Republican: GOP Revolution Dying on Washington D.C. Vine

As always, the road to hell is paved with good intentions. ; )

LOL I thought you'd say that.

Bottomline. Two wrongs don't make a right.

ITA with you that we MUST reframe the argument. The way it is framed now it is difficult to separate out "illegal" from "legal." And we leave ourselves open to the "racist" label.

The left and the MSM have done an excellent job of painting those who believe in the law as mean nut cases against the poor tired hungry masses who are coming here searching for a better life, even if they are "undocumented."

I believe the best way to turn this around is to show how coming here illegally actually sets people up for being abused and preyed upon by those with nefarious intent. That might turn the discussion on its ear.

So, rather than pay lib (ha! Freudian typo) service and pass another law, let's just pull ourselves together, review what we have and enforce that.

Nope...two wrongs tend to make a left. Ha! Sorry to be so predictable, but it was just hanging there!

" Yes Ms. spelling/grammar nazi.

Here, hear. (I don't usually agree with Dane on anything but spell checkers are my pet peave).

"there is no conservative agenda. Despite the President’s talk, there is no social security reform on the horizon and no real tax reform being seriously debated."

This is a case of an author being deliberately uninformed. The just passed Energy Bill (now law) contains $15 Billion in new tax cuts for this year alone, and the committee studying the replacement of the income tax with a flat or sales tax is nearing the release of its report and recommendations.

Moreover, the author calls all of the following "liberal:"

Presidency of George W. Bush -- the first 48 months

President Bush signing a federal ban on Partial Birth Abortion

Banned Partial Birth Abortion

Reversed Clinton's move to strike Reagan's anti-abortion Mexico Policy
Stopped foreign aid that would be used to fund abortions.

Supported and upheld the ban on abortions at military hospitals

Signed E.O. reversing Clinton's policy of not requiring parental consent for abortions under the Medical Privacy Act

Killed the Kyoto Global Warming Treaty

Killed U.S. involvement in the International Criminal Court

Killed Clinton's CO2 rules that were choking off all of the electricity surplus to California

Killed Clinton's "ergonomic" rules that OSHA was about to implement; rules that would have shut down every home business in America

First Missile is Installed For NMD on July 23, 2004
Killed the U.S. - CCCP ABM Treaty that was preventing the U.S. from deploying our ABM defenses

Has CONSTRUCTION in process on the first ten ABM silos in Alaska and California so that America has a defense against North Korean nukes
The Commercial Space Launch Amendments Act (less romantically known as H.R. 5382) ultimately allows average Americans to hitch a ride on a civilian space craft at their own risk. The federal ban on such citizen travel was repealed by HR 5382 in 2004. The President signed that bill into law two days before Christmas.
President Bush pledged to Israel on 4/14/2004 that it could keep parts of the West Bank, giving international legitimacy to Jewish settlements there
Denied Palestinian refugees any right of return to what is now Israel, saying they should be resettled in a future Palestinian state instead
Part of coalition (Russia, Israel, EU, Palestine, USA) for Israeli/Palestinian "Roadmap to Peace"
Pushed through THREE raises for our military

Increased Defense Dept funding which had deteriorated during the previous 8 years
President Bush's Grand Strategy (click here)

President Bush's Environmental Record - 2004 (click here)
Signed TWO bills into law that arm our pilots with handguns in the cockpit

Currently pushing for full immunity from lawsuits for our national gun manufacturers

Ordered Attorney-General Ashcroft to formally notify the Supreme Court that the OFFICIAL U.S. government position on the 2nd Amendment is that it supports INDIVIDUAL rights to own firearms, NOT a leftist-imagined *collective* right

Told the United Nations we weren't interested in their plans for gun control (i.e. the International Ban on Small Arms Trafficking Treaty)
Signed the 2004 Omnibus Budget 1/26/2004 that now MANDATES that gun buyers' background check information be fully and permanently destroyed within 24 hours of the completion of the check, no matter what.
Repealed Gun Controls Against Active, Retired, and Off-Duty Law Enforcement Personnel Carrying Weapons Into Local and State Prohibited Zones (7/28/2004)

Enacted powerful tort reform legislation that moves many class action lawsuits from state to federal courts. Requires federal courts to hear cases where the amount of the dispute is more than $5 million, and when the defendant and any of the plaintiffs live in different states.

