Roy Blunt for Senate ????

I often read with amusement that the GOP is dead.  I’ve heard all of this before, only to see the GOP come back bigger and stronger than ever.  Given that Barack Obama is fast becoming a younger, more charming version of Jimmy Carter I’m not too worried.   However …every so often we do something so completely stupid that I question whether we deserve to win or not.

Case in point – former House Minority Whip Roy Blunt’s (R-MO) candidacy to succeed Sen. Kit Bond (R-MO).  If Blunt is the type of candidate we’ll be running in 2010 I fully expect the Dems to trounce us again.

How can we expect the average voter to take us seriously if we are running guys who personify the reasons that the voters threw us out to begin with.  In his video Blunt says that we can’t “borrow and spend our way to prosperity”.  Guess what guys, Blunt was part of the leadership that turned the Congressional Republican majority from a bunch of fiscally responsible conservatives to a bunch of mealy-mouthed spendthrifts.

What’s next?  Tom DeLay for Senate?  How about John Boehner for President?  How about a new party?

If the Missouri GOP can’t find some young DA or state legislator to run, give the seat up before putting someone like Blunt into the Senate.  I know that Blunt comes from a politically powerful family, and is powerful in his own right.  However, if the NRSC or RNC is willing to throw conservative principles so far down a well then the wishful thinking of the left could just become a reality.

Don’t Criticize What You Don’t Understand

My pal Twosentz is running a post (by contributor Champs1) noting that Gov. Mark Sanford (R-SC) has been dropped from the list of speakers at the Values Voters Summit to be held in September.  Fair enough.  Sanford has shown that he’s hardly the kind of guy that should be held up as a representative of family values.

My concern doesn’t lie with criticizing Sanford, although I feel for his family.  No, my concern is with the author’s analysis of the speakers at the summit.  Riddled with inaccuracy, Mr. Champ’s work shows a complete disdain for individuals who believe that certain societal values are necessary for the success of a civil society.  People like Mr. Champ denounces free markets as being laissez faire (there is a distinct difference between a free market and ordered liberty versus a complete lack of regulation) while attacking those who don’t believe in a laissez faire morality.  Regardless, people like Mr. Champ have a right to their opinion; it should, however, be an informed one.  The author clearly doesn’t understand who or what he is criticizing.  He just knows that he doesn’t like it.

Sure, some of the speakers at the VVS are toads.  Personnally, I’ve never been a huge fan of Pat Buchanan.  However, participating in a conference advocating that English be made our country’s official language is hardly the same as conspiring to bomb an army post (like President Obama’s buddy Bill Ayres did).  A lot of us believe that it’s not a bad idea.  While I understand the problems of time and space constraints, claiming that Buchanan is affiliated with a “WHITE NATIONALIST” requires a little backup.  Wouldn’t you think?

I particularly loved Mr. Champs’s portrayal of Mark Levin as a neocon.  Levin may be many things, but he certainly is not a neo-conservative.  If Mr. Champs had bothered to even thumb through a copy of Levin’s latest book, Liberty and Tyranny: A Conservative Manifesto, at the Barnes & Noble (much less actually read it) he would know that Levin has as much love for neocons and former president George W. Bush as he does.

To call Family Research Council president Tony Perkins a racist is easy.  Where’s your proof?  Can’t stand Don Wildmon?  Fine.  Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh?  Ditto.

There’s just one problem guys.  You can’t whine about a lack of civility in our public discourse while you use a grain of truth, or outright falsehood, to attack the character of those you disagree with.  Admittedly, people like Sanford and Gingrich make themselves targets if they run as pro-family and then are proven to be less so.  Unfortunately, you’re playing the same game, just on a different pitch.

The Reagan Myth???

Whether at Q&O or The Next Right, we at Delmarva Dealings have always been a fan of Jon Henke.  Unfortunately, today’s piece over at The Next Right forces us to examine several factors in evaluating future Henke commentary on the future direction of the GOP and the conservative movement.  Perhaps:

• I’m simply too old (I was born in 1960).

