The sky is falling! Our economy is collapsing! It’s fiscal Armageddon! 

Well, that’s the perception out there, anyway. And THAT’s scary – because when the public is in a panic, the Government feels it has to DO something. And we all know that the most dangerous words you can hear are, “I’m from the Government, and I’m here to help.”

Unfortunately, there is a fundamental disconnect with economic reality which is inherent in Government.

When the economy slows, the first response has been for the Fed to lower interest rates. Great. All that does is encourage the assumption of more debt!

Then, when things get bad enough, they put together an election year “stimulus package” to “rebate” some tax money. Teriffic. Then the federal government goes further into debt to mail out checks which people use up in a month or 2. It might gain a few incumbents some additional votes, but doesn’t really help the economy fundamentally.

What people don’t realize, and the Government knows but won’t say, is that the entire economic structure of the US is a house of cards built on IOUs. That dollar bill in your pocket isn’t even MONEY… it’s a promise to pay… and IOU… a Federal Reserve (promissory) NOTE. Since we left the gold-standard, our currency is backed by nothing except the credit rating of the Fed! The Fed isn’t even a Government agency… it’s a PRIVATE organization! The Federal Reserve creates currency out of nothing, and LENDS it to the government AT INTEREST! Talk about a bubble doomed to pop at some point!

Then the Fed loans money to banks, at interest. They loan money to the public, at interest. They’re all making a profit (as long as the money itself is perceived to have value!).

But the rest of the world is starting to shun the US dollar in favor of other currencies. On the worldwide market, the dollar’s value is declining.

Concurrently, our Helpful Government noticed a few years back, that many minority folk were not qualifying for mortgage loans. Of course this was a factor of their credit worthiness – and not of their ethnicities… but our Helpful Government was not satisfied with the fact that some people can’t AFFORD a mortgage. They insisted that the financial markets find ways to get more of these “less than qualified” individuals into home-ownership. And so was born the “sub-prime mortgage” market. We all know what happens when you squeeze someone with minimal credit worthiness into a house they can barely afford at introductory rates which will adjust upward!

So, what’s the fix? Sadly – the real fix will probably never happen. But I’ll propose it here anyway.

First, return to the gold standard and eliminate the Federal Reserve. Give our money REAL INTRINSIC value backed by gold and quit creating money out of nothing. Of course, some politicians who even considered making this proposal a reality have met sudden ends!

Second, make the tax cuts permanent, and reduce taxes further! As Bush, Reagan and Kennedy have proven, reducing tax RATES stimulates the economy, generating growth and expansion, and resulting in GAINS in tax REVENUES. Tax cuts don’t cost the treasury… they increase it!

Third, reduce or eliminate as many “social programs” as possible. The government is a horribly inefficient transfer agent… it takes it $3 to spend $1 on ANYTHING. That’s $2 it takes from you and me just to deliver a third dollar that they take from you to give to someone else! Government MUST begin to understand they cannot provide womb to the tomb “care” for people. Instead, people will be better able to provide for themselves if the economy is strong, and sound enough to produce gainful employment, and the tax burden is eased enough to allow the people to use their money to their own benefit.

Fourth, enforce our borders and immigration laws. Legal immigrants and citizens WILL do most any job for a reasonable wage… if you don’t believe it, tune in Mike Rowe’s “Dirty Jobs”! The massive influx of illegals is not only a security risk, it is an economic rocket barrage!

Fifth, implement term limits on our Federal Legislators. As long as one can make a lifelong career out of being a lawmaker, doling out goodies from the federal cookiejar for re-election votes will remain a problem. Until intrenched lawmakers are purged out and we have a new crop of Congressmen and Senators who understand they are in for a time, to serve the public good, and then they return to private life… the other 4 proposals are virtually impossible to implement!

No, even the implementation of all the above will not bring about a utopia without ups and downs… the economy is far more complicated than these simplistic proposals can address – however these are fundamental flaws built into the very fabric of our economic infrastructure. Without repairing these, there will always be the risk of economic shipwrecks.

Well, ‘scuze me, but I remember JFK – and Barak… you’re no Jack Kennedy!

Let’s look at JFK for a moment. I’ll leave it to the reader to conclude whether Obama holds a candle to or resembles the late John Fitzgerald Kennedy.

Kennedy served the nation in the military before entering politics. Instead of using family influence to AVOID combat, he used it to secure a fighting assignment in the Solomon Islands. A young Navy LTJG, he commanded the PT-109 and became a true hero – leading his crew to survival and rescue.

While he could have returned home after the PT-109 incident, he chose to continue to contribute to the war effort. He then commanded PT-59, and helped rescue around 50 marines.

(A bit more substantial and substantiated a story than that of Kerry’s 3 purple hearts, eh?)

Articulate and well educated, he penned the story into a book, “PT-109”.

In 1946 he ran for Congress and was elected. While generally supportive of the Party Line, he was openly critical of Truman for what he perceived as a weak stance on the Communist Chinese.

Later he became a Massachusetts Senator. During his Senatorial tenure, he had back surgery and during his lengthy recovery he wrote “Profiles in Courage”, examining a number of individuals he admired and learned from. Most of the profiled individuals were politicians willing to take a strong, if unpopular stand for what they believed in.

As President, Kennedy’s policies are not what one would associate with today’s Left. At his Inauguration, he exhorted “Ask not what your country can do for you…” (Today’s Left encourages a nanny-state dependency!)

He understood the threat of advancing Communism. He supported a strong military, and used them in foreign intervention – committing troops to Vietnam. He confronted the Soviets, and won the Cuban Missile Crisis showdown forcing Khrushchev to blink in that game of Nuclear Brinksmanship. What politician of the liberal ideation today would have the cajones to stand up to today’s threats at JFK did?

JFK put TAX CUTS in place, in order to stimulate the economy and increase federal revenues! Read the text of his April 20, 1961 speech at   http://www.nationalcenter.org/JFKTaxes1961.html.

Obama, on the other hand is a green Senator with a gift for eloquent bumper-sticker speeches. He advocates pulling nuclear force off the table, and negotiating with terrorist states. He not only hasn’t served – which isn’t necessarily a requirement for President – but refuses to salute the flag, wear one, and isn’t proud of our nation! What would the young LTJG Kennedy have thought of Mr. Obama?

