What a let down. Here conservative Republicans were so close to respectability and even acceptance in polite society. In Prince William County, VA where I live,  conservatives convinced themselves we’d come far from that time in the recent past when the WaPost described evangelicals (essentially another word for conservative Republicans, since there is considerable overlap among the two demographic groups) as “poor, undereducated and easily led.”

Then TheAtlantic.com piled on with this description of former presidential candidate Mike Huckabee, “People are sometimes caught off guard by [his] intellectual competence because of his rural Arkansas habits (he and his wife lived in a trailer while the governor’s mansion was being renovated) and his outspoken evangelical views.”

Not those rural Arkansas habits again! What was Huckabee thinking when he moved into one of those tornado–bait tin cans? I happen to know there’s a Hilton in Little Rock.

Conservatives, who are frequently optimists in spite of all the evidence to the contrary, chose to focus on the progress we’ve made since 2008. Why Gov. Huckabee is currently living in a house that doesn’t require you to check the pressure rotate the foundation every 5,000 miles. And nationally Republicans — if not all conservatives — have an almost–anointed presidential candidate who is articulate, thinks double–wide is an unfortunate term for the overweight and has perfect hair.

Why Mitt Romney looks just as good as that Democrat intellectual giant, John Kerry, without all the annoying French mannerisms.

Then last week all our hope for acceptance came crashing down. In a “news story” wailing about the clout Northern Virginia lost in Richmond when the GOP took control of the Senate, the WaPost complained, “Northern Virginia senators also worry about their ability to block legislation on social issues that play very differently in the more racially diverse, better-educated and liberal Washington suburbs than in more rural parts of the state.

It was only a passing reference that spoke volumes about ingrained, institutional prejudice. The phrase is simply elite shorthand that means we’re back to: Liberals = Smart and Conservatives = Dumb.

I hope to visit the WaPost newsroom one day, because I’m convinced its map of Northern Virginia still manages to leave Prince William County (PWC) out, much like the maps of the Palestinian Authority never seem to include Israel.

This county is in the top ten nationwide when it comes to household income, we boast the satellite campus of George Mason University — where taxpayer–subsidized “arts” groups can perform — and residents frequently shop at our very own Wegmans grocery store; yet we’re still pickin’ on the banjo with the rest of the Deliverance caucus as far as the WaPost is concerned.

And the really ironic element in this assault on the conservative intellect is the bias is based on geography, which I thought was forbidden in elite circles. Here we have an organization, which has never met an illegal alien with a sob story that it wouldn’t put on the front page, denigrating an entire class of human beings because their point of origin is South of Alexandria.

What’s next? The ideological equivalent of E–Verify for conservatives, along with a refusal to issue a Virginia licencia de conducir so they can’t drive in Richmond?
Have a heart. These migrating conservatives are yearning to live the American Dream, too. They just want to cast the votes in the General Assembly that liberals refuse to cast. Besides, they don’t actually want to live in Richmond. I’m sure they will return to their native counties once the job is done.

This current distress of Virginia and DC liberals is the result of something their Dear Leader Obama warned about, “Elections have consequences.”

And as a consequence of last November’s election, Republicans are now in control of both the House and the Senate. So in under four years Virginia has gone from a Democrat in the governor’s office and Democrats in control of the Senate to a Republican governor and Republican control of the entire General Assembly.

I think even a liberal can notice a trend here.

Specifically what this means for Virginia residents is an obstructionist Democrat Senate will no longer be able to block passage of bills that protect the life of unborn babies, defend marriage, eliminate Public Broadcasting subsidies, cut spending, reduce the size of government, prevent the appointment of activist liberal judges, discourage illegal immigration and recognize the Constitutional right of citizen self–defense.

Whew.

It’s time conservatives refuse to be on the defensive regarding intelligence. We used to ask know–it–alls, if you’re so smart, why aren’t you rich? Now it’s time to update that and ask liberal Democrats, if you’re so smart, why aren’t you winning elections?

Michael R. Shannon is a public relations and advertising consultant with corporate, government and political experience around the globe. He can be reached at michael-shannon@comcast.net.

Michael R. Shannon
MANDATE: Message, Media & Public Relations
703-583-6277
571-969-1995 Google Voice
http://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelrshannon
http://www.examiner.com/conservative-in-washington-dc/michael-shannon

 

WesternFront America

The upper echelons of the Republican Party are in a state of high angst. Their phone lines and e-mails are flashing back and forth with amazing speed and in astounding volumes. Many are showing signs of what we southern folks used to call “the vapors” as they place the back of their open hand to their foreheads and slouch softly to the floor in a state of quiet apoplexy.

So, what’s causing all this? The former Congressman from Georgia, the former speaker of the House of Representatives, one Newton Gingrich… or just plain … Newt.

Cries of “woe is me” echo from the walls of the GOP’s ivory towers. Why, this is unbelievable. Worse, this is unacceptable. It simply cannot be happening … and yet … it IS happening.

The anointed one, Mitt Romney, has, at least for the moment, fallen to the outcast Gingrich. It is as if Sir Lancelot had been bested in a joust with a kitchen knave. It is unheard of. It cannot be. But … it is.

