Defiance of Tyranny

Posted 2:41 AM by Steve
"Yet today, President Bush tells us that he would do everything all over again, the same way. How can he possibly be serious?"

John Kerry 9/20/04

FLIP-FLOP ALERT!!!!!

As recently as six months ago Kerry said:

"Those who believe we are not safer with his (Saddam's)capture don't have the judgment to be president or the credibility to be elected president."

Someone with no core principles and who wavers and flip-flops from day to day cannot be counted on as Commander in Chief. John Kerry lacks the character and integrity to hold our nations highest office.

The WMD issue has been a "straw-man" used by the left from the start of this campaign.

The President along with politicians on both sides of the aisle used the intelligence of the United States and it's allies to determine the threat level Iraq posed.

WMD's were only one element of this determination. The effectiveness of the attacks of 9/11 proved that terrorists armed with box-cutters could do plenty of damage to our nation.

While "stockpiles" of WMD's haven't been found in Iraq, I think it's only fair for the left admit that the dozen or so clandestine programs uncovered by investigators are indeed a justification for concern if not removal of Saddam. Indeed, the fact that these programs were in part subsidized by the corrupt U.N. Oil for Food program proves that the "diplomacy" and "global test" Kerry spoke of is an illusion.

The state-sponsorship of Islamic terror by Saddam's regime hasn't been disputed by the left, which has merely quibbled about the EXTENT of the relationship between Iraq and al-Qaeda. The sheer number of pieces of solid evidence proving this link is beyond question.

President Bush has defined America's post-9/11 response to state sponsors of terrorism. If you don't like it vote for someone else. Personally, I like the idea of taking the fight to the terrorists. I like the idea of keeping them guessing, and on the run. I like the idea of bringing them to justice as our armed forces has done so far to hundreds of al-Qaeda. I like the idea of fundamentally transforming the Middle-East from a terror incubator to a free and productive region in the world community. I like the idea of FOUR MORE YEARS of victory.

Posted 4:11 PM by Steve
Why you should vote for George W. Bush?

My support in the upcoming election is going to incumbent George W. Bush. While I have some issues with the President and his policies, I realize that the best thing for the national security of our great nation is to keep a steady and solid leader in office. It's particularly important to show the rest of the world our consistent and unwavering commitment to the war on terror.

1. Iraq, Afghanistan and the War on Terror:

President Bush has struck a major blow for the free world against the totalitarian regimes in Iraq and Afghanistan. The litany of atrocities by the Taliban and Saddam Hussein needs not to be repeated here, but suffice to say the world is better, safer place with Saddam Hussein and the Taliban gone. Both regimes were state-sponsors of Islamic terrorism, that is, they provided terrorists (including members of al-Qaeda) with some or all of the following:

A. Refuge
B. Training
C. Weaponry
D. Intelligence
E. Logistical support

The President has put our enemies on the defensive: Instead of plotting and executing new attacks, our enemies are concerned about their own personal safety. They should be. They are hiding, trying to regain lost ground and scrambling to avoid conflict with our superior armed forces. Instead of appeasing those who viciously murdered our countrymen, President Bush has been uncompromising and resolute of the prosecution of the war on terror.

2. The growing economy:

"If it ain't broke don't fix it" is a widely used figure of speech applied to situations which are already working and succeeding. The economy is in the midst of a glorious recovery. Our economy took two major hits:

A. The recession which began, in economic terms, on President Clinton's watch in June of 2000
This was the bursting of the so-called "high-tech" and "dot-com" bubble

B. The attacks of 9/11.

President Bush's strong tax cut policy and sensible economic sense has resulted in steady sustainable growth and a confident American consumer who has more money to spend, save and invest.

- U.S. personal incomes rose 1.5 percent in the second quarter of 2004, the fastest pace of growth in more than three years.

- Layoffs (four-week avg. of jobless claims) as a percentage of total workforce = 0.23 percent almost unprecedently good figures, particularly prior to a major election. Nixon Reagan, Clinton all won landslide re-elections with higher lay-off figures.

- Here is what prominent economic experts are saying about the President’s economic growth proposal:

"President Bush's fiscal stimulus package is desirable not only to deal with the current sluggishness in the economy, but also with the longer term problems arising from disincentives to save, invest and work in America." (Richard Vedder, Distinguished Professor of Economics, Ohio University)

“The President’s economic growth package is a very positive step forward for investors, workers, and taxpayers. For the sake of the economy, we hope that Congress will speedily enact the President's tax relief proposals and NTU will be working toward that goal.” (John Berthoud, President, National Taxpayers Union)

"The package is a great New Year's surprise. We'll be raising our economic and equity outlooks and lowering our unemployment rate expectations." (David Malpass, Bear Stearns & Co. Inc.)

