DEAR MAGA: Open Thread 20250306 & Federal Crimes


Welcome.
Please visit this January 1st daily thread for the rules of the road,
which are few but important.


2024 Presidential Election Map by County.
Let us Never Forget: our VOTES gave the Trump Administration a Mandate to FIX IT ALL.

Do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore,
and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. — Galatians 5:1


We got our miracle.
America is back.

Let us dedicate ourselves to the cleansing, healing, and rebuilding of our beautiful nation.

God will guide us.
Prayers and thanks to God for President Donald J. Trump.


Federal Crimes

We pretty much already knew that the elections were not being run lawfully. Marly Hornik of United Sovereign Americans knows the law. Let’s take a look.


Exhibit A: California.


Securing Liberty in America. (link to thread)

United Sovereign Americans @UnitedSAmerican Mar 4

1/ SECURING LIBERTY IN AMERICA
Marly Hornik, co-founded the national election validity organization, United Sovereign Americans, with cyber and election security subject matter expert Harry Haury. Her presentation warning fellow Americans of the constitutional and legal disaster of our elections, made at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach on March 3, 2025, is contained in this thread:

2/ The current election process nationwide is an uncontrolled, unmonitored catastrophe that is producing false returns. The last bastion of freedom on Earth is at risk of being destroyed forever, as early as 2026. Under President Trump’s decisive leadership, we see the proof that our own government has been selling out our kids’ future by stealing trillions of dollars per year from the American people, making us pay for their often-twisted agenda. Nowhere have officials betrayed us as badly as in our elections, nationwide.

3/ USA is the first organization to measure election misconduct as defined under criminal law, to deeply study Supreme Court precedent, and document the scale of defined election fraud nationwide. After years of law enforcement meetings, official reports, legislative hearings, criminal referrals and staggering trial-ready evidence, massive election fraud is still being illegally certified as accurate. Asking whether election officials are bad people is irrelevant—their job is to prevent fraud, and they are legally required to prove it to us. That’s what we pay them for. Twenty-one Chief Election Officials have been fully briefed, nine have been sued, and every last one has proven disloyal to the sovereign they serve—the American people—and disloyal to the contract we made with our government, the United States Constitution.

4/ USA has tracked tens of millions of individual felonies. We were the first to discover and document the algorithms and central vote manipulation. We filed our detailed data with states, the FBI, Homeland Security, and the DOJ under the previous administration, and filed nine federal lawsuits demanding that election commissions follow the law. And what did we prove? Every last federalized state election official believes they are the sovereign, and they are the one who chooses our representatives. Every last one. They are perfectly content to continue violating our Constitution down to the root.

5/ Our founders were masters of philosophy. They said the job of a government is to protect the gift of life. Our government guarantees individual sovereignty, within the boundaries of a social contract. To fix our election problems, we must work inside this structure, or we will damage our gift in anger and undisciplined haste.

6/ The first sentence says we secure the blessing of liberty for ourselves and our posterity. The second sentence says all power to make laws is vested in Congress. The third sentence says that the people of the several states shall choose those lawmakers. Period. They work for us. If valid elections were not the key to securing liberty, the Constitution would be written in a different order.

7/ And that is why election officials who ignore and break federal law are prosecuted as criminals. When they register false voters, accept and count illegal ballots, certify false tallies, and destroy or hide records, they sacrifice our future in their arrogance, and they can land in federal prison. The job of an election official is to act in honor for our country. It’s not for the weak.

8/ A voter registration record cannot contain false or invalid information. If a record is not 100% legitimate, it is suspicious. Before it can be added to the official list of voters, it must be scrutinized according to strict legal process.

9/ USA audited the official state records of the certified 2022 midterms, in 21 states. We found 29 million material errors in the official lists of voters. Voters registered before they were born, registered after voting in federal elections, voters named asterisk, voters with no name at all, or blank addresses. Garbage data. How did they get this bad?

10/ Now let me show you what we found in California’s infamous 2024 election: 9.5 million times, the control process failed at registration. This is not clerical error, this is criminal. When the voter rolls are broken, it is criminal election fraud. You can’t “clean” them. They cannot be trusted, nor used to secure a world power against enemies, foreign and domestic.

11/ In New York, the control process broke 5.8 million times. Elections secure the law; if elections have no law, we have no law.

12/ Here are the sickening facts regarding California’s actual vote in 2024. The only legal way for these voters to vote was via provisional ballot. Did California accept 5.5 million provisional ballots in 2024, and adjudicate each one according to the law? That’s one in every three voters who voted. How can they not know who one third of their voters are?

13/ They can’t. California broke the third sentence of the Constitution, and illegally certified 52 members for the United States House of Representatives, plus Adam Schiff. We need to stop maligning voters we disagree with, and start putting criminals in jail.

14/ New York illegally certified 26 members of the House of Representatives, and Senator Gillibrand. Who are each of these people working for? We’re not saying none of them were chosen by the people. The problem is no one knows. Why are we accepting that for our loved ones and our country? Is that the life you were created for? The theft of legitimate representation is a heinous crime.

15/ We took it one step further. USA studied the identity of the voters ourselves. Our attorneys hired a private investigator. Searching in three unique commercial law-enforcement tools, used to find people precisely in space and time, we could not find 993,000 voters in California’s midterm. Nearly a million voters who don’t exist had their votes counted. Nearly half a million voters who don’t exist had their votes counted in Pennsylvania. You’re looking at 8.5 million illegal votes. No one bothered to verify them. Our country is under attack. We put people in jail for a handful of fake ballots, yet these crimes have so far gone unpunished.

16/ USA is strongly in favor of voter ID. It will make the election officials’ job much easier, which protects them and protects America. But as you can see here, it will not fix the entire process of an election. There are numerous control points within the election system under direct attack. They must all be secured and only USA knows how to do it, mostly using current law.

The first step in a legal process is to follow critical national security infrastructure law, FISMA, and implement the Risk Management Framework. The entire system must be subject to rigorous threat testing, exactly as it is going to be used. Risk-limiting audits conducted by election officials are a fraud on the people. The voting system is a digital border of our country that must be continually monitored for dynamic, evolving attacks. We are securing the multi-trillion-dollar economy of the dominant world power, and our great-grandchildren’s inalienable rights.

Next, we must train all election personnel in threat assessment and process control, at every polling site. Then we can begin registration of verified, qualified voters. Nothing else can pass through the control point. USA found 29 million instances where this control broke. This means the states have no idea who is in their voter rolls. After that is voter ID at the polls, here. If you want to get rid of mail-in ballots, a great idea, that’s here. But every mail-in ballot goes through this judging table, and if it fails, the ballot is supposed to be thrown out. That control point broke in Pennsylvania in 2020, and Arizona 2022, among many others. If we get rid of the machines, that’s here. Scanning errors must be scrutinized here, chain of custody here, and if aggregate error exceeds the legal limit, the election fails here.

If we made it this far, we can start reporting to the media. But every single record from every county and polling site must now be reviewed by the Chief Election Official. When they certify a mixed state and federal election, this one clerk, of whom there are only fifty in the whole country, attests that the state and federal governments are both legitimate and duly authorized republican governments. They better be certain, because they can be held personally responsible when they commit perjury.

USA is in complete agreement with President Trump. We love the President’s idea of a constitutional amendment for a national election holiday, using manual voting systems. But after years of meticulous research done out of devotion to country, while countless undisciplined screamers have profited off USA data and discoveries, acting like suspicion and opinion are equal to hard evidence, we still lack the votes. We need strategy, not theatrics. To pass an amendment, we have to have a valid election in 2026. We can’t pass it with imposters living in our House and Senate.

17/ In 1868, ten states were barred from voting on the fourteenth amendment. Three states were denied Electoral College votes. Why? Because they betrayed the union. They went rogue, and Congress refused to recognize their delegates. Congress called them “territories of the United States,” and ignored their governments until they complied with the Union.

18/ Illinois, New York, California, Pennsylvania and Michigan are rogue states. No one in those governments knows if their congressional representatives are legitimate. I don’t know, you don’t know, and neither do they. Certifying elections for Congress with millions of fictitious voters and votes is an act of defiance against the United States Constitution, and USA has gathered the proof, from the states’ own official records, that this is exactly what happened.

19/ In these Supreme Court decisions, election officials went to federal prison. Read the prosecution guidelines. False voters, false votes and false tallies are all defined federal election fraud since 1873. Election officials are not allowed to take their orders from the Brennan Center; they must follow the law.

20/ The United States Department of Justice under Attorney General Bondi must immediately open a criminal investigation of this digital invasion, prosecute those responsible, and compel the states to follow legal process in 2026. Our right to legitimate congressional representation was stolen in 2022 & 2024. We cannot repeat this and have the rule of law. But we don’t just need to investigate blue states. This problem is in Ohio and Florida, it’s in Georgia and Texas. We have lost control of our elections everywhere and it’s a crime against our country. We must enforce the law—or the defense of inalienable rights on Earth may end. Today, we remind the DOJ that we gave them the proof starting in 2021. We look forward to Attorney General Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Bove making great strides to fix this disaster. United Sovereign Americans is standing by to assist in every way we can.

21/ We are already working with states and congress members loyal to our country to upgrade our election security laws to the current reality. We are taking the offensive against the denial of our civil rights with personal lawsuits against the most egregious actors in the country. unite4freedom.com/

22/ We are offering an election validity training conference this April in St Louis, Missouri. Will you join us in securing legitimate representative government in 2026, and beyond? No one is above the law. Those who have declared war on our liberty, our children, and our families, will be held accountable. No one is allowed to usurp and destroy the blessing of liberty in America. https://unite4freedom.com/securing-2026-the-usa-solution-april-2025-conference/


Go Local.

Our own Gail Combs highlighted this yesterday: The Precinct Strategy


Our Turn.

We can’t leave this to others. We can get informed on what has been found, what is being done about it, and what more needs to be done.

We can make a difference.
And we must make a difference.

May God bless and guide you as you pray and take action for our nation.


Twitterati, etc.

@DataRepublican isn’t just working to open up our ability to see into the public data in a meaningful way as some kind of a job or hobby. For her, it’s about all those who have served and suffered in wars for our nation. And her work is making waves with the thieves who are robbing our country blind. So they sent the dox-dogs after her. Looks like she has had to leave her home and is in an undisclosed location under the protection of the Cajun Navy.

God bless her, and her family as they pay the price for doing a good work.

Who is paying the foot soldiers that do the hits (doxxing)?


@DataRepublican’s Awesome Tool
for New Testament Text Confirmation

But, those attacks won’t stop this courageous, brilliant, and compassionate woman. Now that her name is known, what does she do? She shares her Christian faith and access to an amazing tool she has created. Jennica (@DataRepublican) says about her work:

This website is an aggregated cross-reference between the early Church fathers (up to the Nicaea Council of 325 A.D.) in Ante-Nicene Fathers as originally hosted by Christian Classics Ethereal Library, inspired by the e-Catena. I have mirrored the legacy website here, as it contains structural hyperlinks and formatting that are not present in the current edition. The intent of this website is to visualize the evolution of the NT canon’s popularity.

The authors/groupings of the translated works in each volume are as follows (note that volume 9 is missing). You can drill down by volume or jump directly to a NT book.

  • ANF-01: Clement of Rome, Mathetes, Polycarp, Ignatius, Barnabas, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus
  • ANF-02: The Pastor of Hermas, Tatian, Theophilus of Antioch, Writings of Athenagoras, Clement of Alexandria
  • ANF-03: Tertullian
  • ANF-04: Tertullian, Minucius Felix, Origen
  • ANF-05: Hippolytus, Cyprian, Caius, Novatian
  • ANF-06: Gregory Thaumaturgus, Dionysius, Julius Africanus, Anatolius and Minor Writers, Alexander of Cappadocia, Theognostus of Alexandria, Pierius of Alexandria, Theonas of Alexandria, Phileas, Pamphilus, Malchion, Archelaus, Alexander, Peter, Bishop of Alexandria, Alexander, Methodius, Arnobius
  • ANF-07: Lactantius, Venantius, Asterius Urbanus, Victorinus, Dionysius, Apostolic Teaching and Constitutions, Clement, Nicene Council, Early Liturgies
  • ANF-08: The Twelve Patriarchs, Theodotus, Clement of Rome, Pseudo-Clementine Literature, Apocrypha of the New Testament, The Decretals, Memoirs of Edessa, Ancient Syriac Documents, Remains of the Second and Third Centuries
  • ANF-10: Works Connected with the Gospels, Apocalypses and Romances, The Epistles of Clement, Origen

Color gradients are based on the percentage of times a particular author or set of writings referenced a book of the New Testament. This helps establish the relative influence of specific NT books with the author(s). [link to view table]

LINK: New Testament Cross Reference Tool

Her post introducing it is here.


