Does it matter if a so-called “conservative” presidential candidate believes, and practices, “big government” liberalism on a state level? Do we believe that a governor, who may have worked to implement “big government” mandates and policies in his state, and excused them as “states’ rights,” will later be able to rein himself in and become a small government proponent and leader in Washington?

Frankly, I don’t see a heck of a lot of difference between the approaches taken by both Mitt Romney and Rick Perry when it comes to their respective “hot seat” issues, namely, mandated health insurance, for Romney, and immigration and mandated vaccines, for Perry.

In Tuesday night’s debate, when Perry challenged Romney on the Romneycare issue, Romney responded rather defensively- moreso than at any other time- that he wanted to insure all the children in his state because he cares. He attempted to contrast his caring with, in his view, Perry’s “lack of caring,” with figures reflecting the many children in Texas who are uninsured.

Romney also asserted, as he now often does in his defense of his signature healthcare legislation, that Romneycare was the right decision for his state, a decision to which his state was entitled to make, while Obamacare was a bad decision for the country. Surprisingly, there was no mention, during the debate, of the news that President Obama apparently consulted with Gov. Romney’s staff to obtain ideas for the implementation of Obamacare. Nevertheless, it sounds like Romney wants us to believe that caring is a good reason to support a “big government” mandate, albeit on a state level.

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As 2012 approaches, answers that would-be candidates on both sides of the aisle give to even the most random questions matter. And that’s because those answers – especially to random, unpredictable questions – don’t spring from briefings with staff as much as from raw conviction.

We were reminded of this on Monday as Gov. Rick Perry sat in front of group of South Carolina citizens and was asked: “Are you for gun control?”

The audience howled with laughter that the question was even asked, but Perry answered dutifully: “I am actually for gun control.” (At this point you could hear the laughter nervously diminish.) Then Perry added, “Use both hands.”

Ah, the howling of laughter and thunderous applause returned.

While it was obvious that Gov. Perry enjoyed the opportunity to demonstrate again his absolute love of the 2^nd Amendment, something we should all be noticing by now is that Perry loves freedom – period. His love of freedom is not an extension of his love for guns rather, his love for guns an extension of his love for freedom.

I’m not trying to over-parse things here. I just can’t help but notice how Gov. Perry’s unmistakable defense of the 10^th Amendment over the last few years has already given him the reputation of a defender of something bigger than the 2^nd Amendment alone. In other words, he’s literally been a defender of freedom itself.

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The states’ lawsuit against Obamacare took a turn before the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta this week. Florida has joined 25 other states and the National Federation of Independent Business in filing the lawsuit. The primary issue is whether the law’s mandate that all Americans purchase health insurance, or pay a fine, is within the constitutional powers of Congress to regulate commerce.

In Atlanta, the three-judge panel hearing the case consisted of Judges Hull and Marcus, both appointed by President Clinton, and Judge Dubina, appointed by President George W. Bush.

Until this point, lower court rulings appear to have been made along partisan lines, with four federal district judges, appointed by Democratic presidents, upholding the law’s constitutionality, and two appointed by Republican presidents, ruling the law is unconstitutional.

Excellent coverage about the case before the Eleventh Circuit is provided by Carrie Severino at National Review Online, and Hadley Heath of Independent Women’s Forum.

Over 30 individuals and organizations have filed lawsuits against Obamacare since it was enacted in March of 2010. Approximately 1400 waivers have been granted, thus far, by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), to companies, unions, and other entities which stated they were unable to meet the law’s annual limit requirements.

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Mitt’s not my first choice.

If Perry (c’mon Governor!) doesn’t run, I prefer(ed) Daniels and Christie because they are heroic public employee  union slayers.  And I love Drew’s dream Tea Party ticket of Cain and West to confront Obama’s cheap thinking: Black = Socialist.   That’s a winner, too.

Make no mistake; there are lots and lots and lots of ways to beat Obama.

But the issue at hand is Romney, and far too many who claim the mantle of the Tea Party are not being honest about blue state Republicans. We have to grow up.  Romney can wipe the floor with Obama.

Does ANYONE think that if Mitt were Governor of South Carolina, he’d have overseen the creation of the Massachusetts healthcare law?

Of course not.  Romney did what a Republican in MA had to do to be the Governor of Harvard Intellectuals:  He gave them the most conservative market-driven universal healthcare plan he could.   If Mitt Romney were President, he’d be far more conservative than he was as Governor of Baby Blue Massachusetts.

And folks screaming RINO need to stop.   Now.

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Earlier this month three judges sat down from 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to hash out the constitutionality of Obama’s heath care plan. The panel was in response to two lawsuits filed by Virginia’s Attorney General Kenneth Cuccinelli and Liberty University. Now it seems this is just as much as a political question than constitutional one. The judges were pulled from a pool of 14 candidates. The three judges selected could be decidedly in favor of Obama’s politics. That is because all three judges were Democratic appointees.

