Truthserum (or whatever his name)

** TS…I have two choices: I can either accept that you are incapable of understanding the term “go home” or that you are playing dumb. In either case you seem to want a picture drawn…so here it is. You are out of your league TS. Truly. For example…Do you really expect anyone to buy the idea that you teach economics and business law when you have zero concept of international trade and zip appreciation for diplomacy when dealing with our number two trading partner? And business law???? Come on…no professional worth his legal salt would continue to participate in speculation and hearsay the way you do. In fact, no one in business has the legal luxury to gainsay anyone publicly and if you ARE teaching your students that; it must be to teach them by example what NOT to do. If you are going to claim some intellectual position, can you at least pick something you have a shot of making sound realistic? And you sound racist TS…something most Americans reject. And if you must sound like a born again KKK, may I suggest that you give yourself a clause: separate the terms “uneducated”, “drug runners” and “criminals” from the term Hispanic or Mexican and include the White neighbors to the North? Hasn’t it dawned on you that while the people you hang out with may get all worked up about “those people”, the rest of America learned to appreciate other races and cultures when they were being educated in REAL colleges. Lastly, you are too emotional. In my line, we live for the moments when we can get our competition to lose control and start ranting. People who do so tell those who are listening that they are vulnerable and unsure of their position. In the real world, very few people get to that moment. If they do “lose” their temper, it is almost always planned, with just the right amount of indignation and no quarter given or asked. **TS…When people demand something and want it right now…it’s called a tantrum. Your demand for this war time president to take his eye off what should have been his number one priority was akin to a 2 year old threatening to hold his breath until he dies. And no TS…there is no wave…if there was even a tiny ripple that was going to move anything, the serious politicians would be lining up to ride it. Sorry but that is a political fact. **Yes ask me why I don’t throw out my sources. That’s kind of like asking me to pick a poll that will back up my opinions. I don’t know TS…I guess I just think that some of those reading these comments MIGHT be capable of thinking for themselves…. If Santorum and Hayworth had other issues that tanked their campaigns…then THOSE other issues TRUMPED the illegal immigration issue. And TS, you just lost your point. (That was too easy) About the “culprits” 1) I kinda hate to break it to you, but America IS multicultural. It makes us rich and diverse (not an evil word, I promise). But you have it wrong if you think these cultures want us to become a mini version of the old country; why settle for a replica of the old when you can build something new and great? That has been the lure and the magic that continues to make America a land that most people dream about. 2) Sigh…and you teach economics? Illegals furnish fake ID to work. That means they pay taxes. That means they contribute to the ever growing social security population. That also means that they will not withdraw their own contribution to the SS program. (In case you don’t get it, that’s like getting free money as the SS program as it stands are government IOUs for all the years we have contributed to the fund.) $100k per illegal…ok Mr. Economic professor, how did you get that number? Most illegals use free clinics, very few draw on food stamps or other social programs…they are too busy working and contributing to those programs for poor, uneducated, AMERICANS that cannot compete for low paying jobs. 3) Ok, there are two really stupid comments here…first, the GOP has spent 40 odd years trying to gain the Black vote…but you see nothing idiotic in trying to alienate the growing Hispanic vote? Don’t you EVER want to win elections??? Second, TS, LISTEN carefully, take your time, a light may go on here and it may shock you…illegal workers come here to WORK. They are not into the entitlement programs…they do not have the victim mentality…nor do they think that government should protect their jobs or help them compete. That’s YOUR line. 4) You’re accusing the Catholic Church of wanting to destroy this nation (your sentiment) so it can get obedient worshipers? You SURE you want to offend the hundreds of thousands of Catholics on top of the Hispanics and those who belong to unions and small business men…TS…is there ANYONE left to vote for your cause? Re: Bush’s Conservatism I agree…Bush is NOT a Conservative by YOUR definition. Your type of Conservative will govern by the will of the base as interpreted by the alternate press…will stand on the principles that YOU think he should stand on, instead of his own. Your Conservative will spend money on a wall to combat a decades-old problem instead of fighting the war and overturning a 9/11 and dot com bust economy. Bush is a REPUBLICAN and not just in name only and when it suits him. I must admit to taking each point at a time…and I’ve finally come to your rant about the war. You REALLY don’t understand do you? We went into Iraq for many reasons but the most important one—and it is still valid today—is to cut the funding to terrorism. And if I have to explain to you why it is necessary to cut the funding, you need more help than I can give.

 

Imagine if you will that the election of 2006 had gone the opposite way.

Illegal Immigration

I’ve argued extensively about this issue so I’m not going to go into the reasons why the closing of the borders is a bad idea. In fact, there’s a big part of me that secretly KNOWS that arguing the point shouldn’t be necessary. Most people know that Mexicans pose very little threat to our national security and that the lost of 10% of our work force in taxes and cheap labor would cripple our economy.

Liberals may live in lala land where all they have to do is agree to give peace a chance and it will magically happen; but most conservatives know that every action has consequences and nothing is free—not even speech.

If the GOP had retained its majority, they would have had to do something about the illegals. Bush and the GOP would be stuck between small business who depend on cheap labor and the fanatics that have bought the idea that kicking out 10 million tax paying illegals won’t effect our economy in the least.

The War

Thru out Bush’s presidency, he’s been fighting BOTH the Dems in Congress and the media and the RINOs who is gearing up for their own run at the White House and the RINO press who thinks it’s their god-given right to tell him how to run this country.

NOW, with the lost of the majority, the two sides can go back to fighting each other.

In fact, has anyone notice how many pundits are saying how much easier Bush has it now that his party is no longer the majority?

Bush was already having difficulty getting support for the war; a GOP Congress bullied by the RINO press and their extreme minions would have focused on the illegal issue instead of the one issue that unites most Americans and trumps all others.

The Courts

Are we GLAD that the GOP never used the nuclear option? If we’re not now, we certainly will be if a Liberal wins the White House in 2008.

Again, if the GOP had retained Congress, Bush would STILL be fighting BOTH the Left and the Right…the latter led by the same people who ran Miers out of town.

Really, do we want a White House run by has been lawyers turned talk show host?

***

The GOP welcomed many different types of “conservatives” under their tent and went on to win. Only some of those “guests” had more in common with their judgmental liberal counterparts than the more laid back and extremely busy Republicans.

It was time for them to go home. The only way that was going to happen was if there was nothing left for them to chew on.

I think Karl Rove finally turned off the lights….dinner is now at the Dems’ place.

Let the ungrateful and churlish Libertarians/ Reaganites/ Buchananites/anything but Republicans 3^rd party wannabes go there and tear THAT house apart.

