LetterstothePresident

An Election that Is Hard to Read and Could Define Your Presidency

I decided to send you my monthly letter before the election. Once the numbers are in, every columnist and pundit will be analyzing every angle to why America elected the President we will have. If you haven’t noticed, and why would you, I’ve written you every month for your entire presidency. I’ve written every month since Clinton took office. Your letters have been much nicer. I figure every president deserves to hear from his people, because whether that citizen voted for him or not, they are still our president. I promise to continue to support our incoming president where I can and challenge him where I must. If it is McCain, I’m sure it will be at least 85% support. If it is Obama, maybe 20%...optimistically.

But win or lose this Tuesday, I wanted to thank you for serving. Just watching what our current candidates have to go through to run for office reminds me of the insanity of what we demand. I have not always agreed with your actions, and I’ve let you know about that. But you were in the seat. You heard the divergent points of view. You had to weigh the implications and act over and over again. For that you deserve far better than what you have receieved from both political parties, the media and your public. I continue to be proud of voting for you twice!

The cards have always been stacked against Republicans. The media has proven beyond a shadow of doubt that they are incapable of blanced coverage. The Media Research Council has consistently shown that, but now even bipartisan sources are confirming it. Comments made by sources, voters, reporters and anchors that aired on ABC, CBS and NBC evening newscasts over the past two months reflected positively on Obama in 65 percent of cases, compared to 31 percent of cases with regards to McCain, according to the Center for Media and Public Affairs. ABC's "World News" had more balance than NBC's "Nightly News" or the "CBS Evening News," the group said. Meanwhile, the first half of Fox News Channel's "Special Report" with Brit Hume showed more balance than any of the network broadcasters, although it was dominated by negative evaluations of both campaigns. The center didn't evaluate programs on CNN or MSNBC, but we know what that would have shown.

Win or lose, we are going to have to do a better job of educating America on what we stand for. Newt Gingrich said of Reagan, “He wasn’t just a great communicator. He was a great educator.” In short, he explained in stories and examples why Republican principles were important. With our citizens today, they have a short attention span, a constant need to be entertained and an inability to look at anything in depth. We must take that on by using the Internet and public forums to do a better job of selling what truly makes America great. Too many believe in government now; they’ve stopped believing in themselves.

I’ve talked to immigrants who are now American citizens, and they are frightened. They see happening in America what happened in the coutries they left. They see Democrats restrict more of their freedoms. They see Obama promising to “spread the wealth” and mover further toward socialism. They came here for freedom and an opportunity to succeed. They have, and now they see the Democrats wanted to take what they have and give it to others. America and the values we have are too important to not fight for. I’m close to retirement, and so are you! 

I’m investing more and more of my time in making a difference for my country and my faith. I write for Townhall.com and for the Ventura County Star. In your retirement, don’t just retire to Texas. Take some time to rest and work on your library, but I hope you work with the party to champion a revival in American values. Retirement isn’t all it is cracked up to be—especially after you’ve been waking up every day to face a new crisis or challenge. You deserve some rest, but you also deserve a purpose that could excite you and your wonderful wife. Make your library committed to affirming and educating America’s founding values. Now, that would give you a mission.

I don’t know how you feel in the days coming up to the election. This one is a hard one to read. Obama has eloquence and no experience. McCain has experience, character and a strong platform to run on. With so many undecided and questions about Obama, I think it will come down to one word—Trust. I think people will flirt with Obama, but marry McCain. Here’s hoping I am right. I’d rather McCain help cement your legacy than Obama try to undermine all you have done.

In Conservative Support,
Terry Paulson, PhD

America's Future Provides Clear and Critical Choices # 171

Good Morning!

I'm late for my monthly letter to the President. I doubt whether you have missed my monthly missive, but it is a tradition I value. It makes me think about what feedback I want to give my President. I think every American ought to have to struggle with that challenge and to do so without the normal heavy dose of namecalling!

Your call for a comprehensive immigration reform bill sounds tough and fair. When you have thousands of illegal immigrants taking to the streets in protest about what you are proposing, you know it is probably fair. I agree with the criticism that has been leveled against the far right Republicans in our own party. Their failure to work with you to find a workable compromise helped usher in our demise in the last mid-term election. Even more important, we have left the Democrats in control of crafting that compromise. As a result, it will be hard to find the balance needed. I'm thankful that your plan gives a difficult and expensive path to citizenship that is not amnesty. I'm also pleased with the increasing security at the border and the deporting of more illegals. Operation Jump Start is working, but more needs to be done. Please make sure that you continue to hold out for that 700 miles of true fence and give the border guards the support they need to hold the line at the border. We will need workers in the future; a balanced plan will help both countries. Keep the pressure on for a balanced bill, and it will help Republicans in 2008.

The Democrats are acting as though they have a manadate to run both Congress and foreign policy. One of the great things about their victory is that Democrats will be Democrats. They begin to act out their priorities in front of our very eyes. Even liberal columnists have taken Nancy Pelosi to task for her independent diplomatic efforts with Syria. Their pork-filled military funding bill with the deadline for withdrawal puts them squarely in the camp of hoping that we lose in Iraq. They don't need to have a deadline; it already exists. The deadline is the election in November 2008. On that day, America has a choice to make. The progress that Iraq's leaders and military have made at that point will be a big factor in the election. If clear progress in security has been made, America will more likely pick a Republican President. If no progress has been made, they will more likely go for a Democrat. By empowering our military and Iraqi leaders to make headway quickly by funding the surge of additional troops, you are giving victory a chance. Their leadership fears victory; that is why they refuse to acknowledge any progress. They can't have progress and take back the Presidency. In short, you need no reminder to make winning in Iraq a key priority of your final months. I salute you for your resolve. I salute your promised veto!

