We all have those moments, when it just hits you... You have become lost in thought over why something is the way it is, why something has "always been" a certain way.. In this moment of puzzlement, you strike out, if only in your own mind, to critically engage whatever it is that has grabbed your attention. This blog is, for me, an attempt to make productive use of those moments in life we all too often pass by, only to come back later and say, "Yea, and then it just hit me."
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Paul vs. Huckabee on the surge.
Governor Huckabee enlightens Congressman Ron Paul on what it truly means to be an American and what it truly means to be a country and military with honor and distinction.
9 comments:
Anonymous
said...
So do you believe the government is America as Huckabee does, and that everything the people do must be for the good of the government? If so what separates America from China?
Ron Paul served in the military, but Huckabee didn't so who has a better understanding of a patriotic military? Paul raised more money from members of the military in the last quarter than Huckabee or any other candidate.
No, this isn't China and I can't speak for Governor Huckabee, but I think if you asked him, his reply would be nothing of the sort...
Everything the American people do does not have to be intended for the good of the government. The government remains strong when people at the grass roots, community level do for one another. When the smallest factions (our schools, our communities, our churches, etc.) are strong, the country will follow in kind. John Kennedy was not wrong when he asked people to ask what they might do for their country, but your suggestion is a delusion of that message. When we ask people today to do for country, it is not asking them to blindly comply as factory workers, as you have seemingly suggested. What we instead need is people that do for country by engaging with issues, as we are doing here. We do need people to love this country, to cherish their freedoms, and work hard to uphold those smallest factions that have always made our diverse people a proud, patriotic people.
On the other hand, everything the government does should always be intended for the good of the American people. That is not to say that if you look across time that has always been the case, but Mike Huckabee isn't to fault for that. As he told Congressman Paul, we can't change history. We can seek, as a united people, to make a difference in the future. As this sample from the debate shows, the thing to do for the American people is not to leave a job half done. We owe it to ourselves, to our brave men and women serving, and to Iraqis and future generations of Iraqis to give them our best shot at this.
Even the experts and scientists, the people who study and write about these situations for a living cannot predict what will eventually happen. What they have said, however, is that if we leave immediately, there is no forseeable good that can come of that in a very volatile region. If Congressman Paul has his way, if Senator Obama, Senator Cliton have their way, are we prepared to bring the full fledged horrors of Darfur and Rwanda to Baghdad? I hope and pray not.
I appreciate the refreshing opinions and dialogue Congressman Paul is bringing to this election and, despite the way he was treated by moderators last night, I appreciate that he is being allowed to express opinions that differ from mainsteam ones. Still, I believe he is misled and I cannot personally support a candidate that wants to finish a job by leaving it partially done.
So do you believe the government is America as Huckabee does, and that everything the people do must be for the good of the government?
anonymous,
You're totally mischaracterizing Governor Huckabee's philosophy of government. Please read the following exchange from the GOP Iowa Straw Poll Debate on August 5, 2007:
Q: What will you restore to the Oval Office?
A: I would put the very same frame on my wall in the White House I did as governor for 10 and a half years. It's a frame that has a photo, and underneath the photo it says, "Our boss." My picture was never in that frame in 10 and a half years. Every week or so, we'd put the picture of some ordinary Arkansas citizen. And I told our staff, let's never forget who the real boss is. I hope every day I'd never forget I work for those people; they don't work for me. I'd like to be the kind of president that's more concerned about the people on Main Street, not just the folks on Wall Street. And we need that kind of Republican running, that kind of Republican winning. I'd never forget who the boss really, really is.
Ron Paul served in the military, but Huckabee didn't so who has a better understanding of a patriotic military?
For the record, anonymous, I served 20 years in the United States Army, retiring as a Master Sergeant in 1992, and I think that Governor Huckabee has a much better understanding of a patriotic military than Congressman Paul.
I'm curious (hence the name): How many years did you serve, anonymous?
"Dr." Paul is a lunatic who serves the causes of this nation's enemies.
