I know a lot of you and are friends with many  more. Ive gotten to live blog here and sit in on live chats during important times in this nation’s history.

I care a great deal about my family, friends and country.

I am greatful for those experiences. Even more greatful for the ear and soap box which this place allows me to speak from. Such is the need tonight and I pray that it still may be afterward.

If people would allow me to be transparent for a moment I would like to pour out burden placed on my heart over the past couple of weeks, which more or less came to a head this afternoon.

Honestly, Ive been getting physically sick over the debate on the debt limit and the direction and form its taken on.

The debate is a very serious matter. It represents the future we all want for our kids and families. It is the reason why I posted repeatedly the need to pass a balanced budget amendment and to work toward positive policy solutions.

Yet, in the end, our political foe sees the matter as a mear campaign ploy. Push the right buttons and the TEA party breaks off and runs third party. Press another set of buttons and those squishies in the middle run away from Republicans. Press a final set  the whole group implodes on command the whole group implodes on command.

This is where we are tonight.

On one end of the spectrum there are Democrats and President Obama with the media parroting their talking points at will pushing for gauranteed tax inceases which would erase the earlier lame duck session compromise. The result, of course, would disasterous for the Republican Party – and rightfully so given why they were sent to Washington in the first place. It is a win-win for President Obama as he would get to keep his raise taxes on the rich campaign promise while nuking the core constituency of the GOP.

The other end of the spectrum are those who believe it is a okay to not raise the debt limit, thereby creating some sort of by default balanced budget in which only vital things are paid for. Folks, these are the things which are made of unicorns and oompa loompas.  When President Obama threatens to cut Social Security and Medicare if he doesnt get his way, you better listen. This is the same President who did not list pay for our soldiers as vital and necessary funding  as a way to up the ante.

Mark my words, President Obama will inflict as much political pain as possible on this nation to get his way with policy. The media will do what ever they can to promote that pain and focus it on the Republican party.

Then there is another part of the spectrum who wants to do things was may be politcally expedient to get the media off their back, but hand over their Constitutional authority to the President. This is equally as silly as all the approaches above.

Of course, what makes matters worse for us conservatives, is the desire to melt down opposition, even if it is friendly, with laser-like accuracy.

Im not sure  when or if people will understand the inherent need for each other – or the consequences if we do choose to continue and throttle each other for our failures – but I am pretty sure Democrats know and get it.

Should we accept failure? Depends on how you define it.

For instance, I completely disagree with Erick that the GOP “failed” to repeal Obamacare. The House of Representatives passed a repeal bill. To some how believe the Democrat controlled senate would repeal Obamacare, and President Obama would sign such a bill is worse than crazy, its assinine.

On the other hand, failing to use every trick in the book to block Obamacare would constitute failure. A failure to even try. Especially given that Democrats tried every rule in the book.

Still, as I’ve said before, I did not sign on to black list people within our own party and movement.

Maybe its just my upbringing and the way God made me, but I tend to look at the person as a whole.

It is one thing to call for a new leader or propose policy. It is another to call for and demand people drop support for and black list other wise good people.

Maybe someone should explain the logic to me in the matter, especially when we are going nose to nose with what I deam a politically ruthless individual.

There is a reason I label my self as a Reagan Republican. I believe in his optimism. I believe in trying my best – yes – to get along with who God puts in my path.

It is a difference between fighting for whats right at the right time and governing.

Yes, we must fight and hold the line. However if presented with a solution which takes us 80% of the way, then we should accept it.

That does not mean I support tax increases, as it would destroy conservatives, Republicans in 2012 as breaking a major campaign promise and what little is left in the private sector economy.

It does not mean I support McConnell’s position of handing Congress’s Constitutional authority over to the President. That is equally as wrong.

It does mean if we get the perverbial one year extension with cuts equallying the amount of debt, I would take it.

It also means that I will respect my fellow conservatives and Republicans without calling for them to be blacklisted, even if I disagree vehemently with them.

Lastly, it means when I face God in prayer I may do so with a clean conscience.

If your anything like my self you’ve been a nervous wreck the past few weeks as the debt issue hurtles out of control and into the realm of obscene comedy.

First there was the possibility of reasonable policy discussion. Then there was the class warefare and insults launched at Republicans. Then there was more discussion followed my more insulting of Republicans, and Americans and large, paired with another healthy dose of class warfare.

As if those hurdles weren’t enough to trip up common sense, we have Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell making one of the most bone-headed manuevers in recent political history.

