The House of Representatives passed the bailout on Friday, 263-171, garnering fifty eight more votes in the affirmative than were captured in Monday’s stunning defeat.  Certainly without delay, the President will commit the act to law.  Like the coroner’s hand upon a death certificate, Bush’s signature acknowledges the passing of our democracy.  And only a scattered few are showing up for the funeral.  The rest seem content to join the raging party across the hall, unaware that they attend their own wake.

There was a brief sense of exhilaration among the people as the House struck down the obscene $700 billion bailout bill earlier this week.  Years of apparently futile activism were once again inflated with hope—the Congress does listen and they will represent us, we thought.  Hundreds of thousands of calls, letters, emails, and faxes inundated Senate and House offices, so much so that they had to shut down the email servers—apparently, their junk mail filter was not efficient enough to sort out our annoying insistence that our opinions matter.

There was elation because we surprised them and we knew it.  It was evident that they were shocked—they expected we the people to roll right over when they first presented this plan, but we did not.  In fact, we recoiled and then attacked, as all living things tend to do when they sense an eminent threat.  The Internet was alive with deep discussion and every day that slipped away without the bailout coming into fruition allowed more and more of the citizenry to educate their selves and each other as to the realities of our economy.  Thousands of notable thinkers, economists, journalists, and business leaders warned us that the bailout was a scam, a clear and present coup, an enormous power grab, and an idea completely without merit as a viable financial plan for our country. 

They were caught off guard.  Their computer models didn’t predict a popular uprising.  Not yet—they know that’s coming, they’ve prepared well for it, but it wasn’t supposed to be last week.  It wasn’t supposed to occur until after they had fleeced the American people one more time.  It makes them nervous, these would-be lords, when they cannot render us as binary creatures on a graph.  For all of their data, we continue to defy them as complex beings, beyond their arrogant and narcissistic appraisal.  We have not grown so used to the routine of non-options as they would have hoped.

Today, our optimism is diminished.  You see, in truth, there are those who do hate America and what we stand for.  They hate our free will, they hate our resistance to arbitrary authority, and they hate our insistence of self-determination.  They hate that we have friends without agenda.  They hate that we have love without bribery or gain.  They hate that we don’t hate each other, even with our many differences, and in spite of their best efforts to divide us.  They hate that we won’t be controlled.  They hate that we won’t follow their finite, fear-mongering man-made clay-footed gods into the fiery abyss.  They hate us for being random, for being creative, for being beautiful, sometimes in spite of ourselves.  They hate us for being the breath of Providence, when they are merely the sigh of decay.

These people are not plotting against us in oversees bunkers.  They are not hiding in hobbles in the hills.  They are not in Iraq, or in Afghanistan, or in Russia.  No, they hide in the shadows right here in our own country, those shadows inevitably cast whenever freedom sees the light of day.  They hide on Pennsylvania Avenue in buildings we own.  They hide in the Treasury behind stacks of counterfeit bills.  Apparently, they hide in Congress, behind hubris and hypocrisy.  They hide right in front of us.  They are the enemies domestic and the warnings of their subterfuge have accompanied their every action throughout the last century.

“Crises there will continue to be,” President Eisenhower stated in his final speech of 1961. “In meeting them, whether foreign or domestic, great or small, there is a recurring temptation to feel that some spectacular and costly action could become the miraculous solution to all current difficulties.”

Today, a moment that should restore a full measure of wind to the sails of activists, true journalists, faithful representatives of the People, and all those who stand rightfully united against the destruction of the people’s Constitutional nation:

After what seems like years of effectual doldrums, especially in the anti-war effort where the adamant protests of the vast majority of Americans have been virtually ignored, the citizens of the United States have once again conjured up the almighty storms of self-determination, capsizing, for the moment, the mighty vessel of fraud and piracy that was to be the bailout plan.

The people may and must lay absolute claim to Monday’s victory, as the House voted down the $700 billion dollar rescue bill, with a final tally of 205-228.  The blockage of this bill is the result of the unprecedented outcry from the American people, in hand with a brave number of Representatives holding true to their oaths.  This voice was so loud that it shattered their illusion of absolute control, and now many Representatives find themselves fearfully adrift between the uncharted rocks of mass consensus and the menacing hard place promised by a treasonous administration.

Have a toast with your friends, but celebrate briefly, for this is not the time to rest on laurels.  First, contact those Representatives who voted against this bill.  You can see the roll call here.  http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2008/roll674.xml     These representatives will be under an immense pressure to give in—they must know that we stand behind them in strength or they may falter. 

Then contact those who voted for the bill and remind them one more time that we are clearly telling them, our representatives, our public servants, NO, and that it is their duty to express the will of the people, for if they do not, their offices and authorities are meaningless to us.

