What We Really Need Part I
Jan 28th, 2010 by Frank Knotts
It never fails , every time we start talking about who should or shouldn’t run for any given office, invariably we get someone who throws out the accusation that a person is not qualified for the office.
Let’s take Christine O’Donnell for example. Those of us who support her for her run for U.S. Senate believe that her stated stance on issues important to us make her a great candidate. We believe that she has demonstrated courage in standing up for and sticking to her principles on hot button topics such as abortion. We also feel that her positions on national security and the economy are in line with our own.
I personally feel that the only “QUALIFICATION” for elected office is to meet any requirements in either the U.S. Constitution or state constitutions. No one is born an expert on anything. We learn from our life experiences and from studying.
I have found that what most people mean when they talk of political experience is, has the person kissed the right rings of any given political party’s leadership? Has the would be candidate paid their so called dues to the party?
We often hear the party elite talk of their long hours making phone calls for other candidates, or how they stuffed envelopes . These are important things, and the people who have done them are an important part of any political party. But does making phone calls or stuffing envelopes qualify a person to hold an office?
We also hear a lot of talk about how someone like Ms. O’Donnell should not run for the Senate because she needs experience first. We are told that she should run for some “LOWER” office first and work her way up . Well I happen to believe that there are no “LOWER” offices, only low people. Really what do we gain from having a motivated candidate such as Ms. O’Donnell work her way up through the ranks of the party and government. Well what we most often get from this practice are political leaders who learn how to work the system and how to get re-elected. We get jaded candidates who have forgotten why they originally ran for office to begin with.
I would prefer to have a person run for and win an office whose only motivation is the betterment of the nation. I would prefer a person who was a janitor or teacher or any hard working person yesterday, and my senator today. I am tired of the party elite, I am tired of career politicians.
So what we really need are fresh faces, with fresh ideas. We need to move away from the tired old men trying to cap off their political careers with one more feather in their cap. And if need be, we need to move away from the parties that are no longer responsive to our views.
I agree Frank that Christine O’Donnell is the best option to challenge the Democrat for U.S. Senate. Congressman Mike Castle had nine terms to better the nation, and he squandered it by being the most liberal member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Christine does not waiver on her principles and values, and that is the tenor we need in Washington. She is a rock solid conservative.
Let’s assume that O’Donnell loses to Castle in the primary. Do you plan to support a third party candidate and (most likely) divide the conservative vote and hand the Democratic candidate a victory? I’m all for third parties, but a Senate seat is nothing to play ideological games with. A senator has much more power than a representative, the terms are longer, and the Senate gives small states like Delaware an advantage. I don’t necessarily want to see Mr. Castle in the seat, but I’d greatly prefer a liberal Republican to a liberal Democrat.
I believe O’Donnell could defeat Carney for the House seat, had she decided to run for it. Instead, most likely, the House seat will go to a Democrat, and if conservatives refuse to support Castle (assuming that he wins the primary), it’s likely that the Senate seat will go to a Democrat as well, leaving us with a single party representing our interests at the federal level. Or, should I say, not representing our interests.
Christine Odonnell = a democrat win….. Please explain how this helps .
Christine O’Donnell, like the swallows returning to Capistrano, returns every two years to run for the senate. What does she do with the rest of her time? Where was she educated? With whom does she routinely associate? Where does she live? Where is she now?
Anyone can learn the art of sloganeering; see Obama. So far, that’s all I’ve heard from O’Donnell. Okay, we’ve seen the public persona, her political face- now, what’s inside?
At this point in time, I don’t think she has a snowball’s chance in hell of being elected to the US Senate.
my guess is that she will primary Castle and when she loses she’ll run as a write-in. It,s all about self promotion.
She’s like a groundhog except she comes out every two years instead of annually. Does she run when she sees her shadow, or when she doesn’t? How about a candidate who actually spends time in Delaware and rubs up against us mere mortals on a regular basis?
We have the Delaware GOP Leaders promoting the candidacy of Anthony Wedo and he doesn’t even live in this state. Can someone tell me how that is a receipt for success? And, yes I agree the Democrats will win that seat if they proceed down this path. It seems that all these so-called party faithfuls believe in is winning at all costs, so they are willing to promote candidates who will pad their pockets and look the other way when they advance an agenda that doesn’t resonate any longer. Once again – they will lose in this state because they will not or cannot look to the future.
Oh by the way – everyone was telling Scott Brown he had no chance to win…
Let’s allow the voters of this state to make their own determination as to who’s the best person to represent them in Washington. All I can say, incumbent isn’t a good place to be this November!!!
They are talking about Wedo over at de2010,
http://de2010.com/us-house/glass-house-of-representatives/
He is a DE resident according to this comment:
http://www.delawareliberal.net/2010/01/15/limbaugh-doubles-down-on-teh-stupid/#comment-169220
“Smartgirl” the State GOP is in no way, shape or form “promoting the candidacy of Anthony Wedo”. I would imagine that even if you threw Wedo into the field of current candidates, Kevin Wade would be the choice on Lancaster Avenue.
