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."
Off course??
The GOP is sunk period... The only answer left is a new conservative party.
On March 25 the Constitution Party of IN will be meeting for the first time. Our immeadiate goal is ballot access. We are one of only 5 states where the CP is not an option, even as a write in.
If you are sick of GOP double-talk, nationalism and militarism disguised as conservatism and would like to join us send me a freepmail, I'll give you the where's and when's.
Pence is one of most respectable men in Congress. I had the pleasure of talking to him when he still had his radio program. A class act, should be our next President.
He sure sounds Presidential. Looks the part, too.
How about his personality? Warm like Reagan or more laid-back like Bush?
How about his abilities as a speaker (one can't get that w/o listening to him speak)---his words (CPAC)look good, but how do they sound? Right or wrong, that's important to winning votes.
So what's the possibility of him even winning in '08? He's not even a candidate right now, is he?
Hate to say it, but maybe there will/could be a repeat of history in that a disaster democrat (like Carter in '76) wins (possibly Shrillary?) and then Pence in '12 wins a landslide, much like the Gipper did in '80?
I raise that point only b/c he's not much of a candidate so far if he's not raising $$ towards the goal of '08.
Pence won't run for President because I don't believe he wants to, but he definitely the most capable man the GOP has at the moment, IMHO. If he was to run, if he sticks to his principles and convinces average John Q public that he honestly cares about him or her he would win hands down. Thing is, he'd have to have people in Congress who'd be willing to help him pursue his agenda. Sadly, that will not be the case with the likes of Kennedy, Kerry, Biden, Pelosi and all the RINOs out there. They'd roast him just like they're roasting Bush. He'd be the best president since Reagan but without the power to get the job done.
Pretty sad huh?
Yeah, no kidding!
Bottom line: Power corrupts.
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