The Necessary Resurrection of Common-Sense Conservatism

Post-election season, a raging whirlwind of questions pertaining to the path the Republican Party ought to take has surfaced. Is a new direction really necessary, or is an improved strategy the key? Should the GOP abandon its namesake by incorporating liberal ideals in an effort to pander? Where should we go from here?

Contrary to what Leftist pundits would have you believe, however, Republicans made gains at the state level. Nationally, the GOP maintained control of the popular body of Congress, increased its control of governorships and legislative chambers. In Michigan, the GOP held onto power of Lansing, keeping an advantage in the State House (thus paving the way for Right to Work legislation) and on the Supreme Court. Michiganders rejected measures that sought to drastically alter its Constitution, namely a proposed amendment which would have enshrined collective bargaining rights for government-sector unions. Not all was lost on Election Day, but we must double-down on our efforts to educate – not pander to – the public en masse.

RINOs – Republicans in name only, who seek to turn the GOP into a watered-down version of the Democrat Party – have time and time again failed to lead to electoral success. John McCain got trounced last presidential cycle. Mitt Romney is not entirely at fault, although some issue planks could have been better articulated, such as the campaign’s lackluster response to the disgraceful Obama Care ruling.

A common-sense conservative approach is in order. The soft, we-are-not-as-bad-as-the-other-side tactic is a losing one. Strategically speaking, it is rather simple: focus on traditional values, i.e. legitimate fiscal restraint and respect for the freedom of the individual. Spending must stop, all human life deserves protection by law, and activist judges should not dictate their skewed interpretation of the natural law. Genuine conservatism will be given an opportunity to govern – it is only a matter of when.

Historically, these principles win elections. Is it any wonder why, when big-government policies are publicized for what they are, Leftists run as budget hawks? The most recent mid-term elections prove the point. Albeit contradictory to their agenda, Congressional Democrat candidates masqueraded as fiscally responsible lawmakers, even though they were responsible for fiscally insane legislation like Obama Care and stimulus spending. Fortunately voters saw through the lie. Under a second Obama administration, the Left cannot hide from their actions let alone pretend they are something they are not: conservative politicians.

The bumpy road toward rejuvenation begins now. Speaker John Boehner and his U. S. House colleagues would be making a terrible blunder, philosophically and politically, if they were to give in to Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid’s wish to raise taxes on Americans writ large. Republicans must stay true to their constituents by preventing any further tax increases. Americans are already saddled with debilitating debt and can ill afford to pay even more for Washington shenanigans.

The Reagan-Obama comparison: Liberal media “body snatching”

Presidents Obama and Reagan are strikingly similar, practically carbon copies of one another, according to the lamestream media. But is it an accurate portrayal? A veteran political writer suggested otherwise on national television.

Of late, the Ronnie-Barry comparison is tossed around loosely. But for decades, since his initial involvement in national politics, Reagan and his principles have been bashed thoroughly by the liberal establishment. Longstanding public favorability of the Great Communicator has remained at a constant, steady level. Grudgingly, I’m certain, lefties have had to acknowledge this fact. So goes logic – even a broken clock is right twice a day.

“It’s such blatant and shameless body snatching,” proclaimed Lowry, the dinner keynote speaker. He went on to explain that any attempt to link the two leaders is false. A quick glance at historical data shows that Reagan’s diplomacy significantly aided the end of the Cold War without firing a shot, while Obama’s policy of appeasement and apology to foreign rulers has entrenched a global sentiment of weakness. Lowry argued that liberals are quick to attatch themselves to the man they once dubbed a “dangerous lunatic” because his policies were successful. “We must constantly beat this stuff back.”

The National Review editor added that the left has tried to hijack the legacy of famed journalist William F. Buckley, Jr. Before we know it, he will be labeled a “great liberal figure.” For anyone with any knowledge of the tremendous work of Buckley, this is a flat-out insult to all things conservative.

The entire program aired live on C-SPAN and can be accessed via their online portal. Here’s the Ustream page link:

http://bit.ly/qIGE2W

The NCSC, now in its thirty-third annual year, is hosted by the Young America’s Foundation in Washington, D. C.

