Dupage Veterans Memorial Inc. dropped the ball when they removed steel crosses honoring fallen Dupage County soldiers without notifying the families of those soldiers.
At the Dupage memorial for the dead, there were 22 steel crosses lining the path. Each cross bore the name of a fallen soldier or marine. The Daily Herald reports that a father of one of the soldiers who died in Iraq arrived at the memorial and found the crosses had been removed.
The board of directors of Dupage Veterans Memorial Inc. voted several weeks ago to remove the crosses, as they were deemed a safety concern - people apparently were tripping over the 2x3 crosses.
Safety on public grounds is very important, and removing the crosses is understandable. But the parents of the fallen should have been notified prior to the removal of the crosses. These parents lost their most precious children to the war on terror and the board should have done everything in its power to notify them. It does not do to heap more anxiety on people who have made huge sacrifices for this nation. This weekend as we observe Thanksgiving, we should all be thankful to the soldiers who have sacrificed so much for this nation. And their parents deserve thanks as well.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Gov. Ryan should stay in prison
President Bush should ignore calls to commute the sentence for former Republican Illinois Gov. George Ryan.
Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., is "toying" with the idea of asking the president to commute the sentence of the former governor who is serving a 6 1/2 year sentence for racketerring. Ryan, a blight on the Republican Party in Illinois, was guilty of numerous illegal and unethical practices dating back to his time as Secretary of State. His crimes went beyond the lining of his pockets with illegal donations, they indirectly resulted in the death of six children in Wisconsin.
Ryan was convicted in 2006 after a decade of investigations and went to prison more than a year later. But after serving just over 12 months in prison, Durbin wants his sentence commuted.
In a Chicago Sun Times report Durbin said:
Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., is "toying" with the idea of asking the president to commute the sentence of the former governor who is serving a 6 1/2 year sentence for racketerring. Ryan, a blight on the Republican Party in Illinois, was guilty of numerous illegal and unethical practices dating back to his time as Secretary of State. His crimes went beyond the lining of his pockets with illegal donations, they indirectly resulted in the death of six children in Wisconsin.
Ryan was convicted in 2006 after a decade of investigations and went to prison more than a year later. But after serving just over 12 months in prison, Durbin wants his sentence commuted.
In a Chicago Sun Times report Durbin said:
"Let's look at the price he's paid. His family name has been damaged. He is at an advanced moment in his life and been removed from his family. He has lost the economic security, which most people count on at his age. And he's separate from his wife at a time when she is in frail health. To say that he's paid a price for his wrongdoing, he certainly has. And the question is whether continued imprisonment is appropriate at this point."
Yet, Both the Sun Times and the Chicago Tribune report that Ryan has shown no remorse for his crimes. It can no longer be business as usual in Illinois. Corrupt officials must pay their dues and serve their sentences in prison.
One can argue that Ryan's corruption ended 25 years of Republican control of the governor's office and is the reason Illinois is now managed by the incompetent and equally corrupt Rod Blagojevich.
Illinois citizens would do well by shouting down Durbin's proposal and if they do not, hopefully Bush will show some sanity and keep a corrupt official behind bars.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Cook County president continues dangerous debt increases
It staggers the mind how government can mismanage so much and constantly need more money. No, I'm not talking about the huge debts the federal government is running up by the second. I'm talking about the horrible management of Cook County.
Earlier this year Todd Stroger, county board president, led the passage of a sales tax increase that was supposed to bring in $400 million annually - giving Cook County the highest sale tax in the nation. But that money isn't enough - it never is for big government types. In fact, Stroger said the $400 million boost would give the county a surplus. Now Stroger claims the county needs to borrow $700 million or there will be "draconian cuts" in county jobs. The county, like the federal government and the state government, doesn't have a budget problem - it has a spending problem, as John Hood, president of the John Locke Foundation in North Carolina is fond of saying.
According to the Chicago Tribune, Stroger wants to borrow "$376 million for construction and technology upgrades, $260 million for court costs and insurance claims, and $104 million to pay the pension fund." What's grating and frustrating is the board has already given the nod for the bonds.
