Conservatives talk Policy Priorities for 2010 Congressional Races

Recently I asked Facebook friends and Price of Business Show Fans what their policy priorities would be if they were running for Congress in 2010. There is no question about it, people are ready for meaningful change and many of their opinions are quite perceptive, in my opinion.

Steve Yeager of Arkansas said, "Quit spending money on anything except for national defense and economic recovery, period. No more pork barrel spending, I am sorry if your district does not get your small municipal airports re-paved, but the buck has got to stop here and now!" In my view, do not spend another penny on economic recovery, but instead create a tax and regulatory environment in which businesses can thrive. I certainly think that Steve has us heading in the right direction.

One popular "love to hate" theme among conservative activists is health care. Brandon Dupont of Louisiana said that we should "repeal health care, go after fraud In Medicare and Medicaid...drug test for welfare and food stamp recipients." I believe the "drug test" theme might become a populist theme among Americans who are disgusted by the lack of accountability when it comes to government spending. Of course, welfare should be left entirely to the states and the citizens thereof. That, too, will be a popular mantra in 2010.

Another big concern is the amount of money the government is taking from its citizens and the type of things being taxed. There is an old saying, "the more you tax something, the less you get of it." With that, why would one want to tax wealth and job creation? The US is about to have the highest tax rate of any industrialized country in the world and our job growth numbers continues to show weakness. In fact, the continuously stagnant economy of England has lower unemployment than the US. With that, Dee Dobson of Oklahoma calls for a "FAIR TAX! They take our freedoms through taxes!" Taxes also take our wealth and productivity. A Fair Tax would stop taxing wealth creation and instead tax consumption. This type of policy would go far in restoring our economic greatness.

One issue I often beat the drum on is corporate welfare. This form of fascism is destroying America's economic fabric and is waging a war on entrepreneurship. Dave Smith of Texas noted that "Corporate welfare: end it. No subsidies, no special treatment, no tax credits for specific behaviors -- just a simple, fair, efficient flat tax that is easily understandable and doesn't favor or restrict businesses." Those who do not favor a Fair tax, tend to support a flat tax of around 10 percent. Either one would have every person contributing to government spending and holding that government accountable in a manner we have not seen in generations.

One of the most important issues facing America is the restoration of constitutional government. Larry Sherman of Minnesota says we should "return to a republic." Today, democracy and republican government are largely treated as synonyms, but the Founding Fathers clearly understood that true freedom is preserved in rule by law that protected the minority and even the individual, rather than through any form of dictatorship, be it popular or by a few.

Finally, Herschel Evans of Georgia may have put it best when he said, "Freedom! Freedom to succeed, freedom to fail. It should be all about Freedom!"

2010 should be about restoring limited constitutional government and restoring the rights of individual. It is time to replace the fast track to mob role (which invariably leads to oligarchy) with one of rule by law.

Kevin Price is a syndicated columnist whose articles frequently appear at ChicagoSunTimes.com, Reuters.com, USAToday.com, and other national media. Kevin Price is also host of the Price of Business (M-F at 11 AM on CNN radio). Hear the show live and online at PriceofBusiness.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

The Senate races to watch in 2010

There is a major shift going on in American politics. In November of 2008, following elections that brought Obama to the White House and significant majorities for the Democrats in the House and Senate, it seemed likely that the Democrats would dominate the Executive and Legislative branches for years to come. Republicans hoped that there was a chance they could take back the House, but the Senate, in the near future, was a pipe dream. In recent weeks, that dream has become a nightmare for the Democrats.

It became very scary for Democrats when a Senate seat held by a Kennedy for almost 50 years found itself in Republican hands. Scott Brown won a race, in spite of the fact that the state is 3 to 1 Democrat. Even before this upset, Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-ND) announced he would not seek reelection. Christopher Dodd (D-CT), one of the most influential and longest serving members of the Senate, decided not to run after a year of accusations of political improprieties rocked his campaign. Now we have Evan Bayh (D-IN) announcing, essentially, that he is no longer "in love" with the Senate and is planning on moving on. His decision was so sudden, he gave his party less than a week to find someone to file for his seat. The "filibuster proof" Senate is already history and there are now thirteen races that looked very much in the hands of the Democrats that could be in the GOPs'.

