A great blog post from a follower on Twitter. I recommend reading Russel Kirk whenever you get the chance.
Remember cartoons? Please watch this one, America.
Those were the days…
Damage limitation is Labour’s only option | William Rees-Mogg – Times Online.
“June 4 will be a very important day in British politics…”
“It is even possible that this might prove to be the last Labour Government…”
Looks like the Brits have had enough of what we are just now starting.
Over the weekend, Dick Cheney appeared on Face the Nation and voiced his support for Rush Limbaugh’s thoughts on the future of the GOP, over Colin Powell’s recent positions.
“If I had to choose in terms of being a Republican, I’d go with Rush Limbaugh,” Cheney said, adding that he believed Colin Powell had left the GOP when he threw his support behind Barak Obama in the general election. “I assumed that that is some indication of his loyalty and his interests.”
Powell has expressed concern over statements made by Rush Limbaugh regarding his choice to support Obama for President. “I think what Rush does as an entertainer diminishes the party and intrudes or inserts into our public life a kind of nastiness that we would be better to do without.”
Apparently Powell hasn’t been paying attention. Barak Obama stooped to new levels of nastiness in his quest for the White House, using the courts to open sealed divorce records of his opponents. Obama is a pro when it comes to nastiness; he knows the Move-on Media won’t report it.
Frankly, I’ll take someone with a sharp tongue who defends this country over a smooth talker who destroys it from within any day.
Colin Powell exemplifies two of the problems the GOP has had in the last few years–first, Republicans who believe Big Government interests can find a home in the party whose platform includes a dedication to smaller government. Reagan’s Big Tent GOP isn’t that big. Powell said last week that “Americans are looking for more government in their life, not less.” I guess he missed the Tea Party in his neighborhood.
Second, Powell has also said he is a Right-of-Center Republican, though “not as right as others would like.” You can say that again, Colin. Since when was support for more government a right-of-center issue? Powell apparently thinks Republicans must act like Democrats in order to get elected.
Rush Limbaugh has stated over and over again that this isn’t true, that conservatism wins every time it is honestly tried. Dick Cheney supports that idea. “The suggestion our Democratic friends always make is ‘somehow if you Republicans were just more like Democrats, you’d win elections.’ Well, I don’t buy that. We win elections when we have good solid conservative principles to run upon.” Cheney gets it.
Something has begun…
Part 1:
Part 2:
When the Student is ready the Teacher will appear. So goes the old adage. I think the Conservative/Republican movement is now ready, and the Teacher is beginning to appear. The Teacher will have many faces and many names, but the message will be clear and powerful.
This is one example of the appearance of the Teacher. Hugh Hewitt posted the following on his blog. It’s from an anonymous marketing exec, known only by his email address, bearinthewoods84 at gmail.com.
I’ve been thinking a lot over the past couple of weeks about the communications strategies and tactics that are currently being employed in favor of White House and Congressional initiatives, and against all who oppose them. I’ve also been thinking a lot about how discordant the GOP’s response has been. There are bright spots, to be sure. A groundswell of grassroots activism in the form of Tea Parties. The Speech. And growing discussions I’m hearing, especially amongst young voters and moderates who are realizing they’re getting a bit more than they bargained for. The problem I’m having is that I’m not hearing a universal emotional truth that resonates across broad swaths of voters. I’m hearing wonderfully articulated arguments, and some good old-fashioned common sense. I’m just not hearing it boiled down into something that’s easily embraced. But the more I think, the more I think a potential unifying mantra is staring us in the face. At the risk of being presumptuous, I have a suggestion:
The two most powerful words in advertising have always been: “Free” and “Truth.”
The problem is, once they get turned into marketing language, they sometimes develop twisted meanings. But, if, in fact, marketers can use the words legitimately, they absolutely should employ them whenever possible. It’s important to understand that many times, though, the two words conflict. Yes, something might be “Free,” but the “Truth” is, in the end, you still have to pay.
It’s clear the Democrats have embraced the concept of “Free.” Just look at all the stuff they’re “giving” away. I’m reminded of a discussion I had a few years ago with a Canadian friend of mine — and no, it wasn’t about health care — but it was about some other government program from which he believed he was getting free services. “The government’s going to pay for it!” He was ecstatic. Then I asked him his tax rate. Although he made less than half of what I made at the time, his rate was 15 points higher. A lightbulb went off when he realized that yes, the government was paying for his service — with his money. This is the twisted concept of “Free” the American people are being sold by congress and the president. But “Free” is seductive. And emotional. And people are almost universally willing to buy it. The Democrats are, quite literally, banking on it.
But, then, there’s the Truth. One of the most successful public service campaigns in recent memory has been “The Truth” campaign against smoking. Just the facts. Just the truth. Presented in a raw, yet emotionally arresting way.
