Election 2010 is rapidly approaching, less than 100 days away, and something is stirring. A movement is afoot, a tide is welling up just below the surface so you can see the evidence but not yet the waves. Nothing less is at stake than the very bedrock principles upon which this fine country was founded. Americans sense it. To inspire and further the return to our great ideals, I offer the following 100 days of quotes. Many are from our greatest presidents and dignitaries. Come back every day for a new quote.

94. Yesterday the greatest question was decided which ever was debated in America; and a greater perhaps never was, nor will be, decided among men. A resolution was passed without one dissenting colony, that those United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States. -John Adams in a letter to Mrs. Adams (July 3, 1776)

95. We are not weak if we make a proper use of those means which the God of Nature has placed in our power…The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. -Patrick Henry

96. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly; it is dearness only that gives everything its value. -Thomas Paine

97. Error of opinion may be tolerated where reason is left free to combat it. -Thomas Jefferson in his First Inaugural Address

98. When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle. -Edmund Burke

99. Our Constitution is in actual operation; everything appears to promise that it will last; but in this world nothing is certain but death and taxes. -Benjamin Franklin

100. Where law ends, tyranny begins. -William Pitt

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Last week found my father and me at Coors Field making our annual pilgrimage to see the Cardinals play the Rockies. Over the years we have watched our share of wins and losses and took them all in stride but these last two games were something else. Both games ended with spectacular come from behind, walk-off wins by the Rockies. Ouch! What a way for the Birds-on-the-Bat to lose!

The first game was a particularly instructive metaphor for worst-case scenarios in the mid-term elections this fall. The Cardinals were up 9-2 going into the seventh inning. They were firing on all cylinders. Hits were plenty, pitching adequate, and the lead sizable. In the top of the seventh I noticed the Cards’ batters were less patient and swinging away. The Rockies made short work of them. In the bottom of the frame the Rockies picked up a run. No big deal. The score was still 9-3. The eighth inning and top of the ninth were uneventful and the odds of the Cardinals winning this game were soaring by the minute.

What happened next has never been done by any major league team. The Rockies, in the bottom of the ninth, roared back pushing across as many runs in one half-inning (9!) as the Cardinals managed in the entire game. It was easily  the most dramatic win of the year anywhere in baseball. Rockies fans were elated, floating as they filed out of the stadium. We were stunned.

Here’s a gut-wrenching question: Can what happened to the Cardinals happen to the Republicans? Might the two teams I root for so passionately share similar defeats? While I am doing everything I can to support Republican candidates this fall, I cannot escape a lingering doubt that somehow the election may not turn out as expected. Who said not to underestimate the Republican’s ability to mess this up?

Let’s look at the similarities between the Cardinals and potential Republican pitfalls:

• An Insurmountable lead – All signs point to a huge blowout for Republicans in November. A quick look at the Real Clear Politics average shows solid leads for Republicans in all the right categories and many analysts-even among Democrats-are predicting huge Republican gains. Democrats are even planning a sore loser, poke ‘em in the eye agenda to implement immediately after the election. It looks like Republicans can’t help but win. Of course, that’s what I thought about the Cardinals in the seventh, eighth, and ninth innings, too. There was no way to lose the game. Unless…
• Inevitability leads to laziness – There is an unwritten rule in baseball that when the game is a blowout you don’t work the count. The Cardinals honored this rule in the late innings as they swung away without really trying to pad the lead. Nine runs are usually enough, especially in the latter innings. Election 2010 is rapidly approaching and there could be danger if the Republicans are merely willing to let the Democrats lose rather than put them away with better ideas. That’s why Fred Barnes suggests Republicans adopt Paul Ryan’s Roadmap for America’s Future; it gives Republicans something positive to push. If they do adopt the Roadmap then it should be adopted by everyone. A house divided cannot stand, especially if…
• The best team isn’t on the field – Tony LaRussa is famous for his tinkering with the lineup. In a game with a considerable lead he is even more prone to making substitutions to get his bench some at-bats. That’s why Randy Winn was in the game. The player he replaced, Jon Jay, was doing a fine job on both sides of the ball but LaRussa wanted to get Winn in the game. This came back to haunt them as Winn made a couple of misplays in right field. LaRussa’s pitching decisions (e.g. leaving his lefty specialist in the game against righties) were questionable, too. For Republicans, this question will be unresolved until the votes are counted. Will Tea Party favorites like Rand Paul and Sharron Angle win? If so, the Tea Party will be hailed as a movement with momentum. If not, it will only be because…
• They simply did not execute – In the big leagues, your job is to make plays: hit the ball, throw the ball, and catch the ball. The Cardinals simply did not execute their pitches and missed more than one catch they should have made. (Interesting fact: Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina had as many passed balls in this one game as he did in all of last season: 4.) The team was good enough to win and conditions favored them but when the cleats met the grass they did not play well enough to win. That’s why they actually play the games: you never know what might happen. It could happen to the Republicans, too. We are rapidly approaching the late innings of the campaign: August, September, and October. Even with large and unusual leads Republicans will have to be united and on message to turn out voters. Any hint of failure to execute will depress turnout and lead to poorer than expected results.

