Thread: Best And Worst Of 2008 By Chuck Baldwin

My apologies if this has been posted already. I hunted all over for it and didn't see it.

Best And Worst Of 2008
By Chuck Baldwin
January 6, 2009


This column is archived at
http://www.chuckbaldwinlive.com/c2009/c ... 90106.html


With 2008 just concluded, today's column will be my analysis of the best and
worst of the year just spent. First, the best: my wife, Connie, and our
family. As the Constitution Party candidate for President, I logged more
than 30,000 miles and visited more than 30 states. I traveled most of those
miles alone--as costs prohibited my wife from traveling with me--and most
flights were flown in the coach cabin. In fact, my wife and I were apart
more last year than the previous 34 years of married life combined. Needless
to say, I am not cut out to be a traveling salesman. The time away from home
was extremely difficult.

I am grateful to God for giving me the outstanding family I have. Connie is
amazing! And our three grown children (Sarah, Chris, and Tim) and their
spouses (Allan, Jana, and Jennifer) are absolutely the greatest. Each one of
them is a champion-patriot in his or her own right. They love God; they love
freedom; they love their parents and each other; they are independent
thinkers and courageous Christians. We are as close a family as one will
ever find. They are my best and closest friends.

Those faithful members of Crossroad Baptist Church in Pensacola, Florida who
prayed for me, stood by me, and supported me during a grueling campaign
certainly make it to my "best" list for 2008. When I first announced the
invitation and opportunity that had been afforded me to become an
Independent candidate for President to my church family, several families
walked out the back door. Some of these folks were "friends" for many years.
Fortunately, however, the vast majority of my church family remained
steadfast and unmovable. Try to imagine a church anywhere else in America
that would stand by and support a pastor, as he takes a "sabbatical" to run
for President. Most churches today will not even tolerate a pastor who
dares to take a stand for anything controversial. The faithful stalwarts at
Crossroad Church make my "best" list.

Actually, there were many highlights of 2008. The many friends and
supporters I met around the country have to make my "best" list, for sure.
The many LDS folks who supported me in Utah and surrounding states were a
real highlight. People such as Frank Fluckiger, Scott Bradley and Matt
Moody, to name a few.

The great folks who hosted Connie and I in Spokane, Washington, (yes, Connie
was able to make this trip with me) make it to my "best" list. I am talking
about Bob Peck and his entire team. They were terrific.

The guys out in California, who helped provide the VIP tour of America's
busiest immigration port near San Diego for me, also make my "best" list for
2008. In addition to the legal border crossing at San Ysidro, they also took
me out into the California desert in 110-degree heat to take a firsthand
look at the real border. However bad you may think our illegal immigration
problem is, it is ten times worse than that. I was able to meet with Border
Patrol agents and Border Patrol Auxiliary personnel, as well. It was a real
education. Thanks are especially due to retired Air Force Master Sergeant
(and retired Deputy Sheriff) Larry Breazeale.

Perhaps the most fascinating man I got to know last year was retired Air
Force Brigadier General Charles Jones. What an amazing man! We have become
fast friends. Getting to know the general was one of the "best" events of
2008, for sure.

From an organizational perspective, Thom Holmes, out there in Okalahoma, was
probably the most indispensable and valuable asset to my campaign last year.
He kept my travel and hotel itinerary intact for me. He was on top of every
detail. I could not have done it without him. Of course, Darrell Castle was
a terrific running mate and a first class gentleman. Joe Sanger in Michigan,
and Lowell and Bethany Patterson in New Jersey were also able and
indispensable associates.

Lou Dobbs makes my "best" list for 2008, as well. He was the one major
television talk show host who was willing to have me as a guest on his
program. It is not surprising that Lou Dobbs was about the only notable
television talk show host during 2008 who was willing to confront the truth
regarding a host of issues: from the North American Union, to illegal
immigration, to Ramos and Compean, to the criminal international bankers.
Thanks, Lou.

Close to the top of my "best" list is Congressman Ron Paul. What a terrific
champion for freedom and constitutional government he is! I was able to get
to know Ron quite well during the campaign, and was both humbled and honored
when he publicly endorsed my candidacy. Thank you, Ron. You are the best man
we have on Capitol Hill.

South Carolina senatorial candidate, Bob Conley, also makes my "best" list
of 2008. Here was a guy who was willing to take on the neocon senator,
Lindsey Graham. Had he had the support of the so-called conservative
Christians, he would have won. But most conservative Christians are so
myopic and uninformed today that they cannot think outside the box. And
because Bob ran as a Democrat, they would not support him. What a shame! Bob
was as solid a constitutionalist patriot as one will ever find. You did us
all proud, Bob.

In the print media, Bob Dill, who publishes the Times Examiner in
Greenville, South Carolina, makes it to my "best" list, as well. Bob
represents the shrinking number of courageous publishers who know what's
going on and are not afraid to print the truth.

Speaking of South Carolina, Dorchester County Sheriff Ray Nash also makes it
to my "best" list for 2008. I first met Ray on the campaign trail in the
Palmetto State and then invited him to be our guest speaker for our God and
Country Day on Election Sunday, November 4. He brought a magnificent
address. I was so impressed with his presentation that we made copies and
sent them to every elected official in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties in
Florida. You can view Sheriff Nash's video presentation at
http://www.chuckbaldwinlive.com/Sheriff-Nash.html .

