Striking Back Against An Evil Empire

Last night a Republican revolution overturned an old order in central Maryland that could put that state's party on the road back to having a voice.

Moderates were sacked (in the medieval sense instead of the football) by conservatives more determined to fight the power of their Ruling Party than cooperate with it.  Delegate Michael Hough won nearly 70 percent of the vote against long time moderate incumbent David Brinkley.  Two of his "conservative team" of delegate candidates won their primaries in the three seat multi-delegate district.  Conservatives also seized command of Frederick County's Republican Executive Committee.

This, paired with Neil Parrott's victory in Washington County, among others, shows that Maryland Republicans will likely continue their march rightward.

Republican rediscovery of conservatism in the nominally Free State can be explained in a number of ways.

First, a handful of Maryland Republicans have honed campaigning to a fine confluence of art and science.  Ted Dacey ran the Hough campaign, whose coattails extended long enough to help elect two more conservative delegates and overturn the Frederick County GOP committee.  Dacey has a quiet and unassuming personality, but is also a tireless organizer and strategist.  He helped to elect his brother as Frederick alderman and has worked many campaigns.  Another up and coming, highly respected campaign leader is Delegate Parrott's campaign manager, Kari Snyder.  Both work endless hours and perform any task to make sure the campaign runs right.

They are only two of a growing army of young conservatives in that state who don't accept the idea that their Ruling Party cannot be dethroned or beaten.

Maryland conservatives also tap into growing discontent with the policies of their Ruling Party.  Issues such as the "rain tax," the "bathroom bill," and other Free State absurdities have turned Republican voters sour on "going along to get along."  Marylanders see their private sector at the state's extremities suffering.  Now they are fighting back.

Resurgence of Maryland conservatism will ignite voters who, otherwise, would see no difference between the parties.  If Maryland's GOP can continue this momentum, it can make more congressional districts and senatorial races competitive.  This will force their Ruling Party to seek more money nationally, taking Democratic resources away from other races.  Also, the failures of Maryland's leftist experiments will get wider examination and discussion.

Maryland's road back from Democratic domination will be long.  They can take heart that West Virginia's Republicans had to struggle and fight to get back to competitiveness, but succeeded against tradition, a corrupt machine, and other factors.  If they can go to the next step with successful outreach, continue to groom successful conservative leaders, and take advantage of the inevitable federal government contraction, Maryland's Republicans have no reason to not count on brighter days ahead.

Time For the RNC and Old Big Labor to Have a Sit Down

Big Labor for generations reflexively supported the Democratic Party with financial support and people power.  In the 20th Century, this symbiosis worked well.  It gave their party almost lockdown control of the House of Representatives and almost the same stranglehold on the Senate.

Democrats owned Congress for much of the time between the Great Depression and the 1990s because they supported labor.  They portrayed Big Business as opposing the interests of the working man.  Working men and their supporters lined up to vote for the commoner's party.  Republicans, they reasoned, didn't get the worker.

Workers did not leave the Democratic Party, but the Democrats at the national level left them.  Obama's allegiance to billionaire Big Green businessmen continues to stall a Keystone pipeline that will directly benefit the pipefitters' union among many others.  Before that came the war on coal.  Blue collar voters who once temporarily ditched the Democrats for Reagan, but did not change affiliation, now see the GOP as a permanent home.  Stephen Moore, economic analyst from Heritage Foundation notes that Republicans stand to gain in many currently blue or purple states just as they have in West Virginia.

Moore also says that only two groups oppose Keystone, Democrats who make over $100,000 per year and Democrats with postgraduate degrees.

Certain unions benefit from the new regime.  Service workers and auto workers have reaped huge state based rewards.  Mining and other manufacturing sectors have seen government policy try to drive them from the economic map.

It is high time that the GOP leadership and union bosses like Cecil Roberts have a quiet chat about mutual interests.  They don't have to like each other, but Obama and Green Democrats are the common foe.

Second West Virginia Legislator Switches to Republican Party

Former US Senator Zell Miller complained in 2004 that he did not leave the Democratic Party.  It left him.

Two members of the West Virginia Legislature in the past year have come to the same conclusion.  Months ago, State Senator Evan Jenkins of Cabell County switched and announced a run for Congress.  Now, Delegate Ryan Ferns of Ohio County has done the same.

Ferns' home district in Ohio County resembles what Washington insiders call "Hillary country."  Wheeling has a long industrial history that has faded in the past twenty years.  Its blue collar roots have been supplemented by the luring of major retail outlets on the Interstate 70- corridor.

A "Hillary country" Democrat going red is a bad omen for Clinton in West Virginia. It shows that Obama's tenure has alienated a great deal of the blue collar bases depended upon by the Clintons.

Also interesting are the long standing ties between the Ferns family and Senator Joe Manchin.  Delegate Ferns' father and Manchin are reputed to be close friends.  Manchin family ties with Republicans are not unusual.  Governor Arch Moore worked closely with A. James Manchin, for instance.

