Madeline Crabb
The consequences of our votes
By Madeline Crabb
There's an old Toyota commercial that says, "You asked for it, you got it, Toyota." Well, we asked for change, and we got it — Liberals running Congress. The Republican loss of Congress was predicted by media "talking heads" for weeks. They simply don't have the "whys" right.
Many of these "experts" contend that this shifting of power is due to the public's unhappiness with the Iraq war. Shocking. The media continually pound away at our senses, telling us on a daily basis how many soldiers have been killed. They never educate the public about the difficulty of fighting an unconventional war, one in which the enemy doesn't wear a uniform denoting whose side he's on because this enemy is not a soldier, but a terrorist. Neither do they explain that this enemy doesn't carry a flag or banner representing his county because this enemy doesn't represent a country, but a cause — Islamofascism.
So indeed, if Americans voted for Liberals because of the war, it's understandable considering the constant barrage of bad news and disinformation being reported. Further, it is no wonder Americans seem to have lost their "will" to fight a war because of the media and liberal elite's attitude that America is the villain, not the good guy.
There are additional reasons for the congressional loss. After same-sex "marriage" became a reality in Massachusetts, our lawmakers could not pass a marriage amendment protecting traditional marriage from further assault. They seem more determined to cater to radical homosexuals than respecting the beliefs of an overwhelming majority of Americans.
As illegal immigration increased, legislators didn't have the intestinal fortitude to demand that existing laws be enforced, nor were they able to pass new laws to stop the invasion. They failed to protect American citizens from foreign enemies, which is their primary role. In fact, they seem willing to cater, or more accurately pander, to the Hispanic community for future votes, while neglecting their current, tax-paying American citizen voters.
Anger Anyone?
A lot of people are angry at Congress, including me. In 1994, after 40 years of Democratic rule, we the people said "enough." The nation was headed in the wrong direction and needed a course change, so we elected Republicans to run things. But legislators of both parties, led by Republicans, went to Washington promising they would do certain things, and instead advanced their party's agenda, caused gridlock, or "feathered their own beds." Basically, many Conservatives behaved, voted, and spent like Liberals for 12 years.
Yes there were scandals, and from members of both political parties. However, Republicans got reprimanded. And seemingly, we the people are more interested in payoffs involved in "lobbyist" scandals than we are the multiplied millions of dollars in "payoffs" — I mean campaign contributions — that candidates receive for voting "the right way." Hmmmm...
In this election, the Liberals mantra was "A New Direction." They unfortunately never gave a proposed destination. However, many who were upset with Conservatives not doing what they promised, and despite not knowing where they would be taken by the Liberals, still blindly voted to be taken in this "new direction." Others, including conservatives and Christians, who were equally fed-up with various issues and problems, decided to "punish" the party in power.
Thus while we are beginning to hear Liberals say this election is a mandate for them, it is really more of a message to Republicans. Remember, Republicans lost by narrow margins — less than 2% in over 75% of the congressional races. Further, to get elected, Democrats had to run as Conservatives. But once they are in Congress, let's see how they behave. Remember, it's not what people say that's important, but what they do.
This situation is for only two years until the presidential election. Republicans have two years to get their individual and collective act together. They have two years to decide on what is most important: being in power for power's sake, or actually standing and acting on strong, conservative principles.
Americans have two years to live under the consequences of their own decisions. While many Republicans probably did deserve being thrown out of office, some fine conservative people were ousted in the process. But then Scripture tells us that it rains on both the just and the unjust.
Some Serious Consequences
Indeed, there are some serious consequences to Liberals gaining control of Congress. The new controlling party's beliefs include: abortion, embryonic stem cell research and cloning, open borders, hatred for the military and war, higher taxes, more welfare (and thus less personal responsibility), health care is a "right" and not a privilege, and the myth of "separation of Church and State." With these kinds of leaders, just what kinds of "pro-family" legislation do we expect? Moreover, do we honestly believe our borders will be secured and illegal immigration stopped?
Perhaps the most tragic consequence of our voting choices is that President Bush has almost no chance of getting godly, constitutional judges confirmed by the incoming liberal Senate. The ramifications will haunt us for decades.
