BLOG # 6 - IT HAPPENED IN LAS VEGAS

Well, the GOP Western Debate in Las Vegas sponsored by CNN, has come and gone and it is my conclusion that "what happens in Las Vegas, (should stay) stays in Las Vegas! However, the "cream" is still raising to the top. There are now only two candidates that continues to offer substance in their candidacy - Speaker Newt Gingrich and  Businessman Herman Cain. Mr. Cain was attacked by every candidate except the Speaker for his 999 Tax Plan, which, in my humble opinion, means that it has a lot of merit. And the Speaker gave his usual sound and well thought out responses to the few questions directed to him. I do find it very frustrating that Gingrich does not speak more about his "21st Century CONTRACT WITH AMERICA. Here are the topics of his ten points, which you can download the full text @ http://www.newt.org: 
1. REPEAL OBAMACARE. 2. RETURN TO ROBUST JOB RECREATION WITH A BOLD SET OF TAX CUTS AND REGULATORY REFORMS. 3. UNLEASH AMERICA'S FULL ENERGY PRODUCTION POTENTIAL IN OIL, NATURAL GAS, COAL, BIOFUELS, WIND, NUCLEAR OIL SHALE AND MORE. 4. SAVE MEDICARE AND SOCIAL SECURITY BY GIVING AMERICANS MORE CHOICES. 5. BALANCE THE FEDERAL BUDGET. 6. CONTROL THE BORDERS BY JANUARY 1ST, 2014. 7. REVITALIZE OUR NATIONAL SECURITY SYSTEM. 8. MAXIMIZE THE SPEED AND IMPACT OF MEDICAL BREAKTHROUGHS. 9. RESTORE THE PROPER ROLE OF THE JUDICIAL BRANCH. And, perhaps the most important topic: 10. ENFORCE THE TENTH AMENDMENT. 
All of this in ONLY 26 pages and can be read and digested in half an hour. What I believe you will conclude is that his Contract is simply COMMON SENSE! And this is what we need in Washington, DC, and in every government from the Court House to the State House and to the three branches of the federal government. What say you?

BLOG #5 COMMON SENSE

This is taken from COMMON SENSE by Paul Jacobs that I would like to share:

I Gave at the IRS

A friend of mine shared something Desire Street Ministries had posted to Facebook:

We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty. We must start in our own homes to remedy this kind of poverty.

Mother Teresa said that. It's not something you're likely to hear from the "Occupy Wall Street" protestors. From what I've heard, they tend to say that people are in poverty because of big, greedy corporations . . . or government not taking care of them. Mother Teresa was closer to a better explanation. After all, those of us eating and sleeping well weren't handed bread and a front door key by the government or a corporation.

A deeper poverty lurks behind persistent financial poverty. Sometimes the problem is neglect or abuse, drug addiction or alcoholism. Love can conquer all, but the Department of Social Services and the DEA don't dispense love very effectively.

My Facebook friend commented, "Non-profits do so much better of a job of helping the poor than big government can/will do."

Why is that? It isn't because social workers don't care. It's that government bureaucracies are ill-equipped to address individual needs, which go far beyond a bowl of soup and a bed or even a monthly check.

More training, regulations and new laws are hardly the solution.

We are the solution. But we won't be if we hand the task to government and declare "I gave at the IRS."

This is Common Sense. I'm Paul Jacob.

BLOG #4 GOD FAMILY COUNTRY

There was an interesting piece in the Columbia SC THE STATE newspaper (October 9, 2011) by Kathleen Parker, Washington Post Writers Group, entitled PALIN SAYS NO -- FINALLY. Ms. Parker, known for her "perceptive, often witty columns", used her "wit" to ridicule Palin's dependence in relying  on God's guidance in the decision not to seek the GOP nomination for president. It would seem to me that seeking God's guidance on most any important issue (or unimportant for that matter), would be a good idea for anyone, especially a politician! 
Recently I wrote an OPED piece, which I sent to the Brevard NC The Transylvania Times (TTT),  entitled GOD, GOVERNMENT & POLITICIANS. This article pointed out how several of the candidates running for the GOP presidential nomination were being criticized for "wearing their faith on their sleeve." To my way of thinking this was a good thing and I will take this into account when I am considering who I will vote for. One who confesses his/her faith and beliefs and lives up to them, establishes his/her character. Palin and her husband Todd's decision priorities - God, family and country - as pointed out in Ms. Parker article, eems to be the way to go. What say you? 
By the way, the TTT has yet to publish my article. I think there has been a LOT of changes in their editorial policies since Publisher Stella Trapp has been incapacitated and unable to influence the "fair & balanced" policy in the past. I miss you Stella!

