Patrick "Pat" Briody is committed to serving a maximum of three terms if elected as the AZGOP CD8 candidate. He advocates for term limits, emphasizing the need to modernize voting practices.
Briody suggests that the Friday before Labor Day would be a more suitable voting day, referencing outdated practices from when Americans voted on Tuesday after harvest and used Monday for travel by horse. He supports the use of voter ID, local schools or places of worship as polling sites, and paper ballots counted on election day.
Exceptions would be firmly defined for military personnel abroad and those physically unable to vote locally. Briody proposes Memorial Day as a day of remembrance, suggesting it would show patriotic support if the Friday before was designated as a holiday for the military.
Briody pledges to serve a maximum of three terms and supports states voting for either 16 or 18 years. He aims to stop inside information trading and strongly advocates for pro-life policies following his faith.
As a constitutionalist with deep conservative values, he insists that a sovereign nation must have a secure border. Briody is not a career politician nor a carpetbagger; he has lived in CD8 for 25 years, raised his children, and cared for his parents in the district.
Briody is campaigning for change within the AZ GOP CD8, urging donations to support his cause. He believes in having both love for the country and the world, likening his patriotism to the spirit of the Olympics, where he cheers for the USA while wishing goodwill to other competing nations.
Briody promises to bring change back to the state of Arizona if the DC establishment fails to act.
Briody stands against endless wars and the profiteering warmongers. He asserts that any necessary wars should be swift, with clear, single-purpose missions and timely objectives.
He criticizes the practice of passing extensive bills filled with special interest provisions, which are reviewed only by a few elitist members of the uniparty. To address this, Briody supports a Convention of States under Article V, requiring ratification by 38 states.
In his personal time, Briody enjoys sailing, finding solace and inspiration in the activity, as reflected in the lyrics of the 1979 song by Christopher Cross: "Takes me away to where I've always heard it could be."
The Republican Party has long championed fiscal conservatism, advocating for minimal government intervention in the economy. They believe economic prosperity is driven by free markets and individual initiative.
This philosophy includes support for laissez-faire economics, tax cuts, reduced government spending, privatization, and reducing government-run welfare programs in favor of private-sector solutions and personal responsibility. The party's current fiscal stance supports lower taxes, deregulation of corporations, and opposition to labor unions.
Historically, the Republican Party had strong ties to local businesses and large national corporations. However, in the 21st century, this dynamic has shifted, with corporate America increasingly aligning with more liberal values.
The GOP now focuses more on small businesses and family firms, viewing larger corporations, particularly in tech sectors, as cultural adversaries.
Modern Republicans often endorse supply-side economics, a theory popularized during Ronald Reagan's presidency. They argue that reduced income tax rates can spur GDP growth, ultimately generating the same or more government revenue from increased economic activity.
Republicans typically advocate for tax cuts, oppose graduated tax rates, and favor private over government spending. They generally oppose the estate tax and have a historical precedent of supporting tariffs to protect American industries.
The Republican Party opposes government-run welfare programs, arguing they promote dependency on government assistance. Instead, they advocate for personal responsibility and self-reliance, supporting measures like the welfare reform of 1996, which limited welfare eligibility.
Traditional Values and Social Conservatism: Social conservatism within the Republican Party is deeply rooted in traditional values, often with a Christian foundation. The party supports gun rights as outlined in the Second Amendment, the death penalty, and restrictions on abortion.
They also oppose same-sex marriage, transgender rights, and comprehensive sex education, favoring policies that uphold traditional family structures.
Republicans generally support school choice through charter schools and vouchers for private education. They criticize the performance of public schools and teachers' unions and advocate for greater accountability within the public school system, as seen with the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.
The party opposes a government-run single-payer healthcare system, advocating instead for a personal or employer-based insurance system, supplemented by Medicare and Medicaid. They support measures to increase health insurance portability, coverage for pre-existing conditions, and tax benefits to make insurance more affordable.
Since the 1920s, Republicans have generally opposed labor unions, supporting right-to-work laws that weaken union influence. They argue that unions can hurt businesses by driving up costs and reducing competitiveness.
Strong National Defense: The Republican Party typically favors increased military spending and a robust national defense. They often support unilateral action in foreign policy and have historically backed military interventions, such as the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, as part of the broader War on Terror.
The Republican Party has consistently supported a strong alliance with Israel, emphasizing the importance of this relationship in promoting peace and stability in the Middle East. This support extends to military aid, diplomatic backing, and efforts to secure Israel's security against regional threats.
The party views Israel as a key ally and partner in the fight against terrorism and in advancing democratic values in the region.
The party's stance on international trade has varied over time. Initially supporting protective tariffs, Republicans later embraced free trade agreements.
However, recent years have seen a return to protectionist policies, notably under President Donald Trump, who initiated a trade war with China and renegotiated NAFTA.
Environmental Protection: Historically, some Republican leaders have supported environmental protection efforts. However, the party is now divided on issues like climate change, with many Republicans skeptical of human-caused global warming.
The party generally supports market-based solutions to environmental problems and opposes cap-and-trade policies.
Republicans advocate for increased federal investment in alternative energy sources and support measures to achieve energy independence. This includes promoting oil drilling in protected areas, which has drawn criticism from environmentalists.
Immigration: The Republican Party is divided on immigration, with some advocating for migrant worker programs and easing citizenship guidelines, while others emphasize stricter border enforcement. The party's approach has shifted in response to changing political dynamics and voter demographics.
The Republican platform opposes same-sex marriage and other LGBTQ+ issues, although there are dissenting factions within the party. Some Republicans support anti-discrimination laws, but the party remains divided on how to approach LGBTQ+ rights.
Republicans often support strict constructionism or textualism in judicial interpretation, criticizing judicial activism and advocating for judicial restraint. They support legislative measures to limit federal court jurisdiction in certain areas, reflecting their preference for state over federal authority.