A dearth of courage
Next week, a GOP-influenced Congress will formally open session. Members have been handed a bold, unequivocal mandate by the American people to undo the grievous harm wrought by Obama-led Democrats. Will we witness principles or pandering?
The Democrat-controlled Congress conducted its business exactly as most of us envisioned. Since 2007, Democrats forced their political agenda against the will of the American people, growing in audacity with the election of Obama.
Thus, the destruction of the American economy and personal liberty continued until the 2010 election when voters repudiated the regime's progressive agenda. But the nightmare did not end on November 2nd. Americans witnessed a bitter, resentful lame-duck Democrat Congress force yet more progressive statutes and administrative rules to illustrate their utter contempt for the republic, its people, and constitutional rule of law.
The only surprise in all of this was that even with monopolistic control of government, the Obama regime and Democrat Congress had to resort to back-room deals, bribery, union schemes, midnight votes, congressional bullying, and the willing assistance of state-run media to prevail. Yet regardless of method, America is now faced with cleaning up the Democrat mess even before real recovery can begin. Which begs the question, are we up to the task?
What must be overcome
When you consider what faces the 112th Congress next week, it's enough to make even the strongest quail and quake. On the one hand, the newly-elected Members have been directed by"The House simply cannot do all things, all at once - nor be all things to all people." the electorate to stop spending and get people working. They want Congress to reduce tax rates, cut programs, and eliminate inefficient agencies and unnecessary budget items. Yet there has been such a socialist onslaught of budget-, economy-, and job-killing legislation that the American people also demand that it be eliminated or mitigated as well. The House simply cannot do all things, all at once - nor be all things to all people. Remember well that the Senate is still Democrat-controlled. Consider just a few of the wrong-headed schemes perpetrated by the Obama regime and Democrat Congress:
ObamaCare; TARP; Housing Bubble; Unemployment; Unconstitutional Legislation and Regulations; Debt and Deficit; Racism; Class Warfare; DADT; Auto Bailout; Stimuli I, II, and III; Cap and Trade Myth; "Green" Jobs Myth; Skyrocketing Energy Costs; Skyrocketing Food Costs; Death Tax; NASA Mission Cancellation; Oil Drilling Moratorium; Assault on Border States; Assault on Small Business; Assault on Retirement Accounts; Assault on the American way of life; Industry Expropriation; Net Neutrality; Foreign Policy Failures; Terrorist Appeasement; Disaster Recovery Failures ... you get the picture.
Now imagine yourself as a new Member of Congress. Where do you begin? Mind you, the federal government has no money, and the American people and businesses are taxed enough already.
Heed the mandate
For Americans suffering through joblessness, a deep recession, and what many consider a vacuum of principled leaders nation-wide (although there are a few - they're the ones routinely attacked by state-run media), perhaps the greatest single contribution"This means that the GOP must immediately cease bargaining with a repudiated Obama and disgraced Democrat Party." that Congress can offer to the electorate is the courage to do the right thing, at the proper time. Americans realize the scope of the harm done to the nation and are willing to be patient a bit longer, but only if there are positive steps being taken to de-socialize the American economy.
This means that the GOP must immediately cease bargaining with a repudiated Obama and disgraced Democrat Party. Republicans have a unique opportunity to flex some conservative muscle instead of accommodating failed policies. They have the support of the American majority, given to them in November - and they would be wise to heed the people and live up to their promises.
After all, Obama owns the American economic meltdown and unemployment crisis. He owns the fact that the world is in the process of making plans for a failed America. Obama now also owns the war in Afghanistan. He is responsible for insulting America's allies and appeasing its enemies. He is responsible for the despicable actions of a Democrat Congress - arguably the worst in history - that was and will forever be despised by the American majority. He is responsible for fundamentally derailing the free market system and steering America on a socialist tack. Worst of all, Obama is directly responsible for the reprehensible decline of individual American liberties.
Do not waver
What better time for congressional members to embrace conservative principles and be courageous enough to stop spending, restore a job- and business-friendly environment, eliminate or neuter socialist legislation and autocratic rules, and obey the law by not exceeding limits set in place by the Constitution? There is no better time, not until America is blessed with another conservative president with the courage to wield a veto pen.
To continue on Obama's path is not an option. To do so guarantees that Americans will be forced to contend with a more intrusive police state, increasing loss of individual freedoms, continued home foreclosures, continued economic stagnation, increasing unemployment, outrageous cost of living increases, greater loss of national sovereignty, more suspicion and distrust from allies, and more hostility from our enemies. Through it all, a compliant state-run media will hail these atrocities as progress and their leader as inspirational.
Think not? Obama recently boasted during his year-end press conference that "Congress had its most productive post-election period in decades." He added that "It comes on the heels of the most productive two years that we've"The bleeding must be stanched before the body can be nursed back to health." had in generations." State-run media dutifully echoed the theme with gusto.
No one can say how long it will take for the United States to inch its way out of this economic morass. Yet, common sense tells us that a crisis stemming from the bad habits of criminal spending, thoughtless borrowing, war of aggression on free enterprise, and bureaucratic over-regulation of every facet of life can only be countered by immediate cessation. The bleeding must be stanched before the body can be nursed back to health.
America Held Hostage: 753 Days to Freedom.