My biggest beef with Governor Mark Sandord

Yes, I have serious problems with the fact that Governor Mark Sanford betrayed his marriage vows and the trust of those who elected him in South Carolina. If I wanted to get into those areas I could write volumes. He has a lot to answer for to his wife, children and everyone who respected him.

However, my biggest beef with Sanford is his stupidity, his lack of political savvy, his inability to see the big picture and the devastation his acts would cause.

What made this man think he could do what he did and be invisible? What inner weakness made him willing to toss away everything for a woman? Guess that one's an age-old question .

However, age old questions aside...

Anyone in the public eye these days should know that they can't get away with anything for long. If they haven't been caught or outed already, there's someone somewhere holding onto the juicy tidbit just waiting for the right moment to use the info. Whether they want to use the indiscretion to blackmail, coerce or destroy, there is a political opponent who's hanging onto the ticking time bomb with hand-rubbing glee.

Sanford of all people should have known that once he defied Obama his opponents would be coming after him... big time. He should have known they'd be watching him like a hawk, digging for dirt and trying to find his weaknesses. Unfortunately, that's politics. In fact, it's not just politics, it's business, it's life.

But for someone who's ratcheted up their visibility in the political arena to be so stupid as to think they could have an affair and NOT get caught is the ultimate idiocy.

Especially as a Republican, as a self-proclaimed Conservative.

Sure, we all make mistakes.

Sure, we all do silly things, sometimes stupid things, when we're in the throes of love or lust.

But you don't thrust yourself into the national arena, take a stand against whoever is in the highest office in the country and then expect to be invisible. It compounds the indiscretion, it magnifies the betrayal because you've thrust yourself into the spotlight and touted your values. You've asked to be a figure of trust for not only your family, fellow church members and local voters, but for your Party and the country as a whole.

What the heck did this man think when he decided to take off to another part of the world to be with a woman? with the "other" woman??? Never mind, I already know the answer to that one... we know he wasn't thinking about anything but his own self-gratification.

At a time when more than anything we need strong leaders with a strong core, Sanford let not just his wife and family down, he let his country down, he let every person who believed in what he was "selling" down.

The last thing Republican's need at this critical time in our country is to be opening doors for anyone to attack with credibility.

Look at Sarah Palin. She has done nothing wrong, she stands on principles, sticks to her core values, protects her family, fights the good fight and gets reviled. She should be an object lesson to anyone who puts themselves in the public eye. If you don't have to do anything other than breath to be attacked, you should definitely make sure you don't give your opponents anything REAL to use against you...

Sanford should have been intelligent enough to realize that those in the opposing political arena (even those in the same Party) look for weakness. They look for flaws. He had people gunning for him the moment he ran for office... more when his name came up as a potential Presidential candidate... and even more as soon as he said no to bailout monies...

Sanford's betrayal goes way beyond the devastation of his family life, his political career and the people of South Carolina. He gave the "other" side something to hang their attack hat on and hurt every Conservative who sticks to their guns, who's strong enough to stand on their values even when it costs them personally. He gave all of those who oppose Conservative values and principals mud to throw at ALL Conservatives.

We expect more of those we put into office. We know they're human, we know they make mistakes, but during these critical times when the Republican Party and Conservatives in all parties have enough to deal with, we need those in elected office to stand taller and to stand stronger.

Sanford deserves the censure of the South Carolina GOP. He deserves our censure. Asking for, and recieving, forgiveness doesn't mean there shouldn't be consequences.

Time for a revolution.

We're heading back to the days of imperialism if not worse.

Our country was formed to get away from the tyranny that is in the works as I type.

There's a master plan at play and too many Americans are blindly going about their daily lives as the plan is enacted.

Czars that report directly to the President bypassing Congress?
Companies owned and run by the government?
"State run" (ie., government) health care?
The Census.
Now the CRAP and TAX?

The list is much longer than I just popped out. You will wake up and we'll be living in 1984, Soylent Green or some combination of all the books we toss out as "don't want to go there's".

While protests are good and great and I'll be there, we need to be organizing to get the vote out. I know the protests are great ways to energize and engage more people, they're helping to bring attention to causes and hopefully wake up a few of our sleeping Republicans. But we also need to be pounding the streets, handing out information, organizing to go door to door and more.

It is going to take non-politicians to make it happen. It's going to take you and I working our tails off like the organizers of the Tea Party groups are doing (major kudos to all of you!). More Americans HAVE to get involved. More Americans HAVE to wake up.

