The Fourth American Republic

As pointed out on the Riehl World View the idea of the Fourth Republic of America is generating much interest these days. Especially with the election of the hyper-partisan bunch we have in control of the Hill.

Riehl makes an excellent observation about the growth of governance and movements, there is always the intellectual and the organic.

This brings me to an article in the American Magazine which I read, coincidentally, earlier this week, The Coming of the Fourth American Republic.

James DeLong, the author, makes an compelling case that the "special interest state," which we have lived in the the throes of for 70+ years, is living on borrowed time. Due to a some interruptions by historical intervention it was pulled out of the morgue before the burial could begin.

If it is in a state of demise, the questions still remains, "What will replace it?"

Like most developments in history there are a few forces which enact their influence over situations. People, attitudes, awareness, day-to-day events, reason, and courses of action. All of these have their roots in either the intellectual, organic, or both. Nevertheless, our own influence or sphere of control is directly proportionate to our understanding of history and how we reason these past events. This, whether you want to believe it or not, is the basis of purist conservatism.

Take for instance the Great Depression and what eventually corrected this horrific economic downturn. The New Deal did nothing more than stabilize, to a small degree, that rapid decline. In fact, in 1938 we faced another recession within a depression because of the failed policies of the Hoover and Roosevelt administrations.

When the intellect failed, society provided an organic answer to the problem, World War II. Rather than massive government spending on social programs it was the commitment by the government to the war effort and manufacturing that actually corrected the economy, GNP estimates were as high a 40% at the time. All to often when life has to make the correction for you it is usually costly and painful. Subsequently, we have chosen to gloss over these facts and are traveling down an almost identical path. Mark Twain once said, "History doesn't repeat itself-at best it sometimes rhymes."

After the organic there is the intellectual. How you interpret the events of the past and their application to the future is the job of reasoned thought. Looking at recent political events offers a prism into our current situation. Much of the country was swept up by the media's Bush Bashing. Some rightfully earned but most nothing more than propaganda. This opened up the door for societies' realization that something in American government had to change. Barack Obama and his cohorts sought to seize upon that realization and market their campaign to fit, they came charging in promising to herald in a new era of governance and leadership. Unfortunately, all we have received is a lawyer in charge, once again.

Over fifty million of my fellow Americans chose not to fully use their cognitive resources and recognize this was coming. While they understood the need for change from Washington's status quo, they failed to further investigate into the messenger of that change. However, most of their intentions were noble and I do not fault them for that.

Finally, this brings me to my next point concerning political orators and philosophers which have made cameo appearances on this site. Gentlemen such as Russell Kirk, Edmund Burke, Du Tocqueville, Cicero, St. Thomas Aquinas, Locke, etc. All of these men were concerned with the organic development of society and culture and realized that the lessons of the past could guide us, not dictate us, to our futures. They used these lessons, combined with reason, to chart a course for future generations to follow to success. It's a shame we aren't listening.

While I cannot predict the path this country will take with any certainty I do know its future rests solely in our own hands. Even though these decisions can be frightening it is also very exciting.

There is no greater reward than to watch history unfold right in front of your eyes and becoming part of it. Thereupon, the path we choose should be taken on with the same zeal as those who forged our Republic. If we do it right we could be on the brink of true hope and change, not the kind one lawyer with a Messianic complex has offered up.

Continue reading ...

Katrina, the Middle-Class Scylla and Charybdis

With two contributors here from Louisiana and one with strong ties; Katrina money, the red tape tape concerning it, the national misconception about Louisianians, and the general health of the Gulf Coast states are points of contention.

A little personal history, prior to Katrina hitting, my family and I evacuated to Georgia from Gulfport, Mississippi, my former residence. Due to the requirements of my job I had to return to Gulfport almost immediately. Leaving my family in Alabama, probably the hardest thing I ever had to do.

I have been several places around the world which were war torn and I can tell you, the state of the Gulf Coast was like nothing I have ever seen before. The amount of devastation, carnage, and broken lives was surreal and indescribable, especially witnessing it first hand and on the deck.

When the national coverage started, I was shocked to see what was happening in my birthplace of New Orleans. And the rumors, ranging from civilians shooting at helicopters that were trying to rescue them, to snipers shooting drug addicts that were attempting to pillage local hospitals for pharmaceuticals, to armed posses of New Orleanian residents roaming the streets looking to kill or capture looters and lawbreakers. Most are true in one fashion or another.

What was hardly covered was the kindness and the human compassion that was extended from stranger to stranger. Bonds of friendship that would have otherwise not formed if it were not for Katrina. The faith based and community groups who showed up to help rebuild and the military, for its incredible first response. None of this garners ratings.

All we have been privy to, thanks to the media, is welfare rats whining and wanting their FEMA checks, abuses by our local officials, the "Chocolate City," looting, a corrupt police force, and Spike Lee's ignorant movie which only assisted in propagating the media myths. Some of this is wholeheartedly true and other facets are a representation of a small minority, not the real story in its entirety. What was not reported, as often is the case, was the suffering of the middle American in this embattled region. I am here to tell you first hand, they're in the majority, not those you see on the television or read about in print.

