It’s What The Founding Fathers Wanted

From 3:00-3:30

This is more of a personal rant than a serious commentary on politics. Today I was watching a scene from the “View” because they had Academy Award Winning Actor, Richard Dreyfuss on talking about his new movie “W.”(I am a big Dreyfuss fan). But as the conversation between Dreyfuss and the hosts moved on they began talking about politics and the issue came up whether the executive branch should be stronger than the legislative and judicial or vice-versa.

Dreyfuss begins speaking of Dick Cheney’s (whom he plays in “w”) view of the Executive branch and how he believed it should be stronger than the other branches. To this, one of the “View” hosts replies “Which is the opposite of the founding fathers.” After agreement from Dreyfuss, the conversation moves on.

The thing that makes me mad about all of this is that more and more on television the phrase “that’s what the founding fathers wanted” (or something similar) is just thrown around without giving any factual evidence to support it. In fact, this issue of the power of the executive branch was one of the key intellectual theories that divided our founding fathers. The federalist party believed in a strong, central executive branch where the anti-federatlists (republicans) believed in a stronger representation of the people through their elected officials (Congress).

The point I am trying to make is not to believe someone who says “that’s what the founding fathers wanted” unless they provide proof of the statement along with the founding father who said it. In most cases, it will only be a few founding fathers that believed in the proposed statement and most likely, it will be an issue that was divided federalist vs. republican. So always ask for the truth and never just accept a statement because supposedly our founders believed it. Our founders were highly educated men with many different views on life and politics. The miracle of our country’s origin is that they were able to come together and create one government from many different influences. This is could be another possible meaning for “E pluribus unum” but I can’t say for sure, it may not have been what the founding fathers meant.

“Colin, What Happened?!”

I know that it has been over a month since my last post (in an election year, too!) and for that I apologize.

The one event of last week that I have not been able to get out of my mind is the endorsement of Senator Barack Obama from Colin Powell. After I saw him endorse Senator Obama, I was dumbfounded and could not understand how he, of all people, could endore Obama. I have a theory on why this is the case.

Personally, I think it is part of a power game. Senator Obama has offered Powell a cabinet position if he wants one: this will give Senator Obama a chance to show how he is uniting democrats and republicans within his administration and it will keep Powell influential (and in power) within political circles. This is the only reason that makes sense why a man whose career has been defined by serving conservative leaders would turn and support a liberal.

Now Powell did give a few reasons why he was supporting Senator Obama, but a few of them I find hard to believe. (1)The first was that with Governor Palin coming on to the Republican ticket, it had gone too far to the right for him. Too far to the right? Powell was the National Security Advisor for President Reagan!

But more importantly, we have Senator McCain on our ticket. Does anyone else but me remember the constant criticism he got during the primaries for not be conservative enough? This concept of having a representative from both sides of the party is called balancing the ticket and has been occuring since the birth of our nation. You bring in moderate and a conservative to win both sects of the party in hope of more votes.

Now don’t get me wrong. I have a great deal of respect for General Powell and I wish him the best with the rest of his life. I just think he made a terrible mistake. But we’ll see…

-J. Heffley

The Worst Question I Have Ever Heard…

Up until now, I have never had a reason not to like Whoopi Goldberg, probably because I do not watch the View (but after all, who didn’t like Sister Act?). But after seeing this clip from the View, I cannot but be amazed at the stupidity of some people in this world. Ms. Goldberg’s question about whether she should be worried about being made a slave is ridiculous.Usually I like to give people the benefit of the doubt, but I cannot do that here. There is simply too much ignorance for one person to deal with.

In the context of the discussion, the conversation was about Roe Vs. Wade. Senator McCain said that he disagreed with the decision, not mainly because it deals with abortion (although that is an important reason), but because the Supreme Court violated its boundaries of power and made a decision that became a law. This issue of legislating from the bench, is outside the Constitutional boundaries given to the courts. Senator McCain was saying that if an abortion law was needed, it needed to come through the proper channels. Those proper channels are as follows: the people express their concerns to their Representatives, the Congress makes a bill and passes it, then the President signs it into law. This is how a law is made: from the people, not from 4 or 5 judges who think they know what is best for the country. Senator McCain then said that if it was overturned, the decision would be left up to the individual states (an opinion in line with Amendment 10 of the Constitution). Good job Senator, for standing up for what the Constitution actually says.

