The American Spectator

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Little Big League

7.17.08 @ 12:01AM

HANGING CURVE
Re: Robert Stacy McCain's Big League Trouble:

Mr. McCain writes:

Recalling the hapless Bush 41 presidency that was the disastrous denouement of Dukakis's defeat, disaffected conservatives no doubt will ask, "What's the point of electing an ideologically unsound Republican president who is almost certain to further damage the GOP 'brand'?"

A fair question, and it's hard to summon a positive argument in response.

Let's trying turning the question inside-out: Are conservatives really certain that electing an "ideologically sound Republican president" is the most important goal? That was the argument behind backing George W. Bush in the first place and that hasn't exactly helped the GOP brand, has it?

Seriously, is it really such a good idea for political parties and ideological movements to be so tightly connected? Maybe it would be a good thing for conservatives not to have their fortunes tied to whomever sits in the Oval Office. That way they can praise the president when he is right and criticize him when he is wrong and never have to worry that his failure will also drag them down.
-- Sean Higgins
Washington D.C.

The other McCain gives too much credit to the "conservative" media that destabilized the Republican Party for the demise of Hillary. Obama may not be very principled or bright, but he was shrewd enough to guess Democrats and the electorate were less than enthralled with another Clinton Presidency. He also realized that an insurgency campaign had a shot at winning thanks to the discontent in the Democrat base with Hillary's triangulation.

While Limbaugh's and Hannity's listening audience is large their real influence is limited to elements of the conservative movement. Regrettably, for the last 3 years that influence has been generally detrimental to the conservative cause and Republicans -- while not always the same their political fortunes inseparably linked. Conservatives who pooh pooh this are one reason Democrats control Congress and an election stealing operative of Marxist ACORN could win the Presidency.

At the outset of the conservative "crackup" a few voices presciently warned that the crescendo of negativity being aimed at President Bush (a Reagan conservative) and the Republican Congress would reap a negative political backlash. They were right and unless conservatives recognize their symbiotic relationship with Republicans then they can expect to see a continued marginalizing of their ideas and beliefs in an avalanche of liberal political victories and legislation. If this happens Limbaugh, Hannity and the "conservative" media bear responsibility for not only empowering the radical left, but destroying Ronald Reagan's legacy.
-- Chaplain Michael Tomlinson
Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

Throughout this political campaign for the presidency, it has not yet been mentioned that Barack Obama is the first black to have made it to the final two in any country where Blacks are not a majority of the population. Europe, with its false appearance of tolerance, is probably a century away from a similar historic achievement. Fujimori's election in Peru was a first though not laden with our historical racial baggage.

That this is occurring in these United States is even more significant considering, our country's legacy of slavery, segregation, and discrimination. No country in the World has moved more quickly than we have to a post-racial polity.

Though I do not intend to vote for Obama, as an immigrant, I am awed at America's willingness to overcome its past and build on it. This youthful ability to take on each and everyone of our challenges with a "tabula rasa" spirit is uniquely American.

I hope Obama's defeat in November does not take away from this achievement. Unfortunately it will, regardless of the fact he is the most liberal and inexperienced candidate either party has put forth as its standard bearer in over a century.
-- Boris Nazaroff
Sterling, Virginia

Stacy McCain is dreaming -- unless someone can awaken John McCain from his self-induced coma, aka running a "high-minded" campaign.
-- Arnold Ahlert
Boca Raton, Florida

Obama a rookie? Please apologize to rookies. At best, he's a benchwarmer in the sandlot leagues -- maybe just a bat boy.

And hitting hanging curve balls out of the park against Hillary? Nope. She made wrong choices at bat, pretty much forfeiting the game also by fielding the wrong team. Except for a couple of early innings, whatever he hit out of the park were soft home run pitches that only required him to swing the bat and make contact.

But, then, he always had the umps on his side, didn't he? With their DNC-we've-already-selected-the-winner glasses on, deciding on May 31 to throw the playoff game his way, all he ever had to do was show up and take the first couple of innings.
-- C. Kenna Amos
Princeton, West Virginia

Letter to the Editor

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