For those who arent up to speed, Senator McConnell tipped his hand and revealed a “doomsday” scenario in which the President of the United States gets to raise the debt on his own terms, without need to make cuts or offer concessions, in an effort to divert a government default.

The only thing worse than the proposal its self, was the timing – this afternoon – when a wave of negative news was hitting the wires regarding people’s rejection of President Obama’s apparent decision to try and threaten Congress into accepting bigger government.

The net result was a much deserved outrage.

However, as upset as I am in such a piece of legislation which would remove the exact reason why voters put the GOP in charge of the House last November, I am equally upset about those who might eat our own.

Now is not the time to split up and combat our selves. Not when the stakes are so high.

This budget show down is the perverbial hill to die on. It is what so many Americans tasked the Republican party to deal with.

With that in mind I would suggest for everyone to close ranks and stick together.

This is what seperates those who simply want to burn and blow up things for the sake of fun and those who want to move policy forward constructively. One only need to look at how President Obama addressed Republicans over the past couple of weeks as a reminder.

In contrast Speaker Boehner, and others, are classy and refrain from stabbing each other – and those who they are trying to broker a deal with – in the back.

Similarly while we should cry out and let our voice be known that while the McConnell proposal may be well intentioned and opposed, our focus should be on Democrats and President Obama.

Quick reminder of true freedom and liberty for all.

Dear Democrats and President Obama,

I know you guys seem to believe its all cool to demand some sort of new tone in politics while calling your opponent’s policy as immoral or try to humulate them to their faces in front of the national press.

Guess what.

Because of your absolute insistance on increasing spending, instead of reigning in and cutting an already out of control budget, the dollar may be sunk as a reserve currency.

The impact would lead our country’s economy to the point where it would be crippled for generations to come. Is that what you want?

While I suppose I should leave the conspiracy theories to  Glenn Beck, one wonders if he is accurately describing your  “lead from behind” philosophy and attitude toward this great nation. Dare I ask if you understand what last November was about?

In the end I suppose it matters not. After all, every proposal being floated in the media demands more spending and greater expense to those of us who flip the bill – both from experiencing higher prices and more money taken out of our take home pay.

I would ask for any of you still reading this article to follow this single piece of advice: Try to run a business which does not recieve a penny from the government. Doesnt matter whether it is a good or a service. Just do it.

Once you experience the successes and failures, and more importantly how to run on a balanced budget, then lets come back and talk.

Until then I expect you to understand so very little of what we, the people are demanding. This is unfortunate and it only hurts our country.

I pray this changes before its too late.

We are facing a serious problem with the national deficit with the perverbial credit card limit due to expire some time in Agust. Everyone knows this. Even Democrats.

Enter stage right a deficit “committee” headed by Vice President Biden, tasked with the goal of finding a way to reach a deal that would allow for the debt limit to be raised while making substantial cuts to the budget. The catch: Democrats, banking Republicans will blink and are clinging bitterly to the notion that any debt reduction deal must include tax increases. Tax increases which are a nonstarter for Republicans, especially in the House of Representatives.

With this strategy in play, Majority Leader Eric Cantor walk out on the talks noting that any discussion is at an impass without President Obama personally engaging with Speaker of the House John Boehner on the matter.

For that courage, Cantor should be commended.

Democrats must understand that the core of the problem doesnt come from the current tax rate, which existed a decade ago. The problem is out of control government spending.

Whats more, the talked about 200 a billion a year “cuts” in programs amount to nearly nothing when the deficit is adding nearly 1.5 trillion a year.

To give example of how out of hand the number is, we spent roughly one third ($500 billion) in Afghanistan over the past decade. That means we could fund the war in Afghanistan for 30 years and it would just then equal a single year of deficit spending under what is now “base line” spending in Congress.

This is not sustainable. Something has to be done. It is time to roll up our sleaves and make cuts to the budget where they are needed and reform entitlement spending.

Democrats need to understand that Republicans and the American people are serious.

For that exact reason Eric Cantor should be applauded for his decision today.

Over the past few hours media outlets across the spectrum are discussing the expected announcement of the withdrawl of around 30,000 troops from Afghanistan tonight.

I cannot wonder if what we are seeing play out is soley an effort for President Obama to boost his sagging poll ratings, especially with the bulk of the draw down to occur late next summer.

What we may be seeing is the complete opposite of President Bush’s strategy in Iraq.

Whereas President Bush focused on winning in Iraq and refused to bring troops home in the face of public opposition; Obama appears to favor more politically saavy decisions with re-election in balance.

