I just got an email from my pen pal Bill Kristol. He wanted to let me know that he is wishing the United States Marine Corp., a very happy birthday.
That's a message I can get behind. Thanks Bill.
But aside from the very deserved wishes, apparently Bill think's wishing the Marines a happy birthday and hosting a "Strength & Security: Building a Modern Foreign Policy" event with Ted Cruz and Rep. Adam Kinzinger as headliners is also part of a winning message heading into 2016.
National security is certainly on the agenda in 2016 and the GOP is going back to the old playbook - Peace through Strength.
I hope the Dems have something better than a GOP-lite response like "Peace through a little less strength than the GOP."
Because we all know just how appealing a message of "I'm not a Dem but I'm sorta like a GOPer" is to voters who want to feel safe and secure.
It is such an appealing message, in fact, it motivated voters to not just want a little bit of the GOP party leading the country but the whole darn enchilada!
Here's a few suggestions to the Dems. If you are going to go GOP-lite, please focus on building international coalitions so we don't end up bearing the entire cost in blood and treasure, and because getting the countries in the region of the conflict engaged in the problems in their own backyards will help the region actually solve the problem on their own - you know, don't give them a U.S. Gov't handout, instead let them do what we know they can do for themselves.
And, how about an economic package that is focused on safety and security — job security, communities safe from gun violence, families safe from career-ending health problems, families with healthcare, seniors with medicare, workers with a good wage and on down the list of great, positive, anxiety-reducing programs that people like.
That's a positive message focused on providing safety, security, stability and opportunity.
How about it - please, Dems?