Posted on 05/16/2006 9:27:24 AM PDT by Reagan Man
A few weeks ago, I promised you an adventure. For me, the adventure is bringing new ideas and new solutions to you, the American people -- visiting your towns, your businesses and occasionally even your homes, and discussing how to win the future for our children and grandchildren.
This week took me from the streets of Newark to the Pittsburgh Convention Center, and from the Wrigley Mansion in Phoenix to the studio of "Meet the Press" in Washington. And the common theme I consistently heard from the people I spoke with, whether in the Pittsburgh airport or the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, is that Americans want change.
Not just any change -- conservative change.
When we hear from the former head of border enforcement that America's border is an invitation to illegal entry, we know something has to change.
When we hear that a single bill sent up from Congress to the President contained more than 6,000 earmarks for pork-barrel projects, we know something has to change.
And when we discover that our government is paying contractors $1.75 a square foot to lay blue tarp on storm damaged roofs in Louisiana but the people actually doing the work are being paid only 10 cents per square foot, we know something has to change.
Tough Love for the Republican Majority
Some think my message of change is too hard on my own party. But nothing could be further from the truth. My position is simple: I want to create a strong governing Republican majority. I want a Republican presidency. I think that means we have to recognize that things aren't working, we need to fix them before the American people decide they have had enough and replace our majority.
It's time for an intervention.
America is hungry for conservative leadership. I don't believe Americans want to go back to a left-wing Democratic majority. We want a Contract with America, not a Contract with San Francisco and Vermont. The Republican leadership has an opportunity now -- in May, June and July -- to change the terms of the debate for the coming November elections.
In my first message to you, I warned you that our Republican majority is in danger. But I also believe that movement conservatives are ready to reassert themselves in order to return our party to its roots of smaller government, innovative ideas and common sense solutions.
As I mentioned last week, House Speaker Dennis Hastert's (R-Ill.) declaration that the pork-laden "emergency" spending bill passed by the Senate was "dead on arrival" in the House was a good start.
That was a declaration of war on the big spending that has become business as usual in Washington. We need to continue this campaign for real conservative change.
Here's an idea for real change: Instead of joining in the chorus of Democratic scapegoating of oil companies over high gas prices, we should be more aggressive about not relying on dictatorships in Venezuela, Nigeria, Iran and
Saudi Arabia for our energy needs. The President should call a renewable fuels summit in a place where they know a little something about producing clean, renewable sources of energy: Iowa State University. We should bring all the best minds and major players together. And then, within the next 30 days, conservatives should introduce a major renewable fuels bill that will reduce our reliance on unstable dictatorships overseas.
'Speaking Honestly, Plainly and Sympathetically'
Yesterday, on NBC's "Meet the Press" I discussed these ideas with Tim Russert (video), along with the lessons America has learned in Iraq and the emerging threat from the genocidal Iranian dictator.
I also detailed how we can control our borders and make America safer, beginning by sending the message to immigrants that breaking the law is not acceptable and will not be tolerated.
I believe we must put border security first. The President should reject the Senate's immigration bill that sets up a nonsensical three-tiered amnesty program where those who broke the law the longest are most rewarded. Moreover, Robert Rector from the Heritage Foundation says the bill as proposed would allow more than 100 million new legal immigrants over the next 20 years. That plan, as I told Human Events last week, is unworkable. As I've said before, this is a great opportunity for the President to re-bond with the overwhelming majority of Americans, and I hope he will take that opportunity tonight in his address to the nation.
In response to my "Meet the Press" appearance, I heard from many of you, but I would like to share one very thoughtful and encouraging email:
"You are in a rare position for a public servant: you have found a way to make telling the truth a convincing political strategy. I think it really works on foreign and domestic policy, and I think it works when you talk about your own personal history in the face of hostile questions. When you do America the simple courtesy of speaking honestly, plainly and sympathetically, you tap huge reserves of goodwill and in the process make Americans feel better about themselves."
I wish I could say all the email I receive is this complimentary. But I'll take these kind words less as a commentary on past performance and more as wise guidance for the future. I will endeavor to continue to give you the simple courtesy of speaking honestly, plainly and sympathetically -- not for my political future but to win the future for America.
Not the voters job to guess whether someone "can win" or not. Our job is to back the best guy, and drum up support.
Sorry but this idea has always sounded like folks trying to pick a winner at the track.
Very often the most popular guy is the WORST. Look at our history of sending to office the ones who have been "chosen" for us.
We seem to end up with two (and only two) terrible choices.
the pubbies have a problem. their choices like those of the people on flight
93 are between certain death and near certain death.
If they allow the illegals citizenship--the illegal/legals will do what they did after 1986: vote democratic and tip the country to a democratic majority as they have done in california and that because after 1993 in California many mexicans began voting in california to preserve gov bennies--for which the dems excel. There won't be social security benefit for Americans of retirement age from the illegals/legals because they will suck up what ever they put into the economy--as they are now. They won't yield a net gain. ie they won't pay for anyone's social security.
Everyone but everyone who has ever been to any government building that dispenses anything from health care to drivers lisences can't help but notice that the place is swamped with foreigners. Basically the welfare state system set up in the 1960's is being totally gamed by foreigners.
If the president gets his way he will demoralize the republicans bringing on the effects of the 1992 & 1996 elections. There may not even be a third party but when W builds in a reversal of the fortunes of the war of 1848--it creates a kind of passivity in people when they see their leaders commit them to the status of world historical losers.
If Bush decides to put up a wall and expel the illegals then there is a chance to preserve Republican majorities. It would be helpful to promise that the USA will kill the cost of water desalination and transport so as to make it economically possible to turn the deserts 1000 miles from any desert seacoast -- green. (this would increase the habitable size of the USA by a third and double the habitable size of Mexico.)This work is already ongoing and will be accomplished in five years or so--or in about the same time frame that GM promises to have a cost effective fuel cell car. For GM as it is for the GOP its do or die time.