 

Nicholas Kowalski blogs for The Other Side. Contact him on Twitter (@NKowalski) and via email. Let your voice be heard!

CPAC 2011: “Student Activism Panel” Speech

 

At CPAC 2011, I was honored to share my experience in the conservative movement. As apart of Friday’s “Student Activism Panel,” I gave a brief speech. Below is the text of my oration. Feel free to share with fellow conservatives, and let me know your thoughts. Thank you!

 

Surprise! Conservatives actually exist at that bastion of liberalism known as Michigan State University. You may recognize the Spartan logo from atop the head of the hefty lefty film producer, Michael Moore.

I stand before you because of my passion for common sense ideals, such as free-market economics, family values, and personal sovereignty. This past fall, I waged a spirited campaign for County Commissioner against a left-wing career politician. The duel was between a blonde-haired-blue-eyed undergraduate – yours truly – and a still-living-the-dream hippie who had first been elected way back in 1976. (That’s correct; he was on the same ballot as Jimmy Carter!) Though we lost the battle at the polls, we won the war in terms of sparking campus awareness for the conservative cause. For instance, I wound up with a front-page article in the school newspaper that reached thousands of students and professors. While liberal indoctrination, questionable treatment of conservative student organizations, and limited free-speech still occur at the public university in East Lansing, the community is arising out of a utopian nostalgia which filled the seats at Spartan Stadium not too long ago.

Traditional and social media, head-turning events, in addition to personal connections and interactions, are all fine tools that can be cultivated to the fullest extent on campus. I believe the impact that an individual, or a group, can have in challenging conventional wisdom is limitless. And don’t just take my word: each activist on this stage, and in the audience and around the country, represents the will of our generation to defend constitutional principles. We have an opportunity to reverse the brain drain, to shape our future and the future of America the exceptional. The time to act is now.

As the Great Communicator, President Ronald Reagan, once proclaimed: “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.” So let’s inspire authentic ‘hope’ with real ‘change’ at our respective institutions of higher learning – and fast, because with each passing second the federal deficit reaches a new astronomical high.

If you share my feelings toward Michael Moore, please follow my tweets at NKowalski – that’s spelled N-K-O-W-A-L-S-K-I on Twitter. Thank you and keep up the fight for what’s right!

 

Nick Kowalski is a blogger at The Other Side and can be contacted via email (Nicholas.Kowalski@rocketmail.com) and on Twitter (@NKowalski).

Mark Kennedy Picks Pawlenty for President: An In-Depth Interview with the Former Congressman

 

Recently, I had the pleasure of speaking with former Congressman and businessman Mark Kennedy (R-MN). This past summer I met Mr. Kennedy while at the Young America’s Foundation’s National Conservative Student Conference in Washington, D. C. Having moved on from an unsuccessful bid for the U. S. Senate – he was the GOP nominee in 2006 – the businessman has embarked on a new path.

In August, Mr. Kennedy discussed his conceptual design dubbed as “Purple People Power”: the professed solution to the gridlock of politics. Reining in an era of fiscal irresponsibility and paying off the national debt, which stands at about $400 per American, should be atop the federal government’s agenda, argues the financial consultant who hails from the ‘Land of 10,000 Lakes.’

The “path to Purple progress,” as described in his address, incorporates the following list of objectives:

1) Have a wide lens

– Food for thought: competition is not the other party

2) 360-degree vision

– Business, Congressional, and global insight: an array of different experiences can aid our understanding of matters

3) Avoid red vs. blue

– Political gridlock: Purple ‘pain,’ not ‘rain’ (á la the famed singer Prince)

By way of humor, Mr. Kennedy relates the binge-spending behavior of those in Washington to “free love” which “leads to unintended consequences for all involved,” i.e. “crabs.”

On a more serious note, given the fact that the Republican Party has been without a sixty-vote majority for around nine decades, Mr. Kennedy asserts that there has been “progress only once in ninety years.” With that empirical piece of historical data in mind, the businessman suggests that Republicans must “get [Democratic] conservatives on board, like Ben Nelson [of Nebraska]” in order to enact real reform such as a balanced budget amendment to the U. S. Constitution.

