The Myth of Massive Turnout  |   Home  |   National Debt Increases a Trillion Dollars in One Month

Principles Survive Elections

This post by Jay Tea at Wizbang describes my feeling on the matter to… well… a tee. 

Apparently those of us who didn’t hop on the Obama bandwagon are supposed to just quietly shuffle off into corners and die quietly, then wait for Eric Idle to come around with his cart for our rotting carcasses. That, apparently, is our civic duty, now that the Democrats hold the presidency and both houses of Congress.

My first response is that history doesn’t ever end. There are no happy endings, no unhappy endings, no endings whatsoever—things just go on and on. So to declare that the results of a single election (even one as sweeping as yesterday’s) will have that much effect on our political climate is just plain stupid. John McCain still won about 47% of the vote, and that is not a sign of a dying electorate. Or, as a great philosopher once said, “Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!”

[...]

I have certain principles. I had them before yesterday, I still have them today, and I will keep them long after President=Elect Obama takes the oath of office. I did not derive them from any expression of public approval or disapproval, and they will not be swayed by any expression of public approval or disapproval.

I have certain beliefs. I had them before yesterday, I still have them today, and I will keep them long after President=Elect Obama takes the oath of office. I did not derive them from any expression of public approval or disapproval, and they will not be swayed by any expression of public approval or disapproval.

I have certain ideals. I had them before yesterday, I still have them today, and I will keep them long after President=Elect Obama takes the oath of office. I did not derive them from any expression of public approval or disapproval, and they will not be swayed by any expression of public approval or disapproval.

[...]

Yesterday, many of my principles, beliefs, and ideals were rejected by the majority (and, in some cases, the plurality) of the electorate. I do not take that as a rebuke in the least. Rather, I see it as a challenge—to continue espousing the things I believe in, as strongly and persuasively as I can, in hopes that I can sway others to see things as I do.

No, I do not take it as an “opportunity” to re-examine them. I do that on a regular basis anyway. I have arrived at them by my own experiences, thoughts, studies, and contemplations. As those are ongoing processes, they have already been tested and revised and corrected when needed. To say that I suddenly need to re-evaluate these things because of an election is to say that I do not hold them that dearly at all, and they are subject to the approval of the majority.

They are not. And they never will be.

Indeed.

Posted by Owen at 1315 hrs
Culture + Politics + Politics - General

1. I have not seen a single article, column or commentator (though I may not read widely enough) suggest that this election means individuals need to reexamine their beliefs, ideals or principles.  If the election of any individual to any specific office makes any other individual reexamine his or her beliefs, ideals or principles, those beliefs, ideals and principles are shallow indeed. 

   The only question I have seen raised is whether the Republican Party has enough members with enough shared beliefs, ideals and principles to continue to be a party that can get enough votes to win an election. And/or possibly whether McCain simply ran such a rotten campaign that he failed to convince enough voters that he agrees with their beliefs, ideals and principles; or maybe just whether his disorganized campaign is indicative of how he would run the country; while the Obama campaign convinced enough people of [all or some of the above] to win the election.

   However, when a political party gets its clock cleaned in the way the Republican Party got its clock cleaned this election, the leaders of the Party certainly need to to reexamine something.

   Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on November 08, 2008 at 1357 hrs
   
   
   

2. It sure would have been nice to see the results of the election with even playing field of money and media bias’
   bho had a ton more money and the media loved him

   Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on November 08, 2008 at 1549 hrs
   
   
   

3. With respectful consideration to the popular vote, 47% for McCain is not exactly getting the Republican “clock cleaned.”  In fact, it says that the Repubs are alive and well, and nearly voted as a majority.  We survived Clinton, we’ll survive Obama.  Our principles, beliefs and ideals, will remain and we will rise to the challenge, as stated above.

   Loved the article.

   Posted by GAMazy on November 08, 2008 at 1838 hrs
   
   
   

4. Germans??????

   Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on November 08, 2008 at 1947 hrs
   
   
   

5. HA!  You know, I read right over that.

   Posted by Owen on November 08, 2008 at 2016 hrs
   
   
   

6. Tsk! I’m shocked and disappointed that no one appears to have recognized the “great philosopher” whose quote was referenced in this article. 

