The American Spectator

p> SNAKES AND STICKS br> Re: Shawn Macomber’s Liberalism on a Ledge : /p>

Shawn Macomber’s delightful piece about liberalism and the Daily Kos made my practical rancher’s heart smile. I remember years ago, as a little 7 or 8 year old trying to impress my father, a long-time rancher. Since rattlesnakes were a daily part of our life, as he came onto the porch one morning I declared, “Dad, the next rattlesnake I see I know just how I can kill him.” Dad just gave me a small smile and told me that the wise person doesn’t brag before he acts but, after he actually does what he thinks he can do, he can relate his experience.

Well, it wasn’t 45 minutes later that, while walking with my Dad to round up cattle, I nearly stepped on that rattlesnake. I turned tail and went running the opposite way, huge walking stick in hand, forgetting my earlier brag about how I planned to kill the snake. Dad simply grabbed the closest implement and killed the snake. As I walk back to him, rather shame-faced about my former bragging, my Dad simply turned around slowly and said, “I thought you had planned to handle that.”

That taught me more than I ever needed to know about what real bravery was and how real people aren’t the ones who brag about what they will do in any given event, but they are the ones who quietly do the right thing when the event happens. Dad still reminds me of that time when he hears one of the liberal fools on television brag about how and what they’d do differently if they were in charge. At 88 he is still as sharp as a tack, mentally. He will simply look up and say, “Sounds like someone bragging about the rattlesnake they will kill before they actually have to step on him!”

Now, KOS folks bragged about how they “owned” Congress after the 2006 election. We conservatives just sat quietly. But when the falsely designed amnesty crap (yes, we Texans know what it is when we see it) came to light, not once but twice, we shut down the discussion with hundreds of thousands of quiet, but like-minded individuals, who called Congress and put the quietus on a horribly ugly bill.

p>Now, that is quiet determination. I will be willing to bet that in the 2008 election cycle we will see more of that behavior over KOS mentality anytime. You see, most folks I know recognize the seriousness of rattlesnakes and want someone who can quietly pick up a stick and take care of business! When placing someone in charge of a country we want serious minded folk with quiet proven abilities. br> — Bev Gunn br> East Texas Rancher /p>