William F. Buckley famously said, “I am obliged to confess I should sooner live in a society governed by the first two thousand names in the Boston telephone directory than in a society governed by the two thousand faculty members of Harvard University.” Perhaps it is time for a variation on that, along the lines of, “I am obliged to confess I should sooner vote in a presidential election between two random people in the Hereford, TX telephone directory than in a contest between anyone running for the office today.” Hereford, TX, by the way, recently was declared the most conservative city in the USA.
I am thoroughly sick of this election cycle. Of the four top candidates, Clinton, Sanders, Cruz and Trump, I actually find Sander’s campaign the most appealing. Notwithstanding that, I can’t vote for him because his policies and beliefs will destroy this country. I don’t think I need to explain my objections to Hillary or Donald and to my great dismay, Ted Cruz’s campaign has diminished him in my eyes. I would love to see him as the next Supreme Court Justice and I will probably vote for him in my state’s upcoming primary, but I think that too many times the way he is campaigning is foolish or demeaning. Should a brokered convention declare Kasich or Romney or Jeb Bush or Ryan as the Republican nominee, that might actually lead me to officially change my voter registration to independent or Libertarian.
What’s a girl to do?
This country’s descent into immorality and poverty is accelerating rapidly. Europe’s terrorist eruption will not stay contained and in fact we have had more than one taste of it here. Judge Scalia’s death severely diminishes the group of upright, intelligent and wise leaders our country has. I will continue to support individual candidates and to speak out, because we each have to do that.
Yet, in the final analysis, the truth of the words from Psalms: “Do not rely on noblemen or on a human for he holds no salvation,” (Psalms 146) is hitting us in the face with stark clarity. While that is clearly the truth and the real source for peace of mind, it is late at night and I’m sure things will look brighter in the morning.
The half-price sale on Clash of Destiny
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May you have a positive week as well. Thanks for your good wishes and for writing in.
Again, thank you for writing your good blog. I have to remind myself daily to avoid being negative in a country where we should not lack solid leadership. Sigh. I hope you have a positive week, enjoying the daily blessings given to us from God.
I think you and I are on the same page in terms of policy. I was feeling super down when I wrote the last Musing. Conservatives do have to do a better job than liberals. They have Hollywood, media and universities supporting them. We have to break through that wall before people even listen to us.
Thank you for clarifying your reasons for the negative feelings you have over the message Cruz is giving to voters. However, we ought to give him a direct message about how his campaign must improve to increase his likeability with the voters at large.
Your reply made me think about several good books I’ve read:
Free to Choose, A Personal Statement by Milton and Rose Friedman
Extraordinary Ordinary People, A Memoir of Family by Condoleezza Rice
Up From the Projects, An Autobiography by Walter E. Williams
Both Condi & Walter describe how as blacks they had to excel above whites to be taken seriously by them. I think you mean that Conservatives must do the same in politics. Milton and Rose’s book (based on the PBS TV miniseries of the same name) discusses the undesired effects minimum wages have on poor minorities.
I’m disappointed when the mainstream media often tell lies and skew facts. However, I’m especially upset when the Republicans bow to that pressure and go along with the Democrats’ major policy changes that have negatively impacted my fellow humans and me.
Consider Hillary’s main pop-up button that comes on when you visit her campaign’s website (https://www.hillaryclinton.com/):
“We can’t let Republicans like Donald Trump rip away President Obama’s progress.” With a button at the bottom to mouse-click on: “I Agree”
I think we will wind up with Hillary and Bill back in power unless we positively build up the candidate we think could win.
Thank you for your words. I grew up in NY and I wasn’t personally offended. I have donated to the Cruz campaign and I would love him to be president. What may have come across as anti-Cruz is frustration. By red meat crowd I mean conservatives who agree with him on the issues. He comes across to others as sneering and cold. Conservatives automatically have a harder time. It takes a few seconds to say ‘raise the minimum wage ‘ and it takes longer to explain why that hurts the people it purports to help. But (like my Musing on the dept of education) we have to make the case and not get trapped in shorthand that you and I understand but doesn’t make those who might agree if they heard a case made, listen). I wish Cruz was working on that instead of playing to the base. I don’t want him to change principles just presentation.
Thank you for replying with a few thoughts before preparing for Shabbat. I’ve followed and enjoyed your thoughtful blog for years and asked the questions because I value your opinions even when I (rarely) disagree with them. Sometimes I’m even moved to happy or sad tears while reading it.
1) I watched Cruz in the debate where he could’ve used his ‘New York Values’ commentary to make a good point. For example, he could’ve said in response to Donald, ‘New Yorkers’ were not the only ones to aid their fellow men after 9/11. Yes, he put down ‘New York Values’ and he might have put the point differently. But, Donald spoke as though only New Yorkers would aid their fellow men in such an event and sadly, Cruz did not follow-up positively. It was a good opportunity for him to have made a useful quip and he didn’t.
New York State’s social policy agenda is politically far left. This fact is what Cruz meant by his comments. I’m not defending his choice of arsenal to speak with voters and I hope he can strengthen his campaign messages (but compared with Trump and Hillary, he outdoes them by far.) I don’t think Bernie can get the Democrat ticket but he’s a much more honest person than Trump and Hillary.
