We either move backwards or we move forewards.
We either prevail or we fall.
But, if defeated, we should be defeated because we fought and not because we refused to fight.
Let me repeat:
If defeated, we should be defeated because we fought and not because we refused to fight.
I aim this post at those Conservatives who would choose some of the following come Presidential Election Day:
1. My person ain’t in it; screw ya;
2. I’m not voting for Cthulhu or the lesser of what I perceive to be evils extant;
3. I’m cleaning my fish tank that day, or balancing my checkbook, I ain’t showing up;
4. I’m ticking the box for Brian Moore;
5. I’m writing in the name of my dog Ralf.
If you’ve chosen one of those routes, you’re making a big mistake.
Years ago, my (for Christ’s sake!) smackingly-liberal red-goateed high school civics teacher (in 1971) said to all of us empty-brainers:
“Democrats don’t win elections; Republicans lose them.”
It was true then, and it is true now.
IF THE DEMORATS WIN, IT’S BECAUSE WE ALLOWED THEM TO.
All is not a total loss.
We won our share of victories:
- The current SCOTUS is aligned as it should be;
- Dubai Ports: sunk
- Harret Miers: sunk
- Immigration reform bill: sunk
- Demorats: stymied on any number of fronts;
And this despite our current minority in Washington.
It’s because the Demorats can’t get their collective acts together.
The GOP didn’t seem to know how to handle power when they had it; it would appear that same problem exists within the Demorats.
There is an amazing amount of power that exists (for the time being!) which emanates from political magazines, the internet, from e-mails, from blogs, from websites and from Talk Radio. Collectively, Conservatives can amass an amazing amount of power if we can manage to coalesce around the chosen candidate.
And let’s be realistic: we’ll never get precisely what we want in a candidate, and there will never be another Reagan.
Don’t be an “Ain’t It Awful!” troop.
Realize and recognize what your power, the grassroots power, has really done.
I’m not talking about the POTUS or the RNC; I’m writing of our actual accomplishments!
On issues we thought we’d lost: we WON.
It ISN’T a LOCK that a Demorat acquires the White House.
And if a GOP candidate makes shy by a few thousand votes, then I’ll fall back on my own mantra:
If you fell into categories 1 through 5, then: shame on you! I don’t want to hear a PEEP of complaint from you, should you disapprove of the outcome.
Just knock down a big cup of STFU and start posting about goldfish or video games or houseplants.
I’m in the race, folks, and I am not, repeat: NOT voting for a Demorat. I am voting for the person with the (R) behind their name. Simple as that.
Please, realize: it’s not that bad. But it can get worse with a (D). Say to yourself: “Five possible SCOTUS appointments, five possible SCOTUS appointments.”
BZ
Great post, BZ! Thanks for optimism and the current events reminder.
Monica is the poster child for what is wrong with the left in general and both of the Clintons in particular.
Down with compartmentilization, up with integrity!
The egocentricity and hate among the left is palpable. They are unable to help themselves, they are imprisoned by their prejudice.
Where is the individual who will become a War President?
I don’t see that individual.
The two parties want to take a break from the Private Wars being engaged in against us, and I see *none* that will call that evil by name and robustly commit against it.
That includes all minor party candidates and even those who have left the campaign. They have each had time to explain their past actions, their views on the Nation and a basic understanding of the Executive. To date, that is zero.
We have had long months of campaigning, and face even longer months to come and I do understand there is ‘no perfect candidate’. I am seeing none that will place the Nation in *less* danger via their accession to high office nor even an individual that can ‘fake it’ and treadmill it for four years. Mind you, I wish the current occupant could keep the pressure up on our enemies, but he is slacking off: after 7 years the weight does take its toll.
As this is a representative democracy I must have some ability to trust that representative, find those areas that meet my criteria for defending the Nation, securing our liberties and going after those seeking to kill us with the tools they are handed. To me these are damned basic issues, they are those that the Nation is founded upon.
All of this current crop can’t even figure out their current jobs all too well, nor describe their pasts in an honest and forthright manner. I do *not* want to be pandered to, but someone who can identify their strengths and describe how they will compensate for their weaknesses.
Without that there is no trust.
Whithout trust I cannot say that they will represent me and do well for the Nation. If the basics cannot be addressed, then the window dressing will not make up for the lack of the window. It would help if the window dressing would go around the hole where the window needs to be put in…
This set of two parties does not meet my criteria for what I will vote for. There are others out in the Nation who see this, too, and see the efforts to shut down debate, remove options and other wise give more power only to the two parties is not a way forward for democracy or to keep a republic.
Thus I vote for individuals *only*.
There is still time for a few of those running to show that they say what they will mean, do as they say and mean what they do. And stop telling me what the Nation will do for me, and start on what they will do for the Nation.
Defend the Nation.
Support our liberties.
Give our enemies no rest, no succor, no safe haven and hound them until they are no more.
Do as you say.
Say what you mean.
Mean what you do.
Honor.