The GOP will pick up the pieces…with a little help from the Independents.

After all, despite everything, we’ve STILL got a war to fight—and win

 

I’ve suspected it for a long time. The absolutist hiding behind the label “conservative” are anything but and has been trying to destroy your party for at least 2 years.

Today, an article on Town Hall flat out stated: “So it is good that conservatives are gathering and talking. What they do will determine the future of the GOP. The movement can…and possibly should…survive without the Republican Party. But the GOP is a dead duck without conservatism.”

It was music to many readers’ ears.

Awhile back I wrote that after 9/11 I had found that I had so much in common with Republicans that I thought I may in fact be one. But the absolutist with their dictatorial qualifying definition of “conservatism” quickly dissolved that notion.

Now I will admit that before that fateful day in September, I would have walked away from all this political drama.

But 9/11 did happen. And at the time I truly believed that my life as I knew it was forever lost.

President Bush and his party of GOP did the impossible. In less than a year, they gave me back my world.

The Democrats are about to return it to terrorism.

And so I am here asking the Republicans to take a good look at those that wish to destroy you.

Doesn’t their lack of support and loyalty bother you—doesn’t it claw at that part of you that knows the value of family and friends and working together for no other reason but to help and create something worthwhile?

Doesn’t their racist (yes, I said racist) vitriolic hatred of Mexicans make you uncomfortable? We are a nation of immigrants; isn’t there a part of you that bristles at the idea of people being called “wet backs”, “uneducated”, “criminal” the way your ancestors were once called a whole bunch of ignorant and racist names because they were from Ireland or Italy or non-White?

Doesn’t their hypocrisy and sanctimonious demand for a perfect politician and a perfect party reek?

Shouldn’t Bush be able to stand on his principles—even if they don’t agree with him?

How many of you agree with everything they believe…doesn’t it bother you that you are NOT allowed to disagree at all?

Finally, how many times have you wanted to “clarify” what some absolutist has said in the name of conservatism and Reagan so that Independents and Liberals won’t think that all Republicans think that way?

I believe…that most honest to themselves Republicans will admit to almost all of the above.

America has less than 2 years before the Dems put in a full fledge, bring back the glory days of cut and run Liberal into the White House. The only thing that can stop them is the only other viable political party. YOUR PARTY.

Now is the time to take back the GOP before the 3^rd party wannabes destroy it.

They are like the abusive spouse…if they cannot have the power of a main stream party…you can’t…and they will rather see it dead than surviving without them.

The following is a comment I had written on one of the articles...

Bush really ought to just make the base happy.

Forget about the 11 million purple fingers...the babies that could have had someone on their side on the courts...and the tax breaks that could have kept this economy pumping.

He should have just slashed government programs --even if it meant shutting down government in time of war.

He should have gone after mom & pop stores who employ cheap (and probably illegal) labor--even though small business is the backbone of this nation's economy.

He should have appointed someone who would set off the nuclear options--never mind that now the Democrats can do the same to get their people in.

He should have angered the Dems in congress so they would never work with him to turn over the 9/11 and dot com bust economy--after all they weren't the majority...of course now they are.

He should have twisted the arm of every Republican in Congress to stop the pork barrel spending that funds their campaigns...none of the Republicans in office should worry about being re-elected...the most important thing is that they "take a stand".

He should have put up that wall and ask no questions about how much it will cost and how effective it will be. The "base" said "jump" and ALL he should have said was "how high".

Most of all, he should have conferred with the alternative press...who would tell him EXACTLY how to run this country.

Bush is a man of principle...and the absolutist RINOs hate him because the principles he stands for are not theirs...starting with "loyalty" and "support". 
 

 Some of what I’ve written has befuddled those used to the conservative rhetoric that permeate the hard line media. The spin doctors on the Right have taken pages off the Liberal handbook and created cute sound bites that does for the absolutist what it did for the crazy Left. When someone points out the flaws in their rhetoric, the reader is at first confused, then angry, and finally hides behind the accusation that I am making zero sense.

So for these “common sense” challenged people, I offer the following detailed explanation:

RINO—acronym for Republican In Name Only.

I can’t take credit for this. After explaining to my European Business Partner, a Tory (British equivalent of a Republican), that most hard liners refuse to call themselves Republicans, it was pointed out that these Conservatives were in fact Republican In Name Only. I loved it. They, of course hate being referred to as such because I suspect they know deep down that it’s true.

ABSOLUTIST

…are those who are incapable of compromising. They will frequently use the sanctimonious proclamation that they are standing on their “principles”. Of course they never do so when putting up with a lousy boss or interfering in-laws; somehow they’ve managed to survive the knocking on their conscience when faced with the choice of providing for their families and keeping peace in the family or telling everyone how they “really” feel and losing it all.

Absolutist see things in Black and White…and miss all the shades that make life interesting and victories that are sweet because it took a little finesse.

Absolutist scare most people, not because their beliefs are unwavering but because beliefs need wiggle room to grow.

And because there is no space for doubt or question, absolutist causes will almost always fail.

REPUBLICANS

… do not think that "loyalty" and "support" is expendable...it is something that "friends, family, and allies" do and something that they can and SHOULD expect in return.

They are not for "job protection" even if it’s to protect American jobs from illegal Mexican workers. Republicans work too hard to give out blank checks for government projects like building a wall on the southern border. Many own their own mom & pop shops and do not make war on business. Most adhere to the value of personal responsibility and have little time or inclination to blame it all on the government.

Republicans are NOT racist; you won’t hear them use terms like “wet back” or imply that all Mexicans are “unwashed” and “criminals”.

Most of all, the Republican party is the party of…REPUBLICANS, not Libertarian, Reaganites, Buchananites, Gingrichites or any 3^rd party wannabes.

INDEPENDENTS

…make up the majority of voters. According to political guru on the Left (Dick Morris) and on the Right (Karl Rove): 20% will vote either Democrat or Republican. It is the MIDDLE that is liberal on some issues and conservative on others; that does the choosing of the politicians that govern this nation.

Hard liners on either side do NOT win national elections. In fact they don’t even win primaries, which technically they should do well in since they are in effect “preaching to the choir”. This is because they appeal to that 20%…and leaves a whopping 80% that feel very uncomfortable with politicians that are incapable of working with politicians that do not share their point of view.

Working with the other party is NOT a sign of character weakness…it is what politicians do—or at least what they are supposed to do since there ARE two parties in our political system who HAS to compromise to get anything done.

