This Week in Copenhagen

I’m an only child. And just so ya know, I’m not a spoiled brat and I’m fully aware that the sun does not rise on my left shoulder and set on my right. I’m also an only child who wants a lot of kids. I’ll be the mom in the 15-passenger van barreling down the street in about 20 years.

At least, that’s what I want. But if the people at Copenhagen have their way, I won’t be able to do it. Some leaders at the climate change have discussed adopting China’s one-child policy to reverse the impending doom of overpopulation.

First of all, the idea that the world is overpopulated is a crock. Ever been to Idaho? Montana? Wyoming? Plenty of room there.

In all seriousness: In Western Europe the population rate barely meets replacement. Russia, Spain, and Italy bottom out at less than 1.54 children per couple, and Iceland, Norway, Ireland, and Spain top the list at 2 or over. The overall fertility trend in Europe has steadily declined since 1980. American fertility just meets the 2.1 children required for population replacement, down from nearly 3.75 in 1960. With so many countries hardly even replacing themselves, how can we have an overpopulation crisis?

Finally, Glenn Beck made an excellent point on his show today. Where’s the women’s rights crowd? They’re always telling the government to stay out of their uteruses and give them total reproductive freedom. Isn’t restricting the number of children you can have a pretty significant violation of reproductive freedom? Why haven’t we heard from them yet?

Healthcare Townhall

Now that the House has passed the Healthcare bill, we're reliant on the Senate to block the bill to stop socialized health care. To help spread information, College Republicans are hosting a Healthcare Townhall, tomorrow, November 10th, at 6:30 in Lane 125. The meeting will feature Dr. Mariannette Miller-Meeks.

After leaving home at the age of 16, Dr. Miller-Meeks enrolled in nursing school at San Antonio Junior College. After completing two years of courses, she transferred to Texas Christian University where she earned her bachelor's degree, graduating summa cum laude. Dr. Miller-Meeks then joined the officer corps of the United States Army as a nurse at the age of 20.

Mariannette met her future husband, Curt, while stationed at Walter Reed Army Hospital. Dr. Miller-Meeks completed her Masters of Science in Education at the University of Southern California, soon before her transfer to Seoul, South Korea. After 6 years of active duty, Mariannette entered medical school at the University of Texas and graduated in the top of her class.

After completing her residency in ophthalmology at the University of Iowa, Dr. Miller-Meeks joined the faculty at the University of Michigan and was then recruited back to the University of Iowa as the first female faculty member in the department of ophthalmology. Mariannette has authored numerous articles, presented national lectures and research, was awarded the Charles Phelps Award in 1995, and has been named one of America’s best doctors several times.

Mariannette retired from the US Army Reserve in 1998 after 24 years at the rank of Lt. Colonel, after which she moved to Ottumwa, Iowa to open a private practice.
Dr. Miller-Meeks is currently the councilor for Iowa to the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), serves as an associate examiner for the American Board of Ophthalmology, and was inaugurated as the first female president of the Iowa Medical Society in 2006.

Join us in fighting for our freedom this freedom week!

Great job!

A big thanks to everyone who's helped out Mike Nofs this fall. He won yesterday, moving us a step closer to turning MI red. It was a great day across the nation, with some big victories in VA and NJ, and the overhaul of the gay marriage amendment in ME. Just because the elections are over doesn't mean we get a break, however. With yesterday's results, we've seen how much can happen in a year. With mid-term elections only a year a way, it's as important as ever that we spend this year hitting the pavement, so we can bring about a shift in the thinking of government.

Election Day

While not as flashy as last year, today is Election Day, and a critical part of our role as citizens is to make sure we are represented through our votes. So if you haven't already voted on an early or absentee ballot, make sure you get to your polling place today and make your voice heard. Let's let the Democrats in Washington that we're not happy with the 'change' their offering, and we're ready to show with our local leadership.

Who are we? The Future of the G.O.P. from New York

That's the question many Republicans started asking in 2007 as dozens of G.O.P. contenders for the presidential nomination, ranging from the more liberal Rudy Guilianni to the right-libertarian Ron Paul, struggled to define the legacy of Republicanism. After the defeat of moderate-maverick John McCain, that debate continues.

There is nothing new in the history of the moderate-conservative war to own the G.O.P. identity. After the death of the party's leader in Lincoln, the more hardline Republicans impeached the former democratic-moderate President Andrew Johnson in order to prosecute their reconstruction agenda.

