Are They Paying Attention ?
Jan 20th, 2010 by Frank Knotts
Well, well, in a state such as Massachusetts, where no one would have expected a Republican to win out over a Democrat for a U.S. Senate seat. A seat formerly held by that liberal lion Ted Kennedy no less. And one that saw Pres. Obama and former Pres. Clinton come to the state to try and drum up support. But that is exactly what has happened.
Fifty year old Massachusett’s state Senator Scott Brown has defeated the Democrat Martha Coakley in a race that Coakley was leading by double digits early in the race. It would seem that the race turned bad for Ms. Coakley on Christmas eve , when her fellow Democrats in D.C. decided to push through a health care reform bill that a majority of Americans are against.
This race was important to the Democrats and Pres. Obama because it constitutes that most important 60th vote in the Senate, that they need to over ride any attempt by Republicans to block legislation.
More importantly though, this victory for Scott Brown continues to demonstrate that the American people are fed up with the leftist agenda of the Democrat party. We saw two governor races go to Republicans in the last election, one in the Democrat strong hold of New Jersey no less. With this trend I would imagine John Kerry won’t be sleeping very well for some time.
In the coming days , actually it has already started, we will hear a lot about how the Democrats should take this as a warning. Some may ask are they paying attention to what is happening in the nation. Are the Democrats aware of the ground swell of support for candidates that support a more traditional and conservative agenda and policies ?
Well I would ask whether the GOP leadership is paying attention to the same things. Are they seeing that people will no longer support candidates who have a proven record of supporting policies that increase the size and scope of government. Will the GOP party wonks come out and defend the RINOs as they have in the past? Will we still hear from the left side of the GOP how we should moderate and move further to the middle? Will we be told that only these so called moderates can win elections?
It would be a shame if the GOP leadership allowed this moment in time to slip away because they choose to cling to their old worn out ideas of how to win elections . We are seeing around the nation that it is the new faces, the more conservative faces, that are setting the Democrats back on their heals. The GOP needs to take advantage of this and strike while the iron is hot. Republicans voters need to voice their discontent with weak middle of the road candidates .
Scott Brown is probably more aligned ideologically with Mike Castle than Sarah Palin. Does this mean you are now a Castle supporter? Don’t misread the tea leaves. The American people want someone to represent them who espouse their respective values. This was a vote against the dirty deals coming out of DC and the lack of attention being paid to constituents. If fire breathers were the key to victory, why did Palin wisely stay out of MA? It isn’t any different here in Delaware. A picture of a Delaware candidate with Sarah Palin would be the kiss of death, not the second coming. The ideology gap between Sussex County and NCCO is much larger than the travel distance.
I love seeing the rabid support of tea partiers and hard-right conservatives for Scott Brown, who is pro-choice and voted to put Massachusetts under a cap-and-trade regime. Scott Brown is Mike Castle’s ideological twin.
Brown is a social moderate and pro-military fiscal conservative. While the pro-administration pundits are desperately trying to claim that this election was lost because of Coakley’s ineptitude and a bad economy, what it really was about is the Socialist-Democrats’ leftist agenda, particularly the preoccupation with healthcare ‘reform’ that nobody but the hard left wants.
To me, the problem in Delaware is twofold; first of all, there is no Scott Brown on the horizon. Forget about O’Donnell- she simply has no qualifications whatsoever to run for the US Senate. Secondly, exacerbating her situation is the fact that she has little or no support (or, connections) in New Castle, and thus, no money.
Last November, I recommended rejecting McCain and the so-called moderates’ hijacking of the Republican Party. I knew that BO and his ultra-liberal sycophants in the Congress would finally, brimming with overconfidence, reveal their true, socialist agenda; they have. And, as Americans, particularly independents who were deceived by BO’s ‘hope and change’ nonsense, wake-up, they will seek sanity in a rejuvenated and conservative Republican Party.
Sure, Republicans are right now the ‘party of no,’ but this is a good thing; they are saying ‘no’ to socialism.
Unlike McCain, who could have sent conservatism down a fatal course, Castle can do no such thing. What Republican has consistently won statewide office in Delaware? Who was the last Republican governor in Delaware? Who has a huge bankroll and a strong organization in New Castle? Who can intimidate B. Biden into not running for his daddy’s seat?
Castle.
For all his faults, now is not the time to be stubborn. A US Senate pickup is on the line. Remember, Castle voted against the healthcare bill; he has voted with conservatives on many, many occasions in the past. To jettison Castle, a proven winner, with no viable alternative on the horizon would be, to me, absolute political insanity.
What Rick said.
I too agree with Rick … well said. Just as the people are rejecting the far-left ideology, they are no more enamored of the far-right. A candidate with extreme right-wing views would go down just as fast as Coakley, and those who support that last cause would just be shooting themselves in the foot and opening the way for a loss. I just don’t understand that thinking.
Hey, Brown may be a RINO, but he’s OUR RINO ! Can’t get much better than that in Taxechusettes.
Rick,
Christine O’Donnell meets every eligibility requirement outlined in the U.S. Constitution. Plus she knows what it stands for.
If we continue supporting RINOs, we will get socialized health care, cap and trade, and every other liberal/socialized boondoggle the Democrats throw our way.
Conservatism won in Virginia, New Jersey and Massachusetts. It can win in Delaware. Mike Castle has never been, nor will ever be a conservative.
