Posted on 12/24/2007 11:24:11 AM PST by Greene11
Iowans have a profound opportunity and a great responsibility to make the first in the nation recommendation for president to the rest of America. Of 300 million Americans, one in 100 are Iowans. Of Iowans, only about one in 15 will attend either the Democrat or the Republican caucus. Your vote in the Iowa caucus will likely have 1500 times more impact than that of the average American. This is a profound responsibility. It is our duty to determine the most important issues and set criteria for how we make our decisions.
Iowans have a unique and historic opportunity to see and hear, in person, each of the presidential candidates. As a Republican member of the Iowa Congressional Delegation, I have had the opportunity and the privilege to meet individually and privately with them, giving me a unique insight into the candidates.
During the past year and a half, I have come to like and respect all the presidential candidates. Each has demonstrated real leadership and success in their respective careers. All are capable and effective. All are capable of winning the general election. The questions before us are, “Who would make the best leader of the free world? Who would best lead the United States to the next level of our destiny? Which of the candidate’s records demonstrates the vision to lead and is consistent with our platform and values?”
It’s the culture of America that produces our leaders at every level, from precinct captain to city council, from Congress to president. We elect leaders who reflect our values. We determine by our vote the issue priorities of our culture which charts the course of our national destiny. Our challenge is to elect a president who will best position America to pass the American Dream on to future generations. America needs a president who will refurbish the pillars of American Exceptionalism.
Among the most important issues in the presidential campaign are Social Security reform, healthcare, tax reform, Second Amendment gun rights, global war on Islamic jihad, abortion, marriage, illegal immigration, and the imperative to reestablish our national sovereignty. Our decision on who to support should emerge as we evaluate the priorities of the candidates.
Fundamentally, there are two types of issues. Those issues that improve or protect our quality of life, and issues that redirect our national destiny. Of the quality of life issues, some are not at risk and either will be protected by all candidates or by Congress. Social Security and healthcare are two issues we can be confident will be available to eligible Americans, regardless of who we elect. I have pushed for decades for real tax reform but since our republic functions best under the lash of necessity, the time has probably not yet arrived. In any case, Social Security, healthcare, and tax reform are not likely to redirect our national destiny. Destiny issues should determine the next leader of the free world.
Second Amendment gun rights will get a new Supreme Court decision of likely sweeping proportions within the next several months. The courts may make guns a critical issue but it is more likely they will reinforce our Second Amendment rights. If the Supreme Court upholds the Constitution, which I expect, loss of our right to keep and bear arms will not be infringed. Our destiny will not be changed, if our gun rights are upheld by the court.
Every Republican candidate, except Ron Paul, will fight Al Qaeda and the global war on Islamic jihad. The combination of eternal vigilance and good fortune has kept us safe within our borders. We must stay on the offensive if we are to eventually defeat our enemies. The Republican nominee will fight this war and move us closer to a final victory. The differences between the candidates on the war are ultimately unlikely to dramatically redirect our destiny. The differences between the candidates is in degree, not substance.
Of profound implications to the cultural destiny of America are the issues of marriage and the protection of innocent human life. These battles will play out in Congress, the states, and the courts. Except for partial birth abortion, abortion on demand and the full rights of marriage for same sex couples have been ordered by the courts and, here, are the law of the land. Both are likely to be determined by the next two confirmed presidential appointments to the Supreme Court.
I’ve asked of the presidential candidates, “Would you appoint justices who will interpret the Constitution as it was understood when written, ratified, and amended? Will you fight for their confirmation in a hostile Senate?” Each Republican has answered, “Yes.” The question becomes the question of discernment. President Bush had the right position, made the right statements, and eventually made the right nominations which will be his enduring legacy. But President Bush needed help in reselecting a Supreme Court Justice. The next president will need our help as well. His legacy of Supreme Court appointments will endure for at least a generation beyond his presidency.
We need a president who will uphold the Rule of Law by enforcing current immigration law. We need a president who will reconstitute our national sovereignty by establishing operational control of the border. We need a president who really means it when he says, “I am opposed to amnesty.”
Each of the Republican candidates are on record opposing amnesty. No candidate has defined amnesty except to say what amnesty is not. We understand that defining what amnesty is not, implies an admission that the definer’s plan is amnesty as understood by the American people. The definition of amnesty is granting a pardon to immigration lawbreakers and rewarding them with the objective of their crime. Immigration law breakers must get no advantage for having broken our laws.
The future of the American Dream lies in how we make decisions on life and family. We pour all of our values, from faith to freedom, through the womb of marriage and into the next generation. Essential components of our unique American culture will be shaped by our next president.