The chief difference between the pubbies current predicament and flight 93 is that they are currently in the cockpit. (if you presume that bush is a republican or at least more of a republican than a bilderburger.)
The point here is that if these guys cannot act like loyal americans at least they can act like republicans. ie people who have a stake in the continuity of the republican party.
Since they are not doing even this the republicans in the white house and senate all need to be smacked on both sides of the face and kicked in the but.
That's incorrect of course.
Subtract the number of Libertarian votes from the difference of the losing Republican candidates and tell me how many elections have been "spoiled".
Why?
I am one of those oddball persons who has always believed that suicide is a perfectly acceptable social artifact...
Perhaps this is a good opportunity to express my disdain for the obsession over the word "conservative". Give me a well thought out plan to deal with a serious social or political issue and you have my vote.
I don't care what you call yourself!
Maybe thi will get you "thank you" card/e-mail from Hillary, Nancy Pelosi, Dick Durbin, Harry Reid and Ted Kennedy.
Your tantrum could help get the Democrats back in power. Wouldn't that make you proud?
Well stated!
Excuse me. I did overgeneralize. But the water in ethanol separates, and forces the entire fuel system to have to be dried out. It's expensive, and it's happening more and more.
Both insourcing to illegals and outsourcing overseas are inextricably tied together. I wonder what the impact would be if employers had to pay liveable wages to American citizens? I think some have posted studies of how the illegals have brought prevailing wages down in areas of the country.
I am resonably certain that getting serious about our existing immigration laws would have an impact on industry. I am just not sure precisely what that would be.
The other related issue is our declining birth rate. Are we to use immigration to take care of that?
Securing the borders NOW would be a good first step.
Of course money is important - money is free speech (something McCain denies). As for "world financial syndicates" well that sounds ominous and it is somewhat true but what's your solution? Certainly not campaign finance reform. Certainly not public financing of elections. These are all liberal ideas paid for by some of the "syndicates". I say there are plenty of "world financial syndicates" for all politicians of varying ideas and philosophies. Let 'em rip. Those politicians who ignore the "syndicates" can also be accused of "ignoring their base". :-) It's all how you look at it.
Address the message if you can, not denigrate the messenger.
"Of course the collection of Perpetual Whiners who are the hard core of the "Anti Illegal" threads don't want a solution."
You are just dead wrong.
In addition, you are insulting people that have stood shoulder to shoulder with you on many conservative issues.
To call those of us who see the Presidents plan as wrong and ineffective whiners doesn't help.
Go after the damn employers. Fine the hell out them.
Six thousand National Guard troops on the border, with empty guns and no authority to enforce ANYTHING is absurd, and IS equivalent to "putting lipstick on a pig".
It SCREAMS the proposition that the President is NOT a leader and is just another pandering politician.
I have always respected the man and expected much more from him.
"They are here for jobs. If they can't get them they'll leave."
Think you might not be aware of how this is done. A legal with citizenship, green card, etc. is hired at a menial job, but is paid a six figure salary. He has at least a dozen or more relatives in Mexico. they come, he puts them up, and pays them cash out of his salary. Neat huh?
These "secure" cards proposed won't make a bit of differnece in this scheme. As the owner of a const. co. that's been destroyed by illegal immigration, I can assure you, no one can outbid a company who has an army of these kinds of workers, and it's happening all over.
With that ego, it has to be TV, and he's had many tastes of it.
* TV news/commentary people don't have face elections. But there is such a thing as 'ratings'.
Never again. The Libertarians are not yet ready for prime time.
Enforcing the law and securing the border are most assuredly huge parts of the solution. And since when is either of those things a "slogan"? Sounds like simple conservative common sense to me.
I think you're still smarting from Harriet Miers' ouster, since you're singing the same tired song you sang during that fiasco; to wit, anyone with a modicum of criticism for or disagreement to GWB or the GOP is just "screaming", "whining" and "angry." But it is good to see you've stop SHOUTING every OTHER word.
Stuff and nonsense. Get out there and choose your own candidates. We all support candidates that we think can win so we don't waste our time. If I know there's no way Joe Sixpack is going to get elected because the country is full of Sally Simpletons, I look for a candidate that shares some of my principles that has a chance to convince Sally Simpletons. This dying for your principles is silly and self-destructive. You let the other guys die for their principles while you win and effect what change you can and keep moving forward. When it comes to the point where you don't think you are moving forward then you get out there and get another candidate elected. Sitting back and whining about the big powerbrokers is just another form of being a vicitim. If that's what people want to be, there's a political party that's all set up for victims.
No, actually it doesn't. That's what happens with GASOLINE and water. Water and ethanol are completely miscible over all concentration ranges, so the water will never "separate".
"your tantrum could get the Dems back in power."
At this point in time, I can't for the life of me see what the difference would be. The Reps. wasted their political capitol that so many of us worked so hard to give them. Dems tax and spend---Reps. borrow then print money. Either way, we lose.
Solution to Imigration:
1) end the insentive to come here and not pay for any services. Charge illegals for public School, For by lingual education, for back taxes, and for medical treatment. Just like the rest of us. At the going rate.
2) Issue mandatory ID uncounterfietable, not a drivers license, that must be presented to be employed.
3) Tax money sent out of the US over 1000.00 per year.
4) Photograph and ID every person entering the US via any boarder.
5) End babies born to illegals as citizens. Citizenship should be earned. I believe that the Mexican that joined the marianes and fought in IRaq desearves citizenship.
6) increase the enforcement on employers hiring illegals; increase the fine as well.
Just MHO. I think this may solve 90% of the illegal problems
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