Saturday, May 16, 2009

The Conservative Canvas

Dear Readers,

I created this blog a couple years ago while attending the local college. I have since graduated and moved to a new University. Along with the move, I also have remained silent for many months - most of which I have spent in Africa, specifically Zambia, sharing the Gospel with children in grades 4th-8th. I have since returned and my heart is ever burdened for fighting for the freedoms I hold dear. I am in the beginning stages of forming a new blog called "The Conservative Canvas" which will replace "The GRCC Conservative." Please visit my newly introduced blog at http://conservativecanvas.wordpress.com/

Sincerely,
Chaz Oswald

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Save the good ol' ship or it may not return to sea for yet another voyage


The day after Election Day I didn’t get out of bed until 10 am. No I was not suffering a hangover, I was suffering a loss. I spent that day lounging around the house as I feared to turn on or read anything that the media had illustrated.

In full retreat of all media outlets, with the exception of the occasional Rush Limbaugh or Sean Hannity, I have resigned from such. In fact, I have declined to watch any news with the omission of Bill O’reilly for 45 minutes as I awaited Right Michigan’s national break. (If you haven’t congratulated Nick yet, please do!)

For the next few weeks I sat back and studied blogs as each blogger attempted to make sense of the situation. Some were alluding to a re-construction of our party and our principles. Some went on to say we need to ‘modernize’ and become ‘relevant’ to the youth of our country. Others, yet, called for the resignation of party leaders and officials. It became the blame game. If we continue to blame each other our conservative party will implode. We need to return to our roots and our principled, moral, ideals.

The mission of our party was effectively stated by Abraham Lincoln in which it is “to lift the artificial weights from all shoulders, and clear the paths of laudable pursuit for all.” Our focus, as the Republican Party has always been on that of opportunity. Not necessarily the ‘equality of outcome, but rather the equality of opportunity.’

More than 150 years later, the Republican Party stands for the same principles on which it was founded. Representative Christopher Cox said it best: Our party stands for “free minds, free markets, free expression, and unlimited opportunity.”

The Republican Party has a historical backdrop of which it played a vital role in bringing an end to slavery within the United States. Our party played a vital role in extending the rights to vote to men and women of all backgrounds, races, and creeds. We aided in conducting or accompanying within the modern civil rights era. Furthermore, we were “the leading role of our party in establishing an American policy of peace through strength that has freed hundreds of millions of people around the world from slavery and brought freedom, democracy, women’s rights, and minority rights to the former Soviet Empire and across central and eastern Europe, Asia, and the Middle East (Cox, 2005).

These astounding and astonishing achievements are results of dedication and opposition of the Democratic Party over the last 150 years.

Our party was formed on March 20, 1854 and a few moths later, after platforms and positions had been drafted, the first Republican state convention was held in Jackson, Michigan.

A few “firsts” of the Republican Party were eloquently spoken by Rep. Chris Cox:

Every single African-American in Congress, House and Senate, until 1935 was a Republican.

In 1872, the first black governor took office in Louisiana. I love his name: Pinckney Pinchback, a great Republican. Our own state of California was the first to have a Hispanic governor. Can you guess his political party? Republican Romualdo Pacheco became governor in 1875, long before anybody had ever heard of Cruz Bustamante.

The first Hispanic U.S. Senator was elected from New Mexico in 1928. You guessed it -- he was a Republican, Octaviano Larrazolo.

Republicans led the fight for women’s voting rights -- and the Democrats, as a party, opposed civil rights for women. All of the leading suffragists -- including Susan B. Anthony, Lucretia Mott, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton -- were Republicans. In fact, Susan B. Anthony bragged, after leaving the voting booth that she had voted for “the Republican ticket -- straight.”

The suffragists included two African-American Republican women who were also co-founders of the NAACP: Ida Wells and Mary Terrell, great leaders of our party, both of them.

Of course, this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the accomplishments of the GOP. It is a remarkable 150-year string of civil rights achievements.

With this previous election we must remember the words of Ronald Reagan, “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.

Our party may not have won the battle but “…I know that the Lord is always on the rights side…it is my constant anxiety and prayer that I and this nation should be on the Lord’s side” (Abraham Lincoln).

57 million voters voted against Barack Obama. It is our duty to unite and fight for the freedom that is always “one generation away from extinction.”

I leave you with the words of Abraham Lincoln: “If all do not join now to save the good old ship of the Union this voyage nobody will have a chance to pilot her on another voyage.”


-Chaz Oswald


Thursday, October 30, 2008

"Twas the night after elections...

'Twas the night after elections
And all through the town
Tempers were flaring
Emotions all up and down!

I, in my bathrobe
With a cat in my lap
Had cut off the TV
Tired of political crap.