In this context, Senator McCain says that he would appoint judges that have this strict view of the Constitution and would interpret the law, as it was intended by the authors. Somehow, Ms. Goldberg took that to mean that Senator McCain wanted to bring slavery back. If Ms. Goldberg actually read the Constitution, she would know that the 13th Amendment clearly states: “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude…shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.”

The irony in this is that only a strict Constitutionalist would interpret that as freedom from slavery.

But Senator McCain is not free from criticism here. At the end of this, he says “I understand that, and get that. Thank you.” But Senator, it does not make sense, and no one else seems to get it and you should have said so. You should have told her why that statement was wrong. Come on Senator, where is that Maverick spirit everyone hears so much about?

-J. Heffley

Republican Convention-Night Two

Last night, night number two of the Republican National Convention, there were two speeches given by two vastly different Senators. Starting out, former Senator and conservative Fred Thompson gave a fantastic speech about John McCain’ record. Thompson eloquently discussed McCain’s history: ranging from his early life, military career, and stances on issues. Thompson did an excellent job making the case to the American people that Senator McCain is the man for the job. After his speech last night, I am surprised that he did not do better in the primaries. I encourage everyone interested in politics to go and listen to Thompson’s speech, I believe that it will be one of the best coming from this convention. Here are a few quotes from Thompson about Senator McCain.

—”This is the kind of character that civilizations from the beginning of history have sought in their leaders. Strength. Courage. Humility. Wisdom. Duty. Honor. It’s pretty clear there are two questions we will never have to ask ourselves, ‘Who is this man?’ and ‘Can we trust this man with the presidency?’”

—”But while others were talking reform, John McCain led the effort to make reform happen — always pressing, always moving for what he believed was right and necessary to restore the people’s faith in their government. Confronting when necessary, reaching across the aisle when possible, John personified why we came to Washington in the first place.”

—-”My role is to help remind you of the man behind the vision. Because tonight our country is calling to all of us to step up, stand up, and put ‘Country First’ with John McCain. Tonight we are being called upon to do what is right for our country.”

—”There has been a time in our nation’s history, since we first pledged allegiance to the American flag, when the character, judgment and leadership of our president was more important. Terrorists, rogue nations developing nuclear weapons, an increasingly belligerent Russia, intensifying competition from China, spending at home that threatens to bankrupt future generations, for decades an expanding government, increasingly wasteful and too often incompetent.”

“—To deal with these challenges, the Democrats present a history- making nominee for president — history-making in that he’s the most liberal, most inexperienced nominee to ever run for president.Apparently — apparently they believe that he would match up well with the history-making, Democrat-controlled Congress — history-making because it’s the least accomplished and most unpopular Congress in our nation’s history.”

After former Senator Thompson came Senator Joe Lieberman. Even though Sen. Lieberman used to be a Democrat (I’ll forgive him for that) I must admit that he did an excellent job supporting McCain in this speech. He talked of McCain’s record from personal experience (he has been with McCain in the Senate for twenty years). He then contrasted McCain’s experience of bringing together republicans and democrats for the better of the country to Senator Obama’s lack of experience. Overall, Lieberaman gave a good speech and I appreciate him being willing to go against party for the good of the country, more politicians need to start doing that.

In addition to these two speeches, the GOP played a tribute to President Ronald Reagan and his achievements in office. I believe that honoring the loss of such a great man was fitting for this event and I salute the GOP for honoring the death of a man who did so much for his country. As time moves on, I believe that historians will continue to grasp the magnitude of the accomplishments that occurred during his administration and will see him as one of the greatest Presidents in our history.

It’s just too bad that more faces can not be added to Mt. Rushmore.

Tomorrow night, McCain’s vice presidential pick, Governor Sarah Palin will be giving her acceptance speech. The only other main speaker that I recognized was Governor Mike Huckabee so I will be putting up a post about these speeches also.