These people are just like you; middle to average incomes, homeowners, 2.5 kids, a dog, they pay their taxes, they work, and they suffer because of partisan politics and games. Are they stupid for living where they do? Let me ask you this, are they any less stupid than someone who lives in California, close to the San Andres fault, the Mid-West in tornado alley, or the North East being subjected to blistering weather and snow storms? My humble opine is no, they aren't stupid. This is their home, it is what they know and love. A place full of rich heritage, decent people, and a fantastic culture. Something worth conserving.

Why do I bring this up? It was a comment by OP, on another post, and an article from MSNBC, that I just read that inspired this.

OP made the point, through an unofficial source (Whatever that means.) about Jindal being afraid of inciting political warfare with the WH and Congress by not accepting stimulus money and how that might effect the release of Katrina money. Funds which have already been set aside for the residents of the Gulf Coast and they have yet to receive. Keep in mind, there is plenty of money to go around, but accessing it is the problem as pointed out in this August 2007, article in Reason magazine. This problem still persists.

The whole point is not to gather support for the people affected by Katrina, your mind is already made up one way or another. This is about political noise generated by the government, which gets nothing accomplished, and the media sensationalism over the topic du jour. The truth and reality always walk the middle line, and not in the moderate sense either.

This applies to this particular blog, we do ride the right side of things because we are right wingers. Nevertheless, we are Americans first, and the atrocity of government mismanagement coupled with the vile displays of media sensationalism is what drives the fight here. The Katrina episode showed why our system is broken, it exemplified the hand out mentality of those who are not deserving and the taking away from those who rightfully are, the declination of an over-sized government bureaucracy which is still failing, and an abysmal dereliction to report the truth. Even with this evidence, our elected officials, supposed greatest minds, and media titans still continue dragging us down this hole.

Remember, we have them outnumbered almost 1,000-to-1 and our votes do count. If they continue with their malfeasance and treachery, vote them out on their collective asses. Get involved, stay informed, and do something. We may not always enjoy having these choices and freedoms, so exercise them and don't take them for granted. In other words, be an American.

Continue reading ...

The Message John McCain is Missing

CT

To put it very simply, John McCain is being about as articulate as George Bush. What he is saying and what he should be saying are two different things. Simply raising questions about Obama's controversial relationships is Sarah Palin's job. All I have seen him do is reiterate what Palin has been stumping, that is not good enough. Explaining why these ties matter to the economy, the government, and leadership is John McCain's job.

This strategy is as easy 2+2=4, Obama has questionable ties to Rezko who helped fund his campaign, Reverend Wright was his spiritual guide for 20 years and is a known leader in the Black Liberation Theology movement, Ayers and Obama worked together on several educational projects in the Annenberg Challenge, and he has fairly strong ties to ACORN. Wow, you can't make this work and you might as well cast a vote for your opponent.

All of this amounts to one of three things; 1) Obama is a naive simpleton who picks his associations with all the candor of a 13 year old trying to hang around the cool kids. 2) He is pathologically ambitious and is willing to sell face time to the highest bidder to get what he wants. That means he does not give a spit about you or me. 3) He is in bed with these goons and is hiding his true political and cultural beliefs because he knows the American public would view them as "extreme."

Anyone of these examples shows a lack of character, judgment, and competence. This is the "albatross" he needs to hang around Obama's neck. He does not need to explain them one damn bit or make the accusations, as I said before, that is Palin's job on the stump. He needs to tie them to Obama's judgment concerning today's problems and crises. A poignant question should be asked, "With the financial crisis, Iraq, Russia, Iran, North Korea, and China, how can you expect a man, who does not have the judgment to be able to choose his friends and associates properly, be capable of tackling any of these situations. Let alone all of them at once and lead America out of it?"

Then you make the sale for yourself, stick to your Senate record, the good, the bad, and the ugly. After that, hit Obama on the 1,000 days in the Senate, no executive experience, (Sorry Lefties, community organizing and running a campaign does not make you fit for the Presidency.)and nothing but a Law degree to wave in the face of adversity. Again, this can go back to the judgment and competency issues.

Let's get real here, I am no pundit, I am a guy who writes an opinion on a blog. But this very opinion I have is based on my being a voter as well. This is what I want from a candidate who wants my vote, the reason why the other guy isn't worth it, John McCain is not making that sale. Unfortunately it might be too late to make the necessary changes in order for McCain to turn the election around . But, as I have said before, McCain has had strange miracles happen in his life that allow him to win. Maybe he will get one before November 4th.

-CT

"Happily Hunting!"

Continue reading ...

The Elitist Wars: Volume One (The Media)

CT

Sarah Palin’s introduction on to the scene of national politics, some say, has re-ignited the Culture Wars. While this may be true, she has also ignited a new war, the Elitist Wars. There has been much questioning about the mind set and intellect of the people who support her and many Liberal writers have been asking lately, what is wrong with elitism? Their point is this, “Wouldn’t you want the best pilot flying planes, the best soldier leading troops, the best athletes playing ball, etc.” A very good point and something that we as Americans cherish beyond all, the winner. The next point they raise is why you wouldn’t want an intellectual elitist as your leader. Again, a good point and seemingly difficult to refute. Not really, when you read history and some of its wisest philosophers.

