The Battle for America 2010: Storming the Castle in Delaware
Signs and portents continue to pile up indicating that the battle of 2010 shall come to be known as The Tea Party Election. Highly excitable groups of newly engaged activists have taken not only to the streets but to their local boards of elections, carrying petitions door to door and crashing the careers of traditional, party machine politicians, replacing them with a new breed of outsiders. Sometimes this has proven highly effective, shocking the establishment and introducing the world to fresh faces which have been largely lacking in Washington for a generation. Can you feel the fever?
But in the rush to pluck new candidates from among the hoi polloi, inexperienced organizers have, on occasion, failed to perform due diligence in the vetting process. This has produced notable figures such as Sharron Angle in Nevada. Ms. Angle may yet carry the day in November, but thus far her most remarkable feat seems to have been breathing fresh if temporary life into the corpse of Harry Reid’s career, previously left for dead on the side of the electoral superhighway.
The latest chapter in this story now seems to be unfolding in Delaware, where the Tea Party Express has resurrected the political aspirations of Christine O’Donnell in hopes of derailing Congressman Mike Castle’s bid as the presumed Republican nominee for the Senate seat previously held by Vice President Joe Effing Biden. In years past, while working on a couple of races in New Jersey, I had the opportunity to meet Mr. Castle. I have also spoken to some of his supporters in the First State. And I’m here to tell you that Castle has two overwhelming flaws which would obviously make him unsuitable during the season of Tea Party Fever.
- He’s completely electable
- He’s sane.
Who in their right mind would want such a boring choice on the ballot? This race won’t have very long to play out, but the usual suspects in the chattering classes are moving in quickly and circling like vultures. As Dave Weigel recently pointed out in Slate, rank and file Republicans are already bringing up issues of Ms. O’Donnell’s previous financial woes, saddling her with the label of “troubled perennial candidate.” (Which, as Weigel points out, is just a marginally nicer way of saying “crazy person.”)
Michael Steele? How many times have I told you to STOP posting articles under someone else’s name? And if you’re going to use someone else’s name, why can’t you at least use someone else’s words instead of that same tired old sermon of yours that always goes ‘Forget about honor or integrity! The only thing that matters is getting elected!’
So what if that means electing someone who continues the same corruption that’s plunged this nation into a living nightmare? It’s not like you’re going to participate in that nightmare – you’re safe and cocooned inside that corrupt D.C. nest of yours, feathered with bribes from lobbyists, staggering pensions you keep voting for yourselves, and that private healthcare insurance you get to enjoy instead of that ruinous Obamacare you’ve just crammed down our throats.
If we voters protest at being saddled with a yet another ‘electable’ politician who will march in step with this corruption, you can merely look down your imperial nose at us and sneer that we’re “highly excitable”, the “hoi polloi” and “inexperienced” who don’t realize what “sane” is. Well, sorry to upset you in your little bubble world – but we ‘hoi polloi’ have had enough of your ‘let us eat cake’ mentality. Come this November, you and your corrupt party hacks are going to eat dirt.
And for God’s sake, quit posting under someone else’s name, Mr. Steele!
Well said, Ms Carolyn – Hear! Hear!
Right, it would be much more principled to have the Dem win the seat and continue the Obama agenda. If your principles include higher taxes, higher spending and more regulation you should be happy.
PS Corruption is not voting for something you disagree with. Get a clue.
It’s better to elect a Democrat to continue the Obama agenda than to elect a “Republican” to continue the Obama agenda.
Look what “moderate” Republican Presidents have given us: Kennedy after Eisenhower, Clinton after Bush I and Obama after Bush II. We’ve only had one reasonable conservative President, that was Reagan. His VP Bush got elected to a 3rd Reagan term by running as Reagan. This was the first time, since Andrew Jackson that a 2 term President was succeeded by his VP.
Bush governed as a “moderate” and suffered the worst political collapse in Presidential history, going from 91% approval down to getting 34% of the vote. No RINOs! They’re poison. They enact progressive policies and conservativism/freedom philosophy gets the blame.