Newt has more baggage than the carousel at the airport. Romney is, well, perfect. And that, dear reader, is a part of the problem conservatives have with Romney. He is a little TOO perfect.

If you never DO anything, you never make mistakes. The more you do, the more mistakes you make. Newt has made a heck of a lot of mistakes.

I have survived 14 US Presidential administrations. I have seen the best of them and I have seen the worst US Presidents in modern history. The best was Ronald Reagan and the worst was Jimmy carter … until Obama. Now Obama holds the title as the worst President in US history.

I am, shall we say, an “older” American. I learned long ago the old saw: “all that glitters is not gold” is absolutely true. I have seen politicians come and go. I have seen some rise to heights never expected of them and I have watched just as many promising young lawmakers crash and burn.

With the country in the mess that it is in, there is something comforting in a candidate with all the warts, hairs, scars, and yes, battle wounds, as well, making himself available to help guide the country out of this mess.

We “old timers” already know Newt’s foibles. We know he is mercurial, egotistical, haughty, and brilliant. We already know of his matrimonial problems. We know he is brainy, zany, and at times — just plain dumb. He can be courageous or reckless depending upon your viewpoint. Margaret Thatcher, former Prime Minister of Great Britain, once said of Newt: “ … he has tons of guts.”

Newt is a contradiction. He can at once be a genius and a dunce. Every kid who has ever been to college knows a person like Newt. Heck, he was our classmate. He’s in our civic club. He goes to our church. He’s the guy in the front office where we work. His name is: Tom, Dick, Harry, John, Jack, Don, and … Newt.

How many Mitt Romneys go to your church, your civic club, or work in your office? See what I mean? Am I making my point here?

My generation knows Newt Gingrich about as well as it is possible to actually know a national politician. We know what he is capable of… the good and the bad. And we are nothing if not practical.

We need a man who can do the dirty work that is needed to get America back on track. And believe me, it will be dirty work.

To get our nation set aright, a lot of Americans are going to have to be “P.O.ed.” It is going to take a President willing to put his head down and plow ahead, against the current, until the job is done. He will, most likely, be a one term President. So many Americans will be so angered that it will probably be at least a generation before his greatness will be officially recognized.

Allow me this analogy: A General needs a soldier for a nearly impossible mission. His troops are standing before him in full brace — at attention. He can’t help but notice the soldier with the perfectly pressed uniform, the perfectly polished buttons, the regulation haircut, and those sparkling spit shined boots.

Then his attention is drawn to the middle-aged soldier with the broken nose, the scars on his face, the calloused hands, the boots that are polished just enough and a uniform that is slightly rumpled but with a string of hash marks denoting years of devotion and experience in the service of his country.

Care to guess which soldier the General will choose?

There’s no big secret as to why Americans, especially older Americans, are taking a hard look at Newt. They don’t know, I mean REALLY know, Romney. They feel they know Newt, well, enough, anyway, to give him a shot at the Oval Office and one of the most difficult problems every given to a human being.

Nah. There’s no secret here.

J. D. Longstreet

***********************************
VOTE CONSERVATIVE IN NOVEMBER 2012
***********************************
Conservative? Then visit “INSIGHT on Freedom” at http://www.csadispatch.blogspot.com/ Find conservative comment on nearly everything at “INSIGHT on Freedom!”

 

WesternFront America

The big story in the GOP race for the presidential nomination for the last couple months has been Herman Cain.  From his meteoric rise to the top as Conservatives were quickly disenchanted with Rick Perry, to the wall-to-wall coverage of sexual harassment allegations; Herman Cain has been propelled into the public consciousness.  So let’s take a look.

Cain’s background is impressive.  Born during a time when racial prejudice was the norm, to a mother who worked as a cleaning woman and a father who held down three jobs (janitor, barber and chauffer) just to make ends meet, Cain applied himself to education and earned a degree in Mathematics.  Yes, Mathematics – not political science, sociology, or Liberal Arts.  The man understands MATH.  Probably a good idea for one who seeks the presidency at a time of trillion dollar deficits and massive debt!

From there he went on to earn a Masters Degree in Computer Science.  He understands technology – another good idea for one aspiring to lead the nation in the age of tablet PCs, smart-phones, Facebook and Twitter.

Parts of his business career are well known.  His legendary leadership of Godfathers Pizza, where his stint as CEO saved the company; and his term on the board of directors at the Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank are fairly common knowledge.  His suddenly controversial time as CEO of the National Restaurant Association is also becoming well known.

Lesser known, perhaps, are his service with the Navy, where he designed Fire Control Systems; a time working for Coca Cola, and his Vice Presidency of Pillsbury.  He also has a radio program and writes as a columnist.

Cain’s prowess as a businessman is undeniable.  He understands markets, economics, problem solving, power delegation, responsibility and accountability.  His leadership skills are unassailable.

Political wonks may remember, but it bears pointing out to the public at large that during Herman Cain’s tenure as CEO of the National Restaurant Association, he attended a televised Town Hall meeting where Bill Clinton was defending his proposed healthcare reform, later to be known as “HillaryCare”.  Clinton was claiming that his reform would not harm American business owners.  Cain spoke up, saying, “Quite honestly, Mr. President, your calculations are incorrect.  In the competitive marketplace, it simply doesn’t work that way.”