Look at the spreads on the voting record—this is not a division between parties; this is a division between allegiances, and only the Nays have show allegiance to the rule of law, and, thus, the American people.    Nearly everyone who voted for the bill is the “Corporate Party” and everyone who did not is the “People’s Party”.  Get that straight.  Democrats must embrace an alliance with Republicans who have stood together in stopping this bill and beat back the media’s assertion that this bill was lost to bi-partisan squabbling.  This is the coup’s greatest fear, that we would defy the divisions they have thrust upon us in favor of the unity of our free wills in protecting the covenants that make us a Nation.  Our alliance in this regard is a mightier weapon than all of their sinister devices combined. 

It is important that you do not fear the machinations of the market.  Just protect you investments and savings—there are many, many financial advisors out their like Mike “Mish” Shedlock,   who have called this by the numbers with astounding foresight and objectivity.  They provide honest information with which you can make decisions. 

As the administration threatens you with eminent ‘financial chaos’, remember this, as I wrote in an earlier post:

“There is not enough money in the world to circumvent a massive correction in the market. Literally. That's the problem. There is not a lot of money, actual wealth, at all. There are just a lot of people saying they have money. They hold up a bond that's worth six cents and declare, "This is worth a dollar." You think it is a damnable offense that some family lies on a mortgage application, exaggerating assets, to get a loan? Corporations like Lehman, Fannie and Freddie, AIG, and the whole line up yet to come all did this to the tune of hundreds of billions. But with every default, more of these toxic bonds get found out. You see, the corporations aren't really losing money; they are just being forced to reveal that they didn't have the money in the first place. This is why "the credit" has come to a standstill. That is the usual consequence of lying to your creditors...”

This is not a liquidity problem.  This is not a credit problem.  This is an integrity problem, and without integrity, the free market is simply a den of thieves, and no one wants to trade with thieves.  We are going to have a deep recession regardless of this bailout, but we will adapt, we will grow, and rebuild a better economic model while preserving the veracity of our chosen Governmental model.  We will be better for it.  This will seem difficult, frustrating at times, but it is an easier path than trying to re-establish our Republic after being completely pillaged by an authoritarian regime.  Only if we allow these perpetrators of greed to continue at the helm will we find ourselves with a loss of hope. 

Be wary and react quickly to signs of that they are frantically exercising either of these two strategies:

1.       The policy-drivers regroup, extend their threats and manipulations towards House members opposed to the bill, drive the stock market up and down like a bungee swing to further panic and disorient the mainstream (it’s not about panicking the Wall Street crew—everyone already knows where they stand on this), and re-present the bill in the next two days.

2.        Under the auspices of the ineffectiveness of the bi-partisan house to pass this emergency bill, the executive branch declares a National Emergency and gives the money to the bankers anyway.

I close with the aforementioned prior post’s closing and wish you strength in this continuing battle.

 “We are sovereign individuals who consent to be a Nation, through agreed upon rules of law and truthful representation. There is no royalty or papacy that dare lay claim to our free will--that is what our founders recognized, that is the experiment of our democratic republic crafted from their humility, and that is the experiment still left undone. That we would choose to avoid for a short time discomfort rather than secure the integrity of that great experiment is baffling. It renders the acts and sacrifices of those before us as lesser deeds, and resigns the promise of those who will follow to the ambitions of empty men.”

I urge you to watch and listen to Representatives Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) and Rep. Michael Burgess (R-TX) on the House floor regarding the unparalled danger posed by this bailout plan and the clear suppression of our constitutional processes. This is critical to the integrity of our nation and the covenants that bind us.  Video can be seen at:

http://johncaelan.blogspot.com

Excerpt from Rep. Kaptur:

“We are Constitutionally sworn to protect and defend this Republic against all enemies foreign and domestic. And my friends there are enemies.”

“The people pushing this deal are the very ones who are responsible for the implosion on Wall Street. They were fraudulent then and they are fraudulent now.”

Excerpt from Rep. Burgess:

“Mr. Speaker I understand we are under Martial Law as declared by the speaker last night.”

Once upon a time, in a dimming city on a hill, FrankenPaulson, a sad assemblage of discarded souls, vacuous principles, and excessive skin, stumbled about the grove, lonely and despondent.

All of his magical woodland friends were in dire straits, (not the ‘80s band, but a tenuous state of being). Their magic was exhausted, having been used in excess to build grand castles, moats, and hordes of zombie-like protégés, and a great flood was soon upon them. Imposing edifices had already fallen as the waters approached. They did not know what to do.
So, the great kings of Crimson Hall decided an unusual pairing was necessary, and thus they called upon RumpelstiltBen, well-known for his unique ability to spin gold from straw, in exchange for the souls of the future-born.

“Go into the villages, RumpelstiltBen, and find us, oh, let’s say 300 million or so naïve villagers, and take all of their straw, so that all of it may be spun into gold. You shall have deed against their future-born.”
“The villager’s will resist,” RumpelstiltBen insisted. “How will we take all of their straw when they cling to it so?”
The great kings motioned to a guard, and in walked the towering FrankenPaulson. “Behold, the FrankenPaulson,” the great kings declared. “We have taken pieces from every treacherous henchman who has served us through the millennia and created this.” The great kings winced, assessing the monstrous specimen before them. “We were in a hurry…” they muttered apologetically.

