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EDITOR OF REDSTATE

48 Hours. Have You Done What You Can?

“Freedom means you take chances. Freedom means you fight. Let’s send Jim DeMint some reinforcements. Let’s send Jim DeMint Marlin Stutzman.”

48 hours from now, people head to the polls in Indiana.

Let me let you in on a little secret. When I endorse and support a candidate, I get a lot more angry emails than I do supportive. That’s the way it works.

For the past several months I have gotten the crap kicked out of me for supporting a guy too young to run for the Senate and too conservative to play well with others.

People did not like me endorsing Marlin Stutzman, but I did because I believe in him.

There are three good men in the race, but Marlin Stutzman is the best man to send to the Senate. I am proud to endorse him. I’m proud to stand with Jim DeMint on this one. But we need your help to get him the nomination.

Here’s the problem — this is a race between Coats and Stutzman now. A lot of people like Dan Coats. That’s fine. I get beat up every day from people thinking I’m too hard on him. Never mind his actual record in the Senate or that he fled Indiana ten years ago to become a lobbyist and live in North Carolina.

I get it. Most of you do too.

We’re in a fight for our future. How does voting for Coats help in that fight when we’re going to have to fight for his seat all over again in six years. Do you really think he’s going to serve twelve in the Senate? He’ll be 73 at the end of his term should he win. The same guys who told us he’s the best choice for Republicans also told us Charlie Crist and Arlen Specter were the best choices.

You know, I pick candidates because they are not just conservative in temperament or in instinct, but they are conservatives through and through. We got into the mess we are now in because of Republicans. Read that last sentence again.

Republicans became about the party, not the principle. They lost their way. And many of them don’t even want to head back to their principles. They are comfy. They are cushy. And we are all just a minor annoyance soon to burn out and go away.

I get flack, a lot of flack, for this from Republicans, from friends, from colleagues — but the fight for freedom is too important to not sometimes say, “Hey, I found this candidate and we should support him even though there are other people running.” Part of my job, and I’m not sure how I fell into it, but part of my job is to catapult good men and women into the arena to fight for freedom. And I’ve done that with my friend Marlin Stutzman like I did with my friend Marco Rubio — neither were high in polls when I picked them and now Marco has won his primary by default and Marlin has victory within reach.

Marlin is pro-life. He’s pro-second amendment. He’s for small businesses and families. He has the potential to be in the arena a lot longer than those he is running against and his record compared to theirs shows me that he is consistently right on our issues and will fight unapologetically — not cave or fold or waver or bend or yield when the winds from Washington blow a different way. The other candidates say that too, but they all have records and I’ve studied them. Marlin is the best. Marlin is most likely to stand with conservatives even when that means standing up to Republican leaders.

In 48 hours, we have the opportunity to raise up a new conservative leader. We have the opportunity to raise up one of those guys we always say we want to run for office and who did run for office. Let’s not now turn our back on Marlin because I assure you he will not turn his back on us.

Have you done all you could? Will you do all you can? Freedom means you take chances. Freedom means you fight. Let’s send Jim DeMint some reinforcements. Let’s send Jim DeMint Marlin Stutzman.

COMMENTS

  • randd

    Thanks, Eric for the great articles for Marlin Stutzman. We believe he represents the finest of Republicans preserving the Republic both now and for the future. When Hoosiers hear about who he is and why he’s doing what he’s doing, they love him! What was it about farmers and shopkeepers being in congress that struck a cord with so many? GoMarlin.com

  • http://www.examiner.com/x-1597-Charlotte-Law--Politics-Examiner Mike gamecock DeVine

    place from which to exercise free speech, i.e. lobbying, towards DC)…and you know how I know Coats had a good senate record? I lived thru it and have seen VERY FEW examples of transgressions, especially given how many years he served, whereas pure as the driven snow Rubio down in Florida already thru whites and Arizonans under the racist/wanna round us all up bus. Coats is a known entity that only screwed up in 30 years a few more times than Rubio has.

    But I too favor Stutzman, just don’t feel the need to trash Coats as an interloper for not retiring to South Bend after his first stint in DC. A man gotta eat…

  • JadedByPolitics

    The problems this Country has is due to BOTH parties and WE got to this slow slide to TYRANNY on the backs of “elite” Republicans. WE ALL know them, WE ALL have screamed about them, WE ALL have cussed under breaths about HAVING to support them when they have won the primaries and YET when they LOSE the primaries they run as D’s or I’s because they were NEVER Conservative like WE ARE!