REAGANITES

…are strange creatures. They dream of the kind of leader/president that Reagan never was. He NEVER got tough on illegals…honest. He NEVER cut government spending…in fact he had one of the highest deficits. He NEVER refused to work with the enemy…he wanted the Soviets to align themselves with America to fight space invaders! He got tough with a small union that very few people heard of but left his California state (of which he had served as governor) union riddled.

Granted, he was an eloquent communicator—with talented speech writers who had all the time in the world to make him look and sound good. There was no great war to fight…no 9/11 economy and dot com stocks to rebuild…no fanatical media that felt a God-given need to nit pick on him 24/7.

Yet he managed to cut and run out of Libya and to say things like “trees suck up all the oxygen.”

The man was inspirational but he was not perfect.

I doubt that today, if we could somehow resurrect the man or clone him, that he could live up to the hype that the Reaganites claim for him. No one, flesh and blood, could.

The truly sad part is that Reagan’s legacy has nowhere else to go but down.

BUCHANANITES & 3^RD PARTY WANNABES

…will forever be losers because they appeal to such a small number of voters.

The problem is that they are loud and vocal. And because they present themselves as “conservatives” and “the base” of the Republican party, they hurt the GOP, not the Dems. People who might agree on the need to win the war in Iraq or that marriage should be between a man and a woman recoil at the vitriolic language used by anti-illegal proponents and the unforgiving preaching by the religious right.

HYPOCRISY IS THY NAME

The RINO press assured the American voter for 4 years that the ONLY man they could trust to send their children to war was President Bush…after 2004, when he could no longer run…this same man could NOT be trusted to appoint an elite to the SCOTUS. I don’t know about you, but to MOST parents, you can’t ask for a higher trust than one that involves their children.

…Bush and the GOP have NOT changed. The RINO press and their minions have…why wasn’t the illegal immigration issue, pork spending, big government the issue in 2004 that they became in 2006?

Let us talk about “principles”…where was Laura Ingraham’s, Peggy Noonan, Rich Lowry and the NRO before 2004? Why did they remain silent about these “critical, conservative” issues when the presidency was on the line?

And finally…just what was gained from the tantrum over immigration?

 

It was almost two years ago that America broke my heart.

Our grand, noble inclined nation allowed a man to starve his wife to death. Some said his new family (girlfriend and kids) and his desire to keep the insurance and court settlement money was the motivation behind this truly horrific inhuman act. Others ignored the method of termination and insisted that Terry Schiavo’s death was really an act of mercy.

I remember the sleepless nights and the almost insane refusal to believe that a nation that could make heroes of John Wayne, Capt. Kirk, and Spiderman would actually allow a woman to starve to death.

But they did.

In fact, this wasn’t even an issue that conservatives were united on. I remember writing to a blogger on the old Townhall and asking if the man knew exactly what was involved…put aside all the arguments…we are talking about a human being starving and being dehydrated…something we won't allow to be done to a dog.

The reversal of his opinion gave me hope…but it was short lived.

A few weeks later, I told my European business partner that I was ashamed of my country…that I finally understood the term “ugly American.”

It didn’t matter that inhumanity like this happens in every corner of the planet; in almost every nation. America the beautiful is MY home and her people is MY people…and somehow, we’re supposed to be a cut above…the GOOD guys.

Now you might wonder why I bring this up..more than 20 months after the fact.

Our newly elected Democratic Congress, joined by a few accommodating Republicans are about to pull the plug on the Iraqi people. 11 MILLION voters put their purple fingers on the line, showing courage unheard of in our “can’t bother to vote” nation, and voted for a chance to be free.

We are about to repay them with a bloodbath.

Unlike with the 2 million Cambodians who were massacred when we cut and ran out of Vietnam or the 1 million Kurds who got slaughtered when we left an unforgiving Saddam to continue to rule Iraq after the first Gulf war…this time, I will be around to watch what happens to those who believe in American’s promises.

As each child dies clutching books and candy bars given to them by kind American soldiers and each mother sees hope lay at the lifeless feet of her men, I will defiantly watch and remember.

And this time there will be no spin, no hiding behind half truths of concern for dead Americans.

Every politician who hated Bush more than they wanted to beat terrorism…every media pundit who put their ratings above the only party that wanted to win this war…every poster who insisted on putting their hatred for Mexicans over the war, the courts, and the economy…

Know this…I will be here and I will remind you what your selfishness cost.

 

Following is a piece I wrote a few years back in reply to a Marine.  I am posting it here as a kind of prelude to a new post...one that I suspect will be much harder to write.

I was raised in a generation that thought all politicians were crooks. And governments; especially the American government, was this big entity that took too much and gave too little.

I was told what America did wrong, how often, and how America could never do anything right.

I thought that the Bill of Rights was something everyone in this day and age, had and that equality was as common as breathing.

Then 9/11 happened and I guess I grew up.

I learned what equality meant from a bunch of women whose idea of courage was walking down a public street without male escort and without their burkas.

I learned what injustice meant when 56 children were killed on their way to school -- and the world blamed THEM not the criminals who did it.

I understood what the Bill of Rights meant when I learned about the Taliban and Saddam's sons' entertainment room.

I learned what being part of the privilege class meant when I saw an entire town come to a well to get water and children get excited at having books and being given the opportunity to get an education.

I found out that a hero wasn't the guy who made the last second basket or that Hail Mary touchdown, but the soldier leaving family and friends to bring freedom to people who are too terrified to even be grateful.

I even learned that some politicians are just human beings. Really. They believe in God, like we do and they try to do what is right, just like we do, even if it doesn't get them re-elected or the world bashes them for the effort.

Most of all I learned that America is really a great country. Not perfect. Hell, we can be darn right selfish and in your face; but NO other nation on earth gives as much as Americans. Her blood is on EVERY shoreline. Her sweat and her tears have been spilled for EVERY race and every culture.

* * *

I live in a predominately Hawaiian neighborhood. Before 9/11, the old Hawaiian flag waved in a yard or two on every street. We talked about "our" queen and "our" people. And the "aloha spirit" and how important it was to keep and respect the old ways.

Now in most flag waving homes, the Red, White, and Blue flies next to the Hawaiian flag. And we talk about "our" president (not always kindly as Hawaii is a Blue state) and "our" people seem to now mean Americans.

And when we talk of keeping the old ways, we mean keeping the ability to complain about the "stupid" government and going to Disneyland and Vegas...and having another Super Bowl...

Laura Ingraham was in a right foul mood today...I think it is finally dawning on the ivy league elite that there is a price to pay for her betrayal of basic values of loyalty and support.

She learned that the Democratic Congress she helped put into office with her constant harping about what was once a Republican majority is looking into the fairness doctrine...that piece of media monitoring that will force all the stations that carry her show to offer an opposite view point.