This, however, invites scrutiny because of the increasingly isolated position in which Manchin finds himself.  In October, a Roll Call article described a centrist senator regretting leaving the Governor's Mansion.  Last week, he defied Senate leadership on a pivotal vote which removed minority filibuster power on nominees.

Manchin's discontent as a Senate Democrat seems clear.  His home state drifts toward the Republican Party by staying true to its traditional values. Manchin's few clashes with his base quickly, if temporarily, eroded his popularity.  Following the example of Ferns and Jenkins is one option.  Abandoning all party identification, like former Senator and vice presidential nominee Joe Lieberman, is another.

Clearly Manchin, Ferns, Jenkins, and many of their traditionally Democratic brethren in West Virginia share the same dilemmas.  Switching to the GOP means breaking with generations of tradition in a state where party identification ranks a close third to family and denomination.  But how long can such ties remain when the national Democratic Party stokes hostility with values held dear by most West Virginians?

And what will this mean politically for the state in the next few years?

Marijuana, the Conservative Movement, Republican Politics, and the Art of Thoughtful Reconsideration

Almost ten years ago, William F. Buckley penned a powerful column that reflected on a key issue of the time and the conservative movement in general.

In it, he included a powerful indictment of ossification of thought, saying "intelligent deference to tradition and stability can evolve into intellectual sloth and moral fanaticism, as when conservatives simply decline to look up from dogma because the effort to raise their heads and reconsider is too great."

At the time, he referred to the strong resistance among conservatives and Republicans to loosening the marijuana laws.  Buckley tended to oppose all of them, but most strongly advocated for the use of cannabis  for medical purposes. 

Opponents of loosening the laws on marijuana generally agree with the writer of this CNBC piece from 2010. The laws work.  They reduce consumption while supposedly preventing higher rates of drug impaired driving.  Opponents of marijuana use for medical purposes point out that such a policy could increase the incidence of recreational use.

The state of Missouri, in association with the National Crime Prevention Council, released a PDF at some unknown point that lists points of "damage" associated with use. These include lowered testosterone for men, higher testosterone for women, frustration, isolation, increased appetite, paranoia, and "exposure to illegal drug culture."

Cato Institute in 2010 reported on peer reviewed studies on marijuana use and risks.  They found that the scientific community generally concluded that marijuana, while not risk free, brings fewer problems than most other drugs.  Even most of the risk factors disappear when pot is consumed in some other way than smoking. 

Some of the "damage" listed by occasional government warnings appear questionable.  Does marijuana make some people paranoid, frustrated, and socially averse?  Or do paranoid, frustrated, and socially averse people try to self-medicate with marijuana?  It would be impossible to prove that cannabis caused these behaviors unless studies found a large sample of non users, then illegally induced them to use over a long period of time. 

Even the idea that medical users of drugs may be tempted to use them recreationally supports legalization. People will abuse medical drugs after prescribed use, no doubt.  No one argues that marijuana use is nearly as dangerous as narcotic drugs such as Oxy Contin, which have destroyed families and lives at devastating rates.


Some question keeping marijuana illegal even for recreational purposes. Critics of recreational pot use talk about reducing motivation and raise the specter of drugged driving. People foolish enough to drive around while intoxicated won't be stopped by the fact that pot is illegal.  They will just drive drunk.  And while it is definitely true that people high on pot have reduced motivation, this actually argues for its social utility.  Drunk people are more likely to leave the house than high people.

Buckley's point was that doctrinaire conservatives must keep looking at the evidence supporting or disproving principles.  Also, does support of one principle violate a more important one.

If a conservative advocates for states' rights and smaller federal government, how do federal marijuana laws fit into this picture?

If a conservative believes in maximum property rights, how can we justify the outlawing of a plant that God saw fit to put in the ground?

If conservatives define Bloomberg's health crusade and 1920s Prohibition as excesses of Progressivism, what does that say about the costs to taxpayers, society, and freedom of choice in terms of pot laws?

A cost-benefit analysis of marijuana enforcement must include the fact that states spent  $3.6 billion on enforcement in 2010 alone.  This includes the costs of arrest, incarceration, and trial. Can this money spent on mostly non violent offenders be spent in better ways, or sliced entirely from budgets?

Another problem lies in the credibility of law.  If evidence of all kinds shows an illegal substance to be less damaging than many that are legal, the law looks absurd in the eyes of the people.  Overall respect for law drops.

Since Buckley's 2004 piece, Republicans have tended to step back from the legalization debates.  Like gay marriage, the issue has an aura of inevitability.  Unlike gay marriage,  Republicans have no constituency bothered enough by pot use to push them to fervently act to prevent legalization and/or decriminalization.

Old hippies and left-liberal college students find themselves in the odd position of having their favorite cause slapped down hard by the former chief of the choom gang.  It cannot be comfortable for them to agree more with Buckley and George Will than with their idol president. 

