Posted by
Dana Andjus on Tuesday, October 10, 2006 9:29:35 AM
We are fixin' to move so I haven't been on the blog too much. I've been sorting, and discarding memories from the closets and storage boxes. It's not an easy task because their is room in the new house for only so much. Fortunately their is room in the heart and mind and memory for more. Anyway, I came across a Reagan for President button from the 1980 campaign. In the interest of full disclosure I was one of those Reagan Democrats. I am to this day a Reagan Conservative who votes mostly Republican because there has been no reasonable choice given. And if Ronnie could run from his grave or could have run in the 90's when he was suffering from dementia, he would have had my vote as the best possible candidate. When I saw the button--he was smiling--I thought about how wonderful Nancy was and how she protected him so we didn't see him below his best. Wouldn't it be great if someone--Rosalyn or Amy or anyone--loved Jimmy Carter enough to protect him the same way and keep him from looking senile. My wife doesn't think he has Alzheimer's but what other explanation is there? Elderly onset Tourette's? Could be I guess. Can you imagine how mortified Michael Moore must have been to have to sit next to him at the Democratic Convention?
Enough rambling though. Seeing the Reagan button also started me thinking about what I wanted in the candidate I can enthusuastically support for president. Of course, they must have a conservative outlook. That is the starting place. Now let's look at some of the current important issues. At the end we'll see who matches up.
National Security/War on Terrorists
This is the primary issue of the day. It is the primary duty of any president. I could not support anyone who puts a value on the 'world' liking us. They didn't like us before and they probably aren't going to like us in the future. That is not a George Bush phenomenom. They must understand that it is in their interest to support us and when they don't, their should be a price for them to pay. I am willing to suffer and boycott croissants and Jerry Lewis. It will be my sacrifice. And we should be disciplined in our support of our allies. I cannot support anyone who votes against John Bolton and thinks we should have a 'global test' through the UN. The UN is not a pro American nor pro freedom nor anti poverty nor anti genocide organization. It is a corrupt organization responsible for massive deaths anywhere they are involved. My candidate will be pro change at the UN for our national security.
The war in Iraq must be won. I can understand some people's skepticism. After all, if Bill Clinton had tried to democratize Afghanistan when Osama declared war on us in the 90's we would have all been skeptical, but it could have prevented 9/11. Who knows what we disrupted by taking Saddam out of power. And I still believe that WMD or the capability was still there and long term Saddam was a threat. Anyone who called for regime change in 1998, before 9/11, and not now owes us an explanation. Regardless, we must bring peace and democracy to this area. We already saved countless innocent lives by bringing Saddam down. And you'll notice that most of the killing is Muslim on Muslim now. If we leave the Sunni's will be destroyed. But we must get the Iraqi government strong enough to stand up as quickly as possible. I'm sure they are being told that. I am not commenting on the prosecution of the war since I am not a military expert, but I can understand that planning and prosecuting the war was very complicated and required constant modifications making it seem chaotic. And maybe it was not well done. But when John Kerry criticizes the DOD and our military and the administration for not having a plan and then changes his campaign manager in both the primary and the general election it seems a little presumptuous.
Immigration
We have a real problem at the borders and ports. My candidate must understand that and have a plan for border and port security that is strong. The American people want the flow of people entering the US illegally stopped. Polls overwhelmingly show that. We don't want it to be easy for terrorists or weapons or drugs or even hard working Mexicans to come into the country. The American people were disgusted by the demonstrations in May. The American people want employers who hire these folks to be punished. This is not a victimless crime. Millions of American citizens earn less than a market wage because the workers here illegally will work for less. After we get the border secure then we can discuss what to do with those who remain. But not until. This is of course a national security issue. I heard Newt Gingrich say that articles of impeachment should be drawn up for George Bush' failure to stop this invasion. OK by me for this lapse but not for the Iraq liberation.
Economy
No one who complained about 'tax cuts for the rich' is eligible. If they don't know enough basic economics to understand that those tax cuts were part of the Economic Stimulus Package needed to overcome the damage to the economy from 9/11, the boardroom scandals during the Clinton Years and the start of a recession that George Bush inherited then they can't guide the economy. And most of all they need to acknowledge that they worked to give us the economy we enjoy today. And they need to understand that oil prices are important but are dictated by supply and demand. The way to help keep the price down is increase the supply through new drilling and/or new refineries. Or to lower the demand by conservation, alternative supplies, or nuclear power. I think all are needed and we can't let the environmental terrorists control the debate or action. Their plan for conservation or wind power is a good part of the plan but for national security and to quickly remove our dependence on unstable or unfriendly regimes around the world we need ecologically safe drilling and refineries. I am reminded of a Ronnie Reagan story. He was asked about a party--probably Halloween--that he was invited to. He said he was going to wipe egg on his face and go as a liberal economist.
Education
We must get children out of failing schools. Vouchers are the best idea I have heard. Maybe there are other better ideas. I live in Westford Mass and we have a good school system. While I would disagree with some politics I have heard from other school systems--I haven't heard it about ours--I do not think that warrants vouchers. But kids in districts that fail the kids educationally should have competition--one of the things that made America great. It leads to innovation. I would support full costs vouchers. If Lawrence city schools are failing--and they were-- and we spend $12,000 per year per student, that money should go with the student. We should care more about the students than the teacher's unions. And we need to make the schools more efficient. We spend way too much money on them. Competition should help in that area also.
That's enough for today. We've got over a year to decide on a candidate. Right now I'm leaning toward supporting me. I am right on all these issues after all. I'd be interested to hear how you feel about these issues and what others are important to you. And who you think is more qualified than me.