Posted on 09/26/2016 5:19:56 AM PDT by xzins
Not long from now, the American people will go to the polls to elect the next president of the United States. We face tremendous challenges — a stagnant economy, racial tension and growing threats from radical Islam.
Voters increasingly feel the American dream is slipping away, that their children will be worse off, that the system is rigged against them and is not working for them. The vast majority of Americans — as many as Gary Bauer Hail Hillarytwo-thirds of us, according to the latest polls — know we are on the wrong track. We need a change.
In this election, Hillary Clinton represents the status quo — more scandals and more Barack Obama. I believe we have had enough of both.
But more importantly, I believe this election may be the last chance we have to stop Obama’s fundamental transformation of America, and restore our nation and the values we cherish.
In the choice between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, some Republicans say they may stay home or vote for third party candidates. Some say Trump really is not conservative. But I believe Donald Trump is, on a number of issues, BETTER than what passes for conservatism today.
For example:
• Trump has directly confronted the smothering, debate-ending left-wing dogma, euphemistically called “political correctness.”
• He has said he supports a litmus test on judges. His Supreme Court appointments WILL BE pro-life.
• He has made corruption in Washington, D.C. a major theme of his campaign.
• He rejects nation building in the Middle East — a utopian, not a conservative, adventure that ignores Islam’s incompatibility with the basic tenets of freedom, including religious liberty and the equality of women.
• He exhibits Ronald Reagan’s caution on the use of military force, coupled with Reagan’s firm belief that when we do use force, we fight to win.
• Trump is confronting the putrid globalism that believes secure borders are passe and that all cultures are equal. He believes in American exceptionalism and the rule of law.
• Lastly, but certainly not least, Donald Trump’s selection of Indiana Governor Mike Pence to be his running mate was a grand slam home run. Mike Pence is a Ronald Reagan conservative who describes himself as “Christian, a conservative and a Republican — and in that order!”
I will not guarantee that conservatives will applaud everything Donald Trump does. But I can guarantee that Hillary Clinton will do nothing conservatives might applaud.
Conservative voters who doubt Donald Trump can trust Hillary Clinton to do everything she promises, such as:
• Impose a massive amnesty far beyond what Obama has done.
• Appoint pro-abortion, left-wing judicial activists who will gut the First Amendment and effectively repeal the Second Amendment.
• Put a lot of coal miners and other energy industry employees out of work.
• Increase the flow of refugees from Muslim nations by 500%.
• Raise taxes by $100 billion a year.
• Continue Obama’s foreign policy of appeasement, allowing nations like China, Iran and Russia to expand their influence while America retreats.
• Empower extremists on the left, such as the radicals in the Black Lives Matter movement and the anti-Israel fanatics on America’s college campuses.
What on that agenda appeals to any conservative?
This November, voters who cherish faith, family and freedom have a very clear choice: Voting for Donald Trump gives us a chance to restore America. Not voting or dividing the conservative vote by supporting a third party candidate only empowers the left, and likely means the end of conservatism in America.
Gary Bauer is the founder of the Campaign for Working Families (CWF), a political action committee dedicated to electing to federal and state offices “pro-family, pro-life and pro-free enterprise” candidates. He is also the president of American Values, a non-profit organization “committed to defending life, traditional marriage, and equipping our children with” conservative values. An alumni of the Reagan administration he served as President Reagan’s Deputy Under Secretary for Planning and Budget in the United States Department of Education, from 1982 to 1987, and as an advisor on domestic policy from 1987 to 1988. Author's titles and affiliations are for identification purposes only.
Gary Bauer, founder of the Campaign for Working Families
That turned me definitively in his favor. It may be a small thing to some, but sometimes the small things matter more than what seem to be big things.
I find Trump to be the candidate I agree with more than any other since Reagan. I support him whole heartedly, without reservation.
I have some reservations on some of his positions, but I still support Trump in November and I will be voting for him. The alternative is too terrible to contemplate.
The way you put it, it sounds like you are holding your nose to vote for him, like we all did for McCain and Romney. I'm curious as to why you implied that, and what reasons you will give for what you said.
"Holding your nose" is your term, not mine. Do I agree with Trump on all things? No. Specifically I don't agree with his promise to leave entitlements untouched, I don't agree with is proposal to replace Obamacare rather than just repeal it, I don't agree with his proposals to cut taxes and increase spending without offsetting spending cuts. But what is the alternative? Increased spending in all areas. Increased taxes. Expanded Obamacare. So given that the choice is a no brainer. I don't view that as "holding my nose". I view that as voting for the better of two candidates.
I held my nose and voted for McCain and Romney. The alternative was too overwhelmingly nauseating.
Like this article, I have no serious reservations about Trump if he wins, those reservations I have are small. I think he's the best candidate since Reagan.
I mistakenly voted FOR HW and W Bush, now I see them as lesser of two weevils that I should have held my nose for. It's really been since 1984 that I can vote with this kind of overwhelmingly positive reasoning. Pulling the lever for Trump will be easy, I will do it with confidence and peace knowing he should make a great president.
And I will be voting for Trump in November as well. At the end of the day isn't that all that matters?
Fwiw, I think your list of what you say you disagree with in your earlier post is a bit strange:
Specifically I don't agree with his promise to leave entitlements untouched, I don't agree with is proposal to replace Obamacare rather than just repeal it, I don't agree with his proposals to cut taxes and increase spending without offsetting spending cuts.
I'm not certain where you get the idea he will leave entitlements untouched, how in the world replacing Obamacare with an HSA based free market system is bad, and that he isn't going to cut spending anywhere. I don't know where you get those ideas.
