The Conservative Newsletter

"While Democrats made unexpected gains in the Senate this year, picking up a net four seats, and a slight gain of two seats in the House of Representatives, their overall political strength has significantly weakened over the past eight years under the Clinton administration.

When Bill Clinton and Al Gore took office in 1993, Democrats held a 58-42 majority in the Senate, a 262-173 majority in the House, and controlled 30 governorships and a majority of the state legislatures. Although the Democrats have made modest gains in Congress since their debacle in 1994, their majority in Congress has vanished, the Democrats' governorships have shrunk to 19 -- with all of the major statehouses, except California, under Republican control -- and nearly half the state legislatures in Republican hands." --Donald Lambro

Al Gore's Legacy

A fitting end for this chapter of Al Gore's legacy of prevarication and usurpation...

"As my father once said, 'No matter how hard the loss, defeat may serve as well as victory to shake the soul and let the glory out'." --Albert Gore in his concession speech, 13 December 2000

"Defeat may serve as well as victory, to shake the soul and let the glory out." --Poet Edwin Markham (c. 1898)

History Teacher Speaks Out

Thank you, Al Gore. As a high school history teacher, I owe you a debt of gratitude. You see, the way you have conducted your campaigns (the election campaign and the ballot-manipulation campaign) has provided me with endless opportunities to show my students the beauty of our Constitution and the wisdom of our founding fathers.

Take the Electoral College system. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Al. For six years, I have done my best to explain the logic and benefits of the system hammered out by Mr. Madison and a few of his cronies. High school students just don't get why they chose such a complicated process. Why not simply go by popular vote? I'd patiently explain that the electoral system was designed to allow the people to speak through their states. The tricky part was making my students understand why that was especially beneficial to small states like ours. I knew that, proportionally, Rhode Islanders have more clout in the presidential election under this system, but I wasn't able to illustrate it dramatically until this year.

When I showed my students the U.S. map, colored red for Governor Bush and blue for you, they finally got it. Anyone can clearly see that the popular vote of only a handful of major cities is almost equal to that of the entire rest of the U.S. Thank God the founding fathers had the wisdom and insight to provide this protection to those of us in small states or sparsely settled areas. The look of shock on my pupils' faces when they realized that public policy could easily be dictated by a handful of the largest and most liberal population centers made me realize that I had them hooked.

They could begin to see why Senator-elect Hillary Clinton, in one of her first post-election speeches, promised to fight to abolish the electoral college. This was too good an opportunity to pass up. Pulling out my well-worn copy of The Federalist Papers, I seized the advantage and began to read from No.68. "It was also peculiarly desirable to afford as little opportunity as possible to tumult and disorder. Nothing was more to be desired than that every practicable obstacle should be opposed to cabal, intrigue and corruption," Alexander Hamilton wrote in defense of the electoral college system. As I told my students, you can insert the phrase "in the year 2000 in Florida" throughout this letter and be amazed at Hamilton's gift of prophecy.

The spectacle we are now witnessing in your campaign to overturn the election in Florida, Al, is the very thing that our Founding Fathers most feared. Although they couldn't anticipate the advent of television, they were familiar with the harm that an inflamed and largely uninformed populace could wreak. What a tremendous lesson you have provided the youth of our country.

No longer are Hamilton, Madison et al "dead white men," incapable of teaching us anything. Rather, they reach out to us through the ages, warning us of "these most deadly adversaries of republican government."

This reminds me of another teaching opportunity you have afforded me. In the past few weeks, you have lectured about your desire to uphold our "democracy," but surely you realize that our government is not a democracy, but a republic. Don't worry about it; most of my 10th graders didn't know the difference either until they read The Federalist No.10. In it, James Madison brilliantly outlines the advantages that republics have over democracies, which he deems "spectacles of turbulence and contention."

The founding fathers anticipated the drawbacks to a democracy and instead created a republic because "the public voice pronounced by the representatives of the people will be more consonant to the public good than if pronounced by the people themselves convened for the purpose."

