Posted on 09/23/2012 11:58:33 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
I don't know Ann Romney. I don't know Lee Cary, from the American Thinker, either, but I should like to buy them both dinner to thank them for making an important point yesterday, and it needs to be emphasized. Asked about some of the more counterproductive criticisms made by Republicans, Mrs. Romney replied, "Stop it. This is hard. You want to try it? Get in the ring." My thoughts exactly.
Constructive criticism is one thing, but handing ammunition to the opposition is uncalled for. Part of the problem is that I really like some of the people making these remarks, but I wonder if they understand the stratospheric stakes in this election. To observe that Governor's Romney's remarks about the 47 percent of people who pay no income taxes were inexact or haphazardly framed is one thing. But to say, as The Weekly Standard's Bill Kristol (whom I admire tremendously) did, that the Governor's comments were "stupid and arrogant," helps the cause not one bit. Instead, Twitter lit up with one liberal after another using the quote against the Republican nominee. Peggy Noonan, whose work I positively adore, picked up a rhetorical tire iron and went to work on Romney: "It's time to admit the Romney campaign is an incompetent one. It's not big, it's not brave, it's not thoughtfully tackling great issues. It's always been too small for the moment." Well, isn't that just ducky. If General Custer had been afflicted with support like this from his own side, the Indians could have taken the day off. With pay.
In his latest "G-File," the always brilliant, funny and trenchant Jonah Goldberg reminds us that it was the Tea Party and activist base of the Republican party that were most resistant to Governor Romney during the primaries, while the Republican party establishment admonished us repeatedly to please shut up and get behind the man. Now that he's the party nominee, we've rallied to him not because he's morphed into the second coming of Ronald Reagan, but because we understand that this election is for the whole enchilada. Put very simply, if Obamacare isn't repealed, if the debt isn't addressed, if America keeps sitting on her thumbs while her embassies burn, if Iran gets the bomb,…. that's all she wrote. And so the base is working its heart out to send Obama and his comrades packing,….and now the establishment types who told us to get behind Romney, are taking a tire iron to his kneecaps. "Unlike activists," writes Jonah, "it really is my job to say what I think." He immediately adds, however, that, "Still, I think the base might have the wiser take on all this. Win now, argue later." I couldn't agree more, Jonah.
Here's the thing. No candidate is perfect. Romney has areas that he could shore up, certainly. And it is not our place to sacrifice principle in support of any candidate. Encouraging him to take it to Obama in a certain fashion, or offering information that could prove useful to the campaign makes perfect sense to this observer. And if stronger admonishments are in order, perhaps utilizing private channels would be an option. But for heaven's sake, do we have to send gift-wrapped ammunition to Obama and his acolytes in the media?
Jonah is right in another respect. These people get paid to give their opinions. I get paid to move freight and operate outside the climate controlled comfort of media suites. However, I have been blessed beyond measure to offer my thoughts on Ricochet. So in the event that my opinions might coincide on some level with those of the professional punditry, here they are:
* It is my opinion that Barack Obama must be summarily thrown out of office, and that he should take every one of his little czars and minions with him.
* It is my opinion that Democrats in the House and Senate must be shown the door as well.
* It is my opinion that in all likelihood, this is our last chance to preserve America as it was intended by the Founders.
* It is my opinion that if Obamacare is not pulled up by the roots, it will sprout encroachments into the most personal aspects of our lives that will destroy every last vestige of meaningful individual liberty.
* It is my opinion that Mitt Romney is the only realistic alternative we have to the wholesale destruction of our country by an elite who disdains us, disdains our Constitution, and holds in utter contempt the moral and philosophical foundation of our country.
* It is my opinion that if we fail to defeat Obama, our grandchildren and their grandchildren will curse us and utter our names in contempt, and rightly so, because we let their liberty slip through our fingers while we nitpicked and sniped at each other.
* It is my opinion that we're better than that. It is my opinion that we are as equal to the challenge now as our parents and grandparents were in another time. Our heritage is freedom, our gift to those who follow is more of it, not less.
* It is my opinion that it is time to focus our fire on those who seek to shred the Constitution and enslave a great nation to the whims and predilections of a ruling elite.
There, does that help give the pros something to write about? Happy to help, folks. Now, if you'll kindly excuse me, I have to get back behind the wheel.
Dave Carter Bio: Dave Carter is a cross country truck driver, retired military veteran, former private detective, and radio show host. As a Security Forces member and Senior Historian in the US Air Force, he deployed throughout Asia, Europe & the Middle East. Author of over 40 volumes of Air Force histories, he also accompanied aircrews on combat missions in order to record combat events from a participant's perspective. His military awards and decorations include, but are not limited to, the Air Force Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Force Achievment Medal, National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Star, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terror Service Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award With Valor, and Expert Marksman with Rifle and Pistol. Weapons qualifications include the M-60 machine gun, M-203 grenade launcher, Light Anti-Tank Weapon (LAW Rocket), M-16 rifle, .38 cal. and 9mm pistols, plus sundry grenades and mines. Dave spends his time these days observing the country he defended from the relative comfort of an 18 wheeler.
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Romney is arrogant and he does have a political tin ear, but at this point our country needs him to defeat Obama.