When all of a sudden
There arose such a noise
I peered out of my window
Saw Obama and his boys

They had come for my wallet
They wanted my pay
To give to the others
Who had not worked a day!

He snatched up my money
And quick as a wink
Jumped back on his bandwagon
As I gagged from the stink

He then rallied his henchmen
Who were pulling his cart
I could tell they were out
To tear my country apart!

On Fannie, On Freddie,
On Retzo and Ayers!
On Acorn, On Pelosi'
He screamed at the pairs!

They took off for his cause
And as he flew out of sight
I heard him laugh at the nation
Who wouldn't stand up and fight!

So I leave you to think
On this one final note-
IF YOU DON'T WANT SOCIALISM
GET OUT AND VOTE!!!!

*For Those Who Fought For It, Freedom Has A Price The Protected Will Never Know*
Use your brain, vote McCain

-McCain Militia
-Chaz Oswald

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Why I'm Voting Democrat

Happy Tuesday!

We are two weeks away from one of the most important elections of our time. It is essential that we educate the masses and get out the vote. But for your Tuesday, I thought it would be nice for a little sarcastic humor. Of course, sarcasm is no good and not funny if it does not hold an element of truth.

Why I'm Voting Democrat:
-I'm voting democrat because Barbara Walters is my idol and so is P.Diddy.

-I'm voting Democrat because English has no place being the official language in America.

-I'm voting Democrat because I'd rather pay $4 for a gallon of gas than allow drilling for oil off the coasts of America.

-I'm voting Democrat because I think the government will do a better job of spending my money than I could.

-I'm voting Democrat because when we pull out of Afghanistan and Iraq, I know the Islamic terrorists will stop trying to kill us because they'll think we're a good and decent country.

-I'm voting Democrat because it's alright to kill millions of babies as long as we keep violent, convicted murderers on death row alive.

-I'm voting Democrat because I believe businesses in America should not be allowed to make profits. Businesses should just break even and give the rest to the government so politicians and bureaucrats can redistribute the money the way they think it should be redistributed.

-I'm voting Democrat because I believe guns, and not the people misusing them, are the cause of crimes and killings.

-I'm voting Democrat because oil companies' 8% profit on a gallon of gas are obscene, but government taxes of 18% on the same gallon of gas are just fine.

-I'm voting Democrat because I believe three or four elitist liberals should rewrite the Constitution every few months to suit some fringe element that could never get their agenda past voters.

-I'm voting Democrat because illegal aliens are not criminals, are not sucking up resources through government aid, hospital services, education, or social services, but are just people trying to make a better life by coming to America illegally. We can't blame them for that, can we?

-I'm voting Democrat because my trial lawyer's crippling multi-million dollar lawsuits against doctors, hospitals, drug companies, and HMO's will make health insurance and medicine much more affordable.

-I'm voting Democrat because Al Sharpton, Louis Farrakhan, and Jesse Jackson will end racism once and for all.

-I'm voting Democrat because Christians in the Republican Party are intolerant, theocratic warmongers and atheists like William Ayers have never hurt anybody.

-I'm voting Democrat so that no family member of mine will die in a hospital bed. They will still be waiting in line for Obama's socialized medicine, so they will never actually make it into a hospital bed.

-I'm voting Democrat because I like eminent domain and big business and government kicking me out of my home and taking my land.

-I'm voting Democrat because everyone knows that raising taxes at the top won't hurt people at the bottom.

-I'm voting Democrat because skin color and good oratory skills are more important than judgment and experience.

-I'm voting Democrat because protecting barren wasteland is more important than energy independence.

-I'm voting Democrat because my college professor told me that America is evil and should give up its place in the world.

-I'm voting Democrat because I believe that Cuba, Russia, and China should be on the United Nations Human Rights Council.

-I'm voting Democrat because I believe that everyone is essentially good -- even people like Ahmadinejad who call for the destruction of Israel. He just needs a little understanding.

-I'm voting Democrat because we should all be forced to drive ugly cars with the horsepower of a riding lawnmower.

-I am voting Democrat because I believe in change; although I don't know WHAT the change will be, or HOW it will happen, AND I am pretty sure that I won't WANT to actually change anything.

-I do, but still....I believe in change.

-I'm voting Democrat because the government knows how to raise children better than their parents do.

-I'm voting Democrat because I want the rich to work harder, give me their money, and pay for my services so I don't have to.

And for those who want cold hard facts...

George Bush has been in office for 7 1/2 years. The first six the economy was fine.
A little over a year ago:

1. Consumer confidence stood at a 2 1/2 year high;
2. Regular gasoline sold for $2.19 a gallon;
3. The unemployment rate was 4.5%
4. The DOW JONES hit a record high-- 14,000 +
5. American's were buying new cars, taking cruises, vacations overseas, living large.

