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Bill Whittle "Where do we go now?"


Rheo
  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuL41ohlfZY

Bill Whittle speaks at the first post-election meeting of the Hancock Park Patriots, November 12, 2012. Bill discusses the election, the culture and the post-political world of the Information Age.


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I agree with you @Valin. And I certainly believe he is on the right track. The guy's mind works at a million miles a minute. But, like his ideas, I think he needs a bit of polish before he'll attract a wider following. I can think of many people I'd like to send his videos to, but then I reconsider because he comes across a bit like a strange uncle. Newt Gingrich has the same problem. He's got an absolutely brilliant mind with a great ability to target and strike at problems, while simultaneously offering viable solutions. But both these men need a marketing specialist. Someone with charisma that doesn't cause the average listener to focus more on the characteristics of the speaker, than what the speaker is saying.

With that in mind, Whittle accurately nails what I saw as the key problem with Romney. He didn't truly believe in his own hard work. He was apologetic about his own success. A spokesman for Whittle's movement must first unapologetically believe in his movement. Like Gingrich attacking the media. "I don't like you and will not play by your rules. My message is clear and consistent. If you don't like it, that is your decision. But I will not allow you to lie about it."

So any thoughts on who could be an effective spokesman? Someone from fact or fiction?

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I agree with you @Valin. And I certainly believe he is on the right track. The guy's mind works at a million miles a minute. But, like his ideas, I think he needs a bit of polish before he'll attract a wider following. I can think of many people I'd like to send his videos to, but then I reconsider because he comes across a bit like a strange uncle. Newt Gingrich has the same problem. He's got an absolutely brilliant mind with a great ability to target and strike at problems, while simultaneously offering viable solutions. But both these men need a marketing specialist. Someone with charisma that doesn't cause the average listener to focus more on the characteristics of the speaker, than what the speaker is saying.

 

He said as much that this speech was a 1st draft. I don't know if this will go anywhere or not, but at least he is not sitting around crying Doom and Gloom.

 

With that in mind, Whittle accurately nails what I saw as the key problem with Romney. He didn't truly believe in his own hard work. He was apologetic about his own success. A spokesman for Whittle's movement must first unapologetically believe in his movement. Like Gingrich attacking the media. "I don't like you and will not play by your rules. My message is clear and consistent. If you don't like it, that is your decision. But I will not allow you to lie about it."

So any thoughts on who could be an effective spokesman? Someone from fact or fiction?

 

He was playing marquess of queensberry rules and Obama was doing a street brawl. One of the reasons I liked (and still do) Newt, is he is willing to get down and dirty, if he has to.

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This was a much better speech than his election night soliloquy because of course he has calmed down. I would be far more likely to forward this to certain friends. Talking about saving this country because of its past and our debt to those who sacrificed before us is a good point instead of whining about our kids and grandkids (although that, too, needs to be a consideration). His point about being in this for the duration and not being lesser sons of greater fathers is good because it's a new focus. Although there are times when surrender is the right option (as with Robert E. Lee), this is not the time because we would surrender our honor, character and identity. We can't go somewhere else and start a new America because there is nowhere else to go. He talked about the pop culture owning us. I didn't see any ideas about combatting that, but I sure did like his ad idea for the Super Bowl and look forward to it. Maybe with more time he will polish himself up.

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This was a much better speech than his election night soliloquy because of course he has calmed down. I would be far more likely to forward this to certain friends. Talking about saving this country because of its past and our debt to those who sacrificed before us is a good point instead of whining about our kids and grandkids (although that, too, needs to be a consideration). His point about being in this for the duration and not being lesser sons of greater fathers is good because it's a new focus. Although there are times when surrender is the right option (as with Robert E. Lee), this is not the time because we would surrender our honor, character and identity. We can't go somewhere else and start a new America because there is nowhere else to go. He talked about the pop culture owning us. I didn't see any ideas about combatting that, but I sure did like his ad idea for the Super Bowl and look forward to it. Maybe with more time he will polish himself up.

 

 

Well...put the thinking cap on! This is one of the places we come into the picture.

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I watched this twice today and have some comments and observations. One hat tip though before I get there, to @Valin who spurred the "out of the box hinge of history" ruminating that we've been doing these past few months. Thank you for that. It is a much more positive way to look to the future, and for that, I am profoundly grateful.

 

 

Ok, some observations:

 

1. America is an idea, not a location. I have been crying this in the wilderness now for several years and talking about it incessantly with several of my liberal friends. They are starting to get this. Patriotism is NOT about the land on which we have settled. When we talk about how great America is, it is not the totality of our actions that make a difference, it is about the ideas and values which we hold dear. They are very different from those in other countries around the world, most of which are based on ethnic and hereditary similarities. China is not China because it had a great idea about how to govern itself. China is China because it full of Chinese people and they needed to be managed somehow. A Chinese can be American, but an American can not be Chinese. This is the magic and beauty of our system, and we need to talk about this more and more!

