While we’re all focusing on picking Charlie Crist off in the Florida Senate Primary, I think if conservatives really want to send the GOP establishment a message, target number one a high priority should actually be Bob Bennett of Utah. Just to clarify for those of you freaking out that I said target number one should be Bennett: the Bennett race happens before the Florida race. That said, we should be targeting more than just Florida. Bennett is worth picking off because he is an incumbent troublemaker. Granted, it was a poor choice of words on my part, but I hope you get the drift — picking off an incumbent has added value.
Bennett is prehaps the pettiest, vainest, and most out of touch of all Republican Senators. He, an appropriator, has never met an earmark he did not like. He is quicker than either Lindsey Graham or Olympia Snowe to cut deals with the Democrats that cut the throats of his Republican colleagues.
Bennett and several Democrats are floating a healthcare alternative that explicitly pays for abortions and is considered by the Heritage Foundation to be to the left of what the Democrats are considering right now.
In short, I have said for a while now that where the right can win, the GOP should go right. The right can win in Utah. And the way to do that is to purge Bob Bennett.
Utah will have a convention. Last year, Utah Republicans threw one member of Congress out in the convention. Next year, we should encourage them to do the same and do it to Bennett.
A well-placed Utah GOP source said the conservative movement could really have an impact in the state, especially if the Tea Party movement, the 9/12ers and the Patrick Henry Caucus can settle on one candidate.
“This is tailor-made for those folks,” the source said. “This is a state where those people can make a difference, and quite honestly, they do not like Bennett.”
Another group that could join the cause is the Club for Growth. After endorsing Marco Rubio over Gov. Charlie Crist this week in Florida’s GOP Senate primary, the group will continue to monitor Utah.
The Club has already contacted potential delegates several times and run $100,000 worth of ads against Bennett’s healthcare plan.
Defeating Bennett in the Utah Republican Convention should be a high priority for conservatives considered about the leftward drift of the Republican Party.
KnightsofMalta
Dan Spencer
Moe Lane
Steve Maley
Dan McLaughlin
Caleb Howe
Leftward Drift
pirate55 (Diary) Saturday, November 14th at 10:06AM EST (link)Come on Erick, Rubio defeating Crist in Florida is equally important. Don’t place a No. 1 priority mentality on any of this. If conservatism is to be reinstilled into the GOP it must be done widely, and nationally.
But not simulataneously
voxoreason Monday, November 16th at 10:23AM EST (link)Putting one foot in front of the other, one step at a time, why not plan on both?
This is not an either/or choice. “Both” is an option. Christmas is important as is Thanksgiving. But Thanksgiving comes first.
Some details on Utah
samdallas (Diary) Saturday, November 14th at 10:30AM EST (link)Utah has local issues that are highly unique in a way analogous to Florida. But instead of Cubans and old people, Utah has LDS. Also, the Republican primary is for registered voters only. As the senatorial election in Utah is the primary, all that matters is who is a registered Republican. Watch out for crossover registration!
LDS
jeffreywturner (Diary) Sunday, November 15th at 4:50PM EST (link)Yeh, and the main Mormon we need to focus on defeating next year is Harry Reid, not Bob Bennett. Reid is an insult to Mormons.
“Life is too short, can’t we all just eat pork and kill some terrorists?”
Not a religion thing
arc_ut (Diary) Sunday, November 15th at 6:24PM EST (link)Don’t vote out Reid or Bennett because or not because of their religion. vote them out for spending our money hand over fist.
Often wondered about that
SteveLA (Diary) Sunday, November 15th at 6:28PM EST (link)arc_ut
I wonder what the conversation goes like between Harry and his Bishop? Is it anything like the Kennedy’s, or Nasty Nancy and their Bishops, and for that matter their entire church hierarchy?
Their liberal political positions on Gay marriage and abortion is so out of touch with what their church teaches, I don’t get how they still claim membership in their churches, nor does their church leadership lay real smack-downs on them. Always been puzzled by that.
______________________________________
Competency over ideological purity and litmus tests
It is different with Reid.
jeffreywturner (Diary) Wednesday, November 18th at 10:17PM EST (link)He at least pretends to be “pro-life” and “opposed” to same-sex marriage. The liberal Catholics don’t even pretend, because it has gotten to be so accepted in that Church that it has so many Catholics-in-name-only.
The thing about Reid that is such an affront to Mormons is his attitude.
I am not a Mormon, and I think they are dead wrong in many of their beliefs, but every Mormon I have ever met (including some in my own family) has been as kind, thoughtful and courteous as can be. It has to do with the fact that they think you can “earn” you way into Heaven with good works (to over-simplify it a bit). Mitt Romney is your proto-typical Mormon. Ever notice how he never says a mean word about anyone and is always smiling? Reid on the other hand, is an absolute jerk. I mean he is as rude, crass and ungrateful as they come. There must be some new sect of Mormonism, that teaches that you get into Heaven by being a jerk. That is the only way to explain Harry Reid.
“Life is too short, can’t we all just eat pork and kill some terrorists?”
Mike from Utah
eldstenorge Saturday, November 14th at 11:03AM EST (link)Samdallas has some things right here. As much as I dislike Bob Bennett, the election of Marco Rubio is of first importance to me, having relatives all over Florida and having graduated from High School there. Secondly, is Bennett. We have a strong, good, conservative running against him in Cherilyn Eagar. Please support her as well. Next week she has Joe The Plumber all over Utah for meetings with her campaign. It is exciting. She was a big Pat Buchanan supporter and the national treasurer for the Reform Party when he ran for President on it, while she lived in Connecticut. But, she was born and raised in Utah and comes from a very established LDS family here. With money and help, she can win. Do not forget her.
Cherilyn Eagar is the best candidate
arc_ut (Diary) Saturday, November 14th at 11:30AM EST (link)Cherilyn Eagar is the best candidate to replace Senator Bob Bennett from Utah.
http://www.eagarforsenate.com/about-cherilyn
I think the website/pac wanting to throw out 20 rotten eggs is funny.
https://www.thegoodeggclub.com/
Bennett is on the list to be replaced by Eagar
Comments from above. The best time to beat Bennett is in convention and if so, there will be no primary.
More details on convention?
samdallas (Diary) Saturday, November 14th at 11:37AM EST (link)I am not from Utah so I am not sure what you mean– I had just heard about the registration stuff. How does the convention/primary thing work in Utah?
Convention in May.
arc_ut (Diary) Monday, November 16th at 9:01AM EST (link)there are 3500 state delegates elected from their neighborhoods next March They vote in May..
If at anytime someone gets 60%, of delegate votes, they avoid a primary and further votes.
3 ballots, after the 1st one, if not 60%, all but the top 3 are eliminated.
on the 2nd ballot, the one with the lowest votes is gone.
One the 3rd, if the one with the most votes has over 60%, they are the party nominee, if not, there is a primary in June.
Bennett thinks he is what?
arc_ut (Diary) Saturday, November 14th at 11:34AM EST (link)In March of this year Senator Bob Bennett was rated one of the ten most liberal Republicans in the Senate by Human Events based on the American Conservative Union Ratings for 2008. Why Bennett would pay money to convince voters he is Conservative is beyond me.
Because in UT, if you're not LDS and a conservative,
eburke (Diary) Saturday, November 14th at 12:44PM EST (link)you simply have no chance of winning. It’s why even Mattheson, (CongressCritter from the Salt Lake City area) ia truly a ‘moderate’ Dem and voted against Cap & Trade.
The 3rd district in southern Utah ditched Chris Cannon last year *in the primary* for his pro-amnesty views. If you ain’t at least perceived as being pro-life and conservative in UT, you’re toast.
It’s why Bob Bennett pisses me of *much* more than either of the Maine sisters. Snowe & Collins may just be the best we can get out of the People’s Republic of Maine; I lived in UT for 8 years and I guarantee you a Jim Demint/Tom Coburn type can absolutely win there. To be saddled with 2 mealy mouthed, ‘collegial Senatorial types in Hatch and Bennett in UT is ridiculous.
“All that need be done for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.”
Unified Patriots
eburke
mom2oneson (Diary) Saturday, November 14th at 1:45PM EST (link)I wondered about that too! UT is very red why do we have RINOs there. There are therre in local leadership with democrats too. I don’t get it.
From my experience there, UT is very red but it
eburke (Diary) Saturday, November 14th at 2:13PM EST (link)is also very much of a ‘good ol’ boys (& to a lesser extent gals) state. LDS influence is *huge* in both the business and political communities to the point where even though approximately 70% of the state is LDS, something like 90% plus of the elected officials are.
I remember in either 02 or 04 a single, non-LDS guy ran for the GOP nod in CD-2 to oppose Mattheson; super conservative guy who put together about a 9 month campaign but lost in the convention to a guy who only compaigned for about a month but who, at the convention, brought out his family, made not-so-subtle references to his LDS faith, and absolutely smoked the single, non-LDS candidate.
Not saying it’s right or wrong…it just *is*. So…who you know…where you’re at in the church (Bennett’s grandfather I think, was the Prophet of the LDS church which is somewhat the equivalent of being the Pope for Catholics) and are HUGE in UT. If you’ve held the right positions, set the ‘right’ example in the church, and scratched the right backs, the big money (and in UT there’s a *lot* of it) will be in your corner.
I was *ecstatic* to see the Cannon wing of the party get obliberated in the primary down in CD-3 last year by the LDS ‘peasants’ down there (’cause southern UT is about 95% Mormon)
“All that need be done for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.”