Prayer.

God Bless America,
Land that I love.
Stand beside her, and guide her
Thru the night with a light from above.
From the mountains, to the prairies,
To the oceans, white with foam
God bless America, My home sweet home.


DEAR KMAG 20250305 USS LIBERTY & DAILY THREAD

The USS Liberty

Colonel Towner has mentioned on more than one occasion that God is guiding her. If she’s speaking and she comes to a dead end, someone in her audience pipes up with “Have you read…” and she is off and running again. The same has happened to me. I was wondering how I was going to move forward on the Mercantilism theme and pull a lot of threads together.

I have only listened to half a dozen or so of the 40-plus Gladio videos by Colonel Towner and Alpha Warrior. It is a daunting task to catch up, especially if I am going to transcribe at least a few parts of them. Yesterday my curiosity bone got the better of me, and I skipped ahead and listened to the first USAID video. Towards the end Colonel Towner said she would be covering Benghazi, and I thought she meant USAID Part II. So I skipped around listening to parts of the video looking for the Benghazi section, and landed in a spot where she mentioned she would be interviewing a survivor of the USS Liberty. I already knew something about the USS Liberty. With curiosity driving me and a bit more hunting I found The Colonel’s Corner Rumble Channel. I was so angry after listening to the first minutes, I posted a few bits to Sunday’s Dear MAGA: 20250302 Open Topic

Wolfie responded with:
Wolf Moon | Threat to Demonocracy(@wolfmoon1776) LINK

I still don’t buy that [prisoner murders] as being the reason for the attack on the Liberty. It’s too small-potatoes. IMO that rationale is post-failure disinformation from both Mossad and the USG, meant to muddy the waters. One of many bogus reasons that were floated.

IMO there was a concocted plot by Johnson (who was truly evil) and elements in Israel who wanted America to enter the war [THAT is the kind of reason they needed – like 9/11] and thought that an attack on am American ship would be just the thing he needed to get us in. The attack failed to take out the radio, and the betrayal of our own troops by Johnson failed.

IMO Johnson and his bad actors and allies were behind all the assassinations and false flags like Gulf of Tonkin.

Thus, I simply can’t blame the Israeli government, when our own was involved, too – and was arguably WORSE. AND – at the same time – none of this justifies the Palestinians, the Arab attackers, the terrorists, or the attack on Israel.

Johnson was an evil POS, who would gladly sacrifice a boat of innocent men for politics. FUCK HIM and everybody who plotted with him – American and Israeli.

These people have not quit, and they will not quit. I lay both 9/11 and Ukraine (WWIII, if they can get it) at their feet.

Wolfie was correct I got taken-in by the Prisoner massacre Limited Hang-out although Colonel Towner does mention it towards the end as one of the reasons. I had heard about the massacre several weeks prior to listening to the video. After reflecting on the entire video, and hearing Phil Tourney’s plea that the TRUE story be told, I decided to write this article.

If you want the short and sweet version of WHY the attack on the USS Liberty:


Israel’s dirty trade in Africa: Diamonds, weapons and settlements
by Hassan Al-Assi


Israel is considered one of the most important countries that import rough diamonds, and the most prominent countries that export polished diamonds. Most of these diamonds come from African countries such as South Africa, Liberia, Congo, Ivory Coast amongst others. These countries are directly linked to groups committing massacres against civilians in order to obtain diamonds, and trade with these diamonds leads to the death of tens of thousands of people annually in the countries of origin. The sale and export of these diamonds are linked to major arms deals, the creation of civil wars and financing the fighting groups. This has caused the diamond trade in Africa to be called the dirty trade, the jewels are called “blood diamonds” because the blood of thousands of Africans is shed in order to extract and market them…


This is from a UK publication with a decidedly Muslim slant. Therefore we have to see if there is supporting evidence.


From WIKI:

The diamond industry of Israel is an important world player in producing cut diamonds for wholesale. In 2010, Israel became the chair of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme.[1] As of 2016, cut diamonds constituted 23.2% of Israel’s total exports and they were the country’s biggest export product, amounting to 12% of the world’s production.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

First, I urge everyone to actually listen to what this man has to say. (1hr 11 minutes)

I do not have the time to write a full transcript so a few key points… DARN IT! Oh well I got sucked in and did more of a transcript than I planned. So, as usual, I am going to split the material into two articles.


Very Rough Transcript. I am not going to put it in quotes.

3 minutes to 12 minutes: Colonel Towner mentions Lyman Lemnitzer, commander of the United Nations forces in the Korean War (1955–57.) He was Kennedy’s Joint Chief of Staff from 1960 to 1962. Kennedy wanted to get rid of him, but instead of firing the SOB, Kennedy, not knowing what NATO was up to, sent him to serve as the Supreme Allied Commander in Europe of NATO from 1963 to 1969. THIS IS WHILE NATO assassins were deployed to Texas. [He was one NASTY piece of work! GC]

Towner explains that de Gaulle and Kennedy were trying to oust the UK from Africa where the UK and Israel were stealing all the diamonds. Egypt and the Suez Canal were the buffer protecting Israel from retaliation by Africa. Egypt was under British control from 1882 to 1922. When Egypt gained independence, Nasser took control of the Suez Canal FROM the UK. So the UK moved to the Port of Aden in Yemen. Yemen is STILL fighting a two-front war today. Towner then goes into how the CIA was spying on the communication of most countries including Egypt. Therefore they KNEW Egypt was sending troops to help Yemen just prior to this travesty.

15 mins – Phil Tourney said Israel got antsy and started the war early, that is why we took off as quick as we did. The rest of the crew and I figured this was planned out probably a year in advance. We were set-up by our own government. We were going into a war zone and asked for destroyer escort twice and were denied by NoName’s Father,  Admiral John Sidney McCain Jr.

16 mins – Col Towner interrupts and say this is typical of the CIA & US Navy. They did the same thing to the USS Indianapolis in the pacific during WW II when they took the warheads over there. They left them without an escort KNOWING the subs were going to get them and then court-martialed the surviving Captain. The Navy is one of the most cruel ass… that has ever existed! … Phil’s story is NOT an isolated incident. This is why history is so important.

17 mins – Phil: We were 12.5 miles off the coast of the Sinai. (June 6th) We were ALWAYS in international waters. June 7th we see Israeli DC3s. We saw & waved at the pilots & they waved at us. Saw them on the 8th They were taking pictures of us. We only had four 50 caliber machine guns. We picked up messages that Israel KNEW we were an American Ship. We had a brand new flag and the ship had just been refurbished so it had a newly painted name.

21 mins – Phil Tourney starts describing the attack… You cannot imagine what they did to us. Rockets, cannons, napalm, machine guns… every [operational] antenna they hit on the first pass. Within 3 seconds every antenna and every water tight door above the water line was destroyed. One antenna that was out of commission was not destroyed. The air attack lasted for 25 minutes. They used unmarked black planes. [French made.] At least 12 planes and 30 sorties. On the first pass they shot down the US flag. Sailors put up another brand new one. Shot that down. Put up HUGE holiday flag that stayed up. During those 25 minutes the ship got a message out by repairing the last antenna.

25 mins — Col Towner points out that those sailors went out while those planes were raining fire to put up a flag so it was a KNOWN attack on an American ship in international waters. THIS IS CRITICAL TO THE STORY. [She explains the Flag is very important because it means you cannot call it a mistaken ID -GC]

26 min Phil: Our radio message was picked up as far away as Vietnam. The 6th Fleet picked it up. Captain Tully of the USS Saratoga immediately launched aircraft to come to our aid. They were called back by [US Secretary of Defense] Robert McNamara. A few minutes later Captain Tully & Captain Ingen of the USS America went to launched planes again. Before they could get underway, President Johnson got on the air and said RECALL THOSE GOD DAMN PLANES, I DO NOT GIVE A SHIT ABOUT A FEW DEAD SAILORS, I WILL NOT EMBARRASS MY ALLY!

Phil: So how did he know who was attacking us if WE DID NOT KNOW?


So that right there tells you we were set up to be sunk by the Zionist State in order to bring us into WW III.

29 mins — Colonel Towner points out that the USS Liberty’s actual mission was to spy on the African countries trying to free themselves from the US and European piranhas. The sacrifice of the USS Liberty was about setting up a regime change in Egypt and destroying the evidence of the spying.

30 mins – Phil: The Aircraft attack was followed by an attack by 3 torpedo boats with the Star of David. The boats fired five torpedoes from 1000, 800 yards away. Two went aft, one hit the communication spaces, don’t know where the others went. Colonel Towner suggests it was to get rid of evidence. The attack went on for another hour and a half. The total attack lasted 2 hours. Help was only 40 minutes away but the US government would not allow help. They left us for 17 hours. The USS America and the destroyer USS David finally showed up…. We had 34 dead and 174 wounded….

34 min — Phil: The Israeli torpedo boats continuously circled the ship, firing 50-caliber machine guns and armor-piercing rounds into us. We thought we were going to sink. We put the most seriously wounded into the three life rafts we had left. The Israelis shot two of them out of the water and took the last on board their boat as a trophy of their kill. [REMEMBER THOSE BOATS WOULD HAVE THE NAME AND USA DESIGNATION PRINTED ON IT!!! SEE: 46 CFR § 199.176 – Markings on lifesaving appliances. current — GC]

Also lifeboats are protected and the Israelis DAMN WELL KNEW IT!

Convention (II) for the Amelioration of the Condition of Wounded, Sick and Shipwrecked Members of Armed Forces at Sea. Geneva, 12 August 1949.

A. Introduction

2149  The protection of ‘small craft employed … for coastal rescue operations’ is not surprising, because they have long rendered assistance to those in distress at sea, whether civilians or wounded, sick or shipwrecked persons protected under the applicable provisions of international humanitarian law. In numerous States, rescue craft were, and continue to be, operated by coastal municipalities, private associations, individual volunteers or State organs, whether the armed forces or other governmental institutions. The vessels employed for life-saving purposes range from rowing and rubber boats to technologically sophisticated craft that can operate far off the coast and in difficult sea conditions…..

a. Additional Protocol I

2168  While Article 22(3) of Additional Protocol I does not modify the substantive protection afforded to coastal rescue craft, it removes an important procedural requirement of the Second Convention, by providing that:

Small craft described in Article 27 of the Second Convention shall be protected even if the notification envisaged by that Article 27 has not been made. The Parties to the conflict are, nevertheless, invited to inform each other of any details of such craft which will facilitate their identification and recognition….


They wanted NO SURVIVORS.
It was the grace of God, the Hand of God that kept that ship up. We were just his servants that day. He deserves all the credit. Jesus Christ does. He kept us alive for moments like this. To tell the truth. — Phil Tourney


36 min — Colonel Towner makes clear that command knew that the USS Liberty was under attack. She says that within 5 minutes of the attack, via relays, London, Spain (where the ship was launched from), the Secretary of Defense’s office, the White House, CIA, NSA… would ALL KNOW that the USS Liberty was under attack, AND FOR SEVENTEEN HOURS THE US GOVERNMENT DID NOT DO A FUCKING THING TO HELP THEM!

37:30 Phil: Two days after the attack we were headed to Malta which is 1,000 miles away. We have a 40X40 torpedo hole in our side. The closest port was Crete [~400 miles or less – GC]. We never could figure that one out.

Flag admiral Isaac Kidd & his Jag officer came on board and interrogated what crew was left aboard the ship….

[Side Note:Kidd was Supreme Allied Commander of NATO‘s Atlantic Fleet. In 1967, he was chosen by his friend and colleague Admiral John S. McCain Jr. to head the Naval Court of Inquiry into the USS Liberty incident during the Six-Day War in June of that year ” – WIKI]

We are in sick bay, he takes off his stars and tosses them on the table. He says I know you guys have been thru hell but I have got to get this while it is fresh in your mind. Tell me everything that happened…. Then he said, I am putting my stars back on. I had asked him, “Admiral how come you did not send help?”

He puts his stars back on and said:

I am going to tell every one of you Sons of Bitches. And he got right in my face. If you ever breath a word about what you just told me, any of you, I will make sure you end up in prison or worse!! Do you know what WORSE MEANS? [Phil explains it means DEAD. -GC]

Yes sir I do…. I didn’t talk of it for 18 years.

I had to sign an agreement I would never sue Israel or the USA and they gave me $200 bucks for my signature and said SIGN IT!

42 Min — Colonel Towner tells why they were sent to Malta instead of Crete. Crete is part of Greece. Greece is part of NATO and NATO is who attacked you guys. You would have talked to Greek citizens and all of this would have been exposed. Malta has always been used since WWII to hide their criminally. Because it is isolated everything around you was controlled. No one was allowed access that was not a part of the scheme. That could not have happened in Crete. Phil agrees.