For 50 years the Courts have been usurping their constitutional jurisdiction, and have been making laws, not interpreting them. In the past decade they have become quite arrogant in deciding moral issues for Americans, even declaring ballot measures unconstitutional, thereby overriding the "will of the people." Just how many more of our constitutional and god-given rights and freedoms will be stripped from us in the upcoming two years?
These issues are important to consider because it is the constitutional responsibility of the Senate to give "advice and consent" for judicial nominees. Most prevalent during the last few congresses, Liberals have been obstructionists, resorting to filibustering President Bush's nominees. In his book, Bankrupt: The Intellectual and Moral Bankruptcy of Today's Democratic Party, David Limbaugh reports that from Carter to Clinton, 90 percent of circuit court nominees got judiciary committee hearings during the president's first Congress. Only 37.9 percent of Bush's did. From Carter to Clinton, 86 percent of nominees got a committee vote, compared to only 34.5 percent of Bush's nominees. For circuit court nominees, Carter to Clinton, 86 percent were voted on by the entire Senate, compared with only 27.6 percent for President Bush's. Statistics do not lie.
Regardless of what we think about our current president, he was elected by a majority of the people, and it is his responsibility to nominate judges to the courts. Each nominee deserves an up or down vote by the Senate, and to do anything else is to obstruct the constitutional process. So with Liberals now in control of the Senate, why would we think the obstruction will lessen? Remember, even when Republicans had the majority, they were not able to break the previously unheard of filibusters. Additionally, Congress has constitutional authority to oversee the Courts. Who really believes the new Congress will attempt to rein in activist judges?
Our Role
The election is over. Our country will probably survive the next two years, but what will it look like? Yes, we may very well be getting the government we deserve, but God is still giving us a chance to change things. Now more than ever we must get informed, and then hold our elected officials accountable. We must be vigilant. This is our country, and we must take some personal responsibility in managing it.
For the Church, this is yet another wake-up call to get involved in the public policy arena. Just what is it going to take? In late September at the Values Voters Summit in Washington, DC, Alan Sears of the Alliance Defense Fund said: "Saddle up and fight or sit back and surrender." As the new battle begins, just what are you going to do? To anyone willing to hear....
© Madeline Crabb
There's an old Toyota commercial that says, "You asked for it, you got it, Toyota." Well, we asked for change, and we got it — Liberals running Congress. The Republican loss of Congress was predicted by media "talking heads" for weeks. They simply don't have the "whys" right.
Many of these "experts" contend that this shifting of power is due to the public's unhappiness with the Iraq war. Shocking. The media continually pound away at our senses, telling us on a daily basis how many soldiers have been killed. They never educate the public about the difficulty of fighting an unconventional war, one in which the enemy doesn't wear a uniform denoting whose side he's on because this enemy is not a soldier, but a terrorist. Neither do they explain that this enemy doesn't carry a flag or banner representing his county because this enemy doesn't represent a country, but a cause — Islamofascism.
So indeed, if Americans voted for Liberals because of the war, it's understandable considering the constant barrage of bad news and disinformation being reported. Further, it is no wonder Americans seem to have lost their "will" to fight a war because of the media and liberal elite's attitude that America is the villain, not the good guy.
There are additional reasons for the congressional loss. After same-sex "marriage" became a reality in Massachusetts, our lawmakers could not pass a marriage amendment protecting traditional marriage from further assault. They seem more determined to cater to radical homosexuals than respecting the beliefs of an overwhelming majority of Americans.
As illegal immigration increased, legislators didn't have the intestinal fortitude to demand that existing laws be enforced, nor were they able to pass new laws to stop the invasion. They failed to protect American citizens from foreign enemies, which is their primary role. In fact, they seem willing to cater, or more accurately pander, to the Hispanic community for future votes, while neglecting their current, tax-paying American citizen voters.
Anger Anyone?
A lot of people are angry at Congress, including me. In 1994, after 40 years of Democratic rule, we the people said "enough." The nation was headed in the wrong direction and needed a course change, so we elected Republicans to run things. But legislators of both parties, led by Republicans, went to Washington promising they would do certain things, and instead advanced their party's agenda, caused gridlock, or "feathered their own beds." Basically, many Conservatives behaved, voted, and spent like Liberals for 12 years.
