Comments Posted By Shelby
Displaying 21 To 30 Of 45 Comments
It's tempting to stay optimistic about the race, but I don't kid myself anymore. Besides, what's the point in winning if Democrats will spoil it by calling the country (and especially Republicans) racist? If McCain wins, the pundits will have a hay day pointing out all the ways they feel McCain ran a racist campaign, or how his speeches ignited inner racist thoughts in white Americans without them realizing it and other hocus pocus like that. So I'm almost at the point now where I would rather Obama win, because accusations of racism are serious and will harm the Republican party longer than we may realize.
Comment Posted By Shelby On 29.10.2008 @ 14:27
WHO ARE YOU CALLING A MODERATE?
Rick,
There are many people who are not interested in politics who suddenly become interested when an election rolls around. This might explain some of the nasty anti-intellectualism running rampant on the internet right now (but not all of it). People are angry and confused and choose to lash out at those who have opinions they do not understand.
But part of this lack of knowledge about conservatism could come from a real leadership void in the conservative movement. I think leadership void needs to be addressed because liberalism does not have that problem. Liberalism has tons of leaders teaching new voters about liberalism everyday--it's called college. If we want conservatism to survive, we need to come up with a more attractive vessel to educate the masses on conservative principles than the religious right or radio shows.
Comment Posted By Shelby On 28.10.2008 @ 14:13
OBAMA: THE NEW LEFT TRIUMPHANT
Yes! Thank you for drawing this connection. You hit the nail on the head. This is what I've been trying to explain to my liberal friends. It's not that I believe Obama is a socialist or out to destroy America (although I'm sure he will make plenty of naive mistakes). And I don't hate Obama either. It's just that I don't agree with his premise that America needs to be more "fair". Most of my friends, whether they are white or not, are of the opinion that everything they have is the result of hard work. This is the American spirit and it is what makes us so great. I do have a few progressive/socialist types friends, however, and they are of the view that many ethnic groups in America are poor because of racial economic inequality that was never "fixed" by our government after the freeing of the slaves and even after the Civil Rights movement. So in their opinion, it is fair and necessary to take away some of the natural economic advantage of other groups and give it to those on the bottom of the economic scale. So it doesn't surprise me that Obama in that tape directly addresses this issue and voices his concern that the Supreme Court never delved into redistribution of wealth. When I heard that tape, I knew exactly what he was talking about. It is about race. It is a progressive idea that the Civil Rights movement did not address economic inequality among racial groups.
My question is this: say Obama wins, and these ethnic groups are finally given a "leg up" on their disadvantage. What then? Will it solve the problem? Or will Obama be touted as a hero, as usual, when his plans have done little if anything to help? Just look at the apartment complexes in Chicago that his funding was supposed to help. They are in total disrepair. And that's what bugs me about trying to swallow Democrat's ideas. I don't think they are concerned with whether or not they WORK, I think they just enjoy feeling like saviors who finally tax America "fairly".
Comment Posted By Shelby On 27.10.2008 @ 09:56
THE MORAL COWARDICE OF SARAH PALIN
Thank you for opening comments again!
I have been noticing all of these negative polls coming out about Palin, and although I don’t believe in keeping my head in the sand if I discover conflicting information about my favorite candidate, I really find the results of that poll a little strange considering the huge rallies she has. I mean she regularly has rallies with 20,000 people. These negative polls are not a big surprise to me when I think about liberal’s reaction to her though. To put it mildly, LIBERAL WOMEN HATE HER. It started with her “insulting” pro-life views, and then after the “Palin shoots wolves from helicopters” ad it just turned into outright hatred, LOL. And you know, I am not a psychologist by any means, but I think liberal women’s hatred for her stems from the fact that they are used to hating Republicans and feeling like Republicans are a part of the whole mystical oppressive male society that is keeping them downtrodden and taking away their right to an abortion and sending them back to the kitchen. In other words, hating Republicans is a deep part of their identity. It literally tears them apart to have to admit that Republicans are not out to get women. But instead of dealing with this important revelation realistically, they choose to hate the source of the discomfort for any reason they can find. It’s like high school all over again.
About the abortion clinic bombings comment: I missed that part of the interview, but it is disappointing to me if any Republican refuses to call those wackos that bomb abortion clinics terrorists. I think she should have said that abortion clinic bombers are definitely terrorists, and if McCain had associated with an unrepentant abortion clinic bomber it would have been reprehensible. A comment like that would have pointed out the double standard at play here. Lefties think a 60's radical domestic terrorist is OK, but when it comes to abortion clinic bombers they suddenly rediscover their moral compass.
