given the fact that we are here to celebrate the legacy of president ford, and just wonder if you could close with one of your favorite stores, one of your cherished memories about him that you might be able to share with our audience, whether it was a humorous moment or something that you found quite endearing about president ford. >> one of the things that at the most difficulty with was his call swing. -- golf swing. [laughter] president ford had this reputation of a stumbling, and i only saw it in front of a press camera. but he was a big man, a strong man, and he had a powerful golf swing. betty had no idea where the ball was going to go.

[laughter] people would line the golf course watching the president laid off, and boy, he would hit a lot of people. [laughter] [applause] >> that is one thing they do not have don't worry at the congressional country club with the u.s. open. i like to thank the staff, including our library and broadcast center, for organizing today's event. if you can find more information about the national press club at our website, check that out at press.org. thank you and we are adjourned. [applause] [captioning performed by national captioning institute] [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2011]

>> coming up tonight on c-span, a look at highlights from today's republican leadership conference in new orleans. speakers include potential presidential candidate rick perry, mike mcalister, and retired colonel steve russell who commanded the u.s. unit that captured set down hussein. another look at national security adviser brent scowcroft on u.s. foreign policy in north africana and the middle east appeared later, a house hearing on the radicalization of the american muslim community in u.s. prisons. >> this week on "the communicators," we talked to michael powell about telecommunications issues and his transition from the sec chairman to his current leadership role as head of the cable industry association. it airs every monday at 8:00

p.m. eastern on c-span2. >> mr. president, thank you very much. i feel deeply honored to be nominated to become the 20 director of the central intelligence agency. >> with the senate confirmation hearing scheduled for this thursday, learn more about general david petreaus during is more than 50 appearances on line at the c-span video library with more than 15,000 people and every c-span program since 1987, for all searchable and free. it is washington your way. >> texas governor rick perry and buddy roemer were among the speakers on saturday, the final day of the 2011 republican leadership conference. the three-day conference featured conservative officials, political candidates, and activists. we will show you a number of speak years beginning with rick perry, reported to be considered

are running for -- of run for president. he spoke for about 25 minutes. >> there is a party in new our lands. -- orleans. let me take a moment to say thank you to joe nomination. -- joe donimo. it is awesome to be in louisiana. bomblet what i considered to be one of the really great governors, a dear friend of mine, a republican leader, bob jindal. everywhere you look in the state, and you see the evidence of his leadership. this guy is a real competitor, he is a winner. body, i want to leave you with one thing here. leave our football players alone across the border. give me some professional courtesy here. do not take them all.

on a serious note, governor jindal is showing folks that conservative principles are not just sensible, but they are truly compassionate, surely affected. flying into new orleans this morning, one cannot help to reflect, and we were just looking out the window as we were coming in and thinking about the destruction that visited the city when hurricane katrina came through. just this amazing story of the human spirit, has given this town back its vitality and its feeling. this place is the writing again. there has been a lot of talk in this town and across the country about the government's responsibility in a recovery for a disaster. government certainly has a very important role to play. but the real recovery comes as a result of individuals taking

ownership and doing the hard work and making the things happened. [applause] unfortunately this administration in washington that is in power now clearly believes that government is not only the answer to every need, but it is the most qualified to make it essential decisions for every americans in every area. and that makes of arrogance and audacity that guides the obama administration is of a shrine -- is an affront to every freedom- loving american and a threat to every private sector job in this country. [applause] whether they are seeking to punish a company like boeing that wants to go into south carolina, they are pressuring company leadership and forest

laboratories in new york, imposing epa mandates that will kill jobs right here in louisiana -- they clearly think that they know best. let me tell you, i vehemently disagree. they do not know best. [applause] choose and applaus cheers and a] folks who reached our shores in search of religious and economic freedom, they and the generations that follow, embrace the risks and rewards of freedom. they kill the land -- they tell land and work the factories that pursued innovation. unfortunately, the liberty that inspired our fledgling nation to throw off the chains of

repression, in asia and that has been a magnet for immigrants -- a nation that has been a magnet for immigrants through the years is being constricted daily by new regulations, obligations that seek to empower government, not the people. we now live in this strange inverted version of our founding fathers envisioned in which the government of the people, by the people, for the people is little more than this outdated notion, not very welcome in today's washington. instead, we have these so-called leaders who ramrod on red health care legislation through the system without revealing that it would make the federal government the sole arbitrator and ed -- and

administrator of health care pen instead, we have these so- called -- and administrator of health care. instead, we have these so- called leaders and this entitlement culture in our nation that dictates government spending based on what bureaucrats think they deserve rather than what the people can afford. do you really believe that this is what our founding fathers had in mind? as i think of their ridings, of the risk that they took in the name of freedom, the sacrifices of generations of americans who share those ideals, and begin to wonder what will our legacy be? will history u.s. as the

generation of americans that kind of collectively shrug their shoulders and said i guess there is nothing that i can do. will we just watch our nation continue this slow backward slide? will future generations of americans living in life without any direction or decision that is not made by some bureaucrat wonder why did not somebody do something? i have more confidence in america's energy and character. i totally believe it is time to reconnect with the greatest attributes of our nation, to regain that resilience spirit and recapture that love of freedom, remembering is true price. it does not matter what your zip code is or where you're from. we're all facing the same challenges in america. i stand before you today, a

disciplined conservative texan, is committed republican and a proud american, united with you in the desire to restore our nation and revive the american dream. [applause] >> i truly believe -- i believe with all my heart that our shared conservative values, that our belief in the individual is the great hope to learn nation. i say that with confidence because i have seen what we have done in texas of the last 10 years. i credit our conservative leadership in that state for unmatched job creation, including a 47.8% of all jobs created in america in the last two years. i have to brag a little bit on a

texas conservative values just a bit. we are the number one exporting state in the nation. we have a balanced budget to boot. and let me tell you -- that is what happens when conservative leadership that is willing to take a beating from the liberal left and their friends in the media. we happen to be a bunch of happy warriors their working together and sticking to our guns and those conservative values. i have distilled my economic agenda down into what i consider to be some pretty simple dividing principles. number one, do not spend all the money. [applause] >> #2, keeping taxes low and

under control. no. 3, have regulations that are fair and no. 4, reform the legal system so that frivolous lawsuits do not paralyze employers that are trying to create real wealth. that is what we have done. over the last 10 years, we have followed that simple recipe. we have stopped lawsuit abuse. we have one of the lowest tax burdens in the nation. our per capita debt is limited. and we keep adding jobs while others are losing them left and right. those jobs for the other states because of factors like excessive taxation, punitive regulation, frivolous lawsuits. to preserve our job-friendly climate, the texas legislature

did not raise taxes this last legislative session while balancing the budget and maintaining essential services. i might add that that new budget leaves $6 billion in a rainy day fund. in texas, we truly believe that you can defer tough decisions for tomorrow's generation. on like washington, we do not have some foreign creditor to finance deficits and spending either. last month, texas made sure that frivolous lawsuits have even less chance of strangling job creation as we passed a loser pay lawsuit reform in the state of texas.