Many see the current struggle in New York's 23rd congressional district - a struggle which saw dueling between G.O.P. titans such as Sarah Palin and Newt Gingrich and ended in the more moderate candidate suspending her campaign Saturday - as a similar conflict between the hardliners and the pragmatists. In that case, they see this as suicide for a minority party crucified on a cross of a "take-no-prisoners" ideology, sacrificing any chance of regaining power for the pleasure of platform purity.

I agree that this purification strategy is what my friend Julie Robinson termed "playing tennis without a net." A "litmus test" conservatism, which hauls to the guillitine any candidate without total adherence to a list of true-believer stances on everything from immigration to the campaign finance reform, is unwise and doomed to fail. It is indeed better, as Reagan noted, to support someone you agree with 70% of the time over someone you disagree with all the time. Realism is important. But I do not think that is what is happening in New York's 23rd.

Republican Dede Scozzafava's specific positions that caused the likes of Michelle Malkin and Glenn Beck to endorse the Third Party conservative Doug Hoffman are significant. She was pro-choice, pro-homosexual marriage, and pro-Obama stimulas package. I would argue that these issues are uniquely important. The government "stimulas" that borrowed billions and bailed out mortgages is a fundemental question of the individual's responsibility in society. The social questions are fundementally about the definition of family and personhood, or the basic nature of humanity. In fact, I submit that these issues frame the ultimate question which is at the root of all political debates in every generation of Americans.

That question is this: will Americans self-govern our society under the rule of laws founded in the enduring moral order - the self-evident "laws of nature and of nature's God" - or will we govern our nation on the whims of force and man, devoid of any transcendent truth? This question isn't a question that can be answered with a compromise. You can't agree with me on the answer to this question "70% of the time."

In my view, and I think in the view of those who bucked the G.O.P. establishment and endorsed the conservative third party candidate, the issues of abortion, gay marriage, and government dole-outs are the issues that most clearly frame that fundemental quesiton. If someone disagrees with us on these issues, when it really comes down to it, he or she doesn't share much common ground with us at all. Electing someone who disagrees here is anything but realistic or prudent toward Republican ends.

My hope is that between now and the 2010 congressional elections, the G.O.P. will realize that who we are, and who we have been, is the party that first embraces the freedom of self-government under enduring, transcendent law. I hope we will begin setting up a diverse "big tent" that is staked emphatically on that firm, unifying foundation.

A Republican Strategy For Victory?

Until the last four years since 2006, the conservatism of Reagan had built a majority Republican party. Somethings have changed in the world, such as the defeat of the Soviet Empire, that make some specific pillars of Reagan's platform irrelevant today. Other, more general principles, are still quite applicable to our current policy world.

What the Republican party needs, argues this article in Investors Business Daily, is a way to make those principles even more relevant to our present day's difficulties.

How to do that? The author argues:

"The Republican Party has to move from a pro-business strategy that defends the interests of existing companies to a pro-market strategy that fosters open competition and freedom of entry.

"A pro-market strategy rejects subsidies because they're a waste of taxpayers' money and because they prop up inefficient firms, delaying the entry of new and more efficient competitors.

"And a pro-market approach holds companies financially accountable for their mistakes — an essential policy if free markets are to produce sound decisions.

"A pro-market party will fight tirelessly against letting firms become so big that they cannot be allowed to fail, since such firms may take risks that ordinary companies would never dream of."

This advice echoes the words of older elements of a certain strand of conservatism, such as Wilhelm Roepke's strand of classical liberalism that calls for a "humane economy," who argued that mass and "largeness" is ultimately incompatible with free markets because of intrinsic attributes of human nature. It also sounds a lot like the No. 2 man in the 2008 GOP primaries by delegate count, Mike Huckabee, who attracted more support from young voters than any other Republican candidate in the primary race.

Undoubtably, free markets and economic freedom must be part of a real strategy to renew America. Should this freedom concentrate on reduce "largeness" and economic collectivism?

Don't Let Their Sacrifice Be In Vain

I have a prediction, I think. I don't know that the economy is going to be the big defining issue in 2010. It could be. But I think that the current war in which our nation is engaged is going to rise to the top issue.

