The View From the Outback

• The Clinton Legacy - More Than Just Pranks
• The California Energy Crisis
• The Ever-Expanding First Amendment
• Bush Administration Needs To Review The Mission Of Federal Law Enforcement
• The Wintertime Blues - Get "Natural-Light" Bulbs
• FBI Director Louis J. Freeh Stays On The Job

The Global Warming alarmists are at it again. Try and sell that idea to anybody in Dallas, where is was 18 degrees the other night. Or to anybody in Buffalo who is buried under several feet of snow.

Tripping over each other to be first with the story of the capture of the "Texas Seven," various media outlets came up with so many different versions that you could not believe any of them. They were captured in a motor home at a roadside rest stop. At a private home near Colorado Springs. In a mobile home. At a gas station. At a convenience store. In a trailer park. We here in the Outback know the difference between a mobile home and a motor home. And the difference between a trailer park (with mobile homes) and an RV park (with motor homes and other RVs). These may seem like small points, but as we listened to three radio stations and checked major news outlets on the Web, we decided that all we could tell was that some of the escapees had been captured near Colorado Springs. We could have waited for the details until you could get them straight. It's Gore takes Florida all over again. Too many media outlets. Too little news.

You can predict that there will be a problem of apportioning the reward money for the capture of the "Texas Seven." Some of the monies were contingent upon arrest, some upon conviction, and so on. But, one thing you can count on. Lawyers are likely to get involved. If those seeking the rewards are foolish enough to bring in lawyers (a.k.a. parasites), they will learn the lesson of so many others. The only ones who will get their fair share will be the lawyers.

One of the FBI spokesman on TV referred to all the weapons the "Texas Seven" had as being "loaded and cocked." Many of those weapons were revolvers stolen from the prison. Nobody leaves a loaded revolver lying around "cocked." It is too dangerous. A tiny snag of the trigger and you could shoot yourself or someone else in the room. It is one thing to want to put a serious face on a situation, but a professional law-enforcement man does not need to make up stuff to paint an alarming picture.

The "Texas Seven" must not have been serious about wanting to stay out of prison. To stay together (how many groups of seven strange men do you run across daily?), dye their hair orange or red, profess to be Christians and sit around a campfire drinking and smoking - and going to the local haunt to play pool and drink beer. Come on guys. People are not very observant. But there is a limit. You can only push the envelope so far. And how about the two who abandoned their van in Colorado Springs and checked into a hotel a couple of block away? When called on the phone by a detective, one said, "How did you find us?" Duh.

Although I was a charter viewer of "Wheel Of Fortune," and enjoyed solving the puzzles before the contestants did, I finally gave up. There was a puzzle that was something like, "Curling Up With A Good Book." I think most of the puzzle was exposed, and the "OO" part of Good and Book. The young lady solved it as "Curling Up With A Cook Book." I can't take it anymore. My view is that there are too many young people on the show. They apparently seldom read anything. Most of their experience seems to be in the present and in pop culture. Sometimes, even Pat Sajak groans "Oh, no! Not right," when somebody comes up with an absurd answer for the puzzle. I noted earlier that many contestants on Jeopardy! often can't answer simple questions about things that surround us in everyday life. It is all the result of the "dumbing-down of America." Have you seen the two "college girls" on Leno who he first met during a Jaywalking segment? Very sad. Not funny at all. Let's move swiftly on education reform.

In an earlier column, I spoke of the wisdom of hiring good people and delegating authority, whether it be in business or government. President Bush has surrounded himself with the most experienced and capable people in memory. Several could be President in their own right, Powell, Cheney, Ashcroft, and Thompson come to mind.

Jesse Ventura is back in the news - for acting like a jackass instead of a governor. He is going to be involved with commentary on TV for the new XFL football league. Some in the Minnesota legislature are so upset that they are considering a bill that would prohibit governors from having outside jobs. Forty-nine other states don't even need such a law. They have governors who understand what it means to be a governor.

