We Can Do Better...but We Won't
4th District Taylor's to Lose 

          2010 is just around the corner and that means federal House of Representative seats are coming up for grabs.  Soon, we will be hearing and seeing alot of talk and debate from the potential candidates.  Just today, I saw where State Senator Alan Nunnelee (R-Tupelo) has entered the fray to challenge 1st District Congressman Travis Childers (D-Booneville).  Reading this news made me ponder my area, the 4th District.  I know of a gentleman from Petal, an attorney by the name of Joe Tegerdine, who has decided to throw his name in the ring, but I must admit (and believe me, it is hard for me to say and I don't want to believe it but...) the 4th District is Gene Taylor's to lose once again, just as it's been now for 20 years.  Mr. Tegerdine may be nice enough and he may be an astute campaigner; I personally haven't had the chance to meet him just yet.  Reality is, however, no matter who you are as a challenger to Taylor, the underlying issues and assumptions must be addressed and brought to light.
          Since 1989, Gene Taylor (Democrat-Bay St. Louis) has held the 4th District Congressional seat here in Southeast Mississippi.  Taylor, a former city councilman and state senator, is well versed in what it takes to win in this district, which by the way is one of, if not the most conservative Republican districts in the nation (no Democrat Presidential candidate has carried the 4th since 1956). His voting record is a mixed bag; he has walked the tight rope between party and populist for many years and thus far has mastered it with only the occasional wobble which he quickly balances.  He is seemingly pro-life and pro-gun (anything else in Mississippi and he would have been out a long time ago), yet he has supported his party and its leaders inconspicuously (voting for Nancy Pelosi as Speaker) knowing that if he carried too much of the party's water he would be on the proverbial hot seat come election time.  He knows how to appear as if he is fighting for his constituents while not making too many waves in Washington D.C.  His tenure and party connections landed him an important seat on the Armed Services Committee and the Shipbuilding Caucus, making him increasingly valuable to his 4th District constituents.  Taylor's good ole boy persona coupled with his staff's superb PR work after Katrina (i.e. lost his home, fought his insurance company, offered insurance changes, etc.) make him a force that only the perfect storm or perhaps some truly informed, inspired, and involved voters could take down. 
          I believe that we in the 4th District can and should do better than Gene Taylor (hey, that almost rhymed...perhaps there's a campaign slogan in there somewhere).  Taylor is deeply entrenched and knows how to work the system, both locally, through ensuring that the proper spin is applied when needed, and nationally, by being content to sit on the sidelines and following the party line as necessary.  Gene Taylor is not a bad guy; heck, he's not all that bad of a Congressman if you judge his body of work through a narrow lens and confine it to babies, bullets, and budgets.  America and the future of our great nation is about something bigger than such narrow, spin driven, seat ensuring issues.  Yes, those things do matter to me and should matter to us all but when our nation's debt is increasing at such a rapid pace, private business is being taken over by government, healthcare is on its way to being rationed in every sense of the word, and on and on I could go we don't need a pacifist Congressman representing our area here in Southeast Mississippi.  We need a Congressman that will stand up and fight for the Constitution, for the freedoms we hold dear, to speak against the ills of the day and actively support a different direction than what is being proposed by those now in leadership (leadership supported and encouraged by Taylor himself).  We need a change in the 4th District and soon.
          It is important for a person who is in political office to clearly outline their party affiliation and to be able to outline why they align themselves with that party.  Taylor (whether out of savvy or confusion) chose to be a Democrat.  He is quick to add the "conservative" tag to his label.  Surprisingly enough (as if you couldn't tell by now) I am a Republican.  I am proud to carry the mantle of Lincoln and Reagan.  I say this because who one chooses to associate with says much about that person's character and beliefs.  Now don't get me wrong, there are many in both parties, Democrats and Republicans, that break from their party at times (Taylor and his Blue Dog buddies would speak to this point well, if nothing more than to attempt to veil their allegiance), but I tell you when it comes down to the core issues and to the heart of a matter, those same people will choose to side with their party 99% of the time (again, think of the Pelosi vote).  Don't be fooled by the tag lines added to sway your votes on election day or in election years.  I've yet to meet a Conservative Democrat - that's an oxymoron in my book.
           The real question, and the most disturbing part of this discussion to me, is this:  How does Gene Taylor, a Democrat, keep getting elected in the most conservative Republican district in the nation?  For the sake of time and space, I'll cut to the chase - Republicans put him there.  There's no other answer.  If you live in the 4th District I challenge you to ask your Republican friends that actually vote who they voted for last time for Congress.  I would be amazed if you could find more than 3 out of 10 that say someone other than Gene Taylor (if they do, I would almost bet they are fibbing given that Taylor hasn't taken less than 75% of the vote except once since 1998). 
          So how do we reverse this trend?  How can we in the 4th District topple this Goliath?  The only way is for conservative Republicans to break out of their self-induced habit and vote Republican.  We true conservatives must unite together and take back this country one seat at a time, locally, statewide, and nationally.  Twenty years is long enough for Mr. Taylor's trip to Washington.  A few years ago this 4th District seat didn't seem all that important.  Now, with the make up of Congress, the Speaker, the Senate in full control and the White House locked up, this Southeast Mississippi seat should symbolize and portray how we in this area truly believe to our core.  The 4th District seat should be a sign to the rest of the nation that we are fed up with government intrusion, rising debt, unreconciled domestic and foreign affairs, and needless taxation.  The truth is, Southeast Mississippi and the nation deserves better than Gene Taylor and his Democrat friends.  I believe we can do better...but unless people wake up, get in the fight, and get engaged history tells me we won't.
          Shakespeare once said, "We know what we are, but know not what we may be."  We've seen what 20 years has given us in the 4th District.  I truly desire our nation to be more than it is today; America desperately needs the next generation of leaders to begin to take hold now, not tomorrow.  I encourage you all to consider the 2010 Congressional race and help America be more.  We can and must do better!    

