TO HUCKABEE - do you use faith too much?  No, it's a solid core.  I won't run from it.  Deal with it.  (Nice!)

TO PAUL - will you stick with the party?  Paul - will they stick with their principles?  Maybe they should worry about it. 

SUMMARY

I really don't think there were any stand-out winners or losers tonight.  I don't think Giuliani made up any ground.  Huckabee had some zingers, but he always does.  They didn't go after each other much.  I don't think this debate will have much of an impact in the Florida race.  Notable - no education questions.  Why do only the democrats get education questions?  I'm still a Romney man, Giuliani in 2nd, McCain might as well be a democrat, Huckabee scares me with his populism, but I do love the Fair Tax. 

TO HUCKABEE - what will you do to save Social Security?  For Mitt - if Huck's elected, Mitt's boys will inherit Mitt's money too.  References Fair Tax - broader funding stream for social security.

ROMNEY - will you do for Social Security what Reagan did in 83 (raise taxes/ retirement age)?  ROMNEY - I won't raise taxes.  Personal Accounts, initial benefit for the wealthy calculated based upon CPI, plus push out retirement age.

from MARHSALL BRANNON, ST. PETERSBURG - Your immigration requires all to learn English, why is campaign airing Spanish language ad?  (Great question).  Non-Answer from Rudy; Core of plan is to stop illegal immigration at Border; tamper-proof ID

RUSSERT-TO GIULIANI.  Why different policy for Cubans ("wetfoot/dryfoot").  Rudy - historical explanation (good), we don't penalize the oppressed. 

DAVID HANEY, SPRING HILL FLORIDA.  Chuck Norris said McCain would be too old, do you agree?  HUCKABEE - (humor) I agreed w/ Norris initially, b/c he would kick my butt standing next to him; but McCain is capable.

GIULIANI - how have you changed compared to hometown paper's critique?  Bashes New York Times.  (Applause).

ROMNEY - are you disliked?  do you change positions with the wind?  ROMNEY - discusses record.

TO GIULIANI - polls show you are slipping, why?  RUDY - humor ... we're lulling them.  close campaign.

TO MCCAIN - your mom says the Republican party must hold its nose and pick him?  Says he's proud of his votes; most Republican's in initial states voted for him.  Again talks about Global Warming.  Does this guy think he's running in the Republican or Democratic primary?  Oh, cites Boeing!!!!  Knew he couldn't get through a night without that.  (One person claps)

TO ROMNEY - asked how he could run against HIllary?  He can't wait!  (Laughter) People want a president, not a husband & wife running the country.  She wants to raise taxes, she wants to give everyone gov't healthcare, she wants to quit Iraq.  Cites Reagan.  Cites 3 prongs of economic, social, and foreign policy conservatives. 

Russert - how much of your own money have you spent.  WHAT A STUPID QUESTION!  Will release it when required; won't reveal for strategic reasons.  Notes he owes no one anyting - GOOD RETORT.

Williams - cites poll re. Mormonism.  OKAY, NOW RUSSERT/ WILLIAMS have covered the Romney's Rich, and Romney's a Morman issues we all care so much about, can we move on to some substance?  How about a question about Education?  Romney has faith in American people not to impose religious test.

 

 

time for the candidates to ask each other questions

ROMNEY TO GIULIANI - what would you do about China?  RUDY - China is an opportunity, they need our services.

MCCAIN TO HUCKABEE - what about this Fair Tax, won't it hurt the Poor? (True McCain coming out in the question)  HUCKABEE - detailed answer about the fair-tax; rebuts Russert implication that we'd all pay higher taxes under it.

PAUL TO MCCAIN - who cares

HUCKABEE TO ROMNEY - requests clarification on Romney's position on Assault Weapons Ban, what limitations should government put on it.  ROMNEY - supports 2nd am., would have signed Assault Weapons Ban, notes pro-gun lobby participated in its drafting.  Hopes Supreme Court will overturn Ct. of Appeals in current DC gun case.  Doesn't support any new legislation restricting 2nd am. rights.