Good politics and good policy do not always combine.  Here, the Republican Party can take a stand that can help cut budgets, increase individual liberty, and force the hand of the establishment Democratic Party.

GOProud At CPAC Is the Right Call

CPAC is facing strong criticism from social conservatives due to its inclusion of the group GOProud in its upcoming event.

CPAC is a conference that operates on many levels. There is an elite level where very important folks mingle, drink, eat, and celebrate conservatism. For those without several hundred to spend, there are speeches and a floor with hundreds of booths. This is probably where GOProud will be.

GOProud is a group like the Log Cabin Republicans. In other words, they are gay conservative Republicans. That may sound like a contradiction, but it isn't. Republicans and conservatives are split between those who are predominantly socially conservative and those whose interest lies more in economic liberty. The latter are more likely to be socially libertarian. Additionally, this is where most young conservative/libertarian, Republican voters are.

The Republican Party and conservative movement are moving strongly towards positions of liberty and rights. This will tend to alienate old social conservatives, but revitalize the Republican brand among the younger. Personally, I see a contradiction between the concept of less government interference while using the law to prevent legal connections between gays. Civil unions for all couples, gay or straight, would best reflect these values of limited government in people's lives.

Our combined enemy is statism that can evolve into mercantilism, fascism, or socialism. Obama's vision could send us down any of those three paths and none are good for America. We need to bind together and fight for liberty, rights, and less government. If that means that gay couples end up with civil unions or that people end up being able to grow and smoke pot on their own private property, so be it. I don't care about what people do in private on their property or in their bedrooms. I want the government less involved in all of our lives.

Election Thoughts

First thought. Congratulations to the Mineral County Republican Executive Committee, Potomac Highlands Patriots Tea Party, volunteers, and candidates. This was a huge amount of effort that resulted in a conservative sweep in Mineral County. Great job, folks!

Mineral County's closest race was between Gary Howell and Charles Messick. Howell won by about ten percentage points. Richard "Doc" Lechliter defeated Wayne Spiggle for county commission by about twelve points. The other Mineral County numbers and percentages were much, much higher.

Thank you Lauren Ellifritz, Mineral County Clerk. Last night we saw that there was a very heavy turnout. Her staff, helped by Rose Ann Maine, Mary Margaret Rinehart, Janice LaRue, Cindy Pyles, and others made the election night go very, very smoothly. Thanks again, Lauren and everyone else!

Thank you to all the volunteers who got almost all the signs up last night. Some people do not mind them, but to other citizens they are an imposition that they tolerate becauseof the season. Getting the signs up quickly ensures that we retain their goodwill.

The narrow John Raese defeat, if seen from August, should be considered a Republican victory of sorts. Joe Manchin successfully deflected the message of the race away from his pro Obama statements and towards Raese himself and the Republican campaign. That is why he ultimately won. That all being said, who would have predicted that this race would have gotten this close three months ago?

Across the state, we saw some legislative setbacks. Craig Blair, a well known GOP figure, may have lost in his bid to jump from the House of Delegates to the State Senate in the Eastern Panhandle. The race is still statistically 50-50 with the mercurial John Unger leading by a few hundred votes. Mitch Carmichael's delegate race was much closer than it ought to have been in a district that is mostly Jackson County, but at this point he looks to have won. Former delegate Debbie Stevens was unable to regain the 46th from incumbent Stan Shaver. Republicans also failed to do well in the 57th and 58th districts in Jefferson County. Republicans certainly did better across the state in areas where they have not enjoyed success for some time. Over the next two years, the party needs to focus on local committees and get them up to the fight in every single county. Gary Howell's brief tenure as Mineral County chair demonstrated what can be done on the local level. Thousands of voter guides were distributed on foot and through the newspapers. Door to door walks were done on behalf of several candidates. The committee organized sign distribution and pick ups in a systematic fashion. Unopposed candidates, such as Krista Dixon and Lauren Ellifritz, remained involved throughout the fall with party functions. This is evidence of what can be done by the committees across the state.

Also do not forget the Tea Party. They held dinners and had some of the largest Tea Party rallies in the entire state. They participated in candidate walks. They raised money and paid for billboards in Keyser and the northern part of the county. Their activity was an essential part of victory last night for Republicans in this county. It could not have been done without their work and support. When Tea Parties and Republicans get behind good candidates instead of sniping at each other, they can do great things. The Tea Party brought people into politics who might otherwise have not been involved. Republicans need to recognize how essential the Tea Party movement has been and follow through on promises made to fight for smaller government and the expansion of freedom.

David McKinley, barring any surprise in any recount, seems to have won a slender victory over Mike Oliverio. This was a seat held by Democrats for a very long time. It reflects frustration with federal anti-mining and industrial policies combined with the growing affluence of Morgantown and Fairmont. McKinley is the star of the moment and the biggest success of this election, so long as Democratic lawyers don't find a way to steal the victory from him.