The Clinton Legacy - More Than Just Pranks

Many keyboards in the Old Executive Office Building had the "W" key removed or disfigured. One printer in the West Wing had paper in it with a goofy picture of Mr. Bush. Telephones in the West Wing had the face plates switched, so that the number displayed was wrong. Telephone lines were cut. File cabinets were glued shut. Furniture was trashed. These are some of the "pranks" left behind by the "children" of the Clinton administration. Once again, I hope that avid Clinton supporters are proud of the climate of disrespect of the presidency and its office engendered by Bill Clinton.

Even liberal papers are beginning to call Clinton's pardoning binge, and the taking of $200,000 of gifts off to the new house, et al. as "trashy." As I mentioned earlier, how a man who is so worried about his legacy can act so stupidly is beyond understanding. Just as Al Gore tried to distance himself from Clinton during the campaign, Hillary will need to start doing so. Although she may have to distance herself from herself. The 99% of Jews in the NY community who voted for her - and then four of their leaders got pardons - was coincidental. You bet. Oh, this is going to be fun. I really don't think she can save herself politically from herself.

The California Energy Crisis

The Bush Administration has indicated that the energy problem in California is largely a local problem. The thought struck me that if I lived in California, I would tone down my rhetoric about the President and his administration. Martin Sheen called the President a "while-knuckle-drunk." Nice! Streisand is off the charts on her comments. The late night shows picture Bush as a moron and Cheney as a feeble man with a failing heart. Jay Leno showed a picture of Barbara Bush, the President's mother and said, "Isn't she on the Quarter." How kind. Since I have quit watching the late shows in disgust, the examples could no doubt fill a book.

President Bush may be president of all the people, he may be a Christian, and he may be a fair- minded man. But, he is a human being. To Hollywood, I ask, "How would you feel disposed toward helping California in any area when all they did is insult you and your family?" Something to think about. But, not too many people out there do much thinking. Pat Sajak was a co-host at an inaugural event. He was asked if being a Conservative in Hollywood gave him any problems. He said no, "their political views are very shallow." Right on, Patrick! In other words, they really don't know much about the real issues, but they like to get their name in print and their face on camera.

The Ever-Expanding First Amendment

The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peacefully to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

This simple statement has been expanded far beyond the ability of one's mind to comprehend the rationale. "Speech" now also includes actions, such as the right to burn the flag, put something in a jar of urine and call it art, contribute to a political party, and on and on.

Thus, we find the entertainment industry excusing various forms of filth, degeneracy, and harmful speech as being "protected." It is doubtful that most of those in the entertainment business have ever read the Constitution, nor any of the historical settings that lead to its creation. Few have served in the military in major conflicts where many died to protect our right to "free speech."

They come from a spoiled generation or two who think that the First Amendment gives you the right to say anything you want - or do anything they want. They don't have a clue that "free speech" was a core concept of a free people being able to openly criticize their government. Not to malign people (we have libel and slander laws) or to advocate the killing of public officials (sedition laws).

One case in point are the outlandish "jokes" told by TV comedians. It is one thing to poke fun at politician's foibles, yet another to advocate violence against them. Or to make disparaging and hurtful remarks about the appearance of the mother of the President of the United States, as was done recently by Jay Leno.

Among the many offensive and tasteless jokes and comments made during the recent campaign, perhaps the most outrageous was made by Bill Maher, host of "Policially Incorrect" on ABC. On one program, as he showed the aerial coverage of the Ryder truck carrying ballots to Tallahasse. Mr. Maher said: "For a few brief moments, America held the hope that O.J. Simpson had murdered Katherine Harris." (Ms. Harris is Secretary of State in Florida.) And, don't forget the "Sniper Wanted" overlay on the Craig Kilborn show as a picture of Gov. Bush was being displayed. I submit to you that the framers of the First Amendment did not countenance, nor would they condone, comments about killing a public official - even in a supposedly humourous context. Anybody want to argue with that?

