[Clintonfatigued]

Here is a link to the original document. Some of it is pretty odd stuff.

http://www.politickernj.com/files/2008-03-17_NationalistAgenda.pdf

[AuH2ORepublican]

Just so we’re all clear, the document was written by a “Joseph Penn,” which I assume was Pennacchio’s way of shortening his name back then. If this wasn’t written by Pennacchio, we would have heard something by now.

I leafed through it, and it sounds like the work of a young idealist who thinks he can solve the world’s problems but didn’t really think things through. I read the homeless section, which apparently is the most controversial, and while his proposal is completely unworkable and downright stupid, it is by no means fascist or eugenicist or anything of the sort. His section on abortion showed him as a supporter of RU-486 as a “middle ground” position that could appease both pro-aborts and pro-lifers (which is absurd, of course), but Pennacchio by al laccounts has had a solidly pro-life record in the legislature, and we should remember that, for example, 21st Century conservative icon Pat Toomey had much more pro-abortion positions nearly a decade after Pennacchio wrote the document.

I think Pennacchio needs to explain how his views have evolved since he wrote that, and he should be alright (and he’d certainly be preferable to a Ron Paulite candidate). If Lautenberg brings up the 1991 document, he can always say “of course Lautenberg wants to talk about stuff from 17 years ago-—he hasn’t done anything productive in the Senate in over a decade.”

[Tired of Taxes]

Wow, that was, uh, interesting to read. I skimmed through it. Some of his points made sense (such as the line-item veto), but then others were almost frightening.

For example, I see he also called for an "amendment eliminating the electoral college and allowing a direct vote for President." (p. 14)

Of course, this was written 17 years ago. A person's views can change over time. I know mine have.

But, the name of the party hurts him, too. "The Nationalist Party" sounds too much like the "National Socialist Germany Worker Party" or the neo-Nazi "Nationalist Party" of the USA or the "National Party" which was a socialist party.

I think the lesson here is to be careful about what you put in writing.