In the early 60’s if you were young and a conservative your hero was Barry Goldwater. From the 1980’s until today the conservative hero was and still is President Reagan. But in the 1970’s there were very few men for a young conservative to admire. In fact, to be a conservative in college in the mid to late 70’s was to be totally uncool.
But there was one man who was the epitome of conservative cool. He showed us that it was not only ok to be right wing but we felt as if he had let us in on some witty joke that our liberal peers would never understand. He was the man we emulated but no matter how many big words we used, we knew we would never come close to being his equal.
Of course I am writing about William F. Buckley, Jr. who passed away today. Before cable news, even before the rise of the conservative radio talk shows there was Firing Line hosted by William F. Buckley, Jr. In the days when the only conservative voice anywhere on TV was that of Archie Bunker, Buckley was a revelation. He was the first famous person we knew who not only dared to espouse conservative views but he then made his opponents appear ignorant for disagreeing with him. His sardonic wit skewered everyone no matter who they were. And it was such fun.
William Buckley should be considered the true father of conservative talk shows, the idol of the thinking conservatives and the precursor to Reaganism. His was a lone voice when one was needed the most. And so the best tribute to him is to simply repeat his own words. The following are some great quotes I was able to get from ThinkExist.com (and that website name seems so apropos for this man). Thank you Bill Buckley for your words, your wit and your wisdom….
“I won’t insult your intelligence by suggesting that you really believe what you just said.”
“Liberals claim to want to give a hearing to other views, but then are shocked and offended to discover that there are other views.”
“It is not a sign of arrogance for the king to rule. That is what he is there for.”
“I get satisfaction of three kinds. One is creating something, one is being paid for it and one is the feeling that I haven't just been sitting on my ass all afternoon.”
“Idealism is fine, but as it approaches reality, the costs become prohibitive.”
“There is an inverse relationship between reliance on the state and self-reliance.”
“Liberals, it has been said, are generous with other peoples' money, except when it comes to questions of national survival when they prefer to be generous with other people's freedom and security.”
“I'd rather entrust the government of the United States to the first 400 people listed in the Boston telephone directory than to the faculty of Harvard University.”
“The academic community has in it the biggest concentration of alarmists, cranks and extremists this side of the giggle house.”
“Conservatives should be adamant about the need for the reappearance of Judeo-Christianity in the public square.”
“I mean to live my life an obedient man, but obedient to God, subservient to the wisdom of my ancestors; never to the authority of political truths arrived at yesterday at the voting booth.”
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
The First Spouse
Who is Michelle Obama? Other than hearing about a few outrageous statements that she has made, I don’t know much about the woman who could very well become the next First Lady. After she did a not so glamorous interview for Glamour Magazine where she said her husband was “snore-y and stinky” in the morning she seems to have been muzzled until the more recent inflammatory statement that she is proud of the U.S. “for the first time in my adult life”.
I think it is past time to better understand who is this woman who could be living in the White House for the next four years. We already know more than we want to know about Bill but Michelle Obama is an enigma. I admit that I also know very little about John McCain’s wife, Cindy, except that she has not embarrassed her husband or his campaign. But it is time that we get to know these potential First Ladies.
We need to know if the future First Lady can act with grace under pressure. Yes, I realize we are electing her husband not her but we will nonetheless have to deal with the spouse of the next president. Today’s First Ladies are often sent overseas to represent her husband and our country so we need to know how she will handle herself. Can she answer not just softball questions from an adoring press but also tough questions about herself, her husband and her plans for the next four years? What are her values, beliefs, ideology? Can she be a modern day First Lady while still honoring the history of her role and the White House? Will she be able to help plan and then host a state dinner? Will the President, much less the American people, have to worry about what the First Lady might say to the press or a visiting head of state? Plus a better understanding of the candidate's spouses will also give us a greater insight into the candidate.
It looks as if the primaries will soon be over and both parties will have elected their candidates for president. There is a long time between now and the conventions and that time should be used to learn as much as possible about each candidate. And this includes learning about their spouses. We need to find out about them now, before they are in the White House when it may be too late.
I think it is past time to better understand who is this woman who could be living in the White House for the next four years. We already know more than we want to know about Bill but Michelle Obama is an enigma. I admit that I also know very little about John McCain’s wife, Cindy, except that she has not embarrassed her husband or his campaign. But it is time that we get to know these potential First Ladies.