In an economy when people are being forced on the street and can barely pay for their mortgages - let alone a spike in property taxes - the government wants to heap more debt on the tax payers. When is it too much? Where are the foes of this kind of insanity? The Civic Federation has called out Stroger on his insanity, but that's not going to be enough and it's clearly too late if the board members are inclined to put the county further into debt. Commissioner Forrest Claypool, a likely primary opponent for Stroger's position, is also questioning the wisdom of borrowing this much money.
Claypool is at least asking questions, but again, too little too late. It's time for people to take their government back. Cook County may be a Democratic safe haven, but there are plenty of fiscally sound leaders from that side of the aisle. Take back the county and restore fiscal responsibility and sound leadership.
Earlier this year Todd Stroger, county board president, led the passage of a sales tax increase that was supposed to bring in $400 million annually - giving Cook County the highest sale tax in the nation. But that money isn't enough - it never is for big government types. In fact, Stroger said the $400 million boost would give the county a surplus. Now Stroger claims the county needs to borrow $700 million or there will be "draconian cuts" in county jobs. The county, like the federal government and the state government, doesn't have a budget problem - it has a spending problem, as John Hood, president of the John Locke Foundation in North Carolina is fond of saying.
According to the Chicago Tribune, Stroger wants to borrow "$376 million for construction and technology upgrades, $260 million for court costs and insurance claims, and $104 million to pay the pension fund." What's grating and frustrating is the board has already given the nod for the bonds.
In an economy when people are being forced on the street and can barely pay for their mortgages - let alone a spike in property taxes - the government wants to heap more debt on the tax payers. When is it too much? Where are the foes of this kind of insanity? The Civic Federation has called out Stroger on his insanity, but that's not going to be enough and it's clearly too late if the board members are inclined to put the county further into debt. Commissioner Forrest Claypool, a likely primary opponent for Stroger's position, is also questioning the wisdom of borrowing this much money.
The big question in all this remains, however, where did all the money go?" he said to the Chicago Tribune. "Where did Stroger's massive sales-tax increase go and all those hundreds of millions of dollars?"
Claypool is at least asking questions, but again, too little too late. It's time for people to take their government back. Cook County may be a Democratic safe haven, but there are plenty of fiscally sound leaders from that side of the aisle. Take back the county and restore fiscal responsibility and sound leadership.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Stevens loss not tragic, but a super majority in the Senate it
There are mixed blessings in the news that Sen. Ted Stevens, an Alaska Republican, lost his race for a return to Washington, D.C. The longest serving Republican senator is gone. And that's not a bad thing considering his recent conviction. Party affiliation does not matter when it comes to corruption.
The most obvious blessing from the announcement that Stevens lost the race to Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich, is a corrupt lawmaker is not returning to Washington, a city rife with corruption.
But there is a downside to this - the Democrats are one step closer to having a super majority (60 seats) in the Senate. If the Democrats achieve that magic number, then that body will be filibuster proof - and that's not a good thing for this country.
On Wednesday Sen. Joe Lieberman, an Independent who was the Democrats pick for vice president in 2004, is returning to his Democratic roots (most likely to retain his committee positions) despite being seen with GOP presidential candidate John McCain throughout the campaign.
With two other Senate races in doubt, one in Minnesota and one in Georgia, it's possible the GOP will be left out of decision making in Washington, despite promises by the Obama transition team stating otherwise. But the Democrats could easily show pettiness. If that happens there's nothing Republicans can do about it.
A filibuster proof Senate renders the Republican Party to less than an effective political party on the national scene. The GOP will be reduced to an impotent opposition party.
Of course many of the things the Republicans will wail and gnash their teeth about under an Obama administration are precisely the things that were accomplished under the Bush presidency. The fear of the Democratic authorized path to socialism has already been laid by the Republican establishment. As the great George Will put it:
Which again shows that the GOP needs to return to its roots. The party must reinvent itself to become viable in future national elections. That reinvention must begin at the grass roots level all across this nation.
Kicking out the corrupt, like Stevens, is a start.
The most obvious blessing from the announcement that Stevens lost the race to Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich, is a corrupt lawmaker is not returning to Washington, a city rife with corruption.
But there is a downside to this - the Democrats are one step closer to having a super majority (60 seats) in the Senate. If the Democrats achieve that magic number, then that body will be filibuster proof - and that's not a good thing for this country.