    This Country year after year says that 40% of US are Conservative and yet WE continue to get LIBERAL policies and or Republicans who want to “reach across the aisle”. Democrats DO NOT “reach across” the aisle, they slap the crap out of Republicans and do what in the hell they want to do and they have ALWAYS been that way.

    I am sure Dan Coats is a fine man but he is also a product of DC, he will REACH ACROSS THE AISLE because that is what he believes to be a good Senator but those days are GONE! It is time for the Republicans to just say NO AND MEAN IT!

    Here is all you need to know about Erick and his picks for the Congress…..Marco Rubio, Toomey and seriously folks those two guys are Conservatives like you and me and the Party decided they would rather have Charlie Crist, Specter, the question is who has been RIGHT, that’s is correct, Erick Erickson!

  • http://www.examiner.com/x-1597-Charlotte-Law--Politics-Examiner Mike gamecock DeVine

    and his statement that read like one of those PC-masterpieces from DC vets like Orin Hatch, and Rubio has yet to cast a vote! I’ve seen Toomey do the same kind of mealey-mouthing too on Sunday shows.

    We would do well to temper our enthusiasm for the newcomers. Then there is Coats who hasn’t thrown whites and the good people under the bus and was really a conservative icon in the Reagan and Newt eras.

    Just watched a liberal throw Rubio in a conservative’s face on the AZ law. Rubio has hurt the cause and needs to back it up. All he has to do is say that now that he has actually read the bill and spoken to a lawyer, that his prior statement was in error.

    more later, and you know I am not one that nit picks and knows we mustn’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good and I am for new blood, but before we deify the young and unknown and trash the old guard, let’s be specific and Rubio really screwed up on this matter.

  • JadedByPolitics

    I have heard him say it is not what he would have done but he understands because of the Government’s FAILURE to act why they did what they did. I have not heard him say anything that over 75% of others in the GOP have not said including Perry of TX.

  • NeoKong

    $25.00

    You ask me for a contribution
    Well, you know
    We’re doing what we can

  • RedBeard

    But I sure can’t find a reason to be as angry at him as you are, Mike.

    I found fault with a few things Ronald Reagan said and did, but that never kept me from being a strong and unwavering Reagan supporter.

    George Washington made a few mistakes in his time as well (many, actually, by his own admission) yet still remains, in my mind, the finest president we’ve ever had.

    Even I, perfect as I am, have made a few errors in judgement. I know, hard to believe, ain’t it? ;-)

  • JadedByPolitics

    is trying to carry water for Bennett in Utah by making the TEA Party Movement seem “extreme” you know WE Conservatives are making a difference

    Erick was RIGHT about Bennett too

    If not now when? 2010 is more then just a push to regain CONTROL of this Country it is a push to CONTROL the GOP because it has FAILED US mightily!

  • JadedByPolitics
  • JadedByPolitics

    in my link. It is early in the morning, on a Sunday :) I apologize to ALL who are in Indiana reading my link, seriously! I hope you all heed the call of Conservatism and DO THE RIGHT THING!

  • RedBeard

    It’s the only state in the Union where you can start a fight by asking the time. ;-)

  • http://www.examiner.com/x-1597-Charlotte-Law--Politics-Examiner Mike gamecock DeVine

    most recent column and I will soon post the two links for his written and other statements last week.

    http://www.redstate.com/gamecock/2010/04/30/there-will-be-blood/

  • http://www.examiner.com/x-1597-Charlotte-Law--Politics-Examiner Mike gamecock DeVine

    that they desire a big round-up. It also shows that Rubio is already transitioning to be PC statement-issuing regular old DC politician.

  • http://www.examiner.com/x-1597-Charlotte-Law--Politics-Examiner Mike gamecock DeVine

    a New York Minute, and rightfully so.

    Rubio admits also that he made his statements after only having read
    news reports” and not the actual law. Surely a week later now he has read the law and still persists in supporting those like Obama that oppose the law.

  • RedBeard

    Um… that’s quite a stretch there, Mike.

