The Press-Dispatch
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OPINION idential candidate of the past half centu- ry—Ronald Reagan, who was elected and reelected with landslide victories—bore lit- tle resemblance to the moderate candidates that Republican conventional wisdom de- picts as the key to victory, even though most of these moderate candidates have in fact gone down to defeat. One of the biggest differences between The most successful Republican pres- Reagan and these latter-day losers was that Reagan paid great attention to explaining his policies and values. He was called "the great communicator," but much more than a gift for words was involved. The issues that defined Reagan's vision were things he had thought about, written about and debated for years before he reached the White House. Reagan was like a veteran quarterback Wear your seat belts we should wear our seat belts. We know they pro- tect us, but from time to time people don't wear their seat belts. There are a lot of reasons peo- ple don't wear their seat belts. They were in a hurry, they were mess- ing with their cell phone, they didn't want to mess up their clothes and so on. But last week's tragedy ought to drive home the point. On Tuesday after- noon there was a head- on collision on Highway 57 just a little south of the Oatsville Road. There were two people in each We have all known vehicle. Three people were not wearing their seat belts, one person had her seat belt on. One person was killed, two suffered serious in- juries. The fourth person who was wearing her seat belt was shaken up. But no serious injuries. It was a black and white picture people can learn from. People who are wearing their seat belts, time and time again, fare much better than those who aren't wearing their seat belts. Last Tuesday's accident was an obvious example of that. The way ahead es—and challenges—of winning a second term is that there's no transition period. So in the spirit of bipartisanship, here are three areas policymak- ers should tackle before the end of the year. 1) Prevent Taxmaged- don. A massive tax increase, the early days of our re- public (Jefferson-Madi- son-Monroe), we'll have three straight two-term presidents. One of the advantag- For the first time since By Ed Feulner trigger another reces- sion. The effects would be felt by Americans across the board. In 2013 alone: • Families with an av- an average income of $95,099 would see a tax increase of $4,223. • Low-income workers erage income of $70,662 would see a tax increase of $4,138. • Baby boomers with Wednesday, November 21, 2012 The Press-Dispatch Observations by Thomas Sowell The need to explain who comes up to the line of scrimmage, takes a glance at how the other team is de- ployed against him, and knows automat- ically what he needs to do. There is not enough time to figure it out from scratch, while waiting for the ball to be snapped. You have to have figured out such things long before the game began, and now just need to execute. Very few Republican candidates for any C-2 office today show any sign of such in-depth preparation on issues. Mitt Romney, for example, inadvertently showed his lack of preparation when he indicated that he Continued on page 3 Are we Puritans? The no-spin zone—by Bill O'Reilly Puritans—but not the crew who fled England for the New World and estab- lished the Massachusetts Bay Colo- ny back in the 17th century. No, let's talk about the modern Puritans: we the American people. The United States is considered a Thanks giving fast approach- ing, it is time to talk about With Western Europe over the impeach- ment of President Clinton. They couldn't believe it over there. Lying about sex? In some countries, that's the national pastime. puritanical society by many Western nations. For example, they can't be- lieve we hassle public servants like Gen. David Petraeus because he had a mistress. In France, if a powerful man doesn't have a mistress, he's consid- ered a wimp. In Italy, they elected Sil- vio Berlusconi, who allegedly puts to- gether old-fashioned Roman-type or- gies and brags about it. You may remember the outcry in Americans basically puritanical? Throwbacks to the days when Cotton Mather was hunting witches in Salem? The answer, surprisingly, is yes to So the question is this: Are we some degree. While it's true that sec- ular forces are whittling away tradi- tional standards of behavior, we Amer- icans still expect some decorum from our elected officials. If you're a rock or film star or play professional sports, we expect you to cat around and do self-destructive things. But if we count on you to pro- tect us, like Petraeus did, we want your full attention. Part of the outcry over Clinton's behavior was that it took place in the Oval Office, right beneath por- traits of George Washington and Abra- ham Lincoln. Turning the most pow- erful room in the world into a Motel 6 is not acceptable to most Americans. The truth is that many powerful guys have fooled around while work- ing for the people: Dwight Eisenhow- er, John F. Kennedy and Warren Har- ding to name just a few. Grover Cleve- land even fathered a child outside of marriage. We all know these