So both locally and across the state, we have a lot of work to do. Election day may be closer than we think. There is a chance of having a special gubernatorial election early next year. In any event, 2012 is closer than we think.

"Hand to hand combat" Promised By Obama After Election

Obama and his spokesmen had two interesting statements this week connected to the midterm elections.

First came the news that he will leave on November 5 instead of the 7th on a trip to India. Interesting idea, drive your party to defeat and then leave the country. I wonder if he will get any golf in over there?

Next came something more ominous. Obama promised "hand to hand combat" with Republicans after they make gains this November. Look for Congress to defund and box off his health care initiative and work to limit the reach of the EPA. Obama's reaction is interesting since his ideas and policies resulted in the congressional defeats. This year is a referendum on his left wing ideology and Americans are clearly not buying it. What is interesting is that Joe Biden said he would "strangle" Republicans who opposed their debt ridden budget proposals.

So the president and vice president are figuratively using the language of murder to describe their frustration with the GOP, the Tea Party, and the electorate for rejecting leftism. Of course they won't be literally killing Republicans, but their language reflects their frustration.

In 1995 when the GOP took over Congress, they skirmished with Clinton, but also hammered out welfare reform. In 2007, you saw Bush retrench and try to find ways to work with Congress (although this led to some negative outcomes). I seriously do not see Obama working with congressional Republicans in the remaining two years of his term. Like Andrew Johnson, he will more likely go off the deep end and become a bizarre spectacle, shunned by both parties.

Look for Hillary to get the Democratic nomination in 2012. Just my gut feeling.

Time to Band Together

The primary season has just about wound down across the nation. In some states we saw surprises while in others we got pretty much what we expected. In this neck of the woods, Shelley Moore Capito will likely be returned to Congress. David McKinley was selected from a strong field of candidates to represent the party this November. Sure there was some family squabbling there that we don't always see here in West Virginia, but McKinley will do very well this summer and fall.

Across the country, Republicans are preparing for November, but there are two schools of thought on what should happen. The first school says that moderate Republicans squandered their opportunity to make a real impact last time they had power. They played politics as usual, handing out more and more pork while mouthing the principles that got them elected. Voter anger tossed them out for two straight elections. Some say that these men and women ought to be purged and replaced with more ideologically pure Republicans.

Others, such as Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour, insist that we are all in it together and that we all have an interest in defeating the Left wing that holds the angry nation in its grip. There is some truth to this too. The political paradigm has shifted. Voters want debt reduction more than money sent back to the district. They fear socialism more than they want an old theatre refurbished (or whatever. Pick your pork example here!) And Republican voters want no compromise with the Left. They can see that this is a different Democratic Party than in the past. Horse trading won't work right now. But Governor Barbour has a point. We need all Republicans and all conservatives and libertarians period to overthrow Pelosiocracy.

Third parties and factions will doom us this year. Personal antagonism will as well. This year is bigger than all that. Republicans, independents, libertarians, and conservative Democrats need to vote for the Republican candidates whoever they are. They need to support the Republican Party organizations. Some of you are dissatisfied with how the RNC has conducted itself lately. So am I. I'm pretty disappointed some days. Declaring victory well before the election is never a good stretegy. However there is a lot of reason for optimism.

The party is evolving slowly, but surely. Texas's GOP defied their governor and passed a resolution calling for an Arizona style immigration law. State legislators across the nation are coming up with ways to defy unconstitutional federal measures. State attorneys general are filing lawsuits against the expansion of federal power. Most Republicans do "get it." It's time to unify and march on all fronts against an enemy desperate to hold on to power.

Leftism will transform this country stage by stage if it is not stopped quickly. We must avoid the fate that history imposed upon other nations over the centuries. That means setting all else aside and standing up for our rights and our nation. There is a reason that we call ourselves Republicans. This year and in 2012, it is about saving the Republic.

Time For Race to Take a Backseat In American Political Discussion

Race this past week once again surfaced in politics. Left wingers accused black conservatives of race treason while RNC chief Michael Steele stated that his skin color gave him less of a margin for error than other political chiefs.

Both statements are baloney.

First comes the idea that anyone can be a traitor to their race for holding a different point of view. Who says these types of things outside of Nazis and the corporate culture of what used to be a civil rights movement?

Michael Steele himself was subject to having oreo cookies thrown at him by radical blacks who accused him of not being true to his race. Increasingly blacks are moving towards the Republican Party and the Tea Party movement in particular. They are running for office and establishing conservative blogs. Increasing participation from different populations has changed the face of the Republican Party. This invites a backlash from race baiters such as Chris Matthews of MSNBC, an unholy combination of Obama lackey and a man who preaches black political conformity.

No one should conform to anything on the basis of skin color alone. That defies the dreams of men such as Frederick Douglass and Martin Luther King Jr. The goal of civil rights was race blindness, not political apartheid.