What is it with these idiot Republicans who voted YES for crap and tax??? Unfortunately, there are many in Washington who sell their souls daily to stay in power. They compromise their principles to appease their voters. I don't know the motivation of the turncoats who sold their countries future in the crap and tax vote. They can dress it up rhetorically any way they want, but the bottom line is they stabbed our free America in the back. One day, if history books are still being freely and truthfully written, their names will be listed in the same column we put Neville Chamberlain, Benedict Arnold and their ilk.

Our Republican politicians need to keep their pants zipped, too. Everyone is human, they fail, but man when a Republican steps over the line it becomes the world's biggest news story. It's a distraction and the press loves it. Can't you guys be good enough long enough to allow us a couple of good elections?

There are a lot of things at play right now. It's the perfect storm as everyone has become fond of saying. Every time one of our Republican politicians steps off the straight and narrow track due to egos, the idiotic thought that they can hide something, letting power mush their judgement, believing the hype or whatever, they poke a hole in our ship. The ship that is already battling the perfect storm.

Too many topics to cover... crap and tax, dallying politicians, vote rigging, protests, America asleep at the wheel.

It's time for a revolution. I'm just not sure if there are sufficient numbers of us out here who are engaged and care enough to make it happen. I hope there are, I hope we can connect and organize. Hope is not a method, but it surely is important! Hope and action combined can work miracles.

Viva la revolution. Let's get it on.

The politics of inclusion and compromise

The following comment was left on one of my earlier blogs. The anonymous contributor wrote this regarding an ad I posted that a group ran on Inauguration day (I'd have to go back and look to see which group and what was in it as I've posted a lot of info on my blogs this past week!).

Wow! In content and tone this ad is SO reminiscent of the negative campaign ads that ran for months before Obama was elected. (Do you think that there's a correlation between the two?) Come on! Inclusion is the name of the game. United we stand. And united we'd better stand...because believe it our not, there is a world of challenges inside and issues outside of the US and Alaska.... (The economy is a global one, remember?) At least give him credit for picking people who will not continue to torture our enemies as the last administration did. That's returning to the Constitution.

I found the comment funny. Not ha ha funny, but scratch your head funny.

For the past eight years (at least) conservatives have been bombarded with attacks, slurs, and slander from the left. We've endured the media twisting of information, misinformation in the media, and the list goes on. If George W. Bush said it, then the press and liberals attacked. Viciously.

Pleas to Democrats to unite, to work together, went unheeded. Attempts to compromise were scoffed at by those on the other side of the aisle. A war was waged in the media and on the Internet against conservative values and conservatives in general. It's still being waged.

Now that Obama, Pelosi, Reid and friends are in power and working to cram their agendas down the throats of the country, all of a sudden Republicans are supposed to roll over, toss our principles into the trash can and swallow our values? Maybe we should just act like the liberals have been acting for oh so many years.

Uniting would mean welcoming abortion.
Uniting would mean believing a pork package is going to save our economy.
Uniting would mean sending our tax dollars to fund abortions around the world.
Uniting would mean trying to smother those who have sworn to destroy us with peace, love and hugs.
Uniting would mean the un-"Fairness Doctrine" which is the beginning of the end of free speech.
Uniting would mean trashing our work ethics and voting rights to satisfy Union bosses.

Somehow I don't see conservatives giving up on the Constitution, giving up on free speech, the right to life, voting rights, protecting our country and self responsibility.

Where's the middle ground? Only kill some babies in the womb? Only give up some of our voting rights? Stop a few from exercising their right to free speech? Just hug the terrorists who's name begins with an H?

Why should conservatives handle things any differently than the liberals, progressives, Democrats or whatever label is pc at the moment? I don't expect to see conservatives stooping to the tactics used by many liberals. However, we will fight for our country and we won't compromise our principles.

I don't know how to solve the problems of this country or the world. I don't see a middle ground in many of the issues. It does seem to be a battle that will continue for many years to come. It's possible that having lost this past election that we will find we've lost the country. I hope not. I'm not giving up and I intend to cling to my guns and Bible (although I don't actually own a gun ;-) as long as I possibly can.

Oh, one more short comment to the anonymous comment poster --- give it up on the torture stuff. I won't even bore my intelligent readers with delving into that talking point.

Ah, and I can't resist another little shot --- if the economy is such an important issue (and I believe it is), how come Mr. Obama just decided to send millions of dollars out of the country to fund abortion clinics? Take a look at the "stimulus" package he's pushing. It's not a stimulus package, it's a pork package with a lot of money stuck in there for social engineering and other things that will have zippo affect on the economy.

