I read “Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail” in my youth. The only thing I recall from the story is a convertible and the abuse of various forms of alcohol and drugs. Though that vision certainly doesn’t reflect the activities of my youth, it is something what we call “liberals” today were extremely familiar with. I am not really sure why I read the book. It must have been for a class I was taking, or simply an expression of my growing political curiosity. Fear and Loathing has nothing specific to do with my topic today, but for some it may be a fitting title.
After the Wisconsin primary it looks as if Rick Santorum will need to win most every remaining primary in April to be viable as a Presidential candidate. Support has been coalescing around Mitt Romney in an almost unnatural fashion.
Chances are great, because of the Wisconsin primary results, that Mitt Romney will be the republican candidate for President. This means, according to those eager to get things over with, that we can all focus on attacking Obama for seven rather than five months…, though the problem with the primary campaign is that it has run… too long? People are getting tired… but they wont tire of endless attacks on Obama? Just a question. Why are October surprises so powerful?
Sorry. I’m just taking some time to think.
If Romney is the candidate we will have to go through the attacks on his Mormonism. I believe Romney can survive these attacks in light of Obama’s record. It will actually be traditional Christianity that will come out more damaged than Romney or Mormonism. Many a group, and the individuals that comprise those groups, have been severely harmed by hateful Christian propaganda, from which the media will draw, and this dark side of what some call their Christian faith will be on display for the whole world to see. As someone who is a member of an unjustly maligned faith I believe Romney is a great candidate for how he would make appointments to the Department of Justice.
But because of these attacks on Romney’s faith, and its unusual teachings, he cannot speak in detail on conservative social issues without drawing too much attention to his faith; those negative attacks. Rick Santorum on the other hand can effectively stand for conservative social issues,and no matter what others claim they are winning issues. The United states cannot lead the world without re-establishing its moral standards. Judeo-Christian standards that have been under attack from the left since we ended the Second World War, if not longer. In regards to the Muslim world, the Arab spring, we are offering no alternative to sharia law for those desiring a moral society. Santorum might be a fitting candidate for vice president in this regard but I understand the Romney camp would not consider it.
Then Romney will be attacked as a capitalist. Easy to overcome some may say. The problem is we are facing radical Marxists who are looking to, according to their system of thought, simply criminalize capitalism and any thought contrary to their own. Don’t be surprise if he will be accused of outright criminal activity. They will be accusing Romney the businessman. It would be much more difficult for accusations of criminal activity to stick if politicians were simply accusing another politician, such as accusing Santorum. People’s response to that would be “They are all crooks.”
But a Romney victory in the nomination process should in a sane world give him the Presidency. And in that case we will have one of the greatest conservative administrations since Reagan. From what I have gleaned from snippets of comments on the airwaves he will be extremely well advised on conservative Judicial appointments. No, I don’t think Romney is a true or natural conservative, but in his sincere heartfelt desire to get this country he loves back to economic prosperity, the people best qualified in his eyes to accomplish his goals are also some of the best conservatives in politics.
Yes, “in politics.” The question for me with a Romney victory, and a question I hope all tea party types are asking, is; Has the establishment won? Has the professional political culture that has grown apart from its people won?
Let me be so presumptuous as to put forth a tea party platform by which to judge …if the establishment has won. Perhaps someone like me is the best one to put forth such a platform for an unorganized grassroots group sharing common goals, as I am pretty much a nobody by political standards and represent only myself. I will not address the obvious issue of Obama Care for now, but as I put forth the platform keep asking yourself; Has the establishment won?
Zero Baseline Budgeting: This is basically the idea that built in annual increases to federal programs will be increases to the budget. That is, that the government cannot make the increase smaller and claim they cut the budget, though the budget would still increase; be higher than the previous year. Thus is basic honesty in representation. Paul Ryan has claimed he has been fighting for this. (Not to get side tracked, but Paul Ryan was a dream candidate for many of us but he declined to run for personal reasons and he thought himself best positioned where he was to make a difference. If he should now accept the vice presidency I would personally feel a sense of betrayal.)
If we have a republican House and Senate with Romney as President and don’t get zero baseline budgeting the establishment has won.
