The American Spectator : The Spectacle Blog : A Conservative Communique for 2011

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The Spectacle Blog

A Conservative Communique for 2011

1.6.11 @ 2:50PM

CONSERVATIVE COMMUNIQUE

Along with nearly 100 conservative leaders and tea party activists we gather to reaffirm our principles of constitutional limited government and economic freedom and our belief in a strong national security and traditional American values. In the recent election, the American people sent a strong message to the President and both Houses of Congress that they insist upon government grounded in constitutional principles and a restoration of Federalism.

Now we call upon President Obama and leaders in Congress to return America to a true and prosperous Nation by passing legislation and implementing policies supported by the vast majority of our fellow citizens that achieve the following:

Repeal of Obamacare. The President should acknowledge that the voters have spoken. The 112th Congress must now follow through and immediately pass a bill that repeals Obamacare. Until Congress is able to get the President to sign a law repealing Obamacare, it must withhold funding, block key provisions and override regulations implementing Obamacare. Only after Obamacare is rejected, can Congress undertake a careful, thoughtful legislative process to make practical adjustments that allow the free market to provide affordable, effective health care insurance choices.

Sustained Economic Growth and Job Creation. The 2010 election outcome was a rejection of President Obama and the Democratic Congress failure to enact policies that create economic growth and enable free enterprise to create more jobs. The President and Congress must now not raise taxes; it is vital that they encourage sound monetary policy, and eliminate unnecessary and job killing regulations.

Ensure No American Pays Higher Taxes. Congress must reject any Obama tax hikes, end the “death-tax” and make permanent the tax cuts of 2001 and 2003, thereby helping the economy grow and create more jobs.

Cut Government Spending. Congress has approved more spending than even the federal bureaucracy can handle. The new Congress should fulfill its pledge to reduce actual spending to pre-Obama levels and eliminate tax-payer dollars for private organizations that engage in political advocacy. Congress should then further reduce spending to work towards balanced budgets and begin to reduce the national debt.

Protect America-An Exceptional Country. The first duty of government is to protect its citizens from foreign threats and secure our nation’s borders. Peace comes through strength-not vulnerability, not appeasement and not an apologetic America. The new Congress should support our troops at home and abroad, strengthen the alliance of free and democratic nations, and oppose any surrender of American sovereignty to the United Nations and other transnational organizations. The new Congress also should support comprehensive missile defense.

Restore Traditional American Values. Conservatives recognize that government policies which weaken the family take a special toll on the poor. The results of families falling apart has huge moral and financial costs for all of us since society will pay through wasteful and fraud ridden programs supporting the welfare state. Congress should immediately ban tax-payer funding of abortion providers, promote policies that uphold the sanctity of human life, and oppose policies & programs that are destructive towards traditional marriage and families.

No More Bailouts. President Obama and Congress must end government bailouts of private companies, Wall Street financiers, and State governments that have spent far beyond their means. It is inherently unfair to burden working Americans with higher taxes and creating future debts to bailout those who have failed to act responsibly.

Resist President Obama’s Court Packing Scheme. Our nation is a rule of laws, not men. To this end, the Senate should vote to confirm only those men and women committed to the rule of law and reject, procedurally or otherwise, judicial activists who would bring a personal agenda to the bench.

New Leaders with a New Opportunity. The American people have sent new leaders to Congress. They expect them to use every aspect of their constitutional authority to secure these goals. Liberals will seek to preserve the expansions of government and thwart the mandate from this election—hoping the American people will not pay attention.

As new leaders your mission is to fulfill this mandate. Work with the President and his allies when they agree to conservative goals. But do not compromise on fundamental principles of freedom and limited constitutional government. Repeal the mistakes of the past, and then lead with new approaches that work and will accomplish these goals. When you do we, and the American people, are prepared to stand with you in the coming two years.

CONSERVATIVE ACTION PROJECT

Edwin Meese III, former Attorney General

Tony Perkins, President, Family Research Council

Colin Hanna, President, Let Freedom Ring

Phyllis Schlafly, President, Eagle Forum

Grover Norquist, President, Americans for Tax Reform

David N. Bossie, President, Citizens United

Penny Young Nance, CEO, Concerned Women for America

Gary Aldrich, President, Liberty Central & Chairman, CNP Action Inc.

