The reappearance of Osama Bin Laden and his claims of impending attacks against our homeland should remind America that the terrorist threat is still dangerously real. President Bush has been trying to convince the nation of this unpleasant truth over the past few months. It looks like Bin Laden - as he did preceding the 2004 election - may have just done wonders for Bush’s communication strategy.

In these latest recordings, a voice that is allegedly Bin Laden’s proclaims that “It’s only a matter of time [referring to attacks]. They are in the planning stages, and you will see them in the heart of your land as soon as the planning is completed.” There is still some doubt as to the authenticity of the tapes. This could just be an instance of Bin Laden searching for some relevancy, as many believe he has been rendered ineffective and irrelevant in the war on terror. Still, if we are to draw any positive conclusions from this story, Bin Laden’s thrust back into the international spotlight should help strenghten our nation’s wavering resolve in the war on terror. This is a serious miscalculation on Bin Laden’s part (among others).

In the wake of this fairly graphic and explicit Bin Laden tape, I am anxious to see if the Democrats continue their severe criticism of President Bush’s authorization of warrantless wiretaps of communications between known Al-Qaeda operatives in the United States and their cohorts abroad. Every time Bin Laden surfaces in American politics, our people rally around the Republican Party, and recognize - as they always do - that the Democrats are not capable of ensuring national security. Bin Laden’s mere presence frames American political debate in terms of national security, which provides an inherent advantage for Republicans. We saw this happen preceding the pivotal mid-term elections of 2002, and especially before the 2004 Presidential election. Recall that Bin-Laden appeared on tape nearly a week before the vote. It had the effect of focusing the American people on national security and terrorism. This event forced the American people to view the election in terms of national security, a reality that helped Bush and many Senate Republicans win great victories.

Until we capture or kill this fanatic, Bin Laden is useful in focusing our country on the supremely important issue of national security. His political miscalculations, one of which we saw today, only reinforce public support for President Bush. Let’s just call it the “Bin Laden Effect.”

From The Hotline, this is the best summary I’ve found so far about how DeLay and the establishment are in no way fiscally conservative and how Shadegg could be the real deal.

Leader Shadegg?

Do House Republicans really want Rep. John Shadegg (R-AZ) to be their Leader?

((Update: Shadegg acquired the endorsement tonight of Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner, the powerful chairman of the Judiciary Committee.))

We ask because even before he threw his hat in the ring last Friday, the ex-RSC chairman has received largely glowing press coverage. Well, besides that “Jack In The Box” story about how he received some Abramoff-connected money and used the black-hatted lobbyist’s MCI Center skybox for a few events.

But besides that little hiccup, Shadegg’s candidacy has been covered in an overwhelmingly positive light. And not just in the sympathetic conservative media and blogosphere. The Shadegg narrative in nearly all media accounts is: principled conservative and ‘94 Revolutionary who has not yielded to the temptations of the Beltway.

We don’t suggest that this portrayal is inaccurate. In the context of the job he seeks, though, it is incomplete. Shadegg is a principled fiscal conservative — and that has ramifications.

As conservative-sounding as he was, Tom DeLay was no fiscal True Believer. As jarring as that may sound to the conservatives who love(d) him and the Dems who loathe(d) him, it is borne out in the facts. DeLay did not come to town in ‘94, he came in ‘84. And in his second term, he won a seat on the Appropriations Cmte. Yeah, that Appropriations Cmte. The one that doles out the earmarks. The third party in American politics.

By the time he became Whip after the ‘94 elections, DeLay had enjoyed four terms on the spending cmte, getting his fair share for suburban Houston and, after gaining a position on the subcmte overseeing NASA funding, more than his fair share for one of his district’s top employers — the Johnson Space Center. In short, DeLay was no prude when it comes to spending.

Nor was he anything but a pragmatist when, after ascending to the leadership, his members would seek out his help in securing their own earmarks. After all, he had been elected to the Texas legislature in the ’70s and the House in the ’80s; decades when Texas Republicans did not coast to office, but had to challenge a Democratic establishment to win and deliver the goods to stay. He knew what those oversized checks and ribbon cuttings meant politically back home.

Shadegg has lived a more chaste political life. He has also enjoyed easy re-election campaigns in his wealthy suburban Phoenix district. The two may not be unrelated.

Having won a GOP seat in a GOP year, Shadegg has never had to hustle for earmarks. So when he carped about excessive spending on the Republican watch, he did so as one untainted by the fiscal profligacy he denounced. And when he voted against the Republican-authored prescription drug bill in ‘03, he did so knowing that his Sunbelt (read senior citizen-heavy) constituents would still send him back with 80% of the vote — as they did the next year.

Has running in a safe district made Shadegg’s fiscal purity easier? Yes. Are we implying that he would not hold fast to these principles were he in a more competitive district? Not at all.

The point, however, is this: should House Republicans elect Shadegg as their leader they will have somebody who may do more than make noises about curbing earmarks and cutting spending.

Fiscal austerity sounds great on paper in the winter and perhaps never more so than now, after the past few months’ unpleasantness. But when the approps checks are being written this fall, do Republicans really want to endanger their earmarking prerogatives?

Moreover, do they want as their second-ranking leader a committed fiscal conservative who may sound pre-George W. Bush tones about the existence of entities such as, say, the Dept of Education?

How Shadegg fairs in the days and weeks ahead will be a good indication of just how much the Conference wants to change its ways.

Pence has endorsed Shadegg! Text of Pence’s letter below:

January 19, 2006

Dear RSC Colleague:

Two weeks from today, the Republican Congress will face a choice of enormous significance in the life of our nation and our majority. As chairman of the Republican Study Committee, it is always my goal to take action, with deliberation, in the best interests of our members and the conservative movement.

Out of respect for the fact that members of RSC would be supporting a variety of candidates, I had intended to withhold any endorsement in the race for Majority Leader. But given the addition of a prominent RSC member to the field and given that many members have already expressed a preference, it has become clear to me that an earlier, personal endorsement is now appropriate.

My choice is John Shadegg. While I see Roy Blunt and John Boehner as conservative men with honorable records of service in Congress, I am proud to endorse John Shadegg for Majority Leader of the United States House of Representatives.

John Shadegg is a proven conservative leader in Congress. During his years as chairman of the Republican Study Committee and the House Policy Committee, John Shadegg has demonstrated a passion for the conservative agenda and a heart to build bridges between the diverse members of our Republican conference.

John Shadegg is a son of the Republican revolution, a member of the fabled class of 1994, and a leader who has never lost his zeal for reform. John Shadegg knows what fiscal and moral reforms are necessary to restore public confidence in the integrity of our national legislature. Now, more than ever, we need leadership with the energy and vision to steer this Congress back to our roots of fiscal discipline, limited government and traditional values.

John Shadegg is the right man with the right agenda to lead our majority during the challenging days that lie ahead. I humbly urge all my colleagues to support John Shadegg of Arizona as our next Majority Leader.

Sincerely,
Mike Pence
Chairman
Republican Study Committee

H/T to RedState