Comment Posted By Shelby On 25.10.2008 @ 15:56
I am still recovering from my rage yesterday on all these Joe the Plumber hit pieces. It’s amazing what can happen in 12 hours; I was in class all day yesterday and not online, but I instinctively felt Joe the Plumber had done something important and, quite frankly, I was inspired! After class I came and posted on your site about Joe as being the “October surprise”, and perhaps being the reason why McCain may still have a small chance in hell of winning. Then, shortly after posting on your site, I discovered the myriad of hit pieces on Joe all over the internet, including one done by the AP which used some rather deceptive phrasing to make it sound like Obama had answered Joe differently than he did, and there was no mention of redistribution of wealth anywhere. (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081016/ap_on_re_us/joe_the_plumber ).
This makes me furious. Joe is a citizen who dared to ask a candidate an honest question! Why is the focus on him and not what Obama said? What happened to "getting back to the issues"?? It’s really depressing to watch them do this to him. Will they ruin his career? I hope not. But if they do, I think we should all do something about it. I think we should run with this and support him and use it as an example of the media’s lack of objectivity. This is America and a citizen should not be silenced through smears because he does not have the majority opinion. The mainstream media seems like it’s becoming more of a follower of leftist blogs than an objective news source, and the leftist blogs tried to smear Joe the minute he started opening his mouth.
It’s obvious ordinary citizens should have one role and one role alone in this election: sit down, shut up, do nothing to improve their economic hardship, and wait for the Savior to arrive. Don’t dare argue with anything Obama believes in. He is the One we have been waiting for, and if you don’t agree with that, you don’t fit the storyline of this election, and you must be tossed out.
Would we on the right do the same? Honestly, it is so hard for me to imagine an alternative universe at the moment where the roles would be reversed and Republicans would be trying to smear a leftist citizen hero who opened his mouth. But, looking back, I remember how much of a laugh I used to get out of that anti-war mom parading around spewing anti-American crap(Cindy?? forget her last name). But she was an ordinary American and had an opinion. So I hope that this situation helps me recognize unfair smears in the future and not engage in them.
Comment Posted By Shelby On 17.10.2008 @ 11:01
TIME TO FORGET MCCAIN AND FIGHT FOR THE FILIBUSTER IN THE SENATE
If I had to put money on this election on who is going to win, I'd probably say Obama also. The bailout really tanked McCain's campaign if you ask me. So I don't fool myself. And I am of the opinion that if some conservatives have differing opinions, that is a good thing. We shouldn’t all have to toe the line, especially when we are on a sinking ship anyway.
But I don’t know Rick, we may not be totally sunk yet. I smell an October Surprise, and it smells a little like draino. Don’t laugh, but I think Joe the Plumber may be the best thing that happened to McCain’s campaign yet. This subject on redistribution of wealth and keeping taxes low is poking holes in the pipes on Obama’s warship, and if this subject really takes off and we have good voter turnout and not massive voter fraud we may just be able to win. (Well, as I write that, I hardly believe it myself, but stranger things have happened). Joe the Plumber has enabled McCain to change the subject to taxes, and point out that Obama believes in the redistribution of wealth. This is a simple argument that most Americans can understand, and McCain and Palin can make this argument more effectively than they have been able to make points about Obama’s character. The argument about Obama’s character revealed in his past associations was difficult to articulate in rallys and interviews without having those on the left interpret it as racism. The tax issue is also a great argument because everyday Americans who may not have the interest or the time to research and develop informed opinions on things like Obama’s past associations or his voting record can hear a 5 second sound bite about Joe the Plumber and instantly understand why they don’t want higher taxes. Also important: Joe the Plumber is giving interview after interview, which is like free McCain ads, and advertising dollars is something McCain simply can't match Obama on since Obama turned down public financing and is now being financed by millions of die hard Democrats and odd random names who are listed at working at places that don't exist.
But, even though I’m a little more optimistic than I was before yesterday, I still think we need to prepare ourselves for defeat. Obama walks on water. I have watched as one “shocking” news story/internet buzz came out about Obama after another, but nothing has stopped him. So how is a silly plumber going to take him down? Maybe this will be the straw that broke the camel's back. Obama is a likeable politician, something even I can admit as a conservative, so people don't want to believe he he has a shady past. But leave it something simple like taxes, and you got yourself an excuse not to vote for him.