Things aren't going so well for us in Afghanistan, such that our fighting men and women, as pointed out by this article in the Washington Times this morning, are starting to wonder if their sacrifices are in vain. That is shameful. America doesn't have to lose this war. We need a change in strategy, and one that comes from our commanders on the ground, not from Washington politicians. And if the current politicians won't listen, then we need to get more attentive leaders in 2010.

Great News in the Polls

There's great news for republicans in the polls. According to Rasmussen, likely American voters now trust the GOP more on all of the top ten "key issues," including abortion, health care, taxes, education, social security, and national security.

This just goes to show us that America hasn't fundamentally changed its republican ideals. If the GOP can just maintain unity around Americans' core common principles, they can win big in 2010 and start reversing many of the destructive progressive policies that have so beleaguered our great nation for nearly all of the past century.

Less exciting is this: while republicans are currently trusted more on government ethics, their lead on this issue is by only a 4% margin, and 38% of Americans are still undecided between the two major parties. That's a sad commentary on Republicans. If they want to win, they must prove that they indeed walk the walk as well as talk the talk. It has only been the GOP's failure to demonstrate that they truly stand for a transparent culture of honesty and integrity, social virtue, limited government, and prudent international leadership that has cost them the trust and the precious confidence of the American people.

But enough editorializing -- there is work to be done. If you at all available this week, join me in making calls to elect republican leaders this week Monday through Thursday in the Richard Reese conference room, next to the formal lounge, from 6-9pm.

Hate Crimes Bill: An affront to liberty

So congress finally passed the Hate Crimes bill ...

This is classic. Attach a bill that's controversial to a bill that's not controversial and pass it with "bipartisan support." Well, yeah, not passing the bill would mean that our soldiers wouldn't get needed defense funding. Passing the bill, however, means a both-barrels shotgun assault on first amendment rights.

Let be be clear: I am totally against anyone who commits a crime/violence against gays. That's wrong. They are people too, created in the image of God and deserving of dignity and respect.

However, this bill defines "crime" broadly as even SAYING anything that is subjectively offensive about gays. It could, and almost certainly will, be used to bar even religious speech by Christians, Muslims, or Jews, including denoting reading parts of religious texts that any gay person finds offensive as "hate speech" punishable by outrages fines and/or prison time.

For instance, if I were to read Leviticus 18:22 aloud, even in my church, if a gay person happens to feel offended, they could prosecute me on the same level as if I had been member of the KKK spewing threats of violence against racial minorities.

And that, my friends, is an affront to the first amendment and everything America is about. This bill is a shameful assault on free speech and freedom of religion.

This is why it is imperative that the republicans retake congress; so we can repeal this atrocity against our liberty.

We Have Seen the Enemy, and It Is FOX?

On Sunday, WH communications director told the NYT that they treat FOX News the way they treat an opponent. As is imaginable, this got many people over at FOX quite upset, especially Glenn Beck who made a point on his show today to try and take down the WH a few notches.

It's a bit disturbing when an administration begins to label groups in the media as opponents. Our First Amendment provides for the freedom of the press, and not just to the press that likes you. It's frustrating to see the President hand-picking news outlets, which ultimately takes away from their credibility, as if they are known to be supports of the administration, everything they say must be taken into perspective in regards to their bias.

The IgNobel Peace Prize

Yesterday morning we learned that Pres. Obama will receive the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize.

If this leaves you scratching your head, it gets worse. The deadline for nomination was less than two weeks after he took office.

You may wonder whether Obama has done anything to deserve this award. But according to the Nobel committee chairman, Obama won because of his efforts, not because of the results.

This is patently absurd. You don’t get a paycheck because of the work you might do, you get it for the work you did do. Professors don’t hand out grades for the papers their students might write, but for the ones they did write. Using the Peace Prize as an incentive devalues the award and shows that it's nothing but an ideological beauty contest.

However, through this Obama has finally said one thing I agree with. He does not believe he is worthy to be in the company of the people who have won the prize before him.

You’re right about that, Barry. You’re right about that.

Where Have I Heard That Before?

Exciting news! A new report says that the new health care plan won't raise our deficit. Isn't that awesome news? Are you sold yet? Unfortunately, as the Republican Senators who read the report saw, this doesn't stop the bill for adding a large cost to those of us in the country already paying for our insurance. So now, in addition to shelling out money for yourself, you get to support all your fellow citizens, many of whom don't have insurance because they don't want it.

