Gosh I’m giving away my age bracket here.  

That enthusiastic response of the 40 some-odd kids in the Peanut Gallery was not limited to only 40 kids. There were tens of thousands of young baby-boomers nationwide, sitting in the living room of some GI track home watching their parents prized Philco black & white. 

But what if we could go back in time and change events.   What if Buffalo Bob started ignoring the Peanut Gallery. Or started hurling insults at them. Of course, there would’ve been no enthusiastic response. The children would be taken off by their parents. Buffalo Bob’s show would’ve been promptly canceled. Rudeness, insensitivity and insults were not tolerated in that time. 

So lets fast forward to 1980. These same Peanut Gallery baby boomers were enthusiastic in their response to Ronald Reagan. And because of Reagans leadership, that enthusiasm carried the GOP for the next 24 years. The GOP was like Buffalo Bob and Howdy Doody with the cheering and lively base. The Peanut Gallery. This impassioned base would rally to the support of the GOP and its leaders in the form of emails to their representatives, letters to the editor and rally’s. Especially during times when the party was embattled or under attack by the left. Support from the base could be counted on.

Then came January 20^th, 2005.   And all began to change.   Drastically.   It seems that President George W. Bush and his close advisers began to grow weary of the base and their obligations to it. And in essence felt they no longer had obligations to the loyal voting base. Feeling that all they needed was the help of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and only needed the millions that were being funneled into the GOP machine. “W” and K. Rove concluded that they could oppose, ignore and even insult the base. And as a result, well, the base simply began to stand up and exit the Peanut Gallery. 

The tragedy is that during times like now, when the President is being wrongfully accused by this pathetic little Mama’s boy from Texas named Scott McClellan, he, “W” could be enjoying raucous support from that same Peanut Gallery. No one can rally behind a cause like this baby boom generation.   Mom and Pop, middle America. They make their voices heard in a right and proper way and their representatives know they’d best comply.  

But, alas, the Peanut Gallery is empty. Silent. Crickets chirping. The hamartia of George W. Bush and his wrecking crew is that they forgot who put them where they are today. Not only did they forget but they turned on their own. And then gravitated towards the enemy.    And its not only “W” but the entire GOP Hierarchy is on a Lisa Nowak style course of self destruction. 

Back on 3/25/07 I wrote an essay that closely parallels the above called “The 12^th Man of GOP Politics”.  Its recommended reading if you have the time. Darvin Dowdy

PS: I’ve decided to hang in there with this blog until 11/4/08 at least. Less frequent posts, however.   What the heck?

And therein lies the rub. The shortage of straight thinking people in our nation these days. People who think. Using their brains rather than their emotions. Attacking a problem with thought and logic. Folks who are skeptical and put car salesmen, insurance salesmen and politicians to the test.   Not necessarily in that order. 

I want to be clear about something. I’m not depressed or pessimistic. I remain optimistic. I continue to believe that the hand of the Lord is busily involved within our nation. For only one reason. This is a nation where it is still legal to speak openly of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to proclaim His Word.   But how long will it be before some Pastor is charged with a hate crime for teaching Biblical truth?   For the first time, I’m wondering if I’ll see that in my lifetime. 

I suppose the most disturbing aspect of recent history for me has been this evolving political season. The American voter has soundly rejected men with honor and wisdom such as Thompson, Hunter, and Tancredo. And they’ve totally embraced a man who is opposed to everything that has made America free and great.   Simply because of his smooth oratorical prowess and good looks. The dictionary defines gullible as “easily deceived or cheated”. And that describes perfectly the masses of Americans that are being taken in by this Obama shell game. All the signs are there for anyone to see clearly. “Danger – Bridge Out!”.   Yet they continue to accelerate their little hybrid vehicles steadily forward. Zombie-like smiles on their faces. 