Yes there were scandals, and from members of both political parties. However, Republicans got reprimanded. And seemingly, we the people are more interested in payoffs involved in "lobbyist" scandals than we are the multiplied millions of dollars in "payoffs" — I mean campaign contributions — that candidates receive for voting "the right way." Hmmmm...
In this election, the Liberals mantra was "A New Direction." They unfortunately never gave a proposed destination. However, many who were upset with Conservatives not doing what they promised, and despite not knowing where they would be taken by the Liberals, still blindly voted to be taken in this "new direction." Others, including conservatives and Christians, who were equally fed-up with various issues and problems, decided to "punish" the party in power.
Thus while we are beginning to hear Liberals say this election is a mandate for them, it is really more of a message to Republicans. Remember, Republicans lost by narrow margins — less than 2% in over 75% of the congressional races. Further, to get elected, Democrats had to run as Conservatives. But once they are in Congress, let's see how they behave. Remember, it's not what people say that's important, but what they do.
This situation is for only two years until the presidential election. Republicans have two years to get their individual and collective act together. They have two years to decide on what is most important: being in power for power's sake, or actually standing and acting on strong, conservative principles.
Americans have two years to live under the consequences of their own decisions. While many Republicans probably did deserve being thrown out of office, some fine conservative people were ousted in the process. But then Scripture tells us that it rains on both the just and the unjust.
Some Serious Consequences
Indeed, there are some serious consequences to Liberals gaining control of Congress. The new controlling party's beliefs include: abortion, embryonic stem cell research and cloning, open borders, hatred for the military and war, higher taxes, more welfare (and thus less personal responsibility), health care is a "right" and not a privilege, and the myth of "separation of Church and State." With these kinds of leaders, just what kinds of "pro-family" legislation do we expect? Moreover, do we honestly believe our borders will be secured and illegal immigration stopped?
Perhaps the most tragic consequence of our voting choices is that President Bush has almost no chance of getting godly, constitutional judges confirmed by the incoming liberal Senate. The ramifications will haunt us for decades.
For 50 years the Courts have been usurping their constitutional jurisdiction, and have been making laws, not interpreting them. In the past decade they have become quite arrogant in deciding moral issues for Americans, even declaring ballot measures unconstitutional, thereby overriding the "will of the people." Just how many more of our constitutional and god-given rights and freedoms will be stripped from us in the upcoming two years?
These issues are important to consider because it is the constitutional responsibility of the Senate to give "advice and consent" for judicial nominees. Most prevalent during the last few congresses, Liberals have been obstructionists, resorting to filibustering President Bush's nominees. In his book, Bankrupt: The Intellectual and Moral Bankruptcy of Today's Democratic Party, David Limbaugh reports that from Carter to Clinton, 90 percent of circuit court nominees got judiciary committee hearings during the president's first Congress. Only 37.9 percent of Bush's did. From Carter to Clinton, 86 percent of nominees got a committee vote, compared to only 34.5 percent of Bush's nominees. For circuit court nominees, Carter to Clinton, 86 percent were voted on by the entire Senate, compared with only 27.6 percent for President Bush's. Statistics do not lie.
Regardless of what we think about our current president, he was elected by a majority of the people, and it is his responsibility to nominate judges to the courts. Each nominee deserves an up or down vote by the Senate, and to do anything else is to obstruct the constitutional process. So with Liberals now in control of the Senate, why would we think the obstruction will lessen? Remember, even when Republicans had the majority, they were not able to break the previously unheard of filibusters. Additionally, Congress has constitutional authority to oversee the Courts. Who really believes the new Congress will attempt to rein in activist judges?
Our Role
The election is over. Our country will probably survive the next two years, but what will it look like? Yes, we may very well be getting the government we deserve, but God is still giving us a chance to change things. Now more than ever we must get informed, and then hold our elected officials accountable. We must be vigilant. This is our country, and we must take some personal responsibility in managing it.
For the Church, this is yet another wake-up call to get involved in the public policy arena. Just what is it going to take? In late September at the Values Voters Summit in Washington, DC, Alan Sears of the Alliance Defense Fund said: "Saddle up and fight or sit back and surrender." As the new battle begins, just what are you going to do? To anyone willing to hear....
© Madeline Crabb
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(See RenewAmerica's publishing standards.)
