The Liberal Glacier

I started to write a case for conservatism when my husband kindly pointed out that a very succinct article written by George Will dated May 31, 2007, by the same title - appeared in the Washington Post. What a pity that his article was not picked up by the McCain operation and used in his recent failed campaign because they did not adequately articulate the conservative message. That's not to say that Sarah Palin did not energize the base-she did in spades.  But what McCain needed to do was draw more of the democrats further to the center and center right, which clearly did not happen.

By today's 'everything is relative' standards John F. Kennedy was a conservative. But I don't want to espouse the relative speak except to point out the relative distance our new president elect is from the principles of JFK.

Two of many defining values of JFK were that Americans should 1. Serve a cause bigger than themselves e.g. don't ask the government what it can do for you, and 2. Americans should not be considered on the basis of race, religion etc. Yet those two values have been turned upside down and twisted by his party today. The Dems have redefined "ask not" and "affirmative action" which, ironically he coined.

I find it a great conundrum that liberals reject the values that JFK embraced yet all the while portray an alliance with him. George Will hit the proverbial nail when he wrote that, "You serve your country by embracing a spacious and expanding sphere of life for which your country is not responsible". I would add that the Dems embrace ideology, which partly rests on the premise that everything must be fair. That fallacy unfortunately is to some degree permeating the independent and conservative base and feeds the entitlement mentality. Everything is not fair, nor can or will be. It's a tall order to distribute fairness. How is it that any party should have such hubris to proclaim it should be administrators of it? Furthermore, it is evident where a party's values lie when it implies spreading wealth is the epitome of fairness. It is repulsive to debase Americans with such poppycock. Indeed liberals are very good at twisting values that JFK supported.

George Will nailed the arguments as one of freedom versus equality. It may be an over simplification to assert that if you are more concerned about freedom than equality you are more conservative than liberal. But, it might be an easy way to gauge where you are on the political spectrum. I believe that we have an intrinsic level of equality just being Americans, such that I do not need to be as concerned about equality because to some extent it already exists.

If I compete in a business endeavor against you and I do not succeed, from the liberal perspective - it's likely due to inequality rather than my general skills, abilities or capitalization. And, if I belong to an ethnic group, the explanation might be a polarization, a magnification of the plight of my 'people'. If affirmative action perks are not the crutch to balance the playing field, perhaps an entitlement is because I am now told I am disenfranchised. The disenfranchised needing entitlements become a 'going concern' for communities and eventually Americans at large.

The notion of being able to succeed without the necessity of a government handout or hand up is slowly blotting out the legacy of our founding fathers-who argued whether the federal government should provide for the common defense. If the liberals somehow provide equality they will have to do so at the expense of the outcome. As with any competition someone will do better, and since the criteria liberals use for inequality is one of outcome they will not be satisfied until there no longer is competition and socialism reigns supreme. The conservatives need to illuminate the public to push back the slow deliberate liberal glacier. 

Columbus Dispatch Endorses John McCain

The Columbus Dispatch, Central Ohio's major newspaper, has publicly endorsed John McCain for president citing his bipartisanship and experience.

Sex, Lies and Politics

     I was duped big time. At the risk of being called naïve, I gave Edwards the benefit of the doubt - because ultimately I would rather wear a ditz label than wrongly accuse an individual of such an incredibly ill noble, self-centered, moronic deed as cheating at a most inopportune critical moment in history.
     It was pretty easy to rationalize the innocence of someone whose family had gone through prolonged crisis. John Edwards was in the spotlight. For a moment or two he was the spotlight and his ailing wife right along with him. What a symbol of unity if ever there was one.
     Even O'Reilly wouldn't finger wag given the condition of Edward's wife. So why do we blind ourselves and think the very best of those who are innately as human as we are?

     Maybe at the end of the day we want leaders to believe in, leaders that are bigger than base - paragons of virtue who empower us to stand up with the same strength with which they stand. And we want to see that virtue for more than a fleeting moment.

    It's not too much to ask that our politicians start acting like the noble men and women we elect them to be when they hold honorable offices, which represent our United States of America.

    Infidelity statistics in our country are staggering. I understand that politicians are not responsible for the choices that Americans make, however, I wonder: If Washington started behaving with character, loyalty and integrity what message might ring out to families all across our country who find themselves victims of turmoil and temptations.   

    Why do we make excuses for dishonorable behavior? Some animals treat their partners with more dignity and honor! I'm weary with nodding my head and feeling ashamed for the conduct of our leaders. Call me old-fashioned, sanctimonious, living a pipe dream - or whatever!  It's time Americans behaved above their own character for their family's, their faith's, and their country's sake.

    We find ourselves leading depraved lives when we believe we can do anything without accountability. Do you think Mr. Edward's would have had the affair if his best friend were privy -keeping him in line? Would he behave the same if he knew his wife was watching?  Heck no!  Some individuals think they're too smart, clever or above reproach. Vassar, Harvard, Princeton-nor any institution, affiliation or membership can make people too smart, clever or righteous for accountability. Still, may we all wise up.