The Trenches » Recruit Training

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 [...]

The Reflexive Twitching of the Epileptic Seizure Squad

Bradley S. Rees — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 17:45:56 +0000

(Author’s note: We here at The Trenches use the names of our authors, or at least distinct identifiers, rather than hide behind “Team” or “Staff” by-lines. Why? Because we’re prettier, and none of us have eating disorders. Maybe we should start – for the lulz.) The great social satirist, Ambrose Bierce, once defined a journalist [...]

In Which WaPo’s Greg Sargent Gets Pwned on 2nd Amendment/Constitution, Tucks Tail, Runs Away

Bradley S. Rees — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 04:38:12 +0000

Last Wednesday, I had an interesting and protracted “debate” on Twitter with Greg Sargent (one of many resident tyrants riding the Washington Post’s meager staff). The screencaps basically speak for themselves, but I’ll provide a bit of commentary at times, for the sake of context. It began when I questioned Greg’s assertion that large majorities [...]

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 [...]

Federalism: In Context, In Theory, and In Practice – Part 1

Bradley S. Rees — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 16:00:42 +0000

Ed. – Part 2 of this series is here. Part 3 of this series is here. Part 4 of this series is here. Part One: Context If you read The Trenches, follow any of our team on Twitter or Facebook, or speak to any of us in person, you’ve probably heard the term “federalism.” Further, if [...]

…Another Man’s Treasure

Bradley S. Rees — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 15:07:01 +0000

Or: “Maxims, Idioms, and Saws (Oh, My!)” There are hundreds of maxims and idioms which have become commonplace in the American English lexicon. As such, they are all but universally accepted as almost having the weight of law. Those familiar with my radio shows and/or other writings here at The Trenches will know that I [...]

(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 [...]

Wednesday Morning Quarterbacks

Bradley S. Rees — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 17:58:57 +0000

Let me start this off by letting you know that I’ve been a Philadelphia Eagles fan for as long as I could understand football. (Hey, you in the peanut gallery! Shut it. I’ve gotten plenty of that from the Cowboys fans at work this week.) This has led to a lot of disappointment over the [...]

Morality and Our Diseased Republic

paullemmen — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 13:15:14 +0000

Our American Republic is foundering. The electorate is doing this to themselves, unaware of how they have been manipulated and deceived into this action by the progressive/socialists through the twin paths of political corruption and the destruction of the moral basis of our society by the Cultural Marxists. Political corruption has been with us always [...]

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 [...]

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. [...]

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 [...]

Con-nonymous? A Foolish Reporter’s Experiences With Anonymity, Identity, and Online Conservative Political Activism

foolishreporter — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 20:10:50 +0000

“…is that it’s anonymous, and it has no memory. There’s no archive, there are no barriers, there’s no registration…That’s led to this discussion that’s completely raw, completely unfiltered.” –Christopher Poole, founder of 4chan.org, on the popularity of his site “You have one identity. The days of you having a different image for your work friends [...]

Internet Tricksters Turning Up the Heat On Conservatives?

foolishreporter — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 18:06:36 +0000

With the Presidential election less than 90 days away now, it seems as though, well, pretty much everything is approaching a fevered pitch. Here in the world of conservative Internet political activism, one of the ways the heat seems to be increasing is through Internet tricks and pranks. I myself felt the brunt of the [...]