Disarmed Libya of its Chemical, Nuclear, and biological WMD's without bribes or bloodshed
Won an agreement that U.S. Navy sailors may now freely board thousands of commercial ships in international waters to search for weapons of mass destruction under a landmark pact between the United States and Liberia, the world's No. 2 shipping registry (signed Feb 11, 2004), and Panama 5/10/2004 http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/11/international/americas/11ship.html).
Approves The First U.S. Counter-Intel Plan

Successfully executed 2 wars and rebuilt 2 nations: Afghanistan and Iraq. 50+ million people who had lived under tyrannical regimes now live in freedom...epitomized by their own free and democratic elections.
Provided Billions in aid, machines, and manpower to tsunami victims.

Executed a WAR ON TERROR by getting world-wide cooperation to track funds/terrorists (has cut off much of the terrorist's funding and captured or killed many key leaders of the al Qaeda network)
Bush Administration diplomacy led to the 5/25/2004 peace accord that ended a massive 20-year civil war between Sudan's Islamic north and Christian south after two million deaths Click Here
Delivered vital emergency aid to millions of survivors on multiple continents (e.g. Africa, SE Asia) of a devastating Tsunami caused by a 9.1 earthwuake near Sumatra.

Brought back our EP-3 intel plane and crew from China without any bribes or bloodshed

Started withdrawing our troops from Bosnia and has announced withdrawal of our troops from Germany and the Korean DMZ.

Signed the LARGEST nuclear arms reduction in world history with Russia

Initiated comprehensive review of our military, which was completed just prior to 9/11/01, accurately reported that ASYMMETRICAL WARFARE was critical.
Created NATO's Rapid Response Force
Changed the tone in the White House, restoring HONOR and DIGNITY to the Presidency

Reorganized bureaucracy...after 9/11, condensed 20+ overlapping agencies and their intelligence sectors into one agency: the Department of Homeland Security.

Initiated discussion on privatizing Social Security and individual investment accounts.

Improving govt. efficiency with .8 million jobs put up for bid...weakening unions and cutting undeserved pay raises. Wants merit based promotions/raises only.

Orchestrated Republican control of the White House, the House AND the Senate.

Killed the liberal ABA's role in vetting federal judges for Congress.

GWB signed an executive order enforcing the Supreme Court's Beck decision (re: union dues being used for political campaigns against individual's wishes)

Turned around an inherited economy that was in recession.

Passed tough new laws to hold corporate criminals to account as a result of corporate scandals.

Signed 2 income tax cuts ---- 1 of which was the largest Dollar-value tax cut in world history

Reduced taxes on dividends and capital gains

In process of eliminating IRS marriage penalty.

Increased small business incentives to expand and to hire new people
Eliminated the Estate Tax (AKA "Death Tax") that was taking small farms and businesses from families

Signed into law the No Child Left Behind legislation delivering the most dramatic education reforms in a generation (challenging the soft bigotry of low expectations)

Reorganized the INS in an attempt to safeguard the borders and ports of America and to eliminate bureaucratic redundancies and lack of accountability.

Signed trade promotion authority

Committed US funds to purchase medicine for millions of men and women and children now suffering with AIDS in Africa

Passed Medicare Reform (authorized $39.5 Billion per year for preventive medicine such as drugs and doctor visits as well as included a ten year Privatization option)

Urging federal liability reform to eliminate frivolous lawsuits

Supports class action reform bill which limits lawyer fees so that more settlement money goes to victims

Submitted comprehensive Energy Plan--awaits Congressional action (works to develop cleaner technology, produce more natural gas here at home, make America less dependent on foreign sources of energy, improve national grid, etc.)