It is true McCain is NOT the ideal candidate.  But he does appear to be the nominee, and he DOES stand with us 70% of the time. So take a few deep breaths and follow this line of reasoning:

While McCain's contrarian 30% may give us apoplexy, we must remember that Obama and Clinton are Fabian Socialists (please Google it) who would be a 100% disaster for our country.

Therefore, Conservatives should not feel that they would be “violating their conservative principals” by holding their nose and casting their vote for McCain!

You're not ENDORSING him by casting such a vote.  Instead, you're UPHOLDING your conservative principals by DENYING the Presidency to Obama or Clinton! 

Sitting out the election would be an inexcusable failure to USE your vote to PREVENT electing a dangerous Leftist.  Casting a vote for “bad” is preferable to passively permitting the election of “worse”!  It has been said: “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good people to do nothing.”

But feel free to express your anger toward the GOP leadership which has moved the party to the Left!  I personally have ceased all financial support of the RNC (and have told them so!), resigned from the Pachyderms - leaving my position as Vice President of my local chapter, and have declared myself to be an Independent.  But I will continue to support any (R) candidate who espouses conservative positions.

Most importantly, we conservatives must bear in mind that while the President wields significant power... a conservative Congress can keep ANY President in check - especially if they have a Veto-Proof majority. Therefore, we must vigorously, energetically and enthusiastically support conservatives running for the House and Senate!

With McCain now the undisputed frontrunner and Huckabee running interference for him, seemingly making a play for a VP position on a McCain ticket, any conservative representation in the presidential race has been effectively neutered.  (And that’s not to say I’m a big fan of Romney either!)  The best we can hope for is to elect a right-leaning congress capable of and willing to override a veto so as to keep WHOEVER takes the White House from doing too much damage!

Some will paint McCain’s surge as heralding the death of the conservative movement; however this is not a repudiation of conservative thought.  It is the result of the poor leadership of the GOP machine.   As Ronald Reagan once remarked concerning his switch from the Democratic to the Republican Party, we didn’t leave the Party… the Party left us.

Who was the “anointed frontrunner” early on in the Presidential Campaign Season?  The RINO Giuliani!  Who was ignored?  Thompson, Hunter and anyone else leaning right!  The party machine still loves northeastern “moderates” and RINOs, and now has embraced the most visible and vitriolic RINO of them all – John McCain!

The fact is that there are a LOT of Republicans who will have a very hard time holding their nose and pulling a lever for McCain!  While some will say that McCain’s 70-odd percent rating from the ACU makes him ok more often than he’s not, it’s that 25%+ that gives conservatives heartburn!

McCain is not simply a RINO like Hagel, Snow, and Specter et al.  He’s a “maverick”.  He ENJOYS sticking his finger in they eye of conservatism.  He doesn’t just VOTE for bad legislation, he COMPOSES AND SPONSORS it!  Look at the McCain/Feingold assault on free speech.  Look at the McCain/Kennedy Amnesty.  Today McCain says he “gets it” and will secure the borders FIRST.  OK, but what about what he intends to do SECOND??

For some inexplicable reason, in recent years Neo-Conservatism displaced Reagan-Conservatism, and the Neocons have sold us out time and again.  From Bush 41’s “No new taxes” to the time the party machine anointed Bob Dole because it was “his turn” to GW’s Harriet Meiers, Dubai Ports, McCain/Kennedy and on and on, the Rockefeller Country-Club republicans and the PNAC Neocons  have consistently given lip-service to the conservative base while moving the party to the left.  Our national sovereignty, our border security, our economy, our military supremacy and our national pride have all suffered.

The conservative values that Reagan embodied and which swept the GOP into the majority in 1994 are no longer the driving force behind the GOP leadership.  The Reagan Coalition is thrown an occasional bone by invoking Ronnie’s name, but his values and principles are rarely represented by the party machine.  The party does not rally to support candidates who espouse the Reagan ideals, but is quite content to support RINOs.  They take the Conservative Base for granted, with a “Where else they gonna go?  The Dems?”

The Elephant has lost his trunk and tusks, and now has a horn on his proboscis!

And so, at least for this writer, Rush Limbaugh was right in his prediction that McCain would be the ruination of the GOP… as I can no longer comfortably and in good conscience claim any direct affiliation with the Republican Party!  I believe many are waking up today with the same thoughts… whether or not they act on them as I do today.

I have carried the water for the GOP, despite the embarrassments and disappointments, in the hope that they would return to the values that brought them to power.  They have not.  And the water’s heavy.  And my arms are sore.

While I will continue to support candidates for any office who represent conservative thought – and most will still carry the R after their names – I am hereby withdrawing any official affiliation with the Republican Party and declaring myself to be an Independent.  The party machine can no longer count on my financial or volunteer support for the party itself.  I am today tendering my resignation as Vice President of my local Pachyderms chapter.

Sadly, there is not a national Conservative Party, as if there were, there would be a mass migration from the GOP to it.  So, until and unless the GOP wakes up and recognizes that they must return to Reagan Conservatism as their platform, principle and position, color me INDEPENDENT.

For the last several years, the GOP party machine seems to have adopted the misguided attitude that the Reagan-Conservative movement is the ugly stepchild of the party – rather than being the party’s true heart, soul, and core.  The party is happy to accept their support, but won’t actively pursue their interests!  Evangelicals and their values are especially marginalized and vilified.  The elephant is still in the Living Room, but is unspoken of!  Instead, the RINO seems to have been moved to the forefront.  Reagan’s NAME is frequently invoked... but his philosophies and policies are rarely emulated.

Last summer, Republican Senators had to be dragged kicking and screaming into killing the McCain/Kennedy Amnesty Bill.  Many were seemingly hiding under their desks as their phone lines melted down.  Some would not take a public position on the subject until the writing of the bill’s defeat was already on the wall!

A revolution is coming.  The Conservative Core is tired of holding their nose while casting votes for nominal Republicans who do not represent a Reagan-Conservative viewpoint.  The so-called “NEO-Conservatives” have sorely disappointed the Reagan-Conservative base.  Spending, Border Security, Amnesty etc. have all been poorly handled by Republicans both currently and recently in office, in the eyes of the Reagan Coalition.  This dissatisfaction became quite evident in the mass “firings” of Republicans in 2006.  The 2006 elections were not a repudiation of conservative thought; it reflected the disappointment of conservatives with Republicans’ failure to represent them!

