Galt's Gulch
27

I'm Judge Andrew Napolitano and I'm happy to have landed in the Gulch. Ask Me Anything.

Posted by JudgeNap 9 years, 4 months ago to Books
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I'm Judge Andrew Napolitano, Senior Judicial Analyst for Fox News Channel, and New York Times best selling author. I was the youngest life-tenured Superior Court judge in the history of the State of New Jersey and I'll be here today from 1PM to 2PM ET to take your questions and to talk about my new book "Suicide Pact" (http://suicidepactbook.com/), a book exposing the alarming history of presidential power grabs performed in the name of national security.

Today through Wednesday, when you buy "Suicide Pact", you'll be eligible to get another one of my books, "The Freedom Answer Book", for free. Find details here: http://suicidepactbook.com/bookbomb.php

Gulch Producers get a third book of mine, "Theodore and Woodrow: How Two American Presidents Destroyed Constitutional Freedom", for free as well. Find details here: http://www.galtsgulchonline.com/posts/1a...

Alex will be helping me out with my today by reading me the questions over the phone and typing my responses. I look forward to your questions and comments. I'll be back at 1PM ET.

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EDIT 1: 12.08.14 1PM: The Judge is here. Here we go.

EDIT 2: 12.08.14 2PM: The Judge has left the building! Check out his farewell comment here: http://www.galtsgulchonline.com/posts/1b...

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PROOF: https://twitter.com/Judgenap/status/5419...

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BUY THE BOOK: "Suicide Pact" http://suicidepactbook.com/

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FROM SCOTT: The Judge will be here at 1PM ET. Post your questions here now as comments below. If you have multiple questions, please post them individually. Try and keep the questions brief so the Judge can get through as many as possible. Also, make sure to vote on the questions (and this post) as the best will rise to the the top of the list.

After 1PM ET, refresh this page with your browser to see the Judge's replies as they come in.

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  • Posted by jetgraphics 9 years, 4 months ago
    *****************
    "What I do say is that no man is good enough to govern another man without that other's consent. I say this is the leading principle, the sheet-anchor of American republicanism. Our Declaration of Independence says: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: That all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed."
    - - - Abraham Lincoln, Speech at Peoria, Illinois (1854)
    http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Abraham_lin...

    As Lincoln reminds us, under the republican form, NO MAN (nor American government) is good enough to govern you without your consent.

    Could you list a few ways that we unknowingly give CONSENT to be governed, and thus waive rights?

    And how can one WITHDRAW CONSENT, and restore endowed rights?
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    • Posted by freedomforall 9 years, 4 months ago
      great question!
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      • Posted by jetgraphics 9 years, 4 months ago
        REPUBLICAN FORM - that form of government wherein the people directly exercise sovereignty, and are served -not ruled- by government (and its subject citizens). The sovereign people retain possession of all their endowed and inalienable rights, powers, and liberties, and no democratic majority can vote them away. The servant government exercises power to secure rights, and only by special delegation via consent, may it govern. Though not perfect, it is the best form, securing the maximum liberty and freedom to its sovereign people.
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  • Posted by $ HarmonKaslow 9 years, 4 months ago
    Judge ... welcome to the Gulch. You're a hero and articulate spokesman for many of us. As you well know, many people view the story of Atlas Shrugged as prophetic ... it seems to me that Ayn Rand warned us against an expanding executive branch of government where the "Head of State" (e.g. president) issued "directives" and regulations on the most productive, among other issues. Presidents during my lifetime have expanded the federal government ... and President Obama has seem to become a specialist at avoiding the legislative process to pursue his agenda. Without crippling the US economy (e.g. not funding the government), what are the constitutional tools or legal precedence available to us to reel in this exercise (e.g. abuse) of power by the Executive Branch?
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  • Posted by $ jbrenner 9 years, 4 months ago
    There was a secession in this country during the 1860s. How actively are some in DC trying to cause such a rebellion so that they can squash it and thereby usurp even more power?
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    • Posted by $ jbrenner 9 years, 4 months ago
      What do you think would be a casus belli for such a secession? No secession took place after the most recent immigration declaration. I would have thought that this would have been the straw that broke the camel's back.
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  • Posted by robertmbeard 9 years, 4 months ago
    Are there any countries, in your opinion, that do a better job of respecting and protecting natural individual freedoms than the USA? While I am not yet ready to emigrate, there may come a day when those of us who cherish freedom see no better option, as much as it pains me to say so...
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  • Posted by ObjectiveAnalyst 9 years, 4 months ago
    From another contributor to my previous thread:
    #1. How would you limit government? What functions would you have it retain, assuming it would discard or "privatize" all the rest?