Small government, limited spending, and lower taxes attract support regardless of color. Those that believe that people ought to keep more of what they earn are not restricted by race, ethnicity, creed, or sexual orientation.

At the same time it is important for Steele and others to remember that in this very important election year, it is important to run a tight ship. Erratic statements and proposals distract from the message and perpetuate the image that the GOP is out of touch, not the Democrats. No one would enjoy much margin of error this year and it has nothing to do with race.

Rally in Washington DC on Saturday With Jon Voigt and Michele Bachman

Conservatives and Libertarians once again have decided to abandon their weekend plans for a trek to Washington DC this Saturday. Several congressmen and women have scheduled a last minute rally to demonstrate to Congress how upset Americans are over their latest insanity. Yesterday the House of Representatives voted to create a rule that allows that institution to pass a bill without actually having to vote upon it. This somehow keeps individual House members from having to claim a vote on the toxic health bill and prevents recourse to the highly unpopular reconciliation technique in the Senate.

Here's the question. If this bill makes you so afraid of your constituents that you create a rule to keep you from having to vote on it, then maybe the bill is bad. Every congressmen and woman should be able to defend every vote they make with pride. If they cannot do that, they need to either vote differently or get out of the way and allow a different face to take their place.

In the past few years I have seen Republicans go from "we don't protest" to organizing carpools. I have seen state governments actively pass legislation to nullify acts of Congress, something that I do not believe has been directly done since the 1830s. I have seen our country return to the days when one group looks at the other and cannot believe that we are countrymen. For all this I blame the Left. They want to impose something upon us that is burdensome and destructive to our economy and our future. They want to create a plan that destroys wealth. Why? They want power. They want to steal the wealth of this country from people who earned it. Look at how their plans have worked so far? Unemployment well beyond their predictions and no end in sight.

Why are Democrats trying to commit political suicide while taking the rest of us with them?

Below is the statement from Jon Voigt:

by Jon Voight
I am calling to all of you freedom-loving Americans to come once again to Washington D.C. to gather at upper Senate Park, across from the Capitol on Saturday, at 12 o’clock noon.
We must come by the thousands.
Speaker Pelosi will stop at nothing to fulfill her corrupt conquests. She will bring all of the corrupt ACORN liars to try to bully all the Democrats that may be having pangs of guilt knowing quite surely what their votes can and will do. If they’re bullied into saying “yes,” it will destroy America.
Join me and Rep. Michele Bachmann in Washington DC at 12 noon EST so we can give all the Democrats who know what the end result will be the courage to say: “No, do not pass this destructive bill.”
I’ll see you there.

Breaking News: Republicans Think Obama Is a Socialist!

You may be amazed to hear this, but according to the liberal media, the Republican Party believes that Barack Obama is a socialist.

Even more shocking, Republicans plan to discuss Obama and Pelosi's socialist agenda to try and raise money for the midterm elections!

At fundrasisers' retreat in Florida recently, one Republican attendee carelessly left behind a packet of papers that outlined the top secret, confidential strategy that will describe Obama's Marxist, I mean, Leninist, er I mean Communist, no socialist policies. I know that almost no one out there believes that Republicans might consider Obama a president that leans towards socialism so this information must come at a huge shock.

Even more hair raising were cariciatures of Harry Reid as Scooby Doo and Nancy Pelosi as Cruella De Vil. Oh the humanity!!!!! How low will Republicans descend in their efforts to describe massive wealth redistribution and government takeovers of major industries as socialist?

Donna Gosney, attendee from the West Virginia Republican Party, explained in a quote in an National Public Radio story, "I'm tired of all this politically correct crap. If it's socialism, let's call it that. If not, let's call it something else."

Finally, the liberal media is reveling in the fact that the GOP hands out trinkets to major donors and other activists that are worth far less than the amount donated. I am sure that the Democrats hand out Mazzeratis to their top donors, but the GOP is a little more cash conscious. It probably does come as a shock to rich donors that the lapel pin or signed picture of President Bush they got for their donations may not have a high monetary value.

So let's recap. Republicans think that left wingers like Obama and Pelosi are dangerous socialists. They are willing to poke fun at their images to raise money and sway voters. The liberal media sees this as dredging the bottom of the political barrel.

Sure, it's not the same as calling Bush a Nazi, a moron, a monkey, an evil genius bent on destroying the world, or the idiotic puppet of Karl Rove or Dick Cheney, but hey, that's politics for ya.

Got to Get This Off My Chest. I am Damned Proud to Be a Republican

I have to get this rant off my chest. I am tired of Republicans running around being attacked by Democrats for being too extreme and libertarians for being moderate. I'm tired of seeing good Republicans get bashed when they stray outside what some people say is the party line. And I think I know what the problem is.

It is about what we are looking for as a group to move us forward. We are looking for that once in a lifetime individual to capture the attention of all factions and lead the troops against the ramparts of Democratic socialists. We have the energy, the desire, and the fear of worse things in the future driving us, but we have lost our sense of what defines us. Part of that comes from people shying away from the word "Republican." We should remember what our party has stood for over the years and allow our history to help unify and define who we are.