Cain’s words resonated through the nation, and Newsweek later credited him as the “primary saboteur” of HillaryCare.

Unlike Mitt Romney, Cain has a long history of standing up AGAINST government healthcare.  This took place in 1994.

So what of these harassment allegations?

Only Herman Cain and the accusers know exactly what took place… but we can look objectively at what we do know and try to make sense of it.

The allegations were made in 1998.  The Restaurant Association settled with the 2 women with one getting around $30,000 and the other around $45,000, according to the Politico.  This represented a year’s salary.  No civil action was ever brought against Cain personally.

To anyone familiar with business or with the legal system, making a settlement payout, especially one so small – relatively speaking – is certainly not prima facie evidence that an allegation has merit!  It’s nuisance insurance.  Companies will often settle such claims rather than invest time and expense in fighting off spurious complaints and allegations.  It’s part of the cost of doing business and if you investigate any company of size, or any CEO of prominence, you’ll probably find somewhere, sometime, that they settled a meritless claim against them!

But let’s leave aside the he-said, she said for a time.  It is much more interesting and telling to analyze the REACTIONS to these allegations coming to light.

Here we see Herman Cain, a successful black CONSERVATIVE man, and a rising star politically who could very well take a position of power a year from now.

Black conservatism is on the rise, and threatens the very fabric of the Democrat demographic.  Successful black conservatives run counter to the narrative that empowers the Left:  that blacks are oppressed and unable to achieve apart from white liberal beneficence!  That blacks need liberals to “take care of them”.  Blacks are indoctrinated to believe that success is impossible – unless that success comes from pimping the very dependence and victimhood that empowers the left… like Jackson, Sharpton and Obama!  But let a black man apply conservative principles and attain success, and he will become a target.  While no black man CAN succeed on the Democrat’s plantation of enforced dependency… no black man may be allowed to succeed if they’re OFF that plantation!   Especially if that success leads to prominence, public attention, or worse – political power!

Hearken back to the mid 90s and Clarence Thomas!

Remember that the Anita Hill allegations were based on little more than a coke can – and a hair described as “pubic” but which could easily have fallen innocently off the head of a black man.  Coarse curly hair may have a “pubic” association in the white mind… but could be found on the bathroom sink of most any black man who combs his hair or trims his beard in front of a mirror!

Still, the Left and their willing accomplices in the media did everything they could to turn this allegation into the “borking” of Clarence Thomas’ nomination to the Supreme Court.  Not because it had any bearing whatsoever on his character, but because they saw it as a weapon to use to derail a black conservative on his way to a position of power and influence.

The duplicity and hypocrisy of the left is astoundingly striking when it comes to such allegations as those leveled against Thomas and Cain.

On such flimsy evidence as a Coke can or a hand gesture and comment about one’s height, the entire character of a man is held in question… yet water was carried for a John Edwards until the NATIONAL ENQUIRER did the journalistic job the mainstream press WOULDN’T do and presented incontrovertible evidence that finally proved his downfall.  And the left went so far as to REDEFINE SEX in defense of Bill Clinton, when there was a stained blue dress as evidence of his misdeeds in the very Oval Office!

The attempt to derail the Cain Train with these allegations may well backfire, as the American People are seeing through the dirty politics.  Some free advice to those who oppose a Cain presidency (whether on the left or the right):  If you find fault with his policies, platform, plan or proposals, then debate those issues on their merits.  But the politics of personal destruction has seen its heyday and it has come and gone.  The American people are tired of it, and will punish the purveyors of it with their votes.

Copyright © 2011 by Doug Edelman

Doug Edelman is a conservative political analyst and commentator, writes for the St Louis Examiner, at http://www.examiner.com/conservative-in-st-louis/doug-edelman and was a contributing editor for The Conservative Voice.  His work has appeared on ChronWatch, Western Front American, Small Government Times, Western Journalism, News By Us, The American Daily, The Post Chronicle, New Media Journal, Capitol Hill Coffee House and more. Mr. Edelman is also an IT Consultant/Contractor and owner of a Computer Services Business.  He has taught PC Maintenance & Repair and Networking at his local Community College, and maintains a blog at http://starboard.blogtownhall.com.

 

WesternFront America

Mitt Romney’s polls seem stuck in the low to mid twenty percentile. As the weeks and months have passed Romney’s polling numbers seem steady in that range. There’s a reason for that. The conservative voters within the GOP do not support Romney for President of the United States.

That, dear reader, is why Herman Cain’s numbers have been skyrocketing

There are recent reports stating that Herman Cain is the candidate the Tea Party has thrown its support behind and Cain is the top choice from the GOP field by SOUTHERNERS. As a conservative southern gentleman – none of this comes as a surprise.

Look. Sophisticated republican voters already know it would take an act of God for Mr. Cain to receive the anointing the GOP as the Republican nominee to run against Obama. Nevertheless, they have seemingly flocked to Cain, a real conservative, and are looking much more approvingly at Newt Gingrich. (Mrs. Bachmann is finished — kaput. She flamed out the moment Rick Perry entered the race.)

