Tuesday, May 19, 2015
From: Gary L. Bauer
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Wrong Track
A new Gallup poll finds that just barely a quarter of adults (26%) think the country is headed on the right track. That’s down six points since February and ten points off Gallup’s historic average.
What explains this pessimism? The three issues most frequently cited were dissatisfaction with government, Congress and politicians (14%), the economy (12%) and unemployment (10%). Those concerns were followed by race relations (8%), illegal immigration (6%), declining values (6%), healthcare (5%) and terrorism (5%).
Let me put it another way.
Americans heard the news about slow first quarter growth and worry about the possibility of a new recession. Gas prices are going up and their paychecks are flat.
They look overseas and see the results of Obama’s failed foreign policy: anarchy, disorder and extremism spreading around the world. It also seems to be spreading within the United States with riots, police shootings and surging crime.
Meanwhile, cultural radicalism is continuing unabated and unnerving many Americans. While government and corporate elites obsess about secret trade deals, the institution of marriage is weeks away from being fundamentally redefined. More and more foolishness is being forced into the classroom.
There is massive, uncontrolled immigration into the country. It is not only a national security problem, it’s also an economic security problem. Huge numbers of people are coming in and competing for scarce jobs.
At the same time most of our leaders are unwilling to defend the American ideal — that this nation is unique, that our rights come from God and that while we are many people, we are stronger as one culture. Rather than emphasizing what unites us, we are told to “celebrate diversity.”
It makes you wonder who those 26% are who think everything’s just fine.
Benghazi Attack Planned
A memo from the Defense Intelligence Agency dated one day after the 2012 Benghazi attack has just been released by Judicial Watch. The memo was delivered to top officials, including the secretaries of state and defense.
No doubt you’ll recall that the Obama White House repeatedly insisted that the attacks were a spontaneous demonstration in response to an anti-Islamic video. U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice was sent on five different Sunday talk shows to make the case. Let me remind of what she said on ABC’s “This Week:”
“Our current best assessment, based on the information that we have at present, is that . . . it was a spontaneous — not a premeditated — response to what had transpired in Cairo. In Cairo, as you know, a few hours earlier, there was a violent protest that was undertaken in reaction to this very offensive video that was disseminated.”
Now consider this excerpt from the DIA memo:
“The attack was planned ten or more days prior on approximately 01 September 2012. The intention was to attack the consulate and to kill as many Americans as possible to seek revenge for U.S. killing of Aboyahiye (ALALIBY) in Pakistan and in memorial of the 11 September 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center buildings.”
If George Stephanopoulos has any desire to rebuild his reputation, he should latch onto this report like a junkyard dog and pursue the truth.
GOP Field Grows
The burgeoning field of Republican presidential candidates is getting bigger. South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, Ohio Governor John Kasich and former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum all appear ready to throw their hats into the ring.
Senator Graham will make foreign policy a top priority. He has scheduled a formal announcement for June 1. But yesterday the senator told CBS that he was considering running “because of what you see on television . . . because I think the world is falling apart.”
Governor John Kasich has a populist style and a keen focus on balanced budgets and fiscal responsibility. He also comes from a “must-win” state for both parties.
Governor Bobby Jindal is well-known for his intellect. Jindal was a Rhodes Scholar who studied health care during his college years. He was appointed secretary of Louisiana’s Health Department at the age of 24.
In recent weeks he has distinguished himself by standing firm on values issues. Referring to the recent controversy about religious freedom laws in some states, Jindal said, “America did not create religious liberty. Religious liberty created America. . . . Government should never step in and tell Christians that they have to choose between making a living and their Christian values.”
Senator Santorum ran a surprisingly strong race in 2012, finishing second to Mitt Romney. The Republican Party has a history of nominating previous second-place finishers. He is making an announcement next Wednesday.
By March 1st, the field will most likely be winnowed down to three or four candidates. In the meantime, this extremely large field of candidates presents some practical problems. For example, how does the Republican Party or a news outlet host a presidential debate with a dozen or more people on the stage?
Some have suggested that candidates averaging less than 5% in the polls be excluded. But if you do that, you likely eliminate the only female candidate and several others who might gain traction with conservative voters. Perhaps there could be two nights of debates with each night featuring half of the candidates. Stay tuned!
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