So what do I have against Mr. Obama? Anyone ought to be able to evaluate him quickly and see that he has no qualifications to be President. He wants to be in a position of appointing judges and cabinet posts?   Of being in the Commander in Chief of the Armed forces? And its taken him now 20 years to finally recognize the severe character flaws of his Pastor J. Wright? That one shortfall ought to cause any thinking person to simply say “Forget it!”. But its not happening. Not that he can’t be beaten.   But, again, the disturbing aspect of this is that there is such an absolute huge segment of the American population that supports him. This man who, in his heart of hearts, despises America and the people of its history that made it a great, free and prosperous nation. Lets be honest about this at least with ourselves. Mr. Obama and Rev. Wright have parallel views about this nation. We have to know that.   Obama hates the U.S. just as much as J. Wright. Obama wants to turn the Constitution into a living document that can mean anything to any politician at any time.   He wants to pour money into a welfare state. He wants to throw our borders wide open. He wants to redistribute the wealth and achievement of successful entrepreneurs to the losers of this nation.   He wants to cut and run on the Global War on Terror and diminish the military back to performing Meals-on-Wheels type duties. He is an enemy of our nation. II Corinthians 11:14 (NIV) says “…Satan masquerades as an Angel of Light”.    Obama may, indeed, be a Christian believer but he has consumed and metabolized this poisonous teaching that it is somehow acceptable to incorporate Christianity and bitterness.   The result being someone who has extreme impaired judgment and in no way is qualified for any sort of leadership position. Not even dog catcher. While he desperately needs our prayers, he should not expect our votes. 

So, as you can see, I’m severely out of step with the main stream of opinion in our nation. You’ll excuse me if I do not care to run off the edge of a cliff like the demon possessed pigs in Matthew 8:32. And if any reading this find my analogy offensive, well good! Hope you do. I thank God everyday that there is lots of room in Hell. Some of that space is going to be needed by some of the absolute low-life that are taking our nation down. 

As for my continued blogging activities, well Darvin Dowdy is most likely going to fade off into the sunset. Darvin Dowdy being my pseudonym, as I’m sure y’all already know.   I started here at Townhall just after midnight of 11/7/06. Just after the GOP bloodbath. I’ve attempted to write straight from my heart and soul. All my posts are still up. Scroll down to view.   

I have the most respect and appreciation for Townhall.com for providing this open forum format. It allows folks like myself to vent. And that helps keep our blood pressure down, no doubt!   I’ve never experienced any restrictiveness from these gentle folk. And I’ve pushed the envelope on several occasions. Always nothing but graciousness and tolerance from Townhall. 

I’ll leave this post up for a few weeks and then, when the time is right, I’ll ask Chris to shut my site down.   I bid you all adieu…..                 Darvin Dowdy 5/4/08

Gingrich called for a “conservative declaration of independence” from the Republican party. He stopped short of calling for the formation of a 3^rd party calling that a “dumb idea”.   I tend to think that, as brilliant as he is, Newt is a bit naïve about this. Not only Newt but others within the true conservative movement are simply not able to confront the reality as of yet that the GOP has been hijacked by the wide open free trader, open borders globalists. The WSJ/U.S. Chamber of Commerce crowd. These scoundrels are highly resistant to change and they have a strangle hold on our GOP.   Additionally, they have a dim view of Middle America and deep inside their wicked, dark, greed filled hearts they are convinced that the U.S. economy can no longer sustain a middle class.  

We have to remember that these corporate pirates are part of the “entitlement generation”. They believe that they are entitled to retire wealthy at age 50.   And within the companies that they manage and invest in, they only see the bottom line. The spreadsheets keep telling them that their largest expenditure is the cost of employee payroll.   By suppressing that cost is how they propose to plunder and funnel millions into their quarterly and annual bonus programs.  Whether by outsourcing or keeping the flow of cheap illegal labor coming, who cares? And that also includes having their lobbyists keep the pressure on elected officials to keep the pressure off of them when it comes to their questionable “hiring practices”.  

We must also remember that many of these corporate managers, just a short time ago, were one of those rioting and burning American flags on the University campus’ throughout the U.S.   When they finally graduated with a 2.5 GPA (that Mom/Dad paid for) and six months later started having trouble paying their bills, they remembered, “hey! I have a Business Degree!”.   So they had their piercing’s removed, covered up their tat’s with a long sleeve Van Hussen and became part of the club. Corporate America! And the sooner they get “their’s” the better.   

