The Candidates
This weekend, I am in Minneapolis, Minnesota for Young America’s Foundation Midwest Conference.
Tonight, I was honored to kick the conference off with the Invocation, and was even more honored to be able sit with former Attorney General John Ashcroft and his wife at the banquet. He is a great man, and had some great stories. I also talked with him about September 11 — I was a freshman in high school in Alexandria, VA and was out on the football field in gym class when the plane hit the Pentagon. We heard a huge crash, and everyone stopped momentarily, then went on with our football game. Then, we later watched smoke billow out of the Pentagon from the windows of our school, and later went to a funeral at the Naval Academy for the funeral of a father of one of my fellow students that had died. Attorney General Ashcroft was flying over Michigan, on his way to read to some students, like President Bush was.
He gave a passionate speech. It was one of the best I have ever heard. And the reason for this post — is to remind everyone that ultimately, we must unite after the nomination process is over, for the sake of the security of our country. I have posted earlier that I would not support Rudy if he was our nominee — after hearing Attorney General Ashcroft’s speech, I cannot stand by that statement anymore. There is simply too much at risk. We absolutely cannot let the Democrats win. Obviously, we should all keep fighting for the candidates we think are best during the nomination process, but must come together as a party in the end, no matter who our nominee is.
Tomorrow, I will hear Gov. Tim Pawlenty speak. I know he is a McCain guy, but that’s all I really know about him. What do people on here think about him as a possible VP candidate? Any suggested questions I should ask him?
March 31st, 2007 at 2:30 am
[...] post by Billy Valentine and software by Elliott [...]
March 31st, 2007 at 3:05 am
I’ve always thought highly of Tim Pawlenty. He’s a regular blue-collar guy. That’s part of why he made it through 2006 when Republican governors in much more conservative states fell.
March 31st, 2007 at 7:36 am
Billy,
You are exactly right. No matter how much we dislike Brownback, or how much we find Romney insincere, or how much we disagree with Giuliani, or how much we distrust McCain, or how much we think Thompson is all fluff, we must ALL throw our (considerable) weight behind whomever wins the nomination. And not just for issues like abortion and taxes, but for our safety and the safety of our children and grandchildren. It is too important a time in the history of the world to sit at home in November for a petty sense of rebellion. We must forget these selfish inconsequentils, and stand together as one and fight with tooth and nail for Romney or Thompson or Giuliani or McCain or Brownback. It is just too important…
March 31st, 2007 at 7:57 am
So, how many of you who think it’s “so important” and who are of age, have volunteered? I was hoping when I found this blog that I hadn’t stumbled across another “war at all costs” and “we serve our countries from behind our keyboards.” Apparently, I was wrong. It is not the SoCons who have betrayed the party and nearly destroyed it, it’s the neocons.
If winning the war is so important, then do what it takes: have your candidate call for the draft and for real sacrifice. Otherwise don’t tell us how important the war on terror is.
March 31st, 2007 at 9:02 am
Gary,
I ran one of the largest phone banks in the county for Bush in 04 and I am currently organizing for Rudy.
econ grad stud,
I agree, Pawlenty would be a great VP choice.
March 31st, 2007 at 12:56 pm
Billy, Thank you for your perspective and unwillingness to be a political terrorist by threatening blackmail against certain candidates who may win the nomination. I support Rudy, but will support the GOP nominee in 2008 if it isn’t him.
March 31st, 2007 at 1:14 pm
Truth be told, I said earlier I would vote for my grandmother if Rudy won, I would be very upset.. But I will rally behind our nominee.. Now however if Chuck Hagel got the nomination I might go 3rd party. But as far as I am concerned respect for the election results in the primary is important. That is what is good about Republicans in general we tend to be more unified then the dems who will put up Hilliary and then put up Al Gore as a green and the dems vote is split note to dems gotta hold your base together. They still haven’t decided how to do this..
March 31st, 2007 at 2:02 pm
Well, as the Independent I’ll vote for Rudy but will cross the line to the other side if it isn’t him. I don’t have a SoCo bone in my body and Reganomics reminds me of the 10% interest that was being paid on home loans at the time and skyrocketing national debt.
March 31st, 2007 at 4:40 pm
Um, Casey, high interest rates were leftover from the 70’s and Carter. Google the history. Google “misery index.” Compare economic stats from Jan 1981 to Jan 1989.
Also, thanks for your support of Rudy.
March 31st, 2007 at 7:32 pm
I agree, us Rudy supporters really seem to appreciate one another. Especially those who are not willing
to write off our chances against HRC. Rudy can win, and I believe that when he does, he’ll bring about
the most constructive years of conservative reform to date.
THOUGH… I must agree. With the exception of McCain, I don’t know if I will support a RR endorsed
nominee: Brownback, Gingrich, Romney (though debatable)
and Thompson….. same old b.s
April 1st, 2007 at 12:13 am
Gary,
Sorry I can’t volunteer for the Military, I am asthmatic and I believe my shoe size (15) is larger than what the military allows.
Back to typing…