In response to
The First Statement of Conservative Principles

AMEN, Rifleman! One of my extreme privileges toward the end of my military career was the education of junior officers in a course called "Combines Arms and Services Staff School (CAS3), called 'CAS-cubed.'" One of my sub-classes was an all-together too brief study and discussion of the Constitution. Since every officer--male and female--in the course had taken the oath to "support and defend" that document, I felt we might wish to explore some of the duties inherent in that oath.I was astonished at how many had NOT even read our defining document, nor had any idea how truly beautiful it is. Each officer received a copy of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence to study. Half the class received a copy of the Federalist Papers, and the other half got a copy of the Anti-Federalist Papers, and lively discussion ensued.This course was not mandated, but I included it because I wanted to impress upon them the severity of what they had sworn to give their lives for, if necessary.What our Representatives and Senators have lost sight of is the provision in Article VI, "This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in the Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding."That's pretty plain to me. If it ain't in the Constitution, it's just a matter of opinion, not an entitlement. In the more than 200 years of "The Grand Experiment," there have been more than 10,000 proposals to amend that document. So far, only 27 have been made.