Redstate

Keeping My Eyes on the Prize

By Mark I Posted in 2008 — Comments (2) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »

So, Sen. Hillary!™ Clinton is running for president, you say. Well, what else do you have?

Upon hearing the “news” today that She had thrown her bonnet in the ring, I could hardly bring myself to sit up and take notice. I have not read one article, watched one segment, or listened to one debate touting the nascent candidacy. I have not watched the announcement video. I’m sure that I will be filled to the brim with Hillary!™ analysis once the workweek rolls around, but for now, I am content to remain ignorant of all things Hillary!™.

I did however, watch Sen. Sam Brownback’s announcement speech, broadcast live on C-Span today from Topeka, Kansas. Why? Because we as Republicans must guard against allowing the ebb and flow of the Democratic nomination race influence the selection of our nominee. It matters little to the Republican nomination process that the media sainted former First Lady is, surprise!, running for president. This Republican’s time is better spent getting to know our candidates and forming an impression of them, than wringing his hands over the timing, setting, or content of any Democrat politician’s announcement.

Coming off of November's bitterly disappointing election, the Republican Party has plenty of work to do in arranging its own house. I’m sure there are Republicans in RNC headquarters following the campaigns of all of the Democrats. I will not be one. I will probably watch one or two of the early debates, just to get a feel for how things are going. But, for the most part, wake me when there’s a nominee.

Today, rank and file Republicans should resolve to pay as little attention as possible to the Democratic primaries, and to focus like a laser beam on the Republican candidates. Only in this way can we assure ourselves of selecting the best possible candidate for 2008. For me, that man, or woman, will be the one who aligns himself most closely with core conservative principles of victory in the war on terror, a strong defense, low taxes, limited government, individual responsibility, respect for life and for the traditional institutions of our great society. He may not be the most “electable,” or the most “feared,” or the most recognized. But he must be the most unashamedly conservative.

Conservatism wins. The Republican Party, if it means to get back to power, must return to the power of its conservative roots, and unleash the power of its conservative ideas. Nothing that happened today in Washington, or Chappaqua, NY, had any impact on that. But something did happen today in Topeka, Kansas that piqued my interest. That’s where I invested my time.