Comment Posted By Shelby On 16.10.2008 @ 17:16
A SHORT, BUT PIQUANT NOTE, ON KNUCKLEDRAGGERS
I feel bad for Rick suddenly! He spends a lot of time on his postings and he wants intellectual discourse from his readers, but instead he has to read the ramblings of a bunch of belly button gazers who can’t even spare 10 minutes to edit their posts to make sure they are on subject. His cats could write better comments than we do! But, let me reflect: have I always spent adequate time on my posts? Have I always made sure they were relevant points? Hmm. Probably not. There were a few times when I was exhausted from studying and just wanted to type something to entertain myself, even if it wasn’t 100% related. Call it “keyboard therapy”. I think that’s why most bloggers enjoy blogging. I am certainly guilty of that from time to time. I am also guilty of skimming over quotes in Rick's posts if I have already read the article he is mentioning. I read about politics way too much and sometimes I just need to SLOW DOWN... :)
But Rick, if my posts ever seem more like decorated party napkins than relevant intelligent discourse, please let me know. Until then I would be honored to take up space on your webpage with my idle thoughts! :)
Comment Posted By Shelby On 15.10.2008 @ 13:52
BLACK NIGHT RIDERS TERRORIZING OUR POLITICS
Rick, this is another excellent post. I too have noticed an increased outcry in the past 3 days in all these commentaries and honestly, it is getting frightening. I can't even go down the daily article lineup without seeing some racism hit piece. I was horrified when I read that piece in the American Prospect that you quoted--the one that claims anyone who accuses Obama of socialist leaning policies is being racist. Give me a break. So now economic debate with Obama is off limit too? Do we really want to live in a world where all disagreement is trampled down with cries of racism?
I would pose this question: how are we really helping minorities in this country if the Left is shouting to the hills each time we disagree with a minority candidate? It's almost as if the Left wants to keep finding examples of racism, because as long as they can do that, the longer the Republicans can be made out to be Boogey Men (and Women). I consider myself an intellectual conservative who is open to debate and discussion. I don't dislike Democrats. But this--these wild accusations of racism have got to stop. It is going to harm our country worse than the tiny vein of racism that is still running through our country ever could.
You know what's really ironic though is 3 days ago I was really trying to understand where Democrats were coming from when they cried "Racism". I was commenting on your site that Democrats usually cry "racism!" because of the concept of "otherness", and how they interpret attacks on Obama as attempts to "otherize" him. I can certainly understand how that is not acceptable. But you know, this whole thing is going too far now. I feel like I might as well not even try to understand the other side anymore and that to me is sad. If liberals want a world like this--where debate about economic policies are instantly stamped as racist attacks--then so be it. What do they think will happen in an Obama administration? Heaven forbid someone argue with Obama!! I mean, debate just might lead to better policy! Better to just let him decide policy without any debate whatsoever, right? We've all seen what happens to Presidents who don't take to varied opinions warmly...
Comment Posted By Shelby On 14.10.2008 @ 18:40
REZKO SINGING: OBAMA SWEATING?
Oh boy, this goes a lot deeper than I thought. I may need to take a step back and apply some more powerful analytical skills than I did when Palin's Tanning Bed scandal and Troopergate scandal came out. Whew!
Comment Posted By Shelby On 11.10.2008 @ 16:05
ARE CONSERVATIVES ANGRIER THAN LIBERALS?
Interesting post Rick! I wanted to share with you why I think that Democrats say Republicans are using all these “racial code words”. Even though I am a Republican, I am in a unique position to observe Democrats because I am currently going to a very liberal college and am being submitted to all kinds of liberal core curriculum. This term I am enrolled in "America's Diverse Cultural Heritage", which is liberal-speak for "America's Shameful Racist Past". In this class, we learn all about how whites trampled all over minorities ever since our country’s founding, and how minorities still get the short end of the stick today. In most of these books on subjects of race I’ve noted that they refer to minorities as “the other”, because throughout US history, that’s what minorities were according to whites. They were considered by whites to be foreigners, un-American, only suited for menial labor, barred from simple rights like voting and owning property, etc. Our teacher has us reading “A Different Mirror” by Ronald Takaki now to study the history of race in the US. But anyway, after hearing all this liberal-speak about race, I can honestly say that I understand now when they say Palin is using “racial code words”, and I’m not writing this to criticize you, I just found it interesting because I know for me as an eternally optimistic Republican who still gets tears in her eyes when I hear Martin Luther King Jr’s speech, it was hard for me to understand how any Republican could be accused as racist. But let me explain how Republicans look through Democrat eyes. When Palin gets on stage and proclaims “He’s not one of us!” it sounds like whites long ago subverting and discriminating against minorities, such as during the Great depression when whites demanded jobs over minorities just because they were white. Of course, this isn’t Palin’s intention at all so I definitely don’t think it’s appropriate to accuse her of it. She just doesn’t know how to speak in Democrat code words, and if there’s one thing Democrats love, it’s whatever is being taught in liberal universities.
But you know, this is politics, and politics is bloodsport. A key part of winning any election is to make your appointment seem like that “other guy”—a shady individual who is up to no good. Just because the McCain/Palin ticket is pointing out Obama’s interesting past does not make them racist, you know? So I don’t totally buy into all this “Republicans are racist!” chest thumping. We may not know all the special decoder ring ways of addressing race, but I tell you what, we still believe in giving anyone a fair shot regardless of gender or race.
Comment Posted By Shelby On 10.10.2008 @ 18:59
