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EDITOR OF REDSTATE

Will Conservatives Be Paper Tigers After This Primary Season?

By: Erick Erickson (Diary)  |  July 12th, 2012 at 04:47 AM  | 

RESIZE: AAA

I look at Texas and see David Dewhurst pouring in money to beat Ted Cruz. A new poll is out and the race is very tight, but Dewhurst has a huge money advantage.

Unfortunately, conservative organizations that have stood with Cruz are not pouring in the money he needs to be able to win.

I look at North Carolina and see pretty much every Republican squish in Congress pouring money into the race for Richard Hudson while so many conservative groups are on the sidelines for Scott Keadle. Only the Club For Growth seems to be fighting hard for him.

I see all the Super PACs gearing up to fight for Mitt Romney, but too few are fighting for conservatives. Jim DeMint cannot do it all by himself. Neither can the Club for Growth.

I see a conservative movement sitting on the sidelines offering nice tokens of support, but only tokens. There are races to be won and conservatives are twiddling their thumbs.

Ted Cruz and Scott Keadle are two important races. They are races that will gauge the real strength of the conservative movement. And right now I dare say both are behind and conservatives are unwilling or unable to do what it takes to get them their respective nominations.

The squishes that the conservative movement has long battled will see Mitt Romney as the nominee and conservatives unable to get their picks through House and Senate races and perceive conservatives as paper tigers

That perception will be tough to fight in reality when the tough battles come later.

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  • http://redpillreport.net/ RedPillReport

    In Utah’s Senate race. Hatch, one of the highest ‘earmarkers’ in government…the Senator who voted to increase the debt ceiling 16 times…the man who has served in the Senate for 36 years (soon to be 42 years)…Ted Kennedy’s pal who has been an active member of the Senate during the explosion in the National Debt…spent $10 million on his campaign vs $600,000 spent by his challenger, Tea Party choice Dan Liljenquist.

    Given the disparity in spending, Liljenquist didn’t have a chance.

    If we’re serious about firing the moderate Republicans who have been part of the problem…it’s going to take more than we gave Dan Liljenquist. Money isn’t everything, but it’s impossible to overcome a 16 to 1 spending gap.

    It’s time for all of us to break open the piggy bank and pitch in with whatever we can spare….and not just for our local candidates. We can send a powerful message to all of the members of Congress by helping to get Cruz and Keadle elected. Let’s ‘unclench’ and donate what we can.

  • michaelbowler

    There is a real reason to have great hope. Dewhurst is outspending Cruz, yet he is losing by around 9 points in the most recent polls. There is hope for the grassroots TEA Party movement to overcome the establishment’s RINOs. It will not happen all at once, and for those of you who envisioned a complete takeover of the republican party in one or two cycles, welcome to reality.

    This process has a way to go. We may control the presidential nomination in four or eight years…patience is a virtue. We shall get there.

  • http://wingright.org bnuckols

    I do believe that Lieutenant Governor Dewhurst is the ?true conservative? between the two on the ballot. I’ve been a volunteer advocate in Austin watching the results of his work: Tort Reform, Voter ID, many pro-life laws, defunding abortionists, holding the line on the growth of government and entitlements and DOMA, just to name a few.

    We conservatives are divided on the two candidates. It’s not conservatives against “establisment,” and certainly not “RINOs.” Unless you’re willing to put Dan Patrick, Jane Nelson, and Governor Perry in the “RINO” column.

  • thethinman

    Conservatives are already “paper tigers”. No matter what sight you look at – they are all talk talk talk – which, like politicians, is about as good as you can get. And, the reason is simple – “Conservatives” won’t give money to people that are wallowing in their own money. “I” don’t have it to give. Your statement proves that Americans are bought and sold, just like the “black panther” leader said about black folk. The “Conservatives” have no party to back them but cling like poor relatives to the establishment Republicans. Conservatives are generally the every day citizens that go to work to earn a living or worked all their lives, saved their money for retirement and paid into social security and generally we are forced into medicare at 65. Many have served their time in the military. All we see, regardless of what the politicians say, is the same crap year after year from both parties. All those, so-called, Tea Party conservative Representatives we sent to Washington in 2010 election, have caved right over to the establishment Republicans. because that’s “how it’s done” in the Congress. I think the Republicans are due for a smack down of reality this November. a split party that continues down the same old McCain/McConnell path. Obama, regardless of what YOU would like to believe has a much better than 50/50 chance of being reelected. And there is a better chance that the Democrats will regain the house – they only need 25 of the “contested” seats to take it back. The Senate – there is hardly a chance of doing other than maintaining perhaps a continued split of 50/50 there.

