LetterstothePresident

Balance on Global Warming Fear and Progress in Iraq #170

Good Morning!

I'm stuck in Minneapolis with this series of storms dumping more and more snow on top of us. I thought global warming was making it warmer; tell that to the business travelers stuck here waiting for the flights to resume. With their great snow plows and series of skyways between the buildings and hotels in Minneapolis, I feel like what it is like to be in an ant colony. You can stay warm as you walk between the buildings and watch the snow plows clear the roads below. Those people from Minnesota can really move snow!

I loved one of the articles in USA Today, "Baghdad sees day with little bloodshed." They reported, "The relative lull in violence came in the third week of a US-Iraqi plan to improve security in Baghdad…. Roadside bombs was down 20% since the security initiative began in mid-February and sectarian murders were at their lowest levels in a year." Authorities anticipate by this summer that they will see the true results. Oh how upsetting success would be to all those Democrats who have said we can't win. Keep your focus on challenging and helping the Iraqi government to step up to the task. They know that they have to take a stand or lose American support if Democrats take control. It is in their court; keep the pressure and support coming! Your popularity in the polls ain't where you want it to be…or where it should be, but you are doing what is right. Keep it up. Your resolve and flexibility to do what it takes will work! Now get out there and keep Americans informed of progress!

I know you are working overtime to try to diplomaticly deal with North Korea, Iran, Syria and the Palestinians. Talking to them is one thing, but negotiating with terrorist regimes should not be done. Trust must be earned, not just assumed. If verification is not rock solid, signing agreements is useless. Don't give these people a dime without verification. If Hamas does not recognize Israel, do not normalize relations. Clinton felt pressure to leave a legacy and pushed prematurely for peace. Don't fall into that trap. Never sell out Israel, our one democratic ally in the Middle East.
 
Finally, you'll see my column on one-sided science supported by the global warming alarmists. It will be tempting to give in to their pressure. Make sure you demand balanced inquiry on this issue. If you must fund research, fund both the prosecution and the defense! This is too complex of a problem to allow only alarmists to "inform" the public. The answers they propose to impose on our economy will hurt the poor and working Americans hardest. I can afford to buy a hybrid car and put solar power on my roof-they can't. The jobs lost to these extremists on the basis of research that is at best well-intentioned but unimpressive will hit developing economies the poor hardest! Don't give them the support they crave.

It's good to see that most Republicans still support the job you are doing! I'm glad you are there. I also think that Gulianni will be the likely candidate. He's a leader, a proven administrator, and strong on the military. I'd love to see Secretary Rice take the Vice President position on the ticket. I sure hope you could drop a note to her to encourage her to consider such a role if asked. I don't think the Democrats will have any ticket that could match that pair. Thanks for what you have done for us as President. I believe history will prove you far more right than wrong.

In Conservative Support,


Terry L. Paulson, PhD

A Day to Remember-King, Alito, Bernanke and the State of the Union Address (2-1-06, #157)

Good Morning!

I am watching your State of the Union address while writing this. It has been quite a day. We've experienced the loss of Coretta King, the confirmation of Judge Samuel Alito, the transition at the Federal Reserve Bank from Alan Greenspan to Ben Bernanke and your stirring address to the nation. It truly is a day to remember.

Let me start by congratulating you on the lasting judicial legacy you are now leaving future generations with the appointments of Roberts and Alito. When I fought for your re-election in 2004, I was hoping that you would be able to appoint new, young, conservative judges to bring balance to our Supreme Court. You have given the Democrats a defeat in the one area they controlled-the courts where liberal judicial activism had given them the victories they could not sell America. You have changed that. God willing, these young giants will be with us for many years to come.

Your focus on an advanced energy initiative, healthcare and Social Security are all a must. Our dependence on foreign oil acts as a tax supporting our terrorist enemies; we must look to technology and alternative energy. I was particularly excited about your comments on making healthcare more affordable and portable; if you do not take this ground, the Democrats will. As for Social Security, the sarcastic response by Democrats to the defeat of your plan was disappointing. I hope your bipartisan effort will surface new options both sides can accept; the problem is not going away.

You must keep talking about winning in Iraq. The media will continue to look for failure instead of progress; keep coming to the people. You are handing over more and more responsibility to Iraq's own military and security forces. The elections are done and a government will be formed. Winning peace requires your administration's continued work to ensure minority rights and support freedom and opportunity. Hold your ground on your policy of monitoring communications from terrorists.

Let the Democrats focus on hating you while you focus on building a strong and secure vision for this county. Your Competitiveness Initiative will help do that for future generations. We have a lot to do to make 2006 what it can be. May God bless you and our nation! Know that we support your efforts and appreciate all you do in ensuring the future of our great country. Years from now you will be seen for what you truly have been-one of our greatest Presidents!

In Conservative Support…with Renewed Excitement, 

Terry L. Paulson, PhD

Keeping Focus in the Midst of Distractions (11-1-05, #154)

Good Morning!

I know this has been a challenging month. In my own small way as a columnist, I have added to it. I have called for a sane policy to stem illegal immigration and my disappointment over Harriet Miers. To my loyal republican readers who responded most joined in my frustration, even when we strongly support you in so many ways.

The withdrawal of Harriet Miers from consideration is a blessing in disguise. The CIA leak issue has been narrowed down to Lewis Libby's failure to consistently communicate about his sources, not a purposeful attempt to bring a political enemy down. The Katrina Hurricane is over and people are being helped; the governor and mayor are seen in polls as being more responsible than you. Your reaction after the Libby arraignment is right on-You have a job to do, and you will continue to do it!