Here we go, more of the same. Claiming Brown to be a moderate. You know what folks, Scott Brown connects with America on alot of levels. You say he’s pro-choice, here is his official campaign website statement on the issue of abortion:
Abortion
While this decision should ultimately be made by the woman in consultation with her doctor, I believe we need to reduce the number of abortions in America. I believe government has the responsibility to regulate in this area and I support parental consent and notification requirements and I oppose partial birth abortion. I also believe there are people of good will on both sides of the issue and we ought to work together to support and promote adoption as an alternative to abortion. http://brownforussenate.com/issues
I think of this as a pragmatic voice from someone who is personally pro-life and yet does not see government as a decision maker but instead a tool of the people to regulate. I don’t agree entirely but I think Scott Brown is alot closer to my views on the issue of abortion than those of Barbara Boxer (http://www.barbaraboxer.com/issues?id=0002)From her website:
Fighting to Maintain a Woman’s Right to Choose: Senator Boxer is recognized as the Senate’s leader in the fight to protect a woman’s right to choose – so that reproductive decisions stay out of the hands of government and remain between a woman and her doctor.
Senator Boxer led the fight in the Senate to overturn the global gag rule, which prohibited international aid organizations that received money from the federal government from using their own privately-raised funds to provide abortion counseling and services.
Senator Boxer successfully fought an amendment that would have prohibited doctors who perform abortions from receiving any federal funds, including funds to provide health care for the elderly, the poor, and children.
Senator Boxer led the fight in the Senate against legislation that would ban a late-term abortion procedure even when needed to protect the health and lives of women.
Senator Boxer opposed a bill that would have made it a federal crime for anyone other than a parent – including a trusted adult relative – to take a minor across state lines to obtain a legal abortion, even in cases of rape or incest.
Senator Boxer introduced legislation to repeal a dangerous and draconian provision added to an appropriations bill in 2004 that would have denied a state all federal education and health care funding if it took certain steps to ensure a woman’s access to abortion services and referrals for abortion services.
Senator Boxer successfully fought an attempt to inject the abortion issue – codifying President Bush’s “unborn child” regulation – into a bipartisan bill to provide health care for uninsured children.
I don’t agree with him totally on every issue but he and I share enough similarties for me to be able to support him. See this is what the super hard right and the super hard left don’t understand. I don’t NEED to agree with him 100% of the time but I CAN agree with him much more often than I can disagree. You compare Scott Brown to Mike Castle but you miss something. Scott Brown EMBRACED the Cosntitution and understands that the seat he now occupies is “the peoples seat” and is subject to THEIR will and not his own or that of some special interst group. Mike Castle has rejected the Constitution, publicly and is ON RECORD saying that the Constitution is irrelevant, the Constitutionality of things like healthcare and Cap and Trade at a national level is a fight he cannot win.
You mentioned that Scott Brown voted for a Cap and Trade system in Massachusetts. So? That’s WELL within the guidelines of the state’s rights should they choose to do so. *I* disagree with it but you know what, I disagree with UHC as well so I likely wouldn’t live in Massachusetts. It IS however within the Constitutional boundaries for the states to initiate something like that. Cap and Trade at the NATIONAL level is outside the scope of the Constitution and THAT, my hardcore conservative friends is where we disconnect. Let the PEOPLE of Massachusetts decide what THEY want in THEIR state. Remember, many states had state sponsored religions despite the 1st Amendment. Why? Because the restrictions on the Federal government are not necessarily applied to the states. That is the difference between a state level legislator and a national legislator. There are different rules and Scott Brown gets that.
Jason, are you paying attention? Scott Brown wouldn’t make a pimple on a conservative’s buttocks, but he is obviously electable in MA and better than the other option. Castle is a fiscal conservative, social moderate, and electable in Delaware. Christine O’Donnell is unelectable. She will have no better chance with Baby Biden than she did with Daddy Biden.
You can justify anything if you try hard enough and are willing to ignore the evidence.
Scott Brown is a moderate-to-liberal Republican.
The embrace of Brown by tea partiers is a death blow to any argument they have against Castle.
Anbupro said, “Castle is a fiscal conservative, social moderate, and electable in Delaware”
I disagree! After voting for Cap & Trade, Castle can no longer be called a fiscal conservative! The Republican Party needs to support only fiscal conservatives who are willing to uphold the Constitution in order to get the backing of Tea Party people. This will be the year of the underdog!
A political hack is a negative term ascribed to a person who is part of the political party apparatus, but whose intentions are more aligned with victory than personal conviction. The term “hired gun” is often used in tandem to further describe the moral bankruptcy of the “hack”.
Political Hack = Mike Castle
Nothing more to say and trumpeting a “RINO” says it all!
P.S. “Those who stand for nothing, fall for everything” Alexander Hamilton
Mike Castle has personal convictions. They’re just not always the same as yours or mine. I’m extremely tired of people on the extreme right saying that if you disagree with them, you have no values or convictions. That’s garbage.
Keep trumpeting extremism and making friends, y’all. Let me know how that works out for you.
Congratulations on your victory.
I do have a few questions that I’m not sure you’ve considered. Brown is a moderate to liberal Republican – that’s a given if anyone reviews his voting record. So, I’m seeing only two options available.
