The great quarterback Warren Moon, former of the Houston Oilers was once quoted regarding  the importance of having crowd involvement in the actual game on the field saying, "I think that's what the whole 12th man thing has done. Its made them [the crowd in the stands] feel like they are a part of every victory".  The term  "12th Man" actually originated at Texas A&M University in 1922.  And the Seattle Seahawks organization thought so much of their loud and boisterous fans they actually retired the #12 from the team. They now manufacture jerseys with the number 12 and the name FAN and sell these to the folks in the crowd. No player can have the number 12.    At Seattle's Qwest Stadium one opposing team actually accused the Seahawks org of "piping in" crowd sounds in order to distract, confuse and disorient their team.  Piped in music was never needed at Qwest with the stands full of fanatical Seahawk fans.  Also,  the Buffalo Bills inducted the 12th man onto their Wall of Fame in Ralph Wilson Stadium.  There is little doubt about the advantage of a supportive home crowd. Ask Atlanta Falcons QB Michael Vick. After having offered the home crowd a double barrel obscene finger gesture [both hands!]  he and the team received little from the 12th man and finished the 2006 season poorly.  So this 12th Man Phenomena is something we all know about.  True, each fan pays for their ticket and the money from these ticket sales help the team financially.  But the fact is the raucous enthusiasm of the crowd has a profound effect  not only on the home team but also the opposing/visiting team.  And this is much more important for the Home Team than the cash taken in at box office.   Coaches and Players crave this enthusiastic support from the fans - the 12th man.  This motivates them to want a win.

This 12th Man Phenomena should carry over into GOP politics.  The 12th Man being analogous to the GOP Core/Base. Those who have generally voted straight GOP ticket since the early 80's.   The residents of the red, fly-over states. A once solid base. Dense and enthusiastic. An absolutely huge voting block that the GOP could always depend on to be there for them.  I liken this solid/dense base to a titanium ball. And it is magnetic -drawing in more supporters along the way.  I think back to the Republican National Convention of 2004. The speeches by Zell Miller, Arnold, Rudy and even John McCain.  It was like touchdown after touchdown. Uplifting. The base, like the 12th man, was cheering and roaring in the stands.

Then comes inauguration day 1/20/05. The President and GOP Hierarchy quickly forget their cheering 12th Man.  Some few months later  the nomination of Harriet Miers. Against the wishes of the base.  I can guarantee that had Ms. Miers not stepped down herself, the President would have never backed down. He was angry at the base for their lack of support for her.  Not long after that "spat" with the base came another - Dubai Ports.  Again, the President had no intentions of backing down and was again miffed at the base.   Lets stop here and return to QB Michael Vick's "finger" exercise towards the crowd at the Georgia Dome. Which happened one time.  After which Vicks apologized profusely.  No such apologies from our President to the base supporters that put him in office and have supported him to the hilt in the GWOT.  And sent their sons, daughters, wives and husbands off to fight that war.  Nope. Just more contentious  opposition towards them from the President.  One of the worst blunders of his Presidency;  calling the respected Minutemen - vigilantes.  This did not sit well with his base at all.   And the continued use of the phrase regarding illegal aliens "they're all just good people up here taking the jobs Americans will not do, trying to feed their families".  Which, as the base knows, is a total falsehood.  (LINK).    And of course, that which has set the once solid GOP base in total enmity with the President and the GOP Hierarchy, the railroading of our valiant Border Patrol Agents Ramos and Compean and Deputy Gilmer Hernandez by AG Gonzales and Federal Prosecutor Johnny Sutton.   Again, many among the base now view the President as they do the Dem's - the enemy.  And the insults continue to fly from the President to the Base.  Most recently  the President spoke in Guatamala and Mexico City where he promised  jobs that Americans won't do. And in Brazil he had the gaul to proclaim that he had doubled aid to Brazil and how "generous" the American taxpayer is as if there is plenty more cash where that came from.  Additionally, in Mexico, the President totally embarrassed and insulted himself and the GOP Base again by praising, crawling and groveling to the Dem's, heaping praises on the likes of Ted Kennedy saying he is, "the best legislative senator there is!"   This absolute weakness disgusts the Base.  And lets make no mistake.  The President knows how this infuriates his base supporters.  He knows!  But does not care. He has shown clearly that he does have the courage and backbone to stand up against his base supporters.  Why can't he display that same fortitude when dealing with the back stabbing Dem's? 

So lets, again, compare this with QB Michael Vicks wielding his middle finger - on one ocassion.  And apologizing the next day. Why? Because he knew the importance of those fans.  The Presidents throws "symbolic" insults towards his base that are much more intense and numerous but there is no regret or remorse.  Yet he seems to expect us to be there for him. Standing beside him when he is attacked by the left or the MSM.  The problem is the President has never had to face the hoards, the adversaries all alone without an army by his side. But he has insulted the base and taken them for granted.  After the 11/7 bloodbath Rush Limbaugh announced that he would "no longer carry the water" for the GOP.  That's  easier said than done.  Folks like Rush want to support the GWOT and the troops and President Bush is the Commander and Chief. And what is our option? The left wing, socialistic, seditious Dem's?  That's no option at all. We can't very well turn our nation over to them. Or can we? The President seems to be doing that. He stands up stiff against his base but continually "caves" to the Dem's.  Which is another insult in and of itself towards the GOP base.  So if we're going to spiral downward under GOP control why not spiral downward at an accelerated rate under the Dem's?  In other words lets "get it on".  Are we headed for another civil war? The possibilities are very real. And President Bush with his obstinate stubbornness and his alienation of Middle America  shares responsibility for this dilemma.  We, in Middle America,  have become the "aliens".  Just like the fans in the Georgia Dome only more so.
I was shocked a few weeks back when a local conservative talk show host (I won't mention his name) declared right in the middle of the morning-drive-to-work show that if San Fran Nan, Charlie Rangel and crew want to initiate impeachment proceedings against President Bush, he wouldn't stand in their way. Now this guy "is" Mr. GOP. Mr. Conservative. Actually I wasn't really that shocked either.  The "W" in 04 stickers are coming off of cars in  Texas like crazy. You can see the "clean spot" on the rear window where they once were.  On a national level I do not expect to see much opposition to AG Gonzales losing his job from Republicans.  There will be continued support for the GWOT and the Iraq war from the base.  The base understands why we are there and have steadfastly supported the war. But on any other issue they will begin to strongly oppose the President.  And I keep asking myself , "why would the President take the risk of putting the GWOT in jeopardy just so he can have his way on the Border/illegal issue? It is so totally reckless and irresponsible of him to do that. " This is a real head scratcher. Furrows on the forehead.  The only answer I can come up with is that he and his adviser (K. Rove) have lost sight of the fact that they even need the voters. And if they are allowed to continue on this destructive course they will  destroy the chances for the GOP in '08. 

Now  I have some advice for GOP Senators and Congresspersons.  Do not get in between the President and the Base in this "feud".  If you do you will go down with him.  Many experienced this on 11/7 - but they were warned and did not listen. (link1)   And you continue to be in a less than perfect position losing core supporters at an alarming rate. (link2) If you really want to play it safe come down on the side of the base.  Its not that difficult to stand up and say, "I support the President in the GWOT but I strongly oppose him on just about every other issue". 

The President and his team are out on the field ready to start the game but the fans are filing out of the stadium. The bleachers are almost empty.  The opposing team is strong and intimidating. And they play dirty.  But there will be no help for the President and his team.  They have driven their 12th Man away. 
By
Darvin Dowdy