Debt crisis blog 2

As the argument over the debt crisis continues, Americans witness first hand how Washington is broken. President Obama and his democratic allies in congress have continuously resisted any meaningful deficit reduction plan like the Ryan budget. Instead, they have embraced increased government spending and government-intervention into our economy which has hurt this economy. Instead of offering proposals to cut spending, democrats have instead tried and scared seniors, working families, and others who are vulnerable. The republican party was united in supporting Congressman Paul Ryan’s budget, which was the most credible deficit reduction proposal in a while. Now, during a crisis, republicans are proving they are just the lesser of the two evils, but by no means good themselves. Speaker Boehner has proposed a plan that would cut spending less than that of the President. Many of the freshmen congressmen and senators fail to realize the economic challenges of not having an agreement. When Senator John McCain blasted tea party members, he failed to realize that in this situation, there are no innocent by-standers except the American public. In my view, the best compromise would be to pass the Paul Ryan budget, raise the debt ceiling, increase income taxes on the top tax bracket from 35% to 37%, and close the corporate loopholes that ship jobs overseas. Of the current plans on the table, none are good for the country. In the past 3 years, we have faced economic challenges that have hurt millions of people. It is time for congress and the administration to work together by using common sense solutions, but instead we have democrats failing to realize the truth about budgets and economics, and republicans saying one thing and doing little. I truly hope this crisis is resolved in a way in which we get our debt under control and our nation can be more united.

My take on Rudy in 2012

I have come to the conclusion that if Former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani enters the 2012 race for the GOP presidential nomination, it would be difficult for me not to vote for him. As Mayor of New York City, Rudy Giuliani cut taxes, reduced spending, reformed government, reduced crime rates, and reduced welfare rolls. These are not things I pulled out of thin air, they are fact. Rudy Giuliani turned a city's economy around as well as making it the safest large city in America, a place where people could feel safe and prosper. Mayor Giuliani understands the need to have an economy that grows in the private sector, he understands the need for fiscal disipline, and he understands the need for the United States to remain a military super power focused on keeping people safe at home and abroad. While many of the other republicans stray away from the "peace through strength" foreign policy, Rudy is not afraid to embrace this notion and he believes in American exceptionalism. Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, and Tim Pawlenty have good records on economic and fiscal issues, but Rudy has cut taxes more than the others and he led a city which had the 4th largest government in the nation and a population larger than 39 states. Rudy Giuliani did the best job turning a city around. Many social conservatives don't like Rudy Giuliani because he has socially moderate positions. I do not agree with the Mayor's position on abortion or even when he sued gun companies, but I do agree with his support for domestic partnership rights for same-sex couples. I also don't like the fact that as a Mayor, Rudy supported sanctuary for illegal aliens, but I also know that as a candidate in 2008, he put forth an immigration plan that secured the border, had no amnesty, and would have made those immigrating here learn English and American civics. Rudy Giuliani is a smart and talented indivisual who has a record of results. I believe he has the judgment, record, and vision to be President and he is, to me, the front-runner with regards of who I will be voting for.

My advice to '12 hopefuls

Here is what I would advise each GOP pres. hopeful if I were on their team.

Mitt Romney- Governor Romney is focusing on New Hampshire and talking about the economy, it is working. However, Romney should also focus on Florida as well as New Hampshire. Win states that are swing-states during a general election.

Rudy Giuliani- Rudy needs to capitalize on his record as Mayor of NYC and talk about the economy. Rudy should try to win in New Hampshire and Florida. He should also try to portray Romney as inconsistent and Bachmann as un-electable. After Florida, focus on states where republicans generally lose general elections.

Tim Pawlenty- Iowa is Michele Bachmann's home state, she will win there. T-Paw's best bet is South Carolina, he did well in the first debate there and he would have the state virtually to himself. Pawlenty needs to be more specific on the economy and be aggressive against Mitt Romney on "Obamneycare."

Michele Bachmann- Focus mainly on Iowa and South Carolina, run as the true tea party candidate, that is her biggest strength.

Newt Gingrich: Gingrich should do what Romney did last time; run on the republican three-legged stool; unite social, fiscal and foreign policy conservative. Newt's focus should be on winning South Carolina.

Herman Cain: Run on economic issues and talk up the fair tax, be the candidate Huckabee voters from '08 want this time around. Cain should take his message to Iowa, Michigan, and South Carolina.

Jon Hunstman- Huntsman should try to challenge Romney in Nevada and talk health care there.

Thad McCotter- Rep. McCotter should run as a conservative alternative to Romney in Michigan.

Sarah Palin: Palin's best chance at winning the nomination is to appeal to social conservative and focus heavily on South Carolina.

Rick Santorum: Senator Santorum should run as a conservative with more experience than Bachmann, Palin, or Herman Cain. As far as winning states are concerned, South Carolina is probably his best bet.

Ron Paul: Paul's best chance is to try and take advantage of libertarians in Nevada.

Gary Johnson: Focus in on Nevada like Dr. Paul, but be sure to mention he's a congressman and Johnson was a Governor.

Rick Perry: Take his state's rights and pro-life message to South Carolina and the rest of the south.

Debt compromise: Here's an idea

I believe that in a time of crisis, measures need to be taken to make things better. Both parties in D.C. are acting like spoiled children in these debt talks. Speaker Boehner and the republicans would rather allow us to have $12 trillion in debt in a decade than to raise taxes on the top tax bracket, which begins at around $379,800 per year. President Obama does not want to admit his health care policy is too costly and repeal it, now we are going to spend $1 trillion in 10 years on a plan that will increase premiums and that is illegal. Democrats in congress would rather see the nation go broke than reform social security and medicare. It is my belief that both parties are going to have to compromise to avert crisis. First off, the republicans should agree to an increase in the tax rate for the top tax bracket, I would suggest an increase from 35% to 37%. The republicans should then ask the democrats to agree to Paul Ryan's plan, which would reform medicare and cut $6 trillion from the debt in 10 years. I also agree with what GOP presidential hopeful Former Governor Mitt Romney of Massachusetts has stated his support for; cut the corporate tax rate to off-set closing corporate loopholes. Cutting the tax rate on business from 35% to 25% would help us be competitive and could increase revenues. As far as the debt ceiling, I would urge a small increase in it of around $5 billion or $10 billion, but no larger than that because then congress and the administration will just ask for more.

Enough with the pledges!

RINOS are not the issue, CINOS are.

Often, republican voters cite some more moderate republicans as "RINOS" which stands for "republican in name only." However, I believe CINOS, or "Conservatives In Name Only" are a bigger threat to the electoral process. There is, in todays politics, a big disconnect between republican and conservative. For the past 30 years, conservatives have favored a "peace through strength" foreign policy. Today, many Washington republicans question the mission in Libya even as a brutal dictator oppresses his own people. Not even a decade ago, republicans approved the removal of another brutal dictator who suppressed his own people and threatened the world. Obviously, the party has shifted left-ward on foreign affairs, away from the "peace through strength" philosophy so many on the right have embraced since the 1980 campaign. But, it is not just on foreign policy where there are republicans who have abandoned conservatism. In 2009, Florida's Governor, Charlie Crist, was seen as a popular and well-spoken Governor who had been a loyal republican, there was no reason to doubt that he was a republican. However, he strayed away from conservatism by supporting a $787 billion "stimulus" program opposed by both republicans and conservatives. Crist then continuously flip-flopped on President Obama's federal health insurance program. On other key issues, Crist still stood with republicans. However, he had abandoned conservatism. This is proof that it is not republican-lite folks we have to fear, those of us on the right, but those who abandon our conservative views.