After receiving a sound thrashing on November 4 at the hands of the Democratic Party, the GOP has naturally begun to look towards the future in an attempt to revitalize its struggling base and strategize for the years ahead. At this point, despite excessive dialogue, no one really seems to know what to do next. As expected, a tug-of-war of sorts has ensued, leaving conservatives, moderates, and those in between uncertain and confused.

Welcome to the world of politics!

Though seemingly petty, the squabbling within the Republican Party “comes with the territory,” so to speak. After eight years of an extremely unpopular Republican administration, the Democrats’ new poster boy, Barack Obama, easily vanquished GOP nominee John McCain at the polls, leaving liberals everywhere in hysteria and sending Republicans back to the drawing board. Many of us saw this defeat coming, and Senator McCain’s loss on November 4 proved to be the ultimate wake-up call for our party. In response, we’re all wondering, “What now?” During times like these we all feel impassioned, so tempers naturally flare and disputes occur. In fact, we can expect debate to persist for many months, perhaps even years, to come. Fortunately, this debate is healthy; it ultimately helps us to understand each other and learn to work together in order to strengthen our party. So while we’re at it, I’ll throw my two cents into the fray!

Those of us who respect and admire John McCain realize that his career is far from over; on the contrary, the next several years might prove the most politically critical and challenging period of his life. Fortunately, John McCain need not face the daunting challenges of the Obama Administration alone; nay, many impressive conservative senators (as well as representatives) will join him in defending our freedom in the coming years. You see, despite all the talk, albeit constructive, of 2012, the present must command our immediate attention, for the present is the key to the future. In order to wrest the Presidency from Barack Obama in four years, Republicans must regain the trust of the American people—a job easier said than done. To pull it off, the GOP, which will be subjected to the utmost scrutiny in the upcoming years, must act wisely in Congress and around the nation and return to its conservative roots. As James Madison accurately observed in The Federalist No. 10, “[e]nlightened statesmen will not always be at the helm.” It is now up to the Republicans in Congress to keep any “unenlightened” public officials in check.

Fortunately, the Republican Party possesses many new and impressive leaders, perhaps the most familiar of which include Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, Senator Jim DeMint (SC), Rep. Mike Pence (IN), and, of course, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. Oh, and don’t count out former presidential contenders Mike Huckabee and Mitt Romney. If nothing else (and let’s hope for more), the next four years will certainly be interesting for Republicans.

The GOP clearly has messengers capable of furthering its agenda; now all it needs is a message. Why did John McCain lose? Well, he lost for many reasons, including his lack of a coherent vision for our country’s future. Similarly, although I believe much of the criticism heaped upon him is groundless and unfair, George W. Bush fell from grace in part because he tried to please everyone and ended up pleasing no one. Our future leaders must avoid this deadly trap!

I am not suggesting we transform the GOP into some elitist group that panders to a select faction of Americans; you don’t win elections through the diminution of your base. Even Ronald Reagan, the most staunchly conservative president of the 20^th century, believed in expanding the Republican Party, not shrinking it down to a single conservative clique. However, as we know well, the Gipper championed conservative principles like few others because he rightly believed that the Founding Fathers established America as a nation of certain inherent moral principles. The GOP has succeeded so frequently because of its dedication to these values; it will continue to succeed only if it remains dedicated to these values because, as we see, for example, in the passing of Props 2, 8, and 102 in Florida, California, and Arizona, respectively, many Americans still share these values. If you believe otherwise, so be it. Just know that Ronald Reagan and I disagree.

Ultimately, as with most of life’s challenges, balance is the key. However, conservatism will play a huge role in this country in the years to come. Because history so often repeats itself, we have a revival to look forward to in 2012. After all, America survived Jimmy Carter, and we all know who succeeded him. Just let Barack Obama and his liberal colleagues run amuck in Washington for a few years, and we’ll see voters singing a different tune at the polls.

While listening to Bob Dylan at the gym the other day, a cynical yet amusing thought came to my mind: If President-elect Obama doesn’t “fix” the economy, as he and others have claimed he shall, and instead makes the problem worse with higher taxes and more needless spending, John McCain may resort to quoting Bobby D.’s iconic anthem, “Like a Rolling Stone,” when speaking to middle class Obama supporters.

