2 Michelles, 2 Americas

If you click the link, you will land on a column by Michelle Malkin. She is a frequent guest on Hannity and Colmes, the O'Reilly Factor, and other conservative news outlets. I actually got this post as an email forward without any attribution, and had to do some homework to find out where it originally came from. In a political environ that consists of "change you can Xerox" (quote from Hillary concerning Barack recycling quotes without proper credit) I want to be sure that individuals get the proper credit for their ideas. Please click on the title of this post and read this article. Ms. Malkin is a great intellect and has a great counterpoint to the other Michelle's lack of patriotism.

Knowing the hearts of men vs the heart of God

If you are following the news with any regularity, you've heard of John McCain's alleged (by the NY Times only) trysts with a female lobbyist half his age. (You can read the tabloid-like writing here). Basically, the article drags out some unsubstantiated accusations made against Senator McCain eight years ago. They were shown to be false then. Why they would become true almost a decade later is beyond me. You can read Sen. McCain's response and a deeper explanation by clicking on the blog title. What I find interesting in this whole debacle is that just short of a month ago, the NY Times was endorsing John McCain as the Republican candidate for President. (You can read the endorsement here.)

My thoughts today are not so much on Sen. McCain defending himself against these old allegations. They are also not so much on the duplicity of the NY Times. They are more on the account of Jesus in the book of John 2:23-25.

The Discerner of Hearts
23 Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did. 24 But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men, 25 and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man.

Jesus was doing wonderful things, and many people were saying they believed in Him because of the miracles they saw. Yet, "He did not commit (give Himself over) to them". How often do we turn our heads to the beat of the accolades, to the aplomb and applause of the crowd. Once, we have trusted in the noise of the world, however, we find ourselves caught off guard when the world turns on us. John McCain just a short month ago reaped the accolades of the very paper that now seeks to slander him. What is ironic about that is that the Times was working on this article two months before it gave its endorsement! He hopefully knows better than to trust in the "chariots and horses" of the Times. Let this whole episode remind us to walk as "wise as a serpent and as harmless as a dove", walking not by the wind of approval, but by the rock of principle.

Not Proud of your Country?!?!?!?

First of all, I am glad to be back in the saddle. I took a few days off with my beautiful wife of over 30 years to go and spend some down time. We went to Orlando and spent a day at Universal and relaxed the remainder of the time. Hats off to Universal for having a park that a couple of ** year olds could have a wonderful day and play without feeling like we were going to have an attack.

I get to come home and spend Monday getting my feet back under me at work. Today, I finally have time to pay some attention to the world around me, and what am I faced with? A potential first lady, Ivy League educated, earning in the 6 figures, talking about how she has never been proud of her country as an adult until now. Now, according to her statement, that seems to be that "people are hungry for change". Now I really do believe she didn't mean exactly what she said. I mean, she is a Harvard educated lawyer. You don't graduate from Harvard Law School unless you know EXACTLY WHAT THE MEANING OF YOUR WORDS ARE! Did I just contradict myself? No, I didn't, and that is the point. Mrs. Obama knew what she said. She knew exactly what she said.

I am so sorry that our "sorry" nation of ours hasn't lived up to her expectations. After all, she had the opportunity to attend one of the top law schools in the world. She had opportunity to go wherever she wanted after she graduated to practice her profession. She had opportunity to do so as not only a minority but as a woman! If you look real hard at the nations of this world, we are the ONLY country that has successfully integrated over its history not just one or two, but several races and cultures in this tumultuous melting pot known as the United States of America. All other countries fight against this mixing of difference. Although the U.S. may not at times seem to embrace it, it is the only country that DOES it.

And for that reason alone, Michelle Obama needs to be proud of her country. And also for that reason alone, she needs to apologize to the citizens of this country; the United States of America.

Ladies and Gentlemen of the United States, I say ye, Mitt Romney!

For the good of the party, and to do his part in the war on terror, Mitt Romney has stepped aside. Gov. Romney has realized that he probably cannot win the nomination this time and has conceded the race to John McCain. (You can see the video of his concession speech here. I applaud him even as I am sorry to see him drop out. Mitt Romney is truly the most conservative candidate in this race, and a man that in these current economic times would be extremely valuable to have as the leader of the free world. Governor Romney, I salute you!

So what happened here? Why was this man so sure that he had a shot at winning the nomination to be his party's representative in the race to be President of the United States of America that he spent $40 million (that's $40,000,000!!!) of HIS OWN MONEY to make the attempt? What was Mitt Romney's downfall? First of all, Mitt Romney is coming late to the conservative party, as it were. He has made a lot of comments in the past that tag him as a liberal, especially in social areas such as abortion and sanctity of marriage/gay rights. That already made him a little suspect. Second, Mike Huckabee happened. The little known governor from Arkansas with his Southern Baptist roots was able to energize that group formerly known as the Religious Right to take away the other half of the conservative coalition that was able to put Ronald Reagan and the Bushes in the White House and allow the Republicans led by Newt Gingrich and the Contract with America to hold Congress for 12 years. The result? John McCain, presumed moderate despite his vocal protests, was able on Super Tuesday to forge a lead that looks to be unsurmountable.

My last post noted two things Sen. McCain needs to do. In his speech to the Conservative Political Action Coalition, he proceeded to do just that. He addressed his rhetoric to the Democratic platform and not Mike Huckabee, and he reached out to this very influential conservative group and, though he didn't get all the way back, at least set the stage for a great deal of influence from the conservative side of the G.O.P. I will write more on this later. For now, I want to thank Gov. Romney for a great run, and for his selfless actions today. God bless you, sir.

