Rising Stars

The Washington Post has a list of the top ten Republicans to watch as we head into the new year. The party is about to undergo serious renovation after two disastrous election cycles. From 2006 and 2008, the body count stands at 54 seats lost in the House, 13 in the Senate (potentially 15 pending recount totals in Minnesota and the runoff election in Georgia) and of course, the White House.

The names and their respective states are listed below-

10. Steve Poizner, California
9. Haley Barbour, Mississippi
8. Jon Huntsman Jr, Utah
7. Eric Cantor, Virginia
6. Mark Sanford, South Carolina
5. Bob McDonnell, Virginia
4. Mitch Daniels, Indiana
3. Mitt Romney, Massachusetts
2. John Thune, South Dakota
1. Bobby Jindal, Louisiana

Bobby Jindal's name is at the top of every one of these lists. He will certainly become a major player in the rebuilding of the GOP.

John Thune ousted Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle in 2004 and maintains a loyal following in the Mount Rushmore state.

I was initially unfamiliar with a couple of the names (Poizner, for example, is California's Insurance Commissioner and frontrunner for the gubernatorial nomination in 2010) but each of their profiles are interesting. They represent key ingredients for the Republican Party's transformation.

Surprisingly Sarah Palin's name does not appear at all. The editors referenced the omission saying it is unclear how she will remain a national figure as Alaska's governor.

Analysts were expecting her to replace Ted Stevens in the Senate but it turns out he lost his seat. Alaska's second senator is Republican Lisa Murkowski who does not show any signs of retiring in the near future. Palin will have to craft a strategy that keeps her in the spotlight for the next four years if she wishes to emerge in 2012 as the frontrunner for the nomination.

Another notable exclusion from the list is Mike Huckabee, who will almost certainly be a candidate in four years.

To my dismay Congressman Paul Ryan of Wisconsin does not make an appearance either. I completely disagree with that decision and look forward to Ryan becoming a major national figure.

When one election ends, another immediately begins. We are witnessing this now.We are seeing new leaders step up to take the reins of a party undergoing a metamorphosis of sorts.

The liberal media will do their best to persuade the public that conservatism is an archaic ideology. They will point to the past two elections to make claims that conservatives are rapidly shrinking in numbers. They will urge us all to join the Church of Obama and embrace the "change" their Messiah represents.

But we know better. We can see the truth with our own eyes. The ten individuals on this list are examples of the rebranding occurring within the GOP.

Conservatism is alive and well.

Treasury

Wrapping up another horrific day on Wall Street the public is beginning to shift focus from Mrs. Clinton's impending appointment as Secretary of State, to the position that could potentially pull the country out of recession.

Attorney General, Health and Human Services, and now Homeland Security positions have all been publicized but why delay a decision on Treasury?

Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson should have been shown the door months ago but is certainly going to be out of a job come January 20th. Prior to the market sinking even further into recession, some speculated Paulson might be asked to keep his post.

President-elect Obama has delayed an announcement on this for some time but it looks as though he will be forced to speak to this issue in the coming days. An article today in Forbes reads "Wall Street wants to know what it can expect in 2009."

Front runners for the job include former Fed Chairman Paul Volcker and former Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers.

Volcker, 81 years old, served as Fed Chair from 1979-1987 and has been a senior advisor to Obama's campaign. Summers served as Treasury Secretary for the last eighteen months of the Clinton Administration.

Is my desire to hold President-elect Obama accountable for promising a bipartisan cabinet just an act of futility?

The president must select the best candidate for the job, regardless of party affiliation.

The most qualified individual for this monstrous task, especially given the recent auto headlines from Michigan, is Governor Romney.

He has amassed a fortune of private wealth and knows better than anyone how the economy works. While he was a candidate for the nomination, his polling numbers on the economy were higher than the entire Republican field. He understands these bailouts are not long term solutions and could potentially hinder growth.

He recently wrote an Op-ed piece in The New York Times imploring Congress not to give a dime to the auto makers. He does not believe in rewarding corporate greed and severe mismanagement with government dollars.

I sincerely hope that there is a shortlist somewhere within the transition offices that includes Governor Romney's name.

Minnesota's "Hanging Chad"

Remember the "hanging chad" debate which consumed the Florida recount of 2000?

Well here is what the dispute looks like eight years later...



In the increasingly contentious race between Senator Norm Coleman and Al Franken, ballots are being meticulously reviewed by both sides.