She told her audience that type of limitation to "freedom of speech" was created because the "elites" think the people are too stupid to understand what is going on --and "needs" to have the other side laid out in order to make an "informed" decision.

When a caller pointed out that it went both ways -- and that the Right will also have access to the Left MSM...Ingraham went balistic!

She said it frustrated her that the people out there don't get it...it will NEVER go both ways...that this Democratic run Congress is trying to take away "your" (the Conservative base) power...the rights of Conservatives to have their views heard...

She went on to remind the people how much the alternative press has done...pointing out the problems of government, explaining the issues like illegal immigration...if fact, if it weren't for the alternate press bringing out the truth...Bush may not have won in 2004...Congress may not have become the majority...

She rushed over the fact that Congress had been lost in 2006--and continued right on to the idea that 2008 may bring a Hillary/Obama presidency...and a lost in the war on Islamic terrorism...the lost of the courts...our booming economy...if we don't keep the alternative press free to present its point of view and their idea of the truth.

I sat there thinking...so there IS something more important than immigration to Laura...her job and her butt.

Now, she may lose both...all because she was too "smart" to get this one simple fact that most people learn by the time they are able to dress themselves...be careful where you urinate.

 

…the ticket to face Hillary / Obama / Nancy

McCain

Odds: (primary) 42% (general) 51%

Positive:

Seen by many to be moderate which means he will appeal to Independents and those who lean toward the Right.

Pro-life and pro-military enough to appeal to Christians and moderate conservatives.

Has many supporters on both sides of the aisle…shown ability to work with all camps. All groups will see him as the “lesser of two evils” and an alternative to the extreme candidates.

Negative:

In 2000, McCain got burnt badly by the GOP and other conservative groups that choose Bush to run on the national ticket. Since then, he has actively courted the Democrats. There are many in the Republican camp that dislike him and will find it difficult to support him.

No charisma. Many who has met the man has been quoted as saying that while Bush may lack the charm of Reagan and Clinton, up close and personal, he is someone that seems sincere and very likeable. McCain on the other hand has been described as standoffish and bitter. He is known to be unforgiving and takes criticism badly.

**

Prediction:

McCain has too much ground to make up with his own party…IF he wins the primary…McCain has a slightly better than average chance to take the White House from those who truly dislike Hillary, find Obama a joke, and is scared sh*tless of a President Nancy.

Guilliani

Odds: 32% (primary) 61% (general)

Positive:

“America’s Mayor” was tough on New York’s crime, the terrorists, and unapologetic toward the politically correct. He appeals to anyone that didn’t like the feeling of losing a war.

He is down home enough to win over the average working joe/jane but forceful enough to make the elites give him a wide berth.

Cops, firemen, troops like his masculine demeanor. Guilliani is a “man’s man”.

Negative:

A HUGE one…Guilliani is socially liberal. With the president having the ability to appoint judges…pro-lifers and marriage defining supporters will block any attempt to win the primary.

Nationally, Guilliani is untested. It is one thing to send N.Y. cops in to clean up American streets quite another to send troops to a foreign country where you have to deal with other cultures and their different court systems.

Americans may have adored Guilliani refusal of blood money from the Saudi prince, but such diplomatic faux pas would give new meaning to the phrase “American Trash”.

Prediction:

Guilliani has almost zero chance to win the GOP ticket. Not only will he be up against the traditionalist who are socially conservative…absolutists detest his pro-illegal immigration and gun control stand. He has too many fractions under the GOP tent to win a place on the ticket. BUT if he does win, he will appeal to enough groups on the Right, Left, and the all important Middle to win.

Romney

Odds: 51% (primary) 49% (general)

Positive:

A favorite of many Republicans, Romney has just enough conservative views to satisfy most of the fractions under the GOP tent. On all the key issues, he hits the right notes and manages to do so without sounding harsh or extreme.

Relatively free of private scandals and bad personal behavior, he will appeal to church going Middle America.

Being the son of an ex-governor and an alumni of both Stanford and Harvard, Romney has enough elite credentials to satisfy the ex-lawyer talk show host and Pulitzer prize winning columnists.

Negative:

Two large liabilities or two on each side of the same coin. Many voters find leaders who place religion as an important part of their lives “scary”. And while this was countermanded in Bush by the Christians who shared his religion…Romney belongs to “one of those” religious sects…”MORMON”.

Some Christians…most prominently born-again Evangelical Christians do not consider Mormons “Christians” at all and would support a conventional Christian claimant (even if she is a non-practicing one) before voting for one that may bring some of “those” beliefs into their White House decisions.

Prediction:

I am factoring his “Mormonism” into this prediction. Most Christians on the Right will weigh his conservative views against his religion and accept him as they had Catholic JFK. It is only the Evangelical groups that may prefer someone who follows the “right” religion even if she put in a judge that would find the right to marriage for gays in the constitution.

Romney’s electability rating drops in the general because of the sectarian group that fears all religions.

Note: I did not put his “adaptability” to issues in either the positive or negative column as I’m not sure if this flexibility is a plus or minus. It does show a serious ability to win, which is needed, but also hints at the possibility that his views can be altered by polls.

Thus, it is my belief this is the one candidate that may get in—just under the radar—while the others are busy fighting turf wars.

He is also the closest in temperament to Bush and if he does win-- I fear another 8 years of bashing—from the MSM who will accuse him of everything to the RINO press who will forgive him nothing.

Gingrich

Odds: 35% (primary), 33% (general)

Positive:

The darling of the absolutists…Gingrich is credited with not only espousing their ideals; but being one of the forefathers of its conception.

Every hard line Conservative stand, Gingrich supports and he promises a return to the days of the “contract with America”, the glory days when Congress was held in a stalemate over issues, and wearing down the tip of the almighty “veto” pen.

Negative:

What Gingrich doesn’t remind you and most of his supporters would rather forget is that those “glory days” of fighting a Democratic President resulted in Gingrich LOSING and playboy Clinton being forever more considered a political genus.

Gingrich also fails in the moral character category having “enjoyed” after hours “comforting” from his secretary while his wife lay serious ill in the hospital. This error in marital fidelity will NOT endear him, to not just the Christians but to the 50% of the population that is female…many of which are wives and mothers.

Prediction:

Gingrich will get slaughtered by the media…the Left because his personal baggage make him such an easy target…and the Right because they are sitting too high on their sanctimonious perch NOT to at least sound offended. The RINO press cannot preach that Gingrich’s personal life is private after years of bashing Clinton’s lack of moral character.

