THE BOTTOM TEN: 2009 YEAR IN REVIEW
REPUBLICANS WHO HAVE LOST THEIR WAY
For the next few days, you will undoubtedly be assaulted with endless compilations of year end lists, reviews, and highlight reels to commemorate the year 2009 and to send it off with a bang. I for one would like to burn the memories of this horrific 365 day saga from my memory for all of perpetuity, but before I begin that endeavor, I thought I would come up with a year end list of my own. For those of you that like that sort of thing, here is another one with a Republican Redefined twist. Instead of featuring the “many” proud achievements of Republicans in this calendar year, we will celebrate those who continue to dare to walk the center line or flirt with the evil Left.
The Bottom Ten has been rather stagnant for the last few months as many have only cemented their places on this list but there were a few over achievers that have managed to accomplish the feat however, and will crack the list for the first time in the year end review. For those of you unfamiliar with the Bottom Ten, lets just say its not exactly a badge of honor for a Republican to find his / her way here. I would have created a top ten list but lets just be honest, its a lot easier to create a list of the bottom dwellers than it is to find a list of ten Republicans that I actually think are doing a great job. So here it is. 2009’s Bottom Ten in review.
(September 30, 2009 - Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images North America)
1. Olympia Snowe (Maine Senator) – its been a rough year for the questionably “Republican” senator from Maine. She has been lost in the gray for much of the year and finds her way to the top of the list accordingly. She began her year siding with the Dems in voting for the stimulus bill that changed America; she voted to confirm Justice Sotomayor; she voted to break cloture on Cass Sunstein (Regulatory Czar); and she “courageously” voted for the Baucus Plan in the Senate Finance Committee giving Dems hope that their bill would eventually find bipartisan support. She claimed that she still had concerns about the bill, but she was willing to let it get out of committee. Newsflash…it was getting out either way genius. 14-9 doesn’t exactly make you a swing-vote, it makes you a supporter. In more recent news, she and her home-girl Susan Collins voted against the Nelson amendment that would have prevented federal money from funding abortion related services. To put it nicely, the only way that Snowe will ever find her way off of this list is if she someday pulls a Specter and officially heads over to the other side.
1A. Susan Collins (Maine Senator) – is attached to Senator Snowe at the hip so its only fair that she would join her in sharing the top spot here. She followed her pal Snowe off the Centrist cliff in a full blown march to the left by voting for both the stimulus bill and confirmation for Justice Sotomayor. She is also my leading contender for the Republican who will cave and eventually vote in favor of the health reform bill. Yes, my money is riding on her rather than Snowe – the odds are just too good to pass up. There’s no money in only betting on the favorite.
2. Lindsey Graham (South Carolina Senator) – “Tweedle Dumb,” as we like to call him around here, voted to confirm Justice Sotomayor as well and continues to personify the backwards and misguided centrist wing of the Republican Party. Unlike Snowe and Collins however, he attempts to play the role of a “conservative.” I don’t think you have to guess which I have the most disdain for. In case you’re wondering, new here, or absolutely blind to my hatred for phony conservatives, the choice would certainly be Graham and his little charade. Had he voted for the stimulus he would have firmly found himself in the top spot on this list, and still only narrowly escapes it. He voted to confirm Justice Sotomayor – only after spending two weeks railing about how terrible she was, but that pretty much sums up the man that is Lindsey Graham. He did have one great moment of glory this year worth mentioning. He provided the entertainment for the President’s address to a Joint Session of Congress with his inability to know when to clap. (Watch the video here) How bout next time you find yourself in such a venue choose your neighbor to your left and your right a little more carefully or maybe just grow a backbone before taking your chair. How many times did you have to get caught looking around for a cue as to when to clap? Seriously man? It should also be noted that he also pledged this year to join forces with Senator Kerry to find bipartisan agreement on “Cap and Trade” in the Senate until he realized that Americans universally oppose it, and that he was in fact supposed to be a Republican – great call. I am sure he will pick up that endeavor just after the new year.