    Rubio has reservations about the Arizona law. I do not have any such reservations. In other words, I disagree with him on this issue.

    So where do I go from here? Should I stop supporting him because I think he has the wrong idea on one issue?

    I really cannot think of one single elected official throughout history with whom I have agreed 100%. It’s not possible.

  • JadedByPolitics

    but don’t hold me to that….lol!

  • JadedByPolitics

    the bottom line is if those words were uttered he has an opportunity to get out of them going into the election HOWEVER I will most certainly NOT throw him off the bus for this ONE disagreement with myself. I find that Charlie Crist and I have absolutely NOTHING in common, hell the man IS Obama’s Republican lackey in Florida!

  • http://www.erickerickson.org Erick Erickson

    If he were in the Arizona legislature he would have voted for their legislation. That is good enough for me.

  • http://www.examiner.com/x-1597-Charlotte-Law--Politics-Examiner Mike gamecock DeVine

    People should be held accountable for what they actually say and do, no matter who they are. Rubio needs to get his mind right now. He is showing weaknesses of youth.

    I also think many here should know that I was persuaded not to make my blog on the AZ situation mostly about Rubio, so I reserved mention of him to 1-2 paragraphs, but here it is days later with him having a chance to right his wrongs on national TV, but instead he goes left on oil drilling too.

    No word if we might have to stop pasteurizing milk if his baby spilled some this morning…smile

    HERE IS LINK TO UPDATED COLUMN

    http://www.redstate.com/gamecock/2010/04/30/there-will-be-blood/

  • http://www.examiner.com/x-1597-Charlotte-Law--Politics-Examiner Mike gamecock DeVine

    that is all I am doing. Rubio gets no pass by merely being better than Crist.

  • peg_c

    and I’m unemployed and $$ is EXTREMELY tight. But this is important!

    Thanks for the alert, Erick.

  • muffin

    because he’s the best candidate for Senator in Florida. I’ve listened to him speak about this new AZ law, and he seems to understand that the Governor of AZ had to sign this bill. I cannot fault Rubio for not reading the bill first before speaking on it. Perhaps he was caught off guard, and spoke before he should have. We’ve all done that from time to time. He’s made his position clear to me, and I will support him fully.

    As a side note, I watch every vote that our representatives make. Should they vote against the will of the people, they will definitely hear from me. And loudly.

    Go Marco!

  • http://www.examiner.com/x-1597-Charlotte-Law--Politics-Examiner Mike gamecock DeVine

    says about conservatives and whites in general.

    I would link to see the link. Did he say it on FNS while I was in the bathroom? smile

    seriously, when did he say it and is there a transcript?

    But yes, I will accept his attempt at damage control with his base, but what bothers me is that I see this as the first crisis that showed us the real Rubio and he basically folded. Was it youthful mistakes or was it him simply becoming a politician first and feeling the need to reach out to the middle?

    Look, I have moved to an even higher plane of conservatism now! Which is why I think civil unrest happens before my GOP can repeal…, and… I don’t expect the Rubios to be Rubios. Its just that this issue is crucial; the right is right on it; 70% of US is for it; we win over many democrats with this issue; and the GOP needs unity, esp after we got Lindsey’s mind concentrated on “border security first.”

  • Scope

    but the “police state” comment was using very poor judgment. It seems that he shot his mouth off without thinking, and before he knew the details. Chris Wallace just asked him about his statement, and in fact read that part of his statement when he originally used the term “police state.” His defense today was that the AZ legislature made changes to the law that made it better. From my understanding, the only things that changed in the law were to make clear, in the language, that profiling is not allowed and is illegal.

    When Wallace asked him about drilling today, unless I misunderstood his answer, he seemed to be concerned about future drilling. He added that the oil rig explosion must be investigated, and what happened must be clear so that “it never happens again.” Following what Vladimir has been saying in his diaries, and he is our resident expert on the issue, he has made it clear that all oil rigs, even with every safety precaution, cannot be guaranteed to never have accidents. Accidents of this magnitude are rare, and, I believe I heard that the last biggie was more than 20 years ago. I personally do not believe that any oil company is irresponsible enough to bring massive expenses and lawsuits against them. When Wallace asked Napolitano this morning about her call to BP asking them to do more, he asked her what more they can do, and, her answer was to stop the spill, as if they aren’t trying to do that already.

