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Mayor Orders Mandatory Evacuation Of New Orleans

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McCain picks Sarah Palin for the VP nod.

Smart pick to smooth over worrisome Republicans- she is pro drilling, pro-life, a strong fiscal and social conservative. She reaches out to sportsman of all sorts, having been a sports reporter at one point in time, as well as a devout hunter/fisherman and card-carrying member of the NRA. She is also Governor of one of the largest states in the union, responsible for managing a state burdened with 80% federal land takings.

As a boon to my state, she is also an Alumnus of the University of Idaho. That is a huge plus for me.

Oh, and she also is a mother of five, and as Pajamas Media puts it, “it doesn’t hurt she’s smoking hot”. 

From the McCain campaign, in case you didn’t know what was considered appropriate in the Temple Of The Messiah.

Just be careful about what you say in the presence of The Messiah however, lest they move to silence you  for your incredulance like the Obama team did to Stanley Kurtz. A reminder: The Messiah does not tolerate “distractions” from his important duties of controlling the atmosphere, providing hope and spreading change.

BreitBart: Obama Seeks To Silence Ad Tying Him To 60’s Radical

Atlas Shrugged: CAC Documents Link Obama to 60’s Terrorist Ayers

But there is more….

RedState.com: Barack and the New Party’s Endorsement

Not one single housing market in the nation has shown signs of growth over the last 12 months. Expect the property tax man to tax notice soon. Our property taxes will be spiking next.

A quick observation that I wonder if anyone else has noticed: the increased number of people running out of gas.

It seems like at least once or twice a week I happen upon some poor soul who has pushed the gas fumes too far. This of course, is directly related to the catastrophic increase in gasoline prices over the course of the last year. But it is also a sign of the times, a sign of things yet to come.

Take note of the prior purchase at gasoline pumps. I have noticed a lot more “fixed dollar” or pre-paid purchases rather than complete fill-ups. At $4 a gallon, that last $10 to top of the tank is the difference between trimmings at dinner and an extra afternoon of leisure driving.

So my question is this: does this new price consciousness effect our political participation?

Now the obvious is, of course, people doing the wonderful work advocating for domestic oil production, such as drillforamericanoil.com or drillheredrillnow.com. But I have a theory that these gas prices are influencing more than just immediate policy considerations.

With people being more conscious about how much they have to extended themselves, and conversely, what their limit (financial or otherwise) is, it is highly probable the the political parties could become more fragmented should this state of economic turmoil continue. It should be especially worrisome for the McCain camp who is already having trouble rallying conservatives and libertarians behind him.

Let me put it this way: Politics is like any transaction. When the price gets too high, we have to limit our purchases, or if the cost is too great, skip it altogether. As it stands, with peoples mindset on limiting over extensions, it is possible that voters will curtail their political purchases of those ideas where the price is simply too great to pay. Namely- amnesty, opposition to ANWR drilling, free speech limitations and generally being a burr under the saddle of conservative politics.

Like the stranded motorist walking along side the road with the emergency gas can for a fuel fill up, these voters will jump at the first party to come along and offer them some assistance along the way. That is, they will find new markets for their predicaments.

I don’t expect this movement to be very big, but I do expect it to be significant enough where both parties will reel from the defectors. The Libertarian and Constitution parties would seem to benefit most from the wayward Ron Paul or Mike Huckabee supporter. McCain simply does not represent this class of voters well. Like the motorist needing the most bang for the buck they will pass on the $4 premium gas in favor of the discounted $3.50 gas down the street, even if it means going a little bit out of the way to accomplish the feat.

Now of course the owner of the premium station has two choices: 1) become indignant and reemphasize his position in the community (after all he does have cleaner amenities for the motorists needing a commode) or 2) lower his prices to keep from losing the defectors.

As it stands, it seems, the premium owner is refusing to budge and people are choosing to risk it. A wonderful sign of the times don’t you think?

Alright McCain, it’s your turn. Are you going to stab us in the back one more time or are you going to give us something, anything to rally around?

At this point McCain does not have my vote. Unless there is a solid anti-abortion, anti-amnesty, anti-NAU candidate on the ticket, the amount of compromise would just be too great. A threshold I am just not willing to cross. I am tired of liberty being replaced by benefits.

So will McCain make it a referendum vote?

I doubt it, but with numerous polls showing people would still overwhelmingly pick Bush over McCain or Obama, one would have to find a way to capture some of the silent supporters of President Bush.

That is, of course, unless McCain is willing to go a much, much more bolder route (and certainly get my vote as well). But, alas, I doubt that would ever happen.

Let us disect this politcal frog, shall we?

Guilliani- too liberal

Jeb Bush- let Terry Shavo die, but would force the issue

Romney- let gay marriage thugs force themselves on Mass.

Jindal- too unknown

Huckabee- solid choice, but would overshadow McCain

Condi Rice- doesn’t want the job

Karl Rove- I would love it, would cause liberals to blow a gasket. But won’t happen…

Paul- perfect.

I do not buy for a second the notion that because McCain is a Republican he has got the Evangelical and conservative votes in the bag. The line in the sand has been crossed for many voters, and unless McCain gives us some sort of signal that he is at least willing to help get the party back on track, he may find himself without 10-20% of the normal Republican party base support come election day.

Excuse me, I need to yell, *ahem*:

MCCAIN- IF YOU SELECT JOE LIEBERMAN, A PRO-ABORTION LIBERAL DEMOCRAT AS YOUR VICE-PRESIDENTAL PICK, THIS VOTER, THIS FAMIlY WILL NOT SUPPORT YOU.

/end tiraid