By William McRight
I had the pleasure of walking to my mailbox yesterday and placing inside it an Atlantic County Board of Elections Voter Declaration Form. On it, a box was marked declaring that I am now unaffiliated to any political party. Now I understand what Reagan meant by, "the party left me." As a conservative member of the Republican Party I have been told to fall in line, grow up, stop being a cry baby because my guy didn't win. I have been called outrageous names (largely on Twitter, so thanks to my FB pals for your decorum..or for unfollowing me..or unfriending me) because I refuse to support the presumptive nominee of the Republican Party.
I am finished with it. I am finished with a party that, while built on things that I still hold dear, nominates a man who cares more about currying favor with voters for a Socialist then about winning me over. I am finished with a party that nominates a man who throughout his life (and still does) referred to conservatives with derision and scorn yet has no "Road to Damascus" story about his conversion to what he calls "common sense conservatism" which as far as I can tell means almost nothing. I am finished with a party that when faced with an opportunity to eliminate the stupidity of Open Primaries squelches debate and derides those voicing opposition. I am finished with this man and his smarmy lackeys gloating over "crushing" opposition to his unseemly candidacy. I am done with the presumptive nominee, the party establishment that is propping him up and their garbage bully operatives who contribute nothing to civil, intelligent discourse. I am done voting for someone who cannot clearly tell me what they are for and that I should support them because of a letter behind their name. Done.
I will vote in November. I will write in who I believe who is the best candidate for leading a nation through the terrible and fearsome time we find ourselves in. I will vote for leaders. I will vote for principles. I will vote for standards. I will vote for who, after thought and consideration, I think is a decent individual trying to do a very difficult job for the right reasons.
I am reminded that Alexander Hamilton said - "If we must have an enemy at the head of Government, let it be one whom we can oppose, and for whom we are not responsible, who will not involve our party in the disgrace of his foolish and bad measures."
Showing posts with label William McRight. Show all posts
Showing posts with label William McRight. Show all posts
Sunday, July 17, 2016
Friday, May 13, 2016
Days of Thunder
By William McRight
It is time. After an exhausting Republican primary where we have come to understand what stupidity looks like when it crystallizes and metastasizes and takes human form, I need a break. I can’t even. To even think of a choice between a crook and a schnook sends me into a gloomy stupor. And I cannot do that this weekend. For it is time to race.
It is time for the annual pilgrimage to The Monster Mile in Dover, Delaware. NASCAR, you say? A conservative stepping up to the altar of rubber and smoke and Sunoco and red neckery? You betcha.
I realize many of you fine people don’t understand the merits of watching a bunch of cars making 2000 left turns over a series of hours. I’ll grant you, on TV it is a long haul. In fact, the whole reason the networks air the “Crank it Up” segments (where they simply play car audio and hope that you turn it up so loud that you understand what I am about to tell you) is to simulate the noise and sounds of an “in person” experience at the track.
I’d say that the best way to understand the success of NASCAR is to see it live. From the moment you arrive it is an assault on your senses. Tailgating, Food Trucks, disgusting Porta Johns, the smells of rubber and fuel from the pits are all intoxicating. Except for the Porta Johns. They are nasty. What really shapes the experience is the sound.
I can pinpoint the one moment I became a fan of NASCAR. It was my first race. I went as part of a sponsorship experience with my job at the time. I thought, “Well a few hours with customers, a beer or two and I am out. No harm, no foul.” My brother in law, a devout NASCAR devotee, warned me to protect my ears, but he told me to listen to the restarts (when the racing starts for the first time or begins again after a crash or “caution”). I did and it was hit me in a spot I did not know I had.
The sound when 43 850 horsepower cars accelerate from 55 mph to 190 mph in a matter of seconds is not a sound. It is a minor shift in barometric pressure that washes over you like a wave crashing on the beach. It is a sound that moves not past you, but through you. You cannot help but smile when that noise envelops you. My words do not accurately explain it. I pull the earplugs out for every restart. It is that awesome. I don’t think it has affected my hearing too badly. Yet.
So I’d encourage you should you have the opportunity go to a NASCAR race. It will not be the crowd you might encounter at your local opera or your next Chamber of Commerce meeting. I’d also add that NASCAR unabashedly conducts an invocation before each race and is not embarrassed about the content. I like that. They also don’t race on Easter or Mother’s Day. Gotta love the good ole boys.
For me this weekend, no politics, no infighting. Just racing. Boogity, boogity, boogity Indeed.
It is time. After an exhausting Republican primary where we have come to understand what stupidity looks like when it crystallizes and metastasizes and takes human form, I need a break. I can’t even. To even think of a choice between a crook and a schnook sends me into a gloomy stupor. And I cannot do that this weekend. For it is time to race.
It is time for the annual pilgrimage to The Monster Mile in Dover, Delaware. NASCAR, you say? A conservative stepping up to the altar of rubber and smoke and Sunoco and red neckery? You betcha.
I realize many of you fine people don’t understand the merits of watching a bunch of cars making 2000 left turns over a series of hours. I’ll grant you, on TV it is a long haul. In fact, the whole reason the networks air the “Crank it Up” segments (where they simply play car audio and hope that you turn it up so loud that you understand what I am about to tell you) is to simulate the noise and sounds of an “in person” experience at the track.
I’d say that the best way to understand the success of NASCAR is to see it live. From the moment you arrive it is an assault on your senses. Tailgating, Food Trucks, disgusting Porta Johns, the smells of rubber and fuel from the pits are all intoxicating. Except for the Porta Johns. They are nasty. What really shapes the experience is the sound.
I can pinpoint the one moment I became a fan of NASCAR. It was my first race. I went as part of a sponsorship experience with my job at the time. I thought, “Well a few hours with customers, a beer or two and I am out. No harm, no foul.” My brother in law, a devout NASCAR devotee, warned me to protect my ears, but he told me to listen to the restarts (when the racing starts for the first time or begins again after a crash or “caution”). I did and it was hit me in a spot I did not know I had.
The sound when 43 850 horsepower cars accelerate from 55 mph to 190 mph in a matter of seconds is not a sound. It is a minor shift in barometric pressure that washes over you like a wave crashing on the beach. It is a sound that moves not past you, but through you. You cannot help but smile when that noise envelops you. My words do not accurately explain it. I pull the earplugs out for every restart. It is that awesome. I don’t think it has affected my hearing too badly. Yet.
So I’d encourage you should you have the opportunity go to a NASCAR race. It will not be the crowd you might encounter at your local opera or your next Chamber of Commerce meeting. I’d also add that NASCAR unabashedly conducts an invocation before each race and is not embarrassed about the content. I like that. They also don’t race on Easter or Mother’s Day. Gotta love the good ole boys.
For me this weekend, no politics, no infighting. Just racing. Boogity, boogity, boogity Indeed.
Wednesday, May 4, 2016
Always #NeverTrump
By William McRight
So that is it then, GOP? This is what you will give us?
In the last two elections, we propped up moderate Republicans and got our teeth kicked in. John McCain, a hero, but a liberal Republican was crushed even though he prefaced every sentence by saluting “my friends.” Mitt Romney, carved out a Central Casting Book with teeth of white and hair of black and policies of progressivism also got a butt whipping. So in the infinite wisdom of the GOP and the esteemed electorate of this great nation we are now on the precipice of nominating a lifelong and STILL Democrat as the Republican nominee.
It is said that if one cannot remember the past, that one is condemned to repeat it. The GOP and our supposed “thought leaders” on the right have made a mockery of our party and our principles by potentially selecting as a nominee an Obama Birther, a 9-11 Truther and someone who cites the National Enquirer as a viable source of dependable journalism.
I will not be a part of it. I will leave the GOP forever. I might join some other party, I might not. I might join with others to start something new. I am unrepresented by the GOP. That much is clearly evident.
If this party nominates a man who has not a conservative bone in his body, they are dead to me. They will not see any of my money, time or effort to further their causes. I will fight for conservatism and the Constitution if it still exists after Hillary and/ or Trump get done with it.
I weep for our children and fear a God who will grow weary of our idiocy and foolishness.
You media figures who spouted off about conservatism for decades and then turned your backs when a candidate who truly embodies conservative principles had an opportunity to lead: You all have blood on your hands. I am talking to you, Rush, Sean, Ann, Fox News and countless others. I hope your 30 pieces of silver weigh heavy on your heart. You broke this thing. Now YOU own it. Not us.
So congrats GOP and congrats all of you stupid, ill informed troglodytes who are in the midst of selecting an unqualified lunatic to represent your party.
You can all go to hell. But at least you can ride down on a beautiful gold escalator surround by green marble.
As for me, the GOP can nominate Trump. I will not support him, vote for him or say anything positive about him ever. He does not represent me or my values. He never has and he never will.
I am done.
So that is it then, GOP? This is what you will give us?
In the last two elections, we propped up moderate Republicans and got our teeth kicked in. John McCain, a hero, but a liberal Republican was crushed even though he prefaced every sentence by saluting “my friends.” Mitt Romney, carved out a Central Casting Book with teeth of white and hair of black and policies of progressivism also got a butt whipping. So in the infinite wisdom of the GOP and the esteemed electorate of this great nation we are now on the precipice of nominating a lifelong and STILL Democrat as the Republican nominee.
It is said that if one cannot remember the past, that one is condemned to repeat it. The GOP and our supposed “thought leaders” on the right have made a mockery of our party and our principles by potentially selecting as a nominee an Obama Birther, a 9-11 Truther and someone who cites the National Enquirer as a viable source of dependable journalism.
I will not be a part of it. I will leave the GOP forever. I might join some other party, I might not. I might join with others to start something new. I am unrepresented by the GOP. That much is clearly evident.
If this party nominates a man who has not a conservative bone in his body, they are dead to me. They will not see any of my money, time or effort to further their causes. I will fight for conservatism and the Constitution if it still exists after Hillary and/ or Trump get done with it.
I weep for our children and fear a God who will grow weary of our idiocy and foolishness.
You media figures who spouted off about conservatism for decades and then turned your backs when a candidate who truly embodies conservative principles had an opportunity to lead: You all have blood on your hands. I am talking to you, Rush, Sean, Ann, Fox News and countless others. I hope your 30 pieces of silver weigh heavy on your heart. You broke this thing. Now YOU own it. Not us.
So congrats GOP and congrats all of you stupid, ill informed troglodytes who are in the midst of selecting an unqualified lunatic to represent your party.
You can all go to hell. But at least you can ride down on a beautiful gold escalator surround by green marble.
As for me, the GOP can nominate Trump. I will not support him, vote for him or say anything positive about him ever. He does not represent me or my values. He never has and he never will.
I am done.
Saturday, April 30, 2016
Back in the Saddle Again.
By William McRight
Sorry friends for that far too pregnant pause in my guttural utterances. My new (real life) employer has an onboarding program that requires a 30-day visit to the other side of the country where your days are packed with classroom training, presentations, evening shenanigans etc. And, by the way, I think I fought hard against adjusting to PST. 3:30 AM wakeups and desires for dinners at 3:30 PM were the order of the day. But we are back from that so – Let’s get at it.
The State of the Race
When we last spoke, the great American Con Job was continuing apace and the Big Orange Not Even Republican (I cannot believe it took me this long to come up with that name-If we use just the first letters, it is even better) was holding on to his lead in delegates and people who are NOT voting for him. It also came to common knowledge that the other orange creep who everyone loves to hate, Boehner, can’t stop running his stupid mouth about how much he hates a consistent conservative. Ponder that for a second. The man who got removed from his job as Speaker for being a slimy, orange creep had a PAC that took $100k from another slimy orange creep. Sounds to me like two guys who are on the same side of our problem. So naturally, let’s support one of those guys for President. It kind of boggles the mind in regard to the lack of sophisticated reason and political acuity of a large part of the voting block in this country.
Senator Cruz continued the fight daily in any way he could, despite the small army of sycophantic Trump tongue bathers in the media. He continues to chip away at the Trump inevitability lie with a grassroots effort focused on results and winning, not stupid polls. Reminiscent of Reagan, Cruz took the bold move of naming his running mate, Carly Fiorina. This space will harbor future musings on the ticket but safe to say now I will give it a thumbs up for strategery and timing. After Trump’s Acela Corridor wins, changing the discussion was mandatory. Cruz did that, boldly, to his credit. However, I am a shameless hack and he could’ve chosen your Aunt Millie and I’d find a way to make it a political master stroke.
During my time of being a responsible adult, Trump gave some sort of a foreign policy speech. In complete transparency, I cannot bring myself to watch it. I did watch a six second Vine where a presidential candidate invented a new country called “Tanzania.” I also noted that Coulter and Ingraham saluted Trump’s inane warbling with all the gusto that a real conservative would salute Reagan’s “A Time for Choosing.” Those two saying anything positive regarding Trump renders it factually void and tacitly stupid. So I probably won’t watch Trump’s “important foreign policy speech.” Because he is a real estate developer and doesn’t know his rear end from page 8.
So here we are. Another Tuesday primary where the most consistent conservative since Reagan “has to win” to keep hope alive. To date, all the have to win places have resulted in Cruz victories. If we are to save our nation from having a choice between two morally fouled up Democrats to serve as our next President, we need to keep working and tweeting and commenting and fighting. C’mon Indiana. You’ve got this.
Sorry friends for that far too pregnant pause in my guttural utterances. My new (real life) employer has an onboarding program that requires a 30-day visit to the other side of the country where your days are packed with classroom training, presentations, evening shenanigans etc. And, by the way, I think I fought hard against adjusting to PST. 3:30 AM wakeups and desires for dinners at 3:30 PM were the order of the day. But we are back from that so – Let’s get at it.
The State of the Race
When we last spoke, the great American Con Job was continuing apace and the Big Orange Not Even Republican (I cannot believe it took me this long to come up with that name-If we use just the first letters, it is even better) was holding on to his lead in delegates and people who are NOT voting for him. It also came to common knowledge that the other orange creep who everyone loves to hate, Boehner, can’t stop running his stupid mouth about how much he hates a consistent conservative. Ponder that for a second. The man who got removed from his job as Speaker for being a slimy, orange creep had a PAC that took $100k from another slimy orange creep. Sounds to me like two guys who are on the same side of our problem. So naturally, let’s support one of those guys for President. It kind of boggles the mind in regard to the lack of sophisticated reason and political acuity of a large part of the voting block in this country.
Senator Cruz continued the fight daily in any way he could, despite the small army of sycophantic Trump tongue bathers in the media. He continues to chip away at the Trump inevitability lie with a grassroots effort focused on results and winning, not stupid polls. Reminiscent of Reagan, Cruz took the bold move of naming his running mate, Carly Fiorina. This space will harbor future musings on the ticket but safe to say now I will give it a thumbs up for strategery and timing. After Trump’s Acela Corridor wins, changing the discussion was mandatory. Cruz did that, boldly, to his credit. However, I am a shameless hack and he could’ve chosen your Aunt Millie and I’d find a way to make it a political master stroke.
During my time of being a responsible adult, Trump gave some sort of a foreign policy speech. In complete transparency, I cannot bring myself to watch it. I did watch a six second Vine where a presidential candidate invented a new country called “Tanzania.” I also noted that Coulter and Ingraham saluted Trump’s inane warbling with all the gusto that a real conservative would salute Reagan’s “A Time for Choosing.” Those two saying anything positive regarding Trump renders it factually void and tacitly stupid. So I probably won’t watch Trump’s “important foreign policy speech.” Because he is a real estate developer and doesn’t know his rear end from page 8.
