Borg Blog: July in Review

My great gratitude goes out to the Lord our God and all of you that have helped the Borg Blog to continue growing at a phenomenal rate. July brought 21,177 unique visits (and 25,114 page views) to the Borg Blog — more than twice the number from June.

One of the big drivers of this traffic appears to be my controversial post, “Is the Iraq War Constitutional?”  Lots of visitors read this article, and I had a number of great conversations with friends through email and with commenters at the Control Congress blog, where I also posted the essay, as a result. And though the subject is controversial, the facts have yet to be disputed. So even though others have even blogged their disagreements with me re: the Iraq War in general, they have failed to refute the clear position of the Founders and the Constitution regarding war-making that I laid out, preferring instead to dismiss constitutional concerns as “nit-picking” while making vast, hyperventilating leaps regarding the deadly consequences of actually being faithful to our governing document. Anyway, I’ll address this further later this week when I take apart the War Powers Act of 1973.

For more Borg Blog posts from July on the Founders, the Constitution, and the wars on terror and Iraq, see also: “If This Is The ‘Cost Of Freedom,’ What Are We Buying?,” “The Founders on the Power to Declare War,” “Raped Like a Street Walker,” and “Re: Iraq, the Dems are Worse than Bush.”

Be sure to also read my revealing parable, “How Recent and Would-Be American Presidents Would Deal With a Hornet Nest.”

One politician — and the only one running for President — who understands that obeying the Constitution is not mere nit-picking is Ron Paul. Those who have been corrupted by power and like the status quo thus will do whatever it takes to stop his candidacy. Fortunately, the “GOP Establishment’s War on Ron Paul Backfires — Again.” In fact, I was pleased to report that this long-shot candidate has pulled ahead of John McCain.

Here are some other posts I wrote re: Ron Paul’s candidacy in July:

• “If Jimmy, Michael, Bill, and John Could Do It, Why Can’t Ron?“
• “Bush, Neo-Con ‘Surge the Surge’ Myopia Leads to Pro-Ron Paul Surge from Military?“
• “Ron Paul Leads ALL ‘08 Candidates With One-Third of Military Contributions for Q2“
• “If Ron Paul Isn’t a “Credible” Candidate, What Does That Make Mitt Romney?“
• “How the Christian Faith of Ron Paul Informs His Politics“
• “Ron Paul on Fighting Terrorism Wisely“

There was more concerning Ron Paul and other candidates, of course — including an amusing one on John Edwards, which I titled, “A Bad Hair Day” — which you can find by surfing through the 2008 Election blog category.

Speaking of elections, here’s a great question: “Do We Have a Patriotic Duty to Vote?” You may be surprised by my answer.

July also brought Independence Day. And though it is past, it is never too late to read my post, “Thomas Jefferson and the Declaration of Independence.”

We can learn a lot from the Founders, esp. their humility. Previous generations of Americans understood this, but too many don’t today. Check out, “America Was Always Exceptional Because We Knew We Weren’t.”

In family news, Rachel turned one. (Check out these pictures!) And my brother Jon’s birth announcementfor his son Bodie was a true classic.

The baseball season has truly heated up, with the All Star break now behind us. Barry Bonds at the All Star Game and his continuing chase of Hank Aaron’s record were/are big news. As is the big season Alex Rodriguez is having; the greatest season for a Yankee right-hand bat since Joe DiMaggio, in fact.

In July, I saw two excellent movies — “Ratatouille” and “Miss Potter” — and read a number of great books.

And while we are on the entertainment theme, I was delighted to publicly launch “Borg Blog Music Radio” in July. I hope you enjoy my very own, custom-made radio station.

At my other blogging locales, my only unique blog at Control Congress in July was “The Forgotten ‘A’ Word: Assimilation.” At The ACRU Blog, my most notable unique blog was “ In Defense of Discrimination and Freedom of Association.” (Though be sure to see the letter I wrote, “In Defense of Judge Southwick: An Open Letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee.”

Finally, back at the Borg Blog, here are a few random other posts from July that I’ll bring your attention to: “Children In Desperate Need of Spankings,” “Isn’t a ‘Fat Tax’ a No-Brainer for Pro-Lifers?” and “Towards a Free Market for Health Care.”

A Sad Indictment: China More Entrepreneur-Friendly Than USA

Zhang came here from China after the 1989 Tiananmen massacre. An energetic and clever young man, he worked at odd jobs around New York City while looking for an opportunity to make his fortune. The opportunity soon arrived. He happened upon a business opportunity — a new method of engraving on stone, the patent held by a fellow-exile with whom he had struck up a friendship. The two of them were sure they’d be rich in no time. They struggled for a couple of years to bring the thing to market. At last, defeated, they gave up. Zhang took a desk job as a clerk for a credit card company.

What was the cause of the failure? I asked him. He: “We didn’t realize this is a mature economy. So many permits, regulations, accounting rules, taxes! In China, we could have got this off the ground in no time, working out of back rooms and sticking up poster ads. Here — forget it! You’re killed by lawyers’ and accountants’ and agents’ fees before you get started. Stick up an ad, the city comes after you.”

~John Derbyshire, July 31, 2008

Ron Paul on Fighting Terrorism Wisely

When neo-cons and their defenders start calling the use of constitutional means — as opposed to imperial ones — as “wacky,” it becomes clear how far removed they are from true conservatism.  Here is the response from Ron Paul’s campaign to a truly idiotic piece at The Politico:

Wise, not wacky

On October 10, 2001, Congressman Ron Paul led the effort in Congress to give President Bush the tools he needed to capture, dead or alive, Osama bin Laden and the other terrorists responsible for September 11th.  Dr. Paul introduced on that day H.R. 3076 — The September 11 Marque and Reprisal Act of 2001.

