Georgia Senate threatens dismantling of USA
It wasn’t quite the firing on Fort Sumter that launched the Civil War. But on April 1, your Georgia Senate did threaten by a vote of 43-1 to secede from and even disband the United States.
It was not an April Fool’s joke.
In fact, Senate Resolution 632 did a lot more than merely threaten to end this country. It stated that under the Constitution, the only crimes the federal government could prosecute were treason, piracy and slavery.
“Therefore, all acts of Congress which assume to create, define or punish [other] crimes … are altogether void, and of no force,” the Georgia Senate declared.
In other words, in the infinite, almost unanimous wisdom of the Georgia Senate, Michael Vick is being imprisoned illegally, Bernie Madoff should serve no time for stealing $60 billion and the Unabomber must go free. In fact, the federal penitentiary in Atlanta should be emptied of its inmates.
But wait, there’s more.
The resolution goes on to endorse the theory that states have the right to abridge constitutional freedoms of religion, press and speech. According to the resolution, it is up to the states to decide “how far the licentiousness of speech and of the press may be abridged.”
The resolution even endorses “nullification,” the legal concept that states have the power to “nullify” or ignore federal laws that they believe exceed the powers granted under the Constitution. That concept has a particularly nasty legacy. It helped precipitate the Civil War, and in the 1950s and early ’60s it was cited by Southern states claiming the right to ignore Supreme Court rulings ordering the end of segregation.
Finally, the resolution states that if Congress, the president or federal courts take any action that exceeds their constitutional powers, the Constitution is rendered null and void and the United States of America is officially disbanded. As an example, the resolution specifically states that if the federal government enacts “prohibitions of type or quantity of arms or ammunition,” the country is disbanded.
In other words, if Congress votes to restore the ban on sale of assault rifles, the United States is deemed to no longer exist.
This, your Georgia state Senate voted 43-1 to endorse.
Now, to be fair, the resolution passed because it was snuck unnoticed onto the Senate resolution calendar on the 39th day of the 40-day legislative session, when senators were trying to handle dozens of bills and scores of amendments. Most did not have an opportunity to read the six-page resolution, which in its description claimed to merely affirm “states’ rights based on Jeffersonian principles.”
However, those who introduced and sponsored the measure have no such excuse. Presumably they read and understood what they asked their fellow senators to endorse. And those sponsors include some of the most prominent members of the Senate —- Senate Majority Leader Chip Rogers of Woodstock, Senate President Pro Tem Tommie Williams, Transportation Committee Chairman Jeff Mullis of Chickamauga, and Chief Deputy Whip John Wiles of Cobb County, among others.
The resolution they sponsored is part of a radical right-wing national movement —- a similar resolution was introduced in the Georgia House but not voted on. It has been introduced in legislatures all over the nation, and has passed in both chambers in Oklahoma and one in South Dakota.
And while the Georgia resolution is legally meaningless and was passed without debate or even knowledge of most senators, it has had an impact. It has been hailed by, among others, those fighting the conspiracy to create a single North American country, by the Confederate States Militia, by the John Birch Society, and the League of the South, which still pines for the cause of an “independent South” and believes that “Southern society is radically different from the society impressed upon it by an alien occupier.”
You have to question the judgment of those who would have any truck whatsoever with such nonsense, and who would jeopardize the reputation of the Georgia Senate to lend aid and comfort to such radical causes and fringe groups.
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405 comments Add your comment
DB, Gwinnettian
April 16th, 2009
7:08 am
However, those who introduced and sponsored the measure have no such excuse.
Nor do those who vote for these extremists.
gttim
April 16th, 2009
7:10 am
Funny how this is similar to legislation used during the civil right’s era by bigots trying to defy Supreme Court rulings ordering the end of segregation, and it is is being used by the same people who support the Teabaggers. I was looking at the 28 photos the AJC has on its website of the Teabagger’s protest downtoen at the capital. What a wide range of causes on their signs! Seems like the vast right wing of fruitcakes is heavily represented. I did notice one thing, however. Out of 28 photos, there does not appear to be an African American. Hmmm. Eight years of Bush spending our kids inheritance, and the vast right wing chooses not to say anything. Put an African American in the White House and suddenly all hell breaks loose with them!