So here we are. Another Tuesday primary where the most consistent conservative since Reagan “has to win” to keep hope alive. To date, all the have to win places have resulted in Cruz victories. If we are to save our nation from having a choice between two morally fouled up Democrats to serve as our next President, we need to keep working and tweeting and commenting and fighting. C’mon Indiana. You’ve got this.
Friday, April 15, 2016
Weirdness in Seattle
By William McRight
I’ll begin this screed with sincere apologies to those of you who are rabid fans of my musings. It has been a while since my last post. I am sure both of you are disappointed in me. I landed a new “day job” that requires me to travel to the beautiful and slightly off kilter Pacific Northwest for a full month of onboard training. Kind of cool. A long time away from the lovely McRight Clan, but until Ecklebob can afford my YUGE, seven figure salary demands and Van Halen-esque contract riders (all communication devices fully new versions of Apple product, no brown M&M’s in my writing room bowl, daily deliveries of fresh white calla lilies to my hillside estate) I have to work the regular gig.
In any event, I find myself a conservative in a strange land. I must say I have never been in a place of such striking beauty. I took some time last weekend to travel to the top (well, as close to the top as a non snow-shoed east coaster can get) of Mount Rainier. It is hardened evidence that God exists and he has an inspired aesthetic sensibility. The vistas, landscapes and valleys are so beautifully arranged and aligned that mere happenstance could not have set them in such a breathtaking arrangement. If you have the opportunity, take it in. I keep hurling all of these adjectives at you but you really have to be on it to understand. It is fantastic.
Then we made the 90 minute drive to Seattle. Our traveling party made the call to stop at Bruno’s Family Restaurant in Eatonville. 2 for 2.
The Lord’s Hand at work on our planet followed up by chicken fried steak and a 7 ½ pound piece of blackberry pie with vanilla ice cream. I felt like an anaconda that had eaten a goat. No food required for the rest of the day. Bruno’s is a winner.
Then we went to Seattle.
First, let me say Seattle is not without charm. Puget Sound is wonderful and Pike Place Market is full of unique quirkiness. Any place you’d go and the first thing you take in is a salmon flying through the air is worth the price of admission. I’d be willing to bet the touristas who went behind the counter to catch the fish are still washing their hands. And a side bit of advice, if someone sneezes, don’t say “Bless You” and if you do, prepare to be the recipient of a nasty scowl. This is where the populace comes into play and the “weirdness” I mention in our title. Like most big cities, Seattle is a liberal enclave. Wrapped in a far left progressive cloak. Bathed in legal and readily available marijuana smoke. Kind of a dangerous triad. (No, Mr. Trump, we won’t ask about this triad. We are sure you’d not know what this one is either) The waterfront area at the end of Pike Place Market may have been having a bad day when I visited but there was quite an assemblage of folks in various stages of detachment from reality. I made the mental note that if I ever returned with my family, I’d deprive them of the great view of the Sound because of the nightmare of human wreckage gathered here. Perhaps this is undecidedly un-Christian of me, but these individuals need help and counseling and rehabilitation and guidance, not free needles and legal drugs all over the place. I am still working about how I feel about the experience an but early rating? Mount Rainier? 10+ Bruno’s? 10+ Seattle? Maybe a 6. And that is only because I endured the hour wait at the first Starbucks ever and got my skinny vanilla iced latte. Yes, Cruz voters enjoy overpriced sissy coffee drinks. Sue me. I would’ve enjoyed the first Starbucks more but for the giant be-dreadlocked dude with his ukulele singing “Making Whoopee” at the top of his lungs just two feet in front of my face. Much love for your bravado and abilities, but back up out of my grill.
Anyway, I will try and post when I can..but it will be light until May.
Stay frosty, friends.
I’ll begin this screed with sincere apologies to those of you who are rabid fans of my musings. It has been a while since my last post. I am sure both of you are disappointed in me. I landed a new “day job” that requires me to travel to the beautiful and slightly off kilter Pacific Northwest for a full month of onboard training. Kind of cool. A long time away from the lovely McRight Clan, but until Ecklebob can afford my YUGE, seven figure salary demands and Van Halen-esque contract riders (all communication devices fully new versions of Apple product, no brown M&M’s in my writing room bowl, daily deliveries of fresh white calla lilies to my hillside estate) I have to work the regular gig.
In any event, I find myself a conservative in a strange land. I must say I have never been in a place of such striking beauty. I took some time last weekend to travel to the top (well, as close to the top as a non snow-shoed east coaster can get) of Mount Rainier. It is hardened evidence that God exists and he has an inspired aesthetic sensibility. The vistas, landscapes and valleys are so beautifully arranged and aligned that mere happenstance could not have set them in such a breathtaking arrangement. If you have the opportunity, take it in. I keep hurling all of these adjectives at you but you really have to be on it to understand. It is fantastic.
Then we made the 90 minute drive to Seattle. Our traveling party made the call to stop at Bruno’s Family Restaurant in Eatonville. 2 for 2.
The Lord’s Hand at work on our planet followed up by chicken fried steak and a 7 ½ pound piece of blackberry pie with vanilla ice cream. I felt like an anaconda that had eaten a goat. No food required for the rest of the day. Bruno’s is a winner.
Then we went to Seattle.
First, let me say Seattle is not without charm. Puget Sound is wonderful and Pike Place Market is full of unique quirkiness. Any place you’d go and the first thing you take in is a salmon flying through the air is worth the price of admission. I’d be willing to bet the touristas who went behind the counter to catch the fish are still washing their hands. And a side bit of advice, if someone sneezes, don’t say “Bless You” and if you do, prepare to be the recipient of a nasty scowl. This is where the populace comes into play and the “weirdness” I mention in our title. Like most big cities, Seattle is a liberal enclave. Wrapped in a far left progressive cloak. Bathed in legal and readily available marijuana smoke. Kind of a dangerous triad. (No, Mr. Trump, we won’t ask about this triad. We are sure you’d not know what this one is either) The waterfront area at the end of Pike Place Market may have been having a bad day when I visited but there was quite an assemblage of folks in various stages of detachment from reality. I made the mental note that if I ever returned with my family, I’d deprive them of the great view of the Sound because of the nightmare of human wreckage gathered here. Perhaps this is undecidedly un-Christian of me, but these individuals need help and counseling and rehabilitation and guidance, not free needles and legal drugs all over the place. I am still working about how I feel about the experience an but early rating? Mount Rainier? 10+ Bruno’s? 10+ Seattle? Maybe a 6. And that is only because I endured the hour wait at the first Starbucks ever and got my skinny vanilla iced latte. Yes, Cruz voters enjoy overpriced sissy coffee drinks. Sue me. I would’ve enjoyed the first Starbucks more but for the giant be-dreadlocked dude with his ukulele singing “Making Whoopee” at the top of his lungs just two feet in front of my face. Much love for your bravado and abilities, but back up out of my grill.
Anyway, I will try and post when I can..but it will be light until May.
Stay frosty, friends.
Saturday, April 2, 2016
Wednesday, March 30, 2016
Trump's Mask Slips...Again
By William McRight
Last night in the CNN GOP Townhall, the Republican front runner was asked a question by an audience member. To paraphrase, the question was, “What are the three most important functions of the federal government?” A slam dunk for any true conservative! Right? Wrong!
Trump’s Newest Dumbest Debate Answer Ever:
This is the CNN Rush Transcript:
QUESTION: In your opinion, what are the top three functions of the United States government?
TRUMP: Well, the greatest function of all by far is security for our nation. I would also say health care, I would also say education. I mean, there are many, many things, but I would say the top three are security, security, security.
Aside from the crystalline stupidity of that statement, he also went along to add in housing. Housing. As in where people live. The government is responsible to give you a house. Wow. I hope you are re-reading that a bunch of times like I did. I heard it live and I could not believe someone who calls himself a “common sense” conservative would say those words in that order. The question obviously surprised Trump and like anything that regards substantive understanding of the Constitution and the role of government in our lives caused him to whiff on it badly. Moreover, it exposes him for what he is: A Democrat. In what world does a man expect to win the Republican nomination by saying the federal government should be responsible for healthcare, education and housing? Mind boggling is an understatement. Even more boggling was a guy in a barbershop quartet shirt who asked Trump to again tell us how rich he is and how starting off with a “small loan” of $1 million dollars from his Daddy meant really tough times. In case you’ve missed the point, Trump is a fraud and is clearly a Democrat Trojan Horse and those of you supporting him are being sold a bill of goods.
Cruz Is Still the Only Choice for Republicans and Conservatives:
Ted Cruz could take a handful of Xanax, debate Donald Trump and still win by sitting there fully asleep. The Senator’s depth, gravitas and situational awareness in this type of environment is refreshing and shows someone particularly worthy of higher office. He addresses policy questions forthrightly, albeit sometime circuitously. A man with his credentials and background might benefit altering his delivery in these situations in a more “bullet point” manner as to opposed to each answer following the full Socratic Method. Aside from that, Senator Cruz still checks all boxes for Conservatives and Republicans easily. He is presidential. He states his position without equivocation, has done what he said and will continue to do so at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Cruz’s answer on what he regrets was masterful. He pointed out some of the more aggressive stances he has taken on issues might have been better addressed more diplomatically. The choice for those of us on the right is clear and easy.
Lyindowski and Governor Walker
L’affair Lewandowski came to a head (conveniently) around the same time that Governor Walker announced his endorsement of Ted Cruz. I’ll submit that all of it from the Trump end was coordinated. As in every other single situation where a palpable momentum shift was occurring in the race, the news cycle was wrested away with an unbelievable series of Trump campaign prevarications, half truths and full outright lies. The news cycle should have been filled with Walker’s announcement, Trump’s relative weakness in Wisconsin and Cruz successfully working the ground game in several states. Instead we are talking about a candidate who is defending his campaign manager, who according to live video, put his hands on a reporter. How about we make a rule that you are the manager of anything don’t put your hands on anyone and then lie about it. Repeatedly. It illustrates the timber of the candidate and his people. It is an ugly situation made uglier by even uglier people.
Kasich- Please Stop.
That loud click you heard around 10 PM was America turning off the Townhall when Kasich came on. I did too. He should beat it.
The Pledge
After the ugliness of the past week in regard to candidate’s wives, Trump’s unchallenged lies about Cruz committing a federal crime and knowingly working with a Super PAC and the endless noise of the emptiness inside Trump’s head, the bindings on the famous “pledge” to support the nominee are starting to fray. I am OK with any and all candidates, past and present, saying this:
“In regard to The Pledge, I will not support a man who has told repeated proven lies, espouses main planks of the Democrat platform, acts like a petulant baby, insults other candidate’s family members, is woefully unqualified for the office of President and is an amazingly boorish jerk. So no, you can take your Pledge, shine it up real nice, turn it sideways and jam it. No thanks.”
Last night in the CNN GOP Townhall, the Republican front runner was asked a question by an audience member. To paraphrase, the question was, “What are the three most important functions of the federal government?” A slam dunk for any true conservative! Right? Wrong!
Trump’s Newest Dumbest Debate Answer Ever:
This is the CNN Rush Transcript:
QUESTION: In your opinion, what are the top three functions of the United States government?
TRUMP: Well, the greatest function of all by far is security for our nation. I would also say health care, I would also say education. I mean, there are many, many things, but I would say the top three are security, security, security.
Aside from the crystalline stupidity of that statement, he also went along to add in housing. Housing. As in where people live. The government is responsible to give you a house. Wow. I hope you are re-reading that a bunch of times like I did. I heard it live and I could not believe someone who calls himself a “common sense” conservative would say those words in that order. The question obviously surprised Trump and like anything that regards substantive understanding of the Constitution and the role of government in our lives caused him to whiff on it badly. Moreover, it exposes him for what he is: A Democrat. In what world does a man expect to win the Republican nomination by saying the federal government should be responsible for healthcare, education and housing? Mind boggling is an understatement. Even more boggling was a guy in a barbershop quartet shirt who asked Trump to again tell us how rich he is and how starting off with a “small loan” of $1 million dollars from his Daddy meant really tough times. In case you’ve missed the point, Trump is a fraud and is clearly a Democrat Trojan Horse and those of you supporting him are being sold a bill of goods.
Cruz Is Still the Only Choice for Republicans and Conservatives:
Ted Cruz could take a handful of Xanax, debate Donald Trump and still win by sitting there fully asleep. The Senator’s depth, gravitas and situational awareness in this type of environment is refreshing and shows someone particularly worthy of higher office. He addresses policy questions forthrightly, albeit sometime circuitously. A man with his credentials and background might benefit altering his delivery in these situations in a more “bullet point” manner as to opposed to each answer following the full Socratic Method. Aside from that, Senator Cruz still checks all boxes for Conservatives and Republicans easily. He is presidential. He states his position without equivocation, has done what he said and will continue to do so at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Cruz’s answer on what he regrets was masterful. He pointed out some of the more aggressive stances he has taken on issues might have been better addressed more diplomatically. The choice for those of us on the right is clear and easy.
Lyindowski and Governor Walker
L’affair Lewandowski came to a head (conveniently) around the same time that Governor Walker announced his endorsement of Ted Cruz. I’ll submit that all of it from the Trump end was coordinated. As in every other single situation where a palpable momentum shift was occurring in the race, the news cycle was wrested away with an unbelievable series of Trump campaign prevarications, half truths and full outright lies. The news cycle should have been filled with Walker’s announcement, Trump’s relative weakness in Wisconsin and Cruz successfully working the ground game in several states. Instead we are talking about a candidate who is defending his campaign manager, who according to live video, put his hands on a reporter. How about we make a rule that you are the manager of anything don’t put your hands on anyone and then lie about it. Repeatedly. It illustrates the timber of the candidate and his people. It is an ugly situation made uglier by even uglier people.
Kasich- Please Stop.
That loud click you heard around 10 PM was America turning off the Townhall when Kasich came on. I did too. He should beat it.
The Pledge
After the ugliness of the past week in regard to candidate’s wives, Trump’s unchallenged lies about Cruz committing a federal crime and knowingly working with a Super PAC and the endless noise of the emptiness inside Trump’s head, the bindings on the famous “pledge” to support the nominee are starting to fray. I am OK with any and all candidates, past and present, saying this:
“In regard to The Pledge, I will not support a man who has told repeated proven lies, espouses main planks of the Democrat platform, acts like a petulant baby, insults other candidate’s family members, is woefully unqualified for the office of President and is an amazingly boorish jerk. So no, you can take your Pledge, shine it up real nice, turn it sideways and jam it. No thanks.”
Sunday, March 27, 2016
Redemption is Ours
By William McRight
It is cool in the garden. A breeze blows through the olive trees and chills the skin. What is to happen settles into Your soul. It is Your and the worlds fulfillment. The form You are in currently is gripped, wrought and shaken with fear of the task before You. The Angel comes to you and fills Your soul with hope. Hope passed from Him. Through You and to all of us. Forever.
As Your fervent prayer intensifies, the first taste of the blood dripping from your brow touches your lips. You know it will be the first of a full tide. You pray for humanity. You pray for strength. You pray for redemption for all of them. The betrayal has come and gone and the soldiers are coming. They are coming to snuff out Your light, message and love. Let them come. Your prayer soars to God and He soothes You. There will be pain. There will be blood. There will be redemption.
Your men draw the sword to defend You. They lash out as men do, in defense of their passion and to protect themselves from the pain of losing You. For You have told them what will transpire over the coming days and hours and they are afraid. They know Your message is above all. They strike a centurion to defend You. You tell them to sheath the sword as You prepare to drink from the cup that Your Father has provided to all of us. The night air in the garden remains cool despite the fact that history has begun to move all around You. The world is about to be changed. Deeds, decisions and actions will happen quickly. As the guards lead you out of the garden Your work and His are in motion. The fear is there about what is to come but it is being transported away by Your destiny and determination to bleed the cleansing blood for all of them.
