Worried about the GOP

So it is to be President Trump. 

Like many others, I didn’t foresee this, except that looking at the attendance at his rallies and those at Hillary Clinton’s, as well as the views expressed on my Twitter timeline, it was clear to me that he was always going to do better than the heavily biased main stream media (MSM) were projecting.  Of course my Twittersphere is bound to lean more towards GOP so …

Trump wouldn’t have been my choice for the GOP candidate.  That was Ted Cruz.  It was discouraging to see that many of the other GOP Primary candidates didn’t get behind Trump in the run-up to the election, though Cruz did have the grace and class, to actively campaign from the Trump/Pence ticket.  Hope for the future, I trust.

In writing this, I was tempted to ignore the post-election whining from the losing Democrat Party and its supporters in the MSM, however, that would be remiss of me.

Just as with Brexit, in the UK, so the ‘experts’ are analysing and ‘slicing and dicing’ the results to see why they got it so wrong.  Here is my advice to them.  Review your own output, see just how much of it was media and people inside the election bubble, talking and pontificating to themselves rather than talking to real people.  It was always ridiculous and incredibly over-simplistic to simply label Trump’s supporters as racists, xenophobes, sexists, misogynists and uneducated.

These people simply didn’t buy into the ‘political correctness’ that says that love of your own country makes you a racist or makes you automatically hate any and all foreigners.  That supporting Trump, who was accused of long-ago sexual assaults, makes you a sexist woman-hater.  These people were concerned about the economy (Bill Clinton had it right with ‘It’s the economy, stupid’)  they saw jobs continuing to bleed to cheaper labour countries.  They saw that globalisation just wasn’t benefiting them or their children.  That Obama’s jobless numbers were fake or at best mis-leading.  They heard that the level of economically inactive had climbed, significantly. Simply put, if there was economic growth – they were not seeing or feeling it.  Belatedly, the MSM have woken-up and started asking steel workers in Pennsylvania towns that have been decimated by cheap imports and coal miners that have been impacted by mine closures brought about by unproven climate pseudo-science, why did they vote Trump?  These people then tell them what they could have known months ago, had they gotten out of their ‘bubble’. 

At some point, these ‘journalists’ and the pollsters will also get around to asking Blacks and Hispanics  why they voted in such numbers for Trump.  The narrative that these minorities had so much to fear from Trump was clearly ignored by the people, themselves. 

It is interesting listening to the comments of some of the losing Democrats.  I hear strong echoes of the UK Labour party after their somewhat surprising 2015 General Election loss.  Especially, when they say ‘we lost because weren’t left-wing enough’. 

No, no, no!  Hillary Clinton lost and other Democrat party candidates lost in House and Senate and Gubernatorial races because you were too left wing and you simply had nothing to say to Americans, that they wanted to hear.  Telling a Veteran that the USA needs to bring in more refugees and give them $1,700 a month, when the Veteran gets less than $1,200 is, I would suggest, NEVER going to get that Veteran’s vote. 

Of course, a major factor in Clinton’s loss is very likely to come down to trust.  She was seen as corrupt and being protected by the ‘elite establishment’.  I wonder just how many of the young people protesting have ever read any information on Hillary? 

·      How she defended a child rapist and destroyed, on the stand, his victim?

·      How she was fired from one of the Watergate investigations because of her dishonesty?

·      How $6 billion is unaccounted for, from her time as Secretary of State?

·      How she stood in front of the coffins of the 4 dead from Benghazi and lied to the families, when she blamed a video while knowing the cause was the Obama administration’s abandonment of its own people?

·      How it is that so many people around her die in what can only be called ‘suspicious’ circumstances (try Vince Foster, just for one)? 

·      How, while Secretary of State, she solicited significant contributions for the Clinton Foundation?

·      How she has taken large speaking fees from Wall Street firms while pretending to be the voice for the little man?

·      How she deleted e-mails from her illegally used private server?

·      How she colluded with others in the Democrat National Committee, to cheat and work against Bernie Saunders and then, with the aid of a compliant MSM, cheated on the Presidential Debates?

The list goes on and on. 

Frankly put, America dodged a bullet.

It is important though that President Trump ignores the siren calls of those who say that it is time to heal the nation and that fulfilling his campaign pledge to ‘lock her up’ would be divisive.  President Trump must appoint a Special Prosecutor to investigate Hillary Clinton.  Some of the work will be to go over already ploughed land but that’s okay.  She shouldn’t be cut any slack.  Remember General Petraeus wasn’t!  Democrats continue to castigate the FBI and its Director Comey. My beef with him is how, after detailing, back in June/July, blatant law-breaking by Clinton, as regards her illegal use of her personal server, he then said there would be no prosecutions.   Note to MSM and Pollsters – another reason why Americans didn’t vote for Hillary – they don’t like the ‘one law for them, another for us’ that was plain to see.

