Maybe the party isn’t Republican enough!

Things have been a blur the last couple of weeks.   That is nothing compared to this week, or the coming 3 months.  Monday I filed for congress, Tuesday I started fielding calls, and today I had several interviews.

I came home to find the television guy changed his focus after interviewing me.  Go figure.  The heart of the story after editing, focused on the legality of my candidacy.  The focus when he talked to me was “why do you want to be congressman.”

The contention has been made somewhere, that I am not a republican.  I object.  I strongly object.

I started identifying with the Republican Party when Richard Nixon was in office.  This is far earlier than most people I know, as Richard Nixon left office when I was 6.  I am not trying to contend that I understood politics, or even partisanship, but most of my family were Democrats.

I pulled for Gerald Ford, but couldn’t vote for him.  Like many other Republicans I suffered the long 4 years of the Carter administration.  I watched as we signed over the strategic Panama Canal (Chinese shipping companies tied to the Chinese military have a large presence there now), had our citizens taken hostage in Tehran, and the economy tanked.

I was desperately pulling for Ronald Reagan even though my sister said he would take us into nuclear war.  Reagan brought conservatism to my understanding of politics, and I was excited to think about a smaller government.

George H.W. Bush was next, and along came Newt Gingrich, Mark Souder, and the Republican revolution.  Now we were surely going to cut the government down to size.

Bill Clinton came along, and called Republican ideas his own. they were arguably his only successes.

George W. Bush came along and the fiasco of the 2000 election.  This is when the partisan politics really got ugly.

 As far as my activity locally:  I used to run a restaurant here in town.  One day the GOP chair asked if they could have their breakfasts there.  I readily agreed even though our restaurant was not open for breakfast.  I drug my wife, who didn’t even work there at the time, in to help me cook one Saturday a month.

I became active in the party, helped with events, and attended functions locally and at the state level.  Later I organized and cooked for rallies, won a seat on the county council, served as precinct committee chairman, and had my wife volunteer to be vice-chair(the incoming chair asked for her because 2 males, him and I, could not serve as chair and vice-chair).

In 2006, nearly 5 years after 9/11, our government still refused to secure our borders.  We were at war, and our government had no interest in securing our border?  How could that be?

There was a big illegal immigration debate brewing in Washington leading up to the Indiana primary in 2006.  Republican voters around the country were screaming, and their screams fell on deaf ears.

I decided the country was more important than the party I identified with most of my life, and that someone had to bring some sanity to Washington D.C.

I convinced the Indiana Libertarian party to let me run on their vacant ticket.  There was a requirement for them to file a 10 day notice of intent to fill a vacancy, which they faxed on time, but faxing was not an acceptable method of filing that notice.  The Secretary of State denied my candidacy.

I toyed with running as something other than a Republican, but I feel a duty to try to change the party.  The only Democrat I ever remember voting for is Mike Schrader.  He was a good Sheriff, and from working with him on County Council I felt he would make a good County Commissioner.

I meet the criteria to run, and don’t think there is any way I can be kept off the GOP primary ballot.

Put America First

Let the voters decide if I am Republican enough.

 

How Did We Get Here? Socialism alive and well in America

Socialism has been on the march since McCarthy left Washington.  That thought occurred to me over the holidays.  I took a break from this blog, because I felt like I started repeating myself.  It was New Years Eve, and the thought hit me like the ball falling on my head.

The idea is logical, and after reading the communist goals from the “Naked Communist” that Albert Herlong read into the congressional record in 1963,  While the capitalists went out into the business world, and made their way, the communists went to work on their agenda.

Their agenda was to put their people into positions in education, media, and even government.  Once in place they went to work recruiting like minded people, persuading others, and implementing their socialist agenda.  The results are striking.  We didn’t even know it happened, however looking back the change is obvious and stifling.

One need only read the communist goals to realize how much they have accomplished.  Many of our social ills can be traced to the changes this agenda has caused our society.  Many “useful idiots” have been enlisted.  The agenda has been disguised as compassion, the opposite of selfishness, and even progressiveness.  Where we have ended up is a lesson on why one should avoid allowing emotions to play a role in government or law.

Fundamentally the problem with thinking the government is best suited to solve our individual problems is two fold.  First, it is very hard to think of something the government does well, and even more difficult to think of something the government does efficiently.  Second, it flys in the face of the ideals this country was founded on.

