The Missing Word

By: Erick Erickson (Diary) | March 22nd, 2010 at 01:51 PM |

RESIZE: AAA

Some of you have mocked me for saying we need to replace Republicans in the Senate with stronger conservatives.

Consider this statement from Mitch McConnell after the Democrats passed health care deform last night:

“Today’s vote will go down in history as the culmination of a year-long quest by a partisan majority to force its will on the public over bipartisan opposition. And it marks the beginning of a backlash against Democrats in Washington who lost their way and lost the trust of the people who elected them. Americans rejected the process and the special deals that brought us to this point, and they are demanding an explanation. A bill that had a simple goal — to lower the cost of health care — became instead a monstrosity held together by special deals, a rejection of the clear will of the voters, and Presidential appeals to put party first. That’s not reform.

“Americans had already rejected this bill before today’s vote, along with the unseemly power grab that led to its passage. They are tired of being treated more like obstacles to be overcome than constituents to be respected and heard. But they will be heard. Senate Republicans will now do everything in our power to replace the massive tax hikes, Medicare cuts and mandates with the reforms our constituents have been calling for throughout this debate.”

What word is missing? How about the word “repeal.”

So fearful of being labeled the “Party of No”, the Senate Republicans cannot bring themselves to give a full throated defense of the proposition that this monstrosity should be repealed. They will instead go with nibbling at the edges.

If you want to actually get this thing repealed, here are the Senate candidates to support:

March

Mike Lee (UT)
If you live in Utah, show up Tuesday at your local caucus, become a delegate to the State Convention, and cast your vote for Mike Lee. Remember, Bob Bennett’s alternative health care plan is just as bad as Obamacare, complete with individual mandates, federal funding of abortion, etc.

COMMENTS

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dhorowitz3

Assuming we take back the house and maybe even the senate, it is imperative that we push for conservatives in leadership. A majority would be worthless with people like McConnel. Speaker Pence and Majority Leader DeMint would sound nice.
Flagstaff

Republican campaign speech from now on. Otherwise, the “Third Party Fiasco” will become real and destroy our chances.

Great catch, Erick. How did the show go today? I wasn’t home to watch it.
AndrewHyman

I agree that REPEAL is the key word. But that shouldn’t exclude replacing Obamacare with a plan based on GOP principle of liberty and freedom. For example….

The Weekly Standard is saying: ?[O]n this issue, the message will have to be not just repeal but also replace?replace Obamacare with sensible reforms.?

Paul Ryan is saying: ?Change it, repeal it and replace it with a system that works, that?s consumer-driven, patient-centered and not a government-takeover or government-run system?.?

National Review is saying: ?Conservatives will be able to capitalize on the discrediting of Obamacare, however it takes place, only if they campaign this fall on a pledge to replace this government-heavy system with true reform.?
Aaron Gardner

Now you plan to fail in Nov. How about we “replace” you with DeMint.

Repeal It. FULL. STOP.
ironbard

Conservative Reps are standing up and calling for repeal. Reps King, Bachmann, and more, are calling for the repeal. In this video taken outside the Capitol they speak to Patriots right after the HC vote laying out the conservative agenda http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBmTfn_NPRY&feature=player_embedded
ilgop24

Also, 11th Congressional Candidate Adam Kinzinger is holding town halls in his district and is calling it the “Repeal and Restart” tour. www.electadam.com
tngal

I’ve been keeping an eye on this since last month and nobody is talking about Ed Lynch much. This is April 13th. Less than a month away. No polls lately, but from early reports and the layout of his district he was n’t given a chance. Can this be pulled out?. He was at C-PAC

Why wait till November..can’t we start knocking them out in April?
http://www.thesubstratum.com GJ Merits

Dr. Hunter has an excellent expose of politics from the inside. I have never seen it put so succinctly. Your point is well taken, more DeMints and less McConnells:

What do Harlem Globetrotters basketball, professional wrestling and American politics all have in common? They are FAKES:

http://www.socialsecurityinstitute.com/blog_post/show/487
RealQuiet

Totally agree. If he would have allowed DeMint and Coburn to demand the bills and amendments be read during the Thanksgiving break, they could have delayed the legislation until well after Scott Brown was elected. Instead, he chose to deal with Dingy Harry. Missed opportunity. We’ll need a pit bull to deal with Schumer or Durbin once Harry Reid is voted out of office. The only positive things he did was let Coburn have Sanders’ amendment read on the floor and let DeMint object to the appointment of conferees.
avgjo

He screwed up in Dec. He owes us BIG.

http://mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=ContactForm

(202) 224 2541 phone
(202) 224 2499 fax

This is it folks, We must hold his and every other Republican’s feet to the fire.

They must realize that if they don’t do what we want, they will be left all alone.
avgjo

He screwed up in Dec. He owes us BIG.

http://mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=ContactForm

(202) 224 2541 phone
(202) 224 2499 fax

This is it folks, We must hold his and every other Republican’s feet to the fire.

They must realize that if they don’t do what we want, they will be left all alone.
neum432

Sounds like McConnell is just being realistic. Do what you can until Obama is out of the White House. When we get a new Potus and fresh faces in Congress, then repeal it.
avgjo

Boehner indicated as much yesterday.