Those "spontaneous" demonstrations led and orchestrated by the Rev. Jesse Jackson in Florida are proof of the validity of the founders' concerns. Still, I must thank you, Al, for the boon you have been to my teaching this year. By continuing to stir up passions in Florida, by dragging out the inevitable, and by convincing segments of the population that they have been wronged at the hands of other groups, you have proved the founders' concerns justified. No need for me to paint a hypothetical picture of the dangers of mob rule; my students can see examples of it on the nightly news.

Finally, Al, you've helped me to get across the most salient aspect of any civics lesson - that a republic is only possible where the people are virtuous. All these years I have lectured, with minimal success, on the fragility of our system of government, stressing the need for wisdom, honor and self-sacrifice among our nation's citizens and leaders. How easy you have made it for me to show my students the dangers of the politics of selfishness, disingenuousness and division.

During your election campaign you tried, with some success, to disassociate yourself from your predecessor, who so blatantly tarnished our nation's highest office and was the poster-child for self- absorption. Since election day, however, you have shown yourself to be even more dangerous: a demagogue. Your win-at-all-costs attitude has resulted in a nation that is deeply divided; violence simmers beneath the surface. My students, indeed all Americans, are contemplating the consequences of electing a man who has admitted he would do anything to win.

No matter what happens as a result of this election, Al, your legacy is assured. We will learn the lessons you have taught us.

There is no Pro-Life Party in Washington

There is no pro-life party in Washington, D.C., rhetoric to the contrary notwithstanding. To be genuinely pro-life means more than simply saying, "I' m pro-life." Virtually every politician from both major parties has attested to being "personally" opposed to abortion. Bill Clinton has denounced abortion, as has Ted Kennedy and most every other Democrat. Yet they consistently align themselves with proponents of abortion and facilitate through action, or inaction, abortion-on-demand.

Likewise, Republicans have learned the art of political doublespeak and pandering. Knowing the need to capture the pro-life vote, Republicans constantly give lip service to being pro-life during election campaigns. But, that's all it is: lip service. There is no heart-felt conviction or resolve for the issue of saving the lives of unborn children. There is no passion or sense of obligation to it whatsoever. It is merely a campaign tool to dupe gullible pro-life voters.

Witness G. W. Bush's first two cabinet appointments. Both Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice are staunch pro-abortion advocates. That Bush would announce two people who advocate the merciless killing of unborn babies as his first two cabinet members is telling indeed.

Witness the cave-in of the Republican congress. In an obvious capitulation to President Bill Clinton, the Republican congressional leadership approved a $35 million increase for "family planning" in next year's Labor and Health and Human Services Appropriations Bill.

This bill, which reimbursed Planned Parenthood (the most notorious pro-abortion organization in America) some $7 - $10 million for monies expended to help defeat pro-life candidates in this year's election, brings its total Title X share to about $52 million.

Judie Brown, president of American Life League said, "I think for us as pro-lifers to describe Republicans as the 'party of life' is a total injustice to the children we are supposed to be defending." So do I.

President-elect Bush has made it clear, that while he would sign a bill prohibiting partial-birth abortion, should it come to his desk, he will do nothing to make abortion-on-demand unconstitutional. Nothing. Zero. Zilch. He further made it clear that he would do nothing to stop the distribution of the new abortion-inducing drug, RU 486. That means that millions of unborn babies will continue to lose their lives to surgical and chemical abortions, a Republican controlled government notwithstanding.

This doesn't really surprise me. After all, it was a Republican dominated court that legalized abortion-on-demand in the first place. And it was a Republican dominated court that has since upheld a woman's "right" to murder her baby. What does surprise me is that so many pro-life conservatives continue to labor under the delusion that the Republican Party is a pro-life party. It's not.

Judicial Watch Keeping Media Recounters Honest

The media's own Florida recount is just getting under way and already there are indications that representatives of various news agencies are bending over backward to interpret questionable "undervotes" for Vice President Al Gore.

