Thursday, November 30, 2006

Why should the United States Support Israel?

I think that the answer to the question why the United States supports Israel is fairly simple. We support Israel because they are an ally of America. That is might be over simplifying things but that is a basic answer. If we explore more in depth reasons we delve into geopolitical and geostrategic domains. Israel is located in the Middle East which is a crucial region of the world. It is crucial because of its most lucrative export, that of course being oil. And as we are a nation dependent on foreign sources of oil we are very interested in the region. We are supportive of Israel because they are a democratic nation in an area of the world not predisposed to accepting democratic governance. Israel provides a stable ally in the Middle East that we can rely on and in turn they rely on us. We support Israel because we know that if we do not the evil forces permeating the Middle East would seek to do it harm. Iran has repeated its mantra of destroying Israel as part of their holy war. Although Iraq does not relate to Israel per se it does add relevant points to the discussion. We are trying to bring democracy into Iraq and in doing so trying to bring more stability to the Middle East. We are using democracy as a weapon against radical Islam in the hopes of combating and defeating it in the hopes of protecting our nation. There are many detractors who wonder why we support Israel to the extent that we do. Some of those detractors reside in the United Nations, a organization whose support of Israel has never been very apparent. As a concluding statement I would say that Israel deserves our support as a crucial ally in a crucial region of the world that unfortunately is becoming more and more unstable.

Our Responsibility to the Environment

The environment has never been a relevant political issue. Recently it has come into some popularity by folks on the left like Al Gore through his movie An Inconvenient Truth. When you think of the left you think of the tree-hugging crowd who would blame the citizens for every problem especially in regards to the environment. The left is not alone in their crusade to "save" the planet. Some Conservatives are joining the cause in saving the environment. These individuals appear to be coming from a more religious view of protecting the environment as stewards of God's creation then those on the left. I do not want to sound as if it is stupid to want live in a clean environment but the militant left takes the issue to the radical end as they do on most issues. Rush Limbaugh likes to respond to liberal hysteria about the environment by saying that we did not create this Earth so we cannot ultimately destroy it. I would agree with that we do not have the power to destroy this world. As a Conservative I would agree that we should try to find the healthiest way to do things if it is feasible and rational. I would love it if someone could find alternative resources so we are not dependent on foreign sources for our energy. I would like it for a national security issue but if it results in cleaner fuel sources great. If someone could invent a car engine that ran on water I would be all for it for its economic benefit and if it resulted in cleaner conditions great. The reality is scientists are so divided about most environmental issues like global warming that we do not have a clear answer. It was recently reported that our pollution in the air might actually create a protective layer from harmful elements. Does this mean that we should actively be trashing the planet? I would say no but we must remember that we have evolved into a world in which we rely on technology and technology that might produce unwanted outputs. It is great for people who want to power their homes through solar panels. Not only will it benefit the planet but will be economically advantageous. I think our responsibility to the environment is to deal with it through reasonable means. If it is advantageous to switch to alternative fuel sources because they provide economic benefit then great I am on board. We need to remember that we have to live on this planet and that by are mere presence we are effecting the environment. We need to resist the urge to become radicalized and irrational on the issue. We need to prevent the world from becoming an unlivable wasteland but through rational means.

Monday, November 27, 2006

Truth and Honesty, the Cure for the Liberal Disease

I think it is quite beneficial to think of liberalism as a disease. When you look at it like a disease you can understand why people would think and speak as they do. The far left, or kook fringe, has most recently infected the Democrat party to the point where it is hard to decipher between the two. You know these kind of people. These are the people who claim 9/11 was concocted by the Bush administration and lead by people like Cyndi Sheehan who say we are lead by warmongers. Normally enlightened individuals would dismiss these leftist idealogues but with help from most mainstream media sources these out of touch persons gain a voice. The only way we can innoculate ourselves is to seek out alternatives in media. We need to inject a healthy dose of truth and honesty into the debate with liberals to the point that they have no where to go but towards sanity and reason.