    Rubio’s seeming reluctance to future drilling, unless 100% guarantees can be made, was a little disturbing, or possibly nieve. However, who would we prefer Crist or Meeks? I think not. We must stay behind Rubio.

  • http://www.examiner.com/x-1597-Charlotte-Law--Politics-Examiner Mike gamecock DeVine

    in the first two semi-political crises, whereas Rubio got his big lead via conservatism on immigration and oil drilling and most all issues,

  • zollistar

    …I’m making calls on his behalf today starting at 1:00 PM EST until 9:00 PM.

    Tomorrow I’ll be calling again most of the day (Indiana’s primary is on Tuesday).

    I live in New York City. Thanks to technology, we can help anyone anywhere. (Money is fungible; likewise technology makes our ability to volunteer from our homes fungible. Please. Take advantage.)

    The way the system is set up, there is no cost to me to make these calls for Stutzman (provided one has Explorer 8, which I just downloaded: I didn’t have it before).

    If you have time to volunteer for one hour or (better!) for several hours, go to www.GoMarlin.com: click on the “Phone Calls” button on the upper right hand corner.

    If xx number of us make telephone calls, contributing as little as an hour each (and some of us can contribute more time), we can MAKE THIS HAPPEN.

    Let’s make it happen!

    I am grateful to Erick for making me aware of Marlin Stutzman.

  • Scope

    route of the Big Tent thinkers. Wallace said that there are those on the right that think he is moving from the right to the middle. He answered by saying that his positions are mainstream conservative. He named some of them. They were what I consider mainstream conservative. Hopefully he will digest the Wallace questions/statements and realize that he was doing very well because of those conservative values, and will be more careful and not open his mouth just to let words fly without first knowing all the facts. I’m sure he regrets the “police state” comment. Even if he is being handled by the DC elites, even they would not have used those words. I believe that he was trying to pander to his Cuban/Latino supporters, but, he really missed the mark.

  • http://www.veronicaestrada.com/ Veronica Estrada

    Hubby and I read all your comments over morning coffee. Yes, we’re sometimes late risers on Sundays.

    We’re in complete agreement with you on Rubio.

    What they say and do. I still have”I don’t blame Arizona” echoing in my ears.

    You could use that “relative” line on abortion and ANY other hardline conservative issue.

    “I don’t blame her for getting an abortion.”

    “I don’t blame him for making a deal with Obama.”

    “I don’t blame him for submitting those earmarks and screwing the taxpayer.”

    It’s a non-principled stance on the issue, and you’re right that it lends support to the other cause.

    We have to stop lowering the bar, this is why we keep going back to Reagan, because we have no true leadership.

    We need serious principled leaders. We can’t settle for less, especially in these times.

    Rubio needs to buck up, and he needs to buck up now — especially since he’s already “secured” the Republican nomination.

    He has nothing to lose and needs to start conditioning his constituency.

    It shouldn’t be the other way around.

  • http://www.hakubi.us/ Neil Stevens

    If Erick were wrong, we’d be getting in response some excited, but polite, explanations for why other candidates were better.

    Instead, we get anger. Anger because Erick is right and nobody can argue back.

  • http://www.examiner.com/x-1597-Charlotte-Law--Politics-Examiner Mike gamecock DeVine
  • partyof1

    disappointed in Rubio’s waffling on the AZ immigration law. I still support him but didn’t think I’d have to be holding my nose so soon.

    Regarding President Reagan’s “true leadership”, it would be hard to find a bigger admirer of Reagan than myself, however recall his own amnesty debacle in 1986 and his “borrowing” $300 billion from the Social Security trust fund.

  • pamela1631

    which is Marlin Stutzman.

    I’ve always been partial to Farmers, especially since my people have been Farmers here since 1631, Soldiers since 1776 and Hunter/Gatherers since the Ice Age if my Grandmother is correct.

    Marlin is too young to be a Senator? He’s 34 years old with business experience.
    The minimum requirement is 30 years of age and a citizen of the USA for at least 9 years.

    A young man at 18 can join the Military and after training fight, be wounded or die for this country. IS that 18 year old too young?