Looking back into history, a la 18th century, I can turn to my idealistic icon, Sir Edmund Burke, the wisest of Conservative oracles, for some insight. Burke had been prescient in determining the true cause of the French Revolution; a clash between pragmatic thought and the intellectualism driven by the Age of Reason. Sound familiar?

The Elitist Wars: Volume I (The Media)

This war has been going on now for almost four centuries and has evolved little. The only thing that has changed is the method of dissemination that fires revolution. In Burke’s time it was pamphlets written by philosophers and political activists, today it is op-eds and news reports written by journalists. But like today, it was this coupling of writers of the day and the oppressed commoner which caused the French Revolution to be handled so gruesomely. Burke had this to say about writers and the media outlets of the day.

“Writers, especially when they act in a body, and with one direction, have great influence on the public mind. ... They became a sort of demagogues. They served as a link to unite, in favor of one object, obnoxious wealth to restless and desperate poverty.”

They have become the propagators for the message of the Liberal elite and intellectuals. Also many of its, “journalists” feel they are the privileged and anointed members of this particular faction. Handing us, the dolts, oafs, and peasants, the necessary information required so we can keep on breathing through our mouths while they dictate policy and “take care of us.”

Burke, calling them instigators is being at the very least, polite. The media, in present times, represents the most abhorred traits in humanity; hypocritical, high-born, recremental, falsifying cabal only capable of dumbing down the masses into drooling dullards with worthless ten minute sound bites and talking points.

Now is this to say that the media will fire a bloody revolution with the physical results of the Terror in France? No, it probably will not and the chances of it are very slim. But what it does cause is the over simplification of the truth and turns this into reality. A reality that becomes accepted by pop culture as the norm or gospel. Have you ever wondered why when you hear something come out of an actor, the media or an activist’s mouth you can detect the shallowness of their position? You cannot quite put your finger on it, but you know it’s there; this is because it is a talking point, nothing more. There is no substance to it nor is there any depth, it is the cause du jour.

In basic marketing, and that is all media reporting is today, there is a very simple way to make people remember something, repeat it three or five times. Eventually when you repeat it enough people stop questioning it, accept it as reality, and move on to the next issue. It is saturation bombing of useless information to shift you in a certain decision making direction. Now, this is an explanation in the simplest of terms, the actual techniques used by news agencies, politicians, activist groups, corporations, etc. are much more complicated.

Governor Palin is a fine example of a victim of this technique. Palin portrays herself as a folksy slice of Ameircana and I do not doubt she has those attributes. But that is not what is being debated here. Her appeal is that she is like everyone else and is taking all of us to Washington to fight and reform. Unfortunately for her, the media has made her into a caricature of the image she is trying to portray. They are in effect saying she is trash because she is so average; she is not worthy to lead because she is so common. Though in most instances they are not saying so bluntly, they are shrouding it platitudes and patronization. This is not a defense of Palin as more of an inductive approach to what the media has done to her. The very same techniques have been used for and against Obama by the media also.

Burke understood these media techniques used by intellectual elitists and how they would readily fire up the local populaces against a perceived enemy. He also warned about the dangerous waters the French were treading in because of it. But the fervor caused by the French Revolution made his warnings fall on deaf ears and it was not until two years after his death he was vindicated. Out of this Age of Reason and Revolution was born the tyrant that Burke warned of, Napoleon.

-CT

"Happy Hunting!"

Continue reading ...

Nancy Pelosi, The Making of an Idiot...er...Speaker of the House

CT

Recently, I have been considering a post on the list of incompetent actions that Nancy Pelosi has undertaken since beginning her tenure as Speaker of the House. My inspiration was her exquisite example of non-leadership on the House floor recently. But J.R. Dunn at the American Thinker beat me to it, sort of. He wrote a really good article, Nancy Pelosi: The worst Speaker in History, which compares former Speaker of the House (1890's era), Thomas Reed, to Nancy Pelosi, a drastic difference indeed. It was a look at puissant and bodacious leader, Reed, versus a yammering, inept, irrational, obtuse, imbecile, Pelosi. But the comparison of Madumb Screecher and Thomas Reed is another story. My personal little diatribe is all for the Progressive tip of the spear, Mrs. Pelosi and no one else.

With all of her San Francisco aristocratic gentry, Pelosi has shown no qualities that define leadership. She gives us nothing but divisive rhetoric during a time of economic crisis, inane ramblings on the House floor, presided over a Congress that was allowed to slip in 11,000 earmarks (So much for running a transparent and ethical Congress.), cronyism by backing her friend Murtha for House Majority Leader, (Coincidentally, Murtha, village-idiot-at-large, was the worst abuser of earmarks for 2007), suggesting that we pay for SCHIP by raising taxes on cigarettes $.61 a pack(Huh?), let's not forget Alcee Hastings, and "I am trying to save the planet;I am trying to save the planet!"There is much more but this server does not have the bandwidth to support such a long post.