I Report/ You Whine
April 16th, 2009
7:12 am
You are the ones that called us the “enemy.”
And “enemies” we shall be.
With our own country.
bwa
Bud Wiser
April 16th, 2009
7:17 am
Now, to be fair, the resolution passed because it was snuck unnoticed onto the Senate resolution calendar on the 39th day of the 40-day legislative session, when senators were trying to handle dozens of bills and scores of amendments.
Sounds very familiar, hmmmmm, where could I have heard that statement before???
Hmmmmm, could it be similar to the economic disaster bill that Obozo pushed through recently? The same bill that congress-people actually had the nerve (or the stupidity) to go on television and say that they hadn’t time to read it all? Similar to this almost daily assault on the American taxpayers from Washington, the “excuse-du-jour” from these idiots that the sycophants all fall back to, because they are too stupid to realize that they are being raped by the federal government as well?
Yes, I believe it is one and the same.
Dopes with chains
Taxpayer
April 16th, 2009
7:22 am
Which begs many questions in my little ole Southern mind, including but not limited to,
1. Where was Cagle and his 12-person staff during the session. Shouldn’t he know what is put up for a vote.
2. Is Perdue supportive of this bill or will he even publicly take a stand.
Accidental or overlooked or whatever, it is public knowledge and it deserves to be addressed by our “leaders” in public. They are either for it or against it. There is NO in between. Let them make their stand and be counted or else they are all a pack of cowards. I, for one, am against such trash and trash talk, just in case it is not already obvious.
At least, that is how I feel about it.
Eric
April 16th, 2009
7:33 am
Though some of the measures cited here imply a “turning back of the clock,” in a broader sense, what I see happening is a healthy corrective to an increasing centralized federal control over our lives. One thing left of the list–which I find curious–is the Real ID (anyone remember this issue two years ago?).
ByteMe
April 16th, 2009
7:34 am
Ah, the Georgia Legislature. Every year, they keep trying to raise the bar on “stupid”. Once again, the Senate raised the bar with this bill. Wonder what they’ll do next year to raise the bar further.
Southerndem
April 16th, 2009
7:47 am
I’ve emailed Chip Rogers, who misrepresents me in the State Senate, several times asking him about this. Somehow my email keeps getting trashed. Maybe I’ll show up at one of his town hall meetings. If he’s getting ready to take the state out of the Union his constituents should be informed.
Mrs. Godzilla
April 16th, 2009
7:48 am
Any wonder why folks still laugh at us Georgians?
PS:Andy
Yep, 250,000 teabaggers! Wahoo!
Now watch them split what’s left of the GOP right smack down the middle.
The wish for a third party may come true, and it ain’t gonna’ help the right.
Jay
April 16th, 2009
7:50 am
Whiner, you’re spamming the thread. Cease, please.
jt
April 16th, 2009
7:50 am
This is a positive first step for our state although, the corruptocrats in Washington will merely laugh. The next step is to put some “financial teeth” into the legislature, like Colorado attemped to a few years back. Why does Georgia’s tax money have to filter through Washington?
Jerry Gonzalez
April 16th, 2009
7:51 am
It should not come as a surprise since Georgia Senate Majority Leader Chip Rogers (R-Woodstock) also defends his association with a hate group with white nationalist ties and also defends the actions of the vigilante group, the Minutemen.
Bud Wiser
April 16th, 2009
7:52 am
Janet Napolitano just now admits LIVE in an interview by Fox News that she did not read the DHS report causing the furor about the alleged “right wing extremists”, but that she “was briefed” on it.
Another case of total malfeasance of duty, she should be fired immediately.
