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Conservative Affirmative Action
I believe that people should be judged on their abilities alone. I admire people of all persuasions who do well at their chosen path. Mostly I am talking about people's ability to do a job well. Be they in business, be they a bureaucrat, be they a lawyer, doctor, or architect, be they warriors, be they athlete, artist, writer, scientist, teacher, or politician (well not many of those). I don't wish to sound too high-flying here because there are many economists, activists, socialist, and progressives whom I don't respect though they may be considered to be doing well what they do. I don't like them for what they do. To avoid being criticized by the nit-pickers for minor chinks in my broad statement, no I don't like dictators, criminals, and crazy fundamentalists, Et cetera.
In other words I believe in meritocracy, the kind of thing that de Tocqueville admired about America, one of the things that has contributed to our greatness as a people. I don't care for people who are proponents of mediocrity at almost any level of our society. Or those that get ahead by political pull, or nepotism, or criteria other than competency. Or those who discriminate against other because of their race, religion, ethnicity, sexual preference, physical disability, thus not giving people who may be competent a chance to demonstrate what they can do.
This article isn’t about Dancing With The Stars or Bristol Palin. It’s about meritocracy, the conservative movement, and Sarah Palin. I don't watch this show, but I have to start with Bristol.
It is with regret that I must disapprove of Rush Limbaugh on his glee at the support Bristol Palin received by the phone-in audience which resulted in a superior dancer, Brandy, being kicked off "Dancing With The Stars." His glee related to his belief that the callers were mostly conservative Sarah Palin supporters and "Tea Party activists" and that "liberals" and "Progressives" were outraged by this turn of events. He believes that the majority of Americans are supporters of Mrs. Palin and anything they can do to irritate liberals and the "drive-by-media" is a good thing.
While it is difficult to disagree with the irritating liberals part, I believe he does a disservice to the conservative cause. Bristol Palin is clearly a mediocre dancer and Brandy was clearly a fine dancer. This is not about Mr. Limbaugh, whom I respect, it's about people supporting mediocrity for ideological reasons. It's not right. It is a kind of conservative affirmative action whereby people of lesser abilities are given support and credence though they are clearly unqualified.
I believe Mrs. Palin is a mediocre politician and generally uniformed and ignorant of the reasons behind the ideals she espouses, but that she gets paid a lot of money to say them as the Mama Grizzly to her fans. Many of my readers were unhappy with my recent criticism of Mrs. Palin. I've lost a few readers but actually have gained quite a few more as a result. Now that I am being critical of Mr. Limbaugh as well, I suppose I'll lose some readers and gain even more. Whatever.
I think my real point is that if we conservatives and libertarians are willing to accept mediocre leaders and politicians, then we will lose ground to the left and yield the field to the Obama Regressives. We do need charismatic, articulate, intelligent, and informed leaders. I believe Mrs. Palin gives us charisma and she reads speeches well, but she is avoiding tough interviews. She has demonstrated that she is mediocre, uninformed, and cannot well articulate or argue the issues underlying complex ideals which guided our Founders.
By setting the bar too low, and opening our arms to Mrs. Palin we will get what we deserve. I think even George W. Bush is more competent than Mrs. Palin, and he trashed the Republican Party and turned into to a movement of conservative Christian social values instead of traditional Republican values.
I believe such affirmative action shows that we are failing to live up to ideals that made this country great, which is to support people of merit and ability who support, understand, and can be effective advocates of our ideas of freedom, free market capitalism, individualism, and tolerance. I intensely dislike Mr. Obama's politics, economics, and general world view. But the guy is bright and articulate and can think on his feet, even if his world view is entirely wrong for America. He is persuasive, but he falls on his ideas. I am not suggesting we support losers like Jimmy Carter, John Kerry, Al Gore or Michael Dukakis. But I think we need the whole package. I believe we need to demand higher standards of our politicians and not settle for mediocrity.
Mrs. Palin said yesterday in unequivocal language that she is a candidate for the presidency. Personally I don't think she is serious. I believe it may be a tactic to keep her in front of the Republican Party, appear to be a power in the Party, and to enhance her status and appeal as a saleswoman for herself. Selling herself to America is something she does very well (see, "Sarah Palin's America") and you will see what I mean. I enjoyed the series and found her to be likeable, but that doesn't mean I would want her finger on the trigger or on the economy as my president.
But, in the off-chance that she would see it through to mounting a serious campaign for the presidency, then I believe that would be a big mistake for America's right wing to fall in behind her. Folks, we can do better than that. Demand excellence.
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Less bought and paid for? So, she's what, a semi-shill?
Please tell me your not lying...do you guys realize how great this will be if ron paul runs? ron paul vs. palin? ron paul 2012.
I think after this run of politicians people will be all to fed up with politicians and will be able to see through the lies and ignorance....oh and the blatant theft.
Ron Paul has no chance of being elected president. He is too old, too inarticulate, no charisma, no vision.
What has he achieved in relation to the Fed in 34 years in Congress? Lots of talk, no successful action, no results.
He has aroused interest in libertarian ideals, but libertarians still have trouble achieving even 5% of the popular vote (1.16% of votes in 2010 Senate race).
My prediction is that Texas Governor Rick Perry will be the Republican presidential nominee. I couldn't care less whether he wins or loses ... Washington is the problem, not the solution.
What has he achieved?
People are actually talking about the Fed and understand a very complex argument. It's called the power of ideas. The past two have demonstrated a very simple argument that people are beginning to understand: if the Fed is our savior by printing trillions and the Congress created it, why can't that same Congress audit it? Why are we not even allowed to know what the real issues were at the time of the crisis? Why are we not allowed to know what arrangements with foreign central banks our central bank has?
