Reagan's 'A time for choosing'- -an open letter to the GOP
Stefani Williams
This month marks the 50th anniversary of President Ronald Reagan's pivotal speech A Time for Choosing – the speech that propelled Reagan onto the national political stage in 1964, and which in many ways articulated the definitive substance of conservatism: protection of unalienable rights, limited government, a strong national defense, individual responsibility, personal morality, and adherence to the U.S. Constitution.
After Americans experienced the long-term consequences of Lyndon Johnson's socialist "Great Society" policies and Jimmy Carter's radical activism, embracing Reagan's conservative, pro-America vision was a "no brainer" for voters when Reagan ran for president in 1980. What he offered resonated with Americans. He was bold, "with no pastels." He was imperfect, like any man, but he inspired us to believe in America again and cherish the remarkable heritage our forebears gave us.
These days, we hear Republican congressional candidates time and again invoke Reagan and his vision in their speeches and campaign message. Many do this just to get elected, since once in office they all too often leave their conservatism on the other side of the Potomac. Theirs was merely "Reagan Rhetoric."
"A time for choosing"
So here we are in November 2014. We just experienced a political tidal wave on election day – with Republicans winning by a landslide nationally. But Republicans would be ill-advised to congratulate themselves just yet. Voters didn't vote FOR Republicans on November 4th. Americans cast their votes IN OPPOSITION TO Obama and Democrats – in repudiation of Obama and his socialistic policies.
Americans are suffering under Obama, with his unlawful executive orders, blatant lies, oppressive socialism, stifling anti-energy programs, rampant corruption, and unprecedented arrogance – and they want Republicans to rein him in. Enough political theatrics and games. Obama and his agenda are destroying people's lives and transforming this nation into some kind of European fiefdom.
Two weeks ago, we the voters told Congress to stop Obama and his lawlessness. Didn't Congress get the message?
Ever since Obama took office, he, the Democrats, and the media have maintained that Republicans need to cave, need to compromise, "because voters want Washington to avoid gridlock and get things done." If this were the case, Americans would have voted more for Democrats on election day than for Republicans. They didn't.
When did we forget, by the way, that gridlock in Washington is not a bad thing – it's a safeguard, one of the checks and balances the Founders intended to take place so government would have less power and opportunity to trample our rights and liberties. We don't want the government to do more – but less – on the whole.
Amazingly, however, there are some Republican leaders who are already sounding a reconciliatory tone toward Obama, vowing to "work with him to 'get things done."' This would be disastrous in countless ways.
Explains Daniel Horowitz, senior editor of Conservative Review: "With the Republicans now in control of the Senate and President Obama soundly repudiated, it's tempting to employ a 'sit back and hold the ball' strategy for the next two years in the hopes of gaining the White House. Many GOP leaders have publicly and privately expressed a desire to refrain from engaging in budget battles with Mr. Obama while promoting 'good governance' bills that are 'non-controversial' and might even garner Democratic support. Pursuing such a strategy would be a colossal mistake."
Horowitz continued: "Republicans were elected to stop Mr. Obama's radical agenda and to provide a bold contrast on our nation's economic and national security issues. Democrats did not lose in a landslide because voters want more of the same."
Enablers, Inc.
But more of the same is evidently what's on the horizon from the GOP.
Obama would have little ability to push through his schemes if it weren't for his enablers among Republican House and Senate leadership. GOP House Speaker John Boehner, for instance, has time and again capitulated to Obama's demands, given mere lip service to reining in Obama, and just last week reportedly told Obama in a meeting with him on immigration: "Mr. President, just give us one more chance to do this the right way. If we can't, then do what you gotta do." What that means exactly is anyone's guess, but Boehner is a known proponent of granting amnesty to millions of illegal aliens.
When it comes to the Senate, however, Republican leaders are just as bad – if not worse. Reports say GOP Senate leaders will likely demote conservatives, like conservative stalwart Sen. Jeff Sessions, from leadership positions. In addition, the traditionally right-leaning Republican Study Committee just elected a more moderate leader to head them.
It appears Republicans are in denial!
Compromise is not an option – compromising with Democrats amounts to capitulation. Unless Republicans realize this, make good on their "Reagan Rhetoric," stop Obama, and present a bold plan that restores this country to its former greatness, not only will they will lose in 2016, but they will consign themselves to history's trash heap.
This is Republicans' "time for choosing." Will they employ the same old game of political tricks and pragmatic, self-serving DC politics? Or will they muster the courage to put the brakes on Obama, take seriously their sworn oath to follow and protect the Constitution, and do what's in the best interest of the nation and our posterity?