Why are you so sure Christine O’Donnell can’t get elected? Reagan was unelectable as were a host of conservative politicians. Don’t buy the media spin.
Ooh! That’s gonna leave a mark!
Well said!
Hmm. . . . I noticed you completely avoided telling us his stance on the TARP mess, oblammocare, abortion, the 2nd Amendment, etc. . .all thost “little” details that we want in our representitives. . . easily electable doesn’t mean good. Ted Kennedy, John Mccain, and LindseyGraham have been “easily electable”. . . look what they have done to us.
EXACTLY
Exactly…because the Dem won’t vote for any of those things. Oh wait…
So according to Jazz Shaw, self proclaimed “former RINO”, the choices in Delaware would be Chris Coons the Democrat or Mike Castle who would vote with the Democrats.
I think I may have just threw up in my mouth a little.
Jazz advocates a strategy of winning the battle only to lose the war. Nice bit of taqiyya there Jazz, and citeing Dave Weigel is the cherry on top of this s*** sandwich that you’re serving up.
Time to run along back to your group of Journolist buddies on the short slide side of the playground.
Thanks, Jazz. I almost fell into the trap but you helped me avoid it. I was going to “go along” and support Castle from my distant Ohio home (no moneynof course, but pull for the guy) and then when I saw that you, with the support of that well known objective analyst Dave Weigel, were for Castle and had the “usual slime” on O’Donnell, that was all I needed to know that she is for real and should be elected. Certain people are experts at giving conservative clues about what is the right thing to do. You are one of those. As a Democrat who pretends to be a Republican, we are wise to watch what direction you recommend, and then take the opposite course. I just sent $200 to Christine’s campaign and I encourage everyone else to do so right away. Let’s get a conservative on the ballot in November. Let’s not be idiots and put forth another Jim Jeffords, Arlen Specter, Susan Collins, John McCain, Lindsay Graham. Let’s make the party one that does not need Jazz and his lame smears and sarcasm, which are more suited to the DailyKos. Send some dough to Christine O’Donnell today.
I already did. But, Joe Miller she ain’t.
You are a fool and a tool.
Hon, thanks for exposing O’Donnell but the Tea PARTY IS A WINNER OF FACT.
Castle is no moderate. He’s a liberal. Period. LIBERAL.
Sure, Jazz, let the people of Del. choose between a RINO and a Democrat. Some choice. O’Donnell is supported by people I respect. Castle is not. Go Christine!
Actually, Mike Castle is a really good guy and people in Delaware like him. He is a moderate Northeast Republican, but that’s really what Delaware is like-trust me, I grew up there. Delaware is a sort of middle-of-the-road place like New Jersey or Pennsylvania. My Dad still lives there, and though he’s registered Republican, he voted for Obama. Now he bitterly regrets his vote because he thinks Obama is fiscally irresponsible. If this Christine O’Donnell has been irresponsible in her personal finances, a guy like Dad would never vote for her. Mike Castle has been around so long that Delawareans feel that they know him and can trust him.
Silly Shyannie, Tricks are for kids! Do you think we should vote for someone because we *think* we know them? Those days are gone. As Mark Levin pointed out, we know who’s been paying Mike Castle’s rent – YOU AND ME! My mother heard this story and immediately sent Christine $20 that Mom really couldn’t spare. That is what this hit-piece will produce. God Speed Christine!
1.Delaware doesn’t love fiscal responsibility. Want proof? It loves Joe Biden.
2. Castle is at best a RINO. At worst, a DIABLO.
3. Is Castle more electable of the two in the primary? Yes.
Please stop with the love affair bilge and the ‘moderation’ spin. He’s a liberal. Try citing his NRA score.
What a shame that we can’t get any good candidate out there.
I guess we are stuck with the male ‘Scozzafava’. Christine just isn’t the strongest candidate and it is Delaware.
I think though it is good that there IS a primary though.
