June 3, 2010

‘There is a Time to Fight’

“I am not influenced by the expectation of promotion or pecuniary reward. I wish to be useful, and every kind of service necessary for the public good, become honorable by being necessary.” –Nathan Hale

Over the just passed Memorial Day, Patriots across the Fruited Plain paused to reflect upon the ultimate sacrifice made by so many of our uniformed Patriots in honor of their sacred oaths.

This Saturday, we pause again, to remember the sixth anniversary of Ronald Reagan’s death, and to take account of his legacy.

Four weeks hence, Patriots will reflect upon the immense sacrifices, in both blood and treasure, that were spilt in creation of the United States of America, the greatest experiment in human history.

By uniting these days of reflection with Essential Education, a most vital part of The Patriot’s mission, Patriots have the foundation required to understand truly the terrific cost of our Essential Liberty.

While reflection and education are vital to understanding the history of liberty and how to sustain it, united, continual and forceful action must be undertaken to restore constitutional Rule of Law.

In the words of Thomas Paine, “Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must, like men, undergo the fatigues of supporting it.”

With one third of all state primaries completed, let’s take account of our actions to date, and the results.

Pat Toomey in Pennsylvania frightened then-Republican Senator Arlen Specter into switching party affiliations to Democrat, his original party affiliation before 1965. The Ghost was then handily busted in the recent Pennsylvania Democrat primary. Toomey now faces a tough battle in the general election.

Doug Hoffman in New York almost won a special House election by running under a well-organized third-party banner (most third parties are not well organized and, therefore, lose decisively) but lost after the leftist Republican establishment candidate suspended her campaign and endorsed the Democrat.

Chris Christie in New Jersey defeated the well-financed Democrat incumbent to become the 55th governor of the usually solidly Democrat Garden State.

Bob McDonnell became the 71st governor of Virginia in a landslide 18-point victory – in a state Barack Obama had carried by seven points just a year earlier.

Scott Brown became the first Republican since 1972 to be elected to the U.S. Senate from Massachusetts. (Unfortunately, Brown ran to the right to win election, but has not consistently followed through now that he’s in office.)

Marco Rubio in Florida so alarmed sitting governor Charlie Crist in the Republican senate primary that Crist became an independent candidate. Rubio now faces a difficult three-way race in the general election.

Spendthrift Senator Bob Bennett (R-UT), in office since 1992 and member of the all-powerful Senate Committee on Appropriations, was soundly defeated in the recent Utah Republican caucus.

Rand Paul in Kentucky steamrolled his Republican establishment primary foe by championing constitutionally conservative ideals.

But as Thomas Jefferson wrote, “The boisterous sea of liberty is never without a wave.”

Indiana conservative Marlin Stutzman lost to the “moderate” Republican establishment candidate in the Hoosier primary.

Likewise, Arkansan advocate of constitutional ideals Jim Holt could not force a runoff election against the “moderate” Republican establishment candidate.

So while the list of outright and near-victories to date would be impressive for a typical election cycle, this is not a typical election cycle. These victories are neither deep enough nor complete enough to ensure restoration of constitutional Rule of Law.

Thus, we can neither rest upon our laurels nor trust to hope that the remainder of this election cycle will go well. Because the consequences are critical, we must not allow defeat of a single Rule of Law candidate.

George Washington wrote, “It should be the highest ambition of every American to extend his views beyond himself, and to bear in mind that his conduct will not only affect himself, his country, and his immediate posterity; but that its influence may be co-extensive with the world, and stamp political happiness or misery on ages yet unborn.”

In the House of Representatives, Republicans, who currently control only 178 seats, will need to win a net 40 additional House races to obtain control and 112 races for a veto-proof majority.

In the Senate, Republicans currently control only 41 seats and will need to net 10 additional races to obtain control and 26 races for a veto-proof majority.

Of course, while it is safe to say that the overwhelming majority, if not all, of Democrat incumbents and candidates are anti-constitutional (a.k.a. “living constitutionalists”), it is also safe to say that not all Republicans are constitutional conservatives. Thus, the numbers for majorities listed above necessarily need be even larger to overcome the plague of “moderates,” whose primary goals are to curry favor with the opposition to ensure perpetual re-election, rather than to fight forcefully for constitutional Rule of Law.