But the question still remains how, under her and Reid's leadership, did they take an abysmal Republican controlled Congress and make it worse? I did not think it was possible. They are nothing more than monkeys flinging $H1T at each other. Further proof that elitist minded intelligent specific boobs, on either side of the aisle, should not be allowed to obtain positions of power. I would love them to be relegated to the halls of academia, book signings, and cocktail parties. Impressing indelible youngsters with their arrogant critiques of the rest of the world is about all they are good for.

-CT

"Happy Hunting!"

PS America keep in mind on election day, you are not just voting for Obama, you are voting for the three pronged triumvirate of stupidity. Obama, Reid, and Pelosi. GW ain't got nothin' on these folks!

Continue reading ...

Sun Tsu Cain and the Art of VP Debating

CT

At first I was not going to write this post, because quite frankly what I was thinking made no sense to me. Then thumbing through some old reading material I came across the Art of War, by mythical general, Sun Tsu. A particular quote jumped out at me, Sun Tsu speaking about strategic assessments, "A military operation involves deception. Even though you are competent, appear to be incompetent. Though effective, appear to be ineffective."

I have been puzzled by the shielding that Governor Palin has been receiving from the media by the McCain camp. After Dick Cheney was annouced as the Republican Vice President candidate he did five interviews in his first week. Palin has done three in about three weeks. Why? Was the Left correct about her being a boob and incompetent? Maybe they were right about her experience and intelligence level, this didn't make sense either.

This woman successfully ran against a very corrupt and somewhat powerful Republican establishment in Alaska and won. She managed a budget of some $11.7 billion and negotiated a very lucrative deal for a natural gas pipeline when no one else could. Bill Clinton has stated that he sees in her a great deal of "political intuition." Or maybe he just thinks she is hot, I dunno, it is Bubba we are talking about. Jokes aside, the evidence of her talent as well as her pragmatism and intelligence is there, she seemingly has it. Not to mention she scares the hell out of the Left.

I am only able to draw two conclusions, because of the media onslaught against her, maybe the McCain camp is purposefully protecting her and her family. Keeping her on message, with talking points and not allowing her to get into her feelings on matters and if this is what they are doing it is a grave mistake. Or, they are a little smarter than I am giving them credit for.

There is one other possibility and it is a very enormous stretch and maybe even hard to believe. Taking into account what Sun Tsu wrote on strategic assessment, could this be what the McCain camp is trying to accomplish? They are notorious risk takers, but those risks are always calculated, not rash. Sometimes they work out better than others, but they are usually successful. McCain's camp has twice been on the ropes and twice has comeback. So, why not?

By sequestering Palin and having her appear as naive and inexperienced in an interview is risky for perceptions sake. But it gives her distinct advantages she will need going against a masterdebator, yes that is a joke, like Joe Biden. First, interviews that are given prior to debates are used to gain insight into tactics and strategy, like a football team or a boxer uses. They can gain you and idea of how your opponent might play in a certain situation. Secondly, Steve Schmidt is a student of Karl Rove and Rove is notorious for using deception and feints in his political strategies. Thirdly, it would possibly make the Obama camp become over confident before the debate.

With that in mind, the Obama camp is known for dropping their guard when they think they have victory in their hands and whining when losing. Right now, advantage Obama, the stage is set for his victory. If they form a certain strategy for Palin and she comes out with something totally different I do not think Biden could handle it and would certainly be prone to losing his temper and gaffing up a storm. That would ensure a Palin victory which would definitely reignite McCain in the final stretch as well as keep Obama off base in the upcoming debates.

I realize there are alot of "ifs" with this hypothesis and it may be way off base. But, just in case I am right, I wanted to be able to put my name in the, "I told you so category." If I am wrong then I get the, "You are a moron category." One, I am sure that Opie would love to see me in.

CT

Continue reading ...

Rabid Intellectualism and Sarah Palin

CT

In a scathing review of Sarah Palin and elitism,presented in his piece When Atheists Attack, Sam Harris has exemplified all of the flaws of the intellectual movement from contradictions, short sightedness, to a platitudinal attitude towards most “ordinary” people.

Starting his diatribe off, Harris says, “The point is that she (Palin) comes to us, seeking the second most important job in the world, without any intellectual training relevant to the challenges and responsibilities that await her.” What are the exact intellectual requirements for the job of Vice President, or for that matter, President? I would like the criteria. Realistically, there is no amount of education, training, or experience that can get you ready for the enormity of these jobs. What you can judge is the experience of the life that person has had and what potential do they bring to the table.

Interestingly enough, by his argument, Harris automatically disqualified Obama from seeking the Presidency. Obama is a lawyer, by trade, a legislator; he does not fit the intellectual mold for being President. He does, however, fit the intellectual requirement for a Senator. Palin, on the other hand, is an executive officer by trade, a decision maker. The only difference between the two is that Obama is running for the office that requires the greatest need for experience as a decision maker, experience he does not have, and Palin is running for 2nd in command.

