So, now the Republican Leaders have published a Manifesto and taking the Pledge. What is it and how shall we receive it? For those who have not seen it or heard of it, my "activist patriot" sister has sent me a reliable "draft copy" of the document here:
'A PLEDGE TO AMERICA'
"America is more than a country.
America is an idea – an idea that free people can govern themselves, that government’s powers are derived from the consent of the governed, that each of us is endowed by their Creator with the unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. America is the belief that any man or woman can – given economic, political, and religious liberty – advance themselves, their families, and the common good.
America is an inspiration to those who yearn to be free and have the ability and the dignity to determine their own destiny.
Whenever the agenda of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to institute a new governing agenda and set a different course.
These first principles were proclaimed in the Declaration of Independence, enshrined in the Constitution, and have endured through hard sacrifice and commitment by generations of Americans. In a self-governing society, the only bulwark against the power of the state is the consent of the governed, and regarding the policies of the current government, the governed do not consent.
An unchecked executive, a compliant legislature, and an overreaching judiciary have combined to thwart the will of the people and overturn their votes and their values, striking down long-standing laws and institutions and scorning the deepest beliefs of the American people.
An arrogant and out-of-touch government of self-appointed elites makes decisions, issues mandates, and enacts laws without accepting or requesting the input of the many.
Rising joblessness, crushing debt, and a polarizing political environment are fraying the bonds among our people and blurring our sense of national purpose. Like free peoples of the past, our citizens refuse to accommodate a government that believes it can replace the will of the people with its own. The American people are speaking out, demanding that we realign our country’s compass with its founding principles and apply those principles to solve our common problems for the common good. The need for urgent action to repair our economy and reclaim our government for the people cannot be overstated. With this document, we pledge to dedicate ourselves to the task of reconnecting our highest aspirations to the permanent truths of our founding by keeping faith with the values our nation was founded on, the principles we stand for, and the priorities of our people. This is our Pledge to America.
We pledge to honor the Constitution as constructed by its framers and honor the original intent of those precepts that have been consistently ignored – particularly the Tenth Amendment, which grants that all powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.
We pledge to advance policies that promote greater liberty, wider opportunity, a robust defense, and national economic prosperity. We pledge to honor families, traditional marriage, life, and the private and faith-based organizations that form the core of our American values. 2
We pledge to make government more transparent in its actions, careful in its stewardship, and honest in its dealings.
We pledge to uphold the purpose and promise of a better America, knowing that to whom much is given, much is expected and that the blessings of our liberty buoy the hopes of mankind.
We make this pledge bearing true faith and allegiance to the people we represent, and we invite fellow citizens and patriots to join us in forming a new governing agenda for America."
Words versus deeds
These are good words. But ... Where are the specifics in these pledges? We want and need specifics. We do not want back room deals with squishy RINOs and "My way or the highway" Democrats. This would be unacceptable. So I have a few questions, off the top of my head, for the Republican Party.
What specifically do you intend to do to restore "the Constitution and the Tenth Amendment?" Are you referring to the Rights of States regarding Illegal immigration Measures? Their right of refusal of Federal Stimulus Money and more Federal Mandates? Their right to demand repeal of the Un-Constitutional Obama Health Care Plan and challenge its Constitutionality in the Courts? What?
What is a "Robust Defense?" Does this mean an expansion of Forces? Our current force is reportedly broken: overextended, overworked, underpaid and ill-equipped, according to many on-the-ground observers. What will your Defense Policy be? What are the National Interests and Foreign Policy Objectives that they will be defending?
What specifically do you mean by "Wider Liberty?" Will you end political correctness, Social Engineering within the Military, Respect and protect Life at all stages of development? Will you restore simple expression of Faith in the Public Square and in Public Schools? Will you uphold and defend the Right to Keep and Bear Arms from unrelenting attacks by those who would leave us defenseless in our Homes and Communities and States?
What do you mean by "Transparency?" To Obama this meant cramming 2000 page bills down the throats of Americans without open debate, discussion, or revision. Will you disavow and dismantle the Obama "Open-wide-and-swallow" technique of ramming laws through a rubber stamp Supreme Cabinet, and Democrat Central Committee, and Congress controlled by Labor Front Organizations and environmental Special Interests?
