Once more into the breach dear friends: Kansas Caucus Today! (YouTube)

Headed to the Caucus to give this speech:

http://youtube.com/watch?...

Let me know what you think!

When I first thought about what to say to you today I intended to speak to you extolling the never ending conservative virtues of a Doctor turned Economist who became a Congressmen. Dr. Ron Paul. I thought surely if I merely imparted to you his unmatched conservative record you would be swayed to vote in his favor. I thought if I could speak to you as a fellow Kansan, as a married, college educated, veteran officer of the United States Army, I could dispel the myths the media has perpetrated about the so called “loony fringe Ron Paul supporters”. But the truth of the matter is we stand at a defining moment in history, and we must decide here today is the legacy of Taft, Goldwater and Reagan to survive this election? Will the Republican Party continue to pursue the ideals of limited government, lower taxes, a strong national defense and belief in the Constitution and the rule of law? Dr. Ron Paul, the Champion of the Constitution, is the most conservative member of Congress, and it is for this Statesman that I address you today; though it is to our Republic that I pledge my life, my fortune, and my sacred honor.

As I headed home the other day it occurred to me that this election is about more than who will stand at the helm of the American Titanic, the most powerful economic and military force this world has ever seen. This election is about the survival of the American form of Government and the tradition of conservatism. Our fore-fathers pledged their lives, fortunes and sacred honor to ensure to their posterity a Republican form of government, guided by a Constitution having the sole purpose of restricting the size, scope and power of the federal government.

Make no mistake about it my friends; we have opened Pandora’s Box. In our complacency we have unleashed upon this Great Republic the evils of big government. Like a tumor, this government feeds off the people, destroying liberty and our children’s future as it grows.

In these uncertain times, one needs not look far to find any number of crises. Whether it is recession, illegal immigration, healthcare costs or the fear of terrorism, there are many issues which face this great nation. We as a people have been conditioned to believe that these problems are so complex and so severe that only the power of government is sufficient to thwart them. Former Chairmen of the Joint Chiefs, General Myers once told me, the strength of the American military is not its technological superiority, but the ingenuity and initiative of the individual American Soldier.

To that end, have we forgotten that we are a Nation “Of the People”? Citing precisely the words of the Declaration, “governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.”

Today argument is made that if you will only surrender a little of your freedom, a little more of each paycheck, the government will solve these problems for you. This is the message of big government; this is what is offered to you by the opponents of the Good Doctor.

How interesting it is that candidates who support increasing government involvement in our lives would all claim to be the next Ronald Reagan. For it was he who said, “Government is not the solution to our problems, government is the problem.”

Let us not forget that it is the incompetence of this unconstitutionally large government which has created these problems.

All candidates save Dr. Paul favor deficit spending and government action in stimulating the economy, having utterly no understanding that it is deficit spending which has led to this crisis.

All candidates save Dr. Paul support the creation of the National ID card and the massive federal bureaucracy its enforcement entails; that is not even to mention the Orwellian Nightmare such a program will be.

Other candidates would have the federal government spend billions of dollars to combat illegal immigration but never ask the simple question why do they come here? Dr. Paul understands that it is the government’s subsidization of illegal immigration through mandatory healthcare and education which provides the incentive for illegal immigration. In light of this how could a conservative ever support amnesty or college benefits for illegal aliens?

Ron Paul understands that no one knows better than you how to spend your money and run your life. Ron Paul has:

Never voted to raise taxes.
Never voted for an unbalanced budget.
Never voted to increase congressional pay.
And has never voted to expand the power of the executive branch.

This is the record of the last true statesmen in congress. This is the record of a true conservative. This is the record of Dr. Ron Paul.

For a soldier character is paramount, I have no use for a man who is not true to his word. I, like Ron Paul have taken an oath,

I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God.

We have done well in our defense against those enemies foreign, but let us not forget the wise words of James Madison, “If Tyranny and Oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy”. We must stand by our oath, an oath not to the government of the United States but to the Constitution of the United States; we must remain ever vigilant against those enemies domestic who would seek to pervert our faith, patriotism and fear to convince us to surrender our god-given rights.

Furthermore, Abraham Lincoln counseled us saying, “America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter, and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.”

This is where we are today. Through the use of “free speech zones”, rendition, warrant-less wiretaps, torture and non-judicial warrants we have given up many of the freedoms which the founding fathers died to secure for us. Why?

Possibly the most tragic part of this conflict is the complete misunderstanding of its origins. Among the candidates there are three reasons cited for why the terrorists hate the US. Senator McCain will tell you they hate us because we are free, Governor Huckabee has said they hate us because we are Christian, but those who study them agree with Dr. Paul. They hate us for our intervention; they hate us because we are over there.

The one thing we can all agree on is that there truly is a small radical group of extremists who hate the United States. But I beseech you, tell me now, why should this nation cower in fear from a group of people who have no army, no navy, no air force, and almost no capacity to strike the United States.

Why are we so willing to sacrifice our liberties out of fear? I for one would rather die on my feet than live on my knees. Benjamin Franklin warned us that “Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.”

This Republic used to stand for something, something more than what it has become. We were that shining city on the hill, where by only the force of our example was necessary to inspire people to strive for their freedom. The future of our Republic is at stake! I want my country back!

In the words of Patrick Henry:

Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!