Posted by
Sgt.Stryker on Saturday, September 20, 2008 5:12:30 PM
Hail to my fellow vets and other like-minded (and quasi-like minded) righties. I hope this letter finds you well and in good spirits, all things considered. It's been a tough couple of weeks for everyone, considering the
economic rollercoaster, North Korea
announcing their intention to re-start their nuke program, and McCain giving up his lead in the polls.
I'm writing this letter to address the proposal set forth here in the TH blogatorium by the Saint Crispian's Day Society (SCDS) regarding the undermining of the McCain campaign in order to allow an Obama presidency, which will then (supposedly) guarantee a Republican victory in the 2010 congressional elections and the subsequent hope of reclaiming the White House in 2012.
I certainly have to agree that McCain is a flawed candidate. He has crossed the aisle so many times, it's a wonder the dems haven't asked him outright to caucus with them. His positions on ANWR, cap-and-trade, immigration and global warming are just downright frustrating and misdirected. I am sure some, if not most of you, can add any number of items to this list, which is not meant to be exhaustive. Obviously, you have enough grievances to consider his candidacy a deal-breaker if you are ready to vote third party, sit out, or, heaven forbid, cast a ballot for Barry. I have to say, I've read some pretty compelling arguments. Just the fact that Juan Hernandez is anywhere near McCain makes the bile rise in my throat. I was a big fan of Hunter and Romney early, but apparently the timing just wasn't right for those guys.
However, I think we need to take a deep breath and check ourselves before we wreck ourselves.
First, I have to ask, why should we concede anything? It is mid-september, and, given the notion that the Democrats were supposed to be winning this thing in a rout, it is shocking that Mac is within the MOE in most national polls. Furthermore, the conventional wisdom and polling shows the Republican brand has improved dramatically over the last few months. Fred Barnes at the
Weekly Standard says
"As recently as last June, an NBC/Wall Street Journal poll found voters with a 28 percent positive/47 percent negative attitude toward Republicans. By September, after the Republican convention, that had changed to 40 percent positive/43 percent negative.
Other polls have registered a similar improvement. "
See the rest of the article
here.
If Dubya keeps a low profile, this trend may very well continue. Imagine the effect of the economy improving (even marginally), gas prices dropping, and Iraq becoming a more obvious fait accomplit. What does Obama have left to run against?? We're still 45 days out...anything can happen on the foreign policy front, and Obambi will get the deer-in-the-headlights look again.
The Obiden ticket continues to step in it. Witness the terrible
ad that puts Rush right in the middle of the fray, and Biden's
call to pay higher taxes as a sign of patriotism, for example. I expect that trend to accelerate due to the pressures of the campaign and the debates. There certainly isn't any signal that the gaffe machine is being turned off. And, speaking of the debates, does anyone really believe Obama can hold this tenuous lead, given his inability to work
sans teleprompter?
Also, I believe Mac is waiting for the perfect time to unload the big guns on Obama and
FORCE the LSM to examine the good Senator's associations, affiliations, and "job performance" with
Annenberg et al more fully and publicly. There certainly has not been any due dilligence to this point, especially compared to the wringer Sarah has been put thru in her few weeks on the ticket. Obiden will not be able to withstand that degree of scrutiny on the alphabet channels,in front of the nation, and come out intact. Frank Marshall Davis, Saul Alinsky, the nutty Reverends, Rezko, and Obama's own voting record and statements are all incredibly heavy albatrosses to be hung around his neck in a public forum, with him in the room. He will not be able to get out from under them without looking desperate and exposed.
We also need to consider the potential for the
"Bradley Effect". I can see no reason why we should consider sandbagging ourselves if we may actually already be in the lead. It's one thing to give up when you are losing badly, withdraw, and live to fight another day. I know of no strategist worth their salt that would recommend throwing the election when you are in striking distance or actually winning.
With that fact in mind, it seems to me that this would not be the time to talk about bagging the whole thing. I understand the strategy is to try to gain a few more seats in Congress so the Dems can't have a veto-proof majority, but that looks like it may happen regardless. Why can't we have our cake and eat it too? I believe we may be best served to line-up behind Johnny AND work to improve our stead in Congress, thereby giving us some allies to work with in trying to keep Johnny in line on some of these more contentious issues. Throwing out the baby with the bathwater seems like an incredibly risky (and defeatist) tack.
When it's all said and done, I believe we are best served with opposing executive and legislative branches. I know for a fact that we are ill served with one party running both, regardless of who that may be.
Now, if you really have that big of an axe to grind against Mac, I get it. I'm not questioning anyone's patriotism or motive or anything remotely resembling that. I'm probably not intelligent enough, or astute enough, or informed enough to change your minds. All I would ask is this: wait til the end of October, and let's see where we are. If the
electoral map is obviously blue, then this strategy may have some merit and I'll be on board as well. But, from where I sit, it is way to early to be considering something as radical as what the SCDS is proposing.
I'm going to grab my flak jacket and steel pot now.