Arkansas. Sen. Blanche Lincoln has been on political life support for months. Her approval numbers are in the tank. She has sheepishly supported Obama's agenda and, now that her numbers are in serious trouble, she is lecturing Majority Leader Harry Reid for doing too much, too quick. In spite of the fact she has only attracted "B team" talent in Rep. John Boozman (R), she finds herself behind in a recent poll by 23 points.

Colorado. Michael Bennet (D) faces a tough race since he began from the position as an appointee (replacing Ken Salazar who joined he Obama Administration). He has no elective office experience, which is always dangerous. Furthermore, his nomination is anything but a shoe in, facing a tough primary challenge in the Colorado's Speaker of the House (Andrew Romanoff). Worse still for Democrats, the GOP seems behind Lt. Governor Jane Norton, whose numbers appear stronger than either Bennet or Romanoff).

Delaware. New England has been a safe haven for the Democrats for years and the seat that is up for grabs is one that was once in the hands of the sitting Vice President, Joe Biden. Beau Biden, the Vice President's son and Attorney General, has already declined a run, leaving this a very safe race for former Republican governor and current Congressman-at-large, Michael Castle.

Illinois. The President's own Senate Seat is ripe for the GOP, according to many political pundits and Mark Kirk (R) may be the perfect candidate to replace Roland Burris. Kirk is a moderate from suburban Chicago, conservative on economic and defense issues and with moderate social views. In this open seat he will take on Alexi Giannoulias, the state treasurer, who could be a strong candidate, but has serious problems due to his relationship with former Democratic Governor Rod Blagojevich. It appears that Kirk has, at least, an even chance of winning.

Indiana. This sate has been largely "red" for years but has been held solidly by Evan Bayh, a moderate Democrat hat learned to fit the state well. The race could have been tough ffor Bayh, acing former Senator Dan Coates (R), with Bayh pulling out, it now looks like a state that is solidly in the GOP column.

Kentucky. This open Republican seat is full of intrigue. This seat is currently in the hands of Jim Bunning who has considered his low poll numbers and has concluded that he is one of the most vulnerable candidates in the country. This caught the attention of Secretary of State Trey Grayson who was endorsed by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. Grayson is strong, leading both Democrats battling in their primary in the polls. However, Rand Paul (son of Rep. Ron Paul), whom I knew as we were both activists in politics in college, is providing a tough primary challenge. Fortunately for the GOP, his numbers are better than the Democrats also.

Missouri. Kit Bond is giving up his seat and this could be the Democrats' best chance to get a Senate office that is in the GOPs' hands. However, the political environment has changed significantly and could fall either way. The Democrats offer a very strong candidate in Secretary of State Robin Carnahan (daughter of the late former Governor Mel Carnahan and Senator Jean Carnahan). Meanwhile, the GOP is running former Republican House Whip Roy Blunt. Carnahan has a slight lead, but pundits on both sides see this as a toss up.

Nevada. Harry Reid is poised to join a club that I do not think he wants membership. Like former Sen. Tom Daschle (D-SD), he could find himself a leader of his party in the Senate that becomes unemployed running for reelection. Nevada is considered the best chance for a GOP pick up. His numbers are in the very low range (20s). Potential Republican opponents included Lt. Governor Brian Krolicki. Although Reid has serious money (an important element in winning such a race), this seat should be in the GOP column in 2011.

New Hampshire. This is another rare opportunity for Democrats to pick up a seat that is currently in the GOPs' hands. Judd Gregg is retiring and the Democrats have an impressive candidate with Rep. Paul Hodes. Fortunately for Republicans they have a top-tier candidate of their own in former Attorney General Kelly Ayotte, who leads in the polls. Money and polls are on the Democrats side at this time, but the political winds could change everything.

There are several other "hot" seats to watch in 2010. New York provides an usually safe seat for Democrats, but the change in the political environment and a strong GOP candidate could even change this situation. In North Dakota, the retirement of Byron Dorgan (D) and the addition of Governor John Hoeven (R) into the race have made a Republican pickup almost certain. In Pennsylvania, Democrat "convert" Arlen Spector faces a tough reelection campaign since members of his own party does not trust him (remembering him as a Republican) and the GOP rank and file seems to have disdain for him. Former Congressman Pat Tooney (R) seems poised to create an upset in the Keystone state.