• Henke is too young to adequately grasp the history of the modern conservative movement (Jon was in kindergarten when I was knocking on doors for Reagan in 1976).

• Henke has swallowed the foolishness of political “branding” and abandoned his (former?) libertarian philosophy.

I always considered Henke to be a better student of history:

The conservative movement that arose in the 60’s and 70’s reached maturity in the 1980’s.  That period became the conservative movement’s frame of reference; the experiences, lessons and skills learned up to that point became the Republican Party’s hammer, and when all you have is a hammer…

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A Call for Thought Over Emotion at the RPV Convention

Former gubernatorial candidate Wyatt Durrette makes an excellent case for an end to the emotionalism and desire for retribution apparent among some Frederick supporters.  Norm Leahy at Tertium Quids argues that there is a distinct disconnect between the Virginia party’s grassroots and the “establishment”; but the fault lies in political consultants and not in those elected to public or party office.

Leahy’s argument will hold up better over time.  While I respect Durrette, he lost me with:

Exchanges like the recent verbal jousting between Colin Powell and Tom Ridge on the one hand, and Dick Cheney and Rush Limbaugh, on the other, highlight part of the problem.  The idea that two men of the caliber of Powell (former Secretary of State and Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff) and Ridge (former head of Homeland Secretary and former PA Governor) who tout the Republican banner would be banished from GOP ranks by some is poisonous nonsense.

It is not for me, or anyone else, to “banish” the likes of Powell or Ridge from the GOP.  However, Republicans were only able to see growth and strength when we were the party of fiscal conservatism and social responsibility.  Now that we are the party of spendthrifts (in a false hope to curry votes) and theocracy (to help keep the socially conservative wing on the reservation) we are out of power.

While the fall of Soviet-style communism may have been the loss of the glue which held us together, Obama-style economic fascism may be the new Gorilla Glue to bring us all back together.  Unfortunately, as long as consultants and moderates preach about a Republican “brand” rather than ideas, victory will remain just outside our grasp.

McHenry Shows Why GOP Not Ready to Return to Majority

Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC) has never been a conservative.  In many ways McHenry is the Frank Kratovil of the GOP.  He has no true philosophy.  When it can get him votes, he claims the mantle of Reagan.  When it suits, he sucks up to the Bush wing of the party.  Basically, the guy would sell his parents for the right number of votes.

Greg Sargent claims that McHenry is a “key player in crafting the Republican message.”  If this is true, this only proves that we are not ready to move back to the majority.

McHenry’s view:

We will lose on legislation. But we will win the message war every day, and every week, until November 2010,” said Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., an outspoken conservative who has participated on the GOP message teams. “Our goal is to bring down approval numbers for [Speaker Nancy] Pelosi and for House Democrats. That will take repetition. This is a marathon, not a sprint. Read more

You Though Maryland Was the “Free State”

Not according to a new study by George Mason University’s Mercatus Center.  This is their snapshot of the the not so free state:

Maryland is the fifth least free state in the country. The state is 34th in economic freedom but a distant 50th in personal freedom. Maryland’s impositions on personal freedom include the second-strictest gun laws in the country, and marijuana laws are fairly harsh (except that the first offense of high-level possession is a misdemeanor, and there is a weak medical marijuana law), motorists’ freedoms are highly restricted, gambling laws are tight, home schooling laws are burdensome (curricula must be approved by the government), centralized land-use planning is very advanced, eminent domain abuse is totally unreformed, victimless crimes arrest rates are high, and civil unions are not recognized. On the plus side, taxes on beer, wine, and spirits are fairly low, and overall Maryland has one of the least restrictive alcohol control systems in the country. Surprisingly, the state has not enacted complete smoking bans yet. On economic regulation, the state has the usual left-of-center failings on labor law, but more strikingly it has the second-most health insurance mandates in the country (they add 67 percent to the cost). (my emphasis)

This study is well worth reading.

