Sen. Mike Lee on Fighting for Equal Opportunity

FOUNDRY, by Sen Mike Lee (R-Utah) - “In this present crisis,” Ronald Reagan famously declared, “government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem.” These words, though they inspired a generation of conservatives, almost sound quaint today. ✧ Government of course remains the problem, but the nature of that problem has evolved dramatically since Reagan’s first inaugural. If Republicans want to grow their party into a national majority, we must begin, as Reagan did in 1981, by confronting our present crisis: America’s large and growing Opportunity Deficit, namely, immobility among the poor and insecurity in the middle class. ✧ Compounding the shortage of opportunities among the poor and middle class is an unholy union of big government, big business, and big special interests that twists public policy to benefit Washington insiders unfairly at the expense of everyone else.

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Townhall: The Left is Killing King’s Dream

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., August 28, 1963 | AP Photo

By Michael Schaus - The spectacle of the pro-Obama rally yesterday, disguised insufficiently as a tribute to one of America’s civil rights heroes, was rife with an undercurrent of unintentional irony. After all, it was the Democrat Party that led the Confederacy in the Civil War, opposed the civil rights legislation throughout the 20th Century, and used the federal government to intimidate would-be civil rights activists. The event, however, did awaken a renewed interest in the words of Martin Luther King Jr. for many Americans. One line, above all else, from his 1963 Address at the Lincoln Memorial speaks today as a testament to Liberalism’s callous, and repeated, failings in the black community.

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Ashton Kutcher's acceptance speech - a word to the youth of America

Ashton Kutcher, who played Steve Jobs in the movie Jobs, gave an acceptance speech at the Teen Choice Awards that is worth watching.  He has a three point message for young people concerning opportunity, being sexy and living life.

(Hat tip: Patriot Update and GenFringe, Conservative Millennials Unhinged)

The message - 1) Opportunity: It looks a lot like work; 2) Being Sexy: The sexiest thing in the entire world is being really smart, and being thoughtful and being generous; and 3) Living Life: Build a life, don't just live it. Read More......

The Broken Common Bond

THOMAS PAINE argues for a restoration of the common bond over diversity.
NEW: Posted on YouTube on 10/15/2009 by Bob Basso (Funbobbasso) Read More......

Founders Keepers

The 9-12 Project, 3/16/2009 - Ronald Wilson Reagan, First Inaugural Address (January 20, 1981)

“It is not my intention to do away with government. It is rather to make it work -- work with us, not over us; stand by our side, not ride on our back. Government can and must provide opportunity, not smother it; foster productivity, not stifle it.”

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2009: 200th Anniversary of Lincoln's Birth

In recent years, the Republican leadership missed two chances to hit a home run. If, in early 2004, the Grand Old Party had celebrated its 150th anniversary, Republicans would have entered the Bush-Kerry campaign with greater enthusiasm and sense of purpose. If, in early 2006, the Republican National Committee had celebrated its 150th anniversary, Republicans would have entered the mid-term election campaign more unified and focused.

History now grants the GOP a third chance. Next year is the 200th anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln. Just think of the magnificent opportunities for outreach, for party-building, for fundraising!

Most history books take Abraham Lincoln out of his proper context as a Republican, depicting him instead as "above politics" or as a quasi-Democrat. Democrats can steal our Republican heritage only if we let them. The way for our Party to retake the policy initiative is to embrace our true heritage, undistorted by all those books written by Democrat historians.

As Republicans struggle to repair our damaged brand, we should draw inspiration from our party's first President. We should remind the nation - and ourselves - that ours is the Party of Lincoln.

The bicentennial of Lincoln's birth is less than two month away: February 12, 2009. I call on Republicans around the nation to begin right now to plan commemorative events. Let's be sure to remember the 16th President not only as the Great Emancipator, but also the Great Republican.

By honoring Abraham Lincoln, Ronald Reagan and other Republican heroes at events throughout 2009, you can help the Republican Party get Back to Basics.

Michael Zak is a popular speaker to Republican organizations around the country. He is the author of Back to Basics for the Republican Party. Each day, his Grand Old Partisan blog celebrates 154 years of Republican heroes and heroics. See www.RepublicanBasics.com for more information. Read More......