The opportunity I had to speak at the 50th Anniversary of the John Birch
Society in Appleton, Wisconsin also makes my "best" list for 2008. John
McManus and Art Thompson were gracious hosts and have become good friends.
The Birch Society is one of the bright spots in America today. No
organization has been more unduly criticized as the John Birch Society. And
yet, their commitment to liberty and constitutional government has never
waned. My hat is off to them.

The New American magazine is still the finest news publication in America.
Year in and year out, TNA is the best.

Speaking at the Indianapolis Baptist Temple (IBT) in Indianapolis, Indiana
also needs to be included in my "best" list of 2008. It was a pleasure to be
with Dr. Greg Dixon, his son, Pastor Greg Dixon, and Dr. Don Boys again. The
IBT has gone through more tribulation than most churches can possibly
imagine (at least those in America), and they are still going strong. What a
great congregation of dedicated and determined believers! They remind me of
courageous Christians from yesteryear. I was honored to speak before them.

Internet publishers such as Paul Walter make my "best" list, too. Paul
publishes News With Views. He and people such as Jim Rudd at Covenant News
have carried my columns for years. These are men who also know what's going
on and are not afraid to print the truth. Thanks, guys.

Other web sites that were especially beneficial to patriots in 2008 were
World Net Daily, VDARE, Freedom's Phoenix, Renew America, and Gary Shumway's
Red Pills. In Pensacola, my friend, Mike West, at Gulf1, was the man who
first got me thinking about publishing a column such as this. Thanks for the
idea, Mike.

Without these (and other) great Internet news sites, the American people,
for the most part, would not have convenient access to the truth. Most of
the major media and major "conservative" radio talk shows today are little
more than lackeys for New World Order Republicans, and are therefore
worthless to the cause of liberty.

In addition to the mainstream media, and worthless talk show hosts such as
Sean Hannity, I must include the majority of so-called leaders within the
Religious Right as making my "worst" list for 2008. I include James Dobson,
Pat Robertson, and Tony Perkins on this list.

For all intents and purposes, the Religious Right has become nothing more
than a gaggle of glorified hacks for the Republican Party. They have
sacrificed virtually every principle worth defending. For the sake of
sitting at the king's table, or not losing financial support from brain-dead
contributors, these men have sold the cause of freedom and constitutional
government down the river. Their mindless support for John McCain was
inexcusable and embarrassing! In so doing, they have lost all credibility.

Also making my "worst" list in 2008 are the many pastors and church members
around the country who continued to support one of the worst Presidents in
American history: George W. Bush. This man has taken America to the
precipice of financial ruin; he has created the foundation for a police
state; he has trampled the Constitution and Bill of Rights like no President
since Abraham Lincoln; he has used our bravest and best for his sinister
plans of interventionist adventurism; he has set the wheels of global
government and national socialism in motion, as has no other President (I'm
sure Barack Obama will do more than his share to augment socialism in the
United States, but remember, it is George W. Bush that has laid the
foundation for the acceptance of national socialism). I'm not sure that
America will ever truly recover from his Presidency. Yet, a majority of
conservative pastors and church members continue to idolize George Bush.
What an embarrassment!

Both the Democrat and Republican Parties make my "worst" list for 2008. In
one year, both major parties nominated two men, neither of whom was
constitutionally qualified to be President of the United States. Now, that's
quite a feat!

The Council on Foreign Relations, international bankers, and other global
elitists also make my "worst" list for 2008. When will the people of America
awaken to the reality that our worst enemies are not "liberals" and
"leftists," as much as they are the global elitists who control the Federal
Reserve and other internationalist entities that are committed to
dismantling America's independence and sovereignty?

Notable deaths that contributed to the down side of 2008 include veteran
radio broadcaster George Putnam. I wrote a column eulogizing George shortly
after his death in September. Read it at
http://www.chuckbaldwinlive.com/c2008/c ... 80923.html

Other folks I hated to see leave us were Bob Jeter, cornerback from the
championship teams of the 1960s Green Bay Packers; Ivan Dixon, from the old
Hogan's Heroes TV sitcom; famed actor and NRA president Charlton Heston;
Eddy Arnold, the great country-western singer; Dick Martin, from the old
Rowan and Martin TV comedy show; the hilarious Harvey Korman; the great
freedom fighter, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn; the never-equaled voice of "In a
world" announcer, Don LaFontaine; "Cool Hand Luke" Paul Newman; and actor
Van Johnson, who starred in over 100 movies, and I don't think I ever saw a
bad one.

Finally, my beloved Green Bay Packers make my "worst" list for 2008 for
shoving Brett Favre out the door for what was certainly his last NFL season.
As a result, the Pack went from a 13-3 playoff team to a 6-10
stay-home-and-watch team. Favre should have finished his hall of fame career
in Green Bay. That he didn't is a shame.

There you have it: my best and worst of 2008. I trust that all of us will
truly have a Happy New Year!

Chuck Badlwin is truly a good man and an honest leader. I wish to God he would have started his campaign for president earlier so that the people of America could have known him better.

Originally Posted by ELE

Chuck Badlwin is truly a good man and an honest leader. I wish to God he would have started his campaign for president earlier so that the people of America could have known him better.

Yes, and on top of that, he really seems like a regular guy who wants the same things we do. I wonder how much better things might have been with him in office.