By Douglas V. Gibbs
Rush Limbaugh rarely has guests on his show, but lately there have been a lot of exceptions. Yesterday's guest, Ann Coulter, knocked it out of the ballpark while discussing her new book, "Demonic."
Some of Ann's antics sometimes concern me. Sometimes, I am not sure if she is a good representative of the Conservative Right. Yet, I find myself usually still coming to the conclusion that in whatever it is she says, she's usually right...despite her sometimes brash way of spreading her message. Yesterday on Rush Limbaugh, however, she was at the top of her game. Coulter reminded us that after all of her loud antics, in the end, her books, and her knowledge about the dangers of liberalism, are top notch.
During the interview Ann and Rush discussed something that turned a few lights on in my head. I knew about this tendency by liberals, but it had never made me realize so much before. The topic that they discussed for a moment that opened a few curtains for me was that liberals worry about what people think about them.
Once you understand this the attacks by the Left make all the more sense.
The problem is, the establishment Republicans also fall victim to this same thing.
I told a sociology class not too long ago, when the topic of "political correctness" came up, that I don't get offended. Sure, there are things that bother me, but overall, I don't get offended. I don't let other people have that kind of power over my emotions.
I also really don't overly worry about what people think about me. Sure, I take steps to present a relatively reasonable image of myself, but my likes and dislikes are not going to be dictated by the criticisms of the general public. I like a certain style of clothing, but I am not one to wear items for the purpose of making people think anything special about me, and my cars and truck are relatively simple vehicles. I am more practical, than anything.
Yet, the attacks against me are usually along the lines of "you aren't fighting the war because you are a coward," "sunken chest and a little gut there," "shirt folded over," "junky car," "cheap sunglasses," and on and on and on and on.
Who cares?
I served my time in the military, and I am hardly a coward. My Navy career included two Battle Efficiency Awards, a Sailor of the Month Award, command advancement, numerous qualifications that were above and beyond the necessity of my rate, a 4.0 eval record, and a spotless career that earned me a good conduct medal. I used to be a long-distance runner, but as I have gotten older, and my injuries of old have made it harder to be active, I am not as active as I once was. I play a little basketball here and there, go walking on occasion with my wife, and jog when I am on my property in Oregon. Beyond that, I am not as physically active as perhaps I ought to be. As for the way I dress, I used to press my shirts and my pants looked as sharp as military uniforms, but my banking career as a loan counselor is over, and I really don't worry too much about my outfits being perfect anymore. Most of the time I am in jeans and a T-shirt, anyway, and I dress up a little here and there primarily for my public speaking appearances, and political meetings. My car gets me from point A to point B, and that's what is important to me, so I don't care if it is 15 years old, or looks junky to some folks. My truck needs to be replaced because of the rising cost of maintenance, but when I buy my new truck, it won't be to impress, but simply because it is time for a new truck. The cheap sunglasses still keep the glare out of my eyes. I don't need multi-hundred dollar glasses, like I used to buy when I was younger, to do the job. And in the end, with all of the attacks, they don't bother me, and when I mention them it is only to illustrate the absurdity and stupidity of the attacker.
The liberals attack the way they attack because they figure you are like them, and if they can just find the think you worry about in regards to how people think of you, they can make you adjust your actions accordingly.
Dad used to tell me, people can't get your goat if they don't know where your goat is tied up.
My attitude is perhaps it would be even better not to have a goat in the first place.
What people think of me is of no matter to me, because in the end I know who I am, and where I stand with God - with all of my flaws, past mistakes in my younger years, and numerous life issues, all I care about is doing what I believe is in God's will. And in my case, I believe that teaching the Constitution, and being involved in the political debate, is what He wants me to do.
If His Will is something different, the opportunities will change.
Liberals, however, are nothing like me. They tend to be really obsessed with what others think of them, as Rush and Ann pointed that truth out in their conversation. The liberal left's attacks are designed to try to eat at what makes you conscious about what people are thinking about you. They try to censor you through ridicule, and silence you through accusations.
Christians, and conservatives, are, for the most part, immune to those kinds of attacks from the liberals because, as Ann pointed out in the interview, we have a tendency to believe in a real God. Our relationship with God is up and down, but we know we are flawed, sinners you might say, and we know that God realizes that about us. He does not expect perfection. Like all people, followers of God fail, but rather than beat ourselves up about it, we repent and move on. Our lives are about our relationship with God, not impressing the government, or the people around us. We just don't spend the kind of time that liberals do worrying about what people around us think.
If we could get rid of the Republicans that "think" they are conservative, but change their actions with the winds of the attacks by the Left, the GOP would not suffer the crap we continuously see from the establishment. If the Republican candidates realized that the Democrats are largely idiots, and what they think about us doesn't matter, we could come up with a good nominee that would stand on conservative principles and do what they say they would do as a government official.
That, I think, is one of the reasons people appreciate Sarah Palin so much, and why the Left hates her with such unreasonable rage.
The liberal left has thrown everything they can at Palin, and she's still standing. That is why they are afraid of her. Any other Republican goes down with a mere accusation launched at him. Palin refuses to go down, and continues to do the things she thinks benefits the conservative cause.
If she decides to enter the presidential race, it will be a game changer, and if she was to win the nomination, despite the attempts by the leftist media to attack her, she would be unbeatable.
Remember, the Democrats gave Reagan the exact same treatment upon the approach of the 1980 election season, claiming the same about him as they do with Palin. He was considered not real bright, an extremist as far as "rightwingers" go, and actually said they hoped he'd win the nomination because that would make Carter a shoe-in to win.
They were wrong then, and they are wrong now.
Palin could care less what other people thinks of her, and she is willing to stand on her principles. Sure, like any candidate, she's not perfect. I have my concerns over her stance on immigration. Alaska is a sanctuary state. I hope she is not an amnesty supporter, and for the most part I don't think she is, though I believe she supports a guest worker program. Other than that, Palin's principles are right in line with mine.
As she conducts her bus tour, I am sure Palin is running the possibility in her mind to run for office. I have told people I don't think she'll run because she believes she is more valuable in the role she currently has.
But, stranger things have happened.
-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
Ann Coulter Explains "Demonic" - Rush Limbaugh
The Democrats Fear Sarah Palin - Rush Limbaugh
Sarah Palin vs. The Establishment - Rush Limbaugh
No comments:
Post a Comment