Scott Ott Asks: Would You Recognize the Conservative Leader?
Monday, January 21, 2008 10:58
by Scott Ott
For two decades, conservatives have sought in vain for someone to lead the movement. As the years peeled away, and the long-awaited champion failed to descend from the mountain, those in elected office who bore the conservative label sat down to eat and drink at the public trough, and rose up to dance to the popular tunes of the big-government band.
Wandering in the ideological wilderness, their allegiance to principle faded, supplanted by mere loyalty to The Party. Electability became their mantra, and they whittled away at the conscience of a conservative until that mighty oak became a toothpick dangling from the lower lip.
Some said the revolution, like Krakatoa, had gone dormant.
But what would happen if that mythical leader of conservative dreams were to arise today? What characteristics would set him apart?
* He would talk of principle more than policy, ideology more than issues.
* When asked about government solutions to human problems, he would betray broad and forceful skepticism.
* He would be blunt about truth, honest about complexity, thoughtful in responding to questions, and hard to capture in seven-second sound bites.
* He would be serious about serious things, light-hearted about his own human fallibility.
* He would not suffer fools, nor reporters, gladly. (But I repeat myself.)
* He would approach elected office with a sense of respect, because the power of it flows from God, through the people, and not from any one man's personality.
* He would love America because of its matchless history, and its magnificent promise.
* He would call for firm borders and a strong military, because he loves justice and peace.
* His every public pronouncement would pulse with ideas drawn from the rich veins of the Declaration, the Constitution, the Federalist Papers and the like.
* He would speak of aggressive capitalism united with love and mercy, without contrast.
* He would carry freedom like a burning coal, diligent to keep it glowing hot and bright.
* In the sideshow atmosphere of political campaigning, he would look less like a carnival barker, more like a funeral director reluctantly passing through, unable to hide his grief over what it has become.
* And yet, to those with ears to hear, he would convey a positive, hopeful vision of American greatness, calling us to man the battlements and to fight to reclaim her glory.
Who now displays these qualities?
We might better ask: If such a one walked among us today, would we even recognize him?
And who would recognize him?
Read the rest.
When Ott's funny he's brilliant-when he's serious he's even better.
by Scott Ott
For two decades, conservatives have sought in vain for someone to lead the movement. As the years peeled away, and the long-awaited champion failed to descend from the mountain, those in elected office who bore the conservative label sat down to eat and drink at the public trough, and rose up to dance to the popular tunes of the big-government band.
Wandering in the ideological wilderness, their allegiance to principle faded, supplanted by mere loyalty to The Party. Electability became their mantra, and they whittled away at the conscience of a conservative until that mighty oak became a toothpick dangling from the lower lip.
Some said the revolution, like Krakatoa, had gone dormant.
But what would happen if that mythical leader of conservative dreams were to arise today? What characteristics would set him apart?
* He would talk of principle more than policy, ideology more than issues.
* When asked about government solutions to human problems, he would betray broad and forceful skepticism.
* He would be blunt about truth, honest about complexity, thoughtful in responding to questions, and hard to capture in seven-second sound bites.
* He would be serious about serious things, light-hearted about his own human fallibility.
* He would not suffer fools, nor reporters, gladly. (But I repeat myself.)
* He would approach elected office with a sense of respect, because the power of it flows from God, through the people, and not from any one man's personality.
* He would love America because of its matchless history, and its magnificent promise.
* He would call for firm borders and a strong military, because he loves justice and peace.
* His every public pronouncement would pulse with ideas drawn from the rich veins of the Declaration, the Constitution, the Federalist Papers and the like.
* He would speak of aggressive capitalism united with love and mercy, without contrast.
* He would carry freedom like a burning coal, diligent to keep it glowing hot and bright.
* In the sideshow atmosphere of political campaigning, he would look less like a carnival barker, more like a funeral director reluctantly passing through, unable to hide his grief over what it has become.
* And yet, to those with ears to hear, he would convey a positive, hopeful vision of American greatness, calling us to man the battlements and to fight to reclaim her glory.
Who now displays these qualities?
We might better ask: If such a one walked among us today, would we even recognize him?
And who would recognize him?
Read the rest.
When Ott's funny he's brilliant-when he's serious he's even better.
posted by white trash republican at Monday, January 21, 2008
2 Comments:
Good, except for a couple of points. One, Reagan was always cheerful and upbeat and two, he could get his point across in sound bites.
"he could get his point across in sound bites."
A sad but true commentary on what the age of TV media has done to our attention spans, Lem.
The better for them to hand pick the candidates, eh?
Christ! People who LISTEN longer than 10 seconds and think for themselves??!! Heresy!!! We can't have that!
At this point I really believe we totally deserve the massive spanking that this country is in for. We are the confederacy of dunces.
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