Vote counters from the New York Times, the Miami Herald, the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post and the Associated Press are squirreled away in a Broward County warehouse this week tallying up hanging chads and dimpled ballots.

Also on the scene: Judicial Watch, the Washington, D.C.-based legal watchdog group that announced its intentions to conduct a recount weeks before the press jumped in.

Predictably, some of the media recounters are apparently giving the vice president every break they can.

"One ballot in precinct 26A was tallied as a dimpled chad for Vice President Al Gore by the Associated Press and a member of another news group," the Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday. "While yet another member of the group and Judicial Watch decided there was no vote." "If there's a dimple we call it," Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton told NewsMax.com Tuesday. "But we're just not going to call dimples that don't exist."

Fitton said another ballot, which had dimples for both Gore and Bush, was awarded to the vice president.

"This is crazy," said George Lemieux, a Broward County Republican official on the scene. "Now we have 30 people with different standards."

Maybe. But imagine what the standards would be if Judicial Watch wasn't there.
[ NewsMax.com ]

Hillary's Book Deal Draws Ethics Complaint

Sen.-elect Hillary Clinton doesn't even take office for another two weeks yet and she's already drawn what's sure to be the first of many ethics complaints.

This one comes from the Landmark Legal Foundation's Mark Levin, who took the first lady to task for her $8 million book deal, which violates the Senate's conflict of interest rules.

Senator Pat Roberts
Select Committee on Ethics
United States Senate
2200 Hart Office Building
2nd & Constitution Avenue, NE
Washington, D.C. 20510

Landmark Legal Foundation (Landmark) is inquiring of the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Ethics (Committee) about possible ethics violations involving a reported $8 million book deal between Senator-elect Hillary Rodham Clinton and publisher Simon & Schuster. We urge the Committee to examine the agreement between Mrs. Clinton and Simon & Schuster.

Rule 37 - Conflict of Interest, prohibits, in part: "any outside business activity which would be in conflict with one's official Senate duties."

Simon & Schuster's parent company is Viacom, Inc. Viacom, Inc. also owns, among other things, CBS, Inc. These business entities are frequently affected by legislation involving intellectual property, such as copyrights; broadcast licenses; antitrust laws; and tax laws. As a United States senator, Mrs. Clinton will clearly be in a position to influence legislation affecting these entities.

Obviously Mrs. Clinton entered into her arrangement with Simon & Schuster a few weeks before taking her oath of office to avoid the Senate's financial cap for outside income set forth in Senate Rule 36. In 2000, the limit was $21,195. However, the agreement does not avoid Rule 37 and the possible conflicts of interest that may result upon her assumption of office.

Therefore, Landmark requests that the Committee make public the means by which it will ensure that Mrs. Clinton does not act in violation of Senate Rule 37.

'Twas The Night Before Christmas

By David Workman

`Twas the night before Christmas, cold, dark and foreboding,
As I sat at the work bench, quite busy reloading.
The empties from autumn were polished so clear
For primers and powder, and bullets from Speer

And Hornady's soft-points, and Nosler's Partitions
(MY bench ain't no place for brand name omissions!)
All sat in their boxes, right next to the press
With dies from Pacific, and RCBS

When all of a sudden there came such a jolt,
I grabbed for my Mossberg, and whipped out my Colt.
As I spilled Hodgdon's powder all over the shelf
I scrambled for cover, just to protect myself

From up on the rooftop, came hoofbeats and snorting
Like the noise out of L'il Rock, from Clinton's cavorting!
I eased off the safety, to press-check my auto
With 230-hardball, I'd knock 'em all blotto

Were these rogue federal agents, sent by Schumer and Reno?
Or a staggering Ted Kennedy, in bad need of Beano?
My question was answered with a knock, and some sneezing,
"It's Santa, you moron, lemme in there, I'm freezing!"

