Blogs For Victory

As noted by Roger Kimball:

The question I have most often been asked the past few weeks is whether I stand by my prediction that John McCain would win in November. Way back in ancient times, that is, toward the end of August, 2008, I said that “Personally, I think John McCain is going to win, and I’m not talking about a hanging-chad squeakeroo. No, I think it will be a blow-out for McCain.” Interlocutors both anxious and gleeful have lined up to ask: Do I continue, after all we’ve been through these past weeks–the economy, the Palin-Katie Couric train wreck, the lackluster second debate, the economy, the economy, the economy–do I still believe that McCain has any chance of winning, let alone winning by a landslide?

I admit that my confidence has been dented. But it has by no means evaporated. “What? Have you looked at the polls?” Frankly, I feel about polls the way Disraeli (I think it was) felt about statistics: there are, he said, lies, damned lies, and statistics. Like everyone else, I am more inclined to believe them when they support an outcome I favor. Otherwise, I accord them the large measure of scepticism they deserve. Bottom line: I still believe John McCain will win…

…Whatever else it is, this election is a referendum on two very different visions of America. Obama’s vision is of country crippled by sin; McCain and Palin’s vision is of a country fired by high ideals and expansive opportunity.

“You’re beautiful, I love you, now change.” That is Team Obama’s message. “You’re beautiful, I love you as you are”: that is the message of McCain and Sarah Palin. It’s the difference between the utopian–who finds himself disgusted with every real-world polity, and who finds himself willing, indeed, eager, to sacrifice real people for the sake of the ideal ones he wishes to create–and the simple patriot who says Yes to the family, community, and country in which he finds himself.

Most Americans, I believe, love their country for what it is–not what it could become if suitably socialized, taxed, neutered, and otherwise recast. If McCain-Palin can effectively articulate that message, they will win.

That is about how I view it – that, in the end, the majority of Americans will turn to the candidate who loves his country with a boundless passion and in spite of her errors still holds her to be the most sublime expression of humanity…I can’t see America turning towards a “blame America first” socialist-liberal academic who has not a single accomplishment to his name other than an astounding ability to use vapid rhetoric and dirty pool to rise high in American politics.

Can I be wrong about this? Can it be that the American people – in great folly – are about to turn the destiny of the greatest nation in human history over to a man who knows nothing and who will be used by the Pelosis and Reids of the world to blindly advance a leftwing agenda? Of course I can be – but I don’t think I am, and while a person’s heart will always flutter a bit in trying times, my conviction that we’ll come out ahead in all this remains unshaken…of course, its helpful that even if we lose, I’ve got Sarah Palin and Bobby Jindal as the future of the Republican Party while all the Democrats have is Barack Obama – and he’ll wear out his welcome in short order.

Its been a strange election year; and its also been a far too long election year. If there’s anything I would do at this point if given a magic wand it would be enact a constitutional amendment prohibiting presidential campaigning more than 120 days in advance of an election. One of the two men will be sworn in on January 20th, 2009 and both are already diminished figures – though Obama has fallen faster and further, and McCain has the far superior ability to change things around as it relates to public perception of him. Obama has already disappointed and even some of his supporters – other than rabid leftwingers – admit that bloom is off the rose…McCain’s image has been tarnished, but as he pledges to take on the corrupt interests, and seems to be willing to actually do so, he can refurbish himself in short order simply in the enemies he chooses to fight…enemies Obama can’t fight, as they will have raised him to the White House, should he win.

My advice to all on the GOP side is to enter these final few weeks with a determination to fight, but also a conviction that right will triumph in the end – don’t go into this sad or mad (leave that for the leftists), but with a heart lightened by the knowledge that we do know what to do thus we’ll certainly secure for our side the power needed to enact our ideals into law. Have fun, in other words – leave the hand wringing, bed wetting and other signs of nervousness to our leftwing friends…no matter what, we’ll win it all in the end.