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Marginalizing Jim DeMint: Are Senate Republicans Trying to Get Tom Coburn to Be Judas to Conservatives?

By: Erick Erickson (Diary)  |  October 14th, 2010 at 09:31 AM  | 

RESIZE: AAA

As you know, Senate Republicans are more than a little unhappy with Jim DeMint. The Senate GOP will see an influx of DeMint backed candidates after November. Consequently, the Senate GOP has become more fixated with marginalized Jim DeMint than fighting Barack Obama.

For perspective, Mitch McConnell won’t even campaign against or speak ill of Harry Reid to help Sharron Angle. But his minion are all over Washington newspapers badmouthing Jim DeMint.

The latest story coming out of the Senate GOP Conference is that the Senate GOP has decided to ignore Jim DeMint.

“Jim DeMint isn’t the most effective legislator, so he has to gain power by driving headlines. His Achilles’ heel is everyone saying, ‘no comment,’” a Republican said.

That’s from one Republican who, not being identified as a staffer, may be a Senator. Another, a staffer, said, “It’s like a piece of fruit. If you leave it on the counter long enough, it will spoil and go rotten on its own. I feel like that’s what’s going to happen with Jim DeMint.”

With the coming wins by DeMint’s Senate Conservatives Fund, these Republican whiners are much like a boxer talking smack at the weigh in only to get knocked out in the first round.

So they’ll talk about him and then say no comment. But there is something more and it is more troubling. It appears the Senate GOP is trying to set up Tom Coburn to be Jim DeMint’s Brutus and conservatives’ Judas.


According to numerous Republicans familiar with the issue, the hope had been to recruit Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) to challenge DeMint for the post [of Chairman of the Senate Republican Steering Committee]. Coburn is as conservative as DeMint, which would shield him against attacks from conservative activists and limiting accusations that the GOP was stifling conservative demands.

As of now, thankfully, Senator Coburn has refused to go along with the plan and fully supports Jim DeMint in that position. I’m sure Senator Trainwreck, himself never enamored with Washington, is wise enough to know he is being used or at least the GOP leadership is attempting to use him. But there is more to it.

Senate Republicans also want Coburn to be the liaison to the freshmen Senators. In effect, the Senate GOP Leadership wants Tom Coburn to be their outreach guy to the band of brothers (and sisters) Jim DeMint played a great roll in getting elected.

The Senate’s class of 2010 may have Sen. Jim DeMint (S.C.) partly to thank for their electoral victories, but if they’re going to flourish in the chamber they may want to follow the lead of conservative Sen. Tom Coburn.

Republicans said Coburn — who often leads his party’s charge against earmarks and spending — is as conservative as many of the likely GOP newcomers, but also is close to Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.). They argue that the Oklahoma Republican may be the best Member to help his party’s leadership work with the new class and help the freshmen adjust to the Senate.

That last bit is key. Remember what Trent Lott said a couple of months ago?

“We don’t need a lot of Jim DeMint disciples,” Lott said in an interview. “As soon as they get here, we need to co-opt them.”

The Senate Republicans have decided to take on Trent Lott’s mission and co-opt the freshmen Republicans. And they intend to use Tom Coburn to do it.

It will be bad, bad news if these freshmen “adjust’ to the Senate. We don’t need them to adjust to the Senate. We need the Senate to adjust to them.

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COMMENTS

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  • JadedByPolitics

    2010 is just the beginning, WE will be gunning for even more in 2012 and 2014 until Senator Jim DeMint’s Conservatives are running the joint and Mitch McConnell’s “Republicans” are watching from the sidelines at home!

  • Paige Dulli

    This election cycle is just the beginning of the long war with establishment Republicans. Any freshman who is co-opted will have to be primaried and defeated in 2012 along with McConnell and his ilk. Rinse and repeat in 2014, 2016, 2018 unto infinity until they finally get the message of who is the boss.

  • http://itsaboutfreedom.proboards.com IronDioPriest

    He is a petulant little prince, and needs to sit in the corner and let people with big-boy pants do the heavy lifting.

  • conservativebeacon

    It’s obvious that the majority of the Republican Party–the establishment and officers–hasn’t learned its lesson.

    They haven’t had their “come-to-Jesus” with conservatism they want us to believe.

    For two years I have been campaigning for Jim DeMint to be minority leader, not the stooge McConnell.

    And by the way, Cornyn, Kyl, and even Coburn aren’t the staunch conservatives we think they are. Just look at Cornyn’s tenure as NRSC Chair.

    Conservative Beacon

  • autiger89

    Sorry, but I missed this – what “post”?

  • autiger89

    Don’t you have to have something to neuter? Clearly, McConnell has no cajones.

  • Aaron Gardner

    We must break the cycle. Sen. Coburn better stand strong this time.

  • Finrod

    Are we going to have to primary every single one of these [obscenity deleted] before they get the picture?

    This is why it’s a total fail to run Senators for President. It seems that save for DeMint once they get into the Senate their brain starts to rot.

  • red_oakster

    If a freshman get “co-opted” by the porkfesters, you are going to need to wait until 2016 to do something about it.

    You are right that this is an ongoing battle. Folks like Snowe, Corker, and Lugar (if he doesn’t retire) deserve challengers in 2012. And if 2012 is a big year, McConnell, Alexander, and others may see the writing on the wall and retire.

  • cwilson

    1) Repeal (but not replace) Obama care
    2) Remove and do replace more “Republican” members of the Ruling Class, with people whose allegiance is to the Constitution and their Constituents, in that order, rather than to their own Power and Pocketbook.
    3) That way, these obviously overworked blowhards can get the Rest and Relaxation they so badly need. In Retirement.

    And if the current bad apples “coopt” our new emissaries, we can remove and replace THEM, too.

  • acat

    but we need to remember this discussion when some young, aggressive conservative mounts a primary challenge to ol’ Mitch…

    Mew

  • acat
  • http://www.laborunionreport.com LaborUnionReport

    Hashtag:

    #spartacus

  • Robert Allen Leeper

    The exceptions are DE and NY.

    2012 should be a good year for Republicans as there are 21 Ds, 2 Is and only 10 Rs, including some low hanging D fruit (the Nelsons and Conrad). It should also be a good year for conservatives as 5 0f the 10 Rs up are less conservative and possible primary targets (Corker, Hatch, Hutchison, Lugar, and Snowe).

    McConnell is up in 2014. I think there is still time for him to see which way the wind is blowing and get with the program. But we’ll see.