  • michaelbowler

    Dewhurst is, without doubt, the RINO.

    A look at past actions and speeches will tell anyone who is honest that Dewhurst is a self serving moderate/RINO. He is responsible for killing several TEA Party backed measures in the last session. Giving in to big donors on the sanctuary cities bill (see HEB), advocating for amnesty (exactly what he accuses Cruz of).

    His support for gambling in the state has nothing to do with libertarian values, instead wanting it to be a limited licensing program from which his family/friens will be major beneficiaries.

    Dewhurst is the epitome of crony, the first to arrive at compromise that benefits him at the expense of both the voters and conservative values.

    Cruz is genuinely conservative.

  • edintexas

    “I do believe that Lieutenant Governor Dewhurst is the ‘true conservative’ between the two on the ballot.” I do believe you are mistaken, though we can agree to disagree. Dewhurst isn’t on the Left, but he certainly is a comfortably establishment Republican (Texas style).

    I am amazed at the number of bills he’s written, introduced and passed in the Senate (at least I’m guessing that is what you wish us to believe through your list of the “results of his work”.

    And what in the world is a “volunteer advocate”? Advocate for what (other than David Dewhurst)?

  • michaelbowler

    It will take years to break the RINO’s hold on the party…a few seats at a time. As good conservatives are more successful and can use incumbent positions to advocate for other conservatives the change will accelerate.

  • becky5

    because of 2010. Many of us poured our heart, souls, and dollars into that election. We got great results — biggest midterm election landslide since the 1930s. But then what? Spending is higher this year than last, and not one thing has been done to roll back Obamacare (today’s showvote notwithstanding). The party pushed Romney on us, the only other politician (besides Odumdum) to ever pass Obamacare. And there are far too many signs the GOP isn’t up to the job (Export-Import, corruption, NDAA, etc.)

    I was a big Perry supporter in the primaries, and even he caved to endorse Dewhurst. I found it sickening, and it made me wonder if any of them truly believe in anything at all.

    The truth is, it’s not enough for them to simply vote the right way (and they don’t even do that enough). They must start being persuasive, and bringing people on board with an agenda to stop the country from going over the financial cliff. They don’t seem the least bit committed to turning things around, they seem like the same old GOP that resulted in Obama in 2008.

    I keep thinking of that Pew poll they put out every year, it’s stayed unchanged for decades — 40% conservative, 19% liberal, 21% moderate. How can it be that we are the biggest voting block and yet have no representation in the federal government?

    But Erik is right, we can’t giveup. I just donated to DeMint’s SCF as a result of this post (thanks, Erik, for the kick).

  • edintexas

    Of course, if you are looking at websites, you will find (written) talk, talk, talk. That is the primary reason for these websites.

    Personally I’ve given a fair amount to a number of Conservative politicians this election cycle – both Texans and other states. As a retired person I can’t give thousands, but I’m doing what I can and I’m not whining about our chances this year.

  • Change Jar Conservative

    It takes 12 years to really make a change.

    People will accept conservative House candidates without much of a fuss, but they like to have 6 years in the House on someone before they drop them in the Senate and we need 6 years of them in the House to see what they will truly due.

  • edintexas

    And while I’m at it, the tactics that Dewhurst’s campaign has used (and he’s “approved” every one of the ads) are disgusting for their blatant lies. I expect Democrats to lie, cheat and steal elections. I do not appreciate, and will not vote for, any Republican who engages in sleazy campaigning.

