Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus told the annual convention of the Wisconsin Republican Party, that Wisconsin was the center of political change and Republicans have to continue that change to save the country.

Priebus, the former chair of the Wisconsin Republican Party, was given a warm welcome by the more than 1,000 Republicans who attended the annual convention last weekend at Glacier Canyon Lodge. The convention was the largest the party has had in an election off-year in 40 years. Priebus said he was glad to back in Wisconsin, among friends.

He spent much of his speech attacking President Barack Obama. Between a Republican and Obama will be a choice for fostering freedom or fostering dependency, he said.

While praising Obama's speaking ability, Priebus said, "Good speeches do not create jobs."

He then went on to describe the nation's debts. He said by 2040, the country's debt would equal twice the nation's economy, if nothing were done. Medicare will be bankrupt in nine years, and the nation is going bankrupt, Priebus said.

When the government loses its sovereignty to those who hold its bonds, it cannot guarantee freedom and prosperity to anyone, Priebus said.

"The president says he wants America to live within its means," Priebus said but while the president says that, "Washington spends."

Priebus praised fellow Wisconsin Republican and Congressman Paul Ryan, who he said the majority of Americans admire. Ryan is the only one looking at a way to take the country in a direction to save Social Security and Medicare, Priebus said to a standing ovation from the crowd.

Wisconsin is leading the way, Priebus said. "We are not concerned with the future of the Republican Party. We're here because we're concerned with the future of our country. . . We can save our country and in the process save our party."

After Priebus finished, a proclamation from Gov. Scott Walker was read declaring Friday through Sunday as Reince Priebus weekend.

Priebus was not the only Republican attacking government spending at the Saturday night banquet for county party chairmen. His speech was followed by one by Wisconsin's newest Senator, Ron Johnson.

Johnson picked up on the economic theme begun by Priebus by reciting figures about government spending. He said the government is costing small businesses $1.7 trillion to comply with government regulations, some of which he said were absurd.

Since the 1960s, Johnson said the government has spent $16 trillion on the War on Poverty, but instead of eliminating poverty, it has "destroyed the American family." He pointed to the percentage of out-of-wedlock births, 40 percent, as evidence of that.

Johnson described Social Security as a Ponzi scheme. It was a wonderful idea, he said, but was not set up properly. Medicare also sounded like a good idea but it costs 10 times what it was originally estimated to cost, he said.

The effort to stop spending resulted in one victory, since the 1940s, and that was the election of Ronald Reagan, Johnson said. The other presidents during that time caused the country to "race towards bankruptcy at lightening speeds."

Johnson also seemed to indicate that he was not in favor of the increasing the debt ceiling for the country. He said without an increase, the country will have to live within its means, and that Obama was trying to scare the public. He said Obama should work with Republicans who want to fix the problem.

The country is committing inter generational theft and it's wrong, Johnson said. "It's got to stop. America is precious and we have to preserve it."

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