Some economic news came out of Washington this week which should give every Democratic candidate for President reason to pause.

What this news bulletin shows is that Dems can no longer repeat the tired Clinton Era mantra, "It's the economy, stupid."

The Commerce Department is reporting that the gross domestic product—the gold standard of economic barometers—grew at a respectable rate of 3.4 percent in the 2nd quarter of the year. Even the mainstream news media admit that this is a figure that President Bush can be proud of.

The Associated Press reported that the GDP was helped in part by the fact that businesses—the real engine that drives our economy—were able to sell a greater number of goods overseas. And, even though we've been hearing constant news flashes about the housing slump, housing troubles did not have the adverse effect on the economy that they have had in previous quarters.

On the heels of this economic breakthrough, President Bush stated, "I want the American people to take a good look at this economy of ours. It's an economy that is large, flexible and resilient."

Of course, the naysayers still aren't satisfied. Senator Charles Schumer, a Democrat from New York, was quoted as saying that the economic rebound was "a temporary oasis." I suppose one can consider life itself a temporary oasis from death, but, really, would it kill the Democrats to admit that the President might have done something right, as far as the economy is concerned?

Meanwhile, while noting that Wall Street investors need to exercise caution, Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson insisted the economy's fundamentals are solid.

Paulson was quoted as saying, "Lenders need to be very aware of the risks. Borrowers need to be aware of risks. I would submit people are more aware of those risks and the need for discipline today than maybe they were a month or two ago. So again let's keep our eye on the very strong underlying economy, which puts us in a position of strength."

Analysts are reporting that businesses appear to be regaining their confidence, boosting inventories, and expanding exports. Of course, one could argue that business executives continue to be stymied by a tax structure that discourages economic growth rather than encourages it; nevertheless, our national economy seems to be moving in a positive direction.

It should also be noted that our nation's immigration woes threaten to wreak havoc with our economy. You can't have a flood of illegals pouring into our country and not expect it to have an adverse effect on the standard of living of those who already call America home. While we are a nation of immigrants, the rule of law should reign supreme in order to prevent us from becoming overburdened.

All of which leads to an intriguing scenario: If Republicans are able to hold onto the White House in '08, observers may credit the GOP candidate's stand on terror, homeland security, and immigration. Or, they may just remark, "It's the economy, stupid."

By: Nathan Tabor
http://www.theconservativevoice.com
Nathan Tabor is the Founder and CEO of TCVmedia.com and TheConservativeVoice.com. After just eighteen months, TheConservativeVoice.com gets over 250,000 unique visitors a month, 1.7 million page views and has over 150,000 email subscribers. The Conservative Voice has over 100 columnists and features up-to-the-minute news. He is heard daily on over 250 stations nationally with AConservativeMoment.com.

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When we discuss International Terrorism, most people think in terms of bombings, hijackings or worse nuclear weapons in the hands of the bad guys. Indeed, these are serious, but what about diseases and viruses? What about Bird Flu mutations or, Small Pox or Ebola mixed with the common flu. Not very funny and no one wants to talk about it, yet we must as our enemies are.

So, lets talk shall we? I am concerned that we use eggs to make vaccines and if we get bird flu? Well, what eggs should we use? Some research has been going on using e.Coli, but just the thought of its use to make vaccines is a little scary. Apples can be used, not, as efficient and look how many people there are? There are several new companies with some incredible headway being made in the rapid creation of vaccines.

Yet, we see another issue, as one company is buying up all the Star Anise for Bird Flu and they are making vaccines too. Still if Bird Flu hits the US hard, we have no clue which strain might become the next pandemic. Some believe that China is testing on their own people in the Western Provinces and what about the 2-flights a day on AA to Vietnam non-stop to NY? I mean everything is set up for a disaster and it seems no one gets it.

The Bush administration did buy 10 Billion in Bird Flu vaccine, but we do not know if H5N1 will be it? Could be something else, but sometimes you have to spend money just in case. The H5N1 could easily mutate just like other viruses have in the past and are doing today.