If Castle pulls it out, the TPM and other GOP members need to hold him to any votes that are needed to get to 51. If we get to an excess of votes on a piece of right-of-center legislation next year or after 2012′s election, the GOP leadership can probably let him vote ‘present’ or ‘no’ if they already have the 51.
It would be nice if Delaware would move there primary up to give Christine more time. Castles name recognition right now is too big a factor to likely overcome. He needs to be challenged for his voting record at every turn, and any Rino votes broadcast very loudly and very clearly. I dont like Castle, so if I were voting in Delaware Id likely skip this spot on the ballot. Im in Arizona, where I wont be voting for Juan McShameor the dimowit, so Ill vote for some minor candidate or write in JD Heyworth.
Castle does not have a stellar voting record; he votes more like a liberal! I see a potential addition to the “can’t be counted on column” of rinos joining the 2 beasts from downeast, mccain, and lindsey graham as unreliable votes in the senate! I agree with Mark Levin’s assessment about O’Donnell, are we voting on her credit number, or the political stances that she may take? Many people with financial issues will be voting in november because of that issue. Is a seat in the US Senate restricted to wealthy, white males? Well . . . . I guess john kerry would still qualify! we know how he became the richest guy in the senate!
If I could I would opt for O’Donnell in November!
The author sounds like he is cut from the same cloth as the former liberal speech writer of GW Bush, doing soros’ bidding trying to convince the public that conservative candidates should be avoided in favor of fake rino republicans. And I suppose jazz you are the one to save the republican party from itself? And that you would rather have us elect a bunch of lindsey ‘the progressive’ graham clones?
The other, more realistic and exciting way to look at Sharon Angle running even with dingy harry for instance is that we have a chance to elect a REAL conservative in the very liberal state of nevada. That is cause for celebration. Make no mistake, Sharon Angle will win. And if O’donnell is the candidate of choice in delaware, it will be for the people to decide not for a 2-bit hack like you. One can always count on liberals to show who they are really afraid of (can you say Sarah Palin?), and I believe jazz, your liberal stripes are showing through.
Shyannie said:
My Dad still lives there, and though he’s registered Republican, he voted for Obama. Now he bitterly regrets his vote because he thinks Obama is fiscally irresponsible.
Sorry, Shyannie, but no one who voted for the Indonesian Imbecile is anything close to what a Republican should be. This is a simple truism. And the fact that your dad seems to regret his voting in an ineligible, un-American, America-hating turd only because The Precedent’s “fiscally irresponsible” (which is the least of his problems, frankly) goes to show what sort of “Republicans” we are dealing with. Not the sort of “Republoicans” who are worth having, as they turn around and stab us in the back by voting for an un-American marxist POS who had not one iota of American sensibilities about him.
progressoverpeace,
I don’t want anyone like you in charge of anything. Your kind of arrogance is what I detest in liberals so I certainly don’t want your “you’re a POS if you’re not Republican enough to suit me” attitude.
I’m going to assume that “winning elections” is a goal of yours. Most people don’t agree with all of your political opinions, so if you want them to vote for “your” candidate (who also does not share all of the voters’ political opinions), you’ll do better if you treat people with respect and emphasize that even though you disagree, you respect their right to have a different opinion and vote differently than you do from time to time. I’ve been very involved in a specific battle against a particular evil the past few years (sorry, you deserve more specifics but I’m not willing to provide them today) and I’ve found that respect for another adult’s right to make his own informed decision, will persuade many people to quietly agree with you (eg. in the voting booth, looking at “family planning” literature, or deciding whether to join a group). It’s a great rush, stomping on someone who disagrees (I have to admit I know that first-hand), but that will work against your long-term goals.
progressoverpeace,
I don’t want anyone like you in charge of anything.
Okey doke. I’m not running for anything.
Your kind of arrogance is what I detest in liberals so I certainly don’t want your “you’re a POS if you’re not Republican enough to suit me” attitude.
