|
Written by George Landrith
|
|
Tuesday, 06 December 2011 |
Barack Obama delivered a campaign speech in Osawatomie, Kansas in which he argued against keeping taxes low to spur economic growth and job creation and against significantly cutting government spending to solve our huge deficits. Obama said “ [that philosophy] fits well on a bumper sticker.... But it doesn’t work. It’s never worked.” Obama is wrong. It clearly has worked. And it is comical to listen to the guy who ran on the slogan of “hope” and “change” talk dismissively about bumper stickers.
During the past decade, if government had kept taxes low, kept government spending at historically reasonable levels, and not abused government power to push unwise and unsustainable mortgage and banking practices, we would not have the problems we have today. |
|
|
Written by George Landrith
|
|
Monday, 28 November 2011 |
Several months ago, following the lead of Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin, Congress passed and President Barack Obama signed into law legislation that included a provision capping what banks can charge retailers for electronic interchange fees.
Being rational, the banks tried to offset the revenue loss created by the cap by shifting the burden on to their customers. The most transparent way many banks chose to do this was by assessing a minimum fee for all debit-card holders. |
|
|
Written by George Landrith
|
|
Friday, 25 November 2011 |
|
There is a lot of talk about whether United States Supreme Court Associate Justices Clarence Thomas and Elena Kagan should recuse themselves from considering the constitutionality of President Barack Obama’s Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (commonly known as “ObamaCare”). Let’s take a look at the facts. |
|
|
Written by George Landrith
|
|
Monday, 14 November 2011 |
|
Barack Obama has announced he will postpone for one year the decision on whether the U.S. will give approval to a Canadian-U.S. oil pipeline. This is quite odd for a man who claims we cannot wait on Congress to approve his jobs bill. The question is whether the federal government will allow the construction of the XL Keystone pipeline – 1,700 miles of pipeline to carry crude oil from Alberta, Canada to refineries in Texas. |
|
|
Written by George Landrith
|
|
Wednesday, 09 November 2011 |
|
For every uninformed liberal criticizing the Pentagon (“Critics on left hit Pentagon on talk of budget disasters,” Web, Sunday), there’s a Democratic expert like Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta or Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton who understands that Pentagon spending didn’t cause our budget problems and hollowing out the military won’t solve them. |
|
|
Written by George Landrith
|
|
Wednesday, 09 November 2011 |
Now that the 2012 election is less than a year away, President Barack Obama is finally at least talking about jobs on a daily basis. However, Obama’s new found interest in talking about jobs is driven by the election calendar. Where was his focus on jobs the past three years?
Obama won election more than three years ago, promising to fix America’s economic woes. For the first two years of his presidency, Obama had a willing and compliant Democrat-controlled Congress that unflinchingly did his bidding. Rather than focusing on jobs, he passed a $3.4 trillion federal budget, one-third of which was borrowed money. |
|
|
Written by AP - Stephen Ohlemacher
|
|
Tuesday, 20 September 2011 |
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama makes it sound as if there are millionaires all over America paying taxes at lower rates than their secretaries.
"Middle-class families shouldn't pay higher taxes than millionaires and billionaires," Obama said Monday. "That's pretty straightforward. It's hard to argue against that."
The data tell a different story. On average, the wealthiest people in America pay a lot more taxes than the middle class or the poor, according to private and government data. They pay at a higher rate, and as a group, they contribute a much larger share of the overall taxes collected by the federal government. |
|
|
Written by George Landrith
|
|
Wednesday, 14 September 2011 |
Malcolm Wallop, a former U.S. Senator who served 18 years from Wyoming and the founder and chairman of Frontiers of Freedom Institute, passed away on September 14, 2011.
“Wallop became an effective and leading conservative voice in the 1970s and continues to influence American politics and policy even today. Malcolm Wallop was a great man and a great leader who changed the world and made it a better, safer place. His far-reaching vision led America to develop missile defense,” said George Landrith, president of Frontiers of Freedom, the public policy organization that Wallop founded.
“Rather than simply promising to retaliate if we were attacked with nuclear missiles, Malcolm Wallop argued we should defend ourselves and render missiles powerless to threaten future generations. Malcolm Wallop is the father of missile defense and was the first elected official to propose a space based missile defense system, a program that later became part of President Reagan’s Strategic Defense Initiative. There are people all across the globe that are safer and freer because of Malcolm Wallop. Malcolm Wallop changed the world for the better.