History Repeating Itself

Did you ever feel like you were in a time loop? You see the same thing happening over and over again and you know the results are going to be exactly the same yet you are powerless to stop it? This election, at least as far as the Republicans are concerned, feels exactly like 1996. If you remember, Bill Clinton had beaten President Bush I in 1992 mainly because Ross Perot jumped in the race and the president had one of those brain freeze moments when he forgot all the economics he learned at the knee of Ronald Reagan. Senator Dole was the experienced politician whose turn had finally come in '96. His only real competition came from conservative Pat Buchanan and Rev. Pat Robertson. He ended up being the oldest candidate ever to run for an initial term. Compared to the still young looking Clinton, he seemed more like a candidate for the nation's grandpa than the leader of the free world. Bob Dole was known as a Senator who could reach across the aisle to Democrats. Of course, this would come back to haunt him as both right and left had ammunition with which to bombard the embattled senator. Even with these disadvantages, and also facing an incumbent president watching over a strong economy, Sen. Dole might have still won had not Ross Perot jumped back in the spoilers row.

After yesterday's results John McCain looks to be well on his way to the nomination for '08. The similarities are striking. McCain will be 72 at the convention, the second oldest candidate to stand for the first time for his party's nomination. He is being hammered over and over by the Republican right for his wont to "reach across the aisle". His main competitors are conservative Romney and Baptist preacher Huckabee. He very possibly will be facing a very young and energetic Barack Obama. Sound familiar?

What lessons can John McCain learn to ward off another case of history repeating itself? First, he must start now to mend fences with the conservative side of the party. And that doesn't mean showing a video with him and President Reagan. My goodness, Ann Coulter is threatening to campaign for Hillary if it comes down to her and McCain. That's kind of like Billy Graham saying he would support the devil over the Pope! He must seriously reach out to the conservative base that right now really has nowhere to go. Second, he has to take an aggressive initiative from the start of the main campaign. From here on out, McCain has to start focusing not on Romney, but Obama and Hillary. And not even so much on them personally, but on the issues and politics for which they and the Democrats have come to stand. Tax, tax, and tax some more. Take from those who have earned it and give it for the most part to those unwilling to do so. Belittle the United States at every opportunity. John McCain cannot come across as wishy-washy or me-too. He must have strong ideas and show he can exert strong leadership. Only then can we see a result different from that in 1996.

Fighting for the Soul, Part III

So what's the point of bringing up "ancient" history? Yes, all Republicans respect the memory of President Reagan. "But, things are different now. We really need to show we can work with Democrats. People are tired of divisive politics." Go back and think about the situation when President Reagan took office. We were only a decade away from the pending impeachment of President Nixon. Democrats still held a firm rule in Congress, AND WOULD UNTIL 1994! Yet Ronald Reagan was able to press forth at least the most important part of his agenda. No one since has been able to work their will successfully through our special interest laden Congress like he. That is why Republicans MUST look at their recent history to regain the successes of the eighties and nineties. Compromise with the Democrats can and will be used against you. Just ask George H. W. Bush after signing an increase in taxes after stating "READ MY LIPS. NO NEW TAXES!" Tomorrow is Super Tuesday. For conservatives to have a voice in this election, they must step up big tomorrow. Vote your conscience, but look at the issues! Don't follow attack ads and half-truths and outright lies. Vote for the candidate that most represents the issues you are concerned.

Fighting for the Soul, Part II

I apologize for the history lesson, but there may be those who don't remember W.I.N. buttons and trying to free our hostages in Iran with ONE HELICOPTER! Of course, we know the answer. Ronald Reagan, the Great Communicator, came in and, with a purpose of will not seen probably at least since WWII, was able to start our beloved country up the steep climb to a position of prominence and power it may have never seen on a global scale. Although so many issues lay before the founder of the New Conservative Revolution and his allies, President Reagan chose the two most vital. The first was to restore our economy by applying a scarcely taught theory; supply-side economics. The idea that you could grow the economic base and RAISE tax revenue by cutting taxes was so foreign to our "friends" in Washington that they ridiculed the President for promoting "voodoo". An objective look at the results speak otherwise. The Eighties and Nineties were probably the most prosperous stretch of time in U.S. history. (By the way, you cannot change an economy in just a couple of years. It takes time for investment to work its way through the system and once in place it takes time to undercut it by changing policy.)

The second issue was how to deal with the Soviet Union. It was an axiom that the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. would always be at odds. We saw no possible way that we could ever hope to defeat the Soviets outside of destroying our own country, so America had settled into a defeatist attitude to world affairs. Detente became the buzz word for our relations. In reality, that meant the Soviets could do whatever they wanted. President Reagan knew that true strength lay not in just military might, but in the economic power supporting it. He believed that if he could press the Soviet economy enough, the thread that held the socialists together would unravel and a large portion of the Communist threat would pass into history. Again, President Reagan was ridiculed and mocked by the leftists who admired the Soviet system and the moderates who bought the liberal line. Again, history shows who was correct. Reagan exposed the soft underbelly of the dragon that Lenin and Stalin had built, and that beast fell under its own weight. Ronald Reagan had shown that true conservative ideas and values could be exerted to the betterment of not just a select few, but of this nation and of the world itself.

Where am I going with all this rambling? Stay tuned for part 3!