RedState Supports Jack Kingston for Conference Chairman
By The Directors Posted in Republicans — Comments (12) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
As tempting as it might be to just write "Anybody but Putnam," we will go one better and say we support Congressman Jack Kingston.
It is a difficult choice to make between Congressman Kingston and Congresswoman Blackburn. Both have been great friends of RedState. And we by no means want to slight Mrs. Blackburn, who we hope will become Vice Chairman of the Conference. She and Congressman Kingston would make a great team.
Jack Kingston was first elected to Congress in 1992 as an acolyte of Newt Gingrich. Ever since then, even in leadership, he has been a force for conservative ideas. This past year, sensing the Republicans needed an agenda beyond just "the other guys are worse," Kingston sought to provide just that, though the agenda fell on deaf ears.
We are concerned that Congressman Kingston tends to hedge on the question of earmarks. He is, after all, an appropriator, though one who was punished by the Appropriations Chairman for backing spending cuts. He did vote for the medicare bill, which was a disappointment. Nonetheless, Jack Kingston is a good communicator willing to reach the base however he can, even when it means bypassing traditional media -- a primary task in the position of Conference Chair. While in the majority Congressman Kingston tempered his conservatism with his leadership position, but his core values have always been conservative and he has not lost sight of Ronald Reagan's core message of optimism and limited government.
RedState believes we need overall change at the top of the House Republican Leadership and Jack Kingston is a good fit, though we'll be watching to see if he continues to hedge on earmarks and the substantive reforms we think are needed. He connects the establishment to the base well and would be an experienced hand available to help Congressmen Pence and Shadegg. On March 10, 2004, Congressmen Pence, Tancredo, and others praised Kingston for cancelling hearings on the Legislative Branch appropriations bill, writing "Your actions demonstrate the type of leadership we need at a time like this."
For these reasons, RedState thinks we need Congressman Kingston's type of leadership at a time like this. We support Jack Kingston for House Republican Conference Chairman and we encourage our readers to call their Republican representatives and ask for their support on his behalf.
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RedState Supports Jack Kingston for Conference Chairman 12 Comments (0 topical, 12 editorial, 0 hidden) Post a comment »
He's got my vote. I wouldn't have a problem with Blackburn either.
Just Say No To Amnesty: http://www.fairus.org
According to Roll Call, he's the favorite to assume the chair.
This feels a little bit like farting in a hurricane. Somewhat insignificant.
I meant what I said and I said what I meant. An elephant's faithful 100 percent.
I don't understand what makes Kingston so great other than the fact that he likes this site and he's from Georgia. I guess I'm missing something.
I like Marsha, too. Besides the fact that she's from my homestate, I'd like to think she would get down and dirty if someone tried to lie about stuff.
"I'm just beginning...The pen's in my hand...Ending unplanned"
Is it because he's a man? Is it because the directors know him and like him? Because I'm just not seeing why he's a better fit than Marsha. I think we need more strong woman, not another man who is just going to sit on his laurels. Marsha has already shown that she is going to do something.
Argh. I think I need a breather from Redstate. I am not enjoying myself here anymore.
"I'm just beginning...The pen's in my hand...Ending unplanned"
after Thanksgiving this will once again be an optimistic and hopeful site. If not, I'll be contacting you about setting up a new, improved (OPTIMISTIC!) conservative site!
I think I'm just done. I was never into politics before this site and I think I've had enough. I'm into my masters program now and it's eating up my time and so many things with politics have run downhill that it's hard to support anything having to do with it right now. I just want to pick and choose little pieces that I agree with and make a new, happier, cheerful party. The Chartreuse party. ;D
"I'm just beginning...The pen's in my hand...Ending unplanned"
This endorsement kind of shocks me. I thought this was a blog for conservatives. Of the people running, I don't see how Jack Kingston is even within the realm of consideration. I don't dislike Jack Kingston and don't know much about him but three things I do know about him:
(1)Last year he got in a fight with Club for Growth because he was on TV making comments defending pork (I thought this was a conservative website wanting change);
(2)I remember seeing him on Colbert and he looked like a complete fool;
(3)I just googled his picture to remember what he looks like and a picture with Bill Clinton and Rep. Susan Maloney came up...Huh?
http://maloney.house.gov/index.php?set_albumName=album01&id=CBM&option=c...
As I have said a couple times on this site, the best person for Conference Chair would be Marsha Blackburn. She would be an attractive articulate woman to counter a half-crazy Pelosi. I mean, look at her website and tell me Kingston is better...http://www.votemarsha.com/
I still think Shadegg is right for Whip and Pence is probably the best we got for Leader. Kingston as Conference Chair would essentially be saying that we are going back to the earmark defending days that just cost us the election...Big Mistake. WE NEED CHANGE!!!! Don't go back! Pence, Shadegg, Blackburn!!
I'm a Marsha man, but I don't know much about Putnam. Why are people so opposed to him?
We lost the majority and Jack Kingston seeks a promotion... That's how some see it. Others say that Adam Putnam is just too good of a candidate to not be in Leadership. Others say that if we don't have a woman in Leadership we're toast. Still others say that ol' Dan Lungren from California would be good.
The facts of the matter are that we're going to be in the minority for a while, or at least until state legislators can gerrymander some more Republican districts.
Republicans need a leadership team that can rebuild trust with America. They need people who are honest and straight forward, even when delivering bad news. Republicans also need leaders who are not going to demogagoue on the issues the way that Hastert/DeLay/Blunt do (did).
It's tough when you have four good leaders going up for the same position, but I'm unsure of Jack's willingness to be bold and put forth strong policy positions. He may be a too over generalized on some of his issue positions. I mean, he's never faced a tough race since winning Congress in 1992, and he originally ran on term limits, something he quickly abandoned.
If he were bold, he would have run for Leader of the Minority. He'd have been a good balance between Boehner and Pence. That way, we could get Blackburn and Putnam in there somewhere and had a stronger team.
We need a woman in the leadership team and she's a strong one. If she weren't a freshmen, I'd recommend Michele Bachmann! :-)