This is a lonely job for the good guys (Boehner, DeMint) and easy to avoid for the worthless ones like McConnell.

Boehner et al. need our support. Contact them and thank them and encourage them.

McConnell needs our pressure. Contact him and tell him to get on board or be left behind.
avgjo

Boehner indicated as much yesterday.

This is a lonely job for the good guys (Boehner, DeMint) and easy to avoid for the worthless ones like McConnell.

Boehner et al. need our support. Contact them and thank them and encourage them.

McConnell needs our pressure. Contact him and tell him to get on board or be left behind.
red_oakster

William Kristol has a great editorial on exactly this point for the Weekly Standard

http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/special-editorial-repeal

Every Democrat will have to defend this law over the next two election cycles since repeal can only occur with a new President in January 2013. Today Charles Schumer and Ron Wyden are vulnerable in a manner unimaginable a year ago. I hope the Republican Party is up to the challenge.

And while, I strongly disagree with Erick about Rand Paul, I do agree that a victory over a sitting incumbent like Robert Bennett or Rubio seeing off Crist will wake folks up.
fpete13527

Absolute repeal should have been included in McConnell’s speech. It is very disappointing that it wasn’t.

McConnell has been the wrong answer. His position has been to never fight and to coddle to the left. He can either begin to RADICALLY shift his nature now……or should hand over the position to someone who will start to fight….NOW.

Fight means REPEAL DemonCare and support CONSERVATIVE candidates!! It does NOT mean “BARGAIN” with DemonCare and continue to support RINOs… such as Crist, Bennett, and Fiorina…whom the NRSC is STILL supporting.

Start the REPEAL of this bill now…not the negotiation of it!!!
Aaron

Add J.D. Hayworth (R-AZ) to the list of candidates that pledge to repeal the bill. He’s running against John McCain. http://www.jdforsenate.com/
Aaron

Forgot to mention, primary is in August for Hayworth.
Xasteius

Link here
dajeeps

I don’t want to settle for just a repeal of the travesty that was passed last night. I want the government out of healthcare because it responsible for the shape it is in now and I want it to take its hands off everything else it has no constitutional authority to be monkeying around with.

I have had enough of the Feds everywhere and into everything from the lightbulbs we use to the brainwshing of our kids. Anything short of that is just leaving the current mess for our kids to clean up. The time is here and the place is now to put Fedzilla back in its cage and throw away the key.
snowday

Not so easy.

Need to control both houses of Congress first. Then pass a law to repeal. But Obama will veto the repeal. Need 2/3 majority to overturn a veto.

So unless we get both houses of Congress and the White House (2013 at the earliest), repeal is a pipe dream.
ex_scientia_vires

Erick, thanks for all you’ve done in the face of heavy artillery from the Left. No doubt you & Redstate will continue to be at the forefront of the fight to take back our nation.

You are absolutely right that straight-up repeal candidates MUST be elected this November, but that will only be one step toward success, won’t it? Outright repeal is not feasible while BHO is in office, with 67 Senators needed to override a veto. (I’m not envisioning many Dems joining hands with us even if we do manage a 51+ majority in the next Senate.)

We, the faithful, will heartily support you as you continue to rally the troops for the long haul ahead. You are going to be a huge part of ensuring that our coming majority in one or both houses don’t become the foil that Obama would need to be reelected.

I am praying fervently that we have learned from the debacle of 1995-6; That we can manage to keep the light shining on the folly of our incompetent, dangerous President so he can be thrown out of the White House with all haste.
youngmonte

Why are so many RedStaters willing to give John McCain a pass in 2010? Remember, if it weren’t for McCain’s panicky and amateurish response to the economic crisis in the Fall of ’08 (see Paulson’s book), he might have beaten Obama and none of this (at least on health care) would be happening. Instead, he voted for the bailout and has been spending the last year-and-a-half whining that he was lied to.

I noticed that Hayworth has already signed onto the Club for Growth’s repeal pledge – not John McCain, though.

McCain bears some responsibility for what has transpired. And if you all let him keep his senate seat at the expense of a conservative stalwart like Hayworth, it won’t be long before McCain is again cutting deals with the left and we’re pulling our hair out. McCain helped get us to this place – let us help get him into retirement.
smitch61

Without repeal, we are just subject to the republican version of socialized medicine and reform. He said just that in the statement you outlined.
dajeeps

I meant the place is here and time is now to lock up Fedzilla. The passions are running deep and wide and I can’t control my fingers. LOL
Scope

We need to start the pushback immediately. When someone is incompetent in doing their job, they get fired or demoted. That’s what needs to happen to McConnell. His friendship with Reid is a little to cozy for my taste. DeMint has already been doing the job McConnell should have been doing all along.
sargeantshooter

He has already signed the Club for Growth site. I’m still waiting on my Representative, Sam Graves.
Scope

please will you look into Dr. Dan Benishek. He is the R running against Stupak MI-1. He seems to be gaining tremendous support. We need to know as much as we can about him before we all get too excited.
Scope

Obamacare year, I am wondering if he is really that incompetent, or if he is a closet Progressive Republican. I’m sure he was being advised by other Republicans that would have had better ideas to beat this thing, but, chose to do it his way.
ryan_8287

“Check out this tweet offered up in the wake of last night’s vote in the House from South Carolina Republican Bob Inglis:

What do you do when Congress passes a bad bill? You get a new Congress to repeal it!

