Read about it at Reclaim Conservatism.

That is all.

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Looking at our economy, both now and in the foreseeable future, can be a depressing exercise. The current administration and the President’s party offer nothing to alleviate that depression. We see people all around who are happy to live on what government provides, and naive enough to believe that government can provide everything they’ve promised. You would be forgiven for occasionally thinking, “is there anyone else out there who understands?”

If you’re feeling that way, I have good news. There are other people who get it. Here is one of them — Amilya Antonetti — talking with FNC’s Neil Cavuto.

(h/t Breitbart TV)

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With the ever present fear-mongering, name-calling, and all around bad news, it is easy to feel a sense of despair. As I talk to co-workers, read blogs, and view the news, it seems like we are heading over Niagara Falls in a cardboard box, and that there is nothing we can do to stop it. The prospect of any possibility of another four years under the current administration is literally (Not DW-S literally, but literally literally) frightening. I fear for me and my loved ones, for their futures, and for the future of our country. I am, at times, afraid that we are reaching the point where more of my fellow citizens are willing to surrender control of their lives to the illusory security of the government providing for every need.

It’s like going up a steep hill on a roller coaster. You know you are getting closer and closer to the peak and your heart is pounding in anticipation of reaching that tipping point. Except at the end of this ride there’s no pleasant worker in a polo shirt and name tag telling you to “exit to the left.” It is an awful feeling, and I don’t like it.

I am, by nature, an optimist. I always think things will turn out for the best. But lately I don’t feel a lot of that when I look at what we face as a nation. Not trying to be funny, but I haven’t felt this way since Jimmy Carter was elected.

And then I hear something like this:

Thank you, Senator Rubio. You’ve proven that there are people, including people in power, who “get it”. There are people who understand that even as we make tough choices we have the potential for a great future. I appreciate your honesty, integrity, and passion. It is an honor to have you as my Senator.

(h/t – Kim Priestap on G+)

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Tip O’Neil Said it (actually he said, “All politics is local”, but why quibble?), but is it true in our political discussions today? Perhaps I’m just talking about myself, but do those of us who comment on the national political scene really know what’s going on at the local level? Sure, I know my Senators (Rubio and Nelson), and my Representative (Dennis Ross), but what about State, County, and local representation? Am I the only one who pays far too little attention to the people who are representing me closest to home?

I know that JD Alexander is my Florida State Senator, and Ben Albritton is my representative. I voted for both and they’ve been doing a good job. But I have to admit that I know far less about them, and what they’re doing, than I do about those in the federal government.

But it gets even worse.

I live in a very small town — 1.4 square miles and less than 2500 people. I have to admit I only knew the name of the Mayor (J.R. Sullivan), but I couldn’t pick him or any of the city commissioners out of a lineup.

What point am I trying to make? Maybe none. Maybe just a reminder to myself that the small local stage is as important as the big national one. There is also the question of where can I (or anyone else) have greater direct influence? At Freedom Connector they have a group called the Unified Patriots Precinct Committeeman Strategy which lists this as their mission:

Do you want to become a more informed voter? Want to learn how to GOTV? Want to motivate Republicans-In-Name-Only to start following the Constitution? Want better conservative Republican Party candidates with a chance to win the primary and general elections? Become active in the Republican Party. Take command of your neighborhood and get out the vote. Become a Republican Party precinct committeeman. Precinct committeemen elect the leadership within the Party and vote to endorse the Republicans in the primaries. The more conservatives in the precinct committeemen ranks, the more conservative the leadership and the primary winners will be.

And that’s only one way. At the very least, become informed about local issues, officials, and whatever is going on where you live. Get involved. Find like-minded people near you. Get Local.

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The 2012 Presidential Primary Poll #1 is over. Here are the results.

• Ron Paul — 40%
• An Undeclared Candidate — 30%
• Hermain Cain — 20%
• Newt Ginrich, Gary E. Johnson, Fred Karger, and Someone who said “No” — 0%

For week #2 the field of declared candidates has increased quite a bit. This week you can choose between Hermain Cain, Newt Ginrich, Gary E. Johnson, Fred Karger, Roy Moore, Ron Paul, Tim Pawlenty, Buddy Roemer, Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum, and the three other options, A Perenial Candidate, An Undeclared Candidate, and Someone who said “No”. The names in Bold are new this week. If you pick one of the three generic options feel free to name your choice here in the comments.

Once again, results, and a new poll, will be posted next Sunday.

UPDATE: I realised that four of the candidates, Moore, Roemer, Romney, and Santorum, have still only formed exploratory committees. They have been removed from the poll options, but can still be selected as an Undeclared Candidate.

