Posted on 11/25/2011 4:30:57 AM PST by radioone
No one is perfect. No one. Not a single one of us has led a completely blameless life. We've all said something that we wish we hadn't. We've all lied, cheated, or stolen. We've all done or said hurtful things. Imperfection is a reality of the human condition. We know and accept that we are flawed. We realize that our parents, brothers, sisters, friends, and neighbors are flawed. If we accept this as true, why do we expect more from our potential elected leaders?
Every day, you can turn on the cable news, or go to your favorite news or blog sites, and hear all about the Republican presidential candidates and how imperfect they are. We all know about the sexual harassment allegations against Herman Cain. Most agree that these charges have probably been completely fabricated. That being the case, we are then subjected to constant criticism of his campaign's handling of these allegations. Now we get to hear all about his flubbing of a question on Libya. The mainstream media has force-fed us clips of Rick Perry having a bit of a brain freeze during a debate. We know all about Newt Gingrich's past marital problems. He appeared in an ad with Nancy Pelosi, and he's criticized Congressman Paul Ryan. We hear these attacks daily from both sides of the aisle. These stories are designed to convince us of something that we should already know: no one is perfect!
(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...
You sound just like me. You better get some help.
I am most disgusted at FREEPERS who preach that. FREEPERS have had a ton of lobotomies lately. So many have turned liberal. I am in shock by it. I almost have to ensure this is the same Free Republic.
William F. Buckley’s encouragement was simple: Vote for the most conservative candidte WHO CAN WIN.
After all these years, I’ve found no better advice.
Sorry, you’re right, I was in attack mode and I misread your question. It just sounded to me like “It depends on what the meaning of is, is.” I apologize... :(
My opinion is that we should be evaluating the candidates on the totality of their attributes, rather than disqualifying them one by one based on perceived flaws. I’ve had enough of people telling me I should dump Newt because he posed with Nancy, or dump Perry cause he called me heartless (waaaa) or dump anybody for anything. That is the point of the article, after all, but some don’t get it.
Only if you take it in a vaccum without considering other factors such as the fact that she's a fellow FReeper. Therefore, I see it as an illogical extension of the "nobody's perfect" argument.
? Suppose I prefer candidate A to candidate B. Then I should vote for A, obviously. But suppose I realise that candidate B is more likely than candidate A to defeat comrade O? Then the question could become not whether I think candidate A is better than candidate B, but does my support for candidate A exceed my hatred for comrade O?
Lets put it more personally. A lot of folk on here prefer Newt Gingrich over Herman Cain. Gingrich is smart, he's got a better campaign team than Cain and he certainly has a lot more practical political experience. HOWEVER, Cain might very well be a better candidate to put against Obama.
I stand with Buckley.
Well there you have it...we are looking for two completely different things. You are looking for an outside-the-Beltway newcomer to come in and clean out the cesspool you perceive in DC, therefore, Cain should be your man. I am looking for a thinker who has the capacity to fully understand a problem like the looming financial crash and develop a plan to avoid it, therefore, Newt should be my man. So you will vote for Cain and I will vote for Newt. Problem solved.
You do realize we are dealing with politicians right?
You got it and these are the questions with which we all must wrestle.
Me - Im just looking to rid ourselves of the communist WMD Obama. We can sort out the rest later.
The only thing I can’t forgive in a candidate is lack of intelligence. A few GOP candidates - notably Newt Gingrich - have demonstrated the minimum level of brainpower required to adapt to changing realities and execute well in the office. Most simply have not.
Losing Obama has to be Job One, you are right. The candidates should say it more often and stop attacking each other for their flaws. Perhaps that is how Newt rose to the top?
I see Santorum as having become a creature of the Beltway as well, and I don't see Bachmann having any substantive experience for the job. Huntsman and Paul are non-starters.
As I said, if neither Cain nor Perry can get traction and Newt emerges as the only viable anti-Romney, I will choose him over Romney. But I don't think it is the right direction overall to take.
The sad truth is that Iowa and New Hampshire are going to decide who gets winnowed-out first before the rest of us even get a chance to vote in the primaries.
Think about it: if you support a candidate with low poll numbers, they will see their contributions dry up and have to drop out before voters on Super Tuesday get a chance to vote.
This happened to me in 2008: Thompson was long gone before I ever got near a voting booth. Milqueto past...I mean McCain was already on his way to the nomination by then.
We need a National Primary Day...with every state having a closed primary so that there will be no crossing over. Everyone gets a voice and a vote.
The sad truth is that Iowa and New Hampshire are going to decide who gets winnowed-out first before the rest of us even get a chance to vote in the primaries.
Think about it: if you support a candidate with low poll numbers, they will see their contributions dry up and have to drop out before voters on Super Tuesday get a chance to vote.
This happened to me in 2008: Thompson was long gone before I ever got near a voting booth. Milquetoast...I mean McCain was already on his way to the nomination by then.
We need a National Primary Day...with every state having a closed primary so that there will be no crossing over. Everyone gets a voice and a vote.
I suppose it really depends on what these "flaws" actually are. Posing for a photo with Nancy Pelosi is no grounds for "dumping". That's a ridiculous argument. Ronald Reagan had his picture taken with Gorbachov - that doesn't make him a communist. OTOH if it was proven that a candidate had been doing some "creative accountancy" is his business life then I think it is only right that it reflects badly upon his honesty and judgement.
What we're doing right now and the way we're going about it is not helping. There will not be a “holy” conservative candidate.
As we often squeak and squawk about the ‘checks & balances’ we must keep in mind, We the People, can control more at the congressional level than at the White House.
What became frightening in the past 3 years was a congress that was willing and able to do the President's biding, instead of what we elect them to do...which is represent the people. The unholy triad had control. That said there was still a lot that didn't happen and a lot we've only yet to see...
So am I so overly concerned about a single issue with any potential candidate? Abortion, gardisel, borders, or foreign policy, even sexual harassment? Should any single issue destroy a candidate because they don't meet the qualifications of the ever holy conservative base?
Even 0bamacare is already on the books and will be decided at the Supreme Court. In that regard, Romney doesn't scare me as much. It will be up to congress to repeal it and override the veto. In fact I would wager there is much about 0bamacare Romney doesn't realize and once elected and educated on the details will be more wiling to approve repeal.
But all this remains to be seen and no I won't be voting for Romeny in the primaries. I do believe there are better options, but I am not looking for another leader with messianic complexes and we should be careful to not appear to be overbearing church bitties either.
I don’t believe I mentioned religion.
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