Dakota Beacon

Tonight, the Duke Blue Devils will take to the hardwood in a Sweet 16 matchup against the Arizona Wildcats in the NCAA D1 March Madness tournament. It is an annual basketball event that generates billions of dollars. As often is the case, when money enters the equation, things change. Case in point, the NCAA and the relatively new NIL money and transfer portal for athletes. One of Duke’s players reportedly receives $4.8 million in NIL money.

In this article, Dr. James Thrasher examines the current state of college athletics and argues, “Amateur sports used to be played for the love of the game and devotion to the logo on the front of the jersey. But now it has devolved into chasing titles and worshipping the idol of money.”

$100 bills stacked to the same height as the earth’s circumference.

To visualize that amount of money, consider that 366,461,400,000 $100 bills (each 0.0043 inches thick) would be 24,870 miles in height, just under the earth’s circumference of 24,901 miles.

It seems as if almost a third of our fellow citizens are afflicted with a self-worship mentality. A diverse arrangement of dis-functional “Values” that bear no resemblance to actual Virtue or Virtuousness.

A lack of belief in something larger than one’s self leaves these misfits with an overly inflated ego and a perverted sense of right and wrong that is an open invitation to either Marxism’s army of useful idiots (DEI, CRT) or a room with bed only in the Perversion Motel.

Lower tier federal judges are inserting themselves into the executive policy making process. Federal judges who ruled against President Donald Trump’s recent executive actions are notably Democrat appointees.

Some have been activists, others steeped in Democrat politics, and one clerked for then-Judge Sonia Sotomayor. They have something in common. These judges have issued rulings to block Trump’s policies on immigration, federal spending, the Department of Government Efficiency, and other efforts.

After an early retirement from Falkirk Mine and several years in Airports at KLJ, my lifelong interest in politics was about to blossom in 2004. With over 60 of 100 Senators in Washington, D.C. distilled (like cheap moonshine) from the legal profession, my first inclination was Shakespeare’s “The first thing we have to do is kill all the lawyers.” Replacing some of them in the Senate with “productive members of society” was my initial motivation.

Awhile back a headline proclaimed: “Conservatives Still Outnumber Moderates, Liberals.” At that time, a Gallup poll showed 43% Americans describe themselves as conservative, 35% moderate and 20% liberal. What caught my eye was the labeling of the categories as “ideologies.”

This announcement coincided with something I was reading. Specifically, I discovered one of the finest descriptions of conservatism I’ve ever seen. This was in a chapter of a book by British author Michael Oakeshott (1901-1991). He was among the most notable political philosophers of the twentieth century. The chapter “On Being Conservative” is contained in his book of essays titled “Rationalism in Politics and Other Essays” (1962).

They were fighting for their families, children, grandchildren, for their futures and their freedom.  This was the steel of the American cause of independence.  Where some of the eastern seaboard elite of the American colonies, Washington’s own class, had little respect for these poor and foreign Irish, Washington himself rejected these prejudices out of hand.

Take a break from the routine and enjoy this oldie but goodie.

It was autumn 1949. A family drove north from Cheyenne across Wyoming headed for South Dakota and the Black Hills. To the right-front, just off the right-of-way along US Highway 85 south of Chugwater, Wyoming, a series of small wooden signs bore the message of the first brushless shave cream.

The over-60 crowd will remember Burma Shave. Younger generations may need help. Back when the highways were just two lanes, and there were no Interstate Highways, the white and red signs were a welcome sight. Jingles offered safe driving tips concluding with “Burma Shave.” Here are some samples:

The North Dakota state budget has doubled in the past decade from approximately $10 billion to $20 billion. Based on my calculations we could easily spend $30 or $40 billion.

While the Legislature has built up fund balances (some required by initiated measure, like the Legacy Fund), it is critical it strikes the right balance between supporting current citizens and future generations with this once-in-a-lifetime pot of gold found beneath our feet. It will take courage for legislators to say no to all the wants.

To quote C.S. Lewis, “Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point.” North Dakotans must speak out and hold their legislators accountable for their spending frenzy.