The Rule of Law is the central pillar of American Exceptionalism. Our failure to enforce the Rule of Law is the reason we have an illegal immigration crisis. Our southern border alone has 11,000 illegal border crossings a night. We catch and release illegal border crossers as many as 17 times before we adjudicate them. Eighty to 90 percent of all illegal drugs used in America at a cost of some $65 billion comes across our southern border. Internal domestic immigration law enforcement remains statistically nonexistent. Contempt for the Rule of Law is common for border jumpers, major corporations, national organizations and even funded by federal tax dollars.
The American civilization, as we know it, will not survive another generation of deteriorating respect for the law. Because of vested interests in illegal labor, the critical mass of Americans is near the tipping point. Congress has no power to force the administration to enforce the law. The president must have the will. If he does not, our immigration policy will continue to be determined by the cumulative effect of millions of “willing travelers” from countries of their choosing. Illegal immigrants are setting our immigration policy every day by voting with their feet. They are in control, not American citizens. Our national sovereignty is at stake. We will not be the United States of America in 50 years if we do not control our borders.
For these reasons, I must have confidence that the next president will make informed originalist appointments to all of the federal courts. I have to believe he will reconstitute our national sovereignty by restoring the Rule of Law.
Tom Tancredo deserves the greatest appreciation and admiration of the American people. Without Tancredo relentlessly pressing the issue first from the floor of Congress and then as a candidate for president, the American people would not have jammed the switchboards and blocked comprehensive amnesty. Tom is running for president to save our country from the impending disaster that I’ve described. The measure of his success is in the platforms of every Republican candidate and even in that of the Democrats. No candidate has had so profound an effect on any public policy of America. Every Republican has taken the no amnesty pledge and adopted a tough on illegal immigration stance. Tom Tancredo has been so successful that much his political capital has been co-opted by his opponents. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
John McCain is a great American who has served his country every day of his adult life. No one in the field can match his patriotism, sacrifice, or experience. McCain remains an active proponent of comprehensive amnesty which puts our national sovereignty at stake.
Rudy Giuliani, America’s Mayor, cleaned up a city and managed a crisis well. His positions on life and marriage do not square with a promise to appoint “strict constructionist” judges. The former mayor of a sanctuary city would be unlikely to put an end to sanctuary cities, let alone bring operational control to the border and shut off the jobs magnet.
Mike Huckabee is unquestioned in his commitment to life and marriage. He, like President Bush, would need help in selecting judicial appointments. No one could dislike the man or disrespect his convictions. But Huckabee has been forceful and even judgmental in voicing his conviction to give scholarships to illegal immigrants. Just one amnesty policy, and there are others, destroys the chance to reestablish the Rule of Law. How can Huckabee answer to the sons and daughters of veterans or veterans themselves who come back from the war to find that illegals have desks in classrooms at a discount prohibited to them? Compassionate conservatism run amok is hard to harness, as we have seen. The Rule of Law cannot be reestablished without “tough love”. Our destiny pivots on amnesty.
Fred Thompson is a solid conservative with a pro-life voting record and a logical Constitutional strategy to protect marriage. Of the candidates, he has the best understanding of the principles of federalism. He has adopted good policy and put together a solid platform. I have confidence that he would defend the border and the Constitution with appointments to the courts. Thompson, like Bush, would need help with appointments. He needs to really want to be president. Although he might bring the wisdom of Solomon to the White House, he needs the fire in the belly to get there.
America cannot afford the cultural calamity toward which we are headed if we decide poorly on these major issues. Each past president, and the national debate on the way to his election, has redirected our national destiny. The decisions made in the oval office move the chess pieces of world history. Our decision in the coming weeks will determine the America our children will leave to our grandchildren. They will have to build upon the foundation we leave them because a nation cannot be stripped to its original foundation and rebuilt without revolution.
The cultural calamity toward which we are headed is the focus of my life. I believe America was founded by Christians and that the broad core of our culture is Christian, founded in Judaeo-Christian values. I do not believe America, or the American Presidency, is closed to other faiths, let alone other Christian faiths. I believe our destiny as a nation is in the hands of God, but as individuals we have free will. Some are so passionate in their beliefs that they believe they have the market cornered on salvation. In fact, if we didn’t believe our faith was the true faith, there would be no reason for competing denominations. God only knows if any of us are right, but each of us justly believe we are.
In the time that I’ve been evaluating the candidates, I’ve dealt with them in every arena. I’ve probed their private thoughts and measured their responses. I’ve gotten to know their families. I’ve watched and sometimes helped shape their policies. I’ve measured their instincts and intelligence
There is only one candidate who epitomizes the full spectrum of our conservative values. There is one who is a comfortable conservative whom I have full confidence in his decisions.
That candidate also has to have the fire in his belly to go the distance and the brains and resources to get there.
That candidate also meets the test of life and marriage, judges and borders. That candidate has taken solid, persistent, and principled positions consistent with the Republican platform-which we wrote to inform the candidates of the positions of Iowa Republicans.