Jeanette, the “POS” in my comment was the Indonesian Imbecile, and anyone who voted for him is someone who is so out of touch with what America is that he could not have anything of value to contribute. Anyone who voted to put such an un-American idiot in the White House is no “Republican” of any sort, at all. Evidently, you think that voting for a marxist is just one small bump in the RINO ride. It isn’t. It’s a total deal-breaker.
I’m going to assume that “winning elections” is a goal of yours. Most people don’t agree with all of your political opinions, so if you want them to vote for “your” candidate (who also does not share all of the voters’ political opinions), you’ll do better if you treat people with respect and emphasize that even though you disagree, you respect their right to have a different opinion and vote differently than you do from time to time.
I don’t tell anyone who to vote for. That is their choice and their choice alone. I will, however, comment on the insane and un-American votes that some people have chosen to cast. Don’t blame me for their stupidity. I didn’t tell them to vote for an Indonesian who is barely up to 8th grade level in math and had no business being put in charge of anything. let alone this once-great nation. The people who voted for the Indonesian Imbecile injured this nation, irreparably. That is just how it is. They have to live with what they’ve done and how they’ll be portrayed in future history books as the most pathetic, insane, suicidal group that has ever existed.
I’ve been very involved in a specific battle against a particular evil the past few years (sorry, you deserve more specifics but I’m not willing to provide them today) and I’ve found that respect for another adult’s right to make his own informed decision, will persuade many people to quietly agree with you (eg. in the voting booth, looking at “family planning” literature, or deciding whether to join a group). It’s a great rush, stomping on someone who disagrees (I have to admit I know that first-hand), but that will work against your long-term goals.
I don’t care if people agree with me, or not. They have to make their own minds up. I am expressing my opinion, and my opinion, only. Anyone is welcome to disagree with my views, but you have made a mistake in assessing what my priorities and goals are. I do not care to get one of the most liberal RINOs around elected. I don’t care to have anyone push that – though they are entitled to try to argue their case, obviously.
I find it interesting that it is a lot of the same squishes who were for the TARP and the bail-outs and lots of other un-American, un-Constitutional actions that their liberal buddies were all hot about who are pushing Castle (who is a waste and will spend more time stabbing us in the back than doing anything helpful).
But, to the main point, anyone who voted for the Indonesian Imbecile is someone who cannot be trusted to make any decent decisions, at all, since that was one of the most consequential of elections and they cast some of the most frivolous of votes in it. They have to live with what they did, and I have no patience, tolerance, or sympathy for those who helped try to run this nation into the ground. Honestly, any American should have known, the minute he saw that POS hold his biggest campaign rally in GERMANY – in friggin’ GERMANY!!! – that that was a person who could not be allowed into the Oval Office (and shouldn’t be in the government, at all). That was simple (even aside from all the other massive problems with the Indonesian Imbecile, including the obvious facts that he is stupid, hates America, and has no American sensibilities about him) and I extend no slack to anyone who voted for a guy who campaigned in Germany. I mean, come on. They made their choices.
And, anyone who voted for the Indonesian and calls himself a Republican is nothing but a total joke.
I couldnt have said it any better. Hallelujah.
If ever there were an article that summed up the problems with Republicans, look no further. Jazz, your piece is part of the reason for the Tea Party, for the anger on the right, for the low voter turnout. Not only did Republicans blow it in the early part of the decade due to their conversion to the religion of Washington but then the Republican party has the nerve to hoist McCain on us for President. You obviously don’t get it. We are sick of RINOS. This isn’t about wining elections, it’s about getting our country back. I can’t tell you how upsetting it is out here in CA where we have Jerry Brown (no comments needed for him) and Meg Whitman(let me know who I am talking to today so I can change my views accordingly). I’d rather see Brown get elected and send our state into insolvency than get another RINO. But no matter what I say I am sure this is all lost on you and millions of other Republicans.
Moderate Northeast Republican = Conservative Democrat. Honestly, why do Northeast “Republicans” even bother associating with the Republican brand – just register as a Democrat and duke it out in the primaries.