Therefore Newt and others must realize that it is almost hopeless in trying to take back the GOP without some form of leveraging.   Right now “we” can threaten to withhold our votes. That doesn’t matter to them. Winning is way down on their list of priorities! They can function just as well, if not better, under a democrat administration. And life is so much easier for them when they’re in the minority. Not nearly as much to be responsible for. Much less work. In their minds they’ve really got the best of both worlds. The only thing they really fear is to be totally minimized. Their stature and importance almost completely diminished.   If the GOP becomes some obscure 3^rd party that’s what’ll happen. 

And that is why we must keep that 3^rd Party option on the bargaining table, Mr. Newt!   Like a loaded pistol.   With a round in the chamber.   You can’t simply proclaim a “conservative declaration of independence from the GOP” without a stern warning of very negative consequences if true conservatives continue to be ignored, dis’d and insulted. And those negative consequences can’t simply be losing the election. Because those in the GOP Hierarchy really don’t care if they win the election or not. Simply not a priority to them.    Believe it.   Darvin Dowdy

Today we were treated to an obviously staged event at the 2008 Cpac (Conservative Political Action Conference) in, of all places, Washington D.C.   The location ought to tell us all we need to know as we all know what happens to conservatives when they wander into that sector.   Something mysterious.  A thick, semi-transparent membrane forms over them.  They can see light coming from the other side and can hear us normal folk but they can’t decipher what we’re saying.  Sometimes they hear a scream or shouting, but not to worry, nothing intelligible.   Anyway they’re too busy doing the work of the people.  Right!   Anyway back to the Cpac meeting in DC.  This was an attempt by the party hierarchy, the elites, to “unify” the party again.  Even poor Gov. Romney decided to step aside for the good of the party.  To heck with standing up for conservative principles and hanging tough all the way to a brokered convention.  And then demanding that certain conservative planks be nailed firmly in place with the threat of running as an independent if ignored.  No we simply don’t have candidates with that sort of brash courage.  Its all about not upsetting “the party”.   To heck with the voters and the nation.

I listened today to the raucous applause from the obvious plants within the Cpac audience during McCain’s speech - disgusting.   Staged.  Choreographed .  Hand picked gallery members chosen for their vocal abilities and always right on cue.  Do they really think we’re that stupid?  Apparently so.  And lets not forget the last inspirational speech Sen. McCain gave at the 2004 convention.  After which he went right back to his divisive RINO  ways. 

What was absent today in the news?  The silence was deafening.  Huckabee!   I’ve said from the beginning that there is some sort of strange momentum in/around/about the Huckabee campaign pushed along, despite itself,  by some unmoved mover.  So what about Huckabee, as McCain is proclaiming victory behind the Cpac podium?  Prematurely in my opinion.      And what about all of Romney’s delegates?  Who gets them?  Where do they go?  Do they simply disappear?   Well its certainly unwise to assume that all of those delegates would/should go to McCain.   Who knows?  But its going to be fascinating to watch what happens over the next week or so.  I simply can not envision Mike Huckabee laying down like a doormat for John McCain.  Not as long as there is even the most remote smell of victory in the air.   Watch Huck stiffen up his backbone and head back out onto the canvas for another bloody round.

There is, however, one very happy fellow  today.  Already having decided that the election is over!  Who?  This guy is El Presidente Felipe Calderon.    He came out with a statement today saying he was very pleased with the outcome of the election.  He thinks its all over with, too!   He stated, “It seems to me that the most radical and anti-immigrant candidates have been left behind and have been put in their place by their own electorate”.  It appears that El Presidente is correct, sadly.  Yet there is one candidate left that is yet sticking to his guns on illegal immigration.  And claims he’ll deport most illegals within 120 days after being elected.  And will also implement the fair tax.   Yep:  Huckabee