    As to anger…it is a reasonable reaction to the fact we have been carefully directed for decades into possible servitude with the loss of the Freedoms our Ancestors fought for generations ago.

    We’ve been subjected to the camera lens carefully smeared with Vaseline to give a soft, comforting, pretty picture if we voted certain ways.

    Though when the smear is removed, all that is left of the pretty picture is a scene of destruction.

    So choose wisely when you place your vote.

  • golds1

    I was a Dem up until last year, when I switched to Republican. Would have rather registered Independent, but I need to be able to vote in the Florida primary (i.e., vote against Crist, and for Rubio).

    Understand this…I am a CONSERVATIVE…not Republican. My votes will reflect that. The party has done, frankly – crap – for years. Maybe my vote will help change that.

  • partyof1

    I’m supporting Stutzman. He’s young as Erick pointed out, and I also want someone who has not been in Washington. Even if I could ignore most of the liberal causes that Coats has lobbied for, I couldn’t ignore his pro cap and tax lobbying. There is no room for compromise on this completely phony issue. It’s purely a cash and power grab.

  • http://www.veronicaestrada.com/ Veronica Estrada

    we don’t have true leadership in the present, so we look to the past.

    It appears that the best we can do is reflect back upon Reagan, who was a great leader, despite his flaws. We weren’t defining Reagan as our “true leadership.”

    Again, there’s no true leadership now, which is why we keep referring to the same old quotes, old videos — because our guys are afraid to cast themselves in new, current molds of anti-establishment.

    Where’s our true leadership?

    Where’s our next Reagan? Where’s our next Washington, for that matter?

    Yes, there were many great leaders in the past, but we need leadership now in the present who will stand on principle, not just stick their finger in the air to see which way the wind’s blowing in their own backyard.

  • zollistar

    Only one person hung up on me.

    I’ve spoke to four, one of whom is DEFINITELY voting for Stutzman (“I’ve been following him for a while now,” he said) and I left get-out-the-vote messages on seven voice mail systems.

    It costs me zero to make these calls. (Originally, I assumed that I would be paying for the calls, which I considered my $$$ contribution along with my volunteer time contribution; now it’s only time that I’m contributing.)

    You, too, can contribute time and/or money.

    To contribute either, visit www.GoMarlin.com and look at the top right of the site.

    I’m heading back to my calls now. It would be wonderful if some of you could join me later today or tomorrow.

    The primary is on Tuesday.

  • partyof1

    and you’re right.

    Next George Washington? Swinging for the fence a bit aren’t we? If only…

  • crassus

    The Arizona law is not just a “no choice” law, but it is actually a good law in and of itself. Sure, it is most important for states like California, Arizona, and Texas (Perry opposes it- I always figure he was all talk) but it would be good to implement similar legislation in many states- New York, Virginia (I live 10 miles outside of D.C.), Maryland and Colorado are just a few states where the problem is spreading. As for Rubio, anyone who ever thought he was serious about stopping illegal immigration was kidding themselves. However, Crist was even worse. Crist is worse than a RINO- he is a total opportunist and power hungry nitwit.

  • http://www.veronicaestrada.com/ Veronica Estrada

    Why not? And if not, then why use the references?

    But, I would only agree with you on “swinging for the fence” on the premise that the American public feels jaded.

    Look at where soaring rhetoric and masterful oratory skills got us.

    My question is:

    Where is our conservative answer?

    Who is honest enough, grounded enough, brave enough to stand on principle while still rolling with the punches — all the while convincing the American public that only conservativism is duly American?

  • earlgrey

    and signed up to make calls. With a toddler and a preschooler, that may be hard. I want this so bad I wish I didn’t have to work tomorrow so I could call all day..

  • http://www.veronicaestrada.com/ Veronica Estrada

    “The policies Coats advanced on behalf of his corporate clients are the same bailouts, regulations, and overspending that President Obama has championed in the name of “change.” And Coats’ biggest clients — Google and the Pharmaceutical Researchers and Manufacturers of America — have been intimate Obama allies.