So, finally, I get to the subject matter!

I am really happy that America has a Republican President, Republican House and Republican Senate.  I am though a little worried. 

My worry is that the House and Senate include Republicans that are RINOs (Republicans In Name Only) and they will be scared to implement full-throated conservative policies.  That they will ignore the clear steer that they have had from the people of America, that America wants a roll-back of the state and an end to the cancerous policy of political correctness.  That they will, out of self-interest, seek to ‘water-down’ term limit legislation.  That they will forget that America has elected them to represent the interests of Americans – first, second and third.  That they will weaken the repeal of Obamacare – the non-affordable Affordable Care Act.  That they will continue to fund Planned Parenthood – a grossly mis-named organisation if ever there was one.

There’s lot to be done and all three – President, House and Senate – need to hit the ground running.  The next two years are critical – economic regeneration policies need to be implemented, without delay, so that they have a chance to bear fruit by the time of the next round of elections.  Similarly, the appointment of a replacement for Justice Scalia, needs to be fast tracked.   Who knows, maybe Ted Cruz would be a candidate?  As an ardent constitutionalist and great orator, he would certainly add great weight to the Supreme Court (and some needed youth!)

So to President Trump and Speaker Ryan and Majority Leader McConnell, I say, get moving now.  America and the World needs leadership, no more dithering, no more leftist leanings, no more pandering to every minority and ‘wack-job’ group. Strong leadership and positive action to return the free world to the conservative path.  You have around 70 days to plan the strategy and then, come January 20, 2017, you start implementing and doing so, mercilessly.  There’s no time for half-heartedness or seeking to build a consensus – get on with the job you were elected to do!

To those that still want to protest – carry on, that’s your right but understand that if you break the law, then you will face the consequences – that’s what living in a democracy means.  And if or when you post tweets advocating the assassination of the President-elect, don’t be surprised if you feel the hands of the Secret Service on your shoulder!  Incidentally, how come Clint Eastwood, a Trump supporter, is banned from Twitter by Twitter, but not these criminal hate-mongers and anti-democrats.

Offensive Republicans!

I haven't gone over to the dark side!

I believe that it is time for the Republicans to go on the offensive.  I have said here before that it is not possible to treat with Obama.  He has the MSM in his pocket and now seemingly the Supreme Court, so now it is the leaders in the third branch of the US government - the legislature - that needs to come to the aid of the USA and the US Constitution.

First step must be to remove John Boehner and Mitch McConnel from their leadership roles.  Clearly either Obama has the dirt on them (and what dirt it must be for such traitorous actions) or they are being bought-off by Soros and his ilk.  They have to go and go now.and then Republicans rally round a common platform that is designed to use all Constitutional levers to thwart Obama.

This has to start with the initiation of impeachment proceedings against Obama and Kerry.  Also using the strongest Congressional powers against Hillary Clinton, for her crimes in Benghazi and with her e-mail criminality.  Then also, action against Holder for Fast and Furious and whatever else can be thrown at him.  Then the IRS.

America, and Republicans in particular, you can no longer sit back and think 'well they got that but they wouldn't go any further' because they will.  Make no mistake these people do not serve the interests of America.  The Iran deal alone, puts America at a very grave risk.

Don't be distracted by the literally 'false flag' issues such as the Confederate flag or the  SCOTUS ruling on same sex marriage or on Obamacare.  These can be addressed once the people re-take control.

For now, focus on stopping Obama but first get the leadership to do so.

2015 - Prospects and ....

I couldn't think of a word for the other aspect of what we face in 2015 but maybe by the end of this we will have it.

Prospects first then.

The new US Congress convenes in January and has a Republican majority in both houses.  I think that has the prospect of being a good thing.  The newly elected members will join incumbents but critically, these 'newbies' will bring with them a clear mandate from the electorate.  Change is needed in Washington.  That means that Congress needs to clean-up its act.  Less 'pork-barrel' politics and more 'American' policies.  Policies that will start to restore America in the eyes of its friends and its foes.

'American' policies?  Well that means no amnesty for a start.  It is 'American' to emigrate to the USA via legal routes not by hopping over the border accompanied by disease-ridden narco-gang members and others who believe that laws are meant for someone else.

So, no Amnesty and a clear statement to the Department of Homeland Security - Congress will de-fund you if you do not secure the border - that's the Southern border, in case you don't know which one.  Congress will de-fund HS if you don't start deporting, in significant numbers all of those illegal immigrants that entered the US during 2014 and then work backwards, year by year.  Who knows?  In the process you may well come across some Al Qaeda  or ISIS terrorists, on the way.  It's a pretty safe bet that some used the chaos that Obama created on the border, to infiltrate the country.