July 25, 2009 - Photo by Eric Engman/Getty Images North America
3. Sarah Palin (Former Alaska Governor) – Palin, Palin, Palin… Oh how I love Sarah Palin. I loved her as my Vice-Presidential candidate and I love her, love her, love her now as the self anointed face of the populist conservative movement. The conservative anti-diva stepped down unceremoniously from her governorship … or perhaps more accurately without stating a rational or justifiable reason for doing so… and effortlessly loaded the rifles of her opponents if and when she decides to make her inevitable march to the Republican nomination in 2012 or thereafter. Perhaps we should be thanking her for this actually, but I digress. It did give her time to “write” her memoirs, so there was some good done for humanity with her departure from public office. Going Rogue: An American Life reached number one before it even hit bookstore shelves. Hundreds of thousands rushed to stores, found their way to Amazon, or gathered in malls to buy a book based solely on a cover and a promise of “conservative” content therein. Sound familiar to anyone? I actually think its classic. The woman that is famous for memorizing token conservative talking points, and infamous for being unable to explain them, sells hundreds of thousands of books based solely on her name and celebrity. Sell the books before anyone can read one… Brilliant. I think McCain tried a similar strategy last November – didn’t work out quite so well for him though. As to the year as a whole for Sarah Palin, you may have to call this a good one. She worked on her “credibility” problems and her image as a token conservative and a simpleton. She joined LinkedIn and now issues press releases via Facebook. I think that’s progress.
4. Mark Sanford (Governor South Carolina) – If Tiger Woods wasn’t the most famous athlete on the planet and an even bigger male whore than you could dream of being, I would say that you had one of the worst years out there. To say your 2009 was rough would do a great disservice to rough years everywhere, but when will you ever learn to just go away and stop talking? Take your medicine and realize that when Republicans fall…they fall extra hard. Its not fair, but that’s the price we pay for being running our campaigns on platforms of political guidance originating from a higher power. Another press conference and another press conference and another press conference? GO AWAY!! Your “soul-mate” is lonely. Find her and try not to speed along the way. Pay your ticket like the rest of us and tell your driver to hit the brakes occasionally when he sees a State Trooper. From potential GOP Presidential nominee to end of the year impeachment proceedings, I’d say that was a pretty bad swing.
September 30, 2008 - Photo by Steve Pope/Getty Images North America
5. John McCain (Arizona Senator) – For starters here, let me just be honest and say that there is and always will be a special place in Republican Hell reserved for John McCain – actually I think it would only be fitting for him to end up in Republican Purgatory but that’s a matter for another day. No list – bottom, top, best, or worst will ever be able to accurately place or rank this career politician. That is why it is only fitting that he come in at the middle of this one. Ever the “Maverick” and always pulling to the Center, John McCain or “Tweedle Dee” as I usually refer to him around here, could very easily rest at the top of this list, but I would hate to do him the honor. No, he belongs in the Center – Right where he always tries to remain. It has been a banner year for the ageless Senator from Arizona. On the heals of a mismanaged and ill-fated campaign – that will scar the Party for a generation and drove the nation into the arms of a President with socialist tendencies – he has put on a great show for the other side running his administration in exile every Sunday on the morning talk show circuit. If he can’t be president, at least he can play one on Sunday mornings. One final note on my least favorite Republican… it should be noted that we do owe McCain a great debt of gratitude even if his one contribution technically fell in the last calendar years – he is the man that brought us the Savior Sarah Palin. Without McCain and his maverick tactics, she’d still be huntin and hockey mommin it up in Alaska and where would we have been then? What would 2009 have been without the gift that he has given us? We wouldn’t live in a world where conservatives from all walks of life (even Ann Coulter) are afraid to admit that ripping into this woman scares them beyond reason, and makes them question their own conservative credentials based solely on the failed premise that she is “sooo conservative” and adored by so many. Thank you John McCain. I mean that sincerely.
6. Bobby Jindal (Governor Lousiana) – The man, the myth, the legend. This guy was going to take Washington by storm and coast to the White House in 2012… and then he opened his mouth. Lincoln once said it is better to be remain silent and be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. Bobby Jindal should have listened to our first Republican President. He was labeled – “The Future of the Republican Party” and with his first moment in the national spotlight reminded all of us that said future may be an unfavorable one. He was given the opportunity to offer the Republican response to President Obama’s first speech before a Joint Session of Congress, and lets just say it didn’t go so well. Perhaps a few less “son of an immigrant” references, and at least a token expression of an actual conservative agenda would have been more appropriate? Many were quick to blame those who “forced” him into the spotlight prematurely for ruining the future of this great potential candidate rather than seeing the truth for what it was and is – he lacks even an ounce of charisma or a hint of likability. Perhaps Republican Party heads over-thought the process a bit. If only they would have went with the original plan to hang a banner in the background that read “Republicans…Not just old White Guys anymore” he wouldn’t have had to try so hard to connect the dots for all the ignorant Americans out there who needed to be reminded that the Republican Party was a place for minorities too.