Unified Patriots
Eburke thanks for explaining
mom2oneson (Diary) Saturday, November 14th at 10:12PM EST (link)I live in a red area in the South but I’ve noticed how much the local government is into big spending and big local government and stuff. It’s very good old boys club. All the money here is old, not like Kennedy rich, but anyone with anything got it from their parents. Up north you see a lot of self made type of folks..here it’s more inheritance.
Two things I’ve noticed from people I’ve known from UT is very strict HOA stuff like very weird. Secondly was situations where the church and the school district were wrapped up in each other for example church primary (children’s church) records being released to the district. A few court cases have home out of UT that were prejudiced against homeschoolers.
You're gonna have to excuse my ignorance, mom2, but
eburke (Diary) Sunday, November 15th at 12:20AM EST (link)what’s HOA stand for?
As for church and state integration, Utah is about as close as it gets to a state still having a state religion as set up by the Constitution before all this ‘wall of separation’ stuff set in. You will without fail find an LDS seminary for middle school and high school kids across the street or adjacent to every high school and elementary school, and kids are given ‘release time’ to attend. It’s why school choice has such a hard time gaining a foothold despite Utah’s otherwise conservative nature.
Many, many of my coworkers and friends wouldn’t take a position on an issue unless and until the Church commented on it, sometimes directly, sometimes obliquely. And like I said, there’s a reason 90+ % of the elected officials are Mormon even though areas like SLC are only about 45% LDS.
Not bagging on the state. I absolutely *loved* living there and you couldn’t find a more ‘moral’ place to raise your kids. But the connections and tentacles of the LDS church reach everywhere and connections are everything there.
“All that need be done for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.”
Unified Patriots
eburke
mom2oneson (Diary) Sunday, November 15th at 7:27AM EST (link)Sorry HOA is Hom Owners Association.
I wasn’t downing the state either, I’ve heard the same that it’s a great place to raise kids.
A lot of books I have requested from interlibrary loan have come from SLC.
The school/gov and church stuff bothers me. I have a problem with the gov or school being present in the church I guess. The whole gov or public school is good and without potentional to harm attitude scares me.
It doesn't look like it
Menlo (Diary) Sunday, November 15th at 12:35AM EST (link)Based on a number of articles the last year or two, it seems their attorney general apparently has the pro-life credentials of his or her counterparts in the bluest of blue states. I’m not sure if this position is elected or appointed or which party its particular officeholder is in, but their AG is not very representative of the voters you describe.
“The ultimate touchstone of constitutionality is the Constitution itself and not what we have said about it.” -Felix Frankfurter
I didn't say you couldn't win in UT being a mealy-mouthed
eburke (Diary) Sunday, November 15th at 6:30PM EST (link)squishy, castrated RINO. Hell, both the senators they have now fit that description. But I’m telling you from having lived there for 8 years, your *official* position on abortion had better be pro-life or the LDS church will never support you and your odds of winning are about nil without that support. and if you stray too far off the conservative reservation, you’re in deep do-do (give ex-Congressman Cannon a call about that)
My point was, and is, that the people of UT are most likely the most conservative bunch in the nation. The reason we get squishes like Bennett, Hatch, Shurtleff, and Huntsman is because there’s a *lot* of big monied, big business interestes in UT and that money flows to those individuals with church and business connections (and in UT they’re one and the same thing).
The battle for the soul of the UT GOP isn’t any different than it is anywhere else in the country – it’s between the ‘monied, big business’ interests who are embarassed by the rube, hayseed hick peasants who are in the grass roots. The difference is, the constituency is extremely conservative and, as I’ve said before, if you don’t mouth conservative platitudes and vote that way on the big issues, and abortion is HUGE because of the role birth has in the LDS religion, you’re not gonna get elected.
Utah’s elected officials are more conservative than most but because of the beliefs of the inhabitants of the state, it’s one of those states where anything less than a 90% conservative voting record is a waste of a seat. DeMint and Coburn could win all day, every day, in UT which can’t be said, for example, of Maine and Vermont.
“All that need be done for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.”
Unified Patriots
Because in UT, if you're not LDS and a conservative, you simply have no chance of winning.
mbecker908 (Diary) Sunday, November 15th at 5:49PM EST (link)And the Mayor of Salt Lake City is WHO?????
Rocky Anderson. SLC is a surprisingly small city
eburke (Diary) Sunday, November 15th at 6:17PM EST (link)of only about 180,000 in a valley with about 1.5 million in it. Thankfully, the small contingent of wing-nuts and moonbats in UT limit their confines to its city limits.
My context was in reference to statewide or CD elections. SLC has (or had when I was living there) 2 Dem legislators who were openly gay but I guarantee you they would have ZERO chance of winning a statewide or congressional election. Even Mattheson, whose district encompasses SLC, has to mind his Ps & Qs and has, for a Dem, a fairly moderate voting record (opposed Porkulus, Cap & Trade and Health Care) cause there ain’t enough libtard votes in SLC to offset all the conservative suburbs and outstate counties in his district.
Now, that may change if/when UT get a 4th CD and Mattheson loses some of the more conservative areas of the state (unless the GOP legislature dilutes Mattheson’s Dem votes into other districts) but there was not one pro-choice, non-LDS state or federal elected official living there when we moved 5 years ago and I don’t think that it’s changed.
“All that need be done for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.”
Unified Patriots
Thanks e. I could never figure out how Rocky
mbecker908 (Diary) Sunday, November 15th at 7:53PM EST (link)got anything but tarred and feathered in UT. Now I understand.
Well, mbecker, he does pretty much stay within the confines
eburke (Diary) Sunday, November 15th at 8:01PM EST (link)of SLC ’cause otherwise he *would* get the asphalt and bird treatment anywhere else. Rocky’s an ACLU-loving, libtard, left-wing whack job who’s fairly despised in UT, even within the Democrat establishment, because he makes them look to the ‘uninformed, LDS voter like the whack-jobs they are while the Dems know their only path from political oblivion in the state is to look like “GOP-lite”.
Rocky’s got about as much chance of winning a statewide election in Utah as DeMint does of winning one in Massachusetts (I take that back; I’m thinking DeMint has a better chance in MS because he’s got Anderson beat in the ‘functioning brain cells’ category by a factor of, oh…say several million))
“All that need be done for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.”
Unified Patriots
Rocky isn't in, but the current guy
arc_ut (Diary) Monday, November 16th at 9:03AM EST (link)isn’t LDS either.
They finally got rid of Rocky? Or did he just slither away
eburke (Diary) Monday, November 16th at 12:04PM EST (link)under a rock somewhere? Who they got now?
As I’ve noted before, my reference is to federal or statewide offices. And, again, the fact that only 90% of the officeholders in the state of UT are LDS doesn’t mean it’s *impossible* to win without being LDS…but if you’re going to win a local race and not be Mormon, SLC is the place to do it. SLC has by far the highest proponderence of non-LDS officials owing to the fact that, at least when we lived in suburbia there, it was only about 45% LDS. I’m guessing it’s the only city of any size there where you would find less than half of the residents of the LDS-faith.
“All that need be done for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.”
Unified Patriots
So, as an ex-Utahan, someone still living there help me out.
eburke (Diary) Saturday, November 14th at 12:47PM EST (link)I’ve read a lot about Cheryl Eager and all *sounds* well and good but I’m also on the Facebook groups of the Patrick Henry Caucus and the Utah Tea Party group and I thought I got some info that they were coalescing around someone other than Cheryl.
So, 1) what’s the straight skinny; 2) if there’s more than one “conservative”, which one’s the real deal; and 3) if they’re both the real deal, any chance of getting them to coalesce around one candidate so they don’t split the vote and leave us with Bozo Bob?
“All that need be done for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.”
Unified Patriots
Try this source
saintgeorgegentile Saturday, November 14th at 12:53PM EST (link)An article from the SL Trib from when Shurtleff suspended his campaign (hooray!):
http://www.sltrib.com/News/ci_13711122%2013711338
Freedom is the glue of capitalism, that amoral wisdom of the markets that most efficiently allots goods and services to a citizenry.
-Victor Davis Hanson
Well, I'm relieved to see that Shurtleff, who's almost as
eburke (Diary) Saturday, November 14th at 1:04PM EST (link)big a RINO douchebag as Bennett, isn’t running. It’s been a couple of years but I remember Lampropoulus’s gubenatorial campaign being quite conservative and I think Bridgewater ran for Congress in CD 2 and I recall (vaguely) him being conservative.
So from your vantage point, who has the best shot of knocking off Bennett (assuming my memory is good and I’m recalling the conservative bona fides correctly). I hate to see the conservative vote split but the good news is that the UT system requires RINO Bob to get 60% of the convention vote to avoid a primary so even if the conservative vote is split, as each one gets dropped, Bob won’t get their votes so eventually the conservative vote will have to coalesce around one person so I think this is doable.
Just wondering who’s most worthy, in your opinion, of a donation.
“All that need be done for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.”
Unified Patriots
Still Deciding
saintgeorgegentile Saturday, November 14th at 2:20PM EST (link)I’m a recent arrival in Southern Utah having escaped from Daley’s Chicago Gulag. Up to this point the only candidates I heard anything about were Shurtleff (sorry about the family medical problems but DLTDHYINAOTWO) and Eager
Freedom is the glue of capitalism, that amoral wisdom of the markets that most efficiently allots goods and services to a citizenry.