Duane Parde, President, National Taxpayers Union

James Martin, Chairman 60 Plus Association

James C. Miller III, former Reagan Budget Director

Morton C. Blackwell, Chairman, The Weyrich Lunch

Brian Brown, President, National Organization for Marriage

Alfred Regnery, Publisher, American Spectator

Mario H. Lopez, President, Hispanic Leadership Fund

Becky Norton Dunlop, President, Council for National Policy

J. Kenneth Blackwell, Chairman, Coalition for a Conservative Majority

Richard Viguerie, Chairman, ConservativeHQ.com

Dr. Herbert London, President, Hudson Institute

Elaine Donnelly, President, Center for Military Readiness

T. Kenneth Cribb, former Domestic Advisor to President Reagan

Tom Winter, Editor-in-Chief, Human Events

Bob Adams, Executive Director, League of American Voters

Angelo M. Codevilla, Professor Emeritus, Boston University

Donna Hearne, Executive Director, Constitutional Coalition

David McIntosh, former Member of Congress, Indiana

Herman Cain, President, The NEW Voice, Inc.

Andrea Lafferty, Executive Director, Traditional Values Coalition

Bill Pascoe, Executive Vice President, Citizens for the Republic

Gary Marx, Executive Director, Judicial Crisis Network

Mathew D. Staver, Founder & Chairman, Liberty Counsel

Suhail A. Khan, Chairman, Conservative Inclusion Coalition

Susan Carleson, Chairman & CEO, American Civil Rights Union

Ron Robinson, President, Young America’s Foundation

Brent Bozell, President, Media Research Center

Frank Gaffney, President, Center for Security Policy

Tim Goeglein, Vice President, Focus on the Family

Curt Levey, Executive Director, Committee for Justice

Amy Noone Frederick, President, 60 Plus Association

Ambassador Henry Cooper, Chairman, High Frontier

Bill Wichterman, former Special Assistant to President George W. Bush

Austin Ruse, President, Catholic Family & Human Rights Institute

Kay Daly, President, Coalition for a Fair Judiciary

Dr. Bob Reccord, Executive Director, Council for National Policy

Karen Kerrigan, President, Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council

Rev. Lou Sheldon, Traditional Values Coalition

David Y. Denholm, President, Public Service Research Foundation

NVA Patriot| 1.6.11 @ 3:29PM

Great job - One point, Government cannot restore traditional American values. That's our job. Government's job is to respect and adhere to those values and not treat our Judeo-Christian heritage an impediment to liberty by replacing it with progressive utopianism. (AKA Socialism, AKA Communism)

...And have you taken any steps in the last 30 days to keep the pressure on for more conservative governance? Hope so..keep an eye on VA education ;)

Clint| 1.6.11 @ 11:38PM

Make the Tea Party Patriots message to Congress heard on January 7

On Friday, January 7, we encourage you to visit, call, fax, or email your Congressional district office to deliver the Tea Party Patriots message in 2011:

* defund Obamacare
* cut spending
* tax reform
* entitlement reform
* devolve power to state & local governments
* greater transparency & accountability

keithrybicki| 1.7.11 @ 1:46AM

If you don't have health insurance and get sick, the tax payers have to pay for it anyway- so go get health insurance please- search online "Wise Health Insurance" and learn how you can get insurance at discount price.

Eric Cartman| 1.7.11 @ 2:04AM

With the Happy Kenyan in the White House? Good luck with that.

Michael L. Hauschild| 1.7.11 @ 9:14AM

Looks to me like another “let us decide for you” elitist phonebook. I don’t care for “conservative,” I don’t care for “republican,” been there, done that. Go read the Contract for America, send your money to the candidates of your choice. More (and restore) personal freedom, smaller government, and less taxation. Every time you clowns institutionalize you try to govern; I will have nothing of it, take all your foundational excuses for high salaried campaign donation redistribution and shove them where the sun don’t shine.