1) He could run to the right, and stick with the “party of no” platform, and then run for President in 2012. (Small problem with that scenario, since pro-choice Republicans tend not to do very well in an R primary – neither do Rs who switch their position on this issue. (See Romney, Mitt)
Or…
2) If he hopes to be re-elected in 2012 then he’s going to have to make his constituents happy – his MASSACHUSETTS constituents, which pretty much rules out voting no on everything.
Quite a dilemma, and a very real one, at that.
Pandora, you’re a pleasant change from the shrillness that emenates from DL. The dilemma you mention goes beyond Scott Brown. The GOP needs to get off of their collective derrieres and put forth a plan to the American people. You can’t just be against everything, you have to be for something. Even if they don’t get sounded out in Congress they can take it straight to the American people. This worked in 1994 but they lost their way. I’m a state’s rights guy and feel that our representatives first obligation is to represent their constituencies. I truly believe this is one of the reasons Brown won. Voters are tired of being ignored. Ideologues will crash and burn but legislators who care about constituent services will keep moving forward. My fellow right wingers will have some heartburn with that. I hate to be a Castle apologist, but enough people on both fringes dislike him which means he is probably doing the bulk of his constituents a good service.
I’m a “real” Republican. I’m socially and fiscally conservative with a realistic dose of life experience and common sense.
I believe that no one owes me anything and that I should fully enjoy the fruits of my labors. If I save and plan, I should be able to live a prosperous life. I believe we need more doers and less thinkers in government. I believe that less government equals more opportunity for all.
I believe that life begins at the moment of conception, I know what causes it and that we should promote contraception rather than termination. I believe that I can believe things different than you and still reach concensus. I believe that I can think for myself and not “drink the Kool Aid” of either political party. We need to be similar, not identical. I believe that Scott Brown won exactly because of people like me.
Scott Brown voted for the marriage amendment. He supported conscience legislation exempting health care workers from being required to participate in abortion and contraception and supports restrictions on abortion. He confronted the Democrats on spending, fighting terrorism, and health care reform. He ran a conservative campaign and won. Mr. Castle seems ashamed of the conservative principles that he does have. Mr. Brown seemed more proud of his conservatism than his moderate areas.
Brown is more conservative than John McCain in a lot of ways. Is Mr. Castle?
Mr. Castle spent his entire Republican response trying to find agreement with the President.
Massachusetts voters rejected Obamacare because they already have it, and know it doesn’t work. They can’t (or won’t) do anything to restrain health care spending, so they have to keep raising fines on the uninsured to pay for it.
You ask are they listening. I hope not. It would just be an act to get through this year then back to normal.
It took Republicans two defeats plus off year elections to get it. It took Democrats 12 years in the wilderness to act like they got it. So it is not likely.
Christine O’Donnell meets every eligibility requirement outlined in the U.S. Constitution. Plus she knows what it stands for.
Try running a campaign where your primary qualification is ‘Constitutional eligibility.’ Good luck.
Conservatism won in Virginia, New Jersey and Massachusetts..
Not really. Anti-liberalism won; both Christie and Brown are social moderates, not conservatives. A pure conservative like DeMint would never have won in NJ or MA, nor will one win in Delaware.
Do any of you even know what a CONSERVATIVE is? Good lord, all of you Mike Castle, kool-aid drinking bloggers distorting things is rather annoying. How can you look at Scott Brown’s policies from his website and call him a liberal Republican? I see ONE issue where he’s going to pull away from some Conservatives and that’s the abortion issue. Even there he leans far more toward the conservative position than the liberal position. If you think that myself and some of the more vocal conservative voices (because make no mistake, those of you out there on this blog advocating for Mike Castle are nothing more than Progressive Republican Party hacks) are “extremists” then you have TOTALLY missed the message of the election in Massachussetts and you won’t get it under the tidal wave of independent voices that is sweeping the nation destroys the world as you know it. I’m actually happy to see this as I believe this will help to purge the Delaware GOP of the progressives that are currently holding the party and the state back from being the best it can be. Hey…hey…hey…goodbye.
Ahh, the foibles of youth. I call that my loud and wrong phase of life. Name calling and attacks are more suited to DL. Perhaps some of us conservatives, your “Progressive Republican Party hacks”, are more realistic after years of wandering in the desert here in Delaware. We’ve seen all too many tidal waves peter out to small groundswells by election time. Incremental improvement is preferable to postponed perfection. Electoral victories are based on the largest coalition you can put together to support your candidate which sometimes means compromise. Just as Obama was elected by anti-Bush votes, Brown was elected on anti-Obama votes. The Obamanation is already changing his message to bring the lemmings back into the fold. This election was merely a knock-down not a knock-out. Don’t underestimate the short attention span of the American voter, and the craftiness of this administration. There are hundreds of billions of dollars that will hit the street to bolster Obama’s standing prior to November. I will respectfully disagree with you and wait to see what transpires.
My question to the Evan Q’s of the world:
If the Delaware Senate seat were between Castle and Biden whom would you vote for? I think we all know the answer to that question. So, primary your heart out but realize that most people in Delaware would vote for Castle over Biden but Biden over O’Donnell because we feel safe walking down the center of the road. That’s the way it is. Too far to the left is dangerous to the average American voter as is too far to the right.