The image posted above represents an example of one such ballot the Franken campaign wishes to be tossed out.

The 107 recount sites have until December 5th to submit their numbers to the state canvassing board. The board will then meet on December 16 to declare a winner but the outcome will almost certainly be determined by the court.

Franken's arrogance reached a new level when he toured the Capitol and met with Senators Wednesday. The Coleman camp called that move "highly presumptuous".

Recipe For Disaster

Mrs. Clinton's name has been circulating around for some time now as President-elect Obama's choice as Secretary of State. Am I the only one who sees these two trying to work together as a potentially deadly combination?

The entire nation witnessed the ugly and smear-laden tone of the Democrat primaries as it neared the end. With the exception of her little performance at the convention, are we really to believe these two have made up?

Mrs. Clinton does not accept orders from anyone; much less a political rival who defeated her in a race which she thought was hers to win.

What if President Obama decides a foreign policy course of action that she does not agree with? Will she attempt to sell it anyway? I believe her pride would hinder her ability to do so. And as I have said before: Two different foreign policies are far more dangerous than a single, yet flawed one.

Secretary of State is not a political position; it is one of duty and service to the president in order to further his foreign policy agenda. If Mrs. Clinton wishes to take cheap shots at the "vast right wing conspiracy" and even the newly anointed leader of her own party, she should remain a senior senator from New York.

She does not hide the fact that her presidential aspirations are far from over. She might even have the audacity to challenge a Democrat incumbent president in 2012 if Obama does not live up to her standards.

This nation can not afford a Secretary of State who will be campaigning while trying to contain an increasingly hostile relationship with Iran; control a nuclear North Korea; and save rapidly dissolving ties with Russia.

Mrs. Clinton as Secretary of State?

A risk we can not afford to take.

I think Bubba is pushing her to take this though because at least it would get her out of the house more often.

A Possible Scenario

In an appearance last week on Jay Leno, the former presidential candidate jokingly hinted at a run in 2012. Leno asked the question and McCain shrugged his shoulders while grinning. The audience cheered but the Senator said the nation now belongs to a new generation of Americans.

So what does Senator McCain do now? Where does he go from here?

President-elect Obama met with his former opponent today in Chicago to discuss how the two of them might work together to solve the many problems facing our nation.

Last week I wrote that McCain ought to get the nod as Secretary of State but a number of people took me too literally. I was merely being facetious and trying to invoke a comparison to the fictional West Wing and how close reality mirrored the show.

Secretary of State is the president's personal representative to the world. One of Barack Obama's main tasks is to improve a tarnished American reputation abroad. The world witnessed change on November 4th and it would not be in our nation's best interest to parade a man around the globe who so many compare to George W. Bush. It would send two conflicting messages and could endanger the country.

However let me state that I am serious when I say John McCain would be an excellent choice for Secretary of Defense.

President-elect Obama has a plethora of domestic issues he needs to be focused on; a shaky economy being the most daunting. He can not neglect the international concerns and foreign policy questions which will present themselves on a daily basis. He needs a strong and capable leader who is ready on January 20th to assume the role that is crucial to defending this country.

When the issues of national security and safety at home were the primary concern of voters, McCain carried that group and pretty overwhelmingly in some states. He also won 2/3 majority from members of the military. He is a respected and accomplished man and will work tirelessly to ensure the safety of America.

Surely his appointment as Defense Secretary would alienate liberals but it would prove Obama to be a man of his word; a man who can transcend party lines to find the best man for the job.

Realistically it is a long shot.

But it would certainly be beneficial to America to have John McCain as a leader in the new administration as our threats grow more dangerous every day.

Angry Republicans

The presidential election has been over for ten days now and a sizable number of angry Republicans still remain. Sadly, they continue to preach their messages of partisanship and animosity on their websites.

I am not saying the GOP needs to remain silent for the next four years. I criticize President-elect Obama as often as anyone but I do it with respect and it does not get personal. I also try to present sufficient evidence for any allegations I make.

Rush, Sean Hannity, and Laura Ingraham are all on board to rebuild the party and retool a winning message. So why can't the amateurs pick up the cue and advance this party forward?

A perfect example lies within a group blog entitled Conservative Strong AARM (All American Resistance Movement). Their mantra- S.T.R.O.N.G. means Standing Tall, Resisting Obama, Never Giving up. Catchy, don't you think?

