Are Republicans Really for Limited Government?

Copyright@2003, All Rights Reserved.
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SURVEY! SURVEYS! SURVEYS! SURVEYS! SURVEYS!

Regarding the proposed Oklahoma Lottery, MOSTLY:

1- I'm against it for moral reasons.
2- I'm against it for economic or other reasons.
3- I'm for the lottery.

Go to www.ModernPatriot.net and vote today!!!
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School Superintendents Out of Control!

If you want to see the entire list of school district superintendents by county, a great website has compiled the list. Go to www.tax-abuse.com . The list shows that Oklahoma has 552 school superintendents totaling $39,650,278 in total cost to Oklahoma taxpayers. Is your state representative offended by this? Ask them and find out.
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"To see what is right and not to do it is cowardice." -Confucius

"Losing an illusion makes you wiser than finding a truth." - Ludwig Borne

"Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony."- Mohandas K. Gandhi

"It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it."- Aristotle
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Oklahoma Republican State Convention

Planning for 2004

Midwest City, Ok. - Hundreds of Oklahoma Republican Party activists gathered at the Reed Center for the 2003 Oklahoma Republican Party State Convention on Saturday, May 3rd. The convention keynote speaker was Ralph Reed Jr. Ralph Reed was the executive director of the Christian Coalition from 1989 - 1997. Currently Reed is the Georgia Republican Party Chairman. He came to tell Oklahoma Republicans how he and other Georgia Republicans defeated the Democrats in 2002. Something Oklahoma Republicans failed to do.

Reed celebrated Oklahoma's Republican congressional members, America's military servicemen and women, the war against Iraq, and President George W. Bush. He lauded the activists in attendance as the "salt and light of America." He said, "I thank God for people like you." Reed also heaped praise on President Bush for his "Navy 1" speech.

Reed made comparisons between Oklahoma and Georgia. Reed pointed out that Georgia hadn't had a Republican governor in Georgia for over 130 years. That 130+ year drought didn't end until November 2002 as Republican Sonny Perdue won the office. He described the process of how Perdue switched from the Democratic Party to became a Republican. His core values were in conflict with those of the Democratic Party. His pro-life, pro 2nd Amendment, limited government stance got him in trouble with Democratic Party activists.

Reed attributed four keys to victory. First, better more appealing candidates than the Democrats. Second, Republican candidates had an optimistic positive message via their "Declaration of a New Georgia." The declaration was similar to the "Contract with America" which successfully wrestled historic control from Democratic Party hands in 1994. (Why Oklahoma hasn't adopted this strategy for the state house and senate is beyond me.)

Third, a strong grass roots organization with great leaders involved along the way. Forth, candidates ran FOR something rather than AGAINST the Democrats. Reed pointed out that conservatives are often motivated to be against issues more often rather than being loudly for the proposition of positive change.

Celebration of Pres. Bush

It shouldn't be surprising that virtually every speaker loudly proclaimed the virtues of George W. Bush even comparing his swagger with that of former President Ronald Reagan.

Every congressional member speaking before the Republican audience embraced the war effort, the tax and economic reform proposals, and President Bush. There's no question (nor should there have ever been) that the Republicans plan to use the popularity of President Bush going into the 2004 election cycle.

The Democrats are gambling that 1992 will happen again. Republican's obviously believe it won't. I think the Republicans are correct this time around. With no challenger to Bush, no strong third party candidate, the strength of conservative newstalk radio, and now having a real news alternative in Fox News "Fair and Balanced" versus the biased network news of 1992, it is very likely that Bush will win re-election in 2004.

Republicans Must Stand for Something

"We must stand for something or fall for anything." - Earnest Istook 2003 State Convention

Representative Earnest Istook said it best of all the congressmen. Istook said that a theme he believes will express these values is, "I believe the things my mother taught me." He expressed these values as the love of country and an all volunteer military that fights for freedom in the world for American interests.

Istook expressed that Faith is something his mother taught him and that's why he believes that an amendment to the U.S. constitution is necessary to insure that American children will have the right to pray in public schools.

He said that common sense values have been long forgotten in the federal government. Realizing that healthcare needs for the elderly Americans is being harmed not by bad corporations but by intrusive federally mandated paper work that takes twice the time to fill out that it takes to treat the patient.

Istook said that opportunity was needed for all parents to be able choose to send their children to a privately operated versus government ran school.

The last plank was respect. Republicans must always have respect for people and human life including those of the unborn.

Istook said, "If we ever step away from these values we cease to have what unites us as Republicans."

The larger question, in my opinion, is not whether we are united as to purpose but whether we are committed to holding those we elect responsible for violating that purpose. Talk is good, action is better. See article titled, "Are Republicans Really for Limited Government?" below.

Caucus Debate

A majority of Oklahoma Republican conventioneers turned away a great opportunity to help the activist base of the party by voting down the return of a proposed presidential caucus. A majority is satisfied with having primaries where mostly uninformed voters (voters who base their decisions solely on endorsements and slick radio and television ads) determine who should be the Republican Party nominee.

