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Name: C. L. Palmer
Location: Fort Wayne, IN
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The Dream Made Real... Almost

Posted by C. L. Palmer on Wednesday, October 29, 2008 2:23:58 PM
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. had a dream, a vision of a day when men would be judged by the content of their character, when the issue of race would finally be left behind, when we would all see ourselves as part of one conglomerate people rather than a jumble of divergent races and cultures. The Obama nomination, and the subsequent debate, represents a near-realization of that vision. Republicans from John McCain to Rush Limbaugh have not criticized Barack Obama for his race, but only for his words and actions. Frankly, the issue of race has only been raised in response to charges of racism on the part of the Obama camp. That, in brief, is the problem. It isn't the white racists who carry the torch of racial differentiation these days; it's the descendants of those who were once victims.
 
The average white Conservative would much rather forget the issue of race as a whole. To begin with, the very concept of racial division is becoming somewhat obsolete. Many, if not most, of us are of mixed racial heritage. I myself am part Cherokee. My children are Pomo Indian and Hispanic. My neice is white, black, and Philipino. In my family, race is simply a moot point. I notice the same trend occurring all over the country. Let's face it: despite the fervent wishes of Liberals everywhere, the Melting Pot still exists and is doing its job.
 
Moreover,  those of the thirty-something generation and younger have never lived in a time when racism was viewed as tolerable. We have a hard time conceptualizing just what everyone is so upset about. I, for one, don't carry around anger because banks forced my grandfather off his land during the Dust Bowl. By the same token, I have little sympathy for those who blame their indigence and lack of success on slavery and past racism. Those things didn't happen to you! Aside from the ever-depleting population who experienced segregation first-hand, most African-Americans have never experienced legally enforced racism. Few have experienced even acts of explicit, overt racism either. Thus we constantly hear of "code words," "looks," and the "you can just tell" variety of experiences which often tell more about the percipient than the accused racist.
 
In short, it's time we got over the issue of race. The Republicans have. Someday, if they see it as politically expedient, even Democrats may. Only when a black candidate can run without anyone, especially the candidate himself, even thinking of race as a factor will Dr. King's dream have come true. We're halfway there. Barack and friends, the ball is in your court.
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Tom Brokaw Chose the Questions

Posted by C. L. Palmer on Wednesday, October 08, 2008 8:19:17 AM
I know this sounds a bit cynical, but am I the only one who noticed just how alien the questions seemed to the people reading them? One woman literally had trouble pronouncing her own words. Excuse me? Isn't the point of a "town hall" forum that people get to choose their own questions and raise the kinds of issues that may not be getting a lot of attention? Wouldn't you have liked to hear about immigration, tariffs, and paying off the national debt? Wouldn't you have liked to hear about what kind of criteria each candidate would have for nominating someone to the Supreme Court? There would actually be some meat to that conversation. This debate seemed like a conversation not about whether or not we should be socialists, but just how fast we ought to travel in that direction. Even if Brokaw didn't write the questions, he certainly seemed to have picked the safest ones for Obama. It almost seems as if Barack had given him a pre-approved list of issues from which to choose, and he stuck to it. I mean, in any crowd you'll get some safe questions for Obama, but I'm sure at least one person asked about Jeremiah Wright. Somehow, I imagine Brokaw blowing his nose into that sheet of paper, or perhaps bringing it into the restroom with him.
 
McCain wants the government to buy up individual housing? Is he crazy? I know this runs contrary to most ofthe coventional wisdom, but low housing values are good for America. They make buying a home affordable for the rising generations. This artificial crest of home prices necesitated the kinds of idiots-only loans that got us into this whole mess. If we can keep housing affordable, well, people can afford it. Why are gas prices too high, but house prices too low? Yes, the banks were screwed over by the regulations and government policies that encouraged stupid loan practices (by the way, McCain should have taken that angle in the debate), but the net result, once we bail out the banks, is affordable housing. That's not really such a bad thing.
 
This debate only made me more confused as to whom I want to win. I'm afrid of what Obama might do, but more afraid that we'll never notice just how much over the precipice we are sliding until we hit bottom. Last night, McCain had the historic opportunity to explain how and why command economies (like Obama's health care plans would produce) have failed and always will. He opted instead for obscure finger pointing about votes no one really cares about or understands. And sadly, Sarah Palin wasn't there to bail him out. 
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The Camel and the (Republican Party) Tent

Posted by C. L. Palmer on Thursday, September 04, 2008 5:41:26 PM
If you are one of the unfortunate few who are unfamiliar with this allegory, allow me to sum it up for you:
 
An Arab merchant is travelling across the desert on his camel. He notices that a sandstorm is coming, so he quickly pitches his tent and shelters beneath it, leaving his thickly-furred camel outside as the tent is barely large enough for one. As the storm rages, the camel sticks its nose inside the flap. The merchant thinks, "How can I deny him this? It must surely be difficult to breath out there in the storm."
 
