Candidates, Stop Wasting My Time

As a politically active person I have spent, and still spend, a lot of time weighing issues. I read about them, think about them, consider them, think about how my beliefs agree with or contradict my values. I read every book that teachers and professors assigned me, then went out and read a lot more.

I love to read most about the lives of great men and women. Reading about their thoughts and philosophies is eye opening as well. I certainly do not admire Mussolini, but the three biographies I read on him give me an idea of how he came to power and the dangers that poses to anyone else.

Reading Bastiat, Adam Smith, Ayn Rand, Milton Friedman, James Madison, and many others helped to shape my thoughts on what I believe. The works of Marx, Stalin, Hitler, and others convinced me of their enormous evil.

All of this helped to shape my values and beliefs about general issues, such as the economy, and specific issues, such as abortion. I learned that you have to apply your thoughts on an issue to a values test. If you find that you have to support an issue that seemingly contradicts your values, then you at least have to explain that contradiction to yourself, if not others.

I assumed that anyone running for high office, such as senator, governor, or president, would put themselves through the same rigorous preparation. If they had weaknesses in knowledge or experience, they would bring on people to help to bridge those gaps and be ready. Then, once engaged, they would throw their entire efforts into performing as well as possible.

I found myself disappointed in 2008 when I signed on early for Fred Thompson. He still strikes me as a gravely intelligent individual who could have won in 2008 with a strong effort. Thompson gained supporters, raised money, then dissipated.

Rick Perry troubled me in the same way. Here was a guy with unquestioned experience. I liked him early. Perry touted success in Texas, raised gobs of cash, and seemed ready to bring some Texas back to the White House. However, he could not explain his departures from conservative belief. In the debates, he ran into trouble explaining anything.

What angers me is that these candidates convinced people to spend time and give money when they had not even done their most basic homework. Learn about public policy and its philosophical foundations. Look at your record and be prepared to defend it on practical and ideological grounds. Let me know by example that you are working as hard as your best volunteer.. This is how you convince voters that you are ready to be president. Most voters, except those who voted for Obama, do not want a messiah, but a first citizen. They want someone whose efforts, understanding, and abilities match the job.

Hard work, physical and intellectual, forms the foundation of that.

So those of you planning to run for president in the future. Work hard. Study harder. Above all, do not waste our time.

Barney, Mr. Rogers and Charles Manson

So you want your kids to watch a wholesome television show that may help shape their lives. Something that can help instill values like respect, courtesy, and personal responsibility. Growing up you were a big fan of Mr. Rogers, the trolley, Mr. McFeely, King Friday and the rest of the Neighborhood of Make Believe.

Unfortunately Mr. Rogers has passed away and you're not a big fan of the purple dinosaur, so the next obvious choice for someone to instill proper values in your kids is Charles Manson! Well to me that seems to be the current attitude among some Republicans around the nation. These so called Suicide Voters, seem to be following a similar logic.

They may have been a Fred Thompson, Rudy Giuliani, or Mitt Romney supporter and now they are saying they will vote for Barack Hussein Obama or Hillary Clinton over John McCain. Even political commentators like Anne Coulter have made the same statement. While there is large emotional attachment that develops between a supporter and their candidate, at some point logic must begin to take hold.

McCain may not be our first choice, but he is no Clinton or Obama. Just as Barney is no Charles Manson. We now have to ask ourselves do we really want to vote for a Obama-Manson ticket or do we want to stay the Republican course and vote for the McCain-Barney ticket?

According to Fox News . . .

Republican Presidential Candidate former Senator Fred Thompson (R-TN) has pulled out of participating in the Republican Debate in Boca Raton, Florida scheduled for later this week on MSNBC.

Is this a harbinger of things to come? If so, I believe that the end has come too soon for Fred.

As a Romney supporter I have always felt common cause with Thompson's campaign, as both Fred and Mitt have been sounding similar themes (if differing a little bit on the margins), and believe the media template of his candidacy has been unfair and has ill-served the greater cause of informed democracy. I think, in the end, Fred has been campaigning "over the heads" of the drive-by media and our fast food, sound bite populace. Fred has run a thoughtful and meaningful campaign based on ideas, and his supporters have carried themselves with dignity and have been a credit to the Party and to their candidate. I think Fred's presence in the race has helped drive the debate and forced other candidates, including Governor Romney, to stay true to conservative principles and not stray off into McCain/Huckabee style heterodoxies.

