Posted on 04/25/2006 9:49:30 AM PDT by Reagan Man
I know a little something about adventure.
In the late 1970s, the leader of the Republican minority in the U.S. House of Representatives used to greet newly elected Republican members with a white flag of surrender. "Every day I wake up and look in the mirror and say to myself, 'Today you're going to be a loser,'" said the former minority leader. "And after you're here awhile, you'll start to feel the same way. But don't let it bother you. You'll get used to it."
A party whose leader would offer such advice deserves to be in the minority -- and we were, for 40 years. But in 1994 we changed that with a bold ideas-based, values-led grassroots movement. We believed in transformational leadership: accountability in government, balanced budgets, lower taxes, stronger defense and reforming the welfare state. And we believed this: To bring about this transformation, we had to reject the minority leader's advice. We would not "get used" to losing. We would win. And win we did.
But today, 12 years later, conservatives are grasping for a reinvigorated movement that will return our party to its roots of smaller government, innovative ideas and common sense solutions. The situation is serious. We are in jeopardy of losing the majority we won in 1994. Now is the time to act.
Five Challenges to Our Future
History is full of once great but now collapsed civilizations, e.g. Rome, Greece, the Aztecs, the Mayas. And yet as Americans, we deceive ourselves into believing that somehow we are permanent, that we will escape the fate of those who also believed that they were unconquerable.
My stepfather was a career soldier who served America in World War II, Korea and Vietnam. It was while living in France -- where the damage of World War II bombs and the suffering of those wounded were still apparent -- that my father's lessons hit home for me. We toured the battlefield of Verdun, the greatest battle site of the First World War. I realized then that the difference between preserving our freedoms and losing them to tyrants is the quality of our leaders, the courage of our people and the willingness to work every day for the implementation of the solutions necessary for our survival.
The future cannot be left to chance. The future must be won.
Today, in order to win the future, there are five challenges that America must meet:
1. Confronting a world in which America's enemies, including the irreconcilable wing of Islam and rogue dictatorships, could acquire and use nuclear or biological weapons;
2. Defending God in the public square;
3. Protecting America's unique civilization;
4. Competing in the global economy in an era of the economic rise of China and India, which will require transformations in litigation, education, taxation, regulation, and environmental, energy and health policies for America to continue to be the most successful economy in the world;
5. Promoting active, healthy aging so more people can live longer, which will require dramatic transformation in pensions, Social Security and health care.
For 400 years, in the spirit of freedom and entrepreneurial pioneering, we have defined a better America that has overcome every challenge. It is in this tradition that I will regularly share my thoughts here on the solutions necessary for our generation to meet these challenges and win the future.
I can make only one promise: It will be challenging and engaging, and it will never be dull. But then again, adventures never are.
CLOSE THE BORDERS!
This is true Peter Principle in action....It appears Repubs were promoted to a point of incompetence. However, unlike the Peter Principle...the American people WILL demote them back to minority status.
Sad, but true.
Republicans have squandered the best chance they could have been given to lead, quite possibly for decades. If the current "Republican" party hasn't figured out how to lead by now I think they may need another couple of years back on the bench to think about it.
Talk to the hand!
Give retirees tax breaks for using gyms under the watchful eye of trainers who understand the needs of the elderly.
Too bad Newt had to remove himself from office. He did a good job of leading the party.
Just what we need: another one of Newt's lists to success.
How about this: a genuine conservative that rerally ACTS like a conservative because he reall IS a conservative and isn't AFRAID to espouse conservatism?
If you look at this closely enough with one eye you might be able to find a hint of cutting back government, but only if you really believe you'll find it.
The party of Reagan may not be dead, but it is on life support and its heirs like McCain are holding a pillow over its face.
You single-issue nitwits piss me off.
Hey Newt...you are to blame also when you cozy up with Hillary and slobber all over her and kiss Bill's a*s....STRAIGHTEN UP.
We need a charismatic visionary leader to embody this reinvigorated conservative message. I see no one to who can fill the role.
Newt, the Contract With America was a BRILLIANT idea...should be repeated....and STOP making nice with Hillary!
Isn't Newt buds w/ Hillary, like W and her hubby are?
PROSECUTE EMPLOYERS WHO HAVE HIRED ILLEGALS! PUT THEM IN JAIL! SIEZE THEIR PROPERTY!
NO AMNESTY!
NO GUEST WORKERS!
Newt couldn't stay true to his marriage vows....pathetic.
Oh, like it matters now that the two parties have merged into the Demopublicans and contend only to see who can spend our grandkids' futures fastest.
You mean if folks don't vote party-line Republican, the Dims will take over?
Does it make even a single tiny damn bit of difference if the pubbies are just mirror images of the dems anyways?
Conservatives have held their noses for the greater party on spending, education and entitlements - just for starters. But because there is ONE ISSUE for which we are not going to yet again bend over, you have the temerity to call us SINGLE ISSUE VOTERS?
How about you realizing that the base has been telling Bush loud and clear that they will not accept a guest worker or amnesty program, especially since the borders are not secure? And that such a position is not based on racism or xenophobia, but as a result of the failed history of Reagan's amnesty.
Nah, it's just easier to call us single-issue voters. It's a lot easier than thinking.
Newt reminds me somewhat of that great Irish leader, Charles Stewart Parnell, who had to step down prematurely because of a personal scandal.
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.