  • chbroussard

    A word to the wise….Don’t even *think* about it. If you think Conservatives are angry now, just try it. You might want to talk to some entrenched Republicans who will not be returning to DC in January. Mitch McConnell is so pathetic that we ought to be able to run a cheese sandwich against him and still win.

  • bus2dc

    At least I know where I stand with the Marxist. I know what he believes, and he’ll do ANYTHING to promote his agenda. RINOS are like the bug that mutates when you don’t finish the whole antibiotic prescription; it dresses up as something else but it’s still in your body and still hurting you while your symptoms temporarily abate.

    The old RINOS that saturate this Congress are not going quietly. Witness the gnashing teeth of Mike Castle and the ugly Republican response to Christine O’Donnell. This is a perfect example of them biting off their nose to spite their face. THEY DON’T WANT TO CHANGE. Do you get it, America? Mitch is the old guard, so is Boehner. I don’t believe one word of anything they say. All they want is to play nice-nice and stay in power. Let’s just say if it weren’t for Sen. DeMint I’d be much more depressed than I am. LOL.

    I used to love and hold such respect for Coburn; in the early days of the Obongo presidency he spoke eloquently and forcefully on the Senate floor. Against the stimulus. Against Obamacare. Against cap n trade. But little by little i have seen this administration scrape against his fortitude – and I think he’s either ridiculously naive or tremendously tired of the fight. But he’s too smart to be this naive, and the alternative is making him start to compromise his principles. This is beginning to be a not pretty picture at all. If he caves, it will do harm, as we don’t have nearly enough soldiers on the front lines as it is!

    DeMint is a beacon. I wish he’d run in 2012. He was THE FIRST who publicly got on the air and said – EARLY in 2009! – that “maybe it was time for America to take the fight to the streets” against Obama’s radical agenda.( Recall that Obama strolled into his new office immediately screaming things about Gitmo, healthcare, gun bans, amnesty, welfare, etc etc. As if his background and buddies weren’t enough to scare to snot out of us.)

    If DeMint is compromised, shut-out, lied about, whatever the dirty RINOS do to anihilate the ones that “won’t play” – then we have a serious problem. We NEED to be pro-active, support AND PROTECT this man. He is one of the real deals — and unfortunately, I STILL don’t see the GOP party embracing the ideology the party was founded upon. Despite all our marching and screaming and faxing and townhall-ing, I see the old guys still saying the same old lines, side-stepping the hard stuff, and totally SILENT when needed to speak up or defend a true conservative candidate within the GOP. YUCK. The Dems are running away faster from Obama than the Repubs are!

    We are on our own in saving this country. EACH and every one of us is the watchman. And Sen. Coburn, I sincerely hope you remember what happened to Judas in the end. Sigh.

  • http://michigantaxes.com/wordpress/ Jason Gillman

    I remind them that the NRSC has not yet caught on to the fact the GOP will benefit from those pesky conservatives.

    When they do, I start giving again.

  • rdelbov

    of anything that comes out of rollcall or any other MSM rag.

    They have an agenda and that is to divide and conquer the Right.

    I don’t see these articles in Human Events or other conservative publications.

    I find it on the surface to be great that folks are pushing Coburn for a spot in leadership. Is this particular spot the only one in leadership that is open?

    I understand that Bennett had a leadership spot.
    Murkowski had a spot.
    Cromyn is certainly doing NRSC chairman as he is up in 2012. So that’s a spot.

    I think even KBH has a spot–she is resigning right?? (ha ha) so that’s a spot in leadership.

    There are tons of spots out there and the idea that the only one available is a Coburn-DeMint showdown is pure MSM trash.

    I think its so funny when the MSM throws out nothing pieces of raw meat and those of us on the right take the bait.

  • http://itsaboutfreedom.proboards.com IronDioPriest

    …But I’d sure love it if somebody challenged him for his leadership role and beat the pants off him.

  • cwilson

    Where every person they meet is either a tourist, a constituent begging for govt to “do something” — or an employee of the federal behemoth. There are no “real” jobs or “real” people in D.C. — by design. It was originally a malaria-infested swamp that neither VA or MD wanted — and no one wanted to live there.

    Hence, the govt showed up, did whatever they had to do as fast as possible, and got the **** out of dodge. Then, along came air conditioning.

    Now, it’s the permanent locus of the largest organization on the planet — with lots of money and power. And, a built-in cheerleader section, the press, always rewarding those who make it grow with favorable articles, and punishing conservatives who try to shrink it with bad ones. Day in, Day out, every day, week after week, month after month…in the newspaper, on TV, at the cocktail parties, in the line at the grocery store…

    It takes a VERY strong person to withstand that constant barrage. I don’t think anyone can, indefinitely. Hence, term limits — or, force all congresscritters to live in their districts at least 50% of the year.

    Or, heck, have Congress meet “electronically” via tele-presence, and require them to live at home 100% of the year! (A friend of mine is always pushing this idea — because it means we can return to the original 30k-50k citizens/representative ratio (which means about 6000-10000 House reps!) Right now, each House member represents about 750,000 people. The People’s House? Hardly.

    Imagine how hard it would be to bribe 3001 or 5001 House members, rather than 217? And if, for instance, the GA legislature had to draw 200-325 districts…you’d never see a gerrymander like the 1992 GA District 11 — which stretched from Atlanta to Savannah, and was at times the width of a single highway. Districts 2 and 5 were pretty…special, as well.

  • Scope

    position in the private sector get to fail at their mission, and, still retain that leadership position? Mitch McConnell has failed miserably as the Senate Minority leader, he must must must be replaced, and not be given the opportunity to continue to take all of the Republican Senators down with him, as the Majority leader, should the Republicans take the Senate. Why do some Republicans continue to reward failure?

    Jim DeMint has made some public statements as to the treatment he has been given by some of his fellow Republican Senators. It is not news that he has been far more successful in helping to get more conservative candidates elected in their primaries, than the Cornyn wing of squishes that backed Crist, Murkowski and in the past Spector, who went back to his original party alligence-the Democrats. The voters told Cornyn et al, enough is enough, we don’t want your choices. DeMint needs to stay public with his observations, not as a whiner, but as someone who keeps the people informed of the Washington elite shenanigans. The people have seen who is for the country, and, who is for their own personal power.

    It will be a test for those supported by DeMint, and, denied credibility by the squishes, to see just where their loyalties lay. I can’t imagine Angle, Paul, Buck etc. going to Washington, and falling in line with those that don’t have our best interests, or those of the Conservative wing of the Republican party at heart. I believe that the DeMinters ran for office in order to change the practices of the “good old boys” that have corrupted the party.

