Mike ChambersAs has been the case for decades, many Americans went to the booth last Tuesday and held their nose - and the GOP now controls both the House and the Senate. But, many ask, "so what?"
I am among the two-thirds of Americans who, pollsters say, believe we are on the "wrong track."
America has a true unemployment reaching into the middle teens, according to some economists, thanks to taxation that runs businesses abroad and thousands of burdensome regulations -- not the least of which is the Affordable Care Ac -- that stifle employment and growth.
President Obama is also promising amnesty for millions of illegal aliens, a.k.a. undocumented Democrats, who can take jobs from citizens. Some health care professionals are quietly acknowledging statistics that point to "unaccompanied minors" as having brought the deadly enterovirus EV-D68 into our schools.
Many individual candidates hammered those issues to voters (along with alphabet scandals in the IRS, VA and NSA), but the Republican National Committee did not enter the fray with a plan, a vision. Republicans were not voted for, but the current administration was voted against.
In both health care and immigration there are numerous impeachable offenses, but Republicans have all but ruled out that Congressional power.
House leader John Boehner and presumed new Senate leader Mitch McConnell have also appeared to rule out any "shutdown" of the government, where the power of the purse can be used to rein in presidential malfeasance. So what is left?
I, and hundreds of thousands of Americans, did not vote for compromise. We voted for an end to the madness in Washington right now.
Republicans, and the nation, must now debate and decide whether we want an imperial president, collectivism, a command and control economy with endless bureaucrats, or what our Founding Fathers argued for -- true separation of powers, rule of law, and individual responsibility and liberty.
A quick list to our new House and Senate leaders: Repeal most, if not all, of Obamacare. Many people cannot afford the deductible on the "bronze" plan. Enact true health care reform based on the free market. Pass a budget and enact incremental cuts in spending; roll out tax reform, a plan that defangs the IRS; follow up on the leads into the IRS investigation and Benghazi debacle; pass real immigration reform and secure our border; repeal regulations that kill business and jobs (particularly in the EPA); pass voter ID reform -- the sanctity of the vote should be at least as important as buying a beer, boarding a plane, or getting welfare assistance; and finally, provide leadership, from the Middle East to the Ukraine to Ebola and respect for our military and traditions. We long for leaders, not shallow orators.
Don't be afraid of putting the power of the purse, and impeachment if needed, back on the table.
Harry Reid tabled and killed more than 350 bills passed by the House. Thankfully, he is now but a bad memory. Put forth your bills and be bold. Make President Obama stand on his convictions with a veto before the American people.
A final thought: Conservatives have danced with Republicans and their promises for years, always hoping for marriage vows. It's high time the party swears fidelity to founding principles.
This latest electoral tsunami may be the last call for the GOP -- and the end of patience of conservatives on the dance floor.
Mike Chambers is a resident of Lookout Mountain.