There seem to be a lot of Top Ten thingamabobbers floating around the blogosphere. I've posted a few of my favorite names already as well, but not a complete TOP TEN. So, here it is:
10. Dinesh D'Souza----Why? Because as a conservative/Republican Mr. D'Souza has done more than anyone to re-ignite the debate between atheists and theists. Not only that, but he's been kicking butt! In addition to that, I admire Mr. D'Souza's independent thinking when it comes to the issue of why Muslims dislike western culture. In the war between D'Souza and Victor Davis Hanson, I agree with many points of Hanson's, but find many others to be naive and wishful thinking. I'm in D'Souza's camp.
9. Haley Barbour---Why? If anyone has bothered to track Mr. Barbour's comments this election cycle there is a consistency of focus from the Mississippi guv. He has consistently dismissed questions about speculation about running for president or VP. He has demanded focus from the GOP for the here and now. I always admire that.
8. Tim Pawlenty---Why? Well here's my favorite kind of Republican. Someone who tries to expand the Republican base to regular folks who might otherwise vote Democrat on impulse. He's the originator of the phrase "Sam's Club Republican."
7. John McCain---Why? Why did I choose John McCain?! Fact is, I used to strongly dislike this guy. I guess you might say he is the only one of this list who is on here for something besides his conservative credentials. What I like about John McCain is his story. The guy has spent his entire life in public service: the navy, as a POW, and in congress. Yes, I strongly disliked his various sins against the GOP, and his oft-time leftist positionings. But there is no denying: John McCain is an American hero.
6. Sarah Palin---Why? Everybody concentrates on her mostly as a social conservative. The media denounced and attacked for it. Ironically, when she was first picked they were questioning her credentials in that area. But hey, she's the Repub Veep, so what's to like? I mean it's not like she ran against the GOP good ole' boys in Alaska, right? It's not like she resigned her post on a committee in protest of ethics violations, right? It's not like she had executive experience from being a mayor and governor right? It's not like she gained an inside view into fiscal and environmental issues from serving on various boards and committees or by having to balance a state budget right? I mean this lady is evil!
5. Mike Pence---Why? Because Mike Pence has stood against the tidal wave of me-too-ism in the House. Even when stalwarts Coburn in the senate and Cantor in the house were for the bailout, Pence stood against it.
4. Michael Steele---Why? Well, I like Steele for his contributions. He donated the phrase, "drill, baby, drill." But also his senate candidacy in 2006 represented the hideous tactics of leftism. When Democrat Harold Ford jr. ran against Republican Bob Corker in my home state of Tennessee, the liberal media was all over the race and ready to label TN voters as racist if they did not shoo-in their candidate. Sure enough, when the election was over, accusations of racism were front and center. Mr. Ford graciously pooh pooh-ed those accusations and graciously accepted his defeat. Meanwhile, nobody was crying racism over the losses of Lynn Swann, Ken Blackwell, or Michael Steele. In addition to this, I think Mr. Steele's personality will help the GOP, especially as head of the RNC. (Plus: he guest-hosted for Hugh Hewitt, and you can't help but like him).
3. Mitt Romney---Why? Because Romney represents the best parts of conservatism: leadership, innovation, and self-sufficiency. He led the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics out of a debt-hole and did the same with Massachussetts in later years. A lot of people disliked his healthcare plan in MA, but what they don't realize is that his mandate did not require state government to pay for people's healthcare. Only that they were required to obtain it. This SAVED the state's healthcare program a lot of money. Just in case nobody realized this, there was been a different governor of the state since then, named Deval Patrick. Did you guess? He's a Democrat.
2. Hugh Hewitt---Why? Because Hugh Hewitt presents not just his views, but those of REAL experts. A lot of talk show hosts hire their uncle's counsin to come on the show and opine on the war on terror. But Hugh Hewitt gets only the best, even when he disagrees with them on the subject discussed, as in the case of Robin Wright. Hugh realizes that not all the experts are conservatives. In addition to that, his callers tend to be sane and are, as the late Dean Barnett said, "high-end news gatherers." Also notable is Hugh's diverse lineup of subjects: small businesses, music, movies, Shakespeare and literature, religion---and of course politics. How can you go wrong with Hugh Hewitt?