Red Phillips | 1.7.11 @ 3:40PM

While the uber-hawk interventionism is perhaps slightly less overt than past pronouncements from this group, it is still unmistakable. We can not cut spending until we make significant cuts in defense, and we can't make significant cuts in defense until we disengage from some of our entanglements. So plank 5 is contrary to plank 2,3, and 4.

Paul E. Haiges, Jr.| 1.7.11 @ 6:17PM

All good principles but not enough emphasis on securing our borders and removing illegal aliens from the USA.

Barry Kelley| 1.8.11 @ 11:28PM

How about some emphasis on jailing some of the congressional criminals like Barney Franks, Chris Dodd, and Charlie Rangel, and govt. employee criminals like Timothy Geithner, and Larry Summers. Examples need to be made to show the American people that there is some "Justice for all."

A Real American| 1.11.11 @ 9:47AM

As usual, we get conservative nonsense and BS without the truth. Could you explain to me why repealing PPACA will be good for the American people? My son is 17 years old. He's on mine and my husband's insurance that we pay for through our employers. We're happy with it, we're not changing it. Due to PPACA that same said 17-year-old can now stay on our plans until he's 26. We're paying for it. No taxpayer money involved so what's the deal. I made a choice to keep him on. And I'm glad I can keep him on.

Another provision of PPACA i love is that you cannot be thrown off your policy because you get ill. As it happens now, if I get some debilitating disease, my company could toss me off. Now, they can't. No lifetime limits on benefits. Kids under 19 with preexisting conditions cannot be denied. So, what exactly are wrong with these provisions. YOu morons don't quite understand the bill. Would you believe I damn well read it. Even small businesses are getting tax credits for getting policies for staff. The high risk pool will give folks insurance who're uninsurable, haven't had it for six months and are US citizens or residents, at least until 2014, when the health insurance exchange kicks in.

Look, I'm very moderate--socially and fiscally. I'll be the first to say too much money being spent. But this is good legislation that will help our people thrive. So I don't get it. Why would anyone vote against self interest? Thank you, President Obama. That whole repealing the law was just some BS by so called GOP to appease the teabaggers or is it teapackers. So crappy. Aren't these little hicks from the midwest going to get it. YOu don't vote against your own self interest.

This will help you understand this law better:
http://healthreform.kff.org/the-animation.aspx

We got your back sister!| 1.13.11 @ 12:09AM

I'll tell you why. Because not repealing it hurts big business bottom line. Why should they share the wealth is the attitude they have. Keep the faith! Good always beats evil so they are fighting a losing battle!

Andy Carloff | 1.12.11 @ 1:10PM

Greetings,

There was a rather interesting statement that really drew my attention in your "Conservative Communique." For example, there was almost a mild tinge of sympathy for the working-class poor -- you know, those who make the majority of the nation. But, it was almost comedic how you tried to extend your compassion: "Conservatives recognize that government policies which weaken the family take a special toll on the poor. The results of families falling apart has huge moral and financial costs for all of us..."

It seemed like the reason offered why families need to stay together, then, is that it provides greater financial and material needs to the youth. Therefore, the government should "...oppose policies & programs that are destructive towards traditional marriage and families." So, when the poor are homeless, you ignore them. When they're hungry, as 1 out of every 6 Americans is today, you forget that they exist. When they build up all of the wealth of society only to suffer a real unemployment rate of over 20%, they're not mentioned. But when it comes to outlawing gay marriage, wow, the poor suddenly show up on your radar!

"Oh, there's those poor people I've heard those lefties talk about so much! Look -- they're suffering even more because the government has legalized gay marriage! And to think, otherwise I probably wouldn't have even noticed that they existed." To you, poverty only exists in the vacuum between one man's ass and another man's penis, or however any couple decides to consumate. The words "poor," "hungry," "homeless," and "poverty" don't exist anywhere else on the page.

When it came to the police gunning down workers, like in the strikes of Carnegie or Gates, the poor don't exist. They only enter the picture on this one particular issue: the prohibition of alternative lifestyles that make the editors of the American Spectator question their own sexuality. After all, it goes with reason that someone who is comfortable with their own sexuality will not try to impress it upon others.

