After watching both the Democrat and Republican National Conventions I have decided in two separate blogs to list and explain the reasons for why I prescribe to the conservative ideology.

DEFENSE:
I am a firm believer with the ideas of both Ronald Reagan and Teddy Roosevelt when they said, “peace through strength” and “speak softly but carry a big stick.” Time after time this form of foreign policy has been proven right; from the Barbary Wars to the Cold War this has been the most successful type of foreign policy by far. Of course it has not been without missteps and errors but that has had been more with the person behind the policy and not the policy itself.
JFK was a great example of this during the Cuban Missile Crisis. After with meeting with Khrushchev the Soviet’s thought that he was weak and they could push him around. As history has shown they were wrong! Ronald Reagan went to the Berlin and spoke next to the Brandenburg Gate telling the Soviet’s to “tear down this wall.” He won the Cold War by being tough. He outspent the Soviets by building up our military and seeking to develop innovative ways to combat them; one such way was the Strategic Defensive Initiative (SDI). George H.W. Bush stood up to Saddam Hussein when he invaded Kuwait and with the help from our allies he attacked and utterly destoryed one of the largest armies in the world and freed Kuwait from occupation.
Now if you contrast that with the Democratic ticket you see a very different picture. Obama has said that he’d meet with foreign dictators without preconditions. Such a meeting led directly to the Cuban Missile Crisis and in JFK’s own words about the summit, “roughest thing in my life. (Khrushchev) just beat the hell out of me.” If Obama meets with Ahmadinejad and is found wanting what will happen? Will they blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, greater covert operations in Iraq, attack on Israel?
Just as a side note the “experienced” Joseph Biden voted against the Reagan measures that helped defeat the Soviets and in particular wanted a nuclear freeze and voted against the Persian Gulf War.
Bill Clinton failed to stand up strongly against the terrorists on many occasions. He completely failed to act in Rwanda, he sought to prosecute the terrorists responsible for the first Twin Towers attack instead of destroying them. When Al Qaeda bombed the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania he shot a few cruise missiles over to Sudan and Afghanistan in response acconplishing little. He did nothing to respond to the Khobar Towers bombing in Saudi Arabia and the bombing of the USS Cole. The deafening silent response led in at least a small part to the terrorists attack on 9/11. They had thrown down the gauntlet and we condemned and sanctioned them but we allowed them to continue their planning and scheming relatively unmolested. That doesn’t even go into the fact that Clinton according to the CIA and several other government agencies had at least four chances to kill Bin Laden but for one excuse or another failed to act and we all know what the consequences were for his inaction.
As the saying goes, “don’t bring a knife to a gun fight.” You can’t bring pretty words and good intentions to bare against people bent on our extermination. I don’t doubt that the Democrats would stand up to the terrorist but what would happen before they did. Nobel Prize winning Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn said, “The timid civilized world has found nothing with which to oppose the onslaught of a sudden revival of barefaced barbarity, other than concessions and smiles."

ENERGY:
You cannot talk about defense without talking about energy. The conservative argument is “drill here, drill now, pay less.” Obviously we can’t completely drill our way out of our energy problems but it definitely will help. The argument that he can be completely off of foreign oil in ten years is ridiculous. T. Boone Pickens has been trying to raise awareness over this issue, to his credit over the last few months. He wants to make wind power responsible for 20% of our countries power. The problem is that the technology doesn’t exist to store electricity made by wind power. In other words if the wind stops blowing you’re going to need coal fire and natural gas generators to back them up. Also, the environmentalists haven’t and won’t allow the transmission cables to be built that would bring the energy from these wind turbines to our homes. What good does a ton of wind turbines do if they aren’t hooked up to our homes? He also talked about how we should switch cars to natural gas; another good idea. The problem is that we also import natural gas. According to the CIA World Factbook we used 602 cubic meters of natural gas in 2005 while importing 117.9 cubic meters. While this is far less than the 65% of our oil imports it will most definitely go up if we switch our cars to run on natural gas. The other claim that it’s cheaper is kind of a joke. It’s cheaper due to the fact that we use less of it, you know supply and demand. If we start using it to run our cars the price will go up, it’s basic economics.
I think as do most conservatives that we need an “all of the above” approach. We need to drill, we need to use solar and wind power, and above all we need to use nuclear power. Nuclear power is the cheapest, cleanest, and most efficient by far. The Democrats have prevented the building of these plants in fear of another Chernobyl. They have passed laws and all sorts of environmental regulations that take at least a decade to get the paperwork done; and that's only if the plan is met with little resistance, which is never the case. Roughly 20% of our power is already run on nuclear power and we haven’t had one leak or disaster and that includes Three Mile Island.
This issue is very complicated and has very far reaching and dangerous consequences if we don’t get the ball rolling. In all honestly the Republicans haven’t really been the champions of energy but when compared to the Democrats there isn’t much of a contest. The Republicans passed many laws during the 90's to drill in ANWR and other places but Bill Clinton vetoed them. ANWR for example was set aside by Jimmy Carter in particular the North Slope to drill. Not all the Democrats and unfortunately John McCain talk about how we can’t drill there do to the environmental impacts. They always talk about how the Exon Valdez was such a disaster and how we can’t afford to have a disaster like that in Alaska. The problem with that argument is that the Exon Valdez was a ship brining in foreign oil. The oil platforms in the Gulf have faced many hurricanes over the last few years and do you know how much oil was been spilt? NONE. We have the technology to greatly reduce the environmental impact of the area and still get to the oil and natural gas. The North Slope is a 1.5 million acre tract that is estimated to have between 3 and 9 billion barrels of oil which is located in the 19 million acres of ANWR.