    Coats represented Bank of America in the third quarter of 2008, when the collapsing bank begged for and received tens of billions of bailout dollars”

    Read more at the Washington Examiner: http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/politics/Dan-Coats_-lobbyist-for-fat-cats_-plots-Senate-return-83904552.html#ixzz0mnc0IKVn

    Link for the cap and trade lobbying:

    http://www.dscc.org/news?type=press_release&press_release_KEY=1289

    What’s Coat’s answer on this?

    I tweetr for Stutzman tomorrow.

  • dforston

    Donated $20. Time for some new blood!!

  • zollistar

    Someone has to pay for my phone calls!

    ~ Z

    PS: I’m on a short break. Also, have a sore throat and my voice reveals it. Had some tea and I’m going back to work in a few minutes.

  • zollistar

    …THEY ADD UP!

    That’s terrific that you’re going to try to squeeze in a few calls of your own. Not easy with two small kids BUT with two small children, you have the incentive. It’s their world that you’re working to preserve.

    We call tonight until 9:00 PM EST; tomorrow we call from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM EST.

    Thank you, EarlGrey!

    Everyone else visit: www.GoMarlin.com

    ~ ZolliStar

    PS: I reached several people who were intensely interested in learning more about Marlin Stutzman, including three — three! — who promised to vote for him.

    There are lots of people all around the country dialing for dollars, too. Our efforts are a piece of what’s needed to turn our country back to what it was meant — and created — to be.

  • robdacosta

    Thanks a lot for infomation is very helpful.

    _________________________________________

  • Locked and Loaded

    Enough said!

  • http://ruminationsaspirations.blogspot.com jonbingham

    A few had not heard of Marlin yet. Also, left a lot of voice mails along the way.
    This gives people the chance hear a bit about him, and go look at his website for more information.
    Everyone – do some calling and we can move this race with the large % of undecideds.

    Go Marlin!

  • http://www.examiner.com/x-1597-Charlotte-Law--Politics-Examiner Mike gamecock DeVine

    would be deal with amnesty and that if we do, we insist on an end to drivers licences for illegals and agreement on photo ID elections.

    But I am flexible. Isn’t that nice of me! smile

  • earlgrey

    The toughest question I have gotten, is when they ask where I am calling from (not IN) and how I know Marlin. I tell them I have family in IN which is absolutely true, but I thought I’d pass the question along in case any of you encounter it and need to come up with a quick answer that won’t annoy the voter.

    Lots of undecideds. At least that is what they tell me.

  • hoboken

    Thanks for the nudge. I’ve meant to give a small amount for a month or so. Finally did it today.

  • randd

    Erik’s statements are correct. Many times Coats voting records were somewhat less than conservative. He’s a good guy, but not the one we need in DC. It is time for Republicans to strengthen the platform and oil its conservative planks. Marlin Stuzman has that platform with all of the planks in place and Hoosiers and conservatives all across our country are coming forward with support. We’ve been praying for Stutzmans to rise up and stop the runaway politics in DC. Indiana gets the original prototype in Marlin Stuzman!
    The phone bank is so easy to use. Sit in an easy chair with your phone and computer and you’re good to campaign for him. Now it’s less than two days. The momentum is still with him. A few additional phone calls might be the extra push to get him past the primary. Some are still saying they’re undecided, but very happy to hear Marlin’s message. We just have to keep going…GoMarlin.com

  • e_rowe

    Once again, Erick dares not mention him who shall not be named.

    Funny.

  • zollistar

    In fact, sometimes I open by telling the person that I’m fed up with left-wing liberals in my state and that I’m working for good candidates anywhere in the country. People are really intrigued by this and more open to listening and hearing more.

    I just finished having a very good chat with a man who knew very little about Marlin Stutzman and was interested in knowing more. I bet he might well vote for “our” man.

    Surprise: the voter is fed up with the Republicans. I agreed. I, too, am fed up and I no longer give even a penny to national. I seek out elections of true conservatives (like Stutzman’s) and donate or (when I can) I volunteer.

    One thing I know for sure about the truth: It’s far more refreshing than spin.

    ~ Z

  • zollistar

    …I’m a bit under the weather, have a sore throat (and people can hear it, believe me), and while I give myself breaks, I try to keep in mind your point, Randd: “A few additional phone calls might be the extra push to get him past the primary.”

    And, yes, it has been my experience today: several people were very happy to hear more about Stutzman: they plan to visit his site.

