John McCain is Dr. Strangelove

Taxpayers Best Friend

According to a new study from the National Taxpayers Union Foundation, the leading presidential candidates from both major parties would increase federal spending anywhere from $7 billion to $287 billion annually.  That includes the candidate that is supposedly the most fiscally conservative, Mitt Romney.  He would balloon the government another $19.5 billion.

The one exception: Ron Paul.  His plans would cut the size of the federal government $150.1 billion.  Not just a reduction in the rate of growth, but an honest to goodness decrease of the size, scope, and power of the State.

For each of the past ten years, the NTU has called Ron Paul the “Taxpayers Best Friend” — rating him the best congressman, by far, in terms of cutting taxes and spending. 

UPDATE: Here’s the Paul campaign’s press release.

Transitioning Themes

Please bear with me over the next several days, as I am in the process of transitioning this blog to a new theme.  This necessarily involves a lot of formatting and fiddling with things to get the blog to appear and function how I want it to.  So, don’t be surprised if one minute you see my old theme, and the next catch a glimpse of the new one; if one minute you can find what you are looking for and the next it seems to have disappeared.  Soon enough, we’ll be back up to full functionality!

Ron Paul on Abortion

As I mentioned the other day, Norma McCorvey — aka “Jane Roe” of the infamous Roe v. Wade decision — has endorsed Ron Paul for President.

Here are a number of things Ron Paul — a libertarian constitutionalist — has said about abortion:

The right of an innocent, unborn child to life is at the heart of the American ideals of liberty. My professional and legislative record demonstrates my strong commitment to this pro-life principle.

In 40 years of medical practice, I never once considered performing an abortion, nor did I ever find abortion necessary to save the life of a pregnant woman.

In Congress, I have authored legislation that seeks to define life as beginning at conception, H.R. 1094.

I am also the prime sponsor of H.R. 300, which would negate the effect of Roe v Wade by removing the ability of federal courts to interfere with state legislation to protect life. This is a practical, direct approach to ending federal court tyranny which threatens our constitutional republic and has caused the deaths of 45 million of the unborn.

I have also authored H.R. 1095, which prevents federal funds to be used for so-called “population control.” Many talk about being pro-life. I have taken and will continue to advocate direct action to restore protection for the unborn.

Abortion on demand is no doubt the most serious sociopolitical problem of our age. The lack of respect for life that permits abortion significantly contributes to our violent culture and our careless attitude toward liberty. As an obstetrician, I know that partial birth abortion is never a necessary medical procedure. It is a gruesome, uncivilized solution to a social problem.

As an obstetrician-gynecologist, I can assure my colleagues that the partial-birth abortion procedure is the most egregious legally permitted act known to man. Decaying social and moral attitudes decades ago set the stage for the accommodated Roe vs. Wade ruling that nationalizes all laws dealing with abortion. The fallacious privacy argument the Supreme Court used must some day be exposed for the fraud that it is.

Reaffirming the importance of the sanctity of life is crucial for the continuation of a civilized society. There is already strong evidence that we are indeed on the slippery slope toward euthanasia and human experimentation. Although the real problem lies within the hearts and minds of the people, the legal problems of protecting life stems from the ill-advised Roe v. Wade ruling, a ruling that constitutionally should never have occurred.

I believe beyond a doubt that a fetus is a human life deserving of legal protection, and that the right to life is the foundation of any moral society.

Read the rest of this entry »

Reagan on Restoring the Constitution

“We are a nation that has a government–not the other way around… Our government has no power except that granted it by the people. It is time to check and reverse the growth of government…”

~Ronald Reagan, First Inaugural Address

Don Luskin Named Economic Advisor to the Ron Paul 2008 Presidential Campaign

On the heals of his endorsement of Ron Paul for President comes the exciting news that Donald L. Luskin, the prominent financial advisor and regular contributing editor to National Review Online, has been named Economic Advisor to the campaign.

See too the excellent economic stimulus plan released by the Paul campaign today.  Says Luskin of the plan:

“Ron Paul’s economic plan is the real thing – a plan. It’s not just a band-aid designed to ’stimulate’ the economy in an election year. It’s a fundamental agenda for real and lasting change, making the US economy more vibrant and competitive, and removing barriers to advancement for all Americans.” 

UPDATE: Peter Schiff has now also been named an Economic Advisor to the Paul campaign.

On Anniversary of Landmark Abortion Case, “Roe” Endorses Ron Paul

Norma McCorvey, aka “Jane Roe” of the infamous Roe v. Wade decision by the U.S. Supreme Court, but now a committed Christian and pro-life activist, today endorsed Ron Paul for President.  Paul is a ten-term congressman from Texas who has delivered over 4,000 babies as an obstetrician.  Both were present at the March for Life rally in Washington, DC, on this, the 35th anniversary of the landmark case.  No other presidential candidate was in attendance.