Friends, let me say this. I am damned proud to be a registered member of the Republican Parties of West Virginia and the United States of America. I am always proud of that. I have identified myself as a Republican my entire life and I do not see that changing.

Why am I proud? My party freed the slaves and preserved the Union. It fought for civil rights for blacks. When recessions hit and Republicans held power, they generally (except for Herbert Hoover) stepped back and allowed for self-corrections that took less time than Democratic interventionism. My party supported the fight for freedom in Iraq and deposed one of history's most evil dictators. My party saved this nation from the malaise of Carter and when it seizes power from Obama it will be morning in America yet again. My party understood the evil and brutality of Communism and is fully responsible for setting in motion the events that led to hundreds of millions getting a chance at freedom. When an Iraqi, a Pole, an eastern German, or others in countless countries vote, they can thank in part the Republican Party. When a Democratic president called for America to respond to the Soviet threat and also provide aid to war torn Europe, the Republican Party responded.

For all this and more I am proud to be a Republican. This is what we are missing. Some concentrate on the hairs breadth differences that separate us, or the few who vote and act in ways that we do not like (but often do it for political rather than ideological reasons.) I want us to concentrate on our long history. There are times when we have not always lived up to our ideals. But they guide us nevertheless. Our forefathers of the Founding generation laid down principles that life, liberty, and property were to be protected by the government, not threatened by its lawless policies. We stand by those ideals even as others declare them anachronistic.

Today I am prouder than ever to be a Republican. They declared us dead in 2009, but we defied the pronouncements of the Left. Why? Because we want what the people want. We want an America where hard working people keep the rewards of work and risk. We want an America where anyone can dream of being rich, then work hard and make it happen, a place where wealth is a goal, not a dirty word.

We are Republicans. We are back. We should be proud of who we are, where we have come from, and where we are going.

Why Can't We All Just Get Along?

Colin Powell recently made an appeal to both major political parties to try and return to a spirit of bipartisanship and work together. I think this man has good intentions, but he has grown out of touch with the current political environment.

The fact is that at this point, the left has embarked on such an extreme path, Republicans have to fight tooth and nail because all of their ideas are bad. Left wingers embarked on an ideological blitz in Obama's first year, thinking they could shove at least some socialization into the American system. American voters wised up and started strongly opposing the whole program. The Republican Party, with a tradition of bipartisanship on most issues, followed suit.

There are three problems with working with Obama, Pelosi, and Reid.

First, the left is not operating from a philosophical foundation that has any basis in the traditions of our Founding Fathers. They honestly believe that they have the right to determine how much money you should keep. The rest they want to disperse in any way they see fit, in many cases to individuals and groups that they know will respond by voting for them in the next election. Asking the conservatives and libertarians in America to cooperate with the Left is like asking the police to work hand in hand and sing Kum Bayh Yah with criminal gangs who intend to break into people's homes to steal their valuables. The Left is all about theft. They want your money. How can we, in good conscience, work with these people?

Second, cooperation with the Left would destroy the Republican Party as we know it. Republicans lost credibility by forgetting their small government pledges while they ran Congress. The Left has helped the GOP regain momentum again because it has alienated the majority of the people in the Unietd States. Americans do not want socialized health care, cap and trade, 401k confiscation, or any other left wing big government program. What if the GOP did what it has historically done in most cases when fighting with liberals, bending over, receiving a smack with a paddle, and exclaiming "thank you sir, may I have another?" The party loses every shred of credibility because the people are demanding that someone stand up for them. They want someone, somewhere to stand up to the thieves stealing and wasting our money and exclaim STOP! If that someone is not the Republican Party, they will find someone who will.

Third, we are winning!!!! Time is on our side, yes it is! Democratic incumbents who have followed Obama in lockstep find themselves with primary opponents. Many have dropped out either in fear of losing to Republicans or out of disgust with their own party. What seemed impossible three weeks ago is now very possible, maybe even likely. Republicans could control the Senate, perhaps both houses after November.

With the people behind us, demanding that we keep moving aggressively against the left, why stop now? Colin Powell belongs to an older generation of Republicans with more gentility than aggressive spirit. He is a historical figure to be admired, not a political expert to be followed.

Before Barack Obama, There Was John Edwards . . .

In its never ending search for a young face to stick on the party brand, many Democrats several years back turned to John Edwards. Here, thought some, was the answer to a prayer. Young, articulate, good looking, seemingly intelligent, a combination of Kennedy style charm and Clinton's southern accent, John Edwards seemed to have it all.

The Democrats have moved on. They found their young face du jour in Barack Obama and rejected John Edwards. Of course Edwards now is persona non gratis pretty much everywhere. He cheated on his wife suffering from cancer, may have broken campaign financing laws, and has simply destroyed whatever public image he once had. Obama did get elected, but his lack of experience has sunk his presidency into a morass it may never emerge from.

