The Stakes Are Just Too High

Colonel Dan, SASS# 24205, Life/Regulator

There’s far too much at stake in 2010 to incur the risk that comes with splitting our effort among third parties at the national level in a desire to register profound disgust with incumbent politicians. Chances for real conservative success are much better this particular year if instead, we would totally gut the two major parties and infuse them with new blood…starting now with the primary selection process.

We’re all disgusted with today’s politicians and would like to see both parties defeated since neither has earned our respect, loyalty, support or our votes…granted. More people are leaving the major parties in absolute frustration and livid anger over their arrogant disregard for the people, the Constitution and the country…granted. Millions will no longer support any party whose behavior is so consistently tainted with the stench of power, corruption, graft and cronyism…granted. Many are seeking new leadership that will represent the traditional principles of our founding…granted. My anger and frustration has long reached the boiling point also but we can’t let such visceral emotion override sound judgment and the stark reality of today’s political battlefield.

Let’s not mince words here. Our Constitution is the very essence of America—it defines who we are. Loyal traditionalists, who revere the Founder’s ideals, are now decisively engaged in a war for the soul and survival of America. Those who seek to fundamentally transform her; to subvert, circumvent and tear down her Constitution are destroying our divinely inspired country. They, along with those who unforgivably stand by, watch it happen or “reluctantly” take part, are by definition anti-American. They are the domestic enemies our Founders warned of and who must be politically defeated by ‘we the people’ or America will be defeated by them.

The seminal question is; ‘How do we effectively fight such an entrenched movement whose expressed goal is to transform America in their image?’ Answer; a unified ‘untrenching’ effort.

In November I wrote about being encouraged over recent demonstrations, tea parties, protest marches etc and I remain encouraged. However, I’m concerned this renewed enthusiasm will lead to fractionalized and unproductive efforts. While our common objective remains honest representative government, if we become splintered into multiple groups, our effectiveness in obtaining that objective deteriorates significantly.

If a political party can face fractured opposition, it will successfully split the vote and win the day. We saw that in 1992 when Perot siphoned enough votes to usher Clinton into office with only 43% of the total. Make no mistake; progressives would love to relive 1992 rather than face a unified effort.

Am I advocating mindlessly falling in behind the GOP party line? Absolutely not! What I’m saying is that trying to push third, fourth and fifth parities this coming year at the national level, no matter how appealing, is unrealistic and futile. Remember, third party candidates will be vigorously challenged by BOTH major parties. Such an approach will lead to more of the same in Washington as they defeat us piecemeal.

We should instead gut both parities by selecting solid primary candidates now. Let’s send brand new blood to Washington and restore traditional ideals from within—this would send a much more powerful message than some futile, underfunded third party effort that entrenched politicians would actually welcome. Chances of pulling off a gutting action are better at this juncture than trying to restore traditional principles by hoping some third party can orchestrate the biggest upset in the history of national politics and do so within the remaining few months against such well established organizations. Hoping for such a miracle is insanely dangerous at this point. We simply cannot afford more of what we’ve seen in the past several decades and especially what we’ve seen in the past several years—the domestic enemy is in full pursuit of his goal and time is not on our side! Should we squander this opportunity in 2010, our chances to right America’s course grow increasingly slim and our descendents may never know the country we knew.

But Colonel, what if the party establishment contemptuously refuses to recognize our “new blood” and we end up with the same old blood running for office? Good question…and a very real possibility. However, if enough people push and support fresh candidates, they can’t ignore us—particularly if we starve both major parties to death financially. Consider New York’s 23^rd district. The people wanted the independent conservative Hoffmann but the GOP arrogantly nominated the liberal assemblywoman Scozzafava. Voters turned their back on the GOP selection and she dropped out. The race came down to the independent Hoffmann and the Democrat Owens with Hoffmann almost winning. Folks, we CAN and MUST do this. Paraphrasing Thomas Paine, these are the times that try men’s souls and not the time to allow summer soldiers and sunshine patriots to determine our future with inaction or misguided efforts.

So don’t be suckered into believing we can realistically displace the two major parties in 2010 by supporting third party candidates—it just won’t happen. That delusion will only lead to the “agony of defeat” for American traditionalism. Clean house nationally from within first then look at building anew from the local level up with third parties but please, first things first. Above all, support principle not party.

Just the view from my saddle…

Contact Colonel Dan: coloneldan@bellsouth.net

Article Archives: http://mddall.com/sbss/SBSShome.htm