Endorses and promotes The Responsibility Era ("In a compassionate society, people respect one another and take responsibility for the decisions they make in life. My hope is to change the culture from one that has said, if it feels good, do it; if you've got a problem, blame somebody else -- to one in which every single American understands that he or she are responsible for the decisions that you make; you're responsible for loving your children with all your heart and all your soul; you're responsible for being involved with the quality of the education of your children; you're responsible for making sure the community in which you live is safe; you're responsible for loving your neighbor, just like you would like to be loved yourself. " -----this quote was too good to leave out)

Started the USA Freedom Corps

Initiated review of all federal agencies with a goal to eliminate federal jobs (completed September 2003) in an effort to reduce the size of federal gov while increasing private sector jobs.

Challenged the United Nations to live up to their responsibilities and not become The League of Nations ( in other words, completely irrelevant)

Nominated strong, conservative judges to the judiciary.

President Bush opened up an additional part of Alaska for domestic oil drilling. In 2004, the National Petroleum Reserve, an area west of the existing Prudhoe Bay field, was approved for new energy exploration and production.
Increased U.S. Oil Drilling Permits 70% Above Clinton-era
Changed parts of the Forestry Management Act to allow necessary clean-up of the national forests in order to reduce fire danger.

As part of the national forests clean-up, the President restricted judicial challenges (based on the Endangered Species Act and other challenges) and removed the need for an EIS (Environmental Impact Statement) before removing fuels/logging to reduce fire danger.
New Forest Rules Gives States Power Over Federal Forests Inside Their Borders
Significantly eased field-testing controls of genetically engineered crops.
President Bush signed the workplace verification bill to prevent hiring of illegal Aliens
S. 1685, the Basic Pilot Extension Act of 2003, was signed by President Bush on December 3, 2003.
It extends for five years the workplace employment eligibility authorization pilot programs created in 1996. It expands the pilot programs from the original five states to all 50 states.

U.S. Forces In Baghdad

2nd Term Supplimental (incomplete)

Broke the Chinese Yuan to Dollar currency peg
CAFTA
Bolton to the UN
Energy Bill (new tax cuts...after 5 years of opposition)
Immunity For Gun Manufacturers From Crime-Related Lawsuits
5% unemployment
3.4% annual (after inflation, 5.5% actual) reported GDP Growth
Syrian Troops forced to withdraw from Lebanon

For example, a true conservative agenda on the pressing issues of immigration reform, the real threats to the English language, or the multi-faceted culture war does not have the support of the GOP leadership in Congress or the White House and is in no danger of being passed.

Anybody know what the official language of France is? What about Germany and Austria? Poland? How about Japan? Australia?

Ok, here's an easy one: What's the official language of the U.S.?

It's because of the language difference.

There is a lot to be said for that common bond.

"Borders, language, culture," Michael Savage's slogan. Whether you love or hate Savage, he has popularized the formula which really isn't that novel. I first picked that one up from Geography class; it makes up the necessary elements for a nation: shared language, defined borders, and common cultural heritage.

*ping*

Not only is there no fiscal discipline, there is no conservative agenda

And the past five years there hasn't been. Just a 'conservative' version of socialism. But keep voting Republican because that's the only way to change....

That would be an impressive list if the President had been anyone but George Bush.

CAFTA

Yes, buying off our legislators to pass unconstitional legislation that paves the way for our hemispheric trading bloc and EU style socialism.

I wouldn't call that exactly exemplary.

Now we know that many of the NGOs that helped lobby for the CAFTA, purposely ignored the sovereignty issue for monetary or political gain.....

The CAFTA is one dirty deal.

Signed into law the No Child Left Behind legislation delivering the most dramatic education reforms in a generation (challenging the soft bigotry of low expectations)

Oh yes, agreeing with Ted Kennedy for more federal funding for education. That's conservatism is it?

Passed Medicare Reform (authorized $39.5 Billion per year for preventive medicine such as drugs and doctor visits as well as included a ten year Privatization option)

Really?!? I thought it was the business of the legislative branch to pass bills. And authorization of 39 billion tax dollars for anything other than defense or returning it to the pockets of the tax payers is anything but conservative

Started the USA Freedom Corps

And to think people were volunteering for non-profit organizations without a government agency. But I suppose we need to waste more money than the other party to stay in power. And that's all that matters isn't it?