And if the only criticisms of O’Donnell are that she’s financially challenged and IRS troubles, what poor soul in these harsh economic times hasn’t felt the same. Just ask our current Secretary of the Treasury about the IRS and taxes.
My view, is that Castle is the typical professional politician, like Bennett was in Utah – job sinecure for life, and finds himself in a sweet spot. If he loses fair-and-square in a primary fight, the least the Republicans should do would be to back O’Donnell to the hilt and quit **ssing and moaning.
They also talked about some of his supporters in the first Member State. And he was here to tell you that the castle has two huge gaps, which seems to be unsuitable for him during the Tea Party Fever.
translation services
Many conservatives are tired of supporting a republican candidate that is nothing more than progressive-light. Seriously, if the republicans won’t field conservatives then let the progressives have it all and we can just get the collapse out of the way that much quicker. I’d rather I’m the one working to rebuild afterwards than my grand children.
Yep, I am done voting for RINO’S. If they win the primary(especially an open primary) I am crossing over and voting for the dem.
If I were in Arizona I would vote anyone but McLaim.
Personally I would rather have a democrat in front of me, than have a RINO backing me up.
Not sure what the primary laws are in DE, but is it possible the Dems will try to infect the GOP primary to help facilitate Castle’s defeat?
…. Highly excitable groups of newly engaged activists ….
Now there’s a line to win an uppity elitist a fan base.
Among other (il)liberals, that is.
…. the “moderate” but “very electable” (RINO) Mike Castle ….
And there’s another line, this one likely to hasten Mr Castle’s slippery sloping off to the “Democratic” potty, into which all such as he will in any case eventually spiral.
…. for the times, they are a changing ….
Folks, I was born in DE and have lived here most of my entire life (except for college and grad school in the NE). Castle isn’t a perfect conservative (but neither am I….more Libertarian…social issues aren’t that important to me), but he is the ONLY way that this state will elect a Republican to the senate. Does he pass the purity test for cons? Nope… but half a loaf is better than none! If you want to stop this ridiculous Congress from spending our country into a financial disaster, then you will need to elect folks like Castle in states like DE. (it’s that simple folks)
…. Highly excitable groups of newly engaged activists ….
Now there’s a line to win an uppity elitist a fan base.
Among other (il)liberals, that is.
…. the “moderate” but “very electable” (RINO) Mike Castle ….
And there’s another line, this one likely to hasten Mr Castle’s slippery sloping off to the “Democratic” potty, into which all such as he will in any case eventually spiral.
…. for the times, they are a changing ….
Lets See,
Tim Geitner, wizard of finacial smart – Treasury Secratary can’t use turbo tax to pay taxes and can’t sell a home and break even.
Odonnell has trouble with her mortgage while campaigning against pornography and a cozy establishment content to pass laws they ignore that crush the rest of us finacilly directly, and indirectly spiritually by attempting to regulate our prayer (not in school, oh no no no !) regulate our proerty (EPA – You can’t farm there to feed millions in CA Oh no no no ) and regulate our very lives ( see Healcare page 1356 that wasn’t read by amyone who imposed the law on us. YET when a citizen steps up OMG!!! How dare she attempt to influence the laws we’re being ruled by and attempt to chage them (Oh no no no NO…)
Well to the Yes we can crowd – the Tea Party is composed of YES WE WILL PEOPLE BACKED BY A GOD THAT DEALS IN SHALLs – we are taking America back and restoring her honor, her history, and her moral purpose to be the BEACON of freedom not the Bastardization of communism which is socialism. We may not beat the establishment in DE this time – doesn’t matter, we’re here to stay and we’re here to fight every day.
For a bunch of amteurs, we’ve done OK so far – just remember – with each election and each election cycle we become stronger, smarter, and and more discerning –
Castle, should he win will be on a short leash, one we intend to use.
Another bullshit piece from another squeamish RINO apologist over-conditioned by his mainstream liberal masters as to what should constitute proper conservative political etiquette.