Either Congressman Inglis is either a bit fuzzy on that whole “How a Bill Becomes a Law” thing, or he is extraordinarily optimistic about Republican prospects in this year’s election cycle.

Because, of course, not even a Republican seizure of Congress would allow for a successful repeal of Health Care reform. There is the small matter of the presidential veto. With the veto pen in hand, any GOP effort to repeal isn’t going to require 218 votes in the House and 51 in the Senate, it’s going to require 290 and 67.

That would require, even if the GOP were able to hold all 34 Democratic dissidents (unlikely), a seventy-eight seat gain in the House for the GOP.

The wall to climb in the Senate is, shall we say, a little more burdensome. A twenty-six seat gain, which would be particularly problematic, given that there aren’t 26 Democrats running for re-election in this cycle.”

I don’t quite understand the whole legislative process myself. Maybe somebody can clear this up for me.
http://www.hopeychangemas.com VizBiz

I’m sure I’ll get kicked out if I keep saying this, so pardon me for the multiple posts.

McConnell is doing exactly what McCain will do. Since Repeal is too hard, then if you elect me I’ll toy around with the edges of it like taxes. My fear is that some repubs instead of repeal will run on reform which always sounds better. Now that we have pre-existing conditions, what heartless republIcan woud repeal it.
aesthete

I didn’t believe in reincarnation until now, but it’s clear that the spirit of Bob Dole lives on in McConnell.

If we’re to have any success on this front, we’re going to have to replace him.
JSobieski

nt
wgsampson

that Blunt would be the Republican with the toughest time filling an open seat -because he is an insider. This may actually help him over the hump.
Scope

section currently only covers children, or has that changed also.
http://www.sheetanchor.org Sheet Anchor

Can someone please help me get this message to Erick and/or any of the Directors? I have posted a diary a week ago, and sent e-mails. I know you all must get thousands of e-mails, but I really believe Erick and the Directors should check this out. Thanks in advance.

Erick, and Red State Directors, et al.:

If you all have not had an opportunity to review US Marine Colonel Allen Weh, running for the Republican primary nomination for Governor of New Mexico, please consider doing so, as he is the kind of candidate that Red State may wish to support. As a result of last weeks’ New Mexico State Republican Convention, he is officially on the ballot for the Republican Primary in June.

Colonel Weh is a decorated combat Marine (38 years active, 3 wars, and reserve, Silver Star, Bronze Star with “V,” 3 Purple Hearts, 5 Air Medals), and successful business executive as the CEO of CSI Aviation Services, Inc., a company started 30 years ago by Allen and his wife. He is a strong limited government, lower tax, fiscal, and social conservative, having never run for political office. His campaign is well-organized, and began early last year. He has a lifetime of executive leadership experience in the Marine Corps, and as a business executive.

Enough said – all of the details about his background and candidacy are available on his web site below. I plead with you to review this great American as he is in direct alignment with the policy perspectives and positions of Red State. He is a man of honor, seasoned leadership, and moral clarity. There are videos of Allen on the front page of his web site, and elsewhere on the site.

http://www.allenweh2010.com/

http://www.youtube.com/user/allenweh

Thank you very much in advance for your review of Colonel Weh.

Note: I may be contacted at: info@sheetanchor.org
JSobieski

Many would like to see McCain gone, but few think Hayworth can do it, and Hayworth has his own blotches
lucretius

Are you faulting McConnell for not wooing Lieberman or Nelson more sincerely in December? Every Republican including Snowe voted against cloture. I don’t see how McConnell can be held responsible for whipping house or Senate Democrats.

Process-wise, the Dems had 60 votes when they passed the Senate bill. If you’re going to fault anyone for the eight-seat loss in ’08, should it not rather be Ensign, McCain or Bush?
lucretius

Are you faulting McConnell for not wooing Lieberman or Nelson more sincerely in December? Every Republican including Snowe voted against cloture. I don’t see how McConnell can be held responsible for whipping house or Senate Democrats.

Process-wise, the Dems had 60 votes when they passed the Senate bill. If you’re going to fault anyone for the eight-seat loss in ’08, should it not rather be Ensign, McCain or Bush?
wgsampson

I wanted Boehner and McConnell’s head. Boehner stepped up, and his lieutenants have done a great job – with the exception of voting for the Stupak language. McConnell and his boys are hopeless. But, the cavalry is coming, and they will be loyal to Jim DeMint.
fpete13527

Agree
Aaron Gardner

McConnell failed because he didn’t use all the tools in his bag to delay the Senate vote.

If McConnell had used the delaying tactics we could have pushed the Senate vote back until after Sen. Brown was seated.
patriotrx

I just contacted my local GOP office and will be attending their Precinct Chairman (Committeeman) event on April 24th.

I’m tired of talking, so I’m gonna start doing. What are you gonna do?
lucretius

might have had better consequences for the GOP, since it would have taken a while to merge the two bills. Final passage could also have been filibustered, and Brown might have won by then depending on the timeline. It might have allowed either party to strip the cornhusker kickback too. Any reconciliation bill would have had a narrower scope and a sunset date (5 years or 10, don’t recall).