Another point that is quizzical is Harris’s angst, in existentialist terms, towards the electorates’ support of Palin. Harris states, “The problem, as far as our political process is concerned, is that half the electorate revels in Palin's lack of intellectual qualifications. When it comes to politics, there is a mad love of mediocrity in this country.” As noted above, if Palin is an exercise in mediocrity I would not even venture to think what the Obama candidacy is.

Ironically, while trying to make a point about Palin’s supposed dogmatic beliefs, Harris contradicts himself on his accusation of her mediocrity and half of America’s love affair with it. “It is easy to see what many people, women especially, admire about Sarah Palin. Here is a mother of five who can see the bright side of having a child with Down syndrome and still find the time and energy to govern the state of Alaska.” So, on one hand, it is wrong to admire and support her but, on the other, you can see why people admire and support, her. Which is it? The other point of contention is that this is a direct contributor to her intellectual capacity to govern, she is a multi-tasker and generalist, able to shift gears at a moments notice. As, Vice President, or maybe even President one day, she will be required to take on different responsibilities at the drop of a hat, she has already proven her capacity to do this successfully.

Harris also seems obsessed with presenting evidence that paints Palin as some sort of religious zealot and nut, teetering on the brink of insanity. Harris states, “I care even more about the many things Palin thinks she knows but doesn't: like her conviction that the Biblical God consciously directs world events.” He draws this ridiculous conclusion based on this particular statement, “that our national leaders are sending them out on a task that is from God; that's what we have to make sure we are praying for, that there is a plan, and that plan is God's plan.” One of the greatest men in US history made a similar quote as Sarah Palin, “.Let us raise a standard to which the wise and honest can repair; the rest is in the hands of God.” That man was George Washington.

Closing out Harris asks this very poignant question, “Ask yourself: how has "elitism" become a bad word in American politics? There is simply no other walk of life in which extraordinary talent and rigorous training are denigrated. We want elite pilots to fly our planes, elite troops to undertake our most critical missions, elite athletes to represent us in competition and elite scientists to devote the most productive years of their lives to curing our diseases. And yet, when it comes time to vest people with even greater responsibilities, we consider it a virtue to shun any and all standards of excellence.”

Every example that Harris has made is one which requires a specific area of talent or study. The office of POTUS deals with a myriad of issues ranging from economics, national security, infrastructure, cultural issues, science, technology, and everything in between. I do not want an intelligent specific elitist running this country, I want a pragmatic generalist, which Palin actually might be. I want someone who is familiar with all the issues but has enough common sense to know when they might need the opinion of a particular expert in that field. In other words, I want a leader.

CT

[1] When Atheists Attack

Continue reading ...

Obamania, Palinmania, it's all still mania.

CT

One of the worries I have about the election, as of late, is the flip flopping going on. I don't mean on positions, either. It is the flip flopping on perception by the American public concerning Palin. This is not an admonishment of her or me saying I have found something in her past that I just cannot get over, it is a critique of all of us, the voters.

First most people were so wrapped up in the Obamania, frothing at the mouth for the center piece of "Change," most acted like 2nd rate wrestling fans. Then everyone started getting glib, save his most ardent supporters, about Obama when the "winds of change" started to subside and the truth started coming out.

Now, enter Sarah Palin. People have put her on a pedestal so far they are dooming her for failure if she doesn't come through on these lofty expectations. They are making her out to be a Conservative icon,which she may become one day, before she has had the chance to serve as VP. Let's look at Ronald Reagan for a moment, history and his actions painted him as the modern day cornerstone of the Conservative movement. Although he was loved and respected by many Americans, while President, I do not think the average person figured he would rise to the levels that he has ascended to. He was given a chance to succeed or fail and he succeeded. This is how we should approach Governor Palin, if we are realistic about her, she just may surprise everyone, even those on the Left.

With this in mind, I simply do not understand why it is so hard for the American public, news junkies included, to get off of the American Idol trip with our candidates. They are not gods, they are not celebrities, they are not movie stars, they are politicians and hopefully leaders. They are not to be revered and have faults, that is okay, I like knowing that they are still human. It keeps me grounded in my perceptions of them and their actions.


CT

Continue reading ...

Unborn Palin: The Real Power Broker in Election 08'

C.T.

Yup, strange title, I agree. This is theory, hypothesis, and conjecture, not to mention opinion. But, if the Left continues this attack on Sarah Palin, Bristol Palin, Trig Palin, and Britstol's unborn child it could spell devastation for the Obama campaign if this hits the national level harder. If you look at three of the names presented as victims in this potential onslaught, they are all under eighteen and two of them cannot defend themselves, at all. It could potentially galvanize and give the Right something to rally its base, which really has already happened, Hillary supporters, and females in general to the McCain/Palin camp.

