This was in response to a news letter someone sent me from Pat Buchanan.
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Yes Pat has many valid good points and is correct on all but he misses on a couple of very important issues. The GOP is fragmented, has alienated its base, walked away from their core beliefs, and has not united like the Democratic party has. The GOP has been shot down by its own friendly fire, a slanted media and outplayed and outsmarted by the Dems.
The Dems have held on to their core beliefs and never wavered. What are they? Homosexual rights, abortion, and Big Daddy government will take care of you. Over and over they pounded, we can't have any prejudism, anti-homo is as bad as what the African-American went through, and we can't hinder women from making an educated decision its her choice and you need us - we will fix everything so if you get taxed we will provide. Three key issues that are always a part of the Dem philosophy.
How did the GOP counter this? They didn't - they wavered. How in the HELL was groups such as the Log Cabin Republicans allowed to hoist the banner of the GOP. How did we allow a cross dresser and MC of Gay Pride events named Rudy to run? How did we allow another pro-choice and also in favor of homo rights named Mitt to run? Tell me where the Reagan attitude of you can do it? The best we did was a stimulus check instead of fighting to roll back regulations and try to weaken the EPA so businesses can flourish. Did the GOP make the case against counties and cities like Cuyahoga and Cleveland who are run by Dems and the mess they created with property tax, unemployment and crime? Did we send back the illegals and strengthen our boarders? Did we pound at every opportunity the case of the Islam/Muslim threat? There was no fight, there was no strategy.
Another thing is the white country club mentality of the GOP. I predicted this a few years back. You mean to tell me the Repubs couldn't tell the climate of what the trends were pointing to? The time was right for an African American to be elected. Did we hoist on our shoulders and roll out the red carpet for people like JC Watts, Lynn Swann, Condi Rice, Ken Blackwell or Allen Keyes to name a few fine African American Republicans. NOPE! The Dems started grooming Obama almost as soon as he was elected into the Senate maybe even before. Or even if we stayed with the white man why didn't we listen to the groundswell of the coffee shops and colleges where Ron Paul was gaining flocks. He may of sounded nuts but he was right when he kept saying America is BROKE! Or if not a black or a Ron Paul then a person with solid morals, convictions and plans, Mike Huckabee. NOPE! Instead the best the Republican establishment could do was circle around McCain as heir apparent as they did with Dole. I also predicted this back in 2006 and again in 2007 that the GOP would push Mc to the front. Is this the best that we can do? We deserve to lose.
Yes Pat is right but all is not lost if we would once again regain our core, have a spine to stand up for what is right and instal a litmus test to join the GOP. A Conservative litmus test. The Dems have it and so should we. And if we return to our Conservative foundation we could win everything back and if not at the least we could rebuild the party into a party of true American values and one of individual freedom. If not, not only is the GOP finished so is America.
I would rather be a minority party with solid beliefs then a majority party with no principles.
CKM

Who should Senator McCain pick as his running mate?

Maybe its a bit late as I am sure Presidential nominee Senator McCain has already chosen his running mate but this is my list of who I like to see and who I hope doesn't get the nod.
The biggest buzz was with Governor Mike Huckabee so I will start with him. Strategically it may be a wise choice for McCain since he totally alienated the Conservative Right. Huckabee brings to the table solid morals and beliefs and his humor and wit will add luster to a drab John McCain. Other than that its not a good fit. Even though Huckabee won the endorsement from the Minuteman his stance on illegals was about as good as McCains which isn't much. As for Governor Huckabee it wouldn't be a wise move for him either. IF he is the future of the Conservative Right, the person to lead this country back to firm ground, as Reagan did, then step back and run again. Distance yourself from the moderate McCain and win the nomination in 2012.
Next from the list of also rans is Governor Mitt Romney. NO! Terrible choice and this could set back the Republican Party for years to come. What Goldwater and Reagan did to bring back true Conservative principles a McCain/Romney ticket will once again label the GOP as the rich white mans party. McCain is a moderate and Romney has about as much moral common sense as the Clintons with his backing of homosexual rights plus he is a multimillionaire with little ties to the common man.
So who would I like to see? Number one on my list which just won't happen and its a real shame is Allan Keyes. There is no garbage on the man other than he is a bulldog who screams about the constitution and returning back this nation to Godly principles which the media uses to label him as an extremist. Every weakness McCain has is overcome by Keyes plus the fact he is an African American broadens the GOP base.
Another person who would be a wise choice for VP is Congressman Duncan Hunter. This man is solid on illegal immigration, gun rights and on defense. Morally he also has it together. As with Keyes he also picks up McCains short comings. What Hunter lacks unfortunately in this celebrity crazed age is charisma and won't stir much enthusiasm. Very unfortunate.
So then who is my pick? Representative Steve King from Iowa. One of the most conservative and controversial members of congress. It would generate much needed enthusiasm to this election and have every talking head liberal out against King which would arouse the Christian Conservatives in supporting a McCain/King ticket. Representative King comes out and tells it like it is whether America wants to hear the truth or not.
In the more main stream picks I would also like to mention two other possible choices, former Representative John Kacich and former Senator George Allen would make fine VP's and eventual Presidential nominees.
It will be interesting to see which way Senator McCain goes, a true conservative to pick up his short comings or a moderate to liberal to appease the middle and Democrats.

C. K. M.