LetterstothePresident

Bush Will Be More Admired than Truman by History

Good Morning!

In these lazy hazy days of summer, when gas prices are keeping more Americans home, one gets a bit more reflective. Let me share a few short thoughts. As a lame duck president and Obama leading in the polls, Global Summit leaders are not going to be inclined to give you the support for greater sanctions in Africa or Iran.

I appreciate your call for a responsible, balanced energy independence plan and your call for action you can support immediately. It contrasts with the inaction by Democrats and supports the balanced plan championed by McCain. Keep calling for action. The polls indicate that only 9% of Americans are pleased with Congressional action. That is VERY LOW! That’s even lower than your numbers! Keep calling for action and your numbers will improve. Keep leading!

Let me end on a positive note. Like others, I feel that in the end, you will be admired as a great leader in difficult times. You will have led us through an extended period of economic growth that continues in spite of 9/11, a war in the Middle East, and dramatic global economic challenges. You have nominated great Supreme Court Justices—John Roberts and Samuel Alito. Your war on terror, though the media will never cover it, is a success. You finally adjusted tactics and got the right players on the bus. They say we are not respected, but conservative leaders are winning in elections around the globe. America is the most respected and valued ally by a wide margin. Yes, our enemies hate us, and they should.

Harry Truman had lower approval ratings when he left office, but he is admired today. My guess you will be even more admired…to the dismay of quite a few liberals.

The back seat drivers will keep ranting about your terrible administration. I’m proud of voting for you and look forward to the day you will be more uniformly admired for your leadership in this time of testing. I applaud your service. 

In Conservative Support,

Terry L. Paulson, PhD

There's Growing Frustration from Conservative Republicans

I thought you said that you were a supply-sider! With no election at stake, you worsen the deficit and set the stage for longer range problems with the “compromise” stimulus package. Such stimulus packages have not had a good track record. They have a short-term, small impact and fail to allow for the corrections that need to be made.

You again fail to articulate to America why supply-side tax relief works. You are acting like a Democrat again. Like McCain, no one is sharing the truth—supply side tax relief rewards increased productivity and capital investment. That means growth that creates job and increases federal tax receipts. You know this; tell the people over and over again. Do a Perot by showing them on a graph! Instead of sharing that your tax relief plan has INCREASED both the percentage and the amount of income taxes the “dirty rich” pay (when compared to the middle class and the poor), you promote a stimulus plan that won’t even give anything back to the rich who are paying the bill. Your package is a pure wealth transfer. You’re taking from the successful and rewarding the financially incompetent—the banks and the borrowers! I’m so sick of politicians who promise one thing and then act like candy dispensers with someone else’s money! 

You are bailing out companies that failed to do their due diligence, home owners that should not have received a loan in the first place, and fail to allow people who played by the rules to now take advantage of being responsible. They waited because they knew they couldn’t afford the homes. Now, they can, but your actions will make it harder for them to get a loan and keep some of those foreclosures off the market. The incompetents get support, and the responsible are left holding the bill.

The best economists are saying, “Do nothing!” Instead, you are freezing loan rates; that just puts off the problem! If you bail out these people, shouldn’t you bail out all who fail? America rebuilds home in places insurance won’t provide coverage—that isn’t being a “caring conservative” that is rewarding irresponsible behavior at the citizen’s expense. True Republicans care enough to let people experience natural consequences—whether that’s teens in the home or citizens in life.   

Now, I hear that you are upset about Mitt Romney’s stand on illegal immigration. You want him to have a path to citizenship. So do I, but it’s your failure to take seriously the need to build a SECURE FENCE that has created this. You disregard the fact that Americans have had enough of illegals coming here without a solution to the border problem. You know you could get this fence build in 18 months if you wanted to. You also could have better controls and punishment for companies that don’t check immigration status. You could support national ID’s. You could deport those who have committed crimes, but you haven’t done it with the speed needed to gain the trust of your own party. If you had listened and acted, we’d be talking about how responsible illegal immigrants could find a path. Instead, people are still angry about promises unfulfilled!

I, like many Republicans are afraid we’re going to get stuck with a second Clinton because of the splintered mess we have in our own party. We will all do what we can, but conservatives are feeling betrayed. And you’ll share part of the blame by not going to the people directly over and over again to explain your actions in Iraq, for failing to veto spending and starting new entitlements and for failing to secure the border.

