Conservatives Need to Get Real

The Intellectual Conservative ^ | 02 February 2004 | Scott Shore

[onyx]

A war of good versus evil.


BUMP

[baseballmom]

Lady, I don't give a rat's butt what you do with your vote.

You go, girl !! President Bush has earned my respect AND my vote by standing up and saving this country, and I daresay, western civilization from the Islamist jihadists, when very few others would. The crybabies in Europe and elsewhere are so fixated on their own little agendas, they fail to see the big picture. I see the securty of the United States as my #1 issue. The economy, the deficit, the spending, mean nothing if we lose this war on terror.

[marron]

during his over 40 visits to Dubai in the last three years, he had met Iraqi intelligence officials who sought his help in having some of the weapons of mass destruction (WMD) material of Iraq airlifted from Syria to Pakistan for being kept in safe custody there to prevent their falling into the hands of the UN inspectors.

Obviously I need to pay more attention to the South Asian press, I'm glad you keep track of it.

This is a high stakes chess game. The masters are playing for keeps and the kids complain that its boring, nothings happening. The checker players are sure they could do better. And the independent voters are channel surfing trying to find out whats new with Kobe and Laci.

[George W. Bush]

You can swing to our strong, capable President who is protecting this nation, supporting the military, and bringing us back towards morality........OR, you can swing toward John Kerry, the UN over our sovereignty, disregard for the needs of our military, higher taxes...

I'll vote for a conservative. BTW, if Bush can't carry my state, he'd lose Texas too.

So in my case, the point is pretty moot. Not that I'm afraid of any debate but this isn't a swing state. Solid Red. I kind of hate to admit it...

[Howlin]

Conservatives are the swing voters.

Would you look at that. Talk about trying to redefine the discussion..........LOL.

Real conservatives are most certainly NOT swing voters; they have values and they care about this country -- and they sure as hell aren't going to help the liberals take it back over.

[Lando Lincoln]

Well, lot’s of stuff here. Not surprisingly, this seems to have fractured into two general camps. That is, those who will vote for GWB and those who won’t. Sure, there are shades of these positions, but this is generally so.

Because people have a desire to argue over who is the real conservative, or who has so-called principles, or who won’t accept others “telling them how to think”, or who first insulted who, I will attempt to refrain from all of that (I hope). I will earnestly try to state what I believe to be true, what my core principles are, and why I will vote for GWB in November. Those who disagree with me can tell me why if they so choose and it is certainly everyone’s right to vote however they wish as Americans.

Those who think I am being “highbrow” or egotistical because of my preamble, I say tough. I have tired of the discourse here and will move on.

I believe that we live in the most perilous times ever. More so than the cold war and more so than the 30’s and 40’s. The reason I believe that is because our nation’s avowed enemies are more unknown, more insidious and more evil than anything we have ever confronted.

More unknown because at least half of our population aren’t even engaged enough to acknowledge that the War on Terror is still real. At best, 9/11 is a distant memory and they now worry about Ben and JLo. Some who are engaged are in denial because of what the left says, of how Kerry and Dean are stumping and because of what our traditional allies are doing to undermine the US on the world stage.

Our enemies are more insidious because, in the finite context, we largely don’t know who they are, where they are, what their next move is or will be, where their next move will happen or what their chosen weapons will be. One individual can kill many – instantly or over time depending upon the chosen weapon. And, to them it does not matter if they are killing babies or even some of their own. The people who are willing to do this are in the shadows – always.

I believe the enemy is more evil than anything we have faced because they want nothing less than our apocalyptic destruction. To them, this is the most holy, most sacred thing they can accomplish. Our, I’ll say it again, apocalyptic destruction is ordained by their god. As long as any of them breathe, their sole purpose is to take the oxygen from our lungs – every last one of us. I believe and instinctively know this. So, my most compelling, overreaching principle is I want a leader at the helm who also knows this. For me, George W. Bush has been unwavering in his commitment on the WOT – immigration proposals or government spending notwithstanding. If you think that makes me a shill for GWB so be it. But let’s remember this, for his presidency to survive, for the republican party to survive, he must make inroads into the traditional groups that vote overwhelmingly democratic. If this presidency doesn’t survive the available alternatives send a chill up my spine.

