Conservative Papa

Mullings: The Spitzer Back Story

• Former Congresswoman and Walter Mondale’s choice for his Vice Presidential running mate in 1984, Geraldine Ferraro, pointed out in a speech that Barack Obama is Black saying: “If Obama was a white man, he would not be in this position,” for which was forced to step down from the Hillary Rodham Clinton campaign for those remarks, a decision which I wholeheartedly endorse.
• What she should have said was: “If Obama WERE a white man …”
• It is that kind of grammatical error up with which I will not put.

Republican Healthcare Alternative - HUMAN EVENTS
“I firmly believe we can and should solve America’s health care crisis in an American way,” said Camp in a statement. “If we choose to go down the path that Western Europe or Canada has, it will be no surprise when we come to the same destination – a universal health care system that leaves your family dog with better coverage and care than you get.”

If left up to Camp, the Republican message on health care would be clear. Use the tax code to create personal care. Reform insurance regulations. Update laws to accommodate a focus on wellness and preventive care. No government mandates on who can choose what health insurance plan.

And get rid of the misleading rhetoric on the number of uninsured Americans.

The highly-popularized 47-million uninsured comes from several twisted facts, Camp explained. Ten million of those 47 million are illegal, and another 10 million are people who are eligible but do not enroll.

That leaves 26 million uninsured, some of whom simply choose to pay out of pocket.

That’s “a little less than nine percent of the population, but Hillary wants us — you — to pay for all of these people,” said Camp.

Even without a Democratic plan to cover uninsured Americans, those who currently have health insurance will increasingly rely on the public for health care support. The government report released today by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services detailed how an aging population will lead to an explosion in the number of Americans who qualify for Medicare, and drive up the public cost of health care by 6.7 percent per year through 2017.

Read the entire article.

Ann Coulter writes an interesting piece on why we don’t have a candidate of Regan’s candidate. Her last two paragraphs sum it up well, but read the entire article.

How to Keep Reagan Out of Office
It is because of campaign-finance laws like McCain-Feingold that big men dont run for office anymore. Little men do. And John McCain is the head homunculus.

You want Reagan back? Restore the right to free speech, and you will have created the conditions that allowed Reagan to run.

Rush Limbaugh read this piece today. Here’s an excerpt, but you can read the entire article.

Aspen Times News for Aspen Colorado - Aspen Times Weekly Opinion
There is one group no one has recognized, and it is the group that will decide the election: the Angry White Man. The Angry White Man comes from all economic backgrounds, from dirt-poor to filthy rich. He represents all geographic areas in America, from urban sophisticate to rural redneck, deep South to mountain West, left Coast to Eastern Seaboard.

His common traits are that he isn’t looking for anything from anyone — just the promise to be able to make his own way on a level playing field. In many cases, he is an independent businessman and employs several people. He pays more than his share of taxes and works hard.

The victimhood syndrome buzzwords — “disenfranchised,” “marginalized” and “voiceless” — don’t resonate with him. “Press ‘one’ for English” is a curse-word to him. He’s used to picking up the tab, whether it’s the company Christmas party, three sets of braces, three college educations or a beautiful wedding.

He believes the Constitution is to be interpreted literally, not as a “living document” open to the whims and vagaries of a panel of judges who have never worked an honest day in their lives.

From Human Events:

Newt: A GOP Dark Horse?

by Michael Reagan

Posted: 01/25/2008

Why Newt? Ask yourself why Ronald Reagan won. He won because he was able to excite a group of people in America that the liberal wing of the Republican party has never excited — the grass roots.

Newt Gingrich is the last Republican to have done that — to reach out to the grass roots, to all those conservative Republicans and Reagan Democrats. Remember, it was Newt who engineered the miraculous Republican take-over of Congress in 1994 — something that was deemed impossible two years after Bill Clinton won the White House.

I wouldn’t be surprised if he was out there quietly working the phones and hoping for a wide-open convention where the delegates — not the primaries that selected many of them — decide for themselves who they want to carry the GOP banner in the presidential election in November.

If Newt throws his hat in the ring he knows that in the blink of an eye he will have the grass roots behind him.