    Here’s another thought: those of us who reach individuals who turn out to be really interested should ask each to call one other person to let the individual know about Stutzman’s candidacy and what he stands for. Let’s come up with more ideas for getting the message out, OUT, OUTTTTT.

  • randd

    Can you post your idea on facebook on Marlin’s wall? I’m adding it to my phone script from now on! Inspirational! If you can’t post it let me know and I’ll do it refering back to RedState. Thanks so much! GoMarlin.com!

  • constitutionalconservative

    As Erick said, “We got into the mess we are now in because of Republicans”. The old way of Washington back-scratching was the problem. We are going to be part of the solution.

  • randd

    about the idenity thing…sorry. I’ll pass it onto one of the guys. Thanks again!

  • johnconradarens

    Otto Von Bismarck has the attribution for his supposed aphorism “Politics is the Art of the Possible”. Well, perhaps–; if you were dealing with all of the burned out ends of Teutonic feudal states, old Hapsburgs, and various other tin-horn princelings. Not true here in America. EVERYTHING is possible here.

    … And we’ve forgotten this. For a nation of people that think we can change the very weather we endure by switching a light-bulb or two, it is incoherent to think we CAN’T fundamentally alter the outcome of our elections by the work in which we engage, or the candidates we support.

    Marlin Stutzman seems like the sort of man that would make a magnificent Senator. Like all men, though, we do not know more than a tithe of what lay in his heart, and things can always go haywire. But why go immediately to what might go wrong, rather than to what can ultimately be so grand?

    Godspeed, Mr. Stutzman.

  • aesthete

    Several of them from hoosiers who favor Stutzman. Angry responses are part and parcel of politics, particularly when it comes to specific candidates: a lack of information on candidates in general, or a long legislative history, makes it easy for folks to read what they want into said history.

    I’d be happy with any of the Big Three winning, TBH.

  • earlgrey

    With stutzman the powerbelongs to the grassroots, but with coats the establishment that picked him will have the power.

  • zollistar

    Please post the idea to Marlin’s Facebook wall for me. I don’t quite “get” FB.

  • http://www.veronicaestrada.com/ Veronica Estrada

    I turn to hubby: Would you build a fence?

    Hubby: I want to build a wall. Like the Great Wall of China. A two layered wall with a road in between. I want our military to be able to drive a convoy of humvees right through that damn set of walls.

    Personally, yeah, I could care about aesthetics, but the truth is, Mexico doesn’t take care of their side of “the view.”

    When we travel back home to the bordertowns, we stopped “crossing over” for authentic Mexican [whatever] years and years ago because it’s too dangerous, too dirty, too anti-American. Not a nice place.

    I say employment quotas for the unemplloyed.

    Time for affirmative action for the whites and the unemployed.

  • http://www.veronicaestrada.com/ Veronica Estrada

    I turn to hubby: Would you build a fence?

    Hubby: I want to build a wall. Like the Great Wall of China. A two layered wall with a road in between. I want our military to be able to drive a convoy of humvees right through that damn set of walls.

    Personally, yeah, I could care about aesthetics, but the truth is, Mexico doesn?t take care of their side of ?the view.?

    When we travel back home to the bordertowns, we stopped ?crossing over? for authentic Mexican [whatever] years and years ago because it?s too dangerous, too dirty, too anti-American.

    Not a nice place.

    I say employment quotas for the unemplloyed.

    Time for affirmative action for the whites and the unemployed.

  • vmo335

    kicked in another 20 bucks…..small amount? sure. but i am not rich, and i am trying to support as many conservatives as possible.

  • tamismiller

    We did get into the mess we are now in because of Republicans. They renigged on their own Contract with America all for the sake of the party – well, let me tell you, it was no party when the Dems took over because of lack of Republican Leadership. As you say, Erick, Marlin is most definitely the most likely candidate to “stand with conservatives even when that means standing up to Republican leaders.” Indiana needs Marlin Stutzman.

  • e_rowe

    You’re right. These have been much needed for a long time.