So while I appreciate the time our Senator spent creating this report, (they could have been doing something really dangerous, like legislating), I'm going to pass on this one. Thanks though!

Terri Lynn Land

We had a great meeting tonight with Michigan SoS Terri Lynn Land. She provided us with a lot of insight into what goes into the job of the SoS. For instance, MI is the only state who puts motor vehicle registration under the SoS, making Mrs. Land responsible for the largest DoS in the nation. We also learned about the process of elections in MI and got some insight on the state's political future. Members had the opportunity to ask questions and interact with the highest-ranking Republican in the state.

A big thanks to Mrs. Land for coming down and to everyone who came out!

How To Lose A War

Check out this article I wrote here that covers the difficulties America is facing in Afghanistan. The latest polling data shows that Americans are starting to realize the nature of the uphill battle for our brave fighting men and women.

Like Carter, it seems Obama is botching our foreign policy in the middle east. That's why we need to keep up the political pressure spread the word....

Chapter Meeting

We're having our first chapter meeting this Tuesday!! 6:30 in the Formal Lounge in Grewcock. Terri Lynn Land, MI's Secretary of State, is coming to speak to us, so it's sure to be a great night.

And for a chance to get involved, come at 5:30 to make phone calls for the Fix-MI center. We'll be phone-banking using a list they've provided to make sure our time is used as effectively as possible to turn MI Red.

Get involved on your campus to make a difference for your country!

Comfort in Predictability

So the Dow Jones took a pretty decent tumble today, as seems to be the trend lately. Obama et al. keep telling us to find the illusive hope we were promised in a rising stock market, only to discover that the rise is very short term and never to the levels it achieved before the crash last fall. The market is simply erratic and generally poor.

Analogous proposition: Pretend we are playing poker and you have a straight flush while I have a pair of threes. You would declare that you win,no? But I, with politics on my side, declare that it's my house and my game and therefore the a pair of threes is the highest possible hand. As I take your money, throw you out, and say, "See you next week!" would you reply, "I'll be there!"?

Essentially, this is what's happening in the market. The government is changing the rules in unpredictable ways according to present circumstances. The market, however, is only as predictable as the policies that govern it. If the government runs around balancing and counterbalancing, bailing out and taking over, regulating and wreaking havoc with an ad hoc, completely unpredictable approach, the market will never improve or even stabilize. If you have money to invest, are you going to trust it to a company that might be absorbed with you crowded out (such as with GM stockholders) or hang on to it? Consumers are not sure what the government is going to do next and therefore do not want to chance their money in some of the most important areas of the market. This contributes to the concept of "consumer confidence" in that consumers can never be confident of the institution's ability to conduct itself as it has. While unpredictability is inherent within the system, the rules of the system itself should be nothing but predictable.

Watch what you call a Holocaust...

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL) is refusing to apologize for claiming that the Republican solution to health-care is for people to "die quickly" and instead said “I apologize to the dead and their families that we haven’t voted sooner to end this holocaust in America.”

If that's what he truly (misguidedly) believes, that's fine, but there's no reason that this should suffice when Rep Joe Wilson's formal apology was required. If you're going to cite a need for civility and respect within the chambers, then it needs to be seen on both sides of the aisle.

Having Fun In Hillsdale

The county fair is going all week and I would highly encourage everyone to take an afternoon or evening and go check it out. Not only can you visit the Hillsdale County Republican Booth in the Merchant Hall, you can have fun riding the rides, eating deep-fried Twinkies and petting the animals. It's a great place for some off-campus fun, and a way to go out and support the community. See you there!

Pulse of the Nation: Health care Reform hits New Low

That's right folks. There is a new low in support for Obama's health care proposal (read Obamacare), according to the latest polling data by Rasmussen.

"Just 41% of voters nationwide now favor the health carereform proposed by President Obama and congressional Democrats. That’s down two points from a week ago and the lowest level of support yet measured," writes Pollster Scott Rasmussen.

"The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 56% are opposed to the plan."

Interestingly, support is strongest among young voters and weakest.... among the elderly? Wait -- if there were no waiting lines, death panels, or rationing, why would the elderly be against health care reform?

Perhaps the truth of the matter is that Americans maybe largely divided between the responsible, rational, prudent citizens, and the irresponsible, feelings-driven, irrational citizens -- a division that often falls along the lines of adult vs. youth just as in the 1960s.