Again, no Amnesty.  Can't say it often enough.

Obamacare will really kick-in in 2015 and it is the duty of Congress to start the process of repeal and then accelerate so that this is done by the end of 2015 and America enters the 2016 election year with a clear choice between Democrats (who voted the ACA through without even reading it!) and want to reinstate it and with Republicans who oppose such socialistic but more importantly unworkable legislation.

Spending has to be reduced.  The people get it but clearly Speaker John Boehner doesn't.  Obama  has always been a lost cause.  Indeed, the same can be said of all Democrats.  Margaret Thatcher once said 'the trouble with Socialists is that eventually they run out of other people's money to spend' and that is where today, America finds itself.  So as well as spending needing to be drastically reduced, Speaker Boehner and Majority Leader Mitch McConnell must be replaced.  Rep. Trey Gowdy and Senator Ted Cruz or Senator Mike Lee would seem to be candidates that best represent the views of the Republican voters.

Spending reductions are also a prospect for British voters - though, (and this is where that .... creeps in) there is every prospect that the parties in the upcoming General Election will fall over themselves to offer money Britain doesn't have and hasn't earned as electoral bribes.  They don't call it 'pork-barrel' in the UK but the result is the same - unaffordable spending fueled by debt.

A gloomy prospect (there's that ...... again) is that the Scottish Nationalists (SNP)  may hold the balance of power and strike an underhand deal with Labour surrounding yet more transfer of powers to the devolved Scottish Parliament.  It is unbelievable but no less true that the SNP who so solidly lost the Scottish Indpendence Referendum now face the prospect of being the major Scottish influence at Westminster.  It says everything about Labour and their woeful leader, Ed Miliband, that we come to this pass.

Incidentally, while we are on the subject of the SNP, how on earth can they possibly be in the ascendancy when they made such huge play about an independent Scotland's prospects but all based on oil at the 'conservatively' set price of $113/bbl.  Oil is currently half that price and all commentators see oil at greater than $100 no time in the near future!

With Labour and the SNP squeezing on one side the Conservatives face the grim prospect of losing power as they are also being assailed from UKIP.  I think that the electorate distrust the Conservatives on Europe and I can't help but have a sneaking suspicion that the Conservatives wouldn't mind losing the election so that the question of an EU referendum becomes someone elses responsibility/headache.

If the Conservatives do regain power, it will likely be to lead a minority government.  That though doesn't preclude the greatest prospect which is deep and meaningful cuts in UK public spending.  This is long overdue and I sense would receive strong support from the working population, if it was properly presented showing the choice between further indebtedness and future impoverishment and an affordable future for Britain and its children.

Back to prospects and  for the first time in a long time,  Europe and immigration will likely be 'front and centre' in the UK General Election and there is every prospect that contra-opinions to those of the metropolitan elite and to the ruling bureaucracy (the real rulers) will  be heard and perhaps a reasoned debate might ensue - we can but hope!

Of course, an easy prospect for the UK is that the key issue will be the economy and its prospects.  These will surely be enhanced if the austerity policies of the Conservatives, however anemic they have so far been, are preferred to those of the profligate debt-fueled spending proposed by Labour.

So, Prospects and .... abound and the above are just a foretaste but we need the following - and by we, I mean not just the USA and the UK, I mean the 'West' needs the following:

US Republicans to follow the electorate given mandate - no amnesty, reduce America's deficit (debt is perhaps too much to ask for), secure the border and start to repair relations with America's natural allies.  The latter will mean abandoning some of Obama's newly close Islamic allies but so be it.

UK Conservatives go forward on an economic plan founded upon lower taxes and much lower public spending.  Also be clear on Europe, if the UK can't get what it wants from a renegotiation, then we will leave.  It is asinine to go into a renegotiation of terms saying that even if the UK doesn't get what it wants, then the Conservatives will still campaign for continued membership.  Oh and one of those things has to be reduced immigration and zero, nada, zilch welfare benefits for any non-Britons.

So, no amnesty, spending cuts and then we can forget about those ........

After the Mid Terms

Thanks to American voters, Republican Party candidates did very well in the US' Mid Term elections.  That sounds so  good to write that I will say it again.  The Republican Party gave the Democrat Party a thrashing in the Mid Term elections.

And let's be clear - a thrashing is what it was.  Leave aside, for a moment, the exceedingly good results in the Senate and Gubernatorial  races - since these were not nation-wide then they can be said to not be representative of the 'national mood'.  The same cannot be said of the elections for the House of Representatives.  These were conducted across America and, given President Obama's assertion that his policies were 'on the ballot', then there was a very clear repudiation of those policies. I suspect that it wasn't just the overt policies - those that head towards the statute book, I think that it was also the modus operandi employed by the Democrats that was rejected (more on this, shortly).