  • http://wingright.org bnuckols

    Who volunteer our time and energies to monitoring legislation, testifying, writing, visiting offices, and serving on ad hoc committees in order to get laws passed.

    Why do you dismiss good laws passed with Dewhurst’s leadership and turn this on who I am?

    Governor Rick Perry and our Republican State Senstors support Lt Governor Dewhurst and refute the claim that Dewhurst – or the Texas Senate – is “comfortably establishment.”

  • Change Jar Conservative

    We control the house. Yes, it’s not as conservative as it could be, but I doubt that we have a problem there.

    We MUST win the presidency and Republicans MUST control the Senate.

    As I’ve said many times, it’s going to be difficult to get Tea Party candidates into the Senate because people want to see longer records with Senate candidates to make sure they aren’t crazy.

    So a lot of what you are seeing is related to that.

    There are also some missed opportunities out there especially Florida.

    As I noted above, it is a 12 year cycle to make a difference.

  • michaelbowler

    However, I would just say:

    Anyone who thought the conservatives would grasp control of the party, both platform and more importantly, legislative agenda, after just one mid term election is not dealing in reality.

    The TEA party took a minority of republican seats in the House, a few senate seats and the republican party, of which the TEA party is a minority player, has but one house of congress. How much immediate results did you expect?

    Realistically, a conservative take over of the republican party is a few cycles away, to expect more is not rational. The effect they are having, and it is largely lip service without more control of the leadership, is to push the language/rhetoric of those running to more conservative positions. This trend will continue for as long as we keep up the pressure. If they see us throwing our hands up and capitulating, the RINOs will reassert their moderate language. Change will come, be persistent with a side of patience.

  • http://wingright.org bnuckols

    In the House and Senate are affected by Cruz and co.’s negative attacks on Dewhurst. Cruz’ claims last summer and fall were used against Perry in his campaign for President. Cruz has gone so far as to contradict Dan Patrick and charge that Patrick takes questions from Dewhurst when he interviews Cruz. (Cruz tried to do just that before one of the debates, but Craig James exposed him.)

    Our Senate Republican Caucus just wrote a letter to t Texans, without mentioning Cruz’ name, to set the record straight on the “misinformation” that Cruz has been spreading for a year.

  • Ausonius

    In our attention-deficit age, a contradictory age when every little thing has a website or cable channel/show (The Golf Channel? Really? Watching people at Pawn Shops?) screaming for our attention, I have reminded my students that independence from Britain took nearly 20 years and a very long, rather demoralizing war.

    If we begin with the speeches by Samuel Adams and Patrick Henry against Britain’s proposal for The Stamp Act in 1764, and then its imposition a year later, we see the beginnings of resentment of taxation without representation, but its ebb and flow varied. Some people made their accommodations and were not all that upset by the principle being violated.

    Even George Washington apparently was not all that upset by it at first. He left Virginia’s House along with a majority of others who refused to consider the Stamp Act’s effects.

    Staying focused on freedom, rather than sighing and making one’s compromises with a subtle encroachment on freedom, takes immense patience and energy, and sometimes must be instilled into people by those who have the persistence and the near obsessive qualities necessary to maintain liberty against the constant gnawing onslaught by the termites of tyranny.

  • michaelbowler

    Some support for the man is genuinely a result of political agreement.

    Most support for Dewhurst is to get him out of the way so that others with their own career agendas may advance. Others support Dewhurst because as Lt governnor, he has quite a great deal of power in Austin…making open opposition a dangerous thing for any Tx republican.

    The genuine supporters are big businesses/cronies.

    Donations to Dewhurst come from about a tenth the number of people than do the donations to Cruz, whose donations tend to be about a tenth the size.

    Has that cleared any of this up for you?

  • http://wingright.org bnuckols

    You should assume people say what they mean, rather than make up 3 or 4 spurious conspiracy theories.

    As a genuine supporter, I’m neither big business, nor a crony. I don’t want him out of Austin or expect to get promoted from volunteer.

    Again, if you’re at all knowledgeable about Texas politics, you’d know that some of the most conservative leaders in Texas signed that Open Letter to Texans. 2 are retiring and not running. Another is Jane Nelson.