Everything the government does is filled with waste, corruption, and politics.  More importantly this country was founded on the idea that we are free people.  Individual responsibility, freedom, and liberty are what brought people from all over the world to become Americans.

Now in America, nobody is responsible for themselves or their actions, the government tells you how to raise your kids, what to do with your property, and even if you can allow smokers in your business.  If you don’t obey, they will take your liberty.

Meanwhile our elected officials conduct foreign and domestic policy to suit their corporate financiers.  The corporations themselves have become socialist in their organization, and the people are left fearful and paralyzed.

That’s how we got here….now, where the heck are we and how do we get back?

Ugly Americans and Rascist attitudes

According to an associated press article, Mexico’s President Calderon has directed his diplomats to “neutralize” anti-immigrant attitudes in America and Canada.  This after he chastised presidential candidates (Republican I’m sure) for their macho swagger, and warned congress not to attach any strings to the money they are going to give him.

These people have guts.  What rights to Americans have in Mexico.  The right to be kidnapped?  What happens to an American in a car accident in Mexico?  Can Americans buy property in Mexico?  Do we have the right to have our children educated in Mexico? 

Mexico believes their citizens are entitled to all the rights and benefits America has to offer, but don’t see a need to offer any hospitality.  Americans could live like kings if they retired to Mexico.  That is not a viable option. 

I normally don’t allow myself to be too critical of others.  The old glass house thing you know?  But I am really getting sick and tired of Mexican officials telling us what we better do.

So I have a few words for Filepe Calderon.  First and most importantly we don’t have problems with immigrants or Mexicans.  You are overly sensitive because a large majority of the illegal immigrants are Mexican.  Corruption and poor policy are the fault of our government not the people of this country.  If Mexicans have to wait in line to come to America that is because it is a great place to live, and it is worth the wait.

President Calderon, you should concentrate your thoughts on what is going on in Mexico to cause so many millions of your citizens to flee.  No jobs, corruption, poverty, poor education are all issues you can dedicate yourself to solving.  Solve those basic issues and you will no longer need to worry about millions of your citizens trying to find their way in America.

The feeling I keep getting from Mexico, and those asserting the rights of Mexicans in America is that they want what they have coming to them.

I will say this loud and clear.  Illegal Mexicans have no right to be in America.  They have no right to a job, an education, health care, or retirement.

It doesn’t seem that difficult.  If you want to come here, humbly submit to our laws, and assimilate.  Don’t tell us what we owe you.  We owe you nothing.  We have been giving to the whole world, sharing technology, aiding in the construction of infrastructure, and often defending the defenseless.

What do we get for all that????

This is a great country.  It was built with immigration.  We should continue to encourage immigration, but insist it be legal.  We continuously hear about what great benefit the illegals are to this country.  Illegal immigration is a drain on this country.  From the entitlements we pay, to the lower wages across the board from an increased supply of labor, the costs of illegal immigration are hidden. 

Someone please stop the madness.  Drug gangs are kidnapping our citizens, and crossing our border to protect drug shipments.  Terrorists can walk right in to our country.  Government officials are selling our secrets to the Chinese.  Corporations are building factories that will undoubtedly transfer knowledge about manufacturing to the Chinese as well.  In the meantime our allies are making their own way, the Russians are enabling our enemies, and the Chinese are pouring money into their army, navy, and air force.

Leave things to the clowns in Washington, and we will get more of the same.  Find some patriots that can stare in the face of corruption and walk away, and we might still have a country when our grandchildren have grandchildren

Business as Usual Will Not Do

The ‘06 congressional elections sent a message, but next to no-one understood it.  The Democrats took the message to mean Americans were dying to have Democrats back in power.  They believed it was a referendum on the Iraq war and the Bush presidency.  They believed this because they can’t see past Bush.  Everything the Democratic party has done since January 2001 has been to damage Bush and the Republican party to pave the way for a return to Democratic power and the natural state of American politics.

The Republicans apparently don’t want to understand the message either.  I see no rush to secure the border or to slash the size of government.

