BILL CLINTON ENDORSES NEWT GINGRICH??

Many pundits, analysts, and media types are wondering how the voters of South Carolina could favor Newt Gingrich over Mitt Romney and the other candidates.

There is a lot to be said for his performance at the two debates prior to the primary and that may have had a lot to do with it. But beyond that I think that former President Bill Clinton gives us a small glimpse into why voters are ignoring all the “establishment” Republicans who have endorsed Mitt Romney. (Among those that have endorsed him are John Sununu, John McCain, Tim Pawlenty, Bob Dole, Jon Huntsman, Lisa Murkowski, and Nikki Haley).

In his interview with Bill O'Reilly, in response to a question of whether he respected Newt Gingrich as a man, Clinton responded:

"I don't disrespect anybody who works with me in good faith. He was way more political than I would have been. He defended what he calls 'scorched-earth politics' and I certainly was the beneficiary of that.”

I interpret this to mean: Newt didn't care who he angered as long as he did what was necessary to accomplish the goals that he had set, and I (Bill Clinton) got to reap the rewards by getting a second term as president.

In that one sentence Bill Clinton tells all conservatives what they need to know about Newt.

1. Newt is unapologetic about doing what is necessary to advance the Conservative cause and do what is right for the country.
2. Establishment republicans didn't like Newt's leadership because he didn't care about their individual fiefdoms.
3. Newt was honest in his dealings and negotiations with the president which is why Bill Clinton agreed to the legislation passed by the house. (Which would lead one to believe that the President would have urged the Senate to also pass the legislation).
4. He challenged republicans to cross him, but they didn't dare, because they knew they would be exposed politically.

I for one want that in my speaker and more importantly in my President. I want my President to be passionate. I want him to take members of his own party to task for abandoning conservative principles. I want him to take no prisoners when it comes to passing legislation that is right for the country, even if it isn't politically popular within his congressional caucus. Welfare reform passed with 226 of 235 Republican representatives voting in favor, with 30 Democrats. This sounds like leadership to me. 225 Republicans voted in favor the Tax cuts passed in 1997, along with 164 Democrats. Is that not leadership????? Where were all these Congressmen then? Where were their cries of explosive personality and instability?

Most of the “Republicans” complaining about how Newt is a bad leader cannot seem to explain how he persuaded them to vote with him. Most seen to imply that he was combative, confrontational and explosive. The question is never asked: If Newt had not had these traits, would republicans have been able to get welfare reform passed, cut taxes and balance the budget?? And more importantly, if Newt had not been the Speaker of the House would Republicans have even tried?

Probably not.

SYSTEMATIC IMMIGRATION REFORM (SIR) – STEP ONE

**This blog entry was written previously and is being reposted here in an effort to consolidate all articles in one location**

This is an open letter to Conservatives. Please stop
engaging in debates on the subject of comprehensive
immigration reform. Conservatives and anyone with common sense should oppose, not only comprehensive immigration reform, but ANY legislation where comprehensive is part of the title. This includes comprehensive banking reform, comprehensive health reform (too late for that one), comprehensive election reform, and comprehensive energy policy.

I use the example of having an old 68 mustang in your garage. You can not and will never be able to comprehensively fix that car. It is impossible. Even if you had a garage full of ASE certified mechanics and restorers, and you told them all to begin it would be impossible.

Why? Because even then they would all  be eager to get started they would only get in each others way. One group would want to jack the car up. Someone would be taking out the dash, while still others would be trying to take out the interior. It would be chaos. Yet that is what the government did with healthcare, and now wants to do with the banking industry and immigration policy.

The real answer is systematic reform. In our example, the most logical thing to do is to check the frame and ensure that it can sustain and accommodate all the rest of the subsequent repairs and/or modifications. A rebuilt engine that runs great means nothing if installed on a bent or rusting frame. It is not until after the first step that you can move on to the engine and rebuild it, install fresh gaskets, and rings and anything necessary to get running well. Once that is done you pull the transmission, etc… Usually, you go through the restoration systematically to ensure each change progresses toward the ultimate goal. Occasionally, it is to be expected that some part doesn’t quite fit or needs to be rebuilt in order for the previous repair or change to work properly within the context of the restoration.