We need to know if the future First Lady can act with grace under pressure. Yes, I realize we are electing her husband not her but we will nonetheless have to deal with the spouse of the next president. Today’s First Ladies are often sent overseas to represent her husband and our country so we need to know how she will handle herself. Can she answer not just softball questions from an adoring press but also tough questions about herself, her husband and her plans for the next four years? What are her values, beliefs, ideology? Can she be a modern day First Lady while still honoring the history of her role and the White House? Will she be able to help plan and then host a state dinner? Will the President, much less the American people, have to worry about what the First Lady might say to the press or a visiting head of state? Plus a better understanding of the candidate's spouses will also give us a greater insight into the candidate.
It looks as if the primaries will soon be over and both parties will have elected their candidates for president. There is a long time between now and the conventions and that time should be used to learn as much as possible about each candidate. And this includes learning about their spouses. We need to find out about them now, before they are in the White House when it may be too late.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Chicken Little Liberals
After watching the democratic debate last night I have come to the conclusion that many others have already figured out. It seems to me that liberals aren’t happy unless they are running around squawking like Chicken Little and crying out “The sky is falling! The sky is falling!”
These Chicken Little Liberals are constantly warning the American people of one pending disaster after another. You know the list – global warming, nuclear proliferation, the war in Iraq, the economy etc. etc. And if there is no current threat they will make one up because otherwise they become irrelevant if they can’t show how only they can save us.
Since nearly every liberal subscribes to the Chicken Little philosophy they differentiate themselves from each other by the way they talk about these “disasters”. Hillary wants to play mother hen by spreading her wings for all the little chicks to hide under while she takes care of us and protects us from whatever is falling from the sky. This solution appeals to all those people who don’t want to be thinking adults and take on the responsibility of taking care of themselves much less their own offspring.
Barack Obama also believes that the sky is falling but instead of discussing how to fix it or even stop they sky from falling he tells us how glorious the sky will be once it is no longer falling. But don’t be fooled by his rhetoric for he too, believes that only he and his liberal base can take care of all the little people who aren’t capable or refuse to help themselves.
As for the Republicans and John McCain? Instead of running around crying that “the sky is falling” and getting everyone scared and upset, they simply blast whatever is falling from the sky into harmless little pieces. Problem solved.
These Chicken Little Liberals are constantly warning the American people of one pending disaster after another. You know the list – global warming, nuclear proliferation, the war in Iraq, the economy etc. etc. And if there is no current threat they will make one up because otherwise they become irrelevant if they can’t show how only they can save us.
Since nearly every liberal subscribes to the Chicken Little philosophy they differentiate themselves from each other by the way they talk about these “disasters”. Hillary wants to play mother hen by spreading her wings for all the little chicks to hide under while she takes care of us and protects us from whatever is falling from the sky. This solution appeals to all those people who don’t want to be thinking adults and take on the responsibility of taking care of themselves much less their own offspring.
Barack Obama also believes that the sky is falling but instead of discussing how to fix it or even stop they sky from falling he tells us how glorious the sky will be once it is no longer falling. But don’t be fooled by his rhetoric for he too, believes that only he and his liberal base can take care of all the little people who aren’t capable or refuse to help themselves.
As for the Republicans and John McCain? Instead of running around crying that “the sky is falling” and getting everyone scared and upset, they simply blast whatever is falling from the sky into harmless little pieces. Problem solved.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Thank You, President Reagan
The McCain story, the resulting backlash against the NY Times, the upcoming debate all have eclipsed what should have been the number one news story today; the rocket launch that blasted the disabled satellite to pieces. In other words, Star Wars actually works! Wow.
On March 23, 1983 I listened to President Reagan give his Strategic Defense Initiative address to the nation. In it he asked “What if free people could live secure in the knowledge that their security did not rest upon the threat of instant U.S. retaliation to deter a Soviet attack, that we could intercept and destroy strategic ballistic missiles before they reached our own soil or that of our allies?”.
This idea became known as Reagan’s Star Wars plan. It quickly became the subject of constant ridicule, vitriolic attacks and incessant derision from liberal naysayers in our own country. And no surprise that the Soviet Union plus most of the free world once again denounced the US and our military policies.
But I believed because I had literally grown up along with our space program and felt that anything was possible. I had been a very young child when a man first walked on the moon. Over the next few years I vaguely recall seeing capsules parachuting into the ocean and watching the astronauts safely retrieved.
Two years before the Star Wars speech I had stood on the roof of my high office building in Orlando watching the contrails of the first space shuttle lifting off in the east. As it climbed higher and higher I could hear cheers and clapping from the bankers and construction workers, lawyers and policemen and all the others standing on rooftops entranced by the site of this shuttle. And yes, years later I also stood with tears running down my cheek looking at that awful Y shape in the sky as the Challenger disintegrated. Even with that disaster, over time the lift off and landing of space shuttles became so common place in Florida that only the tourists would go outside to watch.
