Joe Arminio, Republican, Declares For Congress on July 12^th

     Observing that Mr. Wayne Gilchrest of the First District of Maryland could be doing so much more for his constituents, and that events of recent days have not altered the essence of the situation, I myself, after careful deliberation and having secured sufficient initial funds, declare for Congress in the First District’s Republican Primary. I believe my campaign will show that the incumbent, in spite of his good intentions, has succumbed to some of the more misguided ideas of the Right and Left, and has been supporting policies that have done more to hurt the country, the district and the party than to help. Furthermore, these are not ordinary times. Special leadership is required. Only thoughtfulness of a high order can overcome the peril and challenges we face.            

     What is the peril? It actually divides between an immediate peril and a deep-seated one. The economy is at a dangerous point. For one thing, the sum of the government and private sector debt, as a share of gross domestic product, is far, far larger that the debt that brought on the Great Depression. Another sign of trouble is that faith in the US dollar around the world has never been so low. The dollar is no longer backed by gold nor by sufficient industrial production. Foreigners are getting closer and closer to dumping their dollars, which would leave us prostrate.            

     The deep-seated peril is the loss of American independence. Our immigration policy, for example, is bankrupt. It is not enough to oppose illegal immigration. Of even greater significance, there is this apparent unfolding plan to merge the United States, Mexico and Canada, to form what is called the North American Union, which, in turn, has prompted 24 Republican and 2 Democrat Congressmen to sponsor legislation that opposes the merger, and about which neither the incumbent of this district nor anyone else in the race could be bothered to say a word.            

     Then there are the troubles in the First District. Among them, the Chesapeake Bay has become an environmental disgrace and most families groan about the decline in traditional family values, too much debt, too many taxes, inadequate schools and too few good jobs to go around.            

     And how badly the Republican Party needs rejuvenation. Its ideals and standards uphold the rights and freedoms of the present generation and the unborn or future generations, and hail from Thomas Jefferson and other faithful constitutionalists, yet its members cry out for more effective leadership.            

     These past several months I have written a book that addresses our national predicament and offers comprehensive, tried-and-tested, patriotic solutions. Before that I devoted several years, as a journalist and newspaper publisher, to the issues of our corner of Maryland, to state-wide issues and to national ones, too. My earlier career was in national defense policy, and I feel qualified, among other things, to represent the district in relationship to Iraq.            

     In about a month, my new book will appear. I call this book The Decline And Fall Of The American Way because it traces the undoing of those very practices that had made America the preeminent nation on the earth. It is not a happy tale. At the same time, it offers hope, for to comprehend the descent is to find the way back.            

      It is one thing to talk about being optimistic like Reagan. It is another thing to understand what needs to be done. Indeed my book shows that Reagan understood the essence of what needed to be done, long before he became president. Part of this understanding included the wisdom to draw from the best that Republicans and Democrats alike have to offer.               

      Over $60,000 has already been pledged to my endeavor. It is my firm belief that much more will be forthcoming from those both inside and outside the district who feel they lack proper representation in Congress. My campaign will rely very significantly on the written word. The challenges we face demand it. At the same time, I will continue my practice of meeting with those in our district.