FYI: Bill Maher professes to be a Libertarian, but he was active in Democrat fund raisers during the last election.

All the "don't censor our creativity" crowd in Hollywood use the First Amendment as their shield for despicable writing and comments.

The U.S. Government does have some sanctions on speech, but they are disjointed and enforced haphazardly. The FCC has threatened a radio station with a $7000.00 fine for playing a rap song with "unmistakable offensive sexual references"- during a time when kids might be in the audience. The FCC can restrict broadcasts of indecent material when there is a reasonable risk that children will hear them. Fine. Everything is about protecting children. Don't adults have rights, too?

If you are an amateur-radio operator (ham) you can be fined or lose your license for using obscenity or profanity over the air. In order to hear these broadcasts, you have to have a short- wave or VHF/UHF radio or scanner. Not that as a ham I condone obscenity on the ham bands. I point it out only to show the inconsistencies. Hams have no large lobby. They are for the most part decent and largely conservative folks. They mostly self-police themselves. The entertainment industry should have such a social conscience.

Network shows have different standards for sex, violence, and obscenity than on cable. Why is this, since most cities are wired for cable? Why does Dennis Miller come on with Jay Leno and comport himself reasonably well, yet when he does his HBO specials, he is profane and obscene? It's puzzling. I'll research this and get back with you.

The FTC has power over false or misleading ads. You cannot simply get on TV and lie about your product. Isn't that an abridgement of free speech?

You cannot make threats against the President. The Secret Service will lock you up. Isn't that an abridgement of free speech? By Hollywood standards?

Individuals are being sued for making false statements about companies in their internet postings. Isn't that an abridgement of free speech?

Radio and TV stations are chartered to work "in the public interest." They must demonstrate this each time their licenses are up for renewal. Is ABC operating "in the public interest" when Bill Maher says it was hoped that O.J. had murdered Katherine Harris? Or when CBS ran a segment about Gov. Bush with a "Sniper Wanted" overlay? Hardly.

Pornogrophy is banned in many venues. How do you define it? As one Supreme Court Justice said, "I know it when I see it." Isn't this an abridgement of free speech?

The point is, free speech is not an absolute right. It is time the government stopped caving in to the liberal entertainment industry and start working toward a more civil content in the programs and material we see and hear. Persuasion will help, such as from Sen. Lieberman and others. But, due to the absurd and maniacal cries of "censorship," it will no doubt take some concrete legislation and more power in the FCC , the FTC, et al, to help abate the problem. The FCC could start by specifically defining what kind of content is not "in the public interest." Maybe they already have, and I missed it.

Censorship has special meaning to me. I fought a long battle with the CIA over censorship of my first novel. My story was told in The Washington Post on the book pages and in about 500 newspapers, thanks to a column by the respected columnist James Kilpatrick. And I was not even criticizing the government. I had used a couple of common terms in the spy world that everybody already knew and had portrayed a listening device that the CIA thought too close to a real system. I made all the changes they required.

But, there is a big difference between censorship of "facts" and censorship of material that is prejudicial to the civil conduct of our society. I want to choke those morons in Hollywood who come on the screen to protest about "censorship" as the result of a complaint about uncivilized conduct they are writing about, talking about or portraying on screen. Stifling creativity. Horsecrap! If they had any creativity, they wouldn't have to put out this trash.

The public taste is not blameless. Somebody keeps watching the garbage. "Temptation Island," which tests the commitment of unwed couples by trying to entice them into sexual encounters with attractive strangers, is gaining a huge audience. How sad that people tune in to watch relationships destroyed. We are a sick society. Face it.

Bush Administration Needs To Review The Mission Of Federal Law Enforcement

I was both a Federal agent (ATF) and a CIA agent - and I went to law school. Along the way, I worked on cases with the FBI, Customs Service, Secret Service, and the old Narcotics Bureau (pre-DEA).