As for most of the other nonsense you posted that Bush 'passed' or enacted, these bills of wasteful spending were passed by a Republican Congress. But of course Bush did sign them. One thing you can say about the man. He never met a spending bill he didn't like...

>"shared language, defined borders, and common cultural heritage."<

Thanks for that concise statement. Well said.

Regards

>"and the committee studying the replacement of the income tax with a flat or sales tax is nearing the release of its report and recommendations."<

Almost 5 years of Republican control of all branches, and all we have is "a "committee studying the replacement of the income tax with a flat or sales tax"???
The issue of a flat tax or a national sales tax has been studied to death for more then a decade! Talk, and studies are cheap.

The IRS is still just as powerful, and we still have a progressive income tax system. Yes, the Republicans have whittled around the edges, but every reduction in a progressive tax system can be reversed in one fell swoop.
As I said: talk is cheap.

>"Reorganized bureaucracy"<;
- Name even one federal bureaucracy whose bloated budget has been cut even one dime.

>"Moreover, the author calls all of the following "liberal:"<

Yes; Republicans approving that Medicare prescription drug plan is liberal.
Signing a HUGE federal education package (No Child Left Behind Act) into law is liberal.

Not once using the veto pen EVER on ANY federal spending package is liberal.

...and signing the HR 4818 legislation, which included 288 million dollars for family planning (Title X), is liberal.
Wording in HR 4818 below:
"Provided further, That of the funds made available under this heading, $288,283,000 shall be for the program under title X of the Public Health Service Act to provide for voluntary family planning projects:..."

Instructions to locate this text yourself on-line:
Go to: http://thomas.loc.gov
Click on: "Search Bills and Resolutions"
Select: 108th Congress (2003-2004)
Enter Search: H.R.4818
>

>"Initiated discussion on privatizing Social Security and individual investment accounts."<
-Yes...allowing us to have semi-control over less then 3% of our own money. Big whoop-dee-doo. Again, all I've seen is talk. Where's the legislation???
At the same time, President Bush is pushing for a totalization agreement with Mexico, so Mexicans who work here will be eligible to collect U.S. Social Security benefits, when they retire to Mexico. This will add hundreds of millions of dollars of debt per year to our already bankrupt Social Security system.

You call that *conservative*???

Finally, you bring up this gem:

>"Signed 2 income tax cuts ---- 1 of which was the largest Dollar-value tax cut in world history"<

-Yes, temporary tax cuts in a permanently progressive tax system; and at the same time he signed the largest federal budget in world history. Authored and signed by supposedly *conservative* Republicans.

Meanwhile the federal bureaucracy, federal budget (and debt) keeps growing and growing...and growing.

>"Here, hear. (I don't usually agree with Dane on anything but spell checkers are my pet peave)."<

We all misspell words...But it's not an occasional misspelled word I'm chewing Dane out for. It's the constant run-on diatribes full of vitriol and unpunctuated gibberish that spews forth from her posts.
Dane has the the communication skills of a 15 year old drop out, and the personality to match.

If you've read Danes comments, then I'm sure you understand what I'm talking about.

Regards

Dane is a she?

Thanks for posting that.

You have heard the old expression that 100 'ATTABOYS' got wiped out by 1 HUGE 'O $HI_!' haven't you.

CAFTA was one of those O $hi_!

CAFTA kept China, Cuba, Venzuela, and Brazil from subverting 6 other Latin American nations. It was and is a thing of great beauty.

The CAFTA is one dirty deal.

In a long line of dirty deals.

[ Why not just vote Hillary and Howard Dean in and destroy the republican party. ]

OR energize it.. Hillary gets elected the current republican power cabal is exposed.. as the Neville Chamberlains they really are(appeasement of democrats don't work, EVER).. Theres a wave building.. a wave of distrust of both partys..