“…This is the issue of this election – whether we believe in our capacity for self-government or whether we abandon the American Revolution and confess that a little intellectual elite in a far-distant capital can plan our lives better than we can plan them ourselves…”

“… the ultimate in individual freedom consistent with law and order –or down to the ant heap of totalitarianism.  And regardless of their sincerity, their humanitarian motives, those who trade our freedom for security have embarked on this downward course…”

“…You and I have a rendezvous with destiny.  We will preserve for our children this, the last best hope of man on earth, or we will sentence them to take the last step into a thousand years of darkness…” 

                                    Ronald Wilson Reagan – 1964

Argument 1: Romney Brings Ronald Reagan Style, Direction, and Spirit to the Ticket.

As was repeated many times during the course of the 1964 presidential campaign by one of the greatest future presidents of the 20th century, theses words ring true some forty-four (44) years later.  We too, are on the brink and possible threshold in this upcoming election, on deciding whether we abandon those conservative principles, or continue the cordial fight to bring about the fruition of those guiding principles.

Limited government, lower taxes, a strong national defense, and appoint judges that will interpret the Constitution and not make law.  Government works best when it works or governs least; Federal and state protection of our borders and the human right privileges for the unborn.  Those are the tenants of the GOP.   

During this campaign, we have all heard the “drive-by” media speak about the era of Reagan is over.  True, there will never be another Ronald Reagan.  However, the talking heads and so-called pundits could not be farther from the truth.  President Reagan embodied a set of conservative principles that today, are worthy of upholding and worth repeating again and again.  

As conservatives, do we not require that our elected leaders subscribe to these same set of conservative beliefs and principles?   Do we continue to hold their proverbial feet to the fire when they seek our vote and support on the issues that determine the direction of our country?  Has there been one candidate in this race that has embodied the spirit, the candor, and the direction of Ronald Reagan’s America?  The answer is yes!  That candidate was Governor Mitt Romney!

Gov. Romney has shown throughout his adult life, the innate ability to seize upon a serious problem, and to attack its root cause -- to find the only honest and real solution to any problem or threat given to him.  Whether it was Reagan who fought communism all his adult life and as president, or Romney bringing about the ultimate “Turnaround” to the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City from the brink of bankruptcy and scandal;  Whether it was Romney who’s life story is a roll model of success, i.e., from Bain Capital to the governorship of Massachusetts; Whether it was Reagan’s successful tax cuts in the early ‘80’s that brought about the longest peace time expansion of an economic recovery in modern times; to Gov. Romney’s leadership and business experience to bringing the state of Massachusetts from the brink of despair with massive deficits to one of the largest surpluses in the state’s history.  The similarities can go on and on. 

Argument 2: The Liberalism of the Democrats is Nothing to Take Lightly.

The Republican Party has selected their presidential nominee for 2008, a man from the great state of Arizona, Senator John McCain. Senator McCain is a decorated war hero and his service to this country can never be repaid nor forgotten.  However, the Republican Party is also at a crossroads in this election.  This year, the Democrat Party will nominate for president, either their most liberal, or their second most liberal Senator in the history of this country. As conservatives, we cannot afford the changing of the guard, and the election of either individual that would run rough shod over the Constitution by nominating judges to the U.S. Supreme Court, [and lower U.S. courts] for lifetime appointments in the mold of Ruth Bader Ginsberg!  Nor rain havoc on the national economy during a possible recession with the massive expansion of the federal government in the name of “health care.”  President Reagan often stated that the nine (9) most terrifying words in the English language scripted together is: “Hello! I’m with the government – I’m here to help!”  In keeping with Reagan’s sentiment, we know that the federal government has bankrupt the social security system; has bankrupt the Medicare/Medicaid system; and has bankrupt our children’s and grandchildren’s future with massive debt.  Then rhetorically speaking, using the logic of government’s past ineptness, can anyone honestly say with a straight face why they would entrust individual healthcare to that same federal government???  I can only surmise that the democrat party is a glutton for punishment. History has shown that when democrats run as conservatives, they win!  When republicans run as liberals/moderates, we loose!   