President Bush needs to appoint a person to be "Federal Law Enforcement Liaison" in the White house. Federal law enforcement is fragmented among 140 agencies. That is good in one respect, as it avoids the concentrated wielding of power like was seen with the KGB in the Soviet Union. But, there is also a climate of lack of accountability, no co-ordinated mission, and gross inefficiency - for openers. The Attorney General has oversight of the FBI, Drug Enforcement Agency, INS, U.S. Marshals Service, and the Bureau of Prisons.

The Secretary of the Treasury has oversight of several agencies, U.S. Customs Service, ATF, IRS, and Secret Service. As a financial person, the Treasury Secretary usually has no background or specific understanding of how federal law enforcement works. Although the Secretary normally has had a person nominally in charge of law enforcement oversight, that post has never been distinguished by its occupants or the impact that it wielded.

The training of Federal agents is spread among several schools. The FBI has their own training academy, and so on. The missions often overlap and there are turf wars. Drug enforcement often involves DEA and Customs, for example. Waco started out as an ATF case for firearms violations and ended with the FBI taking over and eventually ramming a tank into the compound. The Ruby Ridge shootout, where the wife and a son of Randy Weaver were killed, started out as an ATF firearms case (probably entrapment at that) and ended with the FBI sharpshooter killing Weaver's wife as she held a small child in her arms. Read "Ambush at Ruby Ridge" by Alan W. Brock. If this book does not leave you in a state of disbelief and in tears, nothing will.

The IRS is often described as the "American Gestapo," and with many good reasons. Somebody needs to have close oversight of the IRS. Obviously, Treasury is not doing a very good job of oversight.

The INS raid to remove Elian Gonzalez from Miami will forever be a reminder of the abuse of government power. Is it any wonder that people want to be able to "keep and bear arms"?

These are some of the well-known abuses of federal law-enforcement authority. There are many more you never hear about.

In his book, "A G-Man's Journal," Oliver "Buck" Revell makes a compelling case for a centralized authority for Federal law enforcement. He suggests both a presidential commission and a Federal Department of Law Enforcement. The FDLE would be the co-ordinating authority for the 140 Federal agencies with law-enforcement authority. Yes, 140 different agencies. Buck has much more experience than I at high levels in law enforcement. But, it is clear to all of us who have "been part of the problem instead of the solution," that central oversight and a co-ordinating authority is imperative.

Buck also mentions something that practically nobody talks about. He is in favor of reviewing all the 4100 Federal criminal laws and eliminating those where there is not a clear Federal interest or responsibility. That is something the Bush administration should be receptive to. Over decades of the Congress meddling in our lives, and the Supreme Court handing down favorable decisions on obvious Federal incursions into "the powers reserved to the states," we have the Federal government involved in many things in which they have no real business. If the average citizen knew in how many ways the Federal government has intruded into their lives by a wholesale misuse of the Interstate Commerce and Taxing powers, they would be stunned.

For those who have never paid much attention to which powers were granted to the Federal government by the Constitution, here they are in Article 1, Section 8:

Section. 8. Clause 1: The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;

Clause 2: To borrow Money on the credit of the United States;

Clause 3: To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes;

Clause 4: To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United States;

Clause 5: To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures;

Clause 6: To provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the Securities and current Coin of the United States;

Clause 7: To establish Post Offices and post Roads;

Clause 8: To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries;

Clause 9: To constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court;

Clause 10: To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, and Offences against the Law of Nations;

Clause 11: To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;

Clause 12: To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years;

Clause 13: To provide and maintain a Navy;

Clause 14: To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces;

Clause 15: To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;

Clause 16: To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress;

Clause 17: To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of particular States, and the Acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the United States, and to exercise like Authority over all Places purchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the State in which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards, and other needful Buildings;

Clause 18: To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.