"Jobs" and "working" enter the picture, occassionally: "The President and Congress must now not raise taxes; it is vital that they encourage sound monetary policy, and eliminate unnecessary and job killing regulations." CEO's taking a huge profit, that they waste or hoard up, is responsible for eliminating and killing jobs. How odd your reasoning. The tax takes a little bit of incentive out of the Capitalist in producing. But the profit that the Capitalist reaps does the exact same thing to the next Capitalist to add value to the commodity. If a politician steps in, takes 25% of the value of a product in an exchange, how is that different from a Capitalist doing the exact same thing? In both, I see someone who doesn't work, taking what the working class created, and sharing it with nobody.

Why don't you attack the high profits of Capitalism? It seems that if the money spent on yachts and private jets went to the economic and social development of the people, employment would be cut far more than by reducing taxes. Why not place a tax on those who refuse to invest? After all, the economists, from Adam Smith to David Ricardo, have explained the market economy as a conspiracy of the few Capitalist rich to dominate and control all of society. (Read "The Wealth of Nations," if you haven't already, and see chapter 8 of book 1.)

Why not tax anyone who hoards up money needlessly? It seems like unemployment and underproductivity would disappear in a moment. If taxes slow down exchange, because they give no incentive to doing business, then make taxes that give incentives: any Capitalist who keeps money without giving it back to their workers is taxed 99% of that money, which then goes back to the community. Sounds like 100% incentive to invest there through taxes, and you've already well attested to the fact that taxes are the greatest mover of the Capitalists.

Why not use that knowledge to make progressive, social change? Easy: by ignoring the whole picture, and focusing on a tiny aspect, you can prove your point. By focusing on a single brush stroke, you condemn Da Vinci's artwork as careless and ignorant, but you never step back to look at the whole thing. If taxes on producing slows invest, then why not tax them for underproducing? What? Do you expect that by some tax policy, all of the useful land, all of the factories, and everyone's will to work to eat are going to vanish? We'll start with everything and end with nothing, because we pass a single law? That would be true for the oppressive martial law that one can find in the Patriot Act, but not in overtaxing the rich.

"Cut Government Spending. Congress has approved more spending than even the federal bureaucracy can handle." Last time I checked, the military and international embargos/aid cost the United States nearly ten times as much as its social spending. If you reduced the military by ten times, you'd cut taxes by as much as 80 or 90%. But, oh that's right, you focus on one brush stroke at a time. There's no contradiction in your mind in attacking "high taxes" and then, at the same time, supporting a government program responsible for 80 to 90% of our tax's waste.

"Peace comes through strength-not vulnerability, not appeasement and not an apologetic America." and "The new Congress also should support comprehensive missile defense." And when was the last time war ever made an American safer? Since the last few wars, the Afghanistan and Iraq Wars, there is more ill-feeling towards Americans in the world than ever. After supplying Israel with nuclear missiles, and then attacking Iraq for "weapons of mass destruction," our government has been the greatest threat to our lives, liberty, and property. Your response? I can sum it up as... "We need more of that!"

You need to pull back, and look at the whole painting of society. Everything we have in society was made by a worker, whether a lowly wage worker or the prestidious professional. Capitalists never produced a single thing, and that's why they are called Capitalists: they are the "ists" of Capital. They have no other definition except that they live by owning productive property, by robbing those who actually labor. Until you recognize this difficulty, your analysis will be poor and inaccurate.

Thank you,

Sincerely,
Andy Carloff

Bob Parmelee| 1.15.11 @ 5:32AM

This is only a "fair list". Here are some of the items missing.
*Launch aggressive corrections program. Gut the EPA, defund PBS, NEA, etc. Repeal the most egregious parts of the Environmental Protection Act, Obamacare, etc.
* Pass national Right to Work legislation to allow restoration of American competitiveness.
* Launch crash program to return to afforable energy program, resume oil development in the Gulf, public lands, the Artic.
* Launch major public works program to double the number of nuclear plants (to 200 plants). Think 100 Hoover Dams.
* Move to School Choice NOW. How can this be missing from any plan that wishes to restore American values and american competitiveness?