Huzzah for the Opposition!

A buddy sent me a message that the Republicans were 8 years too late to the party of fiscal responsibility. That got me thinking that I like the Republicans better as the opposition party. Over the last several years, I have been pretty disgusted with the Republicans and their spending. There is no excuse for the things they have foisted upon the American people. Prescription drugs, farm bills, campaign finance, and others.

You expect the Democrats to do those things (it is what they run on), but that is not why I vote Republican. Bush had Congress for half of his Presidency. Now that Democrats have Congress and the Presidency, the Republicans finally remember their principles and fight wasteful spending. The problem is that they are 6 months too late. The first bailout should not have been passed, at least not with Republican assistance. Let the Democrats own that monstrosity all by themselves.

With Republicans in charge there was no one to stand athwart history yelling "STOP" to the increase in the size of government. Now that the Republican House leadership has rediscovered fiscal responsibility, I may start to be a little more willing to call myself a Republican, instead of just a conservative.

Financial Oversight?

I saw a headline online that said Obama was going to have more financial oversight. That is all well and good, and is probably needed, but the issue no one (in Congress) seems to want to address is who is going to have financial oversight over Congress?

I don't care which party is in power, there is no such thing as self-control. All these irresponsible bailouts Bush did and Obama will expand look like a recipe for disaster. Everyone that looks at them lately has said they won't create a single job and the money won't be spent until 2010, which is after the recession is projected to end anyway. (Conveniently, that is the year Congress will be looking to buy their reelection.)

The simple answer is to NOT spend the bailout money. Other than the Jeb Hersarlings and Jeff Flakes (and a short list of others), no one is fighting this power grab by Congress. (If Obama would fight it, that would be change I could believe in.) There is no way this will not cause massive inflation once this new money spreads around the economy.

The World Turned Upside Down

This is a note I sent to my congressman, Chet Edwards:

I have been hearing lately about the FOCA legislation. I have not heard your position on it, but wanted to express in the strongest terms I can that it must be opposed. I understand that abortion is not likely to be outlawed, and don't think that it should be banned in every situation. However, FOCA is a direct attack on the most innocent in our society. There must be common sense limitations on abortion and FOCA outlaws all of them.

To make a point, I compare it to the closing of the Guantanamo Bay terrorist prison. We disregard the lives of the innocent, but let human debris go free to rejoin al-Qaeda and endanger our troops and our citizens. The world really has turned upside down.

Thoughts on Inauguration Day

I have seen people say they are proud to be Americans for the first time in 8 years. That statement makes me a little queasy. Who the president is has nothing to do with my gratitude for this country. The freedom of speech, religion, and press are the most vital aspects of this country.

Obama said we must start today to "remake America." What will be his template? I will agree that government does not work. If he really ends programs that don't work I will rejoice. If the government really starts doing business in the light of day, it will be a miracle. Obama's greatest obstacle to that will the the Reids, Pelosis, Franks, and the rest of Congress. Like he will stand up to them.

Obama says good things about standing up to terrorists: "We will defeat you." Good. I hope he takes that seriously. "People will judge you for what you can build, not what you can destroy." I like that line.

Obama issues a call to service akin to the sacrifice of those who lie in Arlington Cemetery. I appreciate his words about the Founding.

Overall, I thought it was an ok speech. But for all those people who think all our problems are supposed to be over now, there will be massive disillusionment. Things aren't going to change quickly.