The game in Washington has for a long time been about partisan power.  Good men and women have gone to Washington D.C., and been educated on how the system works.  They then play the game to build their own political power in an effort to secure a piece of the pie for their constituents.  If they don’t play the game they get pushed to the margins, and  might find themselves with a “more appropriate” well funded primary opponent.

So if they want to get along they have to go along.  This will not do.  No longer do we have the luxury of pursuing a partisan agenda.  We can’t keep spending without regard to the future.  We can’t allow uncontrolled immigration.  We can no longer allow ourselves to be divided.

An American agenda must now be pursued.  This must be done not for political gain, but for the survival of our country.   Everywhere you look you see an irresponsible government pandering to enough people to sustain power.  The money and lifestyle make it easy for government officials to justify our current state.  Especially if they can convince themselves they are helping people.

Our elected officials fall all over themselves to see who can promise the most.  The problem is this is a capitalist democratic republic.  Capitalism, freedom, and individual effort made this country great, not the government taking care of us.

We the people must accept the responsibility for our government.  Agendas are being perused, but not American agendas.  All around this country people must get involved in the political process.  We must change it to pursue the interests of the people of this great nation, not just the interests of people with a lot of money to give to government officials.

Where are the Washingtons, the Jeffersons, or the Franklins??????  Our elected officials are very sensitive to being called unpatriotic.  What is patriotism?  Is patriotism, promising free health care, but undermining the basic tenants of our great nation?  Is patriotism, suggesting we allow the free market to set the minimum wage, but ignoring the enormous infusion of illegal labor to the market?  Is patriotism, quietly handing American sovereignty over to foreigners, but refusing to acknowledge the progress or allow public debate?

I don’t pretend to have all the answers to all the problems.  What I want to do is go to Washington as Indiana’s 3rd district congressman, and find like-minded people to form a coalition willing to act outside the 2 party system in America’s best interest.  Ideally there will be enough votes in this coalition to be a swing vote.

The coalition will then take the movement nationwide in 2010.  Working to elect like-minded people all across the land.  The biggest targets in 2010 will be the holdouts who want to continue the partisan system that has been gamed to our detriment.

Is any of this possible.  I believe it is.  We must however, refuse to believe it is not possible.  Those entrenched in the status quo will do anything to hold on.  

The question is will the patriots do anything?

Put America First.

China

Once again China shows it’s ass.  Once again we are not paying attention.  China’s refusal to let the Kitty Hawk’s battle group dock as scheduled in Hong Kong is another very clear message from the Chinese. 

Of course almost as soon as the battle group turned back to sea the Chinese back peddled.  Now the Chinese are blaming the Dali Lama, and aid to Taiwan.

The point of the matter is the Chinese cannot be trusted, and see us as their only adversary.  The Chinese will continue to challenge us in ways that seem trivial to Americans, but will aid in the growth of their stature throughout the pacific and the rest of the world.

There is only one point.  The Chinese want to be seen as a regional power, and eventually the supreme power in the Pacific.  The Chinese don’t give 2 cents about any understandings we have with them.  Treaties, pacts, and other agreements will take a backseat to China pursuing and demonstrating world power.

Meanwhile we fall all over ourselves to show how friendly we are.  We invite the Chinese military in to study our military.  We share technology.  We look the other way when they steal our most vital national secrets.  We trivialize their very large campaign contributions.  We ignore their very large presence in our ports and at the Panama Canal.  We pretend they are not cozying up to Cuba and drilling for oil right off our shores.  We seem confused when presented with the facts about Chinese military and naval expansion.

I don’t know what to do about China.  They are an emerging super power.  They, I am sure, are thrilled we are distracted and don’t seem to understand what they are doing. 

The Chinese have complete control of their country, and are smart long term strategic thinkers.  They see themselves as the rightful power in Asia, the pacific, and the world.  China is planning to be just that.

Thousands and thousands of American companies are starting up factories and transfering  knowledge of the manufacturing process to the Chinese.  Meanwhile China has no problem exporting unsafe products to America, and doesn’t give a wit about patents or copyright laws.

Our government decided a long time ago that doing business with the Chinese would bring democracy to China.  Of course this is largely based on the idea that China is a responsible partner.  The truth of the matter is China is an emerging rival, and will take advantage of any weakness we show. 