Tax Reform: Thank you Herman Cain for putting the topic front and center, at least in the early days of the race for the nomination. I think it curious that all the issues that really excited the conservative populous, and the people representing them, have become insignificant as we reach brass tax. “We have to attack Obama!” has overridden all else. As we approach a tax code of 100,000 pages can we get a candidate who could make even a weak attempt to simplify the tax code. Say; make a promise that by the end of his first term he will reduce the tax code to 10,000 pages. Even 25,000 pages would be a significant accomplishment. When you talk about the government picking winners and losers, a good part of that is in the tax code. The massive tax code also points to poor tax policy in that loopholes specific to an industry or company must be created for them to survive.
If the tax code continues to grow the establishment has won.
Ethanol: Yes we are mandated to use ethanol though the purpose for its mandate has been disproven. It extends our fuel, but then we need to burn more to get the same results. It destroys small and marine engines. More than that, it has been shown that the whole system contributes to what have been called greenhouse gases; what ethanol was supposed to reduce. This is a no brainer yet little has happened to bring it to and end. In fact they are now talking about E15. And don’t get me started on corn syrup (the bees know). Talk about government being in the pocket of corporations, …look at big corn. If Santorum had been declared the winner of the Iowa primary that same night we could possibly be ready to declare him the republican candidate now. But Romney was declared the winner though everyone knew some votes were not yet counted and that Santorum may have won, and the true results were not declared publicly for weeks. Santorum won Iowa.
If E15 goes forward under a republican administration the establishment has won. I came just a hair short of saying; If ethanol production in the United States is not brought to a complete end the establishment has won.
E.P.A.: The Environmental Protection Agency has piled regulations on all of us. Regulations that suffocate prosperity. Absolutely a republican administration will put an end to many EPA regulations that unreasonably restrict the economy. But the EPA is the problem, as well as other government bureaucracies that can dictate regulations with the power of law without Congressional approval. Without drastic changes or the disbandment of the EPA nothing has really changed.
If the powers of the EPA are not curtailed the establishment has won.
Deregulation: We have far too many regulations for every aspect of our lives (Obama Care), not to mention laws. Remember the Green Police commercial of Super Bowl past. Massive staffs need to be hired by corporations in some cases just to address the laws and regulations; costs passed onto the consumer. Anal levels of regulation and oversight in the financial markets has only made them more complex and fragile. Mandates from government created the housing crisis. Many rightly claim that we have so many laws we cannot help but break the law without knowing in any quest for the American Dream. There is however no single benchmark one could point to to say that if such and such doesn’t happen… the establishment has won. We all need to be vigilant of every level of government and demand a simplification of our laws regulations, and the repeal of oppressive and obsolete laws, taxes and regulations.
The Professional Politician: Thank you Rick Perry for claiming you would make service in Congress a part time job. How something is designed influences how someone acts. We have a pay scale for our politicians that suggests they are highly valued professionals committed day and night to their work. Is this why we have so many laws and regulations: they feel they have to do something when really they should just end their session and go home? They are professionals at shmoozing: stoking each others egos. On every level of government people are expressing the desire that elected representatives to legislature be a part time position. There just isn’t, shouldn’t be that much for them to do. Let us put an end to the profession politician so we can get more people like Wisconsin’s Ron Johnson in office; an accomplished manufacturer who has hit the ground running as a freshmen and is in position to put forth real world solutions to the problems our nation is facing.
Some have said we need term limits. I have suggested that raising the age requirements for office is more in line with the intent of our founding fathers. Both would require a Constitutional amendment. The tea party needs to define and coalesce behind a clear strategy to reshape politics. A strategy that creates a political establishment that is one and the same with the people and the lives they must live every day.
Ron Paul’s reform of United States monetary policy is also an important issue. But the general public finds it difficult to comprehend the mechanics of the whole system and the corresponding results his changes would produce. His policies are far too specialized for the tea party to embrace; to be part of a platform.
If Ron Paul is appointed the head of the Federal Reserve the establishment will reel in protest.
The tea party will be taking to the streets again in their annual tax day rallies across the country next week. I hope they do more than hope and pray for, and demand an end to Obama Care. I hope the tea party can keep the pressure on important issues and policies that, if not changed, will continue to draw this nation away from its founding principles. Issues that have been sidelined more and more as a single candidate appears ready to claim the prize. (Has the establishment won?) I hope people like Herman Cain, Sarah Palin and others, including conservative talk radio, will continue to keep these important issues front and center.
I hope you all have a blessed Easter experience.
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