Topic: Thomas Paine

A podcast hosted by Douglas Gabriel (aka Thomas Paine) is criticized for making unsubstantiated claims about the Senior Executive Service. Gabriel, a former NSA employee and self-described "Luciferian," suggested that Rex Tillerson might be an SES member. This is debunked by noting that Tillerson was a CEO and cabinet member, not a career civil service executive earning a GS-15 salary.

The term "common sense," frequently used by the Obama administration regarding gun laws, originates from Thomas Paine's 1776 pamphlet. The original document argued for armed independence from Great Britain, creating an ironic historical context for its modern use in gun control advocacy.

Senator Ted Cruz rejects the claim that money is not speech, calling it a "canard" that would fail a first-year law school exam. He asserts that from the founding of the Republic, the expenditure of money has been integral to distributing speech, citing the Federalist Papers and Thomas Paine's Common Sense. The hosts mock Cruz's use of the word "canard" while agreeing with his legal assessment.

White House Press Secretary Jay Carney is criticized for using the phrase "manufactured crisis" regarding the sequestration, which critics argue is an admission of political theater. The administration's frequent use of the term "common sense" is traced back to Thomas Paine's 1776 pamphlet, though it is now viewed as a rhetorical tool to "dumb down" complex issues for the public.

A reading of the Declaration of Independence on the eve of July 4th prompts a comparison between colonial grievances and modern political issues such as taxation without representation and war without consent. Historical context is provided regarding King George III, suggesting he was quite young during the American Revolution and that his attempts to lower taxes while increasing collection enforcement contributed to colonial unrest. Thomas Paine's pamphlet "Common Sense" is credited with popularizing the namesake phrase.