MIKE PENCE MAKES STRONG OPENING FOR PRESIDENT WITH FREEDOM AGENDA

[antilib]

Offers clear vision for rebuilding American greatness

By Michael McKenna

Since their defeat in the 2020 elections, there have been two schools of thought in Republican circles. The first, ably articulated by Sen. Mitch McConnell and a handful of legacy Republicans, believes that the pathway to victory lies in making the election a referendum on the incumbent party. The second school of thought is that a victory based on a platform of not being someone else is essentially meaningless and not worth having.

Last week, former Vice President Mike Pence and his excellent and experienced team at Advancing American Freedom released their thoughts about what the Republicans need to do in the event they ever again control some portion of the federal government.

Happily, they came down squarely and emphatically in the camp of those who believe that politics has to mean something.

Their Freedom Agenda is a clear set of ideas and policy proposals that advance a vision for the future of the American people: expanded and shared economic opportunity, the curation of American strength as a force for good in the world, and the preservation of American culture. The agenda is explicitly and happily framed as necessary steps on the journey to strengthening and confirming American freedom and greatness.

Mr. Pence describes it: “The Freedom Agenda presents a bold agenda focused on the future and offers a clear and compelling choice to the American people. Conservatives across the country can unite around this plan to keep America from further decline and decay brought on by President Biden and progressive policies.”

Some of the proposals are very, very good. The agenda calls for the federal government to work with state and local governments and churches and nonprofits to promote adoption, foster care and crisis pregnancy centers. Make it easier to reduce and more difficult to increase federal spending. Preclude funding programs that have not been authorized by Congress. Require state and local jurisdictions to condition high school graduation on knowledge of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Federalist Papers. Index the capital gains tax to inflation. Treat communist China as the adversary that it is.

Some are oldies, but goodies — abolish the Department of Education.

It is silent on a couple of elements — term limits for judges as well as elected officials and a regulatory budget.

But those are quibbles. The important thing is that Mr. Pence’s agenda contains actual ideas that voters can understand and measure against other ideas.

Legacy Republicans are still not ready to acknowledge that politics and governance have to be about something other than steadfastly maintaining the status quo. The national party, which failed to produce a platform in the 2020 election cycle (thank you, Team Trump), seems to be comfortable remaining silent and hoping that not being Mr. Biden is sufficient to regain congressional majorities.

Having nothing to say about what one might do once in office is, mercifully, not sustainable in a democracy. The more entrepreneurial Republicans — including Mr. Pence — have produced sets of ideas they intend to pursue if in the majority. For that they should be commended.

The purpose of a national government is to ensure the preservation and improvement of the nation and its citizens. Everything else is persiflage. The winner of the 2024 campaign for president will be the person who can best defend the American way of life, in all dimensions of that phrase. Mr. Pence has made a strong opening bid with his Freedom Agenda and its emphasis on the primacy of American culture in our current struggle.

Let the games begin.

[danglongdong]

An honest, articulated conservative platform would be welcome.

[nolaxride]

Can the party of personalities return to its roots as a party of ideas and policies? I guess that means the GOP will actually have a platform, they'll actually stand for something.

[stuporstitionist]

Can the party of personalities return to its roots as a party of ideas and policies? I guess that means the GOP will actually have a platform, they'll actually stand for something.

Don't count on it.

Pence has 0 chance, and he'd proudly let Trump try to hang him again.

[thelionofthenorth]

An honest, articulated conservative platform would be welcome.

Would you vote for such a platform?

[Evil]

Zero chance of the nomination.

[thelionofthenorth]

Zero chance of the nomination.

Yeah, the Rumpling wing wants to hang him for treason, and the sane Republicans will never forgive him for four years of suckupism.

[donttreadonme]

Zero chance of the nomination.

Yeah, the Rumpling wing wants to hang him for treason, and the sane Republicans will never forgive him for four years of suckupism.

Can you imagine the butt hurt and the name calling from Demented Donny if Pence had the gall to run against him?

[nolaxride]

Zero chance of the nomination.

Yeah, the Rumpling wing wants to hang him for treason, and the sane Republicans will never forgive him for four years of suckupism.

True. But the primary debates will certainly illustrate the difference between Pence, a man of principle and policies, and Trump's, the Michigan 'Man of the Year's" cult of personality.

[stuporstitionist]

Zero chance of the nomination.

Yeah, the Rumpling wing wants to hang him for treason, and the sane Republicans will never forgive him for four years of suckupism.

True. But the primary debates will certainly illustrate the difference between Pence, a man of principle and policies, and Trump's, the Michigan 'Man of the Year's" cult of personality.

Pence has no principles. He sold his soul to Trump.