Absence makes the heart grow fonder

A couple of weeks ago, I broke down and finally decided dial up was no deal.  It had been a long time since I enjoyed the internet.  My new DSL was to be up and running a week ago Tuesday.  Of course the modem didn’t come.  I had already called to cancel my dial up.  My modem didn’t come Wednesday either.  On Thursday Thanksgiving day I stopped by my in-laws, who were having trouble with their new DSL.  I ended up calling technical support, and got their DSL up and running.  While I was talking to them I asked about my delivery.  They informed me everything should have been in order, and gave me the shipping company’s number.  I called the shipping company, who had delivered to my house dozens of times, and found the driver could not find my house.  I gave them directions and they said they would deliver it this past tuesday.  Las Friday I was thinking that I could just run over to Fort Wayne on Monday and pick it up myself rather than waiting until Tuesday.

I called the shipping company.  I offered to pick it up Monday.  They said that wasn’t necessary they could drop it off to me Monday, but I needed to give them directions.  I shared with them that I had already done that, but gave them again. 

Monday came and went without a delivery.  I called Monday and found that they were holding the package for a customer requested delivery date, which was Tuesday.  They told me they needed directions to my house.  I shared with them I had already explained how to get to my house twice, and gave them directions.

Yesterday, I called to check on the scheduled delivery.  I found that the package was held to get directions to my home.  I shared with them that I had done that multiple times already.  I gave them directions to my home.  I strongly suggested they deliver it before they were finished for the day.  They said they would call me back.

I work 2nd and had to go to work.  They finally called my wife and said we could have the package if we would meet the driver in town.  She met him and got the modem.  I got off work last night, came home, and hooked it up.

DSL is great.  Click and you go there.  Why did I wait so long?  I have almost completely forgotten about the run around. 

Just before I went to bed last night, I looked at the return address on the package, and found it originated in Warsaw.  Less than 15 miles and it took exactly 2 weeks to arrive.

Communist goal #15 Capture one or both of the political parties in the US

This is goal #15 laid out by the communists in the early 1960s.   Albert Herlong, Jr. a Florida Congressman from 1949-69 read them into the Congressional Record Thursday, Jan 10, 1963.

15) Capture one or both of the political parties in the US.

The success of this goal is certainly debatable.  There is no question but that the modern Democratic party has found in the past success of government entitlement programs like Johnson’s “Great Society” an electoral strategy that works.  Promise free stuff from the government, and you win elections.  Just make sure you promise a better government freebie than the other guy.  Socialism, or at least the idea that the government can solve peoples problems, is certainly alive and well in modern America.  The truth of the matter is the government never came across a problem they could solve.  Solving the problem would mean the end of the program, and the people running the program have a vested interest in not ending the program.  Therefore the problem never gets solved.

The truly disturbing thing is that many of these communists goals have actually come to pass in the last 30 years.  Count back 30 years, make note of the Presidents since then, and think about who controlled the House and Senate.  The Republicans have been in power the better part of those 3 decades.  What does that say about the Republican party?  Ronald Reagan took power almost 25 years ago.  Since then we have only had a Democratic President for 8 years.

So, have the communists captured one or both political parties?  I don’t know.  Certainly nobody would admit to that.  The dramatic swing towards socialism is unmistakable.  American ideals are being undermined by our own government, and the people have been conditioned to hold out their hand.

The way back is for the people to get fed up.  Had enough?

Pakistan

What in the world is going on in Pakistan?  Who knows.  Musharraf has been our man, and we have been lucky to have him.  His days are numbered.  The imposition of martial law has left Musharraf isolated.  Was it necessary?  Who knows.  What happens when he is gone?  Who knows.

Elections in Pakistan have been set for early next year.  Maybe we have good intelligence.  Maybe our government is working behind the scenes.  Maybe it is none of our business.  Pakistan is a sovereign country with the right to self determination.

The next leader of Pakistan is likely to be decidedly less supportive of American interests.  What will that mean for the hunt for Islamic extremists?  It is difficult to imagine a leader of Pakistan being even more helpful to our efforts than Pervez Musharraf.

Musharraf now intends to step down as leader of the military to position himself as a citizen president.  He took power by means of a coup, has imposed martial law to hold power, and seems to hope the voters will see the wisdom in those actions as well as his cooperation with the United States. 