I, however, remain critical of your failure to sell and communicate progress and priorities in your administration. You give speeches to supportive audiences, and the left-leaning media picks the clips, provides the commentary, and balances your optimistic resolve with their pessimistic vision of "another Vietnam." Please, please, please, start instituting WEEKLY fireside chats with America where you provide your own updates and commentary on the war. Give America the facts, the good, the bad and the ugly, about the war against terrorism in Iraq, Afghanistan and the world. When a country is at war, they deserve to hear it from YOU! This war must be won, and it must be sold to win. Do not give up on this critical responsibility. Pull a Perot! Get out a pointer and few graphs and maps to show progress. Turn up the heat on the liberals who are now comfortable in their pursuit of losing in Iraq! Make the weekly messages short, but make them happen.

I remain confident that the candidates the Republicans are putting forth will win the day against the slate of Democratic candidates. I remain optimistic that the principles that guide our base will motivate them to vote in this critical election. Help rally that base in the decisions you make in the final months of your presidency.

In Conservative Support,

Terry Paulson, PhD

(Sent to the President on April 8, 2007)

Looking at Harriet Miers and Your Poll Numbers (10-1-05, #153)

Good Morning!

Harriet Miers may be committed to you personally but I am not sure she is equally committed to the principles conservatives are counting on to reverse the liberal drift of the Supreme Court. At a time when you have a majority in both houses and the mid-term elections in doubt, this is the time for a fight. With so many wonderful conservative women jurists to choose from, you are betting on your ability to read the heart and mind of this woman. Only history will tell whether your reading was right, but there seems no indication from her history that her principles are rock solid. Anyone who could give a donation to Bill Clinton and Al Gore in the 80's is unlikely to be a rock-solid conservative. With the freedom she will have as a Supreme Court judge, will she show the fickle nature she has already shown as so many Republican appointments have shown over the years? We don't need another "Trust me Kennedy and Sutter will be good judges." If Senator Harry Reid's compliments and Chuck Schumer's smiling reaction to your appointment are any indication of where Harriet Miers stands, we are in trouble. I am very disappointed at what they are calling a "mainstream" selection. Clinton had no trouble staying true to his principles in appointing strong liberals with clear track records. Why are you wavering at this critical time?

You may never again get the chance to appoint a conservative and have the power to see that appointment through. Your loyal supporters were ready to fight along with you to right the drift of this all important court. That you have not taken this golden opportunity to fight for a clearly conservative candidate will hurt the party. You are putting a stake in the heart of the very people who fought to secure this right. You campaigned on appointing justices like Thomas and Scalia. Harriet Miers has not evidenced those kinds of credentials. You are going on your personal assessment when the best indicator of principle is behavior under fire. With Miers, you have no judicial behavior to judge from. This is a crap shoot when you could have been playing with loaded dice by picking a judge with a strong conservative judicial track record. 

I know these last few months have been brutal for you and your poll ratings. Liberal Democrats are holding to their strategy of attack anything Bush, and the media is supporting their efforts. If you think this appointment will in any way appease the rabid Democratic attacks on you, you are mistaken. On the contrary, it will show them that their strategy works! Attacks weaken your resolve to fight for your principles! Ronald Reagan had the resolve to see his principles through to the end of his second term. Follow his example not the polls!

If you move to take a stronger stand, your poll numbers will gradually rise. I call on you to show more restraint with the budget. Don't try and buy the hearts and souls of your detractors by over spending in the Gulf States at the expense of the rest of the country, tax payers and the principles of personal responsibility. You cannot appease the entitlement trained citizens and politicians in Louisiana with any amount of money. It is time that we provide a helping hand without trying to give survivors a mansion. Americans are giving like never before to those impacted by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. They don't need a blank check from the government that will set a bad precedent for future disasters. Why take responsibility to save or buy your own insurance when the government will give you more when you are not responsible for your own future?

Show the same resolve you have in Iraq on the domestic front! Veto some spending bills, or shall I say, veto at least one! Challenge Congress to eliminate some of the pork spending they have passed. Take a stand on illegal immigration by securing the border and driving a realistic plan to hold employers accountable for who they hire. You are losing power and support by wavering, not by standing for Republican principles.

I respect you, and I'm still proud to have voted for you. I also know the strain that Iraq and the recent disasters have put on you and your administration. When under stress, it is wise to use principles instead of polls as your guide. The rabid attacks will always be there, but I hope you can listen to your strong supporters that are concerned about some of your recent decisions. As my great uncle used to say, "When one person calls you a horse's ass, don't worry about it. But when four people do, go out and buy a saddle!" As president, you may need to add a few zeroes to that number, but there is wisdom to be found in the statement. If people who respect you are consistently calling you to change your direction, maybe it is time to buy a few saddles! At least as a Texan who rides, you would have a use for them. 

To close on a positive note, your handling of Katrina and Rita has been strong. Everyone wants to blame you, but without your actions and follow-up the loss would have been far greater. The governor and mayor dropped the ball badly and the media is by and large giving them a pass. But most Americans know better.

With Conservative Concern, 

Terry L. Paulson, PhD