Perhaps we should trust the wisdom of our elderly, many of whom are members of that greatest generation who sacrificed so valiantly for our freedom.

To view the poll, copy-paste this url:

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/current_events/healthcare/september_2009/health_care_reform

Keeping it Confidential

In a 24/7 news cycle, there seems to be very little that is left private, especially in the political sector. Every administration has their share of defectors, who, for various reasons, decide that what the world is really lacking is their, not at all biased, perspective on various political situations.

The most recent example can be seen in Matt Latimer's new memoir Speechless: Tales of a White House Survivor. Its certainly Latmier's Constitutional right to share his story, but that doesn't make it the classy thing to do. From various reviews, it seems that Latimer's book is more an opportunity to settle personal vendettas, rather than share crucial information about the administration's day-to-day operations. William McGurn, responsible for hiring Latimer, has spoken out, discrediting Latimer's authority, in a recent WSJ article.

Latimer's book begs the question: Just because you can share something, does it mean that you should? Americans complain about internal Washington politics. Are petty arguments going to help dispel these fears?

A Foreign Perspective

Sometimes it's enlightening to look at an editorial from a foreign perspective. Just as we learned about the valuable contributions of Alexis de Toqueville, a Frenchman who arguably gave us the best assessment of the U.S. to date, it can be good to see what they are saying about us "across the pond."

The British paper The Telegraph, no friend to conservatives, has this to say about our current president and foreign policy:

"Regimes in Moscow, Pyongyang and Tehran simply pocket [Obama's] concessions and carry on as before. The picture emerging from the White House is a disturbing one, of timidity, clumsiness and short-term calculation. Some say he is the weakest president since Jimmy Carter."

They continue scathingly on domestic policy:

"The grizzled veterans of the Democratic leadership in Congress have found Mr Obama and his team of bright young advisers a pushover. That has gravely weakened his flagship domestic campaign, for health-care reform, which fails to address the greatest weakness of the American system: its inflated costs."

Finally, the knock-out punch:

"Mr Obama's public image rests increasingly heavily on his extraordinary speechifying abilities... But for what? Mr Obama has tactics a plenty - calm and patient engagement with unpleasant regimes, finding common interests, appealing to shared values - but where is the strategy? What, exactly, did "Change you can believe in" – the hallmark slogan of his campaign – actually mean?"

You can read the full-text of the editorial here:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/barackobama/6210152/President-Barack-Obama-is-beginning-to-look-out-of-his-depth.html

Pay Attention to ME!

I'm not sure how popular the Sunday morning news programs are with the Hillsdale crowd, but this morning, President Obama appeared on 5 of them, both to promote his health care bill and to reprimand the MSM for their bias towards rude people. Apparently it's upsetting to the President that so much coverage is going to Joe Wilson, and his health care bill is being overlooked.

I know the President is pretty busy, but maybe he should take a second to read the 1st Amendment. Freedom of speech and freedom of the press are right there. Just because he "occup[ies] a pretty special seat at the moment", doesn't mean that he can control the press coverage. That's not the way it works in a democracy. And that's what we're aiming for, right?

IF WE CAN UNITE....

...We can certainly win back the soul of America.

The latest poll from Gallup shows Obama's approval rating at its lowest level to date: just 51% of Americans approve of Barack Obama's job as president. The poll was conducted among Americans at large, instead of "likely voters," who typically tend to be more conservative as a group than a randomize sample.

This 51% approval rating is a full two-percent lower than Obama's margin of victory, which was 53%. This further corroborates the trend across a variety of pollsters showing that many Americans who voted for Obama are no longer supportive of the his actions.

This is a tremendous opportunity for all Republicans everywhere. So long as we unite around our core principles, we can be the alternative for disillusioned Americans who want real reform.

So long as we can bridge our own gaps of personality, practical policy, and self-ambition, and begin playing as a team dedicated to our foundational political presuppositions -- our belief in an absolute, enduring moral order created by God that should govern all of our actions, our recognition of man's intrinsic fallibility, our commitment to strive for a "more perfect union" -- then we may be able to save our country.