-Victor Davis Hanson
Coalescing
utahhealthinsurance Sunday, January 3rd at 2:05PM EST (link)@eburke- the PHC and Tea Party movements here are truly independent thinking but conservative groups. The really investigate all the candidates very well. And yes, they do seem to be rallying around Mike Lee. He is the best candidate to unseat Bennett and will do so at the convention in May
Coalescing
arc_ut (Diary) Monday, January 4th at 5:40PM EST (link)No, I have talked to most of the Tea Party leaders in Utah. They are either staying neutral on this race, or backing Cherilyn Eagar for US Senate.
Popular Theme
saintgeorgegentile Saturday, November 14th at 12:48PM EST (link)There is also an article in the LA Times:
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-utah-senate14-2009nov14,0,4048460.story
I was very disappointed when Romney endorsed this doofus for re-election. Shurtleff is out of the running for his seat due to family problems ( http://heraldextra.com/news/local/article_932fa08e-c95f-11de-9947-001cc4c002e0.html ). Rep. Matheson-D (UT-2) could possibly take the seat if he reneges on his statement about not running (Matheson is in a very red district but has voted against Cap & Tax and PelosiCare and may be waiting for re-districting after the 2010 census to get a safer House seat when they add a 4th seat).
Eager seems to be the best hope at this moment to unseat the lying SOB (promised to serve only 2 terms, running for his 4th).
Freedom is the glue of capitalism, that amoral wisdom of the markets that most efficiently allots goods and services to a citizenry.
-Victor Davis Hanson
Don't ya just love the way the LA Times
eburke (Diary) Saturday, November 14th at 1:06PM EST (link)mitigates all of Bob’s moderate votes while subtly, and not so subtly, trashing the conservative base that’s opposed to him?
Good thing there’s no liberal bias in the media :: he says rolling eyes.
“All that need be done for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.”
Unified Patriots
Erick? Who to support? Can you help us out?
tricianc (Diary) Saturday, November 14th at 1:11PM EST (link)I don’t know Utah, it’s people nor it’s politics but I am all for getting our party back to our conservative social and fiscal values.
I trust your judgement and sensiblily in leading us towards the one most likely to succeed against Bennett. Every one has an opinion but we also need grounding. Let’s not support a candidate who can’t win. Our grassroots movement can be successful if we pull together.
Details, please At least can you gve us pros, cons, stats, likelihood of candidate? Perhaps an article.
I can’t do much from where I am but I can donate, phone bank, etc as I’m sure many would.
Let's do the research
makemyday (Diary) Saturday, November 14th at 1:37PM EST (link)I t seems to me that we are all proud of our knowledge of politics and candidates, but we still want to be led around by the nose. tricianc please understand I am NOT singleing you out here, but we must do the research and report back with info on the candidates. If all we are doing at RedState is taking away from the conversation others ideas then we do not grow into a knowledgeable force. We as a group should ALL strive to be “Front Pagers” by bringing ideas to the group, not just taking away.
A couple of quick keystrokes here and there and I am sure that someone can come up with a viable candidate and report back with the info. This forum in many ways can be looked upon like a investment club. Each member is tasked with reporting on a particular company (candidate) for consideration in the investment portfolio (conservative movement/RNC) of the club (forum).
When all else fails…….. Shoot!
“Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.” –American author Mark Twain (1835-1910)
“We should never despair, our Situation before has been unpromising and has changed for the better, so I trust, it will again. If new difficulties arise, we must only put forth new Exertions and proportion our Efforts to the exigency of the times.” –George Washington, letter to Philip Schuyler, 1777
555555555555555555.
Erick Erickson (Diary) Saturday, November 14th at 1:39PM EST (link)n.t
Who will stand on either hand and keep this bridge with me?Follow @EWErickson
A humble Thank You!
makemyday (Diary) Saturday, November 14th at 1:48PM EST (link)n/t
When all else fails…….. Shoot!
“Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.” –American author Mark Twain (1835-1910)
“We should never despair, our Situation before has been unpromising and has changed for the better, so I trust, it will again. If new difficulties arise, we must only put forth new Exertions and proportion our Efforts to the exigency of the times.” –George Washington, letter to Philip Schuyler, 1777
Why I asked for help
tricianc (Diary) Sunday, November 15th at 9:35PM EST (link)You bring up the point that with research and a couple keystrokes I could find my ideal candidate.
The problem with this is I can find all kinds of things on all kinds of people on the internet. Utah knows Utah. Conservatives know conservatives.
If a candidate is a newcomer, one can never know them by researching on the Internet. Sure, I could go to their page and read what they say but is that the truth? Is that how they’ve presented themselves in real life? Is their campaign page truthful and what they truly believet and will represent us with? If the Internet could tell us all that the decision would be easy. If that were the case, how did we end up with a President Obama?
I am new to this as are so many who found they could no longer sit on the sidelines and be ignorant. With this President and Congress, I find myself fighting some issue day after day. I also have been seeking out knowledge and getting immensely involved. I have found where I learn most from is from those with the knowledge that I do not have in the political world.
I was not “led by the nose” to go to D.C. 3 times in the last couple months to fight against tax increases and the healthcare takeover. Nor was I “led by the nose” to attend seminars and informational forums to learn how I can help get our country back. I was also not “led by the nose” when I helped canvass in GA for Saxby Chambliss on his rerun election or in VA for Bob McDonnell or phone banked for 10 days for Doug Hofman in NY23.
I am fighting too many battles on too many fronts and asked for help. I asked Erick because he has been around this much longer than I. I would rather those with knowledge and experience to direct me. I did not ask for a decision, I asked for advice and direction.
Why I asked for help
tricianc (Diary) Sunday, November 15th at 9:49PM EST (link)You bring up the point that with research and a couple keystrokes I could find my ideal candidate.
The problem with this is I can find all kinds of things on all kinds of people on the internet. Utah knows Utah. Conservatives know conservatives.
If a candidate is a newcomer, one can never know them by researching on the Internet. Sure, I could go to their page and read what they say but is that the truth? Is that how they’ve presented themselves in real life? Is their campaign page truthful and what they truly believet and will represent us with? If the Internet could tell us all that the decision would be easy. If that were the case, how did we end up with a President Obama?
I am new to this as are so many who found they could no longer sit on the sidelines and be ignorant. With this President and Congress, I find myself fighting some issue day after day. I also have been seeking out knowledge and getting immensely involved. I have found where I learn most from is from those with the knowledge that I do not have in the political world.
I was not “led by the nose” to go to D.C. 3 times in the last couple months to fight against tax increases and the healthcare takeover. Nor was I “led by the nose” to attend seminars and informational forums to learn how I can help get our country back. I was also not “led by the nose” when I helped canvass in GA for Saxby Chambliss on his rerun election or in VA for Bob McDonnell or phone banked for 10 days for Doug Hoffman in NY23.
I am fighting so many battles on too many fronts and asked for help. I asked Erick because he has been around this much longer than I. I would rather those with knowledge and experience to direct me. I did not ask for a decision, I asked for advice and direction.
Don't take offense
makemyday (Diary) Sunday, November 15th at 10:24PM EST (link)I was NOT singleing you out for disdain, I merely used the opportunity to make a point. I’m sorry for offending you if you feel offended but I did say someone (not you in particular) could make a few keystrokes and come up with a viable candidate and lo and behold several people contributed names and links for your perusal.
BTW welcome to the forum! You certainly sound like you come with credentials!
When all else fails…….. Shoot!
“Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.” –American author Mark Twain (1835-1910)
“We should never despair, our Situation before has been unpromising and has changed for the better, so I trust, it will again. If new difficulties arise, we must only put forth new Exertions and proportion our Efforts to the exigency of the times.” –George Washington, letter to Philip Schuyler, 1777
The more the better
Erick Erickson (Diary) Saturday, November 14th at 1:38PM EST (link)The more candidates who get in, the better it is because of convention politics. I’m withholding judgment for now. I like Cheryl, but I hear there are going to be one or two more really big names getting in too.
Who will stand on either hand and keep this bridge with me?Follow @EWErickson
3 Declared Candidates
saintgeorgegentile Saturday, November 14th at 2:29PM EST (link)From what I’ve been able to find out there are 3 declared candidates for Bennett’s seat on the non-democratic side. In alphabetical order they are:
Tim Bridgewater – http://www.timbridgewater.com/Tim/Home/Home.html
Cherilyn Eagar – http://www.eagarforsenate.com/
James Williams – http://www.voteforjameswilliams.com/
Freedom is the glue of capitalism, that amoral wisdom of the markets that most efficiently allots goods and services to a citizenry.
-Victor Davis Hanson
Candidates I would support to replace Bennett
Right_Again (Diary) Saturday, November 14th at 6:40PM EST (link)include:
1) Mike Leavitt, former Utah governor and most recently in Bush’s Cabinet.
2) Fred Lampropoulos, ran for governor in 2004; he could use that name recognition to ignite a campaign similar to that of Jason Chaffetz who unseated Chris Cannon in the primaries in 2008.
3) Cheryl Eager, I would like to know more, but I have only heard about her on this site (and I pay close attention to Utah politics).
My first choice would actually be Jason Chaffetz, but he had indicated he will not make the attempt at this time. I hope he will consider knocking off Orin Hatch at the next opportunity.
