This Sounds Like A Familiar Song...

Sorry Tim, but you've got to do more than collect all the same old, same old advisors and positions if you want my attention or vote in 2012. Right now you sound like the same old song just a different verse.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty has been quietly assembling the blueprint of a presidential campaign and will announce Thursday the support of a group of high-level political strategists and donors, complemented by a handful of top new media consultants, POLITICO has learned.

Pawlenty, under the radar of D.C.’s political community, has locked up some of the key operatives who engineered then-President George W. Bush’s reelection campaign — a significant feat for a little-known Midwestern politician.

The moves underscore, and will lend credence to, the emerging belief among many establishment Republicans that Pawlenty is becoming the sole viable alternative to former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, a potential Republican primary rival. The Minnesota governor has even gone so far as to contact some of Romney's former supporters.

I refuse to help field another John McCan't candidate - even if it means a second term for Obama. The same goes for you too, Mitt.

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The Voice Of Voight

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It's Time To Retire

McCain To Seek Fifth Senate Term, Sets Political Action Committee

Sen. John McCain, whose presidential bid was snuffed out two weeks ago by President-elect Barack Obama, is setting up a political action committee as a first step in running for a fifth term in the Senate.

In my humble opinion, it's time for John McCain to retire and play golf. His Republicrat message isn't one we need to encourage or prolong - certainly not for another six year Senate term. Thank you for your service John, but it's time for fresh, conservative voices.

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Your Weekly Reagan

Remember Who We Are

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Paglia & Coulter Sum Up John McCain

Says Camille:

John McCain (like Bob Dole) was a major Republican misfire -- a candidate of personal honor and heroic sacrifice who was woefully inadequate for the times. McCain's lurching grandstanding during the Wall Street crisis made him look like a ham actor on a bender. In debate, McCain was always pugnacious but too often bland or rambling, and he often missed glaring opportunities to score off Obama's vagueness or contradictions.

Ooof! Knee to the groin. Point: Paglia, who also makes a keen observation about Obama's connection with Bill Ayers and how it was used (and not used) by conservatives during the campaign.

Says Ann:

If McCain lost because he ran as a conservative, then how come I knew McCain was going to lose before Brooks did? About the same time Brooks was touting McCain's uncanny ability to attract independents, I was writing, accurately: "John McCain is Bob Dole minus the charm, conservatism and youth."

Using the latest euphemism for "liberal," Brooks complains that "reformist" Republicans like John McCain are forced to run for president as smelly old conservatives: "National candidates who begin with reformist records -- Giuliani, Romney or McCain -- immediately tack right to be acceptable to the power base." (Some "tack" so far to the right they almost adopt the positions in the GOP platform!) [...]

Ironically, McCain was a liberal on virtually every issue except abortion and gay marriage, but he bashed social conservatives to his friends in the press, so they excused his pro-life voting record as a cynical ploy to get votes in Arizona.

So "reformist" evidently means a Republican who is liberal on social issues. My term for that is "Joe Lieberman." Whatever the merit of being liberal on social issues, both Joe Lieberman and the Republican Party's history suggest that the winning formula is the exact opposite combination.

Smack! She finishes him off with an iron right hook. Now let's just hope we can keep the party from lurching any more toward Democrat-lite as 2010 approaches.

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Your Weekly Reagan

Excerpt from A Time for Choosing: Address on behalf of Senator Barry Goldwater Rendezvous with Destiny, October 27, 1964:

There can be no real peace while one American is dying some place in the world for the rest of us. We are at war with the most dangerous enemy that has ever faced mankind in his long climb from the swamp to the stars, and it has been said if we lose that war, and in doing so lose this way of freedom of ours, history will record with the greatest astonishment that those who had the most to lose did the least to prevent its happening. Well, I think it's time we ask ourselves if we still know the freedoms that were intended for us by the Founding Fathers.

Not too long ago two friends of mine were talking to a Cuban refugee, a businessman who had escaped from Castro, and in the midst of his story one of my friends turned to the other and said, "We don't know how lucky we are." And the Cuban stopped and said, "How lucky you are! I had someplace to escape to." In that sentence he told us the entire story. If we lose freedom here, there is no place to escape to. This is the last stand on Earth. And this idea that government is beholden to the people, that it has no other source of power except to sovereign people, is still the newest and most unique idea in all the long history of man's relation to man. This is the issue of this election. Whether we believe in our capacity for self-government or whether we abandon the American revolution and confess that a little intellectual elite in a far-distant capital can plan our lives for us better than we can plan them ourselves.