October 1, 2008 - Photo by None/Getty Images North America
7. Mitch McConnell (Senate Minority Leader – Kentucky) – Good ole Mitch McConnell. Let’s just say he’s had a bad year. If he didn’t want the job as Majority Leader his whole career I’d almost feel sorry for him, but he has proven undeniably inadequate as leader of the Party in the more “conservative” House. Under his leadership, his caucus has done little to nothing to stop rampant spending that will go down in the annuls of history as unprecedented and game changing. We all gawked at the size of the $787 billion stimulus bill and since that time we have altered our collective vocabulary to think “billions” were commonplace and “millions” were chump change. In the last month alone his caucus has gone quietly as the Senate signed off on a $680 billion defense bill riddled with pork and waste, passed a $1.1 trillion appropriations bill that increased budgets by nearly 10% much of the federal bureaucracy, raised the debt ceiling, and took steps toward allowing 1/6 the nation’s economy to be subjugated to federal control in the form of a nationalized system of health care. The short of it is this. I have no doubt that McConnell is a good guy, and he is a fine Republican when he is among the rank and file, but he has no place in a leadership role. His decision to cave to Harry Reid and head home for the holidays was absolutely unconscionable. If the Party intends to have any chance of returning to greatness, he simply cannot be among its “leaders” in the years to come. I am not saying that Kentucky should replace him, but I am saying that his role on the national scale must be scaled back immediately.
(May 28, 2009 - Photo by Bill Pugliano/Getty Images North America)
8. George W. Bush (43rd President) – Sorry W. You’re gonna be on here a while. “Stimulus” is a Republican word thanks to you. Tee-ing it up for Obama to knock capitalism out of the park was not a good move for you. I have said repeatedly that I wholeheartedly believe your presidency will be viewed in a much more favorable light by future generations, but the stain of your out-of-control spending will surely not be the highlight of said improvement to your track record. We are reminded daily of your “failed policies” and programs by your successor; and with every day that passes, even this conservative who questioned your spending, would love to have it back at a moments’ notice for an ounce of the security that you helped to provided us – and frankly, your spending was small potatoes compared to this guy’s. You have handled your departure from the spotlight with the grace of a true gentleman and you should be commended for it accordingly. That being said, the legitimacy that you gave the spending efforts of this administration will for the foreseeable future secure your place on this list.
9. Michael Steele (Chairman RNC)– I have never been a fan of Steele. In fact, I think I have repeatedly referred to him as an idiot. I had intended to keep the list to only elected officials, but since he is “the face of the Party” I thought it was time to show him some respect. We will ignore his history of making ridiculous off the cuff remarks…. like when he said he was going to appeal to the “hip hop” generation by “waging an ‘off the hook’ PR campaign”… or his comment on how he was going to “take the Republican message directly to the streets” – ok so I didn’t ignore the history entirely, but his relentless efforts to inject himself into every single political discussion make him worthy of the list on their own merit. I have made myself pretty clear from day one with Steele. He was simply a bad choice. He may have been the right man for the job in another era, but he is simply not the right man for the party at the current hour when it is trying to reestablish even an ounce of credibility. Would it have been so hard to have chosen a pencil pushing campaign manager or a legitimate A-Lister that we didn’t have to disavow weekly? That would have been nice, but for now I suppose we are stuck with him. On a brighter note Mr. Steele, the new GOP website looks great by the way. (The Daily Show loved it) Its really nice how you told Liberals and Democrats to “fill it up” … and they did. Maybe you should try to get some Republicans to jump on there every once in a while. I hear rap music and awkward attempts to sound “new and hip” are a great recruiting tool. Maybe give that a shot.
