RNI

Philadelphia Bulletin columnist Joe Murray writes about a recent decision by the United States Supreme Court to reject the death penalty for child rapists as "cruel and unusual punishment." Republicans for the National Interest Chairman Michael Erickson remarks that this is another indication of the willingness of this Court to "backstab the Constitution" on matters of capital punishment jurisprudence. Click here for more.

Recently, the Oklahoma State Legislature passed a Resolution reaffirming the Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. I have reprinted an email thread between myself and several others, which arises from this development and which highlights a debate as old as the one between Presidents John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. This thread appears in the comments below the link. In order to read the original text of the Resolution, click here.

Republicans for the National Interest Chairman Michael Erickson comments on why the traditional definition of marriage is critical, if marriage is going to remain the foundation of normative family life. A nation that ceases to maintain a normative family life will cease to value its own private property and other liberty rights, as these rights emerge normally in the course of sustaining a family life or passing on a family legacy. Click here for more.

Republicans for the National Interest Chairman Michael Erickson acknowledges that the conservative community in Sonoma County, and other liberal areas of California, are more quiet in their opposition to the emergence of gay marriage, because they are "browbeaten" and fearful of retribution from their more politically correct peers. Nevertheless, in spite of a hostile, secular culture, he and others are prepared to do their part in passing an initiative statewide that would codify a traditional definition of marriage in the State Constitution. Click here for more.

For the first time in awhile, we actually have a competitive race in the 1^st Supervisor District this year. Our incumbent, Valerie Brown, is facing serious opposition; and the best one is Lawrence Wiesner. I want to urge my fellow citizens, regardless of whether they are Republicans or Democrats, to take this opportunity to replace Valerie Brown with Lawrence Wiesner.

Thank you for providing the articles on how the GOP establishment is trying to shut out the Ron Paul supporters. None of this is at all surprising. Back in 1994, I served as a regional director in the Proposition 187 campaign. As you may recall, Proposition 187 was the first statewide initiative in any state in our Union that called for an end to most state benefits for illegal immigrants. It passed overwhelmingly and then was thrown out by a single judge on specious constitutional grounds.