I flipped off the dead-bolt and threw the door wide,
To find St. Nick a'shivering, Rudolph by his side
He eyeballed my Springfield, with a nod of approval
"You're all set," he said, "for dirtball removal."

"But this is no raid, we're not here to harm you
Or persecute, prosecute or even disarm you"
Instead, said dear Santa, he needed to borrow
My .357, 'till day after tomorrow

"It's okay," he assured me, with a hint of frustration.
"I'm enrolled in the National Rifle Association"
He showed me his card, 'twas a Life Member rating
"I've had this since me and the missus were dating!"

"And you see, Dave ol' buddy, I've gotten real nervous
"Since Feinstein was elected, with a promise to serve us
"So henceforth as I'm out there, my presents a'stackin'
"I want to assure you, I'm legally packin'

"And my gift for you this year, should give you a hoot
"I've told the Supreme Court to give Brady the boot!
"Now, Rudy and I must be on our way"
He said, as he climbed back on the seat of his sleigh

With the reins in his hand, and my Smith in his pocket
He jingled the sleighbells and was off like a rocket
With a pair of speedloaders, and ammo to spare
I knew he'd be safe, he was loaded for bear

As he faded from view, I could still hear him calling
"From D.C., where 'P.C.' is already falling
"To bad guys in L.A., Detroit and Atlanta
"I'm licensed to carry. Don't be messin' with Santa!"

AND THEN:

'Twas the day after Christmas when Santa returned
He was looking quite happy, all trim and sunburned
His sleigh had been emptied, and I'll bet you're all guessin'
If he did the same thing to his borrowed Smith & Wesson

Well the fact of the matter is in need of reporting,
Like the press oughta do about Clinton's cavorting!
Seems Santa encountered some trouble 'long the way,
'Cause some not-too-bright dirtbags tried to hijack his sleigh

When he left Christmas Eve, he was ready for action
And he made real good time, thanks to reindeer hoof traction
He had rag dolls, and capguns, baseballs and bats.
New dresses, toy airplanes, and a few dogs and cats.

Seems these wannabe grinches thought they were hot shooters
So's a bunch of 'em tried to be Christmas gift looters
But the one thing they hadn't expected to meet
Was a licensed St. Nick, packin' full magnum heat.

The night was still young, when these dipwits appeared
Their caps all turned backwards; at least one had a beard.
They were trying to look vicious, as they stood in his path
He could tell in an instant that they needed a bath

One fool made a grab for Comet and Cupid,
But froze when St. Nick had yelled "Hold it, there, stupid!"
When he leveled my sixgun at this crazy-eyed fellow
The snow at his feet turned a pale shade of yellow

"It was over real quick," Santa said with a chuckle
As he hauled out my Smith from behind his belt buckle
"Never fired a shot, never pulled back the hammer
"Got the cops on my cell phone, and sent 'em all to the slammer"

After that much excitement, 'twas a rest Santa needed
So with his gift-giving, he quickly proceeded
And when he was finished, Santa issued this order:
"Rudolph, old pal, take us south of the border!"

So now he was rested, and this stop was his last one
And he made it real clear, that it must be a fast one
With my piece back in lockup, he said "Thanks for the loan
"Next year, rest assured, I'll be packin' my own"

And just what, did I wonder, might then Santa unlimber?
A Colt, Sig or Taurus, a Glock or a Kimber?
Perhaps Heckler & Koch, a Kahr or a Ruger?
A wheelgun from Rossi, a Walther or Luger?

"I'm not sure," replied Santa, as he scoped out the weather,
"But I'll contact your buddy, Mitch Rosen, for leather.
"And now, I must leave you, until late next December
"But Dave, I assure you, I will always remember

"You did me a favor, and that's one I owe you
"So when I get my own gat, I'll be certain to show you
"In the meantime, ol' buddy, I'll scream it, I'll shout it
"If you're licensed to carry, don't you leave home without it!"

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