I respect the opinions of those who disagree with the caucus system, but at a time where Republican Party activism is decreasing, wouldn't it have been a SMARTER idea to get more people involved?

Informed activists who disagree about candidates are better voters than those who simply look to endorsements, radio and television ads to determine who to support.

The fact is that the Republican Party has a diminishing grass roots activist base. It's either because many activists have grown cynical with party insiders, feel there's no point since money normally defeats principle or that they've just thrown up their hands a quit.

I would expect to vote on this every year until it gets passed by the convention.

Gary Jones Remains State Party Chairman
Dana Murphy New State Vice Chairman

Gary Jones was re-elected State Chairman and Dana Murphy was elected as State Vice-Chairman without opposition. Cheryl Williams name was nominated but she withdrew her name from consideration.

I wish Gary and Dana much luck and God speed. Let's make some real progress in 2004.
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Are Republicans Really for Limited Government?

The truth is I'm a frustrated libertarian/conservative Republican these days. After listening to the various speakers at the Oklahoma State Republican Party Convention, I was left with a mythical hope that Republican Party elected officials are really interested in doing the things they eagerly proclaimed to their activist audience. I heard phrases like limited government, lower taxes, end the death tax, immigration reform. Heck I even heard Oklahoma City Mayor Kirk Humphries say, "We're the party that knows government is supposed to be limited." That seemed ironic coming from the fellow that fashioned the Bass Pro project in Oklahoma City.

There seems to be a blurring of the parties these days. I once heard a debate where it was said that former President John F. Kennedy would be a Republican were he alive today. This caused me to ask, "So has JFK moved to the right since he was assassinated?"
No, JFK hasn't moved to the right, the Republican Party has moved to the left. How far left? You decide.

In looking at the most recent publication of the Oklahoma Constitution, the voting records of Republican representatives John Sullivan, Ernest Istook, Frank Lucas and Democrat Brad Carson were evaluated on eight key bills. In evaluating the eight bills, John Sullivan voted for lower taxes and less government in 4 of the 8 votes. Ernest Istook voted for lower taxes and less government 3 of the 8. Frank Lucas voted for lower taxes and less government in 2 of the 8. Democrat Brad Carson voted for lower taxes and less government in 3 of the 7 (he didn't vote on one of the bills.) Tom Cole wasn't listed.

In New Mexico, Gov. Bill Richardson-D and former Clinton Cabinet member ran for governor on a platform of tax cuts and privatization of some government services. So far, Richardson has cut 1300 state government jobs, and lowered New Mexico's income tax rate by 40%. Meanwhile, Nevada Governor Kenny Guinn-R is calling for a BILLION dollars of new state taxes this year so that "government can provide the services people deserve."

In Oklahoma, it's even worse. According to Lt. Governor Mary Fallin the Oklahoma State budget in the last ten years has gone up $2 billion and the $800 million rainy day fund is mostly gone, now that Oklahoma needs the money. This was done with a Democratic Party controlled legislature and Republican Gov. Frank Keating at the helm. Yes Keating signed on to all of this new government growth. And of course today we're told that the State of Oklahoma is in crisis. Who's to blame?

The Citizens for a Sound Economy described the Republican controlled U.S. Congressional spending bill a "massive, record-breaking" bill. Before you say, "It's because of 9/11." Here is the ugly truth. President Bush has proposed a 4% increase in government growth. If he really wanted 4% growth (or anything close to it) he would have vetoed the Omnibus Appropriation for FY 2003.

The reality is that the national government has grown a whopping 22% over the past two years and has run up a debt of almost a TRILLION dollars in just two years. The current rate of growth, according to the Citizens For A Sound Economy, will result in the government doubling in size in 9 years and tripling in size in just 15 years. To give this some perspective, it took from 1980 to 2000 for government to double. During those years, Democrats and Republicans shared control over congress. The new spending frenzy is all being done under a Republican controlled congress.

According to research done by Michael New, a post-doctoral fellow at the Harvard-MIT data center and adjunct scholar with the CATO institute, in 2002 and 2003, with REPUBLICANS in control of the White House and the House of Representatives, "non-defense discretionary expenditures increased annually by a whopping 10 percent. In comparison between 1997 and 2000 when President Clinton occupied the White House, non-defense discretionary spending increased by a comparatively paltry 5.4%."

New states in his report that, "What is even more embarrassing for Republicans is that budgets passed by the Democratic congressional majorities and signed by President Clinton for Fiscal years 1994 and 1995 increased non-defense discretionary spending by only 4.6%."

When Ronald Reagan was President he rightfully cut taxes. The Democrats who controlled congress refused to cut spending and ran up huge deficits which they wrongly and later called "the Reagan deficits." Now Republicans control the congress and the White House. If there's blame to be given this time around, (and there is) it goes straight to the Republicans who are now in congress.

I never ever thought in my life-time, I would write a column about the tax and spend Republicans. My my how things have changed.