. "Even if we lose elections we should not lose our honor. And that is more important than the Republican party." -- Mike Huckabee
A long-time and seemingly committed Blogger for Huckabee has withdrawn his support for Mike. That is his right, but I believe he's making statements about Mike -- and, frankly, about me -- that are misleading (to say the least). I devoted my column today to the subject, and I want all backers of Mike (and of Mike heading a ticket with Gov. Sarah Palin in the second spot) to know that I have the highest regard for Gov. Huckabee. Thanks.
steve maloney http://camp2008victorya.blogspot.com
I'm sorry will, but your man appears to just want to butt his head against the wall again. I'm sorry, but the American people went into Iraq through the use of fear tactics. Period. You want to talk about fixing Iraq, can it even be done? When has an occupying force totally overhauled a government in a country of Iraq's size and succeeded? He talks about defending America's honor and saving face, but how can you measure this? What has the surge done to stop anything? We have broken Iraq, he is correct, but it seems like he just wants to try the same thing that broke it in the first place.
When has an occupying force totally overhauled a government in a country of Iraq's size and succeeded?
Germany and Japan in post-World War II come to mind. Prior to this, Germany had a very tenuous democratic tradition (the Weimar Republic) and Japan had none.
Like today in Iraq, there were many cynics that were convinced that these nations were incapable of developing and sustaining democracies, but they have.
It's not our job to "overhaul" anyone's government; all we can do is provide the Iraqis with enough security and stability to do it themselves.
Ironically, this process seems to be occurring from the bottom up. Local governments, like Ramadi and Fallujah, and provincial governments, like Anbar and Diyala, are taking the lead. This is why President Bush bypassed Baghdad on his latest visit and went to where the political surge is most effective.
Will the federal government finally overcome its sectarian differences and form a viable Iraq? Only time will tell. But for any chance of this happening, we need to continue the surge until its logical conclusion next spring.
I'm sorry, but I don't remember Germany or Japan fighting guerrilla warfare after we took over their countries. To compare a "conventional" war like WWII to modern times doesn't make a lot of sense. I'm not convinced that Iraq has a sustained democracy, they have leaned heavily on us and are not close to being ready to control their entire country, and I have serious doubts if adding 21,000 more troops will help anything more than in isolated areas.
oh please, Ron Paul wasn't a part of a "patriotic military" at all. He was a doctor for the air force and never saw a battle in his life!
As for who raised more money - that's a really dumb point. I don't know about you, but I think we should select a candidate based on who has a better position on the issues, not based on who raised more money in the last quarter.
9 comments:
So do you believe the government is America as Huckabee does, and that everything the people do must be for the good of the government? If so what separates America from China?
Ron Paul served in the military, but Huckabee didn't so who has a better understanding of a patriotic military? Paul raised more money from members of the military in the last quarter than Huckabee or any other candidate.
No, this isn't China and I can't speak for Governor Huckabee, but I think if you asked him, his reply would be nothing of the sort...
Everything the American people do does not have to be intended for the good of the government. The government remains strong when people at the grass roots, community level do for one another. When the smallest factions (our schools, our communities, our churches, etc.) are strong, the country will follow in kind. John Kennedy was not wrong when he asked people to ask what they might do for their country, but your suggestion is a delusion of that message. When we ask people today to do for country, it is not asking them to blindly comply as factory workers, as you have seemingly suggested. What we instead need is people that do for country by engaging with issues, as we are doing here. We do need people to love this country, to cherish their freedoms, and work hard to uphold those smallest factions that have always made our diverse people a proud, patriotic people.
On the other hand, everything the government does should always be intended for the good of the American people. That is not to say that if you look across time that has always been the case, but Mike Huckabee isn't to fault for that. As he told Congressman Paul, we can't change history. We can seek, as a united people, to make a difference in the future. As this sample from the debate shows, the thing to do for the American people is not to leave a job half done. We owe it to ourselves, to our brave men and women serving, and to Iraqis and future generations of Iraqis to give them our best shot at this.
Even the experts and scientists, the people who study and write about these situations for a living cannot predict what will eventually happen. What they have said, however, is that if we leave immediately, there is no forseeable good that can come of that in a very volatile region. If Congressman Paul has his way, if Senator Obama, Senator Cliton have their way, are we prepared to bring the full fledged horrors of Darfur and Rwanda to Baghdad? I hope and pray not.