things happen. But we don't want them to happen, or at least most of us don't. I can't speak for San Francisco. That may be because American tra- dition is based on Judeo-Christian phi- losophy, and that tradition has served us well. Honesty and loyalty are still esteemed values in most parts of this country. When the defenders of Bill Clinton wailed that it was "just about sex," they were wrong. In cases where powerful people get caught in com- promising situations, there is always more to it than a physical act. I am deeply saddened that Petrae- us is no longer protecting this nation. He is a patriot and a brilliant warrior in the cause of freedom. Frankly, I don't care what the general does on his per- sonal time. It is a damn shame he had to resign. We are all sinners, but here's what comes along with that: You always pay for the sin. Unfortunately, all of us would suffer along with the gener- al, and that is why he had to go. If the folks trust you, don't burn them. Points to ponder—by Ford Bond almost $500 billion, is set to hit at the end of this year. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernan- ke calls it a "massive fis- cal cliff," and the Con- gressional Budget Office forecasts that it would an average income of $23,917 would see a tax increase of $1,099. • Retirees with an av- with an average income of $24,757 would see a tax increase of $1,207. • Millennials with United Methodist Church met in Tampa, Florida, for their Quadrennial Gener- al Conference. As has been the case for many years, the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgendered movement arrived with their demand to be seated at the table. As has been the outcome Several months ago, the It Won't Go Away erage income of $42,553 would see a tax increase of $857. Obamacare alone is set to increase taxes by Continued on page 3 (for years) after the LGBT voices were heard, the del- egates refused to change the Book of Discipline's ex- clusion of practicing gays in ministry, the ban on conducting same-gender unions, and continued to state that homosexuality is incompatible with Christian discipleship. Many who attended the Conference felt the issue was probably settled for the foreseeable future because across the years, the vote to continue the church's stance on these issues was becom- ing more decisive (against the change). As Mark Twain replied about rumors about his death being "greatly exag- gerated," the same may be said to those who think this issue has been settled. Retired Methodist Bishop cific Conference to break with the Discipline." Talbert told the audience, Melvin Talbert of the United Methodist Church in an or- dination service called upon the commissioned clergy to defy the church and break with the Book of Discipline. Bishop Talbert this clarion call in June at an ordination service at the California-Pa- A woman's perspective—by Mona Charen It's hard to be a Republican when the incumbent Democratic pres- ident has not been able to demonstrate success on job creation or growth, and even when the standard of liv- ing for Americans is declining on his watch, the country will choose a Democrat "who cares about the problems of people like me" over the Republican. That alone is enough to make Republican heads spin for some time. Many established beliefs Even when the economy is terrible, pacious capitalist who was willing to inflict unemployment on thousands to increase his own and his sharehold- ers' profits, he might have pulled out a victory. But it's also true about presidential politics have been proved false by Obama's reelection: 1.) The idea that, when unemployment is above 7 percent, incumbents fail; 2.) The notion that incumbent presidents who are reelected always increase their percentage of the vote over their first race; 3.) The idea that late decid- ers break for the challenger; 4.) The belief that if majorities say the country is on the "wrong track," the incumbent will be defeated. All wrong. The problem with all of these so- takes. It's possible that if he hadn't alienated Hispanic voters during the primaries by his harsh anti-immigra- tion stance, if he hadn't committed the "47 percent" blunder, and if he had more effectively rebutted the Obama smear campaign against him as a ra- called laws of politics is that they are based on a tiny sample. There have only been 20 presidential contests be- tween 1936 (the year these "laws" are usually dated from) and today. That's too small a data set from which to glean reliable trends, far less iron laws of politics. Romney made his share of mis- vidual initiative is a harder sell than the Democratic message of "Let the government take care of you." This is particularly true among sin- that Romney had many strengths, and Obama had many weakness- es. One lesson for Re- publicans in this defeat (beyond the issue, ad- dressed by this column before, of immigration) is a familiar one that we must examine anew: The Republican mes- sage of free enterprise, self-reliance and indi- cans, fewer than half of American households now feature a married couple. The illegitimacy rate is 40 per- cent. And the women's vote has been increasing as a share of the total for the past