I would like to share a brief excerpt:

"The election of Barack Hussein Obama was not political. It was cultural. This is the end result of years and years of dumbing down American education, feminizing boys, infantilizing adults, extending adolescence into the 30's..."

It's depressing that this site is operated by a group of individuals because that means there is more than one of these loons among us.

I will not dwell on this point much longer but I do feel it is important to call out members of the party who are standing in the way of progress. And it is important to remember that the left has the same extreme members preaching their own version of hate.

But by repudiating heinous remarks from so-called "conservatives", there is a clear distinction between the parties. Much of the left remains silent when moveon.org insults the troops or 9/11 Truthers allege the tragedy was in fact a government conspiracy.

So let's work to return this party to prominence by returning to conservative roots, rebuilding a tarnished reputation and standing firmly behind the president-elect.

Change?

President-elect Obama's bedrock foundation of his campaign was change. Massive crowds would gather to hear him speak of a new era in politics and a fresh direction for the country. They would cling to his every word and believe they had found a bold, new leader for our nation.

But how compelling is his argument now that 31 of the first 47 appointees in an Obama White House are Clinton insiders?

The highest profile positions: Obama's chief of staff, Biden's chief of staff, and the transition chief all have longstanding ties to the Clintons.

And now it appears as though Mrs. Clinton herself is on a short list for Secretary of State.

If he possessed a true desire to be bold and fresh, Secretary of State should be offered to Senator McCain, thereby completing the storyline directly out of The West Wing.

But as much as reality has mirrored that show in this election cycle, partisan politics will most likely prevent Obama from reaching across the aisle.

When Democrats retook the White House in 1992, Bill Clinton did not bring in hordes of Carter insiders. He believed their time had passed and was now a new generation's opportunity to govern.

President-elect Obama obviously does not share this sentiment.

That's not change we can believe in. It's divisive politics as usual.

Who Wants A Handout?

The Casanova warned when the federal bailout bill was first being discussed by President Bush and within the halls of Congress that such legislation would set a dangerous precedent.

Ladies and gentlemen we are now looking at the end result.

Massive, multinational corporations and now entire industries are looking for a handout from Uncle Sam.

There is actually a five page downloadable document on the government's website which enables companies to apply for federal assistance. It's that simple. Fill out a form and the companies enjoy a huge payday courtesy of the American taxpayers.

GE should really be ashamed. They were the last American company to stop doing business with Iran, even while they knew full well the nation's objective is to see the collapse of the Western world. And they did so only after immense political pressure. Their CEO Jeffrey Immelt is as crooked as they come as well.

I would like to show Treasury Secretary Paulson the door but I fear the socialist that President-elect Obama will replace him with.

The federal government investing hundreds of billions of dollars it doesn't have in the first place into the private market?

I fell asleep last night in America and when I woke up this morning I was in Russia.

Veterans Day

"...land of the free. And the home of the brave."

Truer words were never spoken.

Today we honor the tremendous sacrifices of our nation's most honorable men and women.

Currently there are 24 million veterans living in the United States. 24 million people who put their lives on the line in the service of our country.

We should be honoring them each and every day. Their faces and their stories should adorn the front pages of newspapers and be the top story on our evening news programs.

But sadly that does not happen in reality.

So in honor of their heroism we give them this day.

Today is not the day to discuss our feelings on the wars we are fighting, or exit strategies, or to debate military funding.

No politics today.

Say a prayer for the fallen heroes and for the continued security of our great nation.

And thank a veteran.

No More Minnesota Nice

The ugliest and most heated senatorial election of 2008 still does not have a victor, and no end is in sight.

On Wednesday morning, Senator Norm Coleman proclaimed victory by a margin of a mere 725 votes. As of this writing, the lead has dropped to 206.

By state law, Minnesota election officials conduct an automatic recount in a race with a .5% margin or less. In this instance, the amount separating these men stands at less than .01%.

The official recount has not yet begun and partisan shenanigans are rampant. An election official from solidly Democratic Hennepin County left 32 absentee ballots in his car, forgetting to submit them before the deadline. Coleman's legal team challenged the validity of the ballots but eventually lost in what was the first of potentially many court struggles.

Voters must be suspicious of Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie, who is in charge of overseeing the recount. A liberal Democrat, Ritchie was elected in 2006 due in large part from the assistance of ACORN and a progressive liberal group aimed at electing Democrats to election administering positions.