From 2000-2006, Mr. Kennedy held onto a Congressional seat representing Minnesota’s sixth district. Congresswoman Michele Bachmann (R-MN 6), founder of the U. S. House Tea Party Caucus, is the incumbent.

Aside from his current advising ventures, during his twenty-year career in business, Mr. Kennedy helped Pillsbury acquire Haagen Dazs, worked at Accenture, and was named a “Fortune 100” senior executive.

To learn more about Mr. Kennedy and his business – Chartwell Strategic Advisors, LLC – you may explore his website, http://chartwellsa.com/.

Below is the transcript of our conversation on Congress, politics, family, business, and… Michigan football? Read on for the entire scoop! 

* Interview with Mark Kennedy *

The Other Side (TOS): Having served three terms in Congress, what did you learn from it all? Did your outlook on life, your view of government alter as a result of your time spent on Capitol Hill?

Mark Kennedy (MK): I learned that each individual can make a difference. I won my first contest by 155 votes. Less than one vote difference per precinct and I would’ve lost. I was the deciding vote in the U. S. House many times.

You certainly get a broader view. If anything Congress made me more conservative. We, my office, often times were rehabilitation for kids that were liberal. CSPAN is very liberal; you realize the [factual] association with their comments is way off. Gained a much broader sense of government while in Congress. [My view that] individual initiative as opposed to government directive didn’t change.

TOS: If you could fix one thing – and one thing only – in Washington, what would it be, even if your political career would be at risk? Do you feel that this measure could be fixed soon, why or why not?

MK: A balanced budget amendment. Could be fixed only if the youth make it an issue, and they should. We’re spending you and your kids’ money, not for your benefit but for theirs. Now in Congress they are considering a moratorium on earmarks. It’s a start; with groundswell pressure we could get change.

TOS: According to your’06 Senate campaign webpage, as a Congressman, you served as “an independent voice for Minnesotans, frequently leading bi-partisan efforts to address concerns” including “health care.” With the primarily GOP-supported concept of Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) aside, which bi-partisan health care initiatives did you push for – hopefully not Pelosi’s version?

MK: The bill that I co-authored [H. R. 765 (The Fair Care for the Uninsured Act of 2005)] was for refundable tax credits that had to be insured. Had a good share of House Democrats supporting it. Each individual chooses the coverage that they get. Did not get to a floor vote. Bush had it on the agenda, but it never got that far. Brought up in each of the terms that I served.

TOS: What is your reaction to the midterm elections? You must have been excited to see the Minnesota State Legislature, particularly the Senate, flip from Democratic to GOP control for the first time ever. (A Republican tornado ravaged through my home state of Michigan too.) In your opinion, will Republicans stay true to their professed mindset of fiscal responsibility and government reform, or will a collapse ensue much like that of the ‘90s?

MK: My reaction [is that] if you get tackled in your own end zone, that’s two points for the other team. The stimulus, etc. Pelosi and the Democrats that passed it hurt themselves. If Republicans do the same thing we’ll pay a similar penalty in one of the future elections. Want to start out from your opponent’s forty yard-line, not near your own end zone. Not seesaw, but future progress is what we want.

Absolutely. There is a recount for Governor; the Democrat leads, but we did take back the House and the Senate. This will give us two, possibly three, seats at the table [in Minnesota]. Not just Minnesota, Republicans will be positioned well for redistricting [across the country].

TOS: Of the potential candidates, and at this stage, who would you support as the GOP nominee for President in 2012?

MK: I am supporting Tim Pawlenty. He has fiscal credentials, has balanced the books without raising taxes as Governor, and advocated health reform that I favor. I think Pawlenty will do well in Iowa. Romney may have an edge in New Hampshire, but Romney Care, which is much like Obama Care, makes him vulnerable.

TOS: To what extent has your family background guided your career path and all-around decision making with regard to professional endeavors?