   (Owen, you totally missed your cue!)

   Forget it, he’s rolling.

   Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on November 08, 2008 at 2213 hrs
   
   
   

7. I hang my head in shame. 

   Posted by Owen on November 08, 2008 at 2223 hrs
   
   
   

8. They knew their opposition, well. 

   They were better organized, they planned this years ago with meticulous, strategy, preyed on the youth, were in place and ready to go after Bush won again, they have nor never will have integrity. 

   They play dirty, always have always will. 

   This election was a joke. 

   If you think the next one will be easy,  “remember the alamo”

   This was the “pearl harbor” of politics at it ‘s worst.

   They knew McCain’s character and he can be a push over, for the most part.  Palin brought in a real threat.

   With the help of the sleazy main stream media, the corrupt unions, corrupt wall street, corrupt lobbyist, corrupt financial institutions, all whom support these crooks that bankrupt this country, woke my butte up, fast!

   Pelosi, Read, Franks, Obama and many more, lined their political pockets with a guarnatee of victory at the tax payers expense and instead of being remorseful for the financial collapse, they are gloating, falsely accusing others and the idtios that elected them, buying right into the “great deception”

   They set McCain up for the “bailout” by summoning him to Washingotn then asking why he was there.  McCain, took the bait.  They knew he would. 

   I have always had high esteem for McCain, but Palin is the main player who really epitomized true Integrity to this entire election process.

   GOP needs to get it together fast!  New, young, fresh Republicans who maintain our values, vision, approachable, perceptive, intelligent, wise and understanding, to say the least.

   This is a whole new era and it has gone the way of socialism. 

   We need to take our country back but it won’t be easy.  40 years of infiltration has spread like cancer.

   We need the cure and we need it now.

   Posted by 2BlueStarMom on November 09, 2008 at 1018 hrs
   
   
   

9. 2BlueStarMom wrote:

   Palin is the main player who really epitomized true Integrity to this entire election process.

   And that is precisely the mentality that will allow for further declines GOP voting.

   Palin was, and remains, pathetic.  The woman is Governor of a state and could not name one Supreme Court case she disagrees with?  And she’s supposed to be qualified to choose a Supreme Court Justice?  I can name a half-dozen Supreme Court cases from this decade alone that I disagree with - and I have no law experience or anything.  You could call me a “Joe Six-Pack” as it relates to my connections to law & politics.

   Yes. Principles survive elections, but what I consider true conservative principles did not survive in the Republican Party.  The use of torture, no responsibility in fiscal policy, no challenge to Americans to better themselves, the list goes on.

   The GOP and Democratic Party are the same.  When are you guys going to understand that?  You have principles without a party.  Move on and let the GOP wither away like it deserves to.

   Posted by David on November 09, 2008 at 1247 hrs
   
   
   

10. #9

    Same old game, no matter where you go online! 

    Ignorance is bliss for you, I am quite sure.

    Your reflection of character assassination, is the mirror of your heart.

    Truth, is far removed from your ears and your eyes.

    Posted by 2BlueStarMom on November 09, 2008 at 1322 hrs
    
    
    

11. It took me nearly twenty years to learn that If you are bound by sin, you are bound to suffer. I was bound to alcohol (how long does alcohol stay in your system), marijuana (how long does marijuana stay in your system), nicotine (how long does nicotine stay in blood), cocaine (how long does cocaine stay in system) and you name it. After two failed marriages, the death of my daughter, and a continued battle with drugs and alcohol I finally realized I needed help. That help came when a friend invited me to his church. The pastors message was on ‘Spiritual Grammar’ He said, ‘Don’t ever put a period where God has put a comma and never put a comma where God has placed a period. When God puts a period at the end of your past, He picks up His pen and starts writing a new chapter.’ I accepted Jesus that day six years ago, and my life is totally changed

    Posted by how long does alcohol stay in your system on November 25, 2008 at 1328 hrs
    
    
    

Commenting is not available in this channel entry.