If you’re a political junkie, chances are you know of Grover Norquist. Liberals despise him because of his staunch support of low taxes and economic freedom (he’s been a favorite bogeyman of the leftwing nutroots err, “netroots” for years); movement conservatives, naturally, extol him as a luminary for these same reasons. He’s played an active role in countless conservative political organizations, including the American Conservative Union, the NRA, and perhaps most famously, Americans for Tax Reform, where he currently serves as President.
As a conservative myself, I hold Mr. Norquist in high esteem. He articulates the conservative position on tax reform and supply-side economics more effectively than any other Republican (elected or unelected) today. I also appreciate his eager embrace of ethnic and religious minorities in his promotion of free-market economics. I’m not quite as stalwart as he is on questions of taxation, but even on that subject, my disagreements with him are rather negligible in comparison to my disagreements with tax-and-spend liberals!
After watching this video, however, I am even more certain that Grover Norquist’s political and economic worldview resonates with my own.
I’d encourage listening/watching the whole thing, but there are some particularly salient moments in the 30 minute speech. Check out 12:44 for a great commentary on speed limits and immigration, for example. It doesn’t make sense to use law enforcement resources to hunt down people who broke the speed limit, even years after they’ve committed the deed; it makes far more sense to reform speed limits to correspond to the needs of both commuters and public safety alike. Why should we treat immigration any differently?
Later, around the 19:30 minute mark, Norquist makes another great point about talking to Hispanics about abortion and other social issues. It’s not possible to talk about family values, pro-life issues, or low taxes if, at the same time, we’re also advocating for deportation of family members. You can’t be the party of “family values” if you support mass deportations!
Let me know what you think of the video in the comments section of this blog!
####
Andy Kirchoff is the Illinois leader for Cafe Con Leche Republicans
Ok, Andy – so I go to 19:30 – to listen to what your guy says about appealing to Hispanics – which actually starts at about 19:50 – and you know what, Andy – your guy basically says – that the Republicans really can’t talk to Hispanics as long as they are deporting relatives !!! DUH !!!
You SHOULD know, Andy, that Luiz Alvarado REALLY covers this issue of – Republicans speaking with Hispanics – MUCH BETTER than your guy could EVER HOPE to do. Andy – take a look at Luiz’s comments at – http://cafeconlecherepublicans.com/what-does-a-republican-civil-war-look-like.
AND THEN, Andy – take a look at MY comment to Luiz’s comments – start of quote -
“Although an interesting thread, Luiz Alvarado, I believe that the FIRST Republican Civil War – started with the election of Honest Abe Lincoln – in 1860 !!!! And NEVER FORGET – that there were a LOT of Republican Abolitionists – taking on the ISSUE of Slavery – in this FIRST Republican Civil War
So, Luiz Alvaradom the thrust of your thread – would deal with the SECOND, at BEST, Republican Civil War !!!! Actually, Luiz, what you write about is MORE of an issue of FRATRICIDE – WITHIN – the Republican Party !!!!! Fratricide – at least AGAINST the very folk that the Republicans CLAIM to want within their Political Party !!!!!!
But, Luiz Alvarado, this Republican FRATRICIDE War – is LARGELY a WAR – of Republicans against Republicans – and it CAN’T be an issue of Republicans WINNING this FRATRICIDE War – because the MAIN COMBATANTS – are ALL Republicans !!!!
So, Luiz Alvarado, the questions of HOW and WHAT and WHY of this Republican FRATRICIDE War is All about – and rests, as you indicate – 100% with the Republicans !!!!
I believe, Luiz Alvarado, that the infamous Alabama HB 56 law – the “Hammon-Beason Alabama Taxpayer and Citizen Protection Act” – was written by the Republican Secretary of State – for KANSAS – and sponsored by the Tea Party endorsed Micky Hannon – Alabama representative – and Republican Scott Beason – and – PASSED by the MAJORITY Republican Alabama House – and – Majority Republican Alabama Senate – AND – Signed into LAW – by Republican Governor of Alabama, Robert Bently !!!!!
LOOK at the NAME of that act, Luiz Alvarado – the “Hammon-Beason Alabama Taxpayer and Citizen Protection Act” !!!!!! IT’S an act – PROTECTING TAX PAYERS – and and act PROTECTING CITIZENS – TWO CORE Republican ISSUES !!!!
AND LOOK, Luiz Alvarado, at Arizona SB 1070 !!!!! AGAIN – this BILL PASSED by a Republican State Assembly – AND – a Republican State Senate – AND – signed into LAW – by – A Republican Governor !!!!!!
ONE would START TO THINK – that REPUBLICANS – JUST DON’T LIKE HISPANICS – all that much !!!!!!
I’m actually surprissed – that Romney – got ANY Hispanic Votes – with a REPUBLICAN RECORD like that !!!!!!!
So, Luiz Alvarado – you got it wrong when you say – “Only then will the Republican infrastructures begin to build bridges that will bring Latinos and other minority communities closer to Republican causes.”
What you SHOULD be saying, Luiz – IS – ONLY WHEN the Republican infrastructures begin to build bridges – to people – ALL of the people – will the Republicans be able to STOP this FRATRICIDAL WAR – within its own ranks !!!!!!
Just sayin’ !!!!!!” – end of quote
So Andy – WHAT Matters to Hispanics – IS – what Luiz brings up and what I then comment on !!!!!
Let’s see if you are open to conversing with either Luiz or myself !!!