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Campaign Crawlers
The Bear in the Woods
It’s not the Russian bear we’re talking about, but he’s domestic and he’s still out there.
Way back in 1984 when the Cold War still raged, the re-election campaign of Ronald Reagan ran an ad that cautioned, “There is a bear in the woods. For some people, the bear is easy to see. Others don’t see it at all. Some people say the bear is tame. Others say it’s vicious and dangerous. Since no one can really be sure who’s right, isn’t it smart to be as strong as the bear? If there is a bear.…”
Of course, this ad referred to the ongoing threat of the Russian bear, but it pointed out a vital truth about the electorate of a self-governing nation that grows ever more important by the day. When things are going well, as they have in America for most of her history, it is easy for voters to go with their hearts and ignore the harsh realities of the world around them. But faced with severe problems, particularly economic ones, elections take on far more consequential importance.
And the 2012 presidential cycle is one of these times. Should the nation decide to grow up and face the hard questions, they will realize that we face a new bear, one that represents those who would see the American people serve the government, instead of the other way around. This new bear cloaks himself in the mantle of hope and change; words designed to lull them into thinking that he is a cross between Smokey Bear, a stern authority figure who is respected by all, and Winnie the Pooh; the snuggly little fella who distributes dollops of honey to his adoring friends. Of course, he is neither of these.
There are three types of voters in this country: those who see the bear as a threat and want him defeated, those who don’t see him as a bear at all, and those who see him but think he’s a cuddly teddy bear. Most commonly, these would be classified as conservatives, liberals and the all-important independents. The war for the soul of this country has mainly concentrated on these middle-of-the-roaders who, in 2008 gave the teddy bear a chance, but by 2010, started to notice his growl.
And that’s how this field of GOP contenders should be evaluated: who are the candidates that will appeal to these three classes of voters and how successful can they be in changing the electorate’s perceptions of the bear? So here is my take on those who participated in last week’s debate on CNN.
Ron Paul: This diminutive congressman has some great ideas, but is the Republican equivalent of Dennis Kucinich. Taken together, they are the yin and yang among those who populate our college campuses, and that’s about as far as their appeal will take either of them.
Mitt Romney: Despite what he says or does, dyed-in-the-wool conservatives just don’t trust him. No matter that he has followed in the footsteps of Reagan and George H.W. Bush as a convert to the pro-life movement, his left-leaning comments on global warming and the whole Romneycare debacle render him unattractive to those on the right. Naturally, this makes him a darling of the media who will push these attributes on those independents who are in their thrall. Here’s hoping this backfires on the bear-appeasers and he actually proves us wrong by bringing some buckshot to the race.
Michele Bachmann: As a newcomer to national politics, she seemed a bit stiff and scripted in last week’s debate, but she has the stuff that makes conservative bear hunters trigger happy. Being a woman who is not named Hillary will make it difficult for her to convince those who coddle the bear into thinking that a female could take him down.
Herman Cain: Mr. Cain’s is perhaps the most interesting candidacy, and were he not a self-made African-American conservative, the press would probably have given him much more attention, à la Ross Perot. But since his fresh face and fresher ideas are a real threat to the bear, the press will crush him like a grape. Even so, teamed up with say, Santorum, this would be a ticket truly loaded for you-know-what.
Newt Gingrich: The former Speaker of the House was once the ursine nightmare of the liberal crowd; as principled and ferocious a predator as the last American lion, Ronald Reagan. Subsequent and substantial changes in his personal life seem to have produced a kinder, gentler Newt; one more amiable to certain and unwise compromises with the left. Still one of the most erudite spokesmen for conservative ideals, a less confused Newt surely possesses the firepower to defeat the bear; but will independents follow him and can Republicans forgive him?
Tim Pawlenty: Now, Gov. Pawlenty may be the nicest guy in the world and may indeed be a true conservative, but his repetitive boasts that he was a union member can’t help but remind me of similar claims from Dick Gephardt; the only man in America to admit that his father was a milkman. As another candidate who bought into the whole global warming canard and one who is frightfully dull, the teddy bears would have a field day teaming him up with their favorite front-runner; for no one would fear a ticket of Tim-Mitt.