I appreciate the refreshing opinions and dialogue Congressman Paul is bringing to this election and, despite the way he was treated by moderators last night, I appreciate that he is being allowed to express opinions that differ from mainsteam ones. Still, I believe he is misled and I cannot personally support a candidate that wants to finish a job by leaving it partially done.
So do you believe the government is America as Huckabee does, and that everything the people do must be for the good of the government?
anonymous,
You're totally mischaracterizing Governor Huckabee's philosophy of government. Please read the following exchange from the GOP Iowa Straw Poll Debate on August 5, 2007:
Q: What will you restore to the Oval Office?
A: I would put the very same frame on my wall in the White House I did as governor for 10 and a half years. It's a frame that has a photo, and underneath the photo it says, "Our boss." My picture was never in that frame in 10 and a half years. Every week or so, we'd put the picture of some ordinary Arkansas citizen. And I told our staff, let's never forget who the real boss is. I hope every day I'd never forget I work for those people; they don't work for me. I'd like to be the kind of president that's more concerned about the people on Main Street, not just the folks on Wall Street. And we need that kind of Republican running, that kind of Republican winning. I'd never forget who the boss really, really is.
Ron Paul served in the military, but Huckabee didn't so who has a better understanding of a patriotic military?
For the record, anonymous, I served 20 years in the United States Army, retiring as a Master Sergeant in 1992, and I think that Governor Huckabee has a much better understanding of a patriotic military than Congressman Paul.
I'm curious (hence the name): How many years did you serve, anonymous?
"Dr." Paul is a lunatic who serves the causes of this nation's enemies.
. "Even if we lose elections we should not lose our honor. And that is more important than the Republican party." -- Mike Huckabee
A long-time and seemingly committed Blogger for Huckabee has withdrawn his support for Mike. That is his right, but I believe he's making statements about Mike -- and, frankly, about me -- that are misleading (to say the least). I devoted my column today to the subject, and I want all backers of Mike (and of Mike heading a ticket with Gov. Sarah Palin in the second spot) to know that I have the highest regard for Gov. Huckabee. Thanks.
steve maloney
http://camp2008victorya.blogspot.com
I'm sorry will, but your man appears to just want to butt his head against the wall again. I'm sorry, but the American people went into Iraq through the use of fear tactics. Period. You want to talk about fixing Iraq, can it even be done? When has an occupying force totally overhauled a government in a country of Iraq's size and succeeded? He talks about defending America's honor and saving face, but how can you measure this? What has the surge done to stop anything? We have broken Iraq, he is correct, but it seems like he just wants to try the same thing that broke it in the first place.
When has an occupying force totally overhauled a government in a country of Iraq's size and succeeded?
Germany and Japan in post-World War II come to mind. Prior to this, Germany had a very tenuous democratic tradition (the Weimar Republic) and Japan had none.
Like today in Iraq, there were many cynics that were convinced that these nations were incapable of developing and sustaining democracies, but they have.
It's not our job to "overhaul" anyone's government; all we can do is provide the Iraqis with enough security and stability to do it themselves.
Ironically, this process seems to be occurring from the bottom up. Local governments, like Ramadi and Fallujah, and provincial governments, like Anbar and Diyala, are taking the lead. This is why President Bush bypassed Baghdad on his latest visit and went to where the political surge is most effective.
Will the federal government finally overcome its sectarian differences and form a viable Iraq? Only time will tell. But for any chance of this happening, we need to continue the surge until its logical conclusion next spring.
I'm sorry, but I don't remember Germany or Japan fighting guerrilla warfare after we took over their countries. To compare a "conventional" war like WWII to modern times doesn't make a lot of sense. I'm not convinced that Iraq has a sustained democracy, they have leaned heavily on us and are not close to being ready to control their entire country, and I have serious doubts if adding 21,000 more troops will help anything more than in isolated areas.
oh please, Ron Paul wasn't a part of a "patriotic military" at all. He was a doctor for the air force and never saw a battle in his life!
As for who raised more money - that's a really dumb point. I don't know about you, but I think we should select a candidate based on who has a better position on the issues, not based on who raised more money in the last quarter.
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