Howard Phillips, Chairman of The Conservative Caucus, a non-partisan public policy action organization founded in 1974, issued the following statement concerning the nationwide defeat of Republican candidates for the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives:

"The November 7 election results are, to a significant degree, attributable to the policies of the Bush Administration in many areas, in addition to Iraq. These include:

• advocacy of amnesty for illegal aliens,

• failure to enforce existing immigration laws which require penalization of corporations which hire illegal aliens,

• promotion of a North American Union (NAU) scheme to merge the United States with Canada and Mexico,

• historically high subsidies to Planned Parenthood,

• appointment of open homosexuals to key positions,

• massive expansion of the Federal role in education,

• increased funding of the United Nations,

• expansion of foreign aid,

• failure to move forward deployment effectively of a ballistic missile defense,

• budget busting expansion of non-defense Federal spending and massive increases in annual deficits and the overall national debt,

• trade policies which have undermined America’s manufacturing base and placed millions of American jobs at risk,

• approval of anti-family FDA policies such as authority for the distribution of RU-486 and over-the-counter sales of "morning after" contraceptives,

• approval of threats to U.S. civil liberties, including elements of the Patriot Act,

• signing into law the McCain-Feingold election regulation bill in clear violation of the First Amendment to the Constitution.

"The tragedy is that the Republican Congressional leadership in the House and Senate, by and large, rubber stamped unconstitutional Bush Administration policies, instead of fulfilling responsibilities of oversight and independent judgment as intended by the framers of the U.S. Constitution which made the Legislative Branch of our government primary in our Federal system.

"One can only hope that, during a time of partisan gridlock, Republicans in Congress will manifest a degree of independence from unwise Bush Administration policies and that the President himself will stand against unwise policies of the new Democrat Party majorities in Congress.

"Tragically, during the campaign season just ended, in most parts of the country, conservative voters, in order to manifest their unhappiness, were put in a position of either (a) holding their nose and voting for Republicans with whom they disagreed, (b) staying away from the polls, or (c) voting for imperfect Democratic candidates.

"Fortunately, in some instances, the Democrats put forward candidates who were more conservative than their Republican adversaries and a handful of these candidates were successful on election day.

"My hope is that, as we draw closer to the 2008 Presidential and Congressional elections, Constitutionally faithful candidates not tied to the Bush Administration will receive significant media attention and popular support."

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BOSTON CELTICS, THANKS TO RED AUERBACH, WAS ONE OF THE GREATEST EVER SPORTS FRANCHISES

Growing up in Boston, I was a devoted fan of the Boston Celtics and spent many a night with my ear pressed against the radio in my bedroom listening to their struggles with the Syracuse Nationals and other teams.

What a great cast of characters they had, one of the greatest in sports history, and credit for the assembly goes to their wonderful coach and general manager, Red Auerbach, who died recently.