Posted on 11/23/2009 4:05:33 PM PST by DecoyJames
That may be, with conservative Republicans like yourself affecting things. But I’m going to support the best man for the job anyway.
Because it’s going to be him or Jack Conway in the Senate come January 2011.
Only if the GOP establishment’s self-fulfilling prophecy is fulfilled. KY conservatives may have another view.
Well, you let me know as soon as your guy breaks out of the low single digits and raises a few million to run a viable campaign, until then...
Polls and money can be, and are, manipulated.
If that’s what conservatives are going to continue to depend upon they’re doomed.
Campaigns cost money, EV. If you can’t raise 6 figures for a statewide race, you can forget it. I don’t make the rules, I just tell you the facts.
I don’t know much about Mr. Greyson, except that he really made the Secretary of State’s website way more useful than it previously was. Before I really make up my mind, I do need to research all three candidates more in depth. I do know that Bunning hand picked Trey Greyson, which makes me lean toward him, because Bunning has been pretty good on the issues.
I have friends who are Paul supporters, but the second I don’t walk lock step with them - they immediately insinuate I am not as conservative as they.
I just have trouble with someone who has no real record to back them up. The ideal of voting for someone who has not held political office is appealing, but at the same time, my general lack of trust and faith in anyone running for political office makes me automatically leery of anyone who runs for national office without a proven record.
I can’t vote in the race, since I’m in Nashville, but we cover the Southern KY media market, so this race is going to be pretty prominent in the coming year (we don’t have a Senate race in TN next year, but a Governor’s race). I can’t say I’m personally “on fire” for Grayson. I just try to look at the candidates and see who is the most preferable of the viable candidates. Bill Johnson may be a fine man, but he has no money, no experience, and barely registers in the polls, so he can be eliminated outright. That leaves the contest between Grayson and Rand Paul.
Since you’ve also experienced what it’s like to deal with the “Paul People”, you get an idea of what you’re likely to get with his son and his hard-core supporters. I do not consider these folks Conservatives, but Paleo-Cons (whom on foreign policy are no different than the far-left of the Democrat party) or Libertarians. Some aspects of Libertarianism aren’t bad, shrinking the government is certainly a good idea, but too many of them start going into nuttier or more dangerous areas.
The problem with Rand Paul is that he has no public record, so we can only go by his associations. The conclusion that can be drawn with respect to him is fairly simple, he is using his father’s extensive Paleo/Libertarian fundraising network to buy the Republican nomination. When you have to “buy” the nomination, in the absence of any real accomplishments, I find it very troubling. We’ve had 4 people in my state do exactly that, and all ended up extreme disappointments (Gov. Bredesen, a Dem; Bill Frist, Lamar! Alexander & Bob Corker).
I prefer to support those people that have at least have some prior political accomplishment before bumping them up to a high office. I mean what HAS Rand Paul done for Kentucky ? Trey Grayson may not be Ronald Reagan, but he grew up (like Reagan) and left the Democrat party, he’s done a creditable job as Secretary of State, has earned the support of the people of the state twice statewide (difficult for a Republican to win, since Democrats dominate state offices outside of the federal). I think he’s the best, most viable candidate we can put up in November. By most accounts, he is the heir apparent to Jim Bunning.
I obviously don't know you personally, so I am definitely not going to insinuate you are not conservative. But I would encourage you to do your research, as you mentioned, before voting for the candidates, especially taking time to look at EternalVigilance's solid facts about Charles Merwin Grayson III.
And, just as an FYI, there are at least six candidates filed as of this moment for the Republican primary to this U.S. Senate seat (with nearly two months left for others to file still) - Rand Paul, Charles Merwin Grayson III, Bill Johnson, Gurley Martin, Brian Oerther and Roger Thoney. And, personally, I think at least three of them listed here are better choices than Grayson.
I find it very troubling and insulting that you say Rand Paul is trying to “buy the Republican nomination” in an open Senate seat, via fundraising, especially in light of the endless numbers of Neo-Cons have bought both nominations and general elections in recent history. A candidate such as Bill Johnson has no money, thus you say he can be eliminated outright. But Grayson has raised an impressive amount of money, so he’s supposedly “buying the nomination.”
"It is too probable that no plan we propose will be adopted. Perhaps another dreadful conflict is to be sustained. If to please the people, we offer what we ourselves disapprove, how can we afterwards defend our work? Let us raise a standard to which the wise and the honest can repair. The event is in the hand of God." -- George Washington
See, EV, you're already helping the Paulbots. They're using your material. And to RPL, trying to buy the Senate nomination with the Dr. Demento brigades bucks don't impress me much. Hasn't his father done quite enough without inflicting a second Paul on Congress ?
As to your question (which I am sure is more rhetorical, but merits a response nonetheless), I would love to have another Paul in Congress.
That’s OK. I find Rand Paul’s candidacy to be troubling and insulting. He has no accomplishments to his name, he’s done nothing for the KY Republican party, merely utilizing the Paleo/Libertarian nutroots of his father’s political network from all over the country trying to buy himself a Senate nomination. Let him run for lower office and build a record first like Grayson has. I’ve had quite enough with RINOs buying offices. And helpful hint, I’d also suggest knocking off the petty attacks on Grayson’s full name, because if that’s all you have, it’s pretty weak and pathetic. It’s crap like that which is going to give Jack Conway the Senate seat on a silver platter.
I never said it does, I merely said that was all I knew about him. :)
I also am somewhat tired of the whole democrat bit, because, as was pointed out, so was Reagan. While I’ve always considered myself conservative, there are issues on which I’ve changed my mind. What’s more important to me is how someone governs. Rand’s main guy, David Adams is a FB friend of mine, and while I enjoy his posts, there does become a point where it seems the campaign is less about Rand and more about getting Trey. At that point I quit reading, because I get it, I’ve heard it, move on. Whomever wins the Republican primary will have my vote over Conway or Mongardo or whatever darkhorse defeats those two dimwits.
As I said, I do intend to research the candidates and by the time I actually get time to check them out to my satisfaction, I’m positive the field will narrow. lol
Since my track record has not done well the past couple of elections, I’m refraining from donating to anyone, so I don’t have to hurry and make a decision. (Unless there is someone I really want to lose, then I could just go ahead and donate right away).
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