West Weekly Wrap-Up

West Weekly Wrap-Up

I am very concerned about the carbon footprint of having five buses of 240 House GOP members going to the White House. Seems to me the opposite would have been far more prudent, with the President instead coming to Capitol Hill.

The following day, the Secretary of the Treasury, Timothy Geithner, came to visit the House GOP Freshman and indeed it was yet another wasted trip. In just eight short minutes, the Treasury Secretary assured me that he does not have a clue when it comes to enacting spending cuts and spending control measures as part of the revitalization of our fiscal and economic policies, including mandatory spending reforms, which the President stated he agreed on Wednesday.

It would seem that after Friday’s abysmal jobs report numbers, which included half of the reported job growth coming from McDonald’s (a recipient of an Obamacare waiver, by the way), one would think there would be a change in course. Nah, just dig in your heels, and follow the same failed policies. We have seen a 40% increase in Americans on food stamps since the President took the oath of office. Gasoline prices have gone from around $1.89 a gallon to close to $4 on average for regular unleaded.

There are three critical aspects which we must rectify. First, we must restore confidence with our job creators and consumers. Second, we must ensure the proper amount of regulation, providing access to capital for our small business owners. Lastly, we must provide certainty for the private sector and investors to create long term viable and sustainable economic and job growth.

The other point of order I wish to address is the so-called “Arab Spring” - truly a “Muslim Brotherhood Nightmare.” Those who view the events across North Africa and the Middle East with Western rose-colored glasses are completely misreading the situation. The goal of the Brotherhood has always been to restore an Islamic Caliphate, a borderless empire which shall be ruled by one leader. They have no respect for the secular leadership, autocratic, despotic dictators which permeate this region. However, under the guise of “Democracy” and dare I say it, “Change” they are toppling these regimes one by one – and we have no competent understanding of who shall fill the void.

One need only look back in history when the same occurred in Iran and we all witnessed, and continue to witness, the revitalization of the 7th century radical Islamic state model under the guidance of theocrats. Under this guidance we have seen the resurgence of Islamic terrorism, state sponsored from this very same Iran.

There is no Arab Spring, but there is an Islamic mystery as to who shall not only fill the void in these countries, but where shall the seat of power for this 21st Century Caliphate be established? Iran or Turkey?

Statesmen still exist in Congress as Congressman West clearly illustrates. There are just not many of them.