Politically, Gingrich made a serious miscalculation when he tried to shut down the government…and ten years later, he STILL does not comprehend that not ALL Americans are Conservatives and agree with his vision of the world. Gingrich may fire up the choir on the Right…but the rest of America finds his narrow ideals about as interesting as a Saturday afternoon t.v. sermon.

Brownback

Odds: 20% (primary), 62% (general)

Positive:

Full of charisma, Brownback has been exciting the national voters for quite some time. He has the JFK good looks, the Reagan smoothness, the Bush sincerity, and the Tony Blair rhetorical skills.

The absolutist love his strong, feisty personality. The RINO press will find his eloquent speech acceptable. His conservative family values will satisfy the religious groups while his non-preachy style won’t alarm the sectarian.

He has enough time in Congress to have earned some measure of respect from both his colleagues and the MSM.

His past is relatively light in scandals, especially since Clinton, Gingrich, and Foley took Washington scandals to a new level.

Negative:

The 2006 lost of a Republican Congress truly shook Brownback. He has gone from thunderous (but sane) conservatism to a strict moderate road. He refuses to issue an opinion on anything but the most agreed upon issues…like finding a cure for cancer and better educating our children.

His reaction to the lost of Congress is another indication of my belief that the illegal immigration issue is a losing ticket. If Hillary, the most mercenary of politicians can soften her tone on abortion after the 2004 election, why isn’t she right there insisting on tough anti-illegal enforcement…or why has Brownback refused to touch that subject with a ten-foot poll?

Prediction:

Brownback has no monetary backing to launch and maintain a presidential campaign. To gain that, he has to take a bold stand on the issues…if he jumps wrong; he will lose any possibility of raising funds.

If by some miracle, he does win the primary, he stands a great chance of winning the general because of the first “positive” I listed.

Rice

Odds: 75% (primary)* 68% (general)*

Positive:

Black—will get the minority vote (not just Blacks).

Female—will get the women vote (or those who would like to see a female in the top office.

Highly educated, intelligent, artistic—her degrees which includes a doctrine, her Stanford tenure, and her figure skating, ballet, and concert piano accomplishments will satisfy the most snobbish voter.

Impeccable Christian background—father was a pastor during the civil rights and many of the Christian community think of her as their “own.”

National / International figure—As Secretary of State, she doesn’t suffer from lack of name recognition.

Negative:

Seen as a Bush “lacky” and some will fear a continuation of the Bush legacy.

Moderate on some issues—such as Israel, but may be due to her diplomatic role.

Is “hands on” in the administration of her department—some see this as “micromanaging”.

But the real NEGATIVE to a Rice presidency is that she WILL NOT RUN.

Prediction:

The asterisk above is to note that the numbers are only if Rice ran. After watching up front and personal what the “base” and the RINO press has done to her mentor…the only way that she will become president is if the GOP “drafts” her. To do that, the RINO press will have to be neutralized (see my article on the Brilliance of Karl Rove for possible method of accomplishing that.)

Bush 3 (as in Jeb)

Odds: 67% (primary)* 52% (general)*

Positive:

Jeb is a lot less “nice” than his brother. He won’t turn that Christian “other cheek” for the media on both sides to bash.

Jeb has proven to be an effective leader in Florida and his diplomatic and communication skills are polished.

He’s in line with most of America…Right of center with strong leanings toward the Right socially and fiscally.

Negative:

ANOTHER BUSH would drive the liberals NUTS…but the RINO press would also want to justify their Bush bashing by finding fault with this 3^rd Bush. It would be more ugliness in politics.

As in Rice…this Bush WILL NOT RUN. He’s seen how the press and the RINO media in particularly, treats Bush(s) and he will not subject himself or his family to that abuse.

Prediction:

Most voting GOPs like Jeb. He has all the polish that his father and brother lacks—and he’s a lot tougher.

But again, as with Rice, the asterisk above is to note what would happen if by some miracle, Jeb got on the GOP ticket.

 

9/11 changed everything.

Even those who paid little or no attention to politics started reading newspapers and tuning into all news channels. Most wanted to “talk to someone” about their experience—and to be assured that life in America would go on.

Two things resulted from this need.

A whole group of radio talk show hosts attained celebrity status.

And the extremes on both sides of the political spectrum became “1984” tyrants.

It began slowly…a turf war over ideology. The Conservatives blamed the Liberals for decades of appeasement…the Liberals blamed Bush.

Then in 2005, starting with the Miers’ nomination, Conservative celebrity talk show host drunk with the power of being able to tell the White House who to appoint to the highest court in the land, went on to join their liberal counterparts in trying to control our war time president.

It didn’t matter that Bush and his party had turned over a post 9/11 economy…kept our nation from any more attacks…or appointed hundreds of solid judges. They wanted what the press has always wanted…what they believe with their entire soul is their “right”…the ability to sway public opinion and in so doing…control Congress and the White House and through the White House, the third branch of power: the courts.

They demanded what conservative icons like Reagan and Gingrich could only promise…promises they KNEW Bush and the GOP could NOT deliver, not in our system of government and not with a slight majority in Congress.

I have covered many of these Conservative Utopian demands in my previous articles; so I won’t go into that now. To understand what happened to the “new” converts to Conservatism, one has to understand who they are, how they may have perceived the events of 9/11, the GOP, and then what drove them back to their comfortable previous status.

There were some Democrats that “turned”—and to be fair, they embraced the Republican dogma with the same pure loyalty that they held for the ideas of social justice of the liberal camp. As the hard liners got more vocal; ex-Democrats found the seemingly racist, intolerant, and socially unjust conservative ideals…confusing at best…affirming of previous stereotypical held views of Republicans at worst.

Some ran back to the party that at least pretended to be “nice”. Others just added the guilt of deserting one party for another that seemed far worst--to all their other neurosis.

Then there was the 3rd party wannabes—who ran to the political party that was closest in their ideology and the most likely to win the war against this threat to the American way of life.

But power can sometimes corrupt. Especially if power is unearned.

Into the calm, REASONABLE world of Republican winners, the 3rd party wannabes infused their far right losing ideals of absolutism. Compromise with the opposing but just as powerful Democrats were considered a “betrayal of Conservative principals”…what they meant of course was that it was a betrayal of libertarian/Buchananism/far right extremism.

Their hard line came across as unyielding with no room for anyone who disagreed—in fact, anyone who dared, got attacked with a fervor reserved for the religious unbeliever. And as their fervor rises, so does their frustration…they are sounding more shrill and unhinged as more of their conservative utopia slips from their grasp.