Rick Santorum: A man so hated by the left, that Googling his name still produces a filthy neologism cooked up by deviant homosexuals This is a man who has fought the domestic and foreign bears head on, tooth and claw for years, so much so that he was defeated by a “pro-life” Democrat who was deemed more cuddly by Pennsylvania voters. To liberals and their media minions he is the devil incarnate, and he will, no doubt be portrayed as such in the coming campaign. Only a strong dose of reality will make the nation see that he is the best antidote for the poisonous bite of the bear.
To each free nation on the face of the Earth, comes a time of momentous decision, a time for correcting her course or choosing another. For the United States, that time has come. A wise man once wrote: [W]hen a long train of abuses and usurpations…evinces a design to reduce [the people] under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security.
Only American voters have the power to decide their future; only they can decide whether or not the bear in the woods is a threat to their freedom and cherished way of life; if there is a bear.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (33) | Leave a comment
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Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 6.23.11 @ 7:00AM
but his repetitive boasts that he was a union member can't help but remind me of similar claims from Dick Gephardt; the only man in America to admit that his father was a milkman.
I would imagine that there are many young men and women who would like to know who their father is and what they do for a living.
Thanks to the government taking the reins of fatherhood many will not.
Melvin| 6.23.11 @ 7:45AM
The only way we will see a candidates true form is if we have followed them for a extended period of time. But the electoral masses neither have the desire or the time to make a really educated choice based on knowledge and not on emotion when they choose a candidate for President.
Many times when asked about what people want in a candidate it is either, "The Candidate has to look Hot, or the amount of free stuff that is going to be handed out."
So it looks like the electoral masses want a Reality TV President, who looks hot on camera and can remember his lines.
But not to worry Ron Paul and Barny Frank are going to make things right, by proposing Legislation to legalize Marijuana. I can see it now.
"Sir what do you want in a candidate?" "Hmmm?" "What do you want in a candidate?" Hzzzttt, Hzzzztt, Fffffffhhha, "Wow, whats a candidate, you mean we have one of those? Hey! Stop by the Convenience store and get me a slurpy will ya? Did you notice how bright the Sun was today." "Lets get out of here, this guy stoned out of his mind."
MoeBlotz| 6.23.11 @ 7:56AM
If the bear stays in the woods to s**t,no worries. If the bear decides to come out of the woods to threaten Americans,then we have a problem. The figurative bear has been coming out of the woods for the last six years.
Ground Control| 6.23.11 @ 1:31PM
If a bear craps in the woods, and there is no Democrat around to smell it, does it still stink?
Michael L. Hauschild| 6.23.11 @ 8:09AM
Ironic to some extent that you should speak of bears, there is a thousand pound grizzly standing in the corner.
Margie| 6.23.11 @ 7:18PM
She's touring the Nation.
Louis Jenkins| 6.23.11 @ 8:41AM
By your limitations Rick Santorum is the man. But there are a few other bears out there including the Momma Griz. We've still got a few months left before we fish or cut bait. Look at them closely and make up our mind. There's a lot of bull out there, and there's a lot of talent.
cheap t shirts | 6.23.11 @ 8:52AM
So it looks like the electoral masses want a Reality TV President, who looks hot on camera and can remember his lines.
Too Many Tims| 6.23.11 @ 9:31AM
I still see Gingrich sitting on that damn couch with Pelosi, hectoring me about some damn thing. Don't trust him one bit.
ConantheContrarian| 6.23.11 @ 9:52AM
I was hoping that Jim DeMint might run. He seems like a good conservative. Anyway, he has been my choice for at least a year.
Anthony| 6.23.11 @ 10:17AM
Under Obozo, the bear has been replaced by the parasite.
It's the unnamed, unknown, and unseen legions of burrowing leftist bureaucrats that are sucking the very life out of America.
