Conservative With A Heart

My allegiance lies in the heart and not in the symbol next to the name of the candidate. That has been my mantra for many years. This election cycle puts that concept to the test.

The argument for putting in place solid Republican candidates has been made nationally and locally. The country has been moving in the wrong direction – particularly in the fiscal arena – and a reverse in course must happen.

I desire to see the country shift to the constitutional path that it started down over 200 years ago. Should the symbol next to the candidate be the thing that determines if that person will be the one to help the country get back on track?

Here in Marshall County, Alabama, we have the choice between Jeff McLaughlin and Wes Long for State Representative, Marshall County, Alabama, District 27. I know Jeff and have had the chance to meet Wes and they both seem like pretty good guys. Wes has the R next to his name and I am hearing that in order to get things moving in the right direction we need all of the R’s that we can get.

Jeff McLaughlin has been serving Marshall County and District 27 since 2001. He chooses not to accept contributions to his election to keep him from being in debt to any particular person or group. He serves from the heart and not the pocket book. Democrats and Republicans have complaints against Mr. McLaughlin because he does not tow any party line but votes his own conscience.

I am sure that I do not agree with all of the ideas that Jeff McLaughlin has in his head. I am equally sure that I do not agree with all of the ideas offered up by Wes Long. We are all unique individuals and the chance that I would ever agree with anyone on everything is almost impossible odds.

How do you decide?

Do you let the record of the candidate speak? Or do you throw out anyone that does not tow the party line?

It becomes increasingly important to find people that will stand upon principle and not upon a party.

What is your opinion about making the right choice in this upcoming election?

The Founding Fathers expected people to leave their homes and serve their country for a season. The leaders were then to return to those homes and live under the rules and regulations they had established while leading.

At some point, we decided that to be a leader in this nation you had to be a Politian. The media has shouted that requirement from the roof tops since Sarah Palin stepped on to the political stage and the media has only gotten louder as the mid-term election draws near.

“She does not have enough experience.”
“He will not be willing to negotiate.”
“They are not use to how things work in the government.”

Carl Rove said that he thought people did not understand because this election was about taking back congress for the conservatives and we needed to elect people in the primaries that could win in the November elections.

I also heard it said that you have to stand for something or you will fall for anything – and we the people have fallen for that line before.

Never again! Everyone – no matter which side of the “aisle” you might reside – should be looking for candidates that say what they mean and will do what they say. We need candidates that are looking to go in and do the job and then come back home to their lives.

When did “politician” become a job? People that are in it for a job will always be concerned about keeping that job. We must put people into office that want to work – for just a season – and are more concerned about convictions than re-elections!

It was easy to sleep last night and I even went to bed early. My normal routine for elections is to stay up until the wee hours of morning to see what will be facing me for the next four years. This year I didn’t need to do that. My peace about the whole process is so perfect that I STILL don’t know who won the election.

I have a plaque that hung at my desk (where ever my desk might be) for many years. It was a little swallow on a branch: “I may not know what tomorrow holds, but I know who holds tomorrow.” It is with that knowledge that I went to sleep last night.

The outcome of the election was something that was not easy to miss this morning. I knew it would be there when any of my electronics turned on. Although it was not the results that I voted for, there is still hope for tomorrow. There is always hope.

It is time for me to make a change – not so much in the way THINGS are but in the way my heart is. I need to pour my positive thoughts and prayers over this country. One person can make a difference and I intend to be that person. Join me in this new direction and together we can heal this nation.

My Prayer for the Barack Obama and the Congress:

Lord, thank you so much for all that you have blessed me with. This is an amazing country with some of the greatest opportunities in the world. I thank you for the people of this country that come together to build what others only dare to dream.

Lord, thank you for the wisdom and strength that you have poured over Barack Obama. Continue to give him Your Peace in ways that he has never before experienced. Let the full blessings of your Grace come to him and his family and all that are around him.

Lord, thank you for the men and women that are willing to walk away from their ordinary lives to serve in congress. Continue to give them the knowledge and understanding that they need to make the decisions to push these United States into a glorious future.

Paul warned repeatedly through out scripture that the time is now. The time is now for me to get serious about the prayers for my country and my leaders. It’s not those people that have messed up, but I am the one that has dropped the ball. There has to be time in each and every day for me to hold up the government in prayer and thanksgiving.

Lord, please forgive me and my lack of support for the people that you have placed in these offices. The ways of the Lord confound the wise and I have thought myself wise for far too long. Forgive my arrogance and give me the words and consistency to humbly pray for Your servants.