Category: Republican Party

Posted on

Why I am proud to be an American

In the best sense of the term, this has been a very patriotic weekend for me. It began on Thursday evening at the Banquet for Life hosted by Safe Harbor. Safe Harbor is a ministry the saints of Providence have invested in for quite a few years. It is more than just another pro-life ministry, it is a labor that saw 162 women this past year choose life rather than live with the blood of the innocent in their hands for the rest of their lives. They provide counseling, medical help, and the environment to best guide confused young women out of their present chaos.

At their annual fundraising banquet they invited Senator Rick Santorum. Santorum was still living off the energy of last year’s election. The Senator from Pennsylvania shocked the nation by losing to Mitt Romney by only eight votes in Iowa and going on to win several other primaries. Though Santorum was no match for the prosperous GOP establishment candidate, the Senator was still able to leave a lasting impression in the GOP Primary.

Santorum observed in his speech that though he had opined continuously on the state of the economy and on other pertinent matters, the media chose not to pursue the Senator’s opinion on these issues, but rather focus on some of his more “extreme” ideas. Ideas like opposition to abortion, which according to the general American public are far from extreme. Yet, we are at such a stage in the civil discourse that when anyone speaks passionately about any moral issue, he is already termed a radical. To hell with logic!

The Santorum event renewed my commitment to the life issue and my support for organizations like Safe Harbor in Pensacola, Fl. May they prosper!

Friday morning then was a continuation to this patriotic weekend. After 17 years in these United States, I have finally made official what many thought had been official for a long time. The reality is, I waited this long because I understood what this meant. In one sense, it meant that my allegiance to my birth country of Brazil would move to the passenger’s seat. Practically it has been that way, but a liturgy was needed to confirm this commitment. Though I love my country’s beauty and culture, I am and will be an American at heart. My commitment to the well-being of this nation is a deep part of who I am. Though my skepticism about our government’s actions will always prevail, I am deep inside an American by choice. I didn’t have to be, but I chose to be.

The naturalization ceremony flowed with all its pomp and persistent commentary by the Judge. Her American pride was gallantly streaming. But in some ways the ceremony had to be slow for I had been waiting for a long time for this moment to come to pass, and the slow and tedious ceremony was just an symbol of how long this entire process took; thousands of dollars, the patience of a loving wife, and the trips…so many trips. So here I am: an American at last.

My religious and political propensity demands that I refrain from exalting too much this nation. But it is hard to remain silent about a nation that has done so much for me. It has nourished me in all the human luxuries imaginable. It has provided for me confirmation of my calling. It has romanced me into its beauty and culture, and then asked me to take part in it. It accepted me even when I declared from the mountain tops that this country needs repentance of the II Chronicles kind.

So this has been a patriotic past weekend. I have tasted officially of the American air with a flag pin to prove it. I indulged in corn dogs and French fries (yes, freedom fries), and no, I still do not have an appetite for country music. I entered into the fine company of what the Judge so repetitively described as the “melting pot.” I enter as one, but hope to impact many.

I am proud to be an American, but in a different way than the obnoxious tune. I am proud to be an American because I know that my loyalty is to the King of America, Jesus Christ. And though this blessed nation has deserted our Lord and Maker, I decided to use my mouth and vote to opine passionately and studiously about why this nation needs to pursue this Lord. She is lost without His care. I don’t want to only glory in her past; I want to glory in the future she will have if she turns, and repents, and bows down before the only One who can make her great.

Posted on

Raimondo on Coulter

Raimondo seems hopeful that Ann Coulter’s piece against the neo-cons might be a sign that things are changing in the Republican party. One can only hope so.

What we may be witnessing is the birth of anti-interventionism on the right, or, rather, the rebirth of the Old Right. Ron Paul was the trailblazer who endured the yammerings of Rudy Giuliani, and the catcalls of the neocons, calmly and clearly making the case against the empire, and for a foreign policy that puts America – the territory and people of the United States – first.

Posted on

What happened to the Republican Party?

The GOP is driving itself into a ditch and there is no one who is going to take the effort to pull it out, even on a  Sabbath. Since 2004 I have been arguing that the GOP is the party of compromisers. In light of their conspicuous decrease in numbers and their lack of popularity nation-wide, many find this to be the time to establish a new face, a new phase in the history of the GOP. Sunday GOP talkers believe this is the time to make the tent bigger. One exception is Joe Scarborough. On Meet the Press he argued, contrary to many, that the GOP does not need a bigger tent. He argues that we have lost our way and that we need to return to fiscal conservatism. He even had the audacity to say that the Republican Party has expanded our military into places where we should not be. That is a healthier approach than many in the GOP today who continue to argue for the increase in US military presence world-wide.

Though to many Ron Paul’s presidential presence in 08′ was not the great success people envisioned, yet it has left a lingering taste of paleo-conservatism in the mouths of current bloggers and media faces. Paul’s consistency has been praised by the left and the right. Herein lies the key to a future Republican Party: consistency. Perhaps we may even desire Constitutional consistency. The GOP must begin to see its own faults first before continuing to a new path: humility before exaltation. Nevertheless, for some this humility seems impossible. The GOP–for the most part– does not see any faults in the previous administration. These faults are outlined by Pat Buchanan in his most recent column:

Why is the party in trouble? Simple. Dubya got a hold of the keys, got high on neocon hooch, and crashed and rolled the family SUV.

He launched an unnecessary war against a country that had not attacked us. With his utopian No Child Left Behind scheme and his Medicare drug plan, he did his passable imitation of LBJ, and blew a hole in the budget.