You and I are told increasingly that we have to choose between a left or right, but I would like to suggest that there is no such thing as a left or right. There is only an up or down--up to a man's age-old dream, the ultimate in individual freedom consistent with law and order--or down to the ant heap totalitarianism, and regardless of their sincerity, their humanitarian motives, those who would trade our freedom for security have embarked on this downward course.

Read the whole thing, better yet listen to it. The names of the enemies of which Reagan spoke and the names of those who would have us give over the planning of our lives to an intrusive government have changed, but his call to action remains relevant to meeting the challenges we face today.

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America Has Spoken

[Note: This post contains elements from several comments I've left in various places over the past two days as well as parts from previous posts ... I wanted to put all my thoughts together in one piece. ~ KevinQC]

I sincerely wish Mr. Obama well. I strongly disagree with him politically but he is the President and he has my support. Support, but not blind devotion. Mr. Obama won. Now he has to lead. We’ll see how he does at that considering he never has before. I believe he will lead us in the wrong direction, and since I do care about my country I’ll be there every step of the way to tell him when he’s wrong and tell him if he’s right. A robust Loyal Opposition.

I hope the conservative movement - which is still alive and well - doesn’t take the low road that the unhinged left have been on for the last 8 years. For us it should not be about politics and power; but about love for our country and respect for the principles of freedom and liberty it was founded on.

As for McCain, I warned you when I decided to make a go of supporting him that I would say "I told you so." Well, I told you so. His political sun should be allowed to set. I lay the lion’s share of the blame for this loss on our choice of the wrong candidate. They say you have to dance with the one what brung ya… unfortunately our date had two left feet.

The conservative movement can learn from this defeat. Compromising our principles means loss. Watering down our message to appeal to “moderates” and “independents” is a recipe for failure. It’s time for those like McCain, Bill Kristol, Peggy Noonan, John Boehner, Lindsey Graham, Mitt Romney and other Republican politicians and pundits who believe the party’s future lies in that watered down version of conservatism to step aside. They’ve proven they can’t lead.

It’s time to shed the dead weight and focus on our future and the leaders who can bring us back to our foundation and principles. Though this isn’t an exhaustive list, the ones that spring to mind are Bobby Jindal of Louisiana, Sarah Palin of Alaska, Mark Sanford of South Carolina, and Thaddeus McCotter of Michigan. They are the future.

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William Kristol Has Got Some Nerve!

Writing this: McCain Needs To Fire His Campaign

Talk about your unmitigated gall! When I saw that news item this morning I almost choked on my coffee. This is the freakin' kind of sorry ass campaigning that Kristol has been touting for ages! I knew I was right when Rush agreed with me later:

What is it for the first time that actually excited people in the Republican Party about his campaign? It was the selection of Sarah Palin -- and then they hid her for a while. Now, what I hate to see about this... I am not gloating. What I hate to see about this is, this is the exact kind of thing -- this is the exact kind of campaign -- that those of us who had worries about Senator McCain a year ago, six months ago, nine months ago, eight years ago. This is exactly what we saw coming to fruition. But don't forget, there was and there is a battle in the Republican Party for its heart and soul. The country club blue-blood Republican media elites are trying to wrest control of the party from the conservative base that has made the party a dominant (and even landslide victorious) party since the 1980s.

So now exactly what you and I knew would happen, as was advocated by the original support of Senator McCain, now that it's happened they want to fire the campaign! These are the people ought to be so happy with the way this campaign is running, 'cause this is exactly what they wanted. This is the kind of campaign they wanted. They wanted somebody nice. They wanted somebody respectful. They wanted somebody with honor. They didn't want any negative ads. They didn't want any negative this or that. They didn't want any conservatism. They thought conservatism was a loser. They thought conservatism needed to be "redefined." They thought conservatism had worn itself out.