On Wednesday Sen. Joe Lieberman, an Independent who was the Democrats pick for vice president in 2004, is returning to his Democratic roots (most likely to retain his committee positions) despite being seen with GOP presidential candidate John McCain throughout the campaign.
With two other Senate races in doubt, one in Minnesota and one in Georgia, it's possible the GOP will be left out of decision making in Washington, despite promises by the Obama transition team stating otherwise. But the Democrats could easily show pettiness. If that happens there's nothing Republicans can do about it.
A filibuster proof Senate renders the Republican Party to less than an effective political party on the national scene. The GOP will be reduced to an impotent opposition party.
Of course many of the things the Republicans will wail and gnash their teeth about under an Obama administration are precisely the things that were accomplished under the Bush presidency. The fear of the Democratic authorized path to socialism has already been laid by the Republican establishment. As the great George Will put it:
Which again shows that the GOP needs to return to its roots. The party must reinvent itself to become viable in future national elections. That reinvention must begin at the grass roots level all across this nation.
Kicking out the corrupt, like Stevens, is a start.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Support Community Arts Programs
I am urging everyone to support the arts in their community. In Chicago land we're blessed with so many community theater productions and a plethora of community concert bands. Mrs. Sideline Pundit plays in one of those bands, so I'm certainly far more aware of the bands now than I was back in my single guy days.
Last night I went to one of Mrs. Sideline Pundit's concerts. She plays with the Palatine Concert Band. It was the band's fall concert and the highlight of the night was their performance of Johna de Meij's "The Lord of the Rings" symphony. The symphony, based on the novels by J.R.R. Tolkien (which happens to be my favorite story) is performed in five parts - Gandalf; Lothlorien; Gollum; Journey in the Dark and Hobbits.
What a wonderful performance it was. And for less than the cost of a movie ticket. I was happy to spend money to support the musical passions of friends and neighbors.
I encourage you all, whether here in Chicago land, or in another part of this great nation, to support these performances.
Last night I went to one of Mrs. Sideline Pundit's concerts. She plays with the Palatine Concert Band. It was the band's fall concert and the highlight of the night was their performance of Johna de Meij's "The Lord of the Rings" symphony. The symphony, based on the novels by J.R.R. Tolkien (which happens to be my favorite story) is performed in five parts - Gandalf; Lothlorien; Gollum; Journey in the Dark and Hobbits.
What a wonderful performance it was. And for less than the cost of a movie ticket. I was happy to spend money to support the musical passions of friends and neighbors.
I encourage you all, whether here in Chicago land, or in another part of this great nation, to support these performances.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Two Republican leaders of the future
The old Republican guard is dead for all intensive purposes. They dropped the ball and Democrats gained tremendous power n the past two elections. While it's clear the Republican Party (or more to the point the party of President Bush, which does not resemble the true Republican Party in my opinion) was vehemently rejected in 2008.
But there are young leaders who need to take the lead in returning the party to its traditional tenets. Two men that will be a tremendous boon to the party over the next decade are Mn. Gov. Tim Pawlenty and former Md. Lt. Gov. Michael Steele.
These are two men who understand what it's going to take to right the party.
Pawlenty won re-election in 2006 during the big Democratic sweep. He was able to balance the books of Minnesota without raising taxes, according to the Star-Tribune. He is also a big proponent of alternative energy and has pushed for new energy sources, including wind energy, in his home state. Pawlenty, who was rumored to be one of McCain's choice as running mate, has a big future with the party. He won great respect when he told his constituents that he was governor of the state and would remain governor until his term expired.
Steele, who was the highest elected African-American in the nation when he was lieutenant governor, is seeking the party's top spot.
In his blog at Townhall.com, Steele rightly demands that Republicans "stop looking for Reagan and start acting like Republicans." He's right. The GOP has rested on the laurels of Regan for too long.
In his press release announcing his candidacy for chairman of the Republican Party, he wrote:
But there are young leaders who need to take the lead in returning the party to its traditional tenets. Two men that will be a tremendous boon to the party over the next decade are Mn. Gov. Tim Pawlenty and former Md. Lt. Gov. Michael Steele.
