Yeah, Right, Whatever

I hope "Carlos" doesn't mind, but I received this in my email box, and I just had to share. I'm going to post it in its entirety, then I'll go through it line by line (more or less). Go and grab some popcorn first.

Subject: <> Elizabeth Buffy in Belleview: Let's welcome an accountable Executiv e Branch! <>

"They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety"

~ Benjamin Franklin ~ February 17, 1775 ~

Greetings, Elizabeth.

I was disappointed to notice the misrepresentations of your website: http://www.yeahrightwhatever.blogspot.com/ I believe the Republican Party had an opportunity to mismanage our United States of America - domestically & overseas - for the past eight years. Elizabeth, it's time to wake up and instead of complaining so much why not use your time, talent & goodwill to rebuild our country. I/we will not allow so-called Negative Conservatives spoil the Presidency of Barack Obama. Just like I will respect your Freedom of Expression --- I will kindly request that you respect ours. As a public school teacher, it's time for intelligent/educated individuals like you to cease & desist promoting division & hatred. We are the United States of America! Haven't you realized the bruises caused to our Bill of Rights and Constitution by Ultra-Patriotic Republicans like Alberto Gonzalez, Rumsfeld & V.P. Cheney? As a proud member of a military family, I am disappointed that the lies of the past administration have caused much pain to my USMC nephew repeated tours of duty in Iraq. As well as - my niece in the army. Since the Korean War we have been a military family, who will follow directions from our Commander in Chief. Nevertheless, rest assured that I/we will use the power of the ballot to keep doomsayers & doubters like you from ruining the agenda of our 44th President. Please leave President Barack Obama alone! Don't rain on his parade! Thank you very much for your kind consideration.
Respectfully yours,
Carlos

OK. Now, go take some Advil to help with your headache. Let's take this apart, shall we?

Subject: <> Elizabeth Buffy in Belleview: Let's welcome an accountable Executiv e Branch! <>

Carlos, you don't know me well enough to call me by that nickname, and I'm not from Belleview, Nebraska. You misspelled Executive, btw.

"They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety"

~ Benjamin Franklin ~ February 17, 1775 ~

You almost got the quote right. It's "Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." And I understand where you were going with that quote... how... sneaky of you.

I was disappointed to notice the misrepresentations of your website: http://www.yeahrightwhatever.blogspot.com/

Where has my website been misrepresented? I'd love to know where.

I believe the Republican Party had an opportunity to mismanage our United States of America - domestically & overseas - for the past eight years.

First of all, what you believe and what the facts are don't seem to match up. Second, based on what you typed (rather than what I think you meant), every administration has the opportunity to mismanage the United States of America (although, technically, it would be foreign policy and not the actual country, abroad). I'm just happy to know the fact that President Bush's administration did not take advantage of the opportunity to mismanage our country.

Elizabeth, it's time to wake up and instead of complaining so much why not use your time, talent & goodwill to rebuild our country.

Oh? You mean like the way the Left has done the past 8 years? After 8 years of Bush Derangement Syndrome, you think those of us who are conservative (notice, I didn't say "Republican"... there is a difference) will just forget how you've treated our President and our country and play nice?

I/we will not allow so-called Negative Conservatives spoil the Presidency of Barack Obama.

First, multiple personality problems, Carlos? Second, I'm not a "Negative Conservative." Third, as an English teacher, I feel the need to tell you that you're missing a "to" somewhere in there.

Just like I will respect your Freedom of Expression --- I will kindly request that you respect ours.

This is golden. Where did you get the idea that I have ever disrespected someone's freedom of expression? I have never tried to squash anyone's freedom of expression... unlike liberals, who routinely interrupt conservative speakers by yelling and throwing things (pies, etc.).

As a public school teacher, it's time for intelligent/educated individuals like you to cease & desist promoting division & hatred.

Where did you ever get the idea that I am a public school teacher? As a homeschooler, I promote Christ's love, mercy, and grace. Division and hatred belong to another curriculum, not mine. (And what's up with the intelligent/educated thing? Couldn't pick which one to choose on the form letter?)

We are the United States of America!

Who is this "we"? Are you the official representative of one of the States? I am a proud citizen of the United States of America. This "we are" trend is... boring...

Haven't you realized the bruises caused to our Bill of Rights and Constitution by Ultra-Patriotic Republicans like Alberto Gonzalez, Rumsfeld & V.P. Cheney?

Realized what about the supposed bruises? "Ultra-Patriotic"? I'd like to think that I'm "ultra-patriotic"- did I bruise the Bill of Rights and the Constitution? No, those bruises were inflicted decades ago, not by President Bush.

