Posted on 09/18/2010 3:20:21 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Christine ODonnell beat Rep. Mike Castle in Delawares Republican Senate primary this week, and Democrats in Washington swooned with joy. They figured that Mr. Castle, a moderate in a moderate state, would have been tough for Democratic candidate Chris Coons to beat. But Ms. ODonnell? A pushover. Shes a sharp-edged "tea party" favorite running in a soft-edged political culture. Shell have to answer too many questions about past statements and alleged financial improprieties. Look at the polls! Shes so far behind Mr. Coons she couldnt find him on a GPS.
But overconfidence in politics, as in many of lifes activities, can be fatal. Coons wont be able to coast into an office in the Senate Russell Office Building. As the old consultant adage goes, You have to put out the yard signs if you want to make a victory speech.
Or something like that.
The point is, ODonnell has pulled off one upset, and she might do it again. There are reasons for Democrats to be worried about what might happen in Delaware this fall. Here are five of them:
She's already beaten one Democrat. Thats what many of her supporters believe, anyway. They equate Representative Castle, one of the last of Capitol Hills dwindling band of moderate Republicans, with President Obama, in the sense that they believe Castle would vote for many administration priorities, such as an energy bill that includes cap-and-trade carbon emission provisions.
ODonnells victory showed that Delawares GOP electorate has become more conservative. Its no longer so dependent on wealthy, moderate voters who live in suburbs around Wilmington, a lush, rolling land studded with descendents of the DuPonts.
She's Palinesque.
(Excerpt) Read more at csmonitor.com ...
She booked the national shows when she had $30,000 in the bank. Now with 2,000,000 she can use the local media with a targeted message. Rand Paul made the mistake of thinking he needed the national media and it cost him in the polls for several weeks. She does not have the time to overcome a mistake. She is not running for president she is running for senate in a small state.
Well, I respectfully disagree in two points:
1. Castle voted against BOcare and against the BO stimulus. He wanted to make the Bush tax cuts permanent and cut federal spending. Castle also signed onto repealing Obamacare. Yes, he was wrong on cap and trade - he’s been wrong on env issues for years.
2. I pray I am wrong but more worse stuff will be coming out about O’Donnell. I ask every freeper who thinks the masturbation and witchcraft comments are of no importance: how many of you have had a 21 or 25 year old daughter, niece, cousin, or family friend who has made such stupid and divisive remarks? These comments are certainly not mainstream for any 21 or 30 year adult. If people on this site think these types of remarks are innocuous in a blue state like DE, you are mistaken. These comments - and more to come - are BAGGAGE.
O’Donnell must forthrightly address all of her issues before the weight of these weird comments drags her under. She should consider the Reagan formulation: “when I was young and foolish, I said many things that were young and foolish.”
The effect of Castle losing in the primary will send a chill up the spines of a number of RINOs in office. I think O'Donnell winning the primary has already increased the vote count in our favor in the Senate on critical issues, regardless of what happens in the Coons/O'Donnell matchup.
BTW, I don't share your certainty that Castle would have walked in and O'Donnell is a long shot. The times, they are a-changing. Conventional wisdom was that a high turnout in the primary was good for Castle. Turns out a high turnout meant people will get out to the polls in high numbers if they have somebody they're enthused about voting for. I don't think people would have been excited about getting to the polls to vote for Castle in the general election, and I doubt there's going to be much enthusiasm for Coons considering the current political and economic climate.
ANTE UP!!!
you mean a stupid pig of a man called Ventura can be elected a Governor and then a stupid pig of a boy/man called Freak can be elected Senator but a young, smart, charismatic,courgeous and confident woman is supposed to what?...go be a pro wrestler first or a diaper wearing imbecile before she gets YOUR permission to run?...
just get off these threads if that is your whole purpose...to decimate a pub candidate CHOSEN by the people....
and Rush thought bama would never be elected....