These are two men who understand what it's going to take to right the party.
Pawlenty won re-election in 2006 during the big Democratic sweep. He was able to balance the books of Minnesota without raising taxes, according to the Star-Tribune. He is also a big proponent of alternative energy and has pushed for new energy sources, including wind energy, in his home state. Pawlenty, who was rumored to be one of McCain's choice as running mate, has a big future with the party. He won great respect when he told his constituents that he was governor of the state and would remain governor until his term expired.
Steele, who was the highest elected African-American in the nation when he was lieutenant governor, is seeking the party's top spot.
In his blog at Townhall.com, Steele rightly demands that Republicans "stop looking for Reagan and start acting like Republicans." He's right. The GOP has rested on the laurels of Regan for too long.
In his press release announcing his candidacy for chairman of the Republican Party, he wrote:
"Most Americans today see a Republican Party that defines itself by what it is against rather than what it is for," Steele said in the release. "We can tell you why public schools aren’t working, but not articulate a compelling vision for how we’ll better educate children. We’re well equipped to rail against tax increases; but can’t begin to explain how we’ll help the poor. The success of our Party’s resurgence will come from the states -- from our local leaders and from our Governors."
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Will Republican Governors take party in right direction?
As the Republican Governor's Association winds down its Florida meeting, party members wait to see which direction the party will take. Will the part take a more centrist stance, or will it veer sharply to the right to appease the religious base?
If the Republican Party wants to win back the White House within the next few elections, then party leaders need to follow the Charlie Crist model of Republicanism. Crist, the governor of Florida, takes a bi-partisan, which is code word for centrist, view of government. Looking at the election result from 11 days ago, the political winds are blowing in the centrist direction.
This does not mean the party's tenets of limited government and fiscal responsibility should be abandoned. Not at all. But it does mean that the more socially conservative views of the party need to take a back seat to the more traditional tenets. This is not a compromise of principle, but a look at political reality. If the elections of 2006 and 2008 teach us anything, it's that the country has rejected the current look of the GOP. The party needs to update its look and its message if it wants a chance to win national elections again.
If the Republican Party wants to win back the White House within the next few elections, then party leaders need to follow the Charlie Crist model of Republicanism. Crist, the governor of Florida, takes a bi-partisan, which is code word for centrist, view of government. Looking at the election result from 11 days ago, the political winds are blowing in the centrist direction.
This does not mean the party's tenets of limited government and fiscal responsibility should be abandoned. Not at all. But it does mean that the more socially conservative views of the party need to take a back seat to the more traditional tenets. This is not a compromise of principle, but a look at political reality. If the elections of 2006 and 2008 teach us anything, it's that the country has rejected the current look of the GOP. The party needs to update its look and its message if it wants a chance to win national elections again.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Illinois leadership no where to be seen with $5 billion debt looming
Illinois could be $5 billion in debt by early next year.
It's no secret the state is hurting financially, and it's no secret that state leaders have rarely seen a project they don't want to fund. While it's true lawmakers love to spend money like a sailor on shore leave, not all of the blame can be placed at the feet of Springfield - some of it is fallout from the global economic crisis.
That being said though, it appears Democrats in Springfield are beginning to call for tax increases when the new session begins in January, according to a report in the Chicago Tribune. New taxes are not the answer. A tighter belt in Springfield is the answer. Slow down spending and while not probable, examine a budgeting system like zero-based budgeting. That will help the state right its course financially.
But in the meantime, the state is in a world of trouble.
State Comptroller Dan Hynes warned Gov. Rod Blagojevich that under this massive amount of debt burdening the people of Illinois many services the state provides, such as the highway patrol, food deliveries to prison or school funding.
But where's the governor's leadership on this issue? According to his spokesperson it's not the governor's to deal with. What?!?!? He's the chief executive of this state and he's not taking responsibility. Here's the spokesman's words to the Tribune:
So Blagojevich is passing the buck. It's no surprise. He's no true leader and that's evident when his own party shunned him at the Democratic National Convention earlier this year. He was seen as a liability to Obama, and with a lack of leadership styles, he's a liability to the state of Illinois.