“Once upon a time you dressed so fine
You threw the bums a dime in your prime, didn't you?
People'd call, say, "Beware doll, you're bound to fall"
You thought they were all kiddin' you

You used to laugh about
Everybody that was hangin' out
Now you don't talk so loud
Now you don't seem so proud
About having to be scrounging for your next meal.

How does it feel
How does it feel
To be without a home
Like a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone?

You've gone to the finest school all right, Miss Lonely
But you know you only used to get juiced in it
And nobody has ever taught you how to live on the street
And now you find out you're gonna have to get used to it

You said you'd never compromise
With the mystery tramp, but now you realize
He's not selling any alibis
As you stare into the vacuum of his eyes
And ask him do you want to make a deal?

How does it feel
How does it feel
To be on your own
With no direction home
Like a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone?

You never turned around to see the frowns on the jugglers and the clowns
When they all did tricks for you
You never understood that it ain't no good
You shouldn't let other people get your kicks for you

You used to ride on a chrome horse with your diplomat
Who carried on his shoulder a Siamese cat
Ain't it hard when you discover that
He really wasn't where it's at
After he took from you everything he could steal.

How does it feel
How does it feel
To be on your own
With no direction home
Like a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone?

Princess on a steeple and all the pretty people
They're all drinkin', thinkin' that they’ve got it made
Exchanging all kinds of precious gifts and things
But you'd better lift your diamond ring, you'd better pawn it babe

You used to be so amused
At Napoleon in rags and the language that he used
Go to him now, he calls you, you can't refuse
When you got nothing, you got nothing to lose
You're invisible now, you got no secrets to conceal.

How does it feel
How does it feel
To be on your own
With no direction home
Like a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone?”

Let’s hope Senator McCain never has reason to belt out these refrains. After all, he’s never been much of a singer.

Needless to say, as a devout “McCainiac” and “Palinite,” I was bummed when Barack Obama’s historic ascension to the White House finally came to fruition. I was even more bummed, however, when the recent attacks on Sarah Palin started pouring in. Apparently a number of John McCain’s aides, in a quintessential round of the “blame game,” decided to leap off the McCain/Palin bandwagon and hop aboard…well…McCain’s slowly sinking ship. I suppose they’d like to console themselves by blaming the leak in the hull on the proverbial iceberg (a certain Alaskan governor). Unfortunately, as if Governor Palin hasn’t been attacked enough since September, the smears have run rampant ever since.

Not surprisingly, I’ve already begun to look ahead towards 2012 in hopes that Sarah and Mitt will join forces to revitalize the struggling GOP and bring real change to Washington. However, as much as I hate to admit it, I find this scenario unlikely, so I’ve settled for a comparable second choice in a Sarah Palin/Bobby Jindal ticket. Why do I want to see these two impressive conservative leaders at the helm? Well, hopefully this article will explain my reasoning.

Based on my observations throughout the past few months, I have come to realize that the battered Republican Party has some serious soul searching to do. Why? Because dissention has damaged the GOP, leaving it fragmented and weak. Even though the numbers show that McCain received about the same amount of Republican votes as George Bush did in 2004, tension clearly exists within the defeated party. I attribute some of this tension to the post-loss comedown, but I believe most of it comes from the uncertainty currently plaguing the GOP. To whom will Republicans now look as the leader of their party? Will the search for the next Reagan prove fruitless?

Although the GOP is comprised of an extremely diverse lot, I believe that three major factions have pushed to the forefront of the party. The conservative men and women of the nation constitute the first group; these are the “Joe the Plumbers” of the country who “cling so bitterly” to their God and their guns. The second bunch is composed of those elitists who pine for “real” leadership skills and would rather put conservative values on the back burner. The members of the third crowd, a veritable motley crew of dissidents, compete with each other in a quest for personal gain (McCain’s Palin-bashing aides fit nicely into this category). These three factions must reconcile their differences and come together in order to strengthen the Republican base in America. Yes, it’s a daunting task but not an impossible one. In 2012 one or more of these groups will have to compromise and choose to support one presidential ticket; I would urgently advise them to choose a candidate with strong values, solid character, and an understanding of the life of the average American, not a candidate who simply possesses an impressive résumé.

