Flashback: C-Span coverage of the Alaska Governor's Debate - 2006. I caught it on a channel-surfing fluke and stayed to learn more about Alaskan politics. When incumbent-challenger Sarah Palin opened her mouth I was stunned. So impressed. I agreed with everything she said. She was poised, polished, and perfect on every point. Then I did my research on her and found out she was born and educated in my homestate of Idaho. Another connection. When she won the governor's race, I could not believe it. I sent her a note of congratulations immediately. Had she a larger staff perhaps I might have heard back from her. haha.
I never would have guessed in my wildest dreams that McCain would actually put her on the ticket. I was very vocal about my decision to not vote for McCain unless he chose her. Two weeks ago I flapped my gums to Texas Railroad Commissioner Michael Williams as such. I told him I thought that was the only way McCain would win and she was the only person who could inspire all of the GOP burnouts like myself. I thought I was safely in the camp of a protest vote come November.
I have to say I am so impressed with whatever visionary advisors McCain hired that whispered to him the name Sarah Palin. Perhaps they even fought for her against the conventional wisdom. We all know this election, complete with the influence of new media, is not politics as usual anymore. Whatever the situation, my hat is off to the McCain strategists who picked her. It was a brave move. It was the right move. And they have done more than possibly win the election. They might possibly have changed the direction of our country. The grassroots just went from wilted to electrified. They are fired up for issue reform. The vehicle, surprisingly, is the McCain machine.
If they ease off the heavy-handed tactics they and GOP establishment elitists use on the limited government, Goldwater conservatives in the party, we will have unity not just for an election cycle, but for the duration of our effort to restore this nation.
12000 plus attend Rally for the Republic. More than double that of the RNC Delegation and guests
Jesse ventura scolds the media for making him do their job. Asking the tough questions.
Transcript:
...he believes in those tax cuts or understands those tax cuts created by Bush, and in fact on ( indecipherable ) he has committed 5 times on national television that he'll oppose any effort to raise taxes, so the one thing about McCain he looks in the mirror and sees a guy that tells the truth. He believes a straight shooter. That's what he sees. If you remind him that he promised something it matters unlike some politicians...
I only smoke when I am on fire, but the gubmint shouldn't tell me I can't smoke on private property when I have the owner's permission.
With all that is going on in the world, why am I demonizing smoking bans when I don't even personally smoke?
Either I am being funded by Big Tobacco (which, if that were the case, my vehicle would be a much spiffier gas-guzzling SUV) or I truly care about our erosion of freedoms and the slippery slope we are sliding on called government regulation. Government regulation is now expanding into the realm of trans fats, fast food restaurants, and fois gras. What's next? Texas barbecue?
Huckabee supporters: listen up. National bans are a bad idea, even if they are banning something you don't like anyway. Giving away more power to the federal government is always in the best interests of the government and not the people.
Face it. Even state or local smoking bans are bad. Why? Here's a basic lesson for Conservatism 101: When the government regulates the use of a legal product on private property, it tramples directly over that business owner's property rights and the customers' rights to consumer choice. Government involvement in issues dealing with secondhand smoke or smoking in general is inappropriate.
The more honest approach for anti-tobacco pressure groups to take would be to ban tobacco products entirely. Of course, that would accomplish several things. First, we'd see an immediate Prohibition-era phenomenon with cigarettes and other tobacco products, complete with an underground market. Second, donation drives and volunteerism for the American Cancer Society would hit an all-time low, because they use smoking bans as a fundraiser issue and put more effort into lobbying for outrageous laws to control the public than they do in education or cancer research. And third, our economy would suffer another blow.
Again, I am not a smoker but I do realize the importance of tobacco to our country. If you are a student of history you will remember that tobacco was the crop that funded the Revolutionary War! It's not the demon it is made out to be--people who use it in excess are the problem, but that's their choice.
If you love freedom and don't want to see Americans lose another freedom, please consider fighting the proposed extension of the smoking ordinance that the Dallas City Council is considering. Also, be prepared to fight a statewide smoking ban when it comes up in January.