Change needs to come to Springfield and hopefully the likes of Blagojevich will be expelled in the next round of elections. The state Republican Party needs to carefully vet candidates who will promote true fiscal reform in the state and not mirror the "fiscal conservatives" who currently run Washington. Out of control spending needs to stop and the GOP should lead the way in not only reforming the state of Illinois, but the image of the party.
It's no secret the state is hurting financially, and it's no secret that state leaders have rarely seen a project they don't want to fund. While it's true lawmakers love to spend money like a sailor on shore leave, not all of the blame can be placed at the feet of Springfield - some of it is fallout from the global economic crisis.
That being said though, it appears Democrats in Springfield are beginning to call for tax increases when the new session begins in January, according to a report in the Chicago Tribune. New taxes are not the answer. A tighter belt in Springfield is the answer. Slow down spending and while not probable, examine a budgeting system like zero-based budgeting. That will help the state right its course financially.
But in the meantime, the state is in a world of trouble.
State Comptroller Dan Hynes warned Gov. Rod Blagojevich that under this massive amount of debt burdening the people of Illinois many services the state provides, such as the highway patrol, food deliveries to prison or school funding.
But where's the governor's leadership on this issue? According to his spokesperson it's not the governor's to deal with. What?!?!? He's the chief executive of this state and he's not taking responsibility. Here's the spokesman's words to the Tribune:
"The reality is that this isn't just something the governor needs to deal with. It's something everyone will have to deal with," Blagojevich spokesman Lucio Guerrero said in an e-mail Thursday. "The national economy is in turmoil, and we have to make sure that everyone works together . . . to make sure we can get through these financially troubling times."
So Blagojevich is passing the buck. It's no surprise. He's no true leader and that's evident when his own party shunned him at the Democratic National Convention earlier this year. He was seen as a liability to Obama, and with a lack of leadership styles, he's a liability to the state of Illinois.
Change needs to come to Springfield and hopefully the likes of Blagojevich will be expelled in the next round of elections. The state Republican Party needs to carefully vet candidates who will promote true fiscal reform in the state and not mirror the "fiscal conservatives" who currently run Washington. Out of control spending needs to stop and the GOP should lead the way in not only reforming the state of Illinois, but the image of the party.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
A thank you to all who have served this great nation
Today is Nov. 11, a day we honor the men and women who gave their time , energy and blood in service to this great nation.
Some people are off work today, but most in the private sector (like me) are working. But regardless if one is working, or enjoying a relaxing day off, take the time to let a veteran know you're thankful for their service to this nation.
In honor of these brave men and women, I will share a poem by Courtney Tanabe. The poem, and others honoring soldiers can be found at this Web site.
Some people are off work today, but most in the private sector (like me) are working. But regardless if one is working, or enjoying a relaxing day off, take the time to let a veteran know you're thankful for their service to this nation.
In honor of these brave men and women, I will share a poem by Courtney Tanabe. The poem, and others honoring soldiers can be found at this Web site.
Because of You, Unknown Soldier
By Courtney Tanabe
Because of you, I am here
Because of you, I am able to live freely
Yet I do not know you
And I have not done anything for you
But there you stand, ready to fight
And there you are prepared to die
For me
You've fought before
And you'll fight again
For someone you don't know
So thank you Unknown Soldier
Fighting for me
I'm here because of you
And I owe my future to you
By Courtney Tanabe
Because of you, I am here
Because of you, I am able to live freely
Yet I do not know you
And I have not done anything for you
But there you stand, ready to fight
And there you are prepared to die
For me
You've fought before
And you'll fight again
For someone you don't know
So thank you Unknown Soldier
Fighting for me
I'm here because of you
And I owe my future to you
Monday, November 10, 2008
Illinois GOP on right track - change in Springfield
Under the ever floundering administration of Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, Homer Simpson's cry of "D'oh" would be just as home in Springfield, Illinois as it is in the fictional Springfield in which Homer and the rest of the Simpson's clan reside.
It's no secret that the state of Illinois, or heck, even Cook County if you're looking for something close to home, is in dire financial straights. Couple those budget woes with political infighting and ties to corruption, and it's evident that the mantra of President-Elect Barack Obama's call for change is needed in Springfield. But this time it's the Democrats who need to be targeted. And that's precisely the message the Illinois Republican Party is tapping into. A section on the party's web site is dedicated to a call for change in Illinois. The page lays out problems facing Illinois citizens, including the borrowing of millions of dollars to pay for Medicaid, and the corruption issues surrounding Gov. Blagojevich.