The High Priests gaze at you with scorn and revulsion. Your mere presence has clouded their minds and hearts and filled them with fear and hatred. You are a force sent from God to teach them and they hate You for it. So the blows begin to come. Fists, sandaled heels and sword pommels strike you from all sides. They will humiliate You. In it You seek out the peace of Your Father’s word and the obligation You now face. The High Priests are cowards. They claim they cannot be responsible for Your death due to the laws Your Father gave them. So they pass the responsibility onto the Prefect. The Prefect finds no fault with You. His men and the Sanhedrin and the people mock and spit at and defile You. The Prefect does not yearn for your death. He pities the High Priests and their weakness. The spectators at Your “trial” are consumed by fear of Your message. They howl for your death. They are offered murderers and scoundrels in your stead. It is no matter. Your task is now clear. You will redeem them.
The true pain begins. The sands of the courtyard are burning beneath your hands and knees. You pray that the heat from the sands seal you to stem the flow of blood. The blows are endless, penetrating and fierce. The spikes of the metal flagrum tear into Your skin as You are driven to the earth to bear your stripes. You hear, feel and see bones break, but never Your spirit. You are the price that must be paid. In a momentary pause in the scourging You look to Your flesh and realize this this was always to be. The blood that flows is cleansing the world. Your Father so loved the world that he gave You to die and rise again to cleanse the world and redeem all of us. Your body is broken, so broken.. but Your heart is full and You are willing to be a party to this travesty. You and He and the Spirit are one and are the New Covenant. The beating ends and Your journey continues.
The wood for Your cross is heavy and jagged. It is rough, painful and unyielding. After the terrible tortuous beating You have received, the indignity of hauling this wood to the site of your crucifixion is merciless and cruel beyond words. You endure it. The mocking and scorn continues on the Via Dolorosa. They shun You. However, You catch glimpses from the crowd and the priests and the Centurions who know. They know You are who You proclaim to be. Despite the agony of your task, You beg Your Father to forgive them, for they know not what they do. As the nails splinter bones in Your wrists and ankles, You cry out loudly, not in pain but in defiance, so that the people can question their souls and understand the impact of this sacrifice. You are beaten and broken. For them. For us.
The seconds pass as hours as you hang upon a cross covered in Your blood. Blood poured out for the sake of all humanity. Your mind wanders to what is to be. You continue to dialogue and be at one with Your Father. As the humanity drains from You, You cannot help but wonder why have You been forsaken? It is what must have been done for one being to bear and atone for all the sins of humanity. Your heart melts within You as You leave the earthly confines of a human form. The people lift You up in prayer and drown in their anguish as You breathe Your last and proclaim, “It is finished.” The Earth shook. The Veil in the Temple was torn in two. The Centurion cried “Truly this Man was the Son of God.”
Your work for all of us was done. The Scripture is fulfilled.
The Tomb is quiet. You have remained at Your Fathers side through all of this but it is now time to return to Your people and help them understand what Your suffering has purchased. They are at first blind to you and full of doubt but are quickly convinced of Your Glory. Your promise to live, die and rise again is fulfilled and continues to provide all of us with an opportunity to know You and live in the eternal promise of Your word.
All that pain. All that torture. All that suffering. Endured. For us. So that we may live in You forever.
Thank You.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Happy Easter.
It is cool in the garden. A breeze blows through the olive trees and chills the skin. What is to happen settles into Your soul. It is Your and the worlds fulfillment. The form You are in currently is gripped, wrought and shaken with fear of the task before You. The Angel comes to you and fills Your soul with hope. Hope passed from Him. Through You and to all of us. Forever.
As Your fervent prayer intensifies, the first taste of the blood dripping from your brow touches your lips. You know it will be the first of a full tide. You pray for humanity. You pray for strength. You pray for redemption for all of them. The betrayal has come and gone and the soldiers are coming. They are coming to snuff out Your light, message and love. Let them come. Your prayer soars to God and He soothes You. There will be pain. There will be blood. There will be redemption.
Your men draw the sword to defend You. They lash out as men do, in defense of their passion and to protect themselves from the pain of losing You. For You have told them what will transpire over the coming days and hours and they are afraid. They know Your message is above all. They strike a centurion to defend You. You tell them to sheath the sword as You prepare to drink from the cup that Your Father has provided to all of us. The night air in the garden remains cool despite the fact that history has begun to move all around You. The world is about to be changed. Deeds, decisions and actions will happen quickly. As the guards lead you out of the garden Your work and His are in motion. The fear is there about what is to come but it is being transported away by Your destiny and determination to bleed the cleansing blood for all of them.
The High Priests gaze at you with scorn and revulsion. Your mere presence has clouded their minds and hearts and filled them with fear and hatred. You are a force sent from God to teach them and they hate You for it. So the blows begin to come. Fists, sandaled heels and sword pommels strike you from all sides. They will humiliate You. In it You seek out the peace of Your Father’s word and the obligation You now face. The High Priests are cowards. They claim they cannot be responsible for Your death due to the laws Your Father gave them. So they pass the responsibility onto the Prefect. The Prefect finds no fault with You. His men and the Sanhedrin and the people mock and spit at and defile You. The Prefect does not yearn for your death. He pities the High Priests and their weakness. The spectators at Your “trial” are consumed by fear of Your message. They howl for your death. They are offered murderers and scoundrels in your stead. It is no matter. Your task is now clear. You will redeem them.
The true pain begins. The sands of the courtyard are burning beneath your hands and knees. You pray that the heat from the sands seal you to stem the flow of blood. The blows are endless, penetrating and fierce. The spikes of the metal flagrum tear into Your skin as You are driven to the earth to bear your stripes. You hear, feel and see bones break, but never Your spirit. You are the price that must be paid. In a momentary pause in the scourging You look to Your flesh and realize this this was always to be. The blood that flows is cleansing the world. Your Father so loved the world that he gave You to die and rise again to cleanse the world and redeem all of us. Your body is broken, so broken.. but Your heart is full and You are willing to be a party to this travesty. You and He and the Spirit are one and are the New Covenant. The beating ends and Your journey continues.
The wood for Your cross is heavy and jagged. It is rough, painful and unyielding. After the terrible tortuous beating You have received, the indignity of hauling this wood to the site of your crucifixion is merciless and cruel beyond words. You endure it. The mocking and scorn continues on the Via Dolorosa. They shun You. However, You catch glimpses from the crowd and the priests and the Centurions who know. They know You are who You proclaim to be. Despite the agony of your task, You beg Your Father to forgive them, for they know not what they do. As the nails splinter bones in Your wrists and ankles, You cry out loudly, not in pain but in defiance, so that the people can question their souls and understand the impact of this sacrifice. You are beaten and broken. For them. For us.
The seconds pass as hours as you hang upon a cross covered in Your blood. Blood poured out for the sake of all humanity. Your mind wanders to what is to be. You continue to dialogue and be at one with Your Father. As the humanity drains from You, You cannot help but wonder why have You been forsaken? It is what must have been done for one being to bear and atone for all the sins of humanity. Your heart melts within You as You leave the earthly confines of a human form. The people lift You up in prayer and drown in their anguish as You breathe Your last and proclaim, “It is finished.” The Earth shook. The Veil in the Temple was torn in two. The Centurion cried “Truly this Man was the Son of God.”
Your work for all of us was done. The Scripture is fulfilled.
The Tomb is quiet. You have remained at Your Fathers side through all of this but it is now time to return to Your people and help them understand what Your suffering has purchased. They are at first blind to you and full of doubt but are quickly convinced of Your Glory. Your promise to live, die and rise again is fulfilled and continues to provide all of us with an opportunity to know You and live in the eternal promise of Your word.
All that pain. All that torture. All that suffering. Endured. For us. So that we may live in You forever.
Thank You.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Happy Easter.
Monday, March 21, 2016
#Election2016 - We’re Supposed to Believe
By William McRight
We’re supposed to believe that a man who has spent his life funding the Democrat party is now a Republican.
We’re supposed to believe that a man whose campaign manager assaults people on video and tells his campaign to lie about it, repeatedly, is anything but an awful person
We’re supposed to believe that a real estate developer with no legal or public service background has any working knowledge of the Constitution or governmental operations.
We’re supposed to believe that the same real estate developer who cites himself as an expert on foreign policy because of his good brain and propensity to say things.
We’re supposed to believe that a man who cannot mention an inspiring passage from the Bible, despite his knowledge of both Corinthians because it is too personal, is a practicing Christian.
We’re supposed to believe that a man who has been openly boastful about his extramarital dalliances and conquests is conservative OR Christian.
We are supposed to believe a man who wants to save “the good parts” of Planned Parenthood is in any ay conservative OR Republican.
We’re supposed to believe a man who clearly had or has no knowledge or understanding of the nuclear triad is worthy of our trust and consideration as Commander in Chief.
We’re supposed to believe that a man who lies and contradicts himself on two different networks in the same 30-minute stretch is trustworthy to govern in a manner befitting a leader.
We’re supposed to believe a man who suggests that his opponents are pathological, child molesters or liars is fit to hold office and represent our national interests.
We’re supposed to believe a man is a “common sense conservative” who when questioned and cornered on his positions retreats to the liberal position. Every single time.
We’re supposed to believe a man who cannot mention, convey or retell a story about his conversion to Republicanism or conservatism because he “tells it like it is.”
We’re supposed to believe media outlets whose “reporters” selectively omit negative information on a “front running” candidate while intentionally ignoring other candidates and their positions.
We’re supposed to believe that a candidate who has won exactly one state is still involved in a race for any other than selfish or nefarious reasons.
We’re supposed to believe celebrities or public officials who tell us our resistance to a candidate is meaningless and we should simply “fall in line.”
We’re supposed to believe that a candidate who has fought for the American people his whole career is on the “side of the protesters” when he says an opposing candidate is responsible for his and his campaign’s rhetoric.
We’re supposed to believe that a man who is too afraid to face another candidate in a one on one debate is worthy of consideration for the highest office in the land.
We’re supposed to believe that a candidate who conducts personal attacks, not to a detractors face, but via a petulant and incorrectly spelled Tweet storm is anything other than a national embarrassment.
We’re supposed to believe that despite all of what we see, hear and observe about a candidate that he will do a complete 180 degree turn and govern as a conservative.
We’re supposed to believe a candidate who will have to testify in a fraud case brought against him is not an amazingly vulnerable and flawed candidate.
We’re supposed to believe that a candidate “telling it like it is” is the most important trait in selecting a leader of our nation.
We’re supposed to believe public officials who have received tens of thousands of dollars in donations to their campaigns, charities and churches are in no way biased in terms of their endorsements of the donating candidate.
We’re supposed to believe that a media complicit in the rise of an unqualified and ill prepared candidate will not be complicit in tearing him to shreds in the general election.
We’re supposed to believe the conservative media stalwarts who fought against liberalism for decades are now willfully suspending disbelief for any other reason but profit and personal gain.
We’re supposed to believe our nation can, after the last seven years, survive the rise of an unqualified authoritarian populist who in no way espouses the core principles of the party he may represent.
I don’t believe a single word of it. Any of it. We are being conned.
Oh, and this. The Definitive Roundup of Trump’s Scandals and Business Failures
There is still time to stop this disaster and choose a reliable Constitutional conservative.
Arizona and Utah, please, for the sake of our Republic, choose wisely.
We’re supposed to believe that a man who has spent his life funding the Democrat party is now a Republican.
We’re supposed to believe that a man whose campaign manager assaults people on video and tells his campaign to lie about it, repeatedly, is anything but an awful person
We’re supposed to believe that a real estate developer with no legal or public service background has any working knowledge of the Constitution or governmental operations.
We’re supposed to believe that the same real estate developer who cites himself as an expert on foreign policy because of his good brain and propensity to say things.
We’re supposed to believe that a man who cannot mention an inspiring passage from the Bible, despite his knowledge of both Corinthians because it is too personal, is a practicing Christian.
We’re supposed to believe that a man who has been openly boastful about his extramarital dalliances and conquests is conservative OR Christian.
We are supposed to believe a man who wants to save “the good parts” of Planned Parenthood is in any ay conservative OR Republican.
We’re supposed to believe a man who clearly had or has no knowledge or understanding of the nuclear triad is worthy of our trust and consideration as Commander in Chief.
We’re supposed to believe that a man who lies and contradicts himself on two different networks in the same 30-minute stretch is trustworthy to govern in a manner befitting a leader.
We’re supposed to believe a man who suggests that his opponents are pathological, child molesters or liars is fit to hold office and represent our national interests.
We’re supposed to believe a man is a “common sense conservative” who when questioned and cornered on his positions retreats to the liberal position. Every single time.
We’re supposed to believe a man who cannot mention, convey or retell a story about his conversion to Republicanism or conservatism because he “tells it like it is.”
We’re supposed to believe media outlets whose “reporters” selectively omit negative information on a “front running” candidate while intentionally ignoring other candidates and their positions.
We’re supposed to believe that a candidate who has won exactly one state is still involved in a race for any other than selfish or nefarious reasons.
We’re supposed to believe celebrities or public officials who tell us our resistance to a candidate is meaningless and we should simply “fall in line.”
We’re supposed to believe that a candidate who has fought for the American people his whole career is on the “side of the protesters” when he says an opposing candidate is responsible for his and his campaign’s rhetoric.
We’re supposed to believe that a man who is too afraid to face another candidate in a one on one debate is worthy of consideration for the highest office in the land.
We’re supposed to believe that a candidate who conducts personal attacks, not to a detractors face, but via a petulant and incorrectly spelled Tweet storm is anything other than a national embarrassment.
We’re supposed to believe that despite all of what we see, hear and observe about a candidate that he will do a complete 180 degree turn and govern as a conservative.
We’re supposed to believe a candidate who will have to testify in a fraud case brought against him is not an amazingly vulnerable and flawed candidate.
We’re supposed to believe that a candidate “telling it like it is” is the most important trait in selecting a leader of our nation.
We’re supposed to believe public officials who have received tens of thousands of dollars in donations to their campaigns, charities and churches are in no way biased in terms of their endorsements of the donating candidate.
We’re supposed to believe that a media complicit in the rise of an unqualified and ill prepared candidate will not be complicit in tearing him to shreds in the general election.
We’re supposed to believe the conservative media stalwarts who fought against liberalism for decades are now willfully suspending disbelief for any other reason but profit and personal gain.
We’re supposed to believe our nation can, after the last seven years, survive the rise of an unqualified authoritarian populist who in no way espouses the core principles of the party he may represent.
I don’t believe a single word of it. Any of it. We are being conned.
Oh, and this. The Definitive Roundup of Trump’s Scandals and Business Failures
There is still time to stop this disaster and choose a reliable Constitutional conservative.
Arizona and Utah, please, for the sake of our Republic, choose wisely.
Friday, March 18, 2016
The Conservative Betrayal
By William McRight
In thinking tactically, I think it now seems clear why so many of our supposed conservative “heroes” have openly doing nothing to slow the nomination of Donald Trump. For decades so many of these people have been the voice of reason of our radios and television. Limbaugh, (Rush-not David. David seems to have not lost his mind) Hannity, Coulter, Fox News, Jeff Sessions, O’Reilly, Ingraham, Ben Carson, Sarah Palin, apostate mega church pastors have all made a decision to abandon anchoring, conservative principles in some sort of a wave of “voter anger.” The group as a whole ought to be reminded that being angry does not give you a free pass to be stupid and make irrational choices. In considering this it may be much more of a calculation than an endorsement. These villains have chosen their 30 pieces of silver in lieu of doing what they know if their heart is right for our government and our country.