There is a very clear message being sent to the GOP hierarchy: We want a CONSERVATIVE candidate – not another moderate RINO! All the other candidates are “also rans.”

Mr. Cain simply does not have the financial means to run a head-to-head campaign against Romney for very long. His star will begin to fade very soon and conservative voters will be told, once again, they must “settle” for another moderate nominee … Romney.

There are two dangers for the GOP in this scenario. One – that Romney will win the nomination, and two – that conservative voters will stay home on Election Day in November of 2012.

The GOP is betting that conservative voters will vote for practically any candidate running against Obama. The GOP is WRONG!

Conservative voters practice their politics with conviction and with passion. Many, like yours truly, will simply stay home or write-in another candidate’s name at the polls. Conservatives have the courage of their convictions and they are not afraid to act on them.

I know it is not popular to express doubt that the GOP will wrap the 2012 election up with a red ribbon but — I think republicans are being far too optimistic about the outcome of that all important contest.

Raining on the GOP parade is distasteful, to say the least, but I simply do not believe the south will support Mr. Romney at the polls and, frankly, I am not convinced that Romney is strong enough to govern a country as divided as America is today.

If I am right, and I believe I am, then Mr. Obama will be reelected and given four more years in which to practice his program for the destruction of America.

Look. There is a slim-to-none chance that republicans will win enough seats in the Senate to reach the needed sixty seats that would insure the democrats cannot lock-up the Senate (as republicans are doing right now) and leave a republican Congress just as bogged down as our current divided Congress.

America MUST have a strong President who can carry his case to the voters for their support in prodding a foot-dragging Congress — even a Congress of his own party.

Even if Romney is elected without the southern electorate, he will not have enough support from the grassroots to bring the over-powering weight of pubic pressure to bear on a lagging legislature. Alas, America will have another weak President.

Weak Presidents are dangerous – not just to America but to the world. We have seen it with Carter and with Obama. Its as if the “Global Police,” America, goes on an extended vacation for four years. All the bogeymen come out to play. The rogue nations have a field day. Nations are invaded, people are slaughtered in their thousands, while America’s allies sweat through the nightmare until the American people become fed up and place a new sheriff in office.

The record is written, oftimes, in blood. When America elects a President, the world holds its collective breath.

America really needs to get it right this time — not just for America – for the world.

J. D. Longstreet

VOTE CONSERVATIVE IN NOVEMBER 2012
Visit “INSIGHT on Freedom” at http://www.csadispatch.blogspot.com/ Find conservative comment on nearly everything at “INSIGHT on Freedom!”

 

WesternFront America

During my misspent youth, I was a Democrat. Consequently, when I started my political consulting firm I wanted to be true to my mistaken convictions, so I only worked for Democrat clients.

[Note: Now that I’m a Republican who has seen the error of my ways, I often find myself trying to rationalize my membership in the party of debt, dependency and degeneracy by telling people I was a “conservative Democrat.” This is not all that uncommon among those of us who have seen the light and puts me in some pretty august company.

Recently I was watching a rerun of ‘Booknotes’ with Gertrude Himmelfarb — now a respected historian and neo–conservative, but in her youth a Trotskyite, which — for those of you suffering from recent history instruction in public schools — is a variety of Communist. When asked how she made the ideological journey from Trotsky to Reagan, it warmed my heart when explained that she was always a pretty conservative Trotskyite.]

In 1990 I found myself working as media consultant for Tom McRae who was Bill Clinton’s last gubernatorial primary opponent in Arkansas.

At that time Clinton was eight to ten years into his affair with Gennifer Flowers, had played jack–in–the–box with Paula Jones, reportedly used the state troopers to ferry women and was generally known as someone you wouldn’t leave unsupervised with your college–age daughter.

Yet our TV spots featured none of this lurid material for the simple reason that, regardless of the truth, the rumors were old news to voters and reporters. Clinton had been re–elected previously when Flowers was just starting to bloom. The fact that she had now taken root, along with a complete inventory of other women, was simply not a factor as he sought his fifth term.

Instead, our spots were built around “It’s time for a change” and highlighted the fact Clinton was just going through the motions while preparing to run for president. Our woefully underfunded campaign held Clinton to a meager 54 percent.

Two years later Clinton was in for a rude surprise during the New Hampshire Presidential Primary. Rumors he thought dead and buried arose in the form of tapes secretly recorded by Flowers and played for the news media.

Why was his old squeeze from the Ozarks suddenly relevant? Simple, Clinton changed the scope of his campaigning, from statewide candidate in Arkansas to nationwide candidate and new voters were unaware of his randy streak. These voters were encountering information that he thought was safely behind him and Clinton was caught unprepared. Overcoming the shock required a comprehensive campaign of lies to a gullible news media that just barely saved his campaign.

The same phenomenon is being repeated today — minus the lies and the lingerie.

Texas Governor Rick Perry is encountering past issues he previously overcame. If Perry had been content to stay in Texas and run for governor, US Senator or Congress the forced HPV vaccinations for schoolgirls and in–state college tuition for children of illegal aliens would have been non–issues.

