One, Two, Three, Four, I declare ...
By Socrates Posted in Archived — Comments (10) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
... an internecine war.
The next eight months are going to be good, family fun. For the first part of it we get to argue whether we should like Huckabee because he's an unreformed preacher or McCain because he's a reformed heretic. The soul of the party will be dragged along behind the winning side, if not behind the winner himself.
But in the end, we know which lever we will pull. We won't childishly make the same choice as that former President, Bill the Disbarred. (Will we, Ann?) We won't naively choose the charming but vacuously liberal Barack "Cut-N-Run" Obama. We might write in the name of the conservative candidate we wish were running, to send a message. But we won't write in Mickey Mouse or stay at home and hope the media spins our message correctly.
For the media will not correctly interpret why conservatives stay home or cross over. They will not say that there was no candidate who reflected the sensible attitudes of the majority of the people of the country. They won't pine for Reagan, nor even feign concern that no one was willing to stand against their own onslaught.
They won't spin conservative apathy or distaste as anything but unadulterated adoration for the other side. They will say that the moderates have taken back the Republican Party, that liberals have taken back the country, and that to the East the sun is rising over a new Camelot.
Republicans must take the opportunity provided by the next few months to note how much we have in common with all of the candidates on our side and how little actually separates us. A few wedge issues, and an unfortunate willingness on the part of a certain Senator to do his job, separate us. But the stark contrast between any of the Republican candidates and any of the Democrats is there to see: it's their view of the world. More on that some other time.
Nor will any of the Republican candidates still in the race resort to serious negativity. There might be attack ads pointed at some of that unfortunate legislative activity, or the front runner might engage in off-handed marginalization. But all of the candidates know that it would be a serious mistake to alienate the loyal following the others have gained, voters who are the most interested and influential in the party.
No, the candidates will be civil, and we will be wooed. They will be courting the conservative vote, and as the absentee points out, we will be shown to be the mainstream of the Party.
So for the next few months we will be treated to a Republican showcase of conservative principles. CPAC was just the start. As Paul Weyreich said in endorsing Huckabee:
By voting for Governor Huckabee, people will be telling Senator McCain and the Republican Party establishment that they better accommodate these conservatives and their heartfelt beliefs, or else they the GOP will not be able to win the general election this November. Like Governor Huckabee, I have great respect for Senator McCain, but he and his Republican Party backers have to make sure that they accommodate the base of the Republican Party.
Having multiple candidates keeps interest up, even if it's only by the appearance of controversy. If all opposition candidates dropped out, media coverage on the closer (D) contest would push the recognition factor even further their way.
Please don't cross over in the primaries to try to influence the other Party. Remember that media spin?
So go ahead. Vote McCain, Huckabee, Thompson, Romney or Paul in the primary contests coming up, even if they're not in the race. I already voted for a candidate who had no shot, precisely because I wanted to send my little message and leave as little room for spin as possible. If my vote means anything, I want it to be my meaning, not that of some Sunday morning analyst.
During the remainder of the primary season we get to have this little family battle, knowing all along that in the end we will be stronger for the contest.
Then we'll get in line, thumb and forefinger firmly securing noses as needed, and cast our lot with the candidate at the top of the (R) ticket. Because even though we might like to see a better name on our ballots, joining together to elect someone who is more like us than not is the adult thing to do.
Voting against the nominee of your party, whoever that might be, is not the adult thing to do. As you say, we are a long way from there.
But you say "The fact that he even ran for president tells me he is unfit for the job."
That must apply equally to all the candidates. Therefore, no one should be elected.
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Gone 2500 years, still not PC.
that McCain ran when he should have known that he didn't have the support of conservatives. Similar to Dole's run. Did anyone really think he could win against clinton?
There's also the "it's my turn" factor. These Senators get used to getting more perks due to seniority within the Senate and transfer this thinking into believing that they've put in their time and deserve to run merely because they've been around so long.
Because McCain was so blind to his own deficiencies as a candidate indicates a lack of critical thinking. (personally I believe that anyone running for President is prima facie an egotist and is little likely to accurately judge their viability as a candidate).
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The Constitution isn't a suicide pact.
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"If we want to take this party back, and I think we can someday, let’s get to work." – Barry Goldwater
I agree with your philosophy here Socrates.
In the caucus this last Saturday, I and 3/4 of the people there were behind Romney. Although it was obvious that McCain has this thing in the bag, we wanted our counter-votes to be obvious to McCain as well.
Additionally, there was a survey of what we consider the most important issues for the party. I was able to convince the others to have illegal immigration/border security as the most important issue. This is because McCain is likely to be the nominee and closer to most conservative issues...but not on illegal immigration. So, two messages were sent that day to McCain - one on immigration and one on his conservative principles.
Regardless of how you feel about Romney, at least he stated in no uncertain terms that he was a three-legged Republican.
Erik
HTML Help for Red Staters
"If we want to take this party back, and I think we can someday, let’s get to work." – Barry Goldwater
HTML Help for Red Staters
"If we want to take this party back, and I think we can someday, let’s get to work." – Barry Goldwater
I got it. Should think for a minute or two before posting. I see your point in Romney's stances in Iowa/Michigan.
Erik
We won't childishly make the same choice as that former President, Bill the Disbarred
It seems to me that whatever positive legacy he has left may well be overshadowed by a more successful (in Liberal eyes) Hilalry term.
I keep seeing a man shilling for his wife, where his efforts don't seem to actually be helping but actually hurting her.
Unconscious antipathy?
Regardless, good post.
The greatest single cause of Atheism today is Christians who profess Jesus with their lips & then go and deny him by their lifestyle. That's what an unbelieving world simply finds..unbelievable -Brennan Manning
I appreciate your implying that voting against McCain is the un-adult thing to do. I needn't go over again the pricipled reasons many on redstate have given for not voting for John McCain.
Obviously if a conservative third party candidate runs then I'll seriously consider voting for that person instead of for the democrat. But I'll only do that if I'm confident McCain can't win.
McCain is doing now as candidate what he as done since at least 1998. He's pitting us against one another. The fact that he even ran for president tells me he is unfit for the job.
He had to know that he was completely unacceptable to so many republicans. In fact I ask the same question of all those people who voted for McCain... Why? Its not just the issues. I voted for Dole. I held my nose and voted for Bush, Sr. McCain is far worse than either of those two. By voting early on in the primary for McCain you laid the seeds of destruction. You can say what you want but those who supported McCain should have took one for the good of the party at the start of this race. Its too late now. I'll fight on for a brokered convention and given that fails I'll vote the best vote I can make to stop John McCain and secondarily to send the right message.