If passed, that legislation would have given President Bush an additional weapon against bin Laden.  If Dr. Paul’s legislation had passed in 2001, it is likely bin Laden would not still be at large six years later.

But today, John Bresnahan of Politico.com describes Congressman Ron Paul’s effort to capture Osama bin Laden as “wacky.”  Wacky?  Let’s see.
Read the rest of this entry »

I’ve Been Phlebotomized!!!

Well, not quite.

They actually removed just one test tube full this morning for testing.  All part of the regular annual check-up.  ;)

God’s Grace Can Be Found Even in Misery

“Upon the whole, here was an undoubted testimony, that there was scarce any condition in the world so miserable, but there was something negative or something positive to be thankful for in it; and let this stand as a direction from the experience of the most miserable of all conditions in this world, that we may always find in it something to comfort ourselves from, and to set in the description of good and evil, on the credit side of the account.”

~As related by “Robinson Crusoe” in
Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe, p.66

The ACLU’s First Freedom Double-Standard

From the Ryskind Sketchbook:

(HT: PowerLine)

The Grassroots Love Ron Paul

“Republican leaders report that the most enthusiasm among grassroots activists is for Gingrich and libertarian Rep. Ron Paul.”

~Robert Novak, July 28, 2007

(HT: LewRockwell.com)

“It is Better to Go Bruised to Heaven Than Sound to Hell”

Lord’s Day Meditation

We must lay siege to the hardness of our own hearts, and aggravate sin all we can. We must look on Christ, who was bruised for us, look on him whom we have pierced with our sins. But all directions will not prevail, unless God by his Spirit convinces us deeply, setting our sins before us, and driving us to a standstill. Then we will cry out for mercy. Conviction will breed contrition, and this leads to humiliation. Therefore desire God that he would bring a clear and a strong light into all the corners of our souls, and accompany it with a spirit of power to lay our hearts low.

A set measure of bruising of ourselves cannot be prescribed, but it must be so far as (1) that we may prize Christ above all, and see that a Saviour must be had; and (2) that we reform that which is amiss, though it be to the cutting off of our right hand, or pulling out of our right eye. There is a dangerous slighting of the work of humiliation, some alleging this for a pretence for their casual dealing with their own hearts, that Christ will not break the bruised reed; but such must know that every sudden terror and short grief is not that which makes us bruised reeds; not a little ‘bowing down our heads like a bulrush’ (Isa. 58:5), but a working our hearts to such a grief as will make sin more odious unto us than punishment, until we offer a ‘holy violence’ against it. Else, favouring ourselves, we make work for God to bruise us, and for sharp repentance afterwards. It is dangerous, I confess, in some cases, with some spirits, to press too much and too long this bruising, because they may die under the wound and burden before they be raised up again. Therefore it is good in mixed assemblies to mingle comfort that every soul may have its due portion. But if we have this for a foundation truth, that there is more mercy in Christ than sin in us, there can be no danger in thorough dealing. It is better to go bruised to heaven than sound to hell. Therefore let us not take off ourselves too soon, nor pull off the plaster before the cure be wrought, but keep ourselves under this work till sin be the sourest, and Christ the sweetest, of all things. And when God’s hand is upon us in any way, it is good to divert our sorrow for other things to the root of all, which is sin. Let our grief run most in that channel, that as sin bred grief, so grief may consume sin.

~Richard Sibbes, The Bruised Reed, excerpt from chapter two

On Bonds and Aaron: Another Reasonable Viewpoint

I want to recommend The Diamond Fan blog to baseball fans out there. We differ in some of our conclusions, but much of our thinking, even on Barry Bonds, is almost identical, and we definitely share the opinion that baseball is, as his blog’s motto puts it, “The Greatest Sport of All.”

The author of that blog, Ted, commented on and took exception with some of what I wrote in my post, “No Asterisk Needed,” and then turned that comment into a post on his own site, that he titled “Hank Aaron’s Home Run Pattern.” What I really appreciate is his explanation of Hank Aaron’s amazing career. I believe that with Hank maintaining his power stroke until he was 40 — during a time when players where less likely to be able to do so, since they didn’t know as much as we do now about nutrition, conditioning, orthopedic medicine, etc. — my larger point about it not being so incredible that Bonds maintained and even increased his power into his early 40s stands. But Ted’s post better informed my knowledge of the era Hank played in, and makes me marvel all the more at his career.

What I appreciate most of all, though, is Ted’s reasonable — and even sympathetic — view of Bonds. (See especially his post, “Barry Bonds and the Asterisk.”) Lots of people find Bonds and what he has done and what he may have done utterly repulsive. What I find even more repulsive is the way these people gnash their teeth and seek to utterly discredit him. I find much to admire in Bonds, the player and even the person. And I believe our gratitude to God should make us all the more ready to take note of and admire something amazing in our midst, even if less than perfect and even bad people were the means. This was my point in this comment, in fact.

Ted has a good blog.  So I am pleased to add it to my blogroll (which can be found at the bottom right of this page).

FDR’s Court-Packing Scheme Back from the Dead

Though there is no constitutional prescription for the number of justices on the Supreme Court, FDR’s court-packing scheme was a blatant grab at power and an attempt to further undermine the U.S. Constitution.

Some people want to try FDR’s ploy again.