Republicans sometimes are guilty of trying to follw a model rather than set the curve. It rarely works. Republicans are not the party of the young and slick. Let's leave that to liberals who want an image that makes them feel good rather than a substantial candidate. As we move towards 2012, let's be careful as we select our candidate. We need experience, knowledge, and aggressive commitment to principle, not just a GOP version of Obama's youth and hollowness. We want a presidency, not a perpetual campaign. Our nation deserves no less at this critical juncture.

Picking a person because of how they look and how that image will play could lead to disaster. Just ask the Democrats.

What Now on the Health Bill? We Have Not Won Yet.

In 1941 after Japanese planes levelled Pearl Harbor and their Emperor declared war on the United States. Winston Churchill's initial reaction was "So we have won after all." Like Churchill in those dark days, those who believe in freedom, limited government, and lower taxes have reason for cautious optimism, but definitely not certainty. There is no historical inevitability to the momentum here, either against left wing socialized health care or reducing or eliminating Democratic majorities. Up until now we have relied very heavily upon the incompetence and arrogance of Obama, Pelosi, and Reid. Now Republicans have to step up and give the country an alternative.

Scott Brown in his acceptance speech did what he had done for his entire campaign, speak bluntly. Some conservatives do not like that he supports reform of the system, but the fact is that something must be done to stem rising costs. Republicans should seize the opportunity to work with the public and craft an alternative that is not costly, does not raise taxes, and does not fine or jail individuals for the choices they make. Many have floated ideas on tort reform, portability, small business pools and other ideas. Time to put them together and take a comprehensive alternative plan to the public.

On other issues we need to start attacking Obama and his executive branch assumption of power. Through regulatory law, executive orders, and special appointments he has avoided congressional oversight of his activities and appointments. Republicans need to attack this centralizing of power around the president and restore not only the balance between the branches of the federal government, but also between the feds, the states, and the people.

That all being said, our main priority is electing people who stand for our principles and who will not forget them while in office. Sure it is easier to make a name by spending taxpayer money, but the voters want accountability. They want to limit, not expand the government. If Massachusetts wants smaller government, what state doesn't?

Contact Your Republican Committee Members

You hear it all the time in the conservative world. People get upset with what they think their party is doing compared to what they think their party is supposed to do. Accusations fly that so and so is not a "real Republican." It's nothing new. When I researched communications between Republicans from a century ago, you saw and heard the same things. Sometimes the problem is the gap between perception and reality.

Here's an idea. Get to know your representatives to the Republican Party. Many do not even know that state and local Republican committees exist, or that representation to them is based upon the votes of the registered Republican voters. Your state Republican Party can give you contact information so that you may call or e mail your district's representative on the state committee, and/or your county chair. Meetings of state and county GOP executive committees are open to the public (of course you have to travel to the state meetings, held twice a year in West Virginia.)

Does this mean that you will automatically agree with these folks? Maybe, maybe not. But by getting in contact with representatives and leaders, asking questions, and getting involved, you will get a better idea of what is going on and why. Public involvement is a goal of most GOP organizations. They benefit from volunteers and the influx of new ideas and perspectives.

Just remember, these organizations, like our government, are elected by the people. They are your Republican Party organizations. You have a right as a registered Republican to attend meetings, ask questions, and get a better idea of what is going on. This is especially good in states such as West Virginia where the liberal media only reports on Republicans during disagreements or other problems that create bad press.

Right now candidates are filing to run for the State Legislature, county commission, and other races. They need your help. Time to continue the momentum from Tuesday and start working on bringing to office more who believe in the principles of the Republican Party.

Young Guns Movement Invigorating GOP

People have lost whatever like they ever had for the Democratic Party, but are not embracing the Republican Party in droves either. Concerned citizens express frustration that in many areas the same faces occupy the same places and that principle disappeared from party. In 1994 we got a new beginning, but a decade later the emphasis shrank from real change back to simply winning elections in the easiest ways possible.

In 2008, even as the collapse of GOP influence accelerated, the next generation of Republican leaders decided to get away from the old structure and create their own.

The Young Guns movement weds party with principle, youth, and energy. It seeks out qualified people to run for office. It is not blind support, but a calculated effort to get people into Congress that support Republican issues. They concentrate on fiscal issues and have a deep understanding of public policy. This gives them the knowledge and the capabilities to adapt free market philosophy to their particular district. The National Republican Congressional Committee saw the direction of this group and absorbed it into its structure.

Movements of this type reflect 21st century conservatism. Outside of abortion, the old social conservative issues do not translate to this decade's fear over loss of freedom. Younger candidates are steeped in belief in the Constitution and fear for its future. This creates a vigor that if encouraged can revitalize the Republican brand heading into the next election.

