As I began my day this morning I was struck with the melancholy mood that is being purveyed throughout the new media. Much as I do during my everyday routine I went about the tasks needed to be accomplished. As the levity of the day began to hit me I heard the call for a moment of silence over the airwaves. I reflected back on this day eight years earlier.

As a younger, brasher individual I remember listening to the radio that morning and in an eerily similar moment I flashed back to the moment I heard the news. I looked at the sky and noticed that, much like 9/11/2001, the deep blue of a late summer day was glaring through my window. The stories flooded back to my memory, from Todd Beamer to the countless firefighters and policemen, and finally, to the families. So many families had loved ones taken away. So many husbands and wives had to face a reality of going home to an empty bed in a quiet house. So many children had to hear the news that Mommy or Daddy was not coming home. So many parents, friends, neighbors, and co-workers had to deal with the strife of knowing the gravity of the situation and the reality of the day’s events were such that there would be major changes.

Now here we are, eight years later, still grappling with this same reality. How? Why? Will it happen again? These are just a few of the questions that our society faces on a regular basis. As a member of “Generation X” the reality is somewhat different. We always reflect back on the formative experiences of our lifetime. For those of the “Greatest Generation” it was World War II. For the “Baby Boomers” it was the 1960’s and Vietnam. However, the reality that I measure my life with is certainly 9/11. It has changed the way I look at things, changed my goals, and certainly helped to shape my politics.

Now that eight years have passed I have an opportunity to view the entire tragedy from a slightly different perspective. Unlike in 2001 I am married, have two wonderful children, and own a small business. The reality of 9/11 has certainly shaped who I am today but is also gives me pause to remember. I look back on a 32 year old Todd Beamer who, without training and warning, gave the ultimate sacrifice on that plane in Shanksville, PA. With two small children, one on the way, a wife, a career, and a great deal of life ahead of him I try to put myself in his shoes and pray that I would be half the man he proved himself to be.

Nevertheless, there are those in our nation that are still living with a pre-9/11 mindset. President Obama sees this as a national day of service. He couldn’t be farther from the truth. This day can only be a day to remember the sacrifices of those lost, the resolve of our nation in the weeks after, the vigilance of our everyday life, the pain of the entire tragedy, and the anger we all felt. Without these observances we are doomed to vulnerability.

Pelosi, Reed, Holder, and many of their colleagues are now trying to prosecute the very men and women in our intelligence communities that have protected us from another attack. Without regard for the safety of our nation these individuals seek to breach the blanket of security provided for our citizens by condemning the actions of those that wove that very cloth. Further, they seek to protect the individuals that we hold in Guantanamo Bay. These individuals pose a threat to our nation and, if given the chance, will seek to do further harm to innocent men and women here and abroad.

Finally, there are those in our society that continue to weaken our nation by trying to make the United States accountable to international organizations such as the United Nations, World Courts, and other NGO’s that are a clear threat to our way of life. This coupled with legislation such as Cap and Trade, which will handicap our national economy, and National Single Payer Healthcare, which will destroy the best healthcare system in the world, will continue to bring our nation down. We are the lone world superpower for a reason and this supremacy is a responsibility that we must take on. Truly, the idea of national exceptionalism is lost on those that seek to harm our nation.

Please take this day to remember the greatness of our nation and the need for fair, responsible government. DO NOT LOOSE SIGHT OF THE SAFETY AND GREATNESS OF THE UNITED STATES. Remember our forefathers came to this land and established the greatest governmental experiment and we all reap the rewards of this sage wisdom. A government for the people and by the people is subservient to the very people that control it. Bear in mind the need for individual liberties and personal responsibility when you think about the sacrifices of those that came before, those that currently serve our country both overseas and domestically, and the citizens of this great land that make it work simply by efforting in anonymity on a daily basis.

May God bless this nation of ours and may He protect and keep us all!

Once again we find the ambition of Hillary Clinton to be a main factor in the success of the GOP. Throughout the pre-primary season the mainstream media was enthralled with the idea of Hillary Clinton’s easy victory in not only the Democrat Primary but the general election. As the “candidate of inevitability” Hillary strode through the early primaries with the expectation of victory but the poise and control that would better describe a high school class presidential candidate as opposed to a candidate for President of the United States.