and to make sure that those are never canceled out by illegal votes, we instituted a photo id requirement for every voter. when it comes to voting, one of the most precious, most powerful freedoms that we have, it is precious to us. do you not think it is fair to apply at least the same standards required to get a library card board to board an airplane? our legislators also protect the

sanctity of life with a bill that requires a sonogram on those contemplating abortion. think about this for just a second. when liberals talk about protecting our most of vulnerable populations, i do not understand why they will not include the most loanable, those innocent, unborn children. when it comes to conservative social issues, it saddens me when sometimes my fellow republicans duck and cover in the face of pressure from the left. i am reminded of what president ronald reagan said.

prior to his winning the presidency, of course, he said that the time has come for us to see if it is possible to present a program of action based on political principles that can attract those interested in the so-called social issues and those interested in economic issues. in short, is it not possible to combine the two major issues, those two major segments of contemporary american conservatism into one politically effective hold? i believe the answer is yes. mr. president, i agree with you. the answer is most definitely yes. and we need to stop apologizing for celebrating life. we need to stop apologizing for wanting to protect an individual's right to build a

business. we need to stop apologizing about stemming the tide of entitlement mindset that is out there. [applause] we ought to be proud of our efforts to give local parents and communities a say on how their children are educated, protecting that fundamental right of private property ownership. our party cannot be all things to all people. it cannot be. our letters opponents on the left will never like us, so let's stop trying to curry favor with them.

let's stand up. let's speak with pride about our morals and our values and redouble our efforts to let more conservative republicans. let's stop this american downward spiral. we are doing this and is happening because of too much spending, too much interfering, and too much apologizing. in my mind, there has always been to kinds of politicians, those who seek office to gain personal power and those who seek office to give power back to the people. in statehouses across this country and in the united states congress, conservative politicians, conservative leaders are working to return power to the people, turning

back the tide of this unchecked spending and unbridled interference in state affairs. let me share something that is not a secret. they will never willingly give up an ounce of power in washington, d.c. until the american people stand up and demand that we adopt reform. never will they do that. this administration may get up and amal words about job creation -- may get up and mouth words about recreation, but they clearly consider enterprise a dirty word. they think the fruits of our labor needs to be spread around

or the word that i like to use from their core ideology -- b. "redistributive." this is what motivated me to write the book "fed up" last year. it is centered around the 10th amendment. its key phrase that power is not prohibited by to the states are reserved to the states respectively or to the people. it is simple. it is elegant. and is to the point. the framers of our constitution knew all too well what happens when distant, too powerful governments hold sway over a nation. and that is why they decentralize power out of washington, d.c. into the hands

of the states. when states lead the way and they compete for ideas and resources and jobs, free market principles are allowed to act and break things happen. the states are proof of the best leadership is closest to the people, not hold up in washington, d.c. issuing these once-size-fits-all mandates for the entire country. our goal is to displace the entrenched powers in washington, restore the rightful balance between states and federal governments. reaching your pocket right now and take your phone out. it is ok. i want you to do something with me. if you really believe in what

we're talking about here, if this whole concept of restoring the balance back to our country, decentralizing out of washington, d.c., i want you to take your cell phone and text something out to the number 953, texting #w o r d. we will keep you apprised of what we're doing. we will keep you in the know about the move to get america forward into the rightful role that our founding fathers knew would work. in november 2008, there were too many americans who voted for some vague promises about hope and change. they ended up with

unprecedented deficits, unrestrained spending, and unacceptable unemployment. americans voted for help and got nothing but a greater economic misery. in november 2010, americans expressed their frustration with that misery and they voted for conservative republicans. in the united states congress, in statehouses all across this country, we have seen republican leaders turning the tide. november 2012 is not very far away. but we have to be ready to elect republican leaders up and down that ballot to will make government smaller so that opportunity can get bigger. i am preaching to the choir here, i'm understand that. but america's greatness is not found in the size of its government. america's greatness resides in

the hearts and minds of our people, their innovative approaches to solving problems, their ability to endure even in the toughest times. if we want to stimulate the economy we do not need more government spending. we need to unleash the private sector in america. the individual citizens who put their hours in at the job and pay their taxes and doing their best to take care of their families. the good news is that we have the wind at our back right now. americans are waking up to the realities of their previous choices. they're setting things right with their vote. the challenges facing state leaders as we pursue these balanced budgets across the country. let me share for you -- but the show with you -- they will pale in comparison to what we will see in 2014 when that runaway train known as obamacare hits

our budgets. if congress or the courts do not derail obamacare, state budgets will crumble under the massive financial burden. the republican majority in the house of representatives is starting to slow down that train, but we need to keep sending them reinforcements to bring that effort to make clear conclusion. together we must keep america moving back to pre-eminence because our values and conservative ideas are the world's greatest hope. like you, i still believe america is special i see a stronger america built on the solid foundation of spiritual strength of individual liberty, of self-determination. we must recapture that vision and begin the hard work of lighting the way for millions of

americans who would -- who are adrift in this sea of economic misery. let's leave them to the safe harbor of american renewal and the shores of american exceptional ism. let's anchor them in the future of good jobs and a country founded on great ideas. restore the notion of a government of the people, for the people, by the people. if we do not do it, who will? if not now, when? there is no greater goal, no more crucial time than right now to take and make their stance to restore our economy, our family, our country. i happen to know that we can and i know that you will. god bless you and thank you all for being out -- for being out here today and god bless the united states of america.

this >> says retired lieutenant

colonel steve russell spoke to that conference for just over 10 minutes. >> ladies and gentlemen, please welcome steve russell, author of "these values." [applause] >> i had the privilege of commanding a force that captured said on his name. -- saddam hussein. thank you.

thank you. among the soldiers that were serving with us that night was ian and michael. ian discovered the for tidbits -- orchards and michael was a battle captain. little did these two soldiers know when they were roommates at west point that they would both be a part of the forces that made history that night. returning to iraq with the same brigade about 15 months later, but now each of them in command of their own companies, ian was killed in action in april 2006.

those of us to serve with him pay our respects as he was laid to rest at arlington national cemetery. six months later, after sir frank a concussion and ignoring those injuries, mark payne led his troops in a combat operation in which she was also killed by enemy fire in october 2006. i made another trip to arlington national cemetery to pay my respects to yet another friend. at the burial, if you have been to the cemetery, the late caskets in the order that they are received. when we buried mark, he was elated that the ian -- laid at the feet of ian. best friends in battle, and now together in life and death. after the burial, i wandered

around our nation's capital trying to mentally process a great number of things. politicians on both sides of the aisle on to their chest about the hopelessness of our service and our mission in iraq. everywhere i turn, there was at -- the air was heavy with melancholy prophecy about how the war in iraq was lost. i decided to visit the national air and space museum for distraction. i noticed that there was this, the wright flight. as i looked at how it was built, i noticed that there were the naysayers, the people that said, it could never fly. upon examination, it was hard to believe that a tangle of canvas and would such as this actually struggled into the air. and coming out, i noticed a