1. George Bush---Simple. Iraq sucess. My #1 issue.
Friday, November 21, 2008
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
GOP lineup
I don't want to do the silly pre-2012 analysis about who will and who will not run for the GOP in 2012. But it is interesting to consider which GOP names are strongest after this election cycle. I think we all agree that Bobby Jindal, Sarah Palin are future candidates. But some of my other favorites are:
1. Haley Barbour, governor of Mississippi. This guy has had a very successful governorship, and his comments on keeping your eye on the present and 2010 are very telling, I think.
2. Tim Pawlenty. Yes, he was a big player this past year, mostly because his name was bandied as a possible VP choice. He is also a voice that wants to spread conservatism beyond "the base." What he calls "Sam's Club Republicanism," he said on Hugh Hewitt's show, was essentially a different term for "Reagan Democrats."
3. Eric Cantor. He's the most interesting congressman to watch on the GOP House leadership.
1. Haley Barbour, governor of Mississippi. This guy has had a very successful governorship, and his comments on keeping your eye on the present and 2010 are very telling, I think.
2. Tim Pawlenty. Yes, he was a big player this past year, mostly because his name was bandied as a possible VP choice. He is also a voice that wants to spread conservatism beyond "the base." What he calls "Sam's Club Republicanism," he said on Hugh Hewitt's show, was essentially a different term for "Reagan Democrats."
3. Eric Cantor. He's the most interesting congressman to watch on the GOP House leadership.
Mitt says NO to the big 3
The New York Times has published an op-ed by Mitt Romney in which he opines that a governmental bailout for General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler would destroy the auto industry (not right away, he notes).
Here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/19/opinion/19romney.html?_r=2
I have not opined about the Big 3's problems on this blog, though I have elsewhere. Suffice it to say, I agreed with Governor Romney before I even knew he held this position. In fact, when he campaigned in Michigan, it seemed he would have been pro-bailout. Is there an irreconcilable disconnect between his position then and his position now? I'll investigate more later...
Here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/19/opinion/19romney.html?_r=2
I have not opined about the Big 3's problems on this blog, though I have elsewhere. Suffice it to say, I agreed with Governor Romney before I even knew he held this position. In fact, when he campaigned in Michigan, it seemed he would have been pro-bailout. Is there an irreconcilable disconnect between his position then and his position now? I'll investigate more later...
Monday, November 17, 2008
Next time: things NOT to do
Now that the election is over, the dust is settling, and people are rejoicing, complaining, or looking ahead...it is time to look back at some of our (GOP) mistakes during this cycle.
1) Nominated a legislator instead of an executive.
2) Had a long primary that created unnecessary factions within the GOP voting bloc.
3) Our campaign message was always on the defensive about our platform, with too much explaining. We were also too offensive towards the opposition, with too much explanation. History shows (for better or worse) that the person who wins is always the optimistic candidate. Obama ignored most of the jabs taken against him, and he spent zero time denouncing people on his side who did/said stupid stuff. Why? Because doing so only helps connect the dots from candidate to badstuff. McCain on the other hand spent a good deal of time discussing/worrying about his image as a good guy, and the more he denounced John Hagee, Bill Cunningham, et al, the less it helped him. Why? Because nobody believes a politician trying to distance himself from things percieved as slimy. It's easier often to just ignore it, as Obama did.
4) Allowed Obama to steal the "middle" position. Obama is the most left-wing senator in the senate. That's a record. So was McCain's record of being a REAL centrist. But nobody cares about all that "complicated" stuff if it doesn't jive with what they hear the candidate saying. Obama's phony tax-cut promises made McCain look weak and lukewarm.
5) NEVER NEVER NEVER underestimate your opponent's debating skills. A few bad stump speeches, a couple thousands ums and uhs? All that can change when the debates commence. The Republicans and commentators and John McCain were fooled, which was exactly what the Dems needed us to be as they prepped Obama for some of the most skillful, calm, and level-headed (not to mention disingenuous and dishonest) debate performances ever.
6) Sarah Palin was great, and she helped the ticket with voters who might otherwise have stayed home. In many ways the attacks against her were predictable, but sometimes we gave in to the attacks by responding in the wrong way. 1. Don't mess around with accusing your opponents of sexism. It doesn't work on the Dems. 2. Don't jump at every opportunity to "expose" the meanness of the other side. It might have done more damage to Obama with his "lipstick on a pig" comment if the McCain campaign had ignored it, or laughed at it.