That candidate has a record of faith, family, freedom, service, and success.
There is no question about that candidate’s position on protecting our sovereignty at the borders, in the workplace and on the streets of America. The Rule of Law will be reestablished in American life. My long and exceptionally deliberative evaluation of the Republican candidates for president has come to an end.
I will put all my efforts into and the fire into the belly of the person whom I believe destiny has called to be the next president of the United States, Fred Thompson.
Steve King December 17, 2007
Fred Thompson is a solid conservative with a pro-life voting record and a logical Constitutional strategy to protect marriage. Of the candidates, he has the best understanding of the principles of federalism. He has adopted good policy and put together a solid platform. I have confidence that he would defend the border and the Constitution with appointments to the courts. Thompson, like Bush, would need help with appointments. He needs to really want to be president. Although he might bring the wisdom of Solomon to the White House, he needs the fire in the belly to get there.
~snip~
I will put all my efforts into and the fire into the belly of the person whom I believe destiny has called to be the next president of the United States, Fred Thompson.
GO FRED GO!!!
Cong. King’s analysis is very thorough and accurate, but for one thing: He fails to make any mention of Duncan Hunter, whose advocacy of border security, the pro-life agenda, and national security is unmatched by that of any candidate. I suspect that King couldn’t mention Hunter because he had already made up his mind to support Thompson, and wanted to claim that all other candidates were unacceptable according to his criteria.
That sounds about right.
So/.... with that I’ll say GO FRED!! (And pick Hunter as your VP)
Actually, I was rather pleased that he didn’t play the “all other candidates were unacceptable” game. He pointed out strengths in several candidates and illustrated why he considered Thompson a superior choice.
I can’t say why he neglected to mention Mr. Hunter. Duncan Hunter is a fine man. I’m sure that Congressman King agrees. He just doesn’t support him as a candidate for POTUS.
If we don't accomplish BOTH of those with our candidate--Slick Hillie will be entering the White House.
Amen Congressman King. Now if just enough of the voters will just see it that way. I’m afraid there are too many sheeple out there.
G-d bless Congressman King. I have come to the same conclusion about this election.
Mike Huckabee : WARTS AND ALL...ironic pattern : Reagan; Bush I; former gov from Hope, AR; Bush II; former gov from Hope AR...
Many of them right here in Iowa. They're inexplicably concerned about who's "electable" rather than what are the important issues and who is RIGHT on those issues.
This is one Iowan who believes it is Iowa's duty to push the best candidate forward, and let the later states worry about who's "electable." It's time to give them reason to believe the best candidate is electable, instead of trying to anticipate which version of Democrat Lite they might think we need to settle for, further down the road (e.g. Romney, Guiliani, Huckabee, McCain).
Since Duncan Hunter seems to have all but dropped out of the race, I believe Fred Thompson is the best candidate.
I noticed most that he doesn’t mention Romney and my guess on that is because he had little good to say about him.
Absolutely. Now if we can just get all other Republicans to see the truth, we'll be all set.
However since Mr. Reagan the White House has been full of panderers making decisions based upon or extremely influenced by political considerations.
Oh to be sure, everybody has their own political Axe to grind, their single issue focuses and so forth.
But the simple truth is that this Republic needs dynamic "leadership". Congress is incapable of doing it, much less was designed by our forefathers to provide that leadership.
It is the Executive who is supposed to lead the nation. And in these perilous times we all live as I look over the many candidates from both political parties (damn them both) I only see one man who really is ready to stand up, take the bit by the teeth and "lead" America, once again.
If we don't elect a "leader" with the qualities of on Fred Dalton Thompson at this juncture in our history, I fear for the very survival of our Republic.
This is the single most imperative issue that all voters despite their personal desires should concern themselves with in this most crucial election.
Read this: “The Impending Thompson Surge” by JB Williams
http://www.newmediajournal.us/staff/williams/12242007.htm
I would like a Thompson/Hunter ticket.
Deadly accurate analysis from Mr. Williams IMO...
LOL Great Bumper sticker :)
Perhaps we ought to start displaying that and see it it “don’t take”?
Many of them right here in Iowa. They’re inexplicably concerned about who’s “electable” rather than what are the important issues and who is RIGHT on those issues.
The ONLY issue is “Who is RIGHT on the the issues”.
The “issues” are simple.
WIT.
Use your WIT.
War.
Immigration.
Taxes.
if they do that, they WIN. And win big.
Thompson is my man, hands down. He is right on EVERY issue.
If you think he is wrong, on a particular issue, then you’re misinformed or haven’t a clue.
Simple.
I love Steve. He’s one of the good guys.
But, he should have endorsed the guy who actually helped get him elected in the first place: Alan Keyes.
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