 

2. The government structure follows the culture. This is profoundly important. If we do not understand that we are on the hinge of history, the organization of our government will collapse on itself just like out companies. And maybe it should! We went from Agrarian to Industrialized government...but now we are going from Industrialized to Informational and it WILL be painful. But pain doesn't mean death. It can also mean hope. We need to figure out what that is...together.

 

3. We must not just withdraw from the culture, as great as it sounds. And it does. I have begun to focus on the things in the culture that are appealing to 18-35 year olds. What are they doing, how are they communicating, what do they talk about, what is their culture. We need to understand how they speak to each other so we can speak to them. And then we need to actively engage in the culture with the language of youth and the values of our forefathers. IT CAN BE DONE. We do not need more conservative music, movies and books. What we need is more quality and entertaining books, movies and music with conservative values. Ones where you don't even quite realize what you're getting. The left has known this for decades, and we have an opportunity to use that now. We are the rebels, and if there is anything exciting to kids, it's rebellion.

 

I've been thinking a lot about why this election hit me harder than any of the previous elections. And Whittle hit on it. We lost because we've lost the culture. Because we are getting swamped. It wasn't just the messenger, it wasn't just the demographics...we lost because a majority of active and engaged Americans either no longer agree with us or believe nothing will change it. I don't care who ran against Obama this year, we would have lost. Right now, it IS the message. And that is what really saddens me. We've lost the message of America.

 

Bill Whittle makes me believe that together, we can get it back. I like that. It'll take all of us, and reverence for those who came before us. We can do it.

 

Thanks posting this @Rheo.

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I watched this twice today and have some comments and observations. One hat tip though before I get there, to @Valin who spurred the "out of the box hinge of history" ruminating that we've been doing these past few months. Thank you for that. It is a much more positive way to look to the future, and for that, I am profoundly grateful.

 

Well thank you. Still trying to put it is 25 words or less.

 

I would note that history shows us Change is not always peaceful....see the 30 years war...the Civil War....The Vandals...I could go on. smile.png

 

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I watched this twice today and have some comments and observations. One hat tip though before I get there, to @Valin who spurred the "out of the box hinge of history" ruminating that we've been doing these past few months. Thank you for that. It is a much more positive way to look to the future, and for that, I am profoundly grateful.

 

Well thank you. Still trying to put it is 25 words or less.

 

I would note that history shows us Change is not always peaceful....see the 30 years war...the Civil War....The Vandals...I could go on. smile.png

 

I think it rarely is actually. Even if there wasn't all out war during the heaviest stages of industrialization, there were certainly mass riots, violence and widespread pain and starvation. Society has a tendency to pass many of us by.

 

As far as 25 words or less...can you do that already with the Agrarian revolution or the Industrial one? I'd love to hear that. It took me a whole quarter to teach that when I was teaching Technology and Society to College Juniors. Could have saved a lot of time. :lol:

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The pendulum always swings back. This too shall pass.

 

But it'll be painful in the process Casino and America will look different when it has done so. Just like it has so far.

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The pendulum always swings back. This too shall pass.

 

But it'll be painful in the process Casino and America will look different when it has done so. Just like it has so far.

 

If it was easy we wouldn't appreciate it. And all change isn't necessarily bad.

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It better not be because its gonna happen no matter how many Dick Van Dyke reruns I watch so I can enjoy the good old days @Casino67! smile.png

 

Dick Van Dyke was before my time. :)

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It better not be because its gonna happen no matter how many Dick Van Dyke reruns I watch so I can enjoy the good old days @Casino67! smile.png

 

Dick Van Dyke was before my time. smile.png

 

Before my time too, but it is my favorite show and I've always wanted my life to be like that!

 

We were just born too late! sad.png I'm of the Happy Days and Mork and Mindy generation. Ack!

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It better not be because its gonna happen no matter how many Dick Van Dyke reruns I watch so I can enjoy the good old days @Casino67! smile.png

 

Dick Van Dyke was before my time. smile.png

 

Before my time too, but it is my favorite show and I've always wanted my life to be like that!

 

We were just born too late! sad.png I'm of the Happy Days and Mork and Mindy generation. Ack!

 

Unfortunately, I was lying. I do remember The Dick Van Dyke show. Wasn't my fav but did watch from time to time.

Looking back, I was from an Ozzie and Harriet home. Dad worked, mom stayed home and we all sat down at the dinner table at the same time.