Argument 3: McCain Needs the Conservative Base of the Party to Win in November.

We truly have a unique opportunity to make our voices known to Senator McCain and the Republican Party.  Senator McCain will need the conservative base of the Republican Party if he is to win in November, pure and simple.  We all have heard the political pundits and the “drive-by” media of how the Senator loves to reach “across the aisle” to our democrat brethren.  However, his “inclusion” of democrats into the GOP only brings in “liberal” democrats, with their liberal agendas – definitely not what President Reagan had in mind when he captured the minds and hearts of democrats, i.e., the ‘conservative’ democrats or what is commonly referred to as the “Reagan Democrats.”  As Reagan was fond of saying, “I did not leave the democrat party – the democrat party left me.”   

Argument 4: The Economy is Romney's Forte.

If Senator McCain is truly serious and sincere about bringing about inclusion to our somewhat fractured party, the best place he can start the fence mending process is by selecting Gov. Romney as his running mate.   Senator McCain by his own acknowledgment stated that economic policy is not his strong suit.  However, it is Mitt Romney’s!  With the United States heading into a possible recession and the economy not running on all cylinders, Senator McCain will without a doubt, need to utilize Gov. Romney’s master’s degree in business administration coupled with his law degree, both obtained simultaneously from Harvard.  Gov. Romney is a person that knows how to articulate the solutions to the economic problems we will face now and in the future – he is a man who understands business and the private sector – the upsides and downturns – better than any other GOP candidate in the field bar none!

Argument 5: Politics are Never About Who Like's Each Other, They are About the Betterment of the Country.

If history is a guide, the answer to the nay sayers of a McCain and Romney ticket is simply because “they don’t like each other” is this:  This is the big leagues!  It is what’s good for country and party, and not just one man, nor petty jealousy – that is thrown out the window.  If Senator McCain or even Gov. Huckabee is still seething over a couple of comparison ads run against them by the Romney campaign, then he [they] better get a good grip.  I can assure you, they ain’t seen nothin’ yet!!  Just wait ‘til Obama and/or Hillary are nominated – I can assure you -- they won’t and don’t play nice!  Everything from the proverbial kitchen sink to the “Keating 5,” and Senator McCain’s comments when he contemplated becoming John Kerry’s running mate in 2004 will be thrown his way.  But I digress.  History is replete with winning scenarios –as the following will show:  FDR had what?  3-4 different VP’s until he selected Truman;  Ike almost “dumped” Nixon – except for his lifesaving “Checker’s” speech;  JFK was “best buds” with LBJ – NOT!  Reagan actually wanted [former] Gov. Paul Laxalt of Nevada for VP – however, Reagan chose wisely for the sake of his country, party and the election – Bush 41.   Besides, if Senator McCain can graciously received the endorsement just a few days earlier from his 2000 election political arch rival, George W. Bush – who just a mere eight (8) years earlier, were both fighting like cats and dogs – far worse than Gov. Romney ever did to Senator McCain! 

Argument 6: We Must Unite the GOP, or we will Remain Divided and Fall. 

Finally, as President Lincoln once said, “A house divided cannot stand.”  That is the mission and vision statement of unitethegop.com.  It is crucial that the Ann Coulter’s, Rush Limbaugh’s, Mark Levin’s, Lars Larsen’s, Sean Hannity’s, Laura Ingraham’s, just to name a few, return to the “fold” of the Republican Party.  Regardless of what anyone thinks about these individuals, they retain over 10 million listeners every day, week, month, or year.  They consistently remind us on a daily basis of the hard work that lay ahead, and that the mission and principles of the Reagan legacy that have guided our party through the last twenty (20) years of GOP presidencies out of twenty-eight (28) is never ending.  It would truly be an important first step on the part of Senator McCain of instead “reaching across the aisle,” to the democrats, but to reach across the proverbial aisle -- to the conservative base of his party now!  Senator McCain’s very first step in the road of winning the White House, would be to nominate Mitt Romney as his running mate for the obvious reasons set forth here.  But we shall see.  Listen my children and you shall hear -- the story of 2008 GOP presidential ticket – M+M = VICTORY IN 2008!   (McCain + Mitt)