A challenge to Redstaters.
By Paul J Cella Posted in 2008 | 2008 Presidential Campaign — Comments (28) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
I have not commented much on the primaries, for reasons that will have to be left to the reader’s conjecture; but I do beg leave to deliver this exhortation or challenge.
Folks, let’s decide, right here and now, not to ape the media’s tiresome groupthink and bandwagondry. Let’s not race off instantly toward dramatic forecasts. Let’s keep our enthusiasms in check, and our wits about us. The next month is shaping up to be one wild ride; let’s commit to maintaining our equipoise through it. At the end of this thing, whatever the twists and turns and shocks, I want to be able to look around and say, “I’m proud of you fellas. You all kept your head on a swivel, and that's what you gotta do when you find yourself thrust into the middle of vicious cockfight.”
Let’s make equanimity in the midst of surprise and disorder another reason to love (and support) Redstate.
Read on.
Leon is right: Romney is not out of it. Pejman is right: Thompson is not dead yet. Even Edwards has an outside chance to get competitive. Rudy’s late-state strategy may prove a stroke of genius, or it may not. Huckabee may sweep the South, or McCain might catch fire. Clinton may roll up Obama, or the latter might stage a bold resurgence in South Carolina. We really don’t know what’s going to happen, and frankly, I like it that way — and you do too, don’t you?
Here are a few Canons of Equanimity, a few Precepts to Avoid Beclowning Yourself:
- ¶ Polls are for the birds.
- ¶ Pundits on TV are clowns.
- ¶ Campaign spokesmen are untrustworthy.
- ¶ Voters are generally ignoramuses.
- ¶ Liberalism blinds people to all manner of perfectly simple facts.
- ¶ Not all that many people are even paying much attention to this.
- ¶ Most of those that are, are political junkies, a strange breed of man.
I invite the reader to add his own Canons and Precepts in the comments.
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A challenge to Redstaters. 28 Comments (0 topical, 28 editorial, 0 hidden) Post a comment »
It seems Redstaters already hold to many of these rules. People who know the facts and back up their argument on this site tend to have their feelings and they stick to them, which is 100x better then just pulling for the leaders and jumping ship the second a poll changes.
Can we agree though that Obama still doesn't seem to have the intelligence to tie his shoes? Well unless he gets coached on it first or gets a tying points memo.
I am of course a Fred chick but I would support anyone of the Republicans. I have not seen anyone except HWSNBN (really not a R) in the Republican field who would decimate our military. That is issue one for me.
Freedom of Religion not Freedom from Religion
...that Barack Obama and Mark Warner are both advertising on RedState?
“.....women and minorities hardest hit”
Seriously, though, if they want to give us their money, why not take it?
"maaan" is sooo 60s. :-)
The Unofficial RedState FAQ
“You are not only responsible for what you say, but also for what you do not say. ” - Martin Luther
...I still think it's funny though.
“.....women and minorities hardest hit”
over the specific ads do you?
You guys are pulling from one of the ad aggregators I would imagine.
There are those who look at things the way they are, and ask why ... I dream of things that never were and ask why not. - Robert Kennedy
... when I saw ads for Robert Wexler - Robert Freaking Wexler - popping up here about a week ago.
Had to check the color-scheme of my screen for a minute, then.
-------------
Diplomacy is the art of saying 'Nice doggie' until you can find a rock.
...a long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right...
---Thomas Paine---
I could never improve on these two...
- Voters are generally ignoramuses.
- Liberalism blinds people to all manner of perfectly simple facts.
Just. So.
Well said as always, Paul. And thanks.
-------------
Diplomacy is the art of saying 'Nice doggie' until you can find a rock.
"It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities." ~Professor Dumbledore
A rare thing.
I'd disagree that Edwards has a prayer, but otherwise, well said.
"No compromise with the main purpose, no peace till victory, no pact with unrepentant wrong." - Winston Churchill
we can't "Recommend" front page posts, or this is one I'd be proud to click the button for.
I've been saying it for a while: Conventional wisdom is often wrong, and there is no historical precedent for this primary - 5 viable contenders? support short, super early primary season?
We all just need to stand up for what and whom we believe in. I'm all for Fred, and you all know it and why, but I am certainly open to debating any of the candidates - provided we stick to issues.
1. Stay focused on the facts AND lets continue to compare all candidates apples to apples in a fair and balanced way.
2. Leave the editorials at home.
3. Shouldn't we be vetting ALL runners for a spell yet? I still think it is way too early in the process for reporters (both bloggers and MSM) to throw their support to one person or the other, no matter how insignificant their chances are.