I suppose it comes down to which bill you think is worse (the House or the Senate’s). The latter one is now law.
lucretius

might have had better consequences for the GOP, since it would have taken a while to merge the two bills. Final passage could also have been filibustered, and Brown might have won by then depending on the timeline. It might have allowed either party to strip the cornhusker kickback too. Any reconciliation bill would have had a narrower scope and a sunset date (5 years or 10, don’t recall).

I suppose it comes down to which bill you think is worse (the House or the Senate’s). The latter one is now law.
avgjo

work to delay the vote, perhaps even past Scott Brown’s election.

Are you a zoologist? Because it sounds like you work on a RINO preserve.
tngal

.An article on Real Clear Politics is giving him some exposure.

HIghlights his facebook numbers (now over 15,000.)

Says michelle Malkin has mentioned him.

Turns out George W won the district twice!

also this quote

“Stupak spent $1.3 million in 2008, outspending his opponent by $1 million. So far in the 2010 cycle he has $275,000 — a fairly large headstart over a new, first-time challenger.”

And the NRC has supposedly been in contact with him before and after yesterday’s fiasco.

The story also says they tried to call him but the call went unanswered. (my guess is he’s in shock. I would be.)

Here’s the dohickey..

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/politics_nation/2010/03/stupak_challenger_makes_friend.html
lucretius

legislators seldom become party leaders. Working process and whipping votes is a different skill set from articulating visions and winning media wars. DeMint, assuming he wants the job, might well fare no better than McConnell.

For some perspective, Harry Reid was viewed as a liberal hero in ’05-06 for stopping SS reform. Now he’s seen as the inept ditherer who let Lieberman gut the Senate bill.
lucretius

legislators seldom become party leaders. Working process and whipping votes is a different skill set from articulating visions and winning media wars. DeMint, assuming he wants the job, might well fare no better than McConnell.

For some perspective, Harry Reid was viewed as a liberal hero in ’05-06 for stopping SS reform. Now he’s seen as the inept ditherer who let Lieberman gut the Senate bill.
douglast

The old status quo is not an option, politically or otherwise.

A large majority of Americans are still behind health care reform – they just don’t like THIS debacle. You aren’t going to sell them just on “repeal it”, you have to have the follow on promise of WHAT you are gong to put in it’s place.
http://www.hopeychangemas.com VizBiz

Ok, what heartless republican would take pre-existing conditions away from children? Same thing

The democrats made it virtually impossible to repeal, so what’s left other than toying around with it.
lucretius

Which tactics, exactly? I’m not sure he had that many left. I believe it’s much easier to hold up a reconciliation bill with Byrd rule objections than it is to stop a bill from moving forward in the face of 60 cloture votes.

And Brown was elected when, Jan 20th? Back in December his win seemed unlikely.
lucretius

Which tactics, exactly? I’m not sure he had that many left. I believe it’s much easier to hold up a reconciliation bill with Byrd rule objections than it is to stop a bill from moving forward in the face of 60 cloture votes.

And Brown was elected when, Jan 20th? Back in December his win seemed unlikely.
Aaron Gardner

While we allow Democrats on this site to debate the issues of the day, we frown upon them offering insights on our internal Party disputes.

In other words, quit commenting on who we will have as a Majority Leader next year.

You are not on our side and therefore your opinion on who would be an effective leader is worthless.
Oz

We need Republicans from these blue states and DeVore isn’t going to win this one.

With you on the rest.
Oz

We need Republicans from these blue states and DeVore isn’t going to win this one.

With you on the rest.
Aaron Gardner

For reconciliation to even be achieved you first have to have a signed bill. By that time the fight is already over.

I am done debating a Democrat on who should be the Republican leader in the Senate.

If you want to talk about who should be the Republican leader in the Senate, then go change your party registration.
youngmonte

A Rasmussen poll from last week had it 48-41 for McCain – and that was after a terrible week for Hayworth. Hayworth can win. Two months ago McCain was up 22, a pjlus-15 point swing for Hayworth.

As for Hayworth’s blotches, they are of the “he talks too much” variety; not of the “I think I’ll work with Ted Kennedy and John Kerry and Russ Feingold against the interests of conservatives” variety that is McCain’s stock in trade. Hayworth would be a solid conservative vote as he was in the House and a huge improvement on McCain.
eburke

Been one for just over 2 years now.

Being a party insider and having all these crapweasel candidates have to grovel at *your* feet for a change in exchange for your support ROCKS!!

Now….go rustle up a couple more!
eburke

ever a year that a conservative can win *anywhere*, this is it.
shadowtax

Democrat or not. Whipping is a different skill set. When you put your most principled policy conservative in the leadership office he spends all of his time negotiating and whipping instead of developing policy.
shadowtax

We have 3 potential pick-ups in FL, HI, and PA before the end of May. Why wait until November indeed!
Aaron Gardner

I don’t care if he has a point or not. This site is not for Democrats to tell us who we should or shouldn’t elect as our leadership.