Do we need another party in this country? Because it seems to me that the extreme right and the extreme left are both turning off the largest voter base in the country – the middle!
My question to the Evan Q’s of the world:
If the Delaware Senate seat were between Castle and Biden whom would you vote for? I think we all know the answer to that question.
Do you? Because I think you’d be surprised at this Evan Q’s answer. I’d write in someone with a backbone.
So, primary your heart out but realize that most people in Delaware would vote for Castle over Biden but Biden over O’Donnell because we feel safe walking down the center of the road.
YOU feel that way but there is far more ant-Castle sentiment than you give credit to. Though I wonder why they’d be so hesitant about Christine. She’s a constitutionally minded candidate. She respects the office and understands she’s vying to do the peoples business and not to argue for the special interests groups. She has the courage of her convictions and she believes in lower taxes, fiscal responsibility and limited government. What’s to worry about?
That’s the way it is. Too far to the left is dangerous to the average American voter as is too far to the right.
We’re in agreement there.
Do we need another party in this country? Because it seems to me that the extreme right and the extreme left are both turning off the largest voter base in the country – the middle!
See the middle of the country shifts depending on who you are. See alot of the commenters on this blog are conservatives who think the center of the country is actually LEFT of center on the scale. They think people want the government to make most decisions for them, take over industries that seem to benefit the public good, etc. In reality, most people lean further right on fiscal issues and are still just right of center on social issues. They want some common sense regulations to protect time honored institutions and traditions but they understand the concept of individual liberties and want to allow maximum freedom to not only themselves but everyone around them. People want more of their money back in their pocket, less government in their face and more opporunity to succeed in life and enjoy it.
Conservatism won in Virginia, New Jersey and Massachusetts..
Not really. Anti-liberalism won; both Christie and Brown are social moderates, not conservatives. A pure conservative like DeMint would never have won in NJ or MA, nor will one win in Delaware.
Actually, I’d say it’s about common sense, principled candidates. Most of the people I talk to who aren’t overtly political are still wishy washy on the liberal/conservative thing but they know common sense when they see it. They also know the difference between a hand up and a hand out. More and more people are waking up and voting based on principle instead of party (I give you Doug Hoffman in NY 23) as evidence by the recent poll showing that a ficticious “TEA Party Candidate” would garner 41% of the vote nationally as opposed to 35% Democrat and 28% Republican.
Now, if the GOP were to wake up and recenter itself back to the right (where is began) on those founding principles that make up the “common sense” we’re all calling for, the candidates they endorsed would theoretically garner 41%(TEA Party) + 28%(GOP) = 69% of the vote. Now, there would likely be some last minute defections by some of the 41% who are Democrats that would be turned off by the (R) but it would take a tsunami to wipe away a 69%-35% lead with a few late defections.
I agree with Nosy. But you keep on pushing Christine. I couldn’t be happier, since liberals wouldn’t even have to break a sweat over that race.
As far as Massachusetts goes… it was a symbolic loss for Dems, but it was also a symbolic win for Republicans. Ponder that for a while.
Yea, symbolic in that both parties are WAY too far left for the majority of the country even MASSACHUSETTS. Most of you who “agree with nosy” are the same people who ignore the fact that every poll suggests a majority of the country (and growing daily) is against UHC, Cap and Tax, and more stimulus/payoffs. The same people who have not a CLUE what the “TEA Party movement” is all about. The same people who called us TEA baggers or who still for some reason think that Mike Castle represents the “center-right” when he’s most obivously left of center. It’s borderline delusional phsycosis. Castle may win, he may be able to change some minds and turn things around this year but if the last 4 years or so are any indication of where he stands I don’t see that happening. People want common sense and his vote on Cap and Trade, the First Stimulus and his initial (for it…before he voted against it) position on the healthcare bill are still fresh in the minds of many.
With that said, I welcome you all to continue underestimating the power of the common sense movement in Delaware. I hope that each and every one of you continue to believe that things like this don’t happen here in Delaware. In fairness, because I hate seeing people blindsided, I would caution you NOT to underestimate it, but part of me really wants to see the looks on your faces when your precious “political reality in Delaware” is largely shattered before your eyes.
Sorry, but you labeled yourselves “teabaggers.” Which might make you want to ponder a little more.
“With that said, I welcome you all to continue underestimating the power of the common sense movement in Delaware. ”
Evan, I certainly hope you’re right. It’s really easy, we can’t keep spending more than we make. We can’t continue to ask taxpayers to foot the bill to keep programs and positions funded. We can’t continue to mortgage the future. That’s what got us into this mess.
We can fix this with common sense, sacrifice and hard work.
Evan — please understand one thing. You couldn’t deliver a pizza, much less an election. No one is even a tiny bit worried about your “movement.” Plenty of people just like you have come and gone over the last 30 years with big talk and no results. I expect this time will be no different.
Second, Scott Brown is a moderate Republican based on this neat little thing I like to call his VOTING RECORD. His website was pretty, though. I’ll give you that.
“(because make no mistake, those of you out there on this blog advocating for Mike Castle are nothing more than Progressive Republican Party hacks)”
You want to call me a hack? Know this. I’ve elected more conservatives in my time than you ever will, and I’ve had more ideas made into law than you ever will. I’ve stood up when others would not on matters of integrity in the public arena. And notice that those verbs are in the past tense, as in “already accomplished.”
