I would be delighted to serve as a member of the Republican National Committee, although I always understood that to be an elective position. At least I assume your promise that I can be "a member in good standing of the RNC" in return for a contribution means that,and does not refer to some other organization with the same initials.
Unfortunately, I loyally followed President Bush's instructions to "Spend! Spend! Spend!" my stimulus payment and have no money left for savings or debt payments, let alone contributions.
Since I also spent my last $11.00 before reading your request for a processing fee for my completed questionnaire, I am posting my answers on the web where you can refer to it at your convenience. Please note that the questionnaire from 2242-8111, 511403160, in Voting District Code CD-S9-08, A08PY458 answers the quesions this way:
Homeland Security Issues
1. Should Republicans do everything they can to prevent liberal Democrats from repealing the USA PATRIOT Act and other important laws that help our intelligence agencies protect America? ANSWER: I would have been happier if the Republicans had done everything in their power to prevent its passage in the first place. As for preventing the Democrats from repealing it, they seem to be doing a good job or preventing themselves from reprealing, or even significantly modifying, that Act and other unconstitutional security acts.
2. Should Republicans stop the Democrats from cutting funding for our intelligence agencies or bringing back Clinton era restrictions on in-agency communications. ANSWER; As above, I do not think the Democrats need help from the Republicans to do nothing.
3. Do you support the use of force against any country that offers safe harbor or aid to individuals of organizations committed to further arracks on America? ANSWER: Without a definition of terms, you may mean any country which has residents or citizens who might attack America or Americans. Of course, that includes all countries, including the United States. I believe the United States should protect its territories and its citizens from attack and follow a policy of friendship with other countries.
4. Sould we do everything we can to stop Democrats from weakening border security. ANSWER: If that is what they plan to do, yes. If you are talking about the stupid (and dangerous) wall, no.
ECONOMIC ISSUES
1. Should we make our fright against the Democrats' massive tax hikes a central part of the 2008 campaign?ANSWER: No. You should make reducing the number and size of government agencies and programs the basis of the campaign. The "Tax and Spend" policy of the Democrats is no worse than the "Borrow and Burn" policy of the Republicans.
2. President Bush's successful income and capital gains tax cuts are set to expire.--should they be made permanent? ANSWER: Only if government expnses are cut enough to make the budget balance.
3. Should the Republicans fight for a balanced budget? ANSWER; Given the debts the Bush administration has incurred over the past seven years and in still expanding, I think claiming the Republicans are for a balanced budget would be greeted with bitter snickers.
4. Should Republicans unite to keep our pro-growth achievements from the past seven years intact by blocking new federal government bureaucracy and red tape. ANSWER: This is not a good time for the Republicans to be talking about their "pro-growth achievements". By blocking new federal government bureaucracy and red tape, are you referring to the Department of Homeland Security and Real I.D.?
5. Should Republicans in Congress oppose the new, wasteful government spending programs proposed by the Democrats and their leaders, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid? ANSWER: Yes, and also the bailouts proposed by George W. Bush and John McCain and their Republican followers.
DOMESTIC ISSUES
1.Do you agree that we must secure our borders? ANSWER: See answer to question 4 in Homeland Security Issues.
2. Should Republicans oppose Democrat plans for one-size-fits-all government run health care. ANSWER: Yes, and the Republican plans for government aid to impoverished insurance companies.
3. Should we continue working for serious tort reform to protect individuals and small businesses from predatory lawsuits? ANSWER: If you mean ending the Class Action suit racket, yes. Otherwise, let the judicial system do its job, and leave the state courts alone.
4. Should we make sure conservative judicial nominees receive fair hearings and up or down votes in the Senate? ANSWER: Yes, and liberal judicial nominees as well.
5. Should Republicans in Congress protect our private property rights from eminent domain? ANSWER: It would be a nice, if overdue, change if they did.
SOCIAL ISSUES
1. Do you think marriage should be an institution between one man and one woman and be defended as such? ANSWER: I think that, insofar as the government is involved at all it is a matter for the state legislatures. I also believe that government, on the whole, should not pursue policies designed to promote or prohibit marriage between any two people.
2. Do you want Republicans to defend the recently-passed partial birth abortion ban from attacks by the Democrat majority? ANSWER: I do not think this is a partisan matter nor a matter for the federal government.
3. Do you support President Bush's initiative to allow private religious and charitable groujps to do more to help those in need? ANSWER: I think their tax exempt status is the only help they need, or should get, from the government.
DEFENSE iSSUES
1. Do you think U.S. troops should have to serve under United Nation' commanders. ANSWER; U.S. troops always serve under their own officers. In a coalition situation, there will be a commander with overall control, as General Eisenhower was the overall commander of the United Nations forces in Western Europe during World War II and General MacArthur was the overall commander of United Nations forces during the Korean War.
2. Do you agree that one of our top military priorities should be fighting terrorists? ANSWER: I believe that our top military priority should be protecting the territory and the population of the United States and fighting overseas only in wars legally declared by the Congress of the United States.
3. Should Republicans fight Democrat efforts to impose Clinton era cuts in the Pentagon's budget? ANSWER: The Clinton era is over. It ran from 1993 to 2001 and the Republicans had a majority in both Houses of Congress during six of those years. The George W. Bush era lasted from 2001 to 2009, with the Republicans in control of both Houses of Congress during six of those years. It is a little late for the Republicans to be talking about protecting the military from Clinton or the Democrats.
4. Do you support economic sanctions against North Korea and Iran to stop their nuclear weapons programs. ANSWER: They at least appear to be working in North Korea. It appears that, so far, Iran has no nuclear weapons program.
5. Do you agree that sowing the seeds of democracy and freedom in the Middle East is a worthy goal. ANSWER: Spreading the ideas of liberty and of democracy is a worthwhile goal. Making aggressive war on other nations and imposing a regime on them that we call democratic is a mistake.
These are my answers. I want to thank Robert M. "Mike" Duncan, Chairman of the Republican National committe, Senator Mitch McConnel, Senate Republican leader, and Congressman John Boehner for their offer of membership on the Committee, which I have had to decline. I hope my answers are useful to them in the coming campaign.
©2008 rtbohan, all rights reserved. You must have written permission from the author in order to republish this work.
Published: Sunday, August 3, 2008
Last modified: Sunday, August 3, 2008
The views expressed in this article are those of rtbohan only and do not represent the views of Nolan Chart, LLC or its affiliates. rtbohan is solely responsible for the contents of this article and is not an employee or otherwise affiliated with Nolan Chart, LLC in his/her role as a columnist.
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