SECOND AMENDMENT:
“A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” If you look up the opinion of this very heated and divisive argument on the internet you’ll find varying opinions on all sides of the issue. The Republicans, especially now with Gov. Palin’s nomination have thrown their lot firmly on the side of the amendment meaning that people do have the right to bear arms. The Democrats despite what Obama has said recently take the other side. Biden was in fact one of the leading supporters of the Brady Gun Ban that banned guns according to the style of grips they had and the overall look of the gun, which makes absolutely no sense. They claim that crime went down but that is a lie. Don’t believe me? The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms says it "can in no way vouch for the validity" of Brady Campaign's claim that the ban was responsible for violent crime's decline. An organization called the Violence Policy Center which argues in favor of gun control has said, "you can't argue with a straight face that the ban has been effective." The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention studied the "assault weapon" ban and other gun control schemes, and found "insufficient evidence to determine the effectiveness of any of the firearms laws reviewed for preventing violence." The anti-gun people fail to realize the simple and obvious fact that criminals by definition are people who break the law. More laws will not prevent criminals, once again people who break the law, from getting guns and using them in crimes.
To help put this into context here is a link from the great, prophetic (obvious sarcasm) Keith Olbermann about what the 2nd Amendment is really referring too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STwsbUwcO4U&feature=related
Unlike all the people on both side I like to see what the actual framers of the Constitution thought about this issue.
“No free man shall ever be debarred from the use of arms." Thomas Jefferson
“Arms in the hands of citizens maybe used in individual discretion in private self defense." John Adams
“The Constitution preserves the advantage of being armed which Americans possess over the people of almost any other nation where the governments are afraid to trust the people with arms" James Madison
“I ask sir what is the militia? It is the whole people. To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them" George Mason
“A free people ought not only be armed, but disciplined…” George Washington
Case Closed!!!