Whats more, while the Taliban seems to be to be “intact,” the operational term used at the end of the day by the Obama administration and those in the media is that the main “objectives” are “accomplished.”

Are they? I, personally, am not sure.

There can be no doubt that anyone with an ounce of common sense is war weary and wants to see our men and women home. Yet, should we dial back our forces in haste and without regard to what is occurring on the ground?

Due to the media’s lack of reporting on Afghanistan I can only rely on views of soldiers I talk to who come back from the region. Everyone I talk to at this point tells me it is still a mess with little hope given from their Commander in Chief.

Sadly, members of the media are already seeking to knight President Obama as some sort of “super man” of national security. A “steady hand” as Gloria Borger, CNN’s chief political analyst announced this afternoon.

Of course nothing could be further from the truth.  One need to look only at the policy tracks taken with giving Iran cart blanc while threatening Israel. All while running wars in countries without Congressional Approval.

That is what concerns me most about tonight’s announcement.

Of course only time will tell if we are fleeing the scene of a battlefield for the sole purpose of raising President Obama’s poll numbers increase.

I will equally remain skeptical regarding the plan until I hear from generals and soldiers on the ground that this was the right move for the right reason.

Let me begin by saying that I was not over whelmed by any of the candidates. That is not to say they came out flat. To the contrary.

The problem I found with the debate was more in the format in which 90 out of 120 minutes of the debate focused on domestic issues.

Republicans missed, in my opinion, a chance to connect to people who they will need in the general election. By that I do not mean pandering, but making some sort of a “I give a darned about you and lead you” sense.

Two specific moments came to my mind. The first was with the person who felt they will be left out by any candidate who connects with the TEA party. Both Cain and Bachmann made attempts, but neither would reach out to the guy. Fail.

The second was concerning distaster funding. Instead of saying yes, we will find money to help and reach out to people effected by natural disasters we got some sort of quasi answer with the imperitive that private industry would help. Wrong.

That isnt to say government does an incredible job at helping those in their most troubled hour. They havent. I simply cannot see private industry doing the job FEMA does – and it is a role I personally believe government should be involved in.

Lastly, every single one of the candidates failed by epic porportions regarding the NASA and manned space flight question.

Obama has tried to the best of his ability to kill off our manned space flight program. While Constellation is not what I would call a dream delivery system, it is in heavy development. To kill it would mean that the United States would have zero access to space (unless buying a ride on Russian Soyez) for at least another decade.

Can private industry develop a launch system? Yes and no.

Private firms are the people who NASA contracts to build the equipment used. However it is still under the guidance and mission of NASA.

Let me put it another way. Would you be cheering if Neil Armstrong was representing General Electric and not the United States?

I would also add that NASA’s funding is so minscule that it is embarassing. It isnt as embarassing as the candidates answer on the matter, however.

Regarding winners and losers I would say this: my vote was not persauded in any direction tonight. Period.

Joshua Trevino made an observation tonight noting the real winner was Texas Governor Rick Perry. I would agree.

My candidate by candidate analysis is as follows:

Bachmann: Yes, she did deliver a “strong” message. However she does not deal with a fundamental reason I cannot support her until its her vs Romney or Obama – the ability to govern. She was given multiple chances which she could have reached out to at very least calm fears. Have no doubt she is a fighter – and a good one at that.  What we should all have learned, though, is that the President needs to also provide a softer side to pass legislation. Bachmann has none.

Cain: My wife and I both felt the same thing: CNN did not allow Cain to participate in a lot of the discussion. It could be wrongly percieved, but it just felt like when Cain got a question it was from the cold and his attempts to bridge over to talking points didnt fit. Whats more, John King’s cheap shot (and putting words into Cains mouth) regarding some sort of a religious litmus test was outrageous. (religious litmus test are illegal last I heard, btw) I liked a lot of his common sense answers. Still.

Gingrinch: Newt definitely scrapped with the best of them. His intellect really shined tonight. He was dead on regarding needing majorities in both houses when it comes to repealing Obamacare. More people should understand the legislative process, I feel, when we go nose to nose with Democrats over the next few months. Im not sure where his candidacy goes from here, but solid performance.

Paul: Extremely good performance given that some of the questions which reveal the more radical side of Dr. Paul were not asked. My guess is that someone just tuning in my identify with a lot of what he mentioned (not picking winners and losers, govt stay out of lives, etc).

