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posted by James on 02/5/08

Is it enough for a leader to have experience without character? Is it enough for him to have factual intelligence without Christian morality? Are his "private" beliefs inconsequential when contrasted with his public prowess? Many of our Founding Fathers stated very clearly how they answered these important questions. One of them was John Jay.

Elected President of the Continental Congress and appointed the first Chief-Justice of the US Supreme Court, John Jay was known for helping to secure favorable foreign relations in the early stages of the United States. He realized that the "wise or virtuous" qualities of a Christian leader were essential for maintaining good foreign relations with other nations:

"Real Christians will abstain from violating the rights of others, and therefore will not provoke war. Almost all nations have peace or war
at the will and pleasure of rulers whom they do not elect,
and who are not always wise or virtuous.
Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers,
and it is the duty as well as the privilege and interest of our Christian nation
to select and prefer Christians for their rulers."

In 1853, President Franklin Pierce also recognized in his inaugural address that our national security does not rest upon the brilliant policy of man’s wisdom:

"It must be felt that there is no national security
but in the nation’s humble, acknowledged dependence upon God and His overruling providence."

So what would be the consequences of subtle compromise in allowing one who does not fear God to hold a position of leadership? Matthias Burnett, the politically informed pastor of the First Church in Norwalk, eloquently declared during an election sermon:

"Look well to the characters and qualifications
of those you elect and raise to office and places of trust…
Think not that men who acknowledge not the providence of God
nor regard His laws will be uncorrupt in office,
firm in defense of the righteous cause against the oppressor,
or resolutely oppose the torrent of iniquity."

Patrick Henry boldly stated that the reason our nation espoused freedom of religion was because it was founded on the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

"It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often
that this great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religions, but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For this very reason peoples of other faiths have been afforded asylum prosperity, and freedom of worship here."

In other words, Patrick Henry is saying that freedom of religion is a Christian idea. If our nation were to leave the Christian beliefs that established freedom of religion, would that freedom remain?

The Christian religion is the basis of a moral society. George Washington said, "And let us with caution indulge the supposition, that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect, that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle."

According to Washington, morality in turn is an indispensable support of political prosperity. "It is substantially true, that virtue or morality is a necessary spring of popular government."

6 Comments » | posted in Historical Glimpses, Politics

posted by Robert on 02/5/08

From CBS News:

"If a tree falls in the forest and no one’s there to hear it, does that mean that it didn’t make a sound?" This was Mike Huckabee’s response when a reporter noted that a state newspaper had endorsed John McCain, calling Huckabee’s foreign policy experience unsettling. "The fact that they are not aware of, maybe, the experience that I  do have traveling to 41 countries, visiting with several prime ministers, having many trade missions and dealing with policy they may not be aware of, it doesn’t mean it did not happen, it may just mean they may not be aware of it," Huckabee continued.

"I also would remind people that what you would look for in a president is judgment. You look for the capacity to make decisions, and if you’ve been a governor, you’ve had more experience in actually making decisions and doing that across the broader battlefield than simply in the legislative body. Being able to pick an issue or two, focus on it, specialize in it, but maybe never have had the experience of looking at all of those issues and how they integrate together. In the executive branch, you don’t have the luxury of isolating issues, you have to integrate those issues and how they all function together."

Does Mike Huckabee have the experience to lead?

Mike Huckabee has as much experience as any other Governor who ever ran for President. Mike Huckabee has the leadership experience that comes with being an executive and has shown he can make tough executive decisions. He knows how to surround himself with good people, listen to advice, and make the best decision. He seems to be the only candidate with a clear grasp on the nature of this war as a radical religious mission of extermination and tyranny on the part of the terrorists. He believes in the Powell-Schwartzkopf doctrine of overwhelming engaging force, and fully stresses that military decision-making should be delegated to our commanders with "the blood on their boots and the medals on their chests." This doesn’t sound much like a Jimmy Carter, but more like Theodore Roosevelt. "Speak softly, but carry a big stick." (source)

Executive experience is considerably more
important  than foreign policy experience.
Mike Huckabee has that experience .

3 Comments » | posted in Politics

posted by Robert on 02/4/08

Many people have heard the whopping statistic from Huckabee opponents that there was a "47 percent increase in state tax burden" while Mike Huckabee was Governor of Arkansas. Few, however, get the rest of the story.

"During Huckabee’s years in office, total state tax burden — all 50 states combined — rose by twice as much: 98 percent, increasing from $743 billion in 1993 to $1.47 trillion in 2005."

But in Arkansas, Huckabee was standing as a fiscal convervative:

"In Arkansas, the income tax when he took office was 1 percent for the poorest taxpayers and 7 percent for the richest, exactly where it stood when he left the statehouse 11 years later. But, in the interim, he doubled the standard deduction and the child care credit, repealed capital gains taxes for home sales, lowered the capital gains rate, expanded the homestead exemption and set up tax-free savings accounts for medical care and college tuition. Most impressively, when he had to pass an income tax surcharge amid the drop in revenues after Sept. 11, 2001, he repealed it three years later when he didn’t need it any longer. He raised the sales tax one cent in 11 years and did that only after the courts ordered him to do so."