AJ,
Great response.
I to do not vote down party lines, I vote for the person I feel will do the best job.
If a Democrat came out and said the things I wanted to hear, I would have no problem voting for him or her and vice-versa.
I would not fill an employees position with a lesser of two evils and I won’t vote for the lesser of two evils.
I just went through almost 8 years with a Republican President and for just a year or two a Republican held Congress and Senate. Let me add, the worst 8 years in the History of the USA,IMO.
I don’t look forward to that again.
All I can say for sure is that Clinton or Obama will not be getting my vote.
Etoian: again, I have trouble recalling — New Hampshire or Vermont Schrdlus? In any event, thanks for the chirruping-in!
AJ & Ranando: okay, you caught me: guilty as charged. IF there were some miraculous Dem who erupted from somewhere and espoused all of my Conservative ideals then, yes, okay, you got me, I’d vote for them. My point is, however, that ANY Dem I see now is so far BEYOND any REASONABLE point of consideration, as to be risible. They are individually and collectively skewed so far as to make themselves actually DANGEROUS.
The days of Jack Kennedy, Scoop Jackson or Zell Miller, or even a Joe Lieberman are over.
BZ
And let’s be realistic: we’ll never get precisely what we want in a candidate, and there will never be another Reagan.
Even Reagan was criticized, at the time, by those who didn’t think he was “conservative enough” for them.
If I agree with one Party only 10% of the time and the other Party 60%, I will go with the latter; and work from within that Party to effect changes so that they represent more than just 60% agreement with issues I care about.
I don’t see Party loyalty as unprincipled. I’d only abandon the “R” if the “D” became more conservative than the “R” Party.
My vote is still wide open.
I must sat that the only candidate that I’ve heard say what I want to hear………….
Close our borders at any cost and do it now.No more illegals coming in.
No more wars until we are willing to Declare War and fight with over-whelming force to win.
Is Ron Paul.
Am I voting for Dr. Paul, I don’t think so, not yet anyway but I sure like what I hear.
Why are we securing other countries when ours is so un-secure? Who’s more important in todays World, us or them?
I realize we can’t just up and bring everyone home but we could bring enough home to take care of our own.
Is the South Korean border more improtant then our own?
Read what he say has to say, Reagan liked him and I hear Nancy likes him alot to, not that she means much.
The responses to this should be fun.
OK, lets say the Repub candidate is Huckabee/Paul, or vice versa…
Party lines are what you plan to vote??
Not me, and I don’t care who doesn’t like it…
If WE, as Americans, can’t DEMAND, and receive better than we are being offered, we’re pretty well screwed anyway…
McCain and Romney?? Good for America?? UhHuh, sure…
And Guiliani is a buffoon…
damn good party lines, and for what it’s worth, the Dems are a lot worse…
Yeah, this current crop is pathetic.. Sadly pathetic…
If it is the lesser of two evils, so be it. Hillary is a cold-blooded ice queen who shouldn’t be allowed to run a Popsicle Stand, let alone this nation. Obama is still in Jr. High and Edwards is a bigger fraud than John Kerry (and that’s an accomplishment!) With the possible exception of Mr. Paul, the entire GOP field is preferable to the entire DEM field,
I am NOT a republican, but an independent, however, I am a conservative first and foremost.
I won’t vote for another RINO period.
I will vote my conscience come election day, I have NO idea at this point who it will be.
America will get what it deserves. With this current crop of pathetic candidates it’s a lose/lose situation no matter how you look at it.
Continue to elect RINOS and our country will continue to tank as quickly as it would with dip shit liberals.
Do you want that hole punched from the bottom of the boat or from the inside? Either way the ship is taking on water and sinking.
And that BZ is the difference between the left and the right, right now.
And when I say I have NO idea who it will be, I’m talking about party lines…
And this is why None of the Above is fast becoming a feasible option…
You know BZ, I value your opinion.
I also think it’s a bit too early to make a post of this nature, it gives the folks running the GOP the idea they can count on our votes no matter who they send forward because they are the lesser of two evils…
The campaign managers, the candidates themselves need to realize they are beginning to wear out the welcome mat and we are tired of being the MAT.
I don’t agree with Ranando, this has been a miserable 8 years as far as border security and a few others issues, but there were some successes, very few but SOME, so it hasn’t been the worst 8 years, a close second I’ll agree with.
Point being BZ, A none of the above campaign sends a clear message that the days of party line voting are over, produce or take another career path.
No matter what is said in blogs, or chat rooms, the person may or may not vote down party lines when the time comes…. sending a message RIGHT NOW is what is important.
Bush & All: this is GREAT! I’ve really spiked opinions! To me, THIS is what it’s all about! You’ve come here and let your opinions be heard! And that’s my precise point:
Because you can rest assured, that with a Dem-controlled House and Senate and then controlled White House, you’ll see a resurgence of another, likely harsher, version of the “Fairness Doctrine.” You’ll see free speech eradicated unless it’s LIBERAL free speech. You’ll see SCOTUS stacked with those judges who WILL legislate the Leftist/Socialist template from the bench and who DO think we should be “citizens of the world” instead of citizens in a sovereign nation, with our courts and their decisions framed within the parameters of the U.S. CONSTITUTION and NOT what some other country or the U.N. or the World Court thinks.