Would you sign any contract, like buying a home or a car, or for a job, or your tax returns without first reading it? Would you affix your name to anything of obligation without reading it? Now project yourself (I know this is so very hard for the intellectually challenged left) as a lawmaker or policy maker for a Department in the government, where what you affix your name to that could affect millions of lives…..do you not think you might just want to read it first?
Perhaps not, if:
a. You are a moron like Napolitano, and the herds of miscreants and idiots in Washington, the same idiots we all elected, from both parties.
b. You are so supremely arrogant that you will ‘explain’ to the moronic public what you really meant to say.
c. You do not care, see B. above, because you are important now, and they are not.
d. All of the above.
Another dope with chains in Washington, an official that, in her own opinion, is just too damned smart for the rest of us to be able to understand…..just do what we say or you will find yourself in jail.
Taxpayer
April 16th, 2009
7:53 am
By the way, I would just like to go on record as saying that I think that the GOP is doing an excellent job with getting their message to the people. It is perfect. Don’t change a thing. Really. Honest. Well, I still have not seen much effort on emphasizing the GOP philosophy of no rules and no regulations and no oversight. Perhaps, the GOP could stand to improve their message just a little bit.
Joey
April 16th, 2009
7:53 am
It is amazing Jay. You always get a list of names and political party when you can use it to criticize Republicans. But never, never, can acquire a list when Democrats are being silly. And you forgive the Democrats who voted for this because: They did not have time to read the text. Not the first time you have been so forgiving of Democrats.
Well except for the time that someone through Senator Dodd under the bus and you kicked him a couple of times, clearly thinking he would not be able to get back up.
TW
April 16th, 2009
7:55 am
C’mon, Jay, republican world is alot more fun if you don’t…think?
You libs and your ‘thinkin”…and your ‘research’…and your ‘education’…
Bud Wiser
April 16th, 2009
7:55 am
Oh, and I see that Jay does not want anyone to see the ACTUAL results and attendances at the hundreds of Tea Parties all across the nation.
Nope, no manipulation of the truth here.
Just SEE AJC, READ AJC, BELIEVE AJC, it is all the news that is fit to print, and that we allow you to see.
Way to go slumming in the same gutter as the NY Times and Boston Globe, Jay.
Mrs. Godzilla
April 16th, 2009
7:59 am
Taxpayer
You are right on!
GOP, Republicans, Teabaggers(snicker), Conservatives, et al:
PLEASE STAY THE COURSE! Please, Please, Please!
jt
April 16th, 2009
8:00 am
It is strange how liberals world wide cheered for the country of Georgia’s independence from an intrusive, centralized, dysfunctional goverment.(from the USSR).
What’s the diff here?
I Report/ You Whine
April 16th, 2009
8:00 am
Jay- I had already stopped, I have a potent sixth sense.
I’m just curious, when there are ten thousand other comments from one or two people lying about the crowd sizes from yesterday, why does this not count as “spam” too?
Joe Matarotz
April 16th, 2009
8:01 am
You also have to question the abject failure of the media to report this stuff factually and in a timely manner. Just because it’s written in this column causes me to question the truthfulness of Jay’s statements, and I really don’t have the time to go out and review the proceedings of the Legislature. I will certainly forget about it long before the next election, and probably before summer vacation. But I will be voting against the incumbent anyway, because they are not entitled to a free ride for life. If more people took that tack, we would start to weed out the knuckleheads and maybe start to elect decent representatives again.
jt
April 16th, 2009
8:03 am
Jay- Did you ever opine about the independence of the Country of Georgia? The USSR one?
DB, Gwinnettian
April 16th, 2009
8:04 am
Scanned the SR 632 bill. I was a little disappointed that there were no mentions of 3/5 of a person.
DB, Gwinnettian
April 16th, 2009
8:06 am
What’s really neat-o is this definition of what can be null-andi-voidy:
any Act by the Congress of the United States, Executive Order of the President of the United States of America or Judicial Order by the Judicatories of the United States of America which assumes a power not delegated to the government of the United States of America by the Constitution for the United States of America and which serves to diminish the liberty of the any of the several States or their citizens
Or, put short–whatever Rush is whining about today.
