A Choice Not An Echo


A Lesson in Contrast

In my lifetime the greatest electoral achievements made by the Republican party were made possible by offering a choice rather than an echo. The Reagan Revolution and the ’94 Republican take over of the House were both examples of this. Once again in 2010 we will be given the option of offering a choice rather than an echo in Senate and Congressional races around the nation.

With just 55% of conservatives considering themselves Republicans, 73% of Republicans believing our leaders in DC are out of touch with the base, and Tea Party candidates coming out on top of the GOP in a generic three way ballot test, I believe that people are actively looking for that choice and refuse to accept an echo.

In the race to unseat Barbara Boxer from the Senate we have two Republican challengers. One offers a distinct choice and the other offers up an echo. Below are some text and videos on the subject of climate change from Barbara Boxer, Carly Fiorina* and Chuck DeVore. Let’s take a look at these.

First up…Babs

Environmental laws protect public health and preserve natural America for generations to come. A clean and healthy environment goes hand in hand with a strong economy, from California tourism to the creation of “green jobs”.

Next up Carly

We need to talk about climate change and energy policy at the same time. You really can’t solve one without the other … I think we should embrace the opportunities that creation of clean green technology presents, the opportunity to create new jobs…

in conjunction with this video…

Anybody else hearing echoes?**

Now let’s look at Chuck [This is an exclusive I obtained from Chuck DeVore] …

There’s no such thing as a state-created ‘green job’ that doesn’t illustrate Bastiat’s broken-window fallacy. Enduring job creation and economic growth are the result of a free market, not government intervention. When you hear a Democrat — or a liberal Republican — talk about environmental regulation resulting in job creation, grab your wallet and start looking at the help-wanted ads. A policy that doesn’t place jobs and economic growth first — not co-equal with environmentalism, but first — is a failure of leadership.

In conjunction with this video…

The choice is clear, as is the echo. 2010 has the potential to be a wave year for Republicans. We have a seven point advantage on the generic ballot***, and a strong batch of conservatives willing to capitalize on that in order to be elected to the Senate.

I stand with Chuck as he offers a choice to the primary voters of California rather than an echo. Where do you stand?

Aaron B. Gardner

Crossposted at my blog.

* Note to NRSC, notice that I made a clickable link to both Republican primary candidates, this despite the fact that I have publicly endorsed Chuck DeVore. Take the hint.

** Carly Fiorina has since jumped on the climategate bandwagon. But let me be clear here, Carly Fiorina has a public record of accepting the false “science” of climate change and policy positions which would lead to more regulations and financial burdens on businesses, especially small businesses. This certainly makes one question what Fiorina really believes and whether her change in stances is nothing more than a simple political calculation rather than a principled stand.

*** This stat changed while I was writing this, the newest Rasmussen generic ballot shows a 4 point advantage to Republicans. The overall point remains true.


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23 Comments Leave a comment

Had not realized we had improved so nicely...

penguin2 (Diary) Tuesday, December 8th at 4:07PM EST (link)

on the generic ballot. Though, I do not live in CA, IMO, California cannot afford a Carly Fiorina, unless they want more of the same extremists environmental policies. I also think there are other issues about her, that conservatives are concerned about, and as it is a primary, we should be closely watching this.

Nice, Aaron. And I have given support to DeVore.

Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God. – Benjamin Franklin
When Good stands up to Evil, Evil blinks. – Vassar Bushmills

Conservative Education: Suggested Reading List

Activists Taking Action: Unified Patriots

 

" Tea Party candidates coming out on top in a generic three way ballot test"

redtillimdead (Diary) Tuesday, December 8th at 4:21PM EST (link)

Really? It looks to me like Tea Party candidates just take away enough Republican votes to put Dems in 1st place

Nancy Pelosi can kiss my asstroturf.

Sorry, redtillimdead, that should have said "on top of the GOP".

Aaron Gardner (Diary) Tuesday, December 8th at 4:25PM EST (link)

I will correct that, thanks for catching that.

conform and celebrate diversity….or else!!!

“We’d be much better off if We The People had desired small government enough to keep it.” acat


 
 

The choice is clear?

H (Diary) Tuesday, December 8th at 4:32PM EST (link)

Only if you are not an educated child of pop culture who hasn’t read a book since the last time a leftist professor or high school teacher forced you to under threat of receiving less than an A as a final grade. Those people will vote for Boxer. Or they will vote for Fiorina if they hold private sector jobs that they like. That whole “broken window” thing will just be lost on the lot of them.

Read, is Corzine still gov of NJ???

Aaron Gardner (Diary) Tuesday, December 8th at 4:39PM EST (link)

That’s right, people can learn.

conform and celebrate diversity….or else!!!

“We’d be much better off if We The People had desired small government enough to keep it.” acat


Not to be too cynical, but...