GIULIANI TO ROMNEY - question regarding catastrophic insurance?  Rudy supports national catastrophic insurance; McCain thinks Fema should handle it; what does Romney think?  Romney supports some kind of national catastrophic insurance "effort" - what does that mean?  Cites his experience with private free market health insurance.  Not a convincing answer.  MCCAIN - this is a terrible problem.  WCC - everyone is pandering; no one ever wants to cut spending in the state their campaigning in.  This is THE problem!!!!

RUSSERT - global warming question vis-a-vis impact on Florida, claims doubling of greenhouse gases coming soon; Why is Rudy against cap?

RUDY - cites alternative energy; major national project to be energy dependent, says it's the best way to protect against Global Warming.  WHO WILL STAND UP TO RUSSERT?

TO MCCAIN - You are in favor of mandatory caps?  MCCAIN - no, I'm in favor of capping trade?  What?  We need a global agreement (OKAY, IF MCCAIN WINS THE NOMINATION, I'M SITTING OUT, HE HAS CLINCHED IT).  What's next?  What if we are wrong and there is no such thing as climate change and we hand our kids a greener world?  Hey, McCain - what if we are wrong and we hand our kids a deciminated and emasculated US Economy?  Ugh!!!

Why doesn't Romney get to answer this question?

to MCCAIN - question from supposed citizen.  How can you sustain military action and deficit spending?  Says we can.  Bashes Clinton for wanting to surrender in Iraq.  (LOVE IT!).  This is his good issue.  Would be a decent SecDef, except I wouldn't trust him not to blab about cabinet meetings (like Powell) because of his liberal social leanings.

to ROMNEY - (fr. WIlliams) cites a negative line from After Action Report on Iraq noting not well enough staffed, implies we would need a draft.  Romney - we need to increase enrollment by improving incentives.  (Spoken like a true conservative, I like hearing about incentives!).  Bashes Democrats for putting retreat ahead of victory in Iraq.  Cites Al Qaeda in Iraq.  Good Stuff.  He won't give up in Iraq.  Bashes Democrats/Hillary for claiming credit in Iraq for threatening to pull out quickly; gives Credit to Patreus.  (Applause in FLA).

Russert (most Americans think removal of Hussein was not worth blood & treasure, per poll). 

to MCCAIN - it was worth it.  Hussein used WMD's and was trying to acquire more.  Problem wasn't invasion, was Rumsfeld's handling; he railed against it at the time.  War was justified b/c of threat of Hussein.  If we withdraw, Al Qaeda will trumpet.  RUSSERT buts in.  ... "my question was ..."  McCain - it was a good idea.

GIULIANI - bashes Clinton for flip-flopping on War based upon polls.  Giuliani was for it when polls were for it, was for it when polls were against it.  GREAT RETORT TO RUSSERT. 

PAUL - Russert knows what he will say.  Paul says it was a very bad idea (smattering of Paulnuts applause).  Why is he still here? 

HUCKABEE - I supported the President, as did the Democrats; we owe him our thanks for being proactive, and not waiting until there was another attack.  Just b/c you didn't find every easter egg doesn't mean they weren't planted.  (another great line) analogy to WMD's.

ROMNEY - direct and clear; I always supported it; wasn't well managed after take-down of Hussein, we were undermanned.  Present phase w/ Patreus is working.  (Answer mirrors McCain on the issue).  Again bashes Democrats (Yes!); Frames it as what do we now, win or retreat?

to GIULIANI - question re. banks losing money, being purchased by foreign entities.  (Williams - "I know you know a lot of people in these New York Banks, Wall Street" - thanks Williams, no bias there Williams).  RUDY - there is a global economy, mutuality of interest helpful.  Answer goes nowhere.

Russert - WSJ says Dem's have 18 pt. advantage in poll re. who would best handle economy.  Cites negative economic statistics.  Why should Americans continue Republican in White House with this economic record?

MCCAIN - b/c they will tax more, spend more, increase government, and not stabilize entitlement programs.  GOOD ANSWER.  TRUE ANSWER.  Reverts to discussing Bridge to Nowhere (2nd BTN reference in this debate?  When do we get to hear, AGAIN, about all the money he saved from the Boeing deal?)

