Thanks for the post, David.
In looking at the seven GOP Senators who are parties to this shameful deal, we need to focus our anger where it has a chance of producing actual results. If we (by "we" I mean FReepers and conservatives in general) go after all seven of the Senators, my guess is that we'd make no impact. Pick a couple of targets where there is an actual chance of electing a conservative.
I would prioritize the seven in the following fashion:
- LOW PRIORITY: Blue State RINOs -- Collins (Maine); Snowe (Maine); and Chafee (Rhode Island). Not my favorite Senators, needless to say, but what are you going to do? It's extremely unlikely that there's a conservative in Maine with a chance of knocking out either of the incumbents; and there's no chance whatever of a conservative in Rhode Island (are there any?) defeating Chafee. Sad to say, these three Senators probably strengthened their political hands by participating in this deal. I'd save my ammo for a more vulnerable target.
- MEDIUM PRIORITY: Senate Institutions -- Warner (Virginia); and McCain (Arizona). If Warner runs again in 2008, I would hope that he'd have credible competition from the right in a primary. My guess is he won't run again; he'll be 81 then. It wouldn't hurt to have conservatives lining up behind a candidate by early 2007; maybe warner could be persuaded to read the handwriting on the wall. As for McCain, most FReepers can't get any madder at him than they already were. Nothing has really changed: he can hold his Senate seat as long as he wants, or he can launch, and lose, another Presidential bid.
- HIGH PRIORITY: Prevaricator in a Pivotal State -- DeWine (Ohio). He's perched somewhere between conservatism and full fledged RINOism. He could be beatable in a 2006 primary, given the right circumstances and the right candidate. The danger, of course, is that he'd survive a primary battle, but be weakened enough to lose the general election. And no, you don't want that to happen, no matter how angry you are at him; better a DeWine than the second coming of Metzenbaum. Is it worth the risk to get behind a conservative challenger? In my opinion, yes. Better hurry, though. DeWine is up for reelection next year.
- TOP PRIORITY: Backstabber in a Deep Red State -- Graham (South Carolina). If ever anyone needed a primary opponent, surely it is Lindsey Graham. He's not a true RINO in the Collins/Snowe/Chafee sense, but he has been moving in that direction. I can think of no rational reason not to go after him in 2008. Three reasons: First, Senators are most vulnerable to defeat in their first reelection bid; after two terms, they tend to get entrenched. Graham won his seat in 2002, and will be in his first Senate reelection contest. Second, South Carolina is now safely Republican (absent a cataclysmic national GOP meltdown); so the winner of a 2008 primary would be an overwhelming favorite in the general, especially in a presidential year. No worries about losing the seat to the Dems as a result of a tough primary fight. And third, there's a deep pool of electable conservative talent in South Carolina: current Governor Mark Sanford, who will probably be reelected in 2006; Congressman Bob Inglis from the Greenville-Spartanburg area, who gave Hollings a good run in 1998; Charleston real estate developer Thomas Ravenel, who narrowly lost the 2004 senate primary to Jim DeMint; and many others.
Prioritize. Resources (money and effort) are finite. Spend them where they'll have the greatest chance of making a difference.
Thanks for you well thought out comments... I agree that if we insist on a more "conservative" candidate to defeat Snowe, Chafee, or Collins, we might lose the seat alltogether.... I think we can still express our displeasure to them.. but we need to really think this out.
FReegards,
David