WATCH: Rep. Trent Franks Testifies About Electromagnetic Pulse Threats

Arizona Rep. Trent Franks (R-CD2) has become Congress' expert on the protecting ourselves from the threat of manmade and/or natural electromagnetic pulses (EMPs).  He testified before the House Subcommittee on Energy and Power on Wednesday (video below), and made the case for his SHIELD Act (Secure High-voltage Infrastructure for Electricity from Lethal Damage Act).

Although I have not yet had the opportunity to review the video, the case that Franks makes about the need for securing our electric grid from EMPs is encapsulated in this news release from February.  Franks has signed up a bi-partisan group of 24 co-sponsors for the bill, and has even started a Congressional EMP Caucus for like-minded Representatives.




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WATCH: Arizona Rep. Trent Franks In D.C. At Annual March For Life Rally: "Mr. President, There Is Nothing Liberating About Killing Our Children"

Arizona Rep. Trent Franks (R-CD) spoke (for 57 seconds) at the annual March For Life Rally yesterday in Washington, D.C.

"I'm Congressman Trent Franks from Arizona.  You know, recently the President gave a speech.  He said all of should do everything we can to make sure this country lives up to the expectations of our children.  And I believe that to be true, Mr. President.  We cannot do that while we stand by and watch 4,000 of them be killed every day.  Mr. Presdent, there is nothing liberating about killing our children.  Mr. President, America has not yet forsaken our unborn, and in two more years, we're going to have another election, Mr. President.  And, by the grace of God, we will see Roe v. Wade fall in the ash heap of history. God bless you all."



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WATCH: Arizona Reps. Trent Franks and Paul Gosar's Parts In Constitution Reading

Yesterday, we posted Rep. Gabrielle Giffords' (D-CD7) part in the reading of the U.S. Constitution on the floor of the House of Representatives, and noted that we did not know if anyone else from Arizona's delegation had participated; we had searched Google, Reps' Twitter feeds, and other sites.  (Giffords' office notified us of the clip.)

Today, we searched the C-Span site for the rest of the speakers and found that Trent Franks (R-CD2) and Paul Gosar (R-CD1) were the only other members from Arizona to participate.  Here are their clips:

Franks helped set up the reading:


Transcript of Franks' comment:

"Mr. Speaker, in a few moments, the United States Constitution will be read for the first time in a long time in this Chamber. And I, for one, Mr. Speaker, am glad to see this welcomed day come.

I know there are those that will dismiss it as symbolic. But I remember the words of Daniel Webster when he said, ``Hold on, my friends, to the Constitution and to the Republic for which it stands. Miracles do not cluster, and what has happened once in 6,000 years may never happen again. Hold on to the Constitution, for if the American Constitution should fail, there will be anarchy throughout the world.'' Mr. Speaker, I hope, as we go forward in this new Congress, that we will all hold Mr. Webster's words in our hearts."

Rep. Gosar had the honor of reading the last sentence of the 14th Amendment, and then was asked to also read the first sentence of the 15th Amendment - the one that forbids discrimination based on "race, color, or previous condition of servitude" with regards to the right to vote.




(Rep. Giffords read the 1st Amenment.)



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FACT CHECK: AZ Rep. Trent Franks' Comments Blasting Obama Administration As "Failure"

Arizona Rep. Trent Franks (R-CD2)today issued one of the most scathing denunciations of the Obama Administration's policy of trying certain alleged terrorists in civilian courts, following the acquittal of Ahmed Khalfan Ghailani on all but one of 277 counts.  The one conspiracy conviction does have a maximum sentence of life in prison without parole, which prosecutors indicated they will seek.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/18/nyregion/18ghailani.html?scp=1&sq=ghailani&st=cse
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-ghailani-verdict-20101118,0,2966491.story
http://franks.house.gov/press_releases/497
http://franks.house.gov/press_releases/384





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Fox News Hands Drum To Rep. Trent Franks; He Adds Signature Beat To The Tune (video)

Fox News continues to parade Arizona politicians on its programs to ask about the State Department's mention of Arizona's S.B. 1070 in its human rights Universal Periodic Review ("UPR").  It is obviously the kind of drum the network beats until the skin breaks - Obama Administration, Hillary Clinton, United Nations, immigration, border security. 

Today, Rep. Trent Franks was asked on to talk about the arrival of National Guard troops on the Arizona border today (too little, Administration does not understand the national security issues, and more).  But, the anchor did not "want to let you get away without asking about this, because I think this is going to get a lot of attention in the coming days."  She then characterized the mention as the State Dept recommending that S.B. 1070 "be evaluated" at the U.N.*
Franks professed to being "dumbfounded."  Not at the question, of course, but because: "this Administration is the most pro-abortion administration in the history of the nation.  They want abortion throughout all nine months of pregnancy for no reason, for any reason, they want taxpayers to pay for it, and they want to export this experiment across the world.  Human rights issues is (sic) the last thing they should want to be talking about."

Franks did proceed to echo Gov. Brewer's criticisms of the UPR, and of the interviewer's characterization.  Finally, he reiterated his frank dumbfoundedness:  "I'm just astonished that this Administration would apologize before the United Nations for protecting our borders."

The anchor promised to keep on this story, Franks thanked her for covering it, and went to commercials.  Because this stuff DOES sell.  And, given that our Fact Check Analysis of Gov. Brewer's outraged comments concluded that it was "completely misleading", we will continue to keep on Fox's keepin' on.


* Question (and answer) enters the conversation at approximately 2:28.