sturdier looking craft with a brave pilot emblazoned on the side. it had no forward-looking windows, just take forward- looking pilot. but you could still hear the naysayers. you will die like all the others, you fool. you never get off the ground with the weight of all of that gasoline. you will never stay awake. you cannot do it alone. rounding the corner to examine the spacecraft, i was struck by the apollo 18 lunar module and wondered how a substance that look to me like aluminum file could support life in outer space. how was it that we found americans foolish enough to believe that you to be strapped for rocket that would break apart by design and hurl you into space, and because of

someone's mathematical calculations, you would be launched toward the moon, and because of the theory of gravity, you would be pulled their, and as you got there, the last remaining sections would break apart again and join and fined one of the -- and then find one another. and that they would land on the moon, plant the flag, and they would join back together, sling shot back to earth, and then as they came thousands of miles an hour and slow down when they hit the cariamas very, but do not worry, we will put civil asbestos plates on the bottom and it will protect you, and as you come to of 100 m.p.h., parachutes will deploy and you will land in the pacific ocean. and a helicopter will come and find you. [laughter] and yet that is exactly what we americans achieved in this country. [applause]

but to read the headlines of the day, you would hear this -- what about the war on poverty? what about the things they're really matter in this country or to mark as i look at it, i wonder how different our world would be today without or all right, charles lindbergh, and neil armstrong? as i ran the -- as i went back into the gloomy atmosphere, i was inspired. america has never been built on a labor and hard work of the cynics and the critics. [applause] cynics and critics, soldiers of this generation have had a bellyful of them. every monumental mission and our

nation has last of our men and women in uniform since 9/11 has been accomplished. overthrow the taliban government -- done. killer capt. bin laden -- done. army and kills or capture him -- done. and we the soldiers have done and with the obstructions of liberals, cynics, and critics telling us it was all some basic mistake. nonsense. [applause] what can we learn? perhaps this, there are still things worth fighting for. [applause]

america has not been built on the labor and hard work of the cynics and critics. there are still americans today that know how to sacrifice. there are still americans that know the difference between what is evil and what is good. who is a threat and who is harmless. whether to live free or quit on this country and died. thank god america still has men and women such as you today who still believe this as well. americans need to sacrifice along with her soldiers -- sacrifice that doubt. sacrifice anxiety. sacrifice cynicism. as a visionary as we republicans claim to be, we will make little headway if our only answers are mere sidelines looks at at what is wrong with this country. our task is to show what is

right with the united states of america. [applause] it is time to ignore the cynics and get to work. and the soldier knows you make use of the time that you have, not the time you would like to have. and you never quit and you stay on mission until is accomplished. if we want to honor those like ian and mark, who will never come home and joked -- and no the joys of marriage and raising children, who will never live in the freedoms that their sacrifice purchased, then we must honor read by restoring the country that they died for. [applause]

i believe the sum total of our lives is how we invest them in other people. and we the people, the defenders of this great nation, have a responsibility to serve our god, our country, and also give of our talents and efforts to preserve what is the dream of the american way of life. may you be such leaders, and as we faced the land and look to the future, we will always have the naysayers, those around us that take council of their peers. but as we endeavor to take risks, lead, and a chief we have to ignored their calls, saying that it will never fly. keep the faith, do not quit, god bless you all. [applause]

some more from the republican leadership conference with despite from -- this speech from mike mcalister. his remarks run 20 minutes. >> what a fine group of americans. it is funny being appear as a retired colonel, although that after our commander in j said that we know how they run a war in libya, hunh? no wonder the democrats are getting scared. to those of you, and another some of you, i heard you talking, the tea party-minded individuals, keep up the word. you're going to save this country. what a great day debate in this fight to take america back.

my name is mike mcalister, i am god-fearing first, woman- fearing naze, flag-waving, conservative businessman and a retired colonel that is running for the united states senate. i am from florida and we really clean house and 20 tendered we elected governor rick scott and mark are rubio. and we sent all hard-charging colonel named allen west to washington. i want to recognize a few of the groups here. everywhere i go, ladies, your involvement and your passion is simply outstanding in this fight. and our seniors, our national heritage, you worked hard to build this country with your sweat and your blood in your tears. after the sacrifices you make, we cannot let you down and we must restore america to the greatness you created and keep

it there. i wonder recognize all of our military veterans and veterans' families, and let there be no doubt, you are our nation's heroes. [applause] and those who serve as bloggers getting out the word of conservatism, keep up the good word. we need to keep people aware. this is still the greatest nation on the planet. if america's is though world's last true global military power and protector of freedom around as a fairly recently retired colonel, i can tell you confidently that we today have the very finest young chairman, semen, marines, and soldiers in the world. washington must truly support them so that they went and survive in battle. americans never need to go anywhere in the world and hang their head. this country has saved the world more than once with our most precious blood. and i think we are all tired of the president standing on foreign soil bowling to muslim

kings and apologizing for who we are and it has got the stops. dole has got to stop. -- it has got to stop. you hear people say that nobody likes america anymore, and stated as eloquently as ever by a british gentleman who said, the best with a tape measure of any nation is how many people want yen and how many want out. i think the events of recent weeks sent a strong message to any enemy or threat wanting to test the will, result, or spirit of the american people -- do you feel lucky today? bring it on. it don't matter how much it cost or how long it takes, we will hunt you down and we will eliminate you. [applause] my vision for america, i am sure that it is the same as yours, i

wanted to be strong, prosperous, safe, proud, sovereign and respected around the world for who and what we are. and by golly, we have been burned it. we need a strong economic future by getting government out of the way and america back open for business again. folks, we have to realize what we are up against. we are 5% of the war appeared china and india are 40% of the were pared by many measurements, china is now the largest manufacturer of goods on the planet, the largest exporter, if they have virtually no patent laws, and now they have the most academic hours in the school year. we have work to do. we've got to create and bring industry and jobs to america. we need a more business-friendly environment third week at 25 million americans that are neither unemployed or underemployed. we need lower taxes, less regulation, and tort reform. we need to conduct effective value change analysis to get all of our companies plug in so that their industry is mainstream.

we need to provide incentives that the rigid for those that hire other u.s. companies in their supply and distribution channels. and when the develop high-tech goods and services. we need to strategically aligned our health care system and eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse. and we need tort reform so that doctors do not have to duplicate tests just to get paid or avoid being sued. and going forward, my friends, we have to upgrade education. we need to get industry more involved in our curriculum at all levels, high school, look college, they are the customers. they are the ones with the paychecks. we need to graduate students for jobs that will be well paid. we need to upgrade the curriculum's forced to does that do not want to go to college and we need to have more internships for our students in high schools and colleges where they get academic credit to go out into the workplace and learn how competitive and serious it is,

and they will be a better student when they come back. we need to take a moment and look at what is going on around us. my friends, we know, we are under attack everywhere we look. internally, we have uncontrolled spending by the federal government agreed union management not accepting the reality of foreign competition and liberal judges making up the rules as they go, giving our country away. we have a family education system that is not keeping up with global competition, and the federal government ignoring the rights of our states and our citizens and restrictive laws handcuffing american productivity and our competitive spirit. we still have communism working in our country destroying family values and cohesiveness, and illegal immigration and unsecured borders taking our jobs and costing us money with government benefits. and radical islamic direction in our schools and our courts and our schoolrooms in our textbooks.

