A Candidate of Our Choice
It’s a familiar story for conservatism: The grand old movement is under attack at the very time the world is most in need of restoration.
The Republican Party, which would have you believe it seeks to return to conservatism, is busy filling its ranks with moderates. The Politico reports Sen. John McCain, whom many conservatives found unworthy of their vote in the 2008 presidential election, is sharing his national database of donors and political machinery with candidates of his choice. My friends, any person who is a candidate of McCain’s choice isn’t likely to be a conservative’s choice.
The Politico reports: “McCain is recruiting candidates, raising money for them and hitting the campaign trail on their behalf. He’s taken sides in competitive House, Senate and gubernatorial primaries and introduced his preferred candidates to his top donors.”
In fact, McCain is actually cleansing the Republican Party of conservative candidates in order to remake the party in his image.
According to The Politico: “Last week, McCain formally endorsed GOP Rep. Jerry Moran in a Kansas Senate primary campaign against his more outspoken conservative opponent, Rep. Todd Tiahrt, and hosted a Capital Hill fundraiser for Moran.”
When it comes to selecting the next presidential nominee, conservatives may very well face the same situation they faced the last time around when they looked long and hard to find something to hang onto but ultimately found little to support.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, a major McCain backer, has been making motions recently toward running for the presidency, including surround himself with veterans of previous presidential campaigns.
When you add Pawlenty to a field that will likely include former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and other potential moderates, the 2012 picture becomes awfully uninspiring for conservatives.
Sarah Palin, who earlier this year stepped down as governor of Alaska, may very well be the most conservative choice. But, she may also be unelectable, and it is debatable whether she’s qualified. (From a personal standpoint, it’s beautiful bordering on enviable how she’s able to frustrate the left to the point they literally foam at the mouth.)
From the top leadership position, where the Republican Party selected the most liberal candidate in the field, Michael Steele, to be chairman, moderates have actually gained power since the major electoral disasters of 2006 and 2008. One wonders if this hasn’t been as designed, These things come at a time when the conservative movement has been weakened. Barry Goldwater, Ronald Reagan, William F. Buckley Jr., Milton Friedman, Robert Novak and most recently William Saffire have all died. Phyllis Schlafly is a burning lantern of conservatism, but she’s in her 80s. (She continues to do a wonderful job with the Eagle Forum.)
The old guard of the conservative movement has passed. Those who have taken up the mantle have written best-selling books and hosted radio shows reaching millions of people. They’ve articulately voiced the concerns of millions of conservative Americans (all too softly against the Bush Administration) ferociously against the Obama Administration.
But, conservatives today have yet to find their presidential candidate(s), and until that are forced to support and defend, oppose and attack, piecemeal the policies of both Republicans and Democrats.
Wouldn’t it be nice to find a candidate of and for the conservative movement? Until this person is found, conservatives will continue to travel the long, difficult road of disappointment.
Extension: John McCain’s Mission: A GOP Makeover
Add comment October 2, 2009
Notice How I Throw Those Clever Ones In?
Dear Mr. Buckley,
My name is Tish Willis and I am a 14-year-old girl. Many people think I am weird because I like you. I don’t think so. I am perhaps your greatest fan! I read your column (in the News American) every time it’s in there. My social studies teacher who is pro-Humphrey asked us who we thought would be president in 1972. I said “If Nixon chooses not to run (notice how I throw these clever ones in?), then I think Ronald Reagan will run and win.” Then my teacher said, “Who would you like to see in the White House, out of anybody?” There were the typical answers such as McCarthy, Lindsay and then I said, “William Buckley.” Half of the class said “Who’s he?” (They’re so dumb!) And the other half laughed. So did my teacher. I hope you won’t throw this letter out because I’m just a 14-year-old girl, but, after all, in 7 years I’ll be a voter and I will be voting the Republican conservative ticket (there there’s not many of us left!). I would like to ask you a question, Mr. Buckley, if you don’t mind. Do you think we should lower the voting age? I’m against it. I think it should be raised to 25. IF I seem a bit garrulous, I will stop writing, but could you please, maybe, write back?
Love Tish Willis
Baltimore, Md.
Dear Tish: I think you should be allowed to vote, but not the other girls in your class, and certainly not your teacher. Love, WFB.
“Cancel Your Own Goddam Subscription” — William F. Buckley Jr.
Add comment July 20, 2009
They Had Class
“It was there [Rougemont, Switzerland], perhaps more than in New York and Stamford, that I saw most close up the binary energy that the two of them put out. People just wanted to be around them. They were the fun Americans: the cool intellectual who wrote spy novels on the side and his beautiful, witty, outrageous wife. They had — how to put it? — class” (page 168).
“Losing Mum and Pup” – Christopher Buckley
Add comment July 20, 2009