All these concepts apply to immigration reform. The reformation/restoration of immigration policy must be done systematically. The first step is to find the area in dire need of fixing and attack that isolated problem. It will do no good to try and fix everything at once. In the case of immigration reform, the number one most pressing problem is the actual border. That is what must be fixed before any other problem can be addressed, much like the frame in our example, it does absolutely no good to write policy without first addressing the issue that makes the policy necessary in the first place.

We must build a wall! Not a virtual wall, a real 20-40 foot wall that will serve as real deterrent to illegal aliens attempting to enter into the country illegally. I would even go as far as suggesting a double wall where the first wall and second wall create a “dry moat” along the border so that those that cross over the border are

trapped between the two walls which would give border patrol agents time to intercept and detain illegal border crossers. This wall, contrary to popular belief, would not stop ALL illegal border crossers, but it would deter a great majority of them. Obviously without a wall we will never know exactly how much the deterrent effect might be, but I would speculate that it could cut illegal border crossers by 65-75 percent. Many will argue that the fence will do no good. But in a Congressional Research Service report to Congress it was reported that “After the IIRIRA’s mandate for increased enforcement along the Southwest border
in 1996, including construction of the triple-fence, apprehensions dropped rapidly in the San Diego sector in the late 1990s — from 480,000 in FY1996 to 100,000 in FY2002. The reduction in apprehensions was even more marked in the areas where fencing was constructed within San Diego sector. The USBP’s Imperial Beach and Chula Vista stations saw their apprehensions decline from 321,560 in FY1993 to 19,035 in FY2004 — a reduction of 94% over the 12 year period.” Whenever someone makes this argument they should be immediately asked why they have doors and locks on their houses and fences around their property. Physical barriers work and are very effective, period.

In order to get this done, Congress must allow for the construction of the wall in National Parks and refuges along the border. For those that argue that this would destroy habitat and the natural beauty of the environment must only be shown pictures of the devastation of garbage left by illegal border crossers to understand what really causes the destruction of the natural beauty of the desert. Congress should allow for the construction of the fence, all other laws notwithstanding. Once Congress makes the necessary exceptions to allow the construction, it should immediately introduce legislation to appropriate funds for construction of the wall. This would have some very positive effects for the nation and the economy. First, companies would have to bid and hire workers to supply the materiel, rent or buy the equipment, and install the fence. Second, the mere action of building the wall and will project a perception that the United States is shifting from tacit approval of illegal immigration to a concerted effort to enforce immigration law; this will itself create an environment whereby illegal immigrants will sense a turning of the tides and many will ultimately make a decision to self deport. Third, this will allow the border patrol to use its resources more efficiently and concentrate on the remaining illegal border crossers which are more likely to be gun traffickers, drug runners, and human smugglers.

Along with the building of the border fence Congress should simultaneously increase the budget for the Coast Guard for additional personnel and equipment to include a drastic increase of boats. What is the reason for that? Because as soon as you complete the border fence, the easiest way for illegal aliens to cross into the United States will be by boat; off the coast of San Diego and in the Gulf of Mexico in Texas.

Once the American public is assured that the borders are secure with a genuine physical deterrent, they will be more receptive to the idea of regularizing the status of those that are left in the country; but not until then! The American public has learned its lesson and will no longer accept empty promises that the border fence will be addressed and that funding will be appropriated at a future date the way they did in 1986. Americans are tired of waiting on Congress to comply with and appropriate the funds for legislation which has been signed into law such as the Secure Fence Act of 2006. Through their actions, first by the State of Arizona as stated in the new AZ1070 law, and then through their will, as reflected in poll after poll, the American people want Systematic Immigration Reform, and they will accept nothing less.

So please… Stop allowing progressives and liberals set the conditions for the argument. The only way to fix a problem, any problem, is to do so thoughtfully, deliberately, and systematically. Building the border fences is STEP I. Nothing can proceed without accomplishing that first critical step. A thousand mile journey begins with a single step… Let’s get started.