This is because winning an election, similar to baptism, washes one clean of all past political sins. Where Christian baptism differs from elections is Christ doesn’t care about geography. You’re just as clean in Austin as you are in Arlington. But in politics absolution doesn’t travel across the border.

In Florida and elsewhere conservative Republicans are appalled at Perry’s executive decision to require schoolgirls to be vaccinated for a disease that comes through sexual activity and his signature on a law that grants in–state college tuition to the children of illegal aliens.

Perry appears to be appalled that voters have found out.

His debate answers are awkward and off–message for Republicans. He says his decision with regard to HPV vaccinations was wrong and he would not do it again. So far so good, but then he rationalizes by saying it would save lives. So would requiring every citizen of Texas to wear a ballistic vest when leaving the house, but it would not be a conservative policy.

His most recent answer to the tuition controversy only served to drive his poll numbers down. Telling opponents of granting special privileges to children of illegals that they “don’t…have a heart” is simply stupid. Democrats are the land of “follow your feelings,” Republicans prefer to follow the rule of law.

If Perry’s answers don’t improve his campaign will be the second bubble to burst, following that of Rep. Michelle Bachmann. But either way, he serves as an instructive lesson for politicians who are looking to expand their political horizons in the future.

Michael R. Shannon is a public relations and advertising consultant with corporate, government and political experience around the globe. He is a dynamic and entertaining keynote speaker. He can be reached at michael-shannon@comcast.net.

Michael R. Shannon
MANDATE: Message, Media & Public Relations
703-583-6277
571-969-1995 Google Voice
http://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelrshannon
http://www.examiner.com/conservative-in-washington-dc/michael-shannon

 

WesternFront America

By Michael R. Shannon

Last week an intrepid reporter tracked down a creature long thought to be extinct along these shores. It appeared in the guise of Retired U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. John W. Douglass a man who claimed in an interview that he’s a “conservative Democrat.”

Unfortunately for his family, like the man who claims the world will end May 21st or Obama has a plan to cut spending, Douglass suffers from delusions. What else can account for a man who the HuffPost says “campaigned vigorously for Hillary Clinton and then Barack Obama” describing himself as a “conservative.”

I can see a so–called “conservative” Democrat holding his nose and voting for Obama — because he’s been raised to believe the GOP is the real Evil Empire — but actually aiding and abetting?

Douglass intends to wrest Virginia’s 10th district seat currently held by Frank Wolf from Republican hands and present it to the Democrats. Gen. Douglass — who evidently is unaware Congressional candidates do not have access to air strikes — appears to believe he has a chance against the 30–year incumbent.

But any voter who genuinely supports Douglass because of his claimed “conservatism” is in for a rude awakening. That’s because, in the unlikely event he actually wins and Dems take control of the House, the first vote Douglass casts in Congress will be to elect Nancy Pelosi as Speaker.

This is the equivalent of a vegan going to work for the Hormel Company where he can facilitate change by working within the system to bring his pro–broccoli viewpoint to the table.

However, we don’t have to wait until after the election to learn Douglass is just another bait–and–switch Democrat. (Where’s Obama’s Consumer Protection Agency when you really need it?)

Douglass is strangely silent on abortion, Obamacare, illegal immigration, out–of–control spending or the deficit, all of which are legitimate conservative issues.

What he has strongly supported in the past is the always promising, never effective early childhood education. Genuine conservatives know this boondoggle as the subsidized daycare and government expansion program. Head Start, Smart Start or Maxwell Smart, these programs have never been proven to be effective. Any gains among program participants disappear by the third grade.

What guarantee’s Democrat support is feminist agitation, teacher union pressure and the fact it’s cheaper than Kiddieland because the taxpayer foots the bill.

Douglass’ views on energy and gas prices aren’t any better. A conservative would be saying, “Drill, baby, drill. Here, not Brazil.” Authentic conservative Republicans in Richmond support ending the 30–year ban on offshore oil and gas drilling because more supply will eventually lower prices and gas drilling alone will create an estimated 2,600 new jobs.

Douglass on the other hand wouldn’t even poke Mother Earth with a spoon. And his solution to high gas prices reveals the Democrat’s basic lack of familiarity with capitalism. He wants to confiscate legitimate oil company profits and redistribute the money to subsidize HOV–clogging Prius owners: “It’s wrong for these big oil companies that are making record profits that are coming right out of the wallets of working people here in the 10th District,” he said.

“If we take that money and spend it somewhere (!), it would be a lot better in incentivizing people to go into hybrid or electric cars or convert to natural gas or whatever it takes to put our country on a solid energy footing.”

You’d think that since Douglass operates a Fauquier County winery he would know that all profits come from “the wallets of working people” regardless of whether they are buying Boone’s Farm or Bogle. The same goes for oil companies.

It’s conceivable Douglass only marks his wine up a buck or two a barrel, regardless of cost. This would account for his ignorance of percentages. Oil company profits are simply a percentage of the price of a barrel of crude. If the underlying price of oil increases, the amount of profit per barrel increases, too, although the underlying percentage remains the same. This is how supply and demand works.

Robin Hood or robbin’ hood energy policy that takes from the proven and productive to give to the unproven and unreliable is hardly a roadmap for energy independence.