Pawlenty: T-Paw had the lowest and highest moment of the debate. The lowest moment was the Obamney care answer. Instead of manning up and confronting Mitt regarding the individual mandate, he whimped out. However, on the right to work answer, Pawlenty rocked. I absolutely was cheering in my seat when he reminded the questioner that the government does not tell people who they should associate themselves with (unions in this case).

Romney: My view: he definitely looked more relaxed and polished than some of the other candidates. It crossed my mind I wouldnt mind see him going nose to nose with Obama on a number of issues (his answer regarding the GM rebuilding was superb). HOWEVER. My wife talked with me extensively after the debate how she felt he side stepped a good number of questions. Just did not feel comfortable with him. I still feel that he is the candidate I will hold my nose to vote for in November. (p.s. Romney campaign – I am still waiting for you to define assault weapon).

Santorum: Solid performance, but I just could not get into his answers.

All through 2010 we were told to vote our consciences and stick to our principles. We were told to rise up against the establishment and rock the boat, even if the results provided someone who was relatively unelectable to the rest of the body of voters.

The call to shake things up was correct one. The result a record number of freshman, many who have never held office, were elected to do the people’s bidding in Congress.

Fast forward to this year’s Republican presidential primary season. We are being given a set of choices once more. A set of alternative futures if you will.  With the field sill in flux most of us are still mulling over who we may support.

Should people again stick by their convictions and vote for whomever they wish, or should people be “smart” about their vote?

If we apply last year’s standar then people should vote for whomever without much thought of the over all implications of where their vote may lead to winning. That was me in 2008. I was one of the 3100 votes for Fred Thompson.

Of course John McCain went forward to win the nomination after the Missouri primary. It could be argued that those of us who voted for Guiliani, Thompson and Ron Paul could have voted for Romney or Huckabee then. In fact I was told by a number of people I wasted my vote because Thompson already closed up shop.

Perhaps, but it was a vote I am proud of and would not change.

Which brings us today. My esteemed colleague and friend Erick Erickson wrote an interesting column regarding the possible entry of Rick Perry into the presidential race.

In the piece, Erick proposes that if Perry were to enter the race it might further dilute the consevative vote – giving Romney a sizeable (and potentially insurmountable) lead.

If we grant Erick’s proposal then it begs a whole series of questions revolving around who conservatives might line rally to and if that person would be the right candidate in the first place.

If we were to take more conservative candidates – Bachman, Cain, Pawlenty, Santorm and throw Perry into the mix I would ask which is best qualified and can speak to the issues?

The truth is there is only one way to find out, and that is to run a primary.

The other unspoken truth is that the race can and will change radically over the next few months. If memory servers me correctly Guiliani was leading the race at this time in 2008 with Fred Thompson right on his heals.

As a result when I am asked to give up a potential candidate I have been following since the summer of 2009 before they even set foot into the arena I become a bit skeptical.

Yes, the logic is sound. Its just the historical reference and gut check which doesnt ring true.

In all honesty, Republicans are still searching for their voices and a leader. Of the voices I’ve heard only two make the stand up and pay attention. Of those two, only one has executive experience and a proven record at producing jobs and beating back this economy with freedom and liberty which we cherrish.

That leader is Rick Perry. It is why if he were to jump into the race I could not abandon him. I would be abandoning my self.

Of course first things first. Rick Perry would need to announce.

One of the more interesting articles crossing my desk the past few days is a column by Ben Smith regarding a bipartisan meeting of  Jewish interest groups with Isreali Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

I simply could not help but snicker at how Smith tried to play up perceived Republicans attempts to drive Democrat and Jewish interest away from Israel – citing comments from the Jewish Republican executive director Matt Brooks.

Right.

I agree with Democrat Representative Steve Israel that there should be a bi-partisan unity event to re-enforce common ground between the groups and emphasize support of Israel. However, it would be silly to blame any developed policy wedge on Republicans and any desire to soley score political points against President Obama.

The core policy change which sent shocks to our nation’s core was created in a speech by none other than President Obama last week.

President Obama’s proposal to retun Israel to its 1967  borders as a key tennent to peace in the Middle East is either sadly uninformed, meant as a brutal insult, or both.

If Democrats elect to fall in line and support President Obama, then it is their fault that support for Israel becomes a partisan issue. Republicans and Jewish supporters cannot and should not be blamed as being partisan hacks for opposing such a radical change in policy.

Democrats who believe they can support President Obama’s demand for Israel to give up Jeruselm and large swaths of its territory with no political repercussions and are mistaken.  It may be one reason why Minority whip Steny Hoyer disagrees with the idea.

