Veterans Day

President Woodrow Wilson, on the celebration of the first Armistice Day, later to be known as Veterans Day, November 11, 1919: "To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…"

We can so easily forget all that those in the military have done and continue to do for us. I am always amazed at the heroism, valor, and sacrifice that so many men and women and their families are willing to make to serve, protect, and defend our country. I pray for peace and strength for these families. I am also humbled that my name partly comes from my great uncle, who fought and died at the age of 18 in the Korean War. In tribute to all who serve our country, I honor and remember him today:

PFC Jack Dean Crouch
Born: February 2, 1932
KIA in Korea: August 15, 1950

Thanks for the Ice Cream and Memories

The demolition of a major landmark will occur sometime soon in Arlington. It probably won't make the news, it may even go unnoticed by many, but I am speaking of the Braum's location on Park Row, which moved today to a new location up the street. The new location looks nice - it's new, it's bigger, and it's bound to be cleaner on the inside. The old Braum's building was always dirty, the bathrooms were always nasty, the kitchen area always made me cringe, and the tables were always sticky. (I know, every Braum's is nasty - but this one was especially so.) So why am I a bit sad to see it go? For the last 32 years, that location has held many celebratory memories for me. As a little kid, I would love to swing on the bar as we waited to order our ice cream ("Rocky Road on a sugar cone, please"). I couldn’t possibly count the number of times the Hawkes grandkids celebrated at Braum's following a little league game or an orchestra concert. I think it was one of Pappaw's favorites. Well, and getting the family together was one of his favorites too, so combine family and ice cream and you create a wonderful place. And as large a family as we had, we would often take up an entire section in the back. We would swivel on the chairs, recount stories, and have fun together as family. It didn't matter whether it was dirty, smoky, or fly filled, we always enjoyed going to Braum's. Had I realized soon enough that yesterday was going to be the last day that location was open, I would have made one more visit. Oh well, the memories will have to suffice, I guess.

To Be Completed By 2010

Now that the campaign is over, I am willing to give President Obama the benefit of the doubt that he will accomplish all he promised in the campaign. With a large Democratic majority in the House and Senate, Obama should have no problems passing whatever he wants. So here's the list that Obama should accomplish by 2010 at the latest:

1. Tax cut for 95% of Americans - I will anxiously await this next year
2. My health insurance should cost me $2500 less next year.
3. The Iraq war should be over next year and the $10 billion spent here at home.
4. Gas should be less than $2 a gallon, as Obama pursues off-shore drilling, clean coal, etc.
5. Guantanamo Bay should be closed and the suspected terrorists held there should be moved to American soil or set free.
6. College tuition for all who want to attend.
7. There should be fewer abortions next year than this year.

I know there are more promises that Obama should have no problem keeping, with the Democratic Congress working with him, but this is a list of seven that he repeatedly said he would pursue. I look forward to the completion of the list by 2010.

What Should the GOP Do Now?

With voters rejecting the GOP in 2006 and 2008, what should the party do now? A need for reflection and re-focusing is always important for a losing party, but especially now as the Obama movement takes hold. Here's a list of objectives for the party:

1. Get back to small government and focus on the middle class. For the last eight years, the Republicans have run as "Democrat Lite." With the Democrats now in complete control of Washington, the Republicans need to re-hone their voice of opposition to government as the solution to every problem, while cooperating on issues where the government can help. The lady here sees government as the answer to everything. This mindset is troubling, because I see it taking hold in much of the country. But as it always does, government will disappoint, and when that happens the voters will look to an alternative, if one is available. Tim Pawlenty's desire for the party to be the party of Sam's Club rather than the country club and Mike Huckabee's ability to communicate economic matters effectively need to be given priority in shaping the party for the next few years.

2. Weed out corruption in the party. One of the good things about 2006 and 2008 is that many Republicans who needed to be defeated have been. The party needs to have leadership and members in government that are not corrupt. Should Ted Stevens win re-election and try to come to Washington, the GOP should refuse to let him in. And how great would it be if he resigns and then Sarah Palin becomes the Senator from Alaska. Even if you don't like Palin, you have to admit this would be a juicy story. She ran against the corrupt Republican governor in Alaska and won, she can now take on the US Senator from Alaska and then the Senate as a whole.

3. Promote Young Leadership. While Huckabee and Pawlenty need to work to shape the party, leaders like Gov. Bobby Jindal and Gov. Charlie Crist, who know how to handle the economy and relate to the voters, need to beef up their foreign policy knowledge to be ready for 2012. In the Congress, the reigns of the Republican leadership should be handed to Rep. Eric Cantor and Rep. Jeb Hensarling. These two young leaders can help lead the minority party over the next two years. The Republican Party has always lost the youth vote, but as those voters age, the GOP must have leaders that can relate to the new generation.