You and I know that conservatism will never go out of style because the fundamental and foundational building block of conservatism is liberty, individual liberty -- and in this country, individual liberty will never go out of style. Now, some of these 20% who think they're the smartest people in the room -- the so-called independent, moderates, undecideds, whatever you want to call them -- who get caught up in specious things to determine how they're going to vote. "Well, this guy sounds smart. He looks nice. He's suave," what have you. They have no idea what's in store for them. Forty percent of the country does have an idea what's in store for them. Our 40% says, "We don't want socialism." The other 40% does, and here are these 20% in the middle who are going to be stunned if they end up voting in a majority way for Obama.

As Rush points out, the Democrats think the race is over, and that could still work to our advantage. Over confidence is the Democrats' achilles heel, and they're already "measuring the drapes" as it were. Let's "hope" things "change" in the next three weeks and it bites them in the ass again.

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Recalcitrant, Reluctant, and Resistant

I hate to change my mind. I rarely do. When I do it's only for what I think is an overwhelming reason and there's usually a long furrow in the dirt where I've been dragged forward like the most stubborn mule. Blame my mother, I inherited her sense of humor and distinct non-flair for undue cordiality.

After hearing Sarah Palin speak tonight, and after hearing people wiser than me speak over the last two nights, I will not say that I have changed my mind but I am willing to give John McCain a chance. One chance.

First let me reiterate why I am not happy about this decision and why I do not make it lightly.

I do not believe I am wrong about John McCain: he is not the best person the GOP could have nominated and conservatism is facing a major struggle with him in office. I stand by every criticism of him that I have made. I still predict - and will yell I TOLD YOU SO from the top of a mountain if I'm right - that we are not getting a conservative and that we are in for a long, tough four years with the Maverick as our commander-in-chief.

I fear that McCain may throw our borders wide open and millions of illegals will gain amnesty and jump to the front of the citizenship line ahead of deserving immigrants who did it the right way. I fear that he may mire us in bureaucracy that will play to the silly exaggerations and fear mongering of the global warming crowd. I fear he may bring more free speech stifling legislation like McCain-Feingold. I fear that he may unleash a horde of rabid civil rights lawsuits on our civilian court system by closing Guantánamo Bay. I fear that he may not appoint an Alito or Roberts to the Supreme Court but rather clones of Kennedy and Souter. I still believe his ego may be bigger than the office he seeks. I'm going to stay on McCain like white on rice and pound him about the political head and shoulders every time I disagree with him. There will be many such times.

Now, let me tell you why I can vote for McCain. Unlike Obama, there are several criticisms you cannot level at McCain. You cannot say he isn't a leader. You cannot say he will hesitate in the face of a challenge. You cannot say he has no experience making tough decisions. You cannot say he will back down from what he thinks is right unless he truly believes he should change his mind. You cannot say he will tell you one thing to your face and say another behind your back. I know it's hard to believe but I can appreciate someone who is blunt.

There is also the fact that the opposition candidate quite simply isn't up to the job of President. Rudy Giuliani said it best tonight:

And nearly 130 times, he couldn’t make a decision. He couldn’t figure out whether to vote “yes” or “no.” It was too tough. I didn’t know about this vote “present” when I was mayor of New York City. Sarah Palin didn’t have this vote “present” when she was mayor or governor. You don’t get “present.” It doesn’t work in an executive job. For president of the United States, it’s not good enough to be present.

Amen. You don't get to simply be "present" when the nation is under attack and people are dying. You don't get to simply be "present" when rogue nations and terrorists are calling for and plotting the destruction of your nation. You don't get to simply be "present" when your allies are being invaded and overrun. You don't get to simply be "present" when your desk is in the Oval Office.

You also don't get to slough off questions about your associations with known terrorists who to this day still wish they had done more to harm the United States and stand mockingly on an American flag in a dirty alley. You don't get to make speeches about wanting to bring change without offering details on how you intend to bring it about. You don't get to beg off hard questions about the world and what's happening in it by suggesting that we run to the United Nations every time a dictator farts in our general direction.

As for the argument that Joe Biden will bring some experience to Obama's administration - I don't consider that a good argument. Oh, Biden is experienced alright - he's been in the Senate since before I was in kindergarten. He's just not experienced in "change." He is, however, experienced in two things: 1) being wrong on almost every major foreign policy issue since the Cold War and 2) "quoting" other politicians.

