The lesson of 2008

August 16, 2011 | Quicksilver

[Quicksilver]

The lesson of 2008 was that when we are divided we lose. Any of the 2008 GOP candidates were vastly preferable to Obamanation, especially given that Pelosi and Reid controlled Congress. When liberals have unchecked power an epic amount of damage can be (and was) done. It was (and still is) imperative that Obama be defeated. You never win by losing.

My most preferred 2008 candidate was Fred Thompson. Sadly, for whatever reasons, Fred never got traction. It was clear to me that it would come down to either Romney or McCain; I felt that Rudy Giuliani and Mike Huckabee had very little chance, though Huckabee did better than I thought he would. McCain was the Washington GOP establishment candidate and I knew that he had little chance of defeating Obama. Far, far from ideal, but nonetheless the better of the two that could challenge Obama, I supported Romney for the GOP nomination. With help from the media and Mike Huckabee, McCain won the nomination.

I then supported McCain for president. After he picked Sarah Palin for his running mate I had hope that it would be enough to defeat Obama. Alas, John McCain found a way to lose despite Sarah's best effort to unite conservatives.

I'm really excited about 2012. We have a wonderful field of declared conservative candidates (and more declarations to come, I hope). Ironically, Romney is the establishment candidate this time. I don't think he will be the nominee. I believe that the nomination is up for grabs; however, for now, I think Rick Perry is most likely the one that will win it (if others get in, especially Sarah, that will certainly change the dynamics).

There is a long ways to go before it becomes clear who it will be, and we most definitely should thoroughly vet them all, not just the ones we personally dislike; if we don't, they will.

The bottom line for me is Defeat Obama. If we unite behind our nominee, whoever she or he may be, we will win. Again, you never win by losing. If we don't beat Obama there's a good chance that we will lose ground in the House and Senate. We cannot afford unchecked liberal power.

What a sight it will be to see a stage full of viable conservatives debating each other!

Let the campaign begin!

[Clintonfatigued]

No Republican could have won in 2008. The country was determined to rebuke George W. Bush.

[Quicksilver]

In my opinion, the ACT of voting is a matter of conscience.

I never ask anyone who they voted for, I simply ask "Did you vote?" A vote is not a sanction, it's an expression of opinion.

When you cast a vote for a candidate you are saying that you take your responsibility as a citizen seriously, and that you have put forth a reasonable effort to inform yourself of the merits of each and every candidate on the ballot. You're not saying that you agree with the candidate on every (or any) issue, nor are you saying that you personally like the candidate.

In other words, you're saying, for now, on this day, in your opinion this is the least-worst scoundrel of the lot.

Ironically, most people get really ticked-off at elected representatives when they vote "present".