If you can…

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As important as it is to know Who’s Running, it can be informative to know who isn’t running, and who might.

The recent additions to the “who’s not” list are, of course, Mike Huckabee, Donald Trump, and Mitch Daniels. But before I get to that, let’s list the candidates that have talked about running, but haven’t formed exploratory committees or formally declare.

• Michelle Bachmann – U.S. Representative, Minnesota
• John R. Bolton – Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations (Maryland)
• Rudy Guiliani – Former Mayor of New York City
• John Huntsman, Jr. – Former U.S. Ambassador to China and former Governor of Utah
• Peter King – U.S. Representative, New York
• Thad McCotter – U.S. Representative, Michigan
• Sarah Palin – Former Governor of Alaska

Of this list, I think Bachmann, Guiliani, Huntsman, and Palin are the most likely to continue to examine a run for the presidency.

And those who have said “No”:

• Sharron Angle – Former Assemblywoman, Nevada
• Haley Barbour – Governor, Mississippi
• Scott Brown – U.S. Senator, Massachusetts
• Jeb Bush – Former Governor, Florida
• Chris Christie – Governor, New Jersey
• Bob Corker – U.S. Senator, Tennessee
• Mitch Daniels – Governor, Indiana
• Jim DeMint – U.S. Senator, South Carolina
• Mike Huckabee – Former Governor, Arkansas
• Bobby Jindal – Governor, Louisiana
• Bob McDonnell – Governor, Virginia
• Carl Paladino – New York, Real estate
• George Pataki – Former Governor, New York
• Rand Paul – U.S. Senator, Kentucky
• Mike Pence – U.S. Representative, Indiana
• Rick Perry – Governor, Texas
• David Petraeus – New York, U.S. Army General
• Marco Rubio – U.S. Senator, Florida
• Paul Ryan – U.S. Representative, Wisconsin
• John Thune – U.S. Senator, South Dakota
• Donald Trump – New York, Real estate
• Allen West – U.S. Representative, Florida

Several members of this group may be looking at a run in the future (Christie, DeMint, Paul, Pence, Rubio, Ryan, and West come to mind). Of the three recent declarations listed at the beginning of this post (Huckabee, Trump, and Daniels) it is interesting to examine the different reasons against a run.

Mike Huckabee mentioned on Sean Hannity’s radio program that one consideration against a run is his belief that he may have a more effective platform for change with his current Fox television program, speaking engagements, and writing.

Mitch Daniels cited family considerations.

“The counsel and encouragement I received from important citizens like you caused me to think very deeply about becoming a national candidate,” Daniels said in the email sent by Eric Holcomb, chairman of the Indiana Republican Party and a close adviser to the governor.

“In the end, I was able to resolve every competing consideration but one, but that, the interests and wishes of my family, is the most important consideration of all,” he said.

I’m not convinced that Donald Trump was ever a serious contender. While he is without argument a successful business man, has unmatchable name recognition, and was able (but willing?) to commit a large amount of his personal wealth to a run, one trait – his Barnum-like self promotion – was as much a negative as it was a positive, depending on who you’re asking.

The list of who’s not running is destined to get longer. Before long it will include some of those who have formally declared. At this point of the game, however, we are still choosing up sides.

Your comments are welcomed and encouraged.

If you can…

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The race for 2012 is under way. Of course you can’t tell who’s playing if you don’t have a program. Here is your Republican list of candidates as of today (May 13th, 2011).

First up, those who have officially declared their candidacy with the FEC. It is divided into two sections, those who are running and those who are always running. The links are to their official campaign websites.

• Declared:
  • Herman Cain, former Federal Reserve banker and former CEO of Godfather’s Pizza — Georgia (Updated – Announced 5/21)
  • Newt Gingrich, former U.S. Speaker of the House of Representatives — Georgia
  • Gary E. Johnson, former governor — New Mexico
  • Fred Karger, political consultant and gay rights activist — California
  • Ron Paul, U.S. Representative — Texas (Updated – Announced 5/13)
  • Tim Pawlenty, former governor — Minnesota (Updated – Announced 5/22)
• Perennial Candidates:
  • Andy Martin, Illinois
  • Jimmy McMillan, New York
  • Jonathon Sharkey, Florida

The candidates below have formed exploratory committees, but have not formally declared.

Exploratory:

• Roy Moore, former Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court of Alabama
• Buddy Roemer, former governor — Louisiana
• Mitt Romney, former governor — Massachusetts
• Rick Santorum, former Senator — Pennsylvania

Of course there are others out there toying with a run. I’ll add them later. But for now, that is the field. Thoughts?

