CRAIGforCONGRESS
Missouri's 7th District, U.S. House of Representatives

 

 

 

Bringing LIBERTY to Capitol Hill -- 2008
OZARKS VIRTUAL TOWN HALL
Saturday Morning, August 25, 2007, 10:30am

A Discussion of The President's Saturday Morning Radio Address

Click here to listen to a replay of the August 25, 2007 Ozarks Virtual Town Hall

Notes and Summary of the Broadcast -- A "Safer and More Normal Life" in Iraq

THE PRESIDENT: Good morning.
      This week I traveled to Kansas City to address the annual convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. I spoke about the ideological struggle that our Nation faces in the 21st century, and the lessons we can draw from the advance of freedom in Asia in the 20th century. America's enduring presence and perseverance on that continent aided the rise of democracy, helped transform American enemies into American allies, and made our country safer.
       Next week I will address the members of the American Legion at their annual convention in Reno. In that speech, I will focus on the Middle East and why the rise of a free and democratic Iraq is critical to the future of this vital region and to our Nation's security.
       Every month since January, U.S. forces have killed or captured an average of more than 1,500 al Qaeda terrorists and other extremists. And in June our troops launched a surge of operations that is helping bring former Sunni insurgents into the fight against al Qaeda, clear the terrorists out of population centers, and give families in liberated Iraqi cities a safer and more normal life.

A Christian/Libertarian Response:

  1. What is a "normal" life? How is it created, nurtured, and maintained? This is a fundamental, foundational question. Debates over policies are a waste of time if this question is not answered properly.
    • Religion & Morality vs. Totalitarianism
      America's Founding Fathers recognized that nations in "darkness," laboring under "false religions," can never lead "safe and normal" lives.
    • A "normal" life is one in which people are observing "the laws of Nature and of Nature's God."
    • Why did so many people in Iraq support a brutal dictator like Saddam Hussein? Why did so many do his bidding? Why were they not embarrassed to be a part of his regime? America's Founding Fathers' Answer: "Religion and morality were absent in Iraq." Of course Iraq had lots of "religious" people, but theirs was a "false religion" (to use the words of James Madison, "Father of the Constitution").
    • Schools must teach the Christian Religion
      When the U.S. Supreme Court removed the Bible from public schools, one concurring Justice admitted that this was contrary to the practice of America's Founding Fathers:

    Religion was once deemed to be a function of the public school system. The Northwest Ordinance, which antedated the First Amendment, provided in Article III that "Religion, morality, and knowledge, being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged."

    It was the Christian religion, of course, that was taught in public schools at that time.

  2. Foreign Policy
    • The great rule of conduct for us, in regard to foreign nations is in extending our commercial relations to have with them as little political connection as possible."
      — Washington, Farewell Address (1796) [Washington's emphasis]
    • I deem [one of] the essential principles of our government, and consequently [one] which ought to shape its administration,…peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations, entangling alliances with none.
      — Jefferson, First Inaugural Address (1801)

    We should send Christian missionaries to Iraq, not soldiers.

Kevin Craig's Platform: 
Recent Blog Posts:
Kevin Craig's Platform:

Additional Resources:

Troops Confront Waste In Iraq Reconstruction - washingtonpost.com
Why do "conservatives" in Washington place so much faith in the efficiency of government troops rather than the Free Market?

The Democrat Party Radio Address:

Former Senator Max Cleland on President Bush's comparison of Iraq and Vietnam.

Libertarian Response to Democrats

The Vietnam War was brought to us by Democrats. This may explain why Cleland's remarks were so completely devoid of the passion we would expect from America's Founding Fathers, who would have seen how unjustified the wars in both Vietnam and Iraq are, and how they have worked to destroyed Constitutional government here at home.

Click here for a replay of this edition of the Ozarks Virtual Town Hall