If you like politics, 2010 will be an interesting year to watch, its implications on public policy will be most profound.

Kevin Price is a syndicated columnist whose articles frequently appear at ChicagoSunTimes.com, Reuters.com, USAToday.com, and other national media. Kevin Price is also host of the Price of Business (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650). Hear the show live and online at PriceofBusiness.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

The Plight of the Protesters

The Tea Party and its many allies are leaving their mark on the political landscape. Approximately two million subdued the nation's Capitol on the weekend of September 11th and tens of thousands have attended events nationwide. Their list of grievances are long, ranging from excessive spending, pork barrel programs, high and counterproductive taxes, bureaucracy, abandonment of common sense when it comes to the environment, and more. Underneath all of these issues, there is the fundamental belief that it is time for the government to do what it is suppose to do. Nothing more or less.

I believe that this group, however, is more sophisticated than those activists of 1994 that led to the US House and Senate being ruled by Republicans for the first time in decades. Millions of Americans were mad at a liberal President (Bill Clinton) and an irresponsible Congress, and found the answer in electing a large number of Republicans. Many of those Republicans went back to work on a slower road to serfdom than their colleagues across the aisle. One in which there was more "thought" in the process, a frequency of detours, but definitely on course towards a command economy.

In 2009 it appears that voters have truly had "enough" and their anger transcends parties. After years of being abused by Democrats and neglected by Republicans, those who consider themselves friends of liberty have grown tired of the "lesser of two evils" and have concluded they are merely the "evil of two lessers." This leads to a serious problem in 2010 because of the temptation to do nothing, since there seems to be very few candidates who are serious about their Constitutional mandate or equally impotent to vote for pure principle candidates outside of the poor choices provided by the "Republicrats." The argument is simple: voting for someone other than the Republicans or Democrats is an investment into a new, viable, third option. Maybe, but our entire political system makes it very difficult for viable third parties. Furthermore, how much time do we have to spare in light of the current regime and members of Congress? The options for those who believe in limited government, free enterprise, a strong defense, and traditional values are fairly limited:

• Not participate and attempt to blame the left for the direction this country is going. “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing" quote by Edmund Burke rings true here. Criticism alone is not an option.


• Vote for the most conservative among the two main parties. Again, this tends to feel futile since the vast majorities of these "lesser of two evils" fail to fulfill their constitutional obligations. There has to be a better way.


• I think we should aggressively support the best (AKA constitutionally sound) candidates in primaries and if they fail to get the nomination than support candidates outside of our district monetarily and/or voluntarily if they are close enough geographically.

This approach would have a profound impact on the best candidates, would attract better candidates to run, would provide desperately needed discipline to the GOP, and would have more immediate gain then the approaches above. Unfortunately, in the short run, we may be a political minority, but we will be a minority that matters and one much more politically pure. Instead of trying to make a third party that hasn't work, constitutionally minded people could profoundly impact the GOP and make it relevant again to the majority of voters by simply forcing candidates to obey the constitution they swear to defend. It will be interesting to see what happens in 2010, but those who are concerned about our future do not have the luxury of doing anything that amounts to nothing.

Kevin Price is Host of the Price of Business, the longest running show on AM 650 (M-F at 11 am) in Houston, Texas and on AOL Radio. His articles often appear in Chicago Sun Times, Reuters, USA Today, and other national media. Steve Moore of the Wall Street Journal calls Price the “best business talk show host in the country.” Find out why and visit his blog at www.BizPlusBlog.com and his show site at www.PriceofBusiness.com. You can also find Price on Strategy Room at FoxNews.com.

Interviewing Your Next Congressman or Senator

The Tea Party movement will have many people voting for the first time in years and some voting for the first time ever. When they go into those voting booths they will be filled with anger -- even revenge -- and will be poised to "get back" at those politicians who have taken this country on such a dangerous course.

Candidates for Congress are applying for a job and it is imperative that they be asked some tough questions before one casts a vote:

• What is your employment history? In my opinion, if a candidate has never owned a business and has never been subject to the payroll, regulations, taxation, and licensure laws that comes with it, they should not be taken seriously as a candidate.