Chris asked, “Let’s assume that O’Donnell loses to Castle in the primary. Do you plan to support a third party candidate and (most likely) divide the conservative vote and hand the Democratic candidate a victory? ” Well Chris that would depend on the third party candidate. But I can tell you that Frank Knotts will not be putting an “X” in any box, on any ballot, that has Mike Castle’s name on it. This whole idea of , it’s better to have a liberal Republican, than a liberal Democrat exscapes me. All you have when you have a liberal Republican is a liberal. Are we going to talk for months about how bad Mike Castle has been and how bad it would be for him to be in the Senate, and then turn around and cast votes for him out of nothing more than silly party loyalty ? If we feel that the man is bad for the country, then how can we dare to be a part of electing him? Maybe in this case a Democrat would be the better choice. I say it is time to send Mr. Castle to the old politicians home, where he can sit around and tell the other residents what a hard line conservative he was.
Frank…you aren’t the only one…the Delaware GOP (and many of their loyal blogging supporters) have missed the boat on this one. The winds are not there for Castle. I know a lot of folks who are seriously considering voting Coons over Castle if it comes down to it. I don’t know that there are enough of those people to turn Coons into a winner because he’s not as progressive as Castle and therefore will not get as much of the Delaware progressive vote but we shall see.
With that said, I think you’re all underestimating the support Christine has in the state. If nothing else the primary will be interesting.
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can one of you Christine O fans make the case for her candidacy, please.
What has she done?
What is her resume? What does she do for a living? Where has she shown leadership?
tell me about her acomplishments, not her speachs.
Sidelines – I have it on very good authority that he will become a legal DE resident on 02/01. Therefore, as of today, he is not a resident of the State of Delaware and ineligable to run for this seat in DE. Do we really want a Carpetbagger representing us in the House? This is the same situation when Hillary Clinton entered the US Senate race in New York. I think we deserve someone who knows and appreciates Delaware from NCC to Kent to Sussex counties.
Lastly, the DE GOP is championing Wedo’s candidacy. I can say this without any reservations when I received email invitations to hear him speak and support his candidacy from several prominent party leaders. Mr. Wade and Mr. Cullis have their work cut out for them in 2010. It’s clear that this is the candidate that party leaders are preparing to support. In addition, the DE GOP website contains a Castle for Senate image, folks we have a primary in this state to determine who will be the candidate to face the Democrats. If the DE GOP isn’t endorsing candidates prior to a primary, what is this?
Again, the voters of Delaware will determine who should be the candidates they see on their ballot. All I ask is give us the choice!
annoni – why don’t you let Christine explain it to you? What’s the harm in giving her a chance to make her case vs. Castle?
Personally I like her positions on the issues. She’s worked in Washington, on legislation but she’s not tainted by “the Washington Way”.
She’s running on lowering taxes, creating a business friendly enviornment in Washington, she’s for winning the war on terror instead of conceding it, she’s for energy independence in many ways including strengthening the dollar (as opposed to the Geithner/Obama model of devaluing the dollar until it’s worthless) and she’s ready to tackle border security to name just a few things.
I gave her an opportunity to win my support, I spent the time talking to her and I know she stands for three things that are most important to me:
1.) Limited government
2.) Reducing taxes
3.) Return to Constitutional Principles
I know a lot of folks who are seriously considering voting Coons over Castle..
Insanity.
Mike Castle had nine terms to better the nation, and he squandered it by being the most liberal member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
‘Most liberal member?’ So, he voted for the healthcare bill, right? Wrong.
“But I can tell you that Frank Knotts will not be putting an “X” in any box, on any ballot, that has Mike Castle’s name on it.”
You’re entirely justified in that. I have yet to decide who I will vote for, even in hypothetical match-ups in the general election based on primary results. I’ve voted for third party candidates before, and will again, depending on the circumstances.
annoni, asked. “can one of you Christine O fans make the case for her candidacy, please.
What has she done?
What is her resume? What does she do for a living? Where has she shown leadership?
tell me about her acomplishments, not her speachs.”
So in your world annoni, I guess that no one can be president or senator unless they were dog catcher at some point. I happen to feel that any person can be a leader. You don’t have to have been in government to govern. This was the point of my post. I want leaders who understand what this nation was founded on, I want leaders who feel as I do about how to solve the issues pressing in on us from every side, and I want leaders who will act and vote on these issues using the sound principles of conservatism. This in my estimation eliminates Mike Castle from any consideration on my part. It is Mike Castle’s “EXPERIENCE” that makes him unacceptable to myself and many others. It is her lack of “GOVERNMENT EXPERIENCE” and her stated stance on issues important to many of us, that makes Ms. O’Donnell a better choice than Mr. Castle.
Let us look to Pres. Obama. It is not his lack of experience that has made him a dismal failure, it is his ideology and policies.
Frank,
In my world, actions speak louder than words.
I know she has never been elected to any position (not even dog catcher). I didn’t ask what GOVERNMENT EXPERIANCE does she have… I asked what experiance, period.
I know she says things that make your conservative heart go pitter patter… but what has she done?
Where/when/how has she put the principles and values she espouses into practice?
Where in her life has she demonstrated the leadership needed in washington?
These aren’t trick questions.
These are the questions the voters will (or at least should) ask in the primary and in November.
If what I heard on WGMD this morning is true, CO’D is finished. Gee, I’m almost surprised.