Yet through it all Clinton and her team showed no ability to close the deal and left the door open for a political sophomore in Obama. Sen. Obama is no more ready to preside over this nation than his hometown Chicago Cubs are ready to break their nearly-hundred year World Series drought. Both may look good from the outside but there are major flaws and a great deal working against them.

Clinton’s ego led her to believe that her victory would be secured after Super Tuesday and, therefore, she did not properly plan for a fifty state strategy. This ultimately led to her downfall in the race for delegates. However, the drive that she has displayed throughout her quest for national office will not let her fade into the night. It is this passion that will turn it around for the Republicans.

Republicans were facing major losses in the House, Senate, and a tough fight for the White House but Clinton has made it a bit closer. By staying in the race as long as she has she has aided in exposing the soft underbelly of Sen. Obama; a task that, by all accounts, would not even have been attempted b y the McCain campaign. Further, she has forced Obama in to a number of errors in judgment, made him define his policy positions much earlier than he would have liked, and brought characters into the fray such as Rev. Wright, Bill Ayres, and Rev. Pflager; all Achilles’ Heels for Obama. All of this while McCain has been able to leisurely stay above the fray and reintroduce himself to the American people.

Now that the primary season is completed Hillary is still reluctant to end her bid for the Democrat nomination. By dividing the Democrat constituencies of blacks and women, Clinton has also endangered her party’s prospect for picking up seats in the House and Senate and has all but closed the door on their presidential aspirations. Everyday she stays in, Clinton adds to the problem by diminishing the time that the Democrats have to reconcile and essentially “kiss and make up.”

The pipe dream of an Obama-Clinton dream ticket is the only saving grace that the Democrats have in sight. But with Bill and Hillary in the number two spot Obama would feel like Julius Caesar hanging out with Brutus and Cassius. It is simply not a smart, or safe, place to be. When the time is right you can count on the Clintons to do what is in their best interest. My advice to Obama would be to avoid Fort Marcy Park.

For his part, McCain has been a fool for giving his opponent a pass and boldly declaring that he would not be using attack ads to differentiate himself from Obama. Unfortunately, McCain has proven himself to be more concerned about decorum as opposed to victory. Thank goodness for talk radio and others that have made it a point to introduce us to the ilk that is associated with Obama. Foolish campaigning on McCain’s part will lead to allowing Obama to define the issues of the campaign and remain on the offensive for the better part of the allotted time. This will create a better image for Obama and allow him to excel with his oratory abilities and youthful charm.

As it stands now Hillary has been relegated to her Senate seat or possibly an appointed position in an unlikely Obama Administration (as scary as it is she may be angling for a Supreme Court appointment). Her participation has gone from the candidate of inevitability to a fly in the Democrat ointment. Howard Dean would love to broker a deal to get her out of the way but there are few signs that her candidacy will end before the Denver convention. All of this is good news for the GOP and spells doom for not only Obama but all the down ticket Democrats in the fall.

Ron Paul? A Republican? Seriously?

Certainly this must be a mistake. How is it that an avowed member of the Libertarian Party seek the nomination of the GOP and get away with it? Simply put, this is just another example of the Republican Party’s lack of leadership. The constant barrage of attacks from the “Paul-istas” demonstrates the need for a firm and resolved direction for our party.

The idea that a faction of disillusioned Democrats, Independents, and Libertarians can push a candidate like Ron Paul for the Republican nomination for president is certainly a problem. However, without the votes to sustain a campaign and the paltry minority that the Paul-istas have brought to the polls there is a new problem that is emerging. The problem is that we now have to deal with this cadre of Paul-istas trying to transform our party into a shell of its former self.

Through e-mails, protests, annoyances, and vilifying the leadership of the local counties, the Paul-istas are seeking to be a vocal minority that allows for the destruction of the Republican Party. With national vote totals barely at 6% and a pathetic 19 delegates Ron Paul’s supporters are trying to sway the national opinion of the GOP by being the fly in the ointment. Further, they are trying to take over grassroots positions at the local level to further their cause.

