It is campaign season, and the dems have started this race well before any of us were ready to endure it again. I don't think I am alone in saying that while us political junkies enjoy it, we also hate it because there are, well, politicians involved in our hobby. Ken over at The Liberal Lie, The Conservative Truth has his historical quote of the week "A politician thinks of the next election - a statesman of the next generation." - JAMES FREEMAN CLARKE. Unfortunately, there are few statesman yet politicians multiply exponentially.
There is talk about the GOP candidates and their respective faults for conservatives. Thompson is an actor with a trophy wife (sounds like jealousy to me), Rudy has been divorced, Romney is a
There are no perfect GOP candidates, at least not for me. I have been frustrated and just plain angry at the GOP. I am the base. I am a middle class, christian, family person who owns a home and works my tail off. I have a college degree and a Master's degree that I worked my butt of to earn so that I could make a good life for my wife and children and grandchildren. I am a veteran who believes in all the claptrap about duty, honor, and country. I believe what I believe and offer no apologies for it. I want smaller government, fiscal responsibility, strict constructionism, and honest, ethical people to protect my rights that God gave me which some brilliant guys enumerated in a document that the other 26 kabillion people in the world would give their lives to live under. (Many do. When was the last time an American took a 1967 Ford truck, attached it to some pallets that fell off a truck, took a bed sheet for a sail and put in the waters off of North Carolina or California to sneak into another country?) I also want a winning powerball ticket, and I think my chances would be greater for that then the aforementioned, but who knows?
You need to take a few minutes of reflection time and define yourself before we get further along. You need to know, and I mean KNOW, not only where you stand on issues but where on the three dimensional bell shaped curve those issues stand in importance. It will be irresponsible for you to go into the voting booth and defeat a good candidate because he isn't the perfect candidate. It would be a travesty to elect a candidate based on one issue.
It is your right to do so, but isn't Rudy a good candidate for the GOP, despite his social views? We need a leader this election, not someone who will cave. I don't condone abortion and can't understand how someone can. But abortion, despite James Dobson's blustering, isn't the most important issue in this election. The Taliban are against abortion. Would you prefer that Ali bin Whateverbinladensaid was the President-elect?
Take some time and really think through abortion, taxation, national defense and what you are willing to give to achieve it, the size of government, the use of God's name in public, health insurance and who should pay for it, immigration - both legal and illegal, and if you want the government to control your 401K the same as they have controlled your social security "entitlement". Do you think the dems understand that a 401K is supposed to GAIN profit, and not break even?
I can see a future when the government controls and contributes to your 401K. I can see where the some liberal President in the future will decide that some accounts should be frozen because they are making more money than others. After all, we can't have the government sponsoring something that isn't equal.
Take some time. THINK through these positions, and don't just react. Plot what is the most important, and figure out which positions on which you will compromise to achieve success in others. The 2008 elections will be here before you know it, and we have to be in position to win.
You Are Among The Elite!
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
For Conservatives - Define Yourself Before You Decide Your Candidate
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
4 Posts From Readers:
Robert,
Mine's is a question to a specific part of your posting and not a reflection of the theme at-large.
It is about Religion, or better the fact that you are of Christian faith and all things being equal, would enjoy a candidate of similar beliefs.
I myself, never consider a person's faith when considering his or her's qualifications due to my overzealous nature of keeping to an arm's length away from matters of Church (whenever possible). Having said that, I have never felt unconfortable with a Judeo-Christian ethos in our elected officials. I don't have the visceral aversion that most secular souls have to faith. I think the majority of "Christians" live my the same moral and code of conduct as I do and so I am more lenient to your faith as opposed to others for which I know not too much.
My question is in regards to the public usage of God's name. If I were to see this in a vacuum, I could say that the left's zeal in getting the "church" out of every corner of the state's affairs, including plaques, Gov. buildings etc,.... is that not (in a way) adhering to God's own decree of not using the "Lord's name in vain"? .... I am not being flippant or sarcastic (for once) in my question. It is however something I had not yet considered until I read your post.
I respect your pragmatism in discourse and would really welcome your view.... Thanks!
T-P, I can only give you an answer as I would understand from my own experience and knowledge of my faith. I dare not presue to speak for the who of the Christian faith.
If I might rephrase the question to assure that I understand it correctly: Isn't the insistence of the left to remove the use of God in public adhering to the commandment?
If that is the correct question, then the answer is a definitive NO. God instructs us not to take his name in vain, as in treating it with respect. The use of curse words that use God, or to flippantly say "Oh my Lord" like my kids do, would be considered taking his name in vain. Goad wants Christians to proudly accept God and his love and grace. As long as the display of God in public is meant as a show of devotion and respect, it is not a violation of his own law.
IN GOD WE TRUST is a public acknowledgment of his place in our lives and history. The prayer before the beginning of the US Supreme Court session, or the meeting of Congress is meant to ask for wisdom and maturity.
Remember the Ten Commandments display in the Alabama courthouse? My neck of the woods. My law enforcment days were spent at the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office, and some of my friends were the ones who had to escort the monument from the Courthouse. I have some uncertainty about Judge Moore and his intentions. It is said that he is a very devout man and most people do not dobt his intentions. I only know that I cannot stand in judgment, only God knows his heart.
I also know that there is only one unforgiveable sin, and that is denying God.
"You need to take a few minutes of reflection time and define yourself before we get further along. You need to know, and I mean KNOW, not only where you stand on issues but where on the three dimensional bell shaped curve those issues stand in importance. It will be irresponsible for you to go into the voting booth and defeat a good candidate because he isn't the perfect candidate. It would be a travesty to elect a candidate based on one issue."
Agreed. Here's a good link for determining just that!
Each issue listed is a hyperlink to a page that will give background information. You may be suprised that your candidate of choice may not be the candidate to which you are best matched.
I agree with your answer to T-P. The application of the name of God to a plaque, creed, pledge, coin or building is not taking the name of God in vain. Using his name with no intent to address him or draw reference to him such as attached to a curse word, or used mockingly certainly qualifies as "in vain". But referencing Him in an attempt to honor Him and glorify His name by thanking and crediting Him for the unique freedom, liberty, security and prosperity our country enjoys certainly is not.
"It is your right to do so, but isn't Rudy a good candidate for the GOP, despite his social views?"
I think Rudy has some unacceptable views on Gun Control. Views which, I believe affect my safety and that of my family. I cannot, in good faith, vote for any candidate who would deny me or my family the basic right of self preservation. It doesn't hit any closer to home than that. Rudy is a terrible candidate for the base Conservatives. But he is a good candidate for TV and centrists. And, as is the case all too often in politics....when compared to anyone running with a (D) tagged after their name....he is the lesser of two evils. Unfortunate but true.
Post a Comment