We were there for 33 days. Lists damage. There was NO [REAL] investigation. By orders of John McCain & LBJ it was called mistaken identity…. Every one from LBJ to Trump has bought that crap….

We were sent there to be sunk by Israel so they could blame it on Nasser and Egypt. And Israel would have taken over the entire Middle East. The land grab they are doing now would have happened then.

46 min — Col Towner Holds up book Operation Cyanide [2003 by British journalist Peter Hounam] He documents the B-52s sitting on the tarmac being given the ready mission to start their engines to fly. This was BEFORE the first bombing [of the USS Liberty] ….

Phil: If you write congress be ready to be lied to… they never investigated…

As Thomas Massie said Everybody’s got an AIPAC handler and I guess they had them back then too….


Phil is correct. American Zionist Committee for Public Affairs was founded in 1951 It later changed it’s name to American Israel Public Affairs Committee [AIPAC] Source Watch:

49 min — Col Towner. So that brings us to the last point. During the last five years there have been three instances revealed. The Ross Setter massacre that happened on June 8th of 1967. The Mass grave on the West Bank, which Israel turned into a national park. Another mass grave was discover on 5 June, which would have been part of the 6 day war. And the E-L-E-L-A-R-I-S-H massacre. That one happened… where the USS Liberty was. They were sailing in Egyptian international water right north of this town El Arish. This is where the Israelis murdered prisoners of war and buried them…. So during the course of their surveillance of this war zone Mass Murder by the IDF was happening along the coast.

This is not isolated. It was just like we did in Vietnam, in Nicaragua, in Guatemala. The USA has done this as well. We have buried people in mass graves. It happened in Cambodia. The CIA unleashed terrorists that resulted in casualties that resulted in mass graves. This is what Israel was participating in and it is my summation that because of the SIGINET, the advanced capability, all that information would have been picked up by the linguist and transmitted.

THIS IS CRITICAL. There would be no denying that the USA and all of NATO knew the atrocities that Israel was committing and the USS Translators, not the crew were instantly murdered when that torpedo hit that boat. They would be the sole surviving people who could attest to those atrocities….

Who benefited from it?

Israel ended up with All of Jerusalem, the West Bank, Gaza, Golan Heights and the Sinai Peninsula. They go to war again in 73 and then they have a peace settlement in 1979. The massacre in the Golan Heights happened right after the USS Liberty was taken out. That is not unlike what just happened with the Hamas Attack on Israel on October 7. It was not an immediate response to Gaza, just like for Israel, it was not an immediate attack in response. Well they did the initial attack in Egypt, but they did it at the same time all over. They’re conquering all of the surrounding area.

That is what it is ALWAYS ABOUT. It is a DIVERSION OVER HERE to go over here.

[What Col Towner is talking about is an incident in one middle east country is then used to attack several others. We just saw this with Gaza, the attacks spread to Iran, Jordan, Syria and Yemen. When everything is over, Israel will end up expanding into more areas. LINK – GC]

You have to understand they have an ultimate goal. Any one who is in the way of that ultimate goal is fair game for being killed.

54 min — Phil: We were sacrificial lambs, the soldiers were sacrificial lambs and the goal was a land grab…. Our goal is to tell the truth…. They got paid MORE MONEY BY THE UNITED STATES then they ever did in their existence FOR MURDERING AMERICAN SERVICEMEN on the high seas doing what their government had ordered them to do.

Talk about this is the first time they are able to get the word out and this is not the first betrayal. The press never helped us, the government never helped us, Congress never helped us. No one came to help us.

IN FACT THE AMERICAN LEGION? We had 2 men there… 5 or 6 years ago. [to set-up] a booth handing out our stuff about the USS Liberty. They would not let us have a booth. We sent a $1,000 for the booth. They said they never got the check. So we said OK we will pay cash or credit card… Then they said NO!! YOU CANNOT HAVE ONE!

56:30 Col Towner: The American Legion is notorious for being part of the collusion of the CIA to STIFLE VETERANS ISSUES.

Phil : Absolutely. Glenn… tore his American Legion Card up and sprinkled it on a woman’s chest, her boobs. He did not throw it at her. So they arrested him for assault and put him in jail. He still has it on his record. The USS Liberty is BANNED from ever attending any of their meetings….

Col Towner: Let me ask you something that was in Peter’s [Hounam] book. He documents the fact that a USS submarine was basically shadowing you guys and that there was also a Russian submarine that watched the torpedo portion of this. And I have read other accounts of this that they gave up the final attack on sinking the USS Liberty because now there were other witnesses.

58:20 Phil: that could very well be so. The USS Amberjack, [Gato-class submarine – GC] we heard filmed it. And the USS Andrew Jackson [Lafayette-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine – GC] was there also. And as you mentioned a Russian submarine that was ready to hit Israel, only minutes away if everything went as planned. They were going to Nuke Israel for what they were doing to Egypt. Us not sinking put a wrench in their plans. I bet they are still scratching their heads…

59 min — Col Towner: I have done a lot of research into Gladio and Gladio being basically regime change overthrow with over 90 of them successful since WWII. Over 400 of them attempted.

What you always find looming in the background, like when we were trying to do it in Algeria and several Eastern European countries immediately after WWII. The Soviet Union had spies everywhere and they were able to thwart most of it… The story of the Russian sub, after knowing what I know about the Soviet Union always seeming to be one step ahead in protection … When I read about the Russian sub, I thought “Well that is interesting,” because I wonder if they were actually there because they knew what NATO was going to do to the USS Liberty and if they would have used it for blackmail. If the Liberty had sunk, they would forever have had the ability to control a whole bunch of different things, They would have had blackmail material. And maybe they used it anyway because they KNEW WHERE IT ORIGINATED FROM.

1hr 1 min — Phil: Absolutely. They knew exactly what was going on. Russia is not stupid….

…..

Commenter BridgetGray posted photos of the USS Liberty.

https://twitter.com/winggal_123/status/1888266685141930057?s=61

The Liberty Survivors website is:

https://ussliberty.org

Lots of info. at the site.

Phil requests donations.

Liberty Veterans Association
PO Box 3000
Pawley’s Island, SC 29585

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

A bit more about the USS Liberty.

Why a BBC documentary while Americans are kept in the dark?🤔

“USS Liberty: Dead In The Water” (1 hr BBC Documentary 2002)

OPERATION CYANIDE – An Israeli-American False Flag Operation Aimed At Egypt

…Jets armed with nuclear bombs were actually scrambled from the carrier USS America with orders to nuke Cairo.  Once Defense Secretary McNamara and Lying Bastard Johnson realized that the Liberty had not sunk, and that U.S. eyewitnesses were not only alive, but were actually communicating with other American ships, the U.S. jets carrying the nukes were recalled to their carrier by direct orders from McNamara and Johnson….

The Israeli Attack on the USS Liberty — Paul Craig Roberts

After reading this I now understand why Dr Roberts has no love of Israel.

This article is based entirely on documented sources and on interviews with six USS Liberty survivors, as well as Captain Ward Boston and Bill Knutson, the executive officer of the USS America fighter squadron dispatched on the first aborted rescue mission.

For a number of years Admiral Thomas Moorer, former Chief of Naval Operations and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff was my colleague at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Tom… expressed to me his concern that US politics and foreign policy was in the clutches of Israel and that America was being led into war with the Arab Middle East. Admiral Moorer and the State Department and Pentagon at that time did not think that war with the Arab countries served the interests of the United States. However, Admiral Moorer thought that the war could not be avoided because of the hold Israel has over the US government.

What convinced him of this was Washington’s cover-up of the 1967 Israeli attack on the USS Liberty which resulted in 208 killed and wounded Americans. Tom was disheartened that Admiral John S. McCain Jr…. for career reasons had cooperated with the cover-up. Tom worried that careerism had destroyed the integrity of the US military…

I had already seen that Admiral Moorer’s prediction that Israel would have us in war against the Arabs had come true. I still hear his bitter statement that “no American president can stand up to Israel.” Tom was deeply wounded by the betrayal of the US Navy by the Commander-in-Chief. The Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff was powerless before the Israel Lobby.

The US government’s official position on the USS Liberty corresponds with Israel’s: The attack was unintentional and a result of Israeli blunders. This is the official position despite the fact that CIA Director Richard Helms, Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Assistant Secretary of State Lucius Battle, and a long list of US Navy officers, government officials and Liberty survivors are on record saying the Israeli attack was intentional…

Survivors with whom I spoke said the attack was the easy part of the experience. The hard part has been living with 40 years of official cover-up and betrayal by the US government. One survivor said that he was asked to leave his Baptist church when he spoke about the Liberty, because the minister and fellow church-goers felt more loyalty to Israel than to a member of the congregation who had served his country. His church’s position was that if our government believed Israel, the survivors should also….

A State Secret: The Closest the U.S. Ever Came to a Nuclear Confrontation: June 8, 1967

…on June 8, 1967 two A-4 bomber aircraft loaded with nuclear bombs were dispatched from the aircraft carrier USS America, bound for Cairo with orders to drop those bombs on that city.[1]…

…According to Mike Ratigan, who served on board that carrier as a center-deck catapult operator responsible for maintaining the catapult in working order. He remembered the call to general quarters (battle stations) in the early afternoon of June 8, 1967, later learning that this was due to the attack on the Liberty. The A-4 bombers were each fitted with two bombs having a gold-colored tip, a type that he had never seen before: “I’d never seen that particular type of ordnance, and as we had gone into Condition November (notice of imminent nuclear war) subsequent to being in general quarters, it was definitely not a drill. Marine guards were escorting the A-4, and that was a very unusual experience. I’d never seen anything like that in the four years that I was in the Navy as a Cat operator.”….

DEAR MAGA: Open Thread 20250227 & Can We Watch?


Welcome.
Please visit this January 1st daily thread for the rules of the road,
which are few but important.


2024 Presidential Election Map by County.
Let us Never Forget: our VOTES gave the Trump Administration a Mandate to FIX IT ALL.

Do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore,
and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. — Galatians 5:1


We got our miracle.
America is back.

Let us dedicate ourselves to the cleansing, healing, and rebuilding of our beautiful nation.

God will guide us.
Prayers and thanks to God for President Donald J. Trump.


Can We Watch?

The ability to watch the process of an election–from beginning to end–MUST be intentionally designed into the process. Otherwise, it’s just as prone to sleight-of-hand as a magician’s trick.

As Bev Harris (BlackBoxVoting.org) explained, we want to validate who can vote, who did vote, what each voter marked on each ballot, and how all elections materials are tracked and secured.

Provision for observers at each stage of the process is part of what gives legitimacy to our elections.

Election Observers, the Theory.

In theory, at every step of the process, open and transparent access for observers from each interested party should be expected and provided for. Not just when it’s convenient for the elections officials and their staff.

Any resistance to making provision for observers MUST be considered as suspicious at best, possibly a sign of guilt, and always an indication of maladministration of the election process.

You may remember poll workers taping up sheets of cardboard to block the view of the poll during the 2020 elections. I’ve heard reports of similar behavior in other places since then. Didn’t some group have a way to send on the spot reports to them when these types of things were happening during the 2024 election?

Voter Rolls.

If voter rolls are not freely visible to every citizen, if there is not an audit trail for how rolls change over time, if list maintenance procedures are not transparent, then there is room for hidden fraud. You might just want to check what level of access and transparency your state provides for your voter rolls.

“Maintaining an accurate voter registration list is essential to protecting election integrity. Keeping voter registration lists up to date is a continual process that includes adding new eligible voters, updating voter registration information when a voter moves and removing ineligible voters. The process of adding, updating and removing voters is referred to as list maintenance.”
Election Assistance Commission

As mundane as keeping a list up to date would seem, apparently even a lowly voter roll can aid and abet rigging an election. Or elections. Lots of elections.

As documented by Andrew Paquette in the paper, “The Caesar cipher and stacking the deck in New York State voter rolls” someone was clever enough to encode into the rolls a veritable army of zombie voters to be conjured up when needed to tip the scales for an election.

From the abstract:

Voters in New York State are identified by two identification numbers. This study has discovered strong evidence that both numbers have been algorithmically manipulated to produce steganographically concealed record attribute information. One of the several algorithms discovered has been solved. It first utilizes a mechanism nearly identical to the simple ‘Caesar Cipher’ to change the order of a group of ID numbers. Then, it interlaces them the way a deck of cards is arranged to create a ‘stacked deck’. The algorithmic modifications create hidden structure within voter ID numbers. The structure can be used to covertly tag fraudulent records for later use.