To see the poll, look here:

http://www.gallup.com/poll/113980/Gallup-Daily-Obama-Job-Approval.aspx

Legislating from the Oval Office

We face the end of separation of powers within the United States. Originally proposed by Montesque and co-opted by the Constitutional convention, the concept had a rather straight-forward goal: slow down government. Like checks and balances and federalism, separation of powers institutionally put speed bumps in the process of government action and personal ambitions. Unsurprisingly, this idea has been on the decline over the 20th Century. Obama means to kill it completely.

In the healthcare debacle, Obama has shown that he has no regard for this. Between his speech to congress, his outline of what the bill should look like, and particularly his rhetoric, Obama has shown no regard for the fact that the president carries out the law, rather than making it. For example, he told CBS about the bill, “You know, I intend to be president for a while and once this [healthcare] bill passes, I own it.” Clearly, has no intent of respecting the constitutionally defined role of his branch. He is consolidating power for the sake of efficiency and political expediency.


Our country is now taking so steady a course as to show by what road it will pass to destruction, to wit: by consolidation of power first, and then corruption, its necessary consequence.
-Thomas Jefferson

The Blame Game

Since it's been almost 6 months since he's caused a controversy, I assume former-President Jimmy Carter chose to jump in to defend President Obama from Rep. Joe Wilson, so as to give the American people a reminder that Carter is in fact, still kicking. The trick he is using? The race card. Calling someone a liar is now considered a racial slur. The idea that you might actually believe the other person is lying? Completely beside the point.

Fortunately, several people in Washington, seem to be siding with the saner side of logic and are able to recall all the times when other past presidents have been called liars, without their race being called into question.

Is Carter so unsure of the agenda of his own party that he has to resort to false labels to demonize his opponents?

Name Calling

It seems like a few people in Washington have gotten into the habit of name calling. Last week we had Representative Joe Wilson yelling 'You lie!' during President Obama's address to the nation on health care reform, and more recently President Obama called Kayne West a 'jackass' in an off-the-record moment during an interview with CNBC.

True, there are several differences in the way these two men expressed themselves. One did so in front of the nation, breaking rules of decorum, while the other spoke in what he thought would be a private conversation. While some have expressed disgust at the name calling, I applaud these men for having the courage to stand up and speak the truth. There may be more polite ways of saying what, they did, but at least President Obama is finally living up to his campaign promise of bringing more transparency to Washington, by saying what he feels.

Ask not what you can do for CRs, ask what CRs can do for the country.

We want your ideas for making this year the best possible in Hillsdale CR history. If you know of a local candidate or organization that you think we could partner with, or have ideas of speakers or groups to bring to campus, please let us know!

Post a comment below or shoot us an e-mail at hillsdalegop@gmail.com Also, come to our planning meetings Thursdays at 6:30 in the Grewcock.

Health Care

President Obama will not let this idea go. He can't be stopped by upset citizens at town hall meetings, reprimands from his colleagues, or even a lack of support. President Obama announced on this evening's '60 Minutes' that he still holds his goal for passing the legislation this year, even if he has to do so without support from both sides of the ailse.

His willingness to pass laws without support is perhaps the most jarring thing about Obama's presidency. The citizens have expressed their displeasure and have been ignored. Worse, the representatives they have chosen are being overlooked and told that their support is not necessary for major American reform. It's hard not to feel that the system of representative government is slowly crumbling away.

Never, never forget

Where were you?

That's the question I hear again and again.

I was on vacation. It was my father's birthday. I watched the second plane hit the second tower on the television. I watched the black smoke billow. And as I watched, I know my life changed.

Let us never forget.

This Weekend!

I know it's almost the weekend, but save some time for College Republican events this weekend.

On Friday we will be holding a Candlelight Vigil to remember all those who lost their lives on this day, in 2001. The vigil will be at 8 pm in front of Central Hall. We'll be out on the quad all day, selling flag pins.

On Saturday a group is heading to the Branch County Teaparty, which is at 10 am. Check your e-mail from the CR's for more information. Come and make your voice heard!