They are saying you are wounded. They are saying you should lay low. They are saying that your second term is in shambles. Now is the time to take the offensive. In appointing Samuel Alito, an established jurist with a proven track record in the mold of Scalia and Thomas, you have delivered on your promise. This gives America a chance to see the reason for your appointment; I hope this puts an end to stealth candidates. Let's get the issue out into the open-we want Supreme Court jurists who will let elected officials make the laws and let the court uphold the Constitution. You've given us one! Let the harings and discussions begin.

Secondly, take the initiative on the illegal immigration nightmare. I humbly ask you and your team to read my column. You have to have a balanced approach that starts with securing the border for good. Then the guest worker and the national ID card will help bring accountability to the madness. Take the lead and you will have Americans jumping for joy!

As for the gas price madness and the record profits by the oil companies, they have the right to do what they did, but the public has a right to respond. It is time to put major momentum behind an energy policy that makes sense. First, give financial incentives in support of hybrid and alternative energy vehicles. Second, push for more drilling in Alaska and more refineries. Third, let the oil companies know that if they don't invest record profits in developing new refineries, you will support Congressional consideration of w windfall profits tax. These people have a monopoly. The environmentalists have helped create it, but it is a time you take action to bring sanity back to the market. Oil will still be expensive and that will encourage people to consider other options, but you will be seen as taking the offensive against the very industry they say you are controlled by.

Fourth, take the offensive on your"ownership society!" Use your bully pulpit to push house ownership, healthcare savings and insurance ownership, pension ownership and ownership for a portion of your Social Security plan. Corporations are failing as guardians of healthcare and pensions. Sell people on building a national plan that give ownership back to the citizen.

Fifth, be the Republican you promised to be. Hold the line on spending. Veto some spending bill. Call for a rescinding of Congressional pork spending. Take the offense on bringing some hope to those of us who have always held firmly to limited government. Yes, the economy is doing well and your tax cuts are working and appreciated, but we must keep spending in line to avoid record deficits in the future.

Finally, keep your eye on the ball in Iraq. This is your biggest strength! You are winning the war for peace and your resolve is exactly what is needed. We are seeing that the lack of international support seems to have more to do with oil-for-food kickbacks than peace. The Iraq Constitution has been upheld and Sunni's are signing up for the December elections. The Iraqi military and police are taking more and more of the responsibility to maintain security and uphold the peace. You have taken the war to the terrorists, and they are losing. The media hates to see it. The base is behind you on this. There is no question that you must and you will see this through.

Stay the course on Iraq, but if you really want to make a difference, you can. When you are standing still, the knats have a wave hovering and distracting us, but in movement they are not even seen. You've selected a Supreme Court appointment in the mold of Scalia and Thomas. Now is the time to take a strong and balanced position on illegal immigration reform, work for more sane and competitive energy plan, take a stand for spending cutbacks and work to bring Americans into a true ownership society, you will have this nation soaring! The knats of the CIA leak special prosecutor, the Harriet Miers frustration, the FEMA missteps with Katrina, and the Democratic sniping won't even be on the radar scene.

Know we are with you. Take the offensive, and we will fight alongside you to make this the best second term ever!

In Conservative Support, 

Terry L. Paulson, PhD

Sell the Need for Energy and Social Security Reform (5-1-05, #148)

Good Morning!

Keep coming to us directly to drive the tough issues that we must face. Your comments and press conference on your energy plan and the social security proposals were well received. Keep selling the need first. Without a clear awareness of the need, it will be tough to move it forward, but it is critical to do so. When the middle man is the media, we never get your message. When you come directly to the people, it begins to sink in.

Some of your social security changes may make political sense, but they do concern me. By offering to slow the advance of increases for the wealthy and middle class while maintaining the increases for the poorest Americans, you took the most common ammunition away from the Democrats. They can't say, "He's only concerned about the rich!" But you have changed the nature of social security from being an investment plan for all working Americans to a welfare plan to support those who never take responsibility for their own retirement. Republicans talk about earning success and taking responsibility for one's own future; you are slipping into creating a broader entitlement that the Democrats will only try to expand. When and if Democrats ever get into power, they will take on the second challenge-increasing the taxes on the rich. Ultimately, it will mean, those who pay the biggest load will pay far more and receive far less. What you did may have been politically expedient, and, in the short run, it may move the ball along for change. But in the long run, I fear that we are losing ground on the values that are so important to what we are as America.

I love your balanced energy plan and the call for drilling in the Alaskan reserves and nuclear energy. For once you can use Europe as an example of what can be done now with nuclear power. Your balanced plan deserves to be put into effect. We can't continue to depend on a bigger and bigger share of our oil needs on foreign countries.

Now, my biggest concern that is growing and taking on a sense of total frustration for many of us here in the West-the illegal immigration problem! That you called the Minuteman Project a bunch of Vigilantes is very frustrating. They are Americans who are tired of no one stepping up to the plate to do what the federal government is not doing. If you attempt to create legal ways for people to be here but do not first stop the abuse of our borders, you will lose the silent majority in this country and set the stage for our loss in 2004. There is no will to return all of the illegals to Mexico-there are far too many here who are now part of our country and the cost would be too great. No, I agree with much of your plan, but your failure to balance that with a strong focus on stopping illegal immigation is a big mistake. You may be getting pressure from business interests and Mexico, but you are losing the trust of many citizens who worked hard to elect you and who feel they are losing the America they love. 

In Support and Celebration,


Terry L. Paulson, PhD