Taxpayer
April 16th, 2009
8:23 am
Ten thousand other comments! Wow! Jay, you are quite the popular one. Also, I noticed that the GOPeer’s teabagging event even made the “front page” of the dotcom version of AJC. That’s not the least bit uppity of the AJC. In fact, it speaks to a mighty white crowd.
fearless fosdick
April 16th, 2009
8:24 am
JT .. I don’t remember a lot of cheering going on!!! But if you insist, I’ll help you out of your dilemma.
Fact is JT you did pretty well defining the reason right in your own sentence.
“It is strange how liberals world wide cheered for the country of Georgia’s independence from an intrusive, centralized, dysfunctional goverment.(from the USSR). What’s the diff here?”
See that little word COUNTRY…Well JT there you go, questioned answered!
Highlander
April 16th, 2009
8:29 am
Connecting the dots: Those who doubt the rise of right-wing extremism in this country need look no further than the Georgia Senate and SR 632.
And a special note to jt re “independence from an intrusive, centralized, dysfunctional government”: Not a bad thought. Kind of sums up the way I feel about the State of Georgia’s current state government.
I Report/ You Whine
April 16th, 2009
8:32 am
Anybody else remember Quinn Hilyer, the AmSpec columnist blessed enough to have had his own Jay Bookman blog some time ago, sharing his disdain for Sarah Palin with us, well, he’s changed his mind!
Let’s cut through all of Barack Obama’s baloney. His speech on the economy at Georgetown University on Tuesday was a testament to the massive ego of a callow leader with grandiose pretensions bordering on megalomania. Everything he outlined in his vision for a near-Utopian economic future is designed to come about through the intervention of a government central planner — his own Oneself — combined with the coercive force of government to make it happen. It’s a promise of economic growth at the point of a gun, at least tacit if not explicit — and all as if some genius in the Oval Office or elsewhere in Washington has the wherewithal to know exactly how and where to “invest” and to “regulate” and to “stimulate” and to “reform” (the latter meaning, in most cases, to have government either take over something or else kill something it currently considers politically incorrect).
Bark, bark!
DB, Gwinnettian
April 16th, 2009
8:37 am
Quinn Hilyer
I didn’t think a conservo-blogger could have a funnier name than “Hindrocket,” but I think we might have a winner.
jt
April 16th, 2009
8:43 am
Fearless- The USSR stood for United Socialist STATES Russia. It was not considered a country until independence. I repeat, what’s the diff?
Taxpayer
April 16th, 2009
8:45 am
A megalomaniac illegally usurping the power of a nation and using its force against another sovereign nation. Hmmmm! Well, the self-anointed one, George Bush comes to mind. Then, there’s his behind the scenes master, Dick.
jt
April 16th, 2009
8:46 am
Highlander- You complain about an “intrusive” state goverment. I might agree. Why do you want TWO “intrusive” goverments.? Unless you feel as if our fed is perfect.
Wyld Byll Hyltnyr
April 16th, 2009
8:46 am
Jay, let’s have a thread on the DHS report. Thanks.
DB, Gwinnettian
April 16th, 2009
8:48 am
The USSR stood for United Socialist STATES Russia.
Actually it didn’t–the Soviets were kind of adamant about getting top billing on these matters–but, whatever.
Hey, if youse guys want to talk Teabagger Crowd Estimates, there’s an intimate get-together over at Instaputz on the topic.
Gotta run myself. Later, all.
Mrs. Godzilla
April 16th, 2009
8:48 am
Actually it was the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and it was communist (see Bolshevics)
ByteMe
April 16th, 2009
8:48 am
jt: USSR = Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
At least get the basics right.
Taxpayer
April 16th, 2009
8:51 am
Does anyone have a link to a copy of the Constitution of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics for jt to review and find the “differences” that he/she is interested in.
jt
April 16th, 2009
8:52 am
Busted. I stand to be corrected. sorry. I was just checking ya’ll. and anyway, the liberals cheered their independence. I still don’t see much of a difference.