Douglass’ “green energy” is an illusion, just like his conservatism. In truth it is heavily subsidized, boutique energy paid for by taxing “working people” who aren’t brie and Chablis Democrats boasting of their “green” credentials while waiting for the sun to grow this year’s grapes.

Michael R. Shannon is a public relations, advertising and political consultant with experience around the globe. He is also a popular speaker and can be reached at michael–shannon@comcast.net.

Michael R. Shannon
MANDATE: Message, Media & Public Relations
http://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelrshannon
http://www2.insidenova.com/topics/types/person/tags/michael-r-shannon/

 

WesternFront America

By Doug Edelman

Donald Trump is nothing if he’s not a showman! The man knows how to get attention. He’s a self-promoter and loves the spotlight, and he’s certainly garnered a lot of that limelight of late!

He is riding a rising tide of popularity, and he’s milking it for all its worth. America is so very disenchanted with Obama that anyone who can land a body-blow on him is a hero. Trump has been relentless in his sometimes comical, sometimes clownish criticism and skepticism of the President. This makes him something of a folk-hero, whose stock has just posted great gains after Obama blinked on the Birth Certificate staredown. Now he is calling for school records. An amusing diversion, to be sure, and it may cause further deterioration of Obama’s credibility… but it’s not doing much to cause a rise in confidence in Trump’s ability to govern!

But if I might draw an analogy, Trump is an opening act. He warms up the audience for the headliner. Someone else will close the show and take the curtain calls.

Perhaps an even better analogy is that of a bullfight. Given the close association that so many people have between “bull” and Obama, this may perhaps be the most fitting analog I can find!

In a bullfight, there is not a single human opponent to the bull. There is a TEAM. The Picador will annoy the bull and will insert lances to weaken his back. This is the role I see The Donald playing. Frustrating the bull, causing him pain and injury, confusing him, and wearing him down.

During the next phase of the bullfight, a Torreador will play the bull. Goading him to charge at his red cape, while deftly avoiding the bulls horns, he further confuses and tires the bull. This is a finesse act. Perhaps too finesse for The Donald’s cavalier manner. I expect one or more challengers of the Paul Ryan, Mike Pence, even Ron Paul variety to challenge Obama on the REAL issues. To make him answer real and reasoned questions on fiscal matters, and on the differing world views and underlying philosophies that distinguish between the Progressive Left and the Conservative Right.

But the Matador… the one who ultimately plunges the sword into the bull and ends the bullfight in victory… that person has yet to emerge. This must be a charismatic person. One who can eloquently articulate the positions, policies, platform, and plan that will set our nation on a course for prosperity and success. One whose policies are not political gamesmanship, but which come from a core belief and a personal conviction. A Reaganesque character who will unite people behind an optimistic vision and a realistic plan.

This character profile does not fit Trump, and he won’t play that role in the end. Who will? It’s too early to tell! There are several I have my eyes on, and a few I truly hope will jump into the fray – but it’s far to early to make such a prediction or endorsement!

In the meantime, suffice it to say… I’m enjoying the opening act. But Trump will have to vacate the stage so the headliner can perform.

Copyright © 2011 by Doug Edelman

Doug Edelman is a conservative political analyst and commentator, and was a contributing editor for The Conservative Voice. His work has appeared on ChronWatch, Western Front American, Small Government Times, Western Journalism, News By Us, The American Daily, The Post Chronicle, New Media Journal, Capitol Hill Coffee House and more. Mr. Edelman is also an IT Consultant/Contractor and owner of a Computer Services Business.  He has taught PC Maintenance & Repair and Networking at his local Community College, and maintains a blog at http://starboard.blogtownhall.com/

 

WesternFront America

Mitt Romney was in New Hampshire over the weekend shining his image as he endeavors to capture the republican nomination as the candidate for President of the United States. Problem is – conservatives, whose numbers basically control the nominating process; don’t want any part of Romney. (Count “yours truly among them!)

For at least two years prior to the 2008 presidential election we told anyone and everyone, who would listen, that John McCain would never be President of the United States. But, the GOP, being a heck of a lot smarter and far and away more intelligent and politically savvy that I, nominated the guy anyway. McCain went down in flames – and so did America.

I am going out on that same limb again to declare, here and now, that Mitt Romney, if nominated, will not be elected over Barack Obama in 2012. It just isn’t going to happen.

How can I say that? Easy. I know my people.

My people are the southern conservatives. No GOP candidate can be elected president without the support of the southern conservatives — and Romney does not have their support and cannot get it … ever!

Why, you may ask, will southern conservatives not vote for a republican candidate in order to save America from another four years of Obama? Oh, that is an easy one!

We simply do not see how Romney is all that different from Obama. I mean – he DID sign into law a healthcare bill very similar to ObamaCare in his state of Massachusetts. He is a social liberal, and he is a Mormon. (Mormonism is not looked upon favorably in the South. I write this as I sit approximately two bocks from a Mormon “church.”)

No. Romney is totally unacceptable to southerner conservatives. Allow me to be as clear as I possibly can: I say again — Romney will not get the southern conservative vote … PERIOD!

You may have noticed the mainstream media is promoting Romney’s acceptability as the GOP nominee. That, alone, should give every conservative voter in America pause.