HUCKABEE - defends Bush from Russert attack.  Good quip about being "the only guy at the UN without a headset" - you've got to give it to Huckabee, he makes smart quips.  Career as a minister certainly helps in these forums.  Some Populist "trickle-up" speak.  Paycheck-to-paycheck.  Blah, blah, blah.  Sliding into John Edwards "two Americas" talk hear.

ROMNEY - cites Olympics, governor of Massachusetts record.  Will not bash Bush, bashes "Washington" for screwing up Social Security, Spending, Ethics, Illegal Immigration, Oil.  (GOOD ANSWER).  LINE OF THE NIGHT - "When Republicans Act Like Democrats, America Loses."  Must reign in entitlements. 

GIULIANI - cites NYC turnaround. 

 

PAUL - we "Republicans?" - he considers himself a Republican?  He's a libertarian, come-on! 

2.  Question 2 - first to MCCAIN, is it a problem that economy is most important issue (Russert cites McCain quote that he is not that experienced on Economic Issues.

Mccain says he "is" versed on economics.

3.  Question 3 - to HUCKABEE (fr. Russert).  Re. tax cuts.
Cites his accomplishments as governor on tax cutting.  Refers back to Stimulus package, indicates that we probably are borrowing the $150 billion from China, and then buying their goods, will probably stimulate their economy more than hours.  GOOD ANSWER.  Would prefer we spend it on highway construction in Florida  PANDER ALERT!

to ROMNEY - (fr. Russert) do you trust others on tax cutting?  Yes, all have same general goals of cutting taxes/spending.  cites Massachusetts accomplishments, working with Democrats (blech!)  Supports Bush tax cuts, nails McCain on flip-flop on Bush tax cuts (YAY!)  Bush tax cuts got the economy going when we faced tough times; expounds upon experience on economic matters.  Key is to hold down taxes.

to MCCAIN - is Romney's raising fees equal to raising taxes.  ~ yes.  Of course tax cuts have to remain permanent.  (How can any Republican, in good conscience, support this tax-cut flip-flopper?)  He will restrain spending.

to PAUL - (Paul?  He's still here?)  Does the government have a proper role in giving such rebates.  No.  I agree with him.  Rebates are never the way to go, permanent tax cuts will stimulate, rebates will not.

1.  Question to ROMNEY (from Brian Williams) regarding whether Romney is disappointed with the House's proposed stimulus package. 

He's all over the place with his answer; sounding like a mistake coddler just like a democrat.

MCCAIN - disappointed that we won't make the Bush tax cuts permanent?  Hello, is this the same guy that voted AGAINST the Bush tax cuts?  Wants to cut Corporate income taxes - good.  Notes that we pay the highest Corp. income tax of any nation, except Japan.  Against pork.  (he is good on pork).  We must continue to cut taxes, and restrain spending.  Sounds good, but do I trust him given his track record on tax votes - NO.

GIULIANI - stimulus doesn't go far enough.  We should be more aggressive.  Wants to make Bush tax cuts permanet, reduce capital gains tax.  Best answer thusfar.

I will be live-blogging (perhaps just for my own amusement) the Republican Debate starting at 9:00 p.m.  Be the first to comment! 

This morning's original headline in the Indianapolis Star stated the largely unsurprising ... 80% of Indiana blacks were born out of wedlock in 2007.  The comment board is littered with comments of advocating for abortions of more babies.  Margaret Sanger was the founder of planned parenthood who promoted abortion as a means of keeping down the black population.  Strange bedfellows ... blacks and planned parenthood. 

As frustrating as it is dealing with the welfare leeches, killing more babies is unacceptable.  Perhaps free birth control (gov't subsidization of a birth control pill (NOT the morning after pill)) would be a bit cheaper to taxpayers than repeatedly forcing taxpayers to pay for welfare babies birth, upbrining and healthcare?   If a plan to (a) provide free, pre-conception, birth control pills and training to those who cannot afford them otherwise and tie such legislation to the elimination of child-tied welfare, upbringing (free day-care) and healthcare benefits, would you support it?  Why or why not?

Ideally,  of course, cutting welfare and government benefits to disincentive unplanned "breeding" would be the solution, but, pragmatically, presently, you would need a great deal more political capital than either party has right now to do that.  Of course, converting the black culture to a culture that appreciates and respects the nuclear family would help too, but we've been working on that for decades, without success.  There must be a multi-pronged approach.