Much like Rush Limbaugh’s Operation Chaos, the Paul-istas are attacking the GOP and trying to affect the outcome of the convention. While the national media’s eye is focused on the Democratic Primary the truth of the matter is that there is no cooptation of the Democrat Party structure such as is being attempted by the Paul-istas against the GOP. Further, if a group of individuals, obviously not Democrats, tried to affect these sort of changes that the Paul-istas are trying, the media and Democrat Party backlash would be so great that it would quash the entire plan.

As conservatives we must stand up to this stupidity. Go to you local Republican Party meetings and observe for yourself the stupidity that a small faction of fools can make. As conservatives we are loosing our party to the middle and just becoming a party that is more “Democrat Light” than Reagan-esque.

Forget big tent for a minute. We must fight for what we know to be principally right and not allow for the inclusion of ideas that are detrimental to our cause. Lower taxes, border security, reduced pork barrel spending, and victory in the War of Terrorism are the basic premises we must espouse. If we think for a minute that there are not enemies among us then we are sorely mistaken.

I would rather have a party that is morally right and stands on conservative principles then be subject to compromise. This is the only way to push the right agenda for America. We must stand for our principles and fight for what we know to be right.

Finally, a heart-felt thank you is in order for the members of the armed service pas and present and their families. On this Memorial Day we remember your sacrifices and acknowledge the fact that our nation would not be where it is today without your efforts.

God Bless you all!!

As the resident expert on political correctness (Google “The P.C. Fraud by Brian Iannucci”) I always find it quite funny when the P.C. Crowd looses one of its own to a senseless and pointless mistake that could have been avoided. The double standard that exists with political correctness and the liberal left is always good for a laugh. So here we go again. The Eliot Spitzer Incident that surfaced today is the next battlefront in the P.C. War. The way this entire story will play out will be carefully choreographed by the P.C. Crowd. From the media control to the resolution of the incident Spitzer will be in the hands of the P.C. Machine. This P.C. Machine will put the best face on the situation.

            As a liberal Spitzer will be protected and turned into a sympathetic figure; a victim if you will. This is opposite of the treatment that a conservative would get. Spitzer will get treated with white gloves. This is completely opposite of the treatment a conservative would get in a similar situation. Here lies the true double standard.

Rule Number One of the P.C. Crowd: "Say one thing and do another."

Rule Number Two of the P.C. Crowd: “Save the P.C.er at all costs.”

These rules are the hallmarks of the P.C. Crowd that I discuss in the book, The P.C. Fraud: Political Correctness in American Politics. However, liberals somehow seem to be able to get away with this. Time after time the left has vilified the Republicans based on their politically correct notions of what it right. By acting offended and making speeches that are full of bravado and hype the left is able to set the agenda. These speeches are designed to enflame the P.C. base and create problems for the poor conservative in the crosshairs.

Trent Lott is a prime example of the treatment that a conservative would get. For merely recognizing the achievements of Strom Thurmond he was portrayed as a racist and forced to resign his leadership post. Worst of all no one on the conservative side had the "testicular fortitude" to stand up for him. As a result, a good man and a great leader was sent packing to rebuild his career. Fortunately, Lott's successful resurrection is underway. Nevertheless, this entire incident will hang over his head of the rest of his career in politics. This is how the P.C. Crowd treats their enemies.

            Now remember the way Bill Clinton worked his P.C. magic during the Monica Lewinsky Incident. Somehow, even though he was guilty of perjury and adultery, Clinton managed to maintain his job through his impeachment. With the help of the media and other liberal P.C. groups Clinton managed to save face in a similar situation that Spitzer is in. There is definitely an art to "wagging the dog" in these instances and the P.C. Crowd has mastered it.

Spitzer will come out of this incident relatively unscathed. First off, the spin is already underway. The apology news conference that got him out in front of the news was the best combination of sincerity and theater. With his wife by his side he admitted he did not live up to his personal expectations. He said he “let himself down.” Finally, he threw himself on the mercy of the media. The next step will save his withered political career.