I would have even held my nose and voted for Shurtleff if he was a viable candidate, but now he is out. I want any Republican but Bennett, but I would much prefer a non-RINO. I think Shurtleff would not have pleased me.
More on Cherilyn Eagar
arc_ut (Diary) Saturday, November 14th at 7:45PM EST (link)http://www.redstate.com/cherilyneagar/2009/11/14/steps-i-will-take-to-invoke-the-constitution-to-rein-in-activist-judges/
http://www.eagar4senate.com/
http://twitter.com/CherilynEagar
http://www.facebook.com/cherilyn.eagar
http://www.youtube.com/user/Eagar4Senate
Principles for a Change.
Fiscal Restraint
Limited Government
Free Market Solutions
Energy Independence
Strong National Defense
… not only abroad and along our borders, but within our communities and our families.
Principled. Passionate. Persuasive. Prepared.
For more information and to donate, go to
http://www.eagar4senate.com/
Thanks
Right_Again (Diary) Sunday, November 15th at 9:51AM EST (link)I’ve clicked on your links before. I read three Utah newspapers and one national newspaper regularly. Until this morning (Sunday) I had not seen her mentioned in any of those papers. She was briefly mentioned in an article about Bennett struggling for re-election in the Deseret News today. She must do something big now if she really wants to garner the name recognition necessary to unseat the incumbent Bennett.
I know you are a fan, but she needs a lot more fans than those that see your links on RedState. Her campaign must find a way to make noise early and often if she wants a chance.
The Utah 912-ers and Tea Partiers have discovered the secret -- action where it matters: within the Party
ColdWarrior (Diary) Saturday, November 14th at 1:41PM EST (link)The Utah grass roots conservative leaders in the 912 and Tea Party organizations have realized that the solution to reforming the Republican Party in Utah is . . . reforming the Party from within its voting ranks. Today they are holding training sessions to teach their members how to join the Party as voting delegates so they may attend the nominating conventions where the delegates pick the nominiees. If they can get enough conservatives, they can deny Bennett a chance to even be on the Republican ticket.
Go here to read more:
http://rightjeff.blogspot.com/2009/10/utah-912-and-utah-tea-party-rally.html
TheHill.com also reported on this:
http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/67429-challengers-exit-could-clear-way-for-tea-party-vs-bennett
I know other Tea Party and 912 group leaders in other states are also figuring out the simple, but not so obvious, fact: the most important way to make an impact on the Party leaders is within the Republican Party by filling up all the vacant precinct committeeman slots — about HALF were vacant nationwide in 2008; where I live, in Maricopa County, AZ, over TWO-THIRDS were vacant. Well, some of us here are trying to change that. Then, conservatives can vote in better leaders and endorse the BEST conservative candidates in the primary elections.
If you aren’t already, I hope you’ll contact your local GOP organization and volunteer to become a PC. It’s easy. Go to the link below to learn more.
Thank you.
ColdWarrior
www.theprecinctproject.wordpress.com
In 2012, will YOU become a “voting member” of the Republican Party in your precinct?
Where it all started. Twitter @kaltkrieger
Unified Patriots.
Learn how to GOTV at The Concord Project and at Procinct and
Hey ColdWarrior my son just got his first....
JadedByPolitics (Diary) Saturday, November 14th at 2:09PM EST (link)piece of paperwork from the Fairfax County Republican Committee and his first full agenda meeting …whoo hooo baby WE got us a true Conservative Committee man in our house and in the local GOP.
Unified Patriots – How-To:
Activists Taking Action
Jaded that is wonderful!!! :) nt
mom2oneson (Diary) Sunday, November 15th at 6:48PM EST (link)It is isn't it mom2oneson....WE are pretty hyped about it :)...nt
JadedByPolitics (Diary) Sunday, November 15th at 6:57PM EST (link)…
Unified Patriots – How-To:
Activists Taking Action
Jaded, thanks for the great news re another new conservative in the real ball game.
ColdWarrior (Diary) Saturday, November 14th at 2:40PM EST (link)Keep us posted on you son’s progress! And I hope you and you family will keep on recruiting conservative precinct committeemen!
Thanks again,
ColdWarrior
In 2012, will YOU become a “voting member” of the Republican Party in your precinct?
Where it all started. Twitter @kaltkrieger
Unified Patriots.
Learn how to GOTV at The Concord Project and at Procinct and
Another Column RE: Eagar
saintgeorgegentile Saturday, November 14th at 3:04PM EST (link)This is from the opinion page today of the local paper, The Spectrum. The writer is the local news editor and a hard-core leftist.
http://www.thespectrum.com/article/20091114/OPINION/911140324/1014/OPINION
Freedom is the glue of capitalism, that amoral wisdom of the markets that most efficiently allots goods and services to a citizenry.
-Victor Davis Hanson
Good idea
Brad Smith (Diary) Saturday, November 14th at 3:13PM EST (link)Yeah, let’s blow a few million in conservative and Republican dollars to try to oust a moderate conservative like Bennett (and conservative is the key modifier, here – as his 64 ACU score shows, he’s no Snowe (ACU 12) or Collins (ACU 20) or Scozzafava. After all, it’s not like we don’t have enough Democratic targets out there, targets that will be very tough to unseat but whom can be unseated.
Dodd? Seriously, it’s Connecticut. We’re not gonna beat him. Burriss? No way we’ll win a seat in Illinois, no matter who the Dems nominate. Reid? Hey, I’m sure his opponent doesn’t need cash and volunteer time. After all, we here at Red State don’t like Reid, so it’s hard to believe anyone in Nevada would vote for him.
Who really cares that a decent conservative, Rob Portman, will have a tight battle to win in Ohio against Jennifer Brunner, an ACORNer? And Biden probably won’t run in Delaware, so no need to support Mike Castle, who’s pretty RINOey anyway. David Vitter has a tough race in Louisiana, but there’s better senators so what do we care if we lose that seat?
Pat Toomey? Why use money to try to help Toomey beat Specter, when we can spend it on a primary in Utah? New Hampshire is going Democrat anyway these days, so the h*** with the Senate race there – better to get Bennett out in Utah and elect a liberal in New Hampshire, than to win two seats with moderate conservatives. And there is certainly no point in trying to pick off Blanche Lincoln in Arkansas – after all, if we’re picking targets on which to use our scarce resources, well, at least she’s not a RINO like Bob Bennett, right? Let’s keep our priorities straight.
We’ll need lots of money in Florida, but hey, down there it’s warm and sunny, so money must grow on trees. I am sure none of the millions that will be spent in Utah would otherwise have found its way there. And while I like Jim Bunning well enough, well, he’s retiring and you can’t hold both Kentucky seats forever. Besides, maybe the Democrats won’t really contest Kentucky, saving their ammo to take on Mitch McConnell in 5 years.
We might lose a couple seats, but it’s not like we need Senate seats, anyway. I mean, we’ve got 40 senators, all we need is unanimity and one Democrat on any bill to launch a filibuster.
And Bennett’s been totally unreliable. I mean, Bennett voted for the stimulus, right? Oops? He voted AGAINST the stimulus? Well, it wasn’t an important vote, since it passed anyway. He’s never with us when it matters, right? Oh sure, the guy led the successful fight to prevent the Dems from extending McCain-Feingold like regulations to all grassroots lobbying, but what’s he done for us lately, other than vote against the stimulus. What’s that you say? He voted against government funding of abortions, and for a ban on partial birth abortions? A “zero” rating from NARAL and Planned Parenthood? OK, so other than the stimulus, abortion, and McCain-Feingold, what do we get from Bennett? Conceal and carry, you say? He supports that, and other gun rights? An “A” rating from the NRA? A “90″ score from Americans for Tax Reform?
OK, so other than guns, abortion, campaign finance, taxes, and the stimulus, what do we get from Bob Bennett?
No, I can scarcely think of a better thing for conservatives to be worked up, or a better race to spend our limited time and money, than trying to oust Bob Bennett in a GOP primary. If it works, we may even get to spend more money to hold the seat in the general election!
But we’ll send the “GOP establishment” a lesson! Huzzah!
Brad Smith
Josiah H. Blackmore II/Shirley M. Nault Designated Professor of Law
Capital University Law School
Capital University website
Center for Competitive Politics website
We can find a candidate better than Bennett
Right_Again (Diary) Sunday, November 15th at 10:01AM EST (link)We were able to throw Chris Cannon out and replace him with a much more conservative, Jason Chaffetz. Cannon was a moderate Republican in the mold of Bob Bennett. He favored amnesty for illegal immigrants and other Bush-type “moderate” causes. Utahns threw him out for someone who better reflects our conservative thinking. He was arrogant, again similar to Bennett, and presumed to lecture the majority of his constituents about why we should come around to his way of thinking rather than listening to ours.
The fact that we did so well exchanging Chaffetz (one of the best conservative representatives in the House) with Cannon (a so-so conservative) gives me justifiable hope that we can do the same with Bennett.
I support improving our candidates everywhere we can and replacing every one of theirs.
Yeah Cannon was a real squish
Brad Smith (Diary) Monday, November 16th at 12:44AM EST (link)What with his measley lifetime 96 rating from the American Conservative Union.
Cannon was a so-so conservative like Reggie Jackson was a so-so baseball player, which is to say there have been better, but they are few and far between.
Red State is starting to remind me of the People’s Front of Judea.
Brad Smith
Josiah H. Blackmore II/Shirley M. Nault Designated Professor of Law
Capital University Law School
Capital University website
Center for Competitive Politics website
Wait, you're COMPLAINING that Chaffetz knocked off Cannon?