Certainly, we owe you for taking action in the Iraq War. You had the strength of character to act and the resolve to continue. If only you had shown the communication skills necessary to keep the citizens with you. If only you had held the line on spending as well as you created the incentives through your tax relief plan. If only you had cared enough to secure the border as much as you wanted to support illegal immigrants.

We have an uphill climb to November. I hate to see your final months end with such decisions. Your State of the Union address had some nice statements, but put the words into action by living the principles you’ve said you supported.

In Growing Conservative Frustration,

Some Things Shouldn't Change!

At the start of the year, it must be nice to see your poll numbers rising. Things are improving so much in Iraq that even the Democrats aren't talking about the war. The surge has caused a surge in your evaluations. As you said in your Saturday address today, you're still working to bring peace and liberty to the Middle East. May God be with you and your team as you work to find a stable plan that can bring real progress to the Israeli/Palestinian challenge. Don't let Israel give away too much for nothing but words and promises. We need real progress. When Arrafat was left with the reality of true peace in the Clinton negotiations, he blinked. He and the Arab allies were not ready for true peace. Israel was too important as an enemy to hate to afford making peace work. I hope that reality has changed.

Now, that Iowa is past history, your successor is one month closer to being chosen. Will it be Clinton, Edwards or Obama facing Romney, Giuliani or Huckabee? I must say, that America seems to be as engaged as ever in a race that has no clear winners. They are all talking about change as the cornerstone of their campaign message. Yes, change is important, but so is sustaining progress and tradition.

There are things you have done that I don't want anyone to change. Let me list them:

• You've planted the seed of liberty into the very heart of the Middle East. We must keep watering and protecting that seedling. We must stay the course-not change!
• You had the resolve to see this war with terrorism through to victory rather than settling for defeat, and now the surge is working. We must stay the course-not change!
• You've provided tax relief that has generated unprecedented growth in our economy and in federal tax receipts. We must stay the course-not change!
• You've brought sanity to the Supreme Court by appointing conservative judges. We must stay the course by appointing more conservative judges-not change this strategy!

I may not agree with everything you have done, but you have made a difference as President. I thank you for your years of service and look forward to your continued leadership in the upcoming months. Keep up the good work!

A Strategy for Republican Victory in November-Terrorism, a Border Wall, Taxes and the Ownership Society (10-01-061 #165)

Good Morning!

As we go into the last month of the fall campaign to win the mid-term election and sustain a Republican advantage in the Senate and Congress, you must keep the focus on a positive vision for the future. Keep speaking to the people with force in support of our war against terrorism. Even al Qaeda has admitted is taking a toll. With al Masri admitting that over 4,000 of their people have been killed in Iraq, Iraq remains the front line in our battle. It is a war we can't afford to lose. You have lately talked about how our forces have adjusted and learned from past errors. Keep stressing that we take the war to them instead of waiting until they come to us…again!

Congress has acted to support secure borders. You can sign that bill with pride while still affirming that it is only the first but vital step in securing our borders and moving to a comprehensive plan. Please do not hesitate. All along you said that securing the border was vital; prove it by embracing this bill and moving quickly to implement it. Once the border is secure, you can help deal humanely with illegal aliens in our midst. Some deserve the right to take a difficult but possible path to citizenship. Others need a way to go home with pride and return for work when needed. I compliment you again for tackling this difficult but vital issue.

Finally, keep stressing your optimism in freedom's cause, in our country and in our people. America is strong because Americans are strong. Our country was attacked on 9/11, but we have come back with a vibrant economy that confounds even the pessimistic Democrats. You had no doubt that America would rebound and that it will continue to rebound.

The Democrats are stuck in attacking you and our cause. They must make things seem bad to have any chance of winning. They may please their core liberals, but an attacking message will never attract the Indpendents they need to win big. Just stay on theme-Take the battle to the terrorists in support of freedom in the Middle East, keep the economy healthy by keeping taxes low and support the American Dream by supporting an ownership society! We can't afford to lose this election. Know that I and others will do everything we can to make sure that we do not!