we of the growing black market of phony ids, phony credit cards, and tony voter cards. and it has got to stop. and we have the liberals who do not want the face or reduced to a knowledge the reality. externally, when we look around, we've got unfair trade practices and tony currency devaluations, weakening our patents and investments in china and brazil robbing us a proprietary technology and our strength, resulting in foreign goods robbing us of our jobs and our industrial base. there is local proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and renegade chance pollack -- technology transfer that will be used against us and military applications like ridge -- in countries like our run. we have radical islamic expansion around the world with al qaeda, has a lot, and repression in the soviet union

threatened to return to his former power. we have drug marketing as well as black market oil. the terrorists have to pay their bills, too. pirates operating openly on the seas, the u.n. initiatives trying to tell us where to live and take away our guns. how are we going to defeat these threats? i think ronald reagan had it right. if you threaten us, we win, you lose. [applause] we need less regulation and your laws that restrict businesses, jobs, and freedom. and we need to decrease the role or eliminate the u.s. department of education and return that control to the states. and we need to secure our borders. to put this all together on how we're going to go forward and win this battle, we need an

integrated national security policy their returns american pride, strength, and respect around the world, where our allies stand with us at all times and our enemies your spirit we've got to share our national soccer -- we got to make sure that are the national security is protected. and we need to bring a unified effort and a policy that consist of six core pillars for an immigration policy that allows the states to protect themselves and check the legal status when visitors are someone you fear is questionable their citizenship. we need to require certified citizenship and birth certificates of tenable as a registration card. and if you are here illegally, we will return you to your home country at their expense. and no amnesty. my friends, this is not a garage sale on being a citizen in america. [applause]

when it an energy policy that decreases our dependency on foreign oil. we need to increase our domestic oil production and our refinery capacity. we need the department of energy and the epa facilitating the process and set of constantly standing in the way. if we need an economic policy, yes, we need to spend less but we need to make more. if we need to do this with lower taxes. we got to address both sides of garbology spirit we are in business to sell products and services. we need to cut our spending with a federal balanced budget amendment and start paying off his $14 trillion debt. we've got to make sure that we take medicare and so secure, protect and promote small business, restore free markets, and promote entrepreneurship and new business start-ups. and what that have trade agreements and trees to protect our jobs and our technology. when did not bar and policy the returns american prestige and honor and pride around world,

and our u.s. embassies and ambassadors need to be formidable. we need to have no treaties are trade agreements with nations that are breaching our patents and robbing of us are far economic strength, harboring terrorists, or not supporting us in the worldl times. and we need to have no foreign aid to any country does not stand with us in an issue or time. we needed domestic policy here at home that protect america's homeland. if we need to restore the constitution has a lot the land. it is the law of the land. and we need to limit union bargaining rights and government jobs, and when we do infrastructure development, it needs to be american workers, american materials, and american equipment. if we need to protect proprietary technology and money to enforce the borders to make sure that their workers are here legally. and we need in an effective tax system that secures our borders and we need to make sure there is no sharia law, or courts in

this country. and i think we need to try anyone terrorist and military tribunals. and we need a military policy to maintain the very strongest and best military and the world. and the fellow commitments to our veterans. if we need to maintain force projection forward to deter enemies as often as possible. but when the day comes as someone continues to be a threat to our country and they simply will not play well in the sandbox and we have exhausted every other option, if we need to go to the tool box and get the big hammer. but we have got to do it right and not like this poorly managed as going on in libya. you get accurately assess the threat. who are they, what are they, how did they use it, what is their strength, what is the weakness? if we establish a force package that brings to bear overwhelming force and integrates all aspects and resources of national power into a fully

joint operation that completely dominates the battle space at every level, strategically, operationally, and tactically, and every environment, land, sea, or air. you have rules of engagement that levels the playing field for our troops and take away the on the ferry in any advantages, if you keep american fighting forces under the command of the american leaders. [applause] you have a clear and stated mission so that you know what the victory like. eutectic but though, you command the tempo, and you dictate the outcome and you kick their butt. and when the military objectives are achieved and the victory is secured coming of a well orchestrated and designed exit -- exit strategy new bring the troops out. but to protect them and their families while they're gone. i do not want to see any more foreclosures on homes of our

troops when they are protecting our country. ok. let's bring this home. where do we go from here? we must continue this fight to take our country back and in these liberal giveaways. the commission officer of the united military, i took an oath as many did to protect and defend the constitution of the united states against all enemies, foreign and domestic. we need our judges, our congress, if and our president to defend the constitution and we must replace the ones that is not doing what is right for america and future generations. we need to take control of the u.s. senate in 2012 with real conservatives that have serious credentials to face these global threats. i get as sometimes where i stand on the second and 10th amendment. for my home state, florida, like a sign everywhere warning you are and aren't 10th amendment owned and operated state and

justice will be served with a second amendment. [applause] we have to trash the obama economics that has doubled our debt and given as 9% unemployment and for the illegal obamacare in the trash for good. we need to get the legal can cause often let the american spirit and ingenuity go back to work and restore the families as the pillar of american society geared and we have to keep the ownership of america in the hands of american citizens and out of the hands of our federal government, out of the hands of china, and out of the hands of the un. we have to quit using government to collect union bills for paychecks and we've got to stop giving money away and using the state medicare and social security. if it is me, how what bair janet napolitano and get someone running homeland security that understands that job is to protect american citizens and

not those that are here illegally. and i think we need awful lot of the federal reserve. one in know where my money is going to they need to enhance transparency to the gao appeared we have to stop the dumbing down of america and give back to the values and principles that made this country great. we need to get the teaching of the constitution, the american flag, and the pledge of allegiance back in our schools. [applause] and we have to stop this political correctness and coddling of islamic terrorists. these radicals want to kill a senate cannot be tolerated. we have got to stop this infiltration into our textbooks and our schools. if we can allow islamic banks were courts into our country. and we must fully support israel as the only democracy and allied that we have in the middle east.

if it is me, i would never issue per met for a mosque stained with the blood of american citizens in a terrorist attack. finally on this, we must secure our borders and no more live service. i worked at the u.s. special operations and the war and terrorism and we did the money laundering and drug traffic in it and all work together for we have everything coming to the border. it is not just people wanted to pick strawberries. we have to stop rewarding people for be here illegally. we need to let the world know that being in this country is a privilege, and not a right. that a paid the ultimate prize, and just because you show up does not mean that we owe you anything. if you want to be here, you've got to be here legally.

