ANN COULTER'S WEEKLY COLUMN

Ann Coutler's new weekly column is titled IF WE COULD TALK TO THE ANIMALS.

This week, she skewers the liberals as they squeal and whine about President Bush's speech at the Israeli Knesset. Ann Coulter provided good information concerning Sen. William Edgar Borah. Click on the link to find out more about him and see if he reminds you of today's Republicans.

WHAT ARE YOU?

Do you consider yourself a Republican?

An internet dictionary defines Republican as 1. a person who favors a republican form of government. 2. a member of the Republican party.

Now, do you fall under definition one or definition two?

Another question – is the United States a Democracy or a Constitutional Republic?

A Democracy is 1. government by the people; a form of government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents under a free electoral system. 2. a state having such a form of government: The United States and Canada are democracies. 3. a state of society characterized by formal equality of rights and privileges. 4. political or social equality; democratic spirit. 5. the common people of a community as distinguished from any privileged class; the common people with respect to their political power.

A Constitutional Republic is defined as a state where the head of state and other officials are elected as representatives of the people, and must govern according to existing constitutional law that limits the government's power over citizens. In a constitutional republic, executive, legislative, and judicial powers are separated into distinct branches and the will of the majority of the population is tempered by protections for individual rights so that no individual or group has absolute power. The fact that a constitution exists that limits the government's power makes the state constitutional. That the head(s) of state and other officials are chosen by election, rather than inheriting their positions, and that their decisions are subject to judicial review makes a state republican.

The answer to this question is a Constitutional Republic and definition 2 for a Democracy is absolutely wrong!

Next question – are you a Republican or a conservative? The same internet dictionary defines conservative as 1. disposed to preserve existing conditions, institutions, etc., or to restore traditional ones, and to limit change. 2. a person who is conservative in principles, actions, habits, etc. 3. a supporter of conservative political policies.

Most people, when discussing the two major political parties in the United States, tend to lump Democrats as liberal and Republicans as conservative. As I have already defined conservative, what then is a liberal? The internet dictionary defines liberal as 1. favorable to progress or reform, as in political or religious affairs. 2. (often initial capital letter ) noting or pertaining to a political party advocating measures of progressive political reform. 3. favorable to or in accord with concepts of maximum individual freedom possible, esp. as guaranteed by law and secured by governmental protection of civil liberties. 4. favoring or permitting freedom of action, esp. with respect to matters of personal belief or expression: a liberal policy toward dissident artists and writers. 5. of or pertaining to representational forms of government rather than aristocracies and monarchies. 6. open-minded or tolerant, esp. free of or not bound by traditional or conventional ideas, values, etc. 7. a person of liberal principles or views, esp. in politics or religion.

Can you be a conservative Democrat or a liberal Republican? The answer is yes. The key is adherence to the Constitution.

So I repeat, are you a Republican or a Conservative. If you state you are a conservative, do you fully support the definition given above? Or do you consider yourself a Republican because you belong to that particular party? I ask these questions because I want people to start thinking where they stand and what they believe. Because your stance and beliefs determine what kind of leader you are and who you select as a leader. I am a conservative and I want conservatives leading the Republican Party.

It is my opinion that the Republican Party – starting with local grassroots organizations and leading to the President of the United States – are Republicans because they belong to the party. It is also my belief that the Republican Party is bereft of leaders. Conservatives do not lack in ideas. Our ideas begin with the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution. How many Republican leaders today expound on these two great documents?

I want you to think about this while I list the four main concerns that future conservative leaders need to address in the forthcoming years. These concerns are terrorism, immigration, energy, and .taxes. I will leave now to let you think about these concerns and how our ‘leaders’ are handling them.

NO COMPROMISE or NoCo

This post is about music.

I have a co-worker who is the drummer of the band No Compromise or NoCo. I have added them in My Favorite Links section in an effort to help him and his band get exposure. Click on the No Compromise link to get to their website and listen to some of their music. If it's not your cup of tea, just ignore it. If you like the music, drop them a line and let them know. Also, pass it around and let others listen.

Hope you like it.