National Review Online: The reality is that Rick Santorum’s instincts and intellectual choices consistently tend toward freedom.

http://www.nationalreview.com/blogs/print/287441

NATIONAL REVIEW ONLINE          www.nationalreview.com        

Rick Santorum, Conservative Stalwart By Quin Hillyer January 9, 2012 4:00 A.M. Excerpts from this article: … The attempt to attach a “big-government conservative” label to Rick Santorum for some rare wanderings from the conservative reservation makes about as much sense as arguing that record-breaking Drew Brees of the Saints is a poor quarterback because he threw 14 interceptions this season. The reality is that Rick Santorum’s instincts and intellectual choices consistently tend toward freedom. On taxes, for instance, Santorum has always been superb. The Club for Growth’s white paper on Santorum, calling his tax stances “very strong,” confirms that “Santorum has consistently supported broad-based tax cuts and opposed tax increases either by sponsoring key legislation or by casting votes on relevant bills.” His record on a host of other conservative issues is as solid as that of any politician in the past two decades. He has been firmly and repeatedly against all sorts of regulatory abuse, against McCain-Feingold and other restrictions on political speech, for school choice, for tort reform, for a strong military, and for a balanced-budget amendment. Obviously he has been as stalwart a defender of social conservatism, for 20 full years, as any other public figure. And as virtually every conservative involved in the judicial wars during Santorum’s time in the Senate has confirmed, in person or in print, Santorum and his staff were the go-to people in the Senate when you needed to find tireless, committed advocates for conservative jurists.  Santorum is, wrote Ed Whelan of the Ethics and Public Policy Center, “the candidate in whom I have by far the greatest confidence” in terms of how likely he would be “to appoint excellent Supreme Court justices and lower-court judges and to work tenaciously to get them confirmed.” Meanwhile, as Santorum frequently (and entirely accurately) reminds anybody who will listen, his work on the single most important conservative policy reform of the past half century, the 1996 welfare-to-work effort that cut spending and poverty rates simultaneously, was seminal, indefatigable, and remarkably effective. Iowa’s Sen. Chuck Grassley explained to the Des Moines Register a week ago that he was unconvinced about welfare reform until Santorum paid him an office call and “took a lot of time to convince me of his point of view. . . . The sincerity and effort that he has to get his point across in the presidential campaign is almost a total reflection of how he operated as a United States senator.” Grassley yielded and voted for reform. More broadly, until Rep. Paul Ryan’s recent prominence, nobody in Congress has been as passionate and fearless an advocate for entitlement reform as Santorum. Medicaid block grants. Investment accounts for Social Security. Medicare payments controlled by the beneficiaries rather than third-party payers. Choice rather than government mandates. Indeed, Santorum was the first candidate this year to fully embrace Ryan’s proposed reforms — with this exception, as he reminded me in a phone interview on Thursday: “I’ve criticized Ryan on one thing: waiting ten years [for many of the reforms to kick in]. We can’t afford to wait. We’ve got to start now.” It was his enthusiasm for entitlement reform (probably combined with pressures from being in the Senate leadership at the time, although he won’t say so) that, Santorum says, led him into the vote about which rightward critics most often carp: the creation in 2003 of the Medicare Part D prescription-drug program. As expensive as it was, Part D did embrace three conservative goals. “First was health savings accounts,” Santorum has said. “They were a passion of mine since 1992 when John Kasich and I introduced the first bill proposing them. This bill allowed them, for the first time. Second was the Medicare Advantage program: a precursor, I thought, to what Ryan is proposing now, a private-sector proposal for Medicare prescription drugs which we thought could be an example to transform the whole system. Third was competition among insurers [rather than service delivery through the government].” “What I tried to do is take lemons and make lemonade,” he said. “I said even at the time that it was a 51–49 decision for me.” Those features of the program worked, with individual premiums and the government tab both running as much as 40 percent below original projections. Most conservatives still will argue, rightly and convincingly, that the prescription-drug program wasn’t worth the cost unless it was part of broader Medicare reform. The good thing is, there is no doubt that a crusading President Santorum would try to accomplish just that. As for overall spending and his much-discussed history of support for “earmarks” (a position also shared by tightwad Ron Paul), conservative groups’ ratings show that Santorum was better than the average Republican, despite representing a state far bluer than those of most of his Republican colleagues. He demonstrated particular courage in his support for the Freedom to Farm Act and in frequent opposition to floor amendments that would have put additional spending in appropriations bills. Denizens of Capitol Hill in the 1990s fondly remember Santorum’s repeated use of a prop during floor debate called the “Spendometer,” which he used to make a persuasive (and entertaining) case against wasteful federal largesse. Out of office, he vociferously opposed TARP, the various “stimulus” packages, and the bailouts of car companies and of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. All those stances were perfectly in line with the voting record he had established in the House and Senate. A final criticism, emanating from Rick Perry’s camp, concerns Santorum’s votes in the mid-1990s against federal right-to-work (RTW) legislation. Santorum now says that as a senator representing a non-RTW state, he objected to national legislation on federalist grounds. He notes that federalism is not, in his mind, an all-encompassing consideration for individual states’ prerogatives, but one that should be the default position absent a sweeping moral imperative (such as the protection of unborn children). He has always supported RTW at the state level — and he has long since changed his position to favor it at the national level as well. Spokesman Matt Beynon said the switch was sincere, growing in part from discussions Santorum had with tea-party favorite Sen. Jim DeMint of South Carolina.  However the switch came about, Santorum answered all nine questions on a recent survey from the National Right to Work Committee in ways that should thrill any conservative. He pledged to oppose compulsory union dues, support repeal of mandatory union representation for federal workers, oppose “card check” union elections, oppose “project labor agreements” requiring union wages even for non-unionized federal work, and took the RTW position on all five other issues in the questionnaire as well. Because friend and foe alike agree that Santorum’s word is his bond, there is every reason to trust each of those pledges. Perhaps, though, the wisest way for conservatives to assess Santorum is not with exhaustive issue-purity tests, but rather by considering the man’s overarching values. For anybody who has watched Santorum’s career since his first upset victory in 1990, the idea of him as anything other than a solid conservative on economics, defense, or social issues is patently absurd. Conservative-movement leader Colin Hanna, president of the Let Freedom Ring public-policy organization, is a Pennsylvanian who has followed Santorum’s career closely since his first Senate race in 1994... “I think Rick was sounding the themes of the Tea Party long before the Tea Party came along,” Hanna told me. “He talks and acts like a freedom-agenda, Reagan guy. He has a deep passion and you see that in every aspect of his personality. He truly believes that most government programs, particularly social programs, trap rather than empower the people they are designed to serve. . . . His attitude was to make these programs work by liberating their beneficiaries rather than enslaving their beneficiaries. Therefore the solution to big-government social programs is in fact their restructuring, and perhaps their outright elimination. Ipso facto, that leads to smaller, not bigger, government.” Or, as conservative talk-radio host Mark Levin asked me rhetorically Thursday night, “If Rick Santorum is not a consistent, principled conservative, certainly in the 90 percent category, then who is?” Of one thing conservatives can be absolutely sure: Unlike politicians who lack the courage of conservative convictions, Rick Santorum will fight for his causes and not be scared off by “establishment” criticism. In four uphill elections and in legislative skirmishes for conservative ends too numerous to count, Santorum has won a decidedly impressive number of his fights. — Quin Hillyer is a senior fellow at the Center for Individual Freedom and a senior editor for The American Spectator.