    Now there are two recent diaries about John Hostettler.

    http://www.redstate.com/e_rowe/2010/05/03/hostettler-for-senate/

  • flamerock

    …to give and gone to everyone I know (and many I don’t know) to talk up the candidacy of the only true conservative in this race. I will continue that mission today, and tomorrow I’ll stroll across the street to my voting place. There, I’ll cast my one vote for Marlin Stutzman, hoping that it’ll be one of the first shots in a battle to save the Republican Party from itself. That is a battle we cannot afford to lose, as the consequences of a failure of true conservatives to take back the conservative movement from the Republicrats means that my children and grandchildren will live as slaves of the state.

    It really IS that stark and simple.

  • peg_c

    this week, then I hope to help out with the Tim Burns phone bank. That’s coming up May 18th. I will try to help with Stutzman after that!

    BTW, I had a great time running around Pine Bush, NY with George Phillips Saturday and about 12 other local volunteers, knocking on doors and spreading the conservative message to help GOTV and get rid of Maurice Hinchey!!

  • e_rowe

    I’m not sure where that claim comes from. But the latest poll (as with all previous polls) shows this to be a race between Coats and Hostettler. Coats has a slight edge, but Hostettler (who is the most conservative guy in the race) is within reach of him. Stutzman’s numbers have stagnated at 18 in every poll and not gone up despite his late funding surge. So it’s not true that undecideds are breaking Stutzman’s way. Right now, Stutzman trails Coats by so much that if every remaining undecided voter chose Stutzman, he’d still be behind Coats by more than the margin of error. If Stutzman does play a role, it will be as a spoiler, siphoning off enough conservative votes from Hostettler to give the election to Coats.

    Hostettler doesn’t get much coverage here, probably for that reason. Those who don’t know much about him should read the diaries I and another user have written about him.
    http://www.redstate.com/e_rowe/2010/05/03/hostettler-for-senate/

  • e_rowe

    But not all the the class of 1994 reneged on their promises. We have a guy running who was part of that class who didn’t. With a proven commodity like that, why settle for someone who has nothing more to offer than words?
    http://www.redstate.com/e_rowe/2010/05/03/hostettler-for-senate/

  • sirosky

    Based solely on Eric Ericksons endorsement of Marlin Stutzman I decided to back him. I checked out his website, sent him a campaign contribution and encouraged others to check him out and consider voting for him. That is, until I had contact with a member of his campaign staff. The attitude and treatment I received made me stop and question if I was talking to someone in Obama’s administration. The message I received was ‘this is what we’re doing, this is how we’re doing it and we don’t need voters giving us any feedback on it unless it’s to say you agree with everything we do’. We have that mentality with the current administration. I’m not about to vote for more of the same. So, while Marlin sounded like the right candidate based on what Eric wrote, personal experience with those who represent what he stands for says he’s all wrong. I won’t be thrilled to give my vote to Dan Coats but that appears to be the best option at this time. I feel like the strong endorsement by Eric Erickson is misleading Hoosier voters and I hope those voters will be more discerning about Marlin Stutzman than I was in the beginning.

  • liberty131911

    “For the past several months I have gotten the crap kicked out of me for supporting a guy too young to run for the Senate and too conservative to play well with others.”

    I for one am sick to death of picking candidates based on their ability to play well with others….. especially when the others always seem to be liberals. We don’t need any more McCains, Snowes, Lugars, Grahams or any of their ilk.

    Years ago I quit supporting any Republican organizations because they seem more interested in getting along with others rather that protecting and defending The Constitution. I support libertarian/conservative candidates in primary elections and I urge others to do so as well.

    I don’t always agree with your particular choices Erick but Redstate is always one of the resources I use to make my choices. Thanks again and keep kup the good work.

  • e_rowe

    Here’s a political consultant who has noticed similar problems with the Stutzman staff.
    http://jacobperry.us/?p=119&cpage=1#comment-64

    You might also have seen the smear email they sent out over the weekend. They’re getting hit hard over that.

    Here’s something I wrote about Hostettler that you might be interested in if you haven’t voted yet.
    http://www.redstate.com/e_rowe/2010/05/03/hostettler-for-senate/

  • zollistar

    Thank you for posting it, e_rowe.

    ~ Z

  • zollistar

    …I’m glad to know about a conservative running in New York.

    Like you, I’ve signed up to make get-out-the-vote calls for Tim Burns.

    If all of us does just a little, IT ADDS UP.

  • leemajesty

    Great article. It’s very inspiring.Attorney