Posted on 03/09/2010 8:28:51 PM PST by Brices Crossroads
I cannot tell how much of this outrage about Sarah Palin's endorsement of McCain is feigned by those who do not wish her well. It is not principally to those folks that this post is directed.
To those conservatives who are genuinely disappointed by Sarah Palin's decision to support McCain, let me say that I think Rush and Mark Levin understand it and have said that it is a question of loyalty and that loyalty is a virtue. That makes sense to me and, personally, I would be a little put off if she did otherwise, since it would look like rank ingratitude.
But, if you remain unappeased by this explanation, let me give you an historical analogy, based upon the supposition that Palin was wrong to endorse McCain to attempt to put the matter in perspective. In 1943, there was an American General who had taken the Seventh Army from a humiliating defeat at the Kasserine Pass to the conquest of all North Africa and then of Sicily. He appeared to be the overwhelmingly likely choice to lead the invasion of Europe, code-named Operation Overlord. The German General staff viewed him as, far and away, the best field commander in the Unnited States Army, and they feared and respected him enough to follow his every move.
He had no tolerance for shirkers, however. While visiting a field hospital, he saw a soldier suffering from battle fatigue, lost his temper and slapped the soldier, humiliating the man but not injuring him. I think that most anyone would agree that the General was wrong to slap the soldier. He was relieved of command of the Seventh Army and sent back to England. The invasion of Italy was commanded by a mediocre General whose lack of ability cost the lives of many Americans at Anzio and Cassino and the command of the Normandy Invasion forces fell to a less talented commander, who got bogged down in the hedge row country, again with heavy casualties. Just in the nick of time, this General was recalled to active duty, given command of the Third Army and carried out one of the most remarkable military campaigns in history, smashing huge German armies at Saint Lo, the Saar and finally the Ardennes Forest.
That little slap in Sicily cost the lives of many American soldiers and could have altered the war, because the response to it by the General Staff was DISPROPORTIONATE. In the larger scheme of things, it was no justification for removing a commander of this stature. In 1943, many a worried parent would have preferred to know that their son was under the command of this general because their boy's very life was at stake, and they would not have wanted a fracas in a field hospital to interfere with what they regarded as a matter of life and death. Great military commanders are a relatively rare commodity. They don't turn in long casualty lists and they have been known to save their countries.
Political geniuses are no less rare. They too have been known to save lives and to save their countries. The stakes in this upcoming election could not be higher. The Republican party, at this particular point in history, possesses a unique weapon, a political genius who so flummoxes the other side that they devote all their attention to her every move. Yet there are some sincere conservatives who believe that her endorsement of John McCain, a 75 year old Senator likely serving his last term, is so serious as to justify removing her from consideration for the GOP nomination. This strikes me as the political equivalent of "cutting off one's nose to spite one's face." The response is, once again, disproportionate.
My view is that the Obama White House would be as delighted to see Palin removed from the scene as the German General Staff was delighted to see Patton relieved in 1943. For the Germans, it was much easier to contend with the likes of Mark Clark and Omar Bradley than Patton. For Obama, it is much easier to contend with the likes of Pawlenty, Romney or Huckabee than Sarah Palin. With our country very likely at stake in 2012, can we as conservatives, even if we sincerely believe Palin to be wrong in this matter, afford to be so disproportionate in our response to it?
“To: Bob J
I love Palin’s conservatism and patriotism! She may very well support McCain out of loyalty and I have no problem with that. And I have no problem with whom she supports with her PAC. There is nothing written that says she has to do everything (or anything at all) according to JIM.
Sarah is unabashedly pro-God, pro-Life, pro-Liberty, pro-family, pro-America, pro-constitution, pro-gun, pro-limited government and so am I. And she’s wildly popular among the God-loving, Liberty-loving folks with whom I choose to associate. In short, she’s a refreshing breath of clean fresh air in an otherwise putrid failure of a RINO infested party.
She represents my interests better than any other viable wannabe at this point and if she decides to run, she will have my undivided support!!
Romney, the draft-dodging, Big Government, lying statist political whore can KMA!!
And your picture does say a 1,000 words, but Bob, unfortunately they’re all about YOU and political whores like you and the results and likely outcome of your slavish, cultish RINOism!!
So you can shove your picture and your RINOs where the sun don’t shine.
Sarah has more guts, talent, ability, patriotism, and sheer determination and love for America and our God-given Liberty than you and Romney and a thousand other RINOS will ever have!
It’s been more than obvious for several years that our pro-Life & Liberty Free Republic has become an embarrassment for you, so why the hell don’t you just take a fricken hike already!!
Shove it, pal.
GET THE HELL OFF FR if you don’t like it, but whatever you do quit your damn whining and pestering good conservative FReepers about your hatred for Sarah Palin!! It’s beyond sickening.
394 posted on Saturday, January 09, 2010 12:05:07 PM by Jim Robinson”
Another Great Thread!
*yawn* can’t believe people even entertain the possibility of Palin doing OTHERWISE...
First off, John McCain did something that far outweighs the accomplishments of most other Republicans serving in D.C. COMBINED: he introduced the world to Sarah Palin.
Knowing everything he did about Bristol being pregnant, about the risks of offending the establishment, etc...he STILL picked her! I don’t care what his true feelings are about how everything has turned out since—for all I know he can’t stand Palin. But the point is: HE PICKED HER and without him, we would not be experiencing the enormously crucial impact she’s having on the course of our nation today.
