"I'm fond of telling people that you never win an argument you don't make. So one of the reasons I think all these people tell us that they are pro-life in their hearts, and pro-life in the back room, but who refuse to be pro-life on the public platform with debate and discussion in this country -- we need to tell them that we don't have time for silence on the issues when the American people need persuading!
"I also think that if you never win an argument you don't make, how can you ever expect that you're going to find a winning candidate -- a candidate who stands for what you believe -- who stands on the right side of the issues -- when you are so busy looking to see if they'll win that you no longer care if they're right?
"Don't you think it's about time that we decided to make that leap of faith that was made when this country was founded? When they held the banner up and said, "this is the banner of human freedom." And they looked at the long sweep of history and there was nothing in that history to confirm that people could govern themselves.
"As a matter of fact, all the philosophers, and all the pundits, and all the experts stood against this great American experiment. They said that a people could not govern themselves -- that kings, and princes, and tyrants, and despots were the only people fit to govern.
"But they made a leap of faith, and they moved ahead. They didn't know if they would win or lose. They only knew that they had seen the right and they would stand for that right.
"And as we moved ahead in the history of this country, to the Civil War, and the Civil Rights movement, there were courageous hearts who were told at every junction that it was too soon, that it was wrong, that it was premature, that they could not win the battle against injustice.
"And yet they stood up not knowing what the outcome would be -- not knowing whether they would win or lose -- be victors or defeated -- only knowing in their hearts that they stood beneath the banner of God and His righteousness, and that He would make them whole, and they'd move ahead.
"That is the spirit that built this country. That's the spirit that built America. And yet in the back rooms of our politics, we are told that we cannot choose the right, that we can only choose the winner. But I'll tell you -- if enough Americans are willing to raise this banner upright in their homes, and in their businesses, and in their churches, and in their schools, then I'll tell you what we have seen time and again in American history.
"That when we have the courage to stand where we belong, it turns out that that is the place of victory. That is what I intend to do."
Alan Keyes
Austin Texas, 31 March 1995
http://www.netads.com/~meo/keyes_aus.html
I'm sure we'll be hearing more from the great Mr. Keyes shortly.
After you've finished with your "work" here.
We are concerned with the 2008 election, not things that happened in the past, at least concerning people who aren't candidates.
When is he "intending" to enter the race this time, EV?
In that essay, Alan Keyes speaks to the truth.
The problem we're having this election cycle on FR, is the debate so far is focused on liberal pop culture politics and not on conservative politics, where it belongs.
RINOs, liberals and Rudybots --- what we called 30 years ago, the Rockefeller Republicans --- are bound and determined to see Rudy Giuliani as the GOP nominee. They've waited 30 years for this opportunity and they will make the most of it. After the 2006 election outcome and the failure of the GOP to get the job done, some people just want a winner. Even some conservatives have jumped on the bandwagon, forsaking their principles and integrity. Not to mention throwing away their commonsense.
I always knew liberals to be the enemy of conservatism. Around FR, supporting Rudy Giuliani is a form of political treason. Like it or not, its a betrayal of conservatism.
EternalVigilance, Carolinamom posted a comment to you (#232) that said, "Your own obsession w/Keyes is what obsesses us, EV." You, EV, replied, "I almost never bring him up. It's y'all who do. It's a fixation that is quite interesting to observe."
I guess this is one of your "almost never bring him up" times. LOL
Out of power, he has no chance of being an integral part of policy making.
And exactly WHAT has this man EVER really accomplished in stopping abortion?