As for me, I hope to see Sarah running for President in 2012, and unless something convinces me otherwise (and it might), she’ll get my vote. However, because Governor Palin has become so controversial, it’s only fair to write an article detailing the reasons for my ardent support. So here goes…

A Defense

I must begin by saying that all of the deeply disgusting and disturbing attacks directed towards Sarah Palin lack both credibility and truth. Despite this, the attacks continue; in fact, the mean-spirited criticism heaped upon Governor Palin has proven surprisingly diverse and consistent. People have questioned her intelligence (she does say “You betcha,” after all) and her experience. They’ve spread severely spiteful rumors about her family. They’ve insulted her lifestyle and misconstrued her obviously conservative values. Some of her former allies have recently turned on her and blamed her for John McCain’s loss. Heck, she’s the only person I know who’s been assaulted for being good-looking. Well, enough is enough; it’s time to put these nasty attacks to bed.

 Attack #1: “She’s a Woman”

 Yes, the age-old gender war continues, unfortunately. Of course, this argument loses all credibility coming from folks on the left, seeing as they eagerly embraced Hillary Clinton. You see, liberals don’t want to empower women in general—they want to empower women who share their beliefs. Notwithstanding the fact that we all demonstrate similar hypocrisy, this argument still lacks any merit whatsoever.

I realize that some Christians simply squirm at the prospect of a female President, but I believe their fears are groundless. In studying this oft-delicate issue, I have yet to find a Bible verse that denounces the participation of women in political leadership roles. All of the verses that I have found that restrict a woman’s role in a leadership capacity relate to family and the church, and the church situations were specifically addressing certain problems in a few distinct churches. I strongly believe that God can and does use female leaders to accomplish great things—just think of women like Margaret Thatcher. Who are we to say that women like her who feel led to politics are wrong? Couldn't God call Sarah Palin to further His Kingdom in the realm of politics as well? Some skeptics have cited Isaiah 3:12 as revealing God’s disapproval of women leaders, but their arguments simply fall flat. According to The Bible Knowledge Commentary by the faculty of Dallas Seminary, the reference to "women" in Isaiah 3:12 "may mean that wives were influencing their husbands who were rulers, or that the male leaders lacked vigor." The passage does not necessarily mean that women were actually ruling. Additionally, even if women were ruling directly over Israel, there is no correlation between hard times in government and female leaders. There are good leaders, and there are bad leaders. Not all men are good leaders (obviously). Similarly, though there have certainly been corrupt female leaders, not all women are bad leaders. Merely broad brushing all women as poor leaders by citing this one verse is simply generalizing.

Women like Sarah Palin have proven their competence as leaders, and I honestly see no reason to believe that Sarah would make an inept President just because of her sex.

Attack #2: “She’s Too Belligerent”

And you’re saying that other politicians aren’t? Besides, Sarah has actually been quite docile in comparison to Barack Obama, for example, who even attacked John McCain for not using e-mail. It turns out John McCain can’t use a keyboard because of his torture injuries. Oops!

Think about it: Governor Palin hasn’t assaulted her opponents in such a sickening manner because she sticks to the truth and the issues that matter, even though she might occasionally seem harsh.

Shortly before finishing this article, I read a report on www.eastandard.net claiming, “the US Secret Service has blamed Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin for the death threats against president-elect Barack Obama.” Incredible, huh? I guess people just don’t realize that Sarah has no control over the psychotic white supremacists who are actually responsible.

Attack #3: “She Relies Too Much on Her Husband Todd”

Sarah Palin does not permit her husband to perform any strictly governor-related duties! Yes, he has access to her office. Yes, he supports her at work and helps her stay organized. Yes, he makes calls and takes calls. Governor Palin is a busy woman for goodness’ sake! Her husband has the right to help her out every now and then! Besides, this “overly-helpful spouse” issue has never been a problem before, so what’s the big deal now? Well, as we can deduce by their non-stop quest to destroy her, the left clearly fears Sarah and her conservative values (and SNL needs someone to make fun of), so they resort to ludicrous jabs like this in an attempt to bring her down. Iconic First Ladies like Eleanor Roosevelt, Nancy Reagan, and Hillary Clinton were all very involved in their husbands’ lives and administrations, but no one slams them, of course.

