I know that President Bush will be addressing the American people in the next week or so on Iraq/War on Islamic Terrorism. I hope that he uses it as an opportunity to discuss some other important issues as well. Bush should make it clear to Congress and the American people that he will tirelessly pursue conservative Republican values and ideas in his last two years in office (strong national defense, earmark reform, market based reforms for social security and medicare, school choice/vouchers for all American parents, securing our border, and tax cut permanency. This will put Bush and the GOP on the offensive and will enable them to set the issues and agenda prior to the 08â?? election. If I were Bush here are the main points I would make. I know that he won’t but allow me to dream for a minute if you will.
1. Not only will we not cut and run in Iraq, but as Commander and Chief, I give my word to our troops and the Iraqis that we will do whatever necessary to ensure that the Iraqi people be able to stand on their own in a free and Democratic Iraq. The United States of America never leaves a friend and we will not break our word. Not on my watch. I call on all Americans to not only support the troops but to recommit ourselves to supporting the mission in Iraq until the Iraqi people can stand safely on their own.
2. Iran, Syria, and North Korea should know that we support all citizens in those countries that support a free and democratic way of life. But if the leaders of these countries chose to violate international law by aiding and abetting terrorist organizations- including the development of nuclear weapons programs- that we- The United States of America- reserve the right to pre-empt any such threat they may pose to the free world. We will not negotiate with those who harbor terrorists or sponsor terrorism in any way. And we will not tolerate the intentional flouting of international sanctions and resolutions. Cease from sponsoring terrorism and disarm or be prepared to suffer the consequences.
3. I meant what I said when I promised to never raise taxes. Our Social Security system nears imminent collapse and must be fundamentally reformed. I am calling on Congress to pass substantial SS reform that would allow younger workers to voluntarily invest their own money in individual retirement accounts that would pay market returns that they would legally own. If private accounts are good enough for federal employees, they are good enough for every tax paying citizen in our nation.
4. I call on Congress to make the 2001 and 2003 Tax cuts permanent on personal income, dividends, and capital gains. We know that all the initial predictions of economic collapse, ballooning deficits, and jobless recoveries were incorrect. We are at war and it is imperative that the US economy remains strong via pro-growth tax cuts for individuals and businesses.
5. I call on Congress to end the unethical and immoral death tax. Death should not be a taxable event and all Americans who have worked and saved over their life times should be able to pass on the fruit of their labor to their children without teh federal government confiscating half of it.
6. I call on Congress to fully fund the border fence and increased number of border patrol agents. Construction should begin immediately. I am also officially pardoning the two-border patrol agents wrongly sentenced to prison for capturing an illegal alien drug smuggler. This is a travesty of justice that two such courageous federal employees would be sentenced to prison for protecting and defending the US border. If anybody should go to prison it should be the illegal crimminal aliens who populate our prisons who I am ordering immendiately deported to their nation of origin. The American taxpayer will no longer have to fund 3 square meals a day, cable TV, and weightlifting for crimminal aliens in our federal prisons.
7. I call on congress to pass comprehensive earmark reform-total transparency- and propose specific spending cuts such as revocation of the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit for wealthy seniors who can afford to buy their own medications. I am also putting Congress on notice that any budget increases beyond the rate of inflation will be vetoed on arrival on my desk. Read my lips (VOA)!