Gingrich '08

Make no doubt about it. Back in November, I cast my vote for George W. Bush, emphatically. The thought of the socialist, internationalist Kerry as president scared the hell out of me. But now it's time for all of us here who care (which basically means just me and Stephen) to get on Bush's case. Earlier today I had the priviledge of eating with Leonard, and we both agreed that we've been dissapointed with a LOT that Bush has done over the past 4 years. Non-defense, non-homeland security spending soared during his first term. The 2001 steel tariff was a huge mistake, the 2003 Medicare act was the largest expansions of the welfare state since Lyndon Johnson, the omnibus 2002 Farm Subsidy Bill approved billions of dollars in handouts to the corporate and agricultural welfare queens, and Congress continued to spend money like Alison Maedge at the Mall of Georgia during FY 2004 and 2005. Bush is now already considering raising the payroll tax for those making over $90,000 a year.

The Gingrich Congress would never have let Clinton get away with any of this.

The Republican party has controlled the White House and both houses of Congress since 2002. Conservatives like myself have to wonder what the hell is going on. We've waited for this moment for 80 years, when we would finally set the nation's agenda, but we haven't done a goddamn thing yet. It's time to pick up the ball and run with it. The tax cuts must be made permanant. Spending must be slashed. Social Security must be privatized. The department of education must be abolished (the Federal Gov't spend 10 times more per student than it did in 1964, when the department was established, and yet our public schools are 10 times worse), and free trade must be supported at home and abroad.

While Bush likes to wear cowboy hats and talk about streamlining government, he is no Reagan. It's time for the Republican party to get serious again, like it was in 1980 and 1994. I remain optimistic about the second term and will continue to support W. in his efforts, but I sure hope we don't nominate a RINO (Republican-in-name only) like John McCain (who voted against the tax cuts, the only great thing Bush has done so far domestically) for the next election. The word is Newt will probably run, and if so, I'll throw all of my support behind him, even though he'll probably lose in the Republican primaries.

At the end of the day though, I still love seeing things like this, especially on the "Left" Coast: