The Republican Budget Alternative

I'll be very clear, I was really pissed off when Boehner presented an alternative plan with no numbers.

So I'm glad to see the WSJ report that apparently they do have a plan with numbers now that looks drastically different from the POTUS budget.

The letter published in WSJ is still not specific enough for me, I'm sure the version on the floor is. However, I really hope that Republicans have learned from their mistakes and the abandonment of principles that led to losses in 2006 and 2008. I hope they learned that people elect them based on the platform, based on the hope of truly being a more efficient government.

I like the tax plan; I think it's fair. Some of you will come back with the trite statement that the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts benefit the wealthy. Maybe so. But the wealthy are NOT the only ones benefitted from those tax cuts. I have many middle class friends with kids that were GREATLY benefitted under the tax cuts; and so were we. The sliding scale seems fair to me, in particular when in certain places such as NYC require you to have a six figure salary to be middle class.

We'll see what happens with this budget fight, but as long as Republicans stay true to this statement

In the recent past, the Republican Party failed to offer the nation an inspiring vision and a concrete plan to tackle our problems with innovative and principled solutions. We do not intend to repeat that mistake. America is not the greatest nation on earth by chance. We earned this greatness by rewarding individual achievement, by advancing and protecting natural rights, and by embracing freedom. We intend to continue this uniquely American tradition

then we as citizens might actually end up with a budget that doesn't increase our debt, and actually starts reducing it.

The Rightification of the EU

I hear liberals complain about the right wing here in the states; and sometimes even cite Europe as an example. Granted, not all liberals are ignorant enough to think Europe is more liberal than the U.S. - it is actually conservative on more issues.

So it was with great interest that I read about the European Union's new party. I wonder what would happen if the far right here would follow suit.

Regretful

Well, it's official: Fred won't make it to super Tuesday. Now I have no clue who I will vote for in the primaries.... certainly not for McCain, that much I know.

It is sad to see that someone who stood for the principles of the Republican party could be displaced by a bunch of RINOs and a Mormon. This only goes to show that the electorate, in this case the Republican electorate, cannot recognize a good candidate even if it hits them in the face.

I do hope whoever the Republican candidate ends up being, would consider Fred for the VP position; although in reality, I'd really love to see a bipartisan ticket. Wouldn't that be a true sign of a candidate wanting to mend fences and unite the nation. I won't hold my breath.

Iraq and Election 2008

There might be a new agreement in place by July, that would pretty much render the Iraq war as a non-issue in the Election 2008 race. If this happens, I wonder how the Democrats will differentiate themselves from the Republicans - given that a large chunk of their platform is based on the Iraq war - since the agreement will not be "breachable".

While this probably will not sway Democrat voters, it might have an effect on independents. It will be interesting to see how it plays out.

Call it Bush's last coup de grace.

Election 2008 - The Republican Primary

As promised, I will be discussing all the candidates. We'll start with the Republicans, and with Rudy Giuliani in particular. If you want to know what he's about click on the video.

If you prefer to read, here are his 12 commitments. I've liked Rudy since the draft Rudy movement started, but I was a bit disappointed after the first debates. It seems he has been able to gather himself and present a platform that he can deliver as believable.

I like that he approached healthcare not only from the insurance perspective but also from the price/liability of doctors perspective. However, I think he falls a bit short of really proposing groundbreaking legislations.

One point I disagree is the Education plan. I'm a proponent of vouchers, but not at the expense of forgetting the public schools from where the kids are opting out. The solution is not for kids to be able to attend private school - that is one solution. The solution is to ensure that all schools have the resources to deliver quality education regarding of the location of the school.

I like his immigration program; I've always wondered why we don't have exit processes like the rest of the countries. I don't agree with deporting all who commit a felony UNLESS the receiving country agrees to enforce the completion of the sentence within their prisons.

While I find his plan to increase adoptions wonderful, it is not realistic. Unfortunately families do not want foster children: they are either too big or to jaded and they don't want to take on the responsibility.

There are some loopholes in his global economy plan, but I do like that he proposes to increase the math and science in which we as Americans lag so behind.

Rudy and I disagree heavily on the Iraq issue. Yes we had a moral duty to the Iraquis after we abandoned them in '91. We've payed with interest. I think is time Iraq takes care of itself, and our boys start coming home.

In summary, I agre with more than I disagree which makes him a viable candidate. However, keep in mind that politicians promises promises and as my grandmother used to say "prometer y prometer hasta meter; despues de metido nada cumplido".

Immigration Reform

Think the topic is dead? That there are no more bills around the subject? Think again.

This is the first sensemaking bill I see in a long time because it focuses on the problem -border security and internal enforcement - rather than on the symptoms - illegal aliens.

It's not perfect, but it is definitely a step in the right direction - solve the problem first - and most importantly, according to the article, it has garnered bi-partisan support in almost equal numbers.

We can figure out what to do with the illegal aliens after we secure our borders and our systems.