BLOG #3 - What IF?

After watching the Bloomberg/Washington Post GOP Debate last evening it occurred to me that, if it were constitutional feasible, wouldn't it be interesting to elect all eight contenders and let them appoint each office? Here would be my pick: For President Newt Gingrich, undoubtedly the most capable of the lot and with real solutions; Rick Santorium as Vice-President as there is no other place for him; Mitt Romney Secretary of State (to deal with China); Treasury Ron Paul (so he could straighten out the Federal Reserve); Herman Cain at Commerce (but will miss his 999 Plan as a prelude to the Fait Tax Act); at Justice would have to be Michele Bachmann (her experience as a Mom will be hel[ful there); Rick Perry at Energy (he will get the domestic oil pouring from Texas to Alaska); as for Jon Huntington I would suggest sending him back to Utah to help his brother run the famiuly business. Note that there is no mention for Defense. This is because there is no one in the eight for this position. My "outside" pick would be General David Petraeus and change the names, as George Washington did, to the War Department. I would also bring the CIA under the War Department. Note there is no Department of Education, Health, Housing or Welfare. This new government will let Amendment X take care of them by the States and the People!  Well this was a nice dream!

BLOG #2 - Words

Yesterday (Sunday, Oct. 9th) Sally and I attended Trenholm Road UMC with our daughter and son-in-law. After the service they took us to hear a special speaker, Warren Bolton, an Associate Editor of the Columbia, SC STATE Newspaper. Bolton, a black man of great faith, spoke about how "words" shapes not only our own lives but that of a Nation and world. He pointed out, as I am sure we all should know, that words can be positive or negative, gracious or hurtful, pleasant or hateful, and so on. This is especially true in thew political atmosphere going on today. Republican candidates are slashing each other, while doing the same to our current president. Certainly it is expected that there be an open discussion on the differences in ones opinions and how one candidate differs from another. But it goes too far when harsh words are used one against another. Campaigns should and must be run on a POSITIVE note, allowing the electorate to know and understands their views on the issues facing us today. One republican candidate is an example of how this is done. This is Newt Gingrich! He offers SOLUTIONS, and he has done this in his 21st Century Contract With America. He clearly outlines the ten issues that he will address upon being elected President. You can download this at ww.newt.com. I strongly recommend that you take the time to read it. Jim

This is my first BLOG

Blogging is definitely new to me, but thought it would be a better way to communicate my thoughts, ideas and discussions of the three main areas of my interest, which are 1. To help you better understand the United States Constitution; 2, To help you understand the FAIR TAX ACT OF 2011; and 3. To encourage you to "think" NEWT as the next President of the United States. My "expertise" in item 1 is based on the face that I published a book in 2002 on the Constitution, spending two years on the research  and the writing. The book's Part 1 may be read on my website: http://www.jamesbplair.com. Part 2 of the book is in the "rewriting" phase since the issues facing the Nation in 2002 has to some extent changed. As for item 2 I have been an advocate of the Fair Tax method of reforming the current tax code for about eights years after I read THE FAIR TAX BOOK, by Neal Boortz and Congressman John Linder (R-GA), On the last item, I have been a supported of Newt Gingrich since he was Speaker of the House and presented the CONTRACT FOR AMERICA IN 1994.


I hope that this will "catch-on" and you will benefit from reading my BLOG from time to time. For those who do not know me I suggest you go to my website and read the INTRODUCTION, which will give you background information on me. I am a Jeffersonian Conservative, with a firm belief in Limited Government, Limited Taxation and controlled government spending. I will be posting my BLOG several times each week. I look forward to your emails and interactions. Have a great day! Jim