Remarks on Violent Radicalization & Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act, HR 1955
by Ron Paul
Before the House of Representatives, December 5, 2007
Mr. Speaker, I regret that I was unavoidably out of town on October 23, 2007, when a vote was taken on HR 1955, the Violent Radicalization & Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act. Had I been able to vote, I would have voted against this misguided and dangerous piece of legislation. This legislation focuses the weight of the US government inward toward its own citizens under the guise of protecting us against "violent radicalization."
I would like to note that this legislation was brought to the floor for a vote under suspension of regular order. These so-called "suspension" bills are meant to be non-controversial, thereby negating the need for the more complete and open debate allowed under regular order. It is difficult for me to believe that none of my colleagues in Congress view HR 1955, with its troubling civil liberties implications, as "non-controversial."
There are many causes for concern in HR 1955. The legislation specifically singles out the Internet for "facilitating violent radicalization, ideologically based violence, and the homegrown terrorism process" in the United States. Such language may well be the first step toward US government regulation of what we are allowed to access on the Internet. Are we, for our own good, to be subjected to the kind of governmental control of the Internet that we see in unfree societies? This bill certainly sets us on that course.
This seems to be an unwise and dangerous solution in search of a real problem. Previous acts of ideologically motivated violence, though rare, have been resolved successfully using law enforcement techniques, existing laws against violence, and our court system. Even if there were a surge of "violent radicalization" – a claim for which there is no evidence – there is no reason to believe that our criminal justice system is so flawed and weak as to be incapable of trying and punishing those who perpetrate violent acts.
This legislation will set up a new government bureaucracy to monitor and further study the as-yet undemonstrated pressing problem of homegrown terrorism and radicalization. It will no doubt prove to be another bureaucracy that artificially inflates problems so as to guarantee its future existence and funding. But it may do so at great further expense to our civil liberties. What disturbs me most about this legislation is that it leaves the door wide open for the broadest definition of what constitutes "radicalization." Could otherwise nonviolent anti-tax, anti-war, or anti-abortion groups fall under the watchful eye of this new government commission? Assurances otherwise in this legislation are unconvincing.
In addition, this legislation will create a Department of Homeland Security-established university-based body to further study radicalization and to "contribute to the establishment of training, written materials, information, analytical assistance and professional resources to aid in combating violent radicalization and homegrown terrorism." I wonder whether this is really a legitimate role for institutes of higher learning in a free society.
Legislation such as this demands heavy-handed governmental action against American citizens where no crime has been committed. It is yet another attack on our Constitutionally protected civil liberties. It is my sincere hope that we will reject such approaches to security, which will fail at their stated goal at a great cost to our way of life.
http://www.lewrockwell.com/paul/paul428.html
Ron Paul Maintains WV GOP Delegate Lead
Charleston, WV (HNN) – Based on numbers released Friday, Dec. 7, by
www.wvgopconvention.com Ron Paul has increased his delegate count to 229, while Mitt Romney stays close behind with 225 delegates. Fred Thompson is in a solid third place with 170 delegates, followed by Mike Huckabee at 134, Rudy Giuliani with 93, John McCain had 27, and Alan Keyes, 6.
These are not cited as final tallies; they are the number of qualifying uncounted delegates as of Friday, Dec. 7. The newest figures recorded just 36 new committed delegates. The number of uncommitted delegates grew from 630 to 671.
After all of the delegate registrations are processed, an online vote will be conducted among at-large candidates competing for more spots than there are vacancies. The West Virginia Convention will have a total of 1,446 delegates. For instance, Kanawha County now has 150 delegates but only 51 slots are available.
http://www.huntingtonnews.net/political/071208-rutherford-politicalronpaul.html
Ron Paul supporters dominate at mock 'caucus'
Supporters of Republican congressman Ron Paul overtook a mock political caucus in Winston-Salem last night to help their man win big.
A group of liberal, conservative and nonpartisan political groups organized the meetings yesterday across the country. Called the National Presidential Caucus, the meetings were a way to give voice to voters who live in states whose primaries probably won’t matter in next year’s presidential race. The group’s Web site is
www.nationalcaucus.com.
The host of the “caucus” here was Vernon Robinson, a former Winston-Salem City Council member and former Republican congressional candidate in the 5th and 13th districts.
“The point is that having a small number of voters in three or four states decide who the two nominees are so that it is irrelevant what anybody in North Carolina thinks is the wrong answer,” Robinson said.
The turnout at Forsyth Academy was heavy on libertarians and Paul supporters carrying pocket Constitutions and calling for major reductions in government.
In a poll of the group, Paul received 43 votes, Democratic U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio got two, and Republican Rep. Tom Tancredo of Colorado got one.
“If anything, it’s a testimony to the effectiveness of grass-roots organizations,” said Jennifer Dale, the office manager of the Forsyth County Democratic Party and one of the two voters for Kucinich.
Paul, who voted against the Patriot Act and against war with Iraq, was the Libertarian Party’s candidate for president in 1988. He was elected to Congress from Texas as
a Republican, and is using the Internet to raise millions of dollars for his presidential run.
Jim McCuiston of Winston-Salem explained why he likes Paul.
“I’ve always considered myself an independent,” said McCuiston, who had a “Ron Paul 2008” sticker on his chest. “Ron Paul cured my apathy. “There’s nothing I dislike about him. But he’s for returning to the Constitution, which means returning power to the states.
His whole policy is tied together for it to work.”
Paul is the only Republican who could successfully challenge Hillary Rodham Clinton in the general election, McCuiston said, because Paul wants the U.S. military out of Iraq.
Robinson, an admitted Paul backer, said he was surprised at the makeup of the meeting.
He drove to Davidson County to meet a staff member for Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee as the staff member drove on Interstate 85 from South Carolina to Virginia. Robinson talked him into giving up three Huckabee yard signs. But no one wanted to take one home last night.
And the stack of 45 colorful Mitt Romney brochures billing his plans for “Revitalizing the American Spirit” went nearly untouched.
“I thought there would be more turnout for other candidate’s folks,” Robinson said. “The Ron Paul folks evidently are fired up. They want to come out and support their guy in the cold.…Assuming that’s the case all over the country, that might suggest something interesting that will happen in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina.”
The 2008 Iowa caucus will be Jan. 3. North Carolina’s presidential primaries are in May, and by then the Republican and Democratic nominees will likely be all but determined.
Either way, the GOP headquarters in Forsyth County should soon have three Mike Huckabee signs available to the first takers.
http://www.journalnow.com/servlet/S...SJ_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1173353786220
) win next Niovember, it will only because of CNN and Diebold (and McDonalds, Time Warner, Phillip Morris, Phizer, etc. see the true flag as it really is below)
but yeah I can hear why you doubt my credilbility but make no mistakes I wouldn't lie about this has I am a staunch opponet of the WOD and believe the problem needs to be addresed now and not later!!! My friend kept the e-mail so I don't know if that helps.