Election Observers, state-by-state.

The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) provides a brief, “Policies for Election Observers.” You can find just about everything you would want to know about your own state’s policies at this link.

Political parties, candidates, citizen groups and independent organizations may deploy observers or watchers to witness election processes in the U.S. Generally, the purpose for these observers is to provide a layer of protection or transparency and to learn from and improve processes, which vary considerably by state. This webpage covers relevant laws and practices for multiple types of election observers nationwide.

In reviewing this brief, I didn’t see anything about allowing observers or insight into mail-in ballot drop boxes, or handling by the USPS. Seems like a problem. As President Trump reminds us all the time, mail-in ballots are “not good.”

Recent Changes to State Laws.

I found the list of recent legislative actions regarding election observers to be an interesting way to get a sampler of what states are focused on these days. Here they are:

Modifications to who can be an election observer of any kind:

  • South Dakota HB 1182 (2024) allows members of the public to observe voting and counting processes at polling places and requires that polling places be arranged so that poll watchers can see and hear what is going on.  
  • North Dakota SB 2292 (2023) clarifies that any individual beside a candidate on the ballot may be an election observer if they inform the election inspector of their intent to serve.  
  • Louisiana SB 74 (2022) clarifies that those who require assistance with voting may serve as poll watchers. 
  • Oklahoma HB 3321 (2022) requires poll watchers to serve in person and not via electronic devices. 
  • Utah HB 387 (2022) Permits preregistered voters (those who are under 18 years old) to serve as poll watchers, permits poll watchers to observe the ballot curing process and requires ballot adjudication in larger cities to be projected on a screen large enough to be viewed by watchers.  
  • Arizona SB 1835  (2021) requires poll watchers to be registered voters in the state. 
  • Texas SB 1 (2021) requires a training program for poll watchers and requires watchers to present a certificate of completion when reporting for observation. The law adds to the list of processes that poll watchers can observe all activities relating to closing a polling place, ballot signature verification, ballot curing and voter assistance efforts. SB 1 also requires poll watchers to take an oath, establishes a penalty for election officials who knowingly refuse to accept a valid certificate for observation, permits election officials to call law enforcement for the removal of a poll watcher who is in violation of the law, and establishes legal remedies for watchers who believe they were unlawfully prevented from observing election processes. 
  • Nebraska LB 1055 (2020) established the role of a poll watcher as either a registered voter of the state or an individual representing a state-based, national or international election monitoring organization. The bill went into effect after the November 2020 elections. 
  • New York AB 1525 (2019) permitted any political committee supporting or proposing a ballot proposal to have watchers in any general, special, town or village election and any party committee and any candidate on the ballot to have three watchers for each election district in a primary election. 
  • Utah SB 94 (2018) consolidated multiple terms for poll watcher (voting poll watchers, counting poll watchers and inspecting poll watchers) to the generic term “poll watcher” and permitted poll watchers to observe various aspects of the process. 
  • Arkansas HB 2138 (2017) prohibited a member of the state or county board of election commissioners from serving as a poll watcher. 
  • California AB 2021 (2016) clarified that international election observers may have uniform and nondiscriminatory access to all stages of the election process that are open to the public. 
  • Tennessee SB 1945 (2016) prohibited the appointment of a candidate’s spouse to serve as an election observer. 
  • Montana HB 529 (2015) prohibited a candidate from serving as a poll watcher. 
  • New York AB 5075 (2014) prohibited candidates for public office in a given election from acting as poll watchers. 
  • Alaska HB 104 (2013) required that poll watchers be U.S. citizens.

Modifications to the process of becoming an observer:

  • Arkansas HB 1457 (2023) establishes a poll watcher bill of rights, requires poll watchers to be qualified electors of the state and receive training before an election.  
  • New Mexico SB 180 (2023) requires poll watchers to attend training before accepting appointment.  
  • Nebraska LB 1055 (2020) established an accreditation process for observers. The bill went into effect after the November 2020 elections. 
  • Arizona SB 1054 (2019) increased the amount of time before an election for nonpartisan observers to apply to observe at a counting center. Only three persons or groups may observe activities at the counting center and are chosen by lot from those who apply. 
  • Louisiana HB 563 (2019) required that a list of watchers be filed with the clerk of the court in each parish where a candidate will have watchers if the office is in more than one parish. 
  • New Mexico HB 407 (2019) amended the definition of watchers to include an election-related organization or any group of three candidates for election in a statewide election and outlines which aspects of the process may be observed. 
  • Mississippi HB 467 (2017) added a credentialing process and code of conduct for partisan poll watchers. 
  • Virginia HB 1333 (2015) specified that the state or district chairman may designate authorized representatives of political parties if the county or city chairman is unavailable to do so. 
  • Wisconsin AB 202 (2014) required all authorized observers to sign in at the polling place and provided for observation areas of not less than 3 feet or more than 8 feet from the voter check-in table. 
  • Arkansas HB 1551 (2013) required the state board of elections to certify at least one state election monitor for each congressional district, and HB 1551 (2013) required training for certified state election monitors. 
  • Texas SB 160 (2013) required election officials to provide poll watchers with identification to be displayed by the watcher at the polling place. 

Modifications to which aspects of the election process may be observed:

  • Colorado SB 276 (2023) establishes poll watcher guidelines for primary and special elections and prohibits poll watchers from taking photos and recording inside the election office or polling place.  
  • Montana SB 93 (2021) permits poll watchers to observe at mail ballot deposit locations (drop boxes). 
  • Texas HB 1128 (2021) clarifies that poll watchers may be present in polling places, at meetings of early voting ballot boards and in central counting stations. 
  • Arkansas SB 488 (2021) allows poll watchers to inspect voter statements and ballots during an election, even though these documents are protected under the state’s public records law. 
  • Florida SB 90 (2021) requires poll watchers to wear identification badges while observing and allows each political party and each candidate to have one watcher with viewing access to ballot signature verification. 
  • Hawaii HB 1248 (2019) enacted mail voting across all counties for all elections and included a section allowing poll watchers to be present at voter service centers. 
  • Maryland SB 5 (2015) permitted authorized partisan and nonpartisan observers, and any others who wish to be present, to observe the canvass process. 
  • Virginia HB 319/SB 537 (2012) specified that partisan observers may be close enough to the voter check-in table to be able to hear what is being said, but that observation shall not violate the secret vote or otherwise interfere with the election. 

Our Turn.

We can’t leave this to others. We can at least try and get informed on what has been found, what has been done about it, and what more needs to be done.

We can make a difference.
And we must make a difference.

If you care about building a lasting and resilient nation, consider yourself on the job.
What would be the 5 bullet points in your status report for this week?


Twitterati, etc.

Andrew Paquette (mentioned above) is a refreshingly creative mind to engage with. His latest substack, “X marks the spot,” about trying to get to X, then Grok, might be an interesting read for those of us still trying to get in the gate. One of the replies also gives more ideas for what to try when wanting to open the door into their walled garden.


Prayer.

God Bless America,
Land that I love.
Stand beside her, and guide her
Thru the night with a light from above.
From the mountains, to the prairies,
To the oceans, white with foam
God bless America, My home sweet home.


Ukraine: Another Playground for Evil

This new post is being created for us to collect newer Ukraine history, background, details on the actors on the stage, corruption, shadow government evil-doings, and so on. There are older, related posts on this site by Daughn, here, and here, and a detailed timeline here.

But for today’s focus, let’s start with this interview of an American lawyer who is deeply involved in working to right the wrongs being done to the good Christians of the region.

Bob Amsterdam lays it all out with both compassion and unusual clarity from his viewpoint. NB: he is a liberal and seems to be conflating “right wing” and Nazism. Wolf would likely want to call them Jazis. Amsterdam would probably have no idea what that could mean.

The effort to right the wrongs is documented at this site: Save the UOC. It certainly seems worthy of our attention and our prayers.

May God show kindness and mercy to His people struggling under the oppression that is today’s corrupt government of the Ukraine.

DEAR MAGA: Open Thread 20250220 & Handling Gold


Welcome.
Please visit this January 1st daily thread for the rules of the road,
which are few but important.


Header Image: 2024 Presidential Election Map by County

Do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore,
and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. — Galatians 5:1


We got our miracle.
America is back.

Let us dedicate ourselves to the cleansing, healing, and rebuilding of our beautiful nation.

God will guide us.
Prayers and thanks to God for President Donald J. Trump.


Handling Gold.

Well, not really gold. But a process that is even more critical than handling precious metals, but let’s start there. The other day Steve was explaining how registered mail is handled and why precious metals dealers used registered mail due to the strict processes that are followed. The USPS handbook DM-901 covers all the details. It’s a nice document. Covers all the procedures, chain of custody, proper storage, how to document if seals are broken, etc. It’s almost like they are serious about handling registered mail.


What is more important than gold?

How about true and accurate elections that put into power those who legislate whether you get to keep your gold or not? Seems important.

Chain of Custody.

A key feature of the process of handling things of great value is called the Chain of Custody. Whether it is registered mail, election materials (ballots, equipment), or even evidence to be used in prosecuting a criminal case, unimpeachable Chain of Custody is essential.

The National Voting Rights Task Force says:

According to experts, the only way to know if an electronic vote total has been hacked is for voters to have separately recorded their intended selections on paper and for jurisdictions to then use the paper in a manual audit or recount, the results of which can be compared to the electronic total.

But even manual audits or recounts can be “hacked” if the selections on the paper have been marked by a machine, rather than the voter’s own hand.  And no matter how that paper is marked, manual audits and recounts can be gamed if the chain of custody between election night and the audit or recount has been compromised.

There are many resources for elections. One resource, the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) is an independent, bipartisan commission whose mission is to help election officials improve the administration of elections and help Americans participate in the voting process. Their guidance, “Best Practices: Chain of Custody,” gives recommendations to election officials. “The chain of custody of ballots, voting equipment, and associated data is essential to ensure the election system remains trustworthy. Documentation of the chain of custody also provides evidence that all voting procedures were followed. It is a best practice for chain of custody procedures to be clearly defined in advance of every election, well documented and followed consistently throughout the entire election lifecycle or process. The key to an effective chain of custody is to have a set of procedures which are followed in practice. The procedures should be in writing with all steps documented.”

It may be important to note that I have yet to find any federal laws with guidance on the specifics of election materials chain of custody. A search of the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) of 2002 for the term “custody” does not yield any results. An internet search of “election laws chain-of-custody” provides guidance from various organizations (a good example here) and some links to individual Secretary of State websites. If there are federal laws, they are not easily found. Time didn’t permit for me to survey each state for specific chain of custody laws related to elections. It appears that a good number of groups that have public-facing sites with material related to the need for and the development of good practices for managing chain-of-custody.

However, when you get into actual county-by-county execution of these procedures the failures are all to common and even shocking. When regular citizens, concerned about their own local county’s handling of election materials simply asked for a copy of the chain of custody procedures in use during a specific election, the response was far from uniform. As anyone in any type of mission-critical work effort would expect, there needs to a least be: (1) a dated, documented procedure that is signed off before it is to be followed for a specific election and (2) checklists with spaces for signing off for the handling of items requiring chain of custody.

Even when a county is required by their state government to provide these prior to an election, the local elections offices sometimes could not provide these procedures when asked. One particular county office provided a non dated, unsigned document and stated that they weren’t sure which election it was for. Either they didn’t know what they were doing, they didn’t have the right person fulfilling the request, or something else. It seems like this would be posted right on their county elections office website (along with all the other elections documents!). In a number of counties that I know of, the elections office claimed there were “no records responsive to the request.” In other words, they are saying that they didn’t have the state mandated chain of custody procedures. How did they get the election certified without it? How did their Secretary of State sign off on the election without it?

Asking for public records, usually referred to as a freedom of information act (FOIA) request can be done by anyone. More recently the number of people taking it upon themselves to get involved in “citizen oversight” has grown to the point that some public officials have started complaining that all these requests are a form of harassment. Really? Why not just publicly publish all of it?

In one state it seems that a number of counties have hired the same particular law firm as “County Counsel” to advise on the handling of election matters. Unfortunately that liberal law firm seems to have been assisting counties to stone-wall access to public records. And in some cases the guidance given to the county board of supervisors was in fact unlawful. I’m not giving examples to prove my point, I’m just offering information that might be helpful to know if someone reading here is considering looking into how their elections are being handled where they live and vote.

In 2016 Bev Harris explained at her site, BlackBoxVoting.org:

Elections chain of custody refers to physical and electronic evidence controls for:

– who can vote
– who did vote
– actual ballots as marked by each voter, and
– evidence transfer and storage

:

Legitimate elections require public “right to know” (freedom of information) to allow the public and the media to authenticate truth of results. Proper chain of custody safeguards are part of the larger concept of political legitimacy.