• What is your view of the Constitution? The responsibilities of a member of Congress are wide, but the single most important duty is to carry out the responsibilities in the Constitution they have sworn to defend. They need to explain what the enumerated powers in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution mean. They need to articulate the role of the Tenth amendment in limiting federal power. If a candidate does not answer these questions in a manner in line with the Constitution, they have no business running for such an important office. This is the most important question to ask someone running for federal office.


• What other elected offices have you been in? US House or Senate are pretty significant offices. In my experience it takes politicians a significant period of time to "get their legs" in Congress. When I worked for the US Senate I was surprised by how little members knew when it came to conducting their duties. I believe that career politicians are a problem, but I believe it makes sense for the House or Senate to be the next step after serving in a state legislature.


• What other positions have you held? I think that many Americans will be a little reluctant to elect a career "community activist" to any office after Barack Obama. For a long period of time people on every level of government (federal, state, local) were reluctant to elect attorneys to office because who wants to elect individuals who make a living off the proliferation of laws? To me, the best candidate is the one who is most sympathetic to the plight of all Americans and understands the challenges of job creation and economic growth.

If Americans had been asking these type of questions before now, our country would be in a very different position today.

Kevin Price is Host of the Price of Business, the longest running show on AM 650 (M-F at 11 am) in Houston, Texas and on AOL Radio. His articles often appear in Chicago Sun Times, Reuters, USA Today, and other national media. Steve Moore of the Wall Street Journal calls Price the “best business talk show host in the country.” Find out why and visit his blog at www.BizPlusBlog.com and his show site at www.PriceofBusiness.com. You can also find Price on Strategy Room at FoxNews.com.

When Obama's Legislative Agenda Becomes Reality

Fast forward to November 2010 when Members of Congress face mid term elections. From what I can tell, it will make 1994 look like a cake walk for Democrats. That is saying quite a bit, considering the Democrats held a 56 percent majority in the Senate that was changed to a 55 percent Republican majority. In the US House it went from 258 Democrats to 204 and 176 Republicans to 231. It was the first time in decades that the Republicans held both Houses of Congress. It was a slaughter for the Democrats and many consider it a referendum on Bill Clinton's first two years and a reaction to corruption among Democrats in the US Congress (of particular concern was the large number in that party that wrote bad checks at the House bank that were covered by tax payer dollars).

In 2010 we have millions of Americans up in arms over bailouts to major businesses and an ambitions President with a political agenda that has under gone very little vetting. We have seen arrogance and elitism from Obama like we have witnessed from no other president and he has, ironically gone around the world apologizing for the "arrogance" of the American people. He has given us our first double digit employment in over a quarter of a century (in real numbers) and has spent more in the first hundred days of his administration than Ronald Reagan did in two terms. The President and those who support him are very vulnerable.


This is becoming all the more clear by simply looking at the man who sets the policy agenda in the US Senate. Harry Reid (D-NV) is fighting for his political life in his reelection for 2010 and often finds himself saying "no" to a second stimulus and is delaying the vote on Obama's health care agenda. This is not due to the economic consequences of these bills, but because of the political consequences as he faces a very difficult election in just over a year.


So with things looking so bad, when will the Obama agenda become law? Well, I don't have a crystal ball, but I feel very confident that I can narrow it down to around 90 days. I don't think Republicans will win a majority in the US Senate (because of the seats that are up for reelection this cycle), but I believe it will be a complete wipe out in the House. Ironically, it will be after this defeat of the Democrats that huge portions of Obama's most controversial bills will become law. The reason for this is simple, after the elections of November of 2010 and before the new Congress that is seated in 2011, both Houses will aggressively pursue Obama's agenda as a going away present to the American voters that threw them out. Cynical? Maybe, but I worked for the Senate and have been observing their behaviors for over two decades. This is more than a hunch, but something you can take to the bank.


Kevin Price is Host of the Price of Business, the longest running show on AM 650 (M-F at 11 am) in Houston, Texas and on AOL Radio. His articles often appear in Chicago Sun Times, Reuters, USA Today, and other national media. Steve Moore of the Wall Street Journal calls Price the “best business talk show host in the country.” Find out why and visit his blog at www.BizPlusBlog.com and his show site at www.PriceofBusiness.com. You can also find Price on Strategy Room at FoxNews.com.