Third Street (Diary) Monday, November 16th at 4:24AM EST (link)Man, that’s a first. Indeed there have been better, but the Cannon/Chaffetz primary shows us that this can be done and that we don’t have to settle for “so-so” conservatism when there is a better alternative.
“Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen nineteen six, result happiness. Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure twenty pounds ought and six, result misery.” –Wilkins Micawber, “David Copperfield”
No,
Brad Smith (Diary) Monday, November 16th at 7:47AM EST (link)You need to read what the comments say, not what you want them to say.
Brad Smith
Josiah H. Blackmore II/Shirley M. Nault Designated Professor of Law
Capital University Law School
Capital University website
Center for Competitive Politics website
Yes,
Third Street (Diary) Monday, November 16th at 7:57AM EST (link)The only possible way to read your comment is that you’re unhappy Chris Cannon lost. Even though a better, more conservative Republican took his place.
I mean, I could understand the grousing if Chaffetz had gone on to lose to the Democrat in the general election, but he won in a blowout! So what’s the problem?
“Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen nineteen six, result happiness. Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure twenty pounds ought and six, result misery.” –Wilkins Micawber, “David Copperfield”
Or you could...
Brad Smith (Diary) Monday, November 16th at 3:10PM EST (link)Or you could read it as it is written, which is critical of the idea that Cannon was a “so-so conservative.”
Brad Smith
Josiah H. Blackmore II/Shirley M. Nault Designated Professor of Law
Capital University Law School
Capital University website
Center for Competitive Politics website
You judge him by his ratings
Right_Again (Diary) Monday, November 16th at 7:14AM EST (link)but you didn’t have to live with him. You didn’t enjoy the pleasure of his arrogance. This was a Congressman who had bought in to the notion that being in Congress made him special, that it endowed him with such a superior intellect that he needn’t listen to the peasants who elected him. He was my Congressman, but he didn’t represent me. He was a man who seemed to derive joy from mocking me.
Hey, kind of like you’re doing now. You really might have liked him. You apparently do.
Chaffetz is so much better and so much more in tune with his constituents that even as a one-term representative he would have a very serious shot at unseating a three-term Senator Bennett.
So you agree with me
Brad Smith (Diary) Monday, November 16th at 7:50AM EST (link)So you agree with me that Cannon quite conservative. Your problem is just that he had gotten rather arrogant in office. OK.
Brad Smith
Josiah H. Blackmore II/Shirley M. Nault Designated Professor of Law
Capital University Law School
Capital University website
Center for Competitive Politics website
So you believe that conservatism and an entitlement mentality are compatible.
Third Street (Diary) Monday, November 16th at 8:41AM EST (link)This, too, is revealing.
“Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen nineteen six, result happiness. Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure twenty pounds ought and six, result misery.” –Wilkins Micawber, “David Copperfield”
???
Brad Smith (Diary) Monday, November 16th at 3:14PM EST (link)Huh? I’m LOL. Well, chuckling anyway. You believe that it’s not? You’ve got to meet more conservatives, my friend. One thing I like about conservatives is that usually, they are nicer people, better people, and more tolerant people than lefties. But by no means always.
Brad Smith
Josiah H. Blackmore II/Shirley M. Nault Designated Professor of Law
Capital University Law School
Capital University website
Center for Competitive Politics website
There is nothing conservative about an entitlement mentality.
mschmitt (Diary) Monday, November 16th at 3:17PM EST (link)Maybe you are confusing entitlement (consisting of the excrement of society demanding that an all-too-willing government steal from us) with conservative generosity and our desire to give to those in need.
usque ad finem
I think Mr. Smith's definition of conservatism
Vegas_Rick (Diary) Monday, November 16th at 3:29PM EST (link)is slightly more…how shall I say…all encompassing… than the definition most RedStaters would recognize.
“God is great, beer is good and people are crazy.”- Billy Currington
“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan ‘press on’ has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.” Calvin Coolidge.
Must be. Good grief -- nt
mschmitt (Diary) Monday, November 16th at 3:30PM EST (link)usque ad finem
Now Vegas Rick may be on to something.
Brad Smith (Diary) Monday, November 16th at 4:17PM EST (link)We live in a political system in which there are ultimately, at the electoral level, two sides. This is a structural feature of the system. And I firmly believe that if you think Bob Bennett is the problem, you’re unlikely to get very much accomplished in that system.
In the world of ideas, I believe that there are many strands of conservatism. Burke and Freidman and Aristotle are quite different in their thinking and approach, and so – to use political figures as examples – are Pat Buchanan, Jeff Flake, and Bob Dole. But in the big battles that matter most – the philosophical/political disputes over virtue and the role of government – all are men of the right against the other side in this two-party, bi-polar system. And if we are to defeat that other side, we must all pull together. Occasionally, intra-party battles can be beneficial and necessary; most of the time, they are harmful and unnecessary. Bennett is not Scozzafava. We benefit from focusing on what unites us, not on what divides us. We generally do not benefit from trying to purge “libertarians” from the coalition; or “the religious right” from the coalition; or “moderates” from the coalition. I have seen, and fought against, all of these impulses for many years, and will continue to do so. When it comes to politics, if you’re 51% with me, you’re my ally, and so long as there are those who are 51% or more against me, that’s where I’ll target my anger and efforts. I believe that resources are limited and must always be used in the most effective fashion. I am interested in practical results, not emotional satisfaction. Symbolic victories are, to me, losses.
This site is called “Red State.” The origin of the “Red State” name comes from the network use of the color red to show a state going Republican in a presidential race. That suggests that this site ought to have not merely a conservative slant, but a Republican slant. I would rather have 41 Republican senators with 2 Bob Bennetts than 40 Republican senators with 1 Chaffetz and one liberal Democrat. I think we will have more victories on issues that way.
Does all that help?
Brad Smith
Josiah H. Blackmore II/Shirley M. Nault Designated Professor of Law
Capital University Law School
Capital University website
Center for Competitive Politics website
A couple of points
aesthete (Diary) Monday, November 16th at 5:14PM EST (link)I mostly agree with what you’re saying (shades of Swamp_Yankee, anyone?), but there are a couple of things that prevent me from jumping onto the 51% bandwagon:
1) As politics is such a combative and public affair, many times, our “moderates” can make it so that we can’t use a coalition of ? 51%ers to get our goals accomplished.
2) Oftentimes, moderates are harmful in the development of policy for issues that fall outside of the traditional conservative/liberal schism. The perfect example of this is McCain-Feingold: though it was a fundamentally “unconservative” bill, it was presented as an issue where there is no partisanship.
Really, I have no real problems with moderates except in those areas, and the solution isn’t so much to kick them out as it is to have a disciplined caucus that will punish members who stray too far from the reservation. Other than that, I agree with your assessment that 1/2 of a conservative is better than none at all (though if a viable conservative is contesting a moderate in the primaries, I don’t see a reason not to support him).
The act of defending any of the cardinal virtues has today all the exhilaration of a vice – G.K. Chesterton
Ok, so Cannon was quite conservative,
Right_Again (Diary) Monday, November 16th at 6:35PM EST (link)but not as conservative as most of us in Utah. We did much better with Chaffetz. My hope is that we can do much better replacing Bennett as well.
You seem to oppose improving where improving is possible.
I also agree with your sentiment that on a national scale replacing him is of minimal importance. However, he is the only one I have any ability to replace in 2010 so replacing him is extremely important to me.
Sorry... Chris may have had a 96 rating from the ACU
eburke (Diary) Monday, November 16th at 12:11PM EST (link)but he was dead wrong on immigration and was one of the leading voices for shamnesty.
That’s one of the reasons I’m not to keen on ‘ratings’ systems. The vast majority of them are ‘unweighted’ which means that voting against an ammendment to a bill to send $100,000 to study pregnant yaks in Siberia counts the same as, let’s say, voting for a bill that would fundamentally alter the culture and politics of the United States.
Having said that, Chaffetz gives you all the conservative bona fides Cannon gave *plus* the minor detail that he isn’t in favor of rewarding those whose first act on American soil was to break our laws about getting onto American soil.
It also reinforces my point that UT is one of those deep red states which don’t have to put up with pseudo-conservatives like Bennett & Hatch in a statewide office. Two Tom Coburns would do just fine.
“All that need be done for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.”
Unified Patriots
spending $$$
audax (Diary) Sunday, November 15th at 10:02AM EST (link)Who said anything about spending $$$ to defeat Bennet and put in a better conservative? They are talking about taking control at the Utah State GOP Convention and nominating someone else. Whoever is the GOP candidate is going to win in Utah! I have been a delegate to many state conventions in MI, CO and TX and 2 national conventions and always paid my own way.
Audeamus pro audere est facere
Hell Brad, you probably think John McCain is a conservative too. nt
mbecker908 (Diary) Sunday, November 15th at 10:15AM EST (link)Well,
Brad Smith (Diary) Monday, November 16th at 12:25AM EST (link)Lots of people here were mad at me last fall because I wasn’t giddy enough about McCain’s candidacy.
Brad Smith
Josiah H. Blackmore II/Shirley M. Nault Designated Professor of Law
Capital University Law School
Capital University website
Center for Competitive Politics website
Brad Smith...
mschmitt (Diary) Sunday, November 15th at 10:36AM EST (link)Success breeds success, defeatism breeds defeat.