The Fed would like nothing more than for everyone to fall back asleep and let them run their printing press. So what is the influence of these ideas? Ask the Fed. All they do is worry about how people perceive their actions and statements.
"He is too old, too inarticulate, no charisma, no vision."
And therein lies part of our problem. Expecting to be led, like sheep by some visionary, who will solve all our problems, we reward mediocrity so long as it comes in a cute little package. Jim Jones was a charismatic "visionary." The cute packaging usually ends up in the dump with the rest of the trash.
Sadly, it is reality. Unfortunately, the really real reality is lurking in the shadows, and it's going to hurt.
Far too many young people put their hopes on this man. Far too many. I saw them in action. I realized they are victims. Victims of a government schooling system that has robbed them of the ability to reason and to rationalize and to think for themselves. They have this herd instinct. Oh Ron Paul is the answer. He will lead us out of this guagmire. He is our only hope. Then Ron Paul quits in the middle of the campaign and says well he was just starting a movement. Now the young people say, well we are part of his movement, never stopping to see things as they truely are. The sad part about it, is that so many sheep do not see things as they really are and they probably never will. They want their heros to do their thinking for them and to lead them. It is easier that way. They don't want to think for themselves. This is a form of brain washing that has produced the desired effects in the young people of today. Granted, many of them mean well. But if you try to bring up any of this stuff to them, they immediately shut you off. How dare you talk against Ron Paul, as if this man can be all and do all. How dare you tell us the truth. How dare you say to us that he is just a man. He is our god and we want him to lead us now. Yes I have seen all of these things and read them. It is like listening to this fool, called Alex Jones. Anyone with half a brain sees him as he is, yet his sycophantic genuflecting cool aid drinking followers will not ever allow any disperaging remarks about their hero. For you see, it is easier to allow someone to do your thinking for you and to speak for you. This is the world we live in now. We have come a long way in the last 200 years. Sometimes I wonder what it must have been like here in this country not long after the revolution when liberty was at its sweetest, before the system recovered and started slowly destroying our freedoms and liberties by the long plan that the powers that be, have had in place. So is Ron Paul our man of the hour, our George Washington , to lead us out of the doldrums of fascism and communism? I think not. To understand this man, all one has to do is look to his past and his associations with the John Birch Society and with Rosicrician Free Masonry.
Ron Paul has admitted to being just as surprised at his support among the young voters as anyone else. For that reason I come to the conclusion that Dr. Paul was just a personification of something else. Putting one's finger on that je ne sais quoi will be the holy grail for some politician who can actually "capitalize" on it.
Politics is more about ideas than people. Both Palin and Paul are examples of that. Neither one is the best choice for President, but they are the exemplars of what the people want: A strong individualism and advocate for personal freedom. Neither Palin nor Paul has the political skill to pull off a successful term in office; neither has the broad spectrum of experience/knowledge to be an international politician.
Ron Paul is too old. Being President is a perilous job in perilous times. He should have retired a long time ago. For someone who calls himself a libertarian and a outsider he sure seems to not mind swimming the sewer. If he as so disgusted with Washington, why is he still there after all these years? He could do much more good in Texas. Then you look at his lying goof ball son over in Tennessee and you scratch your head and wonder about this whole bunch. Frankly at this stage, I see his lips moving speaking words that sound nice, but so far, he is still standing. For example, look what happened to the congressman from Ohio, Jim Traficant. Set him up on some bogus charges, spent 7 years in lockup for nothing really. They thought they would break him but they failed. He is still around. He has been quiet as of late. So to my way of thinking, you can always tell when someone is on your side. They pay the price one way or the other. That goes with the territory. If nothing bad is not happening to you, then you can be sure, that you are not a threat and that you are not doing anything of importance. If something bad does happen to you, then you know that you are doing your job. It is a sad day in America when we have to judge our congressmen by what happens to them, but I am sorry. Actions speak louder than words ever did. This is why I think that Paul is a stalking horse. Someone who they keep around to talk the talk and make pretty speeches about liberty and getting rid of the FED in order to pacify the malcontents etc. This is why they started conservative talk radio, to pacify the anger in the street and let the idiots call up and rant and then by doing this, let off steam. Just another way to control the sheep. Anyway this is the way it looks from the nosebleed section. Stay tuned. One thing is for sure. I hope I am wrong, but I fear I am not.
So... if you're not dead, you're not really a libertarian. Of course you can't be a libertarian if you're dead because you no longer exist. Ergo, libertarians cannot exist.
Thanks for that analysis.
Well not dead per se. What I am trying to say is that we need people who are there , that are not trying to get along just to get along. How long have we had this sort of activity going on? Perhaps you may not know this. But the libertarian party is a just a big game and is controlled opposition. Parties do not matter. Am I saying I want them to fall on their swords for me? I think not. I know human nature and I know full well what goes on up there. Will there ever be a time when they have to sacrifice themselves for truth? I think so. That time is coming. Either put up or shut up. That time is coming for us all. Many of us, (myself included) have flown for too long under the radar. Soon we will be called out as the state gets in our faces and demands things from us that we are not willing to give them. What then? It is easy for a congressman to go to Washington and pretend to be something he or she is not. It won't be so easy for us. The day is coming and coming soon, at a trot, right towards us. I have some lines in the sand.
Tennessee? I thot it was Kentucky. Guess I need to keep in touch more.
You are right. Sorry about that. I don't know why I said Tennessee.
Hate your politics, but can't fault your logic in this respect. Legitimizing mediocrity is destructive to progress.
Michael Savage said it best about Palin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmOAdeJFtY8
If you want want to give Obama a 2nd turn, let Palin be he's oponent