The last, most important group of converts, are the “Independents” Many are liberal on some issues…conservatives on others. An event like 9/11 forced many of them to put aside their liberal tendencies to embrace the only side more likely to bring their comfortable world back.

I think it amazed many—I know it did me—to learn just how much they had in common with the Right. Many were small business owners that while appreciative of government subsides, understood intellectually that at some point, SOMEBODY has to foot the bill. Most tended to be religious and a good portion of Independents held family and friends as important to their well being.

These people had always felt uncomfortable with programs meant to address racism, like “affirmative action”, being…well race based.

They really thought they had a right NOT to accept the gay life style…to pray in public and say “Merry Christmas” instead of “Happy Holidays”. They liked being patriotic and thinking that cops, firemen, and soldiers were heroes. They even enjoyed seeing old glory being respected again.

But Independents have a very big fixation about…their independence. They dislike being told what they have to believe in order to “be” a Conservative. The push to hurdle the base under one tent of thought pushed many Independent converts right out the door. How many articles…posts…comments…contain accusations of “not being TRUE Conservatives” not just toward politicians, but to anyone who disagrees with their point of view?

Many Independents were schooled in the liberal system of tolerance and the idea of “unwashed”, “criminal”, and “welfare benefit sucking” Mexicans makes many 9/11 converts more than a little uncomfortable. The vitriolic rant from the absolutist is literally driving those more civilized inclined away.

Then there is the spin…most Independents had very little time for the Left’s spin and paid it not more than a glancing look. In the first years of the post 9/11 era, Independents took the time to actually listen to the rhetoric. For most, especially those in communication and/or sales, it was rather amazing how power words like “choice” can give permission to decide life or death over a baby or “affirmative action” can take negative racism and make it sound positive.

When the Right also started doing it…the spin took on an even uglier tone as it was covered with hypocrisy that was difficult to dismiss. “Intellectual disagreement” made disloyalty to one’s party almost a patriotic duty. “Support” was something “Kool-aid drinkers” did and implied mindless brainwashing. “Conservatism” got a capital “C” and “Republican” became a dirty word.

Name calling was brought to a new high as acronyms got tossed about… “RINO” were given to those not towing the absolutist ideology…despite the fact that the absolutist, themselves, frequently denied being Republican…thus were in fact…themselves…Republicans In Name Only.

The absolutist took whole pages out of the Liberal playbook and was never original in their spin…and many Independents found their poor adaptation unworthy of their continued support.

But if I had to point to the one piece of “play” the absolutist did that drove the largest group of 9/11 converts out of the tent that gave the White House and Congress to the GOP…it would be the “Conservative police” that came out of their intolerance closet and began demanding a ban on anyone that disagreed with their views. For Independents, debate and discussion is the core of their being…it formulates, strengthens, and validates their ideals.

To most Independence…if the cost of “Conservatism” is their right to independent thought and opinion …it is a price far too high to pay.

For 2 long years, the RINO media and their absolutist minions sent a message to 9/11 converts…tow the line or leave.

In 2006, they left.

 

or why the politicians aren’t lining up to do something about it and I, Sanity 102 is trying to put it where it was in 2002 and 2004—on the back burner.

THE NUMBERS

When hard liners talk about “enforcing” the border laws…they are talking about the SOUTHERN/MEXICO border, NOT the North.

Unfortunately, there are only 4 out of 50 states that border Mexico. If every one of the 104 electoral votes were passionate about closing the border, that would still leave 435 votes with little or no direct interest in enforcing the border laws.

California, the most vocal in demanding stronger enforcement, remains a Blue state and none of their “anti-illegal immigration” measures has gone anywhere.

Arizona, another border state, continues to re-elect McCain, a proponent of a “guest worker” plan. J.D. Hayworth, a leader in the “anti-illegal immigration” issues and a member of the House (which was stronger in their desire to enact tough border control laws than the Senate)…LOST his seat. Randy Graft, who had hooked up with Tancredo in his border control fervor, FAILED to win his border district.

Illegal Immigration Absolutist placed their issue on the front burner in 2006—and got their heads handed to them…as proponents like Santorum lost…and states that were supposed to be directly affected rejected politicians running on the issue.

Even if 80% (I think it’s way less) of the GOP believed in Illegal Immigration absolutism…that is 80% of 20%, leaving a whopping 84% Independents and Democrats that DO NOT CARE or DOES NOT CARE ENOUGH to vote for someone who runs on that issue.

In plain English…this is a LOSING ticket.

REPUBLICAN BEHAVIOR

Republicans are NOT into job protection.

Republicans do NOT believe in making war on Mom & Pop stores and produce farmers that cannot afford to pay the $15 an hour that the American worker thinks he’s entitled to.

Republicans do NOT look toward the government to solve social problems.

Republicans DO care what the cost of building a 700 mile wall will be…in fact Republicans NEVER give out blank checks.

Despite all the Liberal rhetoric, Republicans are NOT racist. IF open borders represent a threat to our national security, Republicans want BOTH borders closed…STARTING with the liberal and easier- to-cross-NORTHERN Canadian border.

Republicans are NOT stupid, they are careful when dealing with our number one and number two trading partner and provider of oil. Canada and Mexico happens to be our #1 & our #2.

Republicans have been trying for over a quarter of a century to gain the Black vote…smart Republicans do not want to alienate the Hispanic vote over low income workers’ inability to compete.

PLAIN ENGLISH

Republicans are very busy and pretty much plain spoken.

When emotional buzz words like “amnesty” is used, Republicans really think that Bush and the GOP wants to allow non-violent law breakers to get off scott free. It comes off as a shock when they learn that Bush’s guest worker program is like the ticket that other non-violent (but just as law breaking) speeders pays. The breaking of the law HAS consequences, is NOT forgiven, and does NOT give violent law breakers a “free pass” as the term “amnesty” implies.

They really envision an “invasion” of illegals until someone from the old country reminds them of the swarm of Irish (or Italian, Polish, etc.) immigrants that “invaded” America for the same reason: poverty.

And yes, they are suitably upset at the very idea of Hispanics taking over the “sovereignty” of our nation…until again, someone reminds them that America is a nation of “immigrants” that took over the sovereignty of natives.

There is a little bit of “guilt” in anyone whose ancestors “took” the land from the natives. It is this guilt that persuaded America to give up slavery and to provide equal rights for minorities and women.

It is also this guilt that will doom any venture that singles out one race of people.

Honesty requires the acceptance that this issue singles out the Mexicans…very little if any is said about our Northern—and White neighbor.

Many Republicans are down home folks who value family and friends; loyalty and support is at the core of their beliefs…and this double talk spin from the media that is supposed to be on the GOP side rankles and alienates.