:

Incurable uncertainty

Handling election records and data must be scrupulously careful in order to demonstrate to the public that there has been no tampering or contamination.

In court cases, chain of custody violations can result in refusal to admit evidence or even throwing a case out. In elections, chain of custody violations can result in “incurable uncertainty” and court orders to redo elections.

Bev Harris discovered election theft in 2002, wrote a book on it (download it here), advocated for change, and now others have carried on her work. The problems are not new, and they have probably grown worse. But now is the time for us to make our own local governments-that oversee the execution of elections–take note that we are asking questions, seeing problems and expecting better oversight. And for those who have been running elections, just knowing that more people are looking into their work appears to have led to some unexpected early retirements. I can’t say that is an indication of guilt, but it does seem significant.

We can’t leave this to others. We can at least try and get informed on what has been found, what has been done, and what more needs to be done. What do you know about elections and chain of custody. Please post your thoughts in the comments. Thanks

We can make a difference.
And we must make a difference.

If not us, who? If not now, when?
There has never been a better time.


Twitterati.

General Mike Flynn (@GEnFlynn) has been talking about citizen oversight for as long as I’ve been paying attention.

Gail and PAVACA are going to love this one (link):


Prayer.

God Bless America,
Land that I love.
Stand beside her, and guide her
Thru the night with a light from above.
From the mountains, to the prairies,
To the oceans, white with foam
God bless America, My home sweet home.


American Stories: When in the Course of human events – Part 7

Wait a minute. I just remembered that I told readers that Benjamin Rush was a hero for helping Federalist John Adams and Anti-Federalist Thomas Jefferson to reconcile. That must mean those two strong willed, highly intelligent American patriots had a falling out? I thought they were great friends? What gives?

Continental Congress

The two first met at the Continental Congress and began working together in the Committee of Five that wrote the Declaration of Independence. There was a strong mutual respect as each saw the strengths of the other. The tall, handsome, wordsmith Jefferson and the short, more portly, born leader, extroverted Adams hit it off. Per worldhistoryedu.com,

Adams admired Jefferson’s eloquence and writing skills, and Jefferson respected Adams’s fierce advocacy and leadership. Their collaboration during the drafting of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 marked a high point in their relationship. Adams even suggested Jefferson for the task of writing the Declaration because of his “masterly pen.” This period of cooperation laid the foundation for their future interactions, though the seeds of their eventual rivalry were already present in their differing temperaments and political philosophies.

Per historyhit.com,

When Jefferson’s wife, Martha, died in 1782, Jefferson became a frequent guest at the home of John and Abigail Adams. Abigail said of Jefferson that he was “the only person with whom my companion could associate with perfect freedom and reserve”.

During the war both were sent as diplomats to Europe. For a time Adams worked with Benjamin Franklin in France, but they grew to despise each other. Franklin had decades of experience and a polished ease in social situations that fit in well in Europe while Adams was brash and direct. They separated and Adams was sent to Holland. Meanwhile, Jefferson served as Governor of VA and was nearly captured at his home in Monticello. Over time and as the war ended, Adams resumed the lead role in negotiating the Treaty of Paris.

The tensions between the two began well after the war was won and the Treaty of Paris signed. After signing Adams headed to London and Jefferson was dispatched to Paris to begin efforts to restore normalized relations for the new nation. From the time they had first met through their years in Europe, they exchanged many of the 380 letters accorded them in their lifetimes. It was what happened when they returned to America with the finalizing of the Constitution that caused the rift.

Both had very different views over the primary role of a federal government. As noted previously, Adams was a Federalist who strongly believed in a dominant centralized government and was very suspicious of the French Revolution. He was a student of classical world history and saw how great nations fell when they lost order and experienced chaos. He feared the people having too much freedom from democracy. He was also more oriented to populated urban areas.

On the other hand Jefferson was Anti-Federalist who believed in decentralization of government, who saw no reason to abandon relations with the French. He preferred an agrarian based nation and was all in on democracy for all. He believed in the basic goodness and wisdom of the common man from his experiences within the Enlightenment period. A link to an explanation of that is below.

https://www.history.com/topics/european-history/enlightenment

As both Adams and Jefferson dug in deeper in their beliefs and actions, their letter writing to each other slowed dramatically. With the POTUS election of 1788 each battled for the role of VP under President George Washington. Adams was the victor. At that point the publicly drawn battle lines between the two became more pronounced. The respect and friendship they once shared soured.

Adams and Jefferson ran against each other for POTUS in 1796 after Washington’s retirement. Once again Adams was the narrow victor. However, the rules provided for Jefferson to be the VP.

Awkward! 😆

Undeterred with the loss, Jefferson and his Democratic Republican party supporters stayed on the offensive and used the passage of the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798 by the Federalists as proof of how removed Adams and his party had become from the will of the people. SOUND FAMILIAR?

So what were the Acts all about that caused the ruckus?

https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/alien-and-sedition-acts

At this point, please do not make the mistake of drawing a parallel of the Federalists kicking out the aliens as the same as what is happening today. The aliens of yesteryear were not here to overturn the government and were in fact here legally. They were invited here to become citizens in a young country bursting with opportunities that was expanding westward in need of workers and settlers. This is why the period of residency before becoming a citizen was only 5 years. The fearful reaction of the Federalists to this population growth in other regions of the country drove the passage of the Acts that increased the residency requirement to 14 years among other onerous, controlling provisions. They knew the newer citizens would not be interested in more control from a central government and would be attracted to the Democratic Republicans’ promise of liberty and a decentralized government. It was an attempt to keep the status quo and the Federalists in power. SOUND FAMILIAR?

Today’s Uniparty throws in millions of illegal ballots in key races and areas. It is a current version of the Federalist operatives who gamed the system to stay in power. Different method, same result. The parallel you can draw effectively is that the will of the people won out in 1800 just as it did on November 5, 2024. Thomas Jefferson won the POTUS role in 1800 and Adams was defeated. It was called The Revolution of 1800 as it was a dogfight between the two camps. Personal attacks and partisanship ruled the campaigns. It got ugly. At one point James Madison joined forces with Jefferson to promote states rights.

The election actually ended in a tie between Jefferson and Aaron Burr. It was finally determined in the House of Representatives for Jefferson. The oppressive Acts subsequently expired or were repealed. With the loss Adams retreated from government and politics. He returned to his farm in Quincy, MA and largely withdrew from public life.

Jefferson went on to served two terms successfully. Both Adams and Jefferson had very little contact with each other and held resentments. In 1812, the friend of both, Declaration signer Benjamin Rush, took the big step to restore their relationship. He had been saddened by their lack of communications as well as the effects it had on the nation as a whole. After conversations with both over the years he took it upon himself to approach Adams about the prospects of reconciling with Jefferson. Adams agreed and sent a short cordial letter to Jefferson. That was all it took for the two to resume their friendship. Over the next 14 years they wrote each other often, discussing a wide variety of subjects that included politics, philosophy and personal matters.

Their words revealed a deep mutual respect and a shared sense of history and their involvement in it. They discussed their disagreements and were even humorous about their past behavior. They bridged their divide and reconciled as people. It was a very meaningful event for America that these two patriot giants could settle their differences and remain bonded in friendship and love of country. Again, it may have been the most important act Benjamin Rush took out of an incredible number of important acts he undertook in his storied life.

How appropriate that both Adams and Jefferson died on the same day; July 4 ,1826 – Independence Day. The last words of Adams were, “Thomas Jefferson still survives.” He was mistaken: Jefferson had died five hours earlier at Monticello at the age of 83.

Shivers.

Let’s move on to more signers.

John Hart

I am going to go with 1713 as John Hart’s birth year primarily because it is the year Congress officially recognized, although other sources state 1711 and other years. In reality they do not know with certainty. What they do know is that his father was Captain Edward Hart and that John was born in Stonington, CT. His father was in the local militia that was active in the French and Indian War as well as being a farmer, public assessor and justice of the peace. The family relocated to New Jersey early in his life and he was baptized in a local meeting house that is now a Presbyterian Church, although it appears his family had some association with Baptists as John deeded some land to them to build a church on in 1747.

John married Deborah Scudder in 1741. They went on to have 13 children together. He held a county position beginning in 1750 and by 1761 was elected to the NJ Colonial Assembly where he served for ten years. His primary occupation was a farmer and earned the name “Honest John Hart” from within the state. As a patriot he was appointed the state’s Committee of Safety as well as the Committee of Correspondence. As the First Continental Congress was formed he was chosen as one of the representatives of the state. That led to him being one of the first sent to the Second and as a result an approver and signer of the Declaration of Independence.

As the war came to New Jersey, The British sought him out as a signer as well as Speaker of the Assembly in NJ. As this was happening his wife lay dying in their home. He refused to leave until she breathed her last, then departed for the nearby Sourland Mountains he had hunted for many years even though he was well into his sixties by that time. He remained for a year until the threat of the British had passed there before returning home and finding that they had severely damaged his property. In the summer of 1778 he offered his farm along with other local farm owners to become the staging and planning area for General Washington’s 12,000 man army. He and Washington dined together while camped there. However, before the year was out he experienced life threatening kidney stone attacks that left him in great pain until his death six months later in 1779.

Honest John Hart literally gave all of himself and his possessions for the cause of liberty without regard to its cost. He was a great America Patriot.

Thomas Heyward, Jr.

Born St. Luke’s Parish, SC in 1746, Thomas Heyward. Jr., was from a wealthy plantation owning family that were known for growing tidal rice. His father was Col. Daniel Heyward. He was educated at home in classical studies and Latin, while later being trained in law locally and in England. While in England he observed that the Brits there viewed the colonists as their lessers, which angered him. He continued to travel Europe and saw that the lives of luxury around him stood in contrast to the simple lives of the farmers he liked at home. It made a distinct impression on him.

When he returned in 1772 he soon married Elizabeth Matthews, daughter of Col. John and Sarah Matthews. The couple had six children together although she passed away in childbirth in 1782. Only one survived to adulthood.

When the Stamp Act was passed Heyward was its most vocal critic. He began to rise in patriot circles, much to his loyalist father’s dismay. At one time the Heyward family were the largest slaveholders in America, so his beliefs about independence ran contrary to long held family interests. In 1775 he was elected to the General Assembly and subsequently to represent the state in the First Continental Congress. His father warned him of the consequences, but was unable to dissuade him. However, prior to his father’s death in 1777, the two reconciled.

He became a Declaration signer as well as later, a signer of the Articles of Confederation. In 1778 he returned home to take over operations of the family plantation after his father’s death the previous year. He assumed control of a small artillery militia and was wounded in battle, from which he recovered. He was subsequently captured in the Battle of Charleston and sent to St. Augustine with other officers. He was later sent to Philadelphia in a prisoner exchange near the end of the war and was nearly killed when he fell over board of the prison ship. After the exchange, it was not long until his wife died during childbirth. He had lost his wife, his plantation had been destroyed, his slaves ad other possessions taken away, and yet, he continued to serve as a judge and in the affairs of his state including the writing of the state Constitution until his retirement in 1798. His personal life recovered with his second marriage to Elizabeth Thomas, daughter of Col. Thomas and Mary Elliot Savage of Charleston. They had three children together. Heyward passed away in 1809 having fulfilled his life’s mission of serving his country as a great American Patriot.

Lessons From The Life Of Thomas Heyward

Picture yourself as a young man born into southern plantation society and wealth, whose family is aligned with the Crown. Life has been plentiful. Your family is highly respected in the community and state. Slaves work the fields and serve throughout the mansion and grounds. You have been afforded an elite classical education at home that has led to an apprenticeship and training into the law. Your parents see your abilities and send you to England to complete your education and training in law. You spend the next five years traveling Europe and then realize as you set sail for home that you do not care for those people or the lives they represent.

This leads to getting sideways with your father as you have determined that liberty is the only path for the colonies. You go your own way, though fortunately reconciling with him before he passes. Over the ensuing years you give your all for the cause that includes your freedom as a prisoner of war and nearly your life on multiple occasions. You go from being shot to being imprisoned to nearly drowning from going overboard on the voyage that was to take you to freedom. Then you lose your wife in the childbirth of one of your six children, only one of whom survived. All of this only to return home after the war to find your family’s plantation in ruins and all of the slaves gone, most of whom having been sent to Jamaica.

Instead of throwing your hands up in surrender, you rebuild your life. You become a judge and continue to be active in state affairs. You marry again and have children. And the one constant through it all remains your commitment to the service of your country and your memories of having signed the greatest document in American history.