You say we can’t challenge Dodd? We cannot defeat the crooks in Illinois? We can’t hold seats in Kentucky forever? Gosh, seems to me that the “we” you speak of should just pack up and go home — they sound like losers.
usque ad finem
Hey Schmitty
Brad Smith (Diary) Monday, November 16th at 12:17AM EST (link)Not much for sarcasm, are ya? Look, contrary to Erik’s opening line, I’m not focused on picking off Charlie Crist at all. I like Rubio, to be sure, And maybe we can do better than Bennett (maybe we can do worse, too). My point is, of all the 34 senate seats up next year, there’s no way I would rank defeating Crist or Bennett anywhere near the top 10.
Look, we’ve got limited resources. This is, I think, a basic given of the conservative understanding of the world. So where do you want to focus. Bennett and Crist (BTW, I think Crist is quite a bit more liberal than Bennett), or Dodd, holding Kentucky, Missouri, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Ohio, Burriss’s seat in Illinois, beating Barbara Boxer, unseating Blanche Lincoln, keeping Hutchison’s Texas seat, taking Delaware, knocking off Harry Reid, winning New York and Colorado, getting Pat Toomey elected…
and that’s before we get to House seats, which will also need resources of time, treasure, and publicity.
Brad Smith
Josiah H. Blackmore II/Shirley M. Nault Designated Professor of Law
Capital University Law School
Capital University website
Center for Competitive Politics website
Without the sarcasm:
mschmitt (Diary) Monday, November 16th at 12:32AM EST (link)I’ll go with analogy instead…
Your strategy strikes me as a bit too much of a “hold the line and damn the flanks” mentality. I think it’s a losing strategy when you’re ahead, and a hopeless strategy when you’re behind.
There are certain times when you swing — and swing big — I believe that now is such a time. The GOP had no consistent (conservative) message in 2006 and 2008 and it cost us; now it’s time to push… We cannot allow centrists to expose the flanks.
usque ad finem
What?
Brad Smith (Diary) Monday, November 16th at 12:56AM EST (link)We can’t allow centrists to expose the flanks? wtf are you talking about?
Let’s get honest – tell me which of the races I mentioned, and the 50 seats we’ll need to take back the House, you think are less important than defeating Bob Bennett. If you are correct, and now is the time to swing big – and by the way, I think it is – why would you possibly want to dissipate your big swing worrying about getting someone “purer” than Bob Bennett, rather than taking out Democrats in the Senate and House? Or do you not believe that, in fact, resources are limited, and choices must be made?
Look, the GOP’s problem right now – conservativism’s immediate problem – is not Bob Bennett. It is that we’ve got too many lefty Dems in the Congress.
If it’s any comfort to you, I spend a lot of time making the same arguments, in the other direction, to my more moderate Republican friends who say things like, “we’ve got to run these extreme conservatives out of the party.”
Brad Smith
Josiah H. Blackmore II/Shirley M. Nault Designated Professor of Law
Capital University Law School
Capital University website
Center for Competitive Politics website
A race you mentioned less important than defeating Bob Bennett? I've got one.
Third Street (Diary) Monday, November 16th at 3:47AM EST (link)David Vitter is far less vulnerable in Louisiana than most of the punditry holds and he’s going to win re-election by double digits. One of the reasons for this is that Vitter has a record as a strong and unambiguous conservative who can be counted upon to consistently oppose a president and an agenda that are wildly unpopular in his state. That being the case, I’d much rather see money spent unseating Bob Bennett, an untrustworthy squish who should have been gone a long time ago.
You’re wrong, you see — conservatism’s problem is not too many lefty Dems. Conservatism’s problem is that we keep being undermined by our own people. Conservatism’s problem is that moderate squishes like Bob Bennett have spent years muddying what conservatism means, to the point that vast swaths of the electorate are unable to see substantial differences between the two parties. That’s what got us here, and that’s what has to be stopped. When we only have 40 senators, the last thing we need to worry about is whether and how many of our guys are going to go to bat for the other team.
“Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen nineteen six, result happiness. Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure twenty pounds ought and six, result misery.” –Wilkins Micawber, “David Copperfield”
This is amazing
Brad Smith (Diary) Monday, November 16th at 8:00AM EST (link)This is really an amazing point of view. The problem is not too many lefty Dems, it is that conservatives are not conservative enough. Wow. But I’ll admit, it is a common point of view. Nonetheless, I would urge you to think seriously about what you are saying. Just, wow. Think about both the long term implications of that viewpoint for accomplishing a conservative legislative agenda. The problem isn’t too many liberals, it’s too many conservatives who undermine our own agenda. Just, wow. Conservatives are the problem. Amazing.
We only have 40 senators, so the solution is not to get more senators, it is to make sure that the 40 we have – which is not enough to block a bill even using a filibuster, let alone actually come remotely close to PASSING anything – are absolutely pure, even if it means passing up opportunities to elect more fellow travelers, moderate conservatives, and hard core conservatives. Just, … wow.
Vast swaths of the electorate (like you?) really can’t tell the difference between the two parties, between, say, Robert Bennett and say, Dick Durbin? Wow. Just… wow. So our goal should be to fudge the very real differences between, say, Bennett and (to pick a relatively conservative Democrat) Bill Nelson, rather than to point out those differences to voters? Just … wow.
But like I say, I understand that your view is common these days, probably the majority one here at Red State, so you really don’t need to reiterate it. I do hope you’ll think about it.
Brad Smith
Josiah H. Blackmore II/Shirley M. Nault Designated Professor of Law
Capital University Law School
Capital University website
Center for Competitive Politics website
Like, wow, man.
Third Street (Diary) Monday, November 16th at 8:24AM EST (link)That you can take what I said and arrive at “conservatives are the problem” says a lot more about you than you probably thought you were revealing.
And you’re right; I don’t think I need to be reiterating any more points to you, because it would serve no purpose: your comments throughout this thread are needlessly sarcastic and combative, and your responses to me are almost purposefully obtuse. You claim to be conservative, but go into a snit over a recent, triumphant example of the electoral advance of conservatism. It does not surprise me at all that you think Bob Bennett is a perfectly acceptable conservative senator, nor that you have loads of moderate friends.
My advice, Brad? Get out of the stultifying rot of academia, man, while you still can. Go into private practice. Become a productive, contributing member of society. Learn how all this stuff we discuss here actually applies in the real world. Do it for you.
(Just … wow.)
“Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen nineteen six, result happiness. Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure twenty pounds ought and six, result misery.” –Wilkins Micawber, “David Copperfield”
Now tell me
Brad Smith (Diary) Monday, November 16th at 3:34PM EST (link)Who’s combative? Who is deliberately obtuse? And what the heck are you talking about, that I’m “in a snit over a recent, triumphal example of the advance of conservatism?”
Get out of academia? Do you know who you’re talking to? Do you know much about my life over the last 30 years? LOL.
And do you mean to imply that you think it is bad to have moderate friends? If that is what you mean, I think that illustrates the problem I’ve been addressing. I hope that is not what you mean. If you mean that it is good that I have lots of moderate friends because I’m a reasonable guy, cool, but I don’t think that’s what you meant.
And in the FWIW category, I did not take from what you said that “conservatives are the problem,” and I didn’t write that. What I did was to question what you wrote – you wrote that you really think that the conservative problem is that, “we keep being undermined by our own people.” That strikes me as a pretty straightforward statement that you think the problem is that Conservatives are being undermined by own people, who would be … conservatives. Or by “our own people” did you mean “liberals”? Curious phrasing, but OK, now I know.
Look, I’m glad you’re here, Third Street. I’m glad you’re fired up. I’m glad you want more conservatives in Congress. I’ve pretty much devoted my life to promoting conservatism. I’d say I’ve been doing it before you were born, but I don’t know your age so maybe that’s not true. But a long time, for sure, in academia, in government, and in the private sector. And I’ve heard ya, you don’t like Bob Bennett. I do like Bob Bennett, I’ll admit it. On issues I care most about, he has quoted me on the floor of the Senate in successful efforts to kill really bad legislation. From what I’ve seen in Washington, he is one of the most effective Republican senators in actually winning battles for conservatives (which is not the same as saying he is one of the most conservative senators, but it does suggest that Bennett may be more helpful to us than some Senators who are more conservative). So I’m partial to the guy. Putting that aside, I’m sticking to the position that of all the races Conservatives need to be worrying about, Bob Bennett is pretty far down the list.
Now let’s go bag some donkeys.
Brad Smith
Josiah H. Blackmore II/Shirley M. Nault Designated Professor of Law
Capital University Law School
Capital University website
Center for Competitive Politics website
Exposing the flanks
mschmitt (Diary) Monday, November 16th at 7:49AM EST (link)It’s very simple, so I’ll grossly oversimplify it even more.
If I say “defend the border” and the Democrat says “racist” and my centrist ally says “everyone needs to tone down the rhetoric and have an honest debate. Well, I’ve already lost the debate, because the merits of both sides has been cast as equal; and hence, now I need to “tone down” my “racist rhetoric” in order to be taken seriously.
… We’re very clear here that we will support the GOP candidates which come out of the primary process (and hope that your liberal Republican friends do likewise), but you can’t expect us not to make our primary challenges — in spite of the calculus that the wizards of smart in the beltway.