The visuals of a bloodsucking, engorged parasite should awaken Americans like no bear can.
A smart R can start by mimicking those folks at HHS who came up with the new labels on cigarette packs. Talk about a nanny state so out of control.
Mutch Moore| 6.23.11 @ 12:29PM
Spot on Anthony.
lydia | 6.23.11 @ 10:23AM
I was hoping that Jim DeMint might run. He seems like a good conservative. Anyway, he has been my choice for at least a year.
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Ed| 6.23.11 @ 11:29AM
Of the current crew of candidates, I would vote for Bachmann. If Gov. Perry entered the race, I would definitely consider him.
AgentRose| 6.23.11 @ 12:13PM
Look folks. The bear is here in America. Wake up. See this
In a front page story about a major FBI terrorism investigation, The Washington Post has reported that the targets include “Chicagoans who crossed paths with Obama when he was a young state senator and some who have been active in labor unions that supported his political rise.” The implication is that the trail could lead to the White House.
This is an unusual investigation that does not primarily involve Islamists. Instead, it is focused on elements of the old international communist networks that many people mistakenly thought had faded away with the collapse of the Soviet Union. Those under investigation are suspected of providing support to foreign terrorist organizations such as the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine in the Middle East, a Marxist group. The Post called them “Colombian and Palestinian groups designated by the U.S. government as terrorists.”
(from Trevor Loudon site) READ DAILY
AgentRose| 6.23.11 @ 12:17PM
While we still can look at these sites daily:
INTERNET:
TrevorLoudon.com http://trevorloudon.com/
AmericasSurvival.com http://www.usasurvival.org/
AgentRose| 6.23.11 @ 12:18PM
Drudge.com http://www.drudgereport.com/
OnceUponaTimeintheWest.com http://onceuponatimeinthewest1.wordpress.
AgentRose| 6.23.11 @ 12:19PM
GulagBound.com http://gulagbound.com/
Read:
The Manchurian President by Aaron Klein
Demonic by Ann Coulter
Reckless Endangerment: How Outsized Ambition, Greed, and Corruption Led to Economic Armageddon by Gretchen Morgenson
Witness by Whittaker Chambers (former communist)
The Naked Communist by W. Cleon Skousen (former FBI agent)
Radio:
Listen to Aaron Klein's radio on Sundays 2-4 PM on ABC. He is a goldmine of information.+
DVD:
AGENDA: Grinding America Down from
http://agendadocumentary.com/
PLEASE GET THIS INFORMATION OUT
PattyMor| 6.23.11 @ 12:23PM
Its curious that AgentRose would state that FARC people were under investigation. Remember, Barack Obama's name was found on a FARC computer during the elections. Is this a thread, and were will it lead as the story unravels? Humm.
Clint| 6.23.11 @ 3:34PM
" May6,2011:
Ron Paul cannot get elected” President, declared Donald Trump at this year’s Conservative Political Action Conference. Trump, who has never run for office, let alone won an election, may want to reconsider his parroting of this common refrain: A new CNN poll finds that, of all the Republicans being discussed as potential presidential candidates, the longtime Texas congressman has the greatest chance of beating Barack Obama, while The Donald comes in dead last.
In a hypothetical match-up between Paul and Obama, Obama beats Paul by only seven percentage points (52 to 45 percent). Meanwhile, Obama bests former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee by eight points, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney by 11 points, former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich by 17 points, former Alaska Governor and vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin by 19 points, and Trump by a whopping 22 points."
Clint| 6.23.11 @ 3:40PM
Tea party activists are divided roughly into two camps, according to a POLITICO/TargetPoint poll:
Palin, who topped the list with 15 percent, speaks for the 43 percent of those polled expressing the distinctly conservative view that government does too much, while also saying that it needs to promote traditional values.
Paul’s thinking is reflected by an almost identical 42 percent who said government does too much but should not try to promote any particular set of values — the hallmarks of libertarians. He came in second to Palin with 12 percent.