The approval ratings for Congress SINCE the 2006 elections have ranged from a high of 25% to a low of 11%, and have consistently rated BELOW the approval ratings of the supposedly hated President George W Bush!  If the DEMOCRATS swept into office in 2006 because they had some MANDATE for their policies, why are their approval ratings TANKING?

But now comes John McCain.  Annointed by the mainstream press as the heir apparent to the Republican nomination, and ENDORSED by the old gray mare herself, the NY Times.

Memories seem to be short… McCain/Feingold was an assault on free speech.  McCain/Kennedy was an attempt to ram amnesty down America’s throat.  McCain opposed the Bush Tax Cuts.  McCain has been a frequent obstacle to funding needed military modernization.

Yet “electability” seems to trump the issues.  (WHO says Obama or Hillary can’t be beat by a conservative?)  Some in the GOP argue that differences with McCain’s positions should be subordinate to party loyalty.  “Don’t you want a Republican in the White House?  Do you want to elect a Democrat?”

If the choice is between McCain and Hillary or McCain and Obama, there is no REPUBLICAN running!!  McCain is a donkey in an elephant suit!  Electing McCain IS like electing a Democrat, with the added risk of putting the BLAME for any of his detrimental actions as President squarely on the GOP!  At least if those same actions are taken by Hillary or Barak, the DEMS would have to take responsibility!

Worse for the GOP, a McCain nomination would result in many of the Conservative Core to be unable/unwilling to hold their nose and “pull the lever” for McCain.  This could mean that many will sit out the election – and this would mean many Congressional and Senate seats and Governorships might fall to the Democrats. 

THIS eventuality MUST BE STRONGLY SPOKEN OUT AGAINST – EVEN if a voter can’t find a candidate to support in the Presidential race, they SHOULD ABSOLUTELY get to the polls and vote their consciences in the non-presidential races.

McCain will indeed be the ruination of the GOP.  Conservatives are already fleeing the party.  Funding of the party machine will dry up.  The RNC has received many letters from former supporters saying no more money is forthcoming.  If the GOP doesn’t wake up and move right, they may find themselves left!

As could easily be predicted, the recently released National Intelligence Estimate is being seen as blood in the water for the sharks on the Left.  After spending months creating the straw-man specter of an imminent invasion of Iran, the NIE is being cited as evidence that Iran is no threat and that the Bush Administration was about to start another war in a “Bush Lied” scenario!

But apart from the fact that there was no imminent attack plan for Iran in the first place – why isn’t anyone noticing the inherent hypocrisy of the left as regards the NIE?  It was the National Intelligence Estimate of the time the Bush RELIED UPON in his policy toward going into Iraq!  Yet that NIE was later shown to be incorrect… and Bush was excoriated for using it as a justification for war.  Now suddenly the NIE is gospel truth, when it suits the agenda of the Left!  Can they have it both ways?  NIE was unreliable and should not have been used by Bush in 2003… but it is definitively reliable, proof positive today that Iran represents “no threat” four years later?

Of course, the Left emphasizes that the NIE indicates Iran had “discontinued” development of weapons-grade nuclear technology.  But they conveniently neglect the fact that the NIE does acknowledge that Iran IS still developing nuclear technologies.  They HAVE added centrifuges.  They ARE enriching uranium… it’s just commercial grade enriched uranium as opposed to highly enriched weapons-grade uranium.  As if that represents no threat!

Frankly, if I were Mr. “I’m-a-gonna-Jihad”, this is exactly the tactic I would take!  I could acquire a stockpile of low-grade enriched uranium while being declared by the American Left to be no threat, as I’m producing “peaceful use” nuclear material.  Those who opposed my adding centrifuges and other “dual use” technologies would be cast as bullies and I’d be viewed as a victim of the Bush Regime!  But at a time of my choosing, I could use those Leftist Approved dual-use technologies to further refine that already acquired low-grade fuel into weapons-grade material in short order and with no way to stop me - short of bombing the facilities in time!

Frankly, for either the Left or the Right to hang their hat on the NIE is a mistake.  One must bear in mind exactly what the National Intelligence Estimate IS!

First, and of primary importance, is the fact that it is an ESTIMATE!  It is not like we have human assets on the ground in Iran feeding direct intelligence.  It is the human analysts BEST GUESS based on their analysis of the available indirect data.  We all know and acknowledge that this guesstimate was wrong in the case of Iraq in 2003.

Secondly, the intelligence in the NIE is aging by the time it is gathered, compiled, analyzed, interpreted, documented and published.  There is inherently a significant lag between what is happening in real-time and the intelligence found in the estimate.  What was true at the time the intelligence was gathered may no longer be the case by the time it’s published!  Intelligence has a short shelf life!

This lag as applies to the National Intelligence Estimate can be in excess of a full year!  And no wonder.  Remember, the National Intelligence Estimate contains assessments of not only the regions hot in the news like Iraq, Iran, Pakistan and such.  It will also contain intelligence analysis of Peru and Paraguay.  Again, digesting all the raw data into a presentable estimate on such a broad scale is naturally time intensive.

One must remember, as they approach their understanding of the NIE, that it is little more than a guideline; the white lines at the shoulders of the Interstate.  There are six lanes of latitude where the actual car might be found.

The Bush Administration was wrong and foolish to hang so much of their credibility on the NIE in 2003.  The Left would be wrong and fooling to hang theirs on the NIE in 2007.

Copyright © 2007 by Doug Edelman
 
Doug Edelman is a conservative political commentator and a contributing editor for The Conservative Voice.  His work is also seen on News By Us, The American Daily, The Post Chronicle, New Media Journal, Capitol Hill Coffee House etc. For the support of his family, however, he is also an IT Consultant/Contractor and owner of a Computer Services Business.  He has taught PC Maintenance & Repair and Networking at his local Community College, and maintains a blog at http://edeldoug.blogs.com/.

