I’ve got a great idea today. What if we dispensed with the labeling of Palin supporters? I’ve never been a fan of the “No Labels” drivel from David Frum and his ilk, but I do think maybe we need more of that mentality among the Palin support universe. This is an all-hands-on-deck situation and we need all potential Palin supporters to unite against the real “enemies” of liberty — for the next 14 months at least.  Right?

I’m slightly frustrated by the implication that I’m a loon, a cultist, a worshipper, or a non-realist because of my decision to respect Governor Palin’s announcement strategy.

I am none of the above. I’m a libertarian for gosh sakes! Ha!

Is it right for some Palin supporters to come on here calling other Palin supporters “sheep” simply because some of us refuse to engage in public nitpicking of our candidate? How does giving the Governor’s opponents free ammo help the cause in any way? Whether you’re labeling some of her supporters as Kool-Aid drinkers, or running down Governor Palin, you’re serving the same purpose: Making Mittens and Obama happy. (I assume Erick Erickson is also happy.)

By the same token, MAYBE some of Governor Palin’s most true-blue ardent supporters could stop labeling anyone who has a respectful concern about the announcement strategy a “troll” or an Obama/Rombot. (This happens quite a bit on the threads, I’ve noticed. It happened today.)

Yeah, we know there are trolls and Obama/Rombots out there … we recognize them quite easily by their insulting behavior … we also know there are genuine Palin supporters who are CONCERNED about the lack of an announcement and the potential hurdles that might create for Governor Palin in running her campaign. There are hundreds of legitimate reasons to be concerned that she isn’t in the race yet. Heck, there may even be Palin supporters who are just broken hearted thinking she might not RUN. I GET THAT.

Here’s what could help everyone co-exist … yes, we can do that even on Conservatives4Palin”:

1) Recognize that everyone has different ways of showing support.

2) There is an actual person with real feelings on the other end of your online tirade.

3) Any time you call someone a name (like loon, cultist, troll) you will probably get flagged, which means the moderators will have to make a decision about what to do with your comment. Our stated commenting policy is pretty clear (no homophobia, racism, sexism, vulgarity, slurs, etc.) but I would like to add a new addendum. If you continually post THE SAME POINT over and OVER and OVER in THREAD after THREAD, your comment will be treated as the spam that it is and removed. We do not need to hear your treatise on presidential announcment strategy every time we open up a new thread. State your case. Do so respectfully. Don’t name-call. Don’t label. And then MOVE ON … to a new topic.

4) For the “Palin-is-doing-it-all-wrong” crew, how about more conversation about what we all can be doing in ADVANCE of a presidential announcement? Regardless of when the Governor lets us in on her decision, which I expect will be shortly, there is much to be done:

- Undefeated viewing parties

- Letters to the editor

- Going to your monthly county GOP/Libertarian/Independent/Tea Party meetings

- Getting to know persons of political influence in your community, learning their “issues” and building rapport … this will be invaluable once the Guv has a formal campaign team in place, and you are able to make introductions, and present your informal “canvas” of the the movers and shakers in your area.

- Don’t force your view of Gov. Palin on others, but look for opportunities to “listen first,” make friendships and provide helpful information when you feel prompted or inspired to do so.

By the way, a lot of the above constructive “organizing” ideas came from Firelight, one of my friends, and someone who not long ago was given a rough time on C4P for voicing “concerns.” We want everyone to feel welcome here, especially great supporters like Firelight. Don’t make me NUKE you guys for being mean!

So much of life is simply about making friends, isn’t it? I’ve made so many great friends here at C4P … but sometimes even friends can “get sideways” with one another. (It happens.) The best we can do sometimes is try to make peace, ask for forgiveness, and recognize … WE ARE ON THE SAME TEAM. That which unites us is stronger than that which divides. We may not agree 100% on everything. That’s to be expected and respected. We don’t have to co-sign on a mortgage together or sing Kumbaya. We don’t really even have to like each other all the time. But we need each other, and if we can overlook our differences and intramural squabbles to form a united front, it will be all the better for Governor Palin.

Is that realistic enough for the so-called “realists”?

Thanks for tolerating this public service announcement.

In the spirit of friendship … I wanted to pass along something I learned this week from a Facebook friend. Maybe it will help us all get along:

One of my affirmations I say every day is, “I forgive everyone for everything, including myself, and I now humbly ask the forgiveness of everyone for everything.” Kinda covers it all, no?

Great advice, isn’t it?

And now we return to Christie Watch 2011.