When, in times past, Republicans have presented the Truth in an emotionally arresting, and creatively competent way (The Bear in the Woods, The Contract With America) we’ve succeeded. I’ll even throw in the Swift Boat spots for good measure here, just to make a point. When we’ve failed, we’ve done one of two things: (A) We’ve failed to live the Truth, for instance, by becoming big spenders while telling the country we’re not, or by shutting down communication altogether, thus obscuring the Truth; or (B) we’ve failed to articulate the Truth in a way that is concise and emotionally appealing. Which is why I frequently liken GOP responses to Liberal banner waving as the communications equivalent of a white paper.
The Truth is powerful on its own. It can be spoken in short sentences.
The Truth is simple. The Truth is pure. The Truth trumps opinion. And although “Free” is frequently considered the more powerful marketing word, the truth is, the Truth wins head to head. Irrefutable Truth eventually ends every argument. Emotional Truth eventually wins every heart and mind. There is, right this very moment, a massive opportunity for the Right to not only embrace, but to — in a marketing sense — “own” the concept of, and the very word: Truth.
The Democrats have gone too far down the road, now, of a faux concept of “Free,” and made too many missteps along that road, to be able to own them both. It’s ours for the taking, and the American people are showing every sign of hunger for exactly that: The Truth.
To pull it off, though, we must live as we speak. We can’t call out their pork, and ignore or brush off ours. We can’t talk around our own mistakes — we have to own up. Living up to the Truth is difficult, in the best of times. But even in times like these, it’s never impossible. I agree with Ann Coulter’s take in Guilty that the Truth infuriates both Democrats and the mainstream media. Because both have such trouble owning up to it. The time is now. Not only do we have the opportunity to be the voice of Truth, I’ll submit that we have the duty. Just imagine how, plainly stated, Truth stands up to what we now know are the Democrats’ versions of the following: Free, Change, Hope, Bipartisanship, Fairness, Transparency….I could go on, but I don’t see the need.
The truth is, our mantra is staring us in the face. We need to live the concept, so the word has power. But we need to use the word. Literally, use it, the way the Democrats used the word: “Change.” With purpose and conviction. Over and over. We have the opportunity to give America what it desperately needs and wants the most: The Truth. And the best part is, the Truth is on our side.
The message is right on. It’s simple, yet powerful. If incorporated at the National level, the Republicans have a very good chance to roll back the damage done by the Obam administration beginning in 2010. But, as “bear” notes, they have to live it and not just say it.
One of the final speeches given by Pres. Ezra Taft Benson, this testimony, entitled “I Testify,” was delivered in October General Conference, 1988.
It was one of the most powerful speeches I had ever heard. I was serving a mission for the LDS Church at the time, and I clearly remember it.
Since then, I have come back to it time and time again to refresh my memory of what he said. His words are timeless, and should be read aloud in every street in every city in America. We need leaders like this more than ever now.
This portion of the speech bears special significance today.
“I testify that wickedness is rapidly expanding in every segment of our society. (See D&C 1:14–16; D&C 84:49–53.) It is more highly organized, more cleverly disguised, and more powerfully promoted than ever before. Secret combinations lusting for power, gain, and glory are flourishing. A secret combination that seeks to overthrow the freedom of all lands, nations, and countries is increasing its evil influence and control over America and the entire world. (See Ether 8:18–25.)”
“I testify that the church and kingdom of God is increasing in strength. Its numbers are growing, as is the faithfulness of its faithful members. It has never been better organized or equipped to perform its divine mission.”
“I testify that as the forces of evil increase under Lucifer’s leadership and as the forces of good increase under the leadership of Jesus Christ, there will be growing battles between the two until the final confrontation. As the issues become clearer and more obvious, all mankind will eventually be required to align themselves either for the kingdom of God or for the kingdom of the devil. As these conflicts rage, either secretly or openly, the righteous will be tested. God’s wrath will soon shake the nations of the earth and will be poured out on the wicked without measure. (See JS-H 1:45; D&C 1:9.) But God will provide strength for the righteous and the means of escape; and eventually and finally truth will triumph. (See 1 Ne. 22:15–23.)”
“I testify that it is time for every man to set in order his own house both temporally and spiritually. It is time for the unbeliever to learn for himself that this work is true, that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter–day Saints is the kingdom which Daniel prophesied God would set up in the latter days, never to be destroyed, a stone that would eventually fill the whole earth and stand forever. (See Dan. 2:34–45; D&C 65:2.) It is time for us, as members of the Church, to walk in all the ways of the Lord, to use our influence to make popular that which is sound and to make unpopular that which is unsound. We have the scriptures, the prophets, and the gift of the Holy Ghost. Now we need eyes that will see, ears that will hear, and hearts that will hearken to God’s direction.”
Amen.
Democrats got some bad news yesterday: Hurricane Gustav wasn’t as bad as it could have been. It was downgraded to a category 2 storm, and made landfall to the west of New Orleans. Does this mean that God isn’t on their side after all? Will “Foul Fowler” really apologize now?
Not only was Gustav weaker than the Democrats had hoped, it missed our oil derricks in the gulf as well, which resulted in a drop of nearly $7 in the price of a barrel of oil.
What does it say about these people who have to hope for the worst to happen to people? There’s something deeply wrong there, and very disturbing.
