I do believe the elected should primarily represent the electorate, but we should also remember that Congressional races are not run on votes alone. They’re also run on cash, and a lot of that cash comes from the party and its members.

Also, at what point does “representing the constituents” cross the line into “at the whim of the polls”? I respect a politician who stands on principle rather than on the always-changing wind of public opinion.

If we can’t count on someone with an “R” after his name to vote against an econonmy destorying bill like this, then what difference does that letter make?

If he’s going to vote like a democrat when the going gets tough, there might as well be a democrat fanny filling the seat. At least then the Democrats will have to take full blame of the effects of tragically bad legislation forced on the voters over the objections of the Republicans.

Seems to me that limited party resources would be better spent winning seats that can be counted on rather than securing “dem lite” seats for RINOs.

Bill

Just compare this outrageous falsehood to Ronald Reagans’ famous quote:
“The most dangerous myth is the demagoguery that business can be made to pay a larger share, thus relieving the individual. Politicians preaching this are either deliberately dishonest, or economically illiterate, and either one should scare us.

“Business doesn’t pay taxes, and who better than business to make this message known? Only people pay taxes, and people pay as consumers every tax that is assessed against a business.”

And after the way the rammed this through the House with little debate, without legislators even reading it… and while quarantining the GOP from any meaningful input whatsoever, any foolhardy individuals who still believe Obama’s threadbare “bipartisanship” spiel ought to have their head examined.

http://reaganiterepublicanresistance.blogspot.com/

For example, neither Snowe or Collins has ever cast real vote that hurt us until Specter went totally off the reservation and they followed. I’m reasonably sure that if Specter had voted NO, they would have as well. Leaders they ain’t. And they’re not fighters either.

If House and Senate Rs understood that the legislative priorities had to be held and that there would be serious consequences for squirreling on those, squishies from lefty districts would not be an issue. But, of course, that would require leadership. Something I’ve only seen twice in my life – Reagan and Newt. Neither of the Bushes could lead an addict to drugs, nor could any other national party “leader” we’ve seen.

One, you force the Dems to use valuable resources and that helps in other races.

Two, you never know what the future holds. States do turn, just not in one election cycle. You have to go Purple before you go Red. See how the Dems captured Red states, not by insisting that they run and vote like New Yorkers.

Three, states are the laboratories of democracy. We get to see what works and what doesn’t by watching races and politicians in other states Wisconsin is a Blue-purple state, but they taught us how to win welfare reform. California is a Blue state, but they taught us how to win gay marriage. Jodi Rell maintains extraordinarily high approval numbers for a Republican in New England; her tone, style, approach and popularity can help Simmons defeat Dodd. Gov. Carcieri won twice in RI even though he is pro-life and can show the way for pro-lifers to run and win in Blue states.

Trying to elect Republicans in places like San Francisco & Cambridge, MA is a total waste of time and effort – what you end up with are guys not worth having in the first place.

Rather than wasting time keeping losers like Reichart afloat (it’s a waste of time, money and effort), I’d rather concentrate efforts on taking people like Pomeroy of ND *out* – places like ND is where we *should* be winning.

What we should be doing instead, is trying to win back all the truly Red & Purple districts.

If this is the price of keeping a ‘Blue’ district, I’d rather punt.

Nice try.

I was impressed wit him on the floor, but I am still disappointed by the lack of organization preceding the vote. The official schedule and Pelosi’s staff confirmed that a vote would take place by the end of the week last Monday. It would have been nice to see some leadership before Thursday afternoon.

McConnell:

Isn’t it a bit unfair to compare the two? The Senate is known as the most exclusive club in the world. That may suck, but it’s the nature of the body. There are only 100 seats; incumbents are so hard to unseat; and six years terms make long term relationship building natural and essential.

McConnell does have a reputation of being a master of Senate procedures. I know all the cheerleading, but in reality our best weapons during these precarious years are delaying, stalling and sabotaging legislation. He may not be glamorous, but he may be useful.

the consistent ones are rare (Sessions, DeMint, Ryan….others?)

And I don’t care for the eight. It’s just refreshing to read a different perspective.

Conservatives should have been thrilled with Sununu (a 93% lifetime ACU rating), but he showed his independent streak from time to time (often rhetorical and not substantive) to show NH voters that he was no a lackey for the GOP bosses (NH voters are very indpendent) and he was treated like an afterthought by the base out West and down South.

He voted to the Right of the NH populace and what’s he got to show for it; a kick in the teeth from the self-righteous base and a punch in the stomach from the NH voters.

There will be a handful that will betray the Party line on environmental issues; there will be a few that betray the party line on abortion; there will be a few that betray the party line on Iraq; and so on and so on.

And they will not always be the same people. We are not monolithic. Insisting on complete party discipline all the time is nearly impossible. If we throw five or ten defectors out after every key vote, they will be no party left.

Educate, not excoriate.

Sorry Eric, but I don’t agree with this. A Republican majority that spends money they don’t have, raises taxes in a recession and regularly violates the law is indistinguishable from what we have now. I’m more interested in a successful United States that Republicans in charge of a mess.

-Bri