They dislike being angry for 4 years at the MSM for bashing OUR war time president—then told it was their “duty” to bash this same man for 2 years over the illegal immigration issue.

They dislike the vitriolic words and almost blatant hatred surrounding the illegal immigration issue. Republicans are NOT members of the KKK…they do not have time or the inclination to hate.

Most of all, they dislike being told to give the president our highest trust—to send our sons and daughters to war but NOT to trust him enough to choose an elite to sit on the SCOTUS…and that for the latter Bush needs to confer with THEM, the ex-lawyers.

WELFARE FABLES RECYCLED

I’m sure you’ve heard them…they are making the internet rounds.

One little old widow buys day old bread while the illegal gets to buy 7 grain, designer loafs…

Congress is raiding the social security coffers to allow illegals who has not contributed to dip in…

Only…unlike the Welfare recipient from which the fable derived from (before there was a 5 year cap on benefits)…illegals come here to WORK. Most do NOT work under the table. They furnish themselves with fake social security cards, which means that taxes AND social security taxes GET TAKEN OUT OF THEIR PAY CHECKS.

In fact, one of the reasons why the government—starting with Reagan who had to bail out the Social Security program—won’t deport the estimated 11 million illegals may be because they are contributing but NOT taking out of the Social Security system. The Baby Boomers are all at or near retirement age…they are living longer…and there just is not enough American workers to support them.

Now unless the absolutist can convince Americans to give up a system that they spend their adult working lives contributing into or convince Americans to have more babies to work to sustain the system…the CONTRIBUTION of 11 million illegals WILL BE MISSED.

I CALL YOU

The strangest thing about this issue is that “conservatives” claim to be absolutist because they support American labor.

Whatever happened to “letting the market decide”?

And since when has a conservative been in favor of government “going after” small business?

Or creating another government agency?

Or handing out a blank check to build a wall?

This does NOT sound very “conservative” to me…but I’m not going to gainsay anyone…instead I’m going to call the absolutist on his words.

How important is it to stop this “invasion”?

Important enough to take the incentive for cheap labor from the USA market?

From today…each absolutist must vow to buy ONLY products made in the USA by legal workers. That means no more computers, lap tops, electronic toys, clothes, food, bottled water, gas, batteries, electricity.

In so doing the absolutist will be a true conservative…letting the market dictate and NOT looking toward the government to solve this problem.

 

A British colleague of mine and I were discussing the latest spin by the RINO press…the GOP lost Congress because Karl Rove and his group of strategists didn’t do enough selling of the Conservative Agenda.

This Tory (British equivalent of Republican) admitted that he also had not been able to comprehend why the GOP hadn’t emphasis the positive accomplishments of the Bush administration. Yes, he got the need to fight this war, to retain the tax cuts, and to appoint non-activist judges…he also got that Bush and Company had been spending the last 2 years FIGHTING the media of his own party.

But prior to the elections, why hadn’t the genius Rove come up with one of his brilliant plans that reminded the American people of the great accomplishments of Bush and the GOP led congress?

I dislike the “blame Bush” mentality and was already marshalling my defense of the man and his party.

But without missing a beat, my colleague went on to pronounce that, “Rove is brilliant!”

“Huh?” I replied with all the sophistication of a novice communicator.

“For 2 years, we’ve been lamenting the fact that Bush has had to add the RINO press to the list of those that are obstructing his leadership. We also agreed that the only way that Bush can neutralize them (RINO press) is to lose the Congress the new media is using to try to control the White House.”

“Are you saying…” I asked, slowly, “that Karl Rove deliberately planned a GOP lost?”

“I am saying that if you are given the task of eliminating certain obstacles to production success…you find ways to accomplish that elimination…there are no moral equivalence here—one sacrifices a gangrened limb to keep the whole body from dying. Are we not agreed that the new media’s constant bashing of Bush and the GOP was hurting the Conservative Agenda—and ultimately the nation?”

Silence.

Over the next few days, I thought long and hard about it…Bush now has the same "excuse" that Reagan had for failing to close the borders…cut pork spending…lower government programs…he doesn't have a GOP majority in Congress.

It wasn’t enough that Bush is the only man alive that the Islamic fanatics fear…that he turned around a dot com crashed and post 9/11 economy and did it DURING a time of war…or that he put on the courts great judges…the hard liners demanded that he solve decades old problems AND change the way politics are done in a free nation.

It’s true that there weren’t enough of them to actually push their extreme agenda forward—that is why they don’t waste their vote on a 3^rd party loser candidates. But their voices were loud and led by those like Ingraham and Noonan who insisted on speaking for the “base” and they convinced good men like Santorum and Hayworth to champion their Conservative Utopia—a utopia the other 84% NON-CONSERVATIVES were not going to buy.

All this negative publicity was having a major effect—it distracted a war time president and seriously compromised the mission of our military. Karl Rove HAD to take them down.

Taking a page from the Dean “yahoo-oo” incident…all Karl Rove had to do was allow the RINO press to continue to scream and holler…to convince the voting public that a GOP led congress was a disappointment and a failure….and the more they talked about an issue that was decades old and one that their own conservative icon had tried to solve by giving real amnesty, the more racist and vitriolic the Conservative party sounded.

Of course the Dems helped by offering “moderates” that appealed to most Americans—but Rove had to know that Dems have their own brilliant strategists and would know that extremes are NOT electable.

~And just like that, the “hammer” the wannabe press was using to bash Bush with--was taken away. Conservative politicians that wanted to ride on the good side of the new media are no longer in the position to do their bidding…and those who survived are back to walking the wider path of the moderate.

NOW perhaps, some of that energy that Bush was expending on cow towing to those that should have been on his side, can now be spent fighting this war, keeping this great economy going, and bringing sanity back to the courts.

If my Brit colleague is correct, then Karl Rove is indeed brilliant.

It is unfortunate that the lost of anything, most especially one’s “limb” has to be so painful…but sometimes we are left with very little choices.

 The Following is from a post written in reply to those who keep insisting that THEY had nothing to do with the lost of Congress..."because we voted R anyway."

Yes, the RINOs voted Republican ANYWAY...as the RINO press who egged all of the hard liners on, knew they would.

What they didn't count on was the 60% that is NOT Conservative who was listening to their daily rant of Bush and GOP bashing.

The Hard Liners told them that Bush and Company failed and if "his own people thought that of him...", then it must be true.

This is not rocket science people...you don't have to like everything your company sells, but you better watch what you say to the customer and in public or you will find yourself out of a job or without a product to sell.

