Say Anything Blog

I like what I’m hearing here:

Our new Republican Minority in Congress must be rededicated to the conservative principles that minted our Majority in 1994. We must reject the path of big government Republicanism that led us into the box canyon of 2006. Only by renewing our commitment to fight for conservative values of limited government, traditional values, fiscal discipline, and reform, can we hope to have the credibility to earn back the opportunity to lead this national legislature. . . .

Let me be very clear. I do not believe we need to figure out what our vision should be. I do not think we need to go back to the drawing board and mix and mash into place a set of principles to guide us. We already know what those first principles are - the same ones articulated by Barry Goldwater, Ronald Reagan, and the authors of the Contract with America. We just need to remember them and why we came here. . . .

Our campaigns must value winning, but as candidates we cannot be seduced by the political opportunities of the moment and find ourselves swayed from our principles just to win the next election. As I wrote then in defeat and believe now, in order to attain a strong and lasting Majority we ought to be a new breed of candidates that seek to leave a foundation of arguments in favor of policies that will stand the test of time. We must run not just “to win,” but “to stand.” And if we stand on that foundation, we will win and usher in a new Majority-one that will be concerned with far more than continuing to retain itself.

That last point is especially salient when we apply it to Democrats.  Look at their stance on the Iraq war, for instance.  Back prior to invasion when America was behind the decision to go to war with Iraq Democrats were behind it.  Eighty-one Democrats in the House voted for war in Iraq, and a majority of Democrats in the Senate (23) voted for it.  Now that the political winds are blowing a different direction and Americans are frustrated with the war in Iraq (a feeling not entirely justified in my opinion, but that’s at topic for another post) the Dems are changing their tune.  They aren’t sticking to principle on Iraq, they’re trying to claim that they were mislead into war in order to make political gains.

Do we want political leaders who make decisions based on principle and long-term viability or political leaders who go with whatever decision is polling best at the moment?

Regardless, if the House Republicans don’t put Mike Pence in a leadership roll they are fools who deserve to remain in the minority.