Hope is Not a Foreign Policy » Conservatism

Conservative Critics of the Libya Campaign Aren’t Isolationist–They’re Realists

Tom Skypek — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 11:41:31 +0000

The continued military adventure in Libya, the House of Representatives’ ambiguous rebuke of the President, and the President’s recent speech on Afghanistan, has led to a number of thoughtful articles on the current trajectory of our foreign policy which I wanted to share.

Colin Dueck, GOP Isolationist? No, Just More Jacksonian, RealClearPolitics
Tony Blankley, McCain Is Wrong: GOP Not Isolationist, The Washington Times
George Will, John McCain’s Never-ending War, The Washington Post

Lastly, I wanted to share the piece I wrote for RealClearPolitics, Conservatism Does Not End at America’s Shorelines. Like the three authors above, I, too, was prompted by the misleading comments of Sens. McCain and Graham. What the conservative intellectual movement needs is a substantive, honest debate on the merits of various foreign policy approaches. Throwing verbal firebombs does not constitute a serious debate. Reasonably people can certainly disagree but let’s hear the arguments. I’ve received some interesting feedback on the piece thus far. What is encouraging is that even among folks who disagree with my preferred approach, most concede the point on cost/national interest which is the crux of my argument. Foreign policy and military affairs are not exempt from the economic realities that govern the rest of human affairs.

Atlas Shrugged Movie Trailer

Tom Skypek — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 23:44:36 +0000

Help promote conservative film. Spread the word about Atlas Shrugged. Check out the trailer here.

It’s the Oil, Stupid – Part II

Tom Skypek — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 23:53:30 +0000

Oil prices jumped 8.5% today as the popular uprisings in Libya continued. This is exactly what I was talking about last week in my post, “It’s the Oil, Stupid.” Instability creates uncertainty and uncertainty drives up oil prices. Because we’re slaves to Middle Eastern crude oil, Washington has to cow-tow to two-bit dictators and the price-fixing cartel OPEC. This is a choice, though. When we get serious about energy independence we can fundamentally change this dynamic. Unfortunately, as I noted last week, “The Obama administration has declared war on the coal industry through its proposed cap-and-trade legislation (and likely forthcoming EPA regulations); the licensing process for building new nuclear power plants has not been accelerated and the administration refuses to grant additional offshore drilling permits.”

Eric Cantor Continues to Draw Ire of Conservatives

Tom Skypek — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 23:21:39 +0000

Great piece from Erick Erickson at Red State aptly titled, “Eric Cantor’s Failure of Leadership.”

Huckabee Declines to Take Shot At Daniels

Tom Skypek — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 22:01:57 +0000

Via Tim Alberta at the National Journal:

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (R) doesn’t like the idea of Republicans calling a “truce” on social issues to focus on fixing the economy — but that doesn’t mean he’s eager to take on the man pushing that message, Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels (R).

“I’m a fan of Mitch Daniels,” Huckabee said on a conference call with reporters Monday, adding that Daniels has “an extraordinary skill set not only to be governor but to be president.”

Huckabee was speaking with reporters one day before the release of his book, “A Simple Government,” in which he writes: “I’ve been criticized many times for talking so much about ‘social issues’ when the real issue now, according to some people, is the economy. Well, buckle up, Turbo, because here’s a simple, inarguable fact: Every broken, fatherless family has a tremendous economic impact.”

Huckabee made it clear that while he admires Daniels and could even see himself supporting the Hoosier for president, Republicans “don’t need to be talking about a truce.”

“I believe conservatives can walk and chew gum at the same time,” said Huckabee, who stressed that one of the underlying themes of his book is that “there’s no way to disconnect social issues from the economic,” because there are “direct consequences from social breakdowns.”

Last year, Huckabee was critical of Daniels’ proposed truce on social issues, and his book shows that he won’t be shy about continuing to express his disapproval of the idea.

Huckabee’s book, which runs 210 pages, carries the subtitle: “Twelve Things We Really Need from Washington (and a Trillion That We Don’t!)”

A lesser man would have taken this opportunity to slam Daniels over his “truce” comments. Say what you will about Mike Huckabee but he’s a stand-up guy.

Does Eric Cantor Want a Third Party?

Tom Skypek — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 14:57:46 +0000

The Republican Party doesn’t want the Tea Party movement to spin off and form its own political party. At the presidential level, this would be a disaster, at least in the near-term. However, this is becoming an increasingly greater possibility as elected Republicans in the 112th Congress shrink from their responsibilities, as House Majority Leader Eric Cantor recently did when he, along with 91 other Republicans, voted against the Jordan amendment to cut $100 billion in federal spending.

$100 billion is a drop in the bucket. We have no money. I thought the message of the November 2010 elections was crystal clear: cut federal spending. This message seems lost on many in GOP leadership positions. What we expect are deep cuts and bold proposals. Rand Paul has been leading the charge by suggesting across-the-board cuts. This is what Tea Partiers expect. You can’t cut enough from the budget.

