Wouldn’t it stand to reason if the GOP was so stunned by the losses in 2006 and 2008 they’d be trying to come up with a new paradigm instead of the “this is the way we’ve always done it” routine?

Even more simply, why wouldn’t the NRSC just keep their powder dry until the general election; and let the Florida voters make their choice, unhindered by the inside-the-beltway crowd, in the primary? They’ve always tried to control every primary, and look where it’s gotten them.

Honestly, you feel as though you’re beating your head against a stone wall trying to get through to these people. When will they ever realize that we elect them to go to DC to represent us, but we don’t elect them to tell US who to elect!

between you and Sen. Cornyn. This a most excellent rebuttal. You did a magnificent job. Thanks for saying so well what so many of us believe.

you forgot to mention that Rubio has a “compelling” life story!

The logical disconnect is simply staggering to me. How can they endorse someone who has raised taxes and welcomed Obama to Florida to hype the stimulus and simultaneously say that repercussions from Obama’s fiscal decisions will mean Republican gains in votes???????

We are barely over the poison of Specter. Why would we want to welcome Specter redux?

This is one Floridian who is voting for Rubio.

If they don’t start to figure it out soom 2010 is going to be UUUGLYYY!

…here we have a party whose principles involve the promotion of individual liberty, the free market and small government.

And that same party proceeds to dictate from Washington, DC who its nominee will be in statewide races in jurisdictions like Florida and Pennsylvania, rather than allow the party’s members to make those decisions for themselves.

Does anyone else see a major disconnect here?

Frankly, I don’t find this stuff funny. Who thought up the idea of the party screwing with its own primaries?

It’s like trying to find Sasquatch. I have heard about it, read the meeting notices in newspapers and occasionally hear an odd sound in the woods that I believe might be the old guy. But alas; I never actually *see* it.

All kidding aside, I understand why Mr. Cornyn might be conflicted. I actually have been to GOP meetings in NY. I would relate my experience as something akin to sitting around with Cro-Magnon man and arguing about whether it is easier to build a fire or wait for lightening to ignite the forest- then bark at the moon-god in thanks so he provides more lightening in the future. It is metaphorically the same mindset that Mr. Cornyn proposes- chasing the so-called “sure thing” instead of an approach that is harder, but more practical and sustainable over time.

Should the party be monolithic? Silly question; but the answer is yes. Especially if one takes that term in a literal sense. The morphology of some monoliths indicates they are formed by many small and varied pieces cemented together by some other type of common stone. Sort of akin to the many different groups in our party being bound by common principles. Oh yes, they take time to form. But they are also some of the oldest geological structures on earth. Wow! Another good analogy that hopefully even Mr. Cornyn will get.

Crist is a spendthrift, Rubio is not. Seems as though the former is much less popular than the latter with our contemporary electorate. I can already envision the Florida opposition ads- the Democrat states how he/she is going to cut taxes and restore fiscal responsibility over a line-by-line rolling backdrop of all the junk Crist voted for. No thanks, I have seen this movie before.

And the part I find the most interesting is the comment from Senator Cornyn, or maybe it was his staff, to your takedown. I also like the link on the NRSC blog to your diary with the note that it should be required reading for all of the leadership.

Oh. Where’s my coffee.

“The greatest single cause of liberalism in the world today is conservatives, who acknowledge our core principles with their lips, then walk out the door, and deny them by their lifestyle.” (Brennan Manning. Sort of)

why Sen. Cornyn should resign as chair of the NRSC and pass leadership to someone who actually has a spine, like DeMint.

There are alot of Diaries and Comments regarding the whole Crist, NRSC, and Rubio related situation. I just wanted to take a moment to say to anyone that has not decided what to think, or hasn’t seen the other side of the discussion yet, review/consider additional information discussed beyond just this (and others on same topic) Diary. All “I” ask of “anyone undecided/uncertain” (as I am not going to change minds made up, and others are not going to change my position) is that other “Opinions,” analysis, proposed strategies, commentary, etc… be considered. Review the points in this Diary and other Diaries and decide for yourself.