    I myself personally would like to see the Dems. hold the Senate by one seat. In 2012 there are something like 39 Dem. Senators up for re-election, or some high number. DeMint has an opportunity to support even more good conservative candidates for 2012. No one, who follows politics closely expects that the party is going to be taken over by conservatives and changed for the better, in just 2010. It’s a long term effort, and DeMint is almost a one man conversion tool currently in Wash. Jim DeMint has alot of public support.

    We will see how successful the McConnell’s are at initiating the newbies into their failing ways. Ain’t gonna happen. I look forward to Senate Majority Leader DeMint in 2012.

  • distantvoter

    The world has changed. Instead of pushing someone like Hagel to try and undermine/shut out DeMint, they are talking about Coburn. I don’t think Tom is as strong as Jim, but his heart is in the right place, and he’s on our side.

    This says a lot about the impact of this election on the Rs in the Senate, and it’s all good. They are being pulled to the right. That some of them are kicking and screaming is no surprise.

    Does anyone really think that Toomey, Miller, Angle, Paul, and especially O’Donnell (if she gets in) are going to forget Jim DeMint, what he stands for, and how he helped them get there? He’ll have no influence, even if Coburn sells out (which won’t happen, BTW)? I don’t buy it.

    This is establishment pipe-dreams. What are they going to do to him? Block any of his earmark requests? HORRORS!

  • chihank

    over Jim DeMint. Notice the reactions by Thune, McConnell, etc over Lisa Murky’s write-in bid and Jim DeMint support of Tea Party insurgents. The establishment is more angry with DeMint than Princess Murky.

  • Robert Allen Leeper

    I see few that are not vulnerable. Akaka, Cardin and Feinstein will be tough, but the rest should be beatable.

    Akaka, Daniel K. (D-HI)
    Bingaman, Jeff (D-NM)
    Brown, Sherrod (D-OH)
    Cantwell, Maria (D-WA)
    Cardin, Benjamin L. (D-MD)
    Carper, Thomas R. (D-DE) [O'Donnell or Coons]
    Casey, Robert P., Jr. (D-PA)
    Conrad, Kent (D-ND)
    Feinstein, Dianne (D-CA)
    Gillibrand, Kirsten E. (D-NY) [or Dioguardio]
    Goodwin, Carte P. (D-WV)
    Klobuchar, Amy (D-MN)
    Kohl, Herb (D-WI)
    McCaskill, Claire (D-MO)
    Menendez, Robert (D-NJ)
    Nelson, Ben (D-NE)
    Nelson, Bill (D-FL)
    Stabenow, Debbie (D-MI)
    Tester, Jon (D-MT)
    Webb, Jim (D-VA)
    Whitehouse, Sheldon (D-RI)

  • michigan

    We are dealing with people such as Senator McConnell, et al, that are more interested in their personal power and gain as the Ruling Class rather than for the Republic which they are supposedly sworn to. Their lexicon cloaks of ?refinement?, ?statesman-like?, ?bi-partisanship?, ?legislative detailing? and ?Senatorial craft? is transparently sanctimonious and makes me vomit to listen to. These types are a counterproductive force in a fight for our liberties.

  • Scope

    had to be pulled across the finish line in his last election. Many of us here were helping to get him re-elected. The seat needs to remain Republican until someone better primaries him, and retires him. My point, he almost lost last time to the Dem.

  • fpete13527

    McConnell, along with the Crist/Cornyn/Specter types that, McConnell has fostered, are the second biggest thing wrong with this country, next to our head Communist President and the DemComm Congress themselves.

    The GOP House “seems” to be getting the message that things must change. We’ll see. The Senate however does NOT seem to be getting it at all. The continued squishy ?moderacy? non-leadership of McConnell is not going to be allowed to stand. The leadership of Jim DeMint is going to grow. The current Senators had better start waking up to this and breaking up their prior ?moderacy club? rules and start taking a stand.

    The Senate, mostly due to those like McConnell, don’t want things to change. They want to keep things liberal and progressive in the GOP Senate so they can propagate their own pork, liberalism, and corruption.

    Those like McConnell/Cornyn need to be thrown out. McConnell is showing his true colors now by STILL maligning the Republicans that the country OVERWHELMINGLY loves…like Jim DeMint. Sen. DeMint is at the top of the list across the country as top Conservative Republican with integrity and courage.

    The WSJ did a great job calling the top winners in the country, of which RedState was one. The WSJ also named the top losers in the country of which Cornyn (McConnell’s top prot?g? for recruiting new Senators, like Charlie Crist) was also one.

    It seems McConnell and those supporting McConnell’s policies want to go the way of Charlie Crist, whom McConnell supported. They want to be slimy, detrimental, and disempowering to the Conservative re-emergence of the Republican Party to the very end. Otherwise the Senate would be completely supporting the new group of Senators to have DeMint as their mentor.

    I recommend the rest of the Senate start getting this and restructure the rules of their ?club.? Shift TOWARD the people that this country wants in leadership, I.E. Jim DeMint. And shift AWAY from those that the people DON?T want, I.E. McConnell, Cornyn, McCain and there Senate visions like Crist.

  • Scope

    Robert Menendez, NJ, has been fighting court challenges in his state to remove him from office. If Boxer is defeated in CA, then I would think Feinstein will go the same way with a good R candidate. Conrad, Stabenow and McCaskill have been very loudly vocal supporters of Ocare, and, if the R’s can defund it, or in some way stop it, they will be very vulnerable. The one I think may be a little harder to beat will be Ben Nelson. He has paid the price for his Ocare bribe, and, has since moderated some of his positions. Unfortunately some have short memories. He has lots of time to fool the voters.

  • Scope

    he is receiving from some of his fellow Republican Senators. That’s about as factual as you can get. It isn’t the MSM or the rags that are trying to split the Republicans, it is a battle between the Conservative wing of the party, and the “good old boys” who are acting like the Murkowski’s and Castles, because they refuse to relinquish their power positions.

  • chihank

    There are talks of Eric Cantor taking a shot at Webb in 2012. If not Cantor, then the Va Attorney General can run. Bolling will likely run for Governor in 2013. McDonnell will position himself as a Veep or run aginst Mark Warner in 2014.

  • ceili_dancer

    .

  • SIConservative

    To be clear, I have nothing but respect for Sen. DeMint. He would be a worthy Chairman and would surely use the post to advance a limited government agenda. While I’d rather there not be a fight, far worse things could happen than Sen. Trainwreck becoming Chairman.

