Posts Tagged ‘barry goldwater’

“I have little interest in streamlining government or in making it more efficient, for I mean to reduce its size. I do not undertake to promote welfare, for I propose to extend freedom. My aim is not to pass laws, but to repeal them. It is not to inaugurate new programs, but to cancel old ones that do violence to the Constitution … or have failed their purpose … or that impose on the people an unwarranted financial burden. I will not attempt to discover whether legislation is ‘needed’ before I have first determined whether it is constitutionally permissible. And if I should be attacked for neglecting my constituents’ ‘interests,’ I shall reply that I was informed that their main interest is liberty, and in that cause I am doing the very best I can.” –Barry Goldwater

Remember the year 1952.  As you read about Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and his reelection prospects, remember 1952.

1952 was the year a relatively young and unknown upstart businessman (who only had a few years experience on a city council) challenged the sitting Senate Majority Leader and won.

The challenger was Barry Goldwater and he beat Earnest McFarland – in a state in which Democrats outnumbered Republicans nearly 5-1.  McFarland was seen as too out of touch with Arizona, too much a part of the “inside the beltway” problem.  Reid seems to have a lot in common with McFarland – and that could prove to be a problem for him.

If 2010 repeats 1952, it will be the first time in 58 years that the sitting U.S. Senate Majority Leader is defeated in an election.  Couldn’t happen at a better time.

There are moments when I stop to reflect on the world around me, and sometimes I am very skeptical about the future of our state and country, and other times I have great faith that our best days are yet to come.

Last night was one of those moments when the future looks very bright.  I attended a fundraising event for incoming Arizona State Speaker of the House Kirk Adams.  This is a young guy who has leadership, resolve and vision.  His election to the Speakership created one of those “shock and awe” moments among the political chattering class because not many people believed the previous Speaker could be beat.

What made last night all the more poignant was that the event was held at Be Nun I Kin, the former home of Senator Barry Goldwater that was beautifully restored by Karen and Bob Hobbs (a couple of the most gracious hosts in Arizona).

Standing on the back patio taking in the beautiful view of the valley, I was content to know that Goldwater’s principles of limited government, expanded personal freedom and personal responsibility will be championed by another young,up-and-coming conservative Arizonan in the form of Kirk Adams.