1) Nominated a legislator instead of an executive.
2) Had a long primary that created unnecessary factions within the GOP voting bloc.
3) Our campaign message was always on the defensive about our platform, with too much explaining. We were also too offensive towards the opposition, with too much explanation. History shows (for better or worse) that the person who wins is always the optimistic candidate. Obama ignored most of the jabs taken against him, and he spent zero time denouncing people on his side who did/said stupid stuff. Why? Because doing so only helps connect the dots from candidate to badstuff. McCain on the other hand spent a good deal of time discussing/worrying about his image as a good guy, and the more he denounced John Hagee, Bill Cunningham, et al, the less it helped him. Why? Because nobody believes a politician trying to distance himself from things percieved as slimy. It's easier often to just ignore it, as Obama did.
4) Allowed Obama to steal the "middle" position. Obama is the most left-wing senator in the senate. That's a record. So was McCain's record of being a REAL centrist. But nobody cares about all that "complicated" stuff if it doesn't jive with what they hear the candidate saying. Obama's phony tax-cut promises made McCain look weak and lukewarm.
5) NEVER NEVER NEVER underestimate your opponent's debating skills. A few bad stump speeches, a couple thousands ums and uhs? All that can change when the debates commence. The Republicans and commentators and John McCain were fooled, which was exactly what the Dems needed us to be as they prepped Obama for some of the most skillful, calm, and level-headed (not to mention disingenuous and dishonest) debate performances ever.
6) Sarah Palin was great, and she helped the ticket with voters who might otherwise have stayed home. In many ways the attacks against her were predictable, but sometimes we gave in to the attacks by responding in the wrong way. 1. Don't mess around with accusing your opponents of sexism. It doesn't work on the Dems. 2. Don't jump at every opportunity to "expose" the meanness of the other side. It might have done more damage to Obama with his "lipstick on a pig" comment if the McCain campaign had ignored it, or laughed at it.
Monday, September 8, 2008
Sarah Palin Facts
NOTE TO PALINFACTS.COM: please feel free to post these if you find them!!!
1) When Chris Matthews hears Obama speak, he feels a tingle going up his leg. When Chris Matthews hears Sarah Palin speak, he feels a tinkle going down his leg.
2) That man on MSNBC is not the real Keith Olbermann. The real Keith Olbermann shriveled up and died the moment Sarah Palin came into being.
3) Father, Son, Holy Spirit, and Sarah Palin.
4) The Catholic Church was right. The earth is the center of the universe. But only because Sarah Palin is on it.
5) Joan of Arc, Mary Queen of Scots, and Mother Teresa are fictional characters based on Sarah Palin.
6) Princess Leia and Sarah Palin are one and the same.
7) Calling Sarah Palin a "hockey mom" is putting it lightly. She invented hockey.
8) The caribou in Alaska are voting for McCain-Palin. Their lives depend on her being out of Alaska.
9) Chuck Norris is afraid of Sarah Palin.
1) When Chris Matthews hears Obama speak, he feels a tingle going up his leg. When Chris Matthews hears Sarah Palin speak, he feels a tinkle going down his leg.
2) That man on MSNBC is not the real Keith Olbermann. The real Keith Olbermann shriveled up and died the moment Sarah Palin came into being.
3) Father, Son, Holy Spirit, and Sarah Palin.
4) The Catholic Church was right. The earth is the center of the universe. But only because Sarah Palin is on it.
5) Joan of Arc, Mary Queen of Scots, and Mother Teresa are fictional characters based on Sarah Palin.
6) Princess Leia and Sarah Palin are one and the same.
7) Calling Sarah Palin a "hockey mom" is putting it lightly. She invented hockey.
8) The caribou in Alaska are voting for McCain-Palin. Their lives depend on her being out of Alaska.
9) Chuck Norris is afraid of Sarah Palin.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Jonah Goldberg's great line
Over at National Review's The Corner blog, Jonah Goldberg has a simply hilarious line:
"She was put on this earth to do two things: kill caribou and kick butt. She's all out of caribou." ( ...http://corner.nationalreview.com/...)
Another great Sarah Palin Fact! ... http://www.palinfacts.com/
"She was put on this earth to do two things: kill caribou and kick butt. She's all out of caribou." ( ...http://corner.nationalreview.com/...)
Another great Sarah Palin Fact! ... http://www.palinfacts.com/
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