Nate Self and Calling Levi--Shining Light On Hope So Our Soldiers Can Find Peace in War

Hear interview with Christian Singing Group-- Calling Levi-- who took a great leap of faith and like Matthew or Levi followed Jesus when they heard His call.  What happened afterwards was an adventure of growing in faith for their families--a faith being lived and passed on to their families as well as others and to future generations.  They are indeed living and walking testimonies of the sufficiency and grace of God.

You can see how God ordered their steps--first of all with their hearts and then their hands and feet (as they did many mission work) before they totally left the world of security (Mark had an accounting job earning $100,000.)  You see, they saw with their obedient hearts where they were most secure--in the arms of Jesus, so they followed him.  And they found Him faithful and able to meet their needs and have shared Him (Jesus) in all ways most especially through the gift of music.  Their latest album Pursuit--has a single aptly titled-- "Jesus Saves" as indeed that is the message they want the hurting world to know.

Their leap of faith which has now brought them to a point where they can help multitudes of military families.  Thy were inspired by the story of Nate Self, a recipient of Purple Heart and guest of George Bush at the 2003 State of the Union Address, who tried to commit suicide a year later.  Calling Levi with MarkInc have written a new song with a video called "Peace in War".  They hope it will help military families in the struggles they face today.  Statistics on depression/suicide are at an all time high in all branches of the military.  It has been said the military is like the canary--and is a sign of what is also going on with the rest of the nation. 