Tell me what I've got right.  Tell me why I'm wrong.

WELCOME!

Welcome to the West Clay Conservative blog. I (“WCC”) am a husband and father residing in Western Clay Township in Carmel, Indiana. I practice law in Indianapolis, Indiana. Although I cannot be absolutely certain where this blog will go, I plan to blog on local (Carmel, Indianapolis, Indiana) and national politics, and maybe some I.U. sports. We’ll see. I have a passion for politics, and I hope this blog matures into a symbiotic relationship whereby I can learn from readers, and maybe I can persuade a few to join the Conservative cause.

WCC’s Point of View

As I believe that one of life’s great early lessons, often ignored, is to “consider the source” it is only fair to educate readers of my perspective at the outset.  So, here, in brief and in black and white, is where I’m coming from on some of the present hot-topic issues.

Abortion

The U.S. Constitution protects the right to life and not to deprive a person of such right without due process. An embryo is a developing life and person. Abortion is the intentional taking of the life of another. Abortion is homicide. Abortion is not due process. The “so-called” right to privacy was invented by activist Judges, not legislated by elected legislators, and is not contained within the U.S. Constitution. The U.S. Constitution does not reference, directly or indirectly, a right to an abortion. There is something mentally wrong with any person who has viewed an ultrasound of a developing child and still believes that it is acceptable to kill an unborn child.

Budget & Government

Government should be efficient and minimal. Government does not exist to provide employment to nor to provide care-giving for those willfully unemployed, underemployed, irresponsible, or uninsured. Government exists, foremost, to provide security to and to protect the interests of its’ citizens.

Education

People respond to incentives. The American public education system is largely devoid of incentives. Until concepts like “tenure” and relatively guaranteed ongoing employment are eliminated, children in public schools will continue to receive substandard educations. Teachers must have incentives to improve performance to the same extent that those in private industry do.

In public schools and in higher education, significant reform must be instituted to ensure that the classroom is not used to inculcate liberal doctrines upon students. Race should not be considered in school admissions, solely merit and talent. Schools that use the phrase “holistic admissions policy” should lose their accreditation.

Global Warming

Man made global warming is another myth propagated by Anti-American, Anti-Capitalist forces. However, voluntarily purchased “Carbon Credits” are a great idea to the same extent that lottery tickets (a tax on those who can’t do math) are a great idea.

Mars is warming faster than the Earth. Human carbon dioxide emissions are not causing the global warming on Mars. Climate change is cyclical and the current cycle is not atypical. Al Gore is a troubled fraud. Many of the most prominent proponents of man-made climate change are either (a) affiliated with entities that would benefit financially from climate change legislation, and/or (b) anti-American and seek to impose climate change regulation to diminish the United States from its global superpower economic status.

Faith & Family

I am a holiday church attendee, but not, presently, a weekly church attendee. I plan to raise my children in a Christian church, and attend more often as my children grow because I believe that Christian religion imparts excellent values.

The U.S. Constitution does not provide for a “separation between church & state.”

The biggest problem facing the poor in the U.S. is the lack of a two-parent household, largely due to the absence of father figures, particularly in black homes. I believe that society and government should encourage two-parent households with a mother and a father.

The phrase “gay marriage” is an oxymoron.

Foreign Affairs

I believe in Sun Tzu and Ronald Reagan’s philosophy of peace through strength. A healthy military is critical to U.S. security. The United Nations has been proven to be a feckless and corrupt institution. John Bolton was an excellent U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. France, Germany, and Russia opposed the invasion of Iraq for self-interested financial reasons, thereby rendering a broader coalition impossible to obtain.

I believe that President Bush was correct when he stated after 9/11 that the U.S. should put all force to bear on those who harbor and support terror. Saddam Hussein obviously did so, by sending money to the families of deceased suicide bombers, and by terrorizing his own population including gassing the Kurds. The war in Iraq is a noble cause and General David Patreus’ surge is working, but forming a democracy is always difficult work and we must be patient as a nation with Iraq’s politicians who, truly, are acting no more slowly than our own (how many decades until we solve the illegal immigration crisis, for instance?). Failure in Iraq would be a tremendous set-back in the larger war on terror, a fact recognized by Iran and Al Qaeda who are working desperately to cause our premature departure.

