January 18th, 2005

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Spying on The Opposition

Tuesday, January 18th, 2005

Well in case any of you were wondering what the crazy leftists were up to you need to look no further than the "Swing State Project" a blog dedicated to tracking all the competitive races for ‘05 & ‘06 from a leftist perspective. These people have some very amusing comment particularly concerning Social Security reform, as they tout a website ThereIsNoCrisis.com. No crisis? I suppose their solution is to wait thirty years until the whole thing falls apart and there is a gigantic national crisis.

Draft Pence Movement

Tuesday, January 18th, 2005

I recieved this e-mail from the Draft Pence ‘08 movement that I thought would be nice to pass along.

It is a privilege and an honor to write to you for your support of Indiana Congressman Mike Pence for president in 2008. There has never been a more opportune time in our nation’s history to align all grassroots conservatives to get behind ONE pro-life hero whose rhetoric and political demeanor is Christ-like at best and Reaganesque at worst. The Lord has lifted Mike Pence into a position of prominence and leadership not only to fight for our values and principles in the House but to accurately and gracefully articulate them on a national level. Mike Pence is a conservative hero, from him leading the revolt against the largest drug entitlement bill ever to pass through the halls of congress to him garnering 127 congressional signatures for a conservative right to life speaker on national primetime during the Republican National Committee. Mike Pence has stood his course and called his fellow men to follow his lead. Because of his humility, kindness and principled determination, fellow congressmen UNANIMOUSLY elected Mike Pence as the chair of the Republican Study Committe, the largest and most conservative caucus in the House. From being honored with the keynote speech in CPAC 2004 to being honored with the keynote speech at a small town Memorial Day celebration in Columbus, IN, Pence has called all his fellow men to a higher standard of morality that not only resounds of American patriotism but flourishes with principled ethics of citizenry. Even though Pence is humble and shows grace to his political opponents, behind the scenes he is a fiery hard nosed conservative willing to take up the fight for conservatism. His communication skills are impeccable and liberals will have a hard time trying to demonize him because of his rhetoric or personal demeanor. Pence is the ONLY fiscal warrior and pro-life hero that can unite the entire Reagan Wing. Pence is the last Reagan Republican who can not only win over others with his genuine sincerity but can also win the endorsement and nomination of both the Libertarian and Constitutionalist Parties. Not to mention Black conservatives will be able to get behind him as Pence will look to bring along the likes of Black conservatives Herman Cain and J.C. Watts. As of now, they are possible running mates along with Pat Toomey, a national grassroots hero. Not to mention, Mike Pence is in the national spotlight due to his position as chairman of the RSC. Every reporter, columnist, and pundit is going to interview or get comments from Mike Pence because of his leadership position and his ability to articulate our conservative message. These next two years his name ID is going to rapidly increase and afterwards he will be in prime position to enter the presidential race full steam ahead with America acknowledging him as the conservative leader and his district behind him all the way.

Currently we have received overwhelming support for Pence and this movement. Just in the matter of weeks we have Draft Pence movements on college campuses nationwide including HIllsdale, Liberty and College of the Ozarks, three of the most conservative schools in America. We have movements on large state schools such as Indiana, Purdue, Indiana State, Louisville, Miami of Ohio, Kentucky, Southwest Missouri State, IUPUI and Depauw. In addition we have received support from numerous bloggers throughout the blogosphere including Joshua Claybourn at In The Agora. We have several state chapters of Young Republicans in Missouri willing to support Mike Pence along with several pro-life organizations. We have received support from Concerned Women For America and Missouri National Right to Life. We have also received support from Pastor Tommy Nelson at Denton Bible in Denton, TX. His church is the largest in North Texas with over 6,000. The pastor of my home church is the most politically active pastor in all of Missouri, who just gave the state house prayer this month to all state legislators, is down for this conservative movement. We already have a core of dedicated campaigners for Pence in Branson, Missouri that include many local business and clergy men. We have also received support from the director of Branson Pregnancy Care Center who is well connected with Dr. James Dobson, Focus on the Family, the Southern Baptist Convention and Heartbeat International, all enormous pro-life advocacy groups with thousands upon thousands of supporters. We also have important meetings this week with Philis Schlafly, president of Eagle Forum and Richard Engle, president of National Federation of Republican Assemblies. Engle wrote us back in an email stating, "If there is a better candidate for President (Mike Pence), I don’t know it!" He is anxious to get on board with this movement and get all his grassroots chapters involved.

Mike Pence is the ONLY viable candidate who can win the support of ALL the pro-life, pro-family Christian organizations and unite the entire Reagan Wing. Your organization of YCOP is the most important and necessary entity of this grassroots movement. It is imperative that Conservative America rally around ONE pro-life, pro-growth, pro-family, pro-American candidate who is not only able to put our principles into the national spotlight, but one who can ultimately win the presidency and turn our nation back towards the face of God.

Thank you so much for your support! Take care and God Bless.

Aaron Hankins

Now don’t get me wrong, Mike Pence is a great congressman and a great conservative, but I don’t think he’s ready for the leap to the White House, though I still am torn between Sanford and Pence. Well I will post anything more that develops.

WSJ.com - Social Security Reforms: Necessary or Not?

Tuesday, January 18th, 2005

WSJ.com - Social Security Reforms: Necessary or Not?

A very good blog-off concerning Social Security reform, which I think will be the defining issue of this next Bush presidency. If he achieves it then conservatives will have made the right decision selling all their political chips to get him in for the next four years, but if he fails he will be more remembered as a failure on domestic issues.

We can either adjust our promises to a sustainable path or just “wait and see.” If we “wait and see,” then we make it more difficult for individuals to plan today. For example, former Clinton administration Treasury expert Brad DeLong recently suggested gradually raising the retirement age, which I think ought to be an option to put on the table. However, people in their late 40s and their early 50s need to know now if their retirement age is going to have to be raised. You cannot wait 15 years to spring the news on them. - Arnold Kling

I think this needs to be a part of true reform, because even with private accounts we need to wean people off of depending on the government for their savings. The fact we have made most Americans dependent on the government for their survival is disgraceful and is the true moral attrocity missed out on.

About Mark Harris

Tuesday, January 18th, 2005

Mark Harris

Mark will be a senior at The George Washington University majoring in Political Science. He has been involved in politics since a very early age, and has a particular passion for campaign strategy and management. Fiscal issues are his bread and butter and he is dedicated to ridding the GOP of the pesky liberal Republicans, affectionately known as RINOs.

Campaign / Political Positions Held

  • Chairman - Students For Toomey - Fall 2003-Spring 2004
  • Deputy Political Director - Cain for Senate - Summer 2004
  • Deputy Campaign Manager - Robinson for Congress - Summer 2004
  • Intern - Americans for Prosperity - Fall 2004

Current Involvement

  • Executive Vice Chairman - Young Conservatives of Pennsylvania
  • Campaign Contractor - Americans for Prosperity - Spring/Summer 2005

Steelers Limp into AFC Championship

Tuesday, January 18th, 2005

As a self-avowed political junky myself, I think it is important that we also pay attention to other things in life too, and one of these was the recent Steelers-Jets game. The Steelers, blue collar America’s team, barely beat the Jets thanks to the bad kicking of the Jets placekicker. Predictions for the AFC Championship game, anyone? I say Steelers 21-Patriots 10. I am optimistic, what can I say?

Steelers Gate