FOCUS, Not Change, is the Key

Let me state up front that I'm not a fan of CNN. In fact, I've been known to refer to them as the Communist News Network because of their very obvious bias toward the left. I will say, though, that I appreciate their willingness to provide plenty of material about which I can blog. The article today by Gloria Borger, is missing some key points.

The problem with the GOP isn't a lack of new ideas, it is a lack of direction. In an effort to appeal to a broader base, the party has embraced, at least nominally, too many groups with widely diverse beliefs -- just like the Democrats have done. The difference in the election was not a significant mandate for Obama or the Democratic controlled Congress. The difference was the unpopularity of the sitting President coupled with the economic turmoil since September 11, 2001, which was capped by a collapse of the credit markets.

The U.S. public needs to embrace the principles of the conservative wing of the GOP. I believe they want to embrace those principles. The problem is, they can't see them being embraced by the GOP itself. Those principles, if embedded in the public psyche, would have prevented many of the problems that we are faced with today.

Those principles are fairly simple. 1) If you incur a debt, you should pay it. 2) Don't borrow more than you can afford. 3) Get a job. There is merit in providing for oneself and one's family. 4) Marriage is between one man and one woman and is intended to last for life. 5) Kids need both a father and a mother living together -- preferably their biological father and mother. 6) Life is precious -- even for the unborn. 7) Success is the result of hard work and personal initiative -- not race, gender, social status or so-called "class." 8) If you make a commitment you should do everything in your power to keep it. 9) Government is to facilitate commerce, protect the innocent and protect our borders -- NOT be "the great equalizer!" 10) There is nothing wrong with making money. However, there is something wrong with taking money away from those who made it to give to those unwilling to work for it. 11) Education is critical. It must start in the home. It requires discipline and self-initiative. It is a personal responsibility and should not be solely in the hands of the state. 12) We should be responsible for the wise management of our resources -- stewards, not caretakers. Those resources benefit no one if they are not utilized. 13) Charity is a personal choice and a responsibility. It should not be forced on individuals by the state. 14) Personal religious liberty is critical to the proper functioning of society. Personal beliefs inform behavior by individuals in whatever capacity they occupy -- whether in the schools, the workplace or the government. Individuals should be allowed to exercise that religious freedom as they choose as long as it doesn't interfere with the rights of others. 15) Individuals have the right to protect their property. Gun ownership is a right of all honest citizens. 16) The courts are to administer the law, not attempt to change it by their actions. 17) I'm sure I've missed a few points, but the above list covers most of the big ones.

The GOP has lost its direction in the desire to garner votes through embracing a wide-range of groups and ideas. We need to accept the fact that there will be people who will NEVER embrace our candidates. Forget them. Quit trying to reach out to them. Success comes through FOCUS -- not a drifting, wavering, nebulous, ephemeral -- I'm running out of descriptors here -- set of ideals. It's time to choose a course and proceed.

Nominating Conventions and Boredom

I recall that as a youngster many years ago, the party nominating conventions for President were a big deal in our house. I loved to watch the speeches -- although at the time I probably was clueless about the implications of all that was said -- and I waited with anticipation the vote by state delegations for their choice of Presidential nominee. There was always an air of "the possible" and some doubt as to how the vote would turn out. That no longer is the case.

Today, the party conventions are a media circus with a foregone conclusion. The only possible question this year is in the Democratic Convention where there is an element of potential surprise by Hillary Clinton. This could be a good thing for Obama. It may create enough interest by the voting public to actually watch the convention to see just what she and her supporters will do. The Republicans don't have that type of question in front of them.

The Republican Convention promises to be boring. Many of the party faithful are less than enamored with their candidate. The vote is expected to be without event. The speeches will likely follow tried-and-true formulas. There is nothing that promises excitement with the possible exception of the expected nominee himself, John McCain. There may be some expectation that his performance will provide news fodder for a few days if his speech is less-than-satisfactory to the political-talking-heads.

Wouldn't it be more fun if it was more of a political brawl with backroom bargaining and ringing floor speeches attempting to sway the delegates? Instead, it will be canned speeches, foregone conclusions and endless analyses by analysts whose primary qualification is that they lost a political race at one time or another. Will there be an audience?

It seems to me that the candidates have more to lose than they have to gain. McCain will have difficulty overcoming the "boring-us-to-death" potential in Minneapolis. Obama will have to come across as Presidential -- not just a rock star. How the Hillary question is played will also affect voter views of him as a leader. I fear the American public will be the big loser as we are subjected to carefully orchestrated television performances -- if we watch at all.

Energy Fuels Political Games

While Washington plays politics with our energy future, the U.S. consumers continue to pick up the check. The bill to curb energy speculation appears to be merely a political move designed to fool the electorate into believing that Democrats really care about our cost of fuel. It is really an attack on free enterprise which fails to address the true issue -- supply and demand. The price of fuel is set where the quantity supplied equals the quantity demanded. We either need a greater supply or a lower demand. The economic growth of China and India make it difficult to lower demand even though we are burning less fuel in the U.S. Therefore, we must work on the supply side of the equation. We must produce more oil.