No choice but to impeach
We've never had a president like Obama in the White House – one bent on destroying the foundation of this nation and weakening it beyond recognition; one with such immense disdain for our heritage and Constitution.
Obama will not stop his lawless crusade unless Congress impeaches him and his top officials (including Vice President Joe Biden), and the Senate removes them from office. This is our only remaining defense. Otherwise, Obama has two years left in the Oval Office to wreak havoc.
But impeachment will likely never come about unless Boehner, who has publicly pooh-poohed impeachment talk, and other GOP "Obama enablers" are stripped of their leadership roles. Voters need to pressure their congressmen to replace Boehner on January 6th with a principled conservative who has the integrity to stop Obama!
The "ins and outs" of impeachment
It takes 67 senators to convict and remove a sitting president after the House impeaches him. Republicans now have at least 53 Senate seats, with 54 likely following the Louisiana run-off, and would therefore need 13 Democrats to vote to remove Obama. Given the growing unpopularity of Obama, this isn't out of the realm of possibility.
If Obama's poll numbers continue to slide, public sentiment for his ouster could build to such a pitch that both Houses of Congress, including Democrats who want to protect their political careers, will have no choice but to bend to the demands of the electorate and remove Obama (and Biden) from the White House.
Some Republicans say they are reluctant to impeach Obama because they don't want a President Joe Biden. This can easily be remedied by impeaching both Obama and Biden – as co-conspirators involved in the administration's lawless agenda.
Once Obama and Biden are impeached and removed, the Speaker of the House will become President. This creates even greater urgency to replace Boehner with a solid conservative.
Republicans, listen to those you were elected to represent, and stop Obama from destroying this country!
A final word from Reagan
It boils down to this:
"The issue of this election [is] whether we believe in our capacity for self-government or whether we abandon the American revolution and confess that a little intellectual elite in a far distant capitol can plan our lives for us better than we can plan them ourselves.
"You and I have a rendezvous with destiny. We'll preserve for our children this, the last best hope of man on earth, or we'll sentence them to take the last step into a thousand years of darkness." – from Reagan's "A Time for Choosing"
The choice is yours.
November 20, 2014
This month marks the 50th anniversary of President Ronald Reagan's pivotal speech A Time for Choosing – the speech that propelled Reagan onto the national political stage in 1964, and which in many ways articulated the definitive substance of conservatism: protection of unalienable rights, limited government, a strong national defense, individual responsibility, personal morality, and adherence to the U.S. Constitution.After Americans experienced the long-term consequences of Lyndon Johnson's socialist "Great Society" policies and Jimmy Carter's radical activism, embracing Reagan's conservative, pro-America vision was a "no brainer" for voters when Reagan ran for president in 1980. What he offered resonated with Americans. He was bold, "with no pastels." He was imperfect, like any man, but he inspired us to believe in America again and cherish the remarkable heritage our forebears gave us.
These days, we hear Republican congressional candidates time and again invoke Reagan and his vision in their speeches and campaign message. Many do this just to get elected, since once in office they all too often leave their conservatism on the other side of the Potomac. Theirs was merely "Reagan Rhetoric."
"A time for choosing"
So here we are in November 2014. We just experienced a political tidal wave on election day – with Republicans winning by a landslide nationally. But Republicans would be ill-advised to congratulate themselves just yet. Voters didn't vote FOR Republicans on November 4th. Americans cast their votes IN OPPOSITION TO Obama and Democrats – in repudiation of Obama and his socialistic policies.
Americans are suffering under Obama, with his unlawful executive orders, blatant lies, oppressive socialism, stifling anti-energy programs, rampant corruption, and unprecedented arrogance – and they want Republicans to rein him in. Enough political theatrics and games. Obama and his agenda are destroying people's lives and transforming this nation into some kind of European fiefdom.
Two weeks ago, we the voters told Congress to stop Obama and his lawlessness. Didn't Congress get the message?
Ever since Obama took office, he, the Democrats, and the media have maintained that Republicans need to cave, need to compromise, "because voters want Washington to avoid gridlock and get things done." If this were the case, Americans would have voted more for Democrats on election day than for Republicans. They didn't.
When did we forget, by the way, that gridlock in Washington is not a bad thing – it's a safeguard, one of the checks and balances the Founders intended to take place so government would have less power and opportunity to trample our rights and liberties. We don't want the government to do more – but less – on the whole.