    Separately, the good doctor would be perfect for helping new members “adjust to the Senate.” Sen. Coburn has more holds on legislation than any other Senator and is a budget hawk. He doesn’t have a perfect voting record, but he “gets it” in the way that few other Senators do. What’s more, he doesn’t play by the rules. He will muck up the process more than anybody. Senator DeMint has a superb voting record, and he has done wonders to work to put fiscal, constitutional conservatives in a great place to win this year. Sen. Coburn, meanwhile, has been fighting the good fight on the Hill. I’d argue that he’s been much more effective inside the Beltway. Those concerned with the obscene growth of Washington should be very excited that “the Leadership” has come so far as to want Tom Coburn to help new Senators adjust to Washington.

  • Scope

    unlike any other time, is the language/rhetoric has changed. Just as many more are aware of the destruction the big unions have caused this country, the same phenomenon is happening with the fact that the “elites” or the “Ruling class” in both parties, are causing just as much damage to America, it’s institutions, and traditions, all for the sake of retaining their personal power. This is the last chance election for the Republicans, and, if the McConnell’s et all retain any positions of power in the Senate, or the Boehner’s/Cantor’s in the House, they will succeed in the formation of a strong third party, as early as 2012. I wish there was some big organization that would work hard to call for the replacement of the Republican leadership in the new Congress.

  • fedsocdan

    Going to plan for spring/summer instead. All but a few R Senators need to be primaried, regardless of the changes they make going forward; their every act will be but a charade. Obviously, Snowe won’t need to be, as she’ll have flipped by then.

  • http://herbal-nutrition.net/Billga Bill

    need to already know that they will be challenged next election cycle they are in. The “moderate” Senators in the GOP caucus should be aware that they will be viewed as “has beens” if they start this “compromise crap”. The way they have treated Christine O’Donnell, Rand Paul, etc should be the sign that the GOP establishment players are not going to get with the proper program. There is always a talk of a 3rd political party, so maybe the GOP establishment should walk across the aisle and find their moderate brethern like in Israel and form their US version of Kadima in the U.S. It is clear to me that the Maxists Socialists Communists have taken over the Democrat Party and there are so called Dems who do not agree with them. But they are the Yellow Dog Dems who can’t bring themselves to vote for a GOP candidate. So let them go with the RINOS and form there version of Kadima. Then we’ll see whose message will carry the day at the ballot box. GOP is already on the ballots in 50 states. Let them get the Kadima on the 50 state ballots.

  • ceili_dancer

    After Demint becomes Senate Majority leader. He’ll need someone loyal to him to help keep things on track and not stab him in the back.

  • fpete13527
  • The_Rebel

    by one vote. If we can take the Senate, and then lose important votes because the Maine twins or Graham vote with the other side, it will only strengthen those conservatives looking to primary out some of these RINOS, such as Olympia Snowe in 2012. It won’t be easy, as she got over 70% of the vote in her last general election in 2006.

  • jenniferjmilleresq

    I heard Joe Miller speak of “Tom Coburn and Jim DeMint” when he was interviewed no FOX and asked about who would be his mentor. The GOP leadership is doing everything it can to avoid a Jim DeMint in power, including “freshman orientation” and the Coburn option is their last ditch effort to find a middle ground–anyone who ISN’T DeMint. DeMint has been much more stalwart than Coburn in clogging up passage of legislation, although Coburn has joined him at times such as in the Healthcare fiasco. I don’t trust him as much as DeMint. We don’t have to compromise with the RINOs. I am guessing the Tea Party will get involved with pushing leadership changes after the election. We will see what happens.

  • congressworksforus

    He’s a bit like Portman in Ohio; looks good, but only time will tell.

  • Scope

    and it seems that you got that info from an early October Politico article. It was nothing more than pure speculation on the authors part, that Cantor or Cuccinelli would make a run against Webb in 2012. The same article also states that a Cantor run is not likely. The author was participating in mental masturbation it seems. Cantor will not risk his climb up the power ladder in the House.

    Cuccinelli’s term as VA Atty. General is not up until 2014. Ken has many irons in the fire with his state lawsuits against the feds with Ocare, and the EPA Endangerment Finding. He is absolutely committed to winning those lawsuits, which will take years to go through the courts. I’d say it is as highly unlikely that Cuccinelli run for Webb’s seat as Cantor’s.

    I agree that Gov. McDonnell may run for Warner’s seat. Bolling was the least liked of the VA trifecta, McBollingelli this year. He was considered more of a moderate. I doubt he could win the Gov’s seat. I wouldn’t mind Cuccinelli running for Governor in 2014, as a step to a much higher political position. Once you get beyond the Liberal shills in VA, Cuccinelli is well loved by the Conservatives, the Republicans and even the Libertarians in VA. If he wins his lawsuits against the feds, he will be an automatic shoo-in for higher office. His support network is huge.

  • congressworksforus

    Again, looks good, but as a former State-House speaker, is he too much the politician?

  • Scope

    of those that will run against Webb in 2012 are George Allen and possibly Delegate Bob Marshall. I think Allen will get the nod. He narrowly lost to Webb in 06 because of his “macaca” statement, which was painted by the Liberals as racist. Now that anything and everything the Republicans say is considered racist, macaca has lost it’s value to the Libs, and they won’t get away with that crap again. The WaPo made it a major issue in 06.

  • earlgrey

    I think he was. Not an expert, but Ithought DeMint (and RedState) were really important to Rubio’s rise.

  • Finrod

    With things as they currently stand, if they had to draw 325 districts, we’d end up with 100 that looked like that old district. Not until we get a constitutional amendment that restricts gerrymandering (I’ve proposed one here before) will that problem have a stake put through its heart once and for all. The good news is that with many small districts, it’s much harder to game the system, even with using computers to draw the district lines. Plus, they’d find it harder to conceal their horrible district lines, so that in itself would help make anti-gerrymandering pressure.

    I think that even without teleconferencing, we need to go to 50K citizens max per district. Sure that means 6000+ Representatives, but if we can build sports arenas that seat 100K people, our Congress can deal with having that many Reps.

  • Robert Allen Leeper

    Old Dominioners can begin to rest more easily with the election of McDonnell and the impending defeat of Nye, Connolly (and maybe several others – Scott, YESS) (unless we blow it) and of Webb and Warner later.

