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'Agitator' Steve Forbes predicts GOP victory in November elections
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DUANE PROKOP/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
CEO of Forbes magazine and former presidential candidate Steve Forbes speaks Thursday to members of the Nevada Policy Research Institute at The Venetian. » Buy this photo
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LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
Business magazine CEO and former presidential candidate Steve Forbes is predicting that Republicans will gain control of the Senate and House of Representatives in the November elections.
After a dinner Thursday night at The Venetian, Forbes urged 400 members of the Nevada Policy Research Institute, a conservative political think tank, to join a political battle to reshape America. He favors relying on free enterprise, rather than government, to change health care and other programs.
Forbes is chief executive officer and editor-in-chief of Forbes, a financial and business magazine founded by his grandfather, the late B.C. Forbes.
The free market system "works because no one is in charge," Forbes said, calling for smaller government. "Since the '30s, government has grown, no matter who was president."
Forbes urged the conservative audience to challenge "leviathans in Washington" and refuse to compromise.
"If (former President) Ronald Reagan can do it against the Soviet Union, can't we do it against these characters in Washington, D.C.?" Forbes asked.
He predicted that politicians in financially strapped states such as California, New York and New Jersey will seek state government bailouts after the election, but he predicted Congress will reject the pleas for help.
"The American people are going to say: 'Enough. We've got to get our house in order.' "
He advocated ending government pensions, "no more pension fund socialism." Government workers should be offered 401(k) retirement programs that the workers can pay for, he said.
While baby boomers will rely on Social Security for retirement, young workers should be allowed to build their own retirement accounts, he said.
Forbes called for lower taxes, saying he still favors a flat 17 percent federal income tax rate to replace the complex system now in place.
Forbes said the free market system and austerity would solve the country's economic problems. The Federal Reserve Board, he said, "keeps trashing the dollar." He said the weak dollar is hindering the country's economic recovery but predicted that the country would go to a "gold standard," in which gold backs the value of currency, within five years.
Forbes said the government needs to keep some regulations: "Suffocating government regulation or anarchy. That's not the choice."
The federal government needs to enforce sensible "rules of the road" to stop scams such as the $50 billion fraud perpetrated by Bernard Madoff.
In place of the federal health care program, Forbes said the government should allow the free market to resolve problems. Individuals should be given opportunities to join groups to get better health care insurance, and individuals should be allowed to deduct health care insurance expenses, he said.
After the Republican Party regains control of Congress, big political battles will erupt, pitting conservatives against liberals, he said.
Asked whether he would run for president a third time, Forbes said, "My role is agitator."
Contact reporter John G. Edwards at jedwards@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0420.
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"The means-and-ends moralists, constantly obsessed with the ethics of the means used by the Have-Nots against the Haves, should search themselves as to their real political position. In fact, they are passive — but real — allies of the Haves…. The most unethical of all means is the non-use of any means... The standards of judgment must be rooted in the whys and wherefores of life as it is lived, the world as it is, not our wished-for fantasy of the world as it should be...." pp.25-26
--Saul Alinsky--Commuionsti agitator, Obama mentor (according to David Alinsky, Saul Alinsky's son)
"And the King will answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me."
Jesus could hardly have made things plainer than in His Parable of the Sheep and Goats, above. We are not meant to live hard-hearted or self-centered lives. We are called to put our faith into practice and truly love our neighbors, especially those less fortunate.--------------So again teaparty I say unto you: do not seek the kingdom of heaven by denying health-care to the least fortunate among you.
Why have the moderates in the GOP allowed themselves to be relegated to the back of the GOP bus? There were once GREAT people in that party-real Statesman. Now it’s full of Newt’s and Angle’s and O’Donnell’s-what a pity.
Here are FIVE simple reasons to vote for Reid. 1. He is NOT Sharron Angle. 2. He is NOT Sharron Angle. 3. He is NOT Sharron Angle. 4. He is NOT Sharron Angle. Last but not least- 5. He is NOT Sharron Angle. I do not think anymore needs to be said. You people want to change government. You people want to "take back America" then do not elect people who cannot make it through a single interview-EVEN ON FOX--for God's sake, without a "macaca" moment. It is that simple.
I like to post this question On Sundays. Tea partier’s it is almost a new week. Who ya gonna hate this week? Oh, I am sorry you have not had a chance to get your talking points from Fox yet. Let us see; last week it was the gays -again; -week before it was Muslims AGAIN. Week before that it was anchor babies. Week before that it was the illegal’s. Week before that it was gays. And of course we must not forget all those people you always hate: blacks, Latino’s, liberals, democrats, Obama, women who get uppity, unions, teachers, fireman, government workers, Catholics, Jews, Rino’s, the educated,Asians,Arabs,Europeans, and of course the Clinton's. Have I left out anyone? Is there anyone left you do not hate? You Never forget to hate. However, you cannot seem to remember the Bush years; curious! A mind is a terrible thing to lose! I have contributed to the teaparty amnesia fund.
Parents: Do you want "creation science" taught to your children instead of evolution? How do you feel about having textbooks rewritten?
Well you know you're onto something when the muppetts arrive en masse to decry the message.. When yorkieman's preamble is "ALL OF US RATIONAL PEOPLE..yada yada yada" its hard not to mock him so--I won't try.
These are the desperate people who want you to support a guy who takes money from the biggest corporate players, the trial lawyers, the elite power brokers AND the hard left. He is a man of no conviction but one--his single over riding conviction is that--he should be a powerful man in Washington D.C..
That is not a reason to vote for someone. Harry Reid, I have said this for over a tear now, and we are getting real close to the end. You are done.
You are done because the people of Nevada's well being and guaranteed rights under our constitution have not been represented by you. You swore to protect and uphold the constitution and serve the people who sent you to Washington. Instead, you made them criminals for not buying into the hard left's schemes. We will not be controlled--by them-- through you.
On Nov. 3rd you will begin to understand the enormity of the miscalculation you made.
You are not the only one to be held accountable on election day. Just the symbolic head of the snake. And we are going to cut you off where it hurts.
(um... that'd be at the neck pal.. you're no Bill Clinotn)
Believe it Harry. You led your party to a bad place. Time to pay.
the teaparty has contributed more to National Embarrassment than any other "movement" in recent American history.
Accomplishment of the teaparty:-----Comedy-the teaparty has given more material to the Nations comedians than Dan Quale and G.W. Bush combined!-------------------
Lets send the teaparty right back into it's bunkers where it belongs. The teaparty IS NOT a new movement. It was once called the KKK till the 60's when it renamed itself the John Birch Society and now has reemerged as the teaparty. The teaparty is composed of Haters, birthers, and bigots, and the far relegious right. Before they were funded by Dick Armry and the Koch Bros. they were either disorganized or members of milita's. Send them back to their bunkers in November!