If you’re truly so concerned about the funds we need to fight Democrats, then join us in our lobbying effort to get the national party’s fingers out of the primaries in the first place — tell them to save their money to defeat Democrats — and then we’re all happy.
usque ad finem
Perfect analogy, mschmitt. It's exposes the part of this
eburke (Diary) Monday, November 16th at 1:01PM EST (link)‘conservatives want to purge the party’ strawman for what it is…which is a strawman.
You hit the nail squarely on the head…When John McCain and Lindsey Graham get quoted by the MSM as saying those who the other side have been labeled racists by the libtards need to ‘settle down’, they’ve just ceded to the general populace that we are, indeed, racists. How that furthers the Republican ‘brand’ is beyond me and it’s why I despise McCain and Graham more than either of the Maine sisters even though the have a higher “ACU rating”. If fact, there higher rating allows the MSM to paint a “even conservative Senator so-and-so believes that (fill in the blank) is a racist, bigoted, homophobic pig.’
To not recognize that that makes it extremely difficult to reach the 20 in the middle with a positive message requires, IMHO, either an inability to think logically and sequentially, or to be purposely obtuse.
“All that need be done for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.”
Unified Patriots
Always good to part on a point of agreement
Brad Smith (Diary) Monday, November 16th at 3:56PM EST (link)I can subscribe to everything in your last post, Schmitty. Nor do I see any of it contradicting anything I’ve written.
Brad Smith
Josiah H. Blackmore II/Shirley M. Nault Designated Professor of Law
Capital University Law School
Capital University website
Center for Competitive Politics website
You mean you actually take ACU scores seriously?
Third Street (Diary) Monday, November 16th at 3:32AM EST (link)Good Lord, man.
“Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen nineteen six, result happiness. Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure twenty pounds ought and six, result misery.” –Wilkins Micawber, “David Copperfield”
Yes
Brad Smith (Diary) Monday, November 16th at 8:04AM EST (link)Well, I’d to move the debate beyond “is too,” “is not,” which requires some point of objective reference. The ACU ratings are handy, widely respected (if not by you), and well known. We can use some other marker, if you want, but I’m not going to go just by your vocally stated opinion. The thing is, you can take literally any rating of congress done by any interest group of the right or left and you’ll get the same result.
What am I supposed to take seriously: the unsupported opinion of some guy I don’t know who writes under an alias and cites no evidence to back up his opinion? Think I’ll take the ACU. Give me another marker if you want.
Brad Smith
Josiah H. Blackmore II/Shirley M. Nault Designated Professor of Law
Capital University Law School
Capital University website
Center for Competitive Politics website
See my comment above.
Third Street (Diary) Monday, November 16th at 8:32AM EST (link)(Oh, and Brad? Say what you will about “the unsupported opinion of some guy I don’t know who writes under an alias”; after clicking through to your page and getting a look at who you are, I now take you even less seriously than I did to begin with.)
“Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen nineteen six, result happiness. Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure twenty pounds ought and six, result misery.” –Wilkins Micawber, “David Copperfield”
Why?
Brad Smith (Diary) Monday, November 16th at 3:43PM EST (link)Probably the Clinton thing, which if true only shows you don’t know much about how the FEC works. As Jimmy Buffett used to say, don’t try to describe a Kiss Concert if you’ve never seen it. You have to really learn about things, not fly to conclusions.
Now do you homework, and then let’s go bag donkeys.
And here is some pleasure reading for you: http://nrd.nationalreview.com/article/?q=NGIzOWRlMjlhMTBiNWVmZjUyZjNlY2Y0ZjEyNmJhNTE=
Brad Smith
Josiah H. Blackmore II/Shirley M. Nault Designated Professor of Law
Capital University Law School
Capital University website
Center for Competitive Politics website
Dear Brad,
mschmitt (Diary) Monday, November 16th at 3:55PM EST (link)It’s not that we don’t like you; and you’re getting a lot more leeway here because of your credentials; assuming of course that you are who you say you are (and, by the way, evidencing your support of Sarah Palin may win you a few points; but it’s more likely to just piss off Achance).
Anyway, the reason you’re getting your head knocked in a little bit is because what we see in you — and what we are reacting to — is the corrosive effect Washington politics has on everybody. Spend enough time there, and everybody becomes another David Brooks (the positive diagnosis — of course — is made by one’s inability to see why that is a bad thing).
usque ad finem
I'm getting leeway?
Brad Smith (Diary) Monday, November 16th at 4:30PM EST (link)I thought I was giving you leeway! You have no power to give me leeway, my friend. LOL. You have only the power to be yourself, and to debate rationally or not.
What I am reacting to – what I see in too many people at Red State, though not you – is the unconstructive inability to make distinctions and to set realistic priorities. This is not something I picked up in Washington.
Anyway, I’m glad that each of us spent the morning being irritated with David Brooks.
Brad Smith
Josiah H. Blackmore II/Shirley M. Nault Designated Professor of Law
Capital University Law School
Capital University website
Center for Competitive Politics website
Brad, actually having had your name on the door
Achance (Diary) Monday, November 16th at 5:00PM EST (link)is sometimes disqualifying around here. You and I have had disagreements as well but I understand well how much easier it is to be a purist if all you have to do is type about being a purist. Just like it is so much easier to worship Sarah Palin if you don’t know her.
In Vino Veritas
By the way
Brad Smith (Diary) Monday, November 16th at 4:38PM EST (link)I don’t think Third Street likes me.
Brad Smith
Josiah H. Blackmore II/Shirley M. Nault Designated Professor of Law
Capital University Law School
Capital University website
Center for Competitive Politics website
Ah; well... It's not JUST that we dislike you, then! ;)
mschmitt (Diary) Monday, November 16th at 4:52PM EST (link)Dang, I’ll never win any friends with that sarcasm problem…
In all seriousness, though; as long as you’re with us on the whole “defeating Democrats” thing, you’re OK by me — peace.
usque ad finem
It's not that I don't like you.
Third Street (Diary) Monday, November 16th at 5:30PM EST (link)I simply don’t respond well to passive-aggressive sarcasm. On the other hand, I have a long-cultivated prejudice against all things academe and tend to fly off half-cocked at things that irritate me, so I shall offer my apologies for that.
What mschmitt said is quite right, though — your posts show evidence of the kind of pragmatic Washington mentality that corrupts nearly everyone who goes there, that has blurred the distinctions between Republican and Democrat in the perceptions of millions, and has thus allowed Democrats to make inroads into conservative territory that they ought to have no business winning.
Your support of Bob Bennett is but one example of this — he may not be a Snowe or a Collins, but he’s pretty far from what we want out there bearing the mantle of conservatism, either; and any officeholder who breaks a term-limits pledge ought to be booted out on his ass. Your apparent unhappiness with the successful primarying of Chris Cannon, though that paid dividends for us, is another example: Cannon had long since decided he was entitled to that congressional seat, and that mentality in a public official ought always to be rewarded with a swift boot out his office door, no matter what his conservative bona fides look like on paper (and that left something to be desired, too, in at least one area).
Not to mention the whole “I’ve got to defend conservatives to my moderate Republican friends” business: Those of us hayseeds out here in deep-red Flyoverland know full well what the establishment sect of the GOP thinks of us, and are not particularly concerned with making a case for our defense to a wing of the party from which we are determined to wrest control anyway. Conservatism is the future of the Republican Party; we watched moderation kill us for much of the 20th Century, we watched it happen again over the course of this decade, and we’re through putting up with it.
“Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen nineteen six, result happiness. Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure twenty pounds ought and six, result misery.” –Wilkins Micawber, “David Copperfield”
To win, we need all oars in the water
Brad Smith (Diary) Monday, November 16th at 10:00PM EST (link)Third, I hope you will try to read people’s posts more carefully, and take them on their own terms. I also hope you are able to the chip off your shoulder. It will make you a better person, and a better politician.
Brad Smith
Josiah H. Blackmore II/Shirley M. Nault Designated Professor of Law
Capital University Law School
Capital University website
Center for Competitive Politics website
I'm not a politician.
Third Street (Diary) Monday, November 16th at 10:07PM EST (link)And I read your posts quite clearly. That is all.
“Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen nineteen six, result happiness. Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure twenty pounds ought and six, result misery.” –Wilkins Micawber, “David Copperfield”
See, that's sort of my point
Brad Smith (Diary) Wednesday, November 18th at 1:25PM EST (link)“I’m not a politician.” Third, everyone alive is a politician, except the hermit who never talks to anyone. And everyone who is involved in thinking about politics is even more clearly a “politican.” But you’ve got such a chip on your shoulder, you don’t think much about what others write, or try to consider their writings on the terms on which they are presented. And I’ve seen no evidence – as this last point indicates – that you give any serious thought to what others are trying to say to you. Nor do you do your homework, as earlier posts you’ve written have indicated. You need to slow down. Don’t type a response until you’ve really thought about it, and read what you are responding to a few times, and then don’t hit the “post” button for a while.
You’re smart enough to do better, but if you go along just being full of anger and resentment, seeing slights where none are intended, and ready to argue at the drop of a hat, you won’t accomplish much in life. Lesson for today, done.
Brad Smith
Josiah H. Blackmore II/Shirley M. Nault Designated Professor of Law
Capital University Law School
Capital University website
Center for Competitive Politics website
This is the core of our angst.