Demorats, Leftists, Socialists KNOW they can’t acquire their goals with the American People. They need control of every court, control of every method of communication, every branch because they know if they trust in The People, The People pretty much consistently vote their elitist schemes down. That’s WHY, after all, they’re called “flyover states” — America’s Heartland is where, in their opinion, the Plebs, Groundlings and Less Enlightened live.
We most recently caused Hillary and Elliot Spitzer HUGE amounts of consternation when blogs, the internet and talk radio revealed New York was planning to give driver’s licenses to illegal aliens. As a matter of fact, it is precisely from THAT point that Hillary began to encounter problems with the strength of her campaign.
Whether you agree with me or disagree with me, that’s damned near immaterial. That you have the ability to write and express what you think and feel? To me, that is a HUGE issue. And I completely believe that, with the current issue of Demorats in contention, you can just about wave bye-bye to the free exercise of your speech (amongst OTHER VERY important things) if Demorats control every aspect of our governments. As they may do.
If we stay home. If we don’t face reality. And the reality IS that there is NO perfect candidate. Not gonna happen. And now is not the time to push a Third Party. You want a Third Party? Fine. Be realistic about it. You won’t raise a groundswell to power in 11 months.
So I would finally ask: if my plan is not viable, then what is the plan? Staying home? That does nothing but assure that taxes will rocket, the SCOTUS will run hard a-port, and any lame-brained idea will sail through both houses and be signed by the President.
I hear and read of dissatisfaction; I am dissatisfied TOO. But other than staying home in November ’08, what are the options?
Express your opinions. Do it now while you still can. The Thought Police are in Canada now; they’re lining up at our northern border just drooling to cross down.
I’m just one guy with a blog. I’m open and ready to consider other plans of positive action. But I gotta tell ya: I LOVE reading all your thoughts and opinions! YES!
BZ
And by the way, the RNC is HURTING for cash. Each RNC letter sent to me receives this reply as written in my May 25th, 2007 post. I haven’t sent them ANY CASH since then. So I DO place my cash where my mouth is — AWAY from the RNC.
Mr. Z – The majority of Republicans do, indeed, not agree with the candidates: the cash flow is primary in that. A good number became disgusted with McCain-Kennedy and Bush supporting that… and the R party saw a huge drop in donations to the party.
I never thought I would see the day that a Republican could be swapped out, one for one, with a Democrat. Huckabee:Edwards, Paul:Kucinich, McCain:Biden, and the more I hear about the others the less and less distinction I am seeing. Within the next three elections we will see a massive re-alignment in US politics.
The two parties and their underlying ideologies have run their course for America and have been decaying since the 1960’s. We are seeing the shake out of those who want America subjugated to the Law of Rules and those who want the Rule of Law. Transnationalists vs Nationalists. And it is not a pretty sight to see how that swapping around can happen. I wouldn’t trust Huckabee, Paul, or McCain in the Executive suite. Just as I would not trust their counter-parts. And I do think putting a Transnational crime-aligned family like Clinton back in the Executive Office is asinine. You wind up with a Putin after that.
The rest are flippers showing no fortitude towards basic concepts of America: liberty, freedom and democracy and *meaning it*. I did my ‘free trade’ rant to let folks know what they are going to get with *that* idea, and trade with tyrants and despots, which doesn’t work out so well often in the short-term, like Yugoslavia or the long term, like the Middle East.
I am a ‘back to basics’ voter, not even ‘conservative’ because I look at things so contrarily to fiscal and social cons that cannot be reconciled with them. Nor ‘libertarian’ as I do see society needing and supporting government, not government to allow anarchy or no government at all. Areas with no government do not turn into paradise, but the havens of killers, pirates, terrorists, and general outlaws of all stripes.
If the R party had actually *worked* for years to get their ideas into motion and actually reduce the size and scope of government, reduce the reach of government, turn over things back to the States and the People, enforce the damned laws of the land, not buy a ‘peace dividend’… why they might, actually, have formed a multi-decadal majority like the D party did after WWII. Instead we have two parties where a function 1/3 if not more of their candidates are relatively swappable on securing the Nation, upholding liberty and going after the enemies of the Nation and *hard*.
The NASA ‘best two out of three’ doesn’t cut it in politics or having a Nation. These two parties have started a countdown clock to implosion: we don’t know what that will look like or when it will happen, but the clocks are ticking.
I will vote keeping Federalist #26 in mind, as its day is coming. And the Anti-Federalists warned of this as *well*. That discussion did not end in 1789, although many have wanted to still the voices of it ever since… and the problems talked about *then* are present, by and large, *today*.