Philosophically, it fits great if the Right wants to go on the offensive with the Libs (Obama). With abortion being such a hot potato topic it is perfect that the Left would use Bristol's out of wedlock pregnancy as a weapon against Palin's credentials. Therefore, they are going after Bristol Palin's unborn child. As noted above the consequences for the Left could be devastating. That is why I say, potentially, this unborn little one is the real power broker in the election. Couldn't think of a better person to bring down Obamarama.

C.T.

PS I do know that the child's last name will not be Palin. Since I do not know the father's last name I am simply using Bristol Palin's name until it can be corrected.

Continue reading ...

Daily Kos, Part Trois: The Kos Has Gotten Boring?

C.T.

I figured I would give the Daily Kos a break for awhile. It took a few months to get the ringing of Che and Mao out of my dome, but it went away. Anyways, I went to the KOS braced up and ready to see some hard hitting, analytical, socialist/progressive garbage that would make me want to fight. But, this has been a week of bitter disappointments and my visit to the Daily Kos was no different. Let's take a look.

This article hits on the McCain "dilemma" of multiple house ownership, it is called LOLHousez . At first I thought the Kos editing crew had taken the day off and this one was slipped in by a budding Kossack. But, no, they were passing it off as information worthy. It was posted and sort of written by Kagro-X. Someone with that name you should be afraid of. MUAHAHAHAHA!!!! Let's take a look at some of the stuff they are tyring to pass of as intelligent life.

And tomorrow morning, Obama should put out another ad slamming McCain on the "hired help" he's got to go with his seven houses. [1]

Let's see if we can push Grandpa right over the edge, shall we?

Slam him on hired help? Huh? Uuuh, maybe I missed the memo, but is it illegal to employ people in America today? How is this going to help anyone but McCain? It will show how desperate and shallow the Obama camp has become. Lol, kids these days. As far as the edge, the only edge they will be driving McCain to is boredom.

Actually, right now it's his staff and the rest of the "right" freaking out. McCain himself hasn't said anything about it, hashe? [1]

Rest of the right freaking out? Huh? I think I missed that memo, too. These boys are really digging to find something aren't they?

But if we keep hammering it properly, he will. The old man'll lose his shit if we play it right. [1]

Wow, eloquent and cunning, aren't they?

Whew, the only thing I heard in my head this time were the chirping of some socialist crickets. I won't even need therapy, I will need some No-Doz so I don't fall asleep. Funny part is with all the jokes about McCain napping, he really could take a nap and still win the general election if this is the best the Left has to offer.

C.T.

P.S. As always, much love to my little, boring, socialists bros at the KOS. Come on guys ramp it up, if you need any help just email me and we can talk about some Rovian tactics.

[1] LOLHousez

Continue reading ...

Patriotism Defined

C.T.


What does it mean to be a "patriot?" This is a question that has been arising much as of late, from the implications of Bush totalitarianism to Obama Marxism and everything in-between. The good ole American Heritage Dictionary puts the definition of a patriot as plain and simple as this, "One who loves, supports, and defends one's country. " The only problem is it does not explain how you can love, support, and defend one's country, there are a multitude of ways, based on your objectivity. But there has to be one way that is correct or one that is at least as close to correct as you are going to get.


From my experiences around the world a patriot is not a flag waver, not a revolutionary, not a soldier, not an activist. A patriot is a person who gets out of bed and faces the day's challenges, not fearful of the outcome. They are the people who are willing to look past all that is shallow and meaningless and make themselves better, because in the end it makes their country better. They are also the people who embrace their past, bad and good, but do not wallow in it or use it for personal gain. A patriot remembers the wisdom and sacrifice of those who came before them and seeks to build on their valuable lessons. They are honest with themselves about their strengths as well as their shortcomings. They seek to better who they are and are thankful for the opportunity to do so. The patriot knows that they have a responsibility to protect and nurture those who are innocent or are incapable of caring for themselves. Above all else, the patriot knows that there will be a time when the wolf is at the door, they must face it head on and do what is necessary to protect their country, the people, and the way of life they love.

These are the things that I have seen in most Americans. Through racial strife, economic hardship, and military conflict many of these attitudes have survived and are what is the best in America. Unfortunately, it is dying.

Whether the American people like it or not we are in a struggle for our national identity. We are stuck between being a willing participant in the global community or a sovereign nation. The path we chose will be the one that will more than likely define the path the rest of the world takes. So, this decision is one which we should not take very lightly, for ourselves and our children.

C.T.

Continue reading ...

Burke, the Hope for the American Way of Life

C.T.

Sir Edmund Burke, what does this name mean to most Americans? Not much. Sir Edmund Burke was an Anglo-Irish orator, philosopher, and writer. He was born in Dublin, Ireland on Jan. 12th, 1729, to a Protestant father and Roman Catholic mother. Burke's father was a fairly prosperous attorney in Dublin and the two shared a very distant and cold relationship. His family life, growing up, could be described as very unhappy and controlled by his authoritarian father.Burke was educated in Trinity College and graduated in 1750. He then traveled to England to study law at Middle Temple. He did this on the wishes of his father, but gave up his legal studies in favor of a writing career and essayist. Burke later served in the House of Commons as a member of the Whig Party.