What Constitutes a “W” in November?

This is an increasingly important question as expectations mount. In baseball, getting a “W’ means scoring more runs than the other team over 27 outs. In normal elections, securing more votes than the other guy is sufficient but this election is not normal. We need to get more votes in every district and state that is even close right now. Expectations of a Republican blowout are so high that I am afraid they will commit one of the simple but fatal errors above. Republicans could win but not as huge as expected and this would be interpreted as a Democrat victory, albeit a moral one.

Winning in November means more than gaining control over the House which is increasingly likely barring some strange, game-changing event. A true triumph will also take over the Senate by striking out long-time Democrat All-stars like Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Harry Reid (D-NV), and Russ Feingold (D-WI) in addition to the seven or so seats that now look winnable. Doing so will take discipline, great candidates, and near-perfect execution. Then the hard part: governing. Are the Republicans up for it? I hope so. I can’t take another brutal, come from behind loss.

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• Peggy Noonan thinks about words that didn’t make the Declaration.
• Rich Lowry also writes about Thomas Jefferson and his work on the great document.
• Michelle Malkin considers what the founding fathers thought of assimilation.
• Joseph Loconte reminds us that Churchill gave a great speech on July 4, 1940. Churchill reminded the U.S. what courage is all about.
• Jeff Jacoby discusses the so-called hypocrisy of the Declaration of Independence.

Have a safe, fun, and reflective holiday!

The parade was a great time for the kids. I got excited because we saw both Chet Culver, the current governor, and Terry Branstad, the once and future governor. It’s anecdotal but the men’s management style was completely different. Culver came through first and was weaving back and forth from side to side skipping people in the process. Branstad was much more methodical. He took one side and his Lt. governor candidate took the other. Very efficient. I shook Gov. Branstad’s hand as he walked by and gave a quick shout that we are supporting him. He is the only governor I remember when I still lived in Iowa. I hope he wins. He sure seemed to have a lot of support on the block we were on and has every reason to be confident. Sen. Grassley also walked by. I let him know we need him in congress.

Today is a good day not only to stuff our faces and enjoy the outdoors and shoot or watch fireworks but also to spend some time reflecting on the qualities that are at the foundation of this country. Naturally, these are best expressed by the greatness of Thomas Jefferson’s words in the Declaration of Independence itself:

Like many Americans, I seldom take the time to actually read the founding documents. We have this general sense of what they they say. It’s all around us like air. Independence and that charming American pluck in the face of disaster is the air we breathe every day of our lives. But there are several points that bear special mention today:

1. Theology of equality – The Declaration makes a theological argument. People are equal because God made them equal. Yes, this is a truth that took too long to be fully realized-and we are still working on it-but God’s role is recognized. The rise of secularism in this country makes this a harder sell and helps explain the drift away from the founding principles.
2. Governmental role – The government is there for the people to secure their rights, not to grant them. This role is granted to the government by the people (“consent of the governed”) to exercise “just powers.” Is there a more important message for a government that seems to feel entitled to every dime and industry?
3. Right to Replace – The Declaration acknowledges the right of the governed to replace the government oppressing them. The Declaration itself laughs in the face of those who think repealing Obamacare is a pipe dream. Not only is it possible thanks to the tremendous government the founders gave us but it is our right.
4. Safety and Happiness – The government’s role is to secure not only rights but safety and happiness. The founders were convinced that England was no longer capable or willing to secure these two basic things. I’m starting to wonder about ours.

