GOP Set for Rebound in New England?
Even though Scott Brown sucked all the air out of the media room in Massachusetts last month, Republicans shouldn’t take that as a sign that the entire state is turning bright red. There are several districts, including the strongholds around Boston and Cambridge, where no amount of political dynamite is going to blow the Democrats out of their seats. But as a recent report indicates, of the ten House seats there, viable Republican candidates are coming forward in at least seven of them. There are even GOP primary battles in the offing, a thing unheard of in most election cycles. Even a handful of Bay State seats shifting to Republican hands would be big news in that part of the country, and it’s looking more and more likely as the next election cycle rolls onward.
Vermont and Maine may not shift very much this year, but Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins could have more company at their lonely, New England Senate GOP lunch table than just Scott Brown come next January. And while we’re on the subject of the Maine sisters, this is a good time to consider the nature of the new Northeastern delegation hopefuls.
Regional politics vary wildly across the country, and nowhere is that more true than in New England. As the previously mentioned report indicates, some districts such as Rhode Island’s second still maintain a Democratic registration advantage as high as four to one over Republicans. But as daunting as those numbers may sound, they pale in comparison to the 48% of the voters who register as independents. These are not battles which are won by the base, but by carrying the middle.
Demographically the region shows a history of looking kindly upon fiscal conservatives, particularly in trying economic times. But they still skew decidedly liberal (or at least libertarian) on many social issues. There are hard fights ahead for many of these Republican candidates, particularly in terms of fundraising in the face of long-entrenched, well-financed Democratic machines. They will need strong grassroots support from across the nation, such as Scott Brown enjoyed, including places where many of them would probably be indistinguishable from Democrats.
The Cook Political Report is showing many Democrat-held House races as being in play, with as many as fifty or even sixty seats up for grabs. The Republicans are facing a game-changing moment of opportunity. But to turn that into a reality, some sectors of the base will need to let go of the “purge the RINOs” mentality which has been running rampant of late and realize that retaking a significant portion of the lost ground in New England will be a key component of success. If that means opening up the tent a bit, it still seems far more appealing than fighting from the cheap seats for two more years.
New England voters who do not earn their living in the public sector realize they are under attack by public union employees. On a practical level, this means that one’s own relatives or close friends are trying to stick it to them good and hard. They must be opposed. The Democrats represent the public unions—and the Republicans are the only hope to stopping them. It really is that simple. There is no reason to overcomplicate the matter.
President John F. Kennedy is greatly responsible for our present crisis. He signed an executive order in 1962 allowing government employees to unionize on a national level. Our situation has only significantly worsened since then. Kennedy is famous for many things, but few Americans know about his decision forty-eight years ago. I will make a prediction: within the next five years—this will be the number one thing his administration will be remembered for in the history books. He may have meant well, but the resulting damage has been overwhelming.
Here’s a cause that the Republicans should take up:
THE WAY to Really Call The Democrats’ Bluff and Save Us in the Process
Barak Obama just wants to give granny a pain killer, not treat her condition. And the state of Oregon would rather assist suicide than give one of its residents cancer treatments/medications.
In response, here’s what we do:
Introduce and pass legislation that would prevent the Federal government, or any of its agencies, from harming us, killing us, or otherwise prevent us from receiving life-preserving treatment, as a matter of its operating any sort of health care system (to include the murdering of infants in the womb).
Push for a constitutional amendment. Really raise as much stink as possible.
Credit Rose Pappas, senior citizen, of Chicago, Illinois.
“Purge the RINO’s”. Hmmm. Defining RINO’s is the problem. Here’s my definition, and it is self-explanatory asa to why they should be purged.
RINO’s are the big-spending, big-government Republicans. This flies directly in the face of what being a Republican is all about. If you’re for small government, you are right-of-center. If you’re for big government, you are left-of-center. It’s really that simple.
The RINO’s should become Dems, so as to quit ruining the Republican Party. Then, all the Indies who care not for big government could see that they are supposed to be Pubbies, and it all gets sorted out. Purge the Quislings.
Don’t forget Peter Schiff (R) in Connecticut.
Obama’s Winter Fall From Grace: BARGAINING
Third in a series on the collapse of the Obama presidency, its causes, and its effects on Barack Obama, effects comparable to the 5 stages of grief. Part One dealt with denial, Part Two with anger.
Today: BARGAINING
In the 5 stages of Obama’s grief over his failed presidency, after denial and anger comes bargaining.
We bargain all the time.
The lover bargains with his beloved when she no longer wants to be his beloved. The workman bargains with his employer when he tries to wheedle more pay. The supplicant bargains with God, often on his death bed.
And the politician bargains when he compromises with his fellow politicians and bargains with the electorate when he campaigns for election.
In Obama’s case, he is bargaining out of desperation: A new Gallup poll shows the incumbent president in a statistical dead heat with . . . every Republican, i.e. against any generic Republican. Worse, Mr. Generic Rep leads Obama 45%-31% among American independents: http://bit.ly/bLoz41.
Those sad realities for Obama in and of themselves represent a sad commentary on the status of his presidency.
Compound them with doubts within his own party and things look even worse: “He says ‘I’m for clean coal,’ and then he says . . .
(Read more at http://www.genelalor.com/blog1/?p=1505)
As a resident of NH’s 2nd. I hope to all that is good in the world that Charlie Bass doesn’t get past the primary season. He is a “proud moderate” Republican who helped get us in this mess before he got booted out and replaced but someone who was worst then him.
Sorry Charlie, (pun intended) you have done nothing to earn another chance. I’m not sure who I’ll go with but I know it will not be Charlie Bass.
You don’t need squishy rinos to fill a big tent 40% plus of Americans define themselves as conservatives. 40% or better of the American electorate would be the biggest tent in American politics. As someone else wrote in another comment recently only your friends can betray you never your enemies. It is more principled to be forced to compromise with your adversaries than your supposed allies. The democratic efforts to pass health care particularly in the senate are evidence that it could also be cheaper to buy your opposition than your friends.