How does this somewhat obscure person have anything to do with the American way of life or its preservence? Edmund Burke is considered, by most, the "Father of Modern Day Anglo-American Conservatism." From his thoughts on the French and American Revolutions, to his crusades against the East India Company, to the plights of Irish Catholics, Burke forged a reputation as a traditionalist, while fighting for the rights of those who he viewed as incapable of defending themselves against tyranny. He was a dichotomy of philosophies and often times he appears to be contradicting himself. This is not the case at all, Burke may have come to different conclusions about seemingly similar situations, but his core philosophies never changed, nor did his application.

To understand Burke and how his ideas can help present day America, you would have to look at his opinions on the French Revolution and his indictments of those who inspired it, the "philosophers." Burke took on the task of defending the pragmatic and traditional order against what was viewed as a noble, progressive revolution which was wholly moral. One might ask, "Why defend the French monarchy, which was so oblivious to the needs of the population and simply abused their positions for their own gains?" It was not the monarchy he was defending; it was the lack of thought put into the French Revolution and the way it was carried out. He was also very concerned with the way it would affect the order of the British Crown and Church.

Burke considered the situation in France to be childish and wrought with emotion, while the revolution in England mature and patient. He observed that the movement of liberty in England was allowed to develop over time and it was not forced upon the government or the people over night. Its natural progression was cultivated and cared for, therefore eliminating much unnecessary bloodshed and chaos. This is not to say that the English had the perfect formula, or that they learned from their own past, especially, when it came to Ireland, Scotland, or even the United States. But, in their own personal history there was a balance between the needs of the individual and the needs of the governing authority.

Sound familiar? The United States was developing along the lines that the Constitution laid out for us. At times there have been reasons to fight, march, and protest. One is the Civil Rights Movement, done peacefully for the most part, carried out with Christian principles, and delivered with great wisdom. It opened the door for great cultural change. It did more for the rights of Blacks than ten civil wars could have accomplished. Why? Because it was based on strict adherence to peaceful Christian principles and time honored traditions of liberty and freedom for all. Also, and more importantly to Burke, the government had broken its contract with the Black community. Not much of what was promised in the Constitution was being given to them. There was no liberty and justice for "ALL." There was nothing delivered but oppression and violence. Therefore, they had a right and an obligation to seek out those promises. Burke would have applauded this situation, not only for the way it was carried out, but for being a conserving movement which upheld the traditions of the United States, not changed them.

Today, we are trying to force too much change and "progression" to quickly. Most individuals and groups complain and whine about how they are oppressed and disenfranchised by the powers that be. Rather than taking a mature look at history and see how organic our country truly is, we will gladly cut off our arm just to make our foot happy. Burke, himself, was a practical thinker when it came to the individual rights of mankind, but tempered it with wisdom from the past. He wrote, "By having the right to everything, men want everything." He was correct, look at what we perpetrate as caring, everyone is a minority, worthy of special treatment based on little to nothing. Rather than taking a look at the country as a whole and what would benefit the future for all, we are left with a power struggle between races, political parties, religions, and individuals, not Americans. This is not liberty or selflessness, it is selfishness and greed.

Burke's original publication of "Reflections on the Revolution in France," was met with much opposition and treated quite negatively. But it was not until two years after his death was he proven correct. Burke saw reactionary change as a way for a despot or dictator to rise to power under the guise of liberty and freedom for the oppressed. Well, after the execution of King Louis the XVI, the Reign of Terror in which thousands of the French citizenry were murdered or arrested, and the murder of scientists and intellectuals there was the rise of Napoleon.

Can we expect this sort of thing in America? Probably not, but, what you can expect with the sort of radical change is a greatly weakened nation. Possibly a movement to a 2nd rate power in the world. This shift in America has taken place over the past 30-40 years and is speeding up. If you look at the change in the social climate from 1991-2007 it is a different America. No thought was put into this by our so called enlightened minds, they see their agenda as the only way possible and much like Voltaire and Rousseau did in the French Revolution. By Burke's philosophies, we would hold on to and protect traditional values, such as family, religion, free market, etc. and let the organism that is America change according to its needs. Not forcing some Maoist revolutionary theory down our throats. Hence, why people who truly follow Burke's philosophy are called Conservatives, they are trying to conserve what is right and time tested while looking for wise change.

The United States is at its best when we are allowed to operate with initiative, creativity, and liberty. There is no better environment that can foster this type of success we have known and Burke understood this. But he also understood that a society without laws or too much law is either chaotic or oppressive. Unfortunately, we could be moving towards a culture that is made up of big government and big regulation. A second look at Burke by the Republican leadership might help them remember why they were once Conservatives and what that meant. I think most Americans would love a return to some core Conservative values mixed with a little forward but wise thinking.

C.T.

P.S. I hope to be writing more about Burke in the future. I am no expert on the man and I do draw many conclusions about him on a personal level. But, I highly recommend absorbing anything you get your hands on about him. Understanding his philosophies about individual freedoms and responsibilities versus the needs of government and authority are key to this nation's success.