Additionally, in that debate, Cruz was correct in saying that the media lie; if he looks bad for telling the truth then I say let him look bad. At the very least, he is not afraid to say so. I think this is why, for a truly underdog candidate, he’s gotten as far as he has.
I am concerned (as are many others) for this country’s future and between Hillary and Trump, I really don’t know if there will be much of a difference. The country will continue in a divisive manner under Trump, Hillary, or Bernie because they all desire social policy ideals that are bankrupting our people.
2) I did not hear Cruz’s, “police in Moslem areas”, comment. I, too, might have found it silly but I can’t say.
3) He’s right that Trump gets more media coverage, especially by people on the right, interestingly. I also hadn’t heard that Cruz did not respond to calls for interviews but he’s been on a few shows lately, have you seen them?
What did you mean by “red meat crowd”? Rednecks or Texans? Are you possibly doing what you don’t want Cruz to do? (Regarding his ‘New York Values’ comment.)
Cruz has been badmouthed and disliked by the R-establishment and by the press (remember wacko bird?) since he went to DC. He was an underdog elected by Texas voters to stand up to Washington against the people of his state; he took on the Dems & GOP to help restore small government values to America. Cruz’s policy ideas are more rational than, Trump, Clinton, Sanders and many in the GOP. The GOP is not very conservative anymore.
I think it is time to talk positively about the policies that will help us all. People may want to discuss Cruz’s proven Constitutional prowess, his Congressional voting record and his suggested government changes if he were to be president.
LJ
PS I grew up in California and if someone says ‘California Values’ to me and they mean ‘liberal’ by the statement then I am not offended. However, I am offended by the big-government spending being done in that state, New York and in our country.
Very fair question. I am cooking up a storm and it’s Friday afternoon so I don’t have time to list 5, but here are three off the top of my head. 1) referencing New York as a code word for liberal. Someone who’s thinking in terms of a general election where NY and NY lovers will vote doesn’t gratuitously insult a state 2) I thought his comment about more police in Moslem areas was a silly comment on a very serious topic where most Americans agree that more needs to be done about a home grown potential terrorist threat. He could have really appealed to people on that issue. 3) Whining is unattractive. If he thinks Trump is getting better media coverage (and when the media replies that Cruz hasn’t responded to calls for interviews he really looks foolish) wait till the general election. Bias is a fact. Deal with it with cleverness and make lemonade from lemons.
Months ago, when there were still 17or so candidates I told someone on his campaign that he needed to stop throwing red meat ( and I heard him in a red meat crowd) and start showing that he could appeal outside his base. I am very disappointed that I don’t think he has done that. And I’ve been a Cruz fan for years!
Out of curiosity, can you tell me how many times Ted Cruz’s campaign has been foolish or demeaning, and can you tell me the top five foolish or demeaning campaign messages that you think bother you?
Your sneaking suspicion is probably quite right, indeed ‘righter’ than we both know. ‘One hand washes the other’ and ‘you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours’ and all that. Corruption, cronyism, nepotism, ad nausea-ism!
James, I could be wrong but I have an image of ‘back room deals’ going back a long time for presidential elections. I’m not sure when average citizens had their say and one could say that social media and mass communication allows anyone to join the playing field. But the presidential election is a field for the wealthy or supported by wealth. Local elections are where we can truly help someone get a foot in the door. Hopefully that foot won’t be corrupted.
Amen, Sister! Perhaps it is but my maturity speaking, but I find this presidential campaign most disturbing and even bordering on disgusting. Most horrible is not its vile hatred, for hatred has demonstrably shadowed every presidential campaign since the era of John Adams. What I find horrific is the notion of an election ‘brokered’ by the GOP masters. It used to be that an election was of the People, by the People and for the People. We could elect whomever we wanted. Yet now it is as if the ruling elite class must pre-select our candidate, a candidate by the way who fits their mold and promotes their self-serving goals above all. One does not wish to ‘damn’ all politicos with a broad brush, but I believe the bad ones and the weak ones who can be persuaded, blackmailed or intimidated rather constitute the majority.
The words of the Psalm “Do not rely on noblemen” become most disquieting when one considers: who but a rich man, a ‘nobleman’ by today’s skewed standards, can even establish candidacy, much less get elected? A poor man will never, ever make it to square one in today’s US. Thus we have an elite, ruling political class, on the gravy train and intoxicated with its status and power. Is it not so?
Let us hope indeed that things will look better in the morning. And let us all pray that they shall.
I’m in Grand Junction, Colorado. Western Slope. Best part of Colorado!
What a wonderful idea, Lynn. Praying with others is more powerful than praying by oneself. Are you comfortable sharing what city you are in?
It is always darkest before the dawn. But it’s still very dark. The Republican and Demcrat parties are blowing up before our eyes. Which is perhaps a good thing.
Psalm 127:1 Unless the LORD builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted. Unless the LORD protects a city, guarding it with sentries will do no good.
The word country, I believe, could be used in place of the word city. I would like to see people of faith come together to pray weekly for our country. Not much else will bring about the change that is needed. The hearts of Americans needs to be turned to God for the health and direction of our country. I see no other way out. Tuesday’s at 7:00 pm perhaps? I’m putting it in my day timer with an alarm and will be asking others to join me in a central location in my city when the weather is better. Join me?