A few minutes later, the camel puts its entire head in the tent. The merchant doesn't object, as he understands that the sand must surely sting the eyes and ears of the poor beast. A few minutes later, the camel puts its neck inside as well. This, too, is allowed. Later, the camel's front two feet make their way into the tent. By this time, the merchant has curled himself into a ball to make room for the camel. He is quite uncomfortable, but knows that it would take a lot of effort to make the camel back out. He decides just to live with it.
 
By the time the storm is over, the camel is completely inside the tent. The merchant lies buried in sand outside.
 
Fellow conservatives, we are the merchants here. The "big tent" of the Republican Party is making many of us feel uncomfortable. The nomination of John McCain was like the camel inserting its feet into the tent. Now we, the true backbone of the party, find ourselves having to curl up and endure. Face it: We have lost control of our own party.
 
Now we are faced with a Faustian dilemma if ever there were one. Do we simply go with the flow, and accept irrelevance in the future of the Republican power structure? Or, do we stay home in November and allow a rabid socialist to run the country? Neither option is particularly attractive. I am the last person to say that we ought to elect Obama. McCain is certainly the lesser of the two evils with which we are presented. Just for that, he has my vote. Why? Not voting is voting for Obama. I can't do that. But part of me, a big part of me, wants to see Obama win. Perhaps, as Poe described it, I've fallen victim to "The Imp of the Perverse." Maybe, seeing us contemplating the view from the precipice, part of me is simply tempted to take a flying leap. I don't believe that's it, though. I have faith in the average American. We've been Slouching Towards Gomorrah for so long that few would notice the few steps McCain would take us in that direction. Obama, on the other hand, has some shock value. I have enough faith in America to believe that once we see what liberals really want to accomplish, the pendulum will finally start to swing in the right direction, which is the Right direction.
 
Best case scenario, for America? McCain wins, Palin governs, and yes, I know that's a horrible thought. I am ashamed already for thinking it. But... am I wrong? 
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McCain to Dems: Check! But is the match won?

Posted by C. L. Palmer on Monday, September 01, 2008 2:41:10 PM
The surprise appointment of the female governor of Alaska as the Republican vice-presidential nominee sent shock waves through the media and the Republican base last week. As strategy, it's a no-brainer. Hillary supporters are angry with Obama and the DNC for rejecting their girl; McCain appoints a female, hoping to sop up some of those voters.Will it work?

I don't think so. Republicans aren't particular about the gender of their candidates. We tend to vote issues over personality. Leaving aside the fact that John McCain was even elected the nominee (a feat largely made possible by the existence of open ballots in many key states), we will admire the savvy behind the choice, but it won't be enough to get us to the polls for McCain. He knows this. He didn't nominate her for us. He did so for Democrats. They, not us, are his target audience.

If he was after the Republican base, he would have nominated Romney. Sarah Palin is a good choice. Don't get me wrong. As far as I can tell, she would make a fine president if such became necessary. Her Conservative credentials are solid. However, a Romney nomination would have locked in the votes of all of us who felt that McCain was nominated largely because of a couple of dirty tricks.

McCain has a similar problem to Obama's. A significant number of Republicans were backing the other horse, passionately so. His nomination doused our hopes, quenching the flame that had ignited so much excitement during the early stages of the primary. We were hoping for another Reagan, but we got a Dole. That fact alone may well affect Republican turnout this November. McCain can get all of the Hillary voters he wants, but without the support of the base, he's toast.

I have said before and I'll say again that I think the nation needs an Obama victory. We need someone to wake us up to the realities of Left-Wing extremism. We have forgotten where that road leads. It will be painful, but it will lead us to a brighter future. We're a bit like addicts, we Americans. We're addicted to pork and deficit spending, addicted to our entitlements. We'll never get around to weaning ourselves without hitting bottom. Thus, I support Obama. He is the rock bottom we need so we can bounce back into sanity and common sense.





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The Dangers of a McCain Victory

Posted by C. L. Palmer on Tuesday, August 05, 2008 4:33:28 PM
There are four possible scenarios this November. I will list them in order from best to worst.
 
1. The Republicans sweep Congress, and John McCain wins. This is the only circumstance where I believe John McCain will feel safe to act like a Conservative. He will feel that's the way the political winds are blowing, and, let's face it, that's the kind of politician he is. If he feels a push to the right, he'll go there. That's straight talk, from me at least. A Republican legislature is the most important aspect of this scenario. As much emphasis as the presidential race may get from the news media, those of us who actually pay attention to this stuff realize that the composition of the Congress is infinitely more important. That is why the next best scenario is...
 