4. Focus on Hispanic Population. John McCain lost the Hispanic vote 2-to-1 in the election. The rush of Hispanic voters to the Democratic Party is partly due to the Republican Party's stance on immigration reform (which ironically, John McCain opposed). The tenor of the debate led many Hispanics to feel isolated from the GOP. While racism wasn't a motivation of those opposed to a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants, the escalating debate unintentionally insinuated that all Hispanics were somehow bad for the society. I know that wasn't the intent, but I think it reflects the reality. And the GOP needs to show repentance for that and seek to make inroads in the Hispanic community. There aren't many Hispanics in the GOP leadership, but Sen. Mel Martinez of Florida may be a good place to start. It is clear though that in order to remain relevant in our pluralistic society, the GOP image must be more than just that of a white guy party.

5. Remain Pro-Life but Expand Moral Issues. While the GOP must remain pro-life, it does need to seek to expand what is meant by that. Pro-life must extend beyond the womb. I think this can be done without a big government program by encouraging churches, ministries, and charities to assist with young mothers, and by making adoption more affordable. But also, there needs to be a way for young mothers who keep their babies to continue with their education and find a job. Sex Education should include the ABCs (Abstinence, Be Faithful, Condoms). While this may cause some on the Religious Right to be highly uncomfortable, reducing pregnancy will reduce abortions as well. Also, the economy needs to be discussed in moral terms, which is where the party needs Huckabee. He has eloquently connected his faith and the economy. Instead of being seen as the party of the rich, Republicans need to better explain how their policies help all by phrasing it in human terms rather than economic verbiage. Another issue that needs to be included in the moral agenda is the environment - look back to Theodore Roosevelt for guidance and John McCain as well. Speaking of these items does not mean the government has to be larger, but ignoring them will keep the GOP from adequately addressing these issues to the country in an influential way. Expanding the moral issues by stressing social justice will help with Catholic voters, young voters, and the expanding views of many evangelicals.

There are many other items the GOP could address. But clearly there is a need to examine the core of the party. The old leaders should be retired; the new leaders need to be given the helm. Huckabee and Pawlenty can help begin the process, Jindal, Crist, and hopefully soon-to-be Sen. Palin can become the face of the party. More than ever, it is vital for the Republican Party to be able to adequately promote a philosophy, while guarding against sounding out of date. The country is still middle conservative, but there has not been a consistent message to address this position. Obama's campaign was able to sway many of these voters not just because he is an amazing speaker, but because the Republicans could not consistently articulate a vision for the country. This must change in the next couple of years.

Could McCain Have Won?

A bad year to be a Republican, was there anything John McCain could have done to win the election? Not likely. Of all the Republicans running in the primary, John McCain was the best choice for the party in this electoral climate. The fact that he led in September is a testament to his strength as a candidate. But he was in a difficult position - he was running against Obama and Bush. And this proved to be too much. As I've said before, Palin did not cost John McCain this election. Her early interviews were very rough, but she performed well in the debate and finished strong with her interviews and campaign speeches. Being the VP does not allow you the freedom to truly be yourself, but as the election went on, I believe she shed some of those restrictions placed on her. No one McCain could have picked would have helped him any more than Palin did, and he still would have lost the election due to the unpopular president, the thirst for "change," and the late economic downturn.

McCain's mistake was not his summer campaign or the pick of Palin, but rather his response to the economy. McCain sealed his fate with the suspension of his campaign during the economic meltdown. He made two critical mistakes here: 1. He placed his campaign in the hands of the Senate, during an election year, thinking that this political body would pass meaningful legislation in two days to solve the economic crisis. Why would anyone place their campaign in the hands of the Congress? This was a dumb move. 2. By doing this, he came out in favor of the huge government bailout, the bailout supported by Democratic leadership but also supported and promoted by Bush. In an election where Obama was painting McCain as Bush III, McCain endorsed, defended, and promoted a massive bailout by Bush. Here McCain lost an opportunity possibly to win the election. If he had opposed the bailout, he would have distanced from Bush, while linking Obama, who supported the bailout, to Bush. Additionally, when McCain began his final attack on Obama as a big government guy, it didn't help that just a few weeks before, McCain had not only supported the government bailout, but also advocated for the further bailout of mortgages. This reinforced Obama's claim that McCain was erratic and desperate. It also put Republicans in a bad spot trying to campaign for McCain. I believe Palin was opposed to the bailout, but had to support it as VP. Others like Huckabee and Thompson were placed in awkward positions defending McCain's support of the bailout as well.

Would McCain's opposition to the bailout have won him the election? Maybe, maybe not. Obama probably still would have won, but if I had to identify the breaking point of the campaign, it was here. Obama basically voted "present" during the economic crisis and provided no leadership in what to do. Instead, he allowed McCain to seal his own fate by advocating for the government bailout. I don't mean to take anything away from McCain. He fared better than Romney or anyone else would have in this highly toxic year for Republicans. McCain is a true American hero who gave his best speech last night in concession. This was a year the Democrats should have won. And they did. So what's next? I'll post tomorrow.