Health Care

I believe that hospitals should not be required to provide care to illegal immigrants. Health Care is not a constitutional right. Less government regulation, not more, would improve Health Care in the United States. Health Care consumers need more information, specifically cost information in advance of procedure performance, and more choice.

Illegal Immigration

I cannot support any politician who purports to provide “comprehensive” immigration reform. “Comprehensive” reform means amnesty. George Bush is wrong on this issue and is abdicating his duty as head of the executive to enforce the law. There are many ways to incrementally improve the illegal immigration situation: (a) build a wall (which would in turn create jobs to build, support, and maintain the wall), (b) create legislation protecting those who guard our borders from frivolous lawsuits from illegal immigrants and coyotes, (c) authorize border guards to use all force necessary to protect the border and increase their numbers, (d) legislate and enforce more severe criminal and civil penalties for employers who employ illegal aliens (while creating safe-harbor legislation for employers that use certain prescribed citizenship verification procedures).

If, as illegal immigration proponents claim, illegal immigrants come in good will just to find work, and that well of work (and social services) dries up, the incentive to come and to stay will cease to exist.

Moreover, if these illegal immigrants are truly “doing the jobs Americans won’t do” American employers will be forced, by market forces to offer better wages to American citizens to do these so-called “jobs Americans won’t do” hence allowing market forces to increase minimum wages.

Finally, I am convinced that if employers were fined heavily and forced to hire American citizens at higher wages to do the jobs that they used to use illegal alien slave labor to perform, the housing market could be saved by increasing home values due to the increased labor costs to build future homes.

Property Taxes

In Indiana, one of the big issues we are currently facing is a dramatic rise in property taxes in some counties.  I like some aspects of Governor Daniels' plan, including requiring referenda on school construction.  However, I do not believe in the total elimination of property taxes.  Property taxes are nothing other than an imperfect "use" tax for those local items (roads, sewers, schools) that community members use (and yes, even those that don't have school-aged children get benefit out of and use the schools).  When you purchase a home, you know that you will have an obligation to pay your share of property taxes to pay for your fair share of the services.  Now, that being said, I think the fair thing to do is to eliminate assessors altogether, and assess property taxes based upon either the initial (for that buyer/resident) purchase price of the property, plus a fixed inflation factor so that whena  person buys a home, they know, and can budget for, the exact amount of property taxes they will have to pay for the life of the home.  It would be absolutely unfair to eliminate property taxes altogether, and heap teh local services tax burden upon only those still working, and away from those who, when they purchased their home, knew they would have to pay some property tax and should have budgeted for it.  For example, some of the wealthiest of the wealthy (and I am no class warfare agent) own large homes, and still use local services, but, if they retire, would have no property tax/ local services tax obligation.  They should be required to pay the amounts bargained for and in place when they purchased the home.  If property taxes were completely eliminated, we would have one more shift of financial burden from the baby boomers to the present and future working generations (see:  Social Security disaster).

Ultimately, however, I do not care what the local politicians call my taxes (income, sales, property, etc.), wrath will continue to be reserved for them as long as the ridiculous levels of government spending continue and the aggregate tax bill continues to climb.  It is time to take a hard look at and drastically cut welfare spending and healthcare spending.  It is time to remind Americans that while it is well and good to wish to take care of others in need (voluntarily) your primary responsibility is to your own family.

Media & Culture

WCC learns a great deal from www.nationalreview.com and stays abreast of important current events unreported or unfairly reported by the mainstream media via www.michellemalkin.com. However, WCC regularly peruses roughly twenty-five (25) news sources. WCC’s favorite talk-radio host is Laura Ingraham, but WCC also regularly listens to Rush Limbaugh, Neil Boortz, Sean Hannity, and Michael Savage, who WCC finds terribly entertaining and impressively passionate, if not consistently over the top. WCC watches Fox News Sunday, Brit Hume’s nightly newscast, and a few minutes of Bill O’Reilly each night depending upon the topic. I find MSNBC to be worthless, and that CNN is worth watching only when Miles O’Brien is talking about a space shuttle launch or landing, but not much else.

I hope that you enjoy the blog!