In this case, the company is the GOP and the customer is that 60% INDEPENDENT voters...not 20% Dems or 20% Repubs.

EVERY TIME you exercise YOUR right to disagree, EVERY TIME you put your CONSERVATIVE agenda ahead of an agenda that those INDEPENDENTS care about...YOU SELL THE IDEA THAT IT WAS/IS TIME TO GIVE THE COMPETITION A CHANCE (Dems/Hillary).

This is the bottom line guys...and you better decide soon...what is more important: the Conservative dream you are pushing or making sure the Libs do not put us in a Liberal Nightmare of appeasement we can not survive.

 Most people learn early on that exercising their “right” to say what they want has consequences. As children, our first venture in calling an elderly relative “wrinkled” and “fat” may get an embarrassed laugh with a “he’s just a child” excuse, but we soon learn what can and cannot be said under the life lesson titled: “Public Manners and Behaving”.

In the social hierarchy, known as school, we find words that can never be said (the dreaded “N” word) and that some people (aka the “cool” kids) should never be publicly disagreed with.

By the time we enter the job market, we are ready for our next important “lesson” on the “cost” of using the “Freedom of Speech” card. Whether it is selling hamburgers or closing multi million dollar deals, the first cardinal rule is NOT to point out the shortcomings of the products you are selling. To provide for our families and to be able to look at the person in the mirror, we learn to focus on the POSITIVE features, with barely mentioned or smoothly glossed over “issues” of the products we are trying to convince the consumer to purchase.

If by chance someone from the company should come to us and express their own concerns about these products…our natural tendency is to be leery…but if we are not…if we get taken in by their fancy title, their articulately expressed passion and their assurances that we have the power, nay the DUTY to change the product…and we join in on the disapproval of the performance of our products…we will do so for a brief period and most assuredly, we know that the time to discuss any “issues” is NOT during the big marketing event, right?

But say we did—if we followed the fancy titles that claim to speak for our company—and lost a major share of our market, would we THEN, FINALLY, look at those FT and wonder just whose side they were on all along?

Or would we continue to “blame” the product?

Now what has all this to do with politics and why the GOP lost the majority?

Every 2 years, there are 2 “products” being sold nationally…the Conservative agenda and the Liberal agenda.

In 2002, a nation in shock after the 9/11 attack, stuck with the “old stand by” and elected more of the Conservative Agenda (henceforth known as CA).

In 2004, despite an all out push by the MSM, the GOP rounded up the best of their own media and sold the CA like their lives depended on it.

In 2006, the FT (aka the RINO press), told their base that they had the power to change the product—and that it showed their independence and their intelligence if they refused to accept the status quo. Instead of giving reasons to sell the product; the FT gave tons of reasons to “teach the company a lesson.”

And at the big bash—the big dance—the huge marketing event—(Midterm Elections) the Company (GOP) lost the market they should have owned because many of their people, spurred on by people who SHOULD know better, NO LONGER BELIEVED in their product.

For all of you that failed to make the distinction between the GOP and the Dems in Congress—you “sold” the idea of a choice between a product that hasn’t done anything to one that might.

For all of you that used emotional words like “amnesty”, “invasion”, and “treason” to express what you felt Bush was doing when he tried to balance the economic cost of losing 12 million workers and funds taken from our troops in Iraq to build a 700 mile wall with the near 3 decade problem of illegals – convinced the consumer to turn to the “nice” quiet people, selling an easy going product that requires very little emotional output.

For all of you that didn’t bother pointing out the positive accomplishments of the GOP and Bush—you gave the consumer (voter) the impression that there wasn’t any.

For all of you who continue to blame the “product”…

In 2008, you will find yourself with nothing to sell.

 
There has been a noticeable shift toward reality in the Reagan rewrite; another casualty in the “illegal immigration” saga. After all, one can hardly accuse Bush of not being “conservative” enough because of his “guest worker” program when Mr. Conservative himself Reagan gave 3 million illegals REAL amnesty.

Oh the Reaganites have tried to spin it with “it was a different time…it was BEFORE 9/11”…but then stutter when trying to explain why Bush should be held to a standard that was "...a different time…AFTER the 9/11 attack.”

And no matter how much Bush is vilified for “compromising” with the Dems, they cannot unspin the fact that Reagan himself wanted to join forces with the evil Soviets to protect earth from space invaders.

With the internet and it’s numerous means of gathering information, it was only a matter of time before the godlike conservatism of Reagan returned to its human reality. But—and this is a major BUT—DO NOT MAKE THE MISTAKE of concluding that Ronald Reagan did nothing great for this country. His was a contribution so important, so momentous, that it literally changed the soul of this nation.

To understand this “gift” of Reagan, one has to look at the twenty years preceding Reagan election as our 40th president. Civil rights leaders and Feminists battled centuries of inequality and as it frequently happens with great struggles, the anger and blame turned inward. What had been an international “sin” became the “crime” of America. But because it was “Americans” confronting and accusing America, it seemed right and almost…sanctifying.

Then Reagan took the oath of the highest office. He brought with him old fashion ideals of patriotism, loyalty, goodness—and his Hollywood blue blood made it cool. He made Americans believe in themselves and gave honor back to the military. After 20 years of self-flagellation, America FINALLY got to put aside the whip chains of guilt and self-doubt and wear the “white hat” again.

If JFK made America feel young, Reagan made her feel good.

It took another 20 years for Reagan’s gift to be tarnished and then disfigured.

For the past 2 years, those who claim to be “Reagan Conservatives” have forgotten the man’s positive optimism. At every turn, they have assured the American people that their war time president and the GOP Congress has let them down…on immigration…on limiting government…on government spending. Issues, NO ONE, not even the great Reagan was able to resolve to the hard line Conservative’s satisfaction.

Laura Ingraham tried to tell her listeners that Reagan was “smiling” from on high at the ousting of his party after the GOP lost Congress.

I believe…and I think somewhere deep within…Ingraham, who claims to have worked for Reagan, KNOWS…that Reagan would have been terribly disappointed at his so-called followers. In fact, I think that if Reagan was still alive and still had his mental faculties, he’d have asked her why she had insisted on pushing the negative for 2 long years…all the way up to the mid term elections…”was there not a great economy to talk about? How about the bill of rights given to 2 Middle Eastern nations and the end of their female apartheid? How about the 99.99% Bush appointed judges that are turning the courts back to sanity? And the fact that the nation has been able to go back to their own lives thanks to no more 9/11s?”

And then he may have given this one last parting thought…”What is the difference between Liberals who blame everything on their own nation and Conservatives who do the same with their own party?”