Does "Careful in Stewardship" simply mean not spending Other Peoples' Money" as fast as Obama has? Or, does it mean balanced budgets, a line item veto, lower taxes and deleting programs that waste money confiscated from Taxpayers? Does it mean you'll disband the IRS and the "police force" that that goes along with it, and implement a "Fair Tax?"
Do you mean "Honesty in Dealings" as in the way you have treated Sharron Angle, Joe Miller, Rand Paul, and Christine O'Donnell, when you failed to enthusiastically endorse a primary winner in places where your establishment endorsed candidate [often a RINO] did not win?
A look back
Do you, Republican Party, really mean to make the case for a Second Reagan Revolution? If not, why not? If not now, when? Reagan was Morally and Constitutionally correct. Ronald Reagan's arguments were principled. If Republicans in Congress had used their true electoral mandate in 1980, his entire program would have been implemented and quite possibly, we would not be in this mess today! [Reagan posted 9 percentage point win over the failed Jimmy Carter, and he garnered more than 50% of the total popular vote, despite John Anderson's Independent Party run.]
Take 30 minutes to be inspired again. Watch Ronald Reagan's 1964 televised call to arms for all Conservatives, "
A Time for Choosing."
The clarity of Reagan is striking. He did not see his message as a single election issue. He saw this as a generational struggle, a "rendezvous with destiny." How do you see it, Republican Party? Reagan was steadfastly of single purpose for a generation and throughout his Presidency. The foreign and domestic threats may have changed, but his message still fits and rings true today. Does the message still strike home to you? Now contrast it with "A Pledge for America."
Just what were Ronald Reagan's major Policy Positions? They were not complex. They were straight forward and clear, Reagan said, "There are no easy answers' but there are simple answers. We must have the courage to do what we know is morally right." I remember them well and they can be researched easily. Take a few moments to review this brief summary of Reagan's platform.
Foreign Policy:
a. "Peace through Strength"
b. Reverse years of appeasement and failed Detente policies
c. Eliminate [not reduce] Nuclear Weapons
d. Contain and challenge Soviet Expansionism
e. Seek common ground with Soviet Leaders from a position of strength.
Defense Revitalization and Modernization:
a. Increased Research and Development
b. Global 300 Ship Navy & Eighteen Combat Division Army
c. Rapid Response Forces and Airlift Capability
d. Improved Joint Operations
e. Modernized Tactical and Strategic Missile Systems
f. Space-based Ballistic Missile Defense System
Across-the-board Tax Reductions:
a. Income
b. Corporate
c. Capital Gains
d. Inheritance Tax.
Economic policy:
a. Balanced Budget Amendment
b. Line Item Veto.
c. Free Markets and Free, Fair Trade policies
d. Supply-Side Economics to replace failed Keynesian Demand Economics.
Government:
a. Reduce the size of the Federal Government
b. Reduce Government intrusion in Business
c. Oppose Universal Healthcare and intrusion into Americans' private lives
d. Eliminate Wasteful Programs
Constitution:
a. Oppose all un-Constitutional expansion of Government Programs
b. Oppose Abortion Constitutionally: "If there is a question as to whether there is life or death, the doubt should be resolved in favor of life."
c. Support Voluntary Prayer in School, and Worship in the Public Square.
What must be done
Reagan was not afraid of controversy. It is almost 45 years since Reagan spoke the words in the video. They still hit home and ring true for me. How about you?. None of these were simple positions, but they were all moral ... and they were all achievable. The Tea Party is about moral renewal in America, The People are hungering for leaders who are willing to "choose the harder right instead of the easier wrong."
I do not yet know who this new Reaganesque Republican Leader will be. But, he or she will be the one who inspires us to crawl out of this Desperate Democrat Ditch. He or she shall describe how we will right our ship of state, and propose specific policies, policies that have proven to work.
Until the current Republican Leadership learns to get it right and listen to the Tea Party and other traditionally minded groups, their pledges will remain as inscrutable as tea leaves and as meaningful as the promises inside a fortune cookie.
"There are no easy answers' but there are simple answers. We must have the courage to do what we know is morally right." - Ronald Reagan