A Time to Celebrate Democracy

In the coming days I’ll try to look back and examine the 2008 Presidential Election, but for tonight, I celebrate our democracy. What an amazing country that we freely went to the polls, freely voted, the votes were counted, and we elected a new president. While I didn’t vote for Barack Obama, I still celebrate his victory, because it shows the beauty of our Constitution and the power we place in the people. No tanks, no military coup, no violence, but a peaceful vote.

So tonight, while I would have loved to see McCain/Palin win, I vow to pray for Obama, for his strength and wisdom as he leads this nation; for his family, particularly his girls, as they enter the full glare of the public spotlight. May he lead the country well, and may we all always be thankful to live in a great nation, where tonight, even though 49 percent of the people are disappointed, we can all celebrate being Americans.

(As I finished this post, McCain was conceding the election in the most graceful concession speech I have ever heard. He is a true American hero.)

My Election Selections

While most of the attention has been placed on the presidential race, there are many other races tomorrow of great importance. In fact, one could argue that these local races are of greater impact on our daily lives than the presidency ever will be, yet we often know so little about them. So here are my choices for all the races on my ballot tomorrow.

President: McCain/Palin (R) v Obama/Biden (D)
My Selection: McCain/Palin
Reason: Better on national security, unapologetically pro-life, emphasis on families with special needs, less government wastefulness, check on the large majority that Democrats will have in Congress. If Obama is President and Democrats have 60 Senators, then watch out, we will lurch to the left quickly, government will expand, the deficit will rise.

US Senate: John Cornyn(R) v Rick Noriega(D)
My Selection: John Cornyn
Reason: He just finished his first term and has provided a reasoned, solid approach to being a Senator. He will help check the large majority of Democrats in the Senate as well.

US House District 6: Joe Barton (R) v Ludwig Otto (D)
My Selection: Ludwig Otto
Reason: This is a protest vote against Barton, who has been in Congress for a long time now. Barton will win by a huge margin, but I feel the need to vote against him at least one more time for how he played politics with an autism bill he held hostage in his committee a few years ago. Otto is a TCC professor and a Christian. From what I read, he seems like a nice guy too. Again, Barton will win probably 60% of the vote, but he won't get a vote from me this election.

Texas Senate, District 10: Kim Brimer (R) v Wendy Davis (D)
My Selection: undecided, leaning Wendy Davis
Reason: Brimer has had some ethical issues over the last few years as state senator. I have also been turned off by his petty attacks on Davis and his silly lawsuit claiming she shouldn’t be able to run. When he should have focused on what he would do for Texas, he was instead claiming in a technicality that Davis should be removed from the ballot. So more than likely, I'll vote for Davis tomorrow, a former FW City Council member.

Texas House District 94: Diane Patrick (R) v Geoffrey Adams (L)
My Selection: Diane Patrick
Reason: She has wide bipartisan support, she has made education a major priority and has done a good job in her first term in working to improve education funding in Texas. She has done such a good job that no Democrat is even running against her.

All the Court Elections
My Selection: I'll be voting all Republican on these Court races. However, I think it is a bad idea that we elect judges in Texas. I understand that it helps hold them accountable, but I can't help but wonder how the need to run for re-election could prejudice a judicial decision. I wish we allowed the Governor to appoint judges and then the citizens could recall a judge if we so wished. At least, these should be nonpartisan elections.

Railroad Commissioner: Michael Williams (R) v Mark Thompson (D)
My Selection: Michael Williams
Reason: He has provided solid leadership for the Commission, which regulates oil and gas industry in Texas. He is a future leader of the party in Texas and someone to look at in 2010 as Governor if Kay Bailey doesn't run.

State Board of Education, District 11: Patricia Hardy (R) v Bruce Beckman (L)
My Selection: Pat Hardy
Reason: She is a rational conservative and a much needed voice on the board. What I mean by that is she is not in favor of inserting creationism into the school curriculum (which would be unconstitutional and cost the state tons of money in court), but rather allowing science classes teach science. She also opposed a takeover of the reading lists by the ultra-conservative members, which would have mandated to teachers what books they could or couldn't use in the classroom. I'm never in favor of censoring books and also think each teacher should have that choice for themselves, since they know their students.

State Board of Education, District 13: Mavis Knight (D) v Cindy Werner (R)
My selection: Mavis Knight
Reason: Same reason as above for Pat Hardy. She will keep the science curriculum in tact while also allowing more freedom for local educators to decide what is best for their classrooms rather than mandates from Austin. The board is evenly divided right now between ultra-conservatives and moderates. Knight helps maintain that healthy division. If Werner were to win, it would tip in favor of the ultra-conservatives.

State Board of Education, District 14: Gail Lowe (R) v Edra Bogle (D)
My Selection: Gail Lowe
Reason: In the mold of Pat Hardy, she is conservative, but not to the point where she desires to change the science curriculum, etc.

Arlington Bonds: Vote Yes! We need these bonds to improve our city, so don't forget to vote "Yes" on these bonds.

There they are. Vote - don’t let the crowds keep you away.