Why Steny Hoyer wanted to Avoid a Recess

For years there has been a great deal of division between Republicans and Democrats, at least in style, if not substance. However, there is one area of general agreement between both parties and that is their love for the summer recess.

The summer recesses are valuable and important for several reasons. When I worked for Senator Gordon Humphrey (R-NH), he use to remind his staff that was a very important time for them to determine if Members of Congress were heading in the right direction by hearing the concerns of constituents. Furthermore, when Congress isn't meeting, taxpayers can breathe a little easier because the fear of new spending takes a momentary rest. Some members simply go on vacation, but the vast majority work on the reelection efforts. This has been the way the Congress has conducted itself for decades.

Therefore, it came as a little bit of a surprise when House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) announced that he thought that Congress should not adjourn until it passed "urgently needed" health care reform. What was pitched as something that needed to be done immediately is increasingly looking like something that must be avoided. That "something" was the wrath of voters who feel as though the Obama Administration and its accomplices in the Congress are simply going much too far, much too fast in their aggressive legislative agenda. Congressman Hoyer and other Democrats who were in stronger positions in the next election cycle knew that vulnerable members might have a difficult time sticking to their guns. Keeping them away from their constituents added hope to the Obama team.

Ironically, Harry Reid, the Democrats leader in the Senate has had an agenda of his own. He immediately dismissed the idea of skipping the recess because he wanted his colleagues -- particularly the vulnerable ones -- to be fully aware of public sentiment. He didn't want to disrupt the Obama Express on his own, after all, as a leader in the party it is his job to get these bills passed. But Reid is among the vulnerable. His approval numbers are the lowest since he began his service in the Senate and he faces reelection in just over a year in 2010. I believe he wants his colleagues to stand with him to, at least, slow down the Obama agenda, if not obstruct it.

How bad is it? Several Democrats are avoiding Town Hall meetings altogether. Others are choosing decidedly safe places like predominantly minority churches and organizations. Barack Obama has given marching orders to his activist friends to overwhelm these events and demand that Congress support the President's health care agenda. This could get very tense when they face grass root activists of the Tea Party variety. Still others are facing some very tough questions from voters, including Steny Hoyer when he went to upstate New York to help his colleague, Michael Arcuri. At this event they faced a very angry mob, with one voter pointing out that the President put more time into the purchase of a dog than what he is giving the Congress in deliberating on socialized medicine.

Hoyer has read the "tea leaves" quite well on the situation facing members and I believe the cold shower on the Obama agenda should be significant. That is, at least, until the days between the 2010 election and the Congress that follows it. As a betting man, I believe those lame duck Democrats will do in defeat as they say goodbye, what they cannot do while style fighting for their political lives.

Kevin Price is Host of the Price of Business, the longest running show on AM 650 (M-F at 11 am) in Houston, Texas and on AOL Radio. His articles often appear in Chicago Sun Times, Reuters, USA Today, and other national media. Steve Moore of the Wall Street Journal calls Price the “best business talk show host in the country.” Find out why and visit his blog at www.BizPlusBlog.com and his show site at www.PriceofBusiness.com. You can also find Price on Strategy Room at FoxNews.com.

Why Time is not on the Side of Obama's Policy Agenda

All of a sudden it appears that the clock is ticking against Obama. Although the President has long promoted his legislative agenda at record (if not reckless) speed, there seems to be an alarm when he talks and a frequency that people are increasingly describing as "neediness." He may now be "over selling" his agenda and people are beginning to believe that his policies need more vetting before they become law. That is a sentiment that has been conveyed to Congress.

The most costly government "investment" in the form of bailouts that equaled budgets covering many years was passed with the promise that, if it didn't, unemployment would jump to 8.5% by this time. Upon its passage, unemployment is pushing 10% and the voting public is beginning to have buyers remorse when it comes to government solutions.

A central part of Obama's approach to policy was to attack many issues at the same time with the hope that some of them get passed. As a result, many pieces of legislation has flown through Congress without even being read by the member that voted for it. This has lead to Congress hitting the brakes.