Some of the plans have merit and deserve implementation, particularly the calls for fiscal responsibility and the prevention of new taxation to pay for bloated state programs. These are the kinds of things Republicans and fiscally conservative Democrats need to work on together to implement within the next legislative cycle and hold the future gubernatorial candidates to in the 2010 elections.
But some of the calls for action, such as requiring voter referendum for state debt or $1 billion, or a referendum on binding state policy, are much trickier and could be seen as a circumvention of the electoral process.
The message may need to be honed, but the overall call for change is an excellent battle cry for Illinois Republicans.
It's no secret that the state of Illinois, or heck, even Cook County if you're looking for something close to home, is in dire financial straights. Couple those budget woes with political infighting and ties to corruption, and it's evident that the mantra of President-Elect Barack Obama's call for change is needed in Springfield. But this time it's the Democrats who need to be targeted. And that's precisely the message the Illinois Republican Party is tapping into. A section on the party's web site is dedicated to a call for change in Illinois. The page lays out problems facing Illinois citizens, including the borrowing of millions of dollars to pay for Medicaid, and the corruption issues surrounding Gov. Blagojevich.
Some of the plans have merit and deserve implementation, particularly the calls for fiscal responsibility and the prevention of new taxation to pay for bloated state programs. These are the kinds of things Republicans and fiscally conservative Democrats need to work on together to implement within the next legislative cycle and hold the future gubernatorial candidates to in the 2010 elections.
But some of the calls for action, such as requiring voter referendum for state debt or $1 billion, or a referendum on binding state policy, are much trickier and could be seen as a circumvention of the electoral process.
The message may need to be honed, but the overall call for change is an excellent battle cry for Illinois Republicans.
Friday, November 7, 2008
Sen. Stevens deserves the boot
If men of good will are going to reform the Republican Party, then its elected and part officials need to be held to the highest of standards. The first step on the road to recovering the party's legitimacy with the people is to forcibly fire someone like Sen. Ted Stevens of Alaska. In July Stevens was indicted by a federal grand jury on seven counts of failing to properly report gifts valued at approximately $250,000. Stevens was, according to a Los Angeles Times report, using his political connections to invest his money with businesses that received government contracts, which is a conflict of interest for the senator.
On Tuesday, it's seems the voters in Alaska decided to return Stevens to office. There are about 40,000 absentee votes waiting to be counted, but Stevens holds a slim lead. If Stevens is returned to Washington, that will make him the first convicted felon to be re-elected to Congress. I don't know why the people of Alaska would choose to send a corrupt official back to Washington, but it is disconcerting to say the least. The Constitution does give the Senate the power to expel Stevens from that august body, but it should never come to that.
If Stevens truly believes in John McCain's philosophy of Country First, he should step down from both the U.S. Senate and from the Republican Party itself. Then it would appear that principle would triumph over party.
On Tuesday, it's seems the voters in Alaska decided to return Stevens to office. There are about 40,000 absentee votes waiting to be counted, but Stevens holds a slim lead. If Stevens is returned to Washington, that will make him the first convicted felon to be re-elected to Congress. I don't know why the people of Alaska would choose to send a corrupt official back to Washington, but it is disconcerting to say the least. The Constitution does give the Senate the power to expel Stevens from that august body, but it should never come to that.
If Stevens truly believes in John McCain's philosophy of Country First, he should step down from both the U.S. Senate and from the Republican Party itself. Then it would appear that principle would triumph over party.
Yes, it is true that the Democrats may have returned a felon to office in Rep. William Jefferson who has been indicted on 15 counts of corruption, but Jefferson has not been convicted in a court of law. And even if Jefferson had been convicted, Republicans cannot afford to play the tit for tat game. If it's not good for the goose, then it's not good for the gander.