For one, Sharron Angle is a terrific person with a long record of good work in the cause. She’s battling even with the Senate Majority Leader and will win.
And I couldn’t care less about McDonnell’s peccadillos. She’s a conservative and she’ll vote conservative. “But [she looks] bad on paper and provide[s] potent ammunition for one’s political enemies..”?! Oh, dear! We can’t have that! Go lose your bladder on the newspaper in the corner. That’s what newspapers are for anyway.
Guys, an electable Republican in a Democratic-leaning state is a thing of beauty. Replacing that kind of person with an unknown or an amateur claiming to have Conservative Purity is the kind of action the Democrats are banking on, so that they can retain control of the House and Senate.
Delaware is a nothing state and produces pretty mediocre people. Look at VP Bite Me Biden. I don’t think it makes much difference if Castle is in there or a democrat since he votes just like a liberal democrat. A flawed candidate running on a conservative platform in a nothing state is still a better senator than a lib dem or a lib dem RHINO.
This was pretty simple to figure out but JS wants to make it look like a very heavy bit of anlaysis.
Tommy Gunn
The people of Delaware may have habits in voting, but they are not blind or stupid.
Forget the petty politics. The choice is O’Donnell (No cap and tax), take back America or Castle (cap and tax) more socialism with good old boy Republican politics while devastating our economy and small business community.
No. The choice is winning the senate seat or feeling good about voting for the best conservative and then losing the general in November. O’Donnell can’t win the general. Period. So, all you purists need to decide whether you want a half a conservative or a Dem in the senate. That is the choice.
How will you feel if we win 9 seats and end up losing Delaware due to O’Donnell winning the primary. We go from controling the senate to staying in the minority. How “good” will you feel then?
I and many other conservative Republicans deserted a moderate Gordon Smith last election as not conservative enough in our extreme liberal state. No “true conservative” has a chance here as in Delaware. We replaced him with Sen. Merkely, a complete idiot even by liberal standards, who provided a 60th vote to stop filibusters so Obama, Pelosi, Reid and Merkely could ram more crap down our throats.
Face it folks,was our purity more important than stopping Obamacare? Porkulus? Son of Porkulus to come? Should I glow with pride at my principled stand as the doctor gives me the mandated Blue Pill to end my life under Obamacare?
Some of you are like a doctor who so hates amputations that he’d rather let the gangrene spread than operate. “The patient died, but I’ve stuck by my principles”.
I am not among those who would rather get screwed by a Demo majority than back a less than perfect candidate running in a leftist state.
The author of this piece clearly considers himself to be reasonable, thoughtful, a mediator of conflict rather than an intransigent, and possessing the highest modern civic virtue–that of being a moderate. I suspect he espouses political positions in line with Mike Castle, then defines Mike Castle to be a moderate, since Mike Castle is self-evidently a reasonable, thoughtful sort of fellow. Actually, Jazz calls him “extremely moderate”, presumably meaning extremely desireable, notwithstanding that the phrase is an oxymoron. Everyone else with more conservative principles must be just a little less reasonable, thoughtful, more “hardcore” and therefore less desireable.
When it comes time to tally votes Mike Castle is as moderate on issues of abortion, Obamacare, cap and trade and TARP as Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid. There is a time for moral outrage and for drawing a line in the sand. I wonder whether such a line exists for Jazz.
Some have decided that the usual way of doing business has led us to catastrophe and a crossroads, that further mediation is working against us and will never lead to a strengthened position and to declare, this will not stand. The author is apparently embarrassed by us. For some, there is always another deal to be made, while we stand in the way.
Perhaps if the tea party movement grows so large it becomes irresistible Jazz will recalibrate what it means to be moderate a touch to the right and plunk himself down right there in the middle with perfect consistency, a moderate as always. Or, perhaps he will no longer feel comfortable with the new moderate and strike off bravely to the left out of moral conviction he realizes he had all along.
