The CIA and our enemies

To the members of our Intelligence Community:

I support YOU completely and I can't thank you enough for the great work you do on a daily basis to keep up safe and free. Contrary to what our President and the Democrats in Congress think, the terrorists, NOT you all, are the enemies of this nation!

I am not sorry for what you do to defend this nation. I support your tactics for getting information from our enemies. I am appalled that our Congressional leaders are speaking up louder for you all...our heroes and protectors.

Well, you have my unbridled support. I am NOT sorry that the terrorists got waterboarded. I am not sorry that you defend America and her people. I am not sorry that the terrorists don't receive the same treatment as American citizens. I am NOT sorry for America!

Thank you for all you do. Rest assured that when I am in Congress, you will have no greater supporter than myself. Republicans, who have remained silent on this issue, SHAME ON YOU...I expected more from the party of Ronald Reagan.

Keep up the good work and Godspeed!

America

My fellow voters:

I might post this again, but let me tell you what the United States of America means to me:

With deference to President Reagan, I will borrow 2 of his analogies and then give a few thoughts of my own...he said that America "is a shining city upon a hill" and I agree with him. Here's why:

There has never been a country like America. We are a great nation, a nation of people who have been discounted, spit upon, exiled, punished and over-regulated. We are a nation that "shocked the world" and defeated the most powerful military in the world during the American Revolution. We were common people...farmers, business owners, fathers, sons, mothers, daughters, laborers, all united for one cause...the cause of freedom. We became the hope for all mankind and we still are.

Our nation fought a brutal civil war that would have torn apart any other nation on earth...but through the wisdom of our leaders and the Divine hand of Providence, we eventually united as a nation...battered, but all of us, American. We fought against racism and won. We fought for womens rights, and won. We fought 2 World Wars and we won them both. Americans have fought both on our land and foreign land to protect those who seek freedom...our brave men and women have died, fighting for what makes America so great. We have freed nations and given freedom to millions of people throughout the world. We are the only nation on earth to have a Constitution that has endured for so long and remains an example for Democratic Republics everywhere. We are a nation of people, blessed by God and united by a common cause: freedom.

President Reagan, as we know, gave many great speeches...all of them memorable. But there was one story, one line in particular that defined for me what the world truly thinks about our great nation (story abbreviated):

It was at the height of the boat people. Our Navy was patrolling off the waters in the Pacific and they saw some people in a boat and went to help them. One of the men on the boat called out: "Hello, American Sailor. Hello, Freedom man". Those last 2 words say it all..."Freedom man".

Our nation is brand new in the history of mankind, yet we have sacrificed so much and contributed so much more for the betterment of humanity. We are all Americans, we are all "freedom men". After the attack of 9/11, my father, an immigrant, told me that he truly felt American and that our enemies needed to be defeated. Our nation rose as a whole to defeat the attack on the fundamental value of America...our freedom. We rose, as Americans.

My friends, this is OUR America. We are the greatest nation in the world...the envy of mankind. People don't die trying to leave our country, they die trying to come here. We are the only country who can say that we have defeated Fascism, Nazism, Totalitarianism and Communism...yes we had help, the help of many great friends and allies...but it was America, her soldiers, her spirit, her people and her ingenuity that made the world a safer place. Which other country in the world is as diverse as the USA, let alone New York City? Which nation can assimilate so many different people and become stronger as a result?

President Reagan was right, America is truly a shining city upon a hill. But for me, America is home....we are the last great hope for mankind. For me, and millions of others, America is freedom.

God bless our nation and God bless you all.

IRS and the healthcare bill (HR 3200)

My fellow Tennesseans,

Many of you know about my firm opposition to the HR3200 Healthcare bill that is being passed through Congress (against the will of the American people of both parties). Along with the many, many serious problems in the bill, one part in particular stands out to me...one that is a DIRECT and EXPLICIT violation of our privacy laws. Please check the link below and join me in my fight to derail government funded healthcare before it can be rammed through Congress.

http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/08/26/taking_liberties/entry5268079.shtml

Cap and Trade

My fellow Tennesseans,

A quick update on the Waxman/Markey Climate bill (aka, Cap and trade). This plan to enforce yet more taxes on the people of this nation will eliminate, according to some estimates, several thousand jobs in our state. Already, we know that it will affect the functionings of the TVA and our farmers. If Congress continues to past bills that increase taxes on energy, that will hurt EVERY consumer; some reports have an average American household paying more than $1200 ADDITIONAL dollars a month for electricity in their houses! With unemployment at almost 10%, taking this much additional income away from average Americans is a travesty! There are better and more efficient ways to create an efficient energy policy (which I will outline later). My opponent originally voted for the Cap and Trade bill in Congress...he voted party line rather than for the interest of our state. Rest assured, that if any bill caused thousands of Tennesseans to lose their jobs, then I would fight extra hard to protect these hard working Americans. Jim Cooper should do the same.

A Novel idea...give it BACK to the PEOPLE

My friends,

Today, I heard a report that in a short time, the federal deficit will be at $11.3 trillion, which roughly translates to $37,000 for EVERY American.