H (Diary) Tuesday, December 8th at 5:27PM EST (link)

I am hopeful, but our history is that the NJ GOP feeds social conservatives to the wolves (i.e. Schundler, Lonergan) and as an organization will not tolerate anyone from off the Trenton Country Club reservation. If, last year, if a Fiorina-like Republican candidate could have been found, nobody would know who Christie is today.

But we were talking about California here, the home of Republican Governor Schwarzenegger. Devore has a very tough row to hoe, especially against a couple of three-legged environists.

 
 
 

ANOTHER one I wish I had written

E Pluribus Unum (Diary) Tuesday, December 8th at 4:33PM EST (link)

I am tired to death of the Repubs, especially the establishment, offering up nothing but Dem Lite, in both legislation and candidates.

We have the carnage of that ‘strategy’ all around us. Jeffords, Chafee, Specter, Mccain as nominee, NCLB, DOE, and even Norm Coleman.

Enough of the vagina-driven politics! Draw swords and jab the pointy end into the other guy alrready! In the Senate, the term ‘unanymous consent’ should be a forgotten concept, and I don’t care if those Democrat c##ts do it to us when (not if) we get theSenate back.

Aaron, once again, proof that nuPaul was jmerely the first Model Fred in the house.

Kill the Terrorists
Protect the Borders
Punch the Hippies h/t IMAO

 

The choices are there

TxCon (Diary) Tuesday, December 8th at 5:08PM EST (link)

but it seems time and time again, too many primary voters get jittery at the last minute and elect the establishment candidate because they start believing the media, who tells them that “so and so” is the only person who can beat the Democrat.”

As a result you get people like McCain on the ballot and lose anyway.

That's the rub isn't it?

AceInTX (Diary) Wednesday, December 9th at 10:33AM EST (link)

If I had a dollar for every conservative I hear telling me “I like candidate so and so because he sounds like me but I won’t vote for him because he doesn’t have a chance”…I’d be an extremely rich man

It’s always the same…the establishment candidate is the only one that can win so we don’t dare vote for the guy we believe in…when the reality is just the opposite. and of course…the Doles and McCains and GHE Bush’s go on to lose with their pale pastels and lack of declarative differences between them and the Dems

And the silliness just happens over and over again in election after election…from one district to another…from one election year to another…and with each passing year…we’re one step closer to voting ourselves into slavery!

The “Big Tent” analogy isn’t the correct one…the correct one is a MAGNET…we need to be a MAGNET that draws these independents in who are sick and tired of what’s going on in WashingtonFred Thompson
 
 

Well stated AG...

AceInTX (Diary) Tuesday, December 8th at 6:19PM EST (link)

No more pale pastels

The “Big Tent” analogy isn’t the correct one…the correct one is a MAGNET…we need to be a MAGNET that draws these independents in who are sick and tired of what’s going on in WashingtonFred Thompson
 

Fiorina was a disaster at HP and Lucent.

jefflincoln Tuesday, December 8th at 7:31PM EST (link)

Devore needs to focus more on her job performance at these companies.

She is not a business leader that anyone I know who worked for those compaies during her reign respected. The fact she walked off with a severance package of 45 million (21 of it just to get lost) and used the victim card extensively to secure it.

There is a wealth of information out there on this just waiting for his campaign that should be brought back to light. Fiorina is another RINO who would be doing the deals for the camera time just like so many in the GOP have for decades now.

We do not need another self serving GOP candidate that ignores the wishes of a conservative America so they can indulge thier own entitlement fantasies. let’s not forget she uses the same slimy race baiting tactics as the Dems either….she is registered in the wrong party.

.02 from a former silicon valley native.

 

Lt. Col Allen West

DerKrieger (Diary) Tuesday, December 8th at 8:10PM EST (link)

I don’t know much about this guy but he’s running for the House in NV-22. He’s an African American. My dad, who’s a vet, is pretty charged up about the guy and donated to his campaign today.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VP2p91dvm6M&feature=player_embedded

“In questions of power, let no more be heard of confidence in man, but bind him down from mischief by the chains of the Constitution.” – Thomas Jefferson

“I cannot undertake to lay my finger on that article of the Constitution which granted a right to Congress of expending, on objects of benevolence, the money of their constituents.” – James Madison

Whenever the legislators endeavor to take away and destroy the property of the people, or to reduce them to slavery under arbitrary power, they put themselves into a state of war with the people, who are thereupon absolved from any further obedience.” — John Locke, 1690

DerKrieger

joayn (Diary) Tuesday, December 8th at 8:43PM EST (link)

My sister sent me info on this guy last month. Watched the video – he’s amazing.

America is an idea; a noble idea that essentially boils down to the shocking belief that the masses are in fact not asses. John Nolte

 

This guy is a Krieger,too.