    I’ve pretty much lost touch with state politics since I left many years ago, but I think George Allen may still want a role, and I have no objection to Cantor. I can’t get enthusiastic about the other R members of the House Va. delegation (Forbes, Goodlatte, Wittman, Wolff), but a lot can happen in 2 years.

  • distantvoter

    I’m not saying all the people DeMint pushed will stay strong, but some of them will.

  • distantvoter

    But if so, DeMint is still going to have more allies than he has now.

    And I don’t expect any of them to go soft in the first two years, and hopefully there will be reinforcements in 2012, which should add some backbone if anyone starts to feel the pressure.

  • Scope

    that we can still pass conservative legislation, despite losing the votes from the Maine idiots or Graham or others, we don’t gain anything. The best we could hope for this year is a 51-49 Republican majority Senate. It seems to me that more often than not, when one Maine idiot goes against us, the other one also follows suit. If we lose 2 or 3 votes, the Dems. win in blocking our legislation.

    No matter what we can manage to pass over the next 2 years, in the House and Senate, it will never be signed into law by the Communist in Chief. When nothing becomes law, the Republicans have the “appearance” of being failures. The O and the Dems will trounce on that in 2012. I would rather be able to say that it is still the Dems. that are destroying the country coming into 2012, rather than giving the rogue Republicans the opportunity to further destroy the Republican brand. It is highly unlikely that we could peel enough Democrats to vote with us in order to override the O’s vetoes. Let the Dems. continue to self-destruct.

    In 2012, we do have the chance to get many more good conservatives in the Senate, and to retain our majority in the House. I believe we need 67 Senate seats to override presidential vetoes. If the O manages somehow to steal the election in 2012, or if we got a Hillary Clinton, he/she will find out that their victories are hollow.

    I would have to disagree that we need to win the Senate so that conservatives run to replace the RINOS. Conservatism is on the rise, and, it will not die out any to quickly with an awoken population. I don’t want to see our first conservative efforts fail because we still have some RINOS working against us. I want the full onslaught to happen in 2012. I really don’t believe that Crist, Murkowski and Bennett have made any impact on those that refuse to open their eyes, like McConnell. Do you think that McConnell, as Senate Majority leader, will change his spots?

  • Scope

    but, also consider the fact that since he was obviously going to win the R nomination, he has gotten the support from some of the worst in Washington. Yes, DeMint was an early and often supporter, and, Rubio owes his allegiance to him, and, not to the elites. We will have to watch him, and, pull him back in the right direction if he thinks about straying. I would especially watch him on Immigration issues, as he was against the AZ law, before he was for it.

  • Robert Allen Leeper

    IMHO. Boxer – may go, but even if she does, Feinstein is less weird, and I don’t see CA changing that much in 2 years. Conrad – should be toast. Stabenow and McCaskill – vulnerable, but, while stopping Ocare is vital for the country, letting it wreak it’s devastation would be better for smashing its supporters.

    Nelson – Nebraska is basically a conservative state with a rotten record for electing conservative senators. Johanns seems OK, but Exon, Hagel, Nelson? – they won’t be fooled a-fourth-time.

  • acat

    A leadership fight in which poor widdle Mitchy gets his panties in a bunch could have… repercussions…

    Great opportunity for We The People to stay involved, and keep reminding Mitchykins who he works for.

    Mew

  • Scope

    http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/apr/29/gop-should-end-affair-with-corporate-elites/

    “Republicans will succeed again when we realize our true allegiance is not the U. S. Chamber of Commerce, but to free markets, free people, and freedom itself.”

    BINGO

  • Scope

    as you will see if you link to it.

  • JSobieski

    If the new folks stay dedicated to conservatism, they will be supportive of DeMint. If they stray, they won’t.

    Loyalty/allegiance to DeMint is a symptom of being conservative above other corruptive influences.

  • Scope

    He won’t stay in VA one day longer than he has to after his defeat in November. He spent 7 years in NY until shortly before Uncle George Soros sent him to his old home town to run for office here. He will be free now to take another job with Uncle John Podesta at the Center for American Progress. Podesta was on the boards of the 527′s that Perriello founded or co-founded, with Uncle George’s money.

  • conservvoter

    . . . my contribution to DeMint’s SCF, “Republican said” and “staffer.” I’ll be laughing last and thinking of y’all when I increase my contribution this payday.

  • http://itsaboutfreedom.proboards.com IronDioPriest

    I don’t see that as very likely. What other repercussions would matter?

  • kestrel

    He’s on our side and will not stab anyone in the back. When I first started “paying attention” (summer ’09), I looked up all the judiciary committee members and watched their recommendations on Judge Sotomayor on C-Span. The first two who spoke against her were sound and thorough, those that followed basically gave shorter versions of the same, well and good, becoming sleepy, sleepy.

    Dr. Coburn was one of the last to speak, and his words were different, his focus illuminating some different facets of the situation than the rest. He also appeared to be the only person who would risk an unscripted remark. The pro-Sotomayor person who spoke immediately before him ended with something that must have been “spin” and Coburn politely, respectfully, in just one sentence, addressed the person and humbly stated the corrective truth before moving on (might have been about Kelo). I did not even catch what the disputed point was, but considered that Coburn had just “won” by his obvious honesty, his completely open, humble manner, concise statement and by not belaboring the point. He was also the only person to allude to Roe V. Wade, saying something about judicial legislating, on the order of, “we know what that has wrought.”

    This senator has a quiet, unwavering courage. He thinks for himself and doesn’t fear criticism. Very soon after he spoke in the judiciary committee hearings, I realized, and told my teens who were also watching, “Hey, that’s the one guy who isn’t a lawyer! Could you tell??!”

  • JSobieski

    The have both been tested and to date, have not sold out. They have different leadership styles, and DeMint is clearly trying to lead in a way that Coburn is not.

    I hope those two conference with each other frequently, albeit informally.

  • Robert Allen Leeper

    Rs will be attacked for opposing progress or trying to retrogress whether they win or lose the Senate. But there are several reasons I want Rs to win.

    1. Winning the Senate will make us happy. I want to be happy. I want my friends to be happy. Happy people are more effective, and I want enemies of socialism to be effective. It will demoralize the enemy, interferring with their effectiveness. It will create a bandwagon effect, swelling our ranks and depleting theirs. It will be a major news story, emphasizing the conservative momentum.

    2. Controlling the Senate will give Rs more control over the message by determining which bills are brought up for vote, making it much harder for Ds to pretend to be conservative or moderate.

    3. Controlling the Senate will give Rs more staff and control over committees and investigations.

  • dontell
  • cactusjack
  • Robert Allen Leeper
  • Scope

    that was a good one.