Darvin Dowdy 

…has favored us by allowing a few, miniscule drops of his superior wisdom to mingle  down amongst us common folk.  Crumbs swept from his banquet table for us scrambling masses to devour.   In this past Thursdays WSJ the good Rev. Rove has proclaimed “The New Rules for Politics”.   This is the same K. Rove that, prior to 11/7/06, must’ve sat at a green felt table in a dimly lit, smoke filled back room and confidently pushed the entire stack of GOP chips to the middle of the table and said, “I call”.  Then on that fateful day in November, when the opponent slammed down a full house across the table,  Karl presented his hand – a pair of 2’s.   That pair of 2’s representing the way over rated Hispanic vote.  The Hispanic vote that Karl and “W” were  certain would save the Republican Party.  After all they had sat together, mesmerized on May Day 2006 watching the tube together.  “There they are!”,  they said.  The throngs marching through the streets of U.S. cities  waving Mexican flags and burning U.S. flags!  Both Karl and “W” jumping to their feet proclaiming, “that’s our future!”.    As the Teletubbies would say, “UH  OOOHH!”.   Karl, the boy genius,  forgot something very important.  Probably 90% of those street marchers were in the country illegally and were not eligible to vote! Unlike the Minutemen who Karl and “W”  slandered as vigilantes who were eligible.  And the remainder of the former GOP voting base of which both Karl and “W” have not spared  insults and a disrespectful tone towards, starting on 1/21/05.

So now the sanctimonious Mr. Rove wants to tell us “how it will be” after he, President Bush and a few others in the GOP Hierarchy have all but destroyed  “our” GOP!   Ok.  Lets give him the respect that he would not give us in the GOP voting base.  Lets hear him out. 

(you might want to open up the above link to Karl’s WSJ article so you can follow along)

First on Karl’s list:

1)  “The Big Bounce = Gone”  Meaning, as I understand it, the significance of the Iowa/NH/S.Carolina  primaries is not what it used to be.  And might as well throw in Florida now.   I wish that were true but I don’t fully accept that.  And I believe it has to do with the Independent voters being allowed to vote for either party in these states.  And one would be naïve if they didn’t know that many democrats will cross over and vote as independents for the weakest GOP candidate.  They are urged to do so.  Don’t believe me?  Check this out.  I don’t believe that Mr. Rove is acknowledging the manipulation factor.  It is a significant factor and difficult to know what, exactly, to do about it.  If you couple this Independent voter factor along with the Main Stream Media’s Most-Favored-Candidate status (obviously John McCain for the GOP side) and the fact that Iowa, NH are traditionally “Blue” states and Florida being a “Purple” borderline state, one could almost conclude that the whole process is, well, almost rigged.    Most definitely these factors played a roll in pushing out Thompson, Tancredo and Hunter.  Had these 3 been able to hang in there until after the Texas primary  on 3/4/08 the dynamic of the entire campaign would have changed.  Come convention time there would have been a true “climate change” at the brokering tables.  I feel Mr.Rove’s  claim here is too simplistic. 

2) “Television Ads Don’t Matter As Much as They Used To”:   In your dreams Mr. Rove.  In your dreams.  The reason that they “don’t matter” is because they are so pathetically produced.  Nothing but a bunch of Rah! Rah! Wave the Flag!,  pep-rally crap topped off with a few generalities.  Nothing hard hitting or meaningful.  That’s why they’re ignored.  The one exception during this campaign was Mike Huckabee’s floating cross.   And he claims that was an unplanned accident.   Mr. Rove, the number of households with a TV is almost 112 million.  To get your message to the people, one must go where these people are.  Where are they?  At a political rally?   No!  You’ll find a whole lot of folks sitting on their couch with a remote in their hand.  Mostly because that’s all they can afford to do anymore.  So that is where you must take your message.  To them.   And, yes, it costs money but there are ways to “ease into it” without it costing an arm/leg.  Get over it, Mr. Rove.  A good candidate had best learn that the most important person on his staff is an effective fundraiser.  Effective fundraisers need to be sought out by political campaigns wherever they can be found.    This shortfall is what also contributed to the demise of the Thompson, Hunter and Tancredo campaigns.  These gents thought they could simply stand behind a lectern and speak profundities and that’s all that was needed.  Such a pity. 

3) “Technology Allows a Candidate to Raise Money Quickly and Inexpensively”:    I’ve was suspect of this internet fundraising when Howard Dean was pioneering this concept back in ’04 and, now especially, with the Ron Paul campaign.  Something simply doesn’t smell right about it.  Its too easy for a candidate, campaigns or donors to bend or break election fundraising rules.  One day someone will figure out how to investigate this “process”  and I believe the lid will be blown off.  We’ll find all sorts of  donors that are not eligible to donate.  We’ll see money and/or support coming in from foreign donors (like the Ukraine, Dr. Paul!) trying to influence our nations elections.