Perhaps the worst news is that a lengthy court battle is inevitable. As GOP strategist Sarah Janecek said "At this point everyone’s so entrenched I can’t imagine whoever loses the recount will just take the defeat.”

So much for "Minnesota Nice".

Spotlight: Paul Ryan

With numerous defeats still fresh in our minds, it is time to look to the future of the party. Those who will fall back to our roots on economic freedom, who do not buy into government intervention policies and who will fight for pro-growth reform. A well-spoken, charismatic and youthful candidate who will embody our dearest principles and bring our party back to prominence.

Let us look no further than the Casanova's native Wisconsin-

An ambitious and bright 38 year old congressman from the first congressional district, Paul Ryan has as good a chance as any at leading us towards salvation.

Having just been reelected to his sixth term in Congress, Mr. Ryan enjoys a loyal and devoted following. He has always achieved wide margins of victory over his opponents, garnishing a healthy 64% showing in last week's contest. As impressive as that statistic is on its own, consider the fact that the biggest section of his district, Racine County, voted for Obama 53-46%. Mr. Ryan obviously possesses appeal to members of both parties as well as independents.

Being the highest ranking Republican on the House Committee on the Budget, a member of the Congressional Joint Economic Committee, and serving on the powerful Ways and Means Committee, Mr. Ryan frequently touts his conservative fiscal policies.

Ryan is a firm believer in a free market philosophy. He has called himself the "Paul Revere of fiscal policy" due to his desire to call attention to the damaging effects of socialism and government intervention. He is the only man who can stand against San Francisco Pelosi and the stammering idiot who oversaw the largest economic collapse in American history, Barney Frank.

The Wall Street Journal published a story focusing on the Congressman last week. In it, they write "...Mr. Ryan's economic knowledge and youthful energy make him the best choice to pull his party in a more promising direction."

Let us face facts: the GOP has been putting candidates up for president who were portrayed as too old or out of touch and at times had trouble forming coherent sentences: George H.W. Bush, Bob Dole, George W. Bush and John McCain.

Here we have an opportunity to run a young candidate who is energetic, communicates effectively and looks good on television.

In a year which Barack Obama proved style is more important than substance, Paul Ryan is in the enviable position of possessing both.

The Big Bang

President-elect Obama signaled his intention to engage in "Big Bang" economics theory which combines a short-term stimulus with large public investments to raise the longer-term growth rate.

A major concern should be that we have not yet seen the effect of the initial federal bailout plan. These policies require time and further study to ensure they are working as planned.

But before we can witness the bailout's full outcome, Barack Obama wants to write another check.

These plans are a direct result of his decisive electoral win. John Podesta, Obama's transition chief said "I think that he feels like he has a real mandate for change. We need to get off the course that the Bush administration has set."

This is dangerous thinking. We need to see the big picture of our current economic state before more taxpayer dollars are sent to the private sector.

According to The Financial Times, Economists have estimated the United States budget deficit could more than double next year to almost $1 trillion. This is not including Obama's campaign pledge to spend $150 billion researching alternative energy or his gargantuan plan of universal health care.

You would think with all the Clinton loyalists Obama is bringing into his administration, one would mention arguably the greatest achievement of their old boss: deficit reduction.

As Dick Morris, a lifelong Democrat, said this morning on "Fox and Friends"-

"This is simply the Clinton administration but without the Clintons".

Meet Bobby Jindal

Born Piyush Jindal out of Baton Rouge, Louisiana in 1971 to Indian-American parents, Bobby has quite the American success story.

He adopted his nickname from his love of the hit show The Brady Brunch. At age four, it was his favorite television program and he especially enjoyed Bobby Brady. From then on, his family simply called him Bobby.

Born Hindu, Jindal converted to Catholicism at age seventeen. He has studied many other sects of Christianity and is a scholar in Baptist and Pentecostal teachings as well.

After graduating from a public high school, Jindal attended Brown University in Rhode Island where graduated with honors in both biology and public policy.

Originally considering a career in medicine, he was accepted to both Yale and Harvard universities. At the last moment, Jindal changed his mind and found a calling in politics. He was accepted to Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar and graduated with a degree in political science.

Bobby returned to his roots in Louisiana not long after attaining his degree. He took a number of jobs within the Republican party and the state government. In 1999 he was recognized by Louisiana's governor and became the youngest president of the University of Louisiana system.

In 2003, Jindal made his first run for governor. In a hard fought race, he ended up losing by a thin margin. His opponent won with 52% of the vote.