If we don’t, the handwriting is on the wall. Not if but when the commodity market dips and agriculture and energy take a hit, we will find ourselves in the same predicament as the federal governmen.

To reassure my non-believer friends, and remember I once was one of you, yes, I know the vast majority of you are not psychopaths. As I’ve illustrated, however, this is because you don’t truly live your atheism and all its implications. And even insofar as a few of you might have thought matters through and concluded we’re just “really cool robots,” you (thankfully) don’t feel this on an emotional level. You don’t live down to your beliefs.

 So, then, what of my article’s title? After all, some who don’t recognize God then do in practice have respect for human life. The answer lies in a twist on a George Washington saying about morality. To wit: “Let us with caution indulge the supposition that national morality respect for life can be maintained without religion.” (Of course, respect for life is part of morality.) As is said in commercials, “Individual results may vary.” But the national (collective) picture is clear: The more we mainstream godlessness, the more it and its corollaries will permeate not just minds but hearts. This is why a very sober atheist, whose thoughts I read decades ago, expressed concern over his creed’s wider embrace. He grasped its implications.

A new sheriff in town holds pro-sanctuary government officials and their activist disciples liable for harboring and protecting criminal illegal aliens.

Three categories of anti- Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) proponents include federal agency leakers, pro-illegal alien activists, and state and local pro-sanctuary government officials. They identify as hindering operations that target the illegal alien criminal population.

The Sioux name ascribed commonly to the self-named Dakota tribe represents an evolution from the Algonquinian word Nadowessiwag, meaning the “snakelike ones” or, in other words, the “enemies.” This Agonquinian term was erroneously transcribed by French explorer Jean Nicollet (1598 - 29 October 1642) in 1634-35 as Naduesiu, and again erroneously transcribed by Franciscan missionary Louis Hennepin (May 12, 1526 – 1701) in 1683 as Nadiousioux.

Two points, then, are to be made. First, any attempt to honor the tribe should reference its preferred name, Dakota, not necessarily the name that evolved from the name it was called by the Algonquins of Canada that references snakelike ones or enemies.

If we took a map of Ukraine and Russia and the two parties drew lines to show what they wanted you would probably see exactly what is on the map today with no changes.  Yet more than half a million innocent people have died, the nation’s economy and infrastructure and cultural heritage have been destroyed and worse, yet, the institutions of free speech and all that go with it have died there.  Perhaps never to return.  All for nothing.  At least nothing on a map.  But all for some foreign special interest, schemes of kickbacks and whatever else it takes to entice people to kill for it.

Should we really be cheering for Karoline Leavitt's $1 billion lawsuit against The View and Sunny Hostin et al just because we don't like The View and its panel of crazy ladies?  And just because Leavitt is on "our" side?  If we really want an end of lawfare and an end of the malignant cancel culture that has stifled debate in America in recent years, we should not applaud Leavitt for her tactics.  Sure, the View women insulted her, but for someone in her position this is a compliment.  Instead of ham-handed lawsuits, why not wit instead?  Karoline Leavitt is beginning to give off a smart-aleck schoolgirl vibe right now.  Maybe a little less of Karoline would be a blessing.  Mark Steyn, another victim of endless lawfare, has said, "The process is the punishment."  Should we, as conservatives, as constitutionalists, desire to shut down The View?  As a practical matter, they have done the right a world of good as representatives of the thinking of the left.  It would seem that the First Amendment ought to trump Leavitt's ego.

In the end, what the drafters of the 14^th Amendment intended is what matters. Ancient rules of statutory construction with roots in English common law mandate that, if a statute’s words are ambiguous, you must look to the drafters’ intention.

The 14th Amendment need not be repealed, nor must the Constitution be amended. However, the Supreme Court must revisit and clarify the 14^th Amendment regarding birthright citizenship. It would then be for Congress to codify the Supreme Court’s decision into law – if they are up to it.

Some years ago, during a brief social/political discussion with an older woman I ran into in a store, she said something to the effect of, “I don’t care what people do in their bedroom.” She made the statement reflexively, clearly confident I’d agree. Doesn’t everyone today?

Imagine her shock when I replied passionately and without missing a beat, “Well, I do!”