Circulating on the Internet and in virally forwarded emails today, there is a series of pithy quips and comments attributed to George Carlin (and less commonly, to Ted Nugent), under the heading “I Am A Bad American”.  While neither wrote it, and both have denied its authorship publically, it continues to circulate because the statements themselves resonate so well with so many people!

It even appears on the websites of both gentlemen… Carlin posts it to deny writing it… he’s a leftist who would never make such statements.

Nugent, a bit more of a conservative, posts it on his site because, though he didn’t write it, he says he wishes he had!

Supposedly the actual author, who’s name has long been lost to the internet, wrote it as a response to one of those “how to be a good Republican” or “how to be a good Democrat” articles.   (I understand the motivation… my most recent column before this one was also a response to the “how to be a good Republican” email!)

The piece beautifully represents the thinking of millions of everyday Americans, and rightfully is propagating throughout Cyberspace.  It is a shame that it is being generally attributed to a man who holds few of the views it represents!

So, until and unless the actual author makes a public effort to take credit for the piece – PLEASE – feel free to attribute the piece falsely to ME!  I can use the notoriety!  And the piece deserves to be read and shared.  It is plagiarized below:

I'm A Bad American.

I believe the money I make belongs to me and my family, not some midlevel governmental functionary with a bad comb-over who wants to give it away to crack addicts squirting out babies.

I think playing with toy guns doesn't make you a killer - I believe ignoring your kids and giving them psychoactive medication might.

I think I'm doing better than the homeless.

I don't think being a minority makes you noble or victimized.

I have the right not to be tolerant of others because they are weird or make me mad. This is my life to live, and not necessarily up to others expectations.

I know what SEX is and that there are not varying degrees of it.

I don't celebrate Kwanzaa. But if you want to that's fine; just don't feel like everyone else should have to.

I believe that if you are selling me a Dairy Queen shake, a pack of cigarettes, or hotel room you do it in English.

As of matter of fact, if you intend to live in America, you should speak English. My uncles and forefathers shouldn't have had to die in vain so you can leave the countries you were born in to come disrespect ours, and make us bend to your will. Get over it.

I think the cops have every right to shoot your sorry butt if you're running from them after they tell you to stop. If you can't understand the word 'freeze' or 'stop' in English, see the previous line.

I don't use the excuse "it's for the children" as a shield for unpopular opinions or actions.

I know how to count votes and I feel much safer letting a machine with no political affiliation do a recount when needed.

I know what the definition of lying is, and it isn't based on the word IS -- ever.

I don't think that just because you were not born in this country, you should qualify for any special loan programs, government sponsored bank loans, etc., so you can open a hotel, 7-Eleven, trinket shop, or anything else.  Especially while those born and raised here can't get past a high school education because they can't afford it.

I didn't take the initiative in inventing the Internet.

I thought the Taco Bell dog was funny.

I want them to bring back safe and sane fireworks.

I believe no one ever died because of something Ozzy Osbourne, Ice-T or Marilyn Manson sang, but that doesn't mean I want to listen to that crap from someone else's car when I'm stopped at a red light. But I respect your right to.

I think that being a student doesn't give you any more enlightenment than working at Blockbuster or Jack In The Box.

Our soldiers did not go to some foreign country and risk their lives in vain and defend our Constitution so that decades later you can tell me it's a living document ever changing and is open to interpretation. The guys who wrote it were light years ahead of anyone today, and they meant what they said; now leave the document alone, or there's going to be trouble.

I don't hate the rich.  I help the poor.

I know wrestling is fake.

I've never owned, or was a slave, and a large percentage of our forefathers weren't wealthy enough to own one either. Please stop blaming me because some prior white people were idiots.

And remember, tons of white, Indian, Chinese, Jews, and other races have been enslaved too; it was wrong for every one of them.

I believe a self-righteous liberal with a cause is more dangerous than a Hell's Angel with an attitude.

I want to know exactly which church is it where the "Reverend" Jessie Jackson preaches; and, what exactly is his job function.

I own a gun, you can own a gun, and any red blooded American should be allowed to own a gun, but if you use it in a crime, then you will serve the time.

I think Bill Gates has every right to keep every penny he made and continue to make more. If it makes you mad, then invent the next operating system that's better and put your name on the building. Ask your buddy that invented the Internet to help you.

I don't believe in hate crime legislation. Even suggesting it makes me mad. You're telling me that someone who is a minority, gay, disabled, another nationality, or otherwise different from the mainstream of this country has more value as a human being that I do as a white male? If someone kills anyone, I'd say that it's a hate crime.

We don't need more laws! Let's enforce the ones we already have.

I believe that it doesn't take a village to raise a child; it takes a parent with the guts to stand up to the kid and spank his butt and say "NO!" when it's necessary to do so.

I'll admit that the only movie that ever made me cry was Ole Yeller.

I didn't realize Dr. Seuss was a genius until I had a kid.

I will not be frowned upon or be looked down upon or be made to keep silent because I have these beliefs and opinions. I thought this country allowed me that right. I will not conform or compromise just to keep from hurting somebody's feelings. I'm neither angry nor disenfranchised, no matter how desperately the mainstream media would like the world to believe otherwise.

Yes, I guess by some people's definition, I may be a bad American.

But that's tough.

Copyright © 2007 by Doug Edelman
 
Doug Edelman is a conservative political commentator and a contributing editor for The Conservative Voice.  His work is also seen on News By Us, The American Daily, The Post Chronicle, New Media Journal, Capitol Hill Coffee House etc. For the support of his family, however, he is also an IT Consultant/Contractor and owner of a Computer Services Business.  He has taught PC Maintenance & Repair and Networking at his local Community College, and maintains a blog at http://edeldoug.blogs.com/.

Circulating on the internet these days, there are a couple emails outlining what you must believe to be a "good democrat" or a "good republican".  Recently I was sent a copy of the "Things you must believe to be a good Republican".

I was struck with the inaccuracies and outright falacies that the author circulates as representative of Republican thinking.  So I wrote a brief response, point for point.  I hope you find both the author's statements and my responses enlightening.

To be a Good Republican, you must believe:

1) Being a drug addict is a moral failing and a crime, unless you are millionaire conservative radio jock, which makes it an illness and needs our prayers for your recovery.