Next, Spitzer will allow talk of his resignation to circulate while it looks like he is pondering his options. However, his resignation will depend entirely on whether the charges will be dropped is he agrees to leave office. If a deal is made, Spitzer will leave office and begin his lucrative speaking tour, get a book deal, and be a media darling while the P.C. Crowd "marvels" at his bravery, repentance, and rebirth as a man who is sorry for what he has done. If no deal is made then don't be surprised if Spitzer clings to power like Leonardo DiCaprio to a scrap of wood in Titanic. Like Bill Clinton, Spitzer will use every available resource he has to maintain his power and office. Additionally, he will leverage any power he maintains to keep himself out of jail.

Spitzer will make out just fine. Mark my words. Why? Simply put; because he is a liberal. Plain and simple! Now contrast the Spitzer experience and the entire Bill Clinton/Monica scandal with the treatment of Republicans in similar situations and try to draw a conclusion other than the one that a double standard exists.

            No one can deny the fact that there is a major lack of help for the conservative cause. Had Spitzer been a Republican he would have been run out of Albany on a rail. As it stands he is now being rallied around and saved. There will be no relief in sight for this problem if conservatives don’t start using some of the tactics that the P.C. Crowd employs. We need to show the average American the raw stupidity of the liberals’ arguments; especially in situations like this. Without this effort the conservative movement will be doomed as the evil empire.

            We must fight and win this P.C. War. We must stand up for what we know is right. Finally, we must win the fight for the truth.

            What an exciting primary season! I am so pleased to see the Democrats fighting tooth and nail to get the right to face John McCain in the general election. Hopefully some of the good old Democrat attacks will come out and both candidates will do McCain’s dirty work. Maybe we’ll even see a “June Surprise” or two just before the convention. It’s hard to guess the repercussions of the Hillary-Barack fight but one thing is for sure, Republicans are enjoying the show!           

            In actuality the real advice for Hillary Clinton is to bow out gracefully and salvage what is left of your pride. Go back to New York and have a nice long Senate career. Be the envy of your party and allow Barack Obama to unite the Democrats heading into what will be a close general election. Show the class that is so often missing in politics. You will be a legend in your own time and will build a legacy that will be looked upon, for years to come, as the politician that is above all of the usual pomp and circumstance.

            Let’s think about the advantage that Obama would have if Hillary were to get out. With the campaign financing problems that John McCain is having (how ironic) Barack can outspend him right up until the convention. This is a chance for Obama to get out ahead of McCain and build his coalition for November.

            Barack could have the best opportunity to win that any Democrat has had since Bill Clinton ran in 1996. However, standing in his way is the Energizer Bunny of the Democrat Primary. She will keep going and going until she effectively sullies her party’s chances at victory. Democrats should be ashamed of her behavior and the effect she is having on the Presidential Race.

Someone should really have a heart to heart talk with Hillary and explain a few things. First the delegate math just doesn’t add up in her favor. Even with the Florida and Michigan delegations seated she would still going to loose. Second, she is keeping the party from uniting behind one candidate. Finally, she is making herself look too ambitious.

Maybe this responsibility should fall to Howard Dean. After all, he is the party chairman. Isn’t it his responsibility to do what is best for the party? Maybe John Kerry should step up and contact Hillary. He did come within an eyelash of being president last election cycle. He is a leader in the Democrat Party Option three is Al Gore. A Nobel Prize goes a long way to establishing credibility and an Oscar doesn’t hurt either.

In all likelihood, none of these people have the gall to take such a bold step. The fear of the Clinton Machine is just too great.

            Here is an open letter to Senator Clinton.

Dear Hillary,

            It's not over! You can still have a good run of luck. Just think, Florida and Michigan's delegates may get seated! You still hold a sizable lead in Pennsylvania! And never discount your husband's influence over the superdelegates. If all of this comes to fruition your dream of becoming the first woman President will be furthered.

            Please don't worry about your personal image or that of your party. You are the most deserving candidate on the Democrat ballot. After all, you have at least finished one term in the United States Senate. And don't forget that you have been fighting for the people for over 35 years. You are definitely more than just a speech in 2004. Remember, you are the candidate of inevitability!

            If worst comes to worst and you get to the convention with a hundred delegate deficit to overcome you can always try to recruit some more of Obama's pledged delegates. It doesn't matter what the voters decide. You deserve your shot.

   Keep up the good work.

   Very Respectfully Yours,

   Brian Iannucci