This was an important vote and will not be forgotten by the Tea Partiers who made calls, stood in the blistering cold and scorching heat at so many rallies in 2009 and 2010, and gave their time to help candidates during last the last election cycle.

Cantor and 91 Other House Republicans Cower from Spending Cuts

Tom Skypek — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 21:40:30 +0000

As Adam Bitely from NetRightDaily.com reported, 92 House Republicans voted against Republican Study Committee Chairman Jim Jordan’s amendment to the Continuing Resolution which would have cut nearly $100 billion in spending. Among those voting against the spending cuts were House Majority Leader Eric Cantor and Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy. The real conservatives in Republican leadership positions, Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan and Republican Caucus Chairman Jeb Hensarling, voted in favor of the amendment.

Either you’re serious about cutting spending or you’re not. Despite his tough talk, Cantor let down the voters of Virginia. We have no money. We’re broke. This isn’t the first time that Cantor has failed voters. In 2009, Cantor and 84 other Republicans voted to support the unconstitutional AIG bonus tax. These firms shouldn’t have been bailed out in the first place but passing a law taxing individuals only added insult to injury.

Has the Republican leadership forgotten about the elections of November 2010? The Tea Party movement should be angry. Republicans who talk tough about spending cuts and then fail to deliver on critical votes are no better than their liberal-progressive counterparts. This was an important vote. Even if the measure had passed, $100 billion doesn’t even big to scratch the surface. If the Republicans are going to accomplish any of their objectives they need strong conservatives in leadership positions. Cantor should step aside.

Book Giveaway and Review: “The Dollar Meltdown” by Charles Goyette

Tom Skypek — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 13:51:56 +0000

The Dollar Meltdown: Surviving the Impending Currency Crisis with Gold, Oil, and Other Unconventional Investments

by Charles Goyette

Penguin (October 26, 2010)

272 pages.

List Price: $17.00 Amazon Price: $11.56

Charles Goyette has made an important contribution to the conservative and investment literature by distilling complicated economic and financial matters into an easily digestible volume. This is a must-read for conservatives and personal investors in search of a better understanding of a host of economic and financial topics including: the federal bailouts, the national debt, monetary policy and the Federal Reserve, inflation, and the role of gold in currency valuation throughout history.

The author’s thesis is simple: America’s massive national debt, coupled with reckless intrusions by government regulators, have put this country on a crash course toward high inflation and dollar devaluation. Goyette divides the book into four sections: Where We Are, How We Got Here, What Happens Next, and What to Do.

The author provides common sense strategies for personal investors looking to shield their assets from the dollar devaluation. Goyette provides the reader with a blueprint for building a diversified investment portfolio with holdings in tangible commodities including gold, silver, and oil. He even provides information on specific investment vehicles such as the SPDR Gold Shares exchange-traded fund to help you jump-start your investment research. One of the best features of the book is that it has an appendix full of investment resources. Of course, before you invest in anything you should always do your own research and never, ever buy on speculation.

This book also highlights the damage that has been done to our economy by incompetent public officials (Republicans and Democrats) in Congress, the Federal Reserve, and the Executive Branch. Timothy Geithner stands out, though:

Timothy Geithner, soon to be named President Obama’s new treasury secretary, was the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York at the time. He had solemnly explained the prior April that but for the Fed’s bailout, the failure of Bear Stearns would have led to falling stock prices and downward pressure on real estate prices. Such a failure, said Geithner, would have led to “a greater probability of widespread insolvencies, severe and protracted damage to the financial system and, ultimately, to the economy as a whole.” This, of course, is precisely what happened after the bailout. (pg. 14)

Government bailouts and Keynesian economic policies do not work. Yet we have public officials like Geithner who continue to occupy positions of power despite incredibly poor past performance. Geithner was dead wrong on the Bear Stearns bailout. The company failed and was sold in a fire sale to JP Morgan Chase. So why would Geithner think that an even bigger bailout, the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP), would work months later?

Empirical evidence should have told him that bailouts were ineffectual. Government has an innate compulsion to “try to do something.” Instead, they should let the market correct itself. This means that companies who made poor business decisions should reap the consequences. The government’s meddling in the markets has created an environment of socialized risk and privatized gain.

How to win a free copy of The Dollar Meltdown by Charles Goyette:

Penguin was kind enough to give me three copies of the book to give away to readers of Hope is Not a Foreign Policy. The rules are simple. For each action you take (see list below), leave a comment indicating what you’ve done. Leave a new comment for each new action that you take. For example, if you blog about the giveaway on your blog, leave a comment. If you post the giveaway on your Facebook News Feed, leave a comment. The winners will be determined by a randomized number drawing, so the more comments you leave, the better your chances of winning.