In fact, I had read some really frightful problems in dealing with the testing of Ebola. It is an interesting virus, even more interesting is that a very few people can survive some strains. Wow, that is as interesting as the prostitute in Nairobi who is 60 years old and never gotten HIV, works everyday? Her white blood cell count is thru the roof, but still it is amazing, genetically. We have many human anomalies out there, fascinating stuff.

On the vaccine issue, just because we have them does not mean they are still good, as they have a shelf life and vaccines are unsafe often enough and long-term they do not work. We see all sorts of problems with vaccines today, some are attempting to link these issues to the increase in autism and there is a small percentage of children that it just ruins them for life (could be the mercury).

Big issues, then there are the conspiracy theory crowd who will not take them, which if a large percentage does, a few stragglers are not so bad, but if that number is over 10-15% you cannot eradicate anything. I have heard so many theories about autism, I could not say, but 1:170 is way too many. It behooves us to consider all the ramifications and shore up this risk.

By: L. Winslow
L. Winslow is an Economic Advisor to the Online Think Tank, a Futurist and retired entrepreneur http://www.worldthinktank.net. Currently he is planning a bicycle ride across the US to raise money for charity and is sponsored by Calling-Plans.com and all the proceeds will go to various charities who sign up.

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Howard Zinn, writing recently in The Progressive, said that this Independence Day Americans "...would have done well to renounce nationalism and all its symbols: its flags, its pledges of allegiance, its anthems, its insistence in song that God must single out America to be blessed." His column was an argument against the basic idea that we should consider ourselves Americans, and instead advocated an "allegiance to the human race," as if the two were somehow incompatible.

He described our soldiers in Iraq as "victims...of our government's lies" and claimed that Americans suffer from "a loss of a sense of proportion." To support this claim, he said nationalist thinking had led us to such actions as the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in response to Pearl Harbor, and the killing of tens of thousands in the Global War on Terror in response to the deaths of 3,000 Americans in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, a clear indication of our "loss of a sense of proportion." The implication, of course, is that we should have been much more restrained after being attacked by a ruthless enemy, in 1941 and again in 2001.

With all due respect to Mr. Zinn's opinion, I must disagree. I take great pride not in the fact that I am a soldier, but in the fact that I am an American soldier. I am as capable at helping others as I am at hurting them, and I take far more pleasure in the former than I do in the latter. I am immensely proud and humbled to have the honor of representing my nation, as a member of the armed forces, in bringing relief to those who need it, and justice to those who deserve it.

I, and I believe most Americans, love all the symbols of our greatness: our flag, our anthem, our history, and our culture. I have sworn my life to defending the principles upon which this country was founded, and I do believe with all my heart that our nation is special and unique.

I teach my children to respect our flag and our country, and to be thankful for the blessings we enjoy. I get choked up at the playing of "The Star Spangled Banner" and at the passing of Old Glory, and I and my children stand and give proper honors when either occurs. That may make me a nationalist in Mr. Zinn's eyes, but it doesn't make me any less a member of the human race.

And what about that greatest symbol of America, our national colors, that Mr. Zinn would have us put away? Our flag stands for what this nation is: a beacon of hope to the rest of the world, a place where freedom and prosperity are available to all who come here peaceably and are willing to work for it. It represents the values and beliefs that our soldiers are dying for, because they know America is worth preserving. It represents that magical place where people from around the world still long to be, and it stands for justice and equality, the inherent human rights that are sadly lacking in many places around the world.

Do we sometimes make mistakes in dealing with other nations? Yes, of course, but this nation represents a land where good triumphs more often than not, and that is why the rest of the world continues to look to us for guidance and hope. And it is why our enemies seek to destroy us and everything that we represent.

I have been around the world and seen the joy in people's eyes when American help has arrived, and I have felt pride and thankfulness for being part of such a wonderful nation, knowing that few other countries could provide the hope and promise that we do. And I have seen the utter fear in those who know that we have come to right the wrongs on behalf of those who cannot fight for themselves against tyranny and oppression. A former commanding officer of mine summed it up beautifully when he said, "When we deploy our forces, one of two things happens: people either say ‘Thank God, they're coming, or they say, ‘Oh shit, they're coming.'" Both speak to the greatness of this nation.