All Politicians are corrupt! Watch them after they win a re-election! It’s funny how we think one party is better than the other. I agree with NVA Patriot, however. Perhaps, eventually, the DC crowd will get it! Millions of us woke up after this “empty suit” became our Pres. I wish the Tea Party Movement would be renamed to FREEDOM FIGHTERS, or some name which sounds stronger than “tea party”. Heck, if this government keeps pushing us, we WILL push back! I have met so many people who are now getting active in politics. One incredible thing we can ALL do is to get as many people as we can to TURN OFF TV!! We unplugged 6 years ago and are so much happier. The news media is worse than Pravda!
I think an interview on their opinions on different issues might shed more light. Political campaign debts seem to come up with lots of people , IRS liens , I don’t know, this just sounds like a hatchet job. Do they debate? These websites set up to attack her nor does this article sound like its purpose is to inform voters but more to smear. She has represented religious conservative stuff for a while and always seemed pleasant when I saw her. Why are all the opponents to incumbents crazy? I guess when you get in the general you become a racist and bigot.
RINOs have their uses from time to time, but a Sen. Castle providing the GOP with a one-vote majority could do more harm than good by blurring the distinction between Democrats and Republicans. His vote would not be sufficient in itself to help override an Obama veto. We can’t count on him in a filibuster show-down. What use is a Senator Castle? We get a “Republican” Senate with majority vote provided by the surviving Democrats plus a few GOP feather-dusters able to pass noxious legislation. This serves to blur the Republican brand at a time when clarity is vital.
And he is likely to provide quotes for the Liberal media deploring conservative “extremism,” and the lack of bi-partisanship and the usual blah-blah.
On balance his election may not be worth a flock of chairmanships and staff jobs, especially since the raw numbers favor a GOP take-over in 2012.
Oh my. Quoting Dave Weigel now, are we? What are David Frum’s thoughts on the matter, pray tell? And appealing to us to be reasonable? Next you’ll be telling us we’re acting like spoiled brats.
You know, I almost bought this BS, seeing it on the Weekly Standard, HotAir and Ace of Spades. But you went too far, I’m afraid. Quoting Dave Weigel was the “tell”in your piece. The ConservoJourno© list is obviously working overtime.
I don’t have a vote in Delaware as I live in suburban Philadelphia. However, after reading your piece I called the O’Donnell campaign and made arrangements to work on Ms. O’Donnell’s campaign over the holiday weekend.
“Moderate Republicans” are part of the problem.
Who are some “Moderate Republicans” that the Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee decided were “electable” and supported them against conservative challengers? Lincoln Chafee & Benedict Arlen Spector come to mind. How often did they vote with Republicans on issues dear to conservatives? Hardly any.
If you sell your soul for “electability”, what do you get? Nothing worth selling your soul for!
Right, it would have been better if the Dem had won in Massachusetts! Let’s have a 100% purity party. Who cares that we will be a permanant minority.
How often would the Dems who would have been there instead of “moderate Republicans” vote on issues dear to conservatives? How often will Coons vote for conservative issues?
Dingy Harry was dead in the water. It was a given he would lose. Now he is leading or tied in the polls. He may lose, but it would have been nice to destroy him and spend the money on Rubio or others who will need every dollar. It would have been really demoralizing to Dems to have gone thru the summer and fall reading polls showing their senate leader down by dbl digits.
Gee, Kevin, you don’t seem like a casual commenter to me. You sound like a hack paid by librul Castle, a Jazz Shaw, or a wiggly-worm Weigle, the latter showing up everywhere like a bad $100 bill (inflation since the bad penny days). How about a little truth in commenting there, Kevin?
The 1994 revolution fielded because of sabotage by moderate but very electable Republicans. Particularly Nancy Johnson here in Connecticut.
How far could the country have gone if the Republicans were not attacked from behind. The energy problem would have been solved by now and the reduction of imported oil would have brought the current accounts deceit into balance five years ago.
A left-wing moderate from Maryland might be a better fit for left-wing Maryland but I can certainly understand why people do not want to leave a serpent in the house when there is a potential for a big party.