Thomas Heyward was a man of qualities and flaws like all of us. However, his life illustrates his commitment to our nation no matter the cost. It is a strong lesson for all who would be patriots.

Conclusion

I only have time for two signers this week. I have finally recovered from Flu A and much work remains on the project for the kids’ house. I will likely skip a week before restarting the series as I want the content to continue to reflect our nation’s return to its patriot roots with the Golden Age upon us.

I am in awe over what PDT, JD, Elon, cabinet members and supporters are delivering. It is literally a long held dream come true for this old head and heart. I wanted it so badly for the children and grandchildren, so they could carry the day and fight well into the future. Our America First MAGA leaders get it. They have the spirit and the will of our 1776 Sons of Liberty coursing through their veins. I am so proud to be an American again.

May God continue to bless our united efforts to restore and lift up the republic for His glory and the good of His people.

DEAR MAGA: Open Thread 20250213 & Remembering


Welcome.
Please visit this January 1st daily thread for the rules of the road,
which are few but important.


Header Image: 2024 Presidential Election Map by County

Do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore,
and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. — Galatians 5:1


We got our miracle.
America is back.

Let us dedicate ourselves to seeking our place in the cleansing, healing, and rebuilding of this beautiful, resource-rich nation. God will guide us.

Prayers and thanks to God for our 47th President, Donald J. Trump.


Remembering.

With gratitude to our own kind Wolf for reminding us of DePat’s recommended prayers for times of spiritual warfare, let us consider praying this one today.


Litany of Humility

O Jesus, meek and humble of heart,
Hear me.

From the desire of being esteemed,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being loved,
Deliver me, O Jesus.

From the desire of being extolled,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being honored,
Deliver me, O Jesus.

From the desire of being praised,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being preferred to others,
Deliver me, O Jesus.

From the desire of being consulted,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being approved,
Deliver me, O Jesus.

From the fear of being humiliated,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being despised,
Deliver me, O Jesus.

From the fear of suffering rebukes,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being calumniated,
Deliver me, O Jesus.


From the fear of being forgotten,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being ridiculed,
Deliver me, O Jesus.

From the fear of being wronged,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being suspected,
Deliver me, O Jesus.

That others may be loved more than I,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be esteemed more than I,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

That, in the opinion of the world,
others may increase and I may decrease,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be chosen and I set aside,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

That others may be praised and I go unnoticed,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be preferred to me in everything,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

That others may become holier than I,
provided that I may become as holy as I should,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

Author: Rafael Cardinal Merry del Val y Zulueta


Charity

Charity is patient, is kind; charity does not envy, is not pretentious, is not puffed up, is not ambitious, is not self-seeking, is not provoked; thinks no evil, does not rejoice over wickedness, but rejoices with the truth, bears with all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (1 Cor. 13:4-7).

To have Charity is to love God above all things for Himself and be ready to renounce all created things rather than offend Him by serious sin. (Matt. 22:36-40)


Twitterati.

Our J6 P.O.W.s are always in our hearts with the fervent desire that all wrongs would be undone and each target and their families be made stronger and more whole than ever.

Trisha Hope has been providing important updates. And this story

She asks lot of good questions.


Prayer.

God Bless America,
Land that I love.
Stand beside her, and guide her
Thru the night with a light from above.
From the mountains, to the prairies,
To the oceans, white with foam
God bless America, My home sweet home.


American Stories: When in the Course of human events – Part 6

Now would be an excellent time to pay honor to a great American who is probably enjoying the show in our nation from Heaven.

America is back! God bless America and all freedom loving people worldwide.

Time To Get Into The Weeds

This is an appropriate time to discuss Federalism versus Anti-Federalism. Since our leaders in the national experiment called the United States of America back in the day were playing hard, fast and for keeps; we should be made very aware of what was involved. If you have not spotted the truth of this issue still being in play today along with a nasty fight between the political forces aligned with PDT versus the Uniparty, then you need to take a dose of cold reality. The parallels are amazingly similar. Below is a primer to get you started.

https://thisvsthat.io/anti-federalists-vs-federalists

For more detailed information,

https://constitutioncenter.org/media/files/4.5_Primary_Source__Who_were_the_Federalists_and_the_Anti-Federalists__.docx_.pdf

Now, extend what you learned or were reminded of and apply it to America today.

Do you consider the federal government your friend and partner, or, the potential usurper of God and/or Constitution granted rights as an American?

If you believe the former, you are probably a Federalist. If you believe the latter, you are probably an Anti-Federalist.

Do you believe the federal government should be involved in curing the perceived weaknesses of society and righting perceived wrongs of equal rights for all classes of citizens, or, do you believe that responsibility to redress should be left to local citizens and/or related state and local authorities?

The former is Federalist, the latter is Anti-Federalist.

If a power or authority has not been assigned by the Constitution to handle a subject or concern of importance to the nation, do you believe it is a federal or a state responsibility per the Constitution to address?

Yup, Federalist or Anti-Federalist.

We could continue the game, but you probably get the point. The founding fathers worked through the subjects between them and delivered our Constitution and Bill of Rights as the answer to the desires of both sides. Which is the exact same positions we still fight over today for many of the same reasons they did. Let’s review the officially long deceased Federalist Party and what it represented per an accurate Wiki description. Who does that party resemble today?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federalist_Party

Yup, it describes the current Democrats and Uniparty in general.

Now lets look at the Anti-Federalist movement as it never officially became a political party.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-Federalis

Backers of the Anti-Federalist movement formed a political party called the Democratic Republican Party with Thomas Jefferson as its leader. These Anti-Federalist influenced backers were for smaller central government, states rights, less regulation, lower taxes and the abolition of slavery. As the years passed the Federalist Party became the limited party of the elites in the New England and eventually died. With Andrew Jackson’s rise to power and the Presidency, the Democratic-Republican Party split with Jackson on the Democratic party side supporting individual and states rights rivaling a coalition formed primarily of remaining Republicans and Anti-Mason Party supporters into the Whig Party. It was led by Henry Clay supporting Federalism and greater power of Congress over the President.

The 1850’s brought the demise of the Whig Party with their support of slavery and elitism. That led to the rise of the Republican Party and eventually Abraham Lincoln and the anti-slavery forces. This Grand Old Party (GOP) as it became known, arose from the Union’s victory in the Civil War. The party typically dominated federal politics for several decades afterward. The Democratic Party became the broad based party of conservatives and agriculture rooted in the “solid south” as well as other scattered segments. As backers of states rights, they generally opposed the anti-slavery changes. They would occasionally win control of houses of Congress along the way.

Fast forward to today. My, oh, my how things change!

We are back to Federalists being Uni-party elitists with cobbled together minority segments in the Democrat Party and RINO’s versus the Anti-Federalists being the rapidly growing, populist America First MAGA segment of the GOP that is all about operating as a republic with states rights being important.

What has happened since our nation’s founding and today is a continuous morphing between these primarily Federalist versus Anti-Federalist viewpoints. America and its politics have never been one thing or the other throughout its history. Yet, the tension remains from the negotiations surrounding the interpretation of the Constitution and with the accommodation provided by the Bill of Rights.

As things stand today, did the Democrat and RINO Uniparty exceed their authority by claiming powers over subjects, issues and people that are not enumerated in the Constitution? Of course they did and still attempt to do. That is why EO’s and EA’s have been flying out of the Oval Office in droves under President Trump already. To increase their power and reach, central governments tend to naturally grow and extend their tentacles increasingly into the business of the people. That is not a question, it is a fact demonstrated over thousands of years in governments all around the globe.

Can a fully decentralized republic adequately defend itself against foreign and domestic forces and enemies without central governance and leadership? Probably not very well in America as the independent states may opt out of their responsibilities and enter into disputes with each other as well as the federal government. There would be no hammer to cover all aspects of government in place to force them back into compliance. Our strength as a nation against foreign powers is in unity, not division.

As a result the pendulum of change has swung both right and left since the Constitution’s ratification in 1788 and implementation in 1789. The excesses of the Uniparty activities in our times are obvious and the reason Donald Trump is POTUS. Very few are willing to admit it, but the Constitution still has problems that the Anti-Federalists foresaw. The compromise over the Bill of Rights did not go far enough. It addressed some of the major issues of the day that would probably survive as time passed. But as we have subsequently learned over time it left gaping holes of how to prevent and penalize federal government overreach when they venture into powers and authorities that are not enumerated. When transparency is the law, those in federal authority have rarely provided it without prodding, outright threats or legal actions. Attempts to permanently change the responses have been unsuccessful at times, just as Anti-Federalists predicted could happen.

The truth is the development and use of political parties has stymied our nation’s progress frequently. The tension of partisanship that is built into the system can help, but it also can hinder as we have seen repeatedly in our times. We will touch more on this and the life of James Monroe in particular down the road in this series.

The partisanship has led our nation into the long overdue corrective phase today that Anti-Federalists of old would celebrate. We populist, American First, MAGA, states rights, kill the Fed, modern day Anti-Federalists won the election despite the current day, Federalist, Uniparty cheating the elections as they have for at least a century. Too big to rig got it done, however, that should not have been required. As a law abiding nation our citizens could choose to be honorable and have integrity. Unfortunately, the past 235+ years years since Constitution implementation reveals the truth that honesty and honor are not always present or enough. One of the primary reasons for that is radical partisanship. Many throw up their middle finger on reasoning and consensus building, two ingredients that are required for effective leadership.

Which is why the theme of the POTUS Trump administration has been “common sense“.

Strengthening constitutional enforcement issues could be a meaningful answer as well as satisfying the obvious need for honest, accurate elections. When one side or the other goes rogue or overreach becomes the modus operandi while in control, they can choose to enforce or not enforce the provisions of the Constitution and related law with minimal blow back because of the mockery they have made of law enforcement activities and the judiciary. We have seen this blatantly demonstrated in the past three decades with the weaponization of the DOJ and Intelligence Community (IC). Political gain replaced bipartisan administration of the law in the highest offices of our land.

President Trump and America First supporters aim to change all of that. We are already seeing a great deal of Anti-Federalist approaches to powers not enumerated and a great deal of leverage applied. President Trump, cabinet, and all supporters are going back to the original intent of the Massachusetts Compromise we discussed in a previous part. That compromise led to that key state’s ratification of the Constitution and Bill of Rights. Some of the actions President Trump is intentionally taking will end up on the desks of the SCOTUS due to lawfare by the Uniparty if they are not codified through actions of Congress. We will have clarity on which to base future steps soon. As that happens it will be critical to gain even more patriot control over Congress in the future as the Uniparty will be fighting against us with all they have. There are more amendments to the Constitution that are necessary to assure our nation’s viability for centuries to come.

If history is our guide, political parties based on partisanship control will eventually die and morph into something else. That is exactly where the Democrat Party finds itself today. The GOP through POTUS Trump and supporters morphed from the party of big business to the party of the people over a couple of decades. What signaled that change was coming was when the Democrats lurched left. The Solid South left the party and have become GOP stalwarts.

Given a personal choice of one side or the other, I think readers know I am an Anti-Federalist in my core. Power and money corrupt and nowhere is that seen in a greater display than in our nation’s Capitol. I have personal experiences during my career on which to base my position. I also recognize that in regard to the powers that are enumerated to the federal government, we all must support without reservation as long as the activities are legally conducted. They are not mutually exclusive positions.

On we go to discuss more signers of the Declaration of Independence. We will look at a leader of both the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists as well as one who help reconcile both sides to make it all happen as it did.

George Read

Born in 1733 in North East, MD, George Read was born to John and Mary Howell Read. His father was an Englishman from a family of great wealth. He moved to the colonies and bought a large estate in Cecil County, MD. With six others he went on to found the City of Charleston on the Chesapeake Bay. While there he held numerous military offices.

Soon after his birth, George’s family moved to an estate in New Castle, DE. He went to school with American Patriot Thomas McKean at Rev. Francis Allison’s Academy in New London, PA at age 15. He then studied law in Philadelphia, passed the bar in 1753, and moved back to New Castle to establish his law practice. In 1763 he married the daughter of an Anglican Church rector, Gertrude Ross. They joined the Episcopal Church there. They had three sons; George Jr., William and John.

He was appointed as the Crown Attorney General of three counties in DE by the governor. He remained in that position until he joined the first Continental Congress in 1774. Read preferred that the colonists find common ground with the British and loyalists. When it became time to vote on the Declaration of Independence he voted against it. This caused Rep. Caesar Rodney from the state to ride all night to break the tie for DE to approve the Declaration. However, when it came time to sign it, George Read did so in support.