if you want to work here, you have to be in the tax system. if you want to live here, you need to be a contributor and not a taker. and if you want to be a citizen, we have our process that you need to follow, and for me, please learn to speak english. [applause] my friends, we are going to close. but we need to recognize that this election next year, the liberals are formidable. they will go to any extreme, let's not kid ourselves. we will have to get our game face on and put our most qualified players on the field at every level. next year's elections will have a huge and long lasting consequence, and i'm going to ask you how many of you have children or grandchildren? next year's election is about our children and our grandchildren and our country. not about his political career is it, whose turn is it -- we

have to put formidable people against these threats. we need all hands on deck. i will close with a quote from reagan, and we all agree remember him, to anyone who does not believe that freedom has to be protected. freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. we did not pass the torch children in the bloodstream the pass it onto our children in the bloodstream. this is still the land of the free and home a brave and one nation under god. we must keep america strong, prosperous, and stop those who want to give away or take it away. and failure is simply not an option. americans have always found a way to fight and win. and we will once again. too often our politicians put themselves first, the soldiers put america first. in 2012, pardons are going to send another hard-charging colonel to the u.s. senate to give allen west some

reinforcement. [applause] my friends, i want to thank you for letting me be here today. you're doing great work. we are going to win thiswe will. never let your head to get done. may god bless you and may god bless america. >> we also heard remarks from congresswoman marsha blackburn. she spoke for just over 15 minutes. >> it is fantastic to be here with you in new orleans for the southern republican leadership conference. i am thrilled that we are holding this during the centennial of ronald reagan's

birth. [applause] those values that >> those values that he coalesced around, faith, family, freedom, hope, opportunity reject those are the values that he took with him to -- those are the values he took with him to washington in 1980, the values we need to take back to washington today, and we need to remember that those are the values that need to be in the white house in november, 2012, and we need to get out there and win this one for the gipper. [applause] >> the american people really did a great job getting a head start on this last year. look at what transpired. i think that you all sent a message to the political class in washington, d.c., that was a pretty good lesson in civics, and limited government, and the

u.s. constitution. [applause] >> and when it turns out that some of those democrats failed on that final exam in november, hugh, the people of this -- you, the people of this country, he gave them a one-white ticket home. -- , you gave them a 1-way ticket home. thank you. [applause] >> because of all of your great work, we pick up seats in the senate, took control of the u.s. house of representatives, and we gave nancy pelosi the title that she so richly deserved, of minority leader. [applause] >> we sent president obama a message that change had, again, -- had come again, and guess what, it is going to come again next year in 2012 carry? we want a new president of the united states -- 2012. [applause] we want a new president of the

united states, and we need to begin the journey today because we do not have a single second to lose. our country -- our country cannot afford four more years of barack obama's liberal policies. he is a president that is too expensive to afford by nearly every measure. by nearly every measure, the country is in worse shape when it -- than it was when he took office. 1 gallon of gas, doubled in price. unemployment, over 9% in 28 months. home values are down. obama-care has put our health- care system on life support. so-called financial reform has made too big to fail lot of the -- the law of the land. the epa --

let's say that one more time. there you go. of all, the federal debt has has a short circuit in our nation's energy policy. the fcc has nationalized the internet, and most dangerously of all, the federal debt has ballooned, putting our country on a course to financial and economic ruin. meanwhile, the chair of the democratic national committee has said that obama has turned the economy around. well, here is a news flash. obama has not turned the economy around. he is turned this country and -- he has turned this country and the economy upside down. and according to the latest polls, one -- less than one- third of the american people think we are on the right track. but i am hopeful. i am an optimist.

because to me, that says to me two-thirds of the american people are ready for a new direction. [applause] from. let me tell you a little bit about where i come from. my district in tennessee is a great barometer for what is going on in the country -- a lot of small towns, farms, two great cities, memphis, and national, and yes, indeed, that makes me legitimately a little bit country, and a little better rock and roll. [laughter] >> as i am out and about, i talk to people from all walks of life, and you know what they tell me? they are so worried. they are so worried that the american dream is in deep, deep trouble. that the next generation is going to have fewer opportunities than we have had,

and that the president and the liberal elites in washington i just do not get it. you know, i think if you're going to save the american dream, if you're going to preserve it, you have to understand it. i understand it because i have been lucky enough to lift it. -- live it. as a girl, growing up on the farm in southern mississippi, -- [applause] >> as a student working my way through college, as a salesman, out knocking on doors in the hot, summer 7480 hours away, as hour a week, as an entrepreneur or, hanging out shingles, as a wife, blessed to be a mother and grandmother, i understand that americans do not work hard so that their children have to work harder. we work hard so that our

children will have it better. [applause] >> this next election -- the president likes to talk about winning the future. i have to tell you, this next election is not about winning the future for some, and losing it for others. it is about securing the american dream for all americans, and let's look at specifically what we can do. if we are going to increase our majority in the house, take control of the senate, and when -- win the white house, we need to be the party that stands for security in uncertain times. when you talk about security in uncertain times, security means a lot of different things. retirement security, job security, financial security, border security, and most important of all, securing

freedom, and we, as republicans, need to lead on every single one of those. to win in 2012, if we do need to be the power of the party of energy security. my dad made a career of selling oil-filled equipment, so this topic is pretty close to my heart, and i have seen first hand how far as technology has come over the years, and recently, in washington, i have seen firsthand how this administration and the epa gets in the way every single time. it seems that what we have is a government out of control. the epa is trying to implement cap and trade regulations right now -- 928 new regulations. congress did not pass this. the american people do not want it, and we need to fight against it. [applause]

>> and to make matters worse, the federal government is now moving forward with plans -- their plans to ban the incandescent light bulb. yes, the light bulb that you love, they want to ban it, making you use a light bulb that will cost you more money, does not work, and when it breaks it is a health hazard to read his -- health hazard. it is another example ofwhen it washington runs its policy, your wallet is the loser every single time. when it comes to energy policy, i think there is a great solution to this -- four words -- drill here, drill now. [applause] >> to win in 2012, we need to be the party stands for financial security.

the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff has said that our national debt is the biggest threat to our national security. when i was a little girl i left -- loved to go to work with my daddy. if we passed a used car lot, and they have the sign out front that said "we told to send out." -- "we tote the note." he explained that one to me, and he said baby, don't you ever let anybody tell your note. -- tote your note. apparently, the federal government did not get that message because we have nations like china toteing our note. when you look at our publicly- traded debt, china and owns 25% -- taino owns 25% -- china owns 25% of that publicly traded debt, japan over 20%, the united kingdom 7%, opec owns 5%, and we know who makes up opec

-- ecuador, bahrain, iraq, kuwait, algeria, nigeria, libya, and iran. they own 5% of our debt. let's look china alone. every day the u.s. government cuts a $119 million check in interest to the chinese government. was that, they can purchase two joint strike fighters every single week, and at the end of the year, they have enough money left over to buy a shiny aircraft carrier. by sailing to tap our -- by failing to tap our spending, we are tapping our children's future entry in it to the people -- future and treating it to the people that own bad debt. if that does not the future i want for my children and -- that

is not the future i want for my children and grandchildren, and i know that is not the future you want for yours either. we have to be the party of job security. we know government does not create jobs. it kills them. the greatest engine of job creation i've ever known is the ingenuity of the american spirit. we need to cut red tape. we need to reduce government spending. fire of the ingenuity of the -- fire up that ingenuity of the american spirit, and cut taxes. [applause] >> my presbyterian deacon husband has a great line on taxes and i think president obama needs to hear it. my husband likes to say "10%, good enough for gone on sunday, he is absolutely good enough for an uncle sam on monday -- it is absolutely good enough for "sam on monday." [applause]