    Any of the Senators could have done what Birdwell did: claim a promist of neutrality.

    The only reason for Governor Perry to endorse Dewhurst is because they’ve worked together over the years and he knows the man will do a good job.

  • bk

    his campaign against Cruz has been so nasty and so underhanded I would love to see him lose.

  • tnfriendofcoal101368

    Talk about damning with faint praise…

  • michaelbowler

    KBH is a RINO and Dewhurst will be just like her.

  • http://wingright.org bnuckols

    He’s prolife, knows why. His military and security background, as well as his success in business before he ran for office in his fifties, will give him great perspective on National security, the burdens of regulations on business and the harm done by Congress to the military when they won’t let soldiers do their jobs.

  • michaelbowler

    http://www.tedcruz.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Print-Lieutenant-Governor-of-Texas-__-David-Dewhurst-__-SPEECHES.pdf

    You have to get Dewhurst’s speech from Ted Cruz’s website, it’s been scrubbed from the Lt governor’s website…just yesterday.

    Be for it or against it, but being a dishonest liar…It’s Dewhurst who has been hurling the amnesty accusations, like a true democrat he is accusing his opposition of that which he himself is guilty.

    Go ahead and vote for him,, that’s your right, just be aware he’s gong to lose.

  • abeldred

    and has been mentioned in several of these comments, it won’t happen in one cycle. I don’t know that I agree with Erick completely that we are sitting on the sidelines and not donating, but as is the case with many in this nation today, many of us do not have the resources to perpetually contribute. On average, as a conservative political activist, I receive 3-5 mailers daily asking for money, phone calls out the kazoo asking for money and the emails are generally 10-20 per day all asking for money. I work part-time, my husband full-time, support two children, save for college and as an older parent, save for retirement. I cannot donate to everyone. HOWEVER, I do and have donated to the CRUZ campaign both financially and in time. I have been working with the campaign for almost a year and shortly after I get off this computer I will be out block-walking for him. So, the message to take away here is this, if you don’t have the money, put the time in. Make calls, meet people, block walk etc. It is critical we put a REAL CONSERVATIVE into the Texas Senate seat and not another KBH (who by the way is supporting LOST — call her office and express your disapproval). Dewhurst has proven himself in this campaign to be totally dishonorable and his absence at many, many grassroots events and REPUBLICAN events over this campaign cycle shows his disdain for the people. I can tell you that at a recent Republican Women’s meeting in our town, both Cruz and DD showed up, but DD wanted a hidey hole until it was his time to speak. Had ZERO interest in talking to one of the largest RW clubs in the state. Hmmm…

  • bs61

    We Tea Party groups have a 100 year plan, and are going to take our country back! Let’s get the radical President out of the WH and work forever to get rid of the RINO’s! I have enjoyed watching Lugar beg the Dem’s for a vote – would I haved like Hatch gone, yes, but you are right patience!

  • acat

    Never have to worry about the cat voting for some of the stupid crap Dewhurst hung his “aye” on.

    Mew

  • tnguy

    The goal should never be to find someone who is better than someone else who is/was terrible. The goal should be to put conservatives in congress. And to not even consider big-government republicans like Dewhurst.

    Being pro-life is essential for someone to receive my support, but so is a belief in limited government, coupled with the stones to stand on those convictions.

    A state like Texas should never have anything less than a conservative rock we can count on in the Senate.

  • http://wingright.org bnuckols

    The phrase is short, and without any sort of policy recommendation as to how the guest worker program would be implemented.

    The Lt. Governor has stated that he’s opposed to any guest worker program unless and until the border is made secure and absolutely against amnesty of any type. Even the statement you refer to begins with a call to secure the border.

    The Obama Administration has begun implementing back door amnesty, by refusing to prosecute or deport segments of the illegal population and by actively giving work permits to some – from this side of the border and with no punishment at all.