THE TYRANNY OF TAXES

 **This blog entry was written previously and is being reposted here.  I will post all of my previous articles here as a method to consolidate all articles in one location**

Have you ever asked yourself how much the government really takes from you on a monthly basis? And I am not just talking about the federal government but the state, county, and municipal governments.  None of us really think about all the taxes and fees that come out of our pockets.

Think about it.  You pay taxes on your income every paycheck; if those were the only taxes you paid life would be great.  But that is only the beginning, unless you live in Florida or Texas, you also have to pay state income taxes.  You go home with your check lightened by federal and state income taxes, Medicare, and social security taxes.  So you are driving home and realize that you need gas for you car; you stop at the gas station and fill up. You pay anywhere from 30-60 cents for each gallon of gas (that is between $4.50-$9.00 on a 15 gallon tank and $7.50-$15.00 on a 25 gallon tank.)  You get home and sit at the kitchen table with a calculator and the bills that have arrive by mail. You start writing checks; you pay your electricity bill plus taxes; natural gas bill plus taxes; water bill plus taxes and fees for sewer service; cable or satellite service plus taxes; internet services plus taxes; phone bill plus taxes and 911 fees; cellular phone service plus taxes plus taxes and surcharges.  You pay your mortgage and pay taxes through the escrow account.  With the money you have left you go out to eat and pay taxes on that. Buy a fountain drink at the convenience store and pay taxes on that. Buy a six-pack of beer or a bottle of wine and pay taxes on that.  Buy clothes for you and your kids and pay taxes on that.  You buy tickets to a baseball game and pay taxes on that.  Go to the movies and pay taxes on that.  You pay taxes on all the consumables you need for your home from toilet paper to soap to toothpaste.  Any service that you need, from an oil change to a haircut, is taxed.  You can’t even take a vacation from it because your airline ticket, hotel and rental car are taxed.  Not a day goes by that you aren’t taxed in one way or another.  Obviously some places are worse than others.

It is a wonder we have any money left at all. We as a people need to demand a stop to all this taxation, demand relief from those whom we have empowered to represent us.  We are essentially suffering the same fate as the colonists prior to the revolution, with a twist: Taxation with misrepresentation. But it is our fault.  We have subjected ourselves to this tyranny. And we must take responsibility as a nation and as an electorate, to get ourselves out.  The Tyranny of Taxes is slowly taking away our liberty. We are evermore becoming indentured servants to the leviathan we call the Federal Government.  Worse yet, we are enslaving our children and grandchildren to a life of making the minimum payment on a multi-trillion dollar credit card just to keep ahead of the interest.

We work everyday in an effort to achieve the American Dream and instead of government that encourages our efforts we have one that impedes them.  Instead of creating an environment that is conducive to innovation the government has done everything it can to stifle it.  Rather than lower taxes to stimulate growth and expansion of the economy, our government raises taxes and discourages investment and entrepreneurialism.

Look around and ask yourself, is my money well spent?  Is it invested well?  Should I be forced to help pay for someone else’s house or brand new car?  Should I have been forced to by General Motors, Chrysler, or AIG?  Could I have used that money more efficiently?

Put it in perspective, since 2008, the federal government has spent:

  30 billion to bailout Bear Stearns

400 billion to bailout Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac

180 billion to bailout AIG

  25 billion to bailout GM and Chrysler

700 billion to bailout banks through the TARP program

787 billion in the “stimulus package”

    5 billion in earmarks included in the Omnibus bill

According to the US Census Bureau there were 281,421,906 people in the United States in the year 2000.
For easy math let’s say that there are currently, 300,000,000 legal citizens and residents today.  That would mean that if you added up all the spending, just for the programs and bailouts listed above, the government could have sent out a $7090 check to every man woman and child who is legally in the United States.  For a family of four, that would mean $28,360.

HOW WOULD YOU SPEND $28,360!!

Ask yourself who knows better how to look after your family; you or a collection of 500 individuals in Washington D.C. who have never seen you, never talked to you, and seem unwilling to consider your future and the future of your children and grandchildren.  And don’t seem to understand that what they are doing not only affects us the people but our nation.  They are jeopardizing the future of the United States of America.