As far as DeMint goes … I think he would be better than McConnell in all ways. Especially since as a party we don’t plan on negotiating when we take back the Senate.
JSobieski

Even if McCain does discover his inner lion in the upcoming months.
Adjoran

At the very moment we may be able to turn the leftward trend of the last four years around, what do we do? Start crying for a PURGE of Republicans like McConnell (lifetime ACU rating: 89.66) and McCain (lifetime ACU rating: 81.97)!

What is the Brave New Criterion for being an “acceptable conservative?” 90% without rounding? 95%? Submitting your statements to Erickson for pre-clearance on approved terminology?

Sure, let’s toss out those who’ve ever offended us! Boot McCain for the loudmouthed moron Birther Hayworth who couldn’t even keep his own Republican House seat! That’s the ticket!

It’s bad enough to be drunk with power, like Pelosi. But it’s even worse to be drunk with the mere imagining of regaining power.
arc_ut

I believe that Cherilyn Eagar is the only one running who has supported and been active in fighting for conservative values for the last 30 years at the local, state, national and international level. [That includes Bennett]

http://www.redstate.com/cherilyneagar/2010/03/22/24-23-22-our-constitutional-rights-going-going-gone/

http://www.redstate.com/cherilyneagar/2010/03/18/cherilyn-eagar-term-limits-not-a-one-word-answer/
jpniner

the ideologue Rand Paul grew up around, sharing a Rothbardian worldview together. With some very un-conservative shared views.

———

http://www.lewrockwell.com/blog/lewrw/archives/53876.html

Republican Scamsters
Posted by Lew Rockwell on March 22, 2010 12:46 PM

Don?t you love all the Boehner-McConnell-Gingrich threats to repeal Obamacare? It is the conscious duty of the Republican statists to make their voters accept Democratic statism, and vice versa. Mitt Romney?s medical scheme in Massachusetts is as bad as Obamacare, but almost no Republican cares about it. After all, Eisenhower, Nixon, Reagan, Bush I, and Bush II all massively expanded government subsidization and control of medical care. Republicans just want the jobs, the subsidies, and the payoffs. Socialized medicine: it?s as Republican as apple pie.
aesthete

i’m not a Rothbardian, but it’s hard to come away with any conclusion other than that one when you look at the actual data.

That’s the whole point of Redstate’s attempt to change the party. (Mind you, I don’t blame Romney for RomneyCare; his hands were tied. Still, there are waaay too many Republicans who praised RomneyCare, only to attack ObamaCare, which is basically RomneyCare repackaged.)
shadowtax

There will be a need for negotiations within the party even if the GOP has 67 Senators.
jmimac351

in this entire process. Bart Stupak is not a chump. He’s just another liberal faking concern about unborn children. When it’s clear that funding will be in place for abortion he’ll feign outrage or something.
Ann_W
exitsfunnel

The one thing that has really disappointed me about the GOP strategy against ObamaCare has been the way that they have demagogued the Medicare cuts. Medicare spending going forward is our single biggest fiscal challenge; it’s simply unsustainable under the current terms. We are either going to scale back Medicare spending or we are going to have much higher taxes. There is no way around that actuarial reality. The GOP should have been in favor of the medicare cuts and against everything else. Just really profoundly disappointing.

-exits
Scope

I just get a little leary when the NRCC gets involved. This time may be different, and, maybe they got the message to back the candidates the people will vote for. You know, like the ones that respect the constitution, and all of the parts of Conservatism.
Scope

I’m sure you must have seen the video of Benishek. I have not been able to watch it. Is he a decent speaker?
tngal

He was suppose to be on Mark Levin right? That’s all I knew about. I went to his site and they supposedly have an audio of today’s show. But I haven’t seen a video. I would like to know if he’s somewhat articulate and can turn.

I’m with you on the NRC thing. That’ve got a checkered past, maybe they’re trying to get a little ahead of the game now.
Scope

Sessions and Cornyn.
http://www.hakubi.us/ Neil Stevens

I’d call them squishy.
http://www.hopeychangemas.com VizBiz
Scope

that I was referring to. Apparently it is from his announcement speech on March 15.

http://beltwayblips.dailyradar.com/video/dr-dan-benishek-for-us-congress-vs-bart-stupak-in/

On Google, there is also another video of him answering reporters questions (may be the same one), but I couldn’t access that site.

Please let me know what you think. As I said, I cannot watch videos.
Scope

I considered Cornyn “elite” because he thinks that his choices of candidates to support are the best. Isn’t he a part of the Crist love fest. Also didn’t he support Kay Barely Republican? Yes they are squishy, but think they have a say.
Scope

http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/house-races/88277-full-repeal-supporters-vs-gop-leaders
http://www.theprecinctproject.wordpress.com ColdWarrior

Those of us who are already “in” the Party as PCs need you! Thanks for coming out of the bleachers into the real ball game of politics. I hope you’ll report back and let us know of your experience — and that you’ll take every conservative you know along with you to the meeting.