Perhaps that's why I'm voting for him enthusiastically. I think if you actually knew his positions on those issues, you would too.
But even with those disagreements I make it clear that I believe Trump is still infinitely preferable to the alternative.
I'm not certain where you get the idea he will leave entitlements untouched...
I get that from Trump himself who has said no cuts to Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.
...how in the world replacing Obamacare with an HSA based free market system is bad...
Because his plan does nothing. Much of it already exists, at least one of his proposals completely ignores the 10th Amendment, and the rest will do little or nothing to control costs. The only solution is to repeal Obamacare and have the government stay out of it. There is nothing the government can do that won't be A) horribly expensive, and/or B) make matters worse.
... and that he isn't going to cut spending anywhere.
I have yet to see any serious proposals from him outlining where he will cut anything. Right now we have a half-trillion dollar deficit. Trump has proposed large increases in defense and a trillion dollars for infrastructure. Something has to give or we'll be back to the trillion-plus deficits of the Obama years.
I don't know where you get those ideas.
Please show me where I'm wrong. I'm more than willing to learn.
That's not a full disclosure of all he has said. He has said he is willing to cut if necessary, he has also said he will be able to make a huge difference with getting at waste and fraud. I have heard him discuss these issues with Hannity, I think you are hearing selectively.
Because his plan does nothing. Much of it already exists, at least one of his proposals completely ignores the 10th Amendment, and the rest will do little or nothing to control costs. The only solution is to repeal Obamacare and have the government stay out of it.
You clearly know nothing about his plan if you believe that. Kindly go to his website, you are flat out being misled from what I can see. It's an HSA based free market plan. Inconceivable you don't know that. (I think I can guess who you voted for.)
I have yet to see any serious proposals from him outlining where he will cut anything.
I would prefer he define how he will cut in an official manner as well, but I have heard him discuss different approaches he will make, from using the Penny Plan, to cutting most areas other than medicare and the military. My take is simple, this is a business man who brought virtually ALL of his projects in under budget and on time. I think he will be the most trustworthy of any of our candidates on the policy of cutting spending and meeting budgets. Btw, there was NO OTHER candidate for the nomination that was any better. Just thought you should know, in case that really is an issue that differentiated Trump from others who ran.
Tell me one candidate who has not promised to tackle waste and fraud? And how much savings from waste and fraud does Trump plan to reap? It's a meaningless answer to a serious problem. Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid are by far the three fastest growing expenditures in government, followed closely by servicing the debt. We are way past the point where "cut, if necessary" is an answer. It is necessary. Something has to be done to rein in costs. For Trump to say he's willing to press on with the status quo is one area I disagree with him on.
You clearly know nothing about his plan if you believe that. Kindly go to his website, you are flat out being misled from what I can see. It's an HSA based free market plan. Inconceivable you don't know that.
I have read it on a number of occasions. Again, tell me where I'm wrong.
(I think I can guess who you voted for.)
I highly doubt that.
...from using the Penny Plan...
Ah yes, the Penny Plan. Cut 1 percent from spending. Except that Trump has said he isn't cutting Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid so no 1% from them. And defense needs to go in the opposite direction rather than cut 1% from them. Can't cut debt spending. Trump has already said he'll increase Homeland Security and Veterans rather than cut. So honestly if you cut all the remaining, non-discretionary spending by 1% per year do you know what you save? About $7 billion dollars. That is not serious.
...to cutting most areas other than medicare and the military.
When he has proposals in that area I promise I'll read them carefully.
My take is simple, this is a business man who brought virtually ALL of his projects in under budget and on time. I think he will be the most trustworthy of any of our candidates on the policy of cutting spending and meeting budgets. Btw, there was NO OTHER candidate for the nomination that was any better. Just thought you should know, in case that really is an issue that differentiated Trump from others who ran.
You remind me of a friend of mine who truly believed that her boyfriend was the most handsome, the most considerate, absolutely the most remarkable partner in all the world. And she couldn't understand why the rest of us, while liking him well enough, didn't completely agree with her.
I honestly don't know what you're looking for. I have said time and again that I'm voting for Trump. I have said that he is, by any measure you care to name, infinitely preferable to Hillary Clinton. I have said he has positions I agree with. What more can I say?
I can confidently tell you, here is a man who has actual experience in meeting budgets, here is a man who can genuinely deal with fraud and waste, while what you seem to do is want to whine about it.
If you read his plan on healthcare you would not be so ignorant of it.
Yes, I'll be surprised to find you didn't vote for Cruz.
What I'm looking for is simple: A rational discussion with a reasonably well informed person.
OK.
I can confidently tell you, here is a man who has actual experience in meeting budgets, here is a man who can genuinely deal with fraud and waste, while what you seem to do is want to whine about it.
What you call whining I would call looking for answers, explanations, or clarifications. Why is that so wrong?
If you read his plan on healthcare you would not be so ignorant of it.
Third time. I have read it. Pick a point in it and tell me where I'm wrong.
What I'm looking for is simple: A rational discussion with a reasonably well informed person.
No, what you want is someone who looks at Trump with the same level of admiration that you do. Sorry I can't provide it.
And no, I don't need to find people that are Trump robots as is the Cruzer take on all of this, but yes, I do expect a rational discussion with a reasonably well informed person. One that I'm not getting here.
Unfortunately, Cruzers (as opposed to Cruz supporters) love the pretense of all that, but really have very little to offer in that regard.
Nor am I. Enjoy the debate.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.