Mayhem (Diary) Saturday, November 14th at 3:14PM EST (link)Part of why the Senate frustrates us so much (even when the GOP is in power), is that so much of the caucus hails from states that are not naturally conservative/libertarian. During the 12 years the GOP was in power, many of our Senators came from the Northeast and industrial Midwest. While there is nothing wrong with that, in and of itself, if we do not balance those Northeast seats with solid conservative Senators from red states, then we will always be subject to Olympia Snowes and Arlen Specters. Our majority should never be contingent on winning on the East and West coast. Those seats should always be in addition to our majority from the middle of the country.
Case in point: Why are there two Democrats from North Dakota? Why are there two from Montana? Why are there still two Democrats from Arkansas? Why don’t we have both South Dakota seats or both Nebraska seats? These states are not liberal bastions in the least. Sure, these states have their own nuances and local issues, but the overriding principles in each of them would lead to a Republican Senator, not a Democrat. If we were to hold all the Senate seats in states that are naturally inclined towards conservative/libertarian values, then we would always have a 55-60 seat majority in the Senate.
The problem with the Republican Party is that it does not hold seats in the states that it should be holding seats. So, when we find moderates that can win in the Northeast and the Rust Belt, we are always dependent on them for passage or failure of bills. There are a host of reasons for this problem (weak state parties, establishment types, open primaries, etc.), but nothing that can’t be corrected through pressure and reform.
Bottom line: If we win where we should be winning and we are competitive at the margins, we will have our conservative majority.
James Madison, Jim DeMint, Margaret Thatcher, Ronald Reagan… You get the picture.
Two reasons, Mayhem:
Achance (Diary) Saturday, November 14th at 3:38PM EST (link)Too many Republicans can’t govern worth a damn so the charges of corruption and incompetence stick all too well to all Republicans, and, the Democrats in lots of Red States, mine included, are often better at sounding conservative than the Republicans are.
In Vino Veritas
I REFUSE TO BELIEVE THAT
lycurgus (Diary) Monday, November 16th at 12:47AM EST (link)Our party blows the Demarixsts away.
you are being ironic right?
kyle8 (Diary) Monday, November 16th at 12:51AM EST (link)right?
“Nothing works like freedom, Nothing succeeds like liberty”
Kyle
Speaking for my home state you listed...
Husker (Diary) Sunday, November 15th at 6:27AM EST (link)as one with a Democratic Senator happens to be Ben Nelson of Nebraska. If GWB didn’t pick then Gov. Mike Johanns as Ag Secretary we may have been able to unseat Nelson in 2005. Due to the retirement of carpetbagger Senator Chuck Hagel, Johanns was tapped to keep the seat for the Republicans basically neutralizing any chance of defeating Nelson.
Nelson is pro-life, fiscally conservative, and endorsed by just about every group that usually endorses conservative candidates when election time comes. That is why he defeated the last Republican candidate in a landslide. Nelson isn’t as vulnerable now since he has made a brand for himself.
Nebraska folks are loyal almost to a fault and will not vote straight party line if that incumbent is perceived as doing a good job. I think Nelson’s numbers are still in the low 60′s so unseating him will cost an arm and a leg, and the candidate to oppose him better be able to charm the knickers off a nun, otherwise he will lose badly. 2012 though is a ways off, and the political climate may be right by then to finally unseat him. His YES vote on the stimulus is a small chink in his armor which may be his undoing if the economy and the job market keeps declining.
Katlynnelore
katlynnelore Saturday, November 14th at 3:28PM EST (link)The preson who needs to take out Bennett is the one who took out Cannon.
CONGRESSMAN JASON CHAFFETZ
I am a big fan of Rep. Jason Chaffetz
arc_ut (Diary) Saturday, November 14th at 7:42PM EST (link)but for the 2010 US Senate race from Utah, I am supporting
Cherilyn Eagar
Bennett will not get out of state convention, in my opinion.
There were over 500 of the 9.12′s that showed up to the Utah State Capitol today to learn about getting elected to be a state delegate.
You are not going to find one of them supporting Bob Bennett. He didn’t even come.
Representative Jason Chaffetz spoke.
Morgan Philpot, vice chair UT GOP party spoke.
Dave Hansen, Chair, UT GOP was there being supportive.
Rep. Chaffetz, this specific 9.12 meeting, UT GOP, NRC are staying out of endorsing anyone for this US Senate race until Utah has a GOP nominee.
Cherilyn Eagar was at the meeting today. She was invited to speak at the 9.12 Tea Party rally there a couple of months ago to 2,500 people.
I believe she is the one to support.
So does
https://www.thegoodeggclub.com/
who is trying to toss 20 of the rotten eggs out of the US House and Senate
Arc, can you fill us in a little more on the impact of the new 9.12-ers/Tea Partiers?
ColdWarrior (Diary) Saturday, November 14th at 9:07PM EST (link)For example, do you know how big an impact 500 new conservative delegates would have on the nominating convention?
Do you know how many other 9.12-er/Tea Partier training sessions were held today across Utah, and how many more are planned between now and the deadline for becoming delegates?
Do you know how how much success the leaders of the 9.12 and Tea Party organizations are having in steering their respective members into the Republican Party as delegates?
And other info you have on this general subject would be appreciated.
Thank you,
ColdWarrior
www.theprecinctproject.wordpress.com
In 2012, will YOU become a “voting member” of the Republican Party in your precinct?
Where it all started. Twitter @kaltkrieger
Unified Patriots.
Learn how to GOTV at The Concord Project and at Procinct and
were about 500 people (9.12) today
arc_ut (Diary) Sunday, November 15th at 2:26AM EST (link)Most of those coming to the training and rally are not currently state delegates, but will likely be.
There are thousands of 9.12 ers in Utah.
There are about 3500 State Delegates, but there are closer to 2000 precincts, I believe.
Based on 2500 showing up to the Sep 12th event, when they were not dealing with a snow storm, we should be able to reduce the percentage of those delegates wanting Bennett to be elected to below 40%, which will mean he would be a lame duck after May 8th.
For him to run next year after that, I think he would have to be a write-in.
I believe the momentum that Cherilyn Eagar has, and the 9.12 and Tea Party groups have that Bennett will be toast.
Cherilyn will be at 15 events next week, 11 of them with “Joe the Plumber”.
Arc, thanks, that all sounds great!
ColdWarrior (Diary) Sunday, November 15th at 3:42PM EST (link)Thanks again,
ColdWarrior
In 2012, will YOU become a “voting member” of the Republican Party in your precinct?
Where it all started. Twitter @kaltkrieger
Unified Patriots.
Learn how to GOTV at The Concord Project and at Procinct and
Chaffetz would be my first choice...
Sera63 Saturday, November 14th at 7:26PM EST (link)against Bennett in the Senate race. However, if Jason decides to remain in his House seat and run later against Hatch, then Eagar looks like the best conservative at this time, jmho.
Then Chaffetz can beat out an almost useless Hatch and Utah will have 2 true conservative Senators.
Yes, move against Hatch
tricianc (Diary) Sunday, November 15th at 10:15PM EST (link)That would be an excellent move. Hatch worries me greatly.
It's not his voting record per se...
Sera63 Monday, November 16th at 12:51PM EST (link)that concerns me and many others. It is his “McCain-like” go-along-to-get-along mentality. Many see him as out-of-touch with his constituents. He has been there far too long, and the current Senate games are not the “cigar-room meetings” of many years ago.
We need determined, conservative Senators who are unafraid of the MSM, and who are as activist in pursuing conservative policies, as our opponents are in pursuing theirs. We do not need long-time politicians who view Washington from a 1980s, or even 1990s bubble. The current administration is not the Washington politics of “old”.
From Cabinet positions to judicial appointments, this is the time for conservatives to battle each one…each time. Lock up the process, vote against cloture, and keep as many of Obama’s appointees from being seated as is possible. Hatch is not that type of Senator…as good as portions of his voting record may be…yet, that is just the type we need at this time.
Think Jeff Sessions…then add more like him.
Two Term Bennett
charleskirtley (Diary) Sunday, November 15th at 1:28AM EST (link)When he ran for the first time he promised to serve no more than 2 terms. His constituents should have thrown him out long ago.
One good thing...
asafsb Monday, November 16th at 5:38PM EST (link)One good thing about BHO’s Kingdom is that, finally, all the crypto America Haters are comming out of the Communist closet and they are, for the most part, who we thought they were. Like, tingling leg, Chris matthews (he admits getting this tingle up his leg when he see’s BHO), and Geraldo Rivera said Bill Clinton’s pants “Crackle With Power”, it’s nice to see these two getting in touch with their feminine side.
Bob Bennett has been
Daezy Monday, November 16th at 8:05PM EST (link)in my sights for months. Glad to see my gut has not failed me yet.
All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent. ~ Thomas Jefferson
Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. ~ Ronald Reagan
http://uslibertyjournal.blogspot.com/
Bennett voting with Democrats
Chong Tuesday, November 17th at 1:21PM EST (link)because he realize that conservatives will not support him. Will that be good for the country when he switch side before the election next year? I am thinking we might want to just put some pressure him to not vote for these crazy bills (Cap and Trade, Card Check, and Public Option) before election. If he does, then we can turn the heat up on him and support the conservative opposition. Last thing we need is another Arlen Specter in the Senate.
Another crazy thinking, will it be possible for us conservatives to support the blue dogs Democrats? Perhaps not with money but just don’t oppose them so much. I just want us to get away from the partisan game the politicians have us playing. This might be a good way to start and a good answer to Obama challenge that “teabags” will not support Democrats at all. Please be gentle with me, I speak as a rookie and non partisan.
United “We” stand, divided “We” fall