No, Choosing to pursue a lifestyle of excess and intoxication is a moral failing and a crime.  (See Paris, Lindsay, Nicole, & Brittney!)  Becoming addicted to legitimately prescribed pain medication is as much a failing of the prescribing doctor as it is the patient.  Illegal behavior to procure the drug once addicted is still illegal behavior, and anyone doing it, even Rush, should be held accountable.  Pursuing recovery from an addiction acquired thru no action other than following doctors orders in the treatment of back pain which was not resolved thru surgery IS a laudable effort and worthy of prayers and encouragement!

2) You have to believe that those privileged from birth achieve success all on their own.

Interestingly, most of those who are wealthy as a "privilege from birth" are democrats!  In fact, amongst those who are in the sphere of the "filthy rich" who never lifted a finger to earn it, whether by birth or marriage, Democrats are strikingly predominant!  (Kennedy, Kerry and Rockefeller are some names that spring to mind.)  On the other hand, the examples of Republicans who are indeed "privileged from birth" and who did not achieve success thru business ventures - putting their own assets at risk and investing time, energy, sweat and intellect are few and far between.

3) You have to believe that the US should get out of the UN, and that our highest national priority is enforcing UN resolutions against Iraq.

Score one for the author... Most conservative Republicans will concede that they believe the US should get out of the UN... because it is a corrupt, anti-American, anti-semetic and irrelevant organization which drains our resources and uses them to oppose our best interests.  On the other hand, the enforcing of UN resolutions against Iraq were only used to point out the hypocrisy of those who opposed our defending and protecting the vital national interests of the United States and our allies by enforcing regime change.  Those who stood against the coalition action were WILLING to pass resolution after resolution condemning Iraq for its consistent violation of the terms of cease fire following the first Gulf War.  But they were unwilling to ENFORCE those resolutions.  A justification of our action - beyond the completely reasonable justification of simply resuming hostilities in a conflict where Iraq failed to abide by the agreement which suspended them - was simply that the entire UN had issued the resolutions and had warned they could be enforced by use of force.  Iraq called the UN's bluff.  But the US and its allies weren't bluffing.

4) You have to believe that government should stay out of people's lives but it needs to punish anyone caught having private sex with the wrong gender.

Conservative Republicans DO hold that the government should stay out of people's lives... and that EXTENDS to their private bedroom behavior.  They believe, however, that those who practice homosexual behavior are entitled to no special rights, and that the rest of us have a right NOT to have the sexual orientation of the gay flaunted in their faces.  We'll stay out of their bedrooms if they'll keep their sexuality IN their bedrooms!!

5) You have to believe that pollution is ok, so long as it makes a profit.

Republicans ARE environmentalists and believe in appropriate stewardship of our natural resources.  TEDDY ROOSEVELT (a Republican) was a champion of Conservation.  "Pollution" is never defended.  Republicans DO offer opposition to the agenda of the Enviro-terrorists who seek to prevent any development lest it offend a worm, who place no value in private property rights.  These Enviro-nuts will not permit (clean) nuclear energy.  They oppose the (safe) drilling for oil in ANWR lest it displace a caribou to another square mile of tundra that looks just like the one he was in before.  They will not permit drilling offshore.  They have prevented the building of a single additional refinery since the Carter Administration.  They require boutique fuels making a blend sold in Missouri unable to be sold in neighboring Illinois, even if there is insufficient supply of the Illinois blend and a glut of Missouri blend... then they complain of GOUGING as the price of gas in Illinois goes up above the price in Missouri.  Their policies serve to enforce our dependency on FOREIGN oil - which lends to the political instability of the planet.  This oil is transported across vast oceans in SHIPS.  (What is the first thing a ship in trouble does?  Dump cargo to lighten the load.  Very environmentally friendly!)  Domestic production is not only more politically stable, less expensive, and represents less environmental impact by pipelining rather than oceangoing vessel shipping... but the "environmentalists" are not truly "GREEN", their hue is really closer to "PINK".

6) You have to believe in prayer in schools, as long as you don't pray to Allah or Buddha.

Republicans only oppose the forced OUSTING of spirituality from the schools.  The First Amendment guarantees the right to Free Exercise of religion.  The phrase is Freedom OF Religion... not Freedom FROM Religion.

7) "Standing Tall for America" means firing your workers and moving their jobs to India.

Conservative Republicans are as put off by outsourcing as are union Democrats.  Incidentally, ask Mrs. Kerry about outsourcing Heinz!

8) You have to believe that a woman cannot be trusted with decisions about her own body, but that large multi-national corporations can make decisions affecting all mankind with no regulation whatsoever.

"Decisions about her own body" is a red herring... it's decisions about someone else's body that the abortion issue has at stake!  Note, however, that other issues about "her own body" are regulated by the government without much objection (except by the REALLY EXTREME leftists of the Democratic Party!).  You can't inject heroin into your veins legally.  You can't drink or smoke till you're a legal adult.  (But the left wants you to be able to abort at 14 without parental consent.)  Even Suicide is illegal (though if you succeed you probably won't be prosecuted!)

On the other hand, show me ANY corporation, whether local or multinational, which can operate without regulation!

On the third hand - do you REALLY trust GOVERNMENT to make anything better?  Name something they do well! 

9) You have to believe that you love Jesus and Jesus loves you, and that Jesus shares your hatred of AIDS victims, homosexuals, and Hillary Clinton.

Neither Republicans, Christians nor Jesus focus on HATE.  However, if a person IS a Christian that person will claim the mindset of Christ, and as such will condemn the behaviors condemned by Christ.  Christ loved sinners.  He condemned sin.  Jesus never specifically spoke about homosexuality - however there is a fair bit of Scripture which indeed condemns the behavior.  Therefore a Christian will be inclined to find the behavior something to be spoken against.  Note, however, that there is no requirement for a person to be a Christian or to believe in Christ to be a Republican or a Conservative!  Believe it or not, there are JEWISH conservative Republicans!

10) You hate the ALCU for representing convicted felons, but they owed it to the country to bail out Oliver North.

The ACLU is always there to defend the Atheist, the Nazi, the Terrorist, or any secular progressive cause.  When the Civil Liberties of a Christian Conservative are being denied, they will be conspicuously absent... or will be siding with those denying those civil rights.  This is why the ACLJ and the Rutherford Institute need to exist.