Look at what happened Saturday in South Carolina. McCain won with 33 percent of the vote, which means 67 percent of the voters said we don’t want McCain; only 30 percent said yes to Huckabee, which means that 70 percent said no to him. About 15 percent went for Thompson, a mere 14 percent went for Romney and 2 percent went for Giuliani.

So basically the voters said a resounding “No” to all of the above.

So who can electrify the base and get them to come out from their bunkers and ignite a groundswell? On the record, the only person capable of doing that is Newt Gingrich.

Mullings: Thompson Campaign Ends
It is strange that the qualities we are looking for in a sitting President - thoughtful, calm, and serious - are exactly the qualities which we penalize in those running for President.

Fred File – The Friends of Fred Thompson Blog » Blog Archive » A Statement from Fred Thompson
A Statement from Fred Thompson
Posted on January 22nd, 2008
By Fred in Statements

Thank you

Today I have withdrawn my candidacy for President of the United States. I hope that my country and my party have benefited from our having made this effort. Jeri and I will always be grateful for the encouragement and friendship of so many wonderful people.

The true conservative is out of the race. Now I’ll have to choose between a slick Mormon and a flip-flopping Baptist. Good thing I didn’t participate in early voting!

Peter Wehner on Mike Huckabee & 2008 & Foreign Affairs on National Review Online
The Problem With Pastor Mike
Foreign-policy foolishness just wont suffice.By Peter Wehner

Former Arkansas governor and Republican presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee has written an article for Foreign Affairs magazine, the first two paragraphs of which are stunningly silly, misguided, and unfortunately for Huckabee, deeply revealing.

The two opening paragraphs read this way:

The United States, as the worlds only superpower, is less vulnerable to military defeat. But it is more vulnerable to the animosity of other countries. Much like a top high school student, if it is modest about its abilities and achievements, if it is generous in helping others, it is loved. But if it attempts to dominate others, it is despised.

American foreign policy needs to change its tone and attitude, open up, and reach out. The Bush administrations arrogant bunker mentality has been counterproductive at home and abroad. My administration will recognize that the United States main fight today does not pit us against the world but pits the world against the terrorists. At the same time, my administration will never surrender any of our sovereignty, which is why I was the first presidential candidate to oppose ratification of the Law of the Sea Treaty, which would endanger both our national security and our economic interests.

The above quote (except for the last two sentences) really makes me wonder about Mike Huckabee. A perusal of this page from the Huckabee campaign site might depict some fence-straddling positions.

Fred Thompson was my main hope when he announced his candidacy a few months ago. I hadn’t really considered Huckabee until his recent surge brought him to the fore. There is a lot I like about him — on the surface at least. Statements such as the above erode his conservative appearance. Maybe I’ll vote for Thompson, instead. I have a lot of studying to do before next month’s presidential preference vote!

While filling in on the Rush Limbaugh Show, Jason Lewis suggested this great way to start the day:

1. Start with an empty Windows Recycle Bin.
2. Create a folder on your Desktop called “Hillary Clinton”.
3. Delete the folder.
4. Empty the Recycle Bin.
5. Relish the dialog asking if you want to delete Hillary Clinton.
6. Firmly click Yes!
7. Repeat tomorrow with Nacy Pelosi.

OK, so it doesn’t accomplish anything; but perhaps it will help clear one’s mind.

It’s Hilary’s 60th birthday today. Bill wants you to sign the card with your birthday wish for her. His wish is that she would be able, as President, to help every child live up to his God-given potential. Isn’t that sweet?

Now, if I were to take the time to write my wish in her card, what would it be? Hmmm. That she could experience the kind of universal health care she advocates — in Cuba, for example? No, that’s not very nice. Uhmm, maybe that she could experience the kind of socialism she craves over in Europe somewhere? Nah, she might end up being part of their high unemployment statistic. OK, how about that she would have a grandchild to help live up to his God-given potential and keep her clammy hands off my children? No, I couldn’t wish her as a grandmother on anyone.

I wish that she would become a Christian, but she probably thinks she already is. Well, I can’t think of anything to write in her card. Happy birthday, Ms. Clinton. Please don’t celebrate your 62nd in the White House!