First of all, it is appalling that EVERY American will either be in debt, or be behind, $37,000 because the government can not control its spending! But, I have a solution:

How about make a law that says since our deficit would be the equivalent of $37,000 for each American, why not just give a $37,000 check to each American?! Not only would this stimulate the economy, but it would also help those who need help the most.

I know this is not feasible because it is money we now owe, but rather than spending so much on failed Liberal programs, why not give the money back to the American people? After all, it is the government who is stealing from the American taxpayer.

Options for fixing healthcare

My fellow voters,

We have heard Congress throw around ideas about how to fix the American health care system. They have offered bills dealing with a "public option" and now a "co-op" option, but I support neither of these plans.

Let me begin by saying that everyone should be able to buy healthcare insurance that is cost effective and provides excellent coverage. We should be able to find a way to cover the "uninsurable", but we MUST NOT blow up the best health care system in the world. We must get government out of this debate! We know that the governments track record on Medicare, Medicaid, Cash for Clunkers, the Stimulus and Social Security has been one of abject failure. If you were a business owner, would you let someone run your business who failed (went bankrupt) every time they tried to run a program? Why then, would we let the government run our health care? Here are my solutions for fixing health care in America:

First, the government should not force people to buy health insurance if they don't want it. It is NOT an issue of interstate commerce, it is simply unconstitutional and a gross overreach of government power. This being said, if people choose NOT to have health insurance, then they will be forced to pay for their medical care out of their own pocket...not out of the pockets of the American tax payers.

Second, we must ELIMINATE any and all illegal aliens from obtaining this government run healthcare. We should primarily focus on insuring LEGAL American citizens instead of saturating the system with those who break the law to enter this country.

Third, I support a TAX FREE health savings account...without ANY government interference or regulation.

Fourth, we MUST give tax breaks or tax incentives to private companies who offer affordable insurance to all who want it. Free market competition is the way to keep cost down, but we should incentivize companies to make health insurance affordable.

Fifth, we must not penalize small businesses for not insuring their workers or else we risk making these businesses go bankrupt.

Sixth, we must allow for portability of insurance plans. In other words, if someone has insurance in Tennessee but needs access to medical care OUTSIDE of the state, then they should be allowed to be covered under their plan, regardless of where they are located.

Seventh, we MUST have TORT reform. We must protect our doctors (and our patients as well) from frivolous lawsuits which significantly drive up the cost of health care. We can no longer pander to special interest groups, trial lawyers in this case, if we truly want to fix the problem of health care.

Eighth, we should incentivize and reward insurers who DROP their "pre-existing conditions" rules. We must make this fair to both the consumer and the insurance company.

Ninth, the American tax payer must not be forced to pay for government funded abortions and/or end of life counseling for patients.

Finally, I would mandate that the Congress be forced to accept the same health care that they are forcing on the American people. There will be no allowing our politicians to "opt out" of the current health care bill that they are trying to pass.

My friends, please understand that I will oppose any bill that encourages government involvement in our health care system. We need to reform our health care, but we must not allow the government to interfere in the American free market system.

Thank you for reading and God Bless you!

Some ideas for Congress

I believe that the best way to hold Congress accountable for their actions, or inaction as the case may be, is three fold:

First, I will press for term limits for Congress. I believe that House members should serve no more than four 2-year terms (8 years in total) and Senators no more than two 6-year terms (12 years total). This is important because it prevents these members of Congress from becoming too comfortable in their positions and, consequently, to lose touch with their constituents. I pledge, as your candidate for the 5th District of TN, to serve no more than 8 years in the house. I will be a fierce advocate for term limits and I will abide by them myself.

Second, I strongly OPPOSE any increase in Congressional pay. Why should members of Congress be able to earn more money when the economy is failing, unemployment is rising and they have spend our nation into a 1.3 TRILLION dollar deficit. If they punish the American people with their idiotic policies, then they themselves should NOT be rewarded for their failures! Until Congress can balance the budget, cut the deficit in half and put people back to work, they don't deserve a pay raise and I will vote against it in the House. If I lose this vote, I will do my best to take the amount of the raise and give it back to the 5th District of Nashville or to charity.

Three, I will hold open town hall forums for the voters; I won't do it by invitation only and I won't invite only a select few. I am running to serve my district, to serve ALL of its constituents...thus, I will hold town halls in bigger forums where more people can attend. Also, I will give voters my personal e-mail so that they may have better access to me and to the issues. I will do my best to hold at least 1 town hall meeting upon each return to Nashville and to answer your concerns as quickly and efficiently as possible. After all, I am here to serve YOU, not the other way around.

My friends, these are only a few of my proposals, but they are at the heart of my campaign. Politicians in Washington, on both sides of the aisle, have become too accustomed to serving themselves and following the status quo, rather than listening to the concerns of the voters. Nothing has been more evident of this, than the HUGE deficit spending, the stimulus bill that benefited big corporations but not small businesses and, of course, the current debate on healthcare. We need a better way to hold our politicians accountable, and I hope, my policies will serve as a catalyst to better serve the voters, not our cronies, lobbyists or fellow Congressional leaders.