First, where I agree with the seeming majority here at RS. We need more Conservatives [Conservatives: Who,Where,When? Diary] in Leadership roles in the Party, Elected to Office, etc… Should we support Rubio? YES! At this Conservative Candidates Diary you can see about several Races (beyond FL Rubio and PA Toomey) and it includes a link to where you can donate to Rubio (it is a special RS setup by Erick so that it is secure and Rubio gets the donation knowing that it came from someone here at RS). We also AGREE that Pat Toomey is the RIGHT choice in every way for PA over Ridge (and an EFFECTIVE arguement was able to be made to stop the NRSC from helping Ridge into the Race and parts of that effective argument were: using Primaries to build up future candidates (which Toomey already accomplished and has the leg-up State-wide in PA [same examination can/should be made in FL, IMO]), working together, Voting Psychology (Bandwagon and other effects), and more. (You’ll find a link to Toomey’s campaign to donate to as well as Rubio’s in that Conservative Candidates link.)

Where I part company from some of my fellow RedStaters is that I openly/often state that am prepared to support Crist IF he is the General Election nominee, beyond just the discussion of the Primary battle (and that “I understand” where those supporting Crist for the Primary are coming from “Strategy” wise). Should we donate to Crist now? NO, IMO. I am not, he has a good start and will have enough financial support in FL, and that is part of the many points (see those here: Crist/Rubio 12 points [with links]) of why even retiring FL Senator MEL MARTINEZ ENDORSES CRIST (the Hill) for the U.S.Senate seat he is retiring from (see for yourself). Martinez has also endorsed someone to replace Gov. Crist Martinez endorses McCollum since Crist should move on to the Senate (IN MARTINEZ’S thoughts/strategy/plan/opinion). As if you hadn’t heard yet, Cornyn/NRSC endorsed Crist based on some of the same reasoning/strategy noted in that “12 points” link I mentioned earlier. It is all about an overall Strategy to defeat Democrats and return Republicans (and the GOP (still Conservative) Platform) to a position to exert power, but first we must get Democrats away from the 60 Senator mark, and losing the FL Senate seat to the Democrats is NOT an option (some are of the opinion Rubio may win the seat while other opinions are that Crist will win the seat, but that Crist has less an uphill climb to achieve it, allowing Time/Energy/Money to be focused in other Senate Races [IL for one?]) in these strategies. The strategies employed are on a Location by Location basis viewing each battleground with an eye to achievable objectives both short and long term (both theirs, and mine - as we will NOT have Conservative control of the country w/o Republican control of the country also). We must halt the ObamAgenda creating ObamaFAIL while working toward our own CONSERVATIVE successes.

I have specifically said to Erick in one of his Diaries that I understand, appreciate, AND SUPPORT, the need to keep pressure on the NRSC. I am NOT asking anyone to stop commenting about the NRSC. It IS needed, if/when/where done in a manner to remind them that the CONSERVATIVE STANDPOINT/MESSAGE IS NOT WHAT LOST - THE REVERSE IS TRUE! Democrats running as CINOs and PLINOs co-opted the Conservative message to get elected yet still support the Ultra-Left ObamAgenda. We must return to the Conservative path regardless of who is on the ticket and in office! I do not consider it an effective strategy to just scream at them about it. Which is why I take it beyond just talk/print and I devised a Strategy to send the NRSC, RNC, etc, a PHYSICAL message via the “3D” (creating an NRSC:) Daily Dimes Dichotomy Strategy, all our words may be ignored but when the message shows up in PHYSICAL FORM at their doorstep we can/will be more effective. So I also ask you to consider to be part of something more than just creating posts they probably are ignoring anyway and send them an actual message via that strategy at that link (additional discussion on the Daily Dimes Dichotomy or Dimes Donations Dichotomy - 3D - strategy here). Why? Because they seem to understand MONEY and we need to speak AT them in the language they understand!

Concluding. Support Conservative Candidates [with donation links] in PRIMARY Elections, Support Republican Candidates in General Election Campaigns as we will NEVER have Conservative Control without Republican control and we must stop the ObamAgenda, Donate where/when you can, review all available information!!!

After the blunders Cornyn has made on the Crist thing from the start, I can’t think of a better way to dig the hole deeper by exponential increments almost instantaneously than to post on Red State such an ill thought out, insulting, juvenile and amateurish response to the firestorm the Senator started with his endorsement!

Seriously…I’ve loved this man and worked for his election in all his statewide campaigns to one degree or another…but this is truely embarassing to me and a painfull thing to behold…I think it’s official…the water in Washington DC has softened Cornyn’s brain…and he’s now as dumb as a stump!

Oh how the mighty have fallen!

The “Big Tent” analogy isn’t the correct one…the correct one is a MAGNET…we need to be a MAGNET that draws these independents in who are sick and tired of what’s going on in Washington—Fred Thompson

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