the Centrist

            1. War on Terror, Iran, and N. Korea … Folks we are at war and that is the single most important issue of our time.  Which party would better serve the military that to protect our homeland and that we have put in harm’s way should be the paramount question we ask ourselves in that voting booth.  Rep. John Murtha (D. Penn.) wishes to redeploy our forces to Okinawa as a rapid deployment force to the Middle East … that is cut and run (from quite a distance I might add) no matter how he spins it.  He also wants to be Dem. Whip.  Add that to San Francisco’s personification of extremism, Rep. Nancy Pelosi as Speaker, and the consequence of such leadership would be nothing less than catastrophic. Would her radical leftist ideology get in the way of funding our troops? Moreover, the left has yet to reveal any plan for dealing with N. Korea and Iran, let alone Iraq.  The only thing we hear is that the Clinton Admin. used ‘one on one’ talks with North Korea.  If these worked so well perhaps we should repeat them … just give Iran and North Korea more food, more rocket technology, and of course more nuclear reactors … in exchange for their promise not to misuse them … such a plan.  All but the hopelessly inane realize that it is the very technology given the Chinese and North Koreans that has enabled them to become nuclear and a threat to America.  As a friend once said … ‘not to plan is a plan … one that puts you at the mercy of your advisory’… score the one most major issue for the Republicans. 
            2…. Illegal Immigration/voter fraud … this is like comparing dumb to dumber, but is easily the second most important issue.  Neither party has tried their best to protect our borders.  Both are guilty of attracting third world citizens to our nation by embellishing them with a plethora of undeserved ‘rights’ and social programs.  Yet it could be worse … should Pelosi and her gang  gain control of the House you can bet that the 700 mile fence signed into law by the Republicans will never be funded.  Moreover, why are the Democrats blocking voter picture ID cards?  After all none of us can get onto an air plane, drive a car, gain entrance to our price clubs without one … why not use this to deny voter fraud and prove citizenship?  Makes no sense, unless you consider the following: St. Louis is reporting thousands of illegal voter registration cards have been uncovered … from Democratic Districts … registering pets, dead people, illegal immigrants, felons,  minors, and duplicate registrations.  Furthermore, every quandary in voter fraud (including Florida’s hanging chads) has been in Democratic Districts.  Is the left telling us they cannot win in a fair election?  This is another slam dunk for the right … 2- 0.
            3. Courts … In my opinion this is the third most important issue.  It is no secret that the left is in bed with trail lawyers and the ACLU in an attempt to change society into their concept of ideal (secular progressive).  They search out activist judges and use the court as their method by which to impose radical change on society.  I strongly feel that the power of the people belongs to the people, not to the judges …once again common sense leans me to the right …3-0.
            4. Tax Relief … Rep. Charles Wrangle (D. N.Y.) is in line to become the Head of the Ways and Means Committee.  He said that he does not see one Bush Tax Cut that is worthy of keeping.  With the cancellation of these tax cuts a recession is likely.  We are in perhaps the best … yet most understated economy in history … we are at a record high in the stock market, drastic reduction of the deficit (3 years ahead of schedule), and record tax collections.  It’s the economy stupid …4-0.

            5. Energy and dependence on foreign oil … this administration has been in favor of drilling for domestic oil and is beginning to develop programs for alternate fuels … although not nearly enough it is better than the ‘all flap and no throttle’ approach by the left … this clearly falls into the least harm arena 5-0.
6. Ethics … Ethics and Congress may be oxymoron … but since the main stream media feels this is the most important issue … I put it at six.  Perhaps what the parties’ do, how they punish or exonerate the individual politician after they get caught, is more important than the fact that they are both cheaters.  Let’s just go over the big stuff … can any remember the glut of Clinton scandals?  Nevertheless there were no significant resignations … not even with the American deaths incurred at the hands of that administration in Mogadishu, Waco, Oklahoma City, or Ruby Ridge.   Speaking of deaths, the Democrats and press have all but buried Ted Kennedy’s vehicular homicide in Chappaquiddick, along with his victim Mary Jo Kopecni.  Last time I looked Kennedy was still the most powerful liberal in the Senate.  But wait, there’s more in 1985 Rep. Barney Frank’s (D. Mass.) gay lover (and live in partner) ran a brothel which offered Congressional Pages (minors) to whoever was willing to pay … that is rape and child abuse in any state of the union.  This brothel was established in the very basement of their living quarters.  The Congressman admitted to knowing about it and tried to fix the ensuing trial … yet still no resignations from the left … Frank will become the Head of the House Financial Services Committee should the Dems win.  Has anybody asked for the resignation of Senate Dem. Leader Harry Reed whose involvement with a mafia lawyer recently netted him a windfall profit in real estate?  He used his influence to get that property re-zoned from residential to commercial and was not even the owner until the deal was sealed.  Add to that his admission of using our tax dollars to give his staff Christmas bonuses, and it is business as usual on the left … and their partners in crime the main stream media. At least in each revealed wrong doing the Republicans rid themselves of their culprits. Whether it is: Nixon, Gingreich, or more recently Rep. Duke Cunningham … they are gone. In the most recent, the Foley scandal, there is merely an accusation that Rep.Tom Reynolds and Speaker Haster may have known that Foley sent unwanted e-mails to Pages.  No sexual assaults, no windfall profits, no dead people … just accusations that others may have known …most importantly the Republicans immediately forced him to resign.  The media would have left this alone had it occurred on the left …6-0.
            7. Gun rights … the 2^nd Amendment is near and dear to me.  It was attacked with an all out assault during the Clinton Administration.  They employed their teams of trail lawyers backed by the ever present ACLU to accuse gun manufactures as complicit in all gun violence.  Using that logic we should sue the car manufacturer for damage done by the drunk driver … 7-0.
            8. Environment … First and foremost, we hear about Keota ad nauseam.  What the left never mentions is that agreement was rejected unanimously by both the Clinton Administration and the Senate.  Moreover, the greatest terrorism perpetrated on this nation has been by the greens.  They burn down housing complexes, car dealerships, and place nails into trees to thwart logging.  Their first cousins, the animal rights groups, release research animals ruining years of vital medical research … these groups find their home with the Democrats …8-0.
            9. Social Security … the refusal to reform Social Security and the Dems promise to cut benefits and raise ages … combined with yet another attempt to take over the health care system allows us to close in on a shut out … 9-0.
            10. Impeachment … Rep. John Conyers (D. Detroit), in line to become head of the House Judiciary Committee, assures us he will concentrate all of his efforts on impeaching the President.  This is part ‘hate Bush’ and part ‘pay back’ for the Clinton impeachment.  It is meant to cripple and disable Bush.  This radical leftist is willing to sacrifice our security for this vengeful action in the middle of a war.  That is simply unconscionable. 

The final score, as I see it, on these top ten issues is10-0. Each time an election rolls around I am reminded of what Ronald Regan once said about his and my former party … “I have not left the Democratic Party, they have left me.”