Continue reading ...

Conservative Right Moving Towards McCain?

C.T.

If you have read any of my past posts you can easily deduce I am no fan of Senator McCain's form of conservatism. He has his moments where I like him, but they are precisely that, moments. With that in mind I personally decided to throw my support to the largely RINO candidate. This decision is not because I have found some common ground with the Senator or I am now suddenly a member of that prestigious club that cannot make up it's mind which political philosophy to follow. It is because the Progressives are progressing me into a state of contempt for them. I would rather shave a wild cat's ass in a phone booth than have either Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton as my President.

That is a pretty harsh statement and leaves no doubt where I stand. But my personal beliefs are not the subject of this post, the rest of the true Conservatives are. More importantly, who they are going to vote for and why.

After this past month, much of what was known about
Democrats/Liberals/Progressives has come out on the national stage. They aren't very democratic, they sure as hell aren't liberal, in the classical sense, and they are no where near progressive. They have demonstrated their inability to lead, to make a critical decision, to control their people, blame others for their misfortune, say one thing while meaning something totally different, hurl insults instead of issues, talk about hope but offer no way to get there, and so on and so on. Now, looking at this through Conservative eyes I see nothing but political infants who are screaming they are adults. That is quite sobering and somewhat frightening.

I think most true Conservatives are starting to see that too. But where does that leave them? Stay home and not vote in protest of McCain's candidacy? No, because there is much more at stake here than the fate of one party. It is the fate of a nation, and not just a white nation or a black nation. It is the fate of the American nation. Now enters John McCain.

McCain, ironically is this nation's last hope for some form of conservatism with some common sense. I think that most Conservatives see this and are starting to warm up to McCain as the greatly lesser of three evils. We know what to expect from McCain, some good, mostly bad. But, it won't be the Jimmy Carter years meets Malcom X, either. Over the next few months there will hopefully be a swelling of Conservative support for Senator McCain. They are sick and tired of the bantering from the Left and a vote for McCain is a protest against the real problem, the Progressives.

A McCain victory might damage the Republican party, but I am an American first. I am willing to sacrifice the Republican Conservative movement for awhile to save the moral fabric of this country. After all, my political affiliations are secondary to my national heritage. The latter is something these people want to rob you and I of. Think about that if you said you are going to stay home in November in protest of the McCain candidacy, because I know I'm not. See you at the voting booth.

C.T.

Continue reading ...

Why Fred Thompson Is The Only Choice For America.

C.T.
Well, this has been a very interesting year, at least for the Republicans. First, it is Rudy, then Mitt, now Huck, Paul is making waves in conspiracy corner, Tancredo dropping out, Hunter not getting any play whatsoever. Then there is Fred Thompson. According to the media he is Mr. Lackluster, unethusiastic, tired, and just plain lazy. For awhile I bought into the hype, until, I started reading about Sen. Thompson's attitude towards the media and his campaign, his regards for people's abilities and ingenuity, his plans for America as President, and his actual charisma.

My interest in Sen. Thompson truly peaked with this A.P. article Thompson Will ' Campaign the Way I Want'. It was this particular part of the article that got me.

"Thompson described his trajectory from teenage father to factory worker to federal prosecutor to Watergate counsel and senator, saying, "If a man can do all that and be lazy, I recommend it to everybody."

There was also this.

"I've been to Florida three or four times," he said. "The mainstream media, with all due respect, likes to concentrate on the process game on a daily basis, and I can't get caught up in that. I'm going to do it the way I want to do it."

I noticed evidence of a spine, a man who does what he thinks is right, a man who is willing to take calculated risks. In other words a man who has the earmarks of a strong leader, not a manager.

Then there was this. Thompson's Pick: Soldiers Over Lawmakers. Thompson is quoted as saying,

"It always is amazing to me that the average 20-year-old today serving in Iraq has a better understanding often times of our national security and what it takes than a 20-year veteran of Capitol Hill who is playing politics."

What I found great about this is that he, by default, is lumping himself in there with the rest of the veterans of politics on Capitol Hill. He demonstrates that he knows that for certain subjects there are certain experts. They may not always wear stars on their shoulders, be an elected official, or be Fred Thompson. Sometimes the grunt on the deck is the expert.

Finally, there was this, Thompson would give Americans a chance to use flat tax. A very comprehensive, simple, and well thought out tax plan. Up to this point, I was not aware of any other candidates offering such a all-inclusive plan for such a key issue.

With his stand in Iowa against a facist debate moderator and the No Hand Show, his ideas on illegal immigration, and his consistant gains in Iowa, Thompson is making a strong showing. His strategy and tactics for campaigning have become evident as smart, wise, and very well thought out. These to me are great indicators of Thompson's patience and dillegence and what type of President he would be.

Note: The purpose of this weblog is not to procure voters for Fred Thompson. Obviously, I make no contention of my support for him as a candidate for the office of President. In the spirit of the atmosphere I am trying to convey, I will keep the biased to a minimum and offer the best possible political analysis based on the facts at hand.

Continue reading ...