Department of Redundancy Department

Okay, Republican candidates and pundits, I am going to remind you yet again of Ronald Reagan's Eleventh Commandment as he articulated it in 1966: "Thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republican."  Remember this?  Remember whom we really are up against?

While you are busy badmouthing one another (and this goes for you, too, Donald), you are reinforcing the already negative stereotype of the Washington career politician, even though some of you are at the same time trying to position yourselves as outsiders.  This is exactly the sort of thing that flies in the face of our need to take back the White House and, by extension, the country from the left, and it loses us votes.

Yes, I do agree that we want a certain amount of dignity and thoughtfulness to accrue to the office of President, those are not exactly terms that are resonating with our base at the moment.  What is striking a responsive chord is fearlessness and willingness to take on all comers without an act of contrition.  Aren't we all (justifiably) weary of the way that the current Administration has apologized for American excellence and leadership practically since day one of Barack Obama's tenure?  Then why on earth would we want to fall into the same mealy-mouthed political correctness that has our culture and national identity on the skids?

I guess my question is this: Why don't you folks apply the same passion and energy to differentiating us from the Democrat Party as you do to attacking each other?  Why would you allow ambition to hold sway over your stated aim to do what is best for the country?  If you truly believe that it is not only necessary, but vital, to the nation's survival in a manner that our Founding Fathers would approve of, then you need to take President Reagan's words and example to heart.  

Please, we are begging you: Start talking about things that make true Americans proud of our heritage and of our place in world history.  We have the opportunity to reclaim the standing that previous generations have earned with blood and industry, and to truly reflect the vision that President Reagan so magnificently evoked in his farewell to our nation:

"..I've spoken of the shining city all my political life, but I don't know if I ever quite communicated what I saw when I said it. But in my mind it was a tall proud city built on rocks stronger than oceans, wind-swept, God-blessed, and teeming with people of all kinds living in harmony and peace, a city with free ports that hummed with commerce and creativity, and if there had to be city walls, the walls had doors and the doors were open to anyone with the will and the heart to get here. That's how I saw it and see it still...."

This is what we want, and my money is on your being able to deliver it, every last one of you. Nothing worth doing ever came easy, but effort and striving for what is right is what makes the hoped-for outcome all the more precious and worthwhile.

America is precious; America is worthwhile.  With this as a given, what will you do to preserve her legacy, her  promise, her valor in the face of evil?

More tomorrow...