The 1994 revolution failed because of sabotage by moderate but very electable Republicans. Particularly Nancy Johnson here in Connecticut.
How far could the country have gone if the Republicans were not attacked from behind. The energy problem would have been solved by now and the reduction of imported oil would have brought the current accounts deceit into balance five years ago.
A left-wing moderate from Maryland might be a better fit for left-wing Maryland but I can certainly understand why people do not want to leave a serpent in the house when there is a potential for a big party.
Author, if you’re OK with someone who supports Cap and Trade, Obama’s health care legislation and Abortion we ain’t in the same party and Lord knows how you or Castle call yourselves conservative. If that’s conservative I’ll be something else. We aren’t voting for an R, we are voting for values. If Mao said he was Republican you’d probably vote for him and call him a Moderate!
An interesting quote about O’Donnell seems to have been overlooked: “O’Donnell, who entered national politics as an anti-pornography crusader……” Sounds to me like she is one of those bed-room police busybodies who wants to tell citizens how to run their lives; our families, their values. I don’t need some zealot to tell me what is porn or isn’t.
#36 Joe: “if you’re OK with someone who supports Cap and Trade…….” Cap and trade originated in the Reagan administration as a market driven means to combat the then problem of acid rain. Of course, some of the tea partiers are so far out on the right fringe now that Reagan wouldn’t stand a chance of getting elected by them.
I live just across the border in Maryland and the argument here in Castle vs. O’Donnell is very similar to the Maryland Republicans fighting out our governor’s race – supposedly the moderate Bob Ehrlich is the only “electable” candidate as opposed to the much more conservative Brian Murphy. Our state party even went so far as to request a waiver of the RNC’s Rule 11 so Ehrlich could get the national party’s support before our primary next week (same day as Delaware’s.) So I have experience in dealing with a similar situation.
Voters in Delaware should vote for the best candidate – if I were in the First State I would likely support O’Donnell despite the state GOP’s best efforts to smear her. Even if she loses, getting a significant amount of the vote sends a message to Mike Castle and the state Republican Party that Castle will have to earn the support of former O’Donnell voters or else they will stay home. But if she gets less than 1/3 or so of the vote Castle can safely blow off that part of the electorate and fight with the leftist Chris Coons by pandering to that crowd, figuring enough R’s will be loyal for him to win.
That’s the sort of message which needs to get through to moderate Republicans. Certainly I’d like to win elections as a Republican who’s active in the party but I can’t stomach selling out my principles to do so. Once in awhile I do skip the GOP candidate when he or she hasn’t done enough to earn my trust.
I hope that enough of you wingnuts pony up enough of your money for O’Donnell that she upsets Castle. The great thing about her is that she is unelectable. Please give her more support.
What difference does it make to you whether Castle runs or not, he’d do the same as the Democrat would anyway, why do you care if he doesn’t survive the primary? Why would a true conservative care whether Castle won or the Democrat won?
As a DE voter, I have disliked much of what Castle has done in the last two years. However, Christine O’Donnell’s candidacy resembles a vendetta against Castle more than a competent campaign – it seems that she has made it her life’s work to defeat Castle in whatever seat he is seeking: two years ago, she ran against him for Congress, and lost. One wonders why she didn’t figure out that she comes out on the short end in a contest with him. Additionally, the revelations about her personal finances and the ethical shenanigans she plays are pretty disturbing – Castle may be a RINO, in spades, but I have no questions about financial honesty. One also must wonder why, since Castle’s seat in Congress is also in play, Ms. O’Donnell did not run for that position again, unless she felt herself unequal to the task of challenging Michelle Rollins, (relict of John Rollins, who touts her concern for the unemployed but felt no compunction about putting hundreds of people out of work when she sold off her late-husband’s life’s work in order to get her hands on the money). If that’s the reason O’Donnell is challenging Castle rather than Rollns, it doesn’t say much for her prospects, does it, Palin endorsement notwithstanding?