Comments on: GOP Rising Tide ’09: It Came From the States http://www.redstate.com/fredmalek/2009/08/25/gop-rising-tide-09-it-came-from-the-states/ Just another RedState: Conservative News and Community weblog Thu, 10 Mar 2011 04:57:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: DavidSage http://www.redstate.com/fredmalek/2009/08/25/gop-rising-tide-09-it-came-from-the-states/#comment-271 DavidSage Tue, 25 Aug 2009 18:54:30 +0000 http://www.redstate.com/fredmalek/?p=46#comment-271 If aspiring Republican politicians smell Democrat blood in the water, it will get them off their duff and run for higher office. Republican wins in New Jersey and Virginia would pull a lot of high quality people into the race. One area too many conservatives overlook is the importance of recruiting. We're obsessed with policy (which is obviously important) but often times the group of voters that decides elections are people who vote for the candidate over the party or ideology. Many of our losses are simply the result of horrible recruiting. There are many examples of this, almost exclusively on the Republican side, where a state will go Republican on the Presidential level by double digits for 50 years straight, yet Democrats control everything. The fact that a state like Montana, which is overwhelmingly conservative, has two Democrat Senators and a Democrat Governor is a result of poor recruiting. Republicans should have lopsided majorities in the Senate since Red States far outnumber Blue States, but we haven't fielded good candidates in states that should be easy wins. It all comes down to recruiting. If aspiring Republican politicians smell Democrat blood in the water, it will get them off their duff and run for higher office. Republican wins in New Jersey and Virginia would pull a lot of high quality people into the race.

One area too many conservatives overlook is the importance of recruiting. We’re obsessed with policy (which is obviously important) but often times the group of voters that decides elections are people who vote for the candidate over the party or ideology. Many of our losses are simply the result of horrible recruiting.

There are many examples of this, almost exclusively on the Republican side, where a state will go Republican on the Presidential level by double digits for 50 years straight, yet Democrats control everything. The fact that a state like Montana, which is overwhelmingly conservative, has two Democrat Senators and a Democrat Governor is a result of poor recruiting.

Republicans should have lopsided majorities in the Senate since Red States far outnumber Blue States, but we haven’t fielded good candidates in states that should be easy wins.

It all comes down to recruiting.

]]> By: RedBeard http://www.redstate.com/fredmalek/2009/08/25/gop-rising-tide-09-it-came-from-the-states/#comment-270 RedBeard Tue, 25 Aug 2009 17:37:08 +0000 http://www.redstate.com/fredmalek/?p=46#comment-270 Good to hear of successes at the state level, for many reasons. Primary among those is the fact that the driving force of a conservative Republican Party has to come from state and local organizations. As another commenter tried to say the other day, the inside-the-beltway people are not really picking up the ball and running with it. Another take on this is that the Washington people should not be the focal point of our relationship with government, not if we respect the Constitution and the 10th Amendment. Our major day-to-day contact with government should be at the state level, and by extension, the local level. I look forward to your next post, Fred. Good to hear of successes at the state level, for many reasons. Primary among those is the fact that the driving force of a conservative Republican Party has to come from state and local organizations. As another commenter tried to say the other day, the inside-the-beltway people are not really picking up the ball and running with it.

Another take on this is that the Washington people should not be the focal point of our relationship with government, not if we respect the Constitution and the 10th Amendment. Our major day-to-day contact with government should be at the state level, and by extension, the local level.

I look forward to your next post, Fred.

]]> By: Tbone http://www.redstate.com/fredmalek/2009/08/25/gop-rising-tide-09-it-came-from-the-states/#comment-269 Tbone Tue, 25 Aug 2009 16:57:30 +0000 http://www.redstate.com/fredmalek/?p=46#comment-269 Well, that's a majority that would be short lived. If Republican's don't take this opportunity to articulate well defined conservative fiscal positions, a commitment to the sanctity of life, promote free markets and free enterprise, and return to traditional American values we will miss this great chance to re-direct the Country away from the decay that has been accelerated by Obama, Pelosi and Reid to unprecedented rates. If anyone thinks Republicans can govern effectively from the center I suggest you consider the depth and breadth of conservative accomplishments from 2000-2006. Well, that’s a majority that would be short lived. If Republican’s don’t take this opportunity to articulate well defined conservative fiscal positions, a commitment to the sanctity of life, promote free markets and free enterprise, and return to traditional American values we will miss this great chance to re-direct the Country away from the decay that has been accelerated by Obama, Pelosi and Reid to unprecedented rates.

If anyone thinks Republicans can govern effectively from the center I suggest you consider the depth and breadth of conservative accomplishments from 2000-2006.

]]> By: DerKrieger http://www.redstate.com/fredmalek/2009/08/25/gop-rising-tide-09-it-came-from-the-states/#comment-268 DerKrieger Tue, 25 Aug 2009 16:55:20 +0000 http://www.redstate.com/fredmalek/?p=46#comment-268 Mr. Malek, While I am excited at the prospect of recapturing some governorships that excitement is tempered by the doubt that GOP governors will stand up to the extreme unconstitutional overreach of the federal government and reassert the states' 10th Amendment rights. If the federal government can continue to run roughshod over the Constitution and We the People then GOP governorships don't matter much. GOP governors can't nullify Obamacare should it pass if they refuse to demand federal fealty to the Constitution. We have entire states whose Congressional delegations are opposed to Obamacare and yet the Democrats/Socialists may have enough votes to pass it impose it upon us anyway. I believe strongly in Federalism, as did the Founders, as a check on tyranny. If a state chooses to raise taxes and impose onerous regulations on businesses and people they are free to leave to more friendly states. That is the beauty of Federalism, it forces states to compete with each other for citizens and businesses through low taxes and low regulations. There IS NO escape from Federal mismanagement. And that is the reason the Left opposes Federalism in spite of the advantages it would bring to parts of their agenda like gay marriage. They would prefer to trap all of us in an inescapable Marxist prison. So, again, while I am excited about possible gains at the state level, how will that make a difference at the federal level? Do you support a strong 10th Amendment? What are your thoughts on nullification? What are your thoughts on the Arizona Health Care Freedom Act? http://www.azhealthcarefreedomact.com/ Thank you Mr. Malek,

While I am excited at the prospect of recapturing some governorships that excitement is tempered by the doubt that GOP governors will stand up to the extreme unconstitutional overreach of the federal government and reassert the states’ 10th Amendment rights. If the federal government can continue to run roughshod over the Constitution and We the People then GOP governorships don’t matter much.
GOP governors can’t nullify Obamacare should it pass if they refuse to demand federal fealty to the Constitution. We have entire states whose Congressional delegations are opposed to Obamacare and yet the Democrats/Socialists may have enough votes to pass it impose it upon us anyway.
I believe strongly in Federalism, as did the Founders, as a check on tyranny. If a state chooses to raise taxes and impose onerous regulations on businesses and people they are free to leave to more friendly states. That is the beauty of Federalism, it forces states to compete with each other for citizens and businesses through low taxes and low regulations. There IS NO escape from Federal mismanagement. And that is the reason the Left opposes Federalism in spite of the advantages it would bring to parts of their agenda like gay marriage. They would prefer to trap all of us in an inescapable Marxist prison.

So, again, while I am excited about possible gains at the state level, how will that make a difference at the federal level?
Do you support a strong 10th Amendment?
What are your thoughts on nullification?
What are your thoughts on the Arizona Health Care Freedom Act? http://www.azhealthcarefreedomact.com/

Thank you

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