Laffey Takes Commanding Lead in Republican U. S. Senate Primary

RHode Island College ^ | Date Posted: August 31, 2006 | Rhode Island College

[AmishDude]

People are following the "If x were the GOP nominee and y were the Dem nominee, whom would you vote for?" polls.

I don't know that I buy those polls right now. Maybe, maybe not.

I am one who violently opposes the "purge RINOs" or the pure ideology nonsense. But Chafee is different.

Here are the numbers: Chafee is a first-term Senator. His lifetime ACU rating has been 37 but this year it's 12.

12.

He's become a gadfly and is getting worse. He's not a "maverick" or "independent". In the Senate, we know there are individuals with strange agendas and we just hope they agree with us most of the time.

But here are the numbers:
2005: Chafee is 12. Here are the Dems that are higher than him: Kohl(13), Feingold(13), Byrd(20), Johnson-SD(13), Dorgan (17), Conrad(20), Clinton(12), Bingaman(13), Nelson-NE(60), Baucus(24), Dayton(16), Stabenow(12), Levin(17), Landrieu(44), Bayh(20), Nelson-FL(20), Salazar(32), Pryor(24), Lincoln(16).

Bottom line, if he were in the Democratic party, he would be one of their more liberal members.

The next lowest Republicans are Snowe(32) and Collins(32). DeWine(56) is next. And at least Snowe and Collins disagree and leave it at that. And I believe it's over principle in their cases. Missing Linc votes with the Dems out of spite or what he believes is political advantage.

There's no contest. Chafee is no RINO. He casts one vote for Republicans (organization), takes his chairmanship and then actively works against Republicans. Moreover, he enjoys it and gets mileage from it. I guess I have one litmus test. If you can't manage to vote for the nominee of your party for president, an incumbent no less, having you in the party is a drain because you're going to hold the party hostage when there's something you want.

[Republican Wildcat]

Laffey’s efforts to link Chafee with the extremely unpopular President Bush also appear to be paying off,” said Profughi.

Hmm...

[Republican Wildcat]

Doubtful Chafee would be able to pull it out anyway. I'd rather money not get wasted there. And Chafee isn't reliable as far as staying in the fold anyhow.

[got_moab?]

No, Laffey supports Bush on most issues. Laffey is trying to
sell him self as a populist change agent by associating Chafee with the "status quo" in Washington.

[got_moab?]

He also said that our "Social Programs" are what makes America
great.

[Cicero]

There are some purists in FR, but in the case of Chaffee, there is NO advantage to keeping him. He never votes with the party, even on important votes. He is as dumb as a rock. He is completely unqualified to tie his own shoes.

There are some RINOs we need to keep, because we couldn't do better, but he isn't one of them.

[goldfinch]

Could it be that the people want a real republican, but the GOP keeps getting in the way and propping up Chafee?

It could be. But it is not. Chafee got elected because he is a liberal. I repeat. Laffey has ZERO chance of getting elected. Congratulations on handing a Republican seat to a Democrat. Party harty on the primary victory because it is the only victory you are going to get.

[rwfromkansas]

What are the odds of Laffey losing in the general though? 80 percent, 90?

If we lose the Senate because of Chafee, then we would see the value of keeping a NE RINO or two.

[goldfinch]

A stinking RINO gets flushed down the bowl by a real Republican - who, hopefully, will whip the Demonrat.

No chance of that happening. This will be a Democrat seat after the election. Good work. /s

[goldfinch]

Based on this I would argue that Laffey just may give Republicans a better chance of winning in November.

Please be sure to post the results of the general election on this site...and make sure you include all the reasons that it is better to have a Democrat than Chaffee in this seat.

If you think Laffey will win in RI, you are only fooling yourself. Unfortunately, your shortsightedness may turn out to have horrible consequences to our country.

[hinckley buzzard]

Laffey is just a small town mayor. It's too bad that RI can't come up with a pubbie candidate who's up to the responsibilities befitting a Senator.

Before being appointed senator, Chafee was a mayor too, of Warwick RI. Seriously what "responsibilities" does a Senator actually have these days, besides hiring a bloated staff to do his work for him?

[rwfromkansas]

There is a better chance of 20 asteroids hitting a second from now than a REPUBLICAN winning in Rhode Island except his name is Chafee.

[goldfinch]

Rather than the GOP propping him up, their (our) money would be better spent helping a conservative or at least a real conservative to offset this seat.

Now that is the first hint of logic on this whole thread...but it misses the point. Why run a conservative against a Republican in a state that is very liberal? Wouldn't it have been better to try to win a seat now controlled by the Democrats?

The way it looks to me is that conservatives in RI want to give the Democrats control of the Senate. Even if that is not what they intend, that is what their work may well bring about.

[Right_in_Virginia]

The smell of victory. I'd rather actually have a DEM in the Senate than Lincoln Chaffage.

You may get your wish.

[harrowup]

The smell of victory. I'd rather actually have a DEM in the Senate than Lincoln Chaffage.

Well, this is exactly what you are going to get if y'all keep up your jihad.

[Fishrrman]

Post election headline:

"Laffey beats Chaffee, loses to donkey"

- John

[goldfinch]

Yep. Being a minority party is just what we need. It worked so well for us in the past.

You obviously are clueless about how the Democrats were able to move the country so far to the left. The Democrats were willing to hold their noses and vote for people who were not ideologically pure...because they knew, over time, they could move the country in the direction they wanted.

Conservatives don't seem to be able to exercise that same kind of self-control. They put idealogical purity ahead of incremental progress...and they will lead the GOP back to minority status and will allow the Democrats to continue to move the country to the left.

[Texas Federalist]

They put idealogical purity ahead of incremental progress...

The problem with your argument is that we haven't gotten incremental progress under the Republicans. They have pushed us steadily leftward. The only time the leftward progression of government was halted was during the times when there was a split government.

[goldfinch]

Clean the Party. Purge the RINOs.

Become a Minority Party. Give Democrats Control of the Senate. That's a plan!!! Whhhoooooooeeeee! /s

[harrowup]

The only time the leftward progression of government was halted was during the times when there was a split government.

That is just so historically inaccurate that I am going to ping nopardons to the thread so she can educate you since I'm a Democrat and you wouldn't believe me.