People often ask what political ideology I adhere to, and I don’t hesitate to say I am conservative. Some will ask for further clarification to which I often respond, “Burkean” (reffering to Edmund Burke) but in reality such beliefs aren’t a brand of conservatism they are the root. All the recent attempts to reclaim conservatism from its traditional heritage either through terms such as “neo-conservative”, “paleo-conservative”, “theo-conservative”, or “crunchy conservative” miss the point.

There is a quote, though I’ve been unable to track it down that sums up best, my point “conservatism is the lack of an ideology,” or what Kirk and Burke would refer to as the “politics of prescription.” As conservatives, we should avoid broad sweeping generations, prefering context, compromise, and deliberation to carry the day.

A disposition to preserve, and an ability to improve, taken together, would be my standard of a statesman. - Edmund Burke

We are guided by the want to preserve the good in society and making changes for the better. The very foundation of conservatism resting on the understanding that man is imperfect, the world is imperfect, and attempts to reach perfection often end up in disaster. Conservatism (as opposed to neo) should offer no grand sweeping vision for changing the world in a night. Nothing can solve all the world’s problems, not the government, philosophers, or, dare I say, the free market or individualism. All may serve a proper role but much like heresy in religion, taking any one thing to the extreme will lead to chaos.

American conservatives have too often forgot the neccesity of balance in their policies and programs. Too often the two sides of public policy (social & economic) are treated as if one has no effect on the other. Social conservatives act like tax policy has no effect on abortions or family life (it very much does) and fiscal conservatives too often believe that the family and abortion don’t effect the economy (they do). The notion of the libertarian expierement (fiscally conservative, socially liberal) or the populist expierement (socially conservative, fiscally liberal) as being better than a balanced conservatism ignores the past. Liberalism on either side of the coin leads to liberalism on both. One can not abandon half the wisdom of the past without abandoning it all.

If we command our wealth, we shall be rich and free; if our wealth commands us, we are poor indeed. - Edmund Burke

The conservative mindset though, and here is where I have drawn the most flak from my conservative friends, must realize that the market fully unleashed does not neccesarily lead to happiness and a better society. Lewis, Chesteron, and Tolkien wrote, what I would call, some of the most deeply conservative literature in modern circulation, and yet, all three did not espouse a joy for the effects of the market. The loss of agrarian lifestyle (Tolkien), the dehumanization of labor (Lewis & Chesterton) were also deeply part of their works. The market has produced tremendous wealth yet not with the resultant happiness that had always been supposed.

Yet, I am not here advocating some political effort to stop and control the market, which is what my conservative brethren assume will be my next step. No, I am saying that there are other institutions: the family, the church, non-profits, etc that should have carried this burden and yet they have not the way they should. The biggest problem facing modern conservatism today then is not electoral problems, nor a lax academic front (conservatives have more electoral success and intellectual vigor than maybe the founding), but the decline of the conservative institutions which used to guard against the excesses of the market, the excesses of extreme individualism, the excesses of government. The solution to our problems then lie not entirely in politics, but in these instituitions.

We need conservative writers, pastors, teachers, social workers, priests to rebuild the instituitions back. Yet more than anything we need more parents building strong families. We, as conservatives who espouse such lip service to the family, need to live more of that in our own lives.

And my favorite quote from Burke:

I thought ten thousand swords must have leaped from their scabbards to avenge even a look that threatened her with insult. But the age of chivalry is gone. That of sophists, economists and calculators has succeeded; and the glory of Europe is gone forever.

It appears only Ralph Reed signs are allowed at your local Georgia Waffle House (PDF)

I have a call into Don Balfour, VP of Advocasy for the Waffle House and state Senator from the 9th District, to verify if in fact he wrote this memo. On another note he was my neighbor when I was Gwennettian.

The “undecided” percentage has gone down, benefiting Reed more than Cagle. They are now tied at 43% for the Republican Lt. Governor primary. Peach Pundit has the polling data, as well as on the Democratic primary for Governor which appears to show that Lt. Gov. Mark Taylor has it in the bag (53-41, with only 6% undecided).

Who do you think would write a piece with the title, “Imagine a world without Israel,” Americans or terrorists from Hamas or Hizbollah?

…. scary, sad, disturbing, but not at all shocking.

Coleman to vote against embryonic stem cell bill

After that, Coleman said, he hopes to move forward with his bill, which he called “a pro-life, pro-science common ground.”