    2. Separate question: which powers should stay reserved to the States as against the federal government?

    3. What means of raising revenue are most consistent with the Constitution, the limited powers of government as in 1 or 2 above, and basic human liberty?
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  • Posted by ObjectiveAnalyst 9 years, 4 months ago
    From another contributor to my previous thread:
    Do you agree that there is a movement towards more liberty by everyday citizens in the US?
    Can it gain momentum, or will it be quashed by institutional collectivism?
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  • Posted by BostonTEA 9 years, 4 months ago
    What are your thoughts on a Constitutional Convention ("Con-Con" or Article 5). Some see it as "the only solution" (how can it get any worse) while others worry about a "run-away convention" where something like FDR's "Second of Rights" gets introduced.
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    • Posted by ewv 9 years, 4 months ago
      The real question is not a runaway convention, which would still require support from the vast majority of states, but

      1. the extent of the kind of "compromise" that is all too typical today further undermining the constitution and the rights and freedom of the individual, and

      2. how can the kind of statist culture we have today be expected to accomplish anything good in Constitutional amendments in contrast to all signs that it does the opposite in every other realm.
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  • Posted by Cogitabo 9 years, 4 months ago
    With regard to the immense power wielded by regulatory agencies, can you first explain the concept of Administrative Law, its beginnings in our society, whether or not it's constitutional and its inherent dangers?
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    • Posted by ewv 9 years, 4 months ago
      A closely related question concerns the power of tax agencies operating administrative law without regard to the common protections afforded even the worst actual criminals, like the IRS's "guilty until proven innocent".
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  • Posted by grizzld 9 years, 4 months ago
    Judge Napolitano: I always enjoy your insights on FOX news. Would you please explain if oboma's immigration order is within the law or outside of it?
    thanks
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  • Posted by ethrivrav 9 years, 4 months ago
    When the states ratified the constitution, was it with the knowledge that the decision was irreversible, i.e. with no possibility of any future secession? It wouldn't seem likely they would voluntarily surrender this check on federal power, but it would seem that there must be some legal basis for this belief in the roach motel theory of the constitution when listening to conventional wisdom.
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  • Posted by Eudaimonia 9 years, 4 months ago
    In response to President Obama's announcement of unilateral action on immigration, Senator Ted Cruz went to the Senate rostrum and gave an updated version of Cicero's speech calling out Catiline and his conspiracy.

    I have seen little coverage of this, but I take it to mean that the Tea Party coalition in Congress is not backing down (which I consider a good thing).

    Do the players on both sides of the Ruling Class coin (Democrat Marxists and Republican Cronyists) understand the gauntlet that was dropped?
    Or again, do they not care?
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  • Posted by jimslag 9 years, 4 months ago
    Hello Judge, Freedom Watch was my favorite show on FBN and I was so sad when your show was removed from the line up. I also miss Eric Boling but that is another matter. I enjoy seeing you in various legal discussions on Fox channels. Is there any possible return to Freedom Watch or something similar? I understand FBN wanted more business programs but they still have Megan, Neil and Lou which are really not business shows either.
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  • Posted by gerstj 9 years, 4 months ago
    With a Republican party that will not oppose Obama other than symbolically, how do we stop and redirect Obama's agenda to take down the country?
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