Those are the thoughts running through my head as I celebrate today. What are your reflections on God and country today? I’d love to hear how you celebrate Independence Day. And thank a veteran. We wouldn’t have our freedoms but for those who died to secure them.

Peter’s central point is to live more like Jesus in all the situations you find yourself in. So when he addresses people living under the central government in Rome he says, submit yourselves. To slaves, he says submit to your master. To wives he says submit to your husbands. To husbands he says to be considerate and to treat your wife with respect. What is in the middle of all of that is most instructive.

Sandwiched between four commands to submit to authorities in our lives are these words: “To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.” Doesn’t it always come back to Jesus somehow? Jesus, though he was completely innocent, accepted a death sentence from a corrupt government. He was silent as lies were said about him and held his tongue while wicked men insulted him. I don’t know about you but I could never do that. Eventually someone would say something and I would be all over the comeback. Not Jesus.

Jesus understood that he was under another authority and a greater one. It did not really matter if those who imagined themselves better than the Holy One of God insulted him with profanities. The cowardly judge who finally sent him to death because he had trouble controlling a crowd did not have the final say. “Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.”

And now we have come to the real issue. If Jesus can trust himself to God all the way to a hill of death can’t you and I submit ourselves to the authorities over us knowing it is only for a little while? Somehow, that’s not as easy to do as it is to write.

How do you handle authority in your life? Is it a struggle? Share your story in the comments. I’d love to hear it.

When Palin finished she received a long round of applause as she took her place at the table with Prager and Hewitt. At this point Senator Armstrong returned to the stage to  ask some questions. I did not take great notes on this part of the program. It was much more fun to just listen.

One exchange did stand out, however. The speakers were asked what they thought the greatest threat to America was right now. Prager responded first and took the opportunity to expound on his earlier comments about American values. The biggest problem, as he sees it, is that American values are not being passed on to the next generation. His response was deeply philosophical and hard to argue with. Many in the audience were nodding their heads, including me. Palin at this time looked thoughtful. I wondered if she was thinking about what to say because that’s what I would be doing in her place.

Instead, when it was her turn to speak, Palin asked Prager a question. She asked him to explain the fact that many young men and women seem to intuit that America’s values of freedom and democracy need to be defended by joining the military. She mentioned her own son and his friends whose enlisting she describes in detail in her book. She challenged the premise that American values are not being passed on. Prager responded that he thinks Palin’s son and friends are the exception, not the rule. I am not prepared to declare a winner to the exchange but I was impressed with Palin’s pluck. She stood her ground with one of the best thinkers out there.

The night was nearing its close and each speaker was given a couple of minutes to issue closing statements. Each emphasized the same themes as they discussed during their speeches. A memorable line came from Hugh Hewitt who said that Palin was great. The fact that the left hates her so vehemently proves it, he said.

Before the event I wrote that I had mixed views of Sarah Palin. Seeing her speak in person reinforced my views. She says all the right things and is without a doubt the most sincere person in national politics today. She believes what she says and calls it as straight as she can. Her record proves it.

The things that make Palin so attractive are also what makes me wonder how high is her ceiling. She is not of the elite class used to speaking well and often. Rather, she is one of us, an ordinary, plain-spoken American who wants to make a difference. I don’t know if that’s enough to win the Oval Office but I cannot remember a better time for someone like her. Sarah Palin is the embodiment of the Tea Party values of limited government, lower taxes, and strong foreign policy. She couldn’t have come on the scene at a better time. After all, America needs someone who believes in classic American values to take this country back.

Once Hugh Hewitt was finished and took his seat next to Prager, a video began introducing Sarah Palin. The crowd went nuts! It was truly a sight to behold. People were waiving flags and cheering and just very excited. The moment was full of pride, pleasure, and pregnant with anticipation.

Before I share some of Palin’s key topics and phrases I want to talk about my general impression of her and her style. Palin’s speech was not organized in the same way Prager’s and Hewitt’s were. They took pains to organize the material and made sure the audience could follow along. One might expect such a thing from professional communicators.

Palin’s speech was different. She framed it in terms of answering a question she received from Greta Van Susteren in a recent interview. So, while there was a structure, the audience had no way of knowing where we were going. It felt meandering and disorganized, a kind of a zigzag through the political issue book. In places it felt rushed and she did not wait for her applause lines which surprised me. I expected her to have much better timing than she did.

