Posted on 03/09/2010 8:28:51 PM PST by Brices Crossroads
I cannot tell how much of this outrage about Sarah Palin's endorsement of McCain is feigned by those who do not wish her well. It is not principally to those folks that this post is directed.
To those conservatives who are genuinely disappointed by Sarah Palin's decision to support McCain, let me say that I think Rush and Mark Levin understand it and have said that it is a question of loyalty and that loyalty is a virtue. That makes sense to me and, personally, I would be a little put off if she did otherwise, since it would look like rank ingratitude.
But, if you remain unappeased by this explanation, let me give you an historical analogy, based upon the supposition that Palin was wrong to endorse McCain to attempt to put the matter in perspective. In 1943, there was an American General who had taken the Seventh Army from a humiliating defeat at the Kasserine Pass to the conquest of all North Africa and then of Sicily. He appeared to be the overwhelmingly likely choice to lead the invasion of Europe, code-named Operation Overlord. The German General staff viewed him as, far and away, the best field commander in the Unnited States Army, and they feared and respected him enough to follow his every move.
He had no tolerance for shirkers, however. While visiting a field hospital, he saw a soldier suffering from battle fatigue, lost his temper and slapped the soldier, humiliating the man but not injuring him. I think that most anyone would agree that the General was wrong to slap the soldier. He was relieved of command of the Seventh Army and sent back to England. The invasion of Italy was commanded by a mediocre General whose lack of ability cost the lives of many Americans at Anzio and Cassino and the command of the Normandy Invasion forces fell to a less talented commander, who got bogged down in the hedge row country, again with heavy casualties. Just in the nick of time, this General was recalled to active duty, given command of the Third Army and carried out one of the most remarkable military campaigns in history, smashing huge German armies at Saint Lo, the Saar and finally the Ardennes Forest.
That little slap in Sicily cost the lives of many American soldiers and could have altered the war, because the response to it by the General Staff was DISPROPORTIONATE. In the larger scheme of things, it was no justification for removing a commander of this stature. In 1943, many a worried parent would have preferred to know that their son was under the command of this general because their boy's very life was at stake, and they would not have wanted a fracas in a field hospital to interfere with what they regarded as a matter of life and death. Great military commanders are a relatively rare commodity. They don't turn in long casualty lists and they have been known to save their countries.
Political geniuses are no less rare. They too have been known to save lives and to save their countries. The stakes in this upcoming election could not be higher. The Republican party, at this particular point in history, possesses a unique weapon, a political genius who so flummoxes the other side that they devote all their attention to her every move. Yet there are some sincere conservatives who believe that her endorsement of John McCain, a 75 year old Senator likely serving his last term, is so serious as to justify removing her from consideration for the GOP nomination. This strikes me as the political equivalent of "cutting off one's nose to spite one's face." The response is, once again, disproportionate.
My view is that the Obama White House would be as delighted to see Palin removed from the scene as the German General Staff was delighted to see Patton relieved in 1943. For the Germans, it was much easier to contend with the likes of Mark Clark and Omar Bradley than Patton. For Obama, it is much easier to contend with the likes of Pawlenty, Romney or Huckabee than Sarah Palin. With our country very likely at stake in 2012, can we as conservatives, even if we sincerely believe Palin to be wrong in this matter, afford to be so disproportionate in our response to it?
Why do you think I'm clueless. Please be specific.
How did I get on a ping list?
LOL!!!
You are either a liar or an idiot. The Democrats were waging a personal war against her in Alaska and as Governor she had both hands tied behind her back. They made it impossible for her govern and raise money for her personal legal bills.
Her decision to resign was a win/win for the people of Alaska and for herself. Real leaders improvise, adapt and overcome. That is what she is doing now and that looks like leadership to me.
There is no list. I thought you might be interested. If you are not, I won’t ping you again.
No, it is the PaulBots and other wishful thinkers who keep
this up
“But I do give him a “hat tip” for introducing Palin on the national stage.”
Yes. I remember well his announcement brought my wife out with “do you know of this Sarah Palin?”
Fortunately having been a member at FRee Republic for some time, I was able to respond knowledgeably, and positively to her question, and for a few weeks after to many others whose heads were spinning at the time not knowing who she was.
She is certainly one in a million.
Real leaders get the job done.
No, I really do like her, and agree with her on just about every issue. I also like someone I work with, and I agree with them on every issue, but I also believe they aren't fit for being POTUS.
Brices is a Ron Paul guy? Why does he have so many vanities promoting Sarah?
Thanks, I try to stay off ping lists.
You purposely twist my respnse to you.
“She is certainly one in a million.”
I think when all is said and done, the damage (and any good) McCain has done will be long forgotten. He will be a footnote in the history books for having introduced her. That will be the only thing that keeps him from being forgotten altogether.
You’re on the right track but our fitful reasoning is immaterial; God will annoint a leader if we are to have one.
He once selected a shepherd boy to lead his nation when no man of stature was up to the task.
What job isn't getting done? The last time I checked Alaska still has a governor and Gov Palin is continuing to create an energy that no one else in the Republican Party seems to be able to match.
I’m missing something. Both my statements and your response seemed pretty cut and dry.
“Brices is a Ron Paul guy?”
NOT GUILTY. Paul is the ultimate loon.
OK. Well that’s settled.
Nicely done and well written.
Attacks on Sarah Palin for her support of her former running mate are “now” made by people who trying to keep her out election 2012 because they support someone else, and want to do everything they can do tarnish Sarah Palin.
Ron Paultards, Mitt Romneybots and maybe a couple of Hucksters.
Open minded and honest conservatives do not trash other conservative candidates or potential candidates just because we’re for someone else. You won’t find me trashing Jim DeMint, for example. In fact, I have defended his ‘08 endorsement of Romney, which I saw as a whack at McCain.
No policitian is perfect and no politician will ever make all of us 100% happy, but the bashing of Sarah Palin for her endorsement and fundraiser for McCain has run its course and then some. There’s more of an agenda in play here than “defeat McCain.”
Thank you for your essay!!!
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