Even if the sound of his voice didn’t make me cringe; and even if the very idea of Steel as the “Leader” of this Party didn’t make me want to vomit, he would have made the list for one reason alone. In one year, he has done more – as a Black Republican – to reaffirm the image of the Republican Party as a social club for the Good Ole Boys and Southern White Dudes than any individual in the last twenty years. For all of Lindsey Graham’s token conservative rhetoric and hillbilly twang; for all the countless hours of John McCain’s face being plastered on every network; for all the despicable attempts of the champions of the Left like the Great Reverend Jesse Jackson to frame every debate in a racial context; Michael Steele – as a Black Republican – has done more to drive our Party toward total homogeneity in the minds of Americans than any of it. He is the antithesis of a post racial politician and his position as the “leader” of our party makes me sick; and at times, he has made me embarrassed to share a party label with him. How he kept his job after this makes my head spin.
(June 8, 2009 - Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images North America)
10. Newt Gingrich (Former Speaker of the House) – Has anyone really ever lost their target audience more quickly than Newt Gingrich did this year with his endorsement of Dede Scozzafava in the NY-23 Congressional race? Right as he was about to pub a new book, he aligned himself with a candidate who eventually endorsed the Democrat – over an independent Conservative who opposed her. Even after weeks of opportunities to reverse course and redeem himself, the leader of the Republican Revolution stood firm on his endorsement and forever tarnished his reputation within the conservative community. I have to admit, Newt used to be one of my heroes. Ideologically speaking, he and I tend to come down on different sides of things regarding the justifications for his positions on issues, but we essentially agree on the big ones. He is a pragmatist and he is a realist, and I have no doubt that both of those traits played a role in his decision to endorse Scozzafava, but his inability to admit that he was wrong when her true colors were revealed made me lose a great deal of respect for the once proud leader. In the aftermath, I do believe he has sealed his fate as a political talking head relegated to the Sunday Circuit and an occasional appearance on Hannity. Sad yes, but much deserved all the same. He should have backed off when he realized how wrong he truly was with his choice of candidates. Blame it on an assistant. Blame it on bad information. Hell, just say “I was duped.”
Dishonorable Mention:
Former Senators Bob Dole and Bill Frist for trying to sell books and re-introduce themselves amidst the healthcare debate and muddying the waters for the already inept Republican leadership on Capitol Hill.
Tom Delay (The Hammer) for his choosing to appear on Dancing With the Stars – one word – awful!!
Charles Boustany (Congressman Louisiana) – For your wonderful rebuttal to the President’s address to the nation and a Joint Session of Congress. I mean Congressman Boustany – seriously? Im not sure whether to put you here or the morons that chose you. You weren’t worse than your fellow Cajun Bobby Jindal, but you were close. Did you even listen to the President’s speech before you started talking? Perhaps you could have mentioned something from the hour long diatribe that struck a note? Absolutely mind boggling how you ever got that gig.
The Six Republicans Who Voted YEA for Cloture on the radical Cass Sunstein (Regulatory Czar) – Susan Collins (Maine), Olympia Snowe (Maine), Bob Bennett (Utah), Orrin Hatch (Utah), Richard Lugar (Indiana), and Judd Gregg (New Hampshire). Some of you are already on here but the others are on your way to a spot of your own. Be patient. The stink from this one is still lingering and will be ever more apparent in the months to come.
Dede Scozzafava, Doug Hoffman, and All of NY-23 “Republican” leadership. You put on quite a show, but could you have just chosen a real Republican in the first place and saved us all the trouble? And to every Republican in that district, are you not a better candidate than Doug Hoffman? Have a little confidence in yourself folks, this guy got worse by the minute. If Scozzafava wasn’t such a heartbeat away from a genuinely flaming liberal I would have admonished you for ending up with Hoffman.
Arnold Schwarzenneger (Governor California) – you’re state is in economic ruin and your solution is selling pot? Come on man. Get it together.
The Six Republicans Who Voted to Confirm Justice Sotomayor – Lindsey Graham (S.C.), Lamar Alexander (Tenn.), Christopher Bond (Missouri), Susan Collins (Maine), Olympia Snowe (Maine), Richard Lugar (Indiana), Mel Martinez (Florida), Judd Gregg (New Hampshire), George Voinovich (Ohio)
Keep up the good work. 35% of the vote in 2012 is heading your way.
I am with TerMac but 35% may be generous.
Magada you have been here for two days and while I appreciate your patronage, your attitude really sucks. How bout you start your own website so the world can be graced with your brilliance. I would love to hear more from you than your trivial little one liners of dissent. I really think there may be something of substance buried deep within. I genuinely think you may be able to muster two sentences if you really work at it.
Much appreciated TerMac – you sarcastic liberal toad. Glad you found the site in your hunt for your daily propaganda. Sorry that the list wasn’t up to your unusually high standards bottom dweller.
[...] is to find a list of ten Republicans that I actually think are doing a great job. So here it is. 2009’s Bottom Ten in review. Leave a [...]
I agree with your selection of Snowe, Collins, McCain, Steele, Sanford, and Graham – but the inclusion of Palin, McConnel, Jindahl, and Gingrich in the same pot makes no sense whatsoever — and the inclusion of Hoffman (who is NOT a republican in the first place) in your discussion is stupid.
This piece brings up a red-flag for me. Almost seems like some personal venting going on here?
Likewise, a person as obviously as thin-skinned (to citique) as you are makes me pause. Do I catch a wiff of Obama-like narcissism in your nasty replies? I think so — you are most likely not anywhere near as cute as you think you are. Get a more honest mirror.
I must tell you that I appreciate your agreeing with me on Snowe, Collins, McCain, Steele, Sanford, and Graham. I am glad that out of the millions of Republicans in this nation we agreed on 6 of the 10 worst. That does give me a sense of optimism and I am not an optimistic guy. As to the other four you mentioned… well we will just have to agree to disagree on those folks. So there are 4 Republicans I put in my bottom ten that you do not. How many major league all stars could we agree on? How many Sportscenter “Not Top Tens” do you agree with. I get it. You like them. Throw me some substance though if you want to attack me here. Don’t just follow my “personal venting” with one of your own.
And about this “red-flag” I don’t know what the hell you are talking about. “Personal venting”? Do I have a “personal” relationship with any of the four? I think you could probably guess – I do not.
On the last point… Obama-like narcissism?? Perhaps. I think what you’re detecting as narcissism may actually just be an absolute commitment and appreciation for the path that guides my political philosophy and a confidence that those who post nonsense like Magda up there are just a step away from needing medication to remember to put on pants in the morning. OR it could just be Obama-like narcissism. I will let you know when I sort that out.
I almost forgot to touch upon the most important point. You said my “discussion” was “stupid” because I included Doug Hoffman on the Dishonorable Mention list as a Republican. Because of the time you spent on the choice of the word “stupid” I will ignore the fact that you clearly understand very little about that district if you cannot see that the distinction you are trying to make is absurd… and I will even pass on pointing out that you are precisely the type of “conservative” that likely thinks a third party is a great idea – especially if we have people like Hoffman at the wheel.
I will simply refer you to Doug Hoffman’s campaign website. DOUG HOFFMAN FOR CONGRESS – where the first two press clippings describe his decision to seek the REPUBLICAN endorsement. I think next time you decide to label something “stupid” you may want to do some reading first to get your facts straight.
http://www.nypolitics.com/2009/06/16/douglas-hoffman-to-run-for-congress/
If you don’t like reading. This one’s a video.
http://www.wwnytv.com/news/local/48151332.html
OK, points taken.
I retract my remark about “stupid” — with appologies — it was an over-the-top choice of word, and therefore uncalled for. I should have remembered Regan’s admonishment about attacking other conservatives….
To clarify I reject the suggestion that Palin and Jindal merit inclusion in any list of “bottom” republicans. Nor McConnell and Gingrich — both have made their mistakes but they are in there pitching for the good guys most of the time.
In contrast, Michael Steele should be at the head of your list of no value republicans — he is as teats on a bull. And right with him is John McCain — a war hero? Yes. But a conservative legislator? Not much. And as a national republican candidate? A disgrace. As well I think you should have promoted Schwarznneger a place at the head table — already he realizes Obamacare will not help balance his “budget”.
All wonderful points as well B. Daniel and I appreciate the retraction.
As to Palin and Jindal. We can start with the latter. I simply believe he had the greatest opportunity of this calendar year to really make a mark as a Republican and he absolutely blew it. In a year where all that we have heard from those to our Left is that we have no leadership let alone leadership for tomorrow, he had the one opportunity to tell the nation that the closet wasn’t empty. Is it a death sentence? I hope not for the people of Louisiana, because they could use a good conservative or anything short of a corruptocrat down there.
As to Palin. I know that the debate over her is one that I will not convince you on so, I will not spend the time here to do it. I will offer you one link however and its not Palin related in anyway.
http://republicanredefined.com/2010/01/08/justice-antonin-scalia-the-supreme-court-needs-fewer-judges/
Its a post about Justice Scalia and Strict Interpretation. The day that I begin to hear Sarah Palin talking in similar tongues will be the day that I admit that I am wrong. I just fundamentally believe that her type of conservatism – sing the high points and leave the explanations for another day – makes us a party that appeals only to a limited pocket of our population. An explanation of strict interpretation on an issue such as gay marriage, the Right to Bear Arms, or abortion would go a long way to bringing me on board with her supporters. Simply announcing her support for three issues does nothing for me. She’s supposed to be a straight talker. In my mind – Scalia is the straight talker. Palin is the evangelist who tries to appeal to the visceral sides of Republicans – a great talent in every regard – if only she could throw in the other side as well. Like I said, I have no doubt we will not see eye to eye on Palin, but maybe if you read that post you will see where im coming from.
As to AAAArrrnold. If he were more noteworthy, newsworthy, or even on my radar most of the year, he would have been higher on the list. He could very easily have been plugged in there just about anywhere from 6-10.
Gingrich sold his soul this year because he was too stubborn to admit he made a mistake. As I said, it was likely the pragmatic side of Newt that led him to support Dede but when he realized she was a flaming Lefty, he could have backtracked…. but he didn’t. Like I also said, he is one of my political heroes, so it pains me to put the man on the list, but it is what it is.
As to Michael Steele – you are probably right, he could very easily have been number one. I have despised him from the moment he took the post. Why was he so far down? Not any real rhyme or reason. I started with McCain at five and worked from there. They could all really be 1A-10A in my book. McConnell is the highest ranking Republican in the Senate and under his leadership of the minority party we have spent trillions. If his leadership would have led to 60-40 votes all year long then he would have been the greatest Republican of 2010 given the circumstances. That being said, I think we both know that’s not the way the vote played out.
Again, I should point out – this was for THIS year. It wasn’t a lifetime achievement award. Only President Bush got punished for actions from a previous calendar year – but the effects of his actions linger on.
Anyways, I appreciate your comments and your visiting the site. To me the greatest thing about conservatives and the thing that distinguishes our Party from the other is the fact that we can disagree on issues as long as we hold true to our principles. Like I said in my earlier comment, we may disagree about the four worst Republicans but I am pretty confident we would put together a fairly similar list of the worst democrats if we had to make one. Thanks again.
T dropped a double comment on ya. That means you musta really pissed him off. Dont come around here trying to drop useless input. Hoffman ran as a Conservative bc he got denied the Republican endorsement. He then ran with a very well established Conservative Party which has a long history of bringing Republicans in the fold to run against moderate republicans.
What useless input? Hoffman, regardless of his prior voter registration, obviously had to join the Conservative Party to run under their banner. You said it yourself – he was denied the Republican endorsement (by a group of RINO-thinking county chairs). Therefore he could not have been running as a Republican could he? Further, I expect, had he won the election he would have been a Conservative congressman caucusing with the Republicans. In any case there is no basis whatsoever for including Hoffman on a group of bottom-dwelling Republicans. Period. With regard to Hoffman I stand by my comments.
One question. Since we are throwing out prior party registration or past affiliations, which Party would you have me include your girl Palin in? She isn’t holding an office as a Republican. She’s keynoting the National Tea Party Convention next month – while not an actual party – many of their supporters will be pushing for and likely endorsing conservatives to oppose incumbent Republicans. Do I exclude her now too that she’s affiliating with another group? I think you’re grasping at straws a bit here and trying to play in the gray area here. Hoffman’s a Republican and so is your girl Sarah. They both just happen to be using another “political party” to further their careers.
OK. So speaking at a party convention is the same a running under the banner of the party? That makes Joe Leibeman a republican then? I wish he would caucus with them.
I hardly think this is worth continuing and besides Hoffman whatever you think of him is a very minor player — it certainly was not his fault the “party” ran Scozzafava I guess.
As to Palin your beef with her sounds more like envy than anything else. I read her book last weekend it was a great read IMO –my wife thought so too. he is in the public spotlight because McCain put her there. The record shows she did not lobby for the job. Right now she is doing a lot more good than most I can think of. Do your editorials cause the Obama team fits? Doubt it. Her’s do. You sound more like uber-RINO David Brooks than anyone else on this one – can’t imagine you see THAT as a complement.
Sorry I missed your earlier reply on the topic. About Palin — I’ll read it now. Just did. Wow!
While I am sure we agree on most things Palin won’t be one of them.
You question her committment to pro-line? Did Scalia knowingly carry a Downes Syndrome baby to term also? If so then I agree Scalia is ahead on this issue because he is the most articulate. I’d rather drop this whole thing and agree to disagree.
So now I’m an “uber-rino” for not liking Sarah Palin as the face of the Party? That’s preposterous and frankly I think its a bit narrow minded to assume that my disdain for one political figure could in some way put me in the category of David Brooks. That is precisely my point with Gov Palin. What has she done to make her the voice of all things conservative? Why is she the “standard” by which we are all now judged? If such a person is out there – at least for my take on conservatism , I would simply prefer said standard barer to be someone of the caliber of Scalia. I do think it is quite hilarious that so many who want to attack a conservative willing to question contemporary positions turn as if by instinct to using the term “RINO.” If I am a Republican in Name Only then I do not know that many genuine Republicans.
I believe in strict interpretation of the Constitution. When guidance from said objective is unclear or not expressed, I believe that it is our duty to take a “principled” approach to determining the proper course. I believe that said principle is individual in nature and is not compulsory. It is derivative of any combination of religious, social, or moral values that the individual may choose to draw strength from.
Having stated said process and philosophy, I can apply that to any situation. Unless abortion and gay marriage are on the Congressional docket 365 days of the year, I would simply like to know the process which my elected officials rely upon.
As to my being “envious” of Sarah Palin. From a practical standpoint, you bet your ass I am. I’d love to get fronted seven figures before placing pen to paper. I’d love to be able to drop press releases via Facebook and have ANYONE listen. That being said, I think it would be a bit of a stretch to assume that my “envy” could in some way distort my perception of her as a political figure. If that were the case, I’d be “envious” of everyone on that list, 90% of the blog world, 59 Dems in the Senate, and the yahoo in the White House.
I will say it once more bc I think you are missing the greater point here. I do not dislike Sarah Palin for any of her positions on “the issues.” I am certainly not questioning her sincerity on the abortion issue. I simply believe in the idea that to much is given much is expected. She has been placed at the head of the Republican party as well as the populist conservative movement and all that I am saying is that with such a position (real or perceived) much is expected. For her to evolve and to truly lead this party and for her to truly warrant the following bestowed upon her she must begin to explain to the American public why we “conservatives” are conservative and what that genuinely means. If she is truly the straight talking, charismatic, brilliant individual that everyone keeps telling me that she is, I do believe she should have no problem delivering that message to the American people more effectively than anyone else in the current political scene.
I will take this one step further. In the next few days, I will write an article and I will explain my position of either same sex marriage or abortion. You will see that I come down on the same side of each issue with Sarah Palin. But what you will not hear in either argument are the talking points that “marriage is between a man and a woman” or that “my religion tells me that abortion is wrong.” After that, I am sure you will want to call me a “RINO.”
Wow. This is awesome. Somebody touched a nerve. I think I can see a conversion to the Redefined ideology on the horizon. Can’t wait for the post. I am pulling for abortion.
Hey, surprise surprise! I made a blog myself, WOW, what a chalange that was, it was hard and now i realise what you’ve been trough with yours but anyways it’s good that some things come to an end. Well i just wanted to let you know about it, I’m giving away for free some intresting ebooks and i think you should hurry up and get them cause they won’t be free forever
this is all.Thanks and BYE!
I have been a reader for a long while, but this is my first time as a commenter. I just wanted to say that this has been / is my favorite update of yours! Keep up the good work and I
You made some good points there. I did a search on the topic and found most people will agree with your blog.