The Trenches » Directives

Filibusters and (f)ederalism

Bradley S. Rees — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 17:02:35 +0000

After finally getting a chance, over this past weekend, to listen to Senator Rand Paul’s entire epic 12+ hour filibuster, several things jumped out at me that haven’t been widely reported. So, I’d like to share my take with the readers of The Trenches and, hopefully, help to bring into focus the larger picture. As [...]

Federalism Follow-up

Bradley S. Rees — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 00:20:49 +0000

I know what you’re thinking. “After those three posts in that series (somewhere around 12,000 words, in total), you’re writing another piece on federalism?” Why, yes. Yes I am. And, if you haven’t seen the others, you should read Part 1 (Context), and Part 2 (Theory), and, most importantly, Part 3 (Practice). Based on the [...]

Federalism: In Context, In Theory, and In Practice – Part 3

Bradley S. Rees — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 00:57:51 +0000

Part 3 – Practice This series began with a lengthy article exposing the latest attempt to circumvent the Constitution, under the rubric of “Progressive Federalism”. Another in-depth piece was posted yesterday, attempting to explain what Founding-era federalism actually is, as opposed to what we’ve been so carefully taught to believe. With that foundation laid down, [...]

Federalism: In Context, In Theory, and In Practice – Part 2

Bradley S. Rees — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 17:54:24 +0000

Part 2: In Theory In Part One of this series, I laid out the case that federalism has been widely misconstrued, mercilessly ridiculed, and meticulously bastardized throughout the 20th century. This has culminated, in the past two years, with Heather Gerken’s “progressive federalism” lunacy (which I exposed in gory detail in that piece). The fact [...]

(Power) Binge And (Threat) Purge

Bradley S. Rees — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 20:31:09 +0000

For the last six months here at The Trenches (and for many years before that, elsewhere), I have been sounding the alarm about those in the ranks of the GOP whose main intent is to steer it away from its creed. Their reasons for doing so have been exposed and demonstrated numerous times, and I’ll [...]

Of Penumbras, Patriotism, and Paradigms – Part 4

Bradley S. Rees — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 19:55:21 +0000

In the previous three installments in this series, I pointed out the aggressive ways in which Progressivism has insinuated its destructive ends into our society. In Part 1, I wrote about its deleterious effects on our courts. In Part 2, I explored the curious reactions some had to those court decisions. And, in Part 3, [...]

If At First You Don’t… Secede?

Bradley S. Rees — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 19:52:22 +0000

In my original post-election article (WTF Happened Last Night?), I dealt mostly with the “conservative” echo-chamber’s gentrified punditry class and their misguided Chicken Little reactions to the election. And the subsequent “silver lining” argument from some of these gum-flappers has been just as hollow in the last ten days as it was after Chief Justice [...]

WTF Happened Last Night?!

Bradley S. Rees — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 19:26:29 +0000

(Or, “Why didn’t our dumb asses anticipate the utterly predictable?”) In case you hadn’t noticed (from the massive selloff on Wall Street today), there was a pretty big election yesterday. President Barack Obama was granted another 4 years in the Oval Office. The Democrats retained their majority in the Senate, as well. The reaction in [...]

Reflection, Remembrance, and Renewed Resolve

Bradley S. Rees — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 18:18:06 +0000

As I write this, it is 11 years, to the minute, since hijacked United Airlines flight 175 slammed into the World Trade Center’s South Tower. I watched it happen, live on ABC, eyes still blurred from sleep, half-thinking it was some bizarre nightmare still playing out in the last few minutes of my slumber. But [...]

Are You Even Paying Attention?

SemperBanU — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 18:44:05 +0000

Drudge has posted a Washington Post article where Bob Woodward recounts the thinking, negotiations and brinksmanship that led to the last budget deal and its increase of the national credit card limit / debt ceiling. You will recall that Standard & Poors was unimpressed by both the process and result. They downgraded the US credit [...]

