Val Peterson: Vote of No Confidence

People have described me as a "rank and file" Republican.  Well, I dispute that because I don't see myself as a rank and file Republican.  I'm a self-described Reagan Conservative.  I look at the issues from three individual sources most of the time: MSNBC (Liberal), The Associated Press (Moderate), and FOX News (Conservative).  I also read articles posted on Real Clear Politics that compiles articles from around the country and even some internationally.  One case I make that I am not a "rank and file" Republican is my severe dislike and disappointment for Congressman-elect Val Peterson (R-UT59).

Val Peterson was recently elected to represent District 59 in the Utah State House of Representatives.  He won his seat with 4,376 votes to Democrat challenger James Greer's 922.  Well, clearly District 59 is a Republican-held district and who would believe it never was?  It is Utah after all, right?  Oh, and only 48.42% of Utah County voted on November 2nd.

To continue Mr. Peterson campaigned pretty hard (in my opinion) during the Republican Primary, beating out Republican Primary challenger Michael J. Thompson 1,541 to 961.  I didn't have the chance to vote in the Primary because I was in Washington State all during June and didn't get a ballot sent out to myself (which my was own error).  On the day of the Primary (June 22, 2010) he posted on his Facebook (which is a HUGE tool for candidates today) about how it was a great day to exercise our liberty.  On June 25th he posted that he was humble to be the Republican nominee for District 59.  It took three days to post that acceptance for a twenty second post.  And what more did we hear from Mr. Peterson since June 25th?  Nothing!  Not a peep!

The 2010 General Elections came on November 2nd, 2010 and when did Mr. Peterson submit his acceptance to those he is going to be serving?  November 4th!  That is two (2) days after the election was over!  Mr. Peterson, when a vote is going to be happening on the State House Floor on May 1st are you going to show up on May 3rd?  I think a little respect and timeliness should be given to your constituents who you were just elected to represent.

I checked Mr. Peterson's election website for news, events, town hall meetings, debates, etc. for his bid for State House.  I didn't find anything!  There was nothing on his Facebook!  There was not even a Twitter account!  Facebook and Twitter weren't even on his website!  Mr. Peterson, there are many young individuals that are in your district that basically live on Facebook and Twitter!  Why are you ignoring them?  My wife (21) and I (25) use Facebook for almost everything (besides shopping... most of the time).  I just don't understand!

In his acceptance on November 4th (remember, two days after the election was over) he stated, quote: "Meeting with the great people of our district throughout this election has been one of the greatest experiences of my life."  Um... Mr. Peterson, when did these meetings happen?  Were these meetings in people's homes, going door-to-door, etc?  When did you get out and meet people?  I live over on Main St by Gold's Gym and I don't remember you ever stopping by.  He goes on to further say, quote: "I look forward to working together to represent our community, families, and values."  How can you know our community if you really didn't meet those that you will be serving?  Granted, you, Mr. Peterson, have lived here longer then I have and know you neighbors, but what about the rest of us in the district?

This also makes me to believe that individuals in my district just looked for the (R) next to the name and voted.  I'm not calling anyone ignorant or uninformed, but call into question if people really knew who they were voting for, what a person stood for, etc.  Yes, Mr. Peterson has information on his website about his values and views on government, etc. but he, in my opinion, didn't get out and meet the people to promote those values and views.

Mr. Val Peterson is the only person in the 2010 General Elections I didn't vote for because of this fact that I believe he just put the (R) next to his name and knew that was enough to be elected to the State House of Representatives.  I contacted Mr. Peterson for information and received none.  Very big disappointment.  I had this same disappointment with Congressman Jason Chaffetz (R) who represents the District 3 of the State of Utah in the US House of Representatives.  He hadn't returned anything of my letters or requests for information.  I was very disappointed.  But since my writing a note similar to this one about Mr. Chaffetz I have been contacted via letter several times in response to my disappointment (hopefully this produces the same results).  That has greatly changed my opinion of Mr. Chaffetz and his ability to represent me in the US House of Representatives.

I cast a "Vote of No Confidence" on Mr. Peterson and his true ability to represent District 59.  Maybe I wouldn't be as "bitter" if he actually campaigned for this people of trust.  I live in District 59, have for the last two years and will continue to live here while I attend Utah Valley University.  Mr. Peterson is my representative to the State of Utah, but I am serverly disappointed in a man that slaps an (R) next to his name and believes that is enough.

Mr. Peterson, I would love to change my opinion of you as I did with Mr. Chaffetz.  I will see how you do during your tenure in office, if you will actually reply to my e-mails then for more information, etc.  If you'd like to talk please drop me a line.

Mobile: 360-477-7461
E-mail: rogue_outsider@yahoo.com

###

TSA and the Constitution

Today (Wednesday, 24 November 2010) will be a busy day at airports across the United States.  Millions of people are expected to be traveling across the country and internationally for the Thanksgiving Weekend.  Well, we've all have probably heard from someone, saw it on the news, or read it online about these new Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) policies about these full-body scanners that produce basically a virtual naked image of a person.  If you don't go through these new scanners you are subject to an "enhanced" pat-down that include the feeling of your "private" areas for both men and women.

Now our leaders and their, not ours, appointed personnel are saying we, the citizens, need to use common sense and just basically do as we're told (for the most part).  Some are saying we need to find a "balance" on safety and privacy.
I'm looking at this debate and I'm saying to myself, "Okay, the full body scanner I think I could handle.  It is a virtual image, not me standing in for a porno shoot, and as long as they don't look at my 'private' parts, I'm probably okay."  Now to the "enhanced" pat-down that includes touching of the "private" parts.

The Constitution of the United States states, "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."

Now several things stand out here:

1. "the right of the people" - This is a defined right.
2. "secure in their persons... and effects" - That is meaning me and my belongs.
3. "unreasonable searches and seizures" - I don't think saying no to possible Fifth Amendment violation is unreasonable, do you?
4. "shall not be violated" - meaning you don't cross over this line!!!  PERIOD!
5. "but upon probable cause" - You have to have probable cause that I'm about to commit a crime.  A little *beep* and light from a machine doesn't say I'm about to commit a crime, it says I might have forgotten a quarter in my pocket!

Probable cause has been best defined as, "a reasonable belief that a person has committed a crime".  I believe that feeling up a person is a violation of this right.  What they have described in these articles for these "enhanced" pat-downs is basically what I was taught over a year ago when I took the Bail Enforcement Academy course to become a Bail Recovery Apprentice!  Bail Recovery Apprentice is another title for Bounty Hunter.  These are things that I was taught when I arrest someone that has jumped bail and how to search them!  On possible criminals!  Not some lady that had breast cancer and has an artificial breast!  You don't ask that person to remove that because you don't have probable cause to execute that search!

Where do you draw the line?  Well, I believe the line has already been drawn and that line is clearly stated in the Constitution of the United States under the Fourth Amendment.

The common sense needs to not be by the people, but our elected representatives and their appointed/hired personnel.  Can we use drug and bomb sniffing dogs?  A bomb sniffing dog has great smell, why not have them sit next to the scanner and sniff the air and if something goes off then you may have probable cause because this animal is trained in detecting that chemical.

I believe that this has been a big mess that TSA could have avoided if they just read the Constitution every now and then because I believe these "enhanced" pat-downs are a clear violation of the Fourth Amendment because they do not have probable cause to treat a traveler like a terrorist.

What I'm upset about also is that it is people coming from outside the United States, traveling into the States trying to do these terrorist acts, not actual individuals inside the United States since September 11th.  Why are the American people being punished and inconvenienced because of these people not even in our country?  Answer me that.