With the future of the United States on the line in the Revolutionary War. He returned to serve in DE, but soon learned of the capture of the Continental Congress President John McKinley. He was nearly captured himself in Philadelphia, but escaped and served as President of the Congress for six months. He recruited men for the military and helped in the defense of the colonists during the period wile serving in the Legislative Council after the end of his term. He then returned to his home and activities in the state legislature. He took one year away to recover his health.

He was called into service again by DE with the work towards the approval of the Constitution. He was a leader in the fight for a strong federal government, advocating at one point for the abolition of states altogether. None of his fellow representatives agreed with him, so he moved on to protecting the rights of small states versus their larger neighbors. Once those rights were assured he led the approval of the vote for the Constitution for which DE was the first to ratify. In leading these efforts Read became a major voice in the Federalist Party.

The DE General Assembly elected Read to be a U. S Senator in 1789. He served there until 1793. He strongly supported George Washington and believed in centralization, including the creation of a national bank. He left the Senate when appointed the Chief Justice of the DE Supreme Court and served there until his death from heart problems in 1798. His wife passed away five years later. His son George Read, Jr. became the first U. S. Attorney for DE. His grandson, Read III, became the second. He had two brothers serve as officers in the Continental Army and Navy respectively.

George Read was a highly influential American Patriot who gave his all and left a family legacy of doing likewise.

Richard Henry Lee

In addition to prominent Anti-Federalists John Hancock and Samuel Adams, there was Richard Henry Lee. Born in Westmoreland County, VA in 1732, Lee came from a long line of aristocratic military officers, diplomats and politicians in his family. His parents were Colonel Thomas Lee and Hannah Harrison Ludwell Lee. Lee was sent to England to study and during the period both of his parents died in 1750. He continued in Europe until 1752 when he returned home to settle the estate of his parents with his siblings. In 1757 he was appointed justice of the peace and a year later elected into the House of Burgesses, serving until 1775. Also in 1757 he married his first wife, Anne Aylett, with whom he had six children with four surviving. After her death in 1768 he married Anne Gaskins Pinckard a year later. The couple had seven children together of whom five survived.

Lee was strongly in favor of independence and was a founder of the VA Committees of Correspondence. However, he was not in the tar and feathers promoters. He preferred boycotts and verbal persuasion in a gentlemanly manner. In 1766 he authored the Westmoreland Resolution that was against the enforcement of the British Stamp Act. Among those who signed it were several of George Washington’s family members. He was even more actively opposed to the Townshend Acts. He was selected by VA to attend the First Continental Congress. It was Lee who brought the motion for independence in the Second Continental Congress is 1776. The key part of his resolution read,

“Resolved: That these united colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British crown, and that all political connection between them and the state of great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved.”

He had returned to VA prior to the actual vote, but returned in time to sign the Declaration. Later in 1783 he was selected as the President of the Congress. He served for a year and was selected as U. S. Senator from 1789-1792.

Lee strongly supported states rights and a reduced presence of the federal government. He was very active in the Anti-Federalist movement and instrumental in the inclusion of the Bill of Rights. His proposal of the language of the 10th Amendment was adopted substantially as he presented it. With the compromise, he backed the ratification of the Constitution and had high regard for the performance of George Washington through the years. He soon grew to appreciate the Constitution as he saw how it actually performed. He passed away in 1794 at age 62 with his wife passing away two years later at age 48. He never fully recovered from an overturned carriage accident in 1791. Within the founding fathers as a group, he was considered as important as the bigger names of Jefferson, Adams and Franklin.

Richard Henry Lee was a great American Patriot.

Roger Sherman

One of the patriots who was critical to building consensus between Federalists and Anti-Federalists, large states and small states, providing a compromise that led to the House and Senate structures as well as other meaningful agreements was Roger Sherman. Born in Newton, MA in 1721, Sherman was the son of farmers. His parents, William and Mehetabel Sherman, moved when he was two years old to Stoughton. Sherman had little formal education outside of grammar school and his father’s library. He was also taught by his Harvard educated parish minister, Rev. Samuel Dunbar. His first job was as a shoemaker.

After his father died in 1743, he moved to New Milford, CT with his mother and siblings. He opened a cobbler store with a brother. He became the county’s surveyor two years later. This helped him save money to later purchase land and earn a good reputation among county residents. He married Elizabeth Hartwell in 1749. She passed away in 1760. He then married Rebecca Prescott in 1763. Between the two wives they had 15 children, 13 of whom lived to adulthood. He published a successful almanac for eleven years as well as studied law. He passed the bar exam in 1754. He became very involved in church and civic affairs, resulting in his election as town clerk of New Milford. He was also elected to the CT House of Representatives for several terms during the period. He was named a justice of the peace in 1762 and a judge in 1765. From that position he was named Justice of the CT Superior Court for the next 23 years. During this time he was also appointed Treasurer of Yale College and taught religious studies there for years.

He represented CT in both the first and second Continental Congress. He was one of the Committee of Five who drafted the Declaration of Independence. His involvement continued into the production of the Articles of Confederation and a member of the related Congress. As such he also became a signer on the Treaty of Paris that ended the Revolutionary War.

Sherman attended the Constitution Convention with no preconceived positions. He actually preferred amending the Articles of Confederation as he saw the problem with it being primarily the lack of the ability to enforce its provisions. (SOUND FAMILIAR?) 😂

Sherman was the definition of a nationalist and viewed his state in isolationist ways. He saw it being essentially self sufficient and aligned with his religious (Puritan) views. Even then he foresaw the future end to slavery in America (SOUND FAMILIAR?) So, he worked to encourage compromises between the two sides even though he was personally anti-slavery. He was a very active participant in legislative and development sessions no matter the project or meeting. He was not an eloquent speaker as he was described as being very direct and terse in his many presentations. This led to him not being quoted as much as others as well as the fact he did not keep extensive journals of his activities.

He was also an opponent of “paper” money. He saw a national currency of same being a future problem to the individual states.

Roger Sherman was largely responsible for the current organization and voting functions of Congress. He forged a compromise, the Connecticut Compromise, through the Grand Committee he formed to deliver a compromise between the large and small states that would balance the interests of both more fairly. He went on to serve as a U. S. Representative and later, as a U. S Senator of his state until his passing from typhoid in 1793. The great American theologian Jonathon Edwards preached his funeral. His wife, Rebecca, passed away in 1813.

Roger Sherman was the only person in our history to sign all four major documents of the United States from our period of founding; the Articles of Association, the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the U. S. Constitution. His more famous contemporaries Jefferson, Adams and Madison had deep admiration for the man and held all of his works in high regard.

Conclusion

A Federalist, an Anti-Federalist, and a Consensus Builder walk into a bar…

OK, start to a bad joke. However, this has been how America has evolved over many years by building consensus among dissimilar individuals who are linked by the common bonds formed from our great Declaration of Independence.

May God bless America.

DEAR MAGA: Open Thread 20250206 & the Scouring of the Shire


Welcome.
Please visit this January 1st daily thread for the rules of the road,
which are few but important.


Header Image: 2024 Presidential Election Map by County

The Scouring of the Shire.

Reading and reflecting on Tolkien’s final chapter in The Lord of the Rings might help us place ourselves at this time. Fandom tells us: “Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin arrive in the Shire to find that things are not as they once were when they left. The Shire is now run by Sharkey based at Bag End, who with Lotho‘s help had taken over with his band of Ruffian Men. The four hobbits collect as many allies as they can and defeat his army of Ruffians at the Battle of Bywater. The Hobbits then confront “Sharkey” and the lowly Gríma Wormtongue at Bag End, who both meet their demise.”

So, while the noble hobbits had been off saving all of Middle Earth, the “commies” had set up shop in their homeland and caused great harm that will require bravery, wisdom, and a lot of work to undo. It appears that we are somewhere around the beginning of the Battle of Bywater now.

Do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore,
and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. — Galatians 5:1



We got our miracle.
America is back.
Now what?

Let us dedicate ourselves to seeking our place in the cleansing, healing, and rebuilding of this beautiful, resource-rich nation. God will guide us.

Thanks be to God for our 47th President, Donald J. Trump.


The Role of County Government in Elections.

Take a good look at that 2024 Election Map. See the outline of each county?


How Does This Work?

Let’s take a look at what the National Association of Counties (NACO) has to say

When trying to understand how to get traction locally in turning the tide for liberty, it seems to come down to the governance at the county level. And from what is being turned up with the groups I’m following, it looks a lot like there is state level and national level collusion to influence or control the governments of those 3,069 counties that are responsible for overseeing our elections. I’ll get into those details in another post.

Reading that overview from NACO, they start out by stating:

Elections in the United States are administered in a highly decentralized process through which each state shapes its own election laws

Well, mostly. The states shape their own election laws, but, as with anything else, federal laws also impose requirements on state and local governments. Maryland’s State Board of Elections gives a helpful overview of these major federal election laws here. The most recent election-related law passed by Congress is known as HAVA.

  • Help America Vote Act (HAVA) of 2002
    This law was the U.S. Congress’ response to the 2000 Presidential election and the first time that the federal government authorized federal funds for election administration. It created the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) and set minimum standards for voting systems. It also required each state to adopt uniform standards on what constitutes a vote, implement provisional voting, post certain information at polling places, maintain a statewide voter registration database, and required certain individuals to show identification before voting.

Sounds good right?

Except. There are county elections officials are not following the laws, and yet are still taking the federal money to buy their electronic voting machines. If they didn’t follow the federal laws, then taking that money anyway would be fraud, right?

Thankfully, there are Americans that have stood up and gotten to work discovering and working to address the failures of our elections officials across the nation. I’d like to highlight one citizen oversight group that has done much with an all-volunteer organization.

We want valid elections that are run in full compliance with the law.

I strongly encourage you to watch this short video of a presentation by Marley Hornik of United Sovereign Americans. She goes over the legal framework for election integrity, starting with the constitution and provides the statute citations that must be enforced if we are to have free and fair elections. She also covers what they found when they audited the voter rolls of just 20 states prior to the 2024 election. They found over 29 MILLION apparently ineligible voter registrations, 10 million votes cast by those ineligible voters, 2 million more votes cast than voters that voted, and an average 13% vote error rate. Every invalid registration is potentially a felony level violation. Their organization is litigating with states over their failure to clean up the rolls and unlawful certification of non-compliant elections. They have a good strategy for which states to sue in order to potentially cause a circuit split which could get this heard at the Supreme Court without having to sue all 50 states. Or better yet, maybe the Department of Justice will just do their job.

Presentation by Marley Hornik of United Sovereign Americans
On the Status of our Nation’s Elections (for video click here)

The United Sovereign Americans Action Plan includes (1) informing everyone of election validity law, (2) turning findings into evidence, and (3) forcing election officials to obey the law.

Unfortunately, election officials across America have displayed apathy, disdain, and disregard for the law, and the civil rights of the people they are hired to serve. This has resulted in the certification of elections that varied from the law. Some of these elections were grossly inaccurate. Whether it was incompetence or malfeasance, those who broke the law must be held accountable.

Thank God for their work. May many more Americans join them in their efforts.


Twitterati.

Follow Scott Pressler for inspirational feet-on-the-ground reports and calls to action. He is showing us how it’s done. Also, check out Scott Presler’s Early Vote Action twitter account.


Prayer.

God Bless America,
Land that I love.
Stand beside her, and guide her
Thru the night with a light from above.
From the mountains, to the prairies,
To the oceans, white with foam
God bless America, My home sweet home.


American Stories: When in the Course of human events – Part 5

Saratoga. Everything hinged on Saratoga. From history.com we have the following:

British strategy in 1777 involved two main prongs of attack aimed at separating New England (where the rebellion enjoyed the most popular support) from the other colonies. To that end, General John Burgoyne’s army marched south from Canada toward a planned meeting with Howe’s forces on the Hudson River. Burgoyne’s men dealt a devastating loss to the Americans in July by retaking Fort Ticonderoga, while Howe decided to move his troops southward from New York to confront Washington’s army near the Chesapeake Bay. The British defeated the Americans at Brandywine Creek, Pennsylvannia on September 11 and entered Philadelphia on September 25. Washington rebounded to strike Germantown in early October before withdrawing to winter quarters near Valley Forge.

Howe’s move had left Burgoyne’s army exposed near Saratoga, New York, and the British suffered the consequences of this on September 19, when an American force under General Horatio Gates defeated them at Freeman’s Farm in the first Battle of Saratoga. After suffering another defeat on October 7 at Bemis Heights (the Second Battle of Saratoga), Burgoyne surrendered his remaining forces on October 17. The American victory at Saratoga would prove to be a turning point of the American Revolution, as it prompted France (which had been secretly aiding the rebels since 1776) to enter the war openly on the American side, though it would not formally declare war on Great Britain until June 1778. The American Revolution, which had begun as a civil conflict between Britain and its colonies, had become a world war.