However, I have to concede that Mr. Rove may have a point here.  But I don’t see it as so significant.  More important that a candidate be able to receive donations from any or all of the avenues that they may travel in upon. 

4) “Debates are a Great Way to Come on Late and Make Up for Lack of Endorsements or Resources”:   What a load of crap, Mr. Rove.  These, too numerous, debates have been controlled and manipulated by the democrat/left leaning Main Stream Media from the start.  I’d be willing to bet that forces within the DNC have been working behind the scenes  along with their cohorts in the MSM to disrupt and negatively influence the GOP debates.  And its worked, in my humble opinion.  The GOP candidates have appeared like bulls being lead around with a rings in their noses.   Some of the good, lower tier candidates were purposely minimized and diminished from the very beginning.  And when the moderators were forced to ask them a question, it was something trivial or boring.  And that affected these candidates entire campaign in a negative way.  In the future I hope the GOP has enough backbone to make certain demands regarding the debate process.   Fewer debates, for one.  And the left leaning MSM must be taken out of the process. Or if not the GOP maybe some of the individual candidates.  Fred Thompson came close when refusing to raise his hand in Iowa.   Hot dogs like Chris Matthews are trying for another notch on their pistol grip and to make a name for themselves.  They have no sense of  fairness or of the importance of the event.   They’re dirt bags!  Such an important event shouldn’t be turned over to such. 

Ok. Something just went off in my brain.  Oh. I see.  I’m up to about or just over 1200 words.  I’ll have to finish this under “Part 2:  The Revered K. Rove….”  See ya’ next week!   Darvin Dowdy

A not so flattering picture is beginning to emerge of the real Mike Huckabee.  Mostly from those who've had to sit across the table from him during his "reign" in Arkansas.   I'd like to keep an open mind but I am simply not wanting to endure another 4 years of disrespect and insults from an arrogant GOP Hierarchy.  So when I read this Washington Times article by Steven Dinan ( link ) today, needless to say, it left me with this clammy, cold chill.  There is another side of  Gov. Huckabee. A dark side.  Now don't get me wrong. The article speaks of his "my way or the highway" style of governing.  And if he'd deal w/the dem's in that manner I'd vote for him.  But in Arkansas he sided with the dem's against his own party!  In a very ruthless way.   The way Dinan describes the good Governor he sounds like George W. Bush on steroids.  Kind of like a Jekyll and Hyde.  A little scary.  Of course I want to withhold judgment but I've learned to watch the road signs.  Especially those that say "Bridge Out Ahead".    Again, if Huckabee was elected and he direct that  sort of aggressive, in-your-face attitude towards the dem's, well he'd get my vote enthusiastically.  I am so sick and tired of our GOP being such  doormats.  But  I have to say folks, the Huck has his work cut out for him in trying to convince folks like me that, once elected, he won't turn on us as "W" did.  Starting on 1/20/05 the GOP base that got Bush elected became the unwanted step child. 
On top of the Time's article I ran across even more damning evidence of this "other Huckabee".  The evil twin.  Anyone who's blog'd for any length of time has encountered the fiery patriot that calls herself "The Redhead Infidel".  Especially if you visit milblogs.  Well I ran across this  excerpt from her about the Huck-a-Beast.  Its a must read if you are considering a vote for him:
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“It’s the Entertainment Value Stupid” as I wrote back on 12/17/06 (see below) and nothing has changed.   The dem’s have long had their “Idol” and/or “Survivor” in Obama and now the GOP has mimicked the dem electorate.    After all if GOP voters can’t be electrified and enthused about a candidate, at least they should be entertained as they see it.  And Mike Huckabee fills the bill.  To look at Mike its almost like looking at a Marquee outside the Comedy Club.  “Guaranteed laughs tonight folks.  Mike Huckabee and his band.   Witty one liners interspersed with Mike's rockin’ bass guitar.  Then more of the great one-liners Mike is famous for.”  Ha!  “As Seen on TV!”