Deal with that while you pretend you matter.
And everyone should do themselves a favor and read this.
By the way, the next person who calls me a hack had better have served time in the trenches.
Forgive me if I fail to be impressed by the arguments of gutless critics; closet Marxists who hide behind pseudonyms and aliases. DelawarePolitics (which I don’t always agree with) is continuously inundated with negative comments from leftists who refuse to attach their names and reputations to the ideology they claim to believe in. Pseudonyms are sometimes necessary as a political tactic, such as when the expression of one’s opinion could lead to legal action or physical harm, but it hardly seems necessary in the present situation. I am not affiliated with either major party, and did my fair share of criticizing the Bush administration for its big government excesses, but even if I happened upon this website wholly ignorant of liberalism, conservatism, and the many degrees between the two, I would be more likely to identify with honest men who are unashamed of their political stance, and speak openly, than shady would-be pundits from New Castle who slink about the web like spiders, spewing ideological poison from an anonymous perspective.
Thank you, Chris.
..those of you out there on this blog advocating for Mike Castle are nothing more than Progressive Republican Party hacks..
I’ll put my conservative credentials up against yours, any day of the week. We need to pick our battles; Castle can steal a Senate seat. We can groom a replacement during his tenure.
As far as Massachusetts goes… it was a symbolic loss for Dems, but it was also a symbolic win for Republicans. Ponder that for a while.
Okay, I’ve ‘pondered’ it..for about two seconds. ‘Symbolic?’ Brown has taken a seat that Teddy Kennedy held since ’62. He won in one of the bluest of the blue states. He ran as the ’41st vote against healthcare’- remember, he signed his autograph ‘Scott Brown #41. He will be voting with the Republicans on virtually all issues.
Ponder that.
Rick – the reality is that Mike Castle voted for Cap and Trade..He was for Universal Healthcare before he was against it and he doesn’t believe the Constitution is relevant. Mike Castle isn’t stealing a Senate seat. It’s trading one progressive for another. It’s like trading a red apple for a green apple when you really need an orange. It doesn’t get you any closer to where you need to be, it’s just a different wrapper.
I fully expect some of the party hacks (Dave) on DP to come out and start bashing around, tossing out their credentials (which is what they might as well do in the NEW era of Delaware politics) and desperately reaching to put down the coming revolution. They’ll say they’ve seen it before, they’ve elected more conservatives, we’re flash in the pans, blah…blah…blah. They refuse to see the change in the air. They refuse to see that more and more Delawareans are growing weary and tired of the current structure of Delaware and Washington politics. They are resistant to change because let’s face it, we’re talking about their lives here. People like Dave have staked everything they have on being moderate, left of center “Republicans” in Delaware because they bought into the corruption that destroyed the Republican Party in the 1990′s. It’s rather sad actually to see this desperate grasp and to watch people who are so totally clueless as the reality train hits them.
Dave could be right, maybe I don’t matter, only time will tell. While he keeps on doing things his way, we’re going to move forward our way and we’ll see in the end who wins. Either way I believe that the political landscape in Delaware (and across America) is changing. People are fed up with the back room deals (like the one where Beau Biden agrees not to run as long as Mike Castle is going to run for the same seat) and the consistant slide into socialism. They’re sick of a bloated government in Dover and Washington and they’re TIRED of elected officials who don’t care about the people.
Did you really just call Dave “left of center” and a “hack?” Again? Really sad, an uncalled for. Badly done, Evan.
Both sides (R and D) are having their infighting problems. Who ends up winning, imo, is the first side to stop this nonsense and come together. And, yeah, that will involve compromise.
I’m glad you got as much of a kick out of that as I did, Pandora. I’m going to print it out and frame it. He called me a moderate, too.
Evan, credentials are there for a reason.
And you really have no idea what you’re talking about, do you?
Don’t worry Dave, you won’t be the only political operative to have his/her nose thumped with the people’s will. The longer you ignore the movement and the will of the people…the more you disconnect from it and continue to trash it the more it will sweep you under it. Your credentials are old, they’re tired and they’re pointless. It’s like carrying a Microsoft certification for Windows 95…it’s outdated…and you’ll soon see that fact. Let’s be honest, if I was the joke you claim I am…you wouldn’t waste your time responding to me.
*bing*
I respond to everyone who calls me a hack, and I enjoy smacking down people who combine ignorance and arrogance. You qualify.
So you can keep talking, and we’ll see what the results are at the end of the day. You guys really brought the heat against Joe Booth, so I won’t get my hopes up.
And the “will of the people” has absolutely nothing to do with you. I support the resurgence of an anti-spending, limited government mood in the electorate. I was here fighting for it when you weren’t.
Finally, trying to make me “outdated” is silly. Everything I’ve done has been in the last four election cycles. I was in high school and college in the 90s.
The last 4 election cycles are your claim to fame? HAHA!
I rest my case.
Actually, Evan, you haven’t made your case yet. Time will tell.
Evan, your “movement” is led by people who want you to listen to their shows and buy their books. Brown’s victory has really given you “beer muscles”. I’d be hesitant to throw stones at those who have been swinging at the ball, while you were in the stands, even if they haven’t always had home runs. Slogans and feel-good rhetoric don’t win elections. Cohesive organizations with money and boots on the ground do. It’s time to find common ground, not see who can pee the furthest.