Could it possibly be that the MSM wants an easy win for Obama? And believe me, with Romney as the republican candidate – the election WOULD BE an EASY win for Obama.

We all know the MSM is in Obama’s corner – all the way — and we know, from experience, they will prostitute themselves for Obama and the liberal-socialist Democratic Party at every opportunity.

When the MSM becomes a “booster club” for Romney – well, we just have to turn our conservative backs on him and look elsewhere for a REAL conservative candidate.

Romney’s “new image” is supposed to lure us into voting for the guy. Now he is a “man of the people” sans necktie, and perfect hair. Now he is busy pressing the flesh amongst crowds of the great unwashed… etc. Down here, we call that “old wine in new bottles.” We see it for what it is — and it is repugnant.

If Romney is the best the GOP can offer, my fellow Americans, we are in deep, deep, trouble.

Even in the very best scenario I can imagine, the GOP nominee will need every vote he/she can get. I mean EVERY vote. The Obama forces will be busing their voters to the polls in convoys. There will be a tsunami of democrat voters flooding the polling places to keep THEIR president in office.

Without the southern conservative voter NO GOP CANDIDATE WILL STAND A CHANCE.

So, republicans mulling whether to run for president take notice: You had better spend your time here, in the south, where the campaign for president will be won or lost depending upon the favor, or lack thereof, of the southern conservative voter.

We will not vote for you simply because there is an “R” by your name. We WILL NOT vote for you in order to cast a vote against Obama. We WILL NOT knowingly choose the lesser of two evils.

The southern conservative WILL vote for a candidate they believe in … a true conservative candidate. Any would-be GOP candidate having credentials less than 100% conservative might as well save the time, energy, and the money mounting a campaign for 2012. You might have a better shot in 2016. But frankly, I doubt it.

J. D. Longstreet blogs daily at INSIGHT on Freedom at: http://www.csadispatch.blogspot.com/

 

WesternFront America

I’m concerned about Virginia’s Gov. Bob McDonnell. He seems to be embarking on a white–whale situation involving his obsession with privatizing the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC). This unnatural focus is a damaging, negative influence on his administration.

McDonnell wants to sell all 332 retail ABC stores to private owners and allow another 668 to open, bringing the total retail outlets to an even 1,000 — finally putting us ahead of the District of Columbia’s 500.

It goes without saying that government has no business selling booze and any conservative worth the name supports the governor in the abstract. But in Virginia the reality gets in the way.

The Commonwealth makes $220 million a year in taxes and profits off Demon Rum and none of the governor’s many privatization proposals will replace the revenue. Even the most optimistic plan falls $47 million short, which is quite a premium to pay for ideological purity.

Equally troubling is the way the privatization plan appears to be affecting the administration’s judgment with regard to legislative relations and even personnel policies.

There have been stories alleging the governor’s political staff threatened Republican members of the General Assembly if they fail to support his unpopular privatization plan.

Even Gov. McDonnell’s Reform and Restructuring Commission is getting into the act. It has recommended selected government agencies switch to a four–day workweek. The ostensible justification is saving money and employee morale, but I’m thinking three–day weekends leave more time for drinking privatized booze with additional tax revenue that might make up some of the $47 million shortfall.

This is why it’s time for an intervention.

Our governor is not alone. Others have been hobbled by unpopular privatization programs and received help. There is no shame or stigma in admitting your need to change.

Which is why — as a public service to our otherwise fine governor — I’ve contacted the good people at Privatization Anonymous. They were kind enough to share this advice:

”We who are in Privatization Anonymous came because we finally gave up trying to impose our privatizing on the public. We still hated to admit that we could never privatize safely.

We found out that many officeholders suffered from the same feelings of ostracism, loneliness and hopelessness that we did. We found out that we had these feelings because we had privatized prematurely and become fixated on privatization in spite of the inadequacies of our program.

We decided to try and face up to what privatization had done to us. If you answer YES to four or more of the following questions, you are in deep trouble with privatization.

Remember, there is no disgrace in facing up to the fact that you have a problem with privatization.

1 – Have you ever decided to stop privatizing for a week or so, but only lasted for a couple of days?

2 – Do you wish legislators would mind their own business regarding your privatizing and stop giving advice?

3 – Have you ever switched from one type of privatization to another in the hope that this would make you more popular?

4 – Do you envy governors who can privatize without getting into trouble with the legislature?

5 – Have you had political problems connected with privatizing during the past year?

6 – Has your privatizing caused trouble with your political base?

7 – Do you tell yourself you can stop privatizing any time you want to?

8 – Have you postponed meetings or canceled gatherings because of privatizing?

9 – Do you have “news blackouts” in regard to privatizing?

10 – Have you ever felt that your term of office would be better if you had never started to privatize?

If you answered YES four or more times, you are probably in trouble with privatization. Why do we say this? Because thousands of politicians have said so for many years and have the legislative bruises to show for it.



They found out the truth about themselves — the hard way. But again, only you can decide whether you think P.A. is for you. Try to keep an open mind on the subject. If the answer is YES, we will be glad to show you how we stopped privatizing.

