Tom Ridge, no thanks

The GOPNation.com ^ | April 29, 2009 | The GOPNation

[bmweezer]

The chattering in Harrisburg, Pa. and increasingly in Washington, D.C. is this: Pat Toomey will not be able to win the PA senate seat being held by Arlen Specter, now that the race will be held in a general election and not in the Pa. GOP primary. As such, the name of Pennsylvania's former governor Tom Ridge has popped to the surface as the one candidate that can beat Arlen Specter.

Think again.

Pat Toomey versus Arlen Specter would be the classic Conservative vs. Liberal type of campaign that the GOP, now in the minority, needs to take in order to make that important push away from the policies and positions of the past and think ahead to the future.

While Tom Ridge served adequately as Pennsylvania's top pol, and to a lesser degree as this nation's first Homeland Security Secretary, he is no conservative and is exactly the type of Republican that pushed the party away from the principals of Ronald Reagan, and into the direction of those like John McCain. Toomey, on the other hand is in the model of Reagan and it is there that the party must go in order to regain some type of power again in our nation.

A Ridge vs. Specter race would pit one pro-choicer versus another and the end result will likely be a sixth term for the U.S. Senate's newest Democrat, and once again leave the GOP shutout. Toomey vs. Specter, however, would set the stage for a real discussion on the virtues of conservatism against the harsh realities that is liberalism and under President Obama, socialism.

The chattering class assumes that Obama will be as popular in November 2010 as he is today, but that reality is just a pipe dream. The liberal policies already passed in Obama's first 100 days and those coming down the road have been tried and tried again in the world and in our nation's history and each time, have failed.

While most Americans today are happy to continue blaming those 'damn Republicans' on the country's woes and give the new president a pass, when things worsen next year, they will have no one to blame but the White House and the large Democratic majorities in Congress.

The concern, however, is this: will the GOP realize this and back Ridge anyway or take a gamble and place a bet on Toomey?

The weeks and months ahead will tell us if the party of Reagan has learned its lesson, or rather, they have not.

[Retired COB]

Without this 4th leg to the stool, the stool can only win if the opponent is on a stool with even fewer legs.

We haven't met, but I'm going to have to assume that you're a city dweller. Anyone that has ever milked a cow can tell you that the stool has three legs for stability. It doesn't matter how uneven the terrain, a three legged stool will not wobble. A four legged stool will most certainly wobble unless it is sitting on a dead level surface.

The last thing we need now is a wobbly Republican.

[spintreebob]

No figure of speech is perfect.

The point is our side needs more than perfect ideology. In addtition we need smart strategy and tactics. We need the non-ideological skills needed to win.

Pick a better figure of speech. Fine by me.

[Beagle8U]

“The concern, however, is this: will the GOP realize this and back Ridge anyway or take a gamble and place a bet on Toomey?”

What happens now is the GOP primary will be for a wide open seat for the challenger.

You can expect at least three to run and the RATS will get some ringer in there that they can crossover vote for.

The RATS will run nobody against Specter.

I have my doubts that Toomey will win in a crowded field with RAT crossover voters.

[skully]

The last thing we need now is a wobbly Republican.

Yeah there's enough of them already

[Sparky1776]

Bingo!

[Beagle8U]

The GOA just came out and endorsed Toomey. I wonder who the NRA will support?

[sarge83]

I’ll take the defeat thank you.

Again, tell me why I should vote for another so-called republican conservative who is promptly going to demand my full support, financially and during his campaigns and for every crack pot scheme he comes up with and then when I ask him to support me on something as simple as cutting taxes, or to stop partial birth abortion I get a knife in the back from him and a lecture about being ME being more inclusive, loyal and supportive?

[HawaiianGecko]

  "Pat Toomey versus Arlen Specter would be the classic Conservative vs. Liberal."

Who's this guy trying to kid.  Specter is more moderate than Toomey, but he's no liberal.  Not to mention he has been pretty good at bringing the pork home.  He'll obviously have the full support of the Democratic machines as Obama has already come out and said he would support all Democratic incumbents and will not support any primary challengers.  And, he will certainly get a lot of moderate Republicans, even some conservative Republican businessmen that he has helped throughout his 30 year career.

Republicans are going to need someone who is very popular in Pennsylvania next year period.

[Oldhunk]

I’m just pointing out the reality of the situation. Toomey has zero chance of being elected Senator in Pennsylvania. Simple as that. We all liked Rick Santorum. He was a sitting Senator and still was trounced by a wide margin a few years ago. The only kind of Republican you can get elected in these blue states are the Olympia Snowes, Collins, and Sphincters. You take the RINO or you get a Democrat. Lousy choice, but the only one we have.

[penowa]

...will the GOP realize this and back Ridge anyway or take a gamble and place a bet on Toomey?

Of course the Republicrat party, both the national and PA, will back Ridge against Toomey so they can conduct another win - win election like the Presidential one of '08. They can't possibly lose regardless of whether Ridge or Specter wins the general since both were, are, and will be reliable Democrat votes when it's nut cracking time.

[magritte]

Well said...Spectre is almost a lock in PA, the only factor that can defeat him is his health at the time...magritte