Frank Corder,
Pascagoula City Councilman - Ward 4

Low Ball Hurler:
President Pitches Policies Like He Pitches Baseballs

Before you read on, watch the video of President Obama's First Pitch at the MLB All Star Game by clicking this link:
http://www.videosurf.com/video/president-obama-throws-out-first-pitch-70924959

          If you happened to watch the Major League Baseball All Star game the other night, then you probably caught President Obama once again on your TV screen.  No, he wasn't talking taking more taxes from the wealthy or nationalizing healthcare.  He wasn't taking over another company, booting a CEO, or naming another czar.  He wasn't speaking about the economy so the Dow didn't bottom out (is it just me or does it seem as if everytime President Obama talks about the economy the stock market takes a nose dive).  As other presidents before him, Obama was at the All Star game to simply throw out the ceremonial first pitch.  Easy enough, right?  One would think.
          Decked in his shiny white tennis shoes and fresh Chicago White Sox jacket, President Obama made his way to the pitcher's mound.  He waved and smiled to the adoring baseball fans.  Behind homeplate to catch the President's pitch was Albert Pujols.  After more waving and smiling, President Obama semi winds up and throws his pitch.  It's an arching curve that's short and low, making Pujols have to extend over the plate to catch the pitch to cover for the President's poor attempt.  After all, the media darling President Obama is had to have his pitch caught.  Oh the horror if it hit the dirt.  How would that have looked? 
          As I sat and watched that scene I couldn't help but draw the correlation between the President's poor baseball pitching and his even poorer pitching of recent domestic policies for our great nation.  Many see him as untouchable, as off limits to critique or question.  The liberal thought is that his sheer charisma and persona should be enough to delude the general masses into following him, so when he throws a bad pitch or two no one will care.  Truth is, in baseball and in politics, every pitch counts.  President Obama is a low ball hurler who's struggling to even reach the plate but because of who he is (be it his perceived historical significance due to his race, the fact that he is following Bush, or other glaring factors) and the vast media bias, the plate is covered and his every pitch is being caught.

