Strengthen the Stakes

Isaiah 54:2 Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thy habitations; spare not, lengthen thy cords and strengthen thy stakes.


There has been a great deal of talk lately about the need for the Republican Party to be a big tent that welcomes many diverse viewpoints. I agree with this on its premise. It is great to be inclusive and diverse, absolutely. There is a lot of attention paid to which people the Republican Party should be welcoming in. Again, that's better than fine, it's great. But, how is this expanded tent supposed to stay up? The answer is in that Scripture from Isaiah (the guy is not only a prophet but a genius). We have to lengthen the cords and strengthen the stakes. I want to write concerning the stakes.

I think that I'm a lot like other Conservatives these days in expressing quite a bit of displeasure at the Republican Party. There is all sorts of talk of moving more to the center. Now, I'm no physics expert but I think if you move the stakes of a tent more to the center the thing is just going to collapse on itself. No, the stakes have to be planted on the right. There has to be a clear difference between the Democrats and the Republicans. Being closer to the center would mean that our next presidential opponent to ObamatheOneKenobi would be like his Padawan or something. President Reagan put it well in a 1975 CPAC speech:

"Our people look for a cause to believe in. Is it a third party we need, or is it a new and revitalized second party, raising a banner of no pale pastels, but bold colors, which make it unmistakably clear where we stand on all of the issues troubling the people?"

The stakes have to be firmly planted for the big tent to stay up. I am a Conservative first, and I would love to say I was a Republican if Republicans would live up to their Republican Party Platform. Go to http://www.gop.com/2008Platform/ to get the whole thing. But, since the party is going to be a tent now rather than a platform lets say the planks are now going to be stakes.

We need leaders who are going to represent Conservativism and the Republican party with boldness clarity and conviction. The nation needs clear choices. This is one of the reasons that I support Sarah Palin. You can look at the stakes for this Republican Party tent and see that the Governor clearly stands by those principles. I want to point out her clear stance on some of these stakes.

National Security. Here is an issue that the Governor has (pardon the pun) a personal stake in. She is the mother of a soldier. This is an issue of prime importance to her. She has spoken and written clearly about the importance of missile defense. Alaska is the northernmost, westernmost and easternmost state in the union. She recently wrote about President Obama's proposed budget cuts to defense,
“These budget cuts add up to about half of 1 percent,” Governor Palin said. “But while they do little to put brakes on the exploding federal deficit, they hit Alaska hard. I join our congressional delegation in their determination to see that Alaska’s unique challenges and its key role in national defense are not overlooked.
This is an outrageous move at a time when North Korea has shown its willingness to flout international sentiments and conduct missile tests,” Governor Palin said. “America needs a strong missile defense, and Alaska’s strategic location is invaluable in protecting the nation.”

Government Reform. Governor Palin has a record of taking on her own political party for corruption. She in fact was willing to sacrifice her own political career in resigning her position on the previous Governor's staff because of ethical violations of members of her own party. She truly believes that Government is supposed to serve the people and she has a servant's heart. In an interview that aired on December 9th on CTV Governor Palin responded to the question about her political future and possible run at the presidency in 2012:
"Some days politics makes me roll my eyes and say 'I don't know if politics are in my future.' and it's certainly not the be-all, end all for me personally.
If there are platforms, opportunities for me to be able to effect positive change in people's lives, whether that's political or another venue I will embrace that.
But, I don't know if it’s going to be in politics or running for president in '12."
She truly wants to help others. That is the kind of attitude that I want in a leader. It's not about power it’s about service.

The Economy. One of the markers I look at for Governor Palin's fiscal Conservatism is her reaction to the huge increase in oil prices last summer. There were government officials who wanted to go on a spending spree. But, the Governor encouraged the state to put money in savings. As a result Alaska is not facing the deficits that so many states including my own are.

I could go on and on quite a bit about the stimulus. But, please go to one of my favorite sites for a good write up of Governor Palin and this particular issue http://www.conservatives4palin.com/2009/04/on-stimulus-alaska-and-soul-of-nation.html

Just a couple of quick things that I would point out about her stance on the stimulus.
- She has been an outspoken opponent to it, including calling for President Obama to veto it.
- She is one of a handful of Governor's who have not accepted all of the stimulus funds, which she is getting some flak for.
- She just vetoed over $80 million in the state spending budget including some of the stimulus.

Energy. Another subject that with particular regard to Governor Palin I could go on and on about. But, let's just say there is, in my mind, no other politician who has a better grasp and better focus on this issue. She has preached an all of the above approach including drilling for oil in the USA and especially in Alaska. The following video was from the recent campaign.


Values. There are a couple of issues that go into this category. The right to bear arms is a very important element of Conservatism and in the stakes of this big tent. There can be no doubt on Governor Palin's position on this issue. She is a lifelong NRA member. Another issue which the Governor absolutely shines in bold colors is the sanctity of life. I have argued before that she is a modern day William Wilberforce on the issue of life. http://conservativeindependentrant.blogspot.com/2009/05/for-life-for-real.html
Also see


Governor Palin has been attacked viciously from the left, which is unsurprising, but also from many Republicans. These are often the Republicans who believe that the party needs to moderate itself, to move closer to the center. They are wrong. Governor Palin is right, and she is the right person for the party and for Conservatism in general now. She is the person that is pounding the stakes in, and strengthening what can be a winning party again. Instead of attacking her other Republicans should be helping in the labor. She is not somebody who cares about who gets the credit she just wants to see it get done. (I'm pretty sure Ronald Reagan espoused that principle he said this: There is no limit to what you can accomplish if you don't care who gets the credit.)Add into the mix the Governor's ability to connect with people and attract crowds that is unrivaled by any other Republican and you have what I think is the greatest strength of Conservatism and the Republican Party. Now if they would just smarten up and actually use that strength.

For my next post on stakes I will be discussing their use in ousting blood sucking and or money sucking vampires. That is if I ever post about stakes again.

God Bless
Sarah Emily Jordan