We’re talking about the Enumerated Powers Act (EPA) again today. Explains conservative columnist Walter Williams:
“There’s a measure introduced in every Congress since 1995, by Rep. John Shadegg, R-Ariz., called The Enumerated Powers Act that would require that all bills introduced in the U.S. Congress include a statement setting forth the specific constitutional authority under which the law is being enacted. The Enumerated Powers Act currently has 44 co-sponsors in the House. In the Senate, it has never had a single co-sponsor, and that’s a Senate that includes our three presidential aspirants.”
OK, one wouldn’t expect Hillary or B.O. to support such a measure limiting the role of the federal government to…well, the limited role established by our Founders. But what about John McCain? Why has he never supported this bill?
I mean, if we’re to believe he really and truly is a good, limited-government conservative? And under the theory that it’s better late than never, the Senate is still in session. Why not introduce a Senate companion bill mirroring Rep. Shadegg’s bill now?
Again, one of the major problems conservatives have with Sen. McCain is that he’s backed up all his bad ideas with legislation - McCain/Feingold, amnesty for illegal immigrants, closing the alleged “gun show loophole,” global warming, etc. - but on issues of importance to limited-government conservatives - such as school vouchers - all we’re getting now is lip service. When it comes to these conservative issues, we don’t want to read Sen. McCain’s lips. We want to read his bill.
And for those of you possibly considering a vote for former Rep. Bob Barr rather than John McCain in November should Barr win the Libertarian Party’s presidential nomination, Barr was a co-sponsor of the Enumerated Powers Act when he was in Congress.
Posted on April 10th, 2008 by Chuck Muth
Filed under: National
McCain is no more conservative than either Clinton or Obama, save for one issue: Iraq.
He is squirming now because Obama continues to refuse government campaign financing which McCain needs as he is not getting the money from the public.
Imagine the difference in campaign donations if McCain would SHOW in actions what he speaks in spirit, that is, that he is a conservative? Should he publicly support the conservative issues that you’ve outlined here, including the Enumetated Powers Act, his donations from conservatives would take care of his problem.
But he is not going to abandon the Joe Lieberman school of act tough but carry a strand of wet spaghetti, and the conservatives, including me, are not coughing up the money.
He changes, I donate. But I won’t give my money to more of the same as HC and BO.
Chuck,
If you want to see just how far Democrats will go to abridge freedom, just look at HB519 in the Ohio House. They want to force parents to volunteer 13 hours of time at their kids school or face a $100.00 fine. I approve of parents being involved in schools, but making non involvement a crime punishable by a $100.00 fine? Sounds like China or the old USSR!
Bruce
McCain is nothing but a Democrat in Republican clothing !!
I’m tired of everyone making McCain the target of all these evil attacks. I did not vote or support McCain in the primary season. However, He is the Republican Nominee.
He is a Hero — having survived 5 years in the Hanoi Hilton overcoming both arms and legs being broken and repeated torture. He is a true patriot,.
If we cannot get our first choice, I feel that we should support him. Hillary and Obama are FAR LEFT candidates. Just think — he is a financial conservative, he will about conservative judges, he is a PATRIot. I say support our candidate.
M.C., I understand your point. However, there are a LOT of patriots out there who have suffered in wartime. That alone isn’t enough to warrant the nation’s top office. Max Cleland comes to mind. I sure wouldn’t ever want him in the Oval Office. He’s a hero and a patriot…and a liberal. Thanks, but no thanks.
And what kind of “financial conservative” votes against tax cuts?
This issue for conservatives isn’t as black-and-white as many would like it to be.
I understand the concern about McCain’s being less than a conservative in his positions and votes, but do not forget that one of the most important and lasting actions a President takes is appointing judges. Who do you want appointing the next 2 or 3 Supreme Court judges? John McCain or Barack Obama? Obama’s choices would move the court in a very liberal direction for a generation. In that case, the Enumerated Powers Act is virtually meaningless.
The bottom line for all of this, is that we as taxpayers - are like business owners, our business is the nation, from our local town councils to the commander in chief! Their pay comes right out of our pockets. They are our employees! If any of us were performing an annual evaluation on anyone currently “employed” with our, there would numerous terminations!! If we were interviewing these three to be awarded a new position with our company, with much more responsibility and POWER - we’d look into their history, references, character and decide. Most of us would be looking for someone trustworthy and whose goal was the improvement and streamlining of the company to run more efficiently on a smaller operating budget!!! I wouldn’t hire any of them!
Enter a new application from Bob Barr… by standing up for the En Powers Act, he is showing with action, not lip service, where he stands - thus warranting at least a serious interview.
The political arena - both parties- need a serious wake-up by becoming unemployed!! They need to have sticker shock that one hour at minimum wage cannot buy 1 gallon of gas AND one gallon of milk!! The multi-billion dollars of bail-outs and interference in the free economy are just making things worse. All of the taxes on everything is killing the golden goose. If we could get the EnPOW Act implemented and make it retroactive - so much would be eliminated from the federal load!!!
Actually having a third party candidate won’t affect mccain as far as my vote is concerned - I refuse to vote for a person totally opposed to my values - no matter whay party he is with!! I wasn’t going to give him my vote just to try to keep HC or OB out!
M.C.
I understand your point, but voting for the lesser of two evils is still evil.
I have lost all faith in the republican party, I doubt they can regain that faith in my lifetime.
I have all but left the Republican party… and NO, democrats are NOT an option.
Therefore, my vote will be for c) non of the above, or possibly a libertarian.
A note to Kerry about judges. Who appointed Souter, Stevens, O’Conner, Anthony Kennedy (we must follow international law), Warren Burger and don’t forget Earl Warren? By the way McCain is giving a speech in the peoples republik of new york city. Bloomberg is going to introduce him. And what is bloomberg’s big issue, banning guns. Birds of a feather flock together. We may have a choice to the lesser of three evils, Bob Barr.
Howard,
Cheyenne, WY
Like Kerry, I had the same concerns about appointment of judges in the next administration. That is until I read a cogent analysis by a writer I respect who pointed out that the next 2 or 3 judges most likely to leave the bench are already liberals appointed by Bill Clinton. Therefore, if Hellary or Obamination–or McCain–appoints in the same mold, we retain the same balance that is on the court today.
Like Lisa and Craig, I do not trust McCain and cannot bring myself to vote for him. Having read a lot about McCain’s POW time, I do not revere him as a hero—his camp nickname was “Songbird.” He violated the Code of Military Justice by invoking his father’s name to get medical treatment. His voting record in the years since is more left-wing and anti-liberty than pro-American and pro-liberty.
The Republican Party left me some 30 years ago; I only came back this year to vote for Ron Paul. And unless Ron Paul pulls of some huge miracle to snatch the nomination from McCain, I will likely vote for Barr, who has good name recognition and enough of a conservative record that I can support him in good conscience! If Barr does not run, I will vote either Libertarian or Constitution Party. At least my “wasted” vote will go in good conscience and take away from an objectionable winner’s opportunity to claim a “mandate” from the people, which is something I recall from many previous elections.