The summer of 2016 was an interesting and dangerous time for liberty-loving Americans. The Department of Homeland Security had become the preferred tool in Washington’s Constitution-killing toolbox to allegedly improve national security and keep the American people “safe.”
In June, then-DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson suggested that gun control “(had) to be a part of Homeland Security” in order to “minimize the opportunity for terrorists to get guns.”
In July, the GOP-controlled Congress responded by introducing a Constitutionally questionable bill that would have created a type of Minority Report pre-crime unit within DHS. Though it never became law, H.R.5611—which is still active—gave DHS authority to deny gun rights without due process based only on the possibility that someone might commit a crime.
Sounds like a bill Donald Trump would just love.
As primary season heated up in August, Johnson proposed that America nationalize elections with the DHS be used to “monitor” the process. Calling it “critical infrastructure,” Johnson believed that nationalizing would be the only way Washington could ensure an accurate vote.
Though Congress didn’t immediately address the issue, it looks like Donald Trump, Mitch McConnell and Paul Ryan are preparing to give DHS exactly what Johnson proposed.
The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee will consider a bill this week reauthorizing DHS, with added amendments providing for so-called reforms addressing cybersecurity. Specifically, the amendments are intended to bolster cybersecurity for voting systems. The House has already passed a similar bill.
Since November 2016, Trump and the GOP have already created a US Cyber Command within the NSA (an idea proposed by Obama), and they recently renewed FISA 702, a law that empowers the NSA to conduct electronic surveillance of Americans without a warrant (a power abused by Obama).
Based on those two facts alone, you’d think that ideas created during the Obama administration would at least get a good vetting in GOP-controlled Washington. But with a president who has more in common with Obama than he does with conservatives when it comes to policy, and with the GOP hijacked by Republicrats and Trumplicans, I’m not holding out much hope that our Constitutional rights will be protected.
Oh well. It’s not like Trump is creating a secret global spy network that reports only to him or anything. Right?
David Leach is the owner of The Strident Conservative. His politically incorrect and always “right” columns are featured on RedState.com, NOQReport.com, and TheResurgent.com.
His daily radio commentary is nationally syndicated with Salem Radio Network and can be heard on stations across America.
Follow the Strident Conservative on Twitter and Facebook.
Subscribe to receive podcasts of radio commentaries: iTunes | Stitcher | Tune In | RSS
1 comment for “Will DHS reauthorization bring nationalized elections closer to reality?”