“I remember being in elementary school and participating in regular nuclear attack drills where a monstrously loud siren sounded and all the school children huddled on the floor under our desks with our heads tucked between our knees. When I told my children about this memory, they looked confused and asked if it was some sort of weird fire drill. I just smiled and thought, today’s children don’t fear a nuclear attack in large part because of Malcolm Wallop’s leadership.
“Malcolm Wallop convinced Ronald Reagan in the late 1970s to make missile defense a key part of his national security plan. Today, the world is a different and safer place thanks to Malcolm Wallops’ vision and leadership. But his leadership was not limited to national security. Malcolm Wallop also became nationally known as a principled conservative leader on tax reform, federal deregulation, energy policy, private property rights, legal reform, and the importance of using reliable science in policy making. Additionally, he was the first non-lawyer to serve on the Senate Judiciary Committee.
“One experienced Washington insider described Malcolm Wallop ‘as a rare commodity who could on a moments notice and without talking points go to the floor of the Senate and speak knowledgeably and powerfully about almost any topic.’
“Senator Wallop has always been driven by the power of principle, rather than the convenience of political expediency. Simply stated, he was never a politician, but rather a statesman. And on a personal level, he was thoroughly decent and kind. It is said that the true measure of a man is in how he treats those who can do nothing for him. By that measure, few men are better men than Malcolm Wallop. More times than I can count, I witnessed Malcolm Wallop treat regular people that others viewed as unimportant and almost invisible with great kindness and consideration and as an equal – that is how Malcolm saw people regardless of their position, income or power.
“I know his dear wife, Isabel, and his children feel a great sense of loss. I know his friends feel that loss too. I hope Americans who may not have ever had the pleasure to know Malcolm personally will also recognize what a great man we have lost and take a moment to thank God that such men as Malcolm Wallop lived and that he lived as he did.” |
|
|
Written by Kerri Houston Tolockzo
|
|
Wednesday, 14 September 2011 |
To the public, Senator Malcolm Wallop was a tall, imposing man, quick to point out inherent errors in liberal thinking but quicker to share his love of country and his conservative ideas.
He served in the Senate from 1977 to 1995 before retiring to start a conservative think tank, which he aptly named “Frontiers of Freedom.”
For those of us who loved him, he was a dear, sweet man, a story-teller with a mischievous sense of humor who treated his staff like family.
My experience with Senator Wallop began when I was hired as senior vice president for policy at Frontiers of Freedom in 2002. I had seen Senator Wallop at various events in the past, and I was a little nervous about greeting him at my first staff meeting, as I’d seen him be quite, let’s say, “intense.”
The senator walked in the room, still looking larger than life, and I stood up to shake his hand. Instead he gave me a big bear hug and said, “Well, hello, young lady!” That’s how my love affair with Malcolm Wallop began.
But I was not alone. Everyone on our staff adored him. To the girls, he was a big, lovable protector. To the boys, he was like another dad. He was a kind and encouraging mentor and teacher. We teased him mercilessly that the logo for Frontiers — a D.C. think tank — was a herd of horses galloping across the prairie. He loved every minute of it.
Malcolm was, in every sense, a frontiersman; it colored his personal and political views throughout his life. His roots in Wyoming went back several generations, and his proudest possessions were yellowed photos of his pioneering grandfather and father riding horses and driving wagons as they made Big Horn their home. I’ve never met anyone who loved the land like Malcolm did.
The senator viewed liberty not so much as a noun, but as a verb. When he looked out at his land or saw people working hard to provide for their families, he saw liberty. His independent spirit made him a fierce opponent of communism, a fiery advocate for property rights and a strident proponent of national security. In fact, it was Malcolm Wallop who first whispered “missile defense” into President Reagan’s ear.
There will be much said about the senator’s political life in the next few days, but despite all his policy successes and his close relationship with Ronald Reagan and Dick Cheney, those things only count here on earth.
For many years, Malcolm would get a big, fat roll of bills just before Christmas and walk around some of the poorest parts of Washington, giving money to random people and families that he saw were in need. Few knew this story and no person on the receiving end had any idea that their angel was a United States senator. This act of anonymous giving led Jason White, Frontiers of Freedom’s former senior vice president, to write his best-selling book “Christmas Jars.” That book started a tradition of anonymous giving in homes all across the nation.