Thank you.
ColdWarrior
No More Scozzafavas!
Become a Republican precinct committeeman. NOW!
tngal

Came across as a down to earth person. He opened by saying who he was and that he was running against Stupak. Talked about himself and what he stands for . Much of what’s available on his fb page. Doesn’t wear a suit. Just an avarage guy, as opposed to a “slickster” . He could use a little more enthusiasm. I got the impression he didn’t like the way Stupak was doing things and that’s why he decided to run but I’d like to see a little more fire in the belly. Apparently it was his first press conference so he may have been a little taken aback. It may yet surface. But so far I got nothing against him and he’s better than Ron Paul. .
solvoreor

Let’s talk turkey. Hardly anyone knows what they get with insurance until they collect, and for many people that can be decades of payment in the hopes it will be there down the road when you need it. But everyone has bought a car, practically, or some other big ticket item. And everyone knows someone who has had a disappointment or experienced one themselves.

In almost all cases if the person selling you something counts savings like Bernie Madoff you got problems. If they control two other insurance products like Social Security and Medicare both of which are in financial difficulty. If they spend money like it means nothing, you are probably going to get rooked. So I ask you again, would you buy what they are selling based on their manipulation of the “rules”. Do you think when the time comes for you to collect the rules won’t be just as flexible (read meaningless)?

Would you buy anything from these people? And if not how can we let them control our health care?
Scope

and asked his state’s AG (a Democrat, OK I understand that) to “examine” if the Obamacare bill passed is Constitutional.

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/88401-pawlenty-asks-state-ag-to-examine-health-bills-legality

And this is a potential 2012 Republican candidate?
Scope

n/t
aesthete

My understanding is that that’s been the MO of Republican Governors against the bill. Minnesota’s AG is elected, so it’s not like he could have appointed a Republican AG.

It’s also worth noting that Pawlenty asked the Dem AG to join with other AGs that have supported litigation. I don’t see how these actions are worthy of critique, unless there was some other avenue available to him.

(This, btw, is irrespective of his status as a Presidential candidate.)
aesthete

Romney’s shameless opposition to ObamaCare, which is basically identical to the bill that he passed in MA.
jpniner

“Republican Scamsters”……largely true?

” It is the conscious duty of the Republican statists to make their voters accept Democratic statism, and vice versa”…..”conscious duty of GOP Statist”…is largely true???

” Eisenhower, Nixon, Reagan, Bush I, and Bush II all massively expanded government subsidization and control of medical care. “…..is “Largely true”

“Republicans just want the jobs, the subsidies, and the payoffs. Socialized medicine: it?s as Republican as apple pie.”………is largely true

—-

PLEASE, Bush even tried to PRIVATIZE SOCIAL SECURITY. and what happened? The Dems and MSM made such an act POLITICALLY IMPOSSIBLE….THIS IS THE PROBLEM!!!!!!!! NOT THE GOP
http://www.hakubi.us/ Neil Stevens
blaze422

I don’t know a lot about him, but he is running to repeal the bill.
Decorated vet.
Not a career politician.

http://allenwestforcongress.com/about/
houstoneagle

Beating Crist just took priority two as of yesterday.
houstoneagle

We only need 34 states for that. And we don’t have to wait til 2013! And we don’t need Congress or the President.
Scope

I will consider he never ran for public office, and, probably never made a public speech before. If he’s authentic, he will be OK. Remember how Doug Hoffman was seen as boring, dull and not inspiring? He almost made it. At this point I would welcome boring, but, with the right principals any day. Obama has me about as stressed as a sling shot.
houstoneagle

…please don’t lump him in with McConnell and Gingrich. Thank you kindly.

And no, one speech does not a conservative make. But he was the only one I heard speak my language and my emotion in a long time. I will no longer be disappointed when Boehner beats Pence for the Speaker election.
houstoneagle

and Romney exhibits yet another example of disingenuousness when he slams Obamacare, yet he created Romneycare up in Massachusetts. Yes I know it’s nowhere near as bad as Obamacare but still.

I’m interested in seeing who will give Huckabee and Palin a run for their money. I’d hate to see Romney take the social libs in the party while Huck and Palin split the conservatives. Hopefully someone like Mitch can make the case.

Ooops talking about 2012. Sorry, my bad.
houstoneagle

the fact McConnell couldn’t even use the more important of the two words–”repeal”–speaks volumes about his incapacity for leadership after this year.

I am hoping that he was using the term “replace” with the idea of “repeal” being assumed, and/or a recognition that repeal is impossible for the next 34 months, barring a constitutional convention.
Doc Holliday

you can have the Mconnell, Pawlenty, Romney, and Huckabee types.

not you you Houston
AceInTX

throwing red meat to the base about repeal all the while using the foundation the Democrats have built to enact their own progressive vision of what America aught to be…

Yeah the word repeal was missing from what McConnell said…it it concerned me…but what concerns me even more is the word McConnell DID use!

Senate Republicans will now do everything in our power to replace the massive tax hikes, Medicare cuts and mandates with the reforms our constituents have been calling for throughout this debate.?

They’re not going to repeal this…they have no intention of repealing this…it’s all about the elitist Republicans failed strategy of using big government to achieve conservative ends…and we all will lose in the end!
AceInTX

who the party machine is lining up behind….Mitt Romney…who never misses an opportunity to brag about what a genius he was in passing Mass Care…I just heard Rendell refer to him as the author of the individual mandate by way of saying it’s a Republican Idea….