Problems in the economy, in raising children and families are incredibly made worse by a culture that seems to be taking out what made this nation great.  Alexander de Tocqueville  in the early 19th century--looked for the key to  greatness in America and he observed:

• "Moreover, almost all the sects of the United States are comprised within the great unity of Christianity, and Christian morality is everywhere the same.
• In the United States the sovereign authority is religious, and consequently hypocrisy must be common; but there is no country in the whole world in which the Christian religion retains a greater influence over the souls of men than in America, and there can be no greater proof of its utility, and of its conformity to human nature, than that its influence is most powerfully felt over the most enlightened and free nation of the earth."

It is time to shine the light on truth and as Nate Self has found with dealing with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder(PTSD)--Jesus saves.  He can save us through all our troubles but first we must have faith to put our trust in him.  Hope you will as no one else gave his "all" for us like Jesus did.  And when you trust Jesus--you win for eternity.  See Link  on how Nate learned to stop hating himself.  May other churches be inspired to take a leap of faith and be "his hands" for today's hurting families such as those in the military.  After all, it is a small thing to do for those who lay their lives on the line to help keep us free.

Podcast Link to Interview

Remedy for Depression of the Economy and People-- Christmas and the Wonderful Music It Brings

Christmas makes the world's economies go round.  Early on, it was amazing to hear news on Bloomberg, how plans were being made for orders to fill demand this time of the year when the world give gifts in honor of Christ's birth.  Indeed, it is a culmination with physical and spiritual implications.  And this year more than ever it gives meaning to the survival of many businesses.  Even many atheists unknowingly put their hope on this celebration of the Savior-- hoping their stocks and/ or its subsidiaries does well on the check-out registers.  Even great and mighty nations hold their breath, hoping against hope for a great celebration of Christmas.  Only God can do such a thing.

It is incredible how Christ's birth parallels the hope it gives for the soul of each man.  How Christ is perceived and truly celebrated also means survival of the soul when this world is no more.  Christ saves.  God knows we are not just men but also spirit and I believe he gives us lessons of the physical and spiritual as well of now and tomorrow all wrapped up in the birth of his Son.  Christmas gives a taste of joy now and joy to come forever eternally--when his gift is accepted returned with our only gift worth giving.  And it's certainly not money, nor gold , nor fame as none of that matters to the maker of Heaven and Earth.

But when we give what we have--what does He give us?  An inheritance in heaven, no man can take away and sins forgiven and life with meaning in the eyes of him from whom all blessings flow. 

The whole world has been searching for it...if you don't know... Him...today is a great day to embark on that journey.  And you will find you will never walk alone...But for the grace of God--it makes all the difference!  Trust him after all he gave his "all" for you.   Merry Christmas.

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
1 Corinthians 2:8-10

Enjoy the musical celebration--some favorites--the first written in 1872 by Christina Georgina Rosetti

Link to words

Kathy Mattea sings "Mary Did You Know?"

Listen to more from Celtic Woman and wonder what heaven sounds like...Merry Christmas!!!  God loves you!!!

Elaine Donnelly--Will You Join Her In Defending Our Brave?

Hear a 15 min interview with Elaine Donnelly on the Don't Ask Don't Tell Policy and the danger looming ahead for today's military cohesion.  Should there be any question as to who is the priority--lives of men and women vs lifestyle of the homosexuals and their agenda.  Truly loving and caring and patriotic people would put the safety of our soldiers ahead--if you are one of those--please contact those listed below before December.  Every one matters and so will your voice.  We can fight for freedom and our soldiers in the comfort of our home via telephone or letter.  What a miniscule step that means so much to them and their families.  November 2nd showed there is indeed Hope for a Better America--let us keep it going in the right direction and keep it the land of the free and yes--the home of the brave.  The brave needs our help--please pray and act.  The founding fathers did and it made all  the difference.  

Plea from Chaplain Klingenschmitt (prayinjesusname.org):

Last month Reid allowed ZERO amendments, so Sen. Collins said she and Snowe would support the homosexual agenda, but only if Reid opened up the "tree" of amendments (presumably for Maine Pork-barrel spending), which Reid's comment now hints he's eager to pay.  Pork $ to betray our troops.  Weren't Snowe (up for election in 2012) and Collins (2014) paying attention to this week's elections?  Tea party voters are NOT afraid to replace sitting Senators in primaries, even if they risk losing a general election. Just ask Delaware, Utah, Alaska voters.  Maine primary voters are not asleep...they're hungry.  >
Everybody please call Snowe (R-ME, 202-224-5344) and Collins (R-ME, 202-224-2523), and both Arkansas Democrat Senators Pryor (D-AR, 202-224-2353) and Lincoln (D-AR, 202-224-4843).