Let's take back the party and send it a message - hold elected officials to the highest standards and purge criminals from our ranks. Send an email to your state and national party leaders to call for Stevens' dismissal from office.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
A note to my conservative friends - let's take the GOP back
Like me, many of you have been highly disappointed in the direction of the Republican Party over the past decade. It has abandoned its traditional tenets of limited government and individual liberty. Many of you, like me, walked away from the party that we rightly felt had abandoned us, the traditional conservatives.
But now is the time to return to the fold. Last night's election was in no small way a rejection of the current state of the Republican Party.
As my wife and I watched Obama give his victory speech, I noticed so many people in the crowd with tears in their eyes. My jaded heart couldn't really understand it, and my wife chided me saying I had no causes to be passionate about, like those people did. After sleeping on it, I realized she was correct. I'd lost my passion for politics because I was feeling like a jilted lover.
But today I am changing that. Since moving to Illinois, I am no longer restrained by journalistic ethics of becoming involved in party politics. As of this morning, I've contacted the county GOP to use my skills to rebuild the party and re-install the core values - limited government, fiscal responsibility and individual liberty - to the party. My backside is coming off the sidelines and I'm going to get back in the game. This blog is part of that effort. The Illinois GOP, like the GOP in my beloved North Carolina, is poorly organized and I believe I can make a difference and help restructure state and local politics. So my fellow disillusioned and jaded conservative friends, now is the time to act. I challenge each of you to get off the sidelines and work to make sure the values we hold aren't forgotten.
To steal the mantra of our president-elect, YES WE CAN
But now is the time to return to the fold. Last night's election was in no small way a rejection of the current state of the Republican Party.
As my wife and I watched Obama give his victory speech, I noticed so many people in the crowd with tears in their eyes. My jaded heart couldn't really understand it, and my wife chided me saying I had no causes to be passionate about, like those people did. After sleeping on it, I realized she was correct. I'd lost my passion for politics because I was feeling like a jilted lover.
But today I am changing that. Since moving to Illinois, I am no longer restrained by journalistic ethics of becoming involved in party politics. As of this morning, I've contacted the county GOP to use my skills to rebuild the party and re-install the core values - limited government, fiscal responsibility and individual liberty - to the party. My backside is coming off the sidelines and I'm going to get back in the game. This blog is part of that effort. The Illinois GOP, like the GOP in my beloved North Carolina, is poorly organized and I believe I can make a difference and help restructure state and local politics. So my fellow disillusioned and jaded conservative friends, now is the time to act. I challenge each of you to get off the sidelines and work to make sure the values we hold aren't forgotten.
To steal the mantra of our president-elect, YES WE CAN
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Why Obama won
President-elect Barack Obama won a solid victory on Tuesday night. He won states and counties that a Democrat has not carried in decades. For the last 21 months Obama crisscrossed the United States taking his message of change and inspiring millions of Americans, particularly young voters. Couple the swell of voters with a national dis-satisfaction with the Bush White House and it was a formula made for victory. While Sen. McCain repeatedly told people he is not President Bush, there was no difference in the minds of the voting public.
But there is another factor in McCain's loss - the shift in policy within the Republican Party itself. For years the Grand Old Party stood for ideals like fiscal responsibility, limited government and individual liberty. But over the past couple of decades, the party has morphed into something that conservative icons like Barry Goldwater and even Ronald Reagan would find alien. Now the Republican Party, at least nationally, mirrors every criticism hurled at the Democratic Party by conservative pundits. The size of the federal government has grown exponentially in the past eight years and the national debt has more than doubled to $10 trillion which has rocked the national economy.
President Bush is the current head of the Republican Party and like it or not, this election was as much about the failures of his administration as it was about the weakness of McCain's candidacy.
But there is another factor in McCain's loss - the shift in policy within the Republican Party itself. For years the Grand Old Party stood for ideals like fiscal responsibility, limited government and individual liberty. But over the past couple of decades, the party has morphed into something that conservative icons like Barry Goldwater and even Ronald Reagan would find alien. Now the Republican Party, at least nationally, mirrors every criticism hurled at the Democratic Party by conservative pundits. The size of the federal government has grown exponentially in the past eight years and the national debt has more than doubled to $10 trillion which has rocked the national economy.
President Bush is the current head of the Republican Party and like it or not, this election was as much about the failures of his administration as it was about the weakness of McCain's candidacy.
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