The DE Senate GOP primary: Castle, Soros & a health advisory

On August 20, I endorsed Christine O’Donnell for the Delaware Senate GOP primary race. As I said on Sean Hannity’s TV show last week in repeating that endorsement, she is certainly far from perfect (who is?). But I think nine terms are enough for duck-and-hide, cap-and-tax liberal Republican Mike Castle — and it looks like GOP primary voters in Delaware are coming to the same conclusion as the primary looms tomorrow. I repeat: Entrenched incumbency is not an argument for more entrenched incumbency.

Castle’s campaign questions O’Donnell’s trustworthiness. GOP primary voters need to question Castle’s. He was just one of two Republicans to vote for the $26 billion Edujobs/BigGovJobs bailout a few weeks ago. He supported the TARP bailout that benefited many of his political donors. And he is the co-founder of the George Soros-tied Republican Main Street Partnership — which, as I reported in 2005, successfully pressured the House GOP majority to cave in to enviros on the ANWR drilling ban. The Republican Main Street Partnership PAC supports ACORN-friendly, Big Labor-backing, tax-and-spend, abortion radicals in GOP clothing like Dede Scozzafava. This isn’t “Main Street.” This is the road to progressive hell. We already have one too many shady Soros Republicans in the Senate — and John McCain doesn’t need any more company.

As I noted a few weeks ago, the stakes are raised — not just for Delaware, but for the nation — in this race because this is a special election for VP Joe Biden’s Senate seat. The next Senator from Delaware will serve the remaining four years of Biden’s term. Which means he or she will be seated immediately after election and will be in place to vote in any lame duck Senate session. Cap-and-tax is on the table for this session. From his record and from his radical enviro associations, we know what Castle would do in the name of “Republican Main Street” values to screw over not only Delawareans, but all taxpayers.

Nine terms are enough. *** FYI: Michael Castle on Energy & Oil * Voted YES on enforcing limits on CO2 global warming pollution. (Jun 2009) * Voted YES on tax credits for renewable electricity, with PAYGO offsets. (Sep 2008) * Voted YES on tax incentives for energy production and conservation. (May 2008) * Voted YES on tax incentives for renewable energy. (Feb 2008) * Voted YES on investing in homegrown biofuel. (Aug 2007) * Voted YES on criminalizing oil cartels like OPEC. (May 2007) * Voted YES on removing oil & gas exploration subsidies. (Jan 2007) * Voted YES on keeping moratorium on drilling for oil offshore. (Jun 2006) * Voted YES on scheduling permitting for new oil refinieries. (Jun 2006) * Voted NO on authorizing construction of new oil refineries. (Oct 2005) * Voted NO on passage of the Bush Administration national energy policy. (Jun 2004) * Voted NO on implementing Bush-Cheney national energy policy. (Nov 2003) * Voted NO on raising CAFE standards; incentives for alternative fuels. (Aug 2001) * Voted YES on prohibiting oil drilling & development in ANWR. (Aug 2001) * Voted YES on starting implementation of Kyoto Protocol. (Jun 2000) * Establish greenhouse gas tradeable allowances. (Feb 2005) * Rated 33% by CAF, indicating a mixed record on energy independence. (Dec 2006) * Sign on to UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. (Jan 2007) * Supports immediate reductions in greenhouse gases. (Sep 1998)

Michael Castle on Environment * Voted YES on $2 billion more for Cash for Clunkers program. (Jul 2009) * Voted YES on protecting free-roaming horses and burros. (Jul 2009) * Voted YES on environmental education grants for outdoor experiences. (Sep 2008) * Voted YES on $9.7B for Amtrak improvements and operation thru 2013. (Jun 2008) * Voted YES on increasing AMTRAK funding by adding $214M to $900M. (Jun 2006) * Voted NO on barring website promoting Yucca Mountain nuclear waste dump. (May 2006) * Voted NO on deauthorizing “critical habitat” for endangered species. (Sep 2005) * Voted YES on speeding up approval of forest thinning projects. (Nov 2003) * Supports grants for brownfields remediation. (May 2002) * Make EPA into a Cabinet department. (May 2002) * Rated 70% by the LCV, indicating pro-environment votes. (Dec 2003) * Strengthen prohibitions against animal fighting. (Jan 2007) * Focus on results, not regulation. (Sep 1998) ***

And he is the co-founder of the George Soros-tied Republican Main Street Partnership — which, as I reported in 2005, successfully pressured the House GOP majority to cave in to enviros on the ANWR drilling ban.

The Republican Main Street Partnership PAC supports ACORN-friendly, Big Labor-backing, tax-and-spend, abortion radicals in GOP clothing like Dede Scozzafava. This isn’t “Main Street.” This is the road to progressive hell. We already have one too many shady Soros Republicans in the Senate — and John McCain doesn’t need any more company.

I love Michelle Malkin - she's brilliant, does great research and tells it like it is. If only she had her own network...

Castle's big complaint is that O'Donnell couldn't afford to pay her taxes, or her student loans, or her mortgage ~ and he imagines that an old codger like him kvetching about the travails of a single young woman will get him votes.

I think we have to conclude that Castle is out of his nut!

O'Donnell cannot be said to be ignorant of what's going on in this country to the Middle and Working Class people. In fact, her life is focused like a laser on the very problems that are screwing up so many millions of others.