This is how they were “pulled.”

Under the rules of the 4th Circuit, judges are picked to sit on particular cases by “a computer program designed to achieve total random selection,” the court said. The third member of the panel, Judge Diana Motz of Maryland, is a President Clinton appointee.

Even if this comes off as a setback to those who find the law it’s very likely the appeals will wind up at the steps of the Supreme Court.

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Pew has some new, eye-opening numbers. There are some positives — family values, civil rights, civil liberties, states’ rights all test well — and some negatives, with socialism getting high marks among 44 percent of Democrats.

The incongruity is truly striking. That people can proclaim support for civil rights and civil liberties while holding a relatively low opinion for libertarianism or while offering support for recent measures that threaten the civil rights and civil liberties of U.S. citizens suggests the power of bumper-sticker politics trumps serious introspection.

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The Conservative Political Action Conference isn’t all fiery speeches and political red meat.  Following the rousing speech by Rep. Mike Pence on Friday, a much more subdued presentation by Dr. Eric Novack described the efforts of states to pass a version of the Health Care Freedom Act, which I previously discussed here.  Much has happened since I last talked about the efforts of states to protect individual health care rights.

The number of states advancing legislation to protect individual choice from federal mandates has increased since December from 24 states to 35.  But merely introducing legislation isn’t enough; we need victories.

Virginia delivered a first step toward just that, as its state House recently passed a version of the Health Care Freedom Act. Elsewhere, the Tennessee Senate passed the bill 26-1, while other states, such as Idaho, have successfully advanced the bill out of committee.

These bills offer to protect citizens in two crucial ways. First, they would guarantee the right to purchase care directly, so that bureaucrats cannot be forced between patients and doctors against their will. Second, it would assure that citizens are protected from unconstitutional mandates to purchase insurance by allowing them to opt-out from any such federal program.

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The Greek Comedy that is playing out in Europe shows the tremendous impact one man can have on the world in his lifetime.

The fellow we owe an attaboy and backslap is Nobel Prize winner Robert Mundell, who I’d argue has done more for the cause of conservatism than maybe our own minor deity Ronald Regan.  A short primer on Mundell:

• Father of Supply-side economics
• Father of the Euro
• Top adviser to Bejing on the Yuan

Imagine that.  Saving us in the 80’s, Europe in 90’s, and China in this century.  Preaching the same gospel wherever he goes… less currency is more.

I’m joking, lightly, about America joining the EU.   I’d prefer we stop printing money, and convince them to adopt the dollar.  Joking again, even less.  It has been great fun watching old socialist Europe become fiscally conservative over the last eleven years as every member country must hold deficits to 3% of GDP. And for that we thank Mundell.  Surely, delicious statements from across the pond, like this:

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Right now the battle over government-run health care is centered in Washington D.C. Numerous protests have been held at the Capital, including the massive 9.12 Project march, where hundreds of thousands traveled from all over the country to protest excessive spending, bailouts, and big government proposals for reforming healthcare. Another ten thousand showed up in November for a “House Call” protest, arranged on very short notice, specifically targeting healthcare legislation pushed by Democrats. These same activists are also burning up the phones before every major vote. Despite the unprecedented strength of this small government uprising, we must face the very real possibility that, while these protests will no doubt keep participants motivated leading up to the next election, they may not be enough to stop passage of ObamaCare. Depending on the outcome of today’s fight, tomorrow’s could very well be at the state level, and eventually in the courts.

According to the American Legislative Exchange Council, lawmakers in 24 states have at least pledged to introduce legislation modeled after their Freedom of Choice in Health Care Act, which nullifies an individual mandate to purchase federally approved health insurance. This amounts to a bold reassertion of the 10th Amendment, that long ignored protection of state sovereignty against federal infringement. Thirteen of these states have already filed or pre-filed constitutional amendments to protect the rights of individuals to make their own healthcare decisions.

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In the very near future, Senator Reid is going to follow Speaker Pelosi’s lead and try to pass his Senate version of the liberal utopian health care plan – a full, unabashed socialist-style takeover of our nation’s health care system.

Senator Reid said health care reform would cover the uninsured, but we’ve already learned it will drive up our premiums – forcing more of us into a Big Brother system with inevitable rationing. He said health care reform would lower costs by itself, but he’s now considering massive tax increases on small business to pay its trillion dollar price tag. He’s promised more competition in health care, but only offers massive government, disguised as phony competition in the form of the taxpayer-subsidized “government option.”

Premium increases, tax increases, and socialized medicine. Make no mistake. Senator Reid is willing to destroy Nevada’s – and the nation’s economy, to pay the ransom demands of the radical left for his re-election.

Senator Reid may think he rules America from his gilded Capitol perch, but I believe that ‘We the People’ still have hope to defeat him, and I have a plan.

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