Now this is not to say that Mike is not presidential material.  I do not support him (yet) but I think he might do very well.    If elected and after lowering his hand on 1/20/09 he might get very serious and be a great President.  Or maybe not.  Its hard to say because its really hard to put a finger on where he really stands on the issues.  I don’t think he really knows because the guy seems to be winging it.  Like someone who exaggerated their qualifications on a job application and then got the job.  Having to stumble along and learn as they go.  That’s Mike Huckabee.  Don’t get me wrong, the man is not stupid.  Quite the opposite.  But its not Huckabee’s great intellect that is propelling his campaign forward.  I think it all started with the “floating Cross”.   Planned or unplanned that was all many people needed.  We have to remember that there are a lot of people who are looking for a “sign” like that.  The same sort of people that would pay $28K for a grilled cheese sandwich with the image of the Virgin Mary on it and perceive religious imagery in other physical objects.  Lets be honest.  There are folks out there who do, in fact, need “help”.   Hopping from one emotional uplifting experience to another and in between descending into a deep crevasse of depression.   And Mike is providing those emotional uplifts for them.  Hey!  I loved that floating Cross Christmas message, too.  So what does that make me?  Ha!  But I didn’t love it enough to leave my candidate and go out and support Huckabee.  But it may come down to it that I must support him.   Because I predict he’ll get the GOP nomination.  And then the Presidency.   The Huckabee campaign has some strange, unstoppable momentum.   Or to me it seems unstoppable.  And lets face it the other GOP candidates have no winning strategy or plan.  With a winning plan/strategy any one of them could zoom right past Huckabee.   But they’ve all surrounded themselves with a collection of empty suit advisers who are encapsulating and isolating their candidate.  The 1^st priority of these inept advisers and consultants  is to guard their pathetic patch of turf and protect their own little delicate ego’s.   

So even though Huckabee has no better plan or strategy, the one asset he has that the other candidates do not have:  "The Entertainment Value".

It’s the Entertainment Value Stupid – 1^st published 12/17/06 – http://streetlevel.townhall.com   by Darvin Dowdy

It was during the '92 Clinton campaign that, as I remember,  James Carville hung the now infamous sign  in Clintons Little Rock headquarters: "Its the Economy Stupid".  Well it may have been then -  but not now.  We have this absolutely roaring economy.  It surely didn't help President Bush and the Repub's did it?  And lets give some credit where it is due. The President gave us this fabulous economy (refused to sign Kyoto which would've wrecked it). He and the Senate have appointed wonderful judges both to the Supreme court and lower courts. And - no attacks in 5 years since 9/11!  Isn't that worth something?   Yet, like the Titanic, the GOP continues to sink.  The iceberg named the American Voter has revealed their colossal ingratitude and fickleness.

But wait a minute!  The American Voter hasn't finished showing what a bunch of unstable, vacillating, indecisive minds of mush they can really be!  They have selected their Hero.  Their Champion. Yes. Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound.  That very "Junior" senator from the liberal state of Illinois, "Barack Hussein Obama"! 

No matter that in the U.S. Senate he ranks 99th out of 100 in seniority.  Because - hey! - none other than Time Magazine has said about him, "one of the most influential people in the world!".  Based on what? I don't know but if Time said it, it must be true - right?  And the influential British journal New Statesman said of Barack in Oct 05 something to the effect that he can "Save the World!".   Wow!  No wonder Illinois voters liked him.   Additionally, in the short 2 year period that Sen. Obama has been in office he has received no less than 4 honorary doctorates from major universities.  How many did President Bush receive? I know Condi Rice had to get her's the hard way.     Yes Sen. Obama has become the darling of the Main Stream Media and the elitist university crowd. 

Can you really blame him for taking that football and running with it?  Its like defensive end Obama  just standing there after  2 linebackers charge in  and hit the quarterback causing him to cough up the football. It pops up in the air and right into  Obama's arms and there's clear field and 10 yards to the goal post.  He's not going to say, "I don't deserve this. Here. One of you linebackers take this ball and run it in for the touch down". That’s kind of what has happened to Sen Obama in a sense.    The Main Stream Media is absolutely in love with this  guy. They have given him  notoriety.  Big time name recognition. Plastered his picture everywhere.  And Sen Obama is just a good, red blooded American man who is definitely going to take advantage of this opportunity.  It would be un-American not to!