>> president obama sure did like to stimulate the government with the $1 trillion stimulus bill. the only thing i saw on it was a road sign said said american recovery and reinvestment act. we have a new road sign for you, and it says stop. s-t-o-p. stop trying to spend your way to prosperity. it doesn't work. stop proposing new taxes on small businesses. stop digging our country deeper and deeper into debt. we want to help american small business fears hang up a new sign -- small businesses have not unused sign that says how it -- hang out a new sign that says help wanted, we are hiring trend that is how we now our country is on the road to recovery. across this country to begin its review for a new job -- president of the united states of america.

we have republican candidates across this country to begin its review for a new job -- president of the united states of america. i have to tell you, we are an exceptional country, and we deserve an exceptional president of the united states. >> so, as these candidates debate the issues, some worry the competition will hurt whoever emerges and gets the nomination. i disagree that it is going to hurt. i think it is went out. as a former county party chairman, i learned that competitive primaries always give us a better general election candidate, and we are going to make either him or her, one or the other, i kind of liked that we have some hers, out there, don't you? you have a major role to play in the. we are never going to get a fair shake from the mainstream media, but you know what, we do not need them. [applause]

>> they were not with us in 1980, or 1984, or 2000, or 2010, but the american people were with us then, and they will be with us again." -- with us again. let me tell you how i think it works for the most important news network is you and your network of friends and families, and co-workers, and this is my call to you today -- engage your network in the issues that you care about. use social networking, or better yet, good old fashioned by printing, go door-to-door to read -- door-to-door. set the record straight. let's give president obama and the liberal elites a lesson in a good old-fashioned politics the way it ought to be from the

grassroots, and from the bottom of. i mentioned earlier that i sold books and door-to-door, and one of the lessons i learned was the more i knew about the product by was selling, the better job i did, so let's do our part to be informed on all of these issues, stick to the fact, and make sure the people realize our conservative values are american values. we are the party that can insure the american dream during uncertain times. we are the party that can defend freedom in a dangerous world. which your help, we are the party that can win big next year. despite all of the challenges that are out there, i am confident in this country's future, and you should be, too. anybody who doubts america's future only needs to look at our past.

this is the country whose founders fired the shot heard round the world. this is the country whose citizens have chosen to protect liberty in every single generation. this is the country whose free- market economy brought about the american dream, and this is the country whose future rests in your hands. let's make our founding fathers proud. [applause] >> let's choose a new course for this country. let's leave our children and our grandchildren in better shape. let's get out there. let's win this one for the gipper. [applause] >> thank you. god bless. [applause]

♪ >> next, a former louisiana governor and presidential candidates buddy roemer. he spoke for about 40 minutes. >> thank you.

welcome to louisiana, those of you who are visiting. when our nation began, it was separated by thousands of miles of the atlantic ocean, from the shores of the cane. the shorts were already the freest place on earth. but the fear grew that the monarch's would turn increasingly heavy-handed, and that taxation without representation would become the rule. the tyranny of the king would rule the land. so, we decided to claim our self-governing freedom. it wasn't one act by either side that did it. it happened over time. we are maybe the only nation that revolted not to gain freedom, but to maintain it. that is how deep it runs in

america. unlike the french or the russians, we were all ready free, but we wanted the tyranny to know that it was a gift of got, not of the king. it was the idea of america that drove the revolution, the idea that we had in alienable rights that did not depend on the benevolence of a king or a tyrant or a dictator or an army to maintain those rights. we knew that dependence on the benevolence of a central authority would lead ultimately to tyranny. tierney, actions to benefit the few, not the many. the idea of america is that we are at risk of tyranny even when

we are free, and it was this idea that caused the revolution, the idea of the nation in revolt, not an event, an idea. today, 200 years later, we are run by the tyranny of the special interests and their checkbooks. [applause] money, pac money, but the money, corporate money, association money, special- interest money. think about it. think about the idea of it. i refer you to a tax code that is not readable with loopholes for the rich and famous, with favors for corporations that send our best jobs overseas, and

where ge can make a profit last year of $14.2 billion worldwide, and pay not one penny of federal income taxes. you know what? they gave $4.3 million in political contributions to candidates for president four years ago. corporations never made more profit than they did this year. how do you feel? after this nation was brought to its knees in the last recession, by the wall street banks and other companies which received trillions of dollars in taxpayer bailout and credit enhancement money without a single thank you in return, did you get your thank you? i refer you to a bank reform bill that allows too big to fail to remain, that did not address the capital ratio, that

did not restore the provisions of glass-steagall, and that acted like wall street banks are making america great again -- the great robbery. i wonder how this happened. at the age of 67, a guy that has built $1 billion in banks that did not take one penny of bailout money, i wonder how it happened. could it be that the financial sector of wall street, the largest political check writers in the nation last cycle -- could it be that goldman sachs was the single largest financial contributor at $3.4 million and that no one went to jail for fraud for lying or for the big scam? could it be? [applause]

i will not talk about the money given by the insurance companies or the pharmaceutical companies. they are some giants that give us a health care reform bill that did nothing to lower the cost of government care. they did not cap claims. they did not require insurance companies to compete across state lines or open pharmaceutical companies up for competition or lower their price for volume or competition from canada. these were the monopoly protectors in the bill. i do not have to remind you of the subsidies and special favors in a federal operating budget that is so out of balance that the national debt will double from its current historic high in the next eight years and is so full of gimmicks and a rosy assumptions that i believe that that horrible picture is

understated. ok, so our political leadership, a democrat and republican, decided to subsidize ethanol, oil at $100 a barrel, gas, unproven energy technology, housing, fannie mae and freddie mac, and on and on and on. but follow the money. d.c. is rigged. they do not read the bill. they do not have time to. they are raising money. [applause] they are working out lobbyist jobs upon retirement. from the very companies buying favors before their committee. this is institutional corruption. it is tyranny.

[applause] let me tell you something you did not know, because you knew all of that. let me tell you something you did not know. in the last political cycle for president, more money was contributed from the washington, d.c., area than from 32 states combined. the working poor and the middle-class americans don't give. 99% of the citizens don't give. political giving has mushroomed into a casino for special favors. they live off government. the party is thrown by those who need government contracts or hidden favors or secret

conferences or deals. 1% of the people give the money, and they want to savor and access, a help, a relief. i am the only person running for president who has been both a congressman and a governor. wow. [applause] i've seen the rigged money game grow, and grow, and grow, and although i specialize in beating incumbent democrats for congress and for governor on issues of corruption and special interest, i have never seen anything like the tyranny that walks our land, the tyranny of the special interest, alive in america today. we did not get here by accident.

the president refuses to leave because he is busy running wall street for a fundraiser at $35,000 a ticket. or running to a houston for the big oil money. the man of change you can count on is raising $1 billion from special interest. that has changed. -- that is changed. it used to be only $250 million. you thought it was the poor who wrote the tax code? you thought it was the middle- class that busted the budget? you thought it was the working people who sent our jobs overseas? while we taxpayers paid for it. america is in trouble, and we can do better, folks. we must be bold.