Morning Has Broken--Another Great Awakening

Hope is in the air.  Something that has always been but not many see as there.  I read Mark 11:22-25 and saw it in a different light.

And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.

For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.

Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

Recently I have asked of God  things which seemed impossible--facts were all against it happening, as a matter of fact the decks were stacked literally sky high to the contrary of what I asked.  Yet, three times God showed himself as the Lord of the unseen and what I asked came brightly through.  Could it be coincidences--not to me.  It was someone up above teaching me a lesson for His Word is true.  I believe the lesson for me is that He comes through at the darkest time to prove what no one else can do but my Savior.  He can stop time and only He can calm the storms of my life (as well as yours) and to top it all He parts the clouds and lets His light, His love shine through.  How awesome is that!

In John 18:37--Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.

Hope you'll seek him as I have for awesome is He who loved us so much He sent his only Son to show us the way so that we can live with him in heaven for eternity.  It is a gift like no other.  Hope you will accept it.  Many have heard, many have even sung about it.   I heard the song "Morning Has Broken" sung by Steve Green and it felt like listening to music heralding God's best for me--it awaits.  But I also realized there are others who even with a gift of music can't see past the sound to the truth--Cat Stevens is one of those.  What a paradox Steve Green and Cat Stevens both sung "Morning Has Broken" but only one tasted God's Word.  Hope you will taste for yourself and see for He is good and his love endures forever! 

Share The Truths About Thanksgiving--Before You Lose It All

"I don't want to stand before the Throne of Grace, in front of the LORD saying-- Lord, I know who you are. You've shown yourself to me and I know who you are but I was afraid to tell people. And I know of the truth about America but I was afraid to tell people."  Patriot Pastor Garrett Lear

If all of us had such a fear of God, we would turn this nation back on the right track.  The Founding Fathers left us a legacy and they wanted us to live in it.  But for too long, the enemy has turned the truths into lies and hid the true history from children for they are the future.  It has worked as today most Americans do not learn true history from their schools and have been like puppets on a string.  But the winds are changing and the winds of truth are blowing.  Hear the 11-28-09 show as the Patriot Pastor Garrett Lear will present to you the truths about Thanksgiving.  At the end is a special conversation between him and one key to our future.  We in this nation are so blessed--hear this and the truths we have been missing out on.  May you share this podcast and may it be a blessing to your family and friends.  Audio link...

Ft. Hood Shootings-The Victims

Pvt. Francheska Velez, 21, Chicago--daughter of a Colombian immigrant who had wanted to join the military.  Francheska had told her father  'Papi, lo voy hacer' ('I will do it')."  She had re-enlisted and was on her way home early from Iraq due to her maternity leave.  It was her and her father's dream for her to serve in the military but Thursday that dream was shattered.

Velez was from Chicago and had attended Kelvyn Park High School and was in ROTC.  She had a wonderful fun personality and even worked for free as a clown at parties as she loved making people laugh specially her father.  They had a love together for the US military.  Her father asks "What I don't understand is how this demented man could do this. ... How could she die at the hands of her own people?  That's what I don't understand, and I will never understand."  This is a sad testimony of these politically correct times when the enemy is allowed to be amongst the brave soldiers and do them harm.  I pray we will learn something from this as statistics are showing the enemies tactics of working from within is an efficient tool for them especially when so many looks the other way.  It is time America wakes up--too many signs overlooked by those fearful of a backlash and that should not be--amongst the brave.  May we stand in the gap and say "never again."

List of others whose lived were ended on Thursday’s shooting at Fort Hood, Texas:

Maj. Libardo Caraveo, 52, Woodbridge, Va.

Spec. Frederick Greene, 29, Mountain City, Tenn.

Michael Cahill, 62, Cameron

Pfc. Aaron Thomas Nemelka, 19, West Jordan, Utah

Pfc. Michael Pearson, 31, Bolingbrook, Ill.

Spc. Jason Dean Hunt, 27, Frederick, Okla.

Sgt. Amy Krueger, 29, Kiel, Wisc.

Pfc. Kham Xiong, 23, St. Paul, Minn.

Lt. Col. Juanita Warman, 55, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Capt. Russell Seager, 51, Racine, Wisc.

Staff Sgt. Justin DeCrow, 32, Fort Gordon, Ga.

Capt. John Gaffaney, 56, San Diego, Calif.

Pvt. Najee Hull was shot two more times in the back as he tried to crawl away after being shot in the leg-he will live but lost his spleen.  Please pray as those injured are in dire straits.

Here is a link to an informative article on that 10 minutes of hell brought on by  Army Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan the enemy within.