11) You have to believe that the best way to encourage military morale is to praise the troops overseas while cutting their VA benefits.

The way to encourage military morale is to support their mission, to provide the necessary men and material to accomplish it, to praise their successes, to allow them rules of engagement that acknowledge that war is brutality.  Supporting the troops encourages the limitation of collateral damage, and maintains a high standard of conduct, but also acknowledges that to win a war, sometimes brutality is necessary.  Supporting the troops does not presume they are murderous baby-killing, rapists raiding villages by night or air-raiding indiscriminantly.  Murtha, Obama and Kerry be damned for their treasonous slander!

Oh, and Democrats CUT funding for the military and for veterans... on the other hand, when Republicans reduce the size of a proposed increase in funding... Democrats call that a CUT by Republicans!

12) You believe that group sex and drug use are degenerate sins that can only be purged by running for governor of California as a Republican.

The "Governator" is a RINO (Republican in name only) and is by no means representative of Republicans in general.  He may be to the right of most of Hollywood - but that is still far left of the rest of the world!  Remember, he's married to Maria Shriver - a Kennedy!  The attempt to taint the party by painting it with the brush of Schwartenegger's past bad behavior is a dog that don't hunt.

13) You have to believe it is wise to keep condoms out of schools, because we all know if teenagers don't have condoms they won't have sex.

GIVING condoms to teens in school CONDONES the behavior.  IF they're going to have sex, they should be responsible about it - so they can go get a condom.  The Walgreens up the street is not going to refuse to sell them a package at an affordable price.  They don't need the GOVERNMENT to step in and provide them with an official governmental wink-and-nod seal of approval.

14) You have to believe that the best way to fight terrorism is to alienate our allies and then demand their cooperation and money.

Hmm, what "allies" opposed our coalition at the beginning of our war on terror?  France, Germany and Russia.  What "allies" were found to be heavily tainted in the Oil for Food Scandal and had a great deal of financial interest in keeping us from deposing Saddam? -- Oh yeah, France, Germany and Russia!  Since then, France has thrown out the leftist Chirac in favor of a US-Friendly conservative.  Germany has also dumped their leftist in favor of a more right leaning Merkel.  

15) You have to believe that government medicine is wrong and that HMO's and insurance companies only have your best interests at heart.

HMO's suck!  And they came about as a result of the GOVERMENT beginning to meddle in the affairs of the private market!  Legislating the coverage of certain procedures, expectation of first-dollar coverage for items traditionally paid by the patient, and other Government intrusions brought about the concept of "MANAGED CARE".  And if you REALLY expect the government to FIX healthcare, you're pipe-dreaming.  This is the government that managed to bankrupt Social Security.  This is the Government where it costs $3.00 for it to spend $1.00.  Name something the Government does WELL!  And you trust it with your HEALTH?  Have you visited a VA Hospital lately?  Would you like that to be the ONLY healthcare choice you've got?  

16) You have to believe that providing health care to all Iraqis is sound government policy but providing health care to all Americans is socialism personified.

Show me a conservative Republican calling for the provision of healthcare to all Iraqis!  We don't think that's a good idea either!

Government provided healthcare IS socialism.  And how will the government pay to "provide" all this healthcare?  The Government has no money that they don't TAKE from the people!  Since the government is horribly inefficient, spending $3.00 to deliver $1.00 worth of goods and services, they must COLLECT $3.00 from all of us for every dollar of healthcare they'll dispense to us!  If they're going to give us ALL cradle to grave healthcare - then the entire sum total health expense of the nation will be paid by the government.  The current healthcare numbers represent about 40% of the GNP.  Assuming that the government COULD ACTUALLY DELIVER $1.00 worth of goods and services for $1.00 (they've never done it) then they must collect 40% of every dollar in the economy just to pay the healthcare costs.  Given that they must also support the GOVERNMENT infrastructure to administer such a program, and given the historical ratio of 3 to 1... for dollars cost vs delivered, suddenly the healthcare expense to government swells to 120% of our nation's economy and we're bankrupt.!  Still don't think it's socialism?  Still think it can work?

17) You believe that tobacco's link to cancer and global warming are "junk science", but Creationism should be taught in schools.

Tobacco's link to cancer is established fact and conservative Republicans do not dispute it!  Don't distort our position.

There are legitimate scientific differences of opinion on Global Warming.  There is debate over whether the earth actually is warming, over whether warming is cyclical or anomalous, over whether it is a natural occurance or is anthropomorphic and over whether carbon is causative or a result.  Inasmuch as the debate is anything but settled, it should not be taught as fact.

Evolution is also simply a theory.  Republicans do not oppose the teaching of evolution AS THEORY.  It is not proveable fact, and it is reasonable to expect that the educational establishment would present creation as an alternative theoretical explanation of origins.  No Republican is demanding creation be taught as fact, nor that it be taught to the exclusion of evolution.

18) You have to believe that waging war with no exit strategy was wrong in Vietnam but right in Iraq.

The same error exists in Vietnam and in Iraq...  Permitting leftists who find no noble cause exists for warfare to influence politicians to hamstring the military and prevent them from pursuing actual victory.

There can only be 2 viable exit strategies from any war.  Victory, or defeat.  Either you fight until your purposes are accomplished, at which point you declare victory and can begin to withdraw after assuring that your withdrawl will not create a vacuum into which a greater problem will enter... or you are beaten so badly that you cannot continue to fight and must withdraw for your own survival.

Because we allowed the leftists to hamstring our military in Vietnam, victory became impossible and as such, defeat became the only option.  In Iraq, the Surge has shown that defeat is not the only option, Reid's pronouncement that "the war is lost" notwithstanding.

19) You have to believe that Saddam was a good guy when Reagan armed him, a bad guy when Bush's daddy made war on him, a good guy when Cheney was doing business with him, and a bad guy when Bush needed a we-can't-find-Bin-Laden diversion.

Saddam was never a good guy.  Sometimes the "enemy of my enemy" makes for strange bedfellows, and a country must ALWAYS act in its own best national interests.  Reagan armed Iraq when they were at war with Iran - as it was in our interest for Iran to be kept at bay.  Bin Laden's fighting the Russians weakened the USSR.  The fall of the USSR was a good thing for us... this didn't make Bin Laden a good guy either.