Corporal
April 16th, 2009
8:53 am
Jay:
This is what happens when the 10th Amendment is historically “ignored” by the Supreme Court under the prostitution of the “commerce clause” and the federal government becomes increasingly intrusive in people’s lives. First Texas and now Georgia. There is something bigger afoot here and we had better sit up and take notice …….. probably not in our lifetimes but this is a road that puts this Republic in trouble if the federal government is not soon returned to what it should be.
Right now I am for “altering” as it states right here …..
“That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to ALTER (emphasis added) 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.”
Time will tell how others who come after us act ………..
Wyld Byll Hyltnyr
April 16th, 2009
8:53 am
DB, Gwinnettian 8:37 am
The namee is not “Hindrocket”, rather it is Hinderaker.
Go to this link and you will see the resume of one who is far more accomplished and experienced than President Ob-amateur. Coincidentally, John is a fellow “Wearer of the Green” – a Dartmouth graduate.
http://www.powerlineblog.com/aboutus.php
fearless fosdick
April 16th, 2009
8:54 am
JT…That’s right JT, “STOOD FOR,” what’s left of it is now called RUSSIA!
Georgia has been a country and independent of Russia since 1991.
Georgia is a state in the United States (a country)
Do you understand the difference now?
jt
April 16th, 2009
8:55 am
Taxpayer- I don’t know if you are being sarcastic, but the USSR DID have a constitution and it was routinely ignored right up until Gorbachev(a great man) had the fortitude to make the politicos adhere to it.
Corporal
April 16th, 2009
8:58 am
Taxpayer:
HEADLINES: Tax returns for President Obama released to the public … Obama releases medical information: “excellent health” …
Which is more intrusive do you think?
1) Personal Tax Returns
2) Personal Medical Information
3) Birth Certificate
cgregister
April 16th, 2009
8:58 am
Lord, I knew they were stupid, I just didn’t realize how stupid they all were. Please save us from this kind of stupidity again. VOTE them all out!
Murphy Dixon
April 16th, 2009
9:02 am
Really? You have nothing better to report on? This was a joke. It has no legal power and causes no repressions whatsoever. Can even the Senate not have a little fun on a(n admittedly childish) holiday? Give me a break. And give me some real news to read.
I honestly thought his article was a counter-joke until I finished. Come on, AJC.
Hillbilly Deluxe
April 16th, 2009
9:05 am
Lawmakers voting on something they haven’t read? Imagine that.
Bosch
April 16th, 2009
9:08 am
Well, this is news – this is what we get with extremists in charge.
Jay,
Have you contacted the governor’s office about this? I’d like to know what he thinks – maybe he wants to be the President of Georgia.
The Voice
April 16th, 2009
9:11 am
Do any of you folks that write on this blog do anything productive or do you all, right and left, just sit around all day trying to impress the others on this blog just how intelligent you all are? From what I see it is just alot of name calling and throwing of insults….to what end? That said….I bid you all farewell because this is surely a waste of time.
Bosch
April 16th, 2009
9:13 am
I saw a sign at the teabagger party in ATL last night:
“We come unarmed………this time”
Yes, I believe now people are really losing it.
Copyleft
April 16th, 2009
9:18 am
Right-wingers are fundamentally not okay with the idea of democracy. They’re 100% certain that their ways are always right, and they go freakin’ INSANE whenever they lose an election.
You’ll hear it every October: “This is the most important election in history! The country’s going down the tubes, and EVERYTHING’s at stake! Panic! Panic!”
They really can’t stand the very existence of people who disagree with their politics… so when they aren’t in charge, they pout and sulk and get violent and threaten to dissolve the country rather than have to compromise. That’s what makes them such dangerous fanatics.
On the Senate resolution: So, are they trying to have it both ways? They want credit for signing on to a lunatic bill of secession, but they also want to be able to claim they “didn’t see it” or “didn’t have time to read it” when it came up for a vote?
Cowards.