In R.I., a Feisty Conservative Challenges Sen. Chafee

The Washington Post ^ | August 26, 2006 | Shailagh Murray

[top 2 toe red]

In a perfect world, at least in my perfect world...amongst other things, there would be no RINOS, no Liberals, no Democrats [except maybe two or three ;^)]... but, alas, we live in a very imperfect world.

So, we will just have to agree to disagree. I understand you would not choose a RINO over anyone/anything and I admire your convictions, but, as far me, I will take a RINO over a Democrat every time.

[maxter]

"If we were just going on principal..."

Sometimes you just have to make the trip and this is the time.

[raybbr]

Teaching Chafee and all the other RINOS a lesson, as you say, is preferable to maintaining control of the Senate?!? Just asking.

You really should have said, "Just kidding".

The GOP doesn't control the Senate. They sit in the seat of leadership but convey not one iota of true leadership. Were I in Frist's place I would force them to actually participate in a filibuster instead of simply declaring one. There are only about five spines in the Senate at this point.

[conservative blonde]

"why on earth is Nancy Pelosi already picking out new drapes if there sis no danger of losing the house?"

For the same stupid reason she continues to get face lifts, she's nuts.

[PzLdr]

The only good thing Chaffee does for the GOP is being a nominal member. That way they stay the majority party in the Senate, control the chair of all the committees - and set the rules of operation.

[UltraKonservativen]

Anyone who has seen Chafee's performance in the debate can see he is a LOSER. If he gets the primary, Whitehouse will eat his lunch.
The odds are he will lose that seat simply because he has lost much of the 70,000 republicans and independents will go for Whitehouse when they see Chafee look like the loser he is in the debates with the Dim.
You cannot appear more MUSHY than Chafee,
Laffey might just grab enough independents fed up with RI takes and misery to give Whitehouse a run for his money.
...The bonus is to get rid of the LOSER and deprive the MSM of the headlines...you know the ones..."Bush loses support of his own party" ...RINO crap!

[KantianBurke]

"Chafee is the candidate of the party establishment, receiving ample support from the National Republican Senatorial Committee and less polarizing administration figures, including first lady Laura Bush, who hosted a Chafee fundraiser."

The next time a bot goes ballistic whenever a criticism is leveled against "darling Laura," this little gem should be trotted out. She's not only involving herself in a GOP primary battle but is taking the side of the idiot RINO! Tacky and thus makes her fair game for political attack.

[John D]

There isn't a snowball's chance that a nonwimpy Republican could ever win a Senate seat in liberal Delaware.


There probably isn't, but this race is in RI

[Soul Seeker]

I'm just going to ignore the fact you think we control the Senate right now....that's debatable but for another discussion.

Perhaps you chose not to read any my posts? had you done so, you've have observed the following:

If the Senate is split 50-50 Chafee will jump as Jeffords did.

I suppose you don't believe him capable of that? Even though he's held talks with the Democrats about it before? Well, if you wish to hold to such innocenece that is your choice. I don't really for one second believe he'd remain a member of the Republican Party if the Senate was divided and the Dems offered him the right perks.

So you would support re-electing a Liberal that can't even keep it in "Republican hands". I chose not to.

[Clintonfatigued]

As you might recall, I had supported Stephen Laffey early on. If he were running in 2002 or 2004, he'd have real promise. But I've come to the conclusion that this simply isn't his year. It pains me to say this, as I think he'd be an outstanding Senator. In retrospect, he should have run for Lieutenant Governor.

Do you think that Sheldon Whitehouse will be a vote for sound, patriotic, common sense policy?

[GregH]

There is no reason to speculate Chafee would jump, he has a Republican legacy in his family.

I think supporting Chaffee is the safe choice if he can beat whitehouse, otherwise it is best to dump him.

[patriciaruth]

LOL!

I'll give you one R.I. and raise you a Delaware.

So, I assume that a nonwimpy Republican doesn't have a snowball's chance in R.I. also?

OTOH, a Russian scientist is predicting that we are entering a cycle of lower solar emissions and will be going into a mini Ice Age era soon, so "Who knows?"