So we go from nominating the author of McCain Fiengold in 2008 to having the machine pushing the author of the individual mandate on us in 2012…

and people wonder why I’m so cynical when it comes to my party!
rfpzzzzz

Promoting / discussing ideas makes more sense than name calling within the Party. The real enemy are the Dems. Why give them any ammunition by being disrespectful to those who might vote with you more than against you.
The positive promotion of good ideas would do more good than calling someone a Rino or some such thing. For example, the medical savings account makes a lot of sense. What is the best way to fight terrorists or stimulate the economy are all good areas of discussion. Good ideas can attract people from all persuasions. Name calling satisfies the most base needs and turns most people off. The mission is to defeat Dems seat by seat not to cannibalize our own people who might be well meaning but wrong for whatever reason on a particular issue. Start with districts held by Dems but who voted Bush or McCain in the last cycles. Work out from there. Primaries are fine but I think hashing out ideas and experience makes more sense than smears intra party.
Jonas Parker

In the general, we vote for Republicans, but if we don’t get the right Republicans, it will make no difference, accept in the duration of our trip to tyranny.
houstoneagle

on a scale of 1-5.

I share your cynicism about our party. My loyalty card is valid thru 1-20-13. Whether I renew depends on what happens on 11-6-12.

It is indeed ominous that they aren’t even talking about repeal on the Senate leadership side. I don’t care whether it’s practical, every long journey begins with a stated goal (repeal) and a first step. We have to try. Boehner did his job. It’s time for the Senate to GET WITH THE PROGRAM.

Only docked you a tenth of a point because we do need reforms like malpractice insurance reform which will save a ton of money directly and several tons of money indirectly. Interstate sale of insurance with baseline federal consumer protections. If only Obamacare had been so modest and so effective.

However, in agreement with your main point, if they aren’t even mentioning “repeal” then I don’t want to hear ANYTHING about replace or reform or any of that crap.

Repeal! (Then, we’ll see what we can do to reform the system).

Repeal!
Jonas Parker

Deep down, I think that many Rep officeholders are not really committed to conservative goals, don’t even understand conservative political and economic theory, and are in office to stroke their egos and perpetuate their power. And even when they may have an intellectual clue, they are so beaten down by the beltway culture and MSM that they have retreated from their beliefs.

Not all of them are that way, but many-to-most are, and granting them a majority will produce nothing in the way of moving the country in the direction it needs to go. Witness the miserable failure that was 2000-2006. The most that can be said is that Bush responded strongly to 9/11 and protected the country, which is not trivial, but at the same time exploded the deficit and expanded entitlements. That pales in comparison to what Obama has done, but what kind of comparison is that ? Should we be happy with that ?

Again, if we can’t get the growth of government under control, curb public unions, and a thousand other things, while these discussions are very interesting, they are ultimately a waste of breath and the destination is the same. And despite what some here have opined, if the message is sincere and communicated succinctly, the 40 % of the population who call themselves conservatives, and > 10% of the people who call themselves moderates, will support that direction. Personal opinion is we need to be careful on the social stuff, but our fiscal/financial approach is an easy sell if we have integrity its articulation and implementation. There is no reason we cannot accomplish this and set a new direction for at least the next generation. The only impediments are those we erect ourselves, and some of those impediments now hold office calling themselves Republicans.
aesthete

Insofar as Republicans run on certain values and don’t govern or legislate based on those values, yes, “Republican Scamsters” is true.

We’ve had Republicans running on a platform supporting Medicare expansion and vociferously defending Medicare in the fight against HCR. Is that not conscious support of Democratic statism?

I love Reagan (my mileage varies for the others listed), and given that he had bigger things on his plate than regulation, I’ll give him a pass. But if you’re telling me that government, including in the healthcare sector, didn’t expand under him and other GOP Presidents, you’re sadly mistaken. (So yeah, that is unfortunately true.)

On Bush’s attempt to privatize Social Security: give me a break. He pulled the idea out of the closet and contritely put it back without spending virtually any political capital on it, or putting the legwork required to pass it into enacting said privatization. And while we’re on that subject, before Obama made it his goal to give the Fed a headache by adding substantially to the Federal burden, Bush expanded government to an unprecedented level. Bush wasn’t dishonest in these actions: he ran as a “compassionate conservative”. Most conservatives cheered him on and largely ignored or defended his expansion of government until recently.

Looking at McConnell’s statement, it’s obvious that current Republican leadership is more concerned with capitalizing on the healthcare mess by working on the margins than on repealing it.

Prophet Rockwell didn’t bring this message from Mount Sinai or anything, and I disagree with his “solution” to this reality (which is, presumably, to up membership in the Libertarian Party from 2 to 5). The reality is that central Republican leadership is generally content with facilitating Dem statism, especially after it has been enacted, and in some cases, favor their own entitlements. Again I ask, if everything is fine and dandy with the Republican party’s small-government roots, then what was the point of the Tea Party, RS’s commitment to primarying moderate Repubs, etc.?
ricks

It might be a hard pill for a lot to swallow but the republicans pulling away from its conservative roots is why we are sittng here with Obamacare now, and who knows what else is coming.