From all appearances, Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi do not care about the American people. They only care about their power and the narrow interest groups that keep them there. Until Republicans control both the Senate and the House, there is little chance of meaningful energy legislation. That control means more than a simple majority of seats. It must be at least 60% to be truly effective.

Texas RR Commissioner Williams Speech

Wow! I wish I had heard this speech in person. It was given by Texas Railroad Commission Chairman Michael Williams at the Texas Republican Party Convention. It is a little over 20 minutes in length but well worth it. He expresses why I consider myself a Republican. You can see the video here. He gets my vote.

McCain's Address on Energy

Yesterday, Senator John McCain, the Republican candidate for President, spoke on the issue of energy security for this nation's future. It may well be the most important issue to be faced by the next President. It is an issue that calls for ingenuity, entrepreneurship and solid business acumen. It is not an issue that can be addressed with taxes, litigation and wealth redistribution. Energy cost is the single biggest factor distressing our economy today. Until we address the supply problems it will not get better. A transcript of the Senator's speech is here.

Wind and Solar to Power Conventions

In a way, I find it humorous that the power company that will supply electricity to both the Republican National Convention and the Democratic National Convention is touting the fact that the electrical requirements of both conventions will be provided by wind and solar energy. I thought that was historically the case -- even without the involvement of a power company. You would think that there would be sufficient "hot air" in the speeches and enough "sunshine blown-up-the-skirts" of attendees that external power sources would be unnecessary! I would rather see the air let out of some inflated egos and a little sunshine on the backroom shenanigans.

The Left of the Left

One of the things that is interesting to watch in this year's race for the Presidency is the reaction of office holders to the candidate of their party. Increasingly, we are seeing a distancing of Senators and Congressmen from their chosen Presidential candidate. It seems that Obama is too far left for many Democrats and John McCain is too far left for many Republicans. When you consider that for the most part, the Democrats represent the liberal or left wing of the political spectrum and Republicans represent the more conservative or right wing of the political spectrum, that puts Obama at the extreme left and McCain close to the center. I think that bodes well for McCain.

Global Warming Bill's Temporary Defeat

I like a clean environment. I enjoy the outdoors and wildlife. I recycle when I can. I set my thermostat a little warm in the summer and a little cool in the winter. I prefer home-prepared foods instead of highly prepared and packaged foods. I typically don't drive somewhere unless I really need to. In other words, I try to be a good steward of the resources at my disposal. I think most people are that way. The far-left wackos and the duped are leading us down a path toward collapse into a global socialist state. The hyper-hysteria over Global Warming is part of it.

Hold onto your pocketbooks folks because even though it went down to defeat today, U.S. Global Warming legislation hasn't gone away. If nothing else motivates you for the Fall elections, this should. A Democrat controlled Congress combined with a Democrat in the White House and we will see the Welfare rolls soar -- because none of the hard working people of this country will have any money left to spend except for the bare necessities of fuel to get to work, food for the table and energy to heat our homes in winter (note that I left out cool it in the summer). We will be lucky if we have jobs at all. We should give thanks for the Republicans that bought us some time. We'd better use it wisely.

The Hillary Question

There are many things that come to mind as I look at Hillary Clinton's refusal to concede the race to Obama.

1. Is it that she is so absorbed with becoming President that she has not faced up to reality? I don't really think that's it.

2. Is she assuming the mantle of "power broker" for her supporters and leveraging her support within the party to influence platforms at the convention? I can't see her having such "high" motives.

3. Is she taking it to the Convention with the intention of a bitter fight to the end? The "super delegates" can still change their mind. If she can bring the nomination fight to a draw it becomes a free-for-all. This scenario fits her personality.

4. Is she going to "force" Obama to make her VP? This one also is a possibility. It puts her next in line if something were to happen to Obama. This one also fits her personality and could be construed to fit some of her remarks. It is an extremely sensitive subject and one that could be the source of a racial war within this country.

5. Is there something that we don't know? The MSM tells the story they want us to hear. Is there something that we aren't being told? Could there be some information that has been suppressed that might totally change everything? A possibility.

I just wish the GOP had a stronger candidate in the race. Senator McCain is carrying as much or more baggage than Hillary.

It's The Economy, Stupid.

According to some sources, the Republicans don't stand a chance this fall. The disillusionment of the voting public runs deep and in spite of the dismal records of Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, the blame is squarely being placed on Republicans for the problems that our nation is facing.

The race for the Presidency is a strong mood-setter for the voting public. The main-stream-media has done a thorough job of discrediting any positives coming out of the Bush administration and the only apparent spark of statesmanship in the Presidential candidates is coming from Obama.

It is unlikely that we will see a strong "coattail" effect in the Senate and House races, but there certainly will be nothing to offset the animosity toward the current administration which is represented by the figure-head of President George W. Bush. With consumers paying $4.00 per gallon for gasoline, hearing constant talk of recession, seeing the turbulence of the stock market and fearful of rising food prices, it is unlikely that their negative impression of the current administration will change.

It is an ill wind which blows for the Republicans this fall.