Greetings: This is the fourth candidate I have had a chance to talk to.
Thought you might be interested.
 
While the Republicans were in the Palace Theater voting for someone to
"tango" with the Democrats rather than "tangle" with them, I was next
door having a sit-down with former Virginia Governor Jim Gilmore who is
running for President.
 
I got the better of that deal.
With four other NH activists, I spent about an hour talking to James
Gilmore around a small table set up for a lunch for Republicans after the
State Convention. I can say this after meeting the former governor. If
Republicans and Independents are looking for a serious Regan style
candidate this guy is about as close as you can get.

His record is solid as any governor can get. Small government, low
taxes, personal responsibility.

He is anti-tax to the bitter end and does not sell out under pressure
from the legislature. (See the "Virginia Car Tax" battle for details.)
He also cut income taxes for military personnel living in Virginia,
lowered college tuition by 20 percent, and eliminated Virginia's tax on
prescription drugs. All-in-all he presided over the largest tax cuts in
Va. History.

As the former Attorney General of Va. he has a tough on crime record.

Second amendment? On the Board of Directors of the NRA.

Pro-life. He is not 100%. But is a pro-life movement supporter.

Supported home-schoolers as Governor. Instituted statewide testing for
public education.

I would trust him with Supreme Court appointments because of his record
as governor.

Now the interesting issues.

Governor Gilmore was asked to chair a national commission, the
E-Commerce Commission, that was rigged from the start. to sell the idea of
taxing the inter-net. He took on the task. When it was over, his commission
report was the opposite of what the commissions intended results would
have been. Taxpayers and inter-net users won. He says the repercussions
of that action still stick with him. Big government proponents were
hopping mad. The tax and spend crowd at the national as well as state
level were counting on this new form of taxation for new revenue.

I followed this commission back then because Grover Norquist of
Americans for Tax Reform was on the commission as well and constantly alerted
(by email) our taxpayer organization here in NH. It was a cliff-hanger
at the time as to whether or not the inter-net would become regulated
and taxed. I do not think the idea has been abandoned by taxers.

Governor Gilmore headed a commission regarding homeland security that
bears his name. It was tasked with protecting our country as well as
civil rights while coordinating national, state, local and private
resources in an effective manner to respond to attacks. In fact Governor
Gilmore was involved with this same issue before 9/11.

Many people are not aware that on 9/11 Governor Gilmore faced an attack
on the Pentagon located in his own state. He had what was at the time
potentially hostile commercial passenger aircraft flying in Va.
airspace. I was impressed with the list of rapid, sensible actions he took on
9/11 during a surprise attack on our country.

This is a serious candidate. He looks you in the eye. He has a message.
He is no-nonsense and has a record to prove it.. No evolution is
necessary.

Anyone not looking at Governor Gilmore as a presidential candidate is
cheating themselves.

Ed Naile

Chairman

The Coalition of NH Taxpayers

 http://www.theconservativevoice.com/article/21879.html#

James Gilmore announced his exploratory committee for the Presidency. The MSM yawns. They don’t get it. He can be President of the United States of America because he fills the vacuum on the Right. The former Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia can win the Republican nomination as the strongest Conservative. Jim Gilmore can win the Presidency in a close election, like 2000, because the contrast with the opposition – whether it’s Hillary and Obama, or ‘anybody’ Liberal Democrat, will run hope against despair. Hope always wins with Americans.

Gilmore fills the void Sen. George Allen left after he self-destructed this fall. Moreover, he stands taller than the few fellows running now who share the Right.

The primary-voting majority in the Republican Party is Conservative, and not compromising, on economic, defense and social issues.

Rudy Guiliani is too Liberal with too messy a personal life.

John McCain’s swings from loose cannon to anti-free speech Liberal overcome his war hero credentials.

Chuck Hagel is McCain’s loose cannon clone and weak on Illegal Immigration.

Sam Brownback voted for the ‘shamnesty’ bill to reward illegal aliens.

David Huckabee is a solid Conservative, but unknown on Illegal Immigration. The MSM will make this ordained Baptist minister scarier than the Grand Inquisitor Torguemada.

Duncan Hunter is a good Conservative, but career Congressman doesn’t compare to Chief Executive of the 12th largest state.

Newt Gingrich is Mr. Great Ideas, but his personal life and failures as Speaker make him damaged goods.

Tommy Thompson would have to have an idea that separates him from the Big Government Republicanism of President Bush.

Which brings us to the front-running Conservative wannabe, Mitt Romney. This political chameleon gives politics a bad name. A grown man, who is over 50 and claims a deep religious faith in a sect that opposes abortion, but suddenly sees the light on the immorality of killing unborn babies is a liar or a fool. Neither should be knowingly elected to President.

Furthermore, if the President should have some powers of discernment, at least enough to have converted from a Christian cult to orthodoxy a long time ago. Romney has the freedom to be a Mormon. Just as he could be a Wiccan. But, like a Wiccan running for President, his personal beliefs call into question his judgment, discernment and wisdom.

Since Jim Gilmore is none of the above, then who is he and why should he be elected President?

James Gilmore is really Reaganesque in his Conservative thinking. Every candidate claims the mantle. He earns it. Gilmore is Trumanesque in his inner man. He is a self-made public servant. Not born to wealth and privilege except the high honor of being born a Virginian and from a solid, Christian family. He might look like staid Eisenhower to Romney’s faux Kennedy, but flash won’t win the primaries with Republicans. Gilmore has the intellectual weight of a University of Virginia Law School graduate - well grounded in practical experience as a prosecutor and Attorney General.

Governor Gilmore has all the right enemies in Virginia. Every big government goof, Republican or Democrat, blames him for the Clinton/9-11 Recession (00-02). The Good People of Virginia remember promises made and promises kept. Gilmore reduced the hated personal property tax, ‘No Car Tax’. The Democrat Governors failed to finish the job and blame him, like Bush, for any and every woe.

Gilmore has been a national leader on Homeland Security. He gets it. He served in the Army during the Vietnam Era. He learned about the military from the low end of the stick where America’s youth serves and suffers. He gained insights on the Communists in the Cold War and their threat.

Gilmore is the only candidate who is right on lowering taxes, reducing government spending, fighting the long, long WW IV against Islamists, fixing social security and medicare, stopping illegal immigration cold, promoting life and the family, as well as nominating strict constructionist judges.

If Gilmore articulates the choices as they are – and his positions on them through an indifferent, but soon-to-be hostile MSM – like Reagan did, he will connect with Republican voters across the country like he did with Virginia’s faithful Republicans.

If Gilmore is compared closely, no one compares as a Conservative candidate. That wins the Republican nomination. The Conservative third of the Nation isn’t ready to surrender the momentum of change to Republicans running as liberals, moderates or disingenuous Conservatives of convenience when a Conservative of conscience, practice, conviction, and promise is available.

Next – How Gilmore Wins…

Former Governor Jim Gilmore announced today that he will explore the possibility of a presidential run in 2008.  Gilmore told the Associated Press that "There is not a committed conservative in the field who can put together a national campaign.  I am and I can." 

Gilmore went on to say "I am not someone who has to evolve as a conservative.  I don't have to evolve my position."  We at www.DraftGilmore.org agree.  Gilmore has been an outspoken advocate for lower taxes, deficit reductions, and national security. 

As conservatives we applaud Gilmore's decision to join the 2008 presidential race.  Learn more at www.DraftGilmore.org. 

This group is not authorized by James Gilmore
www.DraftGilmore.org © 2006,
E-Mail: info@draftgilmore.org - Phone & Fax: (206)333-1278