FAIR AND BIASED: 1st day report from RNC NATIONAL CONVENTION!

Monday, July 18, 2016

1st day report from RNC NATIONAL CONVENTION!

FROM CLEVELAND

by Steve Fair

The first day of the 2016 GOP convention is in the books. Speakers included two Oklahomans- Governor Mary Fallin(who will also speak on Thursday night) and OKC Mayor Mick Cornett in the afternoon session. Prime time speakers were Willie Robertson, former Governor Rick Perry, Marcus Luttrell, Oz and Tig from 13 hours in Benghai, Sheriff David Clarke, former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani, and Melania Trump. The theme of the evening session was “Make America Safe Again.” Donald Trump made a brief appearance and before he introduced his wife declared: “We are going to win! We are going to win so big!” I have never seen a politician other than Reagan who can fire up a crowd like Trump. He is confident, self-assured and fearless. Those are characteristics of exceptional leaders. While there is still a Never Trump movement among the delegates, his wife’s address tonight may have moved some. A delegate I spoke to after her speech told me: “I like her. She seems so together and humble. I can get on the Trump bandwagon now after hearing her.” That may not be the response of all women, but it is a start.

Trump’s family is scheduled to speak throughout the convention. Many on the RNC think Ivanka Trump is Donald’s secret weapon with women. She speaks on Thursday, when the theme is “Make America one again” Continental Resources’ Harold Hamm speaks on Wednesday night.

Enthusiasm is high among the Oklahoma delegation. The city of Cleveland has done an amazing job and security is very tight. There are a lot of receptions/events in the course of the week hosted by elected officials and sponsors. Governor Fallin sat with the delegation on the floor Monday night for over an hour. Oklahoma is sitted to the right of the speaker, directly behind Alabama. Oregon is across the aisle.

The business of the convention: rules, platform, and credentials went off with little fanfare. The effort to unbind the delegates failed to gain significant support among the 112 members of the rules committee. They needed to have 28 members sign off on a minority report to get to the floor. They got less than half that. The platform committee crafted a very conservative platform, leaving in the traditional marriage plank intact. The platform is also very pro-life and strong on the second amendment. An attempt to consolidate the platform into a one page ‘statement of principles’ failed to pass the committee. The Credentials committee dealt with several ‘disputes’ in delegations, most notably the U.S. Virgin Islands. Some mainlanders moved to the island and out organized the small state Party and took over. While questionable what their motive and tactics were/are, they were within the rules to do so and were seated as delegates. No roll call votes were taken today, in spite of an attempt to have the rules committee vote be taken by roll call.

National Conventions present opportunities to meet other like-minded people. I met Robert J. Dechert from Ontario, Canada. He is a former member of the Canadian Parliament. In 1994, Dechert formed the “Blue Committee,” a group of conservatives who ultimately formed the Conservative Party of Canada. Dechert was defeated last year, when Canada kicked out the conservatives and the liberals won 184 seats and installed Justin Trudeau, Pierre Trudeau’s son, as prime minister. He is here as a guest of Oklahoma state auditor Gary Jones. Very interesting gentlemen who is planning to launch an effort to take back Canada from the liberals. He also told me that Canada is ‘paying for a $4 billion bridge’ from Detroit to Windsor because 25% of the goods exchanged between the two countries goes over that bridge. Dechert said, “Mexico will pay for the wall. I have no doubt the political pressure will be such they will have to pay for the wall because of trade.”

Tomorrow morning(Tuesday) Governor Scott Walker will speak at our delegation breakfast. Congressmen Cole and Lucas are here at the hotel and Senators Lankford and Inhofe will be here later in the week. The spirits of the 43 delegates and 40 alternates is high. Pray for a safe convention. Unity would be great, but safety is our primary concern.

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Why FAIR & BIASED?

FAIR- because that's my name and BIASED because the truth is we are all biased- either for something or against it. What's important is that our bias(opinions) are based on right- on absolute truth and not on changing values. What's right cannot change based on a change in circumstances. That is the basis for situational ethics.

Situation Ethics is a theory that is concerned with the outcome or consequences of an action; the end, as opposed to an action being intrinsically wrong. In the case of situation ethics, the end can justify the means. There are no absolutes. Your actions are guided only by your conscience.