-J. Heffley

Conservatives, Rejoice!

Last Friday, Senator John McCain stunned the political world when he announced his running mate for the 2008 election, Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin. Personally, I was hoping the choice would be the Governor of Minnesota, Tim Pawlenty, but after doing some research into Gov. Palin’s record I must admit that I am very impressed with McCain’s decision.

Governor Palin is a conservative with true convictions that has a record of putting principle before party. She is strongly pro-life (even recently giving birth to a son with down’s syndrome instead of having him aborted), a lifetime member of the NRA, a proponent of lower taxes and less government control, in favor of drilling offshore and in ANWR, and does not believe in global warming. Thank God for politicians like this! Politicians that have common sense and use their power to help the people that elected them. Even though I was a supported of John McCain before his VP pick, I am now even more on board the McCain express and am excited for what will take place on the road to the election.

-J. Heffley

Supporting Sen. McCain-Part III- The Right To Life

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by the Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.- That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among Men…

- The Declaration of Independence

The founders of this nation understood that all men have God given rights. Rights that can never be taken away. Governments, made up of laws, are created in order to defend these rights. The most important of these rights is the right to life, and it is the government’s job to make sure that life is preserved. Over the last three decades since Roe vs. Wade, the right to life has been trampled on. This right, being God given, is not an issue that is based on popular opinion but is based on the right of every person, whether they can speak or not, to have the choice of life.

It has been estimated that around 35 million human beings have been killed due to abortion since 1973 with the passing of Roe Vs. Wade. This is not a political issue, this is a moral issue that Americans have to begin standing for.

After the Civil Forum at Saddleback church in California, the nation no longer has any doubt about Senator McCain’s view on abortion. When asked by Pastor Rick Warren what his stance on abortion was, McCain responded, “you will have a pro-life president.” When asked when he thought life began, he firmly and bluntly said, “At conception.” Senator Obama on the other hand said that the question of when life began was above his pay grade.

For America, the choice is clear.

-J. Heffley

Supporting Sen. McCain-Part II- Constitutional Interpretation

“On every question of construction, carry ourselves back to the time when the Constitution was adopted… and instead of trying what meaning can be squeezed out of the text, or invented against it, conform to the probable one in which it was passed.”- President Thomas Jefferson

“I entirely concur in the propriety of resorting to the sense in which the Constitution was accepted and ratified by the nation. In that sense alone it is the legitimate Constitution.”- Constitution Signer James Madison

When the President takes the oath of office, he makes the most important promise to the American people that any politician can give; he promises to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States. Sadly, we have had Presidents who have not kept this promise.

The Constitution is the most important law in America and protecting it is the highest call of every politician. A candidate’s view on the interpretation of the Constitution is the most important issue of any election. I know there are going to be people who read the last sentence and say that this is not the most important issue of the election; the most important issue is Iraq, the economy, or abortion. I agree that these issues are important, but they are not the most important.

Since its beginnings, America has been synonymous with freedom: freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom from government oppression, etc. And if those freedoms are not carefully preserved, then none of the other issues in this election will even matter. What happens if we win the war in Iraq, but end up handing our freedoms over to the government? Will a better economy matter if Americans can no longer speak out against oppression for fear of their lives? Now you may be thinking that I am taking this a little to far. But you would be wrong. Freedom is not an attribute that is passed along in the bloodline: it is an idea that burns withing the hearts of true Americans and must be protected and fought for at all times. And it is up to the people to elect a leader that will do so.

We need to elect a leader who views the Constitution as a law that has been written in stone, with the only meaning being the meaning that was intended by its authors. There are politicians in America today who support the idea that the Constitution can be re-interpreted and changed to serve a political purpose. But when the law of the land is no longer a standard that is unchanging, the American people can say good-bye to the freedoms they know and love. For if the Constitution can be re-interpreted, the law that said you have rights now means nothing at all.

Fortunately for us, Senator McCain has said time and again in his town hall meetings that he is a federalist who will uphold the original meaning of the Constitution. Senator Obama on the other hand, has not given his opinion, why? Well I can not be entirely sure but it may be that he is one of those people who believe the Constitution can be re-interpreted. For Americans, I think the choice is clear.

