The American Spectator

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Hillary Out of Grapeshot

5.9.08 @ 12:01AM

GREAT GRAPESHOT!
Re: Robert Stacy McCain's Rear-Guard Action:

"The South still lost the war, but it lasted nearly three more years." And? Sharpsburg/Antietam was a preview of the carnage that would come later just up the road at Gettysburg and in the years thereafter.

After the battle at Antietam Creek until the end of the war, how many men more thousands of men of Blue or Gray died or were maimed at places like Fredericksburg, Malvern Hill, Chancellorsville, Vicksburg, Chickamauga, Spotsylvania Court House, Cold Harbor and Petersburg? How many families suffered, some whose homes and livelihoods were destroyed? And then there's that delicate touch of William Tecumseh Sherman and his Atlanta campaign and then march to the sea.

If anything, what you said compels Mrs. Clinton to stop immediately before there's even more carnage.

Still, given who and what she's battling, I hope she fights on until she and her army have no Minie balls left for their muskets or grapeshot for their cannon.
-- C. Kenna Amos
Princeton, West Virginia

A CARPETBAGGER IN FULL
Re: R. Emmett Tyrrell Jr.'s London's American Mayor:

Thank you so much for that informative article on London's newly-elected Mayor Boris Johnson. What a stunning revelation: That he's actually a US citizen. I've been reading every news story on-line that I can get a hold of on Johnson, and I've not seen this even mentioned anywhere else.

Many are trying to spin Johnson's victory to fit their needs. For instance, the Ron Paul anti-War paleo-libertarians are trying to claim him as one of their own cause of some negative things he's had to say about Bush in the past. I've even seen liberals saying that he's one of them in disguise. But you've got him pegged: He's a Reaganesque/Thatcherite libertarian Tory. What could be better.

Pity, our American GOP leaders are not yet taking their cue from him.
-- Eric Dondero, Publisher
Libertarian Republican blog

I read your recent article "London's American Mayor" on the website of the American Spectator with interest. However, some of your assertions are patently ridiculous.

True. Boris was born here and therefore automatically received American citizenship. However, at the very least, that would make him an American in name only. For the most part, he was schooled in Britain -- I went to school there, my family lived there, my sister married a Brit more than 30 years ago and has lived there the whole time, except for some visits here. She's still an American -- but it wasn't a given. She has had to return every couple of years. I think that may have changed, but don't know for sure. But, I vaguely remember a conversation about that after my mother died. Her kids are Brits. the point is, I have a pretty good idea of what the mind set is over there in certain issues. There is no way the Brits would have elected an American as mayor; that would have made bigger news than anything else

One of my brothers was born in Italy -- Naples. Until a certain age he had dual passports. At some point a choice had to be made. Of course, there never really was a choice in his mind -- being born in Italy doesn't make one an Italian. Just as being born in American doesn't make one an American. Perhaps citizenship-wise, but that is all.

I would like to see the proof, actual real proof, that Boris is still a U.S. citizen. You said it was "supposition" that Boris relinquished his passport in 2006. First, Boris was born in June 1964 -- that would make him almost 44. Often the issue of dual citizenship is dealt with by or on the 18th birthday. In the case of Britain and the U.S., one can have citizenship is both countries. The U.S. has no problem with people being U.S. citizens as well as citizens of another country, However, there is a caveat: Section 349 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended, states that U.S. citizens are subject to loss of citizenship if they perform certain acts voluntarily. Briefly stated, these acts include:

(a) obtaining naturalization in a foreign state (Sec. 349 (a)(1), INA);
(b) taking an oath, affirmation or other formal declaration of allegiance to a foreign state or its political subdivisions (Sec. 349 (a)(2), INA);
(c) entering or serving in the armed forces of a foreign state engaged in hostilities against the U.S. or serving as a commissioned or non-commissioned officer in the armed forces of a foreign state (Sec. 349 (a)(3), INA);
(d) accepting employment with a foreign government if: (i) one has or acquires the nationality of that foreign state; or (ii) a declaration of allegiance is required in accepting the position (Sec. 349 (a)(4), INA);
(e) formally renouncing U.S. citizenship before a U.S. consular officer outside the United States (Sec. 349 (a)(5), INA);
(f) formally renouncing U.S. citizenship within the U.S. (but only in time of war) (Sec. 349 (a)(6), INA);
(g) conviction for an act of treason (Sec. 349 (a)(7), INA).

Boris was elected as MP in 2001. When he took office he had to swear an Oath of Allegiance to the Crown. A Parliamentary oath. Section (b), therefore, would come into play. Would have come into play. As soon as he swore allegiance to the crown.

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