U.S. Constitution, 10th Amendment

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. (December 15, 1791)

Considering the above. How do you suppose that 140 Federal agencies ended up with law enforcement jurisdiction? Where was the charter for the FBI, the ATF, the DEA? This will keep you out of the bars. Once you study these documents and questions, you will understand why Libertarians are not crazy - albeit a bit impractical at times. And why Conservatives are right on target when they say we need to "get government out of our lives." In truth, the Federal government does very few things well. One of their clear mandates was to establish post offices. We see how well that turned out.

The Wintertime Blues - Get "Natural-Light" Bulbs

Do your spirits sag with the shortening days of winter? You may be suffering from sunlight withdrawal. Some people even show signs of deep depression during the winter. It is called "seasonal affective disorder"(SAD). One solution is to get some natural full-spectrum lighting. There are some doctors who use "light therapy" in controlled environments. One investigating team found that the optimum time for the therapy was in the early morning.

There are a number of "natural-light" bulbs and lamps available. I bought a desk lamp with two such flourescent bulbs. I put it on my computer table. Although I can't say whether my mood has improved, I see things more clearly now and with proper color rendition. It is one of those "How did I live without it" things. I also purchased a natural-light bulb for the reading lamp next to my recliner. The difference is phenomenal. The bulb cost about $30, but will last a long time - not to mention it is worth it for the clarity of vision.

The supplier I dealt with is at: www.naturallighting.com and he has lots of info there about natural lighting.

FBI Director Louis J. Freeh Stays On The Job

The FBI director is appointed for a 10-year term, to avoid political musical-chairs at the FBI. Mr. Freeh has a couple of years left in his term. Publicly, it would appear that Mr. Freeh has been a good director. In particular, he stood up to the Clinton White House on several occasions and was adamant that a special prosecutor be appointed to investigate alleged campaign contribution violations. Of course, his boss, Janet Reno, stonewalled that deal until her last gasp as AG.

Louis Freeh was known by the inner circle as a man who thought Clinton had disgraced the presidency. The FBI aggressively investigated the Whitewater affair. On the other hand, the FBI often operated without much supervision - and was less-than-forthcoming about such things as the Internet program "Carnivore."

To me, the real story of Louis Freeh is what he did internally to the FBI. I f you believe the assertions made by Oliver "Buck" Revell in his book " A G-Man's Journal," (and I believe him) Louis Freeh did some really bad things. He lessened the policy regarding pre-employment use of drugs by potential agents. This, even though the top management and agents in charge of field officers who were asked were opposed to the move. Mr. Freeh brought in his cronies and put them in high positions in the FBI for which they had no qualifying experience. He apparently paid no attention to the views of the Special Agents in Charge (SACs) in the various field offices.

One clue that he ignored the senior career people in the Bureau was a 100 % turnover in the SAC and Assistant Director positions during his tenure. Mr. Revell, who was near the top at the FBI for years, has much more to say about the disastrous results of Mr. Freeh's management style. There is certainly enough information in the Revell book to cause the new Attorney General to have a long talk with Mr. Freeh. More importantly, the AG should have some outside people look into the status of FBI management and morale. Do you expect to get a straight story from the Fox as he leaves the chicken coop?

There was also considerable question about the way Mr. Freeh handled the disclosures that the F.B.I lab had tampered with evidence and fabricated conclusions. Dr. Frederic Whitehurst, the director of the lab, had tried to obtain reforms. When Dr. Whitehurst brought to public scrutiny some of the problems in the lab, Mr. Freeh placed him on administrative leave. Read up on the story. It does not cast Mr. Freeh in a favorable light, to say the least. While Mr. Freeh has nowhere come close to the autonomy of J.Edgar Hoover, he has slipped way too far below the radar at the Justice Department. As fine a public servant as Louis Freeh is, he still needs to be accountable.

COPYRIGHT 2001 Richard C. Rhodes

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