For all of his flaws, I believe Confucius was right, “When words lose their meaning, people lose their freedoms.”

-J. Heffley

Supporting Sen. McCain-Part I- The Second Amendment

“A Free People… Ought To Be Armed.”- President George Washington

“No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms within his own hands.”- President Thomas Jefferson

I hold the opinion that the Constitutional Bill of Rights were arranged in order of importance. While the first amendment grants Americans the freedoms that we have come to know and love, the second amendment gives Americans the means to protect those freedoms. For years, I have been a lover of guns and have believed in the individual right of citizens to own firearms for their protection and pleasure. After all, what good is life, liberty, and property if you don’t have the means of keeping and protecting them?

For lovers of history, I think it is good to remind you that Adolph Hitler, Joseph Stalin, and Muammar Qaddafi all took the guns away from their people so that they would not have the power to revolt against the governments that were oppressing them. This is the most powerful reason for free people to own guns, so that they may be used if government overreaches its boundaries and begins to take away freedom. As Thomas Jefferson said, “The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.”

Moving to today’s political scene, it is important to support a candidate who defends the people’s right to bear arms. Unlike Senator Obama, Senator McCain has held a consistent record on protecting the Second Amendment. He voted against the assault weapon ban, supported a bill by Senator David Vitter against confiscation of firearms after emergencies (such as Katrina), and co-sponsored legislation on lifting the DC gun ban.

For proponents of the second amendment, Sen. Obama is usually the person in their nightmares who wakes them up every night. Senator Obama has time and again supported gun bans and gun control laws, both in the Illinois state legislature and in the US Senate. He also supported the DC gun ban, at least until the Supreme Court ruled it as unconstitutional (any surprise there?).

I believe that on this issue, the choice is clear. Senator McCain is not only talking the talk, but has walked the walk: proven by his consistent voting record. This is just one of the reasons why I am putting my support behind Senator McCain. He not only stands for the issues that are important to me, but is truthful about them also.

- J. Heffley: The Reaganite

Who I Support

At the beginning of the election process, I put my support behind a candidate who fit my beliefs perfectly. Sadly, that person is not longer in the race. Now Senator McCain is the presumptive candidate and at first, I was extremely skeptical. I was one of those people who was complaining that he was too liberal for the Republican party.

But after I started being honest with myself, I found that there is a lot more common ground between me and Senator McCain than I originally thought. Sure, I don’t agree with him on every issue, but I do agree with him on all the issues that matter, and if most conservatives were honest with themselves, I think they would agree.

The most important issues of this election, are all issues that Senator McCain has excellent positions on: the second amendment, the supreme court, foreign policy, and fiscal responsibility. On all of these issues, without exception, Senator McCain has shown that he is the choice for conservatives (Yes, even more so than Bob Barr).

In my study of Senator McCain, he has proven himself to be the man this country needs at this time in history. Expect future posts not only about his positions on key issues, but explanations on why they are the right positions.

- The Reaganite

My Name

I chose the name Reaganite not only because this blog is centered around politics, but because President Reagan is my hero. Not only did he do wonders for this country, but he had policies that were not focused around what the republican party believed but were focused around a set of beliefs.

Principle over party.

Political parties can change, and so can their beliefs; but a fixed set of principles will never change. As for my political views, my devotion is to the truth. To that set of principles that make sense. I believe that government should be fiscally responsible, I believe that the Constitution is a document that is “written in stone,” meaning that it should only be interpreted with the same intent in which it was written. It is not a living document and should never be treated that way. I believe in the power of the individual, and the right of individuals to choose their own path in life.

I believe in freedom. Freedom of press, speach, assembly. Freedom to choose the religion you want, and freedom to exercise that belief. I believe that every life has value, from the unborn infant to the old man living down the road in the nursing home. I believe that every citizen has the individual right to keep and bear arms. I believe in order and the rule of law. I believe in a strong national defense and think that the greatest way to preserve peace is to prepare for war.

These are the beliefs that define me.

-The Reaganite