lock and load; it's becoming ...

Well, the “No Kings Protest” and the 250^th Anniversary Army parade is a wrap. Yet, the country remains in a multi-fronted war for survival. A war where the truly sad part: It’s all from within. We have the Democrat and Republican parties, including the three branches of government all waging wars of destruction against the Constitution, which ultimately includes the destruction thereof of WE THE PEOPLE. Now, throw in the anarchists: Antifa; BLM; NGOs and a host of other organizations either wreaking havoc at rallies or assisting in the willful influx of illegals, some even receiving tax dollars to increase the flow thereof into the country. And make no mistake, every tidbit of violence against deportations is wrapped in the blanket of the decennial census. And if one claims not, then just anarchy or blatant willful ignorance is the modus operandi. But the desire; permanently change the power hold in the House of Representatives through one-sided Party representation. You know, blue State versus red State.

And there’s even those who fund Antifa’s and BLM’s proclivities of destructive wantonness, even though BLM also received untold millions from companies’ virtue signaling of “Don’t attack us.” And … let’s not forget, the everyday average citizen. Those who stand firmly with Party or those organizations who despise America while claiming they love it but want to destroy it in the name of democracy (think Antifa), even though it’s a constitutional republic. Yes, there’s a difference. And all while the Constitution takes proverbial hits; each anti-American entity like a fan, fanning the flames angst to take the United States down; WE THE PEOPLE, fools to our own demise.

So, take the recent crackdown on illegal immigration. One of Trump’s campaign promises if elected and now a flashpoint for “peaceful protests.” The supposed First Amendment Right of every citizen, whether naturalized or not, inclusive of the ability to burn down, tear down, destroy, steal from, loot, or vandalize by spray painting any manner of vulgarity, proving their peaceful nature. And sadly, to quell the ill-perceived violent nature of the peaceful protests, President Trump called out the National Guard (Militia) to Los Angeles. But did he have the power to do so? Better, did the last administration have the unchecked power to allow the influx of illegals? Or, what about President Obama and DACA (Deferred Action Childhood Arrival)? The executive order he issued, and the Supreme Court upheld. What, if any of the nonsensical outlandishness committed is constitutional? I guess it’s all food for thought, or Party fodder depending on what side of the aisle one stands with, right?

But today, did/does Trump have the power to muster the National Guard: You know, be a king. Like judges, who, in their alignment with Party, place stays or rule against every executive order Trump issues, acting as authoritarians or kings themselves. Or the non-existent power that every executive has used, including George Washington, but that’s another topic. Or did not the Democrat Party appoint Kamala Harris as their choice for president? Except, the Constitution is very clear in respect to power: All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives (Constitution/Article I/Section 1/First Clause). No mistaking any intent in that clause.

And I understand the Framers reasoning. Five years prior to the Constitution, they’d displaced through the Revolution, their prior benefactor, the king. He was tyrannical in nature, among multitudinous issues, taxing the colonies to fund his desire for war. Hell, just read the Declaration of Independence (DOI). But one person with the ability to declare war, muster the troops, force lock and load of weapons for perceived or desired reasons granted in the Constitution? Yes, the Framers prevented that from happening again. But the fledgling nation needed an Army and Navy for defense: To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years; (Constitution/Article I/Section 8/11^th Clause). And: To provide and maintain a Navy; (Constitution/Article I/Section 8/12^th Clause). But notice the sub clause in Army funding? Understand, because of the king and his Army, the Constitution by design was to prevent the tyranny of an authoritarian from taking over … again. Go back to: All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives (Constitution/Article I/Section 1/First Clause). Think damn it!

Anyway, Congress’ power: To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water; (Constitution/Article I/Section 8/10^th Clause), but also: To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces; (Constitution/Article I/Section 8/13^th Clause). Which should also bring one to question when a law is passed is it constitutional or not. And that is where the courts come into play. And of the three branches, they are the weakest: No power! Thus, it requires one of the other two to step up constitutionally and make certain that absolute power does not absolutely corrupt. Think of the executive (president) as the father figure. Congress gets out of line; the executive brings them into line. Except, Congress can always give him and the courts the proverbial bird. Remember: All legislative power! And that’s where WE THE PEOPLE are supposed to hold the three in check.

So, specifically, Los Angeles: To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions; (Constitution/Article I/Section 8/14^th Clause), including: To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress; (Constitution/Article I/Section 8/15^th Clause).

Now, each of the powers in Article I/Section 8 belongs to Congress, not the president: To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof (Constitution/Article I/Section 8/17^th Clause). Except: The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States; he may require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer in each of the executive Departments, upon any Subject relating to the Duties of their respective Offices, and he shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment (Constitution/Article III/Section 2/First Clause).

The key: “when called into the actual Service of the United States” by Congress unless they’ve abdicated power to the executive. But would that not then be unconstitutional? Anyway: The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened) against domestic Violence (Constitution/Article IV/Section 4). Although, when Trump called the National Guard to Los Angeles, Congress was in session. Thus, as the flames of division continue to be fanned by Party, government branch, or group, I’m reminded of an old analogy from my days in the military: The Navy is like a fan. You stand in front of it, it blows. You stand behind it, it sucks. You stand beside it: It doesn’t do a damned thing for you. Just make certain the supposed voice you're relying on for representation isn’t a fan or fanning bullshit. Now, think constitutionally, but think damn it!