There is also the matter of the rabid left. It's easy to forget how vicious and nasty they are between elections when they aren't as vocal or afraid. Well they've shown themselves true to form this past week by raking a mother and her handicapped child over the coals with smarmy rumor and innuendo meant only to hurt. The Kos Kids, Democratic Underground, Andrew Sullivan, and Keith Olbermann are like the "Girls Gone Wild" of politics - only without the virtue and good judgment. Does anyone else find it hypocritical that the Democrat party is suddenly concerned about the special role of a mother? Suddenly concerned about a woman with children working outside the home? Suddenly beating the "barefoot and pregnant" drum? Puhleeze. These people need less power - not more. After all, if Harry Reid can't stand John McCain, maybe there is something likeable about Senator F.U.

Say what you will about McCain, no matter how wrong I might think his plans are he can tell me why he thinks he's right and what he wants to accomplish and he loves his country first and he's proud of it - yesterday and today. Say what you will about Sarah Palin, she understands that public officials are public servants. She understands that government isn't meant to control us or give us our rights but to protect and foster the unalienable rights we are born with. Plus she hunts moose - come on, that's fantastic! Together I hope they can temper each other, she steering McCain toward the conservative principles he often seems to disdain, and he helping Palin hone her leadership skills for a future when she - and others of her generation - may be able to lead us back toward a strong and cohesive conservative movement.

I don't want any cheers, or hoots, or "welcome aboard" comments because I do not make this decision happily. The post title says it all. If I were one of the twelve disciples I'd be Thomas, because I will not believe McCain until I see him back up his words with actions on the border, and SCOTUS, and reforming government. And if at the end of four years he hasn't made good then count me out for 2012. But for now, let's get this election won and move forward.

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Of Course The Gays Can Dance - But We Aren't Marching In Lockstep Anymore

Good post by Richard Miniter at Pajamas Media about the founder of a gay hook-up website being a donor to John McCain's campaign:

While observers of the scene are two-minded about the Gay cruising site, Manhunt.com, they are outraged that one of the site’s owners recently maxed out in a donation to the McCain campaign.

The donor defends himself by saying Obama shares McCain’s opposition to Gay marriage, but McCain will do a better job defending the country–giving Americans a chance to live and debate Gay marriage later.

As Miniter points out - the liberal overlords of the gay community are outraged. Just read some of the comments for proof. I'll leave the moral questions about such sites for others to mull, but I do think it shows one more chink in the pink political armor. The Democrat group-think plantation is getting smaller everyday.

The only people who get in my face and scream, yell and berate me for being a conservative are liberals. I can count on half the fingers of one hand the number of conservatives who've had a problem with my sexual orientation - and been anything other than polite about it.

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Just To Clarify...

One reason I'm not shivering in fear of Obama like some conservative bloggers is that he's all talk and no substance, and that rarely amounts to much in America (as proved by my hit counter). We do love our celebrities, but the shine wears off quickly. The bigger the bubble, the louder the pop. I see McCain as infinitely more dangerous in the long-run because he's actually accomplished in the art of undermining conservatism.

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McCain's Moderation? No Thanks!

Not My Kind of Maverick by Scott Olin Schmidt

With only 13 weeks to the Presidential election, I have basically tuned out. I have a hard time placing all my chips on Barack Obama's judgement, which lacking experience, is all he has to offer. And since John McCain gleefully bucks the bedrock beliefs of the Republican Party, I am turned off by his candidacy.

I like to think of myself as a moderate Republican, one who believes that the government should stay out of our pocketbooks and out of our personal lives. The values that attract me to the Republican Party are simple. I believe in limited government, personal responsibility and individual liberty. There is a role for government in providing things like infrastructure and a common military defense which would not otherwise be provided by the collective actions as individuals. But as far as the government's job, that's it.

Unfortunately, the Republican nominee for president has made his reputation as a maverick by violating those very principles. When you look at the volumes of experience John McCain has had in the United States Senate, his "moderation" from Republican values, always seems to involve extending the long arm of big government. [...]

At the Republican Convention, McCain will try to cast himself as a conservative since he has already lost the media love affair to his opponent, Barack Obama. But McCain's record - and, unlike Obama he has a long one - shows where and how he breaks from Republican values, expanding government and taking away personal liberty based on the assumption that people cannot be trusted to take responsibility for their own actions. That's a maverick trend I'd like to buck!

It cannot be said enough... Obama is no gem, but that doesn't make McCain the right choice. In politics, unlike multiplication, you can't get a positive from two negatives.

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