All of the above mentioned made a great deal of their hay quixotically tilting against the Clinton Windmill. One might posit that they view the next Clinton Administration as a revenue stream of ratings, books and speaking fees easily claimed by enabling an oafish “Republican” opponent that they are quite sure will get steamrolled in the general. It will allow them to continue talking about the things that make all of us feel part of something bigger – in a word, conservatism, and how it is the only way government should be run. A Hillary Clinton administration will allow them to keep doing what they have been doing - cashing checks. They will wave their papers and slam their desks in faux outrage about the Clinton machine while not realizing their enabling behavior of a terrible Republican candidate will have been the major factor in electing her.
Let’s remind ourselves that we are doing in this election what we have done over and over again. We are positioning and supporting in the case of Trump, at best, an extremely liberal Republican. (Although it is highly doubtful he is more than a barely moderate Progressive) To remind everyone, that gets us a mouth full of kicked in teeth in the general election. Ask Presidents Romney, McCain and Dole. Republicans have as a very viable option the most conservative candidate in a generation, Ted Cruz, and the GOP and the media is doing everything in their power to limit his chances of winning. Billions of free air time for an unqualified ill prepared Donald Trump. Party leadership disparages, disavows and demeans Cruz at every opportunity. And now we are left with a candidate in John Kasich that no one wants or votes for (thanks Ohio) to further split votes and stick us with a Democrat as our nominee or our next President. If Trump and Hillary are the nominees we get a Democrat either way.
To the original point, all of the individuals mentioned had and still have a choice. Mathematically and otherwise the only Republican who can beat Trump on the numbers is Ted Cruz. The great fear is these individuals will consider self over principle and continue giving Trump the oxygen and air of legitimacy that his candidacy so desperately needs. They will continue their willful suspension of disbelief that Trump will govern as a constitutional conservative.
Millions of us have watched Trump lie over and over again. We have listened to him contradict himself in the matter of minutes on two different networks. We have listened to him say that on foreign policy, he is consulting with himself because he has a good brain and says a lot of things. He has committed hundreds of missteps, half truths and outright lies captured on film and the aforementioned “conservatives” continue to lend him an air of legitimacy that he does not deserve and has not earned. He is a master manipulator who will get to the office of President and clearly have no idea of what to do or how to do it. When that happens the “conservatives” who gave him oxygen, legitimacy and credibility will have an awful lot to answer for.
For me in the voting booth, I will never, ever, in no way support for or vote for Trump, regardless of who tells me he is “one of us.” He is not. He never has been and never will be. I will no longer hold my nose because Rush and Sean tell me it is OK. I will vote principle and conservatism.
I will vote for Ted Cruz.
In thinking tactically, I think it now seems clear why so many of our supposed conservative “heroes” have openly doing nothing to slow the nomination of Donald Trump. For decades so many of these people have been the voice of reason of our radios and television. Limbaugh, (Rush-not David. David seems to have not lost his mind) Hannity, Coulter, Fox News, Jeff Sessions, O’Reilly, Ingraham, Ben Carson, Sarah Palin, apostate mega church pastors have all made a decision to abandon anchoring, conservative principles in some sort of a wave of “voter anger.” The group as a whole ought to be reminded that being angry does not give you a free pass to be stupid and make irrational choices. In considering this it may be much more of a calculation than an endorsement. These villains have chosen their 30 pieces of silver in lieu of doing what they know if their heart is right for our government and our country.
All of the above mentioned made a great deal of their hay quixotically tilting against the Clinton Windmill. One might posit that they view the next Clinton Administration as a revenue stream of ratings, books and speaking fees easily claimed by enabling an oafish “Republican” opponent that they are quite sure will get steamrolled in the general. It will allow them to continue talking about the things that make all of us feel part of something bigger – in a word, conservatism, and how it is the only way government should be run. A Hillary Clinton administration will allow them to keep doing what they have been doing - cashing checks. They will wave their papers and slam their desks in faux outrage about the Clinton machine while not realizing their enabling behavior of a terrible Republican candidate will have been the major factor in electing her.
Let’s remind ourselves that we are doing in this election what we have done over and over again. We are positioning and supporting in the case of Trump, at best, an extremely liberal Republican. (Although it is highly doubtful he is more than a barely moderate Progressive) To remind everyone, that gets us a mouth full of kicked in teeth in the general election. Ask Presidents Romney, McCain and Dole. Republicans have as a very viable option the most conservative candidate in a generation, Ted Cruz, and the GOP and the media is doing everything in their power to limit his chances of winning. Billions of free air time for an unqualified ill prepared Donald Trump. Party leadership disparages, disavows and demeans Cruz at every opportunity. And now we are left with a candidate in John Kasich that no one wants or votes for (thanks Ohio) to further split votes and stick us with a Democrat as our nominee or our next President. If Trump and Hillary are the nominees we get a Democrat either way.
To the original point, all of the individuals mentioned had and still have a choice. Mathematically and otherwise the only Republican who can beat Trump on the numbers is Ted Cruz. The great fear is these individuals will consider self over principle and continue giving Trump the oxygen and air of legitimacy that his candidacy so desperately needs. They will continue their willful suspension of disbelief that Trump will govern as a constitutional conservative.
Millions of us have watched Trump lie over and over again. We have listened to him contradict himself in the matter of minutes on two different networks. We have listened to him say that on foreign policy, he is consulting with himself because he has a good brain and says a lot of things. He has committed hundreds of missteps, half truths and outright lies captured on film and the aforementioned “conservatives” continue to lend him an air of legitimacy that he does not deserve and has not earned. He is a master manipulator who will get to the office of President and clearly have no idea of what to do or how to do it. When that happens the “conservatives” who gave him oxygen, legitimacy and credibility will have an awful lot to answer for.
For me in the voting booth, I will never, ever, in no way support for or vote for Trump, regardless of who tells me he is “one of us.” He is not. He never has been and never will be. I will no longer hold my nose because Rush and Sean tell me it is OK. I will vote principle and conservatism.
I will vote for Ted Cruz.
Saturday, March 12, 2016
#Election2016 - More Evidence Against Trump
By William McRight
The window in time opened last night. Our lowest common denominators converged in Illinois and allowed us to take a speedy trip back to 1968. No thanks. We cannot do this.
Donald Trump has not been elected to anything. He does not represent anyone or anything other than his own interests at this point. However, his rhetoric and sheer presence is managing to foment violence, insurrection and discord. His campaign team and supporters are now physically assaulting people. I am no fan of the Left or Black Lives Matter. But they have every right to assemble and voice their concerns. Conversely, Trump and his group have every right to peaceably assemble, listen to and fawn over whatever stupid bilge dumps out of his mouth. As Oliver Wendell Holmes said, each groups liberty and right to swing their fist ends at the other person’s nose.
This article, however, is not about that. It is how Donald Trump dealt with all of it. He managed to find a way to every cable channel and bloviate how wise he was to cancel his event. No appealing to our better selves. He boasted about how his decision to fold up like a Chinese made suit would offer more political benefit than standing up for his and his acolytes rights to assemble and speak. No ability to discuss how we should all talk this all out, be civil and understand each other without physical mayhem. Not a sentence of what he said via the media was Presidential. It was about him, his decision and how smart he was to make it. This, dear reader, is simply known as corroborating evidence. It is evidence of how he will lead. It is evidence of how he will govern. It is evidence of how in the face of pressure and protest he did not rise to the occasion to challenge the protesters to be civil and discuss their viewpoints. He postponed the event. Trump has had ample opportunity to change the tone of his campaign. Has he? No. He boasts he will pay legal fees of people who attack the protesters. He tells his supporters he ‘d like to punch a protester in the face. His campaign manager goon arms a reporter and despite video evidence of the incident they still brand her a liar. Words and actions of a leader and a “man for our time” matter.
I’ve watched Ted Cruz civilly debate Medea Benjamin’s Code Pink idiots with out a hand being raised. I’ve watched him disassemble Ellen Page’s misplaced angst while grilling pork chops for Pete’s sake. I’ve watched him turned climate change ninnies into shivering, defenseless goo. We need a President, who in times of crisis, appeals to what has always made America great. We do not need a strongman with a media packed contact list who is given oxygen to tell us how brilliant he is. We need leadership, skill and a calming presence during our darkest hours.
We do not have time or the societal leeway to trifle about with Mr. Trump’s political malfeasance. Despite what Ben Carson and Chris Christie have told you, their man is uniquely unqualified and unprepared to lead this nation. The weight and heft of the 30 pieces of silver you get for abdicating any principles you ever had must be quite satisfying.
I make that case HERE.
We can be sure that we have not seen the last of this. The Agitated Anarchist Left is like a shark. They smell one drop of blood in the water and they will pour in from miles around to tear at the carcass. Trump gave them that drop by folding last night. If he is elected President, it will be his job to stand for all of our rights. Not just those of his supporters.
Tuesday will be a very important day in our future.
Choose wisely.
The window in time opened last night. Our lowest common denominators converged in Illinois and allowed us to take a speedy trip back to 1968. No thanks. We cannot do this.
Donald Trump has not been elected to anything. He does not represent anyone or anything other than his own interests at this point. However, his rhetoric and sheer presence is managing to foment violence, insurrection and discord. His campaign team and supporters are now physically assaulting people. I am no fan of the Left or Black Lives Matter. But they have every right to assemble and voice their concerns. Conversely, Trump and his group have every right to peaceably assemble, listen to and fawn over whatever stupid bilge dumps out of his mouth. As Oliver Wendell Holmes said, each groups liberty and right to swing their fist ends at the other person’s nose.
This article, however, is not about that. It is how Donald Trump dealt with all of it. He managed to find a way to every cable channel and bloviate how wise he was to cancel his event. No appealing to our better selves. He boasted about how his decision to fold up like a Chinese made suit would offer more political benefit than standing up for his and his acolytes rights to assemble and speak. No ability to discuss how we should all talk this all out, be civil and understand each other without physical mayhem. Not a sentence of what he said via the media was Presidential. It was about him, his decision and how smart he was to make it. This, dear reader, is simply known as corroborating evidence. It is evidence of how he will lead. It is evidence of how he will govern. It is evidence of how in the face of pressure and protest he did not rise to the occasion to challenge the protesters to be civil and discuss their viewpoints. He postponed the event. Trump has had ample opportunity to change the tone of his campaign. Has he? No. He boasts he will pay legal fees of people who attack the protesters. He tells his supporters he ‘d like to punch a protester in the face. His campaign manager goon arms a reporter and despite video evidence of the incident they still brand her a liar. Words and actions of a leader and a “man for our time” matter.
I’ve watched Ted Cruz civilly debate Medea Benjamin’s Code Pink idiots with out a hand being raised. I’ve watched him disassemble Ellen Page’s misplaced angst while grilling pork chops for Pete’s sake. I’ve watched him turned climate change ninnies into shivering, defenseless goo. We need a President, who in times of crisis, appeals to what has always made America great. We do not need a strongman with a media packed contact list who is given oxygen to tell us how brilliant he is. We need leadership, skill and a calming presence during our darkest hours.
We do not have time or the societal leeway to trifle about with Mr. Trump’s political malfeasance. Despite what Ben Carson and Chris Christie have told you, their man is uniquely unqualified and unprepared to lead this nation. The weight and heft of the 30 pieces of silver you get for abdicating any principles you ever had must be quite satisfying.
I make that case HERE.
We can be sure that we have not seen the last of this. The Agitated Anarchist Left is like a shark. They smell one drop of blood in the water and they will pour in from miles around to tear at the carcass. Trump gave them that drop by folding last night. If he is elected President, it will be his job to stand for all of our rights. Not just those of his supporters.
Tuesday will be a very important day in our future.
Choose wisely.
Friday, March 11, 2016
#Election2016 - The Game Is Afoot
By William McRight
After last night’s resoundingly stark and consistently civil debate the wheels, gears and whirligigs in our Grand Old Political Machine have begun to turn. There is either a wafting, pleasing aroma of change in the air or a fetid stench of a dumpster fire that got the hoses turned on it a tad too late.
The twelfth debate began with our heroes taking the stage in Senator Rubio’s subtropical home turf. The verbal rallies were surprisingly pleasant focused on policy and substance and dutifully avoiding any of the candidate’s pigmentation and/ or appendages and accoutrement. As usual, Los Hermanos Cubanos were starkly contrasted against America’s Favorite Mogul. Their policy assertions were steadfast and consistent, clearly stated and true to conservatism. Mr. Trump however continued to adhere to his baffling insistence that “deals” and just a few more smart people, and he knows many, believe me and a ton more government can be the cure to any problem or challenge we face. Additionally, our great nation was reminded that all one must do to be considered a Master of Foreign Policy is somehow be named a Grand Marshall of a Parade. Many of us in the Commenting Class lament how so much of the electorate can consider this man an expert on anything except endless self promotion. It is the Bamboozling OF All Time. The GOP stands at the precipice of offering a Democrat as it’s nominee. The other Democrat on the stage, John Kasich continued his syrupy chop slapping of inclusiveness and somehow being “above it all” while somehow being in the middle of a bunch of the big government initiatives that give us all a big headache. Four words for the Governor: Are you still here?
The Post Debate After Glow gave us the Ben Carson endorsement. His endorsement was a mystifying combination of praise and adulation of Trump as “cerebral” and “a deep thinker.” Funny how those three words never came up regarding Trump before. Ever. Hopefully the pieces of silver were really big ones and included the elusive Mar-A-Lago lifetime membership. Apparently a “good Christian” can forgive being called a psychopath and a child molester but cannot see past someone discussing a major news agency report. The political careers that are getting sideswiped by the Trump Train are remarkable. It will be a stain that will be hard to scrub off.
Calculations and speculation also began to solidify about a final stand against the Trump effort. Senator Cruz and his PACs seemingly moved out of efforts in Florida and Ohio nearly simultaneously while moving focus over the weekend to Illinois, Missouri and North Carolina. Rubio himself gently nudged his Ohio supporters to support Kasich. It sounds as if the campaigns have aligned to stop The Great Bamboozling. I, for one, am on board. For us political addicts it will be great fun to watch until we can see the disaster up ahead. Lord willing, we can still stand on the brakes and save our Republic from both of the Democrat frontrunners hell bent on destroying us.
After last night’s resoundingly stark and consistently civil debate the wheels, gears and whirligigs in our Grand Old Political Machine have begun to turn. There is either a wafting, pleasing aroma of change in the air or a fetid stench of a dumpster fire that got the hoses turned on it a tad too late.
The twelfth debate began with our heroes taking the stage in Senator Rubio’s subtropical home turf. The verbal rallies were surprisingly pleasant focused on policy and substance and dutifully avoiding any of the candidate’s pigmentation and/ or appendages and accoutrement. As usual, Los Hermanos Cubanos were starkly contrasted against America’s Favorite Mogul. Their policy assertions were steadfast and consistent, clearly stated and true to conservatism. Mr. Trump however continued to adhere to his baffling insistence that “deals” and just a few more smart people, and he knows many, believe me and a ton more government can be the cure to any problem or challenge we face. Additionally, our great nation was reminded that all one must do to be considered a Master of Foreign Policy is somehow be named a Grand Marshall of a Parade. Many of us in the Commenting Class lament how so much of the electorate can consider this man an expert on anything except endless self promotion. It is the Bamboozling OF All Time. The GOP stands at the precipice of offering a Democrat as it’s nominee. The other Democrat on the stage, John Kasich continued his syrupy chop slapping of inclusiveness and somehow being “above it all” while somehow being in the middle of a bunch of the big government initiatives that give us all a big headache. Four words for the Governor: Are you still here?