Economy

          When it comes to the economy, Vice President Biden recently admitted that the administration underestimated the severity of the situation.  Biden said, "We misread how bad the economy was..."  That's a low ball estimate in my mind by President Obama and his administration.  Yet, because the Democrats were out of power for six years and they had a ton of pent up pet projects they were eager to ramrod through, the President and the Democratic leaders in Congress pushed through the $787 billion "stimulus" bill which has yet to produce even a glimmer of the hope and change advertised. 
          Let's be honest, Mr. President.  Jobs are not being added as promised, infrastructure funding projects are slow and almost not even worth the trouble to jump through all of the bureaucratic hoops, the national debt continues to increase daily, locally sales tax is in the pot and more businesses are closing leaving vacant buildings all around our city, the credit market is in shambles, we as taxpayers now hold controlling interest in a private company (I'm still waiting to see what my personal share of that company is so I can sell my stock now - I could use the extra gallon of gas), and on and on I could go.  The President threw a low pitch on such a dire economy and didn't even come close to the plate, oh but the media has covered him well; they caught the pitch and continue to spin the White House advertisement as the President makes his daily TV appearances.  Smile and wave and it will all be ok seems to be the new mantra.
          What we need in this country is not another "stimulus" bill as is being discussed even now; heck, we didn't need nor can we afford the first one.  What we need in this country is lower taxes on the individual so they keep more of what they make.  We need lower taxes on businesses so they can afford to invest in their employees, expand their product and service lines, create more jobs, and provide healthcare.  We need to only spend what we take in and no more.  We need to get government out of propping up businesses and let the market regulate itself.  Enough is enough.  No more low ball pitches.   

Healthcare

          It is beyond my comprehension as to why we would as a country want to go from having the best possible healthcare system in the world (yes, there are flaws, but it's still the best) and make it second rate almost instantly, right out of the box?  Nationalizing healthcare puts every citizen's well being under the government's purview.  The government will control your health.  The government will decide which doctors you see, when you see them, how often you see them, and so on.  The government will also in essence tell doctors how and when to treat patients.  Your every healthcare concern will be managed and controlled by bureaucrats and politicians.  In addition to all of this, such a plan will cost upwards of an estimated $1 trillion over a decade and still leave 15 million plus uninsured.
          Jefferson once wisely expounded, "If people let government decide what foods they eat and what medicines they take, their bodies will soon be in as sorry a state as are the souls of those who live under tyranny."  Involving the government in the intricate parts of people's lives is the last thing I want to see happen.  Government needs no role in deciding doctors, hospitals, insurance and the like for citizens.  But yet, that is exactly what will happen when the current Congress and Presidential administration have their way with healthcare.  Yet another low ball pitch from President Obama that misses the plate and still, the other members of his Party and the media cover the obvious deficiencies of such a notion.  The answer again lies in empowering the private sector to create wealth and opportunity.  The government only subsidizes wealth.  I only wish the words of Jefferson would be recalled, for the bodies of so many will soon be wrecked by the political agenda of a few.

Playing Catch

          Now is not the time in our nation's history for the President and the Congress to be playing catch with such delicate issues.  The old adage advises that ultimate power corrupts ultimately.  With the super-majority now reached in the Senate (thanks to the resolution of the Franken-Coleman saga), the House well in hand, and the White House under lock and key, the country is at the whim and pleasure of the Democrats.  There was a time, not all that long ago, such a statement wouldn't have frightened me so, but that time is long since past.  The President has proved to be a low ball hurler who can't reach the plate.  The Democrat contolled Congressional leadership is carrying the President's mantle for the most part and ensuring he doesn't skip a pitch in the dirt.  And of course, the media is playing their part like the Shakespearean actors they are. 
          Every pitch counts in politics and baseball.  Now is the time for all concerned citizens to stand up and get in the fight.  We must demand real hope and change for the betterment and sustainability of our country.  No more low ball, short pitches.  No more covering for the President.  We can take back our country and set her aright once again; it just takes stability through commitment and passion.  Be committed.  Be passionate.  Be the difference. 

As always - Think Pascagoula First,

Frank Corder,
Pascagoula City Councilman - Ward 4

Listening to Jefferson

            Summer for many is a time to unwind, vacation, and hit the beach, especially here along the Gulf Coast - surf, sand, and a big glass of ice tea.  The party starts Memorial Day weekend, kicks into high gear around the 4^th of July, and dwindles off around Labor Day.  Fun in the sun is the name of the game.

