Posted on 02/12/2006 4:26:26 PM PST by theworkersarefew
During his remarks at CPAC 2006 early Saturday morning, Human Events Man of the Year Rep. Mike Pence (R.-Ind.) expressed his concern at the "big-spending ship" Republicans in Washington refuse to steer back to conservative waters.
Pence said for a time he thought Congress had merely "drifted off course" but later realized they weren’t about to attempt to curb their big-spending habits.
"I believed that we were off course not because we'd abandoned these principles, or forgotten the shining city on the hill,” he said. "We'd simply made honest, but flawed calculations on how to get there. I no longer believe that. It's one thing to drift off course…it's quite another thing to continue that course when half the crew and passengers are pointing out that nothing looks familiar ... not to mention the tens of millions of Americans lining the shoreline screaming, 'You're going the wrong way!'"
He said at this point, an increase in government has become Republican philosophy in Washington, D.C.
"The evidence for this is overwhelming ... while President Bush has called for increases in non-defense spending of 4 percent for the last five years, Congress has delivered budgets spending more than twice that each year ... Congress has spent $380 billion more than the President requested under Republican control," he said.
However, Pence countered, there is hope. Many positive changes have been made under Republican leadership in recent years.
"We've dismantled and scattered the network of terrorists within our United States," he said. "We've liberated nations from oppressive, murderous regimes and the American soldier has brought the promise of democracy and freedom to millions who have never known it. We've cut taxes again and again. President Bush has put the brakes on leftist, activist courts with his sound appointments, including two strict constructionist justices to the Supreme Court of the United States. We've stopped the horror of partial-birth abortions."
But, he said, spending is out of control with earmarks in the tens of thousands and America is tired of it.
"Our ship is running out of fuel, our crew is running out of patience, and we are running out of time."
He said it's not time to abandon ship, however.
"We will find our way to morning in America. But first, we must go back to the future -- back to doing the hard thing because it's the right thing."
In closing he told listeners at CPAC not to give up.
“If there were not cause for hope, you would not be here today. Each of you has chosen to stay and fight for this country's future, its course, and its place in history, as a defender of freedom and a beacon to all nations.
"You have chosen to stand against the defeatists and the preachers of inevitability. Each of you is armed with unique strengths, talents and skills, but most of all, conviction -- the strength of knowing that our cause is just and our cause is right. And that the American cause is mankind's cause for it is in the hearts of all people to be free."
Who can possibly not agree with him on this?
People who are scared to death to do anything that takes courage.
Indiana PING!
Coburn is a hero and a conservative legend but he has had cancer twice and puts his foot in his mouth too often.HE will not run for President.
As great as he is he is no Mike Pence.If there is going to be a real conservative in 08 it will be Pence,there is no one else.Mike Pence is the guy!
That being the case, Pence should get his ass into gear and get on with it.
There is a vacuum that needs to be filled.
bring back the Balanced Budget Amendment
That is exactly what he is doing!!! This weekend he blew the roof of of CPAC!
As I read his description I reflected that every woman has had the experience hundreds of times of being with a man who just keeps driving when everyone else knows they are lost.
But Bush vetoed all of that spending didn't he? Well, no he didn't. Not even one dime. The buck stops right where it always did. If the Pubbies blow the control of Congress because their big spending has discouraged true conservatives (like myself) then Bush can look in a mirror if he wants to see who is responsible for the disaster.
all the pompous a**les we keep on sending to d.c.
Us Hoosiers are used to speeches that put you to sleep. Likes the ones from pretty-boy limp-noodle Bayh.
Good one Mike.
Maybe its time for one, or both, political parties to go the way of the Whigs?
Good thoughts. Wonder how many speeches he made to his fellow representatives to the same effect. What bill did he put forth to curb spending? Or eliminate something wasteful and unnecessary?
Do you know if he's doing anything to raise money for a potential run?
Coburn does not want to be president, or even popular in the Senate.
Wait, the march of the Bots will soon begin.
Sadly, after volunteering twice for GOPcontrolled gov't, I believe divided gov't works best.
The GOP has had enough time to change course to stop the old tired garbage of how long the RATS were in controll.
Other than the WOT, which is te most important, is there any real difference anymore?
(yawn)
Time to start picking Pence apart and seeing if he is Washington lawyer scumbag 101 or hometown boy taking on the system. If he is the latter, perhaps this is the guy that should head the republican ticket. If not, perhaps he should head an independant ticket while we look to replace the pubs with someone who will listen to us and abide by the Constitution. It's far past time to take the garbage out!!
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