we owe more money than any nation on earth. who cares? you ask. it is just a debt. abraham lincoln, the greatest republican, said it. i am going to quote abraham lincoln. "excess of the debt shrinks a nation." do you feel like being shrunk? president jefferson guysville -- buys the louisiana purchase for pennies on the acre from napoleon who was broke and it needed to -- and needed to finance another war. excess of that debt shrinks a nation. america and doubles and france disappeared from the new world. wow. america is in trouble. we can do better. we must be bold.

we spend without discipline. in the last two years, out of budget. to hit the sweet spot for growth and begin to get the dead in control, we must discipline spending and totally reforme the tax code. that is the easy part. we spent $300 billion a month and borrow $120 billion of its from our competitors. nice move, america. we must reduce spending to get spending down to 18.5% of gdp. and enhance job growth. we can do it by reducing spending $140 billion a year for five years, 1% a year of the gdp. i have identified six broad areas of reduction targets, from $50 billion to $150 billion. everything is on the table.

entitlements. our special concern because of their growth rate and the fact that they comprise such a huge part of the debt. medicare alone is 26% of the budget. entitlements will not be destroyed or eliminated, but certain actions are required to preserve their financial integrity. on the social security, i would change the retirement age gradually over time. one month a year for 24 years. i would bring the new retirement in line with the age and would not raise any taxes or lower and -- any of the benefits for social security. one month a year for 24 years. on medicare, we would need to lower the growth rate to maintain sovereignty.

he could still grow and protect seniors. -- it could still grow and protect seniors. the rate of growth reduced overtime. i would begin with a systematic reform of insurance. pharmaceuticals and tort lawyers, you and competition -- yielding competition across state lines, caps, and discounts. [applause] this doesn't just help medicare. it helps every american, young and old. i will let tax-free savings accounts for american workers. -- for younger workers. i would offer a 25% an incentive to providers who institute procedures who would save money for patients and the system. incentivize them. innovation would explode.

the health care system would be changed. i would target other agencies, other parts of government with management. i would downsize, downsized, downsized. you could take transportation. the projects are local and state. i would eliminate the department of energy. [cheering and applause] i would put education where it works best, back home with parents and the grandparents. [cheering and applause] the housing subsidies are gone. fannie mae and freddie mac will be buried by me personally. [cheering and applause] to the embarrassment of clinton, bush, obama, and most

congressmen in between. with the appointment of a handful of dedicated americans, we would turn around this bankrupt institutional government, downsizing and managing it to health. that is what i would do. we would consolidate i.t., standardized software cannot -- standardize software, we will replace half of all of the federal workers who will retire in the next 10 years. that is 42%, by the way. and replace them with technology, providing better service, lower payroll costs, and is sustainable budget. -- and a sustainable budget. i was shocked when i read the budget. it is been 20 years. 20 years, in the real world building jobs. i read it. do you know that we have 18 different food assistance programs?

20 different homelessness programs. 80 different programs in usda, dot, education, the interior, hhs, hud, department of labor, and va to transport disadvantaged citizens to needed services. management, management, management. get used to the number one when it comes to service. not 18, 20, or 80. [applause] it is what i do as a ceo. tax reform is another fundamental step in the turnaround. i will keep it simple. the code should be simple. the current code is written by the lobbyists. it is a disgrace by any score.

it is now promoting growth. -- it is not promoting growth. it is unreadable and deliberately so. we need simplicity, broadbased fairness, lowest marginal rates possible with the fewest exemptions and carveouts. i like the concept of a fair tax, however are you prepared to pay 23% to 33% rate that it calls for? i would rather starve with a top rate at 575,000 of 26% favoring -- start with a top rate at 5 under 75000 up 26% favoring small businesses. i would settle corporate between 14 and 18 depending on how many loopholes that we can get rid of. we will lay the platform for growth and combine it with budget discipline. we will go for simplicity,

clarity, fairness, flatter rates, but progress and the lowest marginal rate possible to make us a haven for capital. we will 0 the tax on dividends and capital gains. [applause] we will zero the state taxes up -- estate taxes up to 10 million and index that dollar amount so it will go up over time. we will eliminate the alternative minimum tax and the marriage penalty. [applause] let me give you some news. it is not enough. i love all of these candidates talking about scrubbing the budget. most of them have never done it. but it is not enough.

our actions must be bolder. because we are a nation producing no new jobs. it is not enough. we've lost 1.1 million jobs in the last 12 years. our unemployment rate combined with our not looking rate is the 7.5%. -- is 11.5%. when you add those that are working part-time or took a job at 40% less pay, one out of four american families are hurting today. they are hurting. those who have a job are scared of losing it. not only is unemployment killing america, but the pace of the jobs that we do have is not keeping faith with life's needs. we have lost hundreds of

thousands of jobs, and what is left do not pay anything. we traded the manufacturing jobs of america for the service jobs. callald's, insurance, support teams, wal-mart -- these are decent jobs, but they are hard to build a family with, aren't they? they are hard to build a community, a church, impossible to build a nation. we used to be a nation that made things, built things, manufactured things. made in america. do you remember it? it used to mean something. you could drive across america. come with me and the next week. -- do it with me next week.

drive across america in town after town. alabama and georgia. south carolina. south dakota, louisiana -- there was a town with a ball bearing factory. it is gone. or if furniture plant. it is gone. or a clothing manufacturer. they are gone. or an auto parts plant. it is moved away. we only have 8% of our work force in manufacturing. the rest of us is in service or sales or work for the the -- for the government. made in america? looking back, i believe we gave many of these jobs away. maybe i am guilty. i was in congress eight years. looking back, i think we were hurt by technology. that has any effect. productivity has in effect. -- that has an effect. productivity has an affecti

think we were hurt by bad management. i think we were hurt by heavy- handed and short-cited union actions. but the biggest chunk of our best jobs wheat gained 08 to china, mexico, japan, india, -- best jobs we gave away to china, mexico, japan, india korea. we sell them grain, and our best jobs, and they sell us everything else. as stephen more wrote in the wall street journal a few weeks ago, which used to be a nation of makers. we are now a nation of takers. more people work for the government today in -- van in -- than in manufacturing, farming, fishing, construction combined. made in america? not anymore. we must take bold action, and i am going to do it. [applause]

scrubbing the budget is good, revising the tax code is necessary. but it is not enough for a nation at risk. number one. i am a ronald reagan tax cut guy. all i was in congress voting with him as a conservative democrat from 1981 until 1988 when i became governor of louisiana. you see those same principles in my low marginal rate proposal. however, we need to do more. number one, do you know what the new taxes are? regulations. the democrats cannot pass a tax, so they pass regulations.

did you know that we had 81,405 pages of regulatory comments printed in the 2010 alone? 81,000. do you know there are 4000 new regulations in the pipeline express? -- at present? some 66 new major regulations implemented in 2010, only 16 had a cost-benefit analysis. large business does not care. they have tax lawyers, compliance officers, lobbyists. what about small business people? these are the men and women who create the new jobs of america. two out of three. do they have this kind of let's deal with the regulations? small business paid more for regulations last year than they did in taxes. ronald reagan would stand here and tell you -- regulations are the new taxes. i would go back to january 1,

2008, and every regulation imposed since then would be rescinded. [cheers and applause] go to work, america, and it will be small business that leads us back. we will be regulate them -- we will deregulate them. first day. number two. we will break our addiction to foreign oil. what a disgrace. [applause] we will be energy independent by the end of the decade. we will utilize all forms of domestic production. we will eliminate the $500 billion annual trade imbalance and create 1 million new energy jobs for america. spending money in america instead of spending it in saudi arabia. [applause]

the government will not take winners and losers. it cannot. at the marketplace will decide to mix the price and the content. the federal government will open all of its land, on shore and off, to drilling in a safe manner. [cheers and applause] we will provide, promote, and protect energy drilling in an environmentally sound manner. but drill we will. [applause] further, after renewed drilling has begun, we will begin to tear rest imported oil to -- we will begin to tariff imported oil. diminish its uses. they will rise as we approach the end of the decade. tariff revenue will not be used for government operations, but we will reduce the principal on our national debt.