But Americans wanted "CHANGE" So, in 2006 they voted in a Democratic Congress and yes--we got "CHANGE" all right. In the PAST YEAR:

1. Consumer confidence has plummeted;
2. Gasoline has risen over $4 a gallon;
3. Unemployment is up to 5.5% (a 10% increase);
4. Americans have seen there home equity drop by $12 TRILLION DOLLARS and prices are still dropping;
5. 1% of American homes are now in foreclosure.
6. As I write THE DOW is well need I say more

So, I ask, do we really want more `change' from the Community Organizer?

I hope you enjoyed a little humor on your Tuesday. I just wanted to thank the facebook group `Why I'm Voting Democrat' and a new conservative friend, Kellen Giuda, who thoughtfully came up with these wonderful zingers!

-Chaz Oswald

Monday, June 30, 2008

F---ing For Virginity

I read a sign today with what appears to be a common sense form of wisdom. “Bombing for peace is like f---ing for virginity!” At first, this sounds entirely reasonable. Indeed, a bombing run is by definition an act of war, which happens to be the exact opposite of peace. The problem is that, like many truths, the truths of war and peace can be counter-intuitive.

We start with a truth written by an ancient Roman. “Let him who desires peace, prepare for war.” This is much closer to our conservative ideals than the idea of “bombing for peace.” If we are not prepared for war, our enemies will attack us. We are a nation of vast wealth and many resources (even huge amounts of oil which the democrats make sure we can’t use). On top of that, we are a Christian nation, whether we want to be or not. Even if most of us aren’t Christians, we will always be viewed as Christians. This means that our enemies have plenty of material reasons, but even more powerful religious reasons for wiping us out. In addition, we have great influence around the world, which irritates those who already hate us for our religion and wealth. I could go on for a long time, citing reasons that we will have enemies forever, and even demonstrating that adopting Obama’s plan of taking everything up the @$$ won’t pacify them.

What can we do then? We must be powerful. We must be prepared. We must have the most powerful military in the world by far and not depend on allies. (Remember the military maxim; trust an ally weaker than you, but never an ally more powerful than you). We must be prepared to back our words with force. President Bush did exactly that. He tried diplomacy with Saddam Hussein and was patient, but when Hussein mocked us instead of demonstrating that we had no cause for fear, Bush backed his words with force. We had tried for well over a decade to deal with Iraq diplomatically but our failure to back that with force emboldened our enemies. Bush wisely put an end to this by demonstrating that we mean what we say.

War doesn’t produce peace the next day, but backing our words with force will show our enemies that they can’t toy with us like Hussein did. More importantly, it tells our enemies that we will defend ourselves against attack and that it’s not worth the risk to murder our people, like they have countless times, such as on 9/11.

I would contend that one of the main reasons we are not more secure than we are against our enemies is that we keep electing pushover democrats like Bill Clinton or potentially Barak Obama, who wish to make a clear statement to all our enemies that we will not finish what we start, and will pave the way for the Iraqi government to be overthrown by terrorists who can establish another Iran, or who spent almost a decade telling Hussein that we really don’t care whether or not he plans to annihilate us and Israel. We need to counter this by electing a strong man who, while not a lover of war, is not afraid of it. We need a man who is willing to back his words with action to the point that our enemies will take his words seriously. In this upcoming election, who do you think that man is?

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Conservatism and Mental Illness

In almost all ways, I love conservatism and conservative values. In almost anything I love talking with conservatives and discussing with those who are wise, the truths of politics and what our nation needs. However, there is one area in which many conservatives seem to be sorely lacking. The issue is mental illness.

I have far too many members of my family suffering from mental illness, so I have come to be a major advocate in favour of supporting mental health issues and ending the stigma against them. In my efforts to help those suffering from these often genetic diseases, I have met liberals and only liberals. Not once have I met someone even remotely conservative who takes up these issues except for my own parents. Instead I see conservatives say evil things about the mentally ill. Yesterday, I listened to a conservative pundit use “mental illness” as the ultimate intellectual insult to hurl at the liberals. Hearing him speak in such a way made me want to hit the bugger.

How are we so wise in almost everything, but so foolish in this issue? Why do I see so many conservatives treat the mentally ill as subhuman? We are better! If we know the truth about economics, and proper size of government, and tax policy and so many other issues, how can we not know the truth about mental illness?

My friends, the liberals are enslaving the mentally ill to their system just like they do to the poor. The liberals take up the cause of the mentally ill, but royally screw them over just like they do to everyone else. Even issues that are very good to fight for are fought for in entirely the wrong way. Take the issue of parity. Bigotry against the mentally ill means that there is no insurance company out there that will cover mental health as well as physical health. The mentally ill desperately need the same coverage for terribly expensive medical costs. How do we solve the problem? Well the liberals want regulations. They want to shove parity down the industry’s throat. Talk about a good cause fought for in a bad way! We need to give tax breaks to industries that rise above petty anti mental illness bigotry. Encourage them, rather than regulate them. There may be an even better solution. But only we conservatives can find it.