You have to keep in mind that both Ventura and Franken had the good fortune of being able to run against Norm Coleman in their elections. :)
I agree this is a huge gamble. I`ve come to realize the nomination of O`Donnell is less about her getting elected than about getting the statement across to the establishment Republicans that their inherent position of leadership is over. Personally, I would`ve preferred the surer thing, even if the nominee is a relative liberal... I`m more traditional in the ideal of getting the majority first, because of the ability to drive the agenda. But, the deed has been done, so it`s a matter of making the best of a dicey situation. Mainly because of the politicaI makeup of DE, her chances are extremely slim... but she`s who we have now.
Yes. We have an enormous emergency on our hands in this country -- and people know it. See my profile page and join the fight.
Thanks for the ping!
Or....it may be a sign that she has enough cash rolling in and doesn't need the face time???
People are tired of well-marketed, plastic, scripted, politicians. They lack honesty and integrity. People are scared, angry and upset and the politicians on both sides of the isle seem to yawn.
I really doubt that any fumblings on her part will be another vote for the democrats.
well...if left leaning CSM is worried maybe they oughta be
Voted YES on $192B additional anti-recession stimulus spending. (Jul 2009)
Voted YES on $2 billion more for Cash for Clunkers program. (Jul 2009)
Voted YES on expanding the Children's Health Insurance Program. (Jan 2009)
Voted YES on enforcing limits on CO2 global warming pollution. (Jun 2009)
Voted YES on $15B bailout for GM and Chrysler. (Dec 2008)
Voted YES on $60B stimulus package for jobs, infrastructure, & energy. (Sep 2008)
Voted YES on four weeks of paid parental leave for federal employees. (Jun 2009)
Voted YES on investigating Bush impeachment for lying about Iraq. (Jun 2008)
Endorsed by Log Cabin Republicans; supports gay rights.
Voted YES on prohibiting job discrimination based on sexual orientation. (Nov 2007)
Voted NO on Constitutionally defining marriage as one-man-one-woman. (Jul 2006)
Voted NO on Constitutional Amendment banning same-sex marriage. (Sep 2004)
Voted YES on instituting National Service as a new social invention. (Mar 2009)
Voted YES on expanding research to more embryonic stem cell lines. (Jan 2007)
Voted YES on allowing human embryonic stem cell research. (May 2005)
Voted NO on restricting interstate transport of minors to get abortions. (Apr 2005)
Voted NO on forbidding human cloning for reproduction & medical research. (Feb 2003)
Liberals in both the GOP & ‘rat parties always runaway from the “liberal’ term - they are always re-branding themselves but the result is always the same.
“Moderate republican” is a misnomer just as “moderate mooseslum” and “blue dog ‘rat”.
Very good, the profile page that is. I hope others will check it out too.
ML/NJ
Thanks for the ping. Interesting thread. BUMP for Christine!
I won’t flame you, but I will tell you what I find offensive about your post.
You said the the GOP was “planning” before the election.
Arrogance is what that is. No planning should be done until the primary is over.
You see, the voters you needed didn’t want your candidate. He is old and liberal. The people no longer have any confidence in old and used up people who commiserate with the left.
I agree with you and I wish Rove and Krauthammer had expressed their opinions in the thoughtful way you did rather than just unloading both barrels as they would have been taken more seriously.
There are several points which apply, IMO:
1. Just because someone claims to be tied to the Tea Party doesn’t mean they should be embraced. They should be vetted by voters and contributors like all other candidates.
2. There are folks who are so angry that they’re throwing out the baby with the bath water. Politics isn’t an overnight change game. It takes years and sometimes decades to turn the tide. Discretion and wisdom is needed at every step of the way. As the song says, you have to “know when to hold ‘em, know when to fold ‘em”.
3. If conservatism is to win the day, the message CANNOT be separated from the messenger. I cringe when I read comments like “I don’t care what O’Donnell did or who she is, if she votes for tax cuts, that’s fine with me.” Conservatives can win in Blue States. Christie and Scott Brown did, but they had the experience, integrity and personal stature to match the message they were carrying.
I hope O’Donnell wins, but if she does not, I hope conservative voters will take note and be more judicious in their primary choices from now on.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.