We are amidst turbulent economic times. Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, Lehman Brothers, and AIG are just some of pests that have created mayhem on Wall Street. Ahmadinejad  in his address to the United Nations said that the American empire is coming to an end. But is it? These times call for caution, careful consideration, collaboration, and commitment, but America can make it through better and stronger if we stay true to our democratic principles. Currently, Congress is working on a bailout that would buy up bad mortgages, and leaders in Congress are attempting to weigh down the bill by trying to limit CEO pay and allow people to stay in their houses that they cannot afford. This is the wrong direction for America; this is socialism.

Let us learn by the mistakes of others before we make the same devastating mistakes. Look at Japan. Japan faced a large economic crisis in 1989-1990 and their government provided bailouts and stimuli to the economy. Japan's economy is still rocky today because the actions taken by the government provided a band-aid not a solution. Congress cannot just place band-aid over a gapping wound; America needs solutions to deal with the root cause of this crisis. America does not need more government programs that we will be responsible for for many years to come.  Trying to infuse socialist ideas in a capitalist market will be detrimental. Yes, we need to work quickly, but not with such haste that we do not find real solutions and resort to socialism.

Newt Gingrich has a real more capitalist solution:

1) suspend the mark-to-market accounting rule

 2) repeal the Sarbanes-Oxley law

 3) eliminate the capital-gains tax;

4) undertake an "all of the above" energy plan to keep at home $500 billion of the $700 billion we currently send overseas for imported energy.

These points would not put taxpayers on the line for 700 billion+ dollars. These ideas would not socialize the banking system.

More solutions will be needed as this problem is systemic and has festered for quite some time. While no one seems to have all the answers, Congress needs to listen to all options and be wise stewards of taxpayer's money before claiming they have an answer. Congress needs to learn from history and other countries to not make the same mistakes. Lets hope that Maverick McCain can really come in and shake up Washington to get a bill past that stimulates our capitalists markets and does not provide a socialist bailout. This will allow America to restore her greatness and come through this crisis stronger and better.

 In these times of economic uncertainty, international turbulence, and energy dependence America needs a high capacity leader to lead us into continued prosperity, peace, and independence. But what makes a great leader and who will be that great leader for us?

In his book, Good to Great, Jim Collins writes that good is the enemy of great, and he defines what helps an entity transition from good to great. One of the keys in transitioning to greatness is having great leadership. Jim Collins defines this type of leader as a level 5 leader. A level 5 leader is defined as someone who “builds enduring greatness through a paradoxical blend of personal humility and professional will. Level 5 leaders channel their ego needs away from themselves and into the larger goal of building a great company. It’s not that level 5 leaders have no ego or self-interest. Indeed, they are incredibly ambitious, but their ambition is first and foremost for the institution, not themselves.”

Washington is filled with good leaders, but that is the problem. America needs great leaders that are willing to but country first and partisan politics and self egos last. Senator John McCain continually proves himself to be this great leader to help America continue her enduring greatness. Just look at his narrative and record:

Senator McCain has served his country for 54 years. Starting at the Naval Academy in Annapolis and continuing today during his run for President, McCain has a long record of service to the United States. He has fought in the Vietnam War, where he suffered as a prisoner of war. He has served in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. His service and dedication to this country is unquestionable. He has put his country first as he risked his life on the battle field. And he is putting his country first as he fights in Congress for what he feels is right, not what is popular or partisan.

His record speaks this truth. “The Almanac of American Politics rates congressional votes as liberal or conservative on the political spectrum, in three policy areas: economic, social, and foreign. For 2005–2006, McCain's average ratings were as follows: the economic rating was 59 percent conservative and 41 percent liberal, the social rating was 54 percent conservative and 38 percent liberal, and the foreign rating was 56 percent conservative and 43 percent liberal.” While McCain may have conservative tendencies, his votes show that he is not afraid to vote against his party if needed. That is because McCain puts country first.

Senator McCain is the next great leader America needs, for his ambition is first and foremost for America and not himself. His leadership is tested and proven. He has had a long history of putting his country first. Through his service in our armed forces to his service in Washington, McCain has proven that he puts his self interests and ego last. McCain’s record also demonstrates his maverick approach in following his convictions, not his party, on what is right for America. During these times of big challenges and opportunities for America, we need a leader who has proven time and again to put country first. That leader is John McCain.

Liberals across America take pride in their liberal values that give women the right to choose, equal pay for equal work, equal education, and to be leaders at home and in society. Yet, when a woman is nominated for the job of America's Vice President (VP), the liberals turn away from their party's ideas and seem to suffer from some kind of political amnesia simply because that woman is a conservative.  Instead they argue that Sarah Palin should not be VP, they question her abilities as a mother, and they take away her right to choose. They completely reduce their so-called stand for women to a political play rooted in hypocrisy. Point and case:

As liberals claim to fight for change and women's rights in education and in the workplace, they also claim that Palin is not educated enough and that being governor is not qualifying enough experience. Sarah Palin received a bachelor's degree in communication from the University of Idaho, an accomplishment that should make the women's right movement happy.  Yet, instead the liberals say that this is no ivy league education and that her education is simply lacking. Sarah Palin has had thirteen years in politics including being mayor of Wasilla and being Governor of Alaska. She is one of about thirty women who have ever been elected as a governor. Women have fought to get equal opportunities in the workplace for years, and have frankly not always had such opportunities. Her accomplishments are quite a feat for the women in America.  Nonetheless, the liberal left questions if these accomplishments are qualifying enough when women have not always had these opportunities available to them.   This is simply hypocrisy. 

Sarah Palin also finds herself under attack for being a working mother. Additionally, liberals sling mud into the argument that Palin should not run for VP with a pregnant teenager, almost implying that she would not be present enough as a mother.  In recent days, liberals have questioned if a mother of five should accept the job of Vice President; however, they do not seem to question if Barack Obama, father of two, should be President, or if Biden, father and grandfather, should become VP. Has anyone questioned Mrs. Obama for being both a mom and a career woman? Liberals assert that they are fighting for equal opportunities for women in the workplace, but now they question if a mom really can have both family and career. This double standard is precisely what the liberals have professed to fight against, but now they are perpetuating it; that men are the bread winners and women are the stay at home moms.   This is simply hypocrisy.

Liberals also claim to fight for the woman's right to choose. The right to choose implies that there is a choice for women to make; the choice to continue the pregnancy, or the choice to terminate the pregnancy. Sarah Palin exercised this right to choose and chose to keep her child. However, because her decision fell on the side of life, the liberals now want to take this choice away from Palin and paint her as an intolerant conservative.   If liberals are going to stand for the right to choose, then they must accept the choices of women who choose to keep their pregnancy. Otherwise, liberals need to revise their stance to be Pro-Abortion and not Pro-Choice. This is simply hypocrisy.
 
Those 18 million cracks in the highest glass ceiling that Hillary Cliniton placed are in danger of being sealed over by the party that claims to have put them there.  The women's right to choose, equal pay for equal work, equal education, and to be leaders at home and in society have long been staples in the liberal platform. Yet, now when a conservative women has been nominated for VP, liberals are now forgetting their stances on women's rights.  They now claim that a women is not qualified enough, not educated enough, cannot be a working mother, and cannot choose to keep her pregnancy.  This is simply hypocrisy. Sarah, you go girl and bring a new type politics to America.