But it really comes back to rest on the shoulders of that non-thinking, unstable American Voter.  For most of them its all about Entertainment Value.  Who can entertain them?  When and where?   They view the political arena much the way they view the football arena. Or a  WWF match. American Idol. Or Survivor.  Its a little scary isn't it?  But thats just the way it is right now.  Especially, since Rove and  the bungling RNC hierarchy have run the Republican Party aground.

One  bit of info before we go to a commercial break folks.  And that is the Hillary factor.  Lets not count her out yet.  You can bet that if Obama gets to be too much of a threat the Clinton Machine will dig deep and find some dirt or a skeleton in Obama's closet. And with the help of their "willing accomplices in the Main Stream Media" they'll tear poor Obama to shreds.  I really feel for the guy in a way.   The press and the American public like nothing better than to build someone up (like Obama)  just so they can tear them down.  My advice to Senator Obama?  Switch to the Republican Party.  Wouldn't that just throw everyone into an absolute tailspin?  

And one last message to conservative political commentators/opinionators.  Its a whole lot of fun exposing the Dem's for what they really are "but", don't forget 2008. If we are to win we must begin the unpleasant task of exposing those in our own GOP who have steered this party off course.   And those who are still trashing our party.  And if they continue to refuse to step aside we must put extreme negative pressure on them.   The Democratic political arena is indeed a sideshow.  But for the GOP to win we must project a totally different image and we must have our own house in order.      DD 
 

So what did we really expect?   Here comes Duncan Hunter to Iowa promising solid manufacturing jobs.   Not what Iowans want.  They’ve been sucking at the teets of federal farm subsidies  far too long.  The recipients of almost $15 billion between 1995-2005.  They don't need no stinking jobs!  ( link ) And now they’ve really learned how to “farm” the federal gov’t with this bogus ethanol program.   And farms also like that cheap labor and aren't too jazzed about "the fence".  Duncan Hunter didn’t have a chance there. 

Watching the news coverage tonight one would think the election was already over.  Obama and Huckabee.   Case closed.   Nothing could be further from the truth.  Look back at some of those that have won the Iowa caucus. Bob Dole – ’96,  George H.W. Bush – ’80,  Ford – ’76.  Most of those that did  win the GOP Iowa caucus ran unopposed. ( link )  This decision is no bellwether or barometer.  The 1^st really semi-important primary will be South Carolina on January 19^th.   And that, Hunters Rangers, is what we need to  focus on.   Lets keep in mind that even if Duncan doesn’t win the nomination he can still be a force to be reckoned with come convention time if he wins 3 or more primaries, Texas being one of them.  Have we forgotten the Texas Straw Poll back in September that Duncan absolutely ran away with?  He clobbered everyone.  And have we also forgotten that Texas has 34 electoral votes?  Second only to California?  Lets not forget that if Duncan marches into that GOP convention on 9/4/08 with 45-50 electoral votes tucked under his belt he’s going to be able to bargain.  He’s going to demand that the nominee guarantee that 1)the fence will be completed, 2) that existing immigration laws be strictly enforced and 3) that antiquated U.S. trade policies be modernized.  And if he’s ignored he can threaten to run as an independent.  That would throw terror into the GOP hierarchy.   But it won’t come to that.  Duncan is very well respected within the GOP and among all of the GOP candidates.  They’ll listen to him.  If he has the votes to bargain with, that is.

Hunters Rangers now is not the time for us to lay in the corner, in the fetal position and whimper.  Its time to go on the offensive.   Please keep reading.