Benazir Bhutto, although somewhat pro-western, will likely feel uneasy about bowing to America.  I can’t see Bhutto risking public support to pursue American interests.

The more important point is that America doesn’t seem nearly as formidable as we did prior to invading Afghanistan.  Musharraf certainly believed the, “you are either with us or against us” bit. 

Of course we have been humbled, nearly to the point of crying uncle, by our our media and politicians.   We certainly are more forgiving of those not completely on our side.  Our actions have not supported our rhetoric.

This gives all other countries wiggle room.  I fear this wiggle room and our perceived diminished power will further erode support for our efforts.

In the end we are in this alone.  We will either overcome islamic extremism, or it will take over the world.  Nobody wants to fight…except the extremists.  The fanatics believe nothing but imposing their will matters.  They will not stop, but must be stopped.

So what does all this mean.  Watch Pakistan.  What happens there has a huge impact on the war on terror.  If Musharraf looses power our struggle becomes harder.  Either way, civil war is a real possibility in Pakistan. 

Civil war in Pakistan would be scary.  What would that mean for longtime rival India?  What about the nukes?  What about Osama bin Laden?  What about the ISI?

Hopefully The CIA is all over it.  Hopefully we have contingency plans for any scenario.  If the past is any indicator, trouble lies ahead.  We don’t often see intelligence successes.  Lets just hope we don’t have to see another intelligence failure.

It’s Hard to Stay Worked Up.

It is not hard to get worked up when you take a hard look at our present state.  A government running wild, a failing educational system, prisons so full we let violent offenders out early, a teetering economy, and anarchy spreading around the world leaves ones head to spin.

It is also hard to stay worked up.  Life has a way of jumping in front of you and demanding your attention.  It is hard to be concerned about a far away government, a broken educational system, mean people, GDP, or the state of freedom in a far away land when you need gas in the car to go to the hospital and see a sick relative.

The big picture gets blurry and out of focus when your kids get in trouble in school, the car doesn’t run, the septic backed up, or your best friend is having a tough time.  Life is tough, and it is getting tougher.

Is it really that bad?  No, and Yes.  It is all about perspective.  We in this country think it is very important to keep people from being exposed to 2nd hand smoke.  2nd hand smoke is bad.  We have removed it as a threat to the workplace in many areas.  Does that mean the workplace air is perfectly safe?  I doubt it.  Many of the factories I have been in have plenty of airborne hazards that have nothing to do with cigarettes.

We also seem to get pretty worked up over someone mentioning God, or displaying a religious symbol.

In much of the rest of the world people are dreaming of a better floor in their home than dirt.  People are struggling with real religious oppression.  People are bombed, beat, imprisoned, and decapitated for their religious views.

The point is we have it pretty good.  It is hard to get too worked up about our irresponsible government when things are so good.  Many see the problems with an entitlement society.  Many see the problems with a government focused on the short term.  Many see the position we are in when foreign interests have more say in what our government does than American citizens do.

So what’s a knowledgeable, educated citizen to do?  Shout from the rooftops.  Tell everyone you run into.  Teach your children.  This is the greatest country the world has ever known.   It is time we start expecting a government that is worthy of it.

Public service is not about a job for life.  It should not be about the accumulation of power.  It should also not be a way to enrich yourself at the citizens expense.

Public service has nothing to do with political parties, even though our federal government has become a partisan cesspool.  Public service is about serving your community.  It is about looking out for the good of the country, it’s future, and it’s people.

America rise up and take your country back for your children and grandchildren.

Invasion from the south

The Mexican military 60 miles inside our border?  I’ve heard stories like this before, but Glenn Beck did a story on the border last night that made my blood boil.  The Mexican military mentioned above was providing cover for illicit activity, and actually held the border patrol at bay while those they protected crossed back over to Mexico.

He also had a congressman from Texas, who demonstrated the government the government position on the issue.  He basically said the American people should mind their own business and let him and the other experts worry about the border.

Us dumb citizens really have no idea about the complexities of this or any other issue.  We can continue to let those experts in government deal with these and other important issues of the day, but we do so at our own peril.  They have sold us out.  They no longer look at the world through the eyes of American citizens and generations to come.

It is time to take our country back.  Register to vote.  Run for office.  Don’t leave the government to those willing to trade our nations future for money and power.