Pretty impressive, eh? It must be, because Arkansas businessman really like him. Then, to top it all off:

"When Governor Huckabee left office last January, he had turned the $200 million state budget shortfall left by his Democrat predecessor into an $844 million surplus allowing his successor to follow Governor Huckabee’s lead to begin the elimination of the state sales tax on food."

And what are his fiscal goals as President? Huckabee is the the only presidential candidate calling for genuine permanent tax reform through the elimination of the IRS and supporting the "FairTax." This well-researched and proven method of taxation "abolishes all federal personal and corporate income taxes, gift, estate, capital gains, alternative minimum, Social Security, Medicare, and self-employment taxes and replaces them with one simple, visible, federal retail sales tax administered primarily by existing state sales tax authorities."

The Professor of Economics at Boston University reports that the FairTax "is more efficient than the current income tax system and these efficiency gains will redound to all Americans." It is designed to make "American goods 12-25% more competitive, boosting economic growth, increasing our exports, and securing American jobs. It also prevents criminals or illegal aliens from avoiding taxes, and makes the taxes we all pay 100% transparent."

By the way, did you know that Mike Huckabee signed the No-Tax Pledge?

So don’t be swayed by the politics. Learn what Mike Huckabee really stands for.

3 Comments » | posted in Politics

posted by Robert on 02/4/08

“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.” (Second Amendment to the US Constitution)

The Voting Record

Mitt Romney:

• “I supported the Brady Bill, which instituted a five-day waiting period before you could buy a handgun, and a ban on assault weapons. As I said in 1994, “That’s not going to make me the hero of the NRA.” But then, “I don’t line up with the NRA.” As I said in my gubernatorial campaign, “We do have tough gun laws in Massachusetts. I support them. I won’t chip away at them.” (Boston Globe) (See also CNN Election Center)
• “The issue of guns has repeatedly dogged Romney, who as a U.S. Senate candidate in 1996 was in favor of several gun control measures.” (Washington Post)
• Poor Rating: “Romney’s flip-flops on guns are part of a larger record of inconsistency.” (David Kopel)

Mike Huckabee:

• “Consistently opposed banning assault weapons and opposed the Brady Bill. Protected gun manufacturers from frivolous lawsuits. First Governor in the country to have a concealed handgun license.” (MikeHuckabee.com)
• “Mike Huckabee has been in the heat of battle over gun rights and has proven himself to be a steadfast friend to gun owners and the Second Amendment.” (Gun Owners of America)
• “Top tier. Nearly perfect pro-Second Amendment record.”
  (David Kopel)

“The Second Amendment isn’t really about hunting. It’s about tyranny and self-defense. The Founding Fathers weren’t worried about our being able to bag a duck or a deer, they were worried about our keeping our fundamental freedoms.” (Mike Huckabee)

5 Comments » | posted in Politics

posted by James on 02/2/08

Last Monday night, I was able to listen to President  Bush’s seventh and final State of the Union Address. Just in case you missed it, here are a few excerpts that I thought summed it up pretty well:

1. "All of us were sent to Washington to carry out the people’s business. That is the purpose of this body. It is the meaning of our oath. It remains our charge to keep." With our country in the perilous time that it now is, this statement reminded me of Lincoln’s concluding words of his Gettysburg Address: "It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us …that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."
2. "In this election year, let us show our fellow Americans that we recognize our responsibilities and are determined to meet them. Let us show them that Republicans and Democrats can compete for votes and cooperate for results at the same time." The President is open to working together; is Congress?
3. On taxes, "…American families should not have to worry about the federal government taking a bigger bite out of their paychecks. There is only one way to eliminate this uncertainty: make the tax relief permanent."
4. "We share a common goal: making health care more affordable and accessible for all Americans. The best way to achieve that goal is by expanding consumer choice, not government control." The standing applause came only from Republicans, I believe.
5. "…I call on Congress to pass legislation that bans unethical practices such as the buying, selling, patenting or cloning of human life." Bush is still a conservative.
6. "On matters of justice, we must trust in the wisdom of our founders and empower judges who understand that the Constitution means what it says. I’ve submitted judicial nominees who will rule by the letter of the law, not the whim of the gavel."
7. In addition to toughening border security, "…we must also find a sensible and humane way to deal with people here illegally. Illegal immigration is complicated, but it can be resolved, and it must be resolved in a way that upholds both our laws and our highest ideals." Again, Bush shows his support for the original intent of the Constitution.
8. "One year ago, our enemies were succeeding in their efforts to plunge Iraq into chaos, so we reviewed our strategy and changed course…. While the enemy is still dangerous and more work remains, the American and Iraqi surges have achieved results few of us could have imagined just one year ago."
9. "American troops are shifting from leading operations to partnering with Iraqi forces. … [As a result] more than 20,000 of our troops are coming home."
10. "So tonight, with confidence in freedom’s power and trust in the people, let us set forth to do their business! God bless America."

These are hopeful statements. The upcoming presidential elections can become a great distraction from what God is already doing with the government He has given us. President Bush will be president for another full year; keep praying that he would make wise and bold decisions as he finishes up his last term.

4 Comments » | posted in Historical Glimpses