Decisions Decisions
The more I search in vain for its validation, the more I am convinced conventional wisdom is neither. Foremost among that alleged wisdom these days is the tedious, and repetitious, narrative that we conservatives are unhappy with the quality of the GOP Presidential choices. I've come to believe that all the liberal brouhaha about conservative discontent is more a product of their own wishful thinking than it is of our reality, revealing that nothing scares them more than a unified GOP.
Their interest in perpetuating the disharmony myth is twofold; first it gives them an excuse to divert attention from their own presidential slate and secondly because convincing fencesitters to vote against a party in dissarray is a much easier sell than against an optimistic, united, happy family.
The fact of the matter is most outside the beltway conservatives don't think about it all that much. We 're too busy busting our humps trying to cover our tax burden.
As is often the case with conventional wisdom, exactly the opposite is true. From where I sit, safely ensconced in the heartland, the source of our alleged discontent is not due to a paucity of quality candidates but more a matter of indecisiveness brought on by an overabundance of good choices. Once you get passed the fact they are all a bunch of white men the comparitive collective credentials aren't even close.
First of all, you have to go to our 10th guy to find someone less appealing than their front runner, and even that's open for debate because Ron Paul has more charisma, and is better looking, than Bill Clinton's wife.
Let's have a little side by side comparison with some of the others ...
Our 4th place, John McCain, genuine war hero, former POW, more Senate experience than the remaining Dem field COMBINED.
Their 4th place, Bill Richardson. One term Governor from a small state, yet the only candidate offering executive experience.
Our 3rd place, Mitt Romney. Solid executive experience in both the public and private sectors. High profile accomplishments in salvaging the Olympics and eliminating deficit in bluest of the blue states, Massachusetts. Has proven those abilities transfer to politics as evidenced by his leads in the early states and straw polls. Looks like he came out of central casting for President until he opens his mouth, when he sounds like he came out central casting as a Chief Executive Officer.
Their 3rd place, John Edwards, $400 haircuts, 28,000 square foot mansion dwelling champion for the poor. What is this - - a Saturday Night Live sketch?
Our 2nd place, big Fred Thompson, not exactly the effervescent superstar many expected but we shouldn't assume he is even close to finding his groove. And this has to have Democrats shaking in their boots; the last time we elected a B Movie actor President it worked out pretty well - - so just imagine how well an A-Movie actor might do!
Their 2nd place, Barack Hussein Obama. One yet to be completed Senate term makes up his entire national experience. Executive experience, nada, legislative accomplishment, zip. Charisma can be a good strong suit - - but sooner or later people will notice it's empty.
Our front runner, Rudy Guiliani. America's Mayor. Polished charismatic moderate, genuinely attractive to swing voters which makes him genuinely threatening to Democrats. Strong against terror, bullish on business. If nominated he changes the general election from liberal versus conservative to moderate versus radical, or even worse for Dems, change versus stauts quo.
Their front runner, Bill Clinton's wife. Even lefty columnist Maureen Dowd acknowledges her marriage as the single most accomplishment when she opined, paraphrasing, "if it weren't for nepotism Hillary would be running for President of Vasser." That plus the recent poll ranking her number 1 in the " would never vote for" rankings of all candidates gives them a lot more to worry about than our inner squabbles. That's not to mention the anti-dynasty mumurs which have only just begun. How can any voter serious about change give her a second thought when she is the walking talking embodiment of the status quo?
Yes, there are incentives aplenty for the mainstream media to put all their focus and influence on the doom and gloom within the GOP. Rest assured it is not out of genuine concern for our contentment but mostly to keep the spot light off of the available alternatives.
There are many reasons to be optimistic about our chances in 2008. Using the mainstream media coverage of our discontent as a barometer, it looks like, if current trends continue, i.e. an utterly feckless Dem controlled congress and more good news from Iraq, the biggest problem facing the GOP might be overconfidence.
Their interest in perpetuating the disharmony myth is twofold; first it gives them an excuse to divert attention from their own presidential slate and secondly because convincing fencesitters to vote against a party in dissarray is a much easier sell than against an optimistic, united, happy family.
The fact of the matter is most outside the beltway conservatives don't think about it all that much. We 're too busy busting our humps trying to cover our tax burden.
As is often the case with conventional wisdom, exactly the opposite is true. From where I sit, safely ensconced in the heartland, the source of our alleged discontent is not due to a paucity of quality candidates but more a matter of indecisiveness brought on by an overabundance of good choices. Once you get passed the fact they are all a bunch of white men the comparitive collective credentials aren't even close.
First of all, you have to go to our 10th guy to find someone less appealing than their front runner, and even that's open for debate because Ron Paul has more charisma, and is better looking, than Bill Clinton's wife.
Let's have a little side by side comparison with some of the others ...
Our 4th place, John McCain, genuine war hero, former POW, more Senate experience than the remaining Dem field COMBINED.
Their 4th place, Bill Richardson. One term Governor from a small state, yet the only candidate offering executive experience.
Our 3rd place, Mitt Romney. Solid executive experience in both the public and private sectors. High profile accomplishments in salvaging the Olympics and eliminating deficit in bluest of the blue states, Massachusetts. Has proven those abilities transfer to politics as evidenced by his leads in the early states and straw polls. Looks like he came out of central casting for President until he opens his mouth, when he sounds like he came out central casting as a Chief Executive Officer.
Their 3rd place, John Edwards, $400 haircuts, 28,000 square foot mansion dwelling champion for the poor. What is this - - a Saturday Night Live sketch?
Our 2nd place, big Fred Thompson, not exactly the effervescent superstar many expected but we shouldn't assume he is even close to finding his groove. And this has to have Democrats shaking in their boots; the last time we elected a B Movie actor President it worked out pretty well - - so just imagine how well an A-Movie actor might do!
Their 2nd place, Barack Hussein Obama. One yet to be completed Senate term makes up his entire national experience. Executive experience, nada, legislative accomplishment, zip. Charisma can be a good strong suit - - but sooner or later people will notice it's empty.
Our front runner, Rudy Guiliani. America's Mayor. Polished charismatic moderate, genuinely attractive to swing voters which makes him genuinely threatening to Democrats. Strong against terror, bullish on business. If nominated he changes the general election from liberal versus conservative to moderate versus radical, or even worse for Dems, change versus stauts quo.
Their front runner, Bill Clinton's wife. Even lefty columnist Maureen Dowd acknowledges her marriage as the single most accomplishment when she opined, paraphrasing, "if it weren't for nepotism Hillary would be running for President of Vasser." That plus the recent poll ranking her number 1 in the " would never vote for" rankings of all candidates gives them a lot more to worry about than our inner squabbles. That's not to mention the anti-dynasty mumurs which have only just begun. How can any voter serious about change give her a second thought when she is the walking talking embodiment of the status quo?
Yes, there are incentives aplenty for the mainstream media to put all their focus and influence on the doom and gloom within the GOP. Rest assured it is not out of genuine concern for our contentment but mostly to keep the spot light off of the available alternatives.
There are many reasons to be optimistic about our chances in 2008. Using the mainstream media coverage of our discontent as a barometer, it looks like, if current trends continue, i.e. an utterly feckless Dem controlled congress and more good news from Iraq, the biggest problem facing the GOP might be overconfidence.
Comments