I received an e-mail today from the American Family Association, a conservative and pro-family group, that literally made me feel sick to my stomach. These are the folks we are fighting. This is why we should, or rather must, take a stand. Read this excerpt below:

"There are many reasons to oppose President Obama's push to take over the nation's health care system, but among the most important is this one: his plan will put Planned Parenthood clinics inside your child's school. "Yes, you read that right. Under an innocuous-sounding section titled "School-Based Health Clinics," H.R. 3200 will authorize Planned Parenthood, as a "sponsoring facility," to run a clinic during school hours on the grounds of public schools, with absolutely no accountability either to parents or school administrators. "Clinics would be accountable only to the Secretary of Health & Human Services, the radically pro-abortion Kathleen Sebelius, who was a fervent supporter of late-term abortionist George Tiller. "All this will be done at taxpayer expense. And unlike the rest of the bill, which isn't slated to go into effect until 2013, these clinics are scheduled to go into schools next fall. "As you know, Planned Parenthood is the nation's largest abortion provider and the most dangerous purveyor of the mythical "safe sex" message which has deprived so many American teens of their sexual innocence and left them with diseases and unwanted pregnancies." --AFA, 9/10/09

GOP LEADS 7% ON GENERIC CONGRESSIONAL BALLOT.

Oh Yeah. Can you say "remember '94?" Here we come 2010...

From Rasmussen, 9/8/09:

"The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 44% would vote for their district’s Republican congressional candidate while 37% would opt for his or her Democratic opponent.

"Support for both parties rose one point over the past week, giving Republicans their highest level of support of the past several years. Support for Democrats last week reached its lowest point during that same time period."

Just keep standing strong and advocating the truth, Remember, virtuous, prudent, and limited government with a heavy dose of frugality is the path to winning America's future, and voters are starting to agree. I think we have a shot to win this one if we unite and push forward.

Fighting The Busy Schedule

So, now that we're almost a full week into school and you're beginning to get an idea of just how busy you'll be this semester. And it's kind of scary. You're starting to rethink your membership in all those clubs you signed up for at the Source. But I'm telling you, don't rethink College Republicans.

As a member for the last four years, I can attest to the multitude of benefits this club will bring to you. For instance, I've met Mitt Romney, John McCain, and taken free trips to Mackinac Island and Washington DC. Even more, however, is the benefit you provide to this state and this country. As an active College Republican, you have the opportunity to influence and 'change' the government. I've worked on campaigns for congressional, senatorial, gubernatorial, and presidential candidates.

The part we maybe don't promote enough, is the fun. College Republicans is fun. It's fun because of the friends you make participating in various events. It's fun because traveling is fun. It's fun because networking and finding potential job opportunities, for which you get paid is fun.

Take it from a senior involved from day one - make time for College Republicans and you'll have taken part in history by the time you graduate.

Don't Bite the Hand That Feeds You

He's taken on health care. And gun control. Even former President Bush. But now, Michael Moore is seeking a complete overthrow of capitalism. He's new 'documentary', "Capitalism: A Love Story", premiered today in Venice. The movie makes the claim:

"Capitalism is an evil, and you cannot regulate evil," the two-hour movie concludes. "You have to eliminate it and replace it with something that is good for all people and that something is democracy."

Is Michael Moore unaware that capitalism is essential for his movie to succeed? Without capitalism, people lack the incentive to make the money needed to afford luxuries, like movie tickets. I know that railing at Michael Moore is pretty tired ("American Carol", anyone?), but his lack of reasoning and logic astounds me.

Too bad he wasn't enamored enough with Cuba's health care to stay there a few years ago...

O's Afghan Woes

Below is an article from the New York Post, reprinted in part . It highlights the both the mess the Obama administration has made in its mishandling of the war in Afghanistan and its attempts to cover it up. Thanks to our left-wing media, unlike Bush, Obama is getting a mainstream media pass in the face of rising casualties among our brave men and women -- But not from the Hillsdale College Republicans.

O's Afghan Woes

By RALPH PETERS

September 3, 2009 --

THE classified status report from Afghanistan by Gen. Stanley McChrystal was censored by the White House before its submission. As a result, it's all bun and no burger.

According to multiple (angry) sources, McChrystal -- our top soldier on the ground -- intended to ask for 28,000 more US troops. A presidential hatchet man directed the general not to make the request: Troop increases would be "addressed separately."

Worried about his poll numbers, our president's making a bad situation worse. He's given McChrystal the impossible mission of turning Afghan Flintstones into Jetsons, while starving him of means.

This violates a fundamental principle of the American way of war: Once the president assigns the mission, the commander must receive due consideration when he asks for the necessary resources.

Obama's message to McChrystal was "Just don't ask."

I don't believe the general's correct, but he has a right to be heard. Any decision about troop levels should be made based upon the facts on the ground, not politics. By playing along with White House censorship, McChrystal's allowing himself to be used as a political tool. That's not a proper role for any general.