Of Penumbras, Patriotism, and Paradigms : Part 3 – Of Paradigms

Bradley S. Rees — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 16:20:15 +0000

(The Conclusion, Part 1 of 2) In Part 1 of this series, we delved into the nature of judicial tyranny, legislative malfeasance, executive fiat, and bureaucratic overreach. In Part 2, we highlighted a disturbing trend in modern America, where this extensive usurpation of the Constitution is seemingly dismissed or outright defended, albeit halfheartedly. And, mostly, unwittingly. [...]

Yeah, That’s the Ticket! (Not So Fast…)

Bradley S. Rees — Mon, 03 Sep 2012 23:59:37 +0000

The base is fired up! The fundraising numbers are astounding! The turnout at campaign stops has increased twenty-fold! The RNC Convention is going to be a time to party like it’s 1999! All these headlines and many more flooded the newsstands and right half of the interweb tubes over the past three weeks, as news [...]

About That RNC Powergrab…

Bradley S. Rees — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 01:33:56 +0000

(Based on my Hump Day Lunch Break Rant – Twitter hashtag #HDLBR) As a precursor to today’s Hump Day Lunch Break Rant, you should read these items: On Power, A Three-Part Series, & On “Infighting.” Yesterday, there was much skullduggery afoot at RNC 2012. There’s even a Twitter hashtag for it: #RNCPowergrab. So, what’s the [...]

On “Infighting”

Bradley S. Rees — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 11:28:32 +0000

I’ve heard certain people bemoaning “infighting” for a long time. Years, in fact. I opined on it, at length, back in 2010, and I’d urge everyone to take a look at that piece, which is still relevant in many ways, even today. Lately, I’ve seen this sentiment from a very small group on Twitter, claiming [...]

One Woman’s Quest To Educate Society About Sikhs (And Cultures Other Than Their Own)

ashleyingram — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 19:06:06 +0000

Let me preface the rest of this article with the fact that there is absolutely nothing wrong with Muslims. I call many friends. And see them as family. Had this tragedy happened at a mosque, it would have been equally awful. I seek not to compare or contrast the two faiths. Rather point out a [...]

Hey Coattail Riders, Try and Keep Up: Twitter Tactics 101

foolishreporter — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 18:14:05 +0000

“Fuck you…. WAR!” —Andrew Breitbart, from the upcoming film, “Hating Breitbart” Andrew Breitbart understood it. We here at The Trenches believe we understand it. And it’s slowly becoming clear that many others within the world of online conservative activism understand it, as well. This is a war we’re in, a war for everything. And, for [...]

Stop Politicizing Crazy… And While You’re At It Keep Your Hands Off My Guns

ashleyingram — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 20:45:01 +0000

Sorry Brian Ross and fellow spin doctor “journalists”. Most times crazy people are just that, crazy. James Holmes’ crazy had nothing to do with his politics. It had nothing to do with the tea party. And not everyone who owns a gun is a pathological lunatic looking to go on a shooting spree. An hour [...]

Rumorgate: Quit living off Andrew’s Legacy, You Coattail-Riding Clowns

ashleyingram — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 21:33:10 +0000

The morning I found out Andrew had passed; I thought it was all a joke. I thought “God, what’s he up to now. Is this some horrible prank?” and then I realized, quickly after texts and phone calls that this was not a joke. And that he really had died. I had seen Andrew a [...]

Principles Not Personalities

SemperBanU — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 18:49:57 +0000

(Editor’s note: We’ve had this blog post prepared and waiting for Neal Rauhauser’s return to public view. What Neal says on his Twitter profile today is true regarding one thing; Brooks Bayne did receive an email this week from Neal. We are sparing a lot of “personalities” who have been attacking us (because they were clearly manipulated [...]

Updated: $35,000 To Anyone Who Provides The College Transcripts of President Barack Obama

The Trenches Editorial Squad — Wed, 02 May 2012 03:03:31 +0000

Update: 9/18/2012 – With even more support from the community, the bounty is now $35,000. Update: 5/21/ 2012 – Due to additional support from the community we’re raising the bounty for Obama’s transcripts to $20,000. You’ve failed, media. You’ve had over three years to vet President Barack Obama. Yet in three years in office and [...]