If you can…

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“A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the majority discovers it can vote itself largess out of the public treasury. After that, the majority always votes for the candidate promising the most benefits with the result the democracy collapses because of the loose fiscal policy ensuing, always to be followed by a dictatorship, then a monarchy.”

The quote above is often attributed to Alexis de Tocqueville but was used as an unsourced attribution to Alexander Fraser Tytler in “This is the Hard Core of Freedom” by Elmer T. Peterson in The Daily Oklahoman. Whatever the source, the initial portion of the thought certainly appears to be correct. Let me condense the first part down to it’s essence — A democracy can only exist until the majority discovers it can vote itself largess out of the public treasury. I’ve seen it misquoted this way before, but the inaccuracy of the quote doesn’t make an inaccurate observation. We can see example after example in today’s headlines, policy discussions, and political campaigning.

Wisconsin is getting most of the attention, but a nearly identical story is playing out in Ohio, Indiana, and many other states as they are reaching the point (in many cases, already beyond the point) where Peter is willing to let Peter rob him anymore. And it’s not just the public sector unions, an inherently bad idea that continues to get worse, it’s also ideas like “High Speed Rail” (you have to use irony quotes around the title of something that so ill describes what it is). The rail arguments make this clear as they focus on the government money that can be “had” while ignoring the necessity and long term costs. Some of the arguments I’ve heard are so focused on the money Uncle Sam wants to “give away” that they ignore the costs and the other realities of the program.

In many ways the Federal Government has turned into the largest money laundering scheme in the world. Money is taken from the states and confiscated from the citizens, passed through the “super-efficient” Washington bureaucracy, and finally part of what remains is sent back to the states firmly tethered with many strings attached. Among the many things I don’t get is how anyone can think this is a good system for getting anything done. I’m not a politician, and I don’t think I’ve ever stayed at a Holiday Inn Express, but I’m smart enough to know what remains after you pass all of our money through the federal gastro-intestinal tract.

Of course money is only part of it. Yes, we are Taxed Enough Already as the TEA Party makes clear, but we also need a little a little SUGAR for our TEA. What is SUGAR? I’m glad you asked. It stands for Stop Unnecessary Government And Regulation. OK, I had to work to get the A in there, but it’s true, we don’t suffer from too little government or too little regulation. We have plenty of both. I’m fond of this quote from Ronald Reagan — “Government exists to protect us from each other. Where government has gone beyond its limits is in deciding to protect us from ourselves”. That quote is closely related to this one, “Government’s view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it“.

If things are finally moving in our (conservatives) direction it is because there are still enough “John Galts” to point out the issues. More than pointing out, we have to act. Act by voting, supporting candidates that will but the brakes on too much government, running for office if that is what you should do, and generally being informed and involved in containing government to it’s limited role. We must do this. We are too close to the tipping point to stop.

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There should be no question as to why CPAC asked freshman Representative Allen West of Florida to be their keynote speaker. I urge you to take the time and listen to his address.

UPDATE: The original link is to The Right Scoop. Here is the embeddable version on YouTube:

Cross-posted from Reclaim Conservatism

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I’m pretty sure there won’t be any replicating with hot aliens, and I’m just as sure there will be a few cold adult beverages consumed. Today is the day that 2010 was all about, and to borrow a current ad slogan — Here We Go!

We on the right claim that we can do it better. And although it’s hard to imagine that we could do worse (or even as bad), it’s time to put our words into action. Michelle Malkin has posted Day One, 112th Congress: 10 Simple Rules for the GOP. Read them all, but allow me to highlight a few of them.

6. Never forget: Government does not “create jobs.” Politicians don’t create jobs. You are there to stop government from killing jobs in the name of “reform,” the “children,” “emergencies,” global warming, hope, change, etc., etc., etc.

If there is one thing this Congress must concentrate on, it is jobs. Michelle is exactly right saying that the government doesn’t create jobs, but they sure do put roadblocks in the way of job creation. One thing I believe is under discussed is how over-regulated we have become. That over regulation is arguably the largest impediment to job creation and business success.

10. This is your oath of office. Live it: “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God.”

Personally, I think this should be number one. Everything else should flow out from this one. I think that the new emphasis the incoming is planning on Constitutional authority is great, but it needs to be more than just a gesture. It must be (and always should have been) the guide for every thing our elected representatives do.

It will be deeply satisfying when San Fran Nan relinquishes the gavel. After that it’s up to us to live up to all the promises we’ve made.

Here We Go.

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