While Paris and other parts of Europe were on fire recently due to dissatisfied Muslim and North African immigrants, what does this mean to us?
Plenty. The continued failure of the U.S. to have a sane immigration policy that (1) seals the border, (2) focuses legal immigration on those who can enhance the U.S. economy, (3) requires assimilation by language (English first) and into the American culture to be part of America, and (4) require passports for all who want to enter the U.S. - means we will all follow the same road. It's time for us to wake up.
Of course, in France none of the above was done and adding to those failures was rising unemployment and agitation by Muslim activists, encouraged by Iran and Syria which lit the fuse and has now exploded. The French have reacted weakly, initially coddling the rioters instead of enforcing the law strictly.
The prognosis for the future in France and similarly situated European countries is not good, unless they decide they want their country and culture back.
Election 2005 - What Does It Mean?
First, in the 2005 off year and city elections we've had interesting results. TCR believes we generally had a mixed year.
A review nationally tells us losses in the Virginia and New Jersey's governor races were not a big surprise. We lost no new governorships. A better candidate maybe could have pulled out Virginia (besides, the conservative candidates for Lt. Governor and Attorney General won), but not New Jersey.
The President's recent travails probably made no real difference, but the ship must be righted and the Alito appointment and speaking out about Iraq will help. Now, if we could also plan to control spending, continue the tax cuts and end illegal immigration, we could be on our way back.
In Texas, a great victory for Prop 2 on marriage, which is a credit to the pro-family activists in both parties. This was also a lost opportunity, as many members of the other party could have been brought over to our side on social issues. It's too bad the state GOP didn't take advantage of that.
In the Houston city races, the once GOP majority on City Council is gone with reliable conservatives down to exactly two women, Dr. Shelley Sekula-Gibbs and Addie Wiseman. The others are there, but only occasionally, as they have bought the Mayor White agenda, lock, stock and barrel. While Mayor White has done well in some areas, taxes and spending still continue to rise and the spending control initiative Prop 2 is still being fought over in the courts.
In Houston, we are also back to candidates who try to be all things to all people. Unfortunately this cycle, the Harris County Republican Party failed to mail the results of its city candidates questionnaire to voters, making it more difficult to separate liberal imposters from true conservatives. Maybe they'll get it going for the runoff.
TCR Revisits The New Democrats: DLC's Current Plan For America
Periodically, TCR gets you up to date on our friends on the other side. Here is a test, review this platform and forget it's from the Democratic Leadership Council. Is this an agenda conservatives can embrace, at lease partially? If so, they are getting better at appealing to our base.
- (A) SECURITY
- Increase U.S. Armed Forces by 100,000 troops
- Require colleges to allow military recruiters on campus
- Reduce dependence on foreign oil 25 percent by 2025 to stop funding terrorism
- (B) VALUES
- Adopt a uniform ratings system for all media
- Ban the marketing of violence to children
- Enact a voluntary system of universal service
- (C) OPPORTUNITY
- Create high-wage jobs by making the United States the top exporter of energy efficient products
- Cut $300 billion in subsidies and invest it in innovation, education, and growth
- Pass tax reform to replace 68 tax breaks with four: college, homes, kids, universal pensions.
- Free and fair trade
- (D) REFORM
- Pass lobbying reform to close the revolving door
- Ban partisan gerrymandering and require states to offer voters a real choice
- More economic growth and less government debt
Let us know your opinion, email us at: gary@texasconservativereview.com
A God-Free America? By Gina Parker, Contributing Editor
Once again, atheist Michael Newdow, who first became infamous for challenging "Under God" in our Pledge of Allegiance, is attacking our Founding Fathers in court. As his new suit against our Pledge of Allegiance is pending, Newdow is planning to file another lawsuit - this time in an effort to remove "In God We Trust" from our currency.