As a result, time is not on the side of President Obama for many reasons:

• While the President doesn't have to face reelection until 2012, many in his own party are facing tough fights in 2010. For them, their political future is measured in months, not years.


• Particularly vulnerable in 2010 is Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) who is facing the most difficult race he has had in years. He is single handily derailing Obama's health care reform efforts in order to make sure he has a seat in the next Senate. Furthermore, he was quick to dismiss the need of another stimulus package citing the imperative to prove the others have worked. While some Members of Congress are crying that it should not go on vacation until health care reformed is passed, Reid disagrees and plans on taking the scheduled break.


• We have the highest unemployment we have seen in decades and as every point goes up, the popularity of the President goes down. Projecting the effects of the current policies, many are assuming the unemployment rate will be close to 20 percent by the end of the year and then that should sound the end of any political capital necessary for Obama to achieve serious "reforms" in this Congress.
  

There is a saying that, "when your neighbor loses a job it is called a recession and when you lose a job it is a depression." For most Americans, jobs are where the "rubber meets the road." Unless Obama enjoys a miracle in the job creation department, his agenda is in serious jeopardy.

Kevin Price is Host of the Price of Business, the longest running show on AM 650 (M-F at 11 am) in Houston, Texas and on AOL Radio. His articles often appear in Chicago Sun Times, Reuters, USA Today, and other national media. Steve Moore of the Wall Street Journal calls Price the “best business talk show host in the country.” Find out why and visit his blog at www.BizPlusBlog.com and his show site at www.PriceofBusiness.com. You can also find Price on Strategy Room at FoxNews.com.

Barack Obama: A Progress Report

Recently I invited friends of my radio show and other media to explain how they would grade President Barack Obama's first 100 days. The response was huge. This has become a popular past time lately with radio personalities, policy experts, and people standing around the water cooler. I thought I should ride this trend.

I have noticed that most of the discussions have been largely arbitrary and without specific criteria. People generally agree that the idea behind a report card is to judge the President's performance, but on what basis? Since every President swears to defend the Constitution, that should be its criteria. Furthermore, since this President is still serving his term and has not completed it, this is better described as a "progress report." With that, here are a few areas worth consideration:

• Economic integrity. Unfortunately, most people are unaware about what the US Constitution has to say about government spending, but I encourage readers to start with a short visit with Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution. There they will find around eighteen areas that the government is aloud to operate in and none of them are that sexy or expensive. One will find post offices, post roads, and standard weights and measures. Anything beyond issues such as these were to be left to the states and the citizens thereof. One can probably argue that one cannot expect a politician to purely apply these principles, but this Administration is only furthering the rapid expansion of government in a way we haven't seen and into new roles (such as socialized medicine, the government take over of energy, and other programs). Grade: F


• Fiscal responsibility. In the early 1980s I worked on a project to protest the government's action to increase the national debt to $1 trillion. This was a debt that took almost 200 years to reach. In a breath taking move, this Administration's budget will increase that debt by $1 trillion a year. Furthermore, the Administration has established a debt ratio that is comparable to what is common in third world countries. Grade: F


• Monetary policy. In order to fund a government that is growing out of control financially, the United States increasingly looks like a debtor nation going to foreign country with hat in hands and asking other nations to bail them out. China alone holds almost $800 billion of that debt in Treasury Securities. However, what the US government cannot get other nation's to finance, the Administration will likely use monetizing the debt as a part of its solution. We have already seen a move in this direction with the federal government increasing the money supply by $1.4 trillion in one day. This type of policy will eventually lead to hyperinflation. Grade: F


• National Security. Obama is sending a very strong message to the world of being a very weak President when it comes to his relationship with the rest of the world. He allowed himself to twice be embarrassed in a photo op with Hugo Chavez, he has blown empty rhetoric at increasingly aggressive (and nuclear) Iran and North Korean regimes, he is providing relief for the Communist government at Cuba by allowing US citizens to support citizens there, and he is dramatically cutting defense spending as our nation fights two wars. Grade: F


• Behavior. Most people don't remember the important "attitude" or "behavior" aspects of a progress report, but it is extremely important in this case. Obama has consistently appointed Cabinet members with an incredible level of arrogance and hypocrisy (we have a Secretary of the Treasury, the person in charge of IRS, who didn't pay his taxes). Furthermore, he is creating Czars through out his Administration who are not subject to Congressional scrutiny, which goes against his own mandate of honest government. Grade: Unsatisfactory.

