Posted on 04/25/2006 9:49:30 AM PDT by Reagan Man
I know a little something about adventure.
In the late 1970s, the leader of the Republican minority in the U.S. House of Representatives used to greet newly elected Republican members with a white flag of surrender. "Every day I wake up and look in the mirror and say to myself, 'Today you're going to be a loser,'" said the former minority leader. "And after you're here awhile, you'll start to feel the same way. But don't let it bother you. You'll get used to it."
A party whose leader would offer such advice deserves to be in the minority -- and we were, for 40 years. But in 1994 we changed that with a bold ideas-based, values-led grassroots movement. We believed in transformational leadership: accountability in government, balanced budgets, lower taxes, stronger defense and reforming the welfare state. And we believed this: To bring about this transformation, we had to reject the minority leader's advice. We would not "get used" to losing. We would win. And win we did.
But today, 12 years later, conservatives are grasping for a reinvigorated movement that will return our party to its roots of smaller government, innovative ideas and common sense solutions. The situation is serious. We are in jeopardy of losing the majority we won in 1994. Now is the time to act.
Five Challenges to Our Future
History is full of once great but now collapsed civilizations, e.g. Rome, Greece, the Aztecs, the Mayas. And yet as Americans, we deceive ourselves into believing that somehow we are permanent, that we will escape the fate of those who also believed that they were unconquerable.
My stepfather was a career soldier who served America in World War II, Korea and Vietnam. It was while living in France -- where the damage of World War II bombs and the suffering of those wounded were still apparent -- that my father's lessons hit home for me. We toured the battlefield of Verdun, the greatest battle site of the First World War. I realized then that the difference between preserving our freedoms and losing them to tyrants is the quality of our leaders, the courage of our people and the willingness to work every day for the implementation of the solutions necessary for our survival.
The future cannot be left to chance. The future must be won.
Today, in order to win the future, there are five challenges that America must meet:
1. Confronting a world in which America's enemies, including the irreconcilable wing of Islam and rogue dictatorships, could acquire and use nuclear or biological weapons;
2. Defending God in the public square;
3. Protecting America's unique civilization;
4. Competing in the global economy in an era of the economic rise of China and India, which will require transformations in litigation, education, taxation, regulation, and environmental, energy and health policies for America to continue to be the most successful economy in the world;
5. Promoting active, healthy aging so more people can live longer, which will require dramatic transformation in pensions, Social Security and health care.
For 400 years, in the spirit of freedom and entrepreneurial pioneering, we have defined a better America that has overcome every challenge. It is in this tradition that I will regularly share my thoughts here on the solutions necessary for our generation to meet these challenges and win the future.
I can make only one promise: It will be challenging and engaging, and it will never be dull. But then again, adventures never are.
We need illegal, underpaid, Congressman that are willing to close the borders that American Congressman won't.
:-)
You don't need a charismatic visionary. You just need a president and Senate pubbies who listen to the people WHO VOTED FOR THEM.
The big problem is that no one knows what conservative means anymore.
Just remember that the last time the Demiocrats got control of Congress they held it for sixty years.
Newt's most famous list came back in 1994 and was called the Contract With America. In fact, it worked real well and elected a GOP majority for the first time in 30 years. A status the GOP still enjoys today. What America needs today is another Newt Gingrich-type politico, circa 1994. We need serious leadership that promotes conservatism and advances fiscal responsibility for a federal government gone hog-wild with the taxpayers money. We need to end liberal spending by both political parties and get on a course for a more limited government.
Poll set up to get FReeper view on this subject (not an outside poll, no ads, links or other whatnot).
What is the single largest factor for Bush's low poll numbers?
More voters are liberal now (4) 2%
Loss of moderates on issues (20) 9%
Loss of GOP base on border issue (129) 58%
Media distortion of poll numbers (70) 31%
We've had some calls to add categories so maybe after this one runs its course, we will do a second one. FReepmail me with your suggestions on another poll if you like.
They are not smart enough at the RNC to figure out the correlation.
Boy, you are a dirtboy.
:-) Hehe!
Good point, but what if I'm spineless and like bending over?
:-)
Very well stated.
Just remember that Bush the Elder lost the White House because he went against the base. I am not saying to vote against the GOP House members - to the contrary, I am behind those guys. Instead, I am asking to all those demanding that we fall in line behind Bush - when is he going to run for re-election again? Shouldn't we instead be backing positions taken by those pubbies actually RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION THIS YEAR, instead of browbeating those who for good reason don't want a guest worker or amnesty program?
That is the DUMBEST thing we could possibly do! Control the borders - Yes! Close the borders - NO! Immigrants have made this country great. The world is full of talented people who desire the freedom that America has always represented. We need more freedom, personal responsibility and LIMITED GOVERNMENT, but we do NOT need isolationism!
6. We must find the enemies of this country and confront them where ever we find them whether they be at home or abroad. In all cases these enemies seek to destroy America and must be unambiguously recognized and treated as such.
Given the current state of affairs; what difference would it make? 60 years of dems, or 60 years of pubs = big government; large deficits; big open hole in our southern border; amnesty...
Maybe republican voters had better think about the damage that ted kennedy, John McCain, Nancy Pelosi, and Dick Durbin types could do to this country in an average term: Out of sight taxes, WOT surrender and appeasment, $8/gal gasoline, unlimited illegal invasion, gutting of the military thus inviting attack from more enemies, etc., etc.,
If foreigners want to come to the US, there is a legal process for them to follow. If foreigners want to become US citizens, there is a legal process for them to follow. We take in some 1.5 million legal immigrants every year. Its the illegal aliens who are causing problems and undermining the nations employment, education and welfare systems. Building a wall and securing our borders is necessary for keeping America a sovereign nation. Granting amnesty to illegals every 10-20 years will destroy this great nation in the end. Mexico protects and defends her borders. No reason why America shouldn't protect and defend her borders. Nothing dumb about it. Its smart policy. Too bad so many of our current crop of elected officials don't see it that way. The American people understand the problem and they don't support open borders, illegal immigration or amnesty either.
Bush-bashing tends to work against all Republicans. If you want to criticize Bush, Do complain to a Republican congressman if he holds to a position you dislike. Send a hundred dollars. That will catch his attention. BUT all this stuff about Bush not being a conservative: He is as conservative as anyone who could be elected president. Haven't you noticed that bother McCain and Rudy are far more liberal? The hatred that liberals have for him is not simply a matter of frustration. He does things they hate. He never goes as far as Nixon did to placate the left. Just recall Nixon's social and fiscal polices which continued under Ford. The pit that Carter fell into was owing to his continuation and extension of liberal Republican policies.
Damned right, nothing else matters to this child what the GOP does without closing off the border, and NO FREAKEN AMNESTY.
Well Newt........if the Republicans would act like Republicans, maybe even just once in a great while, the people who elected them, might just support them. But since this isn't likely to happen............Tough Sh#t!
Reagan never cut the size of government.
Newt is taking too much happy medicine these dayes. His misguided "vote for me" campaign proves that in order to run for President you must have an ego of collossol proportions that detaches you from reality.
The only thing more disgusting than Clinton doing his aide in the oval office was Newt starting the process to impeach him while Newt was boffing his aide in his office.
Our memories are not that short.
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