. I fear the same kind of splintered nation over partisanship. We will either remember the better parts of our Republic, the miracle of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, or continue to slide into jaundiced factions who have little to say to each other; but much to scream.

So Obama wasn’t there, but he can conclude the police were stupid? Even given the police report indicating that Gates was angry, belligerent, and throwing out racial barbs and profanities? And what Obama and other opportunistic commentators like Michael Eric Dyson forget is that Gates was not wrongly arrested for breaking and entering. He was arrested for disorderly conduct. This tends to happen when you are pugnacious towards the police and refuse their instructions. Also calling them racist and insulting their mother doesn’t help. You would expect a Harvard professor to know better.

If the police came to my home after I had just broke in, I would be glad that someone had called and they showed up. I would expect to be questioned about my actions and to prove it was my house. It seems as if Gates thought his status as a Harvard professor should have sufficed for the police investigation. But wouldn’t that be profiling? Somehow the well-educated have a higher tendency toward truthfulness? In fact it was Gates, not the police officers, who was exhibiting racial profiling. For Gates to assume the police were questioning him simply because he was black speaks to his preconceived biases. He had a narrative in his head and charged with it full speed ahead: “they are questioning me because I’m black.”  For Michael Eric Dyson to get on TV and argue this case is some sort of metaphor for the black experience betrays the facts of the incident; it is just another chance for him to sermonize on perpetual victimhood and get some air time. He is one of the most overrated voices on television whose synonym-clad sentences and triplespeak are painful and nauseous to any thinking listener.

President Obama is supposed to be the President for all Americans. Instead of rising above the situation, he needlessly injected himself into the debate and sided with Gates and trashed the police officer who handled the arrest. It was a shortsighted and pitiful display, especially given how often President Obama attempts to channel Abraham Lincoln. Obama should remember how Lincoln asked all Americans to unite, “with malice toward none, with charity towards all.” The president left us last night with plenty of malice, and no charity.

I have returned from blogging purgatory. The past month I was swamped with teaching two University classes – one online and one on-site. Needless to say that, combined with the day job, left me time for little else. One class has wrapped up and the other is in its last week, so I am looking forward to getting back into the writing game; especially my posting to this blog and AppCraver. Especially since there is quite a bit going on with Apple’s new iPhone, Windows 7 (which I’m sporting on my new desktop), President Obama’s Mideast travels, you get the picture. I am looking forward to the conversation.

A group at Fresno Pacific University called the Sunbird Conservatives sent out a notice yesterday publicizing an inaugural (of course they used the grammatically incorrect term “first annual”) Conservatives Conference. The e-mail proclaimed, “Conservatism is not a policy but rather a way of life.  It is a life based on principles and values that transcend time and political parties.”

Really? And what is this way of life? Watching FOX News, listening to Rush Limbaugh and stockpiling guns? Language like “transcend time and politics” involve bigger ideas than a political party. Such universal principles are what a national identity, or a religion, is founded on. Religions and political parties have very different purposes. One seeks to understand truth, articulate a worldview, and win converts. The other tries to influence a broad coalition in order to win power (if you can’t tell which is which, see your priest). Unfortunately too many have confused the two. Too many are trying to create theological purity in this new faith and purge the ranks of the heretics.

These are dark days indeed for the party of Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, and Ronald Reagan. In fact, would any of this great trio recognize, or be welcomed, in today’s Republican Party?

• As a lawyer, Obama once sued the same financial institutions on behalf of radical groups like ACORN for failing to use leftist social engineering criteria for lending instead of an applicant’s ability to repay a loan.
• And now, anyone who dares speak out against or challenge Obama’s ultra-liberal agenda, such as the hundreds of thousands of patriots who attended last week’s Tea Parties, should expect to be labeled “unhealthy” by this Adminstration.  Now, THAT is arrogance!
• You know that Barack Obama’s hubris and charisma conceal the inexperience and lack of wisdom that our country cannot afford in its president.

When you have a popular president and an economic crisis this same old junk just doesn’t work. Even if there is no hope of passage, someone at the top needs to articulate legislation with a vision of optimism that calls Americans to something greater than themselves.  And a plan for government and industry to be held more accountable. Right now that person is President Barack Obama. Even though his budget is bloated and bleeds red ink, he is the only one with any sort of substantive proposals.

I have been reading a lot about Lincoln lately (Team of Rivals and Lincoln, The Biography of a Writer) and today’s Republican Party is starting to remind me of the Whig Party of Lincoln’s day. Its lack of unifying vision and moral bankruptcy over slavery is what gave  birth to the Republican Party.

If the GOP continues to be guided by Michael Steele, Rush Limbaugh, Laura Ingraham et.al., we will need a rebirth of the party or face being overrun for years by the Democrats.