Amazingly, however, there are some Republican leaders who are already sounding a reconciliatory tone toward Obama, vowing to "work with him to 'get things done."' This would be disastrous in countless ways.
Explains Daniel Horowitz, senior editor of Conservative Review: "With the Republicans now in control of the Senate and President Obama soundly repudiated, it's tempting to employ a 'sit back and hold the ball' strategy for the next two years in the hopes of gaining the White House. Many GOP leaders have publicly and privately expressed a desire to refrain from engaging in budget battles with Mr. Obama while promoting 'good governance' bills that are 'non-controversial' and might even garner Democratic support. Pursuing such a strategy would be a colossal mistake."Horowitz continued: "Republicans were elected to stop Mr. Obama's radical agenda and to provide a bold contrast on our nation's economic and national security issues. Democrats did not lose in a landslide because voters want more of the same."
Enablers, Inc.
But more of the same is evidently what's on the horizon from the GOP.
Obama would have little ability to push through his schemes if it weren't for his enablers among Republican House and Senate leadership. GOP House Speaker John Boehner, for instance, has time and again capitulated to Obama's demands, given mere lip service to reining in Obama, and just last week reportedly told Obama in a meeting with him on immigration: "Mr. President, just give us one more chance to do this the right way. If we can't, then do what you gotta do." What that means exactly is anyone's guess, but Boehner is a known proponent of granting amnesty to millions of illegal aliens.
When it comes to the Senate, however, Republican leaders are just as bad – if not worse. Reports say GOP Senate leaders will likely demote conservatives, like conservative stalwart Sen. Jeff Sessions, from leadership positions. In addition, the traditionally right-leaning Republican Study Committee just elected a more moderate leader to head them.
It appears Republicans are in denial!
Compromise is not an option – compromising with Democrats amounts to capitulation. Unless Republicans realize this, make good on their "Reagan Rhetoric," stop Obama, and present a bold plan that restores this country to its former greatness, not only will they will lose in 2016, but they will consign themselves to history's trash heap.
This is Republicans' "time for choosing." Will they employ the same old game of political tricks and pragmatic, self-serving DC politics? Or will they muster the courage to put the brakes on Obama, take seriously their sworn oath to follow and protect the Constitution, and do what's in the best interest of the nation and our posterity?
No choice but to impeach
We've never had a president like Obama in the White House – one bent on destroying the foundation of this nation and weakening it beyond recognition; one with such immense disdain for our heritage and Constitution.
Obama will not stop his lawless crusade unless Congress impeaches him and his top officials (including Vice President Joe Biden), and the Senate removes them from office. This is our only remaining defense. Otherwise, Obama has two years left in the Oval Office to wreak havoc.But impeachment will likely never come about unless Boehner, who has publicly pooh-poohed impeachment talk, and other GOP "Obama enablers" are stripped of their leadership roles. Voters need to pressure their congressmen to replace Boehner on January 6th with a principled conservative who has the integrity to stop Obama!
The "ins and outs" of impeachment
It takes 67 senators to convict and remove a sitting president after the House impeaches him. Republicans now have at least 53 Senate seats, with 54 likely following the Louisiana run-off, and would therefore need 13 Democrats to vote to remove Obama. Given the growing unpopularity of Obama, this isn't out of the realm of possibility.
If Obama's poll numbers continue to slide, public sentiment for his ouster could build to such a pitch that both Houses of Congress, including Democrats who want to protect their political careers, will have no choice but to bend to the demands of the electorate and remove Obama (and Biden) from the White House.
Some Republicans say they are reluctant to impeach Obama because they don't want a President Joe Biden. This can easily be remedied by impeaching both Obama and Biden – as co-conspirators involved in the administration's lawless agenda.
Once Obama and Biden are impeached and removed, the Speaker of the House will become President. This creates even greater urgency to replace Boehner with a solid conservative.
Republicans, listen to those you were elected to represent, and stop Obama from destroying this country!
A final word from Reagan
It boils down to this:
"The issue of this election [is] whether we believe in our capacity for self-government or whether we abandon the American revolution and confess that a little intellectual elite in a far distant capitol can plan our lives for us better than we can plan them ourselves.
"You and I have a rendezvous with destiny. We'll preserve for our children this, the last best hope of man on earth, or we'll sentence them to take the last step into a thousand years of darkness." – from Reagan's "A Time for Choosing"
The choice is yours.
Stefani Williams is a stay-at-home mother of five.