Speaking of diversions, I recall a certain aspirin factory blowing up on the eve of the Lewinsky scandal.  Clinton bombed Iraq long before GW did... and with less provokation!

20) You believe that government should restrict itself to just the powers named in the Constitution, which includes banning gay marriages and censoring the internet.

Strict constructionism and the limitation of government IS a hallmark of the Conservative Republican... however the facetious remark about gay marriage is specious.  The subject of BANNING gay marriage is simply the response to the attempt to CREATE gay marriage, which by the definition of marriage DOESN'T EXIST.

Many Republicans even support the concept of civil unions for gays... however the attempt to RE-DEFINE marriage into something is has never been and is not, simply to accomodate the agenda of the gay activists, is opposed by conservative Republicans.  An amendment to CLARIFY the TRADITIONAL meaning of marriage to prevent its REDEFINITION is not a proactive ban but a defensive reaction to the attempt to force a radical change to the existing institution of marriage being pushed by gay activists.

21) You have to believe that the public has a right to know about the adulterous affairs of Democrats, while those of Republicans are a private matter.

Adulterous affairs are another red herring meant to deflect from the real issue.  Clinton's infidelity IS telling about his character, however his perjury was the charge for which he was impeached, not "just sex".  Incidentally, when Republicans are caught in a scandal - whether sexual or otherwise, which calls their integrity into question, that Republican is thrown under the bus by the general population of Republicans.  We hold our own to a higher standard.

Democrats caught in a scandal, however, are re-elected!  It seems they don't violate a standard as it seems you can't fall short in a party that SETS NO STANDARD of integrity!

Larry Craig is Personna non Grata in the Republican Party.  Tom DeLay isn't getting many cocktail party invitations.  Duke Cunningham has vanished into the shadows.

On the other hand William Jefferson got re-elected.  Murtha survived ABSCAM to become the mouthpiece for the antiwar movement.  Sandy Berger stuffs his shorts with classified documents, and is still an advisor to Hillary.  Diane Feinstein's had conflict of  interest and campaign finance violations - and has forked out around $200,000 in fines... but keeps getting re-elected.  Barney Frank had a gay prostitution ring running out of his apartment!  And never let us forget Teddy Kennedy's incident with MaryJo.

22) You have to believe that the public has a right to know about Hillary's cattle trades but that Bush was right to censor those 28 pages from the Congressional 9/11 report because you just can't handle the truth.

While the left points to GW Bush as "secretive" the Clintons have a lock on just about everything they've ever said, done or written!  Wanna talk about the 9/11 report?  How about classified documents Sandy Berger spirited away which would have been salient evidence in the 9/11 investigation?

Was it appropriate for Bush to censor out classified information from public release??  You betcha!  Some information is classified and is harmful to the US to release it.  There is a difference between refusing to release classified info to the public, and destroying classified information to prevent it from falling into the hands of authorized investigators!

23) You support state rights, which means Ashcroft telling states what locally passed voter initiatives he will allow them to have.

States rights are always a hallmark of the platform of the conservative Republican... however state law is always subordinate to the Federal CONSTITUTION... important distinction.  Federal Law may  not always supercede State Law...  but State law IS ALWAYS subordinate to the US Constitution.  The Attorney General is charged with the responsibility to enforce federal law, and if a State Law violates the US Constitution - even if passed by a referrendum of the people - it would have to be overturned.

24) You have to believe that what Clinton did in the 1960's is of vital national interest but what Bush did decades later is stale news and irrelevant.

Old news is old news, regardless of who it involves.  Old news CAN BE relevant, however, if it speaks to the CHARACTER of an individual seeking office.

25) You have to believe that trade with Cuba is wrong because it is communist but trading with China and Vietnam is just dandy.

Not all Republicans believe trading with China and Vietnam is dandy.  CLINTON was the one playing footsie with the Chinese and positioning them to present an economic, manufacturing, military and technological threat to us!

Trade with any nation which behaves as our enemy is not in our interest.  It strengthens the economy of a beligerant nation.  We should not be trading with Venezuela today.  Cuba still belongs under embargo.  Vietnam HAS taken steps to normalize relations, but they have a long way to go.  China represents a big threat to us and Clinton has entangled us with them in a relationship it may be difficult to extricate from... and we're seeing our kids poisoned by their toys!

Copyright © 2007 by Doug Edelman

Doug Edelman is a conservative political commentator and a contributing editor for The Conservative Voice. His work is also seen on News By Us, The American Daily, The Post Chronicle, New Media Journal, Capitol Hill Coffee House etc. For the support of his family, however, he is also an IT Consultant/Contractor and owner of a Computer Services Business. He has taught PC Maintenance & Repair and Networking at his local Community College, and maintains a blog at http://edeldoug.blogs.com/.

“I, Loyal Citizen of the Republic, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.

Every legislator elected to the US Senate and House of Representatives takes this oath upon their installation into that office. They obligate themselves to “support and defend” the constitution of the United States and “bear true faith and allegiance” to it.

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

This is the complete text of the First Amendment to the US Constitution.

Please note Congress shall make NO LAW… abridging the freedom of speech.

Hmm.

Haven’t we heard recently about Feinstein, Boxer, Clinton and others (even Trent Lott!?) who are looking to find a “legislative solution” to the “problem” of “talk radio”? Didn’t Feinstein recently complain that Talk Radio is home to “extremists” and “right wingers”? Isn’t the “fairness doctrine” all about regulating the CONTENT of speech?

The moment the CONTENT of talk radio becomes an issue for lawmakers who want to legislate to control it – does this not fly in the face of the First Amendment’s very clear text that Congress SHALL MAKE NO LAW… abridging the freedom of speech?

Ah, but the proponents of regulation will claim that talk radio makes use of the public airwaves under license and has an obligation to “serve the public interest”. But is it not in the public interest to provide a counterbalance to viewpoints which pervade the print and television media?

The so-called “Fairness Doctrine” is anything but. Rather than foster open debate, broadcasters frequently avoid political issues entirely rather than have to walk to tightrope of government regulations on equal time etc. This STIFLES debate rather than allowing the current open forums.