If Maryland is such an enemy of liberty why does it rank so high in personal income?  The answer is real simple.  Federal installations, overpaid government workers, federal contractors and no shame when it comes to suckling on the federal sow.  There is no doubt that BHO will continue to enjoy widespread popularity in this neck of the woods.

A Case of Mistaken Democrat Identity

From The Patriot Post

“I think all the world would gain by setting commerce at perfect liberty.”

–Thomas Jefferson, letter to John Adams, 7 July 1785

The Democrats must have missed this one when they claimed Jefferson was the father of the Democrat party.

Why Are Tattoos So Bad?

Abortion is an issue I rarely bring up online.  Despite my strong pro-life beliefs, it has been my experience that this issue is far too emotional for too many on both sides of this issue.  However, recent action by the Maryland House demands a response.

The other day, the Maryland House approved HB 45.  This bill will require that minors receive parental consent in order to receive a tattoo or body piercing.  There’s certainly nothing wrong with that.  Perhaps that’s why the bill passed unanimously.

The problem is that the House voted down an amendment which would have included surgical procedures such as an abortion.  The logic of the amendment is simple:  “Isn’t abortion a bit more significant than piercing your nose?“

Given that part of the impetus behind HB 45 was that procedures like tattooing and body piercing may require post-procedure follow-up due to the possibility of infection, it’s hard to understand why a surgical procedure wouldn’t require the same follow-up.  Obviously, it does.

Unfortunately, abortion has become a quasi-religious crusade for the left and far right.  The left refuses to accept any regulation of a medical procedure that they would DEMAND regulation of IF it wasn’t the holy grail of abortion.  The far right has become the left’s mirror image by demanding federal solutions to what should be a state issue (one of the many inherent errors of Roe v Wade).

While I am not a huge fan of compromise, neither am I an advocate of removing rationality from the legislative process.  If deliberate thought ever returns to this issue, America will be the better for it.

Will RNC Punish Arlen Specter?

Yet more evidence that former Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele is in way over his head as RNC Chairman.

It’s foolish to publicly discuss “retribution” against Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA), or anyone else.  President George W. Bush was wrong using the RNC to back incumbents like Specter and former Sen. Lincoln Chafee (R-RI) in primary challenges.  Steele would be equally wrong in allowing the RNC to fund primary challengers against moderate / liberal Republicans like Specter.  That is not what the national party is for.

As we have discussed in the past, if Steele really understood (much less believed in) the philosophy of Reagan conservatism he wouldn’t need to pander here, equivocate there.  Unfortunately, taking a year off and absorbing all of Morton Blackwell’s Read to Lead list wouldn’t fix the problem.  It’s like church.  Memorizing the catechism isn’t enough.  You’ve got to BELIEVE.
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Morning Line – February 23, 2009

Delaware -

Redevelopment in Wilmington.  Perhaps Salisbury, MD can learn a lesson or two.

With a government takeover of the nation’s financial system firmly moving forward, ACORN is now helping the Dems socialize medicine (using your tax dollars of course).

Would abolishing the “prevailing wage” law in Delaware save money?  Tens of millions of dollars.  Just don’t expect any action until the DE GOP manages to elect a few more conservatives.

You may find this funny.  It may just piss you off.  Unfortunately, our friends over at DelawareLiberal actually have more than a grain of truth in this one.

Maryland -

The Baltimore Reporter nails Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley on right to carry.  O’Malley’s proud that the “Not So Free State” is now only the 8th most violent state in the nation?

Hospital non-profit status starting to come under microscope.  With many “non-profit” hospitals in the business of everything from real estate development to gyms, it’s about time.

This isn’t political, but since you’re reading this from a computer you should definitely pay attention to what the Delusional Duck has to say about internet based bank fraud.
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