    On local radio this morning someone called in and said they have a bumper sticker that says- We need to put a Hurt on the Congress. There have been requests for that bumper sticker in other states.

  • acat

    If I can think of it, I really doubt Mitch’s remora-like aids can’t… assuming they can detach themselves and *think*.

    Mew

  • chihank

    Scope, I personally prefer someone new to take on Webb. Maybe let Bolling take a shot at Webb and let George Allen run for Governor again.

    I am not sure about how voters will perceive a rematch of Allen vs Webb. The WaPO made the 2006 Senate race a circus, and they will proably do it again. Plus it was digraceful that a “non-partisan” pundit like Larry Sabato come out and claim that George Allen use racist slurs in college with revealing his “sources”. Sabato revealed his true partisan alignment.

  • pamela1631

    I have gotten to the point that the “oh dear we have to roll over” republicans need to be tossed out with the “you take what we decide” democrats.

    McConnell is such a dithering old woman. You know the kind with the blue-tint rinsed S & S hair and neurotic poodle to match.

    Dude, just get out of the way so DeMint and the new Conservative Leadership can clean up the mess that has been made.
    This Great Nation needs to be set to rights and get on with business.

    Amscray, Leave, Adios, Goodbye.

  • SIConservative

    This about that for a second.

    I’d also take issue on who is more effective in clogging up the Senate. I’d make the case that Sen. Coburn is more effective since he uses holds so frequently. DeMint is building the team, but Coburn is leading the fight in DC. Both are important, but if you don’t trust Sen. Coburn, then Jim DeMint is probably the only Senator you do trust. If that’s the case, you’re going to be waiting a very, very long time to get anything done.

  • minister_of_war

    Diane Feinstein is far less repulsive than her much dumber Senate colleague from California, who I fully expect will not be reelected on Nov. 2. California voters consistently say that Feinstein is the most popular California politician.

    Now,with that said, why do I think that California could be in play in 2 years? Well, I feel that Feinstein might retire. She won’t like being in the minority party after the 2010 Election and losing her chairmanship of the Senate Intelligence Committee could be pretty devistating to her. Republicans should win even more seats in 2012.

    So, where I have no inside knowledge, I wouldn’t be surprised if Feinstein decided not to run again for reelection. Feinstein will turn 79 years-old in 2012 & might not really want to go for another 6 years.

  • kestrel

    exposing her for exactly what she is and, not incidentally, making her look like a dimwit, during her confirmation hearings.

    He is also is a bulwark against endless Dem/liberal legislative excrement and posturing. Search the words “Coburn stands firm” or some such. He has probably taken more heat for “obstructionism” than most of the other Republicans combined. How many other Rs do you see standing on principle and shrugging off an ongoing media characterization as “a notorious gadfly” obstructionist? (See link below.)

    He may be less visible *to us* than Jim DeMint is, but he is just as much a thorn to the Dems, and just as worthy of being cloned. :)

    http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/politics/Media-duped-by-Reid_s-cries-of-_obstructionism_–894609-103159744.html

    Can someone tell me how to make a great big link into a little word like “here” and still have it work? Thanks.

  • Scope

    Bolling got elected on McDonnell’s and Cuccinelli’s coat tails. He is a known moderate quantity. They pulled him across the finish line for a complete Republican takeover. He has little chance of winning anything beyond this tri-fecta.

    I seriously doubt that George Allen would consider running for VA Gov. again. His strong support for all of the above energy policy, including a strong support for fossil fuels are needed in Washington, to marginalize the environmentalists positions. He has been a big advocate for VA off-shore drilling, which was killed by Obama, with the help of his DNC current Chair, former Democrat Governor Tim Kaine.

    The WaPo also tried to derail the election of Bob McDonnell. They “tried” to make a big deal of McDonnells 20 year old college thesis, but, they weren’t successful this time. Rather, the WaPo was exposed as a partisan shill for Dems, and, with the Journolist debacle, they have been marginalized, at best.

    You show your lack of knowledge/facts with saying that WaPo or Larry “the rug” Sabato took Allen down because of a college thesis against Allen. Allen went after a Webb plant that followed him around everywhere when he made the “macaca” comment, actually at a local fair. Larry ” the one who loves to be in front of any and every camera he can” is a known Leftist factor in these parts. He’s from the Liberal UVA for goodness sake.

    You can root for a new face to challenge Webb, that’s fine, but, please, at least get the facts straight.

  • JadedByPolitics

    and the leftist tool known as Webb will be sent home to rethink his conversion from Right to Left!

  • Robert Allen Leeper

    [a href="greatbiglink"]here[/a]

    and with [ and ] replaced with .

  • Scope

    but he and McConnell were unsuccessful in keeping all the Republican Senators from voting for her. How is it that Pelosi and Reid can put a noose around the necks of Democrats, and “make them” vote in favor of their agendas, but, the very weak leadership in the Republican party can’t keep their cats corralled? Do they even try?

  • Scope

    n/t

  • Robert Allen Leeper

    DOH. “”.

  • minister_of_war

    Senator Coburn is AWESOME! He has said that doctors who perform elective abortions should get the death penalty. That’s what I call pro-life.

    Maybe the “Senator Trainwreck” remark is mocking some stupid thing that some liberal somewhere said about Coburn at some point.

    I’m not sure if Senator Coburn is planning on running for reelection or if he has given himself self-imposed term limits, but sadly, it seems that Senator DeMint will hold firm to the single term limit that he placed on himself when he ran for the US Senate. I wish that he wouldn’t have. In fact, I abhor term limits, since I believe elections are great term limits for bad politicians.

    If Senator DeMint doesn’t run for reelection, we sure hope that somebody will take up the conservative cause. My hope is that DeMint takes on Lindsay Graham in 2012 & this time refuses to make any kind of term limit pledge. The other acceptable option would be if Senator DeMint is either at the top or bottom of the Republican Presidential ticket in 2012. Either way, DeMint would be able to help shape public policy for a Republican White House.

  • Robert Allen Leeper

    Or right click on a page with links and click “view source” to look at the code used.

  • SIConservative

    Both Sen. Coburn and Sen. DeMint are running for reelection this year in non-competitive races.

    As for the Coburn moniker, it originated during his time in the House when he would, as he does now, regularly derail legislation. It was originally used disparagingly by people who had been in Washington too long, but was quickly adopted by supporters of small government to praise him.

  • l7squared

    The Senate will not turn over overnight.