When asked to choose from a list of candidates for president in 2012, Palin and Paul also finished one-two — with Palin at 15 percent and Paul at 14 percent. "
Mike Hawk| 6.23.11 @ 7:09PM
Ron Paul is a Libertarian. Rand Paul is closer to the Tea Party movement than his ol' man. Ron Paul is not a tea party guy and his followers are kooks. Rube Paul and Bahney Fwank are introducing a bill to legalize marijuana and that is not part of the Tea Party agenda in any way.
Margie| 6.23.11 @ 7:19PM
Watch it, Mikey. You're gonna get it for that.
Clint| 6.23.11 @ 9:31PM
Tell that RINO-CINO Propaganda to Ronald Reagan & The 42 Percent of We Tea Party Patriots,who view Dr.Ron Paul as Our Co-Favorite With Sarah Palin.
Ronald Reagan:
" If you analyze it I believe the very heart and soul of conservatism is libertarianism. I think conservatism is really a misnomer just as liberalism is a misnomer for the liberals–if we were back in the days of the Revolution, so-called conservatives today would be the Liberals and the liberals would be the Tories. The basis of conservatism is a desire for less government interference or less centralized authority or more individual freedom and this is a pretty general description also of what libertarianism is.
Now, I can’t say that I will agree with all the things that the present group who call themselves Libertarians in the sense of a party say, because I think that like in any political movement there are shades, and there are libertarians who are almost over at the point of wanting no government at all or anarchy. I believe there are legitimate government functions. There is a legitimate need in an orderly society for some government to maintain freedom or we will have tyranny by individuals. The strongest man on the block will run the neighborhood. We have government to insure that we don’t each one of us have to carry a club to defend ourselves. But again, I stand on my statement that I think that libertarianism and conservatism are traveling the same path"
victor| 6.23.11 @ 10:36PM
Yeah, we all know that Ronald Reagan would be for legalizing dope. Not only that, but would have approved of rabid anti-semites such as yourself.
Hahahahahaha!!!
The Big E| 6.23.11 @ 4:58PM
Comparing Obama to a bear?
Bears are intelligent, tough, resourceful animals. They are versatile and highly adaptable. It's a grave insult to the noble bear to compare him to Barack Obama.
Now, if you want a better creature to compare him, I have a couple of suggestions - how about the tape worm? You know, long disgusting creature that lives in the intestines of other creatures and sucks the strength and vitality out of them without providing anything useful in return. Or maybe the tick - small slightly poisonous arachnid that sucks the life blood out of other creatures and leaves behind nasty diseases. Or maybe the mosquito . . .
You get my point. Be Fair to Bears! don't compare them to big-eared idiots.
BackToBasics| 6.23.11 @ 5:22PM
Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.
Proverbs 22:28
For there shall be no reward to the evil man: the candle of the wicked shall be put out.
My son, fear the Lord, and the king: and meddle not with them that are GIVEN TO CHANGE.
For their calamity shall rise suddenly, and who knows the ruin of them both?
Proverbs: 24:20-22
We heard about how great it would be to have a "Change" when Clinton campaigned and also when Obam campaigned. Often, when I hear this, I think of these verses, especially Proverbs 22:28 and Proverbs 24:21
Mike Hawk| 6.23.11 @ 7:05PM
The Jimmuh campaigned on change and fiscal discipline too. Seems Liberals like that, but never pay attention too it.
BackToBasics| 6.23.11 @ 9:11PM
Now that you mention it, I do recall him speaking about change too.
Seek| 6.23.11 @ 6:55PM
Bears have been known to hibernate. I imagine that's what elections are for.
weddingdresses | 6.24.11 @ 2:04AM
For their calamity shall rise suddenly, and who knows the ruin of them both?
Proverbs: 24:20-22
We heard about how great it would be to have a "Change" when Clinton campaigned and also when Obam campaigned. Often, when I hear this, I think of these verses, especially Proverbs 22:28 and Proverbs 24:21
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