By John Mark Hancock
Copyrighted - All Rights Reserved
Veterans' Day, 2006

KNOXVILLE - In the wake of their electoral defeat, the Grand Ole Party needs to look to principled leadership that won't waffle on the issues, that won't stray from core values. While I disagree with Rudy Giuliani on some social issues, he is a fiscal conservative and a hero in the war on Islamic fascism, which will continue for generations to come. We need his strong leadership to broaden the base of the Republican Party and make it the permanent majority party nationally.

Giuliani is the most Reaganesque of all of the candidates considering a run for the Presidency in 2008 and may very well be the only one that is electable in this political climate. If the party doesn't rally around him, they will wind up with a far left winger in the White House like Hillary Clinton or Al Gore.

Rudy can sweep the GOP back into power in both houses of Congress, too, as his coattails will be longer than any other person in the race. He campaigned for a lot of the candidates that retained their offices against a strong anti-Republican tide.

The choice is ours to make. Evangelical Christians in particular and conservatives in general need a reason to return to the polls if the GOP is to regain its majority in the Congress and retain the Presidency. Supreme Court judgeships are at stake, as well as many appeals court and district court seats.

We are in a cultural war domestically as well as in a war on Islamic fascists worldwide. Make no mistake about either. We must win both of those wars or we will surely perish as a nation and as a world leader.

President Dwight Eisenhower, who won World War II in Europe as our Supreme Commander, warned of creeping socialism in his last address to Congress. "Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty," Ike said.

There is no question that the last half century in America has seen a steady drift toward socialism. Government is seen as the answer to all of our ills, especially by politicians who pander for votes.

We have seen "entitlements" grow to the point that we can no longer afford them, especially with illegal aliens siphoning off tax dollars to provide them with welfare, health care, etc. The growth of government must be held in check.

When you vote for Republicans, at least you are casting your vote for a foot placed on the brake pedal in this drive toward socialism. If you vote for a Democrat, however, you are casting your lot with someone who will put the pedal to the metal with full speed ahead on the accelerator.

You need look no further than Hillary Clinton's proposed socialized medicine plan to see what a disaster her Presidency would be if she is elected in 2008. The weird environmental views of Al Gore may be even more dangerous to America's future.

If we are to preserve our democracy and have a chance to keep at least some of the freedoms that keep slipping away, we must elect a strong leader like Giuliani. No other candidate on the horizon possesses the skills to keep America strong.