GOP’s “Pledge To America” Falls Short … VERY Short!

GOP’s “Pledge To America” Falls Short … VERY Short!
A Commentary by J. D. Longstreet

The Republican Party made a spectacular mistake in publishing their “A Pledge to America.” In an attempt to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory they have raised questions about their own party’s commitment to issues their base is most concerned with and about which they would like answers.

For instance, the pledge says nothing about a fence along the US/Mexico border. It is ambiguous about worksite enforcement of immigration laws and, most important of all, it does not mention amnesty for illegal aliens. WHY???

The 2008 Republican Platform committed the Republican Party to completing a border fence, enforcing immigration laws at the worksite, and opposing an amnesty. But “The Pledge” is ominously quiet on these extremely important issues. Again … WHY?

“The Pledge” says this: “Our borders are a vital part of our security, so we will act decisively to ensure that the federal government fulfills its constitutional duty to protect our citizens and our Nation, working closely with our state and local governments …” This is far too broad a statement to satisfy the GOP base -- not to mention the host of Independents and Tea Party members looking to cast a GOP ballot in November.

Nowhere in The Pledge is the word “FENCE” mentioned. The Pledge only says: “We must take action to secure our borders, and that action starts with enforcing our laws. We will ensure that the Border Patrol has the tools and authorities to establish operational control at the border and prohibit the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture from interfering with Border Patrol enforcement activities on federal lands.”

The Pledge says nothing about putting the quietus on the Federal Lawsuit against the state of Arizona for passing a state law that would, in fact, assist the federal government in enforcing immigration laws -- at least along that part of the border that bisects Mexico and Arizona. Why do you suppose that was left out, huh?

What about those employers who hire vast numbers of illegal aliens? Reports tell us the government already has a list of the worst of these offenders. What will a GOP controlled government do about them? Why doesn’t The Pledge address this?

In 2008, the Republican Party Platform had this to say about worksite enforcement: “Our commitment to the rule of law means smarter enforcement at the workplace, against illegal workers and lawbreaking employers alike, along with those who practice identity theft and traffic in fraudulent documents.” As broad a statement as THIS is better focused than The Pledge.

And what about amnesty for illegal aliens already in the US? The GOP platform of 2008 said this: “"We oppose amnesty. The rule of law suffers if government policies encourage or reward illegal activity. The American people’s rejection of en masse legalizations is especially appropriate given the federal government’s past failures to enforce the law.” The Pledge to America does not mention the party’s position on amnesty for illegal aliens now living in the US. Again, we have to ask WHY?

This omission is worrisome, very worrisome. I have to wonder what, exactly, is the position of the Republican Party on amnesty for illegal aliens, on constructing a formidable fence along the border between the US and Mexico, plus what, exactly, the GOP plans to do to bring the full force of the law down on those employers who continue to hire illegals they know, or should have known were/are illegally in the US.

All indications are that the US electorate is readying itself to place its trust in the GOP and hand them control of the legislative branch of the government in a little over a month. I don’t think it is asking too much to inquire of the GOP what the party’s position is on amnesty for illegal aliens, on securing the border with a physical fence, and enforcement of immigration laws with employers. We want to know and we want to know NOW before we cast a vote for another government with which we will be constantly at odds over illegal immigration.

Look, the American people feel the Democrats, and especially the Obama Regime, have snookered them. They are looking for a change… a change “BACK” if you will, to a responsive constitutional republic in which they can have, at least, a reasonable amount of trust and confidence. With The Pledge to America, the Republicans have given them reason to be distrustful not for what The Pledge says – but for what it does NOT say.

The GOP did itself no favor by publishing The Pledge to America. It was a dumb move on their part and it will cost them at the polls.

Now is not the time for overconfidence. No election is over until the last vote is counted. Even then, there are times when a recount is required to determine a winner.

Never, ever, present the enemy a target unless there is a well thought-out plan to use that target to entrap said enemy. With The Pledge to America, I see only a target with nothing very well thought out – at all.