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It better not be because its gonna happen no matter how many Dick Van Dyke reruns I watch so I can enjoy the good old days @Casino67! smile.png
Dick Van Dyke was before my time. smile.png
Before my time too, but it is my favorite show and I've always wanted my life to be like that! We were just born too late! sad.png I'm of the Happy Days and Mork and Mindy generation. Ack!
Unfortunately, I was lying. I do remember The Dick Van Dyke show. Wasn't my fav but did watch from time to time. Looking back, I was from an Ozzie and Harriet home. Dad worked, mom stayed home and we all sat down at the dinner table at the same time.

 

Ha! My mom stayed home until I was in first grade. I lived in a real life Leave it to Beaver neighborhood until 1972 when we moved into a rural home on three acres with a huge garden and little orchard. Then we had a more earthy existence, even though my mom worked. We camped and backpacked and built go carts and swam in the river in the summer. It was a very, very seventies way to live. By the mid 80s, we were all rock n' roll and the rest is history.

 

I had a great childhood. I hope my kids will think theirs was pretty great someday too, but I worry.

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It better not be because its gonna happen no matter how many Dick Van Dyke reruns I watch so I can enjoy the good old days @Casino67! smile.png
Dick Van Dyke was before my time. smile.png
Before my time too, but it is my favorite show and I've always wanted my life to be like that! We were just born too late! sad.png I'm of the Happy Days and Mork and Mindy generation. Ack!
Unfortunately, I was lying. I do remember The Dick Van Dyke show. Wasn't my fav but did watch from time to time. Looking back, I was from an Ozzie and Harriet home. Dad worked, mom stayed home and we all sat down at the dinner table at the same time.

 

Ha! My mom stayed home until I was in first grade. I lived in a real life Leave it to Beaver neighborhood until 1972 when we moved into a rural home on three acres with a huge garden and little orchard. Then we had a more earthy existence, even though my mom worked. We camped and backpacked and built go carts and swam in the river in the summer. It was a very, very seventies way to live. By the mid 80s, we were all rock n' roll and the rest is history.

 

I had a great childhood. I hope my kids will think theirs was pretty great someday too, but I worry.

 

You're a mom, mom's worry. Doesn't do any good to say don't. I am sure your kids are going to look back with fond memories and want their kids to have the same memories when they grow up.

 

They will probably forget all about the times you locked them in the basement. :)

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My mom stayed home with us through most of middle school. The homes we had, we always had a beauty shop put in and that what was mom did. All the ladies would come to the shop and mom would be there when we got home. A crockpot of food or hot dish was ready for us when we got hungry if she still had customers. Those ladies liked to bring treats, too.! biggrin.png

 

She was the first entrepreneur I ever knew. Looking back, I am so proud of her.

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It better not be because its gonna happen no matter how many Dick Van Dyke reruns I watch so I can enjoy the good old days @Casino67! smile.png
Dick Van Dyke was before my time. smile.png
Before my time too, but it is my favorite show and I've always wanted my life to be like that! We were just born too late! sad.png I'm of the Happy Days and Mork and Mindy generation. Ack!
Unfortunately, I was lying. I do remember The Dick Van Dyke show. Wasn't my fav but did watch from time to time. Looking back, I was from an Ozzie and Harriet home. Dad worked, mom stayed home and we all sat down at the dinner table at the same time.

 

Ha! My mom stayed home until I was in first grade. I lived in a real life Leave it to Beaver neighborhood until 1972 when we moved into a rural home on three acres with a huge garden and little orchard. Then we had a more earthy existence, even though my mom worked. We camped and backpacked and built go carts and swam in the river in the summer. It was a very, very seventies way to live. By the mid 80s, we were all rock n' roll and the rest is history.

 

I had a great childhood. I hope my kids will think theirs was pretty great someday too, but I worry.

 

You're a mom, mom's worry. Doesn't do any good to say don't. I am sure your kids are going to look back with fond memories and want their kids to have the same memories when they grow up.

 

They will probably forget all about the times you locked them in the basement. :)

 

When did it all change?

 

Or Are we looking at it through rose colored glasses?

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@Valin part of it is the rosy glasses of nostalgia. But the culture has changed. I have to think that the 60s counterculture is just now completely in trenches in society. In the way we talk, think and live. It has been an intentional 50 year process. Where we go from here is something we really need to consider.

 

There are days when I am too afraid to ponder what there is left to rebel against ... Unless it is the if it feels good do it culture. One can only hope.

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@Valin part of it is the rosy glasses of nostalgia. But the culture has changed. I have to think that the 60s counterculture is just now completely in trenches in society. In the way we talk, think and live. It has been an intentional 50 year process. Where we go from here is something we really need to consider.

 

There are days when I am too afraid to ponder what there is left to rebel against ... Unless it is the if it feels good do it culture. One can only hope.

 

We are the counter-culture now!

Andrew Breitbart = Abbie Hoffman, Restore Honor Rally = Woodstock, "What If The Gave A Government Program And Nobody Came?" "Question Authority!"

"Never Trust Anyone Under 30!"

This could be fun! I think I'm on to something.

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