On the positive side, she was very funny and the crowd loved her. She had many great lines and spoke with a great deal of passion about many issues. For instance:

• Palin started by noting the appropriateness of her speaking in a hockey arena, a place where she is quite comfortable. She also noted that Colorado and Alaska have much in common like a love for the outdoors and environment. She noted how Coloradans chuckle when Easterners claim to have mountains in their states. Alaskans do the same to Colorado.
• Great line: “It’s ‘we the people’ not ‘me the president.’”
• “Why is he picking on Arizona? Every law has the ability to be abused.” There is no moral equivalency between Arizona and China. (Remember, someone in the administration had apologized to China (!) for the potential of the AZ immigration law to be abused not long before this event.)
• The Obama Doctrine: Alienate friends, coddle enemies.
• “Please, Mr. President, stop apologizing!”
• On Obamacare, Palin noted that some are already talking about the need to ration care as doctors become more scarce and premiums go up. Government’s power to set limits is a serious threat to freedom. “America, we got schnookered on this one!”
• No one is fixing Fannie and Freddy.
• “Today’s concerns will become tomorrow’s existential crisis.” I think by this she meant that what is merely a concern about the budget and deficit right now has the potential to threaten the very existence of America in the future.
• My favorite line was the one Palin had written on her hand: “I can see November from my house!”
• She shared a story about Reagan as a lifeguard saving many people in the river. “Reagan was a lifeguard for America,” she said. She also quoted him: “We have every right to dream heroic dreams. Those who say there are no heroes just don’t know where to look.”
• Palin also noted the link between prosperity and generosity. This deserves more thought and I would like to do another post about it someday because it is true. Without our tremendous prosperity we could not give so much to the world. How much, for instance, were smaller less prosperous nations able to come to Haiti’s aid? Compare that to America’s outpouring. It matters, doesn’t it?

My last note was a saying from her dad: “Don’t let ‘em get you down. Don’t retreat. Just reload.” The crowd went crazy.

Come back tomorrow for Part 5 of my review of An Evening With Sarah Palin which finally brings us to Palin’s speech.

I already tipped my hand in the last post that I like Hugh Hewitt considerably. I appreciate both his activism in supporting candidates and the way he approaches faith in politics on his show so I was very interested to hear him speak.

Hewitt framed his speech as the 10 Commandments for 2010. I’ll try to get these correct. Somewhere in the speech I got lost and didn’t realize Hewitt had moved on to another point. Here goes:

1. Find the most conservative candidates who can win.
2. Support them whole-heartedly. This is important and I have heard Hugh say this on the radio since the event. While some of the candidates we support do not make it through the primaries, we must still support conservatives or risk losing the election. We can see the havoc not doing so wreaks now, can’t we?
3. Talk to your friends as often as you can. The rest of the points are really sub-points of this one and they round out the 10 Commandments:
4. Talk about the deficit. Obama has created huge deficits that dwarf those of Bush and the Republicans. Taxes are going up, inevitably. The economy is not improving. The stimulus failed and now they want another.
5. Obamacare: Repeal and replace!
6. Talk about schools. Hewitt mentioned a program that my notes don’t make sense of. Something about know to power or know power. I loved his point that unions are often opposed to reform but teachers are not. It’s the biggest hurdle to jump as we seek to make education better in our country.
7. Homeland Security. The usually talking points: the border fence, Guantanamo, the KSM trial, leaks to the New York Times.
8. Israel and Iranian nuclear weapons. Since this speech the administration’s stance toward Israel has only worsened.
9. Must wins. I think by this he means we must win in Iraq and especially in Afghanistan. Here, he also called for another recognition of the troops and veterans in the crowd.
10. Pray! Thank God every day for the USA. Amen. We often do not reflect on the uniqueness of the freedom we have in history. It is unparalleled and so huge an advantage that we take it for granted.

Hewitt was great but spoke a shorter time than the others. He joked that he knew no one really came to see him sandwiched between the other two when Sarah Palin was up next. He was joking but also kind of right. What Hewitt contributed to the night was a practical orientation for just how to take the country back.

Come back tomorrow for Part 4 of my review of An Evening With Sarah Palin which finally brings us to Palin’s speech.

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