So the idea that we can shoot a missile out of the sky seemed perfectly reasonable to me. And yesterday we did it. This story, not some ridiculous gossip about McCain, should be the primary topic today. It is a triumph in technology and military precision. It is also a tribute to President Reagan’s vision. So once again, thank you President Reagan for contributing yet another accomplishment to our great country.
On March 23, 1983 I listened to President Reagan give his Strategic Defense Initiative address to the nation. In it he asked “What if free people could live secure in the knowledge that their security did not rest upon the threat of instant U.S. retaliation to deter a Soviet attack, that we could intercept and destroy strategic ballistic missiles before they reached our own soil or that of our allies?”.
This idea became known as Reagan’s Star Wars plan. It quickly became the subject of constant ridicule, vitriolic attacks and incessant derision from liberal naysayers in our own country. And no surprise that the Soviet Union plus most of the free world once again denounced the US and our military policies.
But I believed because I had literally grown up along with our space program and felt that anything was possible. I had been a very young child when a man first walked on the moon. Over the next few years I vaguely recall seeing capsules parachuting into the ocean and watching the astronauts safely retrieved.
Two years before the Star Wars speech I had stood on the roof of my high office building in Orlando watching the contrails of the first space shuttle lifting off in the east. As it climbed higher and higher I could hear cheers and clapping from the bankers and construction workers, lawyers and policemen and all the others standing on rooftops entranced by the site of this shuttle. And yes, years later I also stood with tears running down my cheek looking at that awful Y shape in the sky as the Challenger disintegrated. Even with that disaster, over time the lift off and landing of space shuttles became so common place in Florida that only the tourists would go outside to watch.
So the idea that we can shoot a missile out of the sky seemed perfectly reasonable to me. And yesterday we did it. This story, not some ridiculous gossip about McCain, should be the primary topic today. It is a triumph in technology and military precision. It is also a tribute to President Reagan’s vision. So once again, thank you President Reagan for contributing yet another accomplishment to our great country.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
FYI
While surfing the net I stumbled upon a fairly new site called www.Hypocrisy.com. I liked the site and saw that they were looking for writers. So on a whim I filled out the form for them to look at my blog. To my surprise they replied a few hours later that they wanted me to write for them and share my blogs on their website.
Today I finally figured out how to get set up as a writer and copied a few of my recent blogs on to their site. Within a matter of minutes they published my blog as a Featured Article and put my name (PC Fugitive) on their list of writers! How cool!
So please take a look at the site just as I hope their readers will meander over and check mine out. And meanwhile I will occasionally take some of my blogs and post it on to the other website.
Today I finally figured out how to get set up as a writer and copied a few of my recent blogs on to their site. Within a matter of minutes they published my blog as a Featured Article and put my name (PC Fugitive) on their list of writers! How cool!
So please take a look at the site just as I hope their readers will meander over and check mine out. And meanwhile I will occasionally take some of my blogs and post it on to the other website.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Short Retort
Watching Hannity tonight and just heard Dick Morris, a man who usually knows what he is talking about, say that he is urging Republicans to do their duty and vote for Obama. Hmmm. Seems like I heard another Texan say that right here not too long ago! As for why Morris is saying this, not sure if it is because he hates Hillary that much or because he hates McCain that much (or both).
FYI, there are two more upcoming Democratic debates: Thurs 2/21 on CNN held in TX and then on 2/26 on NBC (most likely MSNBC) held in Oh.
FYI, there are two more upcoming Democratic debates: Thurs 2/21 on CNN held in TX and then on 2/26 on NBC (most likely MSNBC) held in Oh.
Hillary's Trade-Offs
As the primary continues to unfold I can’t help but think about Hillary's life. People forget that it was Hillary, not Bill, who was the “rock star” when they first met. But she gave it all up to move to Arkansas and help an unknown lawyer run for governor in one of the most backwards states in the nation. Her friends were appalled by her decision. I can’t help but think of the song from Chorus Line “What We Do for Love”.
It wasn’t all terrible. Arkansas is in the boonies but being a governor’s wife isn’t a bad deal. Then there were the ensuing connections and how that helped her career (and checkbook). Bill might have strayed but Hillary knew he loved her and Chelsea, and he always came back. So she stayed and ended up in the White House. Again, not a bad trade off. Then he cheated there and this time publicly humiliated her and her child.