Those who were mostly in favor of the Bush policies are the ones who appear most vociferously opposed to the Obama policies, though in principle, both commit the same errors.  Both have no interest in shrinking the department of education, both continue in their fiscal lunacy, while Bush appeared to be pro-life in principle, he left the office very much like when we arrived: little change. On the other hand, when he vacated the office, he opened it up to a pro-death president; both continue to spread our military (to be fair, Obama has been less hawkish; but again we are only in the first 100 days), both have no interest in closing our borders, and to conclude the Obama administration–though committed to ending torture–has ruled unecessary to pursue the previous administration for their approval of torture. Of course, Washington is all about trading favors.

But what happened to the Republican Party? Nothing. They are just actors playing the same game. If they regain power in a few years they will simply change roles.

Posted on

Paul’s 10% and other thoughts

Paul’s 10% was not the glorious ending enthusiasts like myself expected, but on the other hand he reached the double digit number Fox said he would not reach. Will they still exclude him from the debate?

Another interesting dimension of the Iowa Caucus is that the independent vote went indisputably to Ron Paul with 29% in the Republican side and Barack won unanimously on the Democratic side. This may have severe ramifications for the New Hampshire primary where independent voters generally play a significant role.

Paul’s campaign needs to use all its energy and the millions in hand to invest in New Hampshire. If Ron Paul secures a third place in New Hampshire he will continue strong until February 5th. However, if he ends in 4th or 5th it will be difficult to carry on the enthusiasm. Here comes the Revolution to the Live Free or Die state!

Posted on

Giuliani wants to declare war forever…

In Michael C. Desch’s long, but insightful article for the American Conservative, he details the vastly neo-conservative agenda surrounding the Giuliani campaign. He summarizes each prominent member of the advisory team on foreign affairs. Among them is the author of World War IV. Desch writes:

Podhoretz is the person whose presence has done the most to set in concrete the notion that Team Rudy is all neocon all the time.

Though some have attempted to distance the radical neo-conservative Norman Podhoretz from Giuliani, Podhoretz himself has no intention of distancing from Giuliani. Professor Desch writes:

Unfortunately, he (Giuliani) is of one mind with some of the most unrepentant, unreconstructed neoconservatives around. Podhoretz told the New York Observer that “as far as I can tell, there is very little difference in how he sees the war and how I see it.” If anyone thinks that neoconservativism is on the outs after the debacle in Iraq, they need look no further than the Republican frontrunner’s brain-trust.

 

Posted on

Tancredo Steps Down and Endorses Mitt Romney…

Tancredo, who some months ago, argued in a national debate that he was tired of voting for the lesser of two evils, once again voted for the lesser of two evils.

Tom Tancredo has decided to step down from the race. As a result, endorsed Mitt Romney:

Mr. Tancredo said that he and Mr. Romney agreed on securing the borders, penalizing ‘sanctuary cities’ and prosecuting employers who knowingly employed illegal immigrants.

This was a perfect opportunity to stand tall and leave the race. However, Tancredo fell prey to the unsanctified charm of Romney. Perhaps Tancredo would have more sense than to vote for someone who has made a career out of deception and lies. At least he has made one thing clear: only one man cares about the Constitution, and that is Congressman Ron Paul. So long Tom!

Posted on

Limbaugh, McCain, and Thompson speak out against Fox News and pro-Giuliani Sean Hannity

By now it is obvious that Fox News has completely abandoned any dimension of neutrality concerning the Republican candidates. Last week, Rush Limbaugh answered a question concerning who he would endorse in the Republican Party by stating that it is not his role to endorse any one before the general elections. Unlike, others in the Northeast, who have a “geographical bias,”Limbaugh argued, (referring to Sean Hannity and Fox News) he does not think it wise to use his powers to campaign for any particular candidate. It is their role to make a name for themselves, said the EIB network talk-show star.

Some months ago after a Republican debate, Senator John McCain subtly confronted Sean Hannity in his conspicuous defense of Rudy Giuliani. Hannity replied unconvincingly that he does not support any particular candidate…I imagine Alan Colmes simply smiled.

In a Fox News interview on Sunday morning, Thompson scolded Christ Wallace and Fox News for their continual attack on his campaign:

In an interview on “Fox News Sunday,” host Chris Wallace pressed Thompson on how some conservatives have lambasted Thompson’s campaign and showed clips of Fox conservative commentators Charles Krauthammer and Fred Barnes criticizing the former senator.

Thompson said, “This has been a constant mantra of Fox, to tell you the truth.” He noted that other conservatives have praised his bid for the GOP nomination and took issue with a Fox promo that focused on polling in New Hampshire, where Thompson is registering in the single digits.

Fox News has continually made clear their commitment to the establishment candidate: Rudolph Giuliani. He has been their candidate from the start. He is New York’s former mayor and Fox’s poster boy. Hannity cannot wait to see his career catapult into glorious cocktail parties at the White House.

Posted on

Brownback is dropping out…

I mentioned a while back that Brownback would inevitably abandon the race. With his poor showing at the Ames Straw Poll, his unwavering support for illegal immigration (or a path to illegal immigration), his inability to raise money, and his famous speech to five students at a university campus, leaves him no other option. He is to step down tomorrow. I think Brownback will put his support behind John McCain since both support the Iraq War and Amnesty or, it is possible that he will support his twin candidate Mike Huckabee, since both share many of the value voters. In the end, it is possible that Brownback may support a candidate (McCain) and his supporters may support another (Huckabee).

The consequences of this are twofold:

First, Brownback supporters will probably run over to Huckabee, since both represented the religious’ right vote. This may cause Huckabee to climb slightly in future polls. Secondly, this will give Paul more time to speak in the debates.