Read the Constitution, Condi (And Do Something about Invasion)

Condoleezza Rice needs training in Constitutional matters.

She apparently knows some parts of the U.S. Constitution but does not know other parts of the Constitution.

Per San Jose Mercury News, when asked about what role, if any, would armed volunteers play in enforcement of the American-Mexican border, she said: "As to [border] enforcement, that is a role for the United States government and the United States government alone."

Well, not quite so, Ms. Rice.

Although in the part Powers Granted to Congress (that Ms. Rice seems to be familiar with), Section 8 Article 15 [sic; should be Article I, Section 8, Paragraph 15 - ed.], the Constitution imposes on the U.S. Congress a duty to repeal [repeal] Invasions, nowhere in the entire Constitution is written that this responsibility lies with "the United States government and the United States government alone [emphasis added]." In particular, there is no clause in the Constitution, or in its Amendments, that would prohibit We the People from defending the borders of our country as a need may arise.

On the contrary, Amendments IX and X (see text below) to the Constitution clearly stipulate that it is the government and not We the People whose powers and rights are restricted to those specifically listed in the Constitution. Section 10 Article 3 of the part Powers Forbidden to the States (that Ms. Rice seems ignorant of, as much as she appears ignorant of 9th and 10th Amendments) prohibits the states from engaging in War, unless [emphasis added] actually invaded, or in such imminent Danger as will not admit of delay.

So, there is nothing in the Constitution that could be construed as granting an exclusive power of repealing an invasion, and enforcing the border that comes with it, to the U.S. government, because the states and the people do retain it, at least under certain circumstances.

As of today, a mass invasion of Mexican "migrants", that illegally, and sometimes forcefully, penetrate the U.S. territory at a rate of several millions a year and inflict irreparable damage to this country and its political and social structures, takes place. This invasion clearly constitutes a situation that will not admit of delay. Yet Ms. Rice, rather than rushing to repeal it, wastes her time on falsely claiming monopoly of border enforcement on behalf of her administration (the monopoly that her administration is notorious for neglecting) and bashing few patriots that only did the job that the federal government would not do (the very border enforcement, that is).

Ms. Rice's comment goes very well along with on-going usurpation of power by the federal government (a trend that clearly violates 10th Amendment) under the pretense of regulating Commerce [...] among the several states. But how about reading the Constitution in its entirety and remembering what it says, Ms. Condi? Or better yet, how about doing what the Constitution mandates (the thing you just claimed is the U.S. government prerogative) and actually enforcing the American border - a duty that has been conspicuously unfulfilled by the United States government which you are one of the stewards of?

I wish we had a Secretary of State who was more knowledgeable of the supreme law of this land.

Amendment IX: Rights Retained by the People

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

Amendment X: Powers retained by the States and the People

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the states, respectively, or to the people.

REFERENCES

[1] Bush lackey brushes off question about Minutemen http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/11762317.htm

(Free registration required; an excerpt can be read at http://americanpatrol.com/_WEB2005/050528.html)

Desert Invasion - U.S.

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