    The problem with the 2005 immigration reform was that it was “amnesty,” in that illegally crossing the border and taking work – along with identity theft- would have been forgiven for a fine and the application could begin in the US. Our own Texas REpublican Party passed a platform that included “The Texas Solution,” a call for a guest worker program, again without any guidelines as to how it would be done.

    None of this is present in that one sentence in the LG’s 2007 speech.

  • tnguy

    When we elect RINOs, we entrench them. If Dewhurst wins, it’ll be that much tougher to defeat him next time. He’ll have more $$, more political power, a greater fundraising machine, more of everything essential to keep himself fat and happy.

    If Cruz has a tough time now, it’ll be much harder for whoever tries to primary Dewhurst next.

    Once a guy like him wins a seat, he’s very tough to unseat. Beating the Dick Lugars in the Senate has been the exception rather than the rule. That’s why I’ve decided my days of voting for liberal and moderate republicans in general elections are over.

  • michaelbowler

    “The Lt. Governor has stated that he?s opposed to any guest worker program unless and until the border is made secure”

    EVERY politician on both sides of the aisle says that, from Obama to McCain to every other liar.

    The next part about giving those here illegally a work permit…we know where that goes. His killing of the sanctuary cities bill, that would have passed handily, says a lot more about his position.

    I don’t know who or what you are, I KNOW WHAT YOU’RE NOT…conservative.

  • http://wingright.org bnuckols

    You should have stopped at “I don’t know.” Because you don’t, you’re making undue comments on my character.

    18 of 19 Republican Senators confirm that Dewhurst didn’t kill the Sanctuary Cities Bill. http://wp.me/p1FiCk-Mu The 19th, Senator Brian Birdwell, a survivor of the 9-11 attack at the Pentagon deferred because of a previous promise to stay neutral.

    The Governor has said that Dewhurst supported the Bill.

    Even House member Debbie Riddle said the Bill died in the House.

    Is everyone out of step except Ted?

  • ctpsb

    First I salute your volunteer work for Dewhurst. Many people complain about politics but very few actually take time from our busy schedules and do the block walking, phone banking and other hard work to at least try to make a difference. If more people were to be engaged as yourself I believe our political system would be better off than it is. Just good, clean hard-nosed debate here.

    To paraphrase Ted Cruz it is interesting how Dewhurst seems to have everyone else go out to do his fighting. Senators writing letters, talk show hosts, etc, etc. Of course these Senators are writing this letter and Perry is supporting him. If Dewhurst loses and they want ANY legislation passed for the next 10 years (two in Perry’s case), they best support him. And that’s not necessarily a slam on Dewhurst that’s just the way politics and life in general work.

    Dewhurst has had some conservative bills passed (though it appears now that the budget may have been balanced with smoke and mirrors, especially with all the talk of increasing gas and other taxes in the next session, etc.) But many more could’ve been as discussed here at this site and others as well.

    Also I just don’t sense the commitment to fighting for conservatism that I see from Cruz. DC’s a mess and it’s going to take a true conservative warrior to clean up that mess. I.e. Dewhurst would’ve voted against Obamacare no doubt, but will he now lead the charge to repeal it in the mode of Rand Paul or Jim DeMint? From a man who fundraises with Democratic fundraisers (I don’t care what anyone says Dewhurst was at a Democratic fundraising location whether “funds were exchanged or not”), I doubt it.

    I know I’ve been long-winded here but everything that needs to be known about this race is much better summed up at the link below. It’s a little long but very informative and well-documented (though I would assume you might not agree).

    http://www.voicesempower.com/why-choose-ted-cruz-over-david-dewhurst-for-u-s-senate/

  • Melody Warbington (rwm52)

    I can’t seem to get a reasonable explanation for the question.

  • spoasteph97

    I may or may not agree with Lt. Governor David Dewhurst on his stance on immigration.

    But a larger concern for me is a man’s integrity. Why would he erase a speech he gave? What is he hiding? Why erase things that you said?

    Answer this question: Why did David Dewhurst erase his speech from his website?

    TED CRUZ 2012! A man who doesn’t hide from his speeches.

