Friday – December 17, 2010

My presidency is on the line!

This week, the president’s aides have called many members of Congress and the Senate and pleaded with them to vote for the extension of the Bush tax cuts. They used the words: “The president’s presidency is on the line!” First of all, this is not Presidential. Second of all, the rest of the world knows it too. Third of all, this is a good thing. It’s not good for the country now, but in the long run it will be.

All month, I have been bringing to life some of the American historical events that have occurred in the month of December. I wrote about the revolutionary history and the history that occurred in this country in modern times. I hope that I have drawn you in to view the history, not only in an historical context, but also in how history repeats itself and how we can learn from our history.

For instance, on today’s date, in 1777, George Washington’s army returned to Valley Forge.

On today’s date, in 1777, France recognized the independence of the English colonies in America. The French alliance brought joy to Washington at Valley Forge

These are two pivotal events that resulted in our winning the revolution and in doing so we gaining our liberty and Freedoms.

Though no battle was fought at Valley Forge from December 17, 1777 to June 19, 1778, a struggle against the elements and low morale was overcome on this sacred ground.

“Naked and starving as they are we cannot enough admire the incomparable patience and fidelity of the soldiery.” George Washington February 16, 1778.

The Treaty of Alliance between France and the United States was concluded at Paris, February 6, 1778 and ratified by Congress May 4, 1778. The treaty provided for a defensive alliance to aid France should England attack, and that neither France nor the United States would make peace with England until the independence of the United States was recognized.

These are the events that make me honor my country and honor those that fought, starved, froze and died in the name of liberty and the fight for independence. I am proud of Washington, our first Commander in Chief, but I am not so proud of our current Commander in Chief. Washington was not worried about re-election, nor was he worried about his political survival. However, this president is. This president is worried about re-election and worried about his legacy. His legacy will be one of failure, because he was not ready to be the Commander in Chief. His naïveté his lack of experience and his lack of leadership is what will bring down his presidency in the long run.

This country will survive a tax hike if the extension is not passed in the current Congress. It should not be passed because of the other spending items that are attached to it. I said yesterday that the President needed to find his Delaware River to cross. He could have by demanding that Congress have an up and own vote. He didn’t nor did Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid. The reason they didn’t is because they forgot or dismissed the history that happened in the month of December that guaranteed their freedom to govern. Their freedom might be guaranteed but their survival by way of reelection will come to an end because the ordinary everyday American knows what the citizen soldier fought and died for in this month 233 years ago.

The President is complaining that his presidency is on the line, it is not our fault, it is his!

I end this week with the words of Thomas Payne:

He wrote on December 23, 1776 The Crisis!

“THESE are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated. Britain, with an army to enforce her tyranny, has declared that she has a right (not only to TAX) but "to BIND us in ALL CASES WHATSOEVER" and if being bound in that manner, is not slavery, then is there not such a thing as slavery upon earth. Even the expression is impious; for so unlimited a power can belong only to God.”

Gregory C. Dildilian
Founder and Executive Director
Pinecone Conservatives

A footnote: As Washington and his troops made camp; many of them prayed and sought a higher being for confidence in what they had to do to survive. Unfortunately, when today’s leaders question survival, they blame others, instead of asking themselves, what should I do differently?