Four Corners Media: Conservative

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Friday, November 27, 2009

The Conservative Case

The Conservative Case (Rep Mike Spence)

Rep Mike Spence made the compelling case for the conservative movement, as the keynote speaker at the recent American Spectator annual Robert L. Bartley dinner (and the keynote was posted on November 23^rd on line www.spectator.org archives)

Here is the opening paragraph from Rep Mike Spence, Chairman of the House Republican Conference: “I stand before you today at an historic moment for the conservative movement and for this great country. The coming weeks and months may well set the course for this nation for a generation and beyond. How we as conservatives respond could well determine whether America retains her place as a beacon of hope in the world, or whether we slip into the abyss that has swallowed much of Europe in an avalanche of Socialism.”

Rep Spence related the position of John Adams, our second US President about the real American Revolution and yearning for a free society as Americans: “According to our second President, the real American Revolution was a revolution of self-reliance and independence, casting off dependency on the crown, in the hearts and minds of the American people. It was a rejection of the spirit of dependence in favor of a society of free and independent people.”

Later, Representative Spence related a story and quotation to US President Abraham Lincoln, “Our 16th president knew that as well. Passing through my home state of Indiana, Abraham Lincoln stopped at the Clay Pool Hotel on 11 February 1861. Headed to Washington to assume the presidency, he said words that are now chiseled in a modest bronze plaque, and I quote: "I appeal to you, to constantly bear in mind that it is not with politicians, it is not with presidents, it is not with office seekers, but with you is the question: Shall the union and shall the liberties of the country be preserved?" Lincoln went on to say, "It is your business if the union of these states and the liberties of this people shall be lost, and it is your business to rise up."

For the complete text of the speech by US Representative Spence:

http://spectator.org/archives/2009/11/23/the-evening-keynote

Saturday, November 7, 2009

The Weekly Standard Blog

The Weekly Standard Blog

Most leading political and news publications have Blog sections on their web site pages. Usually the key reporters, colunmists, pundits and writers will pen short reports, feature web links and release breaking news. The Weekly Standard has a great blog

http://www.weeklystandard.com/weblogs/TWSFP/TWSFPView.asp

With the recent 2009 mid-term election, health care debate and news that unemployment is over 10%, the Weekly Standard www.weeklystandard.com has plenty of articles, columns and punditry.

(c) 2009, Jasper Welch, Four Corners Media, www.jasperwelch.org

Thursday, April 2, 2009

The Devalued Prime Minister of Britain

The devalued Prime Minister of a devalued Government was a three (3) minute speech given in late March 2009 at the EU chambers in Brussels. Daniel Hannan, is a conservative Member of the Parliament in Great Britain, and Mr. Hannan is a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) who formally addressed his fellow EU representatives, including British Prime Minister Gordon Brown. His brief comments on the state of the UK financial conditions and overspending by the British Labor government have resonated throughout the democratic world, as many citizens are questioning the US and UK governments and their massive increases in government programs, spending and (soon to be raised) taxes.

Here is the blog excerpt from Daniel Hannans’ blog www.hannan.co.uk posted March 25, 2009, following his speech at the European Union (EU) parliament entitled, “The Devalued Prime Minister of a Devalued Government” (in which the British Prime Minister Gordon Brown was in the EU chambers):

“The Internet has changed politics - changed it utterly and forever. Twenty-four hours ago, I made a three-minute speech in the European Parliament, aimed at Gordon Brown. I tipped off the BBC and some of the newspaper correspondents but, unsurprisingly, they ignored me: I am, after all, simply a backbench MEP.

When I woke up this morning, my phone was clogged with texts, my email inbox with messages. Overnight, the YouTube clip www.youtube.com of my remarks had attracted over 36,000 hits. By today, it was the most watched video in Britain. (As of 3/31/09, over 1.8 million views).

How did it happen, in the absence of any media coverage? The answer is that political reporters no longer get to decide what's news. The days when a minister gave briefings to a dozen lobby correspondents, and thereby dictated the next day's headlines, are over. Now, a thousand bloggers decide for themselves what is interesting. If enough of them are tickled then, bingo, you're news.” Daniel Hannan, UK blogger & MP.