The Post Debate After Glow gave us the Ben Carson endorsement. His endorsement was a mystifying combination of praise and adulation of Trump as “cerebral” and “a deep thinker.” Funny how those three words never came up regarding Trump before. Ever. Hopefully the pieces of silver were really big ones and included the elusive Mar-A-Lago lifetime membership. Apparently a “good Christian” can forgive being called a psychopath and a child molester but cannot see past someone discussing a major news agency report. The political careers that are getting sideswiped by the Trump Train are remarkable. It will be a stain that will be hard to scrub off.
Calculations and speculation also began to solidify about a final stand against the Trump effort. Senator Cruz and his PACs seemingly moved out of efforts in Florida and Ohio nearly simultaneously while moving focus over the weekend to Illinois, Missouri and North Carolina. Rubio himself gently nudged his Ohio supporters to support Kasich. It sounds as if the campaigns have aligned to stop The Great Bamboozling. I, for one, am on board. For us political addicts it will be great fun to watch until we can see the disaster up ahead. Lord willing, we can still stand on the brakes and save our Republic from both of the Democrat frontrunners hell bent on destroying us.
Wednesday, March 9, 2016
#Election2016 - Way to Go, GOP
By William McRight
What a place we find ourselves in. The party of limited government, personal responsibility, lower taxes and strong national defense now faces the prospect of nominating someone who diametrically opposed them, on principle and financially, for decades. In shorter terms, a Democrat. Staggering.
Can it truly be the case that the COP is willing to self immolate because they are scared of a conservative who will follow the aforementioned principles and do what he says he will do? No, they’d rather saddle us with a guy with lower favorability ratings than the Socialist and Candidate Under FBI investigation for federal crimes. I cannot bear the thought of every visitor to the White House being handed a bottle of Trump water and a stupid red hat. We are far, far better than this.
Is the GOP not allowed to stand for something? Here is an idea. If a Democrat shows up at the front door asking to be let in to be our nominee, how about we “Just Say No?” Can a party engage in any type of vetting or qualification process? I am sure all of you will enjoy your new free Trump National Golf Club memberships while the man who might be the nominee drives the nation into a wall at 100mph.
Funny how in nearly all the places where primaries/caucuses are limited to Republicans, Ted Cruz usually wins. Strange, that. As clearly stated here before, open primaries are dumb. Additionally, get rid of the early voting. It is a citizen’s responsibility to get up early or go after work to exercise their right to vote. Stop inflicting wounds on yourself by creating opportunities for shenanigans.
Beyond the registration and party identity shenanigans, you are allowing two candidates with zero mathematical chance to continue on in an election where the only hope is to create additional chaos and strife. For Pete’s sake, your own Golden Child got exactly the same amount of delegates on March 8th that I did. In what realm does that create any kind of “Mentum,” Marco or otherwise.
For the good of us all, can SOMEONE in your miserable organization or either one of the Zombie campaigns stand up and lead? No…let’s all just stand around hand wringing and hastag Never this and Never thatting. Perfect strategy.
It seems increasingly clear that the “Establishment” is referring to a more moderate strain of Republican. Even Williard Romney weighed in on matters for exactly zero benefit to anyone and probably to the detriment of both of the Zombie campaigns. However, the man who spent approximately half of my mortgage payment in Michigan managed to take second place. In a blue state. Where Democrats jumped over to vote for your “front runner.” The candidates who finished third and fourth spent millions, canvassed the state and filled TVs with non-stop ads. And they got thumped.
You, GOP, never take a breath when citing the amazing wonderfulness of Reagan. You have a candidate in front of you that is as good or better than Reagan on all of your purported platform planks and even better on immigration. So what, exactly, is the problem? Are you so busy crafting the stupid big tent that you ignore the other side of it that is in tatters and starting to smoke?
Rest assured, GOP if you do this ten of millions of us will stay home. We will leave and defund your stupid party and we will start something better that will relegate you to the dustbin of history where you belong. If your party nominates Donald Trump, I will write in Ted Cruz with pride and leave your party forever as will millions of others. You’d better wake up and quick. Do something to prevent this. In case you hadn’t noticed, we are hanging by a thread.
In the interest of helping you make this simple, I will give you mouth breathers a To-Do List:
- Tell Marco and Kasich to get out. They are screwing things up for the rest of us.
- Abolish Open Primaries. They are almost as stupid as you’ve allowed this cycle to become.
- Abolish early voting. It is also stupid and does not factor in real time developments and changes in news cycles and candidate perception.
- Develop a vetting process so your party does not present your members with the choice of a life long Democrat as the nominee without a reasonable explanation on their conversion that makes sense and does not reference polls, walls or the words millions or billions.
- Come to your senses regarding Ted Cruz. He is clearly the only option if you do not want Trump.
- Sack up for once and do something that requires some fortitude and leadership.
Choose wisely you fools. Your country depends on it.
What a place we find ourselves in. The party of limited government, personal responsibility, lower taxes and strong national defense now faces the prospect of nominating someone who diametrically opposed them, on principle and financially, for decades. In shorter terms, a Democrat. Staggering.
Can it truly be the case that the COP is willing to self immolate because they are scared of a conservative who will follow the aforementioned principles and do what he says he will do? No, they’d rather saddle us with a guy with lower favorability ratings than the Socialist and Candidate Under FBI investigation for federal crimes. I cannot bear the thought of every visitor to the White House being handed a bottle of Trump water and a stupid red hat. We are far, far better than this.
Is the GOP not allowed to stand for something? Here is an idea. If a Democrat shows up at the front door asking to be let in to be our nominee, how about we “Just Say No?” Can a party engage in any type of vetting or qualification process? I am sure all of you will enjoy your new free Trump National Golf Club memberships while the man who might be the nominee drives the nation into a wall at 100mph.
Funny how in nearly all the places where primaries/caucuses are limited to Republicans, Ted Cruz usually wins. Strange, that. As clearly stated here before, open primaries are dumb. Additionally, get rid of the early voting. It is a citizen’s responsibility to get up early or go after work to exercise their right to vote. Stop inflicting wounds on yourself by creating opportunities for shenanigans.
Beyond the registration and party identity shenanigans, you are allowing two candidates with zero mathematical chance to continue on in an election where the only hope is to create additional chaos and strife. For Pete’s sake, your own Golden Child got exactly the same amount of delegates on March 8th that I did. In what realm does that create any kind of “Mentum,” Marco or otherwise.
For the good of us all, can SOMEONE in your miserable organization or either one of the Zombie campaigns stand up and lead? No…let’s all just stand around hand wringing and hastag Never this and Never thatting. Perfect strategy.
It seems increasingly clear that the “Establishment” is referring to a more moderate strain of Republican. Even Williard Romney weighed in on matters for exactly zero benefit to anyone and probably to the detriment of both of the Zombie campaigns. However, the man who spent approximately half of my mortgage payment in Michigan managed to take second place. In a blue state. Where Democrats jumped over to vote for your “front runner.” The candidates who finished third and fourth spent millions, canvassed the state and filled TVs with non-stop ads. And they got thumped.
You, GOP, never take a breath when citing the amazing wonderfulness of Reagan. You have a candidate in front of you that is as good or better than Reagan on all of your purported platform planks and even better on immigration. So what, exactly, is the problem? Are you so busy crafting the stupid big tent that you ignore the other side of it that is in tatters and starting to smoke?
Rest assured, GOP if you do this ten of millions of us will stay home. We will leave and defund your stupid party and we will start something better that will relegate you to the dustbin of history where you belong. If your party nominates Donald Trump, I will write in Ted Cruz with pride and leave your party forever as will millions of others. You’d better wake up and quick. Do something to prevent this. In case you hadn’t noticed, we are hanging by a thread.
In the interest of helping you make this simple, I will give you mouth breathers a To-Do List:
- Tell Marco and Kasich to get out. They are screwing things up for the rest of us.
- Abolish Open Primaries. They are almost as stupid as you’ve allowed this cycle to become.
- Abolish early voting. It is also stupid and does not factor in real time developments and changes in news cycles and candidate perception.
- Develop a vetting process so your party does not present your members with the choice of a life long Democrat as the nominee without a reasonable explanation on their conversion that makes sense and does not reference polls, walls or the words millions or billions.
- Come to your senses regarding Ted Cruz. He is clearly the only option if you do not want Trump.
- Sack up for once and do something that requires some fortitude and leadership.
Choose wisely you fools. Your country depends on it.
Saturday, March 5, 2016
#Election2016 - Here is What I Am Afraid
By William McRight
I am afraid of having a President who states boldly that simply due to the force of his personality military personnel will be forced to commit war crimes.
I am afraid of having a President who in the first 15 minutes of a nationally televised debate seeks to reassure the nation not of his competency, but of the size of his manhood.
I am afraid of voting a man into office cannot tell me about his “Road to Damascus” moment where he realized that his previous liberal positions were all wrong and how and why his newfound common sense conservative positions are all right.
I am afraid of having a President who builds an entire cult of personality about his strength and steadfastness as a leader and admits multiple times in a nationally televised debate that he has to be flexible.
I am afraid of a man who professes to be a Christian but cannot speak to the key tenets of the faith, cite a favorite passage from the Bible and is supported and endorsed by the greasiest and most un-Biblical evangelical “leaders.”
I am afraid of having a President who will present us with a First Lady who has been photographed in various stages of embarrassing undress and has ALSO written thousands of dollars of checks in donations to Hillary Clinton.
I am afraid of the GOP nominating a man who uses air quotes when saying the word “conservatives.”
I am afraid of a man who boasts about his leadership and strength of character who is too afraid to face a room of the air quoted “conservatives” and tell them why he deserves their vote.
I am afraid of an electorate who cannot discern truth, leadership and political skill from utter showmanship and bombast.
I am afraid of a President who claims he will hire the “best people” and “top men” leading a team that issues press releases and tweets festooned with grammatical and spelling errors, proven lies and positional inconsistencies.
I am afraid of a man who cannot maintain a consistent position on an issue, not only from one week to the next, but sometimes from one sentence to the next.
I am afraid of a President who will not put distance between himself and the most morally reprehensible of supporters, Twitter followers and tyrannical leaders around the globe.
I am afraid of a President who views his own judgment on a higher plane than the judgment of our Founders.
I am afraid of a President who will be quick to abuse the power of his office to fundamentally undermine the restraints of our founding documents and mold the office to the parameters of his self aggrandizing personality. Been there, done that.
I am afraid of an electorate who is consumed by the desire to “burn it all down” and to “stick it to the establishment” without one ounce of consideration of what we do once everything we hold dear has been destroyed.
I am afraid of a political party so shortsighted and ill equipped to state and defend its own platform that it finds itself out politically out maneuvered into nominating a person who has spent their whole life working against them.
I am afraid of a field of candidates who, driven by massive egos and desire for personal power, are not visionary enough to see what is best for their country, their party and fellow citizens and step aside for the greater good.
I am afraid of a President who will give us four years of us holding our collective breath waiting for the next ill informed pronouncement on an issue without considering how it affects all of us, and not just him.
I am afraid of electing a man who a full 70% of the people on his side of the aisle DO NOT SUPPORT and it somehow being acceptable.
I am afraid of a candidate or President whose public statement are “true” or “mostly true” only 7% of the time.
I am afraid of a Republican candidate who when confronted on his positions cannot offer specifics in any way and when he does the reaction is always, invariably liberal and progressive in nature.
I am afraid of the results in the primaries today in Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine and Kansas.
I am afraid for Our Nation. May God please grant the voters in these states wisdom and skill to discern truth from nonsense.
I am afraid of having a President who states boldly that simply due to the force of his personality military personnel will be forced to commit war crimes.
I am afraid of having a President who in the first 15 minutes of a nationally televised debate seeks to reassure the nation not of his competency, but of the size of his manhood.
I am afraid of voting a man into office cannot tell me about his “Road to Damascus” moment where he realized that his previous liberal positions were all wrong and how and why his newfound common sense conservative positions are all right.
I am afraid of having a President who builds an entire cult of personality about his strength and steadfastness as a leader and admits multiple times in a nationally televised debate that he has to be flexible.
I am afraid of a man who professes to be a Christian but cannot speak to the key tenets of the faith, cite a favorite passage from the Bible and is supported and endorsed by the greasiest and most un-Biblical evangelical “leaders.”
I am afraid of having a President who will present us with a First Lady who has been photographed in various stages of embarrassing undress and has ALSO written thousands of dollars of checks in donations to Hillary Clinton.
I am afraid of the GOP nominating a man who uses air quotes when saying the word “conservatives.”
I am afraid of a man who boasts about his leadership and strength of character who is too afraid to face a room of the air quoted “conservatives” and tell them why he deserves their vote.
I am afraid of an electorate who cannot discern truth, leadership and political skill from utter showmanship and bombast.
I am afraid of a President who claims he will hire the “best people” and “top men” leading a team that issues press releases and tweets festooned with grammatical and spelling errors, proven lies and positional inconsistencies.
I am afraid of a man who cannot maintain a consistent position on an issue, not only from one week to the next, but sometimes from one sentence to the next.
I am afraid of a President who will not put distance between himself and the most morally reprehensible of supporters, Twitter followers and tyrannical leaders around the globe.
I am afraid of a President who views his own judgment on a higher plane than the judgment of our Founders.
I am afraid of a President who will be quick to abuse the power of his office to fundamentally undermine the restraints of our founding documents and mold the office to the parameters of his self aggrandizing personality. Been there, done that.
I am afraid of an electorate who is consumed by the desire to “burn it all down” and to “stick it to the establishment” without one ounce of consideration of what we do once everything we hold dear has been destroyed.
I am afraid of a political party so shortsighted and ill equipped to state and defend its own platform that it finds itself out politically out maneuvered into nominating a person who has spent their whole life working against them.
I am afraid of a field of candidates who, driven by massive egos and desire for personal power, are not visionary enough to see what is best for their country, their party and fellow citizens and step aside for the greater good.
I am afraid of a President who will give us four years of us holding our collective breath waiting for the next ill informed pronouncement on an issue without considering how it affects all of us, and not just him.
I am afraid of electing a man who a full 70% of the people on his side of the aisle DO NOT SUPPORT and it somehow being acceptable.
I am afraid of a candidate or President whose public statement are “true” or “mostly true” only 7% of the time.
I am afraid of a Republican candidate who when confronted on his positions cannot offer specifics in any way and when he does the reaction is always, invariably liberal and progressive in nature.
I am afraid of the results in the primaries today in Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine and Kansas.
I am afraid for Our Nation. May God please grant the voters in these states wisdom and skill to discern truth from nonsense.
Thursday, March 3, 2016
#Election2016 - Don’t Root for the Laundry
By William McRight
There is an old adage in professional sports called “rooting for the laundry.” Simply explained, whatever painfully awful excuse for players team ownership trots out, you are expected to always support your team without fail. In other words, you are not rooting for the people in the uniform, you are rooting for the laundry.
It would seem to many out in the electronic hinterlands that party politics is nothing more than rooting for the laundry. Whether you swallow the Red Pill or the Blue Pill, it is supposed to be “my party, right or wrong.”
Sorry, Morpheus. I’m out.