He, like many Americans, seem to understand we should support our long term ally Israel. We should not throw our friends under the buss in an effort to appease terrorist.

In any event, tomorrows address to Congress by Nentanyahu will be worth the price of admission. Our elected officials will be able to come together and support that shining light of freedom in an other wise chaotic region.

If there is a division, however, Democrats can only blame President Obama and themselves.

I suppose, given past policy regarding small businesses, no one should be surprised by the line President Obama used in a town-hall style meeting held yesterday.

During the meeting President Obama demanded businesses and banks who he claims benefited from “extraordinary measures” to “rescue”, to spend massive amounts of money to hire new employees.

Translation: I bailed you out, bail me out from the poor polling data.

One might believe the semi-populist rant might provide a momentary wince during an other wise productive forum on the economy and possible solutions to move the country forward.

Wrong.

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I am not a happy camper. No sir, not one bit.

This last week reminded me once again what burned me out during the 2009 and most of 2010 political news cycle.

The conflict between those seeking to position themselves politically and those who are seemingly tone deaf to the desires of the American people is gut wrenching and dispiriting. Neither is playing smart or seemingly interested in doing the will of the voter – to reduce federal spending and cut the deficit.

How we get there is debatable. We do not need to achieve our goals “in a single swing of the bat”, but we do need to arrive there.

Most of us outside the beltway were willing to accept a budget deal to prevent a government shut down, even if it wasnt flashy, provided it made real cuts. American people can be reasonable about these things and understand that many times legislation is nothing more than ground up sausage.

This is where we run into problems with the budget deal.

Apparently the deal as presented to us is not real honest in terms of depth or breadth. No cuts were really made. Few riders with any real impact on government made it in. In short, it is a real mess.

Got a headache yet? Good, because now you know where I am at.

None of the moves by pundits or policy maker alike makes sense. None of the back and forth moves our country forward and works toward finding a solution, in fact all the posturing creates just the opposite effect.

So where does that leave the rest of us in the country who want problems to be solved without cutting our soliders pay or defaulting on our loan? In a pickle.

I doubt the political environment will change any time soon either.

Let me make this as brief and to the point as possible. In a high stakes policy show down which our nation cannot afford us to fail we are playing dumb. Real dumb.

Its as if there is some insationable desire to do precisely the wrong things at the wrong time as if maximize the advantge of those who seek to keep our nation shackled in debt and restrained by the bondage of big government.

Let me be clear: begging for a government shut down is akin to hand the keys of the House of Representatives back to Democrats. I know it is tempting to just pull the plug on government,  but our troops and the families of the people who work for the federal government deserve better. Our nation deserves better.

Similarly it is morally irresponsible to default on our debt. Period.

We all want to limit how much the government spends, and if you are like me, feel that there isnt a blessed thing that can be done at the moment. Defaulting on our national loans by telling the world that our country has no intention to pay for its programs will do nothing more than turn us into another Greece – and finish off what Democrats started five years ago when they took over Congress.

Like a bug attracted to an electric zapper, we conservatives seemingly without thought charge into this policy with the best intentions.

The results, however, seem to do nothing more than play into the hands of Democrats and President Obama.

What was a win and positive move in the budget process now looks to be nothing more than a charade put on to try and cripple the GOP in the public eye. We, unfortunately, are all too happy to oblige. Its as if we want our leaders to fail – for what ever reason. No good can come of this, no matter how one wishes to spin such incidents

So what now? Make Democrats pay in reforms every step of the way. No matter how small or big until we make headway.

We, the citizens of this great nation spoke last fall, and made it clear that government should be smaller. This means starving the beast; not fattening it up by raising taxes and giving it a larger percentage of GDP to live on. The money is no longer there.

However, the two biggest policy battles in my life time are about to take place and instead of strengthening our side, it seems our side elected to discredit its self. This is troubling.

At a time when our attention should be focused on how to defeat the forth coming proposal from President Obama, we are focused on how bad a deal our leaders got in the last confrontation. In effect we are weaking our hand.

Yes, we should hold all of our elected officials into account and we should not hide from the truth of policy. We must know all the facts and details if we are to make better decisions in the future.

Similarly we must also acknowledge that Democrats retain control of the Presidency, Senate and media. If we are to be honest with our selves, we know Democrats still hold the keys to power in many ways. Last November simply put the breaks on the runaway train.

It is now time to work to move the ball forward, together, smart.

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