Guest post by ‘Grok friend, Mac Kittridge
Polls and opinion pieces by those with unknown agendas carry little weight with me. I’ve been active in politics longer than you have been alive and I have been awake much of that time. My opinion of Sarah Palin is based on unedited sources of her speeches, record, etc. etc. Yes, I listen to others and then decide how to weigh their opinions based on common sense, experience, history, and my own observations. And yes, you are correct that some, whom we would think would desire her candidacy, have, for reasons that seem visceral rather than rational, formed a dislike that boggles my mind. Others, many others, have gone in the other direction just as passionately. And it is the presence of the latter in significant numbers that is generally unappreciated. We need a great leader (but not a Messiah) in our current crisis and such a leader will create great polarity of opinion, as a matter of course.
Our ship of state has to be turned around. It cannot be done solely by politicians who have their heads on straight. The sovereign electorate has to have a reason to become reengaged, educated and enlisted (even inspired) in great numbers to reassert their rational sovereignty and that requires a real leader, not just a competent, well-intentioned, journeyman politician! Jean d’Arc, Henry V, Elizabeth 1, Margaret Thatcher, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Douglass, Ronald Reagan . . .etc. all come to mind. Some died in their service to their constituents, others nearly so, and a few in bed. Strong passions, pro and con infused their passage ~ but they led enough, who believed enough, to follow and, in their turn, lead still others. They all became fishers of men.
It wasn’t just qualifications, aptitude or experience, however helpful. No it came down to character, duty and a talent for inspiring empathy and reciprocal loyalty that transcended the ordinary. A special knack, if you will, to connect at a visceral level. A leader of leaders. And it also required genuine empathy and commitment that was immediately appreciated by their peers. If you met them, you KNEW. Not all, but enough!
A real leader surrounds himself with talented individuals that he (or she) admires and respects;…
.. individuals that can do what the prime leader cannot do or do as well. He builds a team that grows and inspires others. Some do this fairly quietly and seem almost unremarkable in their modesty and gentle empathy (Tim Pawlenty, Gary Johnson) yet are very effective in their milieu. Others almost glow with vitality and purpose (Palin, Cain, Gingrich & Bachmann); they seem just a bit larger than life and burn a little brighter. In a national contest in the TV age, with America in crisis, what style of leadership will serve best to lead us through this valley of national bewilderment? I believe it will be leaders who speak plainly in bold colors about solutions and positively radiate vitality and purpose.
And who has returned to public communications (her college degree) and become an accomplished student of mass media (as was Reagan ~ the master himself)? Who realized that, if she would lead a TV and mass media besotted America, much leadership must be done over the airwaves. Realizing this, who has made herself a household name and gotten tons of earned media while getting paid for it to boot? This lady is really doing her due diligence for leading an awakening, patriotic, grassroots America.
Integrity is a word that comes to mind, right after God fearing, patriotic, family loving, dutiful, unassailably honest and all round wholesome. Who proved to be a frugal Republican as City Counselor, Mayor, State Oil and Gas Commissioner and Governor? Not naive, wholesome! Not a quitter, innovative and agile (she was a very good point guard and didn’t forget the lessons learned playing basketball. While the MSM is double teaming her, the rest of the presidential field is moving ahead with less harassment and are cutting down Obama along the way. How’s that working out for BHO?) As I said before, she is all about moving the chains, not necessarily occupying the oval office. While others have been opining, she’s been helping. Name another potential candidate that has done as much.
And let’s not forget the very impressive Herman Cain, who became a very successful Conservative talk-show host in Atlanta after he retired from an outstanding career in business. He too, understood, that he would need to have the people with him to make a meaningful difference in the White House; and that meant becoming a powerful communicator, which he set about doing. Mission accomplished. His answers are straight from the shoulder and not trimmed to please. Refreshing. Candid. Not naive. Strikes me as very good at problem analysis and finding solutions with the best return on investment. Very bright and very engaging. Like Sarah, he seems very centered and at peace within. Both have great marriages. Knows how to settle fools firmly without needing to be rude or appearing arrogant. Shrewd! Thinks out of the box.
Gingrich too, is the master of communicating concepts and ideals in a straightforward and very digestible way. He cut his teeth teaching in college as a history professor and is absolutely spot on and agile in debate. Of course, as a former Speaker of the House his mastery of the Legislative process, his many longtime friends in Congress and his outstanding knowledge of world history and our founding documents would be a priceless asset to a new President. Still, I suspect his marital infidelities will be a deal killer for many, not withstanding his unassuming brilliance and rhetorical skills. As VP, maybe, with John Bolton as Secretary of State? Could be very potent in that position.
Whoever wins the presidency, Congress is still the origin of all good law and the repeal of much bad law. For that reason, I greatly prefer that Marco Rubio, Michelle Bachmann, Paul Ryan, et al remain in this critical branch of the US Government where they are desperately needed going forward.
As in all things, there is fool’s gold; individuals who learned to mimic the outward aspect of leadership but had no follow-through, no true drive for synergy and excellence ~ just in it for easy perks, the rapidly tarnishing gold braid and the evaporating verisimilitude of reciprocal loyalty. The Socialists and their gang of useful idiots have a hothouse operation for training these parasites that would be king. You know their names: Obama, Jimmah Carter, John Kerry, Robert Bird, Ted Kennedy, Clinton, Chuck Schumer , FDR, Wilson, Terie Norelli, Jeanne Shaheen, ~ none of them will be missed! The sooner the better.
In the end, the nomination will be decided by you and I and many others, influenced by events only guessed at now. If sterling character, intelligence, unabashed loyalty to America and our Constitution and proven guts are a given, then I favor a great, inspiring communicator for President. That falls to Palin, Cain and Gingrich in that order so far. Each comes to the table with serious strengths that are unique and important, but not entirely shared by the others. To have everything I’d like to find in the ideal candidate, he or she would have to be quite old to fit it all in. And then we would worry about Alzheimers. Frankly, the job is too big for one person. No one can be completely prepared for it all, that’s why Presidents have cabinets and generals have staffs. Being an excellent judge of character and competence is part of leading up close. It can be as important as inspiring the nation. But if we don’t choose an inspiring leader, the dead weight of terminal bureaucracy and the handcuffs of endless regulations will drag us down and smother the nation. The hour is late.
For me, I will essentially choose on the basis of proven abilities, character, and leadership ~ essential positives. Others will eliminate candidates on the basis of perceived faults with a very tough standard on social issues. But it would be difficult to ignore major faults in character, and wrong not to admit incredible talent and persistence on task. Ulysses S. Grant, William Tecumseh Sherman and Abraham Lincoln come to mind as men with great talent and courage coupled with immense personal challenges that would prevent them from serving today. One thing for sure, they weren’t quitters and came with industrial grade grit. So does Sarah Palin and Herman Cain.
Thanks for keeping the dialog going, everyone! It’s going to be interesting. I’m backing the unselfish point guard.
Yours in Liberty,