Speaking of laying down.  That would describe the so-called Hunter team.  I don’t know what happened to Roy Tyler.  He just seemed to have disappeared.  Bolted and ran while the getting’ was good.  Some time back, apparently.    Whoever is in charge of fundraising needs to step aside - now.  Dismal performance.  You can only milk Mom and Pop America out of so much of their kids lunch money!   You are a small thinker.   And that description fits most of those responsible for the campaign and the direction it took.   You sent Duncan out on the campaign trail and then you abandoned him.  Left him dangling out there.  No solid support whatsoever.   Even Glenn Beck, I think it was,  reported on this curiosity of Duncan showing up for events all by himself.   No staff to help him.  No preparatory team.  Of course that all takes money doesn’t it?   Thanks again to the do-nothing fundraising department!

So what’s next Rangers?   Do we settle for a lesser candidate?  We all know in our heart of hearts that Duncan is the absolute best candidate.  No question about it.  But a great leader with a lousy staff behind him will go nowhere.  I ask you,  “how’s it been working for him so far?”  I want to encourage all who read this to take pen in hand (or on keypad) and send a message to Hunter Headquarters in Le Mesa, California.  Demand of them that if they want another $1. in donations from you that they’d best assemble a winning team  - asap.  (or simply print this essay and send it to them)  Do not send another penny until a winning strategy is in place.  Sadly, that’s the only way to get peoples attention sometimes.  With a 2X4.   The first step in solving a problem is to 1st recognize that you have one.    The Hunter campaign is stuck in lala land right now and they need a wake up call.  Then they need to step aside and make room for that winning team. Now.      Darvin Dowdy

In case you haven’t heard.  WND’s  power house Joseph Farah has endorsed Duncan Hunter for President.  It’s a significant endorsement but not likely to get any press coverage from the MSM.   So that leaves it up to us bloggers to get the word out.   To all who yawn and say “so what. Big deal.  Hunter doesn’t have a chance”.    Call me naïve but I continue to think Hunter can make a difference.  Even if he doesn’t take the nomination, he can influence the direction that the GOP takes.  How so you ask? 

Lets not forget that Hunter ran away with the Texas Straw Poll back in September.  And keep in mind that Texas is second only to California in electoral votes.  Texas has 34 electoral votes.  And Texas, I believe, has a binding primary.  What ever the results of the primary, well the delegates must vote that way at the convention.   If Hunter can take Texas and 2 or 3 other states, say on Super Duper Tuesday, he could wield a lot of power at the convention.  And if he’s ignored and dis’d he can run (or threaten to run) as an independent.   Believe me, it won’t come to that because Hunter is so very well liked and respected by all the other candidates.  He’d be offered a VP or cabinet post.  Or even better he could demand that some of his positions be adopted by the nominee.   Example:  Build the Fence!   Enforce existing immigration laws!  No Amnesty!  And get tough with China and other nations on fair and equitable trade. 

Remember the GOP convention is not till September 9^th!    A lot can happen between now and then.   Would anyone have thought that Huckabee would be at the top of the heap 2 and a half months ago?   So who knows what the situation will be in the next few months.   All of the primaries are in front of us. 

So lets not write Hunter off just yet.   I have it from a good source that Duncan will stay in the race until the convention.    

The Hunter Campaign needs money folks.  Corporate America does not want a Duncan Hunter in power.  And they’re sabotaging his fundraising efforts.   Pull a few dollars out of your wallet or purse, stuff it in an envelope and send it to him.   www.gohunter08.com

Darvin Dowdy

Here we are.  Christmas 2007.  It’s the time of year when we Christians should concentrate a little stronger than we normally do on the gift of salvation that we received from our Savior.  And we should rejoice in the abundance of  his grace that cushions us on all sides.  Almost to the point of being like spoiled children, we are.  Doted upon by our Lord.  Provided with everything we need. 

As I said, we “should” be concentrating on this.  I’m having my difficulties this year, however.  I guess its this election cycle we’re in.  I find I’m more involved in this particular election process than any I’ve ever been through.   I’ve never even voted in a primary election before.  But I view the upcoming primary [its March 4^th in Texas] to be much more important than the November 4^th  general  election.   So I’m visiting blog sites and making my comments.  As if that’s really doing any good.    I have this very thin hope that possibly some of the advisers/strategists from the various GOP presidential campaigns might also be visiting some of these popular blog sites looking for ideas.  Trying to get their fingers on the pulse of Middle America.  Because if a person reads some of the profound comments made on the blogesphere  they’re going