Right in Alabama - The Conservative Mindset

Now that the election is over and we have all had several days to calm down over the results, we can really start thinking about a strategy for fixing the mess that has gradually formed in Washington. The mess I’m referring to is the Republican elected officials that don’t believe in solid conservative principles. Simply put, we have got to have a reform in the Republican party. Yes, it sucks to be lumped into the group of Republican fools, but with the two party system that is currently in place us conservatives don’t really have a choice. I’ve stated before that I am not happy with the Republican party, and McCain and Bush have a lot to do with that.

A complete change is what this party needs. Out with the old, in with the new. Unlike others, I’d like to see more from Sarah Palin, although I don’t think she should run for president in 2012. She should remain governor for a couple of more terms, and maybe even run for the senate a term or two. One of the media’s biggest arguments against her was her “lack of experience.” Having a term or two of the senate under her belt would negate the no-experience argument since Obama ran on just an incomplete senate term as his experience record. That being said, Palin should definitely stick around as she was the one reason McCain didn’t lose the popular vote by a landslide. Also, having a loss hanging around her neck isn’t as bad as it seems. She didn’t brand herself as a generic McCain/Bush Republican, and that is all that matters. She still has core conservative values, and she should step up to the plate and go to bat with them.

A good place to start with the Republican party reform will be Parker Griffith’s senate seat. Numerous bloggers have compiled a list of potential candidates for the seat, some of which get my attention.

Also, there apparently is already an initiative underway to rebuild the party, as Reactionary pointed out at flashpointblog.com. I haven’t read everything in full detail, but it looks like a great place to share ideas and join the cause.

And as for Obama, he will either get into office and make things worse, or make things better. My guess is going to be the former. Regardless, it is going to be an interesting four years. I look forward to still critiquing his policies as I have done to him and McCain throughout this election.

“Conservatives should be reassured that our president-elect did not seek an ideological mandate in this election, nor did he receive one. The failure of the Republican Party in this election does not represent the failure of conservatism, but of the big government Republicanism that took over our party in 1996. Had the Republican Party not governed as the party of socialism-lite for the past 12 years, our candidates’ concerns about the excessive spending on the other side would have had more relevance.

“Republican efforts to build a governing majority through spending and earmarks have ended in disgrace. The Republican Party can either restore its identity as the party of limited government or go the way of the Whigs. When Republicans decide to come home to the timeless conservatism present at our founding, the conservatism of Abraham Lincoln – which our president-elect graciously acknowledged last night – and the conservatism of Ronald Reagan that won the Cold War and led to unprecedented prosperity, they know where to find us.”

Read the full article here.

The Alabama Silver-haired Legislature met recently and presented resolutions to Governor Riley regarding its recommendations of issues for the legislature to take up. One of its top three statewide issues was adopting an Initiative and Referendum (I&R) constitutional amendment.
 
Yes, wisdom comes with age.
 
The legislature has had the opportunity to pass such an amendment for the past several sessions, but too many legislators want to keep all the power in their hands in Montgomery so it hasn’t been passed.
 
Sadly, it won’t be passed until enough legislators are convinced by their constituents to help it pass or face the very real possibility of being voted out of office in 2010.
 
I&R is the key to having various REAL reform and accountability measures passed that so many editorialists say they favor. It’s up to them to use their resources to educate the public on this issue in order to create the demand for I&R by voters all across Alabama.
 
Editorialists, report for duty and help Alabama become the 25th I&R state.

(Editors are urged to learn more about this issue by visiting my website @ www.doctoriq.com.)

Finally… its over! I just want to take this time to thank everyone for participating in the process. It wouldn’t have been possible without you. While it sucks to be on the losing end of the political spectrum, I will be a gracious loser and congratulate the Democratic party on their victories. However you feel, whether good or bad, no one can deny that this is a historic moment for America. Things will definitly change over the course of the next 4 to 8 years.

So once again, congrats to everyone who worked so hard during this election season. The people have spoken loudly and you all deserve the America that he will bring.

Here we sit on the eve of Election Day. Notice I used capitals on that one… emphasis is important as this will arguably be one of the most important elections that I have seen in my short lifetime. I’m not going to take this moment to spout off who I support and try to convince you to see my point of view. I’ve done that plenty over the recent months and if you aren’t sick enough already of this political campaign season, feel free to traverse my previous posts in the Election 08 category. But I can’t say I blame you if you don’t, as you are probably like me and just ready for it to all be over.

The only thing I do suggest is ignore everything you hear from the pundits. Get off the couch and go vote. Whether you support Obama, McCain or any other 3rd party, you’d hate to have that feeling of “I wish I had voted” if your candidate doesn’t win. Don’t listen to them when they say its either “In the bag” or “a hopeless shot”, we as Americans are the ones who make that decision as all of our votes weigh the same as any big name pundit.

Always remember that no matter what happens, the sun will still rise come Wednesday morning and we’ll trudge on and face the challenges together.

This is one area where I wish Obama supporters could justify his stance on fiscal policies. First, we were told that anyone making over $250,000 a year would be the only people to see their taxes increase. Then we heard news that it was down to $200,000. And now… a statement made by Joe Biden suggests it is down to $150,000.

So, the natural next step is $100,000… followed by $50,000. Suddenly it starts hitting home for a lot of people.

So which is it? And where does the “rich” threshold stop?

Well, if you believe everything you read, then by all counts Obama has won the election, at least according to The New Mexico Sun News. Their bimonthly newspaper printed the headline: Obama Wins! on the October 26th edition of the newspaper. Also seeing that the next edition doesn’t release until November 8th which would be old news which is one of their reasoning to push the results early.

I’m willing to concede that Obama is up in most if not all of the polls, but to concede the election before America has even voted is a little stretch. Its still a close race, according to the latest Zogby tracking poll its a 5 point gap. Rasmussen also has the gap at a 3 point margin at the time of this writing.

If there were a 15-20 point gap then I’d be a little more willing to accept the early verdict, but until election day, we won’t absolutely know the winner.

2 Recent Stories that I’d like to make a quick comment on.

Senator Ted Stevens (R) found guilty.

All I have to say to you Mr. Stevens is go away, good riddance, and may all others take heed to your punishment and corruption. I pray they weed out any other elected officials who are as corrupt as you. I don’t care what letter is by their name. Please don’t let the chamber door hit you on the way out.

Obama Assassination Plot.

You can’t get any more racist and bigoted than these folks. Possibly a product of government schooling? Hard to say. Throw the book at these idiots… throw them under the jail. Every man/woman/child has a right to life and no one should think they have the right to take that from any person. While I disagree passionately with Obama, he has a God given right to his views and ideas for America. If he were to be elected, I’d be upset we lost… but I would still support him as our President because he would be the voice of the American people. As long as he respects our God given rights that are guaranteed by the Bill of Rights, and doesn’t convert America into a socialist state… I could handle it… although I will probably complain a good bit.

As reported in the October 21st edition of Bloomberg.com, Argentine president Christina Fernandez de Kirchner propose an overhaul of the pension system that may give the government control of $29 billion in privately run retirement accounts.  This is reminiscent of Bill Clinton’s failed efforts to raid 401Ks of 15% of their value back in 1993.  Only the 1994 midterm elections, in which the Republicans gained a majority in the House, prevented this theft of private pension funds.  If we cede complete control of the Executive and Legislative branches to a Party that has moved significantly to the left of the former Clinton Administration, what do you think will prevent the new policy makers from ‘redistributing’ the wealth to fund the radical socialist agenda?