McCorvey introduced Paul in the Phoenix Park hotel with the following statement:

I support Ron Paul for president because we share the same goal, that of overturning Roe v Wade. Ron Paul doesn’t just talk about being pro-life, he acts on it. His voting record truly is impeccable and he undoubtedly understands our constitutional republic and the inalienable right to life for all. Ron Paul is the prime author of H.R. 300, which would negate the effect of Roe v. Wade. As the signor of the affidavit that legalized abortion 35 years ago I appreciate Ron Paul’s action to restore protection for the unborn. Ron Paul has also authored H.R. 1094 in Congress, which seeks to define life as beginning at conception. He has never wavered on the issue of being pro-life and has a voting record to prove it. He understands the importance of civil liberties for all, including the unborn.

Read the rest of this entry »

Conservatives for Central Planning?

I almost fell off my seat when I read the title to Larry Kudlow’s blog at NRO this morning, imploring Fed Chairman Bernanke to do just what he did: artificially drop the interest rate  (i.e. inflate the money supply and further devalue a very weak dollar).  The title: “Take Charge, Central Bankers.”  How ludicrous sounding coming from a so-called conservative!  On any other issue, this would be obvious to them: “Take charge, central planners! Socialism to the rescue!”  Naturally, Kudlow applauded the Fed after they followed his destructive advice: “The Fed Got It Right.” 

No.  They got it wrong.  But this guy has some better ideas.

NRO’s Luskin on Paulonomics

Good article from Donald Luskin at National Review Online today.  Here’s a teaser:

If you crack the nut shell and look objectively at what Paul is really advocating, conservatives will find that Paulonomics looks an awful lot like Reaganomics. Paulonomics emerges as a refreshing return to conservative roots: small government, low taxes, deregulation, and sound money. If Paulonomics seems nutty, that may say more about the sad state of events today, with “big government conservatism” having become the new touchstone.

Read the rest of “The Paulonomics Factor“.   (BTW, re: the subhead for this otherwise solid article, that reads “Ron Paul can’t win, but…” Luskin responds: “My editor wrote that headline without my knowledge or consent.”  It seems PC afflicts NRO, too.)

UPDATE: Donald Luskin just endorsed Ron Paul!  In doing so, Luskin joins his fellow NRO columnist, John Derbyshire.

“Parents’ Reflections” Attachment for Application to Lorien Wood for School Year 2008-2009

Today, Bonnie and I submitted our application for Samuel to enroll in Lorien Wood School for kindergarten next fall.  Part of the application concerns “Parents’ Reflections” on a series of questions regarding the school’s — and our own - philosophy of education.  Here is what we wrote:

Why do you feel that your child and your family would be a good fit at Lorien Wood?

We are Reformed Christians who believe deeply in the value of a classical, Christian education.  Our influences in this regard range from Dorothy Sayers and Douglas Wilson to Bill Bennett and Doug Phillips.  Beyond that, we believe that parents have the primary responsibility for the education of their children.  We intend to live this belief out through our close involvement with our children’s school.  We are impressed with the Christ-centeredness of Lorien Wood School, the classical model-basis of its educational philosophy, the “hands-on” and integrative nature of its educational practice, and the fact that the school so strongly encourages parental involvement.  In fact, we see Lorien Wood as not simply a school, but a vibrant community, since this involvement goes well-beyond parental oversight and feedback, but includes active participation in the life and activities of the school, for our own children as well as their peers.

What are two or three goals you have for your child in the school setting?

We see formal education of our children as an extension of our primary responsibility as Christian parents: “to raise them in the fear and admonition of the Lord.”  In other words, we want for Samuel (and his little sisters, Margaret and Rachel) to nurture, to train, to instruct – and to have him be so molded – in the way of God, as a disciple of our Lord Jesus Christ: submitting to His will, enjoying His creation, taking dominion of this world in His name, and, in so doing, glorifying His Holy name.  To this end, we wish for Samuel to grow in knowledge of the world around him, including its history, its people, and how it works.  Further, we wish for him to grow in wisdom and Godly character.  We hope and believe that Lorien Wood School will be an excellent place at which we can prayerfully partner in fulfilling our God-given responsibility and achieve our goals in these regards.

What is your understanding of the reason for Lorien Wood’s parental involvement requirement?  How would you explain your role in your children’s education?

Lorien Wood School’s parental involvement requirement is grounded in the sense of community the school is trying to foster.  It is an essential component of actually building that community.  The school is not merely a place at which parents hand off their kids, compartmentalized from the rest of their life.  But just as the curriculum at Lorien Wood is integrative in nature, reflecting the reality of God’s creation, so is schooling seen not as a means to meeting the ends of various individual students, but as an essential aspect of community.  Therefore, the role of parents – and the role Bonnie and I would expect to play – at Lorien Wood is more than keeping tab of our children’s academic performance, or even involvement in their own education.  It includes service to the benefit of all the students and their families, as well as the faculty, at Lorien Wood School.  And in doing so, through our example and our service, we help foster that growth of Godly character and wisdom we desire for our own children.  We are blessed as we help bless others.