And still she stayed. Did she trade in her pride to keep her marriage? Did she make a bargain to use it as a stepping stone to the senate? Maybe. And I’m not sure I blame her. So over the last few years she quietly paid her dues in the senate, while her husband transformed himself from national joke to national statesman on par with George Bush the elder.
They were ready again as a team again to run for president – this time it was Hillary’s turn. And what happens? Another man blocks her way. Now all those years that Hillary stood by her man, its Bill’s turn to aid her in removing that one obstacle by using all the weight only an ex-President has. Except in just a few speeches Bill once again becomes an embarrassment and a hindrance and a national joke instead of a serious statesman who could have helped make her president.
I can’t help but wonder how angry Hillary must be at both of them, Barack and Bill. I can’t say I blame her. And if she is defeated by Barack I also wonder how long it will be before she divorces Bill and trades him in for a better deal. I can’t say I would blame her for that either.
It wasn’t all terrible. Arkansas is in the boonies but being a governor’s wife isn’t a bad deal. Then there were the ensuing connections and how that helped her career (and checkbook). Bill might have strayed but Hillary knew he loved her and Chelsea, and he always came back. So she stayed and ended up in the White House. Again, not a bad trade off. Then he cheated there and this time publicly humiliated her and her child.
And still she stayed. Did she trade in her pride to keep her marriage? Did she make a bargain to use it as a stepping stone to the senate? Maybe. And I’m not sure I blame her. So over the last few years she quietly paid her dues in the senate, while her husband transformed himself from national joke to national statesman on par with George Bush the elder.
They were ready again as a team again to run for president – this time it was Hillary’s turn. And what happens? Another man blocks her way. Now all those years that Hillary stood by her man, its Bill’s turn to aid her in removing that one obstacle by using all the weight only an ex-President has. Except in just a few speeches Bill once again becomes an embarrassment and a hindrance and a national joke instead of a serious statesman who could have helped make her president.
I can’t help but wonder how angry Hillary must be at both of them, Barack and Bill. I can’t say I blame her. And if she is defeated by Barack I also wonder how long it will be before she divorces Bill and trades him in for a better deal. I can’t say I would blame her for that either.
Friday, February 15, 2008
Obama Phenomenon
It seems as if Obama is being carried by a tidal wave of adoration and gaining a momentum that Hillary might not be able to stop. There are reports of growing crowds wherever he goes as he mesmerizes all demographic groups: old, young, black, white, rural, suburb. I have even read of women fainting during his speeches as if he is the new Elvis or Beatle or Sinatra (pick your idol based on your generation). And yet….
Anyone who follows Obama and listens to him will agree that as wonderful as his speeches are they still don’t contain any substance. To learn more about him, I checked his website; http://www.barrackobama.com/. To my surprise there was a link called Issues with discussions on his views starting with Civil Rights, Disabilities, Economy and ending with Rural, Service and Senior Citizens with many more in between.
So what are his views on the issues? Not surprisingly they are liberal and similar to Hillary’s programs. He wants a big government which will create jobs, take care of everyone and spend lots and lots of money. Where will the money come from? Us, of course and big business which once again is shown as being an “enemy” of not only “the people” but also an enemy of the environment. And yet……
His health care doesn’t mandate that everyone sign up for it. Unlike Clinton, he won’t force you to join his universal coverage. On immigration, he wants to secure the border and he supports a system that allows undocumented immigrants who are in good standing to pay a fine, learn English, and go to the back of the line for the opportunity to become citizens. On the economy he wants to Provide a Tax Cut for Working Families, Simplify Tax Filings for Middle Class Americans, Fight for Fair Trade and Amend NAFTA.
Some of his ideas on security include Protecting Our Chemical Plants, Keeping Track of Spent Nuclear Fuel, Reuniting Families After Emergencies, and Keeping Our Drinking Water Safe. And yes, Obama plans to stop the war in Iraq and bring home the troops. Yet he also wants to increase the army by 65,000 and the marines by 27,000 soldiers and he wants the Chief of the National Guard to be a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
That is just a brief example of Barack Obama’s ideas. I disagree with most of his environmental “global warming” plans but the ideas I just mentioned above don’t sound bad at all. In fact he sounds more conservative than McCain on immigration. It makes me wonder what people who have drunk his Kool-Aid and are blindly following him would think if they knew he is proposing these ideas. Then again that is probably why he never talks issues only hope and promises and glory for all in the future. Amen.