    How long did it take the rabid left to become their party’s mainstream? 1930′s, 1920′s maybe even earlier.

    I seriously doubt, if people aren’t worn out too quickly by perceived defeats, that it will take that long to rebuild the party back to where it should be.

    Take any victory as a victory, take any perceived setback as just something whose time hasn’t arrived, let it simmer on the back burner for another day.

    The one thing that can be learned from the rabid left is patience.

    There is a chance to do more rebuilding of the Senate in another 2 years. Little by little, pace yourselves. Grab what we can take now, what we can’t get now we get later.

    We can see how those who are up in 2 years behave and deal with it then. I’m in this for the long haul.

  • takemccain2

    I really believe that they are working behind the scenes against Joe Miller, despite what they are saying publicly.
    Lots of money has been poured into Murkowski’s write-in bid and there seems to be some momentum there that worries me. I want to encourage all Red State members to go donate as much as they can to help Miller keep ads on the air and to help organize their ground game for election day.
    We aren’t just battling the Democrats and Obama, but the entire rotten club that is the NRSC, Senate ‘comity’ and beltway elitism.
    I know this is a bit off the subject but should be included in the discussion as Murkowski is another Trent Lott type. Being from Mississippi myself, I can steadfastly tell you that he was a horrible senator and we don’t need more of his kind,
    Donating what I can and praying for our success on election day. Don’t let the Democrats OR the Republicans steal this one from us.

  • minister_of_war

    And I had a brain fart. DeMint did promise to run for only two terms. And I don’t like that. I don’t remember if Coburn ever made any self-imposed term limit promises. Ooops.

  • http://church-discipline.blogspot.com/ cdhost

    I agree with you completely on the huge number of house reps. It would make a massive difference and reps could go back to representing doable districts. They could also be citizen legislators.

  • Robert Allen Leeper

    In 1963-64 the students were rather more inclined to support YAF (Young Americans for Freedom) and Goldwater.

    Please don’t tell me The Jefferson Society has been corrupted.

  • Carol Tarasewicz

    Jim DeMint is my ideal senator. I am stuck with John Kerry and now have Scott Brown (R). I wish Scott Brown would learn from Senator DeMint. I do not like a word coming out of POTUS teleprompter, it has changed to please its audience since Obama appeared at DNC in 2004.

    We have to stick together, yes, I am a conservative in MA. It will take time.

  • proudmarinemom

    left now.

    Thomas Jefferson would be stunned.

  • ahappycamper

    Step 1) Win on november 2, 2010. Win with as many conservative tea party candidates as possible.
    2) Start hectoring the RINOs that are still in office, Remind them that we get to review their job performance every two years.
    3) Start calling e-mailing and organizing against RINOs We need to put the fear of god into them, or they will just continue with their democrat light policies and expect us to go away.
    4) DON’T GO AWAY
    We have to take the long view on changing our government. election cycle by election cycle. Win on Tuesday. Don’t quit on Wednesday.

  • dudette

    tho he is a good man, is his comment about Pelosi being a nice lady, chiding his constituents—remember that one? That is a bit elitist–and when there is a germ of elitism, watch out. There’s the vulnerability

  • etexfisherman48

    We all need to flood McConnell, Cornyn, Lugar, Snow, Graham, McCain, Hatch and Collin’s office with “leave DeMint alone or we will throw you out on your ears”. Jim DeMint for Senate Majority Leader is our cry! DeMint is the only senator we have that is willing to take on the establishment and right the wrongs perpetrated by you RINOS. We are sick and tired of your coddling the one-world government folks headed by the elite CEO’s of the multi-national corporations, your membership in the CFR, Tri-lateral Commission, your support for Fed Policy that is bankrupting America and many of you closely associated with the Bilderberger Group such as Kay Hutchinson being on the steering committee of the Bilderberger Group. We are fed up with your furnishing us the candidate of your choice for elections leaving us with the choice of RINO vs RINO or the lesser of two evils.
    All the above were heavily instrumental in formulation of policy that sent our Middle-class paying jobs overseas. You think your secret behind closed doors deception fooled us but we are not and then lying to us about how American you are. We still remember how you supported Clinton’s NAFTA that stabbed “we the people” in the back while you lined your pockets at our expense. We see you for what you are and we’re sick of it. To us, you RINOS are traitors of the American Way.
    We are not so stupid that we don?t realize jobs with long term security and fair wages are created in manufacturing basically and you have no intention to bring manufacturing back to America to grow an economy the only one can by making something others want to buy, period. We realize your intention is to enrich yourselves by succumbing to the ?spread the wealth? ideology Obama is at least honest about while you secretly carry out this mission. You have sold out your country and fellow citizens and deserve to be tried as traitors so leave DeMint alone or we will turn it up a notch on all you RINOS. As Daffy Duck says, ?you?re disgusting?!

  • rwlungren

    Mitch McConnell reminding (informing) him that the tremendous outpouring of support, financial and otherwise, for Republican Candidates this year, DEMANDS that he PUBLICLY SUPPORT ALL REPUBLICANS between now and November 2nd.

    We will be watching. And even though his term is up in 2014, We, NOT he, will determine the outcome of the elections of Republicans in 2012 AND 2014.

    Get with the Program Senator or Get out of the way!
    Ditto to ALL presently elected Republicans.

  • davesinsanantonio

    they have no morals, and their only political belief is winning at any cost (the end justifies the means). Do we really want that kind of leadership??? NO!!! Because, for us “winning at any cost” usually means caving in.
    Our winning must be based on true principles, and principled behavior. If we give in to the temptation to adopt the Left’s “winning” strategy, we will have lost the very thing we are trying to achieve! Our pressure on our own to conform must be that we will make sure they lose in the next primary. Of course, we cannot us such cannons for minor infractions, or it will lose its impact. Or, again, it will cause us to lose that very thing we seek. I mean, if we constantly force or coerce compliance, where is liberty and freedom of choice??? Do we really want to become what the Left is always accusing us of being????

  • robmull

    It seems that most conservatives are Republican, and most Republicans are conservative, but RINOS seem to have lost their way; and are now on the “endangered” species list, and MUST soon be “extinct”. For a Republican not to put full weight and funds behind a conservative, [especially a Tea Party conservative] running against ANY liberal, is either a huge mistake or the work of a RINO; or both. Better get your “act” together, Mitch, patriotic America is on the hunt; atop a HUGE and well focused ELEPHANT!!! RINOS don’t stand a chance against a healthy elephant; in ANY state.