In an attempt to gain more attention and bury the blessings and visions of our Founding Fathers, Newdow claims the rights of "atheists" who belong to the "First Amendment Church of True Science" are being violated. According to Newdow, the church's "three suggestions" are to "question, be honest and do what's right." Newdow contends that taking up a collection (otherwise known as tithing) with "In God We Trust" on the money is a violation of the separation of church and state.
What Newdow and others who are hostile to religion must understand is that our Constitution does not provide freedom from religion, but freedom of religion, and whether it is money, monuments, or public prayer, Americans have the freedom to worship God.
Not only is the lawsuit frivolous, but it is a clear attack on our nation's history and founding principles. Addressing the nomination of a Congressional Chaplin and the Founding Fathers, the United States House of Representatives noted in an 1854 report: "It [Religion] must be considered as the foundation on which the whole structure [America] rests. Laws will not have permanence or power without the sanction of religious sentiment, without a firm belief that there is a Power above us that will reward our virtues and punish our vices."
Furthermore, the Supreme Court has already stated in several cases that "In God We Trust" is not a violation of the fictitious separation of church and state. Speaking on the government's display of a Christmas nativity scene in Lynch v. Donnelly (1984), Justice O'Connor ruled that government declaration of Thanksgiving as a public holiday, printing of "In God We Trust" on coins, and opening court sessions with "God save the United States and this honorable court" are not only government acknowledgments of religion, but also they should not be understood as conveying government approval of particular religious beliefs.
Even the strict separationist, Justice Brennan, stated in Marsh v. Chambers (1983), "I frankly do not know what should be the proper disposition of features of our public life such as 'God save the United States and this Honorable Court,' 'In God We Trust,' 'One Nation Under God,' and the like. I might well adhere to the view .. that such mottos are consistent with the Establishment Clause, not because their import is de minimis, but because they have lost any true religious significance."
Our nation is a religious nation, whether atheists want to believe it or not, and we cannot erase our history. In Zorach v. Clauson (1952), Justice Douglas reasoned: "We are a religious people whose institutions presuppose a Supreme Being .... When the state encourages religious instruction or cooperates with religious authorities by adjusting the schedule of public events to sectarian needs, it follows the best of our traditions. For it then respects the religious nature of our people and accommodates the public service to their spiritual needs. To hold that it may not would be to find in the Constitution a requirement that the government show a callous indifference to religious groups."
Thus far, the Supreme Court has taken away prayer in public school, out of our graduation ceremonies, and even off our football fields. We cannot standby and let them deface our national motto because an atheist at a self-created "church" does not believe in God. A resounding message must reverberate across the country that our Founding Fathers looked to God when creating the greatest governing documents in history, and our nation should continue to do so today.
Gina Parker is the CEO of Dental Creations, a dental manufacturing company, and is also a successful attorney. Ms. Parker serves as a Bush and Perry appointee to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. She serves on the American Family Radio Advisory Board. Ms. Parker has served in a number of Republican Party state leadership positions in Texas and speaks on issues of national importance to conservatives.
COMING - (Friday, November 25 at 8 pm) and (Sunday, November 27 at 5 pm) to Channel 8 PBS in Houston, Texas - the connection - Red, White & Blue featuring TCR Editor Gary Polland and liberal commentator David Jones. The guest is U.S. Representative Sheila Jackson Lee. And coming soon, Texas State Representatives Garnet Coleman and Rick Noriega, Attorney General Greg Abbott and many more.
About Your Editor
Gary Polland is a long-time conservative and Republican spokesman, fund-raiser, and leader who recently completed three terms as the Harris County Republican Chairman. During his three terms, Gary was described as the most successful county Chairman in America by Human Events - The National Conservative Weekly. He is in his ninth year of editing a newsletter dealing with key conservative and Republican issues. The last four years he has edited Texas Conservative Review. Gary is a practicing attorney and strategic consultant and can be reached at (713) 621-6335.
Tune in Thursday
Nights - Houston Warner Cable channel 17 at 6:30 PM for Texas Politics-The Real Deal
with co-hosts David Jones and Gary Polland, awarded Cable T.V. personalities of the year by the Houston Press.
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