Elections are interesting things. We often learn that even though all the people we know think a certain way, there are many others who think differently and the wise learn from this not to judge public sentiment based upon the opinions and behaviors of those in their social orbit.
Winning at the ballot box is as often simple relief as it is joyous. Losing can be simply an irritant or it can be near devastating from an emotional point of view but one thing remains true that I said a few years ago about political pessimism: “Defeatist cynicism is an arrogance that we too know an outcome – we do not. Our Creator expects us to fight for good until He ends the game, not us.”
No matter what happens at the ballot box, lose or win, our job is to continue to work and fight for what we believe is right. Liberty is always under threat which is why the quote exists, attributed to several people at different times, of “The price of Liberty is eternal vigilance.”
“Defeatist cynicism is an arrogance that we too know an outcome – we do not. Our Creator expects us to fight for good until He ends the game, not us.”
I remember when Levelland-native Beau Boulter was serving in Congress as Amarillo’s representative, elected in the 1984 Reagan landslide. Boulter gave up his seat to be Texas Republicans’ long shot hope to unseat Lloyd Bentsen in the U.S. Senate. Boulter lost to Democrat liberal Lloyd Bentsen sixty to forty percent in 1988’s general election.
In 1992 I worked very hard in Beau Boulter’s attempt to win back his seat in the U.S. House but he failed again sixty to forty percent to the intemperate Democrat Bill Sarpalius. It was a crushing loss in a district that later elected Mac Thornberry.
It’s just a remembrance post-election to remind you that political fortunes swing to opposite extremes even in your own backyard. Whatever happens, good people must stay in the game or the playing field is handed to the enemy. This applies in victory as much as in defeat.
Elections are funny things
Winning at the ballot box is as often simple relief as it is joyous. Losing can be simply an irritant or it can be near devastating from an emotional point of view but one thing remains true that I said a few years ago about political pessimism: “Defeatist cynicism is an arrogance that we too know an outcome – we do not. Our Creator expects us to fight for good until He ends the game, not us.”
No matter what happens at the ballot box, lose or win, our job is to continue to work and fight for what we believe is right. Liberty is always under threat which is why the quote exists, attributed to several people at different times, of “The price of Liberty is eternal vigilance.”
“Defeatist cynicism is an arrogance that we too know an outcome – we do not. Our Creator expects us to fight for good until He ends the game, not us.”
I remember when Levelland-native Beau Boulter was serving in Congress as Amarillo’s representative, elected in the 1984 Reagan landslide. Boulter gave up his seat to be Texas Republicans’ long shot hope to unseat Lloyd Bentsen in the U.S. Senate. Boulter lost to Democrat liberal Lloyd Bentsen sixty to forty percent in 1988’s general election.
In 1992 I worked very hard in Beau Boulter’s attempt to win back his seat in the U.S. House but he failed again sixty to forty percent to the intemperate Democrat Bill Sarpalius. It was a crushing loss in a district that later elected Mac Thornberry.
It’s just a remembrance post-election to remind you that political fortunes swing to opposite extremes even in your own backyard. Whatever happens, good people must stay in the game or the playing field is handed to the enemy. This applies in victory as much as in defeat.