Attack #4: “She’s Unintelligent”

Oh, puh-lease! I marvel that I even have to address this! Nevertheless, many of Governor Palin’s enemies claim she is an unintelligent backwoods bimbo who thinks that Africa is only a single country. Claims like these are simply not credible when you consider the facts. Sarah graduated from the University of Idaho, where she majored in Journalism and minored in Political Science. Yes, she transferred to four different schools before graduating, but she never transferred on account of poor grades. In fact, she made straight A’s at Hawaii Pacific College. Besides, she worked her way through college, so she moved based on job opportunities.

Although Sarah Palin has never taken an actual “intelligence quotient” test, we can safely assume that her IQ is at least 111, the average minimum for college graduates. In addition, most governors have an IQ of at least 120; various IQ websites estimate a 127. This number is considerably greater than the proposed score of 110 attributed to Governor Palin by some of her critics. Conversely, some of those incessantly annoying “IQ test” web sites claim that Joe Biden has an IQ of 146, much higher than many of the estimated scores of some of the most influential leaders in history, including John Adams (137) and Thomas Jefferson (138). If Senator Biden, one of the most gaffe-prone politicians I’ve ever seen, has an IQ higher than Thomas Jefferson, I’d prefer the lower IQ. Besides, education and IQ aren’t everything. Abraham Lincoln had an estimated IQ of 128 and George Washington only scored an estimated 118 points! Benjamin Franklin, on the other hand, possessed an estimated IQ of 160 even though he had an “official” school education of only one year! Education and IQ score clearly have no direct effect on leadership abilities!

Attack #5: “She’s Inexperienced”

As Michael Medved says, experience doesn’t matter—a good record does! Sure, Sarah Palin may not possess much foreign policy experience (and she knows it), but in the recent presidential race, with someone like John McCain at the top of the ticket, she didn’t need any. On the other hand, when it comes to bipartisan ethics reform and spending cuts, Governor Palin stands out. Additionally, because of her experience as chair of Alaska’s Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (AOGCC) and Todd Palin’s status as an oil field production manager on Alaska’s North Slope, Sarah Palin is one of the most energy-savvy leaders in the nation.

In a way John McCain’s loss might actually help Sarah Palin’s future. Now that she doesn’t have the duties of the Vice President hanging over her head, she has plenty of time to focus on improving her already impressive record of accomplishment and putting the experience question behind her before the presidential election of 2012.

Attack #6: “She Caused John McCain to Lose the Election”

Of all the stupid accusations…

Interestingly, most of the people making this claim are either ardent Democrats or Republicans who see Sarah as a threat to their personal goals for 2012. Then again, many people consider Governor Palin a threat these days, and that’s a good thing!

Most political analysts will agree that the economic crisis, not Sarah Palin’s presence on the Republican ticket, really sealed the deal for Barack Obama and ultimately doomed John McCain’s campaign. Polling by Rasmussen Reports indicates that 80% of professing Republicans believed that Sarah Palin helped John McCain, and 91% of Republicans viewed Palin favorably! Additionally, according to Rasmussen, 64% of Republicans would choose Sarah as the GOP nominee for President in 2012.

However, driven by fear, many of John McCain’s aides have turned on Governor Palin and made several outlandish claims about her. They say she spent over $150,000 in wardrobe purchases and couldn’t name the countries of NAFTA, among other doubtful allegations. Apparently they forgot that the Republican National Committee bought the clothes, all of which will be donated to charity, for Governor Palin and her family. According to Sarah, comments about NAFTA were taken out of context. Steve Biegun, a Palin aide, called the attacks "appalling." Personally, I think these Palin-bashing aides just want to strike at Governor Palin early and proactively protect their own interests.

The Importance of Values

Based on my observations of Republican opinions concerning the presidential elections of 2012, most analysts appear to be advocating a return to the core values of the GOP. I could not agree more! Republicans need a candidate who champions small government (with an emphasis on self-government), fiscal conservatism, First Amendment rights, the right to bear arms, and the right to life for the unborn. Sarah advocates all of these. You see, Governor Palin makes decisions based on her inherent value system, not on expedience or self-interest. Additionally, she strikes a chord with the average working citizens of America like no other. Within two short months, she has become the most prominent female politician in America, eclipsing even Hillary Clinton! Who knew? Sarah clearly has a gift for connecting with everyday Americans, an asset that will prove crucial in 2012. The GOP needs a unifier; Republicans need a leader to whom they can relate. Sarah has proven that she can bring people together and relate to voters on a personal level. This is critical!