“A faithful fried is a sturdy shelter; he that has found one has found a treasure.” This quote came to mind as I have sat glued in front of the TV the last couple of days, watching the conflict waging in Georgia. Before this conflict I bet most people didn’t even know that there was a country named Georgia, let alone locate it on a map. I believe that the United States, NATO, and the West in general dropped the ball in the most unbelievable way and I’ll explain how and why, according to my own conservative ginger views.
As I mentioned in my previous blog “The Russian Resurrection” Russia has benefited greatly from the rising price of oil. They are seeking to be the new OPEC; they want to be the energy czar of the world. Recently they sent a submarine to the North Pole and shot a Russian flag through the ice claiming it, in their eyes as part of Russia. I hate to tell you Russia but from what I remember though still controversial the first two people to “reach” the North Pole were Americans, there is still a bit of a controversy about it. If all you have to do is plant your flag somewhere and it’s yours then I guess we really do control the world. Starting in Derna located now in modern day Tunisia, to  Tokyo, Tianjin, the Philippines, Cuba, Mexico, and France, twice, to name only a few. We would also control the moon, mars and several major asteroids. How do you like those apples Russia?
First, the reasons why the conflict started. Georgia seeking to regain control over South Ossetia a region that since the early 90’s with support from Russian achieved de facto independence, decided to invade. The Russians granted citizenship to all South Ossetian’s, whether they wanted it or not and invaded the province to “protect their citizens.” So you can argue whether the Russians had cause originally but they bombed the Georgian capital of Tbilisi and sent troops well into Georgia proper. They even continued to bomb Georgia after accepting a ceasefire. What this all come down to is energy. Georgia has the only non Russian controlled pipelines that link the energy producing nations around the Caspian Sea to the world market. Russia would like nothing better than to completely control the supply from these nations greatly increasing their control on the world’s energy supply. Another reason is the fact that Georgia along with Ukraine sought to be accepted into NATO. I bet you can imagine what Russia thinks about that. Georgia is a strong ally of the United States and in fact in the inteview he did on the Glenn Beck show their President Mikheil Saakashvili understood more about how government is supposed to function that most of the clowns in Washington.
Second, I’ll explain the reasons why no one did anything to stop Russia. As mentioned in a previous blog Europe, for the most part since the end of the Cold War has been living at least in their minds in Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory (the Gene Wilder one not the creepy one with Johnny Depp). Europe is figuratively lounging around eating everything in sight, swimming in the chocolate river, and being pampered by the oompa loompas. President Reagan warned all of Europe against the building of pipelines connecting Europe to Russia. Naively after the fall of the USSR Europe went ahead and built the pipelines thus enslaving themselves to Russia. Europe relies on Russia for 25% of their oil and 40% of their natural gas. If they step out of line Russia will simply turn off the tab during the winter months and freeze them into submission. The United States failed to act because we like Europe are slaves to oil and those who produce it. Also, we are over stretched in our military commitments throughout the world, from Iraq, to Taiwan, to Kosovo, and Korea. It’s hard to admit but we don’t have the military capability of solving all the world’s conflicts by ourselves. This again goes back to Europe’s Willy Wonkaneosis.
Now you are probably thinking; with all this going on what could we have done? Personally I have my own ideas but I won’t share them in much detail here due to the fact that I know it’s easy when I don’t really have a say and I won’t have to deal with the consequences. What I do know is that the President of Ukraine Viktor Yushchenko, who can empathize greatly with Georgia went to Tbilisi to show his and his countries support for Georgia. The Ukrainians threatened to not allow the Russian ships that are blockading Georgia to return to their ports in the Black Sea. Quite a threat knowing what we know about the energy control Russia has over Ukraine. If Ukraine is standing up to Russia why aren’t we? Well, President Bush condemned the attacks and had some strong language for Russia… Neville Chamberlain used strong language with Hitler and look where it got them. The West and in particular the United States has proven to Russia and others that they have some wiggle room to do what they want. Many of the previous Soviet Republics like Georgia, Ukraine, Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and others have chosen to side with the United States against Russia believing that we’d protect them if attacked. I bet you there are some nervous people in Eastern Europe tonight over our lack of serious action to this conflict. But what makes Georgia so crucial goes back to the quote I used to start off this blog. Do you know which country has the largest amount of troops in Iraq after the United States and Great Britain? That would be Georgia. When most of the world left Iraq or in large part didn’t even show up, Georgia came to help the United States, their friend. If we can’t help one of our best friends, our “treasure” what will everyone else think? Poland has been sold out by the west more times than they can count. Czechoslovakia was sold out to Hitler by France and Great Britain because they didn’t want to risk war for “the Sudetenland.” Our friends are the only hope we have for defeating the rising power of Russia, China, and Iran. I sincerely hope that war does not come. I have great friends and family that would be called up to fight if we went to war, but to quote Saint Augustine, “The purpose of war is peace.” If we don’t stand up for those that have risked so much for us, what hope can we have for the future?
“A faithful fried is a sturdy shelter; he that has found one has found a treasure.”