MK: I’m a first-generation college graduate. Started working at the age of fourteen. Floored to be the first boy in my family to go to college. My family taught me that everyone has the opportunity, but you have to take that opportunity. I’m one-of-seven kids, close to each of them, helps to focus you to get a word in edge wise. Great practice for Congress.

TOS: You have been out of public service for the past four years. What have you accomplished in the private sector during that time?

MK: Spent first three years with Accenture, working with predominately retailers world-wide as I have a retail background. Now working on speaking and advising with my own business. I work with individuals to help them develop a market strategy.

TOS: Exactly what is your role at Chartwell Strategic Advisors LLC? Briefly explain your “360-degree vision” approach and how it can be applied to common situations.

MK: Teaching speaking and advising, yes.  Almost every situation you can get a better answer if you understand all sides of the issue. Without it, you fall short. Wal-Mart needed to sell live squids and turtles in Beijing to be successful. They had to adapt to the market forces. Other cases where businesses have responded in a positive way like Toyota has with the Prius. They are now allowed to drive in certain lanes in California with only one person in the car. Look at societal norms and alter decisions accordingly. Liberals have a void at the business decision level, it seems.

TOS: Displayed on your business website is a quote from the philosopher Aristotle that reads, “One must learn by doing the thing, for though you think you know it, you have no certainty until you try.” What do you interpret this oft-referenced statement as meaning, of relation to the business world? 

MK: You’ve got to get experience in business in order to appreciate it. If you want to go into politics, spend some time in business so you get an understanding of the job market before you make the decisions. Interesting to see. A guy I was speaking with for business once had never been to a Muslim country, yet he was trying to disprove of my opinions. You have to spend some time, walk in their shoes to understand where they’re coming from. You don’t have to agree, but understand in a way that is more likely for you to be received [positively].

TOS: In closing, what are your plans for the near future? Will you remain with Chartwell? Are there any lingering ambitions to seek a higher office, say, to challenge Al Franken in 2014?

MK: Who knows? Only the good Lord knows. In the meantime, I have to reopen my balance sheet, and remain open for opportunities. I believe in paying taxes and balancing budgets, but some don’t think so anymore. The number one message that students need to understand is the debt. We need sixty votes in the Senate, including conservative Democrats to get on board, in order to stop the madness. An inability to address this issue will limit your ability to address any others.

TOS: And, since I know that you are a Wolverine, I must ask: what has happened to your alma mater’s football and basketball programs recently? It appears that the roles have been reversed. The University of Michigan is now East Lansing’s “little brother”!

MK: They are pretty bad. And they have been down for a few years now. When I was at homecoming this year, I thought, ‘this team doesn’t deserve this stadium.’ [Michigan head coach Rich] Rodriguez says he needs four years to recruit? On homecoming, the kicker had two penalties. What is that? The big problem is defense – and the kicker. Inexcusable.

TOS: Do you think Stanford head coach and former U of M quarterback Jim Harbaugh will come back to Ann Arbor?

MK: We will see what the future holds.

Nick Kowalski writes for The Other Side conservative blog (https://nicholaskowalski.wordpress.com). He can be reached via Facebook (http://tiny.cc/d9sm9), Twitter (http://twitter.com/NKowalski), and email (nicholas.kowalski@rocketmail.com).

Freedom Week 2010 at MSU: Out with Communism, In with Democratic Capitalism!

The words of U. S. President Ronald Reagan: “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!” were indicative of the end of communism in the eastern bloc and around the world. Subsequently, on November 9, 1989, the Berlin Wall fell.

In honor of Freedom Week 2010, an activism project of Young America’s Foundation, the MSU College Republicans – in partnership with the MSU Young Americans for Liberty – distributed pocket copies of the U. S. Constitution and Declaration of Independence and uplifting posters, hosted conservative speakers on the topics of Reagan and freedom, and endorsed the Veterans Day tribute put on by the university’s Army ROTC cadets. The week was acknowledged from November 8-12.

Without a doubt, the pro-freedom message was spread across the college campus in East Lansing, and many others in the U. S., throughout the week.

To learn more about Freedom Week and Young America’s Foundation, travel to the proceeding web address: http://www.yaf.org/eventdetails.aspx?id=4812.