It’s trading one progressive for another.
Really? Did Castle vote for healthcare?
Show me a conservative who can win, and I’ll dump Castle in a heartbeat (remember my old slogan, ‘It’s as easy as A-B-C…Anybody But Castle’). But at this point, I just don’t see a viable alternative.
Like the swallows returning to Capistrano, O’Donnell shows-up every couple of years to run for the US Senate. What does she do when she’s not running for office? Where does she work? What type of experience does she have? Where was she educated, and to what level?
What does she do?
Ok ok Pandora …I reserve the right to recontinue my case in November…
but until then you’ve got to agree …
please spare us the line that the last 4 election cycles are some kind of badge of honor because, I may be new to political activism and yes from 2000-2004 I was a little busy being a United States Marine but the last time I checked…the causes that we in the TEA Party and 9/12 movement stand for weren’t exactly advanced during the last 4 election cycles nationally…or at the state level.
I’m pretty sure government has grown relentlessly….taxes have gone UP….spending has gone UP….and until WE brought it up I’m not sure most of the legislators were aware that America was still a Constitutional Democratic Republic. It’s a shame to have these knock down drag outs between the old way and the new way when there seems to be little more than a politician standing in the way of agreement. Is it the fear of change that leads you to support Castle so vehometly or is it that the GOP leadership really has such low self esteem?
It just angers me that we have so many people like Mr. B. out there who insist on reliving the last decade or so as if they planned for all of this to happen. I can’t believe I’m saying this but this country hasn’t been even close to NEAR the right track since Bill Clinton! Nothing that has happened over the last decade is in accordance with our founding principles. It’s insanity.
So you know, I owe Mr. B an apology…maybe your not a hack…I’ve looked around and you get enough crap from DL and the other bloggers, you don’t need me adding to it with nonsensical party infighting. If you’re serious about advocating those principles you stated I’m with yah. We disagree on Castle though, I don’t see him leading us in that direction but instead being more of the same. *IF* Castle repositions himself I’ll reevaluate that but I don’t see it and I do think there are others who can win that seat with a more impressive and solid message. I also think that the people in the state are fed up with the same name at the top of the ticket producing these results.
I’m also frustrated (as are many millions of Americans and many thousands of Delawareans) with the way most political operatives treat this like a game. It’s not. These policies, especially at a state level are making Delawareans lives WORSE. I KNOW our schools are far worse now then when I was in them. I KNOW that our economy is in worse shape no then we were when I was my sons age. I KNOW that we’ve falling further under the progressive grip now than we were in the 80′s. There are issues to compromise on and then there are principled issues that are non-negotiable. A LOT of people feel Castle has compromised on the non-negotiables. And where is he? Why isn’t he responding to the proposed debates and meetings with constituents. I mean there’s a lot that he should answer for and the contempt with which he is treating people isn’t helping him.
I think we can do better as a movement, as a party and as a state than Mike Castle.
Cohesive organizations with money and boots on the ground do. It’s time to find common ground, not see who can pee the furthest. – anbupro
Agreed but we also have principles we’ve got to live by and I content that there is more going on in “the movement” than most people out there know. In the coming weeks that will begin to show itself.
It’s trading one progressive for another.
Really? Did Castle vote for healthcare?
I realize this is difficult to understand…he didn’t vote for healthcare due to a MASSIVE pressure of his constituents at his door, however he did stand before many of us (you may not have been there) and tell us that he was for it before he voted against it. He also told us that he though the U.S. Congress was “passed the Constitution” as if it didn’t matter if it was constituional or not. That’s out of touch when MILLIONS (thousands of them from your own state) are asking you where the government gets the power to do it in the first place. If he doesn’t understand the arguments against it, how can we be certain he wouldn’t vote for it?
Show me a conservative who can win, and I’ll dump Castle in a heartbeat (remember my old slogan, ‘It’s as easy as A-B-C…Anybody But Castle’). But at this point, I just don’t see a viable alternative.
My problem as well, I mean I have some people I’m hopeful about but the problem is with the GOP leadership…are we going to continue to let them put up the Delaware version of Scozzafava? When do we make our move within the party to buck the trend and say no? We can’t wait for them to do it, the party leadership doesn’t see what’s coming.
Like the swallows returning to Capistrano, O’Donnell shows-up every couple of years to run for the US Senate. What does she do when she’s not running for office? Where does she work? What type of experience does she have? Where was she educated, and to what level?
What does she do?
I’m not Christine’s campaign manager, I’m not officially advocating for her but she’s an announced candidate who looks promising and like I said we can’t wait around. We’ve got go out and find them and we’ve got to be willing to hold them up when we do. We can’t keep running the same drivel over and over that violates our principles.
I’m not going to reiterate the Castle argument.
What I will say is that I am not what you think I am. You ought to ask around a bit and you’ll realize that I have been pushing for limited government, lower spending, transparency and accountability for a long time. I was the only conservative Delawarean voice online for a long time, too. Also, you’ll find I’m not exactly beloved inside the party.
I think you painted me with a brush that may fit others, but not me.
Perhaps Dave…there are alot of posers running around out there..time will tell…I’m leary of those who support Castle because he, like the leadership in Wilmington doesn’t seem to get the big picture here. Big tent doesn’t mean you move to the other guys CAMP…big tent means you open up your ideas but you have stakes that don’t move.