Virtually everyone I have met of all parties are very concerned about the direction this nation is going. Even Democrats have told me that they "wanted more government, but not this much." Some who have voted for OBama are anxiously looking forward to opportunity to vote again and vote different. That process can begin in 2010 when people can change the composition of the Congress and begin to hold this Administration more accountable.

Kevin Price is Host of the Price of Business, the longest running show on CNN 650 (M-F at 11 am), AOL Radio, and CBS Radio. Eric Bolling of Fox News and Fox Business says that Price’s Blog “is very influential and moves the blogosphere.” Steve Moore of the Wall Street Journal calls Price the “best business talk show host in the country.” Find out why and visit his blog at www.BizPlusBlog.com and his show site at www.PriceofBusiness.com. You can also find Price on Strategy Room at FoxNews.com.

Tea Party Members Need to Quickly Harness Their Energies

I was exhilarated by the opportunity to speak in Houston, Texas to thousands (estimated at around 8,000) who came out to defend their freedoms against a government that is spiraling out of control. I saw moms, dads, babies, and grandparents. They were all Americans who are worried about this nation's future and they were among hundreds of thousands who gathered at locations around the country to be heard.

When you address thousands, you don't see individual faces. In my case it was a sea of bodies and signs. I told that group that I was excited to see the "dozens" and maybe even "hundreds" that the media would report showed up to that event. The crowd roared at the humor, but I was not joking, and the Houston Chronicle reported that "hundreds showed up." The article included a video clearly showing thousands and you have to wonder how stupid the media is or how stupid they believe we are.

Although I was inspired, I was also concerned. The vast majority of the people involved in this movement tend to be quite new to the political process who have expectations and agendas that simply will not stand the test of reality. I have been involved in politics since the late 1970s and have never walked far from it in decades. There are others in the Tea Party movement with some experience, but they are few and far between. The vast majority not only lack an understanding of our political process or the most effective means of action, they are proud of their lack of experience and look at people with experience with suspicion (it also doesn't help to have the CNN label behind my name).

After I spoke I was greeted by a young man wearing camouflage and a name tag simply described as "Domestic Terrorist," making fun of Barack Obama's expanded use of the phrase to include anyone who questions the direction this country is going. The young man was fairly bright, full of energy, and has the desire that is needed to help his cause. But how will he tap into it?

I asked him what he was doing in 2010, since that will be an important year if the Party is going to have an impact (because of the need to focus on the Congress). This twenty-four year old agreed and told me he was going to run for Congress. It didn't seem like a great use of time, since there are so many other opportunities going on, but I went along with him. "Where?" I asked. "I live in Stafford, Texas, who ever the Congressman is there." That would be the very newly elected Pete Olson, who shares this young man's beliefs on most issues and is not an "old timer" who simply needs to be kicked out. This wasn't all, this young man wanted all members of Congress, regardless of affiliation or beliefs, to be collectively thrown out. That means that good members would be replaced by bad. I guess the logic is that since there are more "bad" than "good members," I guess they believed you would have the opposite if you simply "cleaned it out." It sounds simplistic, but things like these alone are not the only thing necessary to achieve change.

Many of the thousands of people at these events are like this young men -- well intended, but in a difficult position to help facilitate change. Many, simply don't know the best routes to facilitate a move towards restoring America's values. The most important time in US history may turn out to be 2010. The center of the political universe will be the US Congress and the US House of Representatives in particular. If the Tea Party wants to make a difference, it will have to be focusing on the Congress and it will have to be done in a concerted and organized way.

Kevin Price is Host of the Price of Business, the longest running show on CNN 650 (M-F at 11 am), AOL Radio, and CBS Radio. Eric Bolling of Fox News and Fox Business says that Price’s Blog “is very influential and moves the blogosphere.” Steve Moore of the Wall Street Journal calls Price the “best business talk show host in the country.” Find out why and visit his blog at www.BizPlusBlog.com and his show site at www.PriceofBusiness.com.