And what exactly is this wonderful “common ground” bill? In Coleman’s own words:

“Let me be clear: these are existing stem cell lines that have already been created in the private sector,” continued Coleman. “The right to life or death has already been decided. My proposal does not open a window or create any opportunity in which further additional stem cell lines may be created. It just moves the goal post. We need to do all we can to promote life saving research, while recognizing that there is an important moral component to this. I believe human life is a sacred gift from our Creator and that embryonic stem cell research after great promise, but raises important ethical questions.”

Sorry Coleman, you can’t have it both ways. “The right to life or death” is not a foregone conclusion. There is such a thing as embryo adoption.

…

Proponents say the promise that stem cell research holds for treating and curing diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s outweighs the ethical concerns.

I’m sorry but the ends don’t justify the means. Scientific advancement does not justify killing people.

Sign placement is very important. Spotted in Cobb County, just outside Atlanta.

Rumors are circling

He may be crazy but he has good ads…

With just over a week to go until the Georgia Primary on July 18th, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Melvin Westmoreland issued a restraining order blocking enfoecement of Georgia’s Voter ID law. The law requires voters to supply a valid photo ID before they can vote.

In a sharply worded ruling, Westmoreland said Friday that Georgia’s voter ID law “unduly burdens the fundamental right to vote rather than regulate it” and would cause “irreparable harm.”

Governor Perdue has vowed to get the order stayed.

“We’re pleased it’s moving forward,” Perdue spokesman Dan McLagan said of the appeal. “We can’t for the life of us understand why the Democrats have been so hellbent on making it easier for dead people, felons and illegal immigrants to cast ballots in their primary.”

Prior to the new law Georgia voters could vote with various forms of ID including fishing licenses and highschool yearbook photos. The law has provisions for providing free photo ID cards to any voter who can not afford a state issued licens. As well the law allows voters to vote provisionaly if they show up to the polls without proper identification. Their votes will count once they are properly identified. The law does not apply to absentee ballots.

This is a last ditch effort by the left to maintain the vote manufacturing gravy train they have enjoyed for years in Georgia.

Just read his waffling in this interview. Sadly, Casey Sr would’ve stood up for his principles and talked about why the democratic party once was and could be again a pro-life party. Instead his son runs for the hills, its just sad.

Cool

Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter says he’s not ruling out making a run for re-election in 2010.

Appearing this morning on WRTA’s Two-Way Radio program with Jason High, Specter said if his health holds up, he’ll probably go for it. Specter, Pennsylvania’s senior U.S. Senator, was first elected to the Senate in 1980 and is currently serving his fifth term.

This really shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone. Yes, Arlen said in 2004 that this current term would be his last and that he would retire in 2010, at the age of 80, but did anyone really believe him? I didn’t. Arlen has every intention to stay in the Senate until the day he is dead and buried. There is hope, though, and that is Pat Toomey. Toomey came within one percentage point of knocking Arlen out in the 2004 Republican primary. Toomey’s name recognition has only catapulted since then. If Toomey makes another run against Specter, I don’t think Snarlin’ Arlen will squeak it out this time.

Democrat turned RINO, New York City mayor, Michael Bloomberg ran his mouth off today at an illegal immigration hearing in Philadelphia.

New York City is home to more than 3 million immigrants, and a half-million of them came to this country illegally, Bloomberg testified.

“Although they broke the law by illegally crossing our borders … our city’s economy would be a shell of itself had they not, and it would collapse if they were deported,” he said. “The same holds true for the nation.”

This argument continues to amaze me. If any American citizen breaks a law we get fined or jailed. If I run a red light I get a ticket. If I rob someone I go to jail. But, if I come to America illegally, steal a Social Security number, and work under the table without paying my taxes, I get citizenship?

Casey Cagle is a steadfast conservative - a successful business man and distinguished member of the Georgia Senate. He is with us on the issues across the board - he’s pro-life, pro-tort reform, and has enacted meaningful tax reform in Georgia as a State Senator. These tax measures have encouraged many companies to relocate to Georgia instead of neighboring states. Casey also helped enact the toughest illegal immigration laws in the country.

Georgia needs honest conservative leadership and Casey Cagle is the man for the job. Casey’s high profile opponent in the July 18th primary is Ralph Reed. Reed is a Washington insider who has very close ties to Jack Abramoff. Reed, a former lobbyist represents everything that is wrong in the GOP, and wrong for Georgia.

Casey Cagle espouses the ideals of true conservatives who value principal over power. Who stick to there core instead of cow-towing to the highest bidder. Casey Cagle is the Conservative Leader Georgians Trust.

Vote for Casey in the GOP Primary on July 18th.