Tuesday, November 21, 2006

The Minimum Wage Debate

Maybe the most certain outcome of the recent elections was the passing of minimum wage initiatives. Eight states had minimum wage on the ballot and the voters in all eight states voted to support an increase in the current minimum wage. If the Democrats winning both houses was a surprise the most unsurprising event of the elections was the passing of a minimum wage increase, and maybe that is the problem. No one should be surprised when these types of issues pass because of the mindset of the current voting populace. Minimum wage and universal healthcare are issues that Democrats know appeal to a large segment of Americans and which will be politically advantageous for them to keep trumpeting. Democrats feel it is their duty to coddle, protect, and provide for every citizen like an overly protective parent who feels their child cannot make it on their own. This welfare mentality is what absolutely disgusts me about liberals. Instead of trying to help people in a way so that they can achieve on their own merits Democrats simply want to provide handouts that make them look good to voters. The problem also rests with the voters who need to be informed on the issues and not just listen to talking heads. It does not take a college degree to be educated on these issues it just takes a motivated citizen who cares about the end result on their actions in the voting booth. People seem to think that increasing the minimum wage will not have any negative impact. On the contrary increasing the minimum wage will increase unemployment as employers are forced to increase wages. Small businesses will be hurt as they must come up with the money to pay for these increases. Another result will be higher prices for consumers as businesses pass the burden onto us to make up revenue. We need to realize that there will always be a bottom rung of wage earners no matter what the minimum wage. Raising the minimum wage to $7.25 will not solve the problem. If that were the case why not make the minimum wage twenty dollars an hour or one hundred? Readers can go to the Heritage Foundation website located on this blog and read their findings on the minimum wage for themselves. I don't know about you but I don't want the guy making my Big Mac earning the same as the person teaching our children how to read and write. A large segment of minimum wage earners are teenagers earning money to buy a car or spouses whose household income is above the average. These kinds of jobs are mostly entry level positions and are meant to be vacated after a period of time to move on to better opportunities. We should be educating voters about education as one tool to help individuals better their lives so they do not have to work a minimum wage job. My fear is that these words will fall on deaf ears. The sad reality is that many or most Republicans will probably support minimum wage legislation because their political futures depend on them doing so.

Friday, November 17, 2006

Republican Leadership Rundown

Senate
Minority Leader-Mitch McConnell Kentucky
Minority Whip-Trent Lott Mississippi
GOP Conference Chairman-Jon Kyl Arizona
Policy Committee Chairman-Kay Bailey Hutchison Texas
GOP Conference Vice Chairman-John Cornyn Texas
Head of Senate GOP Campaign Fundraisng Committee-John Ensign Nevada

House of Representatives
Minority Leader-John Boehner Ohio
Minority Whip-Roy Blunt Missouri
Conference Chair-Adam Putnam Florida
GOP Campaign Chair-Tom Cole Oklahoma

The End Game for our Enemies

I was lucky enough to catch Glen Beck's program the other night which focused on the extremist Islamic movement. The program presented testimony from people who had first hand knowledge of radical Islam and their ultimate goal. Video was shown detailing account after account of radicals venomously shouting down America. President Ahmadenijad was shown to be the evil threat he truly is and not the affable, charismatic, creature seen on the floor of the United Nations or being interviewed by Mike Wallace. Jihad is the word of the decade and I become convinced more and more that a holy war is right around the corner. People need to realize that these people pose a clear and present danger, to borrow a movie title, and the world must be vigilant. I do not know the precise percentage of islamists that actively seek jihad nor do I care. I am able to see plenty on the nightly news as they burn and stomp on our flag and declare us the Great Satan. Maybe we should pay more attention to an Ahmadinijad now so we do not end up like the Europeans who ignored a Hitler in the 1930's. We fight in places like Afghanistan and Iraq to fight the evil over there but we are increasingly seeing a real threat pop-up in our own backyard. Benjamin Netanyahu recalled the advice of a women who had gone through the Holocaust which was that when someone threatens to destroy you you should believe them. With the President Ahmadinijad's words about destroying Israel undeniable maybe we in the rest of the world should listen to some good advice.

Tuesday, November 14, 2006

Will Pence Prove Positive for the Republicans?

I begin this post with a question. Why did Republicans lose the election? There are may underlying answers that can be gleamed from endless exit polls. I believe a major answer is leadership, or the lack thereof. I think the results of last week's election was as much an indictment of non-Conservative leadership as anything else. Republicans lost their sense of fiscal responsibility and spent like no Democrat before them. I think people became fed up with the growth of government especially at the hands of the Republicans. Now I think a course correction is needed and obtainable. We must have principled, dedicated, Reagan-Conservative leaders in congress. A popular name being tossed around is congressman Mike Pence of Indiana. I certainly think the congressman would be an excellent choice for any leadership post. He is one of the dedicated Conservatives in the House of Representatives and a rising star in the Republican party. It is going to take people like Mike Pence and others to lead the way Reagan would. There is no time like the present to return to conservatism so we can take back control in 2008 before the Democrats get too comfortable.

Monday, November 13, 2006

Democrats Concede Presidency in '08

If you read the headline to this blog post you may be confused. No you have not missed a breaking news story on the Drudge Report or on your local news. I myself have come to this conclusion as part of my daily ramblings and musings which make their way onto my blog. I must give Drudge some credit for this post as I was reminded of comments made by Democrats while listening to his radio show. In the months preceding the election Democrats had made it a point to hammer Republicans on many things including their monolithic rule of the country. Democrats made the point that it is unhealthy for our democracy for one party to control everything. Apparently Democrats totally disregard the fact that democracy is rule by the people and the people of this nation voted to put Republicans in control. I guess the only conclusion to draw from the Democrats is that they will concede the White House to the Republicans in 2008 saving us the trouble and money of trying to get a Republican elected again. Democrats have recently gained control of both houses of Congress and it sadly looks as if they made hold on to them for awhile. So in keeping with Democrat logic as long as they control congress a Republican should be granted the presidency if an effort to keep the balance of power. It may shock you but I believe the Democrats were simply engaging in partisanship. They would have no qualms about controlling everything but when Republicans do it is somehow hedonistically wrong. I hope Democrats realize our democracy is set up to allow the citizenry, hopefully an educated one, to decide who they want in charge.

