Ok, enough complaining about who's going to take care of the children of illegal immigrants whose are arrested in raids.  Here's my question?

Who's taking care of the children of American citizens who are in prison?

There is little difference between those people who illegally come to this country with the help of drug cartel smugglers and shady truck drivers, who rely on public assistance, stolen ID's, under-the-table wages, crooked employers, and a good deal of luck, than with those American citizens who rely on drug lords and shady types, public assistance, stolen ID's and back-alley payments, crooked pimps, and good deal of luck.

Both are criminals and are entitled to a good life as long as they obey the laws.  Once you step outside of that boundary, you have bought yourself the opportunity to do time in prison.  And guess what happens when you break the law and get caught.  Your family suffers.

So let's drop the emotional pleas that 'these people' just want a good life.  They have chosen a life of crime, and if they are caught they are going to reap the rewards of it, just like any red-blooded American who steals a car, or steals employees pensions.  The same way a drug dealer goes to jail, or a crooked politician once he is found out.

You want a better life?  Live honestly and sanely, and work hard.  Anthing else and you're shortchanging yourself, and worse, your family.

Many are decrying the resignation and handling of Don Rumsfeld, a Defense Secretary who helped take us to war in Iraq, and whose direction of the war has left a majority of americans actually against the war at this point.  I have a different perspective on this departure.

In the last few years, prejudice against Rumsfeld's job performance has steadily grown, as the President's ratings have steadily fallen.  These are most certainly linked.  But while the wolves were waiting to tear into the Secretary of Defense, the President stood by his appointee with steadfast resolve, praising his work when no one else seemed to be willing.

Rumsfeld has certainly done some great things.  His reshaping of America's military for one.  A lighter and faster force is a welcome change given the new enemy we face.  Special forces and clandestine units are needed in increasing numbers to infiltrate and take out terrorists where they are hiding.  Tanks and ships are no longer the primary safeguards for America.  Intelligence and swiftness are now the key.

I believe the President knows this and has praised Rumsfeld for these changes.  However, the President also seems to be saying that a new direction is indeed necessary.  Or else he is just pandering to the new democratic congress.  In either case, the President may be on the right track.  If the President is truly in favor of a new direction, and new creativity in fighting terrorism, then Rumsfeld had to go.

As for the Democrats, the President is in a tough spot now.  Had the GOP kept control of the congress Bush may have been able get away with keeping the Defense Secretary.  But the GOP did not keep the congress, and as such the President has to be able to work with them to win this war.  There have been far too many critics of Rumsfeld in the Democratic leadership.  And there is far too negative a feeling as to his abilities and performance.  And I honestly don't see Rumsfeld changing his mind on how to run the war.

If any new direction is to be achieved (given the stonewalling record of Democrats recently) Bush has to have a new face to put on this war.  As for the timing of the removal; Bush has never been one to dillydally.  If he's got to go, he's got to go.

Thanks Mr. Rumsfeld for all the hard work.  America may soon be safer as a result of it.

GOP Pres. in 2008?

The 2006 elections were a rude wakeup and an embarassment to Republicans across the country.  Talk show hosts disagreed prior to the elections, some encouraging us to teach the GOP a lesson, and others reminding us that a vote for Democrats is a vote for the greater of two evils.

Personally, I would like to thank Democrats for their win in 2006.  Precisely because they will give conservatives back the presidency in 2008.

Nancy Pelosi's immediate bungling of her leadership role in expected appointments of Murtha and other less than reliable chairmen/women are the first sign that a Democratically controlled congress will be an utter failure for our country as a whole.  The lack of direction and the frequent emotional outbursts of the new Overlords will surely continue and give conservative and comic talk show hosts plently of material.

Democrats have consistently decried the failing economy, losing the war in Iraq, and the corruption of the Republican party.

The truth is the US economy is better than it's ever been.  Yes, this is measured in how well businesses are faring, and dems can argue that the GOP favors them, but this is also a measure of how Americans are faring compared to the rest of the world (per capita income, consumer spending, employment rate).  The fact of the matter is, businesses have to make money for the US to remain strong.  And the growth of business means more jobs.  That helps the little guy who's just trying to scrape a buck.  With Democrats in control of the economy now, they will probably raise the minimum wage soon and will repeal tax cuts for businesses and business owners (aka the rich).  The US economy will begin to slow down as companies hunker down for the liberal winter ahead and investors (aka the rich) will be less willing to invest.  Who can we thank for a robust economy?  Not the liberal dems.

The war in Iraq - I hate that mis-nomer.  How about the war against world-wide wackos?  It seems terrorists only exist in Iraq and Israel.  And there's the remnants of some of them in Afghanistan who are putting up a fight.  The truth is there are terrorists in just about every country in the world, plotting, preparing, and training to attack civilian targets where they can have the most impact possible.  Yes we are losing men and women everyday in Iraq.  And yes, the war could have been fought differently, perhaps for the better.  But please recall that the lives being given for us in Iraq are a continuation of the sacrifices that have been made by countless Americans for two centuries in the name of freedom and democracy.  The lives lost in Iraq in the last several years pale in comparison to the thousands killed in one day in New York, in Bali, and in so many terrorist attacks committed in the last decades.  Iraq has become the focal point for this war, and gladly, it has removed that focal point from US soil, possibly saving inoccent American lives.
Ultra Left Wing pacifists and anti-war activists who seem to be making a name for themselves in the liberal movement.  And the liberal leadership may well succumb to their demands.  President Bush may have needed some prodding to get rid of Rumsfeld and take a new tack on the war, but I fear for the safety of our soldiers when the Lefties start playing politics with their lives.  Who can we thank for standing up for our freedoms and for fighting back against mass murdering religious fanatics?  Not the liberal democrats.

And please, the corruption of the Republican party?  The oldest joke in the political book is that all politicians are crooks.  As if the Left side of the aisle is free from spineless, greedy, egomaniacs.  That bird just doesn't fly.  Corruption scandals have a way of bubbling to the surface when the minority party has no other weapon to fight with.

Come November 2008, once the Liberal leaders have had time to strut their newfound powers, help the economy to cave, and show the terrorists we don't have the stomach for this war, the Libs will find they've been wearing the Emperor's New Clothes.  America will see the light and another Republican president will be chosen to lead us both at home and overseas.