  • davesinsanantonio

    make sure that there are strong, electable, principled conservatives in every state and national race. We have to prevent the RINOs from winning their primaries. We have to watch that the Cornyns and Grahams don’t get back on the November ballots because we didn’t begin early enough to work to unseat them. We have to get absolute control of the party at the grassroots level and hold fast to true conservative principles and push true, moral, conservative candidates. If we only have conservative names on the ballots, then we will have no more RINOs in power and we can concentrate on defeating the Left, instead of always having to duck the hand grenades thrown by our side. Then, we need to keep it up forever!!!

  • http://impudent.edublogs.org/ kyle8

    Are the two highest on the hit list. But we can talk about that more after the elections.

  • davesinsanantonio

    incoming freshmen, but every single one of them, forever. Again, we cannot go ballistic over minor infractions, or gaffes even. But, when it comes to principles, and the behavior that follows, we have to be vigilant and hold their feet to the fire from now on. EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM!!!

  • davesinsanantonio

    true power in this country comes from the people. So, we must exercise that power and remove them for the good of the country. We have way too many politicians and not near enough statesmen. But, we can reverse that with hard work and diligent vigilance.
    It amazes me that the likes of McConnell do not understand that they would have more power as a member of the majority than they have in the minority. But, maybe they are really as stupid as they seem sometimes.

  • davesinsanantonio

    communist henchmen czars. We can elect conservative candidates, but the real power in this country is now in the hands of the executive branch regulators. We have to take it back–first by de-funding, then by actual legislation. We have to cut the size and scope, and thus the power, of the bureaus, and the “presidential advisors”, and monitor them like hawks until they do the bidding of We the People.

  • davesinsanantonio

    Especially number 4. Thank you.

  • robmull

    are just another phase of the “progressive” cancer that’s infiltrated liberal politics. “We The People,” have certainly been duped by the different “strains” of the same obnoxious disease, but now that the disease itself thinks it has gotten “to big to fail,” arrogant and imperious, [much like England was a few hundred years ago, and Rome...etc.] it’s time to “shine the light,” and “lower the boom”. I parallel this situation to a cockroach or mosquito infestation; after a few uncomfortable encounters, “WE” do not rest until the predicament is discharged. November will be just the first small step in an ongoing and perpetual endeavor to disinfect our “House;” and Senate.

  • dwscho

    So what can we do to let the Republican leadership and specifically, Mitch McConnell know that we support Jim DeMint and they should back off?

    Also, what can we do to campaign against McConnell taking the position of majority leader and consequently the leadeship position in the Senate. I have never been very impressed with him and believe he is indeed one of the good ole’ boys himself. We need a conservative leader who will uphold the Constitution and fight for convervative principles. That isn’t Mitch!

  • jenniferjmilleresq

    I believe McConnell sees some kind of opening with him that he would not have with DeMint or rather some kind of threat from DeMint that does not exist from Coburn. I didn’t call him Sen. Trainwreck but that seems like a compliment to me (derailing legislation). My suspicion is that DeMint is a little less worried about collegiality than Coburn.

  • okiejim

    Please remain true to those conservatives running for office by supporting Jim DeMint and others like him. You have not let me down yet since arriving in Washington, so keep up the good work. Senator McConnell had better start reading the “tea” leaves if he wishes to become Majority Leader next year. Our great country can no longer tolerate business as usual in Washington.

  • http://www.thepurpleheart.com/recipient/RecipientDetails.aspx?wid=7f39cbbe-5213-4983-9702-50132a1c73 rsmith7042

    As an Oklahoman I am confident that Tom Coburn has too muc integrity to abandon his consitutional conservative values. Doing so would be the fastest way for him to lose his seat. Oklahoma is one giant Tea Party.

  • bus2dc

    ….at their own fight, at their own game, using exactly WHAT they have done and their own corrupt record against them. Witness the latest charges that groups like “Americans For Prosperity” is part of some shadowy money supply and foreign funding is being misused by the Chamber of Commerce. LOOK AT THEIR OWN RECORD! We should be fiercely – not politely or gently – reminding the public about the ’08 election foreign-donor charges and that small little “dust-up” back in the mid-’90s LOLOL.
    So where is anyone but Karl Rove on tv or radio? Where is Michael Steele with his finger in their faces and some strong language? SILENCE from Congress on all of it.

    I’d love to know why the GOP still has this built in sense that unless it reacts like a cowering kicked-dog it is somehow comprising party principles. No one else is going to defend us, our freedoms or our future. This party had BETTER start opening its mouth and yelling.

  • http://www.MuskogeePolitico.com jamisonfaught

    Coburn, DeMint… it doesn’t matter that much. DeMint is cut out of Coburn’s cloth – Coburn was the same conservative warrior in the House, while DeMint had a transformation to the Coburn-esque way in the House.

    Coburn and DeMint are basically six of one, half dozen of another. The only real difference is that the rest of the caucus is mad with DeMint right now (for no real reason) – they’ve already been through that numerous times with Coburn.

    Coburn was acting like DeMint is now waaaay before it was popular.

  • http://www.dhstation.com mayrfortuna

    Be sure to make the new incumbents KNOW who they BOUND FOR!

    They are NOT TO BOUND FOR CAUCUS RINOS OR ELITES!

    THEY ARE TO BOUND FOR THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE, TO THE PEOPLE!

    I am a stranger for you Americans, but I AM VERY PROUD OF YOUR?S HUMANITY!

    NEVER RETREAT, NEVER SURRENDER!

  • http://www.MuskogeePolitico.com jamisonfaught

    Part of Coburn’s point about the Pelosi comment was that we don’t win by attacking the individual – WE win by our ideas, and pointing out the flaws of their ideas. Keep the moral high ground.

    Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi can sure complain about Tom Coburn attacking their ideas, but they also can’t complain that he’s attacking them personally or smearing their character.

  • kestrel

    I copied your instructions into a file.

  • kestrel

    sold out again, in spite of Coburn’s effort. His verbal exchange with Kagan made an impression on ordinary people, however. It was clear and concise and IMO, demolished any “small government” claims of anyone who voted for Kagan’s confirmation. Those five Republicans are:

    Judd Gregg of New Hampshire
    Richard Lugar of Indiana
    Lindsey Graham of South Carolina
    Olympia Snowe of Maine
    Susan Collins of Maine

    Does the R leadership try to get Rs to vote in sinc with their platform? I don’t know, but their attitude toward Jim DeMint and the Tea Party candidates tells me all I need to know.