FederalRepublic.net

I’d like to offer my congrats to the 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama on his swearing-in today. While I agree with next to none of Obama’s policy proposals, today is a day to be proud of America’s long tradition of welcoming peaceful transition from one government to another. Today’s commentary from the media is almost exactly what I expected; liberals rejoiced in a Democrat becoming president on the wings of unity, while conservatives trashed Obama’s policy proposals and questioned his character. Those who know me understand I cannot stand the rhetorical back and forth between liberal and conservative pundits and tend to take a more academic approach to events like these. Today was no different; looking through the rhetoric and seeing the enormity of today’s events however, I found myself proud of my country. Not because of the “change” Obama represents, but for this Union’s tradition of peaceful transition of power from one party to the next.

When looking at the “big picture” of human history, we find that peaceful transition of power is a relatively new concept. While many leaders throughout history handpicked their successors or ruled on the side of strong, standing armies, America took a different approach. Its people decided to take a new course, a course based not on the will of a king or the sovereignty of Parliament, but a path based upon the liberty of republican virtue and self-government. This experiment is still ongoing, an experiment pitting a fixed constitutional justice against man’s own self-interested nature. Though this Union has not always interpreted its constitution as it should, and though it has committed injustices in the name of liberty, this compact of states composing the United States of America has shown its resilience to renew itself time and again. For all that disturbs me about the loss of our liberties, I am truly proud this Union has transitioned and started anew.

While we should work tirelessly to bring about real change in terms of conservative and libertarian ideals, we should remember we still live in the best nation on earth. We must remember that though we differ about politics, we Americans have more that unites us than divides us. It’s back to work tomorrow, but tonight, let us celebrate our powerful tradition of peaceful transition.

I love this video. Play attention to the end though, because it illustrates how Obama supporters are sure to get a dose of reality:

John McCain and Barack Obama have nothing on these guys. The two major parties have destroyed what debate and discourse should be in American political life. You know something is wrong in this country when Ralph Nader and Bob Barr actually agree with each other on a number of issues. Further, I am worried about the status of American liberty, regardless who wins tomorrow. Both parties make me sick while they usurp and destroy the United States Constitution.

H/T to The Liberty Papers

As a sidenote, it doesn’t really matter who wins tomorrow in terms of the Constitution. Both parties have destroyed the Constitution for generations and I don’t suspect that will come to an end anytime soon. John McCain is safer economically, but he’s willing to destroy our liberties for security. Obama is more libertarian when it comes to social issues, but he’s willing to destroy our liberties for a socialist agenda, valuing the collective above the individual. Either way, freedom is lost that will really never be gained back.

Hilarious…

H/T to Hotair.com

Yes, Barack…John McCain is fighting for plumbers out there, and no doubt many others that your crowd would laugh at. You’re not fit to be my president.

This clip illustrates how Joe Wurzelbacher represents me and so many more working people fed up with the socialist tendencies of Barack Obama and the Democratic Party:

H/T to HotAir

We’ve all heard pundits on both the left and right call this election the most negative in history. Well apparently, they haven’t actually read their history (or have any idea about what history actually is). Take for example, the election of 1800 pitting John Adams against Thomas Jefferson.

Insults and slander were often flung at both candidates in the newspapers of the day. For instance, the Gazette of the United States is quoted as exclaiming:

THE GRAND QUESTION STATED
As the present solemn and momentous epoch, the
only question to be asked by every American, laying his
hand on his heart, is “shall I continue in allegiance to
GOD-AND A RELIGIOUS
PRESIDENT;
Or impiously declare for
JEFFERSON-AND NO GOD!!!

There were many other instances of such venom. Should Jefferson be elected President, said the New England Palladium, “the seal of death is that moment set on our holy religion, our church will be prostrated, and some infamous prostitute, under the title of the Goddess of Reason, will preside in the in the Sanctuaries now devoted to the Most High.” In fact, many Federalist-backed newspapers described Jefferson as an atheist who would burn the people’s bibles and destroy Christianity. Others actually hoped to help Adams be reelected to a second term by pronouncing Jefferson had died. While this was later refuted, Federalists pounced on Jefferson with vitriol.

These were not one-sided smears however; Jeffersonian Republicans did fight back. Of John Adams, Thomas Paine declared “It has been the political career of this man to begin with hypocrisy, proceed with arrogance, and finish with contempt.” Others accused Adams of being a closet monarchist, a man who wished to become a king of America. One newspaper accused Adams of wishing to start an American aristocracy by marrying one of his sons to a daughter of George III. And making fun of his baldness and weight, some in the Republican press dubbed Adams “His Rotundancy.”

While some in today’s media have described the current presidential campaign as “fiercely negative,” it seems the election of 1800 was quite worse. Journalists, writers, and historians have forgotten the early days of the American press and how insults and untrue rumors were commonplace. You think McCain v. Obama is a negative campaign? Think again, and learn your history!

*For more on early American journalism, check out Eric Burns’ “Infamous Scribblers.” It’s a great book.

‘Nuff said.

H/T to HotAir

A little humor to lighten up your Friday night: