I could “hear” it in their voices…anger, frustration, shame.

Oh, that was the Brits all right, but it was there in American voices too. For many, the British hostage situation reminded them of Jimmy Carter’s stint and his appeasement policy.

It also directly hit that one vulnerable spot that is in most Americans, the area that marketing specialist try to touch so that whatever they are selling gets bought.

Pride.

Pride makes designer products desirable. Or the biggest, smallest, sleekest, flashest, “look at me”, hot sellers and big money makers.

Pride can make “intelligence” seem more important than “loyalty” and normally decent folks allow a mob to attack a single person.

Pride also will fight when there seems to be little hope and create shining cities from old dusty deserts.

They say that Jimmy Carter lost to Reagan because Reagan had Hollywood charisma. They say it was because of the high inflation and gas rationing.

I think it was pride.

When Jimmy Carter turned to his 9 year old and asked why the terrorist refused to give back the hostages to this nation, he made every American feel about 2 inches tall.

Reagan made us feel better. He brought back the days of John Wayne and Errol Flynn. When…how does that song go? “girls were girls and men were men…those were the days.”

Clinton days were full of self-gratification where terrorism and war seemed something so far away. It was party time and everybody “be happy”.

Then along came the “cowboy” and “bring ‘um on.”

And America thought they were pretty hot stuff.

So hot, the record low unemployment, unprecedented economic growth, and sole super power status could be taken for granted.

The Brits hostage situation brought it all back.

In 18 months, we will either have another policy of appeasement or a continuation of “bring it on.”

Thanks to the Brits, this is a question that not only the GOP is considering; but the Independent.

And the latter is looking for a line to stand in – and buy.

It’s time to move the absolutists and anyone else that will scare them away out.

It’s time to decide just how badly we want to avoid going back to feeling—2 inches tall.

 Add this to "Other Suggestions":

Unsubscribe to National Review Online. (I did last year).

I went there looking for news on Tony Snow.

This site is supposed to be Conservative.

The editors have spent the last 2 years joining their Liberal collagues in bashing all things Bush. At one point they were going to place a full page ad to "force" the President to remove his selection for the SCOTUS (Miers) and replace her with someone on their wish list. (They called this "disagreeing" with the President.)

Today, they've decided that Gonzales should resign.

I'm not sure if they get this, but this is akin to rewarding the Dems for wanting to tell the President what to do with the attorneys hired to serve the president.

Oh wait a minute, that's right, this IS the media that thought they had a constitutional right to tell the White House what to do via public opinion polls of the "base".

I am really getting sick of the so called Conservatives who speak out of both sides of their mouths and demoralize Americans who want to win the war, keep our great economy, and bring sanity back to the courts.

 

Dave wrote:

...I'm trying to figure out where it's appropriate to air my grievances with Republicans who aren't Conservatives.




By the time most of us reach adulthood, we learn that life is a series of choices and frequently we make compromises. We understand that ideals and principles are like dreams of our youth; they will continue to motivate and give us courage but must eventually bow to the instinct to survive.

We learn to expect a little less of ourselves—and forgive much.

This almost fanatical adherence to “principles” is disturbing because it is something that appears to be thrown out like a gauntlet; challenging our moral compass. It demands like a man that tells a woman, “prove you love me…”

The motive and the character of the person demanding such “proof” should ALWAYS be suspect.

Unfortunately, that first line of attack has already been breached and many, like Dave are asking the question: how do we disagree without giving “aid and comfort” to the Liberals/Terrorist/enemy?

KNOW THINE ENEMY

Remember that you don’t know any of the posters, writers, talk show hosts, politicians personally. Treat them as you would any stranger that walked into your life. Just because they claim to be a conservative shouldn’t automatically give them a pass.

DECIDE WHICH HILL YOU WANT TO DIE ON

I am sorry but this is a PERSONAL decision. Be leery of anyone who tells you that you MUST put a 30 year old problem above the war, the courts, or the economy—or anything else you think is important.

I too have an issue that I am willing to die on, but that issue is so important to me that I am also willing to be patient and play the odds.

The Democrats will give me zero chance of attaining my goal; Republicans holds the only viable ticket.

Insisting on carrying on this “tantrum” in the hopes of “forcing” the GOP to be what they are not is not only stupid; it is irresponsible. Not only won’t you get the borders closed/end pork spending/whatever your complaint is…you’ll get gay rights found in the constitution, back to the appeasement policy that gave us 9/11, and the reversal of the tax cuts that overturned a 9/11 economy and a busted dot com stock market.

If you must sacrifice yourself for your principles, please don’t insist that we sacrifice ours for YOURS.

BE FAIR

I have liken the “disillusionment” of the absolutes to a man (Bush) who’s roof fell down (9/11) and while he was getting ready to fix it, learned that he had pest in his foundation (terrorist)…then one of his kids got sick and had to go to the hospital (Katrina)…and he used up all his savings and even went into debt to fix/pay all these things…and his “family” is angry at him because he won’t fix the hole in the fence (the illegal immigration) that’s been there for 30 years.

The hole may be annoying but Good Lord, the president has been a tad busy, don’t you think? And perhaps absolutes wouldn’t be so compelled to complain what this war time president hasn’t done if they stopped for a moment to be grateful for what Bush has accomplished.

WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO ATTAIN?

Here are the political facts:

20% of the voting population are either Democrat or Republican

3% are 3^rd party wannabes

The rest are Independents that lean Left on some issues, Conservative on others.

In order to accomplish ANYTHING, you HAVE to get to the congregation and stop preaching to the choir.

You don’t get to the congregation by selling tickets (or giving litmus test to see how conservative the person is.)

If you want to close the borders, cut spending or whatever the issue you are complaining about, you have to convince enough of that 57% that does NOT share your conservative ideas to put enough conservatives that do INTO Congress so that the McCains and Nancys do not count.

**

Now after all of that, if you still feel the need to register your dissatisfaction with the way the Republicans are running their party, then take a long look at how you deal with your boss, your customers, your family, and your friends—all the people that can and do affect YOUR life.

1. Choose your words carefully
2. Express concern and an openness to understand what is involved
3. Make your “suggestions” respectful, remembering where it is being said and in front of whom.
4. State your ultimatum—only after deciding you can live with the consequences.

OTHER SUGGESTIONS:

Stop listening to the nay-sayers and Bush/GOP bashers. The day I realized that Laura Ingraham thought Bush was the only man we could trust to send our sons and daughters to war but we could NOT trust him to appoint someone to the SCOTUS was the day I stopped believing in HER credibility. Since then, she has taken every opportunity to justify her betrayal.

As you refused to follow the media and Liberals when they BLAMED America, don’t follow the absolutes when they BLAME Bush. He isn’t God, he’s not a king or a dictator. He’s president with a whole congress and the courts to share power with. He can’t, even if you do hold your breath until you kill the GOP party, solve a 30 year old problem with a snap of his veto pen.

Confront any claiming to be a conservative that talks, acts, and behaves like a Liberal. Conservatives have never been into job protection or anti-business. They’ve never been into cut and running. And they have never, ever believed that principles didn’t include loyalty, support, and keeping one’s word

 

There are people who call up the radio talk shows...they claim to be conservatives...claim to have voted for Bush...claim to have served in the military. But you can tell by their hatred and their talking points that they are Liberals pretending to be disenchanted Republicans and/or in the military.

It’s not so easy to spot the same type of anarchist here on TH. Perhaps because we wish to believe that ordinary people would not be so deceitful. Or maybe it is because we like to think that intellectual exchange should have an inbuilt code of honor.

Yet, every time an absolutist joins the Left in bashing our war time president and the only party that is serious about winning the war…

Every time, they spin words like “loyalty” and “support” to mean “brainwashed” and “brain dead”, just like Liberals…

Every time, they gloss over the fact that we have had no attacks on American soil in 6 years…the great economy…the fabulous judiciary appointments…or the fact that this administration has done more about illegal immigration than all the presidents before him INCLUDING “give ‘um amnesty” Reagan…

Every time, they talk about job protection, play the victim card, or the blame someone else for their problems…

You have to question if they are the same kind of Liberal that roams the talk shows pretending to be Conservatives and demoralizing the base.

And if they should actually admit to joining the cut and run Liberals…if they should tell you those 3 thousand who died on that September morning isn’t as important as a 30 plus years old illegal problem…if they should hint that American soldiers died in Iraq and/or Afghanistan for nothing.

Then you have your answer.

 

A poster and I are having a grand time “discussing” principles. He “answered” my post in his blog and now, it’s my turn. (if the blogs will actually work…I find it highly suspicious that it has been allowing him to reply to me but I not to him…grin).

BR: They have always enjoyed their largest margins of victory when they have loudly stood by, in word and deed, conservative principles.

S102- Actually no, the largest margins came when Conservatives convinced the 60% that are NOT conservative or liberal to unite with them…against Carter’s dreadful economics…against Islamic terrorism. It wasn’t the message that gave either party victory…it was the ability to unite against a common cause.

It isn’t even logical to expect victory when only 20% at the very maximum adhere to your strict interpretation of conservatism.

BR: The net result is the Leftification of the Republican party, because as they move left so do the Democrats. It seems the Republicans are always trying to catch up by moving ever leftward.

S102- Again, BR, does that even make sense to you? If Democrats move more Left, they LEAVE the center where the rest of the American voter is. The GOP is moving to the center which means they move Left…in order for the Dems to reach the center, they have to move RIGHT.

BR: “You don't seem aware of your OWN absolutism.”

S102—As I rebutted in another post, I am very aware of my absolutism…fortunately for me, those absolutisms are shared by the majority of the voters…the war, the economy, and the courts…which means I stand a better chance of getting my issues dealt with. You and your absolutism get next to none precisely because your major concern…illegal immigration is not shared by the majority. And simple fact: you can’t win if you don’t play and you don’t play if you don’t make the team.

And your willingness to accept irrelevance won’t even get you a ticket to be a part of the event.

BR:This country is still an essentially conservative one.

S102—Really? Then why have we not overturned Roe vs. Wade? Why do we allow the ACLU to attack Christianity and give preferential treatment to people because of the color of their skin? Why are prayers still banned from schools and why do we allow laws that tell people where and when to smoke? Why are we in danger of losing those tax cuts that fueled our great economy? Why aren’t all the ivy league colleges Conservative? Why is the media and Hollywood predominantly Liberal?

BR: However, as the two parties become ever more indistinguishable from each other, ever fewer conservatives are showing up at the polls to vote for Republicans.

S102—Conservatives came in droves to vote for the GOP; there just wasn’t enough of them. The majority that put in Bush and the GOP in 2002 and 2004 (and the stats will bear this out) were Democrats, Independents, Hispanics, and even Gays…all who UNITED because of the war.

You and your RINO absolutist spent 2 years convincing these groups that the war was… “a distraction that no further attention is paid to our internal problems” and thus robbed the GOP of their ace.

No difference between the appeasement of the Dems and the stand and fight GOP? No difference between the find the right to gay marriages of the Dems and the marriage is between a man and a woman GOP? No difference between tax the rich of the Dems and give tax cuts to all of the GOP?

BR: It is the only hope for forcing the Republican party back onto the track of conservatism…

S102—Back to what? Where in our recent history has the Republican party ever closed the borders, kicked out 10% of its work force, balance the budget, cut pork spending, and the 100 and 1 things that REAL conservatives are supposed to do? I heard a lot of rhetoric during Reagan’s and Newt’s time, but they always had some excuse for not achieving that Conservative utopia.

Well, guess what? Bush has that same excuse now…no GOP congress. And if you are correct that we all we had was a bunch of RINOs in Congress…then Bush NEVER did have a GOP congress, so why are you blaming him?

***

Now let’s get to the nut here…PRINCIPLES.

BR, you wrote a sweet tale about your daughter; your love and pride for her was. evident in every word.

Let me ask you: if your daughter came to you and said that a beloved aunt of her fiancé was a flaming liberal and was very touchy about illegal immigration and to exercise her freedom to disagree and stand on her principles, she would anger the aunt and her future in-laws, not to mention hurt her relationship with her husband.

Would you tell her to be strong and hold dear her principles? And if she choose peace in her relationship with her future family, would you make her feel guilty? Would you lecture her about her husband’s lack of principles and for not being the kind of man that would throw family aside for his new bride?

If your daughter got a fabulous opportunity to work for a company where there was one a&&hole who was very vocal about gun control…would you insist that she stand up for her principles or make her feel as though she has disappointed her Daddy if she chose to let that boss’ gun control rant slide so she can someday be in the position to not have to take that?

Would your daughter’s happiness come before the idea of principles?

BR…how does one get to adulthood without understanding that life is filled with hills to die on. The above analogy actually came from a young boy whose mother had a thing about what it meant to be a friend. She was going on about the “betrayal” of her daughter’s friends and ended up demanding that the girl refuse to talk to the “friends” until each had begged for forgiveness. Of course, this wasn’t going to happen, the brother pointed out, and the sister would end up friendless. The mother had to decide right then and there…what was more important: her daughter’s happiness or the mother’s “principles.”

The mother chose her daughter’s happiness. I believe you would too.

Now ask yourself if you choose America’s survival over YOUR principles because BR, this is what it will come down to. You may not think it will make any difference now…and if the illegal issue is your sole concern, then you are right, Queen Hil, her courts and her Congress will not close the borders and kick out the relatives of voters that will keep Liberals in power for another 40 years.

But when another 9/11 hits and no one gives a rat’s butt about illegals or anything else, you can hug those principles and tell yourself that you did the right thing, even if it accomplished nothing.

 

Ever get that feeling that the "Conservative" Bush Bashers are Liberals in disguise?

No—hold on, I mean it.

Think back to 2004. The MSM threw everything but the kitchen sink at Bush and STILL he managed to win with greater numbers than in 2000. More, the GOP ran on his coattails and swept Congress and dozens of gubernatorial seats. It was such a huge victory that Queen Hil was thinking of being “born again” and was mouthing her “sadness” with the abortion issue.

Most people thought the GOP would hold power for another decade, maybe 2.

So if you are a Liberal, what do you do?

How about pretending to be a Conservative and playing the race card ala the border situation?

Doesn’t matter if that issue has been around since Reagan gave 3 million illegals amnesty or that “national security” concerns should have been addressed in 2002 and 2004 but was not. Doesn’t matter that conservatives have NEVER been for job protection, especially of union jobs or creating another government program or not caring how much a government project will cost. Doesn’t matter that conservatives never make war on small business or destroy our relationship with our trading partners.

All you have to do is CLAIM to be a conservatives, push anyone that doesn’t agree with you totally out, get so extreme you scare the dickens out of most sane American voters, rewrite the history of Ronald Regan and use his name to destroy the present president—and if someone is smart enough to point out that the real Reagan wasn’t anywhere near as perfect as his ex-speech writers would have you believe—just retreat to the Founding Fathers and pronounce the wisdom of ex-slave owners who viewed women as property to be the be all and end all of true conservatism and Americanism.

The next time some “conservative” tells you how Bush and the GOP doesn’t deserve his/her loyalty…ask if that loyalty was ever there to begin with.

 

Following is a piece I wrote a few years back in reply to a Marine. I am posting it here as a kind of prelude to a new post...one that I suspect will be much harder to write.

I was raised in a generation that thought all politicians were crooks. And governments; especially the American government, was this big entity that took too much and gave too little.

I was told what America did wrong, how often, and how America could never do anything right.

I thought that the Bill of Rights was something everyone in this day and age, had and that equality was as common as breathing.

Then 9/11 happened and I guess I grew up.

I learned what equality meant from a bunch of women whose idea of courage was walking down a public street without male escort and without their burkas.

I learned what injustice meant when 56 children were killed on their way to school -- and the world blamed THEM not the criminals who did it.

I understood what the Bill of Rights meant when I learned about the Taliban and Saddam's sons' entertainment room.

I learned what being part of the privilege class meant when I saw an entire town come to a well to get water and children get excited at having books and being given the opportunity to get an education.

I found out that a hero wasn't the guy who made the last second basket or that Hail Mary touchdown, but the soldier leaving family and friends to bring freedom to people who are too terrified to even be grateful.

I even learned that some politicians are just human beings. Really. They believe in God, like we do and they try to do what is right, just like we do, even if it doesn't get them re-elected or the world bashes them for the effort.

Most of all I learned that America is really a great country. Not perfect. Hell, we can be darn right selfish and in your face; but NO other nation on earth gives as much as Americans. Her blood is on EVERY shoreline. Her sweat and her tears have been spilled for EVERY race and every culture.

* * *

I live in a predominately Hawaiian neighborhood. Before 9/11, the old Hawaiian flag waved in a yard or two on every street. We talked about "our" queen and "our" people. And the "aloha spirit" and how important it was to keep and respect the old ways.

Now in most flag waving homes, the Red, White, and Blue flies next to the Hawaiian flag. And we talk about "our" president (not always kindly as Hawaii is a Blue state) and "our" people seem to now mean Americans.

And when we talk of keeping the old ways, we mean keeping the ability to complain about the "stupid" government and going to Disneyland and Vegas...and having another Super Bowl...

 

One of the accusations leveled at the Left is that all their arguments are based on emotions, not logic. Yet the Right’s demand to close the borders, do away with pork spending, strict, almost religious adherence to the Constitution and men long dead is packed with emotional platitudes geared toward igniting emotions.

Now these words may play well to the choir but for those 90% that don’t occupy the extreme Right, words like “principles” and it’s sanctimonious connotation validates every fear that the Right is a bunch of religious fanatics intent on telling the rest of America what to do.

Does this mean that we NEVER draw a line…NEVER say no…NEVER say enough?

Of course not, but understand that “standing on one’s principles” like all emotional cards have a shelf life and the tendency of the user to mold that card to fit his/her opinions is fast losing it’s currency.

Principles are solid foundations upon which sit values like loyalty and support and a certain amount of faith.

Principles do not hold imperfect people to impossible standards.

Principles may be stubborn and difficult to move, but it is forgiving and fluid.

Principles have clauses that allow sincere apologies and foolish mistakes to pass.

Principles that are rigid almost always promise a day when it will fall by the wayside and damage the soul with its failure to be held up.

Principles give courage to fight battles that are seemingly lost and strengthen the resolve of wars that has no option but to be won.

Principles justify the right to say no and preserve an individual’s ability to withdraw with their head held up.

Principles nudge the conscience; it doesn’t hold it hostage.

Principles guide; it doesn’t take over.

Principles make doing the right thing necessary, but rarely easy.

Principles can build momentum and gather a crowd—or leave you ostracized and alone.

Principles place you above the rest and closer to God—Pride will knock you right back down.

Principles are the shifting sand castles upon which we build our ever-changing world. Principles that the tides of time and experience brings, reveals secrets and imparts knowledge.

Principles are a private prayer—not a thunderous sermon.

And finally…

Principles do not belong to men that can no longer stand on them, they are the exclusive hill upon which only the living can decide to die on.

 

Brian...

Social Security is NOT an entitlement any more than receiving dividends from investments "entitlements". We pay into that system. In fact, the reason (at least that is what Rooselvelt said) for worker's contribution was so that NO DAMN POLITICIAN down the line can take that away. As for the rest, so Brian what we are really arguing here is style not actual accomplishment? Reagan made the same "mistakes" as Bush but he's forgiven because you like the way he made them? I agree on one thing, I dislike Bush's "Christian control". I too would like him to be more like Jeb who told his own legislation and media where to stick it. But you and I know that anyone the absolutes and hard liners would support do not have the numbers to win. And you HAVE to win in order to play. Sorry Brian, dreams and ideals are fine but life IS a series of choices and yes, GROWN UPS frequently are faced with the choice between not good enough and bad. To push for all or nothing, risks EVERYTHING. And I am not prepared to risk my world to go back to 9/12 when everything shut down. Two incidents happened and I made the same promise both times. A couple of weeks after the attack, a man passed my office clutching a pink slip. He was 5 years away from retirement..."Why did the terrorist do this to us?" he asked me, even though I didn't know him or had anything to do with the company that had to lay him off because Waikiki had become a ghost town. As ordinary people walked up to soldiers patrolling the streets to thank them, ex-Vietnam vets struggled with their own emotions as their own tour of duty and homecoming had been very different. They opened decades old wounds, shared their stories, cried and shrugged it off with..."Well, I'm glad that these guys are being treated decently." This is the promise I made...NEVER AGAIN. Never again will those terrorist be allowed to take away America's world and never again will a soldier be told that they sacrificed "for nothing", not while I have some say via my vote. The only party that is serious about helping me to keep that promise are the Republicans...not 3rd party wannabes or the Dems. For me -- and I suspect most Americans, THIS WAR WITH ISLAMIC TERRORIST SUPERCEDES EVERYTHING ELSE. Including your pet issue and mine. That is as real and as realistic as you are going to get--and the bottom line.

A while ago there was a made for t.v. movie about a teacher who created a "club". The kids in his class were told they were special and that if they followed the rules, they would be members of this club.

Slowly, he started giving speeches of a man; a secret leader that would soon reveal himself. The man's words were magical and the kids quickly became enthralled. Soon, they were recruiting other kids, spreading the word of this great leader.

Eventually, as with most large groups, several kids started to break away. They did not like the hold the teacher had on the kids and the almost robot like obedience that was expected from all members.

Now, since this WAS a movie and there had to be some action, some of the kids physically went after the outsiders and hurt them.

The teacher called the group together and asked what the he&& had happened. The kids explained that they had done it for their leader, because these kids would not follow and obey.

The teacher bowed his head and came to a decision. "Spread the word that all true members need to come to the auditorium...you have earned the right to meet the leader."

The following afternoon, the auditorium was packed. The teacher jumped up on the stage and told a cheering crowd..."ARE YOU FAITHFUL TO THE CAUSE? WILL YOU FOLLOW AND MEET YOUR DESTINY?"

The kids went crazy.

"DO YOU WANT TO MEET YOUR LEADER?"

More screams, now to a fever pitch.

The teacher pulls the large sheet down off the hanging picture and reveals...

Adolf Hitler.

Into the now hushed auditorium, the teacher explains that ANYONE can be swept away, ANYONE can be pushed to follow blindly and without thought.

He looked around as kid after kid cried.

The dream had turned into a nightmare.

Softer, with gentle kindness, he went on to explain that humans are pack animals that yearn to belong and that there are people in the world that use that inborn instinct to control--and destroy.


I always think of this movie when I see the almost mindless following of the extremes. They are like a mad mob who has lost all ability to think rationally.

Republicans HAVE to take back their party as surely as Moslems have to take back their religion.

Following is an answer to a comment on another blog regarding the "Frustrations of Conservatives."  I wrote it one late evening and thought I'd put it on my blog.  I feel it mirrors not just my own frustration but those of the base that find something really wrong with the so called "disagreement" of those that are supposed to be on our president's side.


Frustration is trying to maneuver around the MSM, only to have your own side go after you.

Frustration is giving this nation the best economy in near 50 years--and getting zip credit from one side and a "but monkey" from the other.

Frustration is being lauded for Harriet Mier's advice on judicary picks--then being told she weren't qualified to sit on the SCOTUS.

Frustration is appointing a Black Female Secretary of State that could speak 7 languages and was able to converse with world leaders without the aid of a translator, broker an alliance with China to reign in North Korea, keep Russia, France, Germany and the UK from giving aid to Palestine, forcing them to the peace talks with Israel--and have her criticized for wearing the same black shoes twice or not being a mother.

Frustration is being hated because you didn't solve the illegal immigration problem, spent huge sums of money on a war, didn't stopped pork spending, never shrank the size of government by those who long for another Reagan --a man who didn't solve the illegal immigration problem, spent huge sums of money on a war, never shranked the size of government...

Frustration is being married and staying faithful to the same woman for decades, yet coming up short by those claiming to believe in principles--against cheating Rudy and Newt.

Frustration is helping to end the female apartheid in Afghanistan and Iraq--and having those who claim to support women's right hate you.

Frustration is being the only leader in the world the terrorists fear--and having the MSM and their wannabe RINO press count the days when you leave office.

Frustration is seeing your team dissected and persecuted for breathing while an ex National Security advisor put government documents down his pants and would be presidential hopeful try to scare college students into working harder with threats of becoming a "stupid" losers that joins the military and end up in Iraq.

Frustration is serving in the National Guard like millions who are right now fighting and dying in Iraq...and being told that your service is less "honorable" than a man who got a purple heart for a splinter and who threw his (or somebody's) medals away in a very public manner.

And lastly...

Frustration is knowing that no matter what you do, it will never be enough or it will always be too much...that like an artist, you have to die before your work becomes valuable.

 

In my line of work, most people tend to be too busy to be extreme on issues.

Many dislike the taxes taken out of their pay but are grateful for the government programs that take care of elderly parents and/or wayward relatives and free them from having to give family obligatory aid.

Some have family fighting in the war and others have relatives that came home to accusations of being “baby killers”. But most care more about who won some sporting event or if the rain is going to put the cramps on the weekend’s plans.

After 9/11, while most people went back to their old ways, there arose in my life two very vocal groups, who on the surface seem as far apart as can be.

Yet to anyone who has ever heard them, the similarities are eerily familiar.

BUSH HATER

Both sides hate Bush and blame him for everything that has gone wrong and give him little credit for the things that has gone right.

The Hard Left hates Bush for a whole host of reasons; the primary being is that Bush is NOT a Liberal. Bush is pro-life, pro-business, pro-military and the most unforgiving of all sins (according to the Liberals); he doesn’t govern by polls.

The Hard Right hates Bush because is a REPUBLICAN, NOT a 3^rd party absolutist. Bush is a businessman who wheels, deals, and COMPROMISES to succeed in his goals…like winning the war, appointing non-activist judges to the courts and keeping tax cuts that will boost our economy. And while they appreciate Bush not governing by the polls of the WHOLE nation, they are just as angry as the Left because Bush also refuses to govern by the polls of the hard extreme right.

WAR LIES

Both sides say that they believe that Bush lied to the American people about Iraq.

The Left thinks the lie began AFTER their Clinton had left the WH and had no access to special information and BEFORE the other Clinton became a senator and had access to special information.

The Right thinks the lie began AFTER the 2004 election when Bush could no longer run and got worst when Bush nominated Miers to the SCOTUS.

Both sides want to cut and run.

The Left claims it is because of the 3,000 troops that have died and to keep that number from growing, they want to cut the funding for equipment and for reinforcements. They also want to make the deaths of those heroic men and women mean absolutely nothing by declaring the war is a mistake and worthless.

The Right claims to want Americans to come home and fight the real enemy…Mexican cheap labor. Iraq had nothing to do with us…Islamic terror in the Middle East has nothing to do with us….in other words, the war was a mistake and the deaths of 3000 of America’s finest was for…nothing.

GOVERNMENT

Both sides want government to stay out of their lives—except…

The Left believes that the people are smart and moral enough to make their own decisions but not intelligent or resourceful enough to deal with the consequences of bad decisions. They believe that equality means fairness even if the government has to unfairly take from those who earned to give to those that have not. They are like the college student who thinks their parents have a duty to support their education but no right to tell them how to spend the support checks.

The Right thinks the only obstacle to success is government interference—until some relative needs help and a government social program frees them from having to provide any personal aid. They think government spending is getting out of hand—except with the wall, THAT, they don’t even want to know what the price tag is. The Right laments government regulations and labor laws that tries to tell a man how to run his business—except when it comes to deciding to use cheap Mexican labor to remain profitable.

In other words…the Right is like that college kid that graduated with a degree and not only wants to decide how to spend his money but wants to tell his parents what to do with theirs.

IMPEACH BUSH

Both sides have called for the impeachment of Bush.

The Left has a whole list of reasons why our 43th president should be impeached, but mostly it is because he is not a Democrat. If TWO nations’ tyrannical governments had been taken down and those countries had been given their own Bill of Rights, female apartheid ended, a wartime economy had been turned around and became one of the best in near 3 decades during a Liberal administration, they’d be fitting Mount Rushmore for an addition.

The Right also has a nice long list of Bush’s “crimes”, but mainly, it is because the above accomplishments are just not enough…Bush has failed to stop a speeding bullet (illegal immigration), fly over tall buildings (cut pork spending and government programs), and transformed himself into a well spoken actor (Reagan.)

CLEVER LINES

To be honest, the Left DID start it. When Bad Billy told the world that he didn’t REALLY have sex in the Oval Office with that Intern because it was ORAL, every guy who has been told by his mate that type of sex is above and beyond—got the distinction.

The Left uses words like “choice” and “rights” to allow women to have an abortion that will get men off the hook. They pull out all kinds of cards…race cards that gives preferential treatment to people based on…race…gender cards that imply that women cannot compete with men unless helped by a Government who is making up for the fact that there are some men who think that women are unable to compete…and the all time great dissent ender…”freedom of speech” card that allows them to say what they want to say but disallows anyone from disagreeing with them.

The Right had to sit there for 8 years and watch the spin doctors on the Left maneuver public opinion…but they’ve made up with it with words like “Amnesty” to describe a 12 year probation period and $2000 fine for people who came here with little more than the shirt on their backs…and “Invasion” for an immigration flow that has been going on for decades. Like their Lefty brethren, they also have a method of controlling dissenters …it’s the dreaded (gasp) “C” word. Anyone that differs is accused of not being a Conservative.

ESTABLISHMENT

The Left used to call those in authority “the Establishment”. Having become “them”, the distinction now is between the “bright, well educated, sophisticated” authorities and the “hicks” from cowboy country occupying the highest office in the land.

The Right has their own ex-lawyers now talk show authority figures who all went to the right Ivy league colleges and anyone who disagrees with their point of view has to show similar or superior credentials to be taken seriously.

In a remake of the old 60s rebellion of the Establishment, both consider it a right and a duty to challenge and reject those in authority. Anyone failing to do so has been “brainwashed”.

The avoidance of this mental manipulation is so vital, that it supercedes loyalty; a fundamental trait of unions (Liberal) and church & family (Conservative).

EXTREMES ARE EXACTLY THAT

They may say different things but the end result is the same. Both have no room in their tent for anyone but absolutists.

Unfortunately for them, the rest of America doesn’t reside there.

 

I have suspected for a long time that "discussion" with the extremes on both sides is an excercise in frustration.

They KNOW why after 9/11 we had to go to war.

They KNOW that kicking out 10% of America's work force is not economically feasible.

They KNOW that Reagan didn't accomplish any more than Bush has.

They KNOW that Clinton and Carter is an embarrassment on the international scene.

And yes, they even KNOW that unborn babies are just as human as babies who are "wanted".

But somebody hands them a clever line that ignites their passions and they jump on it like a born again Christian at a Revival meeting.

Even after they've come back to reality and the hype has worn off; they cling to their cause because it made them feel good.

In the case of abortion, the promise behind the hype wasn't made to women...it was made to men. Abortion was the magic ticket to having sex without consequences. It began with removing the stigma of unwed pregnancies...and then they did away with the pregnancy period.

In both cases, it is the woman who pays. The former: the man shares the consequences in parents who demand that he does the "right thing" and 18 years of child support. In the latter...a one time payment for the abortion (maybe) and a trip to the clinic (again maybe) and that's it...

Thus when someone came up with the clever and catchy line "It's a woman's CHOICE" or the really constitutionally cool idea of it being a "woman's right"...supportive men lined up to fight for a "woman's choice and right" to let them off the hook.

But truth is a funny thing...unlike honesty which can measure a person's morals or logic which is an indication of intelligence...truth is that one concept that won't go away. It keeps knocking on your shoulder, tapping on your head, and occasionally making your stomach hurt.

Sometimes it keeps you from sleeping or bothers you in the wee hours of the morning. And once in a while, truth will take away pleasure in a moment of joy.

Perhaps it is because truth is the most tangible thing humans possess from their maker...

I don't think we have to wait for history put the abortion saga into the other catagories of humanity's atrocities.

Everytime a baby beats the odds...everytime Science reveals more of God's secrets...everytime a child laughs...truth crosses another "t" and dots another "i"...and someone stops to read the fine print.

 

They say that there are about a half a dozen fractions in the Conservative party.

I think it is extremely important to examine the beliefs of these groups for make no mistake, their sanctimonious impatience has caused more harm than nutty Cindy Sheehan and Michael Moore. We expect bashing of our wartime president from the opposing side, but loyalty and support is supposed to mean something to “conservatives”.

And I agree with Michael Medved that whichever side wins in 2008 will be the side that controls their extremes.

First, let me give you my definition of “Conservative”.

CONSERVATIVE

Conservatives are traditionalist. They value the lessons of their fathers but are not afraid of the wisdom yet to be learned. They can dream big but are aware that dreams take time and lots of hard work. Many are religious but open to science; understanding that science is frequently God’s method of revealing His secrets.

Conservatives find strength in family, friends, and community; yet they strive to be independent and self-reliant.

Most of all, Conservatives tend to be extremely busy. Conservatives have little time or inclination to complain about the “splinter” in his neighbor’s eye or the riches on his co-worker’s table.

CONSTITUTIONIST

Constitutionist claim to be followers of the Founding Fathers and the “Constitution”.

Only at the time the Constitution was written, slavery, female apartheid, child labor, and a whole host of “unconstitutional” practices were acceptable.

Is the Constitution a cage to keep this nation forever bound to the wisdom of men long dead or is it a document that encourages America to be better, to strive for something the FF could only dream of?

LIBERTARIANS

They won’t call themselves Libertarians, but you can recognize their “government needs to get out of our lives” speech. Except…they don’t mean this when it comes to throwing 10% of America’s labor force out and closing the border to America’s number 2 trading partner. On THAT they want government action. And they passionately believe that “we need to stop spending like a drunken sailor” …except of course when it comes to building a wall on the South, not the more liberal and easier to cross Northern border—then they don’t care about the cost nor how big a department it will create.

REAGANITES

Reaganites worship a politician that never existed. Reagan NEVER solved the illegal immigration issue. He did NOT stop pork spending or cut government programs. He went after one small union that no one heard of but failed to take down any of the bigger unions. He took on the Soviets and then tried to hook up with them to fight Space Invaders. He cut and ran out of Lebanon when the media heat got too hot.

When the Reaganites say they want another Reagan, do they REALLY want a president that will give illegals real amnesty, cut and run out of Iraq, go to town on military spending and try to have mutual nuclear disarmament with past enemies?

I personally liked the man; after Carter’s hate America policy, Reagan’s inspirational love of our nation and our military was wonderful. But I value the real contributions of the man not the ones he could have-would have-should have accomplished if only…

GINGRICHS

The Gingrichs credit Clinton’s balance budget and smaller government on Gingrich’s leadership of the House. What they fail to mention is that Clinton out foxed the guy and called his bluff when Gingrich closed down the government. Gingrich is another “if only” fable; just as alluring as the one written for Reagan.

His main attraction for his followers is his “tough” lack of compassion for the poor. A revamped take on Buchanan’s belief that the average person can do everything without any government aid (interference) and those who fail just aren’t trying hard enough.

Gingrichs do not see the humanity involved or the fact that for most Americans, government help happens if not to them, then to their family and friends, freeing everyone involved from having to personally help.

Today, it may sound tough and right to say no to emergency care for illegals but almost every American would recoil at a child being turned away and dying because her parents came here to work illegally.

Gingrichs live in a world of absolutes; only most of America doesn’t reside there.

ABSOLUTISTS

Absolutists believe that the single most important issue is Mexican illegal immigration. This issue supercedes the war, the courts, the economy. They site all kinds of reasons for throwing out 10% of the labor force. The most compelling is that these workers are taking jobs from Americans—this from Conservatives who are supposed to be against job protection.

They are recycling old welfare tales about illegals who don’t put in a dime into the social security system but Congress will be voting to give them access to this fund. ~until they are reminded that illegals use fake social security cards to have MANDATORY SS tax taken OUT of their payroll checks and while the government don’t mind you putting in money; they will put you threw h*ll before giving you back any.

And of course, Mexicans are “unclean”, “criminals”, “uneducated.” They are “invading” this nation and will soon take over our culture. ~only they are “preaching” to a nation of immigrants whose grandparents came over uneducated, some were no doubt criminals, and many unclean and unshaven and a whole bunch of “undesirable” traits.

WHY THEY AREN’T CONSERVATIVES

Constitutionist are intent on bringing back the values of the past because they see nothing of value in the present.

Libertarians are isolationist who does not extend their world to include community, local, national, or world.

Reaganites break the 11^th commandment as set down by their icon, “Do not speak ill of other Republicans.”

Gingrichs fail to comprehend that Americans may be busy but they are not heartless.

Absolutists will make Conservatives spend another 40 years trying to convince another group of people that Conservatives are not racist.

This is the story of that fateful day in September of 2001. Now you may wonder why I am writing this some 6 months before the 6^th anniversary of 9/11. I do so because today and the day after, Congress is doing whatever it can to destroy the only man the people who want us dead fears. They are being helped by hardliners intent on dividing the GOP and resurrecting among her carcass a party that is unelectable.

It is as if 9/11 never happened.

In 2001, I was a part of a group that hailed from 4 foreign countries: Canada, UK, Germany, and Australia. During our down time, most of these people would join the Americans in our group in a wonderful pastime of knocking our prospective governments, particularly the U.S.A. because she was the big guy (translation: bully) on the world stage. I paid little heed to this hobby for no reason than it simply failed to interest me. I didn’t care what some politician did or didn’t do nor did I care with whom he/she did it. A female Secretary of State didn’t impress me one iota. And other than the cases that involved my pet issue, I really found it hard to get all worked up about anything the Supreme Court decided.

On that September morning, I was awaken by a colleague from the U.K. He advised me to turn on my t.v. His voice was solemn and almost expectant; the kind of tone people used when they expect to deal with something they really rather not.

“Is this for real?” I asked when they replayed the two towers crumbling to the ground…it looked like some kind of movie stunt.

“Yes.” he replied, again that pause, that expectant tone that said, please don’t get too emotional.

I watched for a bit, listening to the reporter. Finally, I said, “I’ve got to get dress; I’ve got a client that is intent on making my life miserable.”

“You’re going to work?” he asked incredulously, the first crack in an otherwise deliberately controlled voice.

I frowned, “Why not?”

“Well, there might be…50 thousands deaths, maybe more. YOUR people.”

“Look,” I said, getting pretty angry. I disliked it when things began to unravel. I like knowing what’s happening and why. And failing that, the probability and the possibility of avoiding negative consequences. “Every year thousands of people die…of hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes. That’s life.”

Silence. I didn’t care. So, I can be pretty cold sometimes. Well, I wasn’t in some popularity contest. If you like what I do, you buy. If you don’t, you go elsewhere. Simple.

I live in the country and the drive to town is long and pretty hectic. Only today, the freeway is rather empty. Except at the openings to the various bases. There, long lines of cars waited to get through what was now heavily secured gates.

By the time I parked my car in the multi garage complex, I was shaking and I didn’t know why. I made my way to the front and climbed the stairs to the building where I worked. Waikiki is one of the hottest tourist attractions in the world, yet on this day, all I saw were two soldiers, perhaps National guardsmen, walking down the street carrying rifles.

I was all alone in the elevator and the ride up seemed to take forever.

My phone was ringing by the time I let myself in. I’m not sure why but I was really surprised when it turned out to be my Canadian client from h*ll. “Did you hear?” I began, then stopped. I could hear the panic in my voice. I swallowed hard and tried again. “My country was attacked.”

And just like that, with zero warning, I realized that I actually loved America. I mean sappy, this is the greatest country in the world kind of loved America. Tears were falling down my cheeks and real grief for those who had been killed began to churn in the pit of my stomach.

I remember thinking of the war stories of my elderly relatives and wondering if we too would have to blacken our windows and ration our food.

In the days that followed, strange things happened. People went to church, children prayed in school, Congress stood on the steps of the Capital and sang God Bless America.

And the courts said “so what” and “too bad” to the ACLU and all those anti-Christian groups.

Cops, Firemen, and soldiers were heroes again.

And for one shiny moment, this nation came together.

For some of us, 9/11 changed everything.

For others, 9/11 only changed … one moment.