    (All David Dewhurst can say is: China! Ted Cruz never helped China businesses or anything like that…but even if he did, he did it on his own time, with his own money, working for his own law firm.. David Dewhurst erased a speech that he gave as the Lt. Governor, using security with taxpayer money, and erasing the speech from a TAXPAYER-PAID website!)

    I have a lot of concerns about David Dewhurst’s public service. I have not heard anything about Ted Cruz’s public service!

  • http://wingright.org bnuckols

    Of a firm. The guests were all Republicans. Breitbart published an update the next day.
    And, yes, watching Dewhurst over the years leads me to believe he will effectively oppose ObamaCare implementation and be a Leader in the Senate.

  • http://wingright.org bnuckols

    Secretary of the Senate follow thru with earlier request to clean up the website. The campaign denies knowledge or communications with the Capitol staff and it’s hard to believe that they are that foolish.
    Austin being Austin, I’d look carefully at how the deletion was done, whether for or against it. Most staff are loyal, but some are civil service hires who aren’t conservative.

  • tnfriendofcoal101368

    Is more believable than David Dewhurst ordered deletion of speech that he saw as potentially embarassing considering he was hypocritically accussing Ted Cruz of backing the same thing because you know that Ted Cruz is a “hot headed Cuban”.

  • Melody Warbington (rwm52)

    and about what I expected. Sure seems like the Dewhurst campaign has to deny knowledge of a lot of stuff. Kinda makes you wonder, doesn’t it?

    Maybe it was somebody on one of those 32 committees chaired by the liberal Democrats appointed by Dewhurst.

    rightsidenews

  • bk

    He went from being virtually broke in the early 80s to worth north of $100M (perhaps closer to $200M) by the late 90s.

  • bgintn

    We have to look no farther than Lamar Alexander to show you are right.

  • cbartlett

    all I can say is I am sick of hearing the stupid “China” ads Dewhurst is running – over and over and over. I researched the background of those “charges” during the primary and I frankly don’t care for the way Dewhurst has portrayed the whole issue. And it is so NOT important when looking at the big picture of the condition this country is in. We need someone who will FIGHT. There is a mountain of evidence that Cruz will fight the establishment and a mountain of evidence that says Dewhurst will pander to whatever promotes the best self-interest of Dewhurst and his wealthy friends. He may not be as “RINO” as some of the others in DC, but he certainly has all of the qualities to turn into one. We are finally getting rid of “go along to get along” Kay Bailey – we don’t need to replace her with another one!

  • Ned Reck

    Is a frog’s a$$ water-tight?

    Ned

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

    while he pursued Obamacare like Ahab pursued Moby Dick. Now he mans up at the NAACP and calls Obama out for lying and being too untrustworthy to be trusted for another term.. He not only isn’t a McCain, he’s right on.

  • soljerblue

    2010 was a glimmer of light, an opportunity to see what can be accomplished, not a victory, but a chance to continue. It took seventy years for us to get to this point, and if it takes less than that to reverse the momentum that alone will be a political miracle. Many, many of us in the conservative movement are retired people living on fixed incomes, or family members who have time to be active but not necessarily a lot of money to put into candidate coffers. We do what we can, both as to money and time.

    If a so-called conservative tells me it’s all over but the shouting, I want no part of him or his opinions. Sure, I have my doubts — it’s an uphill battle, after all. But it won’t be won if it’s never fought. And it MUST be fought if you want to pass a free nation on to your children and grandchildren. So if you’re disgusted, depressed, burned out, played out or tapped out, keep your defeatism to yourself. I refuse to be contaminated by it.

  • michaelbowler

    http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0712/78441.html

  • Melody Warbington (rwm52)

    Appears there’s more to the story than complying with an earlier request to clean up the website.

    The lieutenant governor’s office had asked more than a year ago that all of his speeches be removed from the internet and sent to archival storage. At that time, a button allowing computer users to access Dewhurst speeches was taken off the government-run website. But the speeches could still be found online through a standard Google search.

    Once the 2007 speech began generating calls to the office, the lieutenant governor’s state-paid staff asked that the links to the speeches be disabled.

    Full story is here.