Vowing that his career in public service was not over, he ran in 2004 for the U.S. Congress. Bobby achieved a landslide win with a whopping 78% of the vote.

In 2007, Bobby won a crowded gubernatorial contest in his home state. In a four way race, he was able to capture 54% of the vote. For the record, the runner up garnered a mere 17%.

Jindal will not stay governor of Louisiana for very long. His track record on issues will warm a conservative's heart. He has a 100% voting record from the Right to Life committee, an "A" rating from the National Rifle Association, voted for an amendment banning flag burning and is opposed to federal funding of stem cell research.

Ladies and gentlemen, you would do well to remember Bobby Jindal.

Meet The Future

In an effort to reassure concerned citizens that the Republican party is alive and well, I will be providing a couple "snapshots" of our brightest rising stars.

As I mentioned today, this party must reinvent itself in order to survive. This election was not about a political ideology.

It was the combination of many ingredients dangerous to the GOP.

President Bush's basement low approval ratings, an unpopular war in Iraq, a stagnant economy, and widespread disenchantment with the party itself all contributed to the losses suffered.

So in the coming days, I will be profiling those in the party who are poised to take the reins and become her new carriers.

This is an exciting time for a conservative as we actually have the opportunity to stock our party full with those who share this ideology.

It is a return to our roots.

Ladies and gentlemen, meet the future...

Tomorrow

John McCain's touching and emotional speech last night reminded all Americans how he came to the brink of the presidency. Quelling several outbursts from an angry crowd booing President-elect Barack Obama, McCain solidified his place in our history textbooks as a man who truly can transcend party lines.

Capturing the eloquence that had been alluding the Senator for most of his campaign, he said "I wish Godspeed to the man who was my former opponent and will be my president."

Pundits and analysts will most certainly dissect this campaign in the coming days, months, and years. It was a disheartening loss because of the great character of John McCain. He is moving forward, as the party must as well.

Agree with President-elect Obama or not, there is no denying the historical significance of his victory. A nation whose roots are seeded in African slavery has now elected its' first president of color. That is a remarkable accomplishment and reinforces my belief that this nation is the greatest in the history of the world.

Politically speaking, last night was arguably the worst night the GOP had witnessed in over a decade. Continued losses in the House. Stinging defeats in the Senate. Not to mention, a lost presidential bid.

So where do we go from here?

Republicans need to reinvent themselves; plain as that. I will not shift the entirety of the blame to President Bush but he has strayed so far from the conservative ideology on which he was elected.

Was last night a defeat for conservatism in America? Was last night, as some have suggested, America's step to the left of center?

Absolutely not.

Last night was not a conservative loss because John McCain is admittedly a moderate. Furthermore, Barack Obama's campaign took a conservative tone in the last several months. He has defended gun ownership, pledged to reduce the federal budget, and cut taxes. Those are all conservative principles.

This is an incredible opportunity for the Republicans. The American people sent a very loud message last night that the party is severely out of touch. The Reaganesque optimism of the 1980s and a commitment to American innovation has been missing from the GOP for quite some time.

This party is filled with rising young stars poised for national prominence. Congressman Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, Governor Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota, Governor Bobby Jindal in Louisiana, and of course Alaska's own Sarah Palin.

These must be the new faces of our Grand Ole Party.

So let us suppress our disappointment over last night's outcome.

Now is the time to start focusing on tomorrow.

The Climax

We are finally here.

It feels like an eternity since we first noticed election coverage in our newspapers and on our televisions.

John McCain announced his candidacy in late 2006 and Barack Obama has been running for president since he was elected as a senator in 2004.

We are at the crossroads of history, the culmination of both campaigns.

We have witnessed the highs and lows of both sides; every gaffe, every shift in momentum, every new poll- we were there.

These men have spent an enormous amount of time, money and effort trying to win us over. We were bombarded with campaign literature, television ads and stump speeches.

But today belongs to us. This day is ours.

As you go to the polls today, take a moment and think about the awesome power that is democracy. Think about the countless lives lost to ensure our freedoms are protected and our voices never silenced. Think about the candidate who is selfless, who will sacrifice his needs in order to ensure our union is a prosperous one. Think about the numerous threats posed to this country that are very real and grow more threatening with each passing day. Lastly, think about which candidate you will entrust with your life and the lives of your loved ones.

And then go out and vote for the Republican of your choice.