I have a mentally ill conservative friend who refuses to take up the cause of mental health because everyone else in that cause is liberal. We must not give in! We must take this issue from the liberals and do it right! Mental illness is a real issue being very badly handled by liberals and ignored by conservatives. Let us right this wrong.

Gentle Readers, I have great faith in conservatism. I don’t mean to slam our ways, so much as call you to action. The first action is to educate yourselves on mental illness, and I’ll provide a link or two for that. Next we must find solutions to the stigma problem and help the mentally ill to help themselves, rather than enslave them to the government systems like the liberals are doing. I believe in you, my friends. I know we can do this!

Links:

NAMI: http://www.nami.org/ - look for information about the different mental illnesses
Mental illnesses page: http://www.nami.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Inform_Yourself/About_Mental_Illness/About_Mental_Illness.htm

I’ll post more links later

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

$4,000,000 Signatures?!

Over the last few weeks I have been out an about running my errands. I make a stop at the bank, maybe get a little take out, and pick up a new release from blockbuster.

While making my rounds I have been stopped more than once and asked to sign a petition.

Me being the political junkie that I am, of course I have to know the details of such a petition. So I ask, “For what cause am I supporting by signing such a petition?”

Of course, the usual broad answer is only spat out after a few stumbling words are uttered. You know if they are stumbling terribly they really have no idea what the petition is for, so they begin to make up the cause.

I was told that the petition I would be signing is one that police officers, firefighters, and nurses have all sponsored in order to make sure Congress does not pass a pay raise. So to get this straight, if I signed the petition, I asked, I would be signing in order to stop Congress from raising their salary?

“Oh, yes,” the gentleman responded, without looking me directly in the eyes.

After finding out he had been getting paid a couple bucks per signature and listening to his dumb hollow responses, I realized he was in it for the bling bling and not the cause.

That is only one example over the many occasions over the last couple weeks that I have been asked to sign the same petition. Of course every person I have encountered had a different tale for me. I was even offered a job at one point to help circulate petitions. How absurd!

After doing a little digging and getting a little help from Nick De Leeuw we discovered what the real cause is behind the petition. And know, it has nothing to do with the aforementioned hoax and outright lies from the circulators.

The following dictation is taken from Nick at http://www.rightmichigan.com/ and the following describes the proposed Constitutional Amendment of which the petition is really for.

· Two (2) seats on the Supreme Court would be eliminated. It targets those with the least seniority, Justices Young and Markman, both Republicans re-elected in recent years by overwhelming margins. They'd lose their jobs as of December 20, 2008.

· All seven (7) Court of Appeals seats up for grabs in 2010 would also be eliminated as of this December, cutting short by two years the terms of previously elected judges. Six of the Court of Appeals judges being targeted are generally considered to be "GOP." The seventh, Helene White, has been nominated by President Bush to take a seat on the federal bench and will be moving on anyways.

· All judges would be subject to a pay cut beginning in 2009 that would reduce compensation to what the position garnered in the year 2000. Judges who took the bench before 1997 have their pensions calculated on their final salary. The paycut, in essence, would force these judges to chose between early retirement and significant long-term financial penalties. One judicial insider who spoke on condition of anonymity claims that in theory up to half the judgeships in the state could suddenly go vacant. While that could create major delays and case back logs it would also provide Jennifer Granholm with the ability, in one sweeping set of action, to appoint half the bench in the State of Michigan.

· The Judicial Tenure Commission would be rebuilt including an affirmative action provision mandating the makeup of reflect the population of the State of Michigan.

· The House of Representatives would be reduced to eighty-two (82) members. The Senate to twenty-eight (28). New district lines would be drawn according to strange provisions requiring "competitive" apportionment. Half would be drawn with a majority Dem base, half with a majority GOP base while four (4) Senate seats and nine (9) House seats would be restricted to a maximum 53% base from either political party.

· A new redistricting commission would be created with four (4) Democrats and four (4) Republicans and a ninth "non-partisan" member serving as chair. The ninth member would be selected by no fewer than six of the other eight members. If an agreement on the ninth cannot be reached each Party would submit a name and then toss a coin.

· The redistricting plans also require six of nine votes for passage. Without the requisite number each Party submits its own redistricting plan for approval of the "non-partisan" chair. The "non-partisan" chair who may actually be a Democrat selected by the flip of a coin. Once this "non-partisan" chair approves plans from each side another coin is tossed deciding district boundaries statewide.

What a scary world we live in when Looney leftists have to lie to get what they want passed. Though, it comes as no surprise.

-Chaz Oswald