Call your Representative or Senator and tell them to cut at least $61 billion from the Continuing Resolution (HR 1) which will fund the government through Sept. 30. More is better, but this CR cannot be passed without significant cuts. Let me know who you called.
Blog about the book giveaway on your blog and link to Hope is Not a Foreign Policy. Post the link to your blog post in the comments section. This counts as 3 entries.
Post the giveaway on your Facebook News Feed
Tweet about it on Twitter
Post the giveaway on a forum.
“Like” this on Facebook
Add this post to StumbleUpon, Delicious, or Reddit
Follow Hope is Not a Foreign Policy on Networked Blogs
Let me know which potential Republican presidential candidate you’ll be pulling for.

The giveaway will close on Friday, February 25. Good luck!

Put the Students First: Fire the Striking Teachers

Tom Skypek — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 01:31:56 +0000

From the Editors at Investor’s Business Daily:

Labor: Unionized Wisconsin teachers should be ashamed of their response to legislation that would end their privilege to bargain collectively. And if such lousy behavior continues, they should be relieved of their duties.

The Wisconsin government is in a financial hole, operating with a $137 million deficit for the current fiscal year ending June 30. Its future is filled with bigger deficits, projected to be as large as $3.6 billion.

One way to cut into the shortfall is to end the public employee unions’ collective bargaining privilege that has landed them the generous salaries and benefits the taxpayers are struggling to pay.

Doing what voters elected him to do, new Republican Gov. Scott Walker introduced a bill last week that would strip nonfederal government workers in Wisconsin of their collective bargaining license and require them to contribute more to their benefits package.

Public school teachers, who would not be the only public employees affected, responded as if they took their cues from their students. They marched like spoiled entitlement queens on the Capitol in Madison and threw a tantrum, leaving behind trash and tarnished images that someone else has to clean up.

The teachers are so incensed that 40% of the 2,600 of them who are in the Madison collective bargaining unit cut class Wednesday to demonstrate.

This prompted school officials to cancel classes Wednesday and again Thursday, which is cheating students — and taxpayers — out of two days of learning.

But this is all about the kids, right? Isn’t that why some teachers even took students with them to protest, as one student so eloquently put it, “whatever this dude is doing”?

The media are labeling Walker’s plan to cut costs bold and aggressive, which it is. It is also overdue.

But it is not extreme, as one poorly informed college-student protester claimed.

If the governor’s proposal becomes law, public employees would have to pay half of their pension contributions and at least 12.6% of their health care insurance premiums. Overall, their costs would go up by 8%.

Considering that private-sector workers who aren’t protected by favorable laws have been hit much harder, that’s a modest impact. It is not, as Barack Obama, president of the United States — not president of the local union hall — has suggested, “an assault on unions.”

And it’s a much better outcome than layoffs, which will come in the thousands if not tens of thousands if the legislation doesn’t become law.

Teachers belong in classrooms, not in mass protests. The only teaching they can do at demonstrations is to show their students how not to act.

Some protesters have chanted “Recall Walker now,” but it’s the teachers, not the governor, who should be losing their jobs if they refuse to perform them.

This editorial really says it all. The unions have destroyed public education in America. It’s time to put the students first. The striking teachers should be relieved of their duties.

In Defense of Mitch Daniels

Tom Skypek — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 15:46:33 +0000

God Bless them both but Rush Limbaugh and Mark Levin are dead wrong on Governor Mitch Daniels. I’ve listened to Rush for almost a decade and Levin for several years now, and I enjoy them both but their commentary on the Indiana governor is counterproductive for conservatives and is based more on a knee-jerk reflex than an evidentiary claims. What is more, they’ve lost sight of the critical question for conservatives as we approach the 2012 presidential election: who is the most conservative candidate with the most viable path to 270?

For whatever reason, the talk radio giants have elected to mischaracterize Mitch Daniels’s record when it comes to the “social issues,” seizing on Daniels’s “truce” comment from last year. Sound bites aside, as Indiana blogger Josh Gillespie notes, the governor’s ”record on pro-life issues has been immaculate.” Mike Fichter of Indiana Right to Life further testifies to the governor’s steadfastness in supporting pro-life legislation (see sound clip “Gillespie on FTRradio.com”).

Daniels’s record is one of a firmly pro-life politician. Gillespie notes that one critic of Daniels’s “truce” comment concedes, “Few would claim that Gov. Daniels is a social liberal. In fact, he has a good track record on social issues.” The “truce” comment is really a matter of rhetorical emphasis. Daniels is pro-life and his record proves that. But Daniels is not Gary Bauer. He is going to spend the bulk of his time talking about this nation’s fiscal crisis and proposing serious, albeit sometimes politically unpopular, solutions. What do you get with Mitch Daniels? A competent executive with a proven record as a governor who has a laser beam focus on the national debt.

Will he support pro-life legislation? Will he re-institute the Mexico City policy? Will he appoint strict constructionists to the bench? His record gives me confidence that he would do all of these things as president. I urge my fellow conservatives to look at the record before making knee-jerk judgments based on 10-second sound bites.