I believe, even if his campaign staff would have “handled things better,” the media would have still done everything possible to damage and tear her down. It’s not McCain’s fault. There were other forces at work that were simply beyond human control.
And from my perspective: anything that makes one of the most powerful people in the DC establishment more beholden to Palin is a good thing, but that’s just me talking. It’s not like Palin expects anything “in return” from McCain for her support. And for all I know, he won’t endorse her should she run. Who knows. Regardless, she is doing what she is because it is the right and honorable thing to do, not because she has something to gain.
Plus I think it’s ridiculous there is as much hatred on this board towards McCain. You would think he was Obama incarnate or something. Well despite all the disagreements I have with him, at least I can respect him. He’s not the sly, slick, tied-to-special-interests, flip flopper, that someone like ROMNEY is for example. Not to mention, McCain IS a war hero.
And McCain has a very consistent record on the pro-life matters.
AND, even though I’d vote for J.D. Hayworth, it’s not like I find him all that impressive.
On paper.
LOL This from an (assumed) adult who looks upon a 'Palin ping list' as if he's Frodo, caretaker of the Ring.
P.S. s/b 'it's' rather than "its".
One, who said she will run and two who said McCain will endorse her.
You know how badly I want Hayworth to win, I should HOPE. And I want a conservative to win the presidential nomination, someone who can drown out any RINOs. Until someone who is ...
A. more charismatic than Palin
B. more conservative than Palin
I want her in the nomination.
Name someone charismatic enough that Michael Reagan says, “Hi, Dad.”
RealClearPolitics - Articles - Welcome Back, DadSep 4, 2008 ... By Michael Reagan.
“I’ve been trying to convince my fellow conservatives ... Sarah Palin resurrected my Dad’s indomitable spirit and sent it ...”
www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/.../welcome_back_dad.html
Texas for Sarah Palin: Michael Reagan Slaps His Brother DownFeb 10, 2010 ... Michael Reagan didn’t let his liberal brother’s smearing of Sarah Palin, Scott Brown and the Tea party movement go unanswered: ...
texas4palin.blogspot.com/.../michael-reagan-slaps-his-brother-down.html
(((PING)))
Yes indeed. Even her "common sense Conservative" slogan came from Reagan's 1980 inauguration speech.
Not true at all. She was doing great with 80% poll numbers until Obama's minions found a loop-hole in the state ethics law in which to attack, paralyze, and defeat her administration politically, while bankrupting her and her family financially, thus removing her permanently from Obama's threat list.
Their plan was to trap and crush her, and it would have worked had she not had the fortitude to look at all of her options and make the hard decision to not stand her ground as governor, but side-step Obama and to change her ground to a position from which she could actually fight back and do damage.
She has done so and done so brilliantly. The fact that we are all still here talking about this is a testament that her counter-strategy has WORKED! Else, she would have quietly slinked back to Wasilla in disgrace and we would have never heard from her again.
So, here we are.
For someone who's a "failure" in your opinion, Sarah Palin has done pretty damned good of late by getting involved in the National debate and being the only Republican of stature to actually hit Obama back and do serious damage to his agenda, i.e. "death panels."
How is that failure?
Hey Boromir, you were name #1 on the original Palin Ping List up until about six weeks ago. I've still got it. Want to see it?
WRONG!
The politically correct fungus infected the military beauracracy even during WWII and used the excuse of the much needed slap to remove someone who was a much better soldier than those desk jockies could ever be. Political jealousies cost the lives of many American soldiers and could have altered the war,...
THERE. FIXED IT. I'M THROUGH shouting now.
That's because all you people yammering about "loyalty" don't live in Arizona and have to suffer the direct consequences. I'm sick to death of the "Senator from Arizona" being that disgusting man who consistantly stabs republicans and conservatives in the back.
I'm also the one who suggested a dedicated thread about Palin news, which evolved into the ping list.
Too bad the Teen Beat For Palin acolytes turned it into grade school clique and taunt anyone who even suggests Palin might be human.
Collectively, the current ping list could very well be likened to Kim MacAfee, though I suspect not as attractive.
Gotta run now and order my PIPER For Prez In '44 signs. One "can look at her and see she has politics in her future".
Let's take a little walk down memory road, shall we Mr. Hypocritical Backstabber?
She is an American in whose integrity will not be compromised.
Pawlenty, Hunter, Romney, Huckabee, Gingrich, et al, are not fit to shine this lady's shoes.
Her loyal tribe is at her beck and call
Sarah Palin embodies the true spirit of America
Day by day we're witnessing the evolution of our first female President.
I support Palin 100%. Feck the begrudgers.
Will my membership in the cult be terminated or will I be given probation?
For I am convinced that no one is more qualified to be POTUS than Sarah Palin.
And these were only from JANUARY 2010!!! There's a whole lot more before that too, as you well know...
Great post and good point, for two reasons.....
1st you are correct, and second you make a great point....this is probably McCain’s last term, it’s the right thing to do: he brought her to national prominence, and he will be loyal to her as a senator, IMHO.....
Let’s move along, there is nothing here to waste time on.
your thinking is either flawed or you are a mole....
Riiiight. ‘My’ team isn’t the group that cries about it to the point of not supporting her.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.