A person's view of right can be subjective. But there is a way mankind can definitely know what's right and that is revealed in God's Word- the Bible. As His creatures, we should be biased toward things our Creator is for and biased against those things He is against. May God grant us the grace and understanding to know the difference.

PARTY AFFILIATION IS IMPORTANT! by Steve Fair- written in 2009

How important is political party affiliation? Some people mistakenly believe only politicians need political affiliation, which they use for support to get elected. They contend the electorate or voters, do not need to be aligned with any Party. These same people often state they “support the man, not the Party.” But whether they recognize it or not, they are supporting a party when they “support the man.”
Most of the Founding Fathers had a negative view of political parties. In his farewell address to the nation, George Washington warned about political parties saying, “However [political parties] may now and then answer popular ends, they are likely in the course of time and things, to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people and to usurp for themselves the reins of government, destroying afterwards the very engines which have lifted them to unjust dominion.” In spite of Washington's warning, political parties were formed anyway.
From 1796 to 1828 the first political parties were formed. Starting with the Federalists and Anti-Federalists, two opposing factions arose. Each was concerned with how the new government was to be organized. The Federalists believed in a strong central government. Their philosophy and beliefs would closely mirror the Democrat Party today. The Anti-Federalists strongly supported the rights of the states. They would more closely align with Republicans today.
Since the mid 1800s, the Ds and Rs have been the two major political parties in our country. Political parties flourished in our government mainly for legislative organization and expediencies sake. Why is Party affiliation important for the average voter? Party affiliation is important for three very simples reasons.
First, party affiliation is the first vote a citizen casts. When a citizen registers as a Democrat, then they are aligning philosophically with the values, beliefs, tenets, and positions of the Democrats on the issues. Party affiliation “defines” you are and what you stand for. It should be taken as seriously as a vote for a specific candidate. Research what each Party stands for, their positions on issues, and then align with the Party that is closest to your values. Copies of both major Party platforms are available on-line or at the local library.
Second, legislatures organize themselves and conduct business using party affiliation. The legislative branch of government is the most powerful arm of the three branches of government. Legislative bodies hold closed meeting of party members, called a caucus to decide on questions of policy or leadership. The Republicans hold a caucus meeting and the Democrats hold a caucus meeting-both at the state and federal level. Unfortunately, conservative, moderate and liberal philosophies do not hold caucus meetings or control the legislative agendas- parties do. When someone says they vote for “the man,” not the party, they fail to understand the power and function of a caucus system in a legislative body. The Party in the majority controls appointments, Chairmanships, the agenda and countless other things through the caucus.
Third, party affiliation should be a matter of conviction, not convenience. Often, people align with a party so they can vote in primary elections or based on family tradition or geographies. Even candidates will align, file and run affiliated with a Party they have little philosophical agreement with. That decision is made out of convenience, not conviction. While no political party is perfect or has all the answers, there is a distinct difference between the two major parties and honest citizens should align with the Party that reflects their convictions.
The Democrat Party is more liberal than the Republican Party. Liberals believe in more government control of business, the environment and speech, using large bureaucratic programs to address real or perceived social ills and constant reinterpretation of the Constitution. Liberals are more inclined to trust government than the people themselves. They see the role of government as a great provider of goods and services and have little faith in the individual to solve his own problems.
Republicans are more conservative than Democrats. Conservatives believe in less government control of the environment and business. They want fewer and less comprehensive government programs to address real or perceived social ills. They believe in personal responsibility and trust individuals to make decisions for themselves. Republicans believe in a strict literal interpretation of the Constitution. A person should find out which of these philosophies best fits their view if they wish to actively participate in the political process.
Party affiliation is important. Washington’s prophecy has come to past, and political parties have been used to empower “unprincipled men,” on both sides of the aisle, but like it or not, political parties are a reality in our system of government. Each concerned citizen should evaluate the philosophy, values, beliefs and tenets of each Party and align their party affiliation accordingly.

FAIR AND BIASED

Monday, July 18, 2016

1st day report from RNC NATIONAL CONVENTION!

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PARTY AFFILIATION IS IMPORTANT! by Steve Fair- written in 2009

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