Unless Delaware is made up of nothing but multimillionaire octogenearians she beats the Democrat in a landslide!

Of all possible contenders for Biden’s old senate seat in Delaware, my choices are (in order of preference):

1) Christine O’Donnell

2) Chris Coons

3) Chris Coons’ dog

4) Chris Coons’ dog’s fleas

5) Any demised rodents in Chris Coon’s basement

(On second thought, take out #2.)

Fortunately everyone supporting O’Donnell will be proven wrong tomorrow. I have been thoroughly disgusted with most far-right commentary from Hannity, Rush and Red State - as opposed to National Review, who understands what is at stake.

On the issues: Castle is a fiscal hawk, wants to make the Bush tax cuts permanent, voted against BOcare, and voted against the Obama stimulus. Yes, Castle has been wrong on environmental issues for years, including cap and trade, but you take the good with the bad in this business. Whether freepers like it or not, American politics are played within the 40 yard lines.

Every conservative down-ballot office seeker in Delaware, both challengers and incumbents in state House, Senate races and our state treasurer candidate Colin Bonini (a true conservative) needs and wants Castle at the top of the ticket, given Castle’s crossover appeal. These national commentators don’t know or understand squat with regard to our local politics.

Should O’Donnell win the primary (fortunately she won’t), she would be a down ballot disaster. Worse, if O’Donnell wins the primary, the RATS are going to pull a “Torricelli” and yank Chris Coons from the Senate ballot and substitute AG Beau Biden - thus giving Biden a golden parachute to his father’s Senate seat. Thanks so much to these national conservatives, who are about to inflict Beau Biden on the rest of the nation by trashing Castle - who is right at least 60 percent of the time. It was Castle’s entry into the DE Senate race that kept Beau Biden from jumping into the race last year.

“I have been thoroughly disgusted with most far-right commentary from Hannity, Rush and Red State”

But apparently you haven’t at all been disgusted with the outright character assassination of conservative Christine O’Donnell by the Delaware Republican establishment.

Sorry, but Castle is a bridge too far for me, in the mold of a Dede Scossafava. A liberal Republican like him will be just as bad as having a Rat in the seat. So if we lose with O’Donnell, so be it.

Health care battle proved that even the worst RINO is better than any Democrat. Mitch McConnell kept every Republican on board, in the midst of immense pressure and hostility from the MSM and Democratic leadership. Not one RINO caved - not Snowe, Collins, Voinovich, Graham.

I’ll take a Scott Brown type Republican who will vote for McConnell for majority leader over any Democrat who will inflict even worse policies on the nation.

Apparently you don’t care about down-ballot conservatives like Colin Bonini, who is running for State Treasurer.

Apparently you don’t’ care about down-ballot House challengers Judy Travis, Mike Smith, and Gordon Winegar.

All of these Republican conservative challengers - among many others - are good people who are sticking their political fortunes on the line - they want and NEED Castle at the top of the ticket given Castle’s proven crossover appeal.

Castle will only be filling the remainder of the Biden term of 4 years and then will retire. In the meantime, we can rebuild the Republican Party with genuine conservatives in Delaware using Castle’s coattails this cycle. By contrast, O’Donnell would be a down ballot disaster.

I’ll take a Scott Brown type Republican who will vote for McConnell for majority leader over any Democrat who will inflict even worse policies on the nation.

Unfortunately these same RINOS will only work to repeal and replace not just repeal the socialized healthcare system. These same RINOS will spend like they did during Mr. Bush’s first 6 years in office, never admitting their mistakes. RINOS didn’t have to cave on healthcare, the rats had the votes. But if 1 or 2 more votes were needed, Snowe and Collins would have jumped, like they have so many times before. Castle is a principled moderate, and this country will never turn around with guy’s like this. Saving this Country is going to take several elections, the message MUST be sent to republicans as well as democrats. However I enjoy the discussion but don’t be so sure that the lady cannot win in a year that will be historic for real change. The election of 1994 will look minor compared to the change that is comming. Have faith!

Apparently you didn’t catch my point that, should O’Donnell win the primary, her Democratic opponent will not be Chris Coons, it will be Beau Biden - the RATS are planning a Torricelli switcheroo and they are brazen enough to pull it off.

You think O’Donnell could defeat Beau Biden, now recovering from his stroke? It was Castle’s entry into the race that kept Biden out. If Castle is gone, Biden will be back in. The sympathy vote alone would give Beau Biden a golden parachute to his father’s Senate seat - forever. All because conservatives were unhappy with Castle on principally two issues - guns and cap-and-trade.

Then there is the matter of the lame duck session. Whoever wins will be sworn in on November 3, not in January. Castle has committed to killing card check, tax increases, and more. Can you begin to imagine what a lame duck Democratic Senate will do in November and December, with many retiring or defeated RATS never to face another election again? Why risk this!

Sorry, your argument does not convince me. O’Donnell may be flawed, but this “down ballot” argument is way over-rated. Is Ken Buck being hurt in CO by the disaster in the governor’s race? The polls don’t indicate that he is.

The polls also show congressional districts in CO that are set to flip to Repubs-by wide margins-DESPITE the lack of a viable Repub candidate for governor.

So, yeah I think the “down ballot” candidates, if they are true conservatives, can win on their own merits and don’t need the coattails of a liberal RINO.

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