If this is indeed the end of the Thompson candidacy, that leaves his West Virginia supporters with an important decision to make in the lead-up to the state convention: to whom to throw their support.

I'd like to ask all those Thompson delegates reading this to consider supporting Governor Romney at the state convention. "Full spectrum" conservatives --social, economic, and foreign policy-- can rally around Governor Romney. In the next two weeks, we'll be working hard to earn your support.

McCain Wins New Hampshire, Obama Clinton battling

Republican (24% Reporting)

1) McCain 37%
2) Romney 29 %
3) Huckabee 12 %
4) Giuliani 9%
5) Paul 8%
6) Thompson 2%

Democrat (26% Reporting)
1) Clinton 40%
2) Obama 34%
3) Edwards 17%
4) Richards 4%

Romney Wins Wyoming with Thompson in 2nd, and Hunter in 3rd

Only Duncan Hunter actively campaigned in Wyoming and that was good enough to pick up 3rd place. Romney won with Fred Thompson finishing 2nd. Only the top 3 picked up any delegates for the national convention Romney 8, Thompson 3, and Hunter 1.

Republicans on to Wyoming, Democrats to New Hampshire

Saturday Republicans head to the Wyoming Caucus ahead of the New Hampshire Primary.

With 78% Reporting from Iowa

34% Huckabee
25% Romney
14% Thompson
13% McCain

Huckabee's strong win has surprised a lot of people, mainly at the expense of Romney. It is unclear how the virtual tie between Thompson and McCain will play out. 2 surprises; a stronger than expected 5th place finish by Ron Paul, and very low finish by Giuliani with only 4% of the vote.

With 96% Reporting
38% Obama
30% Edwards
29% Clinton
02% Richardson

Juan Williams pointed out that in Iowa, a state with 95% of the population being white, Obama's strong win over both Edwards and Clinton shows that he is a viable national candidate and race will not play a major roll as some expected. This will make Obama a more viable candidate in the eyes of many voters. The 3rd place finish by Clinton could be devastating to her campaign.

Potomac Highlands Funding Presidential Candidates

The following information is from official public records of the Federal Election Commission


Democrats

• Hillary Clinton has received contributions from the following persons in the Potomac Highlands

• Amy Carpenter, Romney Employer: American Woodmark Contribution: $75
• Kermit Garrettson, Keyser Employer: Keyser Inn Contribution: $350
• Robin Dolly, Moorefield Employer: Mountain Medical Contribution: $1000
• Joanne Webster, Mathias Employer: Information Requested Contribution: $500
• Victor Wulf, Baker Employer: Retired Contribution: $250

• John Edwards has received contributions from the following persons in the Potomac Highlands
• Robert Mayhew, Romney Employer: Information Requested Contribution $2300
• Barack Obama has received contributions from the following persons in the Potomac Highlands
• Robert Erber, Baker Employer: Information Requested Contribution $200
  

• Bill Richardson has received contributions from the following persons in the Potomac Highlands
• Robert Alcock, Lost City Employer: Lost River Woodworking Contribution $250

Republicans

• Mitt Romney has received contributions from the following persons in the Potomac Highlands
• Jeffery Hott, Franklin Employer: Hott's AG Service Contribution $350
• Edith Shankle, Bloomery Employer: Retired Contribution $1250
• Fred Dalton Thompson has received contributions from the following persons in the Potomac Highlands
• David Maher, Milham Employer: Self-Employed Contribution $250
• John McCain has received contributions from the following persons in the Potomac Highlands
• Carl Smith, Moorefield Employer: Retired Contribution $300
• Ron Paul has received contributions from the following persons in the Potomac Highlands
• Jack Mullen, Keyser Employer: Starcast South Contribution $800
• James Landis, Peterburg Employer: Conquest Publishing Contribution $1000
• James Gillmore has received contributions from the following persons in the Potomac Highlands
• David Bookman, Romney Employer: Retired Contribution $500

All records are public and on file at the Federal Election Commission

Dignity

During George Washington's first term as president, his old friend Governor Morris of New York came to the capital city to visit. Washington's close adviser, Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton, met Morris on the street. Morris asked where he could find Washington, who happened to be strolling away from them down the street as they spoke. Hamilton told Morris that President Washington would like nothing better than for his old pal to come up behind him, slap him on the back and jovially greet him.

Morris did just that, earning a stare from Washington that must have frozen his very soul. Washington then walked on without a word. When he looked back at Hamilton, he saw his fellow New Yorker laughing uproariously at the practical joke he just pulled. George Washington understood that as president an individual must show not only ability, but also dignity.