The flag, and all our symbols of national pride, mean something because they represent all that is good and right about America, and all that can be good and right in the world. They serve as an inspiration and source of pride not only to most Americans, but also to everyone who wants to be an American or wants their nation to be more like ours.

No, the time has not come to renounce nationalism and symbols of national pride. Instead, now, more than ever, it is time to stand up and be counted. Because now is a time of great peril for our nation, when radical enemies seek to destroy everything we stand for and everything we believe in. And it will take proud Americans, and not proud humans, to ensure that our country and our way of life continue, for us, and for the rest of the world.

By: Greg Reeson
http://reeson.townhall.com
Greg Reeson is a Senior Writer for The New Media Journal and a Featured Author for The Veterans' Voice. He also regularly contributes to GOPUSA and The Land of the Free.

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Next week New Haven, Connecticut plans on issuing an ID card that will be available to illegal immigrants. Besides providing a pass to municipal services like libraries and parks, the card will work as a debit card for parking meters and be valid identification to present to police and banks.

What kind of crazy idea is that? Why would a city want to make life easier for immigration scofflaws? One of the justifications for the card is that because it's difficult for illegal immigrants to open bank accounts, they're targeted by muggers who know they carry a lot of cash. One might object that the city is discriminating against one class of criminals on behalf of another one.

The truth is, though, that New Haven's politicians are hardly the only ones pushing policies that encouraging migrants to violate immigration laws. There are more than 30 "sanctuary cities" where it is illegal for police to ask about immigration status. Nine states currently allow illegal immigrants to receive driver's licenses, although that will change when the federal "Real ID" act goes into effect in 2008. (In two other states, illegal immigrants can get driving certificates that can't be used as ID for most purposes; such certificates are legal under Real ID.)

Then, of course, there's the dead-for-the-moment campaign for some sort of amnesty or semi-amnesty, which, besides insulting immigrants who have played by the rules, would reassure the next generation of border-jumpers that they have little to fear. Even guest worker programs can encourage illegal immigration; agriculture workers on H-2A visas, who are allowed to stay in the country only seasonally, often bring along family members who illegally stay year-round.

It isn't that it's impossible to stop the flow of illegal immigration. According to a 2005 report on the Minuteman Project, volunteers on the Arizona border proved that auxiliary personnel simply watching the border are highly effective at reducing the flow of illegal migrants.

It would take tens of thousands of such personnel to plug all the leaks in the border, but that's not so daunting a number when you consider that they can be trained in three days, rather than the two years that are needed to train the Border Patrol officers they'd be assisting. A handful of jurisdictions are now allowing local police officers to assist in enforcing immigration laws -- a job that's traditionally been left to a relatively small number of federal agents -- and there's no reason why the IRS can't make it a priority for their auditors to look for employers who dodge tax liabilities by keeping illegal workers off the books. (Enforcement is at least as important in the interior as it is on the border -- a large percentage of illegal immigrants have overstayed their visas rather than snuck through the border.)

The problem is that beefed up enforcement by itself, to the extent that it's effective, threatens to hamstring an economy with a demonstrably growing demand for labor. From 2002 to 2006, a period of consistently low unemployment, the Migration Policy Institute estimates that 1.8 million new permanent immigrants entered the U.S. annually -- about a half million of them illegally. As cases of crops that have gone unpicked following crack-downs on illegal farm workers vividly illustrate, America has a shortage of legal labor. Raising immigration quotas by forty to fifty percent would make enforcement a much easier job; as legal immigrants fill the jobs currently being filled by their illegal counterparts, many of the latter will simply leave on their own.

Among the many idiocies of the immigration bill that failed in the Senate last month was that it barely contemplated the number of immigrants the country needs or wants. The bill left the actual quotas basically untouched.

Perhaps, because it's somewhat counterintuitive to argue that we must respond to out-of-control immigration by welcoming more immigrants, the reason that few politicians straightforwardly advocate increased immigration quotas is that they're afraid such a policy won't fly politically. But the outrage over immigration is driven not just by the presence of immigrants per se, but by the widespread lawlessness that the current system has wrought. It's rather shortsighted, even cowardly, to facilitate that lawlessness while shying away from real reform.

By: John Tabin
http://johntabin.com
From The American Spectator.

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