Romney didn't start the story, but there he was back in May passing it on to a gathering of potential donors (presumably rich people, but maybe not) with every Hannity element of the story intact ~ right parts, wrong parts, unrelated parts ~ and bizarre parts, then it was combined with something (Now retired) G. Gordon Liddy got into back in the Clinton days ~ the old "Oh, you 43%" ~ a reference to Clinton voters.
Most likely he listened to Liddy as well ~ as did I. But Obama didn't actually run for office at that time.
It's entirely possible it's one of Romney's staffers sticking all that stuff together, but least she could have done was stick it together in the right order, the right nuance, and the right representation of relationship to the rest of the statement.
Now, about rich donors being surprised by stories taken from Sean Hannity's show ~ and melded with G. Gordon Liddy aphorisms, that's a clue on how to get rich ~ don't listen to talk radio!
Talk radio would do you a great deal of good.
You might become informed.
Ok so matter who wins the election a liberal will be elected and their wives will constantly be lecturing us about something....eye roll.
And you?
Mitt is a humble person and this makes it very difficult for him to go on the attack. He'll need to get out the big guns soon because the media will do an all-out ambush on him during the debates. We ALL know this is going to happen.
Good article. So-called conservative journalists who are attacking Romney’s campaign think they don’t have an interest at stake in the election. They think they’ll keep on socializing with their leftist “friends” and riding the gravy train, no matter who’s elected. Well, freep that. Read some history ... say, Russia’s, and Cuba’s. When the revolution really hits, those guys (and a lot of the ones who think they’re indispensible to the Zero administration, too) are going to the wall.
Do you feel comfortable with another four years of Obama, Peggy Noonan? Google “Wichita” and “Knoxville.”
Was it that Newt was a Republican so he's fair game? ~ is this guy aware he's on a national stage where Republicans are not just a foil for Democrat absurdities such as is the case in Massachusetts.
Americana Ann vs. Ghetto ‘Shtrugglin’ Michelle’. Tough call. /s
He’s Mormon, he and his wife start out tithing 10% to the Mormon church. Also, he clearly has been running for president for decades now, with ‘overgiving’ on this last return just more money he’s poured into his campaign.
Yes, good deeds are admirable, but they say nothing about arrogance or lack thereof. I was in the MA GOP backing him when he won as guv. He’s a big government technocrat who thinks he can run every aspect of his fellow citizens’ lives better than they can—and he’s known for being a tough bastard as well.
Anyone who admires Kristol and adores Peggy Noonan is not worth reading.
Good point, but Newt’s not black so he’s fair game. You know the drill.
You’ve sure got a point there.
Mitt is arrogant, and every run in with the law over his life, shows that, “do you know who you are messing with?” attitude, as police and others messed with the son of the wealthy Governor.
Bishop Mitt belongs to a cult where good deeds and transferring millions of his income to them, is mandatory, or else Mitt cannot ascend to becoming a God.
Mitt “and his son’s” are all hard core evaders of military service, as his entire line has been since they immigrated as Mormons to personally serve Joseph Smith 170 years ago.
If you want to see Ann in action, watch her pro-abortion videos or look at her fund raising for and supporting Planned Parenthood.
Mitt and Ann are awkward, because they are liberal democrats, having to speak a foreign language as they try to take over the republican party.
I cannot stomach reading Noonan since about 2003. She is a lot like Karl Rove, although they did a good job once, their power is gone now and they dwell on the surface of pettiness, not the magnitude of what will happen if we do not change our government heading right off a cliff. It’s not just a pothole!
thus destroying the articles credibility..
I dont drive an 18 wheeler But I have been on the road for 40 years taking service calls repairing office equipment,I am also a Veteran,served in Two fighter Squadrons out of Naval Air Station Miramar in San Diego,deployed Twice to Southeast Asia,Once aboard the USS Constellation,was a Plane Captain on a McDonnell Douglas F-4J Phantom 2 Fighter in Squadron Vf-143 Pukin Dogs,and and a second in Fighter Squadron 154 Black Knights aboard the USS Ranger as an Aircreww Survival Equipmentman,Parachute Rigger.
I am 62 years old and all I can say is I agree with all that was said here, but Can someone PLEASE articulate the founding Principles of this Great country in this Campaign before it is over? Its really not a Complicated thing,but a Lot of Men and women have sacrificed Everything for our Freedoms that the Present Occupant of the White House Obviously Holds in Contempt and it is so Blatantly Obvious it Defies the imagination how a Majority of people could vote for 4 more years of this intentional Destruction.
Just My opinion I know Romneys expertise is Business but Constant Talk about entrepeneurs is not getting through even though I know the point he is trying to make,but you have to bring it down to Joe sixpack that without a Job YOU HAVE NO FREEDOM and this guy in the Oval Office is going to Destroy more Jobs and Consequently your freedom. Mitt explain how your Job is your Pride and it gives your Life Purpose and Meaning, not a Government check. How do you explain to your Kids sitting home doing Nothing and Collecting Checks and Government benefits from other Hard working Americans who are struggling with Skyrocketing Energy Bills food Bills ,healthcare bills,it takes away your dignity and Obama considers it an achievement! Come on Mitt say it over and Over,
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