As a proud member of a military family, I am disappointed that the lies of the past administration have caused much pain to my USMC nephew repeated tours of duty in Iraq. As well as - my niece in the army. Since the Korean War we have been a military family, who will follow directions from our Commander in Chief.

As a former Navy wife and friend of a Gold Star family, I can tell you about pain from war. Separation from family for a while stinks- been there, done that. That's the pain your niece and nephew have probably experienced. Gold Star families, however, have lost their loved one for the rest of this life, and most of those families supported President Bush and the War on Terror. As for the lies, there was conflicting information, and the President went with what was there at the time.

Nevertheless, rest assured that I/we will use the power of the ballot to keep doomsayers & doubters like you from ruining the agenda of our 44th President.

And just what exactly will you vote for between now and the midterm election? Not a darn thing. I will try to derail President Obama's agenda, not because I'm a doomsayer and doubter, but because I believe that socialism isn't the best path for our country.

Please leave President Barack Obama alone! Don't rain on his parade!

He's a big boy. Between him and his Chicago political machine, he can take care of himself.

Thank you very much for your kind consideration.
Respectfully yours,
Carlos

No, Carlos, thank you for this nice intro to a post I have wanted to write for a few days now. (edited to correct grammar- thanks, Dyan! - B)

Like I said, I've been contemplating this post for a couple of days before Carlos sent me this. What should the conservative response be, now that the Democrats have control of two branches of government? Should we resort to the same tactics that the Left embraced during Bush 43's administration (BDS, name-calling, telling lies, all that)? Should we take the high ground (like Bush 43 did)?

Here is Andy Levy's "Dos and Don'ts" list. See what you think:

DON’T question the motives - question the policy. When you disagree with Obama’s policies, say so, and make it clear why. But remember that President Obama is doing what he thinks is best for the country, as President Bush did. Both men love America and want what’s best for her. End of story.

DON’T make it personal. We don’t need another Derangement Syndrome. We don’t need people doing things like emphasizing Obama’s middle name in a derogatory fashion. How anyone would think that’s beneficial to their cause, or to the country as a whole, is beyond me. Also, it’s not even clever. Neither are smushwords like BusHitler, or sillywords like Rethuglicans and Dhimmicrats.

DON’T cozy up to and champion foreign dictators and despots. Sean Penn is an ass. No reason to be like him. ‘Nuff said. (Corollary: Don’t cozy up to and champion foreign dictators and despots and then act outraged when people question your patriotism.)

DON’T pretend you’re being brave when you criticize your government. Not while people in other countries actually, y’know, DIE, when they do that.

DON’T use the word “divisive.” At this point, all that word means is “You disagree with me,” and the English language gets mangled enough these days.

DON’T use the phrase “speaking truth to power.” EVER.

DON’T move to Canada.

DON’T say you’re going to move to Canada and then stay here. (I know it’s too late for Stephen Baldwin, but not for the rest of you.)

DON’T apologize to foreigners and say things to them like, “I didn’t vote for Obama,” or “He’s not MY president.”

DON’T say or do everything in your power to drive this country apart and then claim you want unity when it’s your guy in power. This is like the convicted felon who conveniently finds God when he’s up for parole.

DON’T call people un-American one week, and then talk about how “We are not blue states or red states, we are the United States” the next. (This rule may only apply to Tom Hanks, but I put it in just to be safe.)

DON’T automatically think people who disagree with you are stupid or evil. Some of them are, of course. But most of them aren’t, and you might actually learn something if you listen to them.

And finally, DON’T use the fact that many on the left behaved abominably for the past eight years as an excuse to behave the same way. America needs adults. And if it bothered you when they did it, it’s a good sign that you shouldn’t do it.

So... I agree with Andy on most of those points... America needs adults.If the Left thought it was a good idea, I have to question it.

Carlos, maybe you haven't been paying attention the past decade. It's been the Left who has slung the mud and called names and blamed the wrong person for every single thing that happened. President Bush wasn't responsible for every ill (if you had money trouble or lost your job or broke up with your girlfriend, President Bush isn't the one to blame). Conservatives didn't blame President Clinton for all the bad stuff that happened during his administration, and we won't blame President Obama if we get sick or have a bad day. That's not who we are.

Conservatives will hold President Obama accountable for the things that he does and says. (For example, when he signs an Executive Order and makes an exception to it within 24 hours). When he proposes a plan that will take us down the road even farther from where the Founders had planned for us, we will hold President Obama accountable. When he promotes policies that can only be objectively as socialist (or worse) in nature, we will hold President Obama accountable. There will be one huge difference, however- hopefully, it will be with the respect due the Office, unlike the way the BDS folks have treated President Bush.