In this election, I am rooting for a player. Specifically, two players, who need to team up most rickey tick. (I am not sure I was the first to throw out #Crubio2016 but I was darn sure an early beta tester and I am ready to deploy the Golden Master Version.)
The Republican Party for time immemorial has stood for smaller government, lower taxes, valuing the sanctity of life, a strong national defense, fiscal responsibility and personal accountability. We are now to believe because of some goofy populist nationalist “movement” we are to abandon those principles and simply look the other way because of some gaseous, ethereal “anger.” It may be said that the current GOP “front runner” and his tiny little raccoon hands has, throughout most of his life, espoused big government, progressive, dare I say, socialist tendencies. News Flash, Dear Reader, type Nationalist Socialist into the Google machine and see what you get. Ugly. I bet it might take some time to disavow that too.
To the uninitiated, it may appear on the surface that this is some sort of movement. Consider the following –
Trump has won no “Closed” primaries. Maybe because he is a Democrat.
The Nevada Caucus was an Ape Fight and I am setting that one aside due to the weird sideshow reports all night
There has been depressed Democrat voting turnout with uptick in Republican turnout in many of these Open primaries. I have not crunched the numbers but it seems a little “Operation Chaos-ish” They are jumping the fence because they want a tin can in the general for Hillary. Simple.
Open Primaries are stupid.
I’d submit it is a movement all right. It is a movement of a career Democrat who is now calling himself a “uniter” in a party where he does not belong. And according to Herman Cain I am a blasphemer because I am not falling into line behind the “front runner.” Stick to pizza Herm, we’ve got this.
This is where we are. As conservatives and Republicans, we should not be brow beaten and pressured into supporting a supposed front runner. We should be supporting people, not party. We as a group support ideas and concepts of what America is supposed to and can be. Adhering to the aforementioned principles is WHAT WE DO. Remember? It is the job of conservatives to “stand athwart history and shout “Stop!” If our choices are a Democrat and a Democrat light, we should want nothing to do with it. We do not need a “Master of Branding.” The USA is not a brand. It is an idea. We need a Leader. We do not need a Showman. We need a Constitutionalist.
Contemplating where all of this ends up takes us into further uncharted seas. It is an ocean of questions filled with icebergs of anxiety floating around in foggy banks of uncertainty. Will the establishment folks figure out a way to turn Rubio’s one win and a bunch of not wins into the nomination? Will Trump actually fracture the party without having to jump out of the Trojan Horse that the Clintons helped him climb into? Can Ted Cruz convince the party to coalesce around him, despite the fact that “no one likes him” except millions of voters? Was Lindsey Graham drunk when he said he’d consider rallying around Cruz? Was I drunk when I heard him say it? Can #BenJohn please go away and stop (soon Lord..Please)? Can the two true conservatives form the #UnityTicket (#Crubio2016) that can snap us out of our sleepwalk among the slot machines and $5.99 buffets?
We need to win. We need to repudiate progressive policies and candidates that support them. If we cannot field Republicans, who by all measure are Democrats, we have no business calling our selves a legitimate option in a two party system. Coining a new phrase, “common sense conservative” that means nothing is not enough. Living principles and acting on them is more important that talk and showmanship. I ask you Dear Reader, please do not vote for the letter after the name. Vote for the man and his values and our long standing traditions. As for me, I will telegraph my move based on a couple outcomes. If the GOP nominates this guy, I am out. The party will have, in fact, left me. I will not vote for him. Ever. I will write in Ted Cruz and do it with a clear conscience. We have not gotten to that yet. We still have a chance.
And not to take too much credit, but @EWErickson and @GlennBeck are now both on board with #Crubio2016. I have been hash tagging it for months. Welcome aboard, Lads! I am a visionary pundit and no one knows it yet. I am pronouncing myself available for handsomely paying pundit gigs.
Hit me up at @sirvitup on Twitter!
Until that time, getcha popcorn ready. This will all be fun until it isn’t.
There is an old adage in professional sports called “rooting for the laundry.” Simply explained, whatever painfully awful excuse for players team ownership trots out, you are expected to always support your team without fail. In other words, you are not rooting for the people in the uniform, you are rooting for the laundry.
It would seem to many out in the electronic hinterlands that party politics is nothing more than rooting for the laundry. Whether you swallow the Red Pill or the Blue Pill, it is supposed to be “my party, right or wrong.”
Sorry, Morpheus. I’m out.
In this election, I am rooting for a player. Specifically, two players, who need to team up most rickey tick. (I am not sure I was the first to throw out #Crubio2016 but I was darn sure an early beta tester and I am ready to deploy the Golden Master Version.)
The Republican Party for time immemorial has stood for smaller government, lower taxes, valuing the sanctity of life, a strong national defense, fiscal responsibility and personal accountability. We are now to believe because of some goofy populist nationalist “movement” we are to abandon those principles and simply look the other way because of some gaseous, ethereal “anger.” It may be said that the current GOP “front runner” and his tiny little raccoon hands has, throughout most of his life, espoused big government, progressive, dare I say, socialist tendencies. News Flash, Dear Reader, type Nationalist Socialist into the Google machine and see what you get. Ugly. I bet it might take some time to disavow that too.
To the uninitiated, it may appear on the surface that this is some sort of movement. Consider the following –
Trump has won no “Closed” primaries. Maybe because he is a Democrat.
The Nevada Caucus was an Ape Fight and I am setting that one aside due to the weird sideshow reports all night
There has been depressed Democrat voting turnout with uptick in Republican turnout in many of these Open primaries. I have not crunched the numbers but it seems a little “Operation Chaos-ish” They are jumping the fence because they want a tin can in the general for Hillary. Simple.
Open Primaries are stupid.
I’d submit it is a movement all right. It is a movement of a career Democrat who is now calling himself a “uniter” in a party where he does not belong. And according to Herman Cain I am a blasphemer because I am not falling into line behind the “front runner.” Stick to pizza Herm, we’ve got this.
This is where we are. As conservatives and Republicans, we should not be brow beaten and pressured into supporting a supposed front runner. We should be supporting people, not party. We as a group support ideas and concepts of what America is supposed to and can be. Adhering to the aforementioned principles is WHAT WE DO. Remember? It is the job of conservatives to “stand athwart history and shout “Stop!” If our choices are a Democrat and a Democrat light, we should want nothing to do with it. We do not need a “Master of Branding.” The USA is not a brand. It is an idea. We need a Leader. We do not need a Showman. We need a Constitutionalist.
Contemplating where all of this ends up takes us into further uncharted seas. It is an ocean of questions filled with icebergs of anxiety floating around in foggy banks of uncertainty. Will the establishment folks figure out a way to turn Rubio’s one win and a bunch of not wins into the nomination? Will Trump actually fracture the party without having to jump out of the Trojan Horse that the Clintons helped him climb into? Can Ted Cruz convince the party to coalesce around him, despite the fact that “no one likes him” except millions of voters? Was Lindsey Graham drunk when he said he’d consider rallying around Cruz? Was I drunk when I heard him say it? Can #BenJohn please go away and stop (soon Lord..Please)? Can the two true conservatives form the #UnityTicket (#Crubio2016) that can snap us out of our sleepwalk among the slot machines and $5.99 buffets?
We need to win. We need to repudiate progressive policies and candidates that support them. If we cannot field Republicans, who by all measure are Democrats, we have no business calling our selves a legitimate option in a two party system. Coining a new phrase, “common sense conservative” that means nothing is not enough. Living principles and acting on them is more important that talk and showmanship. I ask you Dear Reader, please do not vote for the letter after the name. Vote for the man and his values and our long standing traditions. As for me, I will telegraph my move based on a couple outcomes. If the GOP nominates this guy, I am out. The party will have, in fact, left me. I will not vote for him. Ever. I will write in Ted Cruz and do it with a clear conscience. We have not gotten to that yet. We still have a chance.
And not to take too much credit, but @EWErickson and @GlennBeck are now both on board with #Crubio2016. I have been hash tagging it for months. Welcome aboard, Lads! I am a visionary pundit and no one knows it yet. I am pronouncing myself available for handsomely paying pundit gigs.
Hit me up at @sirvitup on Twitter!
Until that time, getcha popcorn ready. This will all be fun until it isn’t.
Tuesday, March 1, 2016
It Is Time to Make A Stand
By William McRight
Around the interwebs, we are seeing an electronic Maginot Line being drawn. Conservatives and Republicans ( please notice they are not always the same group) are finally waking up to the fact that the GOP is in real danger of nominating a lifelong Democrat to be the party standard bearer. Funny cause the guy does not seem to have any standards.
We spent the weekend in the passionate throes of the #NeverTrump movement. There movement washed over much of the Conservative Commentariat and regular Joes and Joanne alike. At it’s peak it was trending with nearly half a million tweets and it has inexplicably disappeared and reappeared on the trending list multiple times. As one who knows everything you see on the internet is totally true, I am sure no shenanigans, messaging or data manipulation are involved. One thing is for sure. There are a LOT of people on this side of the fence who don’t like the guy. (What you cannot see right now is me raising my hand. He is awful. Ick.)
As #NeverTrump heated and tweeted up Friday into the weekend, it all developed in the wake of the contentious and heated GOP debate last week. A conscious shift in strategy from Senators #Crubio2016 (more on that later) was evident as a debate between them, a preeminent businessman, a world renowned neurosurgeon, and a Governor turned into the political equivalent of the most recent viral World Star Hip Hop Video. Three “Top Men” playing a political version of “The KnockOut Game.”
The strategy continued into Saturday as Cruz and Rubio continued raining body blows at the ersatz teeny fingered Mogul. Nothing was off limits. Rubio’s ears and prodigious self contained coolant issues, Trump’s nectarine like complexion and Lollipop Guild hands and Cruz supposed aversion to truth telling were also on the docket. Hot on the heels of Willard “Mitt” Romney’s call to examine Trump’s tax returns was Ted Cruz implying that perhaps Trump was guarding them as they may reveal alleged mafia ties. Anytime anyone talks about your involvement with some called “Fat Tony” good things are not happening for you. It was ugly, sorely needed and far over due. Stephen Miller (@redsteeze) and Liam Donovan (@LPDonovan), both National Review Contributors, have been proponents of “Attacking The Brand” as a way to confound and frustrate Trump. To their point, high minded rhetoric has shown little ability to throw Trump off his game, what little of it there may be. One would hope that this strategic theory was crafted as a joint operation between the Cruz and Rubio campaigns.
Is it possible that two solidly conservative Senator both looked in the mirror and said, “This is not working. We are throwing strikes and no one is swinging. Shall we change the game?” This space and my Twitter account (@sirvitup) have long advocated for a #Crubio2016 ticket. They complete each other in terms of wonkiness and electability. True Believers can only hope this is the case. We can be encouraged as voters as it shows that at least two of the remaining candidates (Why are the other two even there? The newly minted “BenJohn” ought to tell their story walking) are engaged and willing to put a knife between their teeth to win the nomination. They see their party and a conservative vision for America slipping away in a puff of sordid, ugly green marble, gold filigree, denied applications from Trump Mortgage and gristly Trump Steaks.
Mr. Trump executed his usual strategy of controlling the media cycle when he rolled out (sorry, that was mean) his newest Gubernatorial endorsement Chris Christie. Christie and Trump breathe the same smelly NY-NJ air and for most of the early campaign occupied the same “straight tough talker” space. While the move accomplished the goal of getting the news cycle to move off the Trump attacks, many recalled a long ago distant memory (three weeks ago) when Christie called Trump “unfit” and Trump called Christie “weak.” The move did not help control the cycle as planned however, as the withering attacks from #Crubio2016 continued all weekend unabated. Trump’s time in the barrel continued during his weekend interview with Jake Tapper. It was an awful unforced error and no matter how many times you read or watch it, there is still no excuse.
Tapper: I want to ask you about the Anti-Defamation League, which this week called on you to publicly condemn unequivocally the racism of former KKK Grand Wizard David Duke who recently said that voting against you at this point would be treason to your heritage. Will you unequivocally condemn David Duke and say you don't want his vote or that of other white supremacists in this election?
Trump: Just so you understand, I don't know anything about David Duke, ok? I don't know what you're even talking about with 'white supremacy' or 'white supremacist.' So, I don't know. I mean, I don't know, did he endorse me, or what's going on? Because, you know, I know nothing about David Duke. I know nothing about white supremacists. And so you're asking me a question that I'm supposed to be talking about people that i know nothing about.
Tapper: But I guess the question from the Anti-Defamation League is, even if you don't know about their endorsement, there are these groups and individuals endorsing you. Would you just say unequivocally you condemn them and you don't want their support?
Trump: Well, I have to look at the group. I mean, I don't know what group you're talking about. You wouldn't want me to condemn a group up that I know nothing about. I'd have to look. If you would send me a list of the groups, I will do research on them and certainly I would disavow them if I thought there was something wrong. But you may have groups in there that are totally fine and it would be very unfair...
Tapper: The Ku Klux Klan?
Trump: So give me a list of the groups and I'll let you know.
Tapper: I'm just talking about David Duke and the Ku Klux Klan here.
Trump: Honestly, I don't know David Duke. I don't believe I've ever met him, I'm pretty sure I didn't meet him, and I just don't know anything about him.
Yeesh. Even the always affable and pro Trump Joe Scarborough called it “disqualifying.” Trump has UNBELIEVABLY taken to now saying that he had a bad earpiece and could not hear what Tapper was asking. You see, what happens when you try and put toothpaste back in the tube is that you get all yucky, messy and embarrassed. Sometime it is better to wipe it up and move on. Trump capped his weekend with the endorsement of conservative Senator Jeff Sessions. This move while not surprising to some was actually a twofer. It mutes Ted Cruz argument about Sessions’ validity as an ally in the GO8 Fight and it puts Trump shockingly up 1-0 in Senate endorsements over Cruz. It also may have made the case that the good Senator from Alabama is certifiable.
The weekend culminated with another glorious “Open Letter” from Ben Sasse via Twitter questioning Trump’s veracity as an individual and a candidate. I’d imagine either part of #Crubio2016 would welcome a common sense endorser like Ben Sasse.
All of this begs the question: Is it too late for Conservatives to unite around a candidate or ticket that would save the Republic and all over us from being cut to bits under the wheels of the “Trump Train?” I’d say that we have time but not a great deal. If Cruz and Rubio can take some air out of Trump with wins on Super Tuesday time exists to solidify the #UnityTicket and get out ahead of the rest of the race. The expiration date on all of that might be the March 15th primaries. However, if Rubio offers a terrible showing tomorrow and wins nothing, that date may be moved to March 2. In either scenario, the sand is running low in the hour glass. Conservatives and Republicans must can the populist anger and be pragmatic. We can win with ideas and youthful conservatism. The GOP is a party of limited government, low taxes and strong national defense. We don’t elect people who have been supporting the progressive agenda their whole lives and cannot point clearly to a foxhole conversion to conservatism. So yes dear friends, it is time to listen to your Better Angels and save our Party, our Conservative Movement and our Republic.
It is Time To Take A Stand.
#NeverTrump.
Around the interwebs, we are seeing an electronic Maginot Line being drawn. Conservatives and Republicans ( please notice they are not always the same group) are finally waking up to the fact that the GOP is in real danger of nominating a lifelong Democrat to be the party standard bearer. Funny cause the guy does not seem to have any standards.
We spent the weekend in the passionate throes of the #NeverTrump movement. There movement washed over much of the Conservative Commentariat and regular Joes and Joanne alike. At it’s peak it was trending with nearly half a million tweets and it has inexplicably disappeared and reappeared on the trending list multiple times. As one who knows everything you see on the internet is totally true, I am sure no shenanigans, messaging or data manipulation are involved. One thing is for sure. There are a LOT of people on this side of the fence who don’t like the guy. (What you cannot see right now is me raising my hand. He is awful. Ick.)