That pretty much ended the conversation. Really, though, it also can be a good conversation starter — for the truly inquisitive.

I find intriguing the role of the Dakotans in the Trump agenda. First and foremost is Sen. Cramer’s close relationship with Trump since 2016. Never has a North Dakotan had such access to the White House.

Burgum’s new role as Interior secretary will be instrumental in the development of our natural resources but even more telling will be his role as chairman of the newly formed National Energy Council. Burgum chairing this committee alongside Chris Wright, the new Energy secretary, will be exciting to watch. Burgum and Wright are both very pro-environment and yet pro-energy, which will pay dividends for all citizens of the world.

Pamela Jo Bondi, an American attorney, served as the 37th Florida Attorney General and now serves as the 87th United States Attorney General. Born November 17, 1965 in Tampa, Florida, she grew up in Temple Terrace, Florida. Bondi received a Bachelor of Arts with a major in criminal justice from the University of Florida in 1987 and a Juris Doctor from the Stetson University College of Law in 1990. She was not always a Republican. Like President Trump, she affiliated with the Democrat Party. In 2000 she switched parties to become a Republican.

Vance took the stage, confronting an audience he knew would be hostile to his message and did not flinch while standing strongly for truth and democracy at the Conference.

So, no, President Trump doesn’t have to obey blatantly unconstitutional court opinions. This said, with how he’s shaking up the system and busy draining the bureaucratic swamp, it’s perhaps politically prudent to remedy the current judicial adventurism through the higher courts, as he’ll almost assuredly win on appeal. At some point, though, it will be time to drain that fetid judicial swamp and address the real constitutional crisis: the rule of judges who would be kings.

Move fast and break things. This seems to be the modus operandi of President Donald Trump on several fronts. Nothing wrong here. Makes sense – like General George S. Patton’s charge across Europe or General Tommy Frank’s 100-hour dash to Baghdad during Iraqi Freedom.

President Trump’s second term does not reflect business as usual. At home, he is tearing up the deep state and woke bureaucracy. Using the leftist’s own jargon, federal departments and agencies are being “reimagined” -- or abolished. Abroad, allies and adversaries are experiencing a new US economic alignment through tariffs.

I don’t usually weigh in on specific bills because I believe that exercise is for the citizens. My TV show on BEK has served as an outlet for information for the purpose of giving an informed electorate a fighting chance.

“The Legislature Today” has not been a place to argue the finer points of a piece of legislation. It is meant to have a factual bent to help those who want to be informed.

However, as a former chairman of the North Dakota Republican Party, I feel I must weigh in on HB 1446. It has the marks of an act meant to do more than reform a process, procedure or method. Revenge by any other name is still revenge.

An executive order is a presidential action that directs federal agencies on how to operate. It carries the effect of law if it is in keeping with constitutional powers. Executive orders can also revoke or amend previous orders. Presidential actions also include memorandums and proclamations.

The constitutional basis for the executive order is the President’s broad power to issue executive directives. According to the Congressional Research Service, there is no direct “definition of executive orders, presidential memoranda, and proclamations in the U.S. Constitution; there is, likewise, no specific provision authorizing their issuance.”

How many executive orders did President Trump sign? By what authority does he execute executive orders? Are executive orders even constitutional? Here are some answers.

It’s funny, the discussions we never have, even when they involve that proverbial elephant in the room. Here’s one:

Since the U.S.’ population is only increasing because of immigration, when do we decide we have enough people and end it?

You may wish to do your own investigation into the deviation in total votes cast for the 2020 presidential election in Pennsylvania and elsewhere. Or not… History will likely provide the answers… if you visit any of the 2020 swing states, listen closely to the bar talk…. and jot down names if it answers any of your questions!

As of this writing, President Trump has been in office four days and has done more to set America on a course greatness than his predecessor did in four years.

Time and space do not allow a tally of Trump’s Executive Orders. Verification will be found and discussed in other than the dominant media. However, as Rogers and Hammerstein composed for The Sound of Music, “…here are a few of my favorite ‘things’” (i.e., executive orders - EOs).