When the military fails to speak the truth in wartime, the republic suffers. And the republic is more important than any floundering presidential administration.

Ralph Peters' new novel, "The War After Armageddon," will be published Sept. 15. To read the rest of this article, follow this link: http://www.nypost.com/seven/09032009/postopinion/opedcolumnists/os_afghan_woes_187815.htm?page=0

Obama's Poll Numbers Are Falling...

...and that means we need to keep up the pressure! According to Rasmussen, the polling firm that most accurately predicted the results of both the 2004 and 2008 elections, only 46% of likely voters approve of Obama's performance. 53% disapprove. 40% of likely voters claim to "strongly disapprove" of the president, indicating that they would be willing to be active in spreading their opinions.

Ironic. Last November, Obama won with 53% of the vote and McCain lost with 46%. Seems the tables have turned....

Link:

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/obama_administration/daily_presidential_tracking_poll

Hopefully everyone survived, perhaps even enjoyed, their first day of class. As Hillsdale, we are so lucky to attend a school where the principles of this club are soundly affirmed in the lectures we attend.

We cannot, however, allow this acceptance turn into complacency. It's easy to fall into the trap of losing motivation, because it seems like everyone around you shares your opinion. This advantage allows us to be even more involved in our community and state. Get involved in local campaigns and come to events we co-sponser with the the community, like the 9/11 vigil next Friday night.

Many of you came to Hillsdale College with hopes to change the world. Join with us, and we'll do just that.

Welcome Back!

A big thanks to everyone who came out to the Source today. We've been busy this summer getting ready for the upcoming year and we're excited about our involvement in upcoming elections, the speakers we're bringing to campus and new ways that we can spread the Republican message across campus. Keep up-to-date with the group here, and at our Twitter page, www.twitter.com/hillsdalegop Become our follwer and you'll never miss a meeting or event!

In the mean time, has everyone seen this new cybersecurity bill? If passed it would give the president the power to shut down 'at-risk Internet networks'. Guess we don't really need the First Amendment. It was beginning to get in the way anyway.

http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/56947-obamas-power-over-internet-central-to-cybersecurity-debate

TeddyCare

I can’t wait to be dead. No, I’m serious. I’m not rushing to make it happen or anything, but death is like a get-out-of-jail-free card for all the dumb things you did while you were alive. After I die nobody will ever again mention my inability to parallel park, or how bad I was at math, or my occasional lack of people skills. If any of these things are mentioned it will be against the wistful backdrop of how awesome I was. My only regret is I’ll have to watch from the sidelines in heaven and not actively enjoy this royal treatment.

The departed Sen. Ted Kennedy has received this royal treatment in the four days since he passed away following a year-long battle with brain cancer. Everyone’s talked about what a great legislator he was, how he carried the weight of his family through its many tragedies, how bipartisan he was (though nobody has furnished any examples), etc. Some people have used Kennedy’s demise to continue his lifelong push for socialized medicine. However, what nobody has pointed out is that this last year of Kennedy’s life is actually the best argument against socialized medicine there is.

Kennedy spent his life—even while he was undergoing cancer treatment—advocating “universal healthcare” in America. However, I didn’t hear anything about him going to Canada or the UK to get his chemotherapy and radiation. Teddy stayed right here in the United States to get the best healthcare in the world. If he were an MP in Canada or England chances are they wouldn’t have been able to treat a 70+ man who abused his body all his life at all due to rationing.

Democrats may used Kennedy’s death as a sympathy appeal to get the “Public Option” through as a tribute to him, but what Republicans should do is point out that when Teddy Kennedy needed medical help the most, he never went anywhere near universal healthcare.

Cash for Clunkers Headed for the Junkyard

If you haven’t traded in your gas-guzzling SUV for one of those motorized roller skates under Obama’s Cash for Clunkers program, you have a little more than 3 hours left to do so. As of 8:00 tonight, the program will go bankrupt after just a few short months.

Cash for Clunkers went bankrupt in one summer. And Obama expects us to believe he can implement a health care system that will cover every human being in the country, womb to tomb, cost a heck of a lot more than Cash for Clunkers, and it won’t run out of money?

I don’t know which is worse—that Obama believes it or he thinks we’re dumb enough to believe it.