Americans across the country have seen the left-ward lurch under Obama and, in spite of a fawning and therefore uninformative media, they have rejected that direction and have indicated a desire to move back towards more traditional American values and politics.

That said, I sense that this 're-positioning' should not be considered as permanent.  By this I mean that the American people have been sorely tested by Obama's economic 'recovery' the failings of Obamacare and the various scandals that would have engulfed any other administration but with the compliance of the media, merely 'stained' this one, but I don't think that Republicans have clearly articulated a coherent alternative.  So, .......

When the new Congress convenes in January, they need to hit the ground running.  Republicans cannot be Republicans in name only (RINOs).  Nor can Tea Party adherents be ideological obstructionists.   Both wings of the 'right' need to come together and pursue Republican policies.  And this united front needs to be complied with.  So no sulking and taking your vote away because your too far right of 'right of centre' idea has been rejected by the majority of the Republican movement.  Argue your position and then get behind the decision.  America is not your plaything and can't simply wait on you sulking in your tent, nor will America forgive such petulance.  The 'right' has an opportunity to pursue conservative policies and push that agenda but that doesn't mean pursuing far right or 'Democrat in Republican clothing' policies.  America is in trouble and needs its conservatives to put aside the 'nice to haves' and to focus on the 'have to haves'.  To focus on getting Americans back to work, a strong economy and a strong and respected America.

In short, Republicans need to get on with the job for which they were collectively elected - to 'fix' America.

What does that mean?  Well, let's consider the current state of play.  The Democrats and the President still have a little under two months to push through legislation and then, after January, President Obama has his mighty pen and Executive Orders.  Congress after January is obviously though, not without its own power, not least of which is to defund, defund and defund.


In my view, Mitch McConnell, assuming he is elected as Majority Leader and Speaker John Boehner  need to come out and publicly state that any inflammatory legislation, e.g. an immigration amnesty, that is rushed through before the new Congress sits, will be opposed and, come January, repealing legislation will be passed.  Same applies to any pardons or whitewashes of the various scandals that have surfaced - these abuses of power will be pursued and prosecuted - not to the exclusion of all else, fixing the economy has absolute priority, but for the good of  America's democracy.

During the recent campaign, much was made of the number of bills that are sitting on former Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid's desk.  The number was in excess of 300.   What particularly irked people was that many of these had passed the House of Representatives with bipartisan support and some, unanimously so.  Therefore these bills, should now move from the Harry Reid waiting room, through to the floor of the Senate and onwards to votes and Presidential signing.

Next, Obamacare.  All I have heard of it tells me that this is wrong for America.  Certainly it isn't delivering the savings nor the coverage that was touted.  Rather than get into a battle over repealing it - Obama will be most unlikely to sign any such repeal into law - simply defund it.  Or, if it can be fixed (and Republican thinkers, when they apply themselves are very innovative) then proceed with it but, and it is a big one, there can be no exemptions.  Congress cannot pass laws and then exempt itself from the effects of such laws.  That might have worked for pre-revolution French aristocrats but not for 21st Century Americans.

The Senate needs to institute hearings on the scandals that have surfaced (VA administration, Fast and Furious, Benghazi and IRS, spring immediately to mind).  Such hearings have been blocked by Harry Reid and the Democrats because they will clearly be an embarrassment for the Obama administration.  This cannot continue.  And if people like the former IRS head, Lois Lerner, plead the 'fifth' then recognise the fact that she is in contempt of Congress and throw her in jail.  Same for those people who are busily destroying e-mails!

Fundamentally though, the new Republican Congress needs to work on fixing America.  Be very clear, there is a deep disapproval of Congress, by the electorate.  My view is that this is because Americans see Congress as more interested in politicking than in getting something done (and maybe also, 'lining their own pockets' at the same time.

Don't look to the White House for support - it hasn't come in the last six years, it won't come in the next two. A  job title for Community Organizer sounds like it should qualify you to bring people together but we have seen that the former Community Organizer, occupying 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue is only concerned with telling the community what to do and doesn't feel the need to listen to the community.

As said earlier, fixing America means putting aside what divides Republicans and focusing on getting the economy re-built.

I am British and I know this about Republicans.  It doesn't matter if they are left of centre-right, centre right or right of centre right or even really right of centre-right, they have common core principles founded on a love of their country and the US Constitution and a belief in conservative values such as small government.  Think of those uniting principles in the coming months and focus on restoring America.  The USA needs this and so does the rest of the right-thinking World.