Definition of Conservatism

The above link, the Mission Statement from William F Buckley, is a little dated but an excellent starting point.

What is a conservative? A conservative is one who interprets the Constitution to enjoin individual freedom, small government and a strong homeland defense. However, a good conservative must also ask where we failed in the past: by denying that same liberty to people who were dragged in as slaves, for example, and how we can ensure that we live up to our own highest standards.

Anyone could be assassinated tomorrow--even Hillary

I could die tomorrow.

Any particular individual could die today or tomorrow or some time in the future.

Presidential candidates are not immune to this but for Hillary to make the possibility of another human being's death--Barack Obama's, in this case--a reason for her to stay on in the campaign makes her even more despicable than she was before. Here is what she said to the Argus Leader, a newspaper in South Dakota:



In what is an even more calculated statement, she apologizes, rightly, to the Kennedy family but not to Senator Obama--can we go lower in class here?

“Earlier today, I was discussing the Democratic primary history, and in the course of that discussion mentioned the campaigns that both my husband and Senator Kennedy waged in California in June in 1992 and 1968. And I was referencing those to make the point that we have had nomination, primary contests that go into June. That’s an historic fact."

“The Kennedys have been much on my mind in the last days because of Senator Kennedy, and I regret that if my referencing that moment of trauma for our entire nation and particularly for the Kennedy family was in any way offensive. i certainly had no intention of that whatsoever.”

“My view is that we have to look to the past and to our leaders who have inspired us and give us a lot to live up to. And I’m honored to hold Senator Kennedy’s seat in the United States Senate from the state of New York, And have the highest regard for the entire Kennedy family. Thanks.”

At least we all know one thing: if and when Hillary finally gets out, she will have a career arguing with Ann Coulter one-on-one!

How McCain can be the best conservative candidate

John McCain is being hammered from all sides: from Democrats, of course; from conservatives who do not believe that he is right-wing enough; from independents who are dazzled by Obama. Given these problems, it is not easy to see how he can win the next election. However, there are some ways and that is by showing how he is already a good conservative (which he is):

McCain is a Reagan Republican:

• He has stood for a strong defense by not making any knee-jerk promises to leave Iraq. (Given that the surge is working, how do the Democrats make this argument now?)
• He stands for small government: allow market forces to take over, even in contentious cases like Global Warming. Market forces, like democracies, are slow but when they act, they are sure. Let GM (or Toyota) decide whether or not whether they want to make more fuel-efficient cars but if they do not, some smart entrepreneur will build something better, faster and cheaper. Let us not be hypocrites, however: market forces may also cause that entrepreneur to be from China or India. We cannot whine then but we can rely on our superior financial system to buy the technologies once they mature.
• He stands for individual freedom, as long as it does not infringe on the rights of others.

The Republican leadership has changed, however, and McCain needs to almost disavow its current philosophy, which is the real challenge:

• We need to stay in Iraq, not because it was right to go there (it was NOT) but because we need to clean up our mess. McCain's surrogates need to make this crystal clear.
• We cannot reject Global Warming as a pseudo-science because Exxon-Mobil doesn't like it. That's just corporate interests bullying their way in to demand corporate welfare. We ask Exxon to fight in the markets like everyone else.
• We cannot allow anti-Latino hate to spread through the immigration debate. Remember: Reagan did not just encourage immigration, he gave a full-scale amnesty. By alienating Hispanic-Americans, we can say good-bye to winning power for the next 20 years. Hate has no place in America and McCain is the best conservative to communicate it.

What does this all mean?

McCain, standing on his own as a true conservative, constructionist Republican, is easily the best Presidential individual candidate in sight. McCain, pulled down by the Bush-Cheney Republicans, will never get to be the leader of the Republican party. Barack Obama has consolidated his leadership of the Democratic party in six short months with barely 50.1% of the delegate vote (so far). It will be a shame if McCain cannot get there with a three-month headstart, he does not deserve the Presidency.

We need another war--in Myanmar

The US is now pleading with the tyrants in Myanmar to accept our help for their cyclone victims. Methinks we need to land our troops there and take over. Such countries need to be ruled by colonial powers. Somehow, I doubt that there will be too much resistance at home or abroad this time around.

Polygamy through the eyes of the Constitution

The Constitution and the Bill of Rights of the United States permit polygamy.

No two ways about it: if freedom of religion is granted, so is the freedom to a polygamous marriage, if that is part of that religion.

What is truly forbidden by rule of law, is an abusive marriage of any kind and marriage involving minors. These are the only kinds of marriages (monogamous or polygamous) where the law should intervene. The mechanism to resolve domestic violence and abuse is already in place for polygamists, as it is for everyone.

Moreover, we have polygamous relationships everywhere around that are permitted: consenting adults committing adultery, having many children by many women. At best, these are prosecuted in civil court through divorce. Why then would the United States victimize entire communities of peaceful citizens who take care of their children and live their lives and practice their faith?

The authorities are wasting their resources and breaking up entire families instead of dealing with the economy and crime and other serious matters.