"A brilliant, double-barreled tax cut that will increase the income of every American worker and create millions of new and better jobs." (Martin Anderson, Keith and Jan Hurlbut Fellow, Hoover Institution, Stanford University)

“President Bush's proposed growth plan is not just a bunch of random tax cuts, it is a plan that really pushes the ‘growth buttons’ by improving incentives to work, save and invest, and is a step toward real tax reform. This package, along with recent improvements in the tax treatment of business investment, will give a real lift to jobs and GDP.” (Stephen J. Entin, President and Executive Director, Institute for Research on the Economics of Taxation (IRET))

"By accelerating tax rate reductions and eliminating the double-taxation of dividends, President Bush's tax package would significantly increase the economy's performance. But the proposal also represents much-need tax reform and is a significant step toward a simple and fair system like the flat tax." (Dan Mitchell, The Heritage Foundation)

"President Bush's proposal on dividends ameliorates the double-taxation of corporate profits, ending the incentives in our tax code #1 to over-leverage business, with the consequence of too much debt and vulnerability to the business cycle, and #2 to over-rely on accounting numbers rather than the pay-out of cash. His proposal on expensing of capital expenditures will help invigorate our economic recovery." (Clifford F. Thies, Professor of Economics and Finance at Shenandoah University, and member of the Board of Directors of the American Association of Small Property Owners (AASPO))

"The double taxation of dividends has never made sense and this is a perfect time to remove this crazy form of taxation. It not only harms economic growth in the obvious ways, but also in subtle ways. Given the wave of recent corporate scandals, this is the perfect time to introduce a policy change that will simultaneously increase investor confidence while creating greater accountability for managers." (Brian J. Hall, Associate Professor, Harvard Business School)

The American economy grew at a strong annual pace of 4.2 percent during the first quarter of 2004 . well above the historical average, and continuing the strong growth seen over the previous two quarters. Economic growth over the last three quarters has been the fastest in nearly 20 years, at a 5.5 percent annual rate that would double the real size of the economy in 13 years. The President's policies have helped propel the recovery forward, putting more money in the pockets of America 's families and laying a foundation for growth and job creation now and for years to come.

Household spending continues to be strong. As a result of the President's 2001 and 2003 tax cuts, personal consumption levels have risen significantly. Real after-tax incomes are up by 10% since December 2000 . substantially better than those following the last recession.

Retail sales other than motor vehicles in the first quarter of 2004 increased 11.6 percent, more than double the average annual rate of growth over the last decade.

Consumer confidence is at its highest level in 3 months and is rising. The Conference Board said its index of consumer confidence increased 4.4 points to 92.9 in April, from 88.5 in March.
New housing construction in March surged to levels near those of December 2003, when they were at their highest levels in almost 20 years.
In the first quarter of 2004, the national homeownership rate reached a record high of 68.6 percent, beating the record set in the previous quarter.

Minority homeownership set a new quarterly record of 50.8 percent in the first quarter, up 0.2 percentage points from the fourth quarter and up 1.5 percentage points from the first quarter of 2003.

Inflation remains restrained, with the core CPI (Consumer Price Index) rising only 1.6 percent and the core finished-goods PPI (Producer Price Index) rising only 0.7 percent over the last 12 months.

Mortgage rates remain near historic lows, making homebuying easier and more affordable.
American companies are reporting historic levels of growth.
Productivity grew from 2000 to 2003 at the fastest 3-year rate in more than 50 years. This has bolstered profits and will lead to significantly higher real wages for workers.
More manufacturers have been reporting increased activity and new orders than at any time in the last 20 years. The ISM Manufacturing employment index in April was at its highest level since 1987.

The President's jobs and growth policies have put the economy on the road to recovery.but there is more work to be done. The President has outlined a six-point plan to create even more job opportunities for America 's workers and keep America the best place in the world to do business. The plan includes: enabling families and businesses to plan for the future with confidence by making tax reductions permanent; making health care costs more affordable and predictable; reducing the burden of lawsuits on our economy; ensuring an affordable, reliable energy supply; streamlining regulations and paperwork requirements; and opening new markets for American products and services.

America has a choice: It can continue to grow the economy and create new jobs as the President's policies are doing; or it can raise taxes on American families and small businesses, hurting economic recovery and future job creation. A pro-growth agenda, strong education system, and help for American workers to gain the skills to secure good jobs are the right ways to respond to the challenges of our growing and changing economy.