That’s not my only issue with the GOP leadership but it’s one of the leading ones.
Oh and FYI:
I’m not one to ask for other peoples opinions of people, I generally formulate them myself so perhaps we’ll have the fortune to meet at an event and I can formulat that opinion. Till then I will keep an open mind.
Oh…but I think we can all agree that this: http://www.delawareliberal.net/2010/01/22/when-democrats-retreat-you-better-watch-out-or-you-will-get-run-over/
IS HILLARIOUS…Don’tcha love watchin the progressives squirm?
Oh and can you believe the one that claims he(she?) has never seen a Republican attacked on cable news? ROFL! Priceless!
I’m sensing that we’re on the cusp of a group hug. Evan, politicians only care about two things. Can you put me in office, or can you take me out of office? The Delaware GOP is a eunuch because they don’t wield that kind of power. That’s how we got so many RINO’s. Candidates built their own organizations and didn’t need the state Party, and therefore didn’t have to respond to it. Although labor only comprises 11% of the Delaware work-force, they have a disproportionate share of power because they understand this maxim. Delaware politicians salivate when labor rings the bell. Put together a cohesive organization, with numbers and dollars, and you can call the shots. The danger lies in having the ability to put your candidate in office as opposed to just being a spoiler. That’s the disconnect this thread is dancing around.
The Delaware GOP is a eunuch … ROFL…sorry I just watched History of the world the other day and that made me bust out laughing…
The danger lies in having the ability to put your candidate in office as opposed to just being a spoiler. That’s the disconnect this thread is dancing around.
Agreed and I believe that the answer to that is in the works but will be looking for support from those who claim to be likeminded. We know the grassroots people are in it for the right reasons and willing to do what it takes but the question is will there come a time when the state GOP recognizes the need to drop the labor stick and side with the people. Will there be people inside the party who will be willing to apply the pressure needed to tilt them so that the movement and the party aren’t in such different places? Someone’s got to give and the movement has the solid tent pegs and ones that quite frankly…resonate with the people.
The state Party doesn’t support labor, individuals do. Many of the RINO’s fed that alligator until it eventually ate them. There are seven regions which make up the state Party. Quite a few are dysfunctional. Marshall your forces and go to regional meetings and you’ll be the Party.
Oh I beg to differe Anbupro…the party is in the back pocket of labor in my opinion…this leadership has done too many of the wrong things for it to be accidental. They’ve GOT to be in collusion with someone here in the state at the party leadership level.
Infecting the party will take time, it’s in the works in some areas and we’ll see what happens with that. Besides, infecting the party isn’t going to solve the discontent with the party. Many people are past that or they don’t have the time to spend arguing with these people in the establishment…besides the TEA Party movement isn’t all Republicans. There are also a lot of Democrats who subscribe to the original values which I can respect (nothing like the marxist doctrines of today’s progressive Democrat party) and who do not want to switch parties but who want to support candidates who support TEA Party values. I think that is something we want to be careful to avoid.
Well , I can see that the old guard is still attempting to guard the old ways. Dave , no one can argue that you have put in a great deal of time and effort for the GOP. Speaking for myself I respect anyone who has sacrificed time from their lives to attempt to make a difference.
That being said I do believe that the GOP must understand that their old ways are no longer acceptable to a growing number of registered GOP voters such as myself and also are not attracting that golden egg crowd known as independent voters. Some like yourself believe the GOP must remain on the yellow line in the middle of the road. Others like myself think that Massachusetts demonstrates that even the independent voters are more attracted to a more conservative candidate.
Those of us seeking to change the face of the GOP are no less interested in the good of the nation just because we have only lately come to the party. I understand that it must be hard for those who have worked hard to achieve something that they saw as being for the good of the nation and the state, only to have it rejected.
I don’t deny your right to support a weak kneed , lefty like Mike Castle, but you have no power to deny my right to speak out against him. I think you and many that you have disagreed with on this post are actually attempting to achieve the same thing. You want and they want , for the country to return to a more constitutional form of government. I know that that is what I am interested in. We just happen to feel differently about how best ot accomplish that.
I feel that we need candidates that hold true to conservative ideals, you feel it is okay to compromise those ideals for candidates such as Mike Castle.
Maybe winning is everything, but I personally will not sell my personall principles so cheaply.
That was a classic Frank comment, including the continued outrageous claim that people are trying to silence you. Disagreement is not an attempt to silence. And then there’s this: “Some like yourself believe the GOP must remain on the yellow line in the middle of the road.” Which is not true.
The fundamental disagreement is this: I believe that Mike Castle is the only Republican that can win in Delaware in 2010, and his victory gives more power to Tom Coburn, Jim DeMint and other conservatives in the Senate. Mike Castle in the Senate does more for conservatives than Beau Biden in the Senate does.
You guys believe in all or nothing. I believe in doing whatever is necessary to advance my beliefs into policy. In Delaware in 2010, it’s 100% clear what that is. If I lived in Florida, it would be just as clear. There are two Republicans in Florida who can win, so supporting Rubio would be an easy choice. That’s not the case here.
Scott Brown is not a conservative. He’s a typical north eastern republican.
He’s pro choice. Period. He believes in abortion AFTER THE FIRST TRIMESTER, he believes in your tax dollars funding abortions.