Anyone who follows Obama and listens to him will agree that as wonderful as his speeches are they still don’t contain any substance. To learn more about him, I checked his website; http://www.barrackobama.com/. To my surprise there was a link called Issues with discussions on his views starting with Civil Rights, Disabilities, Economy and ending with Rural, Service and Senior Citizens with many more in between.
So what are his views on the issues? Not surprisingly they are liberal and similar to Hillary’s programs. He wants a big government which will create jobs, take care of everyone and spend lots and lots of money. Where will the money come from? Us, of course and big business which once again is shown as being an “enemy” of not only “the people” but also an enemy of the environment. And yet……
His health care doesn’t mandate that everyone sign up for it. Unlike Clinton, he won’t force you to join his universal coverage. On immigration, he wants to secure the border and he supports a system that allows undocumented immigrants who are in good standing to pay a fine, learn English, and go to the back of the line for the opportunity to become citizens. On the economy he wants to Provide a Tax Cut for Working Families, Simplify Tax Filings for Middle Class Americans, Fight for Fair Trade and Amend NAFTA.
Some of his ideas on security include Protecting Our Chemical Plants, Keeping Track of Spent Nuclear Fuel, Reuniting Families After Emergencies, and Keeping Our Drinking Water Safe. And yes, Obama plans to stop the war in Iraq and bring home the troops. Yet he also wants to increase the army by 65,000 and the marines by 27,000 soldiers and he wants the Chief of the National Guard to be a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
That is just a brief example of Barack Obama’s ideas. I disagree with most of his environmental “global warming” plans but the ideas I just mentioned above don’t sound bad at all. In fact he sounds more conservative than McCain on immigration. It makes me wonder what people who have drunk his Kool-Aid and are blindly following him would think if they knew he is proposing these ideas. Then again that is probably why he never talks issues only hope and promises and glory for all in the future. Amen.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Short Retort
Clinton won two-thirds of the states in the primaries before January 30. Since January 30 Obama has won almost two-thirds of the states. Why the complete turnaround? Did people get angry at Bill for making his earlier comments? Maybe. Did voters get disgusted by Clintons tears? Perhaps. Could it be that Obama is gaining momentum? Quite likely. Or could it possibly be that liberals were turned off by Clinton when on January 31 Ann Coulter said she would vote for Hillary if John McCain was the Republican candidate? :-)
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
The Obama Affect
I read an interesting article highlighted in the Drudge Report. It was from an article in The Australian about Obama. The journalist, Geoff Elliott compared the reaction Obama is getting to how people reacted to Mandela. In other words, people are looking up to Obama as more than just a new leader, but as a cult figure even something “akin to a messiah”. Wow.
I even have to admit that I was transfixed listening to him give a speech. It was hard to resist not yelling out an “amen” and that was from my living room. I can only imagine the impact of listening to him in person. And yet… there was a great quote in the article I read:
Well known political journalist Joe Klein of Time magazine, who was travelling on the campaign plane this week with Obama, too, wrote of a nagging concern about this kind of rhetoric of inspiration over substance, noting "there was something just a wee bit creepy about the mass messiahnism".
Creepy or not, how do you compete against this? I almost feel sorry for Hillary who is pitting her substance against someone who speaks in promises and hopes yet has still to give specifics on what he is trying to accomplish. Hell, he hasn’t even said what his concrete goals are, other than being President, much less how he plans to attain them.
And therein lies the catch. For the minute he gives specifics he is sure to disappoint people. In fact, how can he not end up angering his followers when they find out that underneath the glamour of a cult figure, he is a cold analytical politician? And we all know what happens when the crowds turn against their messiah…..
I even have to admit that I was transfixed listening to him give a speech. It was hard to resist not yelling out an “amen” and that was from my living room. I can only imagine the impact of listening to him in person. And yet… there was a great quote in the article I read:
Well known political journalist Joe Klein of Time magazine, who was travelling on the campaign plane this week with Obama, too, wrote of a nagging concern about this kind of rhetoric of inspiration over substance, noting "there was something just a wee bit creepy about the mass messiahnism".
Creepy or not, how do you compete against this? I almost feel sorry for Hillary who is pitting her substance against someone who speaks in promises and hopes yet has still to give specifics on what he is trying to accomplish. Hell, he hasn’t even said what his concrete goals are, other than being President, much less how he plans to attain them.
And therein lies the catch. For the minute he gives specifics he is sure to disappoint people. In fact, how can he not end up angering his followers when they find out that underneath the glamour of a cult figure, he is a cold analytical politician? And we all know what happens when the crowds turn against their messiah…..
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