At one time, France actually had a spine. The colonists rejected their oppressors and earned the assistance of the long time British enemies, France. What is not remembered often is that Spain entered the conflict as an ally of France. America owed Spain a debt of gratitude for what they did to assist. They provided critical supplies and funding. They were in their own conflict with the British and saw it as an opportunity to further weaken their enemy so that that could retake Menorca, which was successful a few years later.

Win-win-win for the colonies, France and Spain. An enemy of my enemy is my friend.

But let’s take a closer look at General Horatio Gates in the fall of 1777, the reported hero General who changed everything for the colonies. From mountvernon.com:

“When British troops under the command of Major General John Burgoyne invaded New York in 1777, Gates’ army defeated Burgoyne twice, on September 19, 1777 and October 7, 1777. Gates’ troops forced Burgoyne to surrender his 5,700 man army near Saratoga on October 17, 1777. This victory, a major turning point of the American Revolution, convinced France to form an alliance with the Americans against Great Britain in 1778.

Tensions between Gates and General George Washington grew immediately following Saratoga, after Gates informed Congress directly of his victory rather than informing his Commander-in-Chief. Washington was further angered that Gates did not promptly return troops sent to help Gates during the New York campaign. General Washington was also convinced that Gates played a role in the Conway Cabal in late 1777, which was a supposed plot to remove Washington from command and replace him with Gates. In November 1777, Gates became president of the Board of War and technically became Washington’s superior. Bickering continued between the two men as Gates drew up plans for an invasion of Canada without consulting Washington.

Wait… what? There was dissent in the highest ranks during the Revolutionary War? Somebody got the big head after battle victories? Somebody decided to posture for personal career gain like our political and military idgits do today? Tell me it isn’t so! What is this about a “Conway Cabal” being involved? Enjoy reading the backbiting of some of our founding fathers in the link below. Be sure and click on the second page prompt at the bottom left of the first page.

https://www.ushistory.org/march/other/cabal.htm

As if Benedict Arnold was not enough, Gen. Gates played politics and showed his pompous azz in the middle of our fight for independence. But in the ultimate “what goes around comes around” result, the following explains what happened next. Unfortunately it came with a heavy cost of lives for the colonists.

“In the spring of 1778, Gates returned to field command in the north, controlling troops in New York and Massachusetts. Gates took command of the Southern Army in South Carolina in July 1780 to meet the British army that had invaded that state earlier in the year. Abandoning the cautious strategy he employed against Burgoyne in 1777, Gates marched his army toward the British troops in Camden, South Carolina, despite the fact that his men were running low on supplies. This action led to the Battle of Camden on August 16, 1780, which was one of the largest American defeats of the war. As the American troops retreated, Gates left the battlefield and abandoned his army, riding nearly 200 miles in three days. Accused of cowardice, his reputation was ruined. Gates was removed from command in October 1780.

Congress briefly reinstated Gates into the army in the summer of 1782, but after uneventful service he left for the final time in 1783. In 1790 Gates sold his Virginia plantation, freed his slaves, and bought an estate in New York called “Rose Hill Farm.” He ended his career serving one term in the New York legislature from 1800-1801. Gates died on April 10, 1806.”

Proverbs 16:18 – Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall. We have seen this scripture proven true countless times over the years. We should always heed these wise words.

Time for more signers. Let ‘s go with one of the players in the Conway Cabal debacle.

Benjamin Rush

The most celebrated physician in America post Revolutionary War was Benjamin Rush. He was born in Byberry, PA in 1745. He was born to merchant John Rush and Susana Hall, the middle of seven children. His father died when he was six and he was sent with a brother to live with an aunt and uncle two years later so they could receive an education. He studied under Dr. Samuel Finley at the West Nottingham Academy. Not long after that he graduated at age 14 with a BA degree from the College of New Jersey, which became Princeton later. For the next five years he apprenticed under Dr. John Redman in Philadelphia before accepting an opportunity to study at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland for three years, where he earned an M. D. degree. While there he became fluent in French, Italian and Spanish. He returned to America in 1769 and opened a medical practice while also teaching chemistry at the University of Philadelphia (UPenn – there it is again). Later in life he published the first American textbook on chemistry.

Rush joined the Sons of Liberty soon after his return from Scotland. He was so respected that Thomas Paine consulted him about content in his Common Sense book. He represented PA when he signed the Declaration. In a letter to John Adams he recalled the signing in a similar manner as fellow signer William Elery. Per Wiki, he wrote the following,

He described it as a scene of “pensive and awful silence”. Rush said the delegates were called up, one after another, and then filed forward somberly to subscribe to what each thought was their ensuing death warrant. He related that the “gloom of the morning” was briefly interrupted when the rotund Benjamin Harrison of Virginia said to a diminutive Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts, at the signing table, “I shall have a great advantage over you, Mr. Gerry, when we are all hung for what we are now doing. From the size and weight of my body I shall die in a few minutes and be with the Angels, but from the lightness of your body you will dance in the air an hour or two before you are dead.” According to Rush, Harrison’s remark “procured a transient smile, but it was soon succeeded by the Solemnity with which the whole business was conducted.”

He served in the Continental Congress as well as in the war in the field with the Philadelphia militia. He laid the foundation for battlefield treatments of the Continental Army during this time. For a period he served as Surgeon General in the Continental Army’s Middle Department until the lack of medical supplies and underreporting of casualties by officials caused him to make the ill fated Conway related comments, after which Washington asked him to resign. He regretted what he said greatly. Per Wiki, in another letter to John Adams in 1812 he stated, “He [Washington] was the highly favored instrument whose patriotism and name contributed greatly to the establishment of the independence of the United States.” Rush also successfully pleaded with Washington’s biographers Justice Bushrod Washington and Chief Justice John Marshall to delete his association with those stinging words.

Benjamin Rush accomplished an incredible amount in his life in the post revolutionary period. Perhaps the greatest was facilitating the reconciliation of two of the great founding fathers, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams. He had lifelong friendships with both as well as other signers.

A biographical summary is linked below and you will probably be as amazed by his accomplishments as I was.

https://www.monticello.org/research-education/thomas-jefferson-encyclopedia/benjamin-rush

On a personal level Benjamin Rush was a devoted Christian. He believed (as I do) that the United States of America was the work of God: “I do not believe that the Constitution was the offspring of inspiration, but I am as perfectly satisfied that the Union of the United States in its form and adoption is as much the work of a Divine Providence as any of the miracles recorded in the Old and New Testament”. In 1798, after the Constitution’s adoption, Rush declared: “The only foundation for a useful education in a republic is to be laid in Religion.” He had involvement in several denominations through the years and assisted Richard Allen in the formation of the AME Church at one point.

He had married Julia Stockton in 1776. The couple had thirteen children, nine survived past one year. One son, Richard, went on to become part of the administrations of the presidencies of James Madison, James Monroe, John Quincey Adams, Andrew Jackson, James Polk and Zachary Taylor. Benjamin Rush died of Typhus Fever in 1813 at age 68. Julia, 14 years his junior, lived until 1848. Both remained faithful to the Lord and their country throughout their lives.

Benjamin Rush was an incredible American Patriot who left a legacy that continues to this day.

Joseph Hewes

Born in 1730 in Princeton, NJ to Society of Friends (Quaker) parents. He also graduated from the College of New Jersey (Princeton). He left the area soon after and joined a family member’s mercantile business in Philadelphia. He attended Quaker meetings while there and apprenticed in the business. He learned of business opportunities in the port town of Edenton in North Carolina, so he moved and formed a company with Charles Blount there that succeeded for a time. However, the death of his fiancee soured him on life as well as the business, which was dissolved. He recovered and partnered with a local attorney, Robert Smith. His business ventures began to flourish. He owned many properties, warehouses and became involved with shipping at the port; owning multiple ships, sloops and brigs. He created a rope walk to be used between ships as well developing and selling rope and related products to the shipping industry.

Over the years he became a justice of the peace and later was elected into the NC Assembly. He remained active as a Quaker and at one point was believed to have joined the Anglican church. Many historians report he believed as a deist.

He became more and more involved in the independence movement. He joined the NC Committee of Correspondence and represented the state in the Continental Congress. He actively supported the Suffolk Reserves, which called for a termination of trade with Great Britain in 1774. He was sold out to the causes of the colonists and independence. Ultimately this led to his signing of the Declaration.

For a month afterwards he visited his mother back in Princeton, NJ. The gravity of the situation had begun to weigh on him. Per Wiki, “Hewes wrote “I had the weight of North Carolina on my shoulders within a day or two of three months. The service was too severe. I have sat some days from Six in the morning till five, and sometimes Six in the afternoon without eating or drinking. My health is bad, such close attention made it worse. …Duty, inclination and self preservation call on me now to make a little excursion in the County to see my mother. This is a duty which I have not allowed myself to perform during almost nine months that I have been here.” Towards the end of September Hewes returned to Edenton for rest and recuperation.

Hewes fully realized what was to come from the Declaration. He assisted in training the NC militia and began preparing ships for Naval use. In truth, some of this work had been done well before the signing of the Declaration as he saw the course the colonists were on would lead to war. He was appointed to a marine committee that began outfitting of privately owned ships with guns. He even leased one of his brigs to the marine committee in the Continental Congress with the committee providing him insurance for potential loss.

In the late 1770’s his health began to suffer as he dealt with continuous head aches. He served in the Continental Congress until mid 1779 despite a group of fellow marine committee members objecting to the money he made while providing marine services to the country. He returned to office with the NC Assembly and continued to represent the state in the Continental Congress. He returned home from the Congress in October 1779 due to his health. He passed away a month later at 49 years of age.

Joseph Hewes never married. The earlier loss of his future wife was too much for him to overcome. As a result he had no children. Her loss had led him to throw all of his efforts into his business ventures and service to our country in the Revolutionary War period. He was a self made man of great wealth who remained committed to the cause of independence unto his death. In his honor and in a demonstration of respect, members of Congress wore crape on their left arms for one month after his death.

Joseph Hewes was a true, devoted American Patriot.

William Williams

Born in Lebanon, CT in 1731, William Williams was one of ten children of Congregationalist Church minister, Solomon Williams and wife, Mary Porter Williams. He studied both law and theology at Harvard and graduated in 1751 as well as studying the ministry with his father. Four years later he served in a local militia in the French and Indian War. He returned and opened a store in Lebanon. He never owned slaves as he felt it was morally wrong.

At nearly 40 years old he married Mary Trumbull who was about 15 years younger. She was the daughter of CT Royal Governor Jonathon Trumbull. Trumbull went on to serve as the second Speaker of the U. S. House of Representatives. William and Mary went on have three children together. He took the job of town clerk, a position he held for 44 years.

Williams spent over two decades as a representative in the CT House of Representatives. He was elected Speaker in four of those years. He was strongly for independence as he was a member of the Sons of Liberty, on the Committee for Correspondence as well as the Council for Safety. At one time he anonymously had a satirical letter published in the local newspaper that confronted the King and his actions. He became an even more fierce opponent to the Crown after the Coercive Acts of 1774. He was elected to replace Oliver Wolcott as a representative from CT in the Continental Congress one week after the Declaration was formally announced, so he did not get to vote. However, he arrived in time to be a signer. Following this act he resigned his militia commission as a Colonel to serve in the Congress. He also served as a county judge for 28 years beginning in 1776.

Williams refused to sign the Constitution. He was opposed because Article VI banned religious tests for government officials. As a devout Christian and Congregationalist Deacon he felt it was a necessary requirement. He lived a life of dignity with a humble attitude and consistency that he felt was necessary for government officials. He lived his entire life as an example for Christ and for America. During the war, he closed his business, gave generously of his time and contributed much of his wealth for the cause. He regularly opened his home for military members to stay and rest.

In his latter days Williams read, meditated and prayed. He passed away at age 80. The day of his death, August 2, was exactly 35 years to the day from the date he signed the Declaration. His wife, Mary, passed away 20 years later.

William Williams was the epitome of a Christian servant leader and American Patriot.

Conclusion

As we wind our way through the Declaration signers, we come across stories such as these with Gates, Conway, Washington and Rush that remind us that nothing in life happens in a linear progression of goodness. Sometimes it all comes across as a soap opera. Yet, somehow the hand of God always has appeared at the right time to steer us in a direction that restores our destiny. Indeed, we are going through such a resurgence of the American spirit today.

It is interesting to me that an active faith in God, in a higher power, always seems to be the catalyst that drives the renewal.

In this story we have two devout Christians and a probable deist from different states who were working on the same team as patriots and signers of the Declaration of Independence. They gave their all for America, just as American First MAGA is doing today.

May God continue to bless America.