Blue Collar Muse

“Well, you’ve sure got a lot to write about these days!” It almost never fails. When I tell people I’m a blogger and political activist, they almost always respond with those words. And it’s true. What I don’t have is a lot of time to write about the lot that I have to write about! And so it is today. I only recently finished listening to the speeches from last night by Fred Thompson and Joe Lieberman. They were powerful!

Media Lizzy has the complete texts of each speech posted are her site. Fred Thompson’s remarks are here. Joe Lieberman’s endorsement of John McCain is here. Video of Thompson can be found in my VodPod widget in the left sidebar. Video of Lieberman is here.

Both men gave what I believe to be outstanding speeches. The consensus on the Right is that had Thompson spoken like that early on and consistently, there may well have been a different nominee for the GOP. The tone of their remarks, however, were quite different.

The highlights for Thompson came as he spoke about McCain’s military service. Especially moving were his descriptions of McCain’s time as a POW. He did not argue that such an experience made him qualified to lead the Free World. He simply described what John McCain endured as a POW. It was, perhaps, the quietest portion of any convention speech ever. Literally, it was pin-drop-hearing quiet. What emerged was a portrait of a man of character. Character forged in a hellish nightmare we can only imagine. Character tested day after endless day. Character that it was impossible to know would be created in a man who would one day run for President. Enduring what he endured, McCain was just another POW who might or might not return to his country. If he did, who knew he would choose politics? He could just as easily gone into Real Estate or selling cars. My point is that he did not have to be the man he was in captivity. He chose to be that man when no one knew. And while it isn’t enough to qualify him for President, it speaks volumes for the character of the man seeking the office.

Fred Thompson said it this way, “For five-and-a-half years this went on. John McCain’s bones may have been broken but his spirit never was. Now, being a POW certainly doesn’t qualify anyone to be President. But it does reveal character. This is the kind of character that civilizations from the beginning of history have sought in their leaders. Strength. Courage. Humility. Wisdom. Duty. Honor. It’s pretty clear there are two questions we will never have to ask ourselves, “Who is this man?” and “Can we trust this man with the Presidency?””

Lieberman followed Thompson and, for me, the fact that he was speaking at all far overshadowed his remarks. What he said was truly powerful. He said things like, “I’m here to support John McCain because country matters more than party. … because John McCain’s whole life testifies to a great truth: being a Democrat or a Republican is important. But it is not more important than being an American. … Vote for the leader who, since the age of 17, when he raised his hand and took an oath to defend and protect our Constitution, has always put our country first.”

It was this synthesis of Left and Right, of Democrat and Republican that I found so fascinating, especially compared to what emerged from the DNC. Lieberman, the Democrat at the RNC, spoke overlooking a sea of Americans holding signs reading “Service” and “Country First!” Obama and Democrats at the DNC spoke to Democrats holding signs reading “Obama!” Lieberman, the Democrat at the RNC, heard Americans chanting “U-S-A!!” Obama and Democrats at the DNC heard Democrats chanting “O-bam-a!!” Lieberman, the Democrat at the RNC, called on all Americans to do what is right for the country and not merely what is best for a political party. Obama and Democrats at the DNC spoke mainly of their pride in being Democrats and not their joy at being Americans.

And who is this Joe Lieberman? It is important to answer the question properly. He is not just one of the lone voices on the Left who gets it right on the war, although he is that. He is not just a Democrat who got thrown under the bus when he publicly broke with his Party on the war, although he is also that. He is not just a Democrat who speaks with authority on reaching across the aisle because he did so at great cost to himself, although he is that, too.

What Joe Lieberman is, more importantly than all of those things, is the running mate of Al Gore in 2000. And the import of that is not that he was a former member of the Democratic ticket now endorsing the GOP nominee. The import of Lieberman’s endorsement is this. Had the Left been successful in winning the White House with Gore/Lieberman in 2000, then Lieberman’s 2008 speech at a national convention would have stood a good chance of being an acceptance speech as the Democratic nominee! Instead, he comes humbly to support a man not in his party, but one he feels is best for his country. I don’t know about you but I find that stunning!

Tonight, the world gets a first glimpse at history in the making. Sarah Palin speaks to the GOP faithful, the lurking Left and the waiting world. 24 years ago, Geraldine Ferraro was the first woman nominated for VP. Like Obama/Biden, the Mondale/Ferraro ticket was incredibly liberal and went down in flames of historic proportions to a second Reagan/Bush term. For many reasons, most of them realized via hindsight, McCain/Palin have a far better chance of producing an historic “first woman as VP” result than Mondale/Ferraro ever did. A good start to that chance begins in just a couple of hours with her acceptance speech. The rest of the road will be played out over the next 60 days in a sprint to the Oval Office.

