Congratuations to “Countrycat”
Larisa Thomason, aka “Countrycat” at Left in Alabama, wrote what was judged to be the best column in support of Barack Obama in a Huntsville Times competition. It was published in today’s paper. Her column, which I have not been able to find online yet, was well written and void of the adolescent hyperbole and general inanity that permeates Left in Alabama. Not surprising as she tends to be one of the few reasonable individuals there.
Thomason’s piece struck quite a contrast with the accompanying pro-McCain piece. The pro-McCain piece was actually more of an anti-Obama column, while Thomason’s was generally pro-Obama. I think it highlights the dissatisfaction rank and file conservatives have with the Republican nominee. There just aren’t that many positive things to say about him. Sure, I agree there are plenty of reasons to oppose Sen. Obama (although I think there are far fewer than most of my conservative brethren), but until conservatives find a credible candidate who can articulate why conservative philosophy is superior its going to be hard to get excited and root for your own candidate. (Just for fun I’d like to see commenters try to advocate for McCain without mentioning or even alluding to Obama.)
I must take issue with two items in Thomason’s article, though. She trotted out the “95% of American families will get a tax cut” nonsense. I’ve been over this before. You cannot “cut” taxes for people who don’t pay taxes. Obama is proposing a give away, an expansion of using the tax code not only as a means of wealth confiscation, but as a vehicle for outright wealth redistribution. He will push the percentage of taxpayers who either pay nothing or actually get paid themselves over 40%. To claim he is “cutting” taxes on 95% of families is pure rubbish.
Thomason chides McCain’s tax plan saying that “his plan gives the top 0.1% an extra $22,000 per month.” I’ll ignore the class envy aspect of that statement and focus on the word “gives.” It illustrates an all too common belief among liberals. The way taxes actually work is that individuals earn money through profitable ventures, which may include selling your labor. The government then takes a portion of your earnings. If the government decides to take less they haven’t “given” you anything – they have merely taken less. Barack Obama is the candidate who intends to “give” – from the achievers to the non-achievers.
I’m sure you’ve seen some form of this analogy. Let’s say you are a school age child. Every day on the bus ride to school a bully threatens you and takes your lunch money, all $5. One day the bully happens to be in an uncharacteristically nice mood and he only takes $3. In a liberal’s mind the bully has just given you $2. In your mind he has still taken $3.
Just the same, despite our considerable political differences, congrats to Larisa for performing her craft well and contributing to the political discourse in a positive manner.
Support for McCain:
1. Pro-life: Despite a myth that McCain is pro-choice, he actually has a staunchly Pro-life voting record.
2. Illegal imigration: McCain has ammended his support for the original McCain-Kennedy bill he sponsored. He now understands that the border must be secured first. After the border is secure, the issue of what to do with 10 million illegal aliens will be tackled. Some sort of road to citizenship after the border is secure isn’t unreasonable.
3. Defense spending: It’s not just the 40,000 jobs on Redstone, it’s the industry that has moved here to be near Redstone and Marshal. Including support (extra schools, gas stations, grocery stores, houses, etc), the toll from a major down turn in Defense spending in Huntsville could lead to years of economic trouble for this area.
4. Same Sex Marriage: McCain supports equal rights for same sex couples, while believeing that marriage is between a man and a woman. As a good christian, I want everyone to be treated equally under the law (surviver benefits, employer benefits, etc), but I feel marriage is defined by God, not the governor of Mass.
5. fiscal conservative: McCain doesn’t just believe in tax cuts, he believes in cutting government spending and waste. Tax cuts without fidicual responsibility is foolhearty, as we have seen with bush. Tax increases with increased spending is also fool hearty, as we have seen in Michigan, NY, and California (CA and NY both need goverment bail outs). McCain believes in cutting taxes and spending! that is the core of small government that we believe in.
6. Energy: McCain understands that we need an all of the above approach to our energy policy. He’s not blinded into thinking drilling alone will solve our problem, but he also sees that, in the near term, alternative energy cannot meet the needs of industy in this country. his approach to increased domestic production of oil, an agressive nuclear program to build 30-40 reactors, and investing in alternative solar, wind, and thermal sources is our only path to energy independence.
7. Iraq War: I didn’t know who I was going to vote for in 2004, because of the Iraq War. as the next two years wore on, I became despondent. “Stay the Course” was the worst possible idea for a country we shouldn’t have gone into in the first place. McCain was a voice in the wilderness, but ended up being right! Democrats and Republicans alike need to unite to win in Iraq. why we are there or should we be there are moot points since we are there and leaving would make us the worst sort of nation. If you break it you buy it. McCain is the only candidate running that understands the importance of finishing what you start. Let the history books argue about the opening shots.
8. McCain-Fiengold- How is this good? it’s not, it is an unmitigated disaster, but it was a perfect example of bipartisan compromise. How do you know a compromise is good? Everyone is pissed off with the outcome. It also shows that McCain isn’t affraid to tackle hard problems and issues. he tried to stop elections from being bought, it failed. does that mean the attempt shouldn’t have been made? It means it’s time to go back and try again.
vote McCain, good for Huntsville!
Brian in case Obama wins. Ive called a news conference for 8 am Wednesday morning in front of Stacy George’s place and at 2 pm at Parker Griffiths place(I figured Greg Privett and Channel 19 will already be there since that seems to be their second and third homes so I didnt call anyone in the MSM) to announce my retirement. Since Obama is going to give us universal healthcare and take from the rich and give to the poor. There’s really no sense in people like us working any more Brian. So come on by…we may have snacks available. Ive got my fingers crossed that Obama will have the government cheese trucks running again Wednesday morning! Look around Brian we are going back to the pre-1980’s era. The Bammers are #1,Auburn and UT are coming apart at the seams and the democrats are on the verge of full control once again. About the only thing missing is a photo of tiny Jim Folsom going into a motel with a black girl.
Thank you, Brian!
Her column, which I have not been able to find online yet,
was well written and void of the adolescent hyperbole and
general inanity that permeates Left in Alabama.
I think. ;-)
I was so swamped with election work that I barely looked online from Sunday to Wednesday morning. When you commented recently at LIA, I remembered that I hadn’t been here in a while.
It’s always interesting!