The future of the Republican Party

I have been mulling this over since the Republican's crushing defeat last November. I consider myself pretty conservative. I believe in less government, I am pro life, I am pro-marriage. I believe in a strong national defense. I even believe in State Rights. I also think that at times the government of the US must step in and govern. There is a fine line in governance.

For the Republican party to rebuild ourselves and win back the seats that we lost we must begin to understand that the Republican Tent is large. There are those that are more moderate conservatives (believing for instance that the federal government does need to step in at times and implement programs on a national level versus allowing the states to make all the decisions). There are also those who want to confine themselves to the written letter of the law of the Constitution. But the two groups can agree on the basic beliefs, it is how those beliefs get implemented that discussion and contention often arises.

I get frustrated when one wing or the other wants to hijack the whole process. Governing needs to happen through discussion of all groups. It is this discussion that truly exemplifies a democracy. If we as a Republican party cannot look past our own conservative noses and truly try to understand where the Moderates lie on the issues (or vice versa) then we will not lead this nation. We need to get rid of terms like "Rhinos" or extreme right fanatics. We need to come together as Republicans, debate the issues, compromise when there needs to be one and take back Washington. We do this by getting along with another, recognizing our common beliefs and then getting down and working together to change America. We need to do what all great leaders have done, look at all sides and do what is right for all and not just for some. We can do that without compromising our standards, and in reality we will truly govern.

Read this great commentary stating what I just said ..just more eloquently! http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124112865488674761.html

May

The month of May has probably been one of my favorite months for a very long time. It was generally the last month of school. In grade school we always had time to go outside and mess around. Seemed like we had bike rodeos, track and field day, soccer games and lots of fun activities. May also meant milestones. Going from Grade school to middle school (my son is experiencing that this year), Middle school to High school and finally graduation and onto college.

As I think back on my life, good things tended to happen in May. It was during the month of May that I received answers to a prayer which led me to accept the Lord into my life. It was during those pivotal last weeks of high school that I felt the love of God in my life. It was a few May's later that I saw a Prophet of the Lord face to face within a few hundred feet of me. It was during the month of May that I was called to my first significant calling in the church and got to lead a small branch of Dominicans and help them prepare to someday become a ward and stake.

But most importantly it was a May 12 years ago, that I will never forget. That May, I took my sweetheart to the house of the Lord, and there we became a family. That is right on May 16th, I will celebrate 12 years of marriage to my eternal queen. We were so young (me 22, her 18). Yet we knew we were suppose to be together. I remember the excitement of the pending day. The conclusion of school and then within a week or so, we were in Logan surrounded by our family and friends. It was a bitter sweet day, as I had to leave some of those whom I loved dearly at the hotel to see them after the ceremony. But to leave the Temple, and there to see my parents and good friends knowing that even though they couldn't see the ceremony, they knew how much it meant to me. That simple ceremony, not lavish by world's standards, will hold through all eternity.

I have been to a few weddings in my time. I am always struck by the pronouncement that a marriage was only until death do us part. Yet when I went to the Temple, the house of the Lord, my marriage was pronounced to last for all eternity. Now that doesn't mean that it is certain. Both Kris an I have to fulfill our part of the deal, but if we try and we do our best, what we have built will last even once we lay our mortal bodies in the ground. So now 12 years later, we will soon have six children. My oldest is about to move onto his next milestone, and someday He will look back at the May's of his life and remember what it was like to be young. I just hope that he will be able to look fondly back like I can, and remember the May's gone by and remember that his mom and his dad began their life together in a May not so long ago.