[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

[plain talk]

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

[ohioWfan]

BRAVO!

[Columbine]

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

[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 am in neither camp; I haven't decided what I'm going to do. I couldn't care less what label anyone puts on himself. I couldn't care less how you or anyone else defines conservative. I have one litmus test; is the Federal Government growing or is it shrinking. Under Mr. Bush's watch, it is growing at an accelerating pace. This is unacceptable to me. If I grit my teeth and vote for him, the only reason would be on the grounds that he is better Commander&Chief than the alternative. Then at least we may live to try and elect a limited government President another day.

[George W. Bush]

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

The elections are nine months away.

Plenty of time to see what this Congress and this president do. And for conservatives, I'd say that much can be forgiven. But probably not thumbing their noses at us again. Not if they actually do want our votes.

Conservatives need something conservative to vote for. You know, smaller government, less spending. The Reagan and Gingrich agenda which drew so many of us toward the party.

Personally, I don't get the urgency of all these threads on the topic. Are we somehow required to vote now? Someone moved the elections up?

"Decide. Decide! Decide right now!"

What's the hurry?

It's all a little over the top.

Most of these discussions are premature. The Dims are having primaries and voting. Not us.

[swarthyguy]

I believe the enemy is more evil than anything we have faced because they want nothing less than our apocalyptic destruction.

Bump.

[FairOpinion]

Thanks you for the excellent, logical, clear, and insightful essay. It was worth your time, it will be preserved. I will be posting it (with proper attribution, of course) as a reminder to those, who want to assess the choices we face calmly, intelligently.

I hope that, at least occasionally, you will continue share your insights.

[Terpfen]

"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."

You misinterpret me. I'm still voting for Bush. I merely disagree with your notion that conservatism can't win elections. Reagan in the '80s and Schwarzenegger last year showed that conservatism can win--and if anyone's going to reply to me telling me that Schwarzenegger isn't conservative, I'm talking about fiscal and constitutional conservatism with regards to Schwarzenegger, not social conservatism, as he was elected in a recall that was about a budget crisis, not a pressing social catastrophe.

[MeekOneGOP]

Amen to all that ! And I'll go one step further.

I'll be doing my usual STRAIGHT TICKET GOP vote because there's only ONE good DemocRAT !:

One that has been voted OUT OF POWER !!!

[gatorbait]

What a great tretise ,Lando.I just got out of the hospital and nice to see something positive here.You've summed it up very well.By the way, notice the rats already starting to crawfish and squirm?

[lainde]

Kudos! Stay on that soapbox!