several election cycles. In 1980, women were 50 percent of the electorate. This year, they were 54 per- cent of voters. The decline of marriage is far more gle women. Romney won male voters 52 to 45 percent, but he lost women 55 to 44 percent. While Romney pre- vailed among married women by 53 to 46 percent, Obama's margin among single women was a crushing 68 to 30 percent. Adding to the gloom for Republi- than just a political problem for Repub- licans. Unless reversed, it may repre- sent the unraveling of our civilization. But it is also a political problem. The Democrats' message to single women is simple: We will give you free stuff. Free birth control. Free medical care. Welfare payments for your children if you are poor. Food stamps. The whole welfare state package. Women want security above all. You don't have to be a political wizard to sell that message. If it's not Santa Claus, it's certainly Mr. Rogers. Ironically, the worse the economy gets under Democratic gov- ernance, the more single women cling to Democrats to protect them from the consequences of that failure. A Republican has the much more demanding challenge—to persuade voters that smaller government and more free enterprise will improve their lives, their incomes and there- fore their security. A good paying job is far superior to even the most lav- ish welfare benefits. That message has the advantage of being true, but it just may require a bit of political ge- nius to sell it effectively. That's not to say it cannot be done. "The derogatory rules and restrictions in the Book of Discipline are immoral and unjust and no longer deserve our loyalty and obedience . . . I call on the more than 1,100 clergy [who have signed mar- riage initiatives] to stand firm in their resolve to perform marriag- es for same-sex couples and to do so in the course of their normal pas- toral duties, thus defying the laws that prohibit them from doing so . . ." Talbert has many support- the retired Bishop stand up- on the concept of social jus- tice and that Jesus would not turn away a soul. I heard loud and clear the words that those opposed to changing church doctrine were "doc- trinally stale and intellec- tually stunted." Count me among the in- tellectual midg- ets. I have no in- ers. One blogger opined, "Seems to me the time for talking is over, and the time for action has arrived. While the doctrinally stale and in- tellectually stunted retain control of the UMC, there is no other option. There would be no Civil Rights Act without Montgomery and the risk that the march- ers took there. There would be no LGBT movement (if in fact they are a move- ment) without Stonewall (ri- ots in New York City). The Viet Nam War would have continued entirely decimat- ing the people of Viet Nam and decimating America's youth if not for Kent State. I stand with Bishop Talbert. It is time!" Those who agree with MR. AND MRS. FRANK HEURING, PUBLISHERS ANDREW G. HEURING, EDITOR The If Republicans can find a candidate who conveys the requisite concern for the struggles of the ordinary person, whose personal story is not one of priv- ilege, who conveys a Kempian enthu- siasm for the glories of free markets and free peoples and who is pro-immi- grant, that person could win. It may be Marco Rubio. There are other pos- sible contenders: Scott Walker, Bob- by Jindal, Nikki Haley, Ted Cruz and Susanna Martinez all spring to mind. To be a successful Republican re- quires more brains and imagination than to be a successful Democrat. For- tunately for the party and the country, we have a deep bench. Press- Dispatch JOHN B. HEURING, ADVERTISING MANAGER Wednesday, November 21, 2012 Entered at the Post Office in Petersburg, Indiana for trans- mission through the mails as Periodical Mail, Postage paid at Petersburg, Indiana. Published weekly. will please give old address as well as new one along with phone number. We cannot guarantee prompt change unless this is done. Postmaster: send changes to Post Office Box 68, Petersburg, Indiana 47567-0068. Change of Address—Subscribers changing addresses P.O. BOX 68, PETERSBURG, INDIANA 47567 E-mail—news@pressdispatch.net (604-340) Phone 354-8500 • FAX—354-2014 Pike and Surrounding Cos. ......$ 10.00 $15.00 $25.00 $45.00 Elsewhere in Indiana ................ 14.00 Outside Indiana ............................18.00 19.00 28.00 27.00 43.00 SUBSCRIPTION RATES 3 mos. 6 mos. 1 year 2 years 49.00 75.00 curring with both taking a legal approach. The first is for a Method- sight wheth- er the Unit- ed Method- ist Church will withstand the doctrinal as- sault. What I see in the near future is one of two events oc- away from sexual expres- sion and gay rights consum- ing our energy and demand- ing our focus. Both sides on this issue are entrenched, Continued on page 3 ist minister to marry a gay couple and face judicial tri- al and removal. The offense will take place in a confer- ence where there is sym- pathy of the LGBT, and the minister is acquitted through jury nullification. That would light the fuse. The judicial council would have to overturn the verdict or let it stand. Either way, the American branch of the Methodist Church would be- come a donnybrook. It seems we cannot get