Castor (Diary) Wednesday, December 9th at 12:51PM EST (link)

Where do I send a contribution?

 
 

Congratulations Aaron, you made The Hill!

penguin2 (Diary) Tuesday, December 8th at 8:20PM EST (link)

Wonderful!

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/days-end-round-up/71251-days-end-round-up

Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God. – Benjamin Franklin
When Good stands up to Evil, Evil blinks. – Vassar Bushmills

Conservative Education: Suggested Reading List

Activists Taking Action: Unified Patriots

Thanks Penguin...

Aaron Gardner (Diary) Tuesday, December 8th at 8:22PM EST (link)

I saw that as well, a first for me, at least to my knowledge.

conform and celebrate diversity….or else!!!

“We’d be much better off if We The People had desired small government enough to keep it.” acat


 
 

Carly is an echo of McCain and the Libs

johnglarsen Tuesday, December 8th at 8:32PM EST (link)

Carly really is an echo – of McCain and the Libs. I’ve heard her state that the Internet should be regulated and, if nothing else kills her candidacy in my mind, it is Juan McCain’s endorsement.

John from Jefferson

 

With Fiorina's background and history,

joayn (Diary) Tuesday, December 8th at 8:51PM EST (link)

it’s amazing that she is running at all. Hewlett-Packard, her voting history, her involvement in an arms to Iran deal, the list goes on and on.

She really epitomizes the arrogance of politicians nowadays. I see her as an insult to the California Republican voter.

America is an idea; a noble idea that essentially boils down to the shocking belief that the masses are in fact not asses. John Nolte

why shouldn't they be arrogant...they go along doing anything they want and thumb their noses at voters...and they get re-elected

AceInTX (Diary) Wednesday, December 9th at 10:36AM EST (link)

Unbelievable!

The “Big Tent” analogy isn’t the correct one…the correct one is a MAGNET…we need to be a MAGNET that draws these independents in who are sick and tired of what’s going on in WashingtonFred Thompson
 
 

California is a green state...

nod90 (Diary) Tuesday, December 8th at 10:09PM EST (link)

…and it always has been. I think that anybody running state wide needs to be at least slightly green

There is a big difference between Fiorina and Boxer. Boxer and her supporters are willing to burn the economy at the altar of environmentalism. She’s too smart to say that in so many words, so what she says instead is that environmentalism is good for the economy. That way there isn’t a choice to be made.

Fiorina points out that California is so unfriendly to business that even the ‘green jobs’ don’t locate here. Unlike Boxer, Fiorina thinks a healthy economy matters and she is willing to point out the cost of runaway environmentalism.

DeVore’s ad is very good……for Texas. Being that hostile to environmentalists is probably not going to help in a state wide race here. I’d prefer to see him talk about how environmental laws cost jobs.

The bottom line is that California isn’t a red state, It isn’t even a swing state. On enviromentalism and social issues we are deep blue. We are less blue on national security and the role of govenment. The state is arguably pale red on taxes and immigration.

And it always will be as long as people like you don't stand up for a real change.

Aaron Gardner (Diary) Tuesday, December 8th at 10:46PM EST (link)

It’s sad that you are willing to forgo even the possibility of a fight. You need to shake the slave mentality, though off your shackles and stand up for what is right if you ever want your state to be functional again.

You completely miss the point of offering a choice rather than an echo.

Sad.

conform and celebrate diversity….or else!!!

“We’d be much better off if We The People had desired small government enough to keep it.” acat


Amen! nt

AceInTX (Diary) Wednesday, December 9th at 10:38AM EST (link)
The “Big Tent” analogy isn’t the correct one…the correct one is a MAGNET…we need to be a MAGNET that draws these independents in who are sick and tired of what’s going on in WashingtonFred Thompson
 
 
 

I disagree with the Choice / Echo argument

Change Jar Conservative (Diary) Wednesday, December 9th at 11:10AM EST (link)

It ignores the fact that there are certain states where a Dem Lite candidate (see Maine for details) can win and a conservative can’t.

There are several states where this is true and California is one of them. I know. I lived there for 30 years and I doubt that it’s gotten LESS liberal since then.

Can Fiorina win? No. Her incompetence at HP is legendary especially so in Calfornia.

Can Devore win? Probably not.

Frankly, I don’t think either one is worth the money when that same amount of money could be divided up into multiple red midwestern states ( at least one Dakota seat is up for grabs + Arkansas) and the GOP would have:

a) a better chance to win one seat than to win california
b) a better chance to win two seats than to win california

Should we be supporting Rubio over Crist?

Absolutely. But that is a different animal. Florida is a state that has a history of voting for conservatives since Duekmajin really doesn’t.

********
Formerly know as “Oz” in these parts