            For me, summer brings reflection.  Oh, believe me, I could use a vacation as much as anyone, but ever since I was a young boy, this time of year has filled my spirit with a certain sense of poignancy and reverence.  I read and engross myself into the writings of the American giants - Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Lincoln, Truman, Reagan.  I watch documentaries and period epics surrounding these figures and the events of their day.  Summer beckons my inner patriot and calls me to action.  It ignites a fire within me to hearken back to the founding fathers and listen once again to their wisdom.  I am moved by their sacrifice and astounded by their foresight and vision. 

            One such American giant is Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States and arguably one of, if not the most influential of the founding fathers.  His handiwork in drafting the Declaration of Independence is still marveled by scholars today.  Each of us learned the basic ideal of Jefferson in school.  We know of Jefferson in theory.  But if you study Jefferson and read his writings, if you delve deeper into his reasoning I trust you will find a great deal to your interest, much of which is extremely applicable to our day in practice, not simply in theory.  I challenge you to listen to Jefferson in the quotes below and as I offer some relevance for today.  It is surprising how prophetic words written over 200 years ago can be.

            "Government big enough to supply everything you need is big enough to take everything you have. The course of history shows us that as a government grows, liberty decreases." - Thomas Jefferson

I have said many times that it is not the government's responsibility to ensure people succeed, but that every person has an equal opportunity for success through hard work, personal commitment and individual responsibility.  When government at any level, whether locally or nationally, seeks to usurp the individual responsibility of its citizens and replace it with a centralized, equitable program or body of work, then government has indeed grown past the point of its original intent.  Equality for all through government mandate and oversight was not the rallying cry of our founders nor should it be today.  Opportunity for all through individual responsibility should be shouted and supported.

            "If people let government decide what foods they eat and what medicines they take, their bodies will soon be in as sorry a state as are the souls of those who live under tyranny." - Thomas Jefferson

            Today, this very debate is raging in our national Capitol. I believe this quote speaks well to the issue of nationalized healthcare.  Involving the government in the intricate parts of people's lives is the last thing I want to see happen.  Government needs no role in deciding doctors, hospitals, insurance and the like for citizens.  But yet, that is exactly what will happen when the current Congress and Presidential administration have their way with healthcare.  I only wish they would heed the words of Jefferson, for the bodies of so many will soon be wrecked by the political agenda of a few.   

"That government is best which is closest to the people." - Thomas Jefferson

            I love this quote, especially as a local elected official on the City Council.  Day in and day out I see where the federal government is growing by leaps and bounds, which essentially makes local City boards nothing more than rubber-stamping bodies that must enforce and take the heat for what those in D.C. and even in Jackson decide.  Admittedly, I get very frustrated with the bureaucratic red-tape and the ever moving targets we as a local Council have to overcome to simply help our city and our people.  This has never been more evident than after Hurricane Katrina.  Those in D.C. and even in Jackson for the most part are insulated from such constant local struggles; they often times miss the boat and put politics before people.  I emphatically agree with Jefferson that the best government is the government nearest the people.

            "That government which governs best, governs least." - Thomas Jefferson

            Oh, how I wish the current Mississippi House of Representatives, the national Congress (both houses) and the President would truly let this fact sink in.  You want to see America succeed, then get the government out of our way.  Cities would rebound, jobs would return, homes would rebuild, and a new sense of individual responsibility would rule the day.  It's time we cut the lifeline a bit.  As long as the government continues to interfere and encourages citizens to rely so heavily on its purse strings, America will not be the strong, healthy nation we all want it to be.  Ronald Reagan, another American giant, was exactly right when he said, "Government does not solve problems; it subsidizes them." 

            Those are only a few quotes of so many more as I listened to Jefferson.  As with anyone other than myself (and even then I am often conflicted), I do not agree with every ideal or thought put forth by the third President, however, I stand in awe at his immense knowledge and foresight of the issues our republic would be faced with even in his day.  Reading Jefferson and others like him brings me great comfort proving I am not alone in how I feel both about my country and about my convictions.  I trust these words will help to strengthen and enliven you this summer as you reflect on our Independence and those who have given so much for the freedoms we enjoy.  May we never forget the principles on which we were founded and on which we have built the greatest nation ever to inhabit this planet. 

            Shhhh..can you hear it?  Jefferson and the other American giants are speaking to us today.  Are you listening?

            May God Bless Pascagoula, Mississippi, America, and You.

As always, Think Pascagoula First,

Frank Corder,

Pascagoula City Councilman - Ward 4