P.A. does not promise to solve all your political problems. But we can show you how others are learning to live without privatization initiatives “one day at a time.”

We stay away from that “first privatizing proposal.” If there is no first one, there cannot be a tenth one. And when we got rid of privatization, we found that politics became much more manageable.”

This is good advice governor. Please take it. I’m here to help, just email and I’ll be there.

Michael R. Shannon is a public relations and advertising consultant with corporate, government and political experience around the globe. He’s a dynamic and entertaining speaker and can be reached at michael–shannon@comcast.net

Michael R. Shannon
MANDATE: Message, Media & Public Relations
http://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelrshannon
http://www2.insidenova.com/topics/types/person/tags/michael-r-shannon/

 

WesternFront America

… The First Amendment is Under Attack (By Republicans)

Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5

Cars in the driveway, cars backing out of the driveway…

It’s normal when you live at the end of the street—happens several times a day. I watched the black Dodge Charger pull into the driveway thinking it was turning around. It didn’t.

Out of the car came a Sheriff and a man in a blue coat. Hmm, I wonder what they are here for. I walked to the door to greet. Mr. Bowler, I’m with the FBI, I want to ask you some questions.

I cited the Fourth Amendment, letting him know he was not welcome into my house. When he said Congressman Billy Long’s office, I dropped my guard and jokingly said, “Come on In.”

The site had been down for two months. Long forgotten about and chalked up as how an average guy was able to get amazing access into the world of Congressional politics and see the good and the ugly only to realize how Americans are continually duped into buying into clever package candidates like they were a new car full of luxuries often forgetting the burden of the monthly payment.

The year I lost my political innocence was met with highs and lows.  How many people can say a Congressional candidate allowed an ordinary blogger to review his economic plan to save America and offer input while sitting at their kitchen table? Or how many Americans have the honor of being identified as one of the main sources for background material that served Roy Blunt’s campaign in his attacks on Robin Carnahan and the Carnahan Windmill Farms. Just two years before, I was simply writing a blog in hopes of convincing a few people not to vote for Barack Obama.  Now I had access to the inside.

It started in of all places, a town hall meeting. Senator Claire McCaskill was in town in hopes of selling one of the most Republican districts in the United States on Obamacare. I arrived early in hopes of getting a seat in the front row with a question challenging McCaskill on her use of the General Welfare clause. A few hours later, I would meet the man that would provide me insight to why American politics is in the mess we are in today.

He was pandering to voters. Telling them what they wanted to hear while keeping his roll of campaign stickers ready for anyone willing to put his name on their shirt. I was already upset enough at politicians, and the last thing I needed to see was another telling me if we just elect him everything is going to be alright—it didn’t matter even if he claimed to be a Republican.

By the time he got to me, a man who was whining about the federal government not providing him with loans for his small business—a double-decker tour bus company like you see driving tourists around along Lake Shore Drive in Chicago. He asked the politician what are you going to do for me when you get to Washington DC. In a moment’s notice, the Republican turned into a federal safety net babysitter. When I challenged him about the enumerated powers of Congress, he quickly ran. It was at that moment I knew I wasn’t going to vote for Billy Long.

Politics often isn’t about ones true philosophies. Politics is about who can raise the most money and come up with the most clever packaging. This I knew from watching the 2008 election of Barack Obama—hope and change. I began to think from that last day in August how I could play a part in making sure Billy Long would not be the next Congressman from Southwest Missouri. I didn’t have the answers other than try to attract people to my blog, which was still relatively unknown at the time. I was getting 300 hits a day. On any given day now I get a 1,000 or more, and even Rush Limbaugh has read one of my pieces on the air.

The Offer

In January, I tested the significance of my blog. I really didn’t expect much to come out of it. I knew politicians read blogs, because one of Governor Matt Blunt’s insiders contacted me wanting to know why I didn’t write anything about Governor Blunt. I explained that we were childhood friends and I felt it would be best to shy away from any article written towards and old friend. Other than that, no other politician had attempted to supply my blog with inside material.

So I made an offer. I noted that candidate Long was well-funded and had the name recognition, but my conversation with Long last August alarmed me knowing this man wasn’t true to the Constitution. I offered any candidate other than Long an article on my blog to let voters in Missouri 7 know who they are. It took a week, but soon candidate Michael Wardell contacted me offering an interview. Within a month and a half, I had interviewed two state Senators, with accolades from both, I was discussing policy with another giving insight about ways he could implement his plan. It was addictive, and the men I met were admirable—a collection of talent from all backgrounds who I knew had better intentions in their desires to get to Washington. For some strange reason, my blog was doing the work the local media wasn’t doing—reporting the developments of the primary season and interviewing the players.

It was the first interview with Wardell that would forever change my life. He was interested in why I had no faith in Long the candidate. In our discussion he asked me why not write a blog called Long is Wrong. Within 24 hours, I had bought the domain name and it went live in February.

By the first week, it quickly received a mention on television and in the paper. What was unclear was could an average blogger make an impact in a Congressional race. I guess I would soon find out.

Part 2  will be available tomorrow 1-19-2011

© Clay Bowler – Bungalow Bill’s Conservative Wisdom

 

WesternFront America