The Case For Limited Government Proved Better Through Actions Than Words

We can talk all we want about the virtues of limited government, but actions speak louder than words. We can debate until the cows come home that cuts in spending and taxes help the economy better than waste, but the public must see ideas in action usually to believe them. We who believe in free markets and small government may someday get on our knees regularly and thank the Almighty for Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi.

Actions speak louder than words. President Bush, regrettably, all too often resorted to the easy panacaea of government action rather than the difficult choice of cutting government binds on the economy, allowing it to float to equilibrium. President Bush knew security and he believed in tax cuts, but he did not eliminate Clinton era intrusions into the free market. Politically this is hard to blame and too much criticism becomes Monday morning quarterbacking. George W. Bush was a good president, but not a visionary.

Our times require a visionary who believes in pushing back hard against the creeping socialism of the left. It is not enough to halt Obama and Pelosi's plans in their tracks. We must roll them back. However the more zealous out there must sometimes accept a 3/4 victory here and there rather than what we want in its entirety. Reagan was the most principled president of the last several decades, but his favorite phrase on compromise was that he'd rather get some of what he wanted than "fly off the cliff with all banners fluttering."

That being said, Republicans must stand for something in 2010, or the voters will fall for anything the Democrats ultimately say. We must stand for real restictions on taxation. We must stand for real restrictions on executive branch power and the return of state sovereignty. We must stand for real cuts in spending, not just limiting the yearly growth of spending. We must present a plan that cuts our debt while also cutting taxes. That means massive reductions in government spending across the board. It means that highways will have to go uncompleted for awhile, that military bases overseas may have to be phased out, that certain programs that make people feel good will have to go by the wayside. It definitely means that every bit of our budget needs to go through analysis of whether or not we actually need it. Our system has grown sick, the symptoms include debt, unemployment, and lack of prestige. The cure will be painful, but will bring us back to full health and vitality in a few years.

Tea Party Movement Now More Popular Than Either Political Party

This morning's news broadcast out of Washington made an interesting statement. For a few weeks now polls showed that the Tea Party movement outstripped the Republican Party in popularity. This morning the Democrats now find themselves looking up at the Tea Party in terms of support numbers.

Liberal media types write with glee about the demise of the Republican Party and th epotential for splintering going into the election of 2010. That being said, the GOP has substantially outraised the Democratic Party since Obama took office.

Left wing control of the government sparked outrage over the waste of money and time. Frustrated protesters have seen the Republican Party as stumbling along too slowly and getting behind the curve on important issues. All too often they accuse Republicans of differing viewpoints of not being real conservatives. The media also fails to realize that committed Republicans have held Tea Party rallies.

The problems within the GOP and conservative movement overall are relatively picayune. Libertarians and conservatives in some areas have problems with party leadership, usually more on procedural than ideological grounds. Democrats are splitting on ideological issues. Conservative Democrats fear the wrath of constituents and left wing leaders. Some have courageously split, others try to steer the rapids in the middle of the river.

Republicans need a leader to emerge as Reagan did in the 1970s. From 1976 to 1980 the GOP was split by ideological differences. "Moderates" such as Nelson Rockefeller battled Goldwater inspired small government conservatives such as Ronald Reagan. Reagan understood the anger he shared with the American people, but channeled it into a specific vision of a brighter future rather than simply dislike of Jimmy Carter.

Where will that leader come from? The same model should succeed in 2012 as in 1980. Whoever it is needs to step forth and help inspire party loyalists and those that are simply mad as hell at the movement away from true American values.

It's About Time

It is about that time again. Campaign season.

Some people welcome it. Some shrink in horror. Many don't notice any difference at all until they see signs up at every road corner. Nevertheless it is almost upon us.

People involved in politics get jaded because the parties tell us every election year could be the most important ever. This year is the one that demands your time, attention, and money more than any other. We hear that every year, but this year it is true.

We are not debating abortion, gay marriage, high or low taxes, school textbooks, or other such issues this time. These definitely require attention, but they remain secondary to the question of 2010 and then 2012 after it.

This question affects our entire nation and permeates elections at every level. We must ask ourselves as we go vote what kind of nation we want. Do we want a country with a government putting its hands into every aspect of our lives, stealing the rewards of the hard working to buy the votes of the less fortunate, allowing neither to thrive? Do we want a government dominated by the United Nations, its members seeking to force America to give up competitive advantages and bankrupt itself and its people? Some in the world want to see us weakened and chastened, many of those work in the executive and legislative branches of our own government.

Most of us want a strong, prosperous, and secure America. To get that back, we must vote for people that support American values. Beyond that we cannot have the anti-socialist vote split. We must come together. Republican candidates have to clearly oppose the Obama/Pelosi plans and libertarians need to support them.

We as a people and a party must have a clear message that our nation and the wider world needs to hear. The American people are not prepared to follow Barack Obama into the dying of our light. We will vote to protect our freedom and resist tyranny. The Democratic Party leadership and the world need to understand that once and for all.