The American people want to know if it’s still possible for Washington to look out for these interests, for their future. So what they’re looking for is some courage. They’re waiting for us to act. They’re waiting for us to lead. They don’t want us putting our finger out to the wind. They don’t want us reading polls. They want us to look and see what is the best thing for America, and then do what’s right. And as long as I hold this office, I intend to provide that leadership. - Barack Hussein Obama
Our leaders should be governing by polls, protests, and re-election hopes. We should elect our politicians based on their professed, and hopefully demonstrated, principles. They should then govern by those same principles. Polls and protests are good for drawing the attention of our leaders to a particular issue, but should not override the principles held by the leader. I am tired of the pandering of politicians to whatever cause or special interest they feel empowers them at the moment, only to switch their position when the wind changes (I was for it before I was against it). I believe Obama has done this pretty well.
The problem is that, no matter what he reads us from his teleprompter, Obama's principles are founded in socialism and self interest. He is an arrogant elitist who believes that he is being the public servant his office is supposed to be by forcing his radical agenda on us for our own good. He vacillates between pity and annoyance at our ignorance.
In January 2009 Rush Limbaugh was criticized for stating that he hoped the soon to be President Barack Hussein Obama would fail. Many couldn't believe that Rush would hope for such a thing, but Rush saw that Obama would lead from his principles, principles of radical socialism. Since Rush's principles are diametrically opposed to Obama's, there is no shame in hoping Obama would fail, anything else would not make sense.
The thing that really bothers me are the many politicians (from all parties) that have only one principle, "Look out for number one." Many have wondered if Obama is politically suicidal by pushing for National Health-Care and other elements of his socialist agenda, but I don't believe that is the case. Obama pursues his principles, polls and popularity be damned. We need some liberty minded leaders with this same principled tenacity.
I don't know if this is quite within the scope of this blog, but I'd be curious to know what you would look for in a presidential candidate for 2012.
ReplyDeleteIt seems impossible that Obama would get a second term, but do you think that the Democratic Party has screwed up badly enough that they will not retain control?
And as to candidates from the Right....in 2008 I was disappointed by the Republican candidates as a whole....they seemed either to lack the charisma to get wide support, or, worse, to be 'Left-washed' republicans like McCain. The only candidate I supported whole-heartedly was Ron Paul...to my mind, he had the perfect balance of conservative social ideology, and a Constitutional desire to keep the role of government as small as possible.
Do you think that, should a Republican candidate win, we will have to put up with someone like McCain, or would we be fortunate (to my mind) enough to see someone with Ron Paul's traits take the White House?
thank you!
-Bethany
Absolutely within scope and thanks for the comment.
ReplyDeleteYou have to be vigulent as you think about political electability (charisma) and principled positions. Take Sara Palin for example. She has charisma to spare, but she has made mistake politicaly that make her hard to put into the White House (not that I think we should necesarily). I see Ron Paul in a similar light. I like the Libertarian positions, but Ron tends to come off a little bizzar some times.
The sad truth is the GOP will likely offer up politicians that are well versed in being effective politicians, and not at being principled leaders. I think the best the GOP could do is Mike Huckabee right now (Huckabee/Bachmann might be interesting).
Personally I think our goal for 2010 and 2012 should be to clean house. Anyone who has been there more than 1 term should leave or be voted out. I think the mdeia has trained us to look for the candidate with the charisma, answer to every question in an interview, and the perfect background. We have been trained to want somebody better than us in office. This nation was founded on a government OF the peopple, that is us, the good, the bad, and the ugly. Ron may come off a bit odd, Sarah may write notes on her hand, but look at the principles they stand for, THAT is what I hope for.
How do you like the overall positions of the LP?
Thanks for the prompt reply, I do agree.....I highly doubt Sarah Palin can make it all the way, that's why I rather hope she doesn't win the primaries.
ReplyDeleteMy (and my family's, for that matter) political beliefs line up almost exactly with the LP. The Constitution Party is even closer. I agree with a lot of what Thomas Jefferson said, as far as small government which should seek to interfere as little as possible in the lives of its citizens.
As far as charisma, I do agree: it's not important to me personally, yet at the same time a candidate has to have 'saleability' to the majority.
At this point I guess we can only hope that Huckabee or some other conservative will come to the fore, to replace Obama. I believe Ron Paul's son may be running for office, not sure whether for the Presidensity (sic)...and we'll have to see whether he has his father's ideology.
It is encouraging to see, even in Oregon (arguably one of the more liberal states), that the independent conservative movement is gaining ground among young people. They are tired of both parties ("A plague on both your houses") and are looking for real change, not the sort Obama promised/is delivering on.
In short, yes, when I vote it will likely be Libertarian or Independent every time, and yet one is always faced by the question of, is it better to vote for the GOP candidate if they have a better chance of winning.
What is your opinion of the Tea Party movement? We participated in several demonstrations last year, but this year I am worried that the movement in general may be prone to 'false flag' attacks by agitators on the Left.
I think the Tea Party movement is great from the stand point that it is people expressing their desire for liberty. I don't think it will turn into a political party, or at least shouldn't. I think it should remain focused on the liberty issue.
ReplyDeleteI am done voting a straight Republican ticket. I am very open to LP candidates and need to learn more about the Constitution Party. Loyal GOP folks will make the argument that a vote for any candidate that is not a Republican is a vote for the Democrat candidate, but I don't buy it anymore.