A jubilant crowd of over 200,000 Berliners gathered to hear the Democratic Presidential Nominee Barack Obama speak last month. I have to admit it was a great speech but if you look at the words it’s devoid of any real substance. Well, I take that back, it’s devoid of any real substance other than the subtle socialist remarks about “The walls between the countries with the most and those with the least cannot stand.” “But the burdens of global citizenship continue to bind us together.” “Now is the time to join together, through constant cooperation, strong institutions…to meet the challenges of the 21st century.”
I am not blogging to talk about Obama’s speech or even Obama himself. That will come at a later date. I decided to write this blog about the 200,000 plus Berliners and tens of millions more Europeans who for the most part have sat out the War on Terror. They are once again appeasing the very people who seek to destroy them. I have heard the argument too many times to count, that Bush with his unilateral policies has severely weakened our relationship with Europe. I really don’t care what Europe thinks about us anymore. Europe, due to their own naivety and unwillingness to act, will once again be covered with the fog of a completely preventable war.
When Hitler began rebuilding his military all of Europe stood by and did nothing. As Hitler annexed Austria all of Europe started complaining a little but did nothing. When Hitler annexed the Sudetenland Europe again did nothing. It was only in 1939 when Hitler invaded Poland did Europe stand up to him and say no more, but alas, it was too late. When the Germans were marching on Warsaw the Pole’s hoped and waited for the British and French to come to their rescue, but no one came. The Poles charged the German tanks on horseback knowing that it was suicide but believing that the rest of Europe would come to their rescue, but no one acted. They fought in the streets of Warsaw out trained, out gunned, and out numbered. They fought bravely but against the might of the German blitzkrieg they didn’t stand a chance. The hope that their British and French saviors would come was misplaced.
Much like Poland we have been waiting for Europe to arise from their slumber. The terrorists have bombed New York, D.C., London, and Madrid; instead of standing up to the enemy most of Europe has brushed it off and kept on sleeping. Once again they fail to understand the saying, “if you give a man a cookie, he’s going to want a glass of milk.”
When Reagan went to Berlin in 1987 to give his now famous "Tear Down This Wall” speech only 20,000 came to hear it. In fact there were more protestors than there were supporters. Many Berliners thought that America’s arrogance would lead to another world war, once again making Berlin and West Germany a battleground. You can’t complain or get upset over their concerns but what the Germans failed to understand as they still due today is that you can’t appease an aggressor be it fascist, communist, or terrorist. If I have learned anything in my study of history is as long as a dictator is having successes either politically or militarily he’ll never stop. He is much like a school bully. He’ll steal your lunch money forever unless you stand up for yourself pop him in the nose. Alexander the Great would have spent his whole life conquering the world if he hadn’t died at the age of 32. Hitler wanted to start a thousand year Reich that would rule the world. The terrorist talk of a war that will bring on the end of the world and usher in the return of the 12th Imam.
I understand that war is an ugly business. Only a crazy person would actually want one! If history has taught us anything it’s that “aggressive conduct, if allowed to go unchecked and unchallenged, ultimately leads to war” (Pres. JFK).
We have a choice to make. We can either follow Europe and wait for the war to come to us as it did in 1939 or we can continue to go after the terrorists in Afghanistan and around the world. More than 400,000 Americans lost their lives fighting a war that could have been prevented if Europe had told Hitler to shut up. How many millions of Europeans could have been spared if Neville Chamberlain would have seen Hitler as the man he was? We cannot afford to let Europe's feelings toward us dictate our foreign policy. They might loathe us. They might call us arrogant and burn our flag in their streets but when the figurative tanks are once again lined upon Europe’s borders, they’ll once again realize that they failed to see the danger until it was too late. That they once again were asleep at the wheel while their enemies were plotting, planning, and scheming their destruction. They through their naivety will cost them much more than it would have if they would have just acted when the first smoke cloud was seen in the distance. Then once again "the pride of our nation" will be sent to fight and die for a people who were too blind to defend themselves when they still had a chance. Let's all hope that Europe will open their eyes and see the world as it really is, not as they wish it to be.
“It has been twenty-one years since that day on the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay when World War II came to and end. Perhaps it reflects poorly on our world that men must fight limited wars to keep from fighting larger wars; but that is the condition of the world.” (President Lyndon Johnson)

Dear Al Gore,

SHUT UP!!! I am tired of hearing you rant and rave about global climate change. I am also tired of hearing how you got robbed of the 2000 election. In case you didn't know the Supreme Court decided the election so unless you are saying that the left leaning 2000 Supreme Court was in the pocket of the Republicans; enough already! We know you are bitter!
If global climate change was really as serious as you claim why don't you stop eating meat. The UN found that cattle farts produce more global warming gasses than all the SUV's in the world. It's true look it up! If you are so sure that "the debate is over" why are you too scared to debate anyone? You only will talk about when you won't be questioned about how you own or have large investments in GE and other "green" companies that will make billions of dollars if we start the cap and trade policy. Why don't you ever denounce GE? It has the largest lobbying firm in D.C. You attack Haliburton for getting it's no bid contracts from "Darth Vader" aka Dick Cheney even though a large amount if not all of our submarines and our Naval ships are run on GE engines? Why do you go after "big oil" for it's profits when it gets an 8.3% return on it's investments when Microsoft, Google, and hedge funds make up to 90%? Especially when over 90% of those oil companies are owned by....drum roll please....individuals! Whether it be retirement savings, pensions, and 401 (k)'s it's owned by individuals. So in fact when people blast big oil in fact they are talking to the middle class people who were smart enough to invest in said oil companies.
The reason for this latest rant is because I just listened to Al Gore once again misrepresent the facts at best and worst outright lie. He just said at the DNC Convention that (paraphrasing), "scientists now say that the Artic ice cap will completely melt during the summer months during the first term of our next president." The funny thing is that once again "scientist" mean anyone that claims to study science. Just like the IPCC report whose lead scientists were not climatologists nor geologists but sociologists, psychologists, and other scientific disciplines. I decided to post several actual scientific articles that dispute and destroy his claims. If you are interested in the other side of this debate I recommend looking up Christopher Horner's book, "A Politically Incorrect Guide to Global Warming and Environmentalism" "State of Fear" by Michael Crichton, and a new documentary that I have wanted to see "The Great Global Warming Swindle."

Still not convinced? I could give you at least a dozen more links to articles and probably more You Tube videos of interviews with actual scientists if you want. I'll leave you with a linnk to the trailer from the before said documentary.
Hey Al, SHUT UP!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzSzItt6h-s