[fieldmarshaldj]

No matter what, I'm sticking with Laffey. I still consider myself a Conservative first, and if the GOP insists on promoting the interests and candidacies of far-left individuals that are antithetical to everything we believe in, I have no use for the party. We either stand on principle, or we stand for nothing.

[MassachusettsGOP]

Key Issues of the RI Senate Candidates

On Iraq
Whitehouse: Withdrawl (Left)
Chafee: Did not support war, Supports Troops and Veterans (Center-Left)
Laffey: Supported War (Right)

Medicare
Whitehouse: "Create a better health care system" You know what that means.... (Left)
Chafee: Spend more on Medicare (Center-Left)
Laffey: Cut the Fraud as he did in Cranston (Right)

Energy and Environment
Whitehouse: Oppose ANWR, Cap Air Pollutants (Left)
Chafee: Oppose ANWR, Support Energy Efficiency (Center-Left)
Laffey: Oppose ANWR, Support Energy Efficiency (Center-Left)

Abortion
Whitehouse: Supports Embryonic Stem Cell Research, Opposed Alito over his Abortion Views (Left)
Chafee: Supports Embryonic Stem Cell Research, Opposed Ban on Partial Birth Abortions (Left)
Laffey: Unclear on Embryonic Stem Cells Research, Supports Restrictions on Abortion (Center)

Budget and Taxes
Whitehouse: Ban Lobbyists to cut down on Pork, Repeal Tax Cuts (Left)
Chafee: Rejects Spending Cuts, Rejects New Tax Cuts, Supports Spending Cap (Center-Left)
Laffey: End Corporate Welfare, Ban Pork, Stop Borrowing from Social Security, Cut and Simplify Taxes (Right)


Overall:
Whitehouse: 100% Left
Chafee: 80% Center-Left, 20% Left
Laffey: 60% Right, 20% Center, 20% Center-Left

Conclusion-Whitehouse is much worse than Chafee, Chafee is much worse than Laffey, but Laffey aint that great.

[California Patriot]

Unfortunately, Laffey has zero chance to win the general election. But he has a good chance to beat Chafee. My guess is that Laffey will "laff" last. The revelation of the anti-gay articles he wrote many years ago as a young guy may ruin the primary for him, though. Depends how stupid Rhode Island Republicans are.

[California Patriot]

Are any elected officials in New England "that great"?

Offhand, I don't know of any. I'm sure there are a few in the state legislatures, but I doubt there are any in the House, let alone the Senate or governorships.

We take what we can get. Laffey is what we can get, he's a fighter, and he's far better than Chaffee.

Send money now, folks.

[California Patriot]

Exactly. I can't wait to see this stupid mug's career go down in flames.

[MassachusettsGOP]

I personally like New Hampshire Senator John Sununu, and Rhode Island Governor Don Carcieri. They are good Conservative popular Republicans in liberal New England.

Snowe, Collins, Linc, NH Rep. Charlie Bass and CT Rep. Chris Shays are full-blown RINOs.

Mass Lt. Gov Healey, and CT Rep. Nancy Johnson are liberal Republicans that I can stand because we Republicans in New England need them.

And then there are guys like VT Gov. Douglas, NH Senator Judd Gregg, NH Rep. Jeb Bradely, MA Gov. Mitt Romney, and CT Rep. Rob Simmons that are good moderate-Republicans that I have no reason to hate.

[MassachusettsGOP]

Oh yeah, And with the exception of two Republicans in Vermont that I forgot to include (State Auditor Brock (RINO) and Lt. Gov Dubie (fairly Conservative guy)), I just named every statewide or Federal Republican officeholder in the 6 state area.

Pretty sad.

[California Patriot]

I don't hate any of those you list, but I don't think any of them are particularly good -- except Carcieri, whom I know nothing about.

However, some are certainly much better than others. And all of them may be as good, or non-bad, as is politically possible for them.

The problem is that New England, even rural upper New England, has become increasingly hostile territory for conservatives.