Only one side can win that race. It is my sincere hope that the side that emphasizes Country over Career, People over Party and Results over Rhetoric prevail in that race. If not, buckle in for a very rough ride.

Blue Collar Muse

Popularity: 35% [?]

I remember just three years ago. The scene was chaotic, people were everywhere, frantic! Concern etched on their faces, “Is it too late? Have I waited too long?” No, it wasn’t fearful Gulf Coast residents hoping to get away from Katrina. It was fearful Democrats trying to find a camera and microphone to condemn George Bush and the GOP for hating poor, black people. Such awful white men simply couldn’t be anything but racists considering the way the entire situation was mismanaged. Why, they probably did it on purpose. I had no idea evil corporate technology had progressed to the point where we can generate Category 5 hurricanes on demand. Damn you, Haliburton!!

The fact that Ray Nagin, the black, male, Democrat Mayor of New Orleans, and Kathleen Blanco, the white, female, Democrat Governor of Louisiana so totally mismanaged the local situation on the ground that people who depended on them lost their lives because of their incompetence while others lost everything they had for the same reason is seldom acknowledged. Instead, Bush and Co. is blamed. You’d think the truth would get out, but you’d be wrong.

The GOP is legitimately concerned about the timing of this week’s GOP nominating convention in Minneapolis and the arrival of another huge hurricane on America’s southern doorstep. The specter of Democrat usage of clips of Republicans enjoying themselves at parties juxtaposed with hurricane footage and human suffering from the Gulf strikes fear into Republican hearts and warms the cockles of whatever Democrats consider theirs.

So much so that Democrats are publicly gleeful at the possibility of the damage, death and destruction about to be visited on Gulf residents by Hurricane Gustav because of the negative impact it will have on the GOP Convention. Just so we’re clear, I will repeat my charge. Democrats are excited that people may die or lose everything in a Katrina repeat because it will rain, literally and figuratively, on the GOP parade in Minneapolis.

It is understandable that some of you may think this is just my low opinion of Democrats finding a voice, Poor Blue, he just can’t help bashing the Left. They do so much good. They’re so compassionate and effective he has to keep tearing them down to elevate himself! Unfortunately, you’d be wrong. The next time I tell you something unflattering about the Left, remember this. Because there’s video proof.

Two prominent Democrats, former National Chairman of the Democratic National Committee Don Fowler and currently serving Congressman John Spratt, Democrat of South Carolina, while on a plane returning home from the Democrat’s Convention in Denver openly and publicly laughed about the possibility that Gustav would damage our country and kill our people because it would be good for the Democrats to have that to talk about opposite the GOP convention! In an un-Democratic meme, they even invoke the name and participation of God in the event choosing to view this as evidence God is on the side of the Democrats!

The video is here. Both of these despicable excuses for men should be drummed out of the Party at a minimum and expelled from our country for their callous and cavalier attitude. Given what happens to Democrats who engage in outrageous behavior; men like Barney Frank, William Jefferson and Bill Clinton, this will probably be the best thing that ever happened to their political careers.

Excuse me if I continue to find Democratic promises of concern for the welfare of the little guy repulsive, repugnant and, thanks to these two - I don’t even know what to call them, they don’t qualify as “men” in any book I own - thanks to them, I can add opportunistic lies to the list.

Please, you Democrats out there, the ones refusing to condemn these two or call for their ouster, explain to me where and how I am wrong? Justify this. Given the attitude of the upper echelons of your Party, I really do Hope there is Change in the wind for November.

Blue Collar Muse

Popularity: 45% [?]

I got what I would normally consider a routine email yesterday.  It was the RNC schedule and roster of speakers for the upcoming soiree in Minneapolis next week.

It was about as interesting as watching paint dry until I realized something.

On Monday night, the following speakers are listed:

Gov. Tim Pawlenty (Minn.)
U.S. Sen. Joseph Lieberman (Conn.)
U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann (Minn.)

On Tuesday night these folks are slated to speak:

Former New York City Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani
Gov. Sarah Palin (Alaska)
Former Gov. Mike Huckabee (Ark.)
Former Gov. Tom Ridge (Pa.)
Former U.S. Sen. Fred Thompson (Tenn.)

Wednesday night’s roster sports the following:

Gov. Bobby Jindal (La.)
Former Gov. Mitt Romney (Mass.)
U.S. Rep. Mike Pence (Ind.)

And closing night has the final slate including:

Gov. Tim Pawlenty (Minn.)
Former U.S. Sen. Bill Frist (Tenn.)

None of this would be anything earthshattering except that also slated to speak on Wednesday is the following person:

Republican Party’s Vice Presidential Nominee

If we assume the RNC is not being clever, there are a lot of names on the list that are NOT going to be the GOP’s VP nominee.  Now the suspense is killing me …

Blue

Popularity: 36% [?]