Don’t Get Me Started
Don’t Get Me Started
Before you vote
VALDOSTA, GA -- Before you go to the polls, you should remember a few more things that I may not have covered in my last column.
The foremost thought is that "change" does not necessarily mean for the better. Every 16 years, we get a fresh-faced, young, vibrant, and likable politician spouting nothing beyond the word "change." No substance. Change. No specifics. Change. No agenda. Change. No tidbits for voters to digest.
And if that’s the case, be careful what you wish for because you may get it -- good and hard.
Already there are mumblings around various cities that riots may occur on election night, win or lose. Sounds almost like a threat. This is unacceptable. This great republic has a perfect record of peaceful transitions of power. Riots are wrong. You want to smash in windows and burn cars? Go smash and burn your own stuff. Leave the responsible citizens alone.
Radio giant Howard Stern (whom I despise) replayed a few "man on the street" interviews recently. People in Harlem supported Obama but had absolutely no clue why. When they were asked about issues, they stated their support for McCain’s mindset, not Obama’s. They even went as far as telling the reporter that they would be glad to have Sarah Palin as Obama’s VP! That’s beyond ignorance. And the Obama campaign is exploiting it.
No one who pays attention to politics should be the least bit surprised about Colin Powell endorsing Obama. Yes, he is registered a Republican. Yes, he served under the two Presidents Bush. But in between his time as Joint Chiefs Chairman and Secretary of State, did you notice something? Whenever then-President Bill Clinton introduced the next big-government nanny program, who was at his side touting it as the greatest thing to hit America since the transistor radio? General Colin Powell. Surprise!
He’s a liberal. Deal with it. Come to think of it, Powell’s endorsement was simply a repackaged "hope and change" message with more flowery words. All foam. No beer. When Powell was an Army flag officer, he had my undying loyalty. When he served as President Bush’s chief diplomat, he was the best pick for the job. As a politician, he will never get my vote. Liberals won’t ever get my endorsement, no matter how much I like them personally or respect their previous lines of work.
Sarah Palin and Joe the Plumber are the two best things to happen to the McCain campaign since Joe Biden. Speaking of Biden, have you wondered why his teeth are so pearly white? It’s because he’s changed his candy-eating habits. Now whenever he gets a craving for something sweet, he simply sticks his foot in his mouth. Keep talking, Joe. We love it.
Establishment congressmen and senators need to consider retiring. Political newcomers, like Lt. Col. Bill Russell of Pennsylvania, are looking to toss the haggard, do-nothing, moss-covered, elitists out on their political ears. Same with Bobby Jindal, Sarah Palin, and Donald Carcieri. And it’s about time! Take note: Status quo is slowly withering on the vine.
And one more thing about the Republican Party: I’m not happy with the national party. In fact, I am far from pleased. For over a decade, they have done what they could to "expand" their membership by compromising core values. In the name of popularity, the GOP has abandoned some of their basic tenets that differentiate them from their opponents. And what kind of thanks do we, the party conservative faithful, get for such supposed generosity? A figurative knife in the back.
Colin Powell, Chuck Hagel, William Weld, and others have supported Barack Obama, despite giving the liberal wing of the GOP a liberal presidential candidate. In fact, we allowed the party to nominate the very candidate they wanted and it still wasn’t good enough. Next time, let’s nominate a true conservative.
Finally, conservative candidates win when they campaign in a three-fold manner.
1. Speak consistently and clearly about conservative ideals.
2. Do not ever back down from your conservative philosophy.
3. Never apologize for being conservative.
This do, and thou shalt win, saith Andy Hefty.