DANIEL HANNAN is a writer and journalist. He has authored seven books on the EU, contributes regularly to a number of European newspapers, and has served as Conservative MEP for South East England since 1999. He has also written a book called the Plan, which is a blueprint for citizens to shift power from the professional politicians back to the people at the local level.

“Britain is heading in the wrong direction. The Plan shows how to put our country on the right track. Daniel Hannan and Douglas Carswell show how a future government could actually shift powers back, from Brussels to Westminster, from Whitehall to town halls, from the state to the citizens. Their plan aims to restore honour and meaning to the ballot box. It would disperse power among communities, through localism and through referendums. Things do not have to be as they are. The Plan shows how we can change our country for the better.” Book review on in the UK Telegraph www.telegraph.co.uk

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

The Loyal Opposition

As a conservative, what is the approach that we should take following the US election in which liberal Democrats picked up more seats in the US House and US Senate? And what is the conservative response to our newly elected US President, Barack Obama? We are the loyal opposition: Loyal to our country, our republic and the US Constitution. We are supporting the peaceful (and gold standard) process of the transition of power in American, following our national elections. America is unique in the world in how we elect our leaders and how the change in power occurs peacefully. The pundits, politicians and press are now debating the demise of conservative principles and the weakened Republican Party. While that is a debate worth having, as a member of the loyal opposition, I both support the newly elected President Obama, but I also oppose many of his ideas and policies that have been proposed in the campaign. Unlike my liberal friends who bashed President Bush (and the office of the President), I will not engage in that disloyal behavior. Sure, I had some tough words and pointed criticism of Senator Obama as a presidential candidate. But he is the President Elect now, and that electoral victory and historic accomplishment is to be admired and respected. This is American. A country in which a presidential candidate from a diverse background can be elected to the Office of the President with the support of the minority and majority citizens of the United States. That is the dream of every American.

But I will respectfully disagree with our newly minted President, when he proposes more Federal government spending, not less; when the security of the United States is compromised in the interest of getting along with our enemies or if the hand of the US government becomes heavy through taxes, regulations or limits to personal freedom. In this case, as a member of the loyal opposition, I’ll express my contrary views. Fortunately, the days of Bush bashing are fading away, into the dusty Texas sunset. (Although Bush bashing is still lingering the MSM and in left leaning blogs) Let our former President George W. quietly retire to his Crawford Ranch. As for President Elect Obama, he has my loyal support and respect. He was elected by a majority of the States, with a plurality of the vote of our fellow citizens. However, his vision for American is still yet to be unfolded in the policy details of 2009. The Obama campaign platitudes sounded pretty good, but as a member of the loyal opposition, I was suspect as to what will really happen in Washington DC under President Obama and the Democratic Congress.

Meanwhile, I’m looking at the conservative “Blue Dog” Democrats in Congress http://www.house.gov/ross/BlueDogs/ as a member of the loyal opposition. These are self selected Democrats that have a moderate to conservative view on budget and fiscal issues that come before the US House of Representatives. In the 2006 House elections, there were 47 “Blue Dog Democrats”. Since 1996, 27 Blue Dog Democrats have been elected to the US House, replacing incumbent or retiring Republicans. In the 2008 election, 20 new Democrats were elected to the Congress, with a likely number of these new Democrats willing to join the Blue Dog coalition as fiscal conservatives. The question will be: Are the Blue Dog Democrats willing to stand up to President Obama and the liberal Democratic House leadership on overspending and increased government programs that run up the US deficit? We’ll see in January 2009. As a member of the loyal opposition, I’m counting on Blue Dog Democrats in the House and the GOP members of the US Senate to provide some fiscal restraint and balance to Presidential initiatives from the Obama administration.

Friday, November 7, 2008

GOP Takes a Licking at the Polls

Some straight talk. The Grand Old Party (GOP) and the Republican brand took a licking at the polls in the November 2008 election. At the national level, the GOP has lost Congressional seats in the past two elections. The trend may continue in 2010, unless the Dems overreach the political center from their left leaning majority position in Congress and the Congressional Republicans get back to conservative basics. The GOP positions during the later Bush years that tolerated bigger government, more spending and open-ended wars played to the Democrats strengths. Why support Democrat-lite (GOP) when you can vote for the real thing (full-throated Democrats)?