GWB has taken political risk that only a precious few presidents have ever contemplated. He has done so to confront the evil I referenced earlier. Does anyone think that a Kerry, or a Dean, or a Hillary would do so? Hell, Kerry wants to cede control of our military to the UN! GWB thumbed Uncle Sam’s nose at the UN and made it better in doing so. Our military actions, along with the coalition we put in place startled the UN beyond words. Almost like Libya, Iran, North Korea and others. Democracy WILL spring up in Iraq – at the epicenter of the Middle East cesspool. Why? Because of GWB and his willingness to confront evil (and let’s not forget Tony Blair! – God Save the Queen!).

There are other compelling reasons why I will vote for GWB. I have not forgotten the Clinton administration with its lies and deceit – it’s sell out to China, its focus groups to establish policy, its pandering and fear mongering, its sleaziness. The cultural war is real and poses a huge threat – also very insidiously. Think about your civics lessons and the balance of power in our government (ok, I know they don’t do that anymore). But do we want an expansion of activist judges on the Supreme Court or other federal benches? It will happen if GWB loses this election.

Now, let me risk it all and get corny for a second. I saw the movie Secondhand Lions recently with my family. Great family flick. Anyway, at a certain point, Uncle Tug played by Robert Duvall gives Walter a lecture on what it means to be a man. Uncle Tug said every good man has four qualities. Honor. Courage. Virtue. And the ability to love. Corny, "touchy-feely"? Absolutely. And, this has been far too long already. But I ask you to honestly assess those qualities to Clinton, Kerry, Gore, Dean, Clark or even Edwards. For me, it is no contest.

I will vote for GWB. I owe it to me and my family.

I’ve spent more time writing this than I can afford. To those who say, “what a preachy bastard”, I say sorry. For those who will not vote for GWB on some self-perceived principle, I ask you reconsider. For those who find this “essay” valuable, I will only say…it was my pleasure.

Lando

[Alas Babylon!]

I own my vote. I am the sole proprietor of my vote. Your views on the matter don't count.

And if you sit at home this November, yours won't count, either.

[ohioWfan]

Right.

You're one of those 'true conservatives' whose principles depend on what state you live it........

Phony.

[plain talk]

I liked your post but I'll state it in much fewer words. Elections are about comparative choices not absolutes.

[ohioWfan]

The only way these guys can win arguments is to 'redefine the discussion' and make things up as they go along.

They're phonies. Half of them are probably DU trolls trying to stir up trouble.

And as far as I'm concerned NO one who says it doesn't make a difference if our President is reelected in November is a conservative by ANY definition of the word.

[ohioWfan]

BRAVO!

[Lando Lincoln]

You are right about the words. ;-) But I only post once in 250 posts on a thread. So, watch out when it hits 500!! Smilin'

Lando

[MJY1288]

Excellent, I salute you

[MJY1288]

253 was meant for you :-)

[Columbine]

Great Post! I'm one who found it valuable. Thanks!

[Columbine]

Half of them are probably DU trolls trying to stir up trouble.

Yep, and the other half like to be begged to vote. Personally, I doubt that any of them voted for Bush in the first place.

There are always those who cut off their noses to spite their faces. Let them go.

[George W. Bush]

You're one of those 'true conservatives' whose principles depend on what state you live it...Phony.

Not at all. You have a reading comprehension problem. Got more bitter bile to cough up?

[livius]

Great post, lando.

I believe that we live in the most perilous times ever.

You're absolutely right on.

Thank you for starting this thread. I have seen all sorts of sound, realistic, determined, committed folks posting here who really seem to understand what this is all about.

I was really getting worried for awhile - it seemed like the purist "I am the only conservative alive" brigade, aided by the Moby brigade, was intimidating everybody else into silence.

[DManA]

I did not accuse y'all of swearing, but name calling. I used y'all properly. I was addressing a bunch of name callers.

It is dangerous to your sanity and general wellbeing to love a politician. Equally destructive to hate one. Best to judge his actions ( not intentions ) with a cold calculating eye. That makes it easier to see through the smoke and mirrors.

[ohioWfan]

Personally, I doubt that any of them voted for Bush in the first place.

If I were a betting woman, I'd say they didn't.

One observation, though. It's always about THEM (from the 'ME' generation, I'd guess)........and as you said, they repeatedly ask to have Bush prove his worth to them personally.

While America is a nation of individuals, it depends on the ability of its people to see the good of the whole of society to continue to prosper.....and the future of this country......its very survival depends on getting President Bush reelected in November.

But frankly, I don't think these folks can see beyond the ends of their own noses...........which are very short as a result of having been cut off by self-inflicted wounds............ :o)