2. The Republicans take control of Congress, and Barack Obama wins. This will be the classic Bill Clinton scenario. Obama will pontificate, complain, use (and hopefully wear out) the race card, and generally make an arse of himself, but will be unable to do any real damage. In the meantime, the freshman Republicans will still have cajones enough to advance a Conservative agenda, balancing budgets, scaling back Liberal spending programs, maybe even banning earmarks. (I can dream, can't I?) Sure, Obama will take credit for everything the Republicans forced him to do, but at least it will get done.
 
3. The Democrats keep the Congress, and Obama wins. Okay, on the home front, everything will go to Hell in a handbasket, just like it did the first two years of the Clinton administration. After that, however, we'll get the chance to say "I told you so!" and elect a new Congress. Trust me, even two years of unchecked Liberalism will be enough to convince America that there needs to be a change. If we're lucky, Obama will be a one-termer, and we can get on with real Conservatism that much faster. Remember, Bill Clinton would have lost, even to Bob Dole, if it weren't for Ross Perot. How the Libs have the gall to complain about Ralph Nader's measly couple of percentage points is beyond me.
 
4. The worst case scenario is if the Democrats keep the Congress, and John McCain wins. As much as I admire his military service, being a Republican maverick means going along with the Liberal agenda even more than the rest of your spineless peers. What we'll get is another Liberal administration, but with an "R" next to it. Just as Obama would take credit for any success Congress has, John McCain will be given the blame for any failures caused by another term of the Pelosi Congress. She will then blame Republicans in general, and use that strategy to gain seats in the next election, and foul things up even more. Conservatism, and America in general, will be set back for decades. If such must occur, I'd rather be able to blame a Democrat, wouldn't you?
 
The Congress and Senate are the real seats of power in this country; read your Constitution. They are the first branch of government to be addressed, and for good reason. Military command aside, the president is largely a figurehead. Sure, he can veto, but Congress can override it. Besides, ask yourself: Do you see John McCain using the veto pen?
 
I don't.  
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The Enthusiam Gap

Posted by C. L. Palmer on Tuesday, June 24, 2008 10:46:10 AM
If I were a betting man, I'd have to place my money on Obama winning this November. I don't want him to win. Actually, I think he'd be a disaster the likes of which even Jimmy Carter would envy. Still, I don't see a realistic scenario in which McCain carries off a victory.
 
Here's why: Nobody feels the enthusiasm for John McCain that liberals do for Barack Obama. Sure, the negatives for Obama are much higher than they are for McCain, but McCain's positives are also much lower. In my life, I've never seen a weak candidate win because people disliked his opponent.
 
Let's learn a lesson from the Kerry campaign. John Kerry is the Democrat equivalent of McCain, after all. He was a long-time senator who felt it was his turn being president. He was a liberal who still vowed to finish out the war in Iraq, though he didn't agree with all of the reasons for being there. He was vilified by the opposing party, as always occurs, but for trivial reasons (like flip-flopping). The only thing he had going for him, from a liberal standpoint, was that he wasn't the eeeeeeeeeevil George W. Bush. Liberals hate Bush. Even many Republicans resent him as a mumble-mouthed hick who is soft on immigration (hence his extremely low approval rating). If an opponent's negatives mean anything, Kerry should have stomped Bush in 2004. That didn't happen.
 
You see, there was no real reason to vote for John Kerry, just as there is no reason to vote for John McCain. His only asset is what he isn't: Barack Obama. We fear Obama, and rightfully so, as the symbol of the triumph of socialism. This is the same reason he is practically worshiped by the Far Left. He is God to them. He can do no wrong. An Obama rally is practically a rock concert, right down to the hippies and the marijuana smoke wafting through the air. The atheist Left has substituted Barack Obama in that place in the human psyche that Deity belongs. He fulfills the natural human instinct for worship. He will affect turnout in November for the mere reason that Democrats will finally have a candidate, like Clinton, with whom they can identify. Clinton, after all, was an amoral sexaholic. Democrats know where he's coming from. Obama is as liberal as they come. He's so pro-abortion that he would kill the "fetus" even after delivery, as long as the intention of the delivery was a partial-birth abortion. (Oops! The head came out too quickly. Oh well, let's suck the brains out anyway!) He wants the federal government to take over huge segments of the economy, including health care and, quite possibly, even the oil industry. He has a clear disdain for what most Americans consider Christianity. He hates America, and thinks it can only be redeemed from its racist, imperialistic past by electing him. Oh, yes, and did I mention that he's black? (I'm quoting Obama himself here.)
 
Obama is the graven image the pagans have chosen to worship. Now they have two gods: Gaea and Barack. They will show up to vote, in droves. Will the fear of an Obama presidency be enough to get us to come vote for McCain? History suggests it won't be.
 
The Mayan calendar predicts that the world will end in 2012. This would be at the end of Obama's first term. Coincidence? Hmm....
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