If the republicans want to win they have to get back to the roots. As much as Obama is destroying the country, every poll I have seen the majority still blames the policies under Bush as the reason we are in this mess by a large margin. And he did increase the debt dramatically. Conservatives don’t supposed to be about Big Government yet under Bush thats exactly what happened the size of government increased.

To make matters worst the republicans elected a moderate McCain to face Obama in the general election. I think the tea party has it right, even though it needs a strong figure we need people to stand for the constitution and limit the size of government. And to see whos’ doing what look at the past records of candidates Romney etc…. see if they are big spenders or true conservatives.

So to Eric, I think you are right on the money I live in Louisville and am watching the Rand Paul campaign cleaning the clock with what they call the establishment candidate Trey Greyson, so people are getting the message wether the establishment likes it or not.
yoyo

Why do we need to negotiate?

Why on earth do we need a Senate and House full of Lindsey Graham’s?

As you say, we are a long way away from a Homogenous GOP, however keeping those like McConnell, Graham, Snowe, Bennett, Collins, et al is why we find ourselves in the position we are in today. Appease, negotiate. Shrinking from the fight.

We are the Spartans, we are The 300. We are doing all we can to hold the line, wave after wave, against insurmountable odds. The last thing we need is to have the RINOs of our Party hamstringing us on our flanks.

Primary them. Toss them out on their ears. I have no need for them.

Do you?
yoyo
JadedByPolitics

…..
lucretius

I’m an admitted Democrat. The only reason for my posting here is to exchange perspectives on tactics and process. I think I can do that without violating this site’s rules.

I’m not trying to anyone here advice about picking a leader, because you would obviously suspect bad faith and my ideological standpoint is pretty much opposite.

My point was more about party leadership posts having a compromising effect on principles. Forging general consensus and wooing moderates doesn’t sound like the best job description for conservative or liberal champions.

Let me put it this way: my favorite Senator is Russ Feingold. I want him out there making lonely stands on principle, not whipping votes within the party leadership.
lucretius

I’m an admitted Democrat. The only reason for my posting here is to exchange perspectives on tactics and process. I think I can do that without violating this site’s rules.

I’m not trying to anyone here advice about picking a leader, because you would obviously suspect bad faith and my ideological standpoint is pretty much opposite.

My point was more about party leadership posts having a compromising effect on principles. Forging general consensus and wooing moderates doesn’t sound like the best job description for conservative or liberal champions.

Let me put it this way: my favorite Senator is Russ Feingold. I want him out there making lonely stands on principle, not whipping votes within the party leadership.
jpniner

and one of the first things he did once re-elected was he spent his political capital pushing it. he flew all over the country in the effort giving speeches. And what happened??? The Dems/MSM went NUCLEAR, rolled out the AARP to scare the crap out of Seniors that Bush/GOP was going to “STEAL THEIR Soc Sec…” etc. It made it to the point it was POLITICALLY IMPOSSIBLE to have any sort of vote on it.

The DEMS ran to statues of FDR and had press conferences to “defend his legacy” and on and on. Soc. Sec., like healthcare is a Dem ISSUE, one they refuse to give up! This is the reality of it.

After a couple months, and the GOP congress fearing for their political lives, deemed Bush’s SS plan DEAD ON ARRIVAL.

DISCERNMENT is key here, to understand the forces at play and why things play out the way they do. The GOP, and yes the GOP ESTABLISHMENT are not the problem!
lucretius

I don’t believe I was actually trying to give you advice on who should be leader, but I’ll refrain from this intra-party stuff.
lucretius

I don’t believe I was actually trying to give you advice on who should be leader, but I’ll refrain from this intra-party stuff.
gamechange11two

Did this one get through?
gamechange11two

Did this one get through?
http://www.sheetanchor.org Sheet Anchor

needed in Congress.
yoyo

And so correct on so many levels – all Dems are “backwards” anyhow. Stupak is just unfortunate enough to have it spelled out for him.

In his quest for the Spotlight, he got the Limelight instead. And by lying to America, regardless of whether or not his UP constituents actually re-elect him, he is now (and will forever be) marginalized.

He is, well, Kaputs.

Now if we can only get Moe, Erick, Snark, and Dan to get it onto the blogs and into the collective speak, it would be all more the better.

A little light humor on this horrible week….
yoyo

And why wait for an R president?

Send Obama bill after bill after bill after bill that repeals this pig. Make him veto it each and every time. Send him the federal budget back with an amendment that repeals this. Every piece of legislation that comes out of Capitol Hill needs to be a repeal amendment attached.

Shut the government down for three years. NO ONE gets paid until it happens.

Benefits would be three fold.

One: It would keep the reform up front and in the news.
Two: O couldn’t do more harm. He would have to veto everything or repeal it.
Three: With the Government shut down, the economy MIGHT JUST rebound. All those “non-essential personnel” in Washington would not be gumming up the works.

Smaller government is better every time. Even if we have to shut down DC to achieve it.

This law MUST be repealed.
aesthete

on the level of vigor that Bush had in campaigning for privatized Social Security, and presumably, on the level of culpability that Republicans have for the current state of affairs. Regardless, we can all agree that the Republican Party, as maladroit a tool as it is, is our best chance for achieving a less involved government, and is in need of drastic reform.

RS

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