Sunday, November 12, 2006

Visit My Ads

I just wanted to remind all of you visitors to my site to please visit my ads. Even if you are not interested in the product please click on the link anyway as I am a greedy capitalist pig and want the revenue. I also would like you to keep giving me feedback on how I am doing as I am still a relative newbie to blogging. If you like the way my blog is coming along please pass the word along and help the site grow.

Wednesday, November 08, 2006

Failure in the Heartland

Disappointment was a common mood across the country for Republicans. This emotion was not foreign to me on election night. As a resident of Iowa I was particularly disappointed about the results. Republicans ended up losing both state houses and now control both chambers and the governorship for the first time in years. Iowans also voted to give Democrats a three to two advantage in the House of Representatives. Iowa had maintained a four to one advantage with Leonard Boswell the lone Democratic congressman. The race that most disappointed me was the governor race. I thought the choice was clear between Jim Nussle, a principled and experienced politician, and Chet Culver the Democratic nominee. Iowa could have elected a dynamic duo of Jim Nussle and his running mate Bob Vanderplaats but instead elected in the words of Culver's wife, a big lug. I really thought Iowa would change direction after eight years of Tom Vilsack. We loyal Conservative faithful in the Hawkeye state will now have to endure the Culver administration at least for four long years.

Terror Alert Blue

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. Those words drip like acid from my lips on the day after the election disaster. If you could not tell by my words I am slightly disappointed by the results of yesterday's election. It looked more and more that Republicans would lose the House of Representatives but I did not think it was possible to lose both chambers of congress. So what now? Liberals and disgusted so-called Republicans have given the reins of congress to people who ran on a platform of no platform. Democrats were able to win without proposing ideas and instead ran as the anti-Republican party. We will now see whether Democrats implement the liberal ideas they espoused in past months. Will we see an immediate withdrawal in Iraq, a move to national healthcare, and higher taxes? We do not know the answer now but we will as Democrats take control in the coming months. Perhaps Democrats will hold off on major issue changes in an attempt to moderate themselves and protect presidential hopes for 2008. Whatever course Democrats take it will be wrong. Liberals have taken over the Democratic party and have a radicalized view of where to take the country. I say this as an unabashed Conservative who vehemently opposes the liberal agenda. I would be interested to know the impact of Republicans who refused to vote or voted for Democrats as a way to punish Republicans. In a period of time when so much is at stake the country is awash in blue and I hope we are able to come through this better and more energized as Conservatives. Otherwise the defectors of the red state nation we have to live with the results. I leave you with this it is easy to placate citizens with promises of government gifts and entitlements but it is the principled few who realize the folly of such actions.

Monday, November 06, 2006

On the Eve of Destruction

We now stand roughly twenty-four hours from election day and the stakes could not be higher. It now seems an old cliche to declare the current election as the most important but in this off year it very well could be. The country is faced with either choosing between Democrats or Republicans as third parties have not garnered any real political support since Ross Perot. On one side of the coin you have a party who will fill the next two years with endless hearings on everything the Republicans have done and will actively seek impeachment for Bush. This is not just the ravings of a mad Conservative, Representative John Conyers D-MI has already drawn up the papers. Charlie Rangel wants to repeal all the Bush tax cuts so the Democrats can spend our money on bureaucratic waste. The Democrats have clearly stated that they oppose the war in Iraq and want to cut and run, I mean "redeploy", our troops to Okinawa courtesy of the likes of John Murtha. On the other side of the coin you have Republicans which I fully admit have not always taken the best course on certain issues like immigration but are finally coming around. I believe the choice is clear for you the voter on election day. If you feel you do not pay enough money to the government or want to cut and run in Iraq and turn the balance of power over to the Islamic fascists then by all means go ahead. The great part about our country is that we have the right to make disastrous decisions but in this point in history with the stakes as high as they are I do not think we need to give liberals the keys to the country. We need an election where ideas and ideals are influencing factors not blind hatred or to teach a party a lesson. With the situation as it is in the world it is to dangerous to play games with our security and preservation as a nation.

Wednesday, November 01, 2006

Arrogance

It seems as if John Kerry really has no interest in running again for president at least not president of the United States. In a rally the other day for California Governor hopeful Phil Angelides Kerry made sure to let his Northeastern Liberalism show. Kerry claimed that if a person is uneducated and does not attend college then they will end up on the frontlines in Iraq. The senator's inflammatory remarks serve only to show how liberals truly feel about our military. They cannot understand how an intelligent person would volunteer to fight and defend their country against the evils of our time. Liberals like Kerry seem to have the opinion that only the poor and uneducated fill our military ranks when that is simply false. The military is made up of a wide cross-section of individuals from all walks of life and all education levels. After Kerry's statement their has been a concerted effort by the media to cover up Kerry's remarks or to explain them as simply a joke gone bad. The only joke I see is Senator Kerry and others of his ilk who have a hard time covering up their deep seeded arrogance.