“Go with FrankenPaulson into the villages. They are naïve and easily scared. Tell them that doom is upon them and only by giving up their straw can they be saved from the coming deluge.”
Days later, FrankenPaulson and RumpelstiltBen returned, forlorn and distressed.
“The villagers descended upon us, oh, mighty king,” RumpelstiltsBen declared. “With pitchfork and crude instruments, they drove us off, saying, ‘You may not have our straw to save the woodland creatures. We need it to build our houses and feed our cattle so that we may survive this deluge!”

The great kings glowered at FrankenPaulson. “We’re you not scary enough? Did you not declare crisis and dark forebodings?”
“Yes, sires,” FrankenPaulson groaned. “But they volleyed upon us a new enchantment, one long since not heard, and it drove us back into the woods.”

The great kings seemed dismayed. “What manner of enchantment did these peasants use, our loyal beasts?”
FrankenPaulson lowered his head in shame. “I cannot utter such curses, but they applied both to us and the horses we road in on.”
The great kings considered this, mumbling among themselves. Finally, they turned back to their brave soldiers.
“Go back to the village. Tell the Grand Decider of the village that he must win the people’s cooperation.”
A few days past, the duo returned. Again, the pale hue of failure blanketed their brows. Though arguably, FrankenPaulson always had such a hue.
“The Great Decider of the village spoke, but no one listened.”
“No one?” the kings decried.
“Not a soul, dear kings.”
“We thought he was the Great Decider?” they chided.
“The Villagers hold him in…lesser esteem, great kings.”
The kings huddled again, but soon returned to the Court. “Redirect the swelling river, so that a small portion of the flood is upon them. When an imposing building falls, they will have greater fear and give up their straw.”

The plan was executed and the great edifice Wamoo crumbled into the raging torrent. The villagers watched with dismay. But they continued to mill about with pitchforks chanting curses towards the kings.
“They have not been shaken,” RumpelstiltBen exclaimed. “Do they not see the might of our power? Where are my future-souls? How shall I have sustenance?”
The great kings considered the problem deeply, but soon returned to the halls. “Return, oh diabolical duo, and take counsel with the leaders of the villagers. Promise them reward upon success, and death upon failure. They will ignore the Villagers and collect the straw.”
The pair returned shortly. “The leaders fear the Villagers, oh, lords. For the villagers have pitchforks and stand united.”
Grumbling with frustration, the kings declared, “Return, then, and negotiate with these peasants and their cowering leaders. Do not return until you have struck a deal.”
The Creatures of the Kings and the leaders of the peasants huddled for days in the hallowed halls of the imperial temple. Soon, FrankenPaulson and RumplestiltBen emerged, parchment in hand.
“Behold, great kings, we have formed a deal!” They laid out the parchments before them and the words sprawled across the oak table.
After minutes of consideration, the great kings spoke:
“Is this not the same demand we made at the beginning, but with more words?”
“Yes, sires,” the two replied. "Many more words."
“And do those words have no boundaries, rendering them trivial?”

“Yes, sires.”
“And do we not get all of the straw of the Village, which we will spin into gold, leaving them with the debt of the future-born hanging above them?”
“Yes, sires.”
“And does not the ‘oversight’ preclude courts or law, and renders such imposition minimal because the overseers work for us anyway?”
“Yes, sires.”
The great kings mused among themselves. Finally, they posed a final question.
“What, then, is different about this bargain then the one you initially proposed?”
“Nothing, really, sires.”
“Then what was this all about?” they asked impatiently.
FrankenPaulson rolled his eyes. “Democracy, sires.”
“What manner of king is this, this ‘Democracy’?.”
“A king of a million crowns, your lordships. And they march upon us, in defiance of you, the leaders and Great Decider.”
A dark countenance fell upon the kings. “Ready our legions. As soon as you have collected the straw, render it into gold, for the deluge will sweep away all remaining straw.”
A meek voice cried out from the court. “Then, this will not save the villagers, oh lords?”
The kings seemed chagrined. “Of course, it will not. But soggy straw will not feed the spinning wheel, and no gold can be derived from such. So, we must collect up as much straw as possible before it is swept away.”
The voice in the court considered this revelation. “Perhaps the villagers march, pitchforks in hand, because they know this to be true also, my lords?”
RumpelstiltBen cackled nervously. FrankenPaulson regressed into the shadowy corner. The great kings rose to their feet.
“Perhaps, nameless voice, but we are prepared for such an end.” They motion to the guards who ring a bell. On cue, a dim specter drops from the shadows, unfurling is wings with a furious motion as it alights upon the marble stairs.
The kings smile, confident in their treachery.
“Behold,” their voices boomed in unison, as the court trembles. “Count Chertoff…”


To be continued…unfortunately…

John Caelan