[applause] our foreign energy tariff will be imposed on all nations except mexico and canada. regulations will allow for expedited clearance depending upon the topography to be drilled. we will have regulations that will allow for the expansion of domestic refining capacity. when necessary, regulations will be cooperative, instructive, and enforced by state agencies. the department of energy will be disbanded and defunded. [cheers and applause] that only saves $25 billion the first year. any useful valued or necessary function of the department will be reassigned to other existing federal agencies.

all energy subsidies will be eliminated. including ethanol, oil, natural gas, and unproven energy technology. the savings will exceed $100 billion annually. [cheers and applause] we will open the nuclear waste facility in nevada. [applause] the safe generation of nuclear energy will assist our independence and should remain at about 20% of our domestic use. our foreign policy will take oil interests off the table. we will have no other marines or army personnel serving on oil duty. since we are no longer spending $500 billion a year in the

middle east on oil, the money that slips out to the terrorists will stop. [applause] the strengthening of our dollar through the elimination of a huge trade deficit created by the mass of purchasing of -- massive purchasing of foreign oil will reduce the price of oil over time because it strengthens the dollar. helping all user nations while compromising the power and influence of opec. the chavez regime in venezuela will not be happy with this policy. we will. [applause] we will additionally erect a no-trade policy for all foreign products and attempted to be imported into the united states containing a single drop of

aranian oil in their production -- iranian oil in their production or transportation. this policy is aimed at iran until they agreed to discontinue their buildup of nuclear weapon capability. [applause] nuclear non-proliferation is our policy, and we are prepared to use the economic power and might of america and its allies in a focused way to get this done. finally, the jobs, benefits of energy independence are incalculable. of million in the direct industry. millions in manufacturing who need a domestic supply of affordable energy. this is what "made in america" is how you build it. this is what happens when this is your policy. this is what happens when this

is your focus. number 3. our third bold move will be to discontinue our nation's neglect of the issues surrounding fair trade and a loss of america's best jobs. we cannot protect american jobs from technology. we should embrace technology, but we have to take advantage of who we are. we can protect american jobs from free trade that isn't free. we will protect these jobs from unfair trading practices, from hidden barriers erected in other nations. on trade, i will be about free and fair. free alone has not worked with america. we will start with fair.

[applause] i am abraham lincoln on this point. a short version. [laughter] who believes that fair trade was what would turn america from a farmer into a builder. it is time that we look at it again. it is time that we will law -- not quietly stand by and let our best and brightest be dusted off by unfair trade practices or the abuse of labor practices of others. we will no longer play the fool. we will practice free trade where it works, but we will practice of free trade in every -- practice their trade in every relationship. finally, i am a banking ceo that is traveled the world -- india to argentina, brazil, to

let the non. -- lebanon. i know when we are being taken advantage of. i know that our own corporate giants have never been more profitable than they are right now because they keep sending these high-priced american jobs overseas. i promise, we will change the tax code in the spending policies and to stop using your tax payer money to defend the practice of and enables the procedures of sending america's jobs overseas. fair trade. [applause] fair trade. fair trade will be as valued as free. fourth and final action. i will run successfully for president, excepting $100 --

accepting $100 maximum contributions. like i always do. no pac money, full disclosure. i will attempt to beat the tyranny of the big check. if we do not do this, the changes necessary to rebuild america will never happen. because washington is bought and sold. the status quo will will. they will fight me every step of the way. watch them. the politically elite and entrenched never had it so good. america is hurting. d.c. is a boom town. wall street is near an all-time high. unemployment is at 9.1%. the wall street banks are as greedy as ever. no one is going to jail. obama is raising $1 billion for reelection at $35,000 a ticket. obama did not call for this --

cause this recession, but he has made it permanent. [laughter] [cheers and applause] i won't blame people. -- i want plain people. i want working people. i want the guys that are getting foreclosed and downsized and laid off. it is not my ideas that make the -- me right to be president. there are many good ideas out there. our job is to take them all in. it is my freedom to do what needs to be done. that is what is right and bold, to consider all the good ideas without being obligated to a pact or a special interest or to business as usual. [applause]

that is how all i have always run and how all i have always be -- beat the incumbent democrat. always. get on my website, www.buddyroemer.com. i have raised contributions from 45 states. no one else has. louisiana, texas, california, georgia, florida be my top five. i average $90.34 per donation. i have paid all of my bills, and i have money in the bank. my specialities, beating incumbent democrats who are institutionally corrupt, which headed for the united states -- which i did for the united states congress and which i did for the government of louisiana. i did it with hard limits on giving.

all the experts were united -- "roemer cannot win," they'd say. i need one american out of 100 -- think about it with me -- i need one american out of 100 to give me $100. that is more money than dare i mention mitt romney or john mccain had spent four years ago total. i need one out of 100. one out of 100. against obama, i need to out of -- two out of 100. i will challenge him to five debates, from foreign policy to jobs. from illegal immigration to scrubbing the budget. we will decide at $100 a person who owns america. the billion dollar special interests or plain and good people? the last --

[cheers and applause] ♪ >> they are trying to get me off. the last poll had me known by 3% of the people. i had to% of the vote. -- 2% of the vote. i would not trade places with anybody. the leader had 70% of the vote. -- 17% of the new boat -- the vote. who would you rather be? in the age of the internet and a nation in trouble, i ask you to stand with me. we can take this country back. thanks, everybody. [cheers and applause] ♪ [captioning performed by national captioning institute] [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2011]

>> representative ron paul won the straw poll with 612 votes. jon huntsman was next with 382 and michele bachmann captured third place with 191. >> coming up tonight on c-span, national security adviser brent scowcroft. after that, islamic radicalization in u.s. prisons. later, a senate hearing that would -- on a bill that would

double the limit allowed to be loaned to small businesses. the-span's coverage of national cable telecommunication said association's 2011 cable show continues tomorrow at 5:15 p.m. eastern. the fcc chairman is interviewed by the former fcc chairman michael powell. at 6:30 p.m., a look ahead to next year's presidential election with former obama white house senior adviser david axelrod and ed gillespie. >> the times ordered the world when i was growing up. >> "page one" producer and director andrew rossi takes an inside look at "the new york times" through the eyes of the staff. >> i came in