And, finally, to end my long post... I'm not about to start a comment war or blogging war with progressives, liberals, Democrats, etc. so don't expect me to do this again! I'd been thinking about writing on the topic and that post comment just fell into my lap at the right time so I decided to use it.

Steele Officially Announces

I understand Newt Gingrich isn't going to run for it, he's going to back Steele. I like Steele, at least when he's talking on the radio. He's not afraid to be out there fighting for his principles. I have no idea how he'll be as a leader. Sometimes being able to speak is enough, but in this case the Republican Party needs someone who has the ability to herd cats.

We need change in the Republican Party and it does need to start from the top. I think if Steele gets the job we'll have the folks at the bottom wanting change and the guy at the top wanting change. It'll be up to us to squeeze out the status-quo, power happy types. We'll need to make sure we don't sweep out the wheat with the chaff, too. (Bad analogy these days as people are paying big bucks for the chaff... ya know, that high priced fiber you're buying...)

Steele Announces Candidacy for RNC Chairman
(BUSINESS WIRE)--Former Lieutenant Governor Michael Steele today announced his candidacy for the position of Chairman of the Republican National Committee.Steele was clear in his reason for running by saying, “the Republican Party must present a vision for the future of America that relies on our conservative values and core principles. It is wrong to believe the voters have suddenly become liberal. They have just lost any sense of confidence that the Republican Party holds the answers to their problems. We must face the fact that our party has failed in recent years to live up to our own principles -- we have failed to be ‘solutions oriented’ in addressing the concerns of all Americans.”...

TV Fast for John McCain and Sarah Palin

We fast during Lent, we fast in prayer, we fast for intersession.

It struck me that the most powerful fast we could hold would not be a food fast, but a TV fast now through the election.

Except Fox News maybe if you're desperate!

I'm serious about this idea.

It would have a strong impact in numerous ways.

One, we could show the media how tired we are of the way they twist the facts, support candidates, and generally program our family's minds.

Second, it would act as a cleansing. Clear your mind of the garbage that is dumped into it every day by the programs we watch and the subtle messages that are conveyed.

Third, it would help to focus our minds on the importance of electing those who support our values.

Fourth, it would give us precious time. Time to make calls, to write our friends and those we barely know (or strangers) and time to help get John McCain and Sarah Palin elected.

Fifth, it could show our strength as a conservative block.

Sixth, if you believe fasting works, and I do, then this could be just what we need.

We need to send a powerful message and show our strength as conservatives, as supporters of values that go beyond the White House.

It's early morning and I'm just starting to flesh this idea out. I'm tossing it out there to my blogging brethren to help firm it up and sign on if you're interested. I'm going to pass the idea along to W.A.M., McCain-Palin08, NOBamanation and some other groups to see what they think. I already have a logo in mind and am willing to put feet to the words.

Let me know what you think.

Spot the Flag

I thought it would be fun to start a new game: Spot the Flag on Obama's Lapel.

I noticed last night he was wearing it. Is he going to wear it at every public appearance from now through November 4th? Will it come off the day after the election (win or lose)?

Let's all start noting when he's wearing it and see if we can find times when he's not. Everyone knows he just started wearing it because it became a political liability not to wear it.

I'm betting he wears it everywhere except when he's talking to liberal groups or is at a political fund raiser in Hollywood.

Spot the Flag on Obama's Lapel.

Just got back from An American Carol --- Go see it!

I laughed. That alone makes it worth going to see! But the message is great so that makes it very well worth going to see.

It has a great cast of characters. It's definitely a message movie!

The Hollywood types have given it rating on the low end (2 stars out of 5 and similar), but those who've been to see it are giving it 4 and 5 stars.

We need to support movies like this one. It's very direct, nothing subtle about it like the usual left-message movie, but given there's not many opportunities to put out movie vehicles with a good message, I think they had to be obvious.

Parents will find it's a good teaching movie with plenty to discuss afterwards. There's some language in it (no taking God's name in vain or the nasty stuff), and it's your typical Airplane (remember that movie?) type humor but it'll have you laughing and may even bring a few tears to your eyes with the strong patriotic message that runs through the entire picture.

Bottom line, go see it. Help the cause. If you have a problem with the bit of language, buy tickets and give them to some friends. I like it that a number of the actors in the movie are openly supporting John McCain. You have to love the fact that they feel so strongly about their values that they're willing to buck the rest of the Hollywood sheep.