Senator Wallop was an influential conservative voice, tirelessly advocating for policies that would keep this nation and its people safe and free. He made a mark on every branch of government and really did see America as a frontier for freedom.
But mostly, he was a precious man who told the most outrageous (and true!) life stories in a booming voice and made you laugh to the point of tears. He had not the least reservation in showing his love for his country, his family — and even his beloved dog, “Pappy.”
In 2005, after he had semi-retired from Frontiers, our staff decided to honor him with our Ronald Reagan Award at the annual gala. Vice President Dick Cheney agreed to present the award to his old friend, and was sworn to secrecy. We lied to Malcolm, saying that the vice president would be getting the award, and Cheney went right along with it.
The senator was humbled and delighted to discover he had been duped. Vice President Cheney gave a warm and funny talk about Malcolm’s exploits and his love for Wyoming. We staff members each gave a toast to our beloved senator, who was fighting tears. It was the perfect tribute to a great man.
And he loved his Lord. If heaven is really where God lets you live out eternity in your Happy Place, then Malcolm is riding a horse across the meadow, with Pappy chasing behind and his beloved wife Isabel waving from the porch.
Senator Malcolm Wallop, gentleman frontiersman and patriot, you will always be missed.
------------------------
Kerri (Houston) Tolockzo is a senior fellow with the Independent Women’s Forum and formerly served as senior vice president for policy at Frontiers of Freedom. |
|
|
Written by Frontiers of Freedom Staff
|
|
Wednesday, 14 September 2011 |
"Malcolm Wallop loved Wyoming and his country. He was a patriot who was continually awed by the principles and articulation of rights embodied in the Declaration of Independence. I will never forget a line he used in many of his speeches given from any town in Wyoming to the floor of the U.S. Senate. He said that we as citizens must always be vigilant in protecting our liberties, '...so that government is once again the servant, and not the master.' Malcolm Wallop was a true friend of mine and my mentor." — former U.S. Rep. Barbara Cubin.
___
"Although there are many accomplishments I could mention, I think none would make him more proud than the Congressional Awards program that he helped to create. Over the years it has served to inspire countless young Americans to believe in themselves and their ability to change the world - beginning in their own backyard. Thanks to his initiative the young people of our nation will continue to dare to do great things in the service of their neighbors and their communities. I cannot think of a better way for Malcolm to be remembered." — U.S. Sen. Mike Enzi.
___
"Malcolm was admired during his lifetime for his deep commitment to the principles of individual liberty and limited government, and he will be remembered by all who knew him for combining a matchless command of foreign policy with a pioneer's ability to get results." — Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.
___
"His commonsense and commitment helped break down Washington's barriers to American energy development. Our nation continues to benefit from his leadership today." — U.S. Sen. John Barrasso.
___
"Wyoming owes Sen. Wallop a debt of gratitude for the way he spoke for Wyoming people during the years when the battle cry was, 'Cattle free by '93,' a slogan used by anti-public lands groups. On energy, on agriculture, on public lands issues, Sen. Wallop was all Wyoming, all the time." — U.S. Rep. Cynthia Lummis.
___
"With his brilliance and determination he fiercely defended Wyoming values; advocating for our military, for smaller government and for individual freedoms. Sen. Wallop provided leadership for Wyoming and America during his three terms as senator and every day since. He fought for lower taxes, multiple-use of public lands and developing America's energy resources." — Gov. Matt Mead.
___
"Malcolm was a good man and a dear friend. And obviously I'm saddened as are a great many people by his death." — former Vice President Dick Cheney.
___
"He was a very dear friend. He was more than just a political colleague. He was a very dear friend. And he was a man of great passion and principle and guts. Yea. Wyoming guts." — former U.S. Sen. Alan Simpson.
___
"He was part of a remarkable Wyoming congressional delegation back in the 1980s, along with Dick Cheney and Al Simpson, the three of them were just remarkably powerful and effective. It was unlike hardly any state. To have a delegation of that strength was just a real advantage to Wyoming." — Bruce McCormack, family friend and publisher of the Cody Enterprise.
___
"God, we loved him. There was just a huge affection he had with his staff that carried on clear to today." Kristi Wallin, state director for Sen. Barrasso and a former staff member for Wallop. |
|
|
