From Allen's website:
"Common Sense Jeffersonian Conservative Principles
Thomas Jefferson, the author of the Declaration of Independence and the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, our nation's third President, and founder of the University of Virginia, has long been my philosophical hero along with Ronald Reagan who inspired me to get into organized politics. As a student of history at "Mr. Jefferson's University," the University of Virginia, I studied Thomas Jefferson's writings, which shaped my vision for the responsible and limited role of government."
"It is not my intention to do away with government. It is rather to make it work -- work with us, not over us; stand by our side, not ride on our back. Government can and must provide opportunity, not smother it; foster productivity, not stifle it."- Ronald Reagan
"A wise and frugal government, which shall leave men free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor and bread it has earned -- this is the sum of good government."- Thomas Jefferson
+óGé¼+ôI trust free people, free enterprise, and free markets to allow folks to innovate and create opportunities for all Americans to advance, compete, and succeed. I don't like limits and restrictions on people. I think they ought to be only limited by their own hard work, ingenuity, imagination and their character.+óGé¼-¥-Allen
These are the foundational ideals in which Virginians and Americans believe. Throughout my public service, and in the Senate today, I pledge to work for these principles to help make Virginia a better place to live, learn, work and raise our families-George Allen
presidentialman's input:
First of all I like the Reagan quote on a Jefferson principles page, nothing against Ronald Reagan but the page is about Thomas Jefferson, wouldn+óGé¼Gäót it be better to have a site on the page about Allen+óGé¼Gäós Reaganism and have that on there instead? But this leads into a great question, if Allen believes in a +óGé¼+ôwise and frugal government+óGé¼-¥ why is he a rubber stamp for George Bush+óGé¼Gäós Government that has turned a surplus into a staggering deficit? Bush+óGé¼Gäós government is a lot of things, but it isn+óGé¼Gäót +óGé¼+ôwise and frugal?+óGé¼-¥ Another thing, and no disrespect to the military, we need a good sized fulltime military if the US want to be successful in the world as a superpower, just like any other nation, my question though is if Allen studied Jefferson+óGé¼Gäós writings carefully, shouldn+óGé¼Gäót he have voted against the Iraqi Invasion, to curb what Jefferson calls, +óGé¼+ôprotection against standing armies.+óGé¼-¥ or for that matter +óGé¼+ôto guard liberty against+óGé¼-ªthe executive+óGé¼-¥ branch of government?+óGé¼-¥ And on that note, when the Patriot Act came up for a vote in the Senate, of the two times it came up, he voted for the Patriot Act. What is the Patriot Act but a gross power grab by the excutive branch if nothing else? So clearly he needs to read the Sage of Monticello again.
Jim Webb doesn+óGé¼Gäót have a Jeffersonian Principles portion on his website however he does have this to say in a portion on his website:
America doesn't lack ideas, it lacks leaders willing to stand up and make courageous decisions.
Jim Webb was born fighting. He has fought+óGé¼GÇ¥and continues to fight+óGé¼GÇ¥to protect American values. He fought in Vietnam with the hope that the Vietnamese might share the same freedoms we enjoy. He fought as a congressional committee counselor to guarantee our veterans the treatment they deserve. He fought as Secretary of the Navy to maintain the excellence of our military. He has fought, pro bono, on behalf of countless veterans and refugees, in order that they might have their voices heard in the vast government bureaucracy. And he will fight in the Senate to guarantee all Americans achieve their dreams.
Jim understands the many challenges facing Americans today: an unpopular war, skyrocketing health care costs, a shrinking job market and rising inequality in society. Jim believes in the strength of American character and the ingenuity of the American people.
Jim believes that solutions will be found using a progressive approach to policy that prioritizes fairness and justice, focused on four major themes:
Refocusing America's foreign and defense policies in a way that truly protects our national interests and seeks harmony where they are not threatened.
Repairing the country's basic infrastructure, which has eroded badly over the past decade, and developing more creative ways to assist disaster-stricken areas such as those in New Orleans and along the Gulf coast.
Reinstituting notions of true fairness in American society, including issues of race, class, and economic advantage; and
Restoring the Constitutional role of the Congress as an equal partner, reining in the unbridled power of the Presidency.
Presidentialman's input again:
The above statement if it could be a picture in time, would be either Washington Crossing the Delaware or Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin Roger Sherman and Robert Livingston, appearing in Philadelphia submitting the Declaration of Independence to John Hancock and the Continental Congress-two painting depicting how America was born. +óGé¼+ôIt was born fighting.+óGé¼-¥ The statement is about petitioning government to address grievances.These are truer Jefferson sentiments.
Author will add more stuff later on,too tired now after work