In Conservative Support,

Going to the People Is a Winning Strategy (12-1-05, #155)

Good Morning!

Now, that is what I call a great month! You've gone to the border states and taken a strong stand for a more balanced approach to the illegal immigration problem. You've kept the guest worker program and added a stronger policy on border control. After spending two weeks in Israel and seeing the combined wall and fence system and the impact it has had in minimizing terrorist attacks, it is time to build a wall. Reinforce the high traffic areas with extensive fences and a middle no-man's land for border vehicles and preditor monitoring. If you meant what you said and put it into action, you will be on the winning side of a very difficult issue. I would hope you would add a better national ID system for citizens and differentiated cards for guest workers. Such a system would allow you to take a stronger stand against employers who knowingly are hiring illegals. If you give them legal guest workers, there will be no excuses.

You also took another major leap forward on selling the war on terrorism in Iraq. But don't stop now. You are the President. You have the bully pulpit; use it. Warm it up by having monthly or bi-weekly fireside chats. Add a little Ross Perot by showing the data and graphs to indicate progress. People want to see it visually. You have the story to tell; keep telling it. Good leaders not only act; they keep their people informed and committed.

I know it is easy not to trust the media, that is why you have to bypass them and go directly to the people. Sell your plan and your progress whether the Democrats complain or not. Keep sharing your story whether the polls indicate support or not. You lead and the numbers will take care of themselves.

On my http://www.thedinnerbook.com website, I have a test, "Are You a Democrat or a Republican?" The survey indicates the following areas are most critical to Republicans: 1) Military Support and Homeland Security (20.0%); Tax Policy (12.6%); Government Size/Budget (12.5%); Abortion (6.9%) and Immigration Control Issues (6.4%). You can hit all five strong. Keep selling the war on terrorism and freedom in Iraq. With a continuing strong policy, sell the impact of lower taxes and get them to extend the tax refunds. You have no consensus to end abortion, but you can take a strong stand on waiting periods and parental notification. Finally, keep making progress on immigration reform. You are so right where it counts-sell it! Drive it! Go to the people, a la Reagan!

In Conservative Support…with Renewed Excitement, 

Terry L. Paulson, PhD

World Fears and World Opportunities (4-6-05, #147)

Good Morning!

In the last month, I have been conducting leadership development in the UK, Brussels, Paris, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. After watching a steady dose of CNN and the BBC, it is a wonder anyone is left in the world that supports America or you. In Edinburgh, I had an extended conversation with many and was amazed at how strongly they fear the religious right taking over America. I tried to convey that it is the secular left that has tried to change America and the silent Americans who value their faith are speaking up. They have no desire to control America, only to sustain its deep and religious heritage. They were reassured by my statements, but you could sense what they are exposed to. On the positive front, they all felt that Condeleeza Rice's recent trips abroad and the tsunami relief efforts have been very helpful in forging a new start. There were even some columns in the paper that actually addressed the issue-"Could it be that Bush was right!" I loved it.

My trip to Asia was particularly informative. Asia is coming alive. Their confidence and commitment to education is driving some very impressive changes. America is getting a wake up call from the world that is going to be getting louder and stronger! There are people in America who are not ready for the competition and changes they will be facing. They need to be rechallenged to reinvest in their own education. When Americans continue to lose stable jobs and have no new skills to replace them, they will look for someone to blame. I suggest you sell the need for lifelong learning! Social Security provides only one way to plan for the future. The best investment is in continuing education. They say that you can't teach an old dog new tricks. I say, "You become an old and poor dog when you stop doing new tricks!" You can emphasize this in your messages on education. It is no longer K-12; it is K-80. We need people prepared to compete, and you can help sell them on the need to do so at every age!

I'm enclosing my last newspaper column, "In defense of rich people." The response from Republicans was consistent-"It's about time someone defended the value of people who achieve and pay most of the load!" Obviously, the more liberal leaders were quick to attack, but what else is to be expected!

One final note, in Singapore, I had the opportunity of spending some time with Craig Fuller. It was nice to talk with a man who had worked so closely with Reagan and your father. It's great to see the caliber of person who serves our party. Thanks again for all you and your team continue to do for us all. 

In Support and Celebration,


Terry L. Paulson, PhD