He is against TORT Reform, a cornerstone of Conservative health care overhall for 2 decades. But then of course he’s against TORT Reform, he’s a lawyer.
He believes you should be licensed to own a gun.
He voted FOR universal health care for Mass, so in the words of EvanQ, Brown was FOR universal health care and mandating fines and coverage before he was AGAINST it.
He voted FOR cap and trade for his state. So again, in the words of EvanQ, Brown was FOR cap and trade before he was AGAINST it.
Yet Castle being “for the health care bill before he was against it” yet thankfully coming to the realization BEFORE his vote makes him a “RINO” while it makes Scott Brown the hero of the conservative movement. I’m still trying to figure out the convoluted logic people like Evan and Frank are using to justify that.
Oddly enough, Scott Brown’s epiphany on universal health care and cap and trade is timed precisely with his throwing his hat in the ring for the Mass senate seat.
Now, with those FACTS on the table, let me say this:
Scott Brown IS A GOOD REPUBLICAN. He will make an excellent US Senator, I would have happily cast my vote for him, but then I always happily cast my vote for the republican in almost every race, why? Because I’m the republican base.
To label yourself part of the party’s base, you need to actually SUPPORT THE PARTY. You should be donating money to candidates you support, and you should be at HQ making phone calls and stuffing envelopes and going door to door for candidates, but most importantly, you have to have a large degree of loyalty with your vote. Dave, for instance, IS part of the republican party base.
I see people like Frank and EvanQ as fair weather republicans. You’ll vocally support republican candidates you like, but then you publicly raze the ones you may have a few disagreements with, like Mike Castle, and threaten to with hold your vote in protest.
And seriously, Frank and Evan, you think Castle should listen to you and vote the way you want him to because you’ve anointed yourselves “the party’s base,” but both of you are so unyielding in your anti-Castle obsessions that I can’t understand why either of you think Castle should give you, or your views, the time of day. Castle would do better, politically, listening to the people who may actually VOTE for him.
In 2010, I will be supporting republican candidates, locally and nationally and not just because it’s what I usually do. This year is different. Democrats are clearly destroying everything that makes this country, and this state great. This year more than ever you need to put all of your support behind EVERY republican candidate over EVERY democrat.
If we don’t WIN the battle this November, republicans will remain powerless and unable to help us preserve the American way of life. It’s only been one year with Obama at the helm and Democrats in total control of Congress at look at where our nation is today. Can we really afford another 3? Clearly the answer is “no”.
I’m beginning to think Conservatives/ Tea Partiers have no idea who they supported in Massachusetts.
A National Guardsman, Brown said in the interview that McCain was his senatorial model. “I have great respect for Senator McCain,” Brown said of the Arizona Republican, who was one of his first establishment backers. “I’ve known him for a while, long before this, and you know he is a war hero and kind of a maverick independent thinker.”
He added, “I’ve told my leadership already that I’m not a rubber stamp for anybody.”
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/21/AR2010012103020.html?hpid%3Dtopnews&sub=AR
Just sayin’.
Okay, let us assume that Scot Brown isn’t exactly what I would define as my conservative ideal. But for Massachusetts he is a move to the right, especially since he has taken a seat held bt a person known as the liberal lion.
So, here in Delaware I would like to see a move to the right, I consider Mike Castle to be a liberal, and he has held office for too many years, it is time to move further to the right. It is a matter of relativity, in Massachusetts Brown is an ultra conservative compared to Kennedy. I and others like myself would like to see someone, and yes almost anyone more conservative than Mike Castle run for the senate seat here in Delaware.
“And seriously, Frank and Evan, you think Castle should listen to you and vote the way you want him to because you’ve anointed yourselves “the party’s base,” but both of you are so unyielding in your anti-Castle obsessions that I can’t understand why either of you think Castle should give you, or your views, the time of day. Castle would do better, politically, listening to the people who may actually VOTE for him.”
He is not required to listen to our views, and we are not required to vote for him. Why should I vote for him if he doesn’t share my views or listen to my concerns ? Oh! That’s right I’m supposed to vote for him because he put an “R” behind his name , and I’m to forget his voting record. What do I gain ? How do I justify my views on issues if I sell my vote so cheaply? I can I say I believe in something and then vote for a person who clearly will not support my views ? Do you understand the meaning of principles ?
Frank do you understand the meaning of “principles”? I’ve heard you several times refer to John Atkins as a “conservative” on the radio yet the man voted for EVERY TAX INCREASE that came before the legislature in 2009, including the ones that failed.
Voting for EVERY TAX INCREASE is NOT conservative by any definition that exists, which throws your concept of what a “liberal” is into question, too.
I really wish you folks who feel the need to use screen names would choose shorter ones. So, lety me respond to you “Heck”, again Rep. Atkins’ conservatism may be relative to those who would challenge him. He was conservative enough for the GOP right up until they threw him overboard.
Conservatism is not spelled “GOP” .
Conservatism isn’t spelled “TAX HIKES” either.
I’ll be honest here Heck and say I don’t know the complete break down of the tax hikes that you speak of. But I do know that there ar different kinds. You have tax hikes that go for things like the needle program that Mr. Atkins opposes. Then you have the cost of running the state. Just like the running of a business, the cost of running the state, and I mean the keeping the lights on stuff, roads and so forth, will always go up.