Where has that dignity gone? The Democratic presidential candidates seem to have lost all pretense to it, subjecting themselves to online debacles. Questions are asked in ridiculous ways. Certainly the famous "boxers or briefs" question posed to Clinton was a milestone in the loss of respect for the presidential office, then again so was the scandal of Watergate.

That being said, dignified is as dignified does. Despite the avalanche of satire, most of it extremely trite and shallow, directed at the current president, few can argue that George W. Bush does not handle himself with dignity. He expects respect and gets it as well as any president in the past hundred years. The Republican frontrunner's Fred Thompson and Rudolph Giuliani have acted similarly, not exposing themselves to silly requests. Credit Hillary Clinton with at least looking uncomfortable in the situations in which the Democrats expect her to perform.

Certainly we must expect our presidents to conduct themselves with strength. We must also understand that a certain amount of personal dignity is necessary to maintain respect. These men and women are not here to sell used cars, but to lead the free world. Republicans understand this, Democrats at this point do not.

Romney Wins Michigan Republican Straw Poll

Mitt Romney, Republican candidate for President and former Governor of Massachusetts, won Sunday's straw poll of attendees at the Michigan Republican Leadership Conference at Mackinac Island. Governor Romney polled decisively ahead of other candidates for president, carrying nearly 40% of the vote.

The Results are:

Romney — 39.12%
McCain — 26.56%
Paul — 10.83%
Giuliani — 10.62%
F. Thompson — 7.15%
Huckabee — 2.55%
Hunter — 1.23%
Tancredo — 0%
Brownback — 0.31%

WV Republican Presidental Convention Participants

The following candidates have signed on to participate in West Virginia's Presidential Convention on February 5th, 2008.

• Sam Brownback
• Rudy Giuliani
• Mike Huckabee
• Duncan Hunter
  
• Alan Keyes
  
• John McCain
  
• Ron Paul
  
• Mitt Romney
  
• Fred Thompson
• Gene Zarwell

Election 2008 holds importance for a lot of reasons. One of the more interesting issues that we face in this election is a discussion of what it means to be conservative. What issues drive Republicans and conservatives in general?

It boils down to the nominee Republicans select for the presidency. Certainly Rudolph Giuliani has the visibility and experience. His economic credentials indicate that a Giuliani administration will make tough decisions regarding the budget and work back towards balance. The potential leadership Giuliani brings in terms of managing our economy and getting our budget under control could lead to true reforms in social security and the tax code. President Bush pushed these issues hard and gained no traction. Giuliani might succeed where Bush could not in this sphere. Additionally a Giuliani administration likely will support less burdens on business. This would help set the country on a sound economic path for decades to come.

Giuliani appears questionable on the very issues that former Senator Fred Thompson has used to garner strong support. Fred Thompson has strength in economic conservatism, but has also earned the support of social conservatives. The Tennessean strongly opposes abortion and same sex marriages, issues that galvanize conservatives in rural America.

Liberals already speculate that social conservatives would not turn out to support a Giuliani campaign. Perhaps if they nominate a non-entity like Obama that might be the case. Conservatives of all stripes dislike intensely Hillary Clinton and would vote for a dead cat rather than see her in office.

Conservatism in America lies at a crossroads. The nominee Republicans select for the presidency next year will strongly determine what conservatism will look like for a long time to come.

He's not the real President, but he played one on TV

After watching the interview on Foxnews with former Senator and Actor Fred Thompson, I believe he is going to run for President. Fred Thompson had a good conservative track record as Senator from Tennessee, where ironically he won the seat vacated by Al Gore. I believe that he understands the values of rural Americans.

In his interview on Fox he had a presence about him that I don't recall seeing since Ronald Reagan was president. When he speaks you get a feeling of trust. This is probably why many people are pushing for him to run. Draft Fred Thompson is now a very popular site for those wishing for him to join in the fray.

A recent poll with knowledge of Fred Thompson's lymphoma in remission do you think he should run? 64% say he should run in the primary regardless, 22% say he is viable even with lymphoma, and only 8% thought the lymphoma should keep him from running. Fred is a cancer survivor and I think that will touch a cord with many Americans that live with or know someone that has cancer. 20 years ago, I believe that would have been the death of his candidacy, but not now.

What we are going to have to ask ourselves in the coming months is this; What Presidential candidate best represents the values of West Virginians? I believe the answer to this question could put Fred Thompson at the head of the pack, but only time will tell as we hear more from the candidates.