As #NeverTrump heated and tweeted up Friday into the weekend, it all developed in the wake of the contentious and heated GOP debate last week. A conscious shift in strategy from Senators #Crubio2016 (more on that later) was evident as a debate between them, a preeminent businessman, a world renowned neurosurgeon, and a Governor turned into the political equivalent of the most recent viral World Star Hip Hop Video. Three “Top Men” playing a political version of “The KnockOut Game.”
The strategy continued into Saturday as Cruz and Rubio continued raining body blows at the ersatz teeny fingered Mogul. Nothing was off limits. Rubio’s ears and prodigious self contained coolant issues, Trump’s nectarine like complexion and Lollipop Guild hands and Cruz supposed aversion to truth telling were also on the docket. Hot on the heels of Willard “Mitt” Romney’s call to examine Trump’s tax returns was Ted Cruz implying that perhaps Trump was guarding them as they may reveal alleged mafia ties. Anytime anyone talks about your involvement with some called “Fat Tony” good things are not happening for you. It was ugly, sorely needed and far over due. Stephen Miller (@redsteeze) and Liam Donovan (@LPDonovan), both National Review Contributors, have been proponents of “Attacking The Brand” as a way to confound and frustrate Trump. To their point, high minded rhetoric has shown little ability to throw Trump off his game, what little of it there may be. One would hope that this strategic theory was crafted as a joint operation between the Cruz and Rubio campaigns.
Is it possible that two solidly conservative Senator both looked in the mirror and said, “This is not working. We are throwing strikes and no one is swinging. Shall we change the game?” This space and my Twitter account (@sirvitup) have long advocated for a #Crubio2016 ticket. They complete each other in terms of wonkiness and electability. True Believers can only hope this is the case. We can be encouraged as voters as it shows that at least two of the remaining candidates (Why are the other two even there? The newly minted “BenJohn” ought to tell their story walking) are engaged and willing to put a knife between their teeth to win the nomination. They see their party and a conservative vision for America slipping away in a puff of sordid, ugly green marble, gold filigree, denied applications from Trump Mortgage and gristly Trump Steaks.
Mr. Trump executed his usual strategy of controlling the media cycle when he rolled out (sorry, that was mean) his newest Gubernatorial endorsement Chris Christie. Christie and Trump breathe the same smelly NY-NJ air and for most of the early campaign occupied the same “straight tough talker” space. While the move accomplished the goal of getting the news cycle to move off the Trump attacks, many recalled a long ago distant memory (three weeks ago) when Christie called Trump “unfit” and Trump called Christie “weak.” The move did not help control the cycle as planned however, as the withering attacks from #Crubio2016 continued all weekend unabated. Trump’s time in the barrel continued during his weekend interview with Jake Tapper. It was an awful unforced error and no matter how many times you read or watch it, there is still no excuse.
Tapper: I want to ask you about the Anti-Defamation League, which this week called on you to publicly condemn unequivocally the racism of former KKK Grand Wizard David Duke who recently said that voting against you at this point would be treason to your heritage. Will you unequivocally condemn David Duke and say you don't want his vote or that of other white supremacists in this election?
Trump: Just so you understand, I don't know anything about David Duke, ok? I don't know what you're even talking about with 'white supremacy' or 'white supremacist.' So, I don't know. I mean, I don't know, did he endorse me, or what's going on? Because, you know, I know nothing about David Duke. I know nothing about white supremacists. And so you're asking me a question that I'm supposed to be talking about people that i know nothing about.
Tapper: But I guess the question from the Anti-Defamation League is, even if you don't know about their endorsement, there are these groups and individuals endorsing you. Would you just say unequivocally you condemn them and you don't want their support?
Trump: Well, I have to look at the group. I mean, I don't know what group you're talking about. You wouldn't want me to condemn a group up that I know nothing about. I'd have to look. If you would send me a list of the groups, I will do research on them and certainly I would disavow them if I thought there was something wrong. But you may have groups in there that are totally fine and it would be very unfair...
Tapper: The Ku Klux Klan?
Trump: So give me a list of the groups and I'll let you know.
Tapper: I'm just talking about David Duke and the Ku Klux Klan here.
Trump: Honestly, I don't know David Duke. I don't believe I've ever met him, I'm pretty sure I didn't meet him, and I just don't know anything about him.
Yeesh. Even the always affable and pro Trump Joe Scarborough called it “disqualifying.” Trump has UNBELIEVABLY taken to now saying that he had a bad earpiece and could not hear what Tapper was asking. You see, what happens when you try and put toothpaste back in the tube is that you get all yucky, messy and embarrassed. Sometime it is better to wipe it up and move on. Trump capped his weekend with the endorsement of conservative Senator Jeff Sessions. This move while not surprising to some was actually a twofer. It mutes Ted Cruz argument about Sessions’ validity as an ally in the GO8 Fight and it puts Trump shockingly up 1-0 in Senate endorsements over Cruz. It also may have made the case that the good Senator from Alabama is certifiable.
The weekend culminated with another glorious “Open Letter” from Ben Sasse via Twitter questioning Trump’s veracity as an individual and a candidate. I’d imagine either part of #Crubio2016 would welcome a common sense endorser like Ben Sasse.
All of this begs the question: Is it too late for Conservatives to unite around a candidate or ticket that would save the Republic and all over us from being cut to bits under the wheels of the “Trump Train?” I’d say that we have time but not a great deal. If Cruz and Rubio can take some air out of Trump with wins on Super Tuesday time exists to solidify the #UnityTicket and get out ahead of the rest of the race. The expiration date on all of that might be the March 15th primaries. However, if Rubio offers a terrible showing tomorrow and wins nothing, that date may be moved to March 2. In either scenario, the sand is running low in the hour glass. Conservatives and Republicans must can the populist anger and be pragmatic. We can win with ideas and youthful conservatism. The GOP is a party of limited government, low taxes and strong national defense. We don’t elect people who have been supporting the progressive agenda their whole lives and cannot point clearly to a foxhole conversion to conservatism. So yes dear friends, it is time to listen to your Better Angels and save our Party, our Conservative Movement and our Republic.
It is Time To Take A Stand.
#NeverTrump.
Friday, February 26, 2016
#Crubio2016 and Debate Thoughts
By William McRight
A thing of beauty is a joy forever. The roundhouse pummeling of a Democrat poised to win the Republican nomination was as joyous and wonderful a thing as has ever been presented on a debate stage. #Crubio2016 teamed to eviscerate a man who has no business being on a Republican debate stage, ballot or discussion. It was verbal sweet science and great fun to watch.
LOSERS
TRUMP - To any viewer who has not been afflicted by the Trump Zombie Virus, America’s Favorite Fraud had a terrible night in Texas. His answers, as usual, were incoherent, inconsistent and short on anything meaningful on substance. #Crubio2016 teamed to attack Trump on “The Brand” and policy. For those of us in the Cruz camp, we have known that the 46 extra long suit handcrafted in China was empty beyond all belief. He is a cult of personality who manages to insert inane boasts into a substantive policy question. He noted that he was the most serious candidate on Israel because of his “contributions” and the fact the he was the Grand Marshall of a parade. No, seriously. He said it. The tax issue will continue to dog Trump. He said in an ee cummings stream of consciousness riff that he can’t release his tax returns because either two or four or five years were still “under audit.” I would not doubt that John Koskinen was getting late night calls from the Trump legal team. #Crubio2016 pulled apart the Trump Monkey Bread of Personality and Policy. They peeled off all the sweet and delicious parts of this ooey, gooey fraud candidate and left nothing but burnt crumbs. It was glorious.
BENJOHN – The two of you are now a collective. In debates, you are a national bathroom break. As stated before, you are to be respected for your patriotism and commitment but stop running for Vice President and Sleepy Guy In Chief. “Fruit Salad of Your Life?” Really? Stop. Go Home. If you have any bit of common sense and any shred of conviction toward the Conservative Cause. Stop. You suck air out of the debate and give The Big Orange Fraud time to collect his thoughts after Los Hermanos Cubanos lay down serious strafing fire. Get on the Rubber Chicken Circuit, make a couple bucks and Stop. It is our country we are talking about. You are killing us and the opportunity to have true conservative governance. When either one of you speak at these debates, Twitter feeds around the globe light up with capitalized PLEASE STOP. SHUT UP. OH NO. Listen to them. Hang up your skates before it is too late.
MODERATORS and CNN – It is very very difficult to control a debate platform where two highly skilled attorneys and a megalomaniac “businessman” are trying to choke slam each other. The cross talk that you allow means all we hear is white noise. Aside from the white noise that is echoing between Trump’s ears. Get some control and let the debaters make their points. Except for BenJohn. It can be run over and drowned out ASAP. On the matter of post debate spin, doing a 15 minute live interview on the stage with Trump followed by another lengthy segment in the Spin Room makes it seem an awful lot like you are agitprop and not journalists. The tongue bathing of Trump is viewed as a ratings get but it is driving the country into a giant wall. And not one a beautiful elegant one the Mexican Border. Perhaps the theories of assistance setting up a tomato can for Hillary is all true.
WINNERS
#Crubio2016 – We have one last best hope to stop this pending disaster. I have long promoted the hashtag #Crubio2016. Like Bush and Reagan, Cruz and Rubio need to team up. Quick. They are a Yin and Yang that would combine perfectly to take down Trumpzilla. Rubio’s affable charm and his newfound skill at attack dog debating are clearly evident. Cruz’s depth and policy conservatism are unquestioned. The answer to the Republican problem of a Democrat winning the nomination is staring them both right in the face. They need to check their egos and realize that in this field, the two of them are a conservative option that would set America on a path to smaller government and a national resurgence that we sorely need.
In the truest Jerry McGuire sense, they “complete” each other. Cruz and his adherence to policy and principle. Rubio and his raft of endorsements and ability to work and build bridges with the establishment, while adhering to conservative principles. Cruz and his knowledge of the judiciary and the Constitution. Rubio and his strong foreign policy credentials. Both of them on wanting lower taxes, more responsible and effective government while getting out of the way of the American economic engine.
The answer is right there. Simple. All it requires is some big boy leadership on behalf of both of their camps. Conservatism and America can TRULY win again.
It is time for #Crubio2016.
A thing of beauty is a joy forever. The roundhouse pummeling of a Democrat poised to win the Republican nomination was as joyous and wonderful a thing as has ever been presented on a debate stage. #Crubio2016 teamed to eviscerate a man who has no business being on a Republican debate stage, ballot or discussion. It was verbal sweet science and great fun to watch.
LOSERS
TRUMP - To any viewer who has not been afflicted by the Trump Zombie Virus, America’s Favorite Fraud had a terrible night in Texas. His answers, as usual, were incoherent, inconsistent and short on anything meaningful on substance. #Crubio2016 teamed to attack Trump on “The Brand” and policy. For those of us in the Cruz camp, we have known that the 46 extra long suit handcrafted in China was empty beyond all belief. He is a cult of personality who manages to insert inane boasts into a substantive policy question. He noted that he was the most serious candidate on Israel because of his “contributions” and the fact the he was the Grand Marshall of a parade. No, seriously. He said it. The tax issue will continue to dog Trump. He said in an ee cummings stream of consciousness riff that he can’t release his tax returns because either two or four or five years were still “under audit.” I would not doubt that John Koskinen was getting late night calls from the Trump legal team. #Crubio2016 pulled apart the Trump Monkey Bread of Personality and Policy. They peeled off all the sweet and delicious parts of this ooey, gooey fraud candidate and left nothing but burnt crumbs. It was glorious.
BENJOHN – The two of you are now a collective. In debates, you are a national bathroom break. As stated before, you are to be respected for your patriotism and commitment but stop running for Vice President and Sleepy Guy In Chief. “Fruit Salad of Your Life?” Really? Stop. Go Home. If you have any bit of common sense and any shred of conviction toward the Conservative Cause. Stop. You suck air out of the debate and give The Big Orange Fraud time to collect his thoughts after Los Hermanos Cubanos lay down serious strafing fire. Get on the Rubber Chicken Circuit, make a couple bucks and Stop. It is our country we are talking about. You are killing us and the opportunity to have true conservative governance. When either one of you speak at these debates, Twitter feeds around the globe light up with capitalized PLEASE STOP. SHUT UP. OH NO. Listen to them. Hang up your skates before it is too late.
MODERATORS and CNN – It is very very difficult to control a debate platform where two highly skilled attorneys and a megalomaniac “businessman” are trying to choke slam each other. The cross talk that you allow means all we hear is white noise. Aside from the white noise that is echoing between Trump’s ears. Get some control and let the debaters make their points. Except for BenJohn. It can be run over and drowned out ASAP. On the matter of post debate spin, doing a 15 minute live interview on the stage with Trump followed by another lengthy segment in the Spin Room makes it seem an awful lot like you are agitprop and not journalists. The tongue bathing of Trump is viewed as a ratings get but it is driving the country into a giant wall. And not one a beautiful elegant one the Mexican Border. Perhaps the theories of assistance setting up a tomato can for Hillary is all true.
WINNERS
#Crubio2016 – We have one last best hope to stop this pending disaster. I have long promoted the hashtag #Crubio2016. Like Bush and Reagan, Cruz and Rubio need to team up. Quick. They are a Yin and Yang that would combine perfectly to take down Trumpzilla. Rubio’s affable charm and his newfound skill at attack dog debating are clearly evident. Cruz’s depth and policy conservatism are unquestioned. The answer to the Republican problem of a Democrat winning the nomination is staring them both right in the face. They need to check their egos and realize that in this field, the two of them are a conservative option that would set America on a path to smaller government and a national resurgence that we sorely need.
In the truest Jerry McGuire sense, they “complete” each other. Cruz and his adherence to policy and principle. Rubio and his raft of endorsements and ability to work and build bridges with the establishment, while adhering to conservative principles. Cruz and his knowledge of the judiciary and the Constitution. Rubio and his strong foreign policy credentials. Both of them on wanting lower taxes, more responsible and effective government while getting out of the way of the American economic engine.
The answer is right there. Simple. All it requires is some big boy leadership on behalf of both of their camps. Conservatism and America can TRULY win again.
It is time for #Crubio2016.
Tuesday, February 23, 2016
It Is Time For Us To Say No
By William McRight
None of this makes any sense. We have to draw a line in the sand and say No.
For years, the Republican Party has been driven into the wall by establishment types who tell us one thing on the stump and do other far more insidious things once they get to DC. They claim to be stalwart smaller government champions, conservative to their core and then they capitulate and make deals with the McCains, Grahams, Collins, Flake and Cornyn types. They sell out our agenda for Washington’s agenda.
To listen to the media, we only have two choices. An oafish, unqualified, poorly spoken, authoritarian “businessman” or a man who ran for the Senate as a Tea Party Darling who promptly made a deal with squish Republicans and Democrats to sponsor immigration legislation that he knew would and then he knew wouldn’t pass. What a great set of options. Choose the guy who is a life long Democrat who still talks like one or a guy with bafflingly poor judgment.
Meanwhile, the Senator who has actually beaten said oafish “businessman” is marginalized as mean, nasty and a liar. The Senator is lauded as as “the closest we have seen to Reagan in our lifetimes.” Yet we are supposed to simply look past him to the choices that the “establishment” tells us are acceptable. The same establishment who gave us McCain, Graham, Flake, Dole, the Bushes, McConnell, Kirk, Collins, Ayotte and all of the other hacks who tell us they know what is best for us. While screwing us and passing every whim and caprice of Barack Obama in the interest of “getting things done” for the American people.