Ultimately, in order to win in 2012, the Republican Party needs to nominate a candidate who represents the antithesis of the liberal Democrats of the Obama administration yet doesn’t estrange any major factions of the Republican Party. Sarah Palin is one such candidate, and to turn on her now would be foolish, to say the least.

I realize that everyone deems different convictions and values as important. Consequently, I’m not trying to convince you to support Sarah Palin, let alone vote for her in 2012. I simply want to provide you with some of the reasons why I support her (and believe others should) and persuade you (if you dislike her yourself) to possibly look at her with a different attitude. That said, I’m out. God bless Sarah Palin, and God bless America!

Palin/Jindal ‘12

On October 29, 1941, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill delivered his famous “Never Give In” speech in front of the students of Harrow School in London, England, encouraging them to keep up the “good fight” indefinitely. Although many of the details of the speech have been distorted over time, Churchill’s key declaration defines the oration to this day: “Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never, never—in nothing, great or small, large or petty—never give in, except to convictions of honor and good sense. Never yield to force. Never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.”

 Still standing in the aftermath of perhaps the most historic presidential election of all time, I can’t help but notice that many of my fellow Americans need to hear these words today. As our nation prepares to usher in a man whom many considered the most liberal senator in the country, we must not lose hope; we must not give in. In his concession speech John McCain, Barack Obama’s unfaltering opponent in the race for the White House, had this to say to his supporters:

As conservatives, we can do our part by honoring President-elect Barack Obama as the leader of our country; we must not stoop to the level of those who lambasted George W. Bush with needless vitriol. After all, however we may feel about a Barack Obama victory, his ascendency to the White House testifies to the true greatness of the United States of America. Only 40 years since the brutal assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr., we have our first black president. Besides, we won’t know how Barack Obama will lead our nation until he assumes office. So let’s not jump to any premature conclusions.

 As strange as it may sound, President-elect Obama’s victory speech in Grant Park reassured me and gave me at least a little faith in him. His words were not the words of the Obama I was used to; they were the words of the newly-heralded Commander-in-Chief coming into his own. Instead of reveling in his own victory with his followers alone, Barack Obama spoke to those Americans who didn’t vote for him, saying, “…to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn, I may not have won your vote, but I hear your voices, I need your help, and I will be your president, too.” Let us keep this singular truth in mind.

I realize some of you may be thinking that I’ve lost it, cracked under the enormous pressure, or gone off the deep end, and perhaps this article won’t convince you otherwise. In response to your quizzical looks: no, I have not become an overnight Obama fan. If I liked the man’s proposed policies, I wouldn’t have voiced my support for John McCain and Sarah Palin so ardently in September and October. However, the truth remains: I don’t know how Barack Obama will lead this country, and neither do you. I can, on the other hand, “hope for the best, and prepare for the worst,” to quote (or at least paraphrase) an English proverb.

Contrary to popular belief, Barack Obama is not stupid; he’s a fundamentally smart guy. He’s also extremely ambitious and hungry for approval. These two facts alone lead me to believe that he won’t back himself into the proverbial corner by alienating voters with insanely liberal policies. If he does, he’s gone in 2012. It’s that simple. If he has any sense at all (and he does), President-elect Obama will run an essentially centrist administration and avoid things like the Fairness Doctrine and oppressive gun bans.

Barack Obama will face many challenges as our next president. To succeed, he will need to focus his immediate attention on the struggling economy. However, recessions pass, and President-elect Obama and his Democratic friends in congress need to realize that bailouts won’t solve the economic problems we face. In fact, they will simply make the problems worse. I bet you have never heard of the Panic of 1819, one of the first major recessions in US history. Well, that’s because it passed (and relatively quickly at that); most recessions do. The Great Depression only lasted so long because of government interference. Note to President-elect Obama: recessions come and go! Don’t panic and dish out the billions now! Things will just get worse!

Additionally, Barack Obama must respond to the lingering threats in the Middle East and lead our country towards energy independence. However, he need not increase the size of government or continue to spend billions of taxpayer dollars to accomplish his goals. Ultimately these methods simply don’t work.

My friends (to use a McCain adage), if history repeats itself (and it often does) we have a revival to look forward to in 2012. After all, America survived Jimmy Carter, and Ronald Reagan succeeded him. However, as we wait for the next round of elections to roll around, there’s still plenty of work to be done in Washington and around the nation. Let’s get to it!