4. And most importantly, let's avoid the following:(http://www.abacon.com/commstudies/groups/groupthink.html)
Jumping to conclusions, herd-following, group-think. What baloney. A guy polling about 10% nationally when the top poller is about 20%, IS NOT DEAD.
And I am really, SERIOUSLY tired of the endless parade of RedStaters saying "I would support Fred if he had any chance of winning". I bet, and I'm serious about this, that I have seen 20 different people here say that, including more than one Contributor.
If Fred is the guy you believe in, then have the courage of your own convictions and SUPPORT him.
Stare decisis is fo' suckas -- Feddie
money last night. Fiorst time ever donating to a presidential campaign.
"It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities." ~Professor Dumbledore
"I would support Fred if he had any chance of winning"
He can't win if people don't support him.
www.scottbomb.com
Click here to donate to the Fred Thompson campaign.
If Fred is the guy you believe in, then have the courage of your own convictions and SUPPORT him.
...cannot be emphasized enough!
The Unofficial RedState FAQ
“You are not only responsible for what you say, but also for what you do not say. ” - Martin Luther
Is often wrong? Someone tell the Goracle.
Group think leads to large systems failure and all the lemmings tumble off the cliff.
Redstaters are above this, right?
[For the record, by the way. - Moe Lane]
There is enough here already.
Each of the top four candidates could not have positions that are more out of line with GOP voters, conservativism and most Americans sentiments:
• McCain led the shamnesty fight, Rudy doesn't think illegal immigration is a crime, The Huckster wants to give tuition to illegals and Romney... well it depends on which week it is in order to know his position.
• Gun control- where to start with all four of these ...? Yeah I know Mitt, you are a lifetime from two weeks ago-member of the NRA. Uh oh, photo op, get out the hunting cap and shotgun and stand in a field for the cameras.
• Abortion/social issues (personal beliefs vs. constitutional issues)- ditto
• U.S. sovereignty- Rudy's law firm represents the NAFTA highway folks, the rest are UN lap boys.
• Less government, deficit spending and lower taxes... All are abject failures with Romney and the Huckster trying to outdo each other for biggest social programs.
• Respect for the Constitu... , ahhh- forget it.
Will any real Republicans please stand up? .... crickets chirping.
It is absolutely surreal that these are the top tier contenders at the moment. Meanwhile Ron Paul, the only true conservative is openly mocked (and disgracefully so) by the above mentioned candidates during debates. Apparently, school boy smirks are now equivalent to position platforms in the GOP. This party has been stolen. Reagan and Goldwater would not recognize this party.
The only explanation that makes any sense is that the war/terrorism drum has been beat so effectively, that GOP voters have been hypnotized into forgetting all else- including how these expenditures are bankrupting the country, growing the size of the federal governments powers and increasing taxes. How is there anything remotely conservative much less Republican about these candidates ?
These days, I long to wake-up and find out that this is all a bad dream or that someone slipped a mickey in my drink...
In the mean time, I'd like my party back.
P.S. Please advise the GOP that feudal capitalism is not the same thing as true free markets.
And as I'm pretty sure that you haven't been given formal permission to apologize for the aforementioned racist scumbag... bye.
The Fuzzy Puppy of the VRWC. I've been usurped!
Either way, I'm afraid it looks like someone actually did slip something in your drink. Get help.
I believe you can find YOUR party located somewhere in the vicinity of David Duke and the ghost of Timothy McVeigh.
/barely contained contempt
I once ridiculed "undecideds" as folks who wanted to do a focus group. While I know of two candidates I don't plan to support for the nomination, I'm undecided about whom I will give my vote. That obviously isn't a rare thing this time.
'Cause if I'm expected to be semi-respectful to them, I should probably leave now. ;-)
Great post, and a much needed reminder to many.
Water is wet.
Democrats are stupid.
Democrat party people are corrupt.
And you don't have to be nice to the Paultards.
Five Certainties.
Stare decisis is fo' suckas -- Feddie
And I say that as one who will suffer from deep dark depression and excessive misery if My Man Fred is not the Republican Nominee.
I meant what I said and I said what I meant. An elephant's faithful 100 percent.
Someone needs to sticky-post the "Canons" on the front page.
You've outdone yourself, Paul. Great job!
The Unofficial RedState FAQ
“You are not only responsible for what you say, but also for what you do not say. ” - Martin Luther