[speedgibson] Speed Gibson: Taking Charge

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Posted by Speed Gibson:
Taking Charge
http://speedgibson.powerblogs.com/posts/1192421600.shtml


   This is part three of my trilogy, following parts [1]One and [2]Two
   published earlier.
   The majority of the MOB believes the stakes too high to be
   over-demanding of Republican candidates. The Chief of the Freedom Dogs
   calls anything else [3]Russian Roulette. Frankly, I agree at the
   national level, given the clear and present danger from the Islamic
   terrorists.
   But here in Minnesota, I think the reverse is true. Supporting
   "moderate" Republicans as practiced by our Governor Tim Pawlenty is
   actually the greater of the two evils in that he provides a false
   sense of security. What, you want Mike Hatch to be Governor? Of course
   not, but you have give Hatch credit for this: he would have truly been
   representing a significant portion of the state electorate, our
   liberal establishment. There would have been few surprises in a Hatch
   administration. His base would have been pleased, if not giddy.
   Can the Pawlenty administration say that? No, there have been plenty
   of surprises, like stadium pork, health impact fees, light rail, and
   his fact-free obsession with bio-fuels. Whom does he represent, i.e.,
   consistently represent? Certainly not the conservative base of the
   Republican party, just those Hugh Hewitt types that believe in victory
   at any cost. How can these people even say that Pawlenty represents
   them when Pawlenty's positions keep changing and his actions are
   unpredictable?
   Pawlenty happens to be the best example of what I'm talking about, but
   there are many more, dozens in the Legislature. They're not fighting
   for limited goverment, the core principle of the GOP party. Their
   records suggest they believe in big government like the DFL, just on
   the installment plan. As good as we might feel seeing the DFL's huge
   tax increases go down in 2007, all it really means is that they were
   postponed. As it is, state spending shot up big again without this new
   money, over 8 percent this biennium.
   This is ultimately a losing play. Soft Republicanism is enabling hard
   Liberalism, not thwarting it. It either gives them what they want, at
   worst delayed, or leads to "aren't you for clean air?" campaign
   attacks. I'm tired of playing defense.
   The time has come to take charge, to go on offense. GOP candidates
   should be talking of shinking government, not slowing the growth,
   which still means in excess of inflation. Make the other side play
   defense: why shouldn't we eliminate MN-Care, like Tennessee did with
   their version?
   Yes, this means the true conservatives will stand alone for a while,
   greatly outnumbered by the Triple Alliance (DFL, RINOs, and Education
   Minnesota). But now these liberals will now wholly own their failures,
   like in the City of Minneapolis. Mayor Rybak whines about LGA "cuts",
   but he's getting no real traction, even in the newspapers. The same
   with the imploding Minneapolis Public Schools, who have effectively
   lost those who by liberal thinking should be their biggest supporters
   - poor and minority families. It is from these ashes that vouchers or
   the equivalent will eventually rise, not some high level policy
   recommendation. Take charge, start proposing this next session.
   Go on offense, like Sue Jeffers, Jason Lewis, and Phil Krinke. Publish
   the private vs charter vs public school test scores - and costs. Tell
   of the many success stories of kids who escaped the public schools and
   the plight of those left behind, unable to afford the choice that
   ironically would save the state money. Ask the DFL why they hate kids
   for a change.

References

   1. http://speedgibson.powerblogs.com/posts/1191380252.shtml
   2. http://speedgibson.powerblogs.com/posts/1190776216.shtml
   3. http://www.looktruenorth.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=785:russian-roulette-for-conservatives&catid=116:General