For example, in the past two election cycles Colorado lost both Republican held US Senate seats (Campbell, Allard). These contested open seats were won by Democrats (Salazar, Udall). And the Governor’s mansion in Colorado is now held by Democrat Governor Bill Ritter. In New Mexico, the open US Senate seat due to the retirement of the legendary Republican Pete Domenici was picked up the other Udall (Democrat Tom Udall). And both Republican Congress members from New Mexico (Heather Wilson and Steve Pearce) chose to run for US Senate, thereby leaving their US Congressional seats open, which were lost to Democrat candidates. So New Mexico, like Colorado has 2 Democrat US Senators, a solid Democrat group of Congressional members (NM has 3 Dems, Colorado is 5 Dems, 2 Reps) and both states have Democrat Governors (Richardson, Ritter).

Pundits, pollsters and politicos will dissect, deliberate and determine a variety of reasons. From a campaign perspective at the national level, the GOP ran a traditional political campaign: fire up the Republican base, capture some independents and don’t worry about the Democrats. The Obama campaign ran as a movement: The traditional Democrat party apparatus was only a part of the coalition. Like-minded 527’s, complimentary organizations (like ACORN) and interest groups aligned their political resources as a team. Add to that approach the electronic and web media, a favorable Main Stream Media (advocacy) and countless volunteers, supplemented by a well-organized Obama ground game. The Presidential election result: Blue states were even more blue, swings states went blue and some red states swung to the blue electoral result. Congratulations to President Elect Obama, who was elected along with increased Democrat majorities in the House and Senate.

The Bush-Clinton-Bush-Clinton? years are finally over. It is unlikely that a Bush or Clinton will ever serve in the White House again. So what will we see? It is likely that the Obama machine plans on running in 2012. Why not see if the movement can dominate the weakened (and disorganized) Republican Party again? Meanwhile, the GOP has to regroup, refocus and rebuild. More of same (fuzzy on conservative principles, lack of out reach to independents, straying from the conservative message) by the GOP will yield a similar result (loosing elections).

But shouldn’t we as Republicans be more moderate to win the middle? This may sound like a logical approach, but it the best way to loose an election. In Colorado, the voter registration is split three ways: Republicans, Unaffiliated and Democrats. Assuming the party candidate (Democrat or Republican) can maintain their base (and loose the opponents base), the real battle in for the middle. In a swing state like Colorado, not voter can be taken for granted; most voters will split their ticket; so the quality of the candidate and their campaign matters. So can a conservative Republican win in a blue state or blue district? Sure, it is more challenging, but if our approach is to look like a Democrat, then the voters will probably go for the real thing (vote Democrat). Rather, a principled conservative approach that reaches out to the unaffiliated voter and the conservative leaning Democrat is the winning combination. More on the common sense conservative approach that gets results (using La Plata County, Colorado example) in an upcoming Four Corners Media post.

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Obama is Elected President

In an historic US election, Barack Obama was elected the 44^th President of the United States. After a long campaign, with many surprises, twists and turns, Senator Obama overcame and defeated the GOP Senator from Arizona, John McCain. The American hero and Republican nominee gave a gracious and honorable concession speech, flanked by his wife Cindy and VP nominee Governor Sarah Palin (and her husband). An historic campaign based on the first US President of African American descent, an unprecedented $1 billion dollars spent (combined) by the Dems and GOP and the lack of media scrutiny of Obama by the Legacy Media. With a background of 2 unpopular wars, an economy in turmoil and a weakened 2^nd term President, combined with a sharp, disciplined and focused campaign by Barack Obama, the new President Elect earned an impressive Electoral College victory.

So on Election night, President Obama is to be congratulated. Barack ran a well organized, well financed and well disciplined campaign. And his ability as a Presidential candidate is unmatched in the modern era.

As to how will a President Obama govern, is a large and unanswered question. The conservative assessment of a left leaning Democrat President will wait for tomorrow.

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