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Disastrous election turned to opportunity
Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2008 2:51 am
by _bcspace
Let Them Go Their WaySince our last meeting we have been through a disastrous election. It is easy for us to be discouraged, as pundits hail that election as a repudiation of our philosophy and even as a mandate of some kind or other. But the significance of the election was not registered by those who voted, but by those who stayed home. If there was anything like a mandate it will be found among almost two-thirds of the citizens who refused to participate.
Bitter as it is to accept the results of the November election, we should have reason for some optimism. For many years now we have preached “the gospel,” in opposition to the philosophy of so-called liberalism which was, in truth, a call to collectivism.
Now, it is possible we have been persuasive to a greater degree than we had ever realized. Few, if any, Democratic party candidates in the last election ran as liberals. Listening to them I had the eerie feeling we were hearing reruns of Goldwater speeches. I even thought I heard a few of my own.
Bureaucracy was assailed and fiscal responsibility hailed. Even George McGovern donned sackcloth and ashes and did penance for the good people of South Dakota.
But let’s not be so naïve as to think we are witnessing a mass conversion to the principles of conservatism. Once sworn into office, the victors reverted to type. In their view, apparently, the ends justified the means.
The “Young Turks” had campaigned against “evil politicians.” They turned against committee chairmen of their own party, displaying a taste and talent as cutthroat power politicians quite in contrast to their campaign rhetoric and idealism. Still, we must not forget that they molded their campaigning to fit what even they recognized was the mood of the majority.
And we must see to it that the people are reminded of this as they now pursue their ideological goals—and pursue them they will.
.......
Governor Ronald Reagan (R-CA)
Conservative Political Action Conference
Washington, DC
March 1, 1975
Re: Disastrous election turned to opportunity
Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2008 3:11 am
by _Yoda
President Reagan was a great man. He had vision, and inspired Americans to be proud of being American.
I think that the American people have been craving a charismatic leader like that from the time Reagan left the oval office. Let's face it. Bush Sr. was elected on Reagan's coattails.
I think that the reason Obama won is because he provided that inspiration and fire that Americans have lacked for the past 20 years.
Instead of "Reagan Democrats", there are, at least for the moment, "Obama Republicans".
Now, how Obama governs the country remains to be seen. I sincerely hope, that for the sake of the country, he takes us in the right direction. I sense a sincere desire on his part to do so, just as Reagan had a sincere desire. If Obama surrounds himself with good men like Colin Powell, I think we'll be OK.
Re: Disastrous election turned to opportunity
Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2008 3:18 am
by _Bond James Bond
liz3564 wrote:Instead of "Reagan Democrats", there are, at least for the moment, "Obama Republicans".
They're being referred to in the blogosphere as "Obamacons".
Re: Disastrous election turned to opportunity
Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2008 3:27 am
by _bcspace
President Reagan was a great man. He had vision, and inspired Americans to be proud of being American.
Ironic isn't it?
For now, we have a new president-elect. In the spirit of reaching across the aisle, we owe it to the Democrats to show their president the exact same kind of respect and loyalty that they have shown our recent Republican president.
Starting tomorrow, if not sooner.
ANN COULTER
Re: Disastrous election turned to opportunity
Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2008 3:40 am
by _Yoda
Ann Coulter wrote:For now, we have a new president-elect. In the spirit of reaching across the aisle, we owe it to the Democrats to show their president the exact same kind of respect and loyalty that they have shown our recent Republican president.
Starting tomorrow, if not sooner.
ANN COULTER
Ann Coulter is an extremist political commentator. She makes her money by being extreme.
Like it or not, BC, most normal people live somewhere in the middle.
I don't agree with the disrespect some people show to President Bush, but do you really think that "tit for tat" is the right approach?
A mature person knows how to move beyond that "tit for tat" mentality.
Your problem, BC, is that you are mired in the Old Testament's Law of Moses. In the New Testament, Christ came and FULFILLED the law.
Living Christ's law requires maturity. Living Christ's law requires people to think. It was difficult for many of the Jewish people to grasp because they were so used to a set pattern of rules.
Re: Disastrous election turned to opportunity
Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2008 4:14 am
by _rcrocket
That's right. Call whomever you disagree with, politically, stupid.
Do you think it possible that Republicans who bemoan the election just might have a reasonable, but different, point of view?
Re: Disastrous election turned to opportunity
Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2008 4:42 am
by _Yoda
rcrocket wrote:That's right. Call whomever you disagree with, politically, stupid.
Do you think it possible that Republicans who bemoan the election just might have a reasonable, but different, point of view?
Were you talking to me or BC, Bob?
I didn't call anyone stupid. I stated that Ann Coulter is an extremist. She is. That doesn't mean she's stupid. That means that she makes her money by being politically extreme.
I didn't call BC stupid, either, for that matter. I do think that he is viewing things in a very narrow manner.
Re: Disastrous election turned to opportunity
Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2008 4:58 am
by _LifeOnaPlate
Intewesting
Re: Disastrous election turned to opportunity
Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2008 5:03 am
by _Gadianton
The real title of this thread is, "Bets hedged for overstated case".
LOL!
(in other words, if the doom and gloom predictions of the downfall of America at the hands of a terrorist/socialist don't come true, as those making the predictions know to be the case, then they have to have a reason to explain the situation without giving any credit to their opposition)
Re: Disastrous election turned to opportunity
Posted: Fri Nov 07, 2008 1:30 am
by _beastie
For now, we have a new president-elect. In the spirit of reaching across the aisle, we owe it to the Democrats to show their president the exact same kind of respect and loyalty that they have shown our recent Republican president.
Starting tomorrow, if not sooner.
ANN COULTER
Extremist republicans went after Clinton the day after his inauguration. After 9/11, Democrats practically got in bed with Bush. It wasn't until it was painfully obvious how catastrophic Bush's decisions were that Democrats started to come out swinging.