So I was having a quick look around before kicking off the workday this morning, just seeing what the media would have to say about Palin's speech.
One of the popular comments about the speech was that she didn't write it. Mmmm. Good one! And when, since perhaps the days of Lincoln, has a politician on the national stage written their own speech? Do you think Oblabla is just speaking from the heart? Why is it then, that when the man doesn't have a teleprompter or a rehearsed answer he can't seem to speak in sentences?
(Just a moment as the writer of this article checks with Dwight Knowlton for approval on that last paragraph.)
Tracy and I were talking last night about how, when you know the answer and you feel the answer... when you are asked the question... you HAVE the answer. As the experience at Saddleback shows, when your answers are the result of Nielson ratings, polls of the audience, or who it is you are speaking to at the moment -- once you are without the script -- you don't know what the answer is.
Of course the shape-shifters will be up in arms after a speech from someone who has a stance. Because when someone stands for something, has fought for something, and there's a record of that... well, somehow it means more than just words do.
I was sorting through the headlines this morning in this great nation's media, and seeing things like "Don't They Have Birth Control in Alaska?" when I found this great piece. Too bad that a liberal has to be from the UK to have any perspective -- but what a great piece. Click HERE to Read the Article.
Over the last couple weeks,
I've been summing up the differences
between the sides in my head.
Now, keep in mind that I for years (and you can ask my parents) did not want to be called a Republican. I claimed that I wanted to be able to vote for my candidate of choice -- based on the available information. As the available information has basically always led my to vote on the right - I have for some time acknowleged my place as a Republican voter.
Here's why.
Republicans have a position.
Agree or disagree, we stand for some things.
We believe in the sanctity of life.
For the most part, and to the best of our ability, we call a spade a spade.
A fair share of us believe in the craziness that we call Intelligent Design.
We think you should provide your own roof, meal, pants, etc.
If you want some good crack cocaine you should earn that too.
(Sorry, wrong category -- was supposed to go elsewhere -- minus the earning part.)
We believe that free speech doesn't mean there should be no graces.
We believe that in marriage, man parts were designed to go with women parts.
We think that hunting is OK and you can have a gun if you want to.
You should be able to defend your country.
And you should be able to offend and disagree with some people.
We don't have to calculate our responses based on warmth of reception...
What today's newspaper said about the position we said we held yesterday...
The group we're speaking to...
I have an old favorite Family Circus
cartoon that I quote entirely too often
when discussing the democratic "position".
The dad is watching a football game on TV.
Billy: Which team are you for, Daddy. I'm for the blue team.
Dad: I'm for the red team.
Billy: Me too.