It is time for us to say No.
We do not want a man who when pressed ALWAYS reverts back to a liberal position. Healthcare, Guns, Taxes, Planned Parenthood always seem to find the liberal low water mark with the current frontrunner. We do not want a man who cannot be bothered to have a modicum of grace when an opponent fires a longtime friend and advisor. We do not want a man who calls himself a “common sense conservative” but cannot define what that is by any measure. We do not want a man who is not bold enough to pick a fight with a faux conservative frontrunner but insists on hurling invective and half truths at a man who has spent his life defending conservative principles. We do not want a man who says in the Israeli Palestinian conflict, he will remain “neutral.”
It is time for us to say No.
Remembering history is hard. With a true conservative, the Constitution is valued. With a true conservative, the size and scope of government decreases. With a true conservative, we stand up a strong military, honor our commitments, mean what we say and say what we mean. With a true conservative, the economy booms as the private sector understands the value of the government getting out of the way. With a true conservative, liberty is valued above all else and all decisions are filtered through the Constitution.
It is time for us to say No
Saying No is not easy. We need to consider this tactically and strategically. As conservative Republicans, we need to elect the same. This space has featured hearty endorsement of Senator Ted Cruz. To that end, the tactic must be to create a conservative debate that doesn’t feature a liberal in Republican clothing. Senator Cruz and Senator Rubio MUST form a Team of Rivals and dispatch Trump. We simply cannot endure an administration that again, says one thing and does another. Two capable litigators like Cruz and Rubio could quickly undo Trump as the fraud he is if they train their fire on him. That is the first No. No Trump. Should they accomplish this, all of us as students and fans of political theater would enjoy a Cruz – Rubio Battle Royale. If we get that, we America wins. We can go into the voting booth and say Yes. Yes to conservatism, Yes to smaller, more responsible government. Yes to young, forward looking leadership.
But first, we have to say No.
None of this makes any sense. We have to draw a line in the sand and say No.
For years, the Republican Party has been driven into the wall by establishment types who tell us one thing on the stump and do other far more insidious things once they get to DC. They claim to be stalwart smaller government champions, conservative to their core and then they capitulate and make deals with the McCains, Grahams, Collins, Flake and Cornyn types. They sell out our agenda for Washington’s agenda.
To listen to the media, we only have two choices. An oafish, unqualified, poorly spoken, authoritarian “businessman” or a man who ran for the Senate as a Tea Party Darling who promptly made a deal with squish Republicans and Democrats to sponsor immigration legislation that he knew would and then he knew wouldn’t pass. What a great set of options. Choose the guy who is a life long Democrat who still talks like one or a guy with bafflingly poor judgment.
Meanwhile, the Senator who has actually beaten said oafish “businessman” is marginalized as mean, nasty and a liar. The Senator is lauded as as “the closest we have seen to Reagan in our lifetimes.” Yet we are supposed to simply look past him to the choices that the “establishment” tells us are acceptable. The same establishment who gave us McCain, Graham, Flake, Dole, the Bushes, McConnell, Kirk, Collins, Ayotte and all of the other hacks who tell us they know what is best for us. While screwing us and passing every whim and caprice of Barack Obama in the interest of “getting things done” for the American people.
It is time for us to say No.
We do not want a man who when pressed ALWAYS reverts back to a liberal position. Healthcare, Guns, Taxes, Planned Parenthood always seem to find the liberal low water mark with the current frontrunner. We do not want a man who cannot be bothered to have a modicum of grace when an opponent fires a longtime friend and advisor. We do not want a man who calls himself a “common sense conservative” but cannot define what that is by any measure. We do not want a man who is not bold enough to pick a fight with a faux conservative frontrunner but insists on hurling invective and half truths at a man who has spent his life defending conservative principles. We do not want a man who says in the Israeli Palestinian conflict, he will remain “neutral.”
It is time for us to say No.
Remembering history is hard. With a true conservative, the Constitution is valued. With a true conservative, the size and scope of government decreases. With a true conservative, we stand up a strong military, honor our commitments, mean what we say and say what we mean. With a true conservative, the economy booms as the private sector understands the value of the government getting out of the way. With a true conservative, liberty is valued above all else and all decisions are filtered through the Constitution.
It is time for us to say No
Saying No is not easy. We need to consider this tactically and strategically. As conservative Republicans, we need to elect the same. This space has featured hearty endorsement of Senator Ted Cruz. To that end, the tactic must be to create a conservative debate that doesn’t feature a liberal in Republican clothing. Senator Cruz and Senator Rubio MUST form a Team of Rivals and dispatch Trump. We simply cannot endure an administration that again, says one thing and does another. Two capable litigators like Cruz and Rubio could quickly undo Trump as the fraud he is if they train their fire on him. That is the first No. No Trump. Should they accomplish this, all of us as students and fans of political theater would enjoy a Cruz – Rubio Battle Royale. If we get that, we America wins. We can go into the voting booth and say Yes. Yes to conservatism, Yes to smaller, more responsible government. Yes to young, forward looking leadership.
But first, we have to say No.
Sunday, February 21, 2016
GOP SC Primary: What Fresh Hell Is This?
By William McRight
OK, everyone. Just breathe. Let’s take a minute. The results that we saw last night were not what we expected. Or dreamt of. In fact, it is probably what many of us nightmared about. Let’s look at a few key points and try to avoid vomiting.
An Open Request to Ted and Marco.
First the two of you need to knock it off. Team Up. Form a ticket now with either one of you at the top. We don’t really care. While the two most “real” Republican candidates tear each other to shreds, a lifelong Democrat who spent his whole life and millions of dollars fighting AGAINST what we stand for now has an inside track to the GOP nomination. Both of you need to train your fire on the liberal who will get us another Romney, McCain, Dole, Bush 41 style loss. Get it together. You are running out of time.
Ben. Ben, Ben, Ben and John and thanks to Jeb!.
Get out. Now. We appreciate your patriotism. And your effort. You are causing a problem within the party. A full 70% plus of the GOP does not want Trump. You are now an impediment to that happening. Get out. Now. Same thing for you Governor. You are in the way and are going to ruin any chance of us having some semblance of conservative governance.
To his credit, Jeb! did the right thing and got out. With class and dignity. He is to be saluted for doing the right thing and not being a pig headed jackass. Like a couple other guys who Bush finished ahead of, by the by. John and Ben, again, we appreciate your patriotism. You cannot win in any universe or mathematical permutation. Go do something else.
GOP – You Better Get It Together. Quick.
If you do not get control of this situation you are in big, big trouble. Are you willing to sacrifice your principles and tenets of what we are as a party just to “win?” If Trump is the nomination, you will lose millions and millions of us. Our money and support will be gone in a flash. We will start something real and true and better. Without you. You will get mountains of letters about “the party leaving me.”
The Electorate
Hey, Geniuses. Look at how well the Jesse Ventura and Arnold Schwarzenegger governorships went. Not really well. Not even a little bit. If you elect someone because of celebrity, pretty wives, vapid policy positions and nebulous, unquantified “anger” you will get exactly what you deserve. I know it is hard to tear yourself away from Honey Boo Boo and the Kardashians but if you yokels think that Trump has any clue what he is doing you are sadly mistaken. Please take a moment and move ahead and consider Trump committing troops to battle, speaking to a nation that needs calm in any type of crisis or representing us as a nation. Wake Up. Trump has no pedigree for any of this. He is a real estate developer. Try and take a minute to think beyond your next trip to the mall or what is on your DVR. We do not need authoritarians. We need conservatism.
Trends
Trends are trends until they are not. For the fist time ever, the SC trend of their winner being the nominee ended in 2012. I hope a new trend of SC fouling things up royally has just continued.
Complete Utter Abject Terror
Let’s leap ahead and consider November. The nominees are Trump and Clinton.
Sorry, I have to go.
The vomiting is about to start.
OK, everyone. Just breathe. Let’s take a minute. The results that we saw last night were not what we expected. Or dreamt of. In fact, it is probably what many of us nightmared about. Let’s look at a few key points and try to avoid vomiting.
An Open Request to Ted and Marco.
First the two of you need to knock it off. Team Up. Form a ticket now with either one of you at the top. We don’t really care. While the two most “real” Republican candidates tear each other to shreds, a lifelong Democrat who spent his whole life and millions of dollars fighting AGAINST what we stand for now has an inside track to the GOP nomination. Both of you need to train your fire on the liberal who will get us another Romney, McCain, Dole, Bush 41 style loss. Get it together. You are running out of time.
Ben. Ben, Ben, Ben and John and thanks to Jeb!.
Get out. Now. We appreciate your patriotism. And your effort. You are causing a problem within the party. A full 70% plus of the GOP does not want Trump. You are now an impediment to that happening. Get out. Now. Same thing for you Governor. You are in the way and are going to ruin any chance of us having some semblance of conservative governance.
To his credit, Jeb! did the right thing and got out. With class and dignity. He is to be saluted for doing the right thing and not being a pig headed jackass. Like a couple other guys who Bush finished ahead of, by the by. John and Ben, again, we appreciate your patriotism. You cannot win in any universe or mathematical permutation. Go do something else.
GOP – You Better Get It Together. Quick.
If you do not get control of this situation you are in big, big trouble. Are you willing to sacrifice your principles and tenets of what we are as a party just to “win?” If Trump is the nomination, you will lose millions and millions of us. Our money and support will be gone in a flash. We will start something real and true and better. Without you. You will get mountains of letters about “the party leaving me.”
The Electorate
Hey, Geniuses. Look at how well the Jesse Ventura and Arnold Schwarzenegger governorships went. Not really well. Not even a little bit. If you elect someone because of celebrity, pretty wives, vapid policy positions and nebulous, unquantified “anger” you will get exactly what you deserve. I know it is hard to tear yourself away from Honey Boo Boo and the Kardashians but if you yokels think that Trump has any clue what he is doing you are sadly mistaken. Please take a moment and move ahead and consider Trump committing troops to battle, speaking to a nation that needs calm in any type of crisis or representing us as a nation. Wake Up. Trump has no pedigree for any of this. He is a real estate developer. Try and take a minute to think beyond your next trip to the mall or what is on your DVR. We do not need authoritarians. We need conservatism.
Trends
Trends are trends until they are not. For the fist time ever, the SC trend of their winner being the nominee ended in 2012. I hope a new trend of SC fouling things up royally has just continued.
Complete Utter Abject Terror
Let’s leap ahead and consider November. The nominees are Trump and Clinton.
Sorry, I have to go.
The vomiting is about to start.
Friday, February 19, 2016
Marco Rubio - Thirsty Defensive Back Punts
By William McRight
Marco Rubio is a conservative. That is very clear. I like Marco Rubio. In fact, he is the only other candidate I would vociferously support if Ted Cruz does not get the nomination. The rest of them? Meh, with a capital meh.
What gives me pause about Marco Rubio is the judgment question. His seminal accomplishment, or lack there of, the ignominious Gang of 8 Bill was bad judgment writ large. After running a campaign steeped in Tea Party support and purist conservative dogma galore his first decision was to pair up with squishes and the most onerous of Democrat opponents. To his credit he has made every attempt to distance himself from it. One cannot tell if that distance has been or will ever be great enough. The pictures of the back slapping and glad handing with sops like McCain and Graham and villains like Schumer and Menendez cannot be unseen. The election cycle this year has been full of “Yeah I did, but I knew it wasn’t really going to work!” Well then why worry the water and do it? Bad judgment methinks. The tactic and response to the GO8 now has morphed into repeatedly calling his only conservative competitor in the race, Ted Cruz, a liar. If that is the case Phyllis Schlafly, Jeff Sessions, Mike Lee and many other conservative stalwarts are liars as well. That also may be bad judgment.
This brings us to last night. Rubio has garnered impressive support in the state by way of Governor Nikki Haley, Congressman Trey Gowdy and Senator Tim Scott. The inaugural Conservative Review Convention was held in Greenville and candidly it most likely was the reddest of red rightwing audience assembled in South Carolina this cycle. Five thousand attendees were looking forward to Carson, Cruz and Rubio speeches filling wheelbarrows full of red meat and getting all fired up about conservatism. Carson went about his usual somnambulistic routine. Cruz (this was admittedly a very pro Cruz crowd) blew the roof off the place.
Rubio decided last minute to not make the appearance. What the what, you say? Yes. Pulled the chute. Dropped Anchor. Took a Pasadena. No way, Jose.
Five thousand assembled hard core conservatives ready to hear you make your case and you opt out because you are running late? Listen, I get that delays happen. Schedules change. Campaigns are fluid. But if you are two hours out from an event of this type with a bunch of key voters, you organize, right the ship and get to the venue. You just punt? Take a pass? As they say prior to Monday Night Football, “C’mon man.” And it better never come out that he passed because it was a Cruz heavy room and he didn’t want to take the heat. That again would be bad judgment.
Marco Rubio may be so well firewalled and endorsed in South Carolina that this doesn’t matter. It likely won’t. Good judgment is seizing opportunity and relishing a spirited debate, not backing down or punting.
Marco Rubio is a conservative. That is very clear. I like Marco Rubio. In fact, he is the only other candidate I would vociferously support if Ted Cruz does not get the nomination. The rest of them? Meh, with a capital meh.
What gives me pause about Marco Rubio is the judgment question. His seminal accomplishment, or lack there of, the ignominious Gang of 8 Bill was bad judgment writ large. After running a campaign steeped in Tea Party support and purist conservative dogma galore his first decision was to pair up with squishes and the most onerous of Democrat opponents. To his credit he has made every attempt to distance himself from it. One cannot tell if that distance has been or will ever be great enough. The pictures of the back slapping and glad handing with sops like McCain and Graham and villains like Schumer and Menendez cannot be unseen. The election cycle this year has been full of “Yeah I did, but I knew it wasn’t really going to work!” Well then why worry the water and do it? Bad judgment methinks. The tactic and response to the GO8 now has morphed into repeatedly calling his only conservative competitor in the race, Ted Cruz, a liar. If that is the case Phyllis Schlafly, Jeff Sessions, Mike Lee and many other conservative stalwarts are liars as well. That also may be bad judgment.
This brings us to last night. Rubio has garnered impressive support in the state by way of Governor Nikki Haley, Congressman Trey Gowdy and Senator Tim Scott. The inaugural Conservative Review Convention was held in Greenville and candidly it most likely was the reddest of red rightwing audience assembled in South Carolina this cycle. Five thousand attendees were looking forward to Carson, Cruz and Rubio speeches filling wheelbarrows full of red meat and getting all fired up about conservatism. Carson went about his usual somnambulistic routine. Cruz (this was admittedly a very pro Cruz crowd) blew the roof off the place.
Rubio decided last minute to not make the appearance. What the what, you say? Yes. Pulled the chute. Dropped Anchor. Took a Pasadena. No way, Jose.
Five thousand assembled hard core conservatives ready to hear you make your case and you opt out because you are running late? Listen, I get that delays happen. Schedules change. Campaigns are fluid. But if you are two hours out from an event of this type with a bunch of key voters, you organize, right the ship and get to the venue. You just punt? Take a pass? As they say prior to Monday Night Football, “C’mon man.” And it better never come out that he passed because it was a Cruz heavy room and he didn’t want to take the heat. That again would be bad judgment.
Marco Rubio may be so well firewalled and endorsed in South Carolina that this doesn’t matter. It likely won’t. Good judgment is seizing opportunity and relishing a spirited debate, not backing down or punting.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)