"DOMESTIC VIOLENCE " AGAINST ARIZONA

Immigration has become a hot issue once again with the introduction of SB1308, SB1309, and SB1611 in Arizona.  The problem is that confusion and distraction has been created as the State of Arizona tries to address the illegal immigration problem by passing legislation to discourage illegal aliens from coming to Arizona or encourage illegal aliens to leave.  The subsequent court battles then surround the constitutional issue of “birth-right citizenship” and the issue surrounding the 14th Amendment.  But this does not allow for a real and substantive discussion about the real issues. 

 The illegal immigration problem is made to be complex but, in fact, is relatively simple.  It can be summed up thusly:  The federal government of the United States has ignored its responsibility under the Constitution to provide for the “common defence.” Interestingly the "common Defence" is one of the primary reasons for establishing the Constitution in the first place.

By ignoring the illegal immigration crisis on the southern border of the US the federal government has put the “common defence” in jeopardy.  There is no logical argument that can be made that this is not the case.  The Federal government knows the territories of the US are threatened by criminals both foreign and domestic, so much so, that it has erected signs in the Arizona desert warning US citizens that the areas may be monitored and patrolled by members of Drug cartels (here), (here), (here).
 
Providing for the “Common Defence” is one of the powers of Congress under Article I Section 8.  It is the duty of the legislature to accomplish this; through statute and appropriations.  This is a major failing of our government and of the officials our nation has sent to Washington to represent us.
 
Under Article IV, section 4 of the Constitution the States are guaranteed that the Republican Form of Government “shall protect each of them against Invasion; and on application of the legislature, or the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened) against domestic Violence.”  There is little doubt that Arizona is victim to both an invasion and “domestic Violence” as it relates to illegal immigrants crossing the international sovereign border of the United States and committing violence inside the boundaries of the US.  Border Security should be the priority effort, both at the Federal and State level.  The Federal government is the guarantor from “domestic Violence” against the States, and Arizona and other states should demand that the Federal government make good on that guarantee.

The single most effective method of coming closer to solving the illegal immigration morass and making good on the guarantee to protect the nation from "domestic violence" and ensure the "common Defence" is to build a physical barrier along the border with Mexico. 
 
A physical barrier/fence/moat will greatly decrease the amount of illegal aliens crossing the border.  According to a report by the Congressional Research Service in 2007, data shows that after the construction of a triple-fence in the San Diego sector apprehensions dropped from 480,000 in FY1996 to 100,000 in FY2002.  The US Border Patrol’s “Imperial Beach and Chula Vista stations saw their apprehensions decline from 321,560 in FY1993 to 19,035 in FY 2004 – a reduction of 94% over the 12 year period.”   And the results for the San Diego sector could be even starker but the fence in the sector can’t be completed due to environmental concerns.  

But the average American doesn’t need studies and reports to validate what we all know intuitively.  Physical barriers work.  There is a reason that “Good fences make good neighbors.”  That is why we have doors on our houses, fences around our yards and gates around our neighborhoods.  We use physical barriers every day, in all aspects of our lives.  You need a badge to access some work areas; everyone must pass through security at the court house and the airport; there are vehicle gates at parking garages, parks and businesses.   The argument that Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Napolitano made when she said; “show me a 50-foot wall and I’ll show you a 51-foot ladder” is specious at best.  Like Secretary Napolitano, many argue that the fences don’t deter illegal border-crossers, that they will just go to where there is no fence.  But that is entirely the point.  Fences work, period.  A continuous fence would work better.  A continuous double or triple fence with concertina wire at the top and all along the back side would work best.
 
The state of Arizona should force the Federal government to uphold the guarantee stipulated in Article IV, section 4 of the Constitution and put forth an “Application of the Legislature” against domestic Violence.   Take this official step and force the Federal Government to directly and explicitly either comply with or ignore the founding document of our Nation and our Republic.

At least, that way Arizonans will know whether the Federal Government and this administration stand with them or with the illegal criminals crossing the borders everyday.