Veto-proof majorities must be the forthright objective of every Patriot who desires restoration of Rule of Law. Anything short of that will necessarily result, at best, in treading unconstitutional water for at least two more years or, at worst, further passage of the unconstitutional Obama agenda, in whole or in part, by a Congress under Republican control (see above lament on “moderates”).

However, political victories require copious amounts of both money and manpower, a notion not lost on our Founding Fathers, who in the Declaration of Independence pledged their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor.

Resolve then today, this moment, to emulate the Founders: to act in unison, both continually and forcefully. For now is the time for all Patriot Americans to come to the aid of their country.

Incorporate this strategy from Thomas Jefferson: “If we move in mass, be it ever so circuitously, we shall attain our object; but if we break into squads, everyone pursuing the path he thinks most direct, we become an easy conquest to those who can now barely hold us in check.”

Utilize the knowledge and wisdom of free organizations such as Club for Growth and Senate Conservatives Fund to support vetted constitutionally conservative candidates. Remember that even if those candidates don’t live in your district, they will still represent your views in Congress.

Dedicate a significant portion of your income and wealth, above and beyond what you might already, to donate to Rule of Law candidates. Give until it hurts – because the alternative will assuredly be far more painful.

Contact campaign managers to volunteer. If you cannot travel to where needed, then technology affords an opportunity to assist well-organized campaigns anywhere in the country.

Plan vacations around working for a candidate in another state or another part of your state. See the less-traveled America.

Make these opportunities “teachable moments” to expose your children to their awesome American heritage. Show them how the sacrifices of others afford them the opportunities to enjoy their lives and to show that their sacrifices will allow others the same. Remind them of John Adams writing to his wife, Abigail, “I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy. My sons ought to study mathematics and philosophy, geography, natural history and naval architecture, navigation, commerce and agriculture, in order to give their children a right to study painting, poetry, music, architecture, statuary, tapestry, and porcelain.”

Contribute in as many of the remaining state primaries (6/8: CA, IA, ME, MT, NV, NJ, ND, SC, SD, VA, AR runoff; 6/22: UT, MS runoff, NC runoff, SC runoff; 6/29: SD runoff; 7/13: AL runoff; 7/20: GA; 7/27: OK; 8/3: KS, MI, MO; 8/5: TN; 8/10: CO, CT, GA runoff; 8/17: WA, WY; 8/24: AK, AZ, FL, OK runoff; 8/28: LA; 9/14: DE, MD, MA, MN, NH, NY, RI, VT, WI; 9/18: HI; 10/2: LA runoff) as your convictions and resources permit.

Then, after the last primary that you work, pause to re-gather your strength and re-evaluate your position – and get back in the saddle to rejoin the battle for candidates in the general election on 2 November.

It is time for tenacious resistance and rebellion against the current thrones of government. This is not a call for revolution but for restoration – to undertake whatever measures are dictated by prudence and necessity to restore constitutional Rule of Law.

Patriots, this struggle is difficult. The odds of utter success are long. Then again, so it was also at the very founding of our nation. It will most certainly take more than one election cycle seat a Congress willing to restore Rule of Law, but reaffirm our commitment to that end we must.

Redouble your commitment to the principles of Essential Liberty and the restoration of constitutional Rule of Law outlined in The Patriot Declaration.

Educate others by distributing copies of the Essential Liberty pocket guide at political rallies and civic events such as club or association meetings, military or public service events and recognition ceremonies, etc.

Take heart, though, and implore God’s blessing that we are on the side of Truth and Light. And know that it is our civic duty, the remembrance of our heritage, and the education of our posterity that calls us to act now; to act in unison, to act continually and forcefully.

Rest assured by these words from George Washington, “The consciousness of having discharged that duty which we owe to our country is superior to all other considerations.”

Gird yourselves for the next five months; honor the sacrifices of our forebears with your own; and plow the fields for our posterity.

As Founder Joseph Warren said, “On you depend the fortunes of America. You are to decide the important question, on which rest the happiness and liberty of millions yet unborn. Act worthy of yourselves.”

And these enduring words from Peter Muhlenberg in 1776: “There is a time for all things, a time to preach and a time to pray, but those times have passed away. There is a time to fight, and that time has now come.”

(Jim Cuffia, executive director of the Essential Liberty Project, contributed to this essay.)

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