When the Fairness Doctrine was put in place, there were three broadcast TV networks, and few national radio programs. Equal Time enabled access to the media for opposing viewpoints.

In this day and age of broadcast radio, satellite radio, HD radio, Internet radio, broadcast TV, Cable/Satellite TV etc – there is no shortage of access to the airwaves for ANY viewpoint. The free market determines the ratings share. Rush Limbaugh is the most listened to radio talkshow host in America. Sean Hannity is second and Glenn Beck is third. Al Franken’s Air America went bust because there is no market for what they were spouting… but they had no difficulty getting access to the airwaves… their problem was in PAYING for it.

Conservative BOOKS tend to go straight to the top of the NY Times Bestsellers List. The public votes with their dollars. Nowadays, with the advent of desktop publishing, the proliferation of Vanity Press services, and outlets like Amazon.com… ANYONE can produce and market a book. But the market drives the popularity of opinion books, and the conservative market is strong, despite some booksellers attempts to “back shelf” certain titles.

The fact of the matter is that the moment the CONTENT of talk radio becomes part of a legislative debate or intent to act… the legislators have taken leave of their oath to bear allegiance to the Constitution – specifically to the First Amendment. Congress has no place even debating the CONTENT of FREE SPEECH!

Sadly, our current crop of legislator is not on the wrong track… they’ve derailed. Fortunately, there is the opportunity to vote them out in 2008.

Copyright © 2007 by Doug Edelman

Doug Edelman is a conservative political commentator and a contributing editor for The Conservative Voice. His work is also seen on News By Us, The American Daily, The Post Chronicle, New Media Journal, Capitol Hill Coffee House etc. For the support of his family, however, he is also an IT Consultant/Contractor and owner of a Computer Services Business. He has taught PC Maintenance & Repair and Networking at his local Community College, and maintains a blog at http://edeldoug.blogs.com/.

Bill Clinton once articulated America's view of "comprehensive immigration reform":

"No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no!"

America wants a secure border.

America wants ENFORCEMENT of immigration laws already on the books.

America REJECTS amnesty, legitimization, normalization, and path to citizenship for those who crashed our borders.

America RESENTS the entitlements and giveaways being granted to those who have no right to be here in the first place.

Mr. President. You have been amazingly out of touch with the American People throughout your tenure. While I supported you in both elections, staunchly defended your INTENT (though not your implementation!) on Iraq and the War on Terror, and your tax cuts - I must honestly say that as a conservative, you have failed miserably and your approval ratings are in the toilet NOT because America is 70% left leaning moonbats… but because you have lost almost ALL support from the right.

Approximately 28% of Americans will oppose ANY Republican on ANY issue... but that leaves 72% of the American public who would at least consider supporting you.

Approximately 28% of Americans are Hard Core Partisan Republicans.

Your approval rating of 29% indicates you have put off all but 1% of the remaining 44% of America. While the mismanagement of the War in Iraq is the primary reason that your approval has collapsed, your support of the McCain/Kennedy Senate Immigration Bill has sealed your legacy.

Did you go to Capitol Hill to support the troops? To protect the Tax Cuts? To oppose McCain-Feingold? To bolster the Partial Birth Abortion Ban? For ANY conservative issue? No! But you charge up San Juan (oops, Capitol) Hill to grant amnesty and a path to citizenship for invading parasites. Keep it up, and I would expect even the 29% to abandon you, Sir.

Senator Kerry has a hero's memorial in Vietnam. When will yours be built in Mexico City?

Copyright © 2007 by Doug Edelman

Doug Edelman is a conservative political commentator and a contributing editor for The Conservative Voice. His work is also seen on News By Us, The American Daily, The Post Chronicle, New Media Journal, Capitol Hill Coffee House etc. For the support of his family, however, he is also an IT Consultant/Contractor and owner of a Computer Services Business. He has taught PC Maintenance & Repair and Networking at his local Community College, and maintains a blog at http://edeldoug.blogs.com/.

Glenn Beck, radio talk-show host and CNN Television personality, has returned to his comedic roots in a stage show titled “An Inconvenient Tour”, now making its way across the country. If your town is fortunate enough to be on the tour’s schedule, it is an event worth attending.

Unlike Beck’s Christmas Tour, which has been making the circuit for several years, there are no “hanky required” moments in this production. Glenn has devoted the entire time to making his audience laugh at the “inconveniences” of life. He tells stories his audience will relate to, ranging from his experiences with the DMV and airlines to spousal relationships.

Beck’s comic genius relies on a formula that Bill Cosby perfected years back… take real life – and observe and highlight the humor in it! Beck himself points out that what makes his comedy work is that we can all relate to the circumstance he lampoons. We’ve all been there. We share the common experience.

Beck interacts with his audience. Let me simply recommend that if you sit close to the stage, make your potty stop before arriving, and don’t arrive late!

Dismayed by today’s disintegration of civility in political discourse, Beck makes an impassioned plea for unity as Americans, despite political differences. Beck concludes his show with an appeal for all Americans – whatever their political stripe – to focus on our similarities rather than what differentiates us, and to respect our friends, neighbors, coworkers and acquaintances who hold differing viewpoints. While we may disagree on policy, he implores, we should find areas of agreement on purposes and on principles.

What a noble endeavor! Wouldn’t it be nice if both the left and the right could stop talking past each other, stop scoring political points by playing “gotcha” against the other side, and simply make their case with civil debate in the arena of ideas? Would not a reasoned, rational debate without ad-hominum attacks, vitriol and disingenuous subterfuge ultimately lend itself to actual achievement of legitimate pragmatic solutions? Can the power struggle between the parties give way to an agreement to work together to do what is best for the nation?

It’s sure a nice vision, Glenn. Would that it could be realized.

Copyright © 2007 by Doug Edelman

Doug Edelman is a conservative political commentator and a contributing editor for The Conservative Voice. His work is also seen on News By Us, The American Daily, The Post Chronicle, New Media Journal, Capitol Hill Coffee House etc. For the support of his family, however, he is also an IT Consultant/Contractor and owner of a Computer Services Business. He has taught PC Maintenance & Repair and Networking at his local Community College, and maintains a blog at http://edeldoug.blogs.com/.