This time it’s former state legislator Kevin Rennie, writing in the Hartford Courant.  I insist you read this for yourself.  It’s the usual enforcer/commissar routine, peppered with three facts he remembers from sixth grade.  His knowledge of American history may rise to the level of Schoolhouse Rock.  Forget about all the northern states that appealed to the Principles of ‘98; this is a crazy southern doctrine and nothing else.  Rennie doesn’t even know (1) that northern states nullified the fugitive-slave laws, and (2) they even cited the wicked Calhoun in doing so.  Were they wrong to do so, Rennie?

Like any commissar, he greets an idea not vetted by the Washington Post or the New York Times with smears and denunciations.  No attempt to understand why Thomas Jefferson would have promoted it, or to reply to (or even mention) any of the arguments he employed in its favor.  It is enough that it doesn’t belong to the Mitch McConnell/Hillary Clinton “mainstream,” which has done so much for the country.  Rennie would have us limit the federal government…how?  By voting for people who give good speeches?  How’s that strategy working?  Onward to more failure, comrade!

The comments are a hoot, too.  Oh, thank you, Kevin Rennie, for saving us from these crazy ideas!  Who would ever want to resist an edict coming down from our wise overlords?  Only a crazy person, of course!

I’d take the guy apart line by line, but how many times can you smack down the same examples of illiteracy?  I have a bunch of pieces that take down this guy’s arguments point by point; see the Nullification section of my Articles page.  Rennie’s no Ivy League professor, but here I smack down a Princeton professor who also tries to win the argument via the enforcer routine.  Turns out he’s as clueless as Rennie.

The 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.”

LEARN MORE

01

Featured Articles

On the Constitution, history, the founders, and analysis of current events.

featured articles

02

Tenther Blog and News

Nullification news, quick takes, history, interviews, podcasts and much more.

tenther blog

03

State of the Nullification Movement

232 pages. History, constitutionality, and application today.

get the report

01

Path to Liberty

Our flagship podcast. Michael Boldin on the constitution, history, and strategy for liberty today

path to liberty

02

Maharrey Minute

The title says it all. Mike Maharrey with a 1 minute take on issues under a 10th Amendment lens. maharrey minute

Tenther Essentials

2-4 minute videos on key Constitutional issues - history, and application today

TENTHER ESSENTIALS

Join TAC, Support Liberty!

Nothing helps us get the job done more than the financial support of our members, from just $2/month!

JOIN TAC

01

The 10th Amendment

History, meaning, and purpose - the "Foundation of the Constitution."

10th Amendment

03

Nullification

Get an overview of the principles, background, and application in history - and today.

nullification