J. D. Longstreet

At the Heart of American Politics is -- the Barbershop!

At the Heart of American Politics is -- the Barbershop!
A Commentary by J. D. Longstreet
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In my small North Carolina community, when you really want to know what’s going on, if you really want to take the pulse of local, state and national politics, you go to the local barbershop.

For me, a trip to my local barbershop is a stimulating, invigorating, experience. I just climb up into the chair and allow the conversation to wash over me, and occasionally, I toss a few tidbits of my own into the steady stream of political commentary that is almost always well informed, politically incorrect, and surprisingly candid and -- quite accurate.

I have often wondered why politicians, who need to be plugged into the thought processes of their constituents, do not deliberately visit barbershops in their districts and really learn what is on the minds of their constituents. If there is one single place where politicians can learn how their constituents feel -- on any issue -- it is the local barbershop. The barbershop is the one place they can visit and get an education, quickly.

My most recent visit to my own barbershop revealed the open disgust with which my neighbors hold the Obama Regime and the current Congress. What was somewhat surprising was the depth of that disgust. It was as though they spat out the name of the President and the names of certain members of Congress, as one would expectorate something that had a horrible taste. The disdain in which my neighbors hold the Obama Regime is bone deep. They cannot wait for the election in November to send our national leaders a clear and concise message. Simply stated the message is: “Be gone!”

It is not only disgust and disdain, it is anger — deep, swirling, writhing, white-hot anger -- at the way the current Congress and the Obama Administration have dragged our country from the pinnacle of world leadership to the depths of humiliation and mediocrity. Their disbelief in American Exceptionalism lends credence to the average American’s belief that our current leadership simply does not like America.

What was once a creeping realization that we now have a socialist government in America has sped up and blossomed into an epiphany, of a sort. My neighbors now understand that with the passage of ObamaCare America joined the ranks of the pitiful socialist countries “circling the drain” all over the planet.

The old fashion neighborhood barbershop is one of the last locales to which men can retire -- and just be men. They discuss hunting, fishing, sports, cars, war, and politics. Of course, they discuss other things, which we will not mention because this is a family column. For the past few months politics has been the reigning topic of discussion above all others.

On my most recent visit to by barbershop the topic of discussion was, as usual politics. Someone raised the question of whom the Republicans would nominate to run for President in 2012. It is interesting that no one present felt that any one of the “usual suspects” would be acceptable to the GOP voters. In fact, the general feeling was that the nomination of any of those involved in past campaigns would simply lead to another four years of Obama as President. That included both Palin and Romney. In fact, it was agreed that Palin was damaged beyond repair and was now unacceptable as a candidate on a national GOP ticket. Not one participant in the discussion could offer the name of a single republican with a snowball’s chance in Hades of winning against Obama in 2012.

It was a telling moment. What it said to this scribe was this: the GOP had better begin a search for a candidate the republican voters will support. If they do not, then the GOP should be prepared for their base to stay home, again, on Election Day.

The conservative wing of the GOP has decided they will no longer “settle” for a candidate who cannot prove his/her conservative credentials. They will no longer vote for the “lesser of two evils.” They will no longer settle for another RINO candidate. If that means losing to the democrats, then so be it. It is not considered a “purity test” of any kind. The Mainstream Media should understand that out here in the hinterlands, honesty with oneself and one’s neighbor is STILL considered a virtue -- AND a matter of personal honor.

The RNC and the DNC could learn a lot from the customers at my barbershop -- if they were willing to learn. The trouble is, I believe, the GOP is now being controlled (as is the Democratic Party) by a group of “elites” who feel they know better than the rank and file electorate. In the case of the RNC -- the plain truth is – they don’t.

If the GOP is really serious about retaking this nation’s government from the socialists, then they need to visit my barbershop and listen. Then put to use what they learn.

In the meantime, I’m not holding my breath.

J. D. Longstreet