If you are a conservative who plans to sit out tomorrow's election to "teach the Republicans a lesson", there is something you need to read. If you are a Republican who is so disgruntled with your own party that you plan to stay home from the polls, there is something you need to read. If you are an independent who thinks that a higher minimum wage is a critical issue facing this country, there is something you need to read. If you are a citizen of this country who does not plan on exercising a right that people died to secure for you, there is something you need to read. Donald Sensing wrote it:
I was talking on the phone a few weeks ago with a friend who said that the only issue that mattered to him this November is the war on terror. “If we don’t get the war right,” he said, “the Medicare prescription plan won’t matter, Social Security won’t matter, nothing else will matter.”
In 1851’s running of the America’s Cup yacht race around the Isle of Wight, the schooner America raced 15 yachts orf (sic) the Royal Yacht Squadron. Waiting near the finish was Queen Victoria. America won by 20 minutes, so far out in front that when it appeared on the horizon it sailed alone into view of the waiting crowd. “Which ship is that?” Victoria asked. A naval officer looked through his scope and replied, “It is America.” Victoria then asked, “Who is in second?” The officer looked again and again saw only America. “Majesty,” he replied, “there is no ship in second.”
The prosecution of the war against Islamist terrorists is so far in front as the leading issue today that truly, there is no issue in second, not close enough to be a serious challenger to the gravity of the Islamist threat.
Hence, The SF Examiner wonders whether Americans are sleepwalking into a gathering storm, much as the British did in the 1930s.
Read the whole thing, please. It is very, very important. There is no ship in second. None whatsoever.
UPDATE: See also The Anchoress and Sigmund, Carl and Alfred.
