Slapping Down "The Entire GOP Establishment" [RP-related]

Yahoo.com (The Nation) ^ | 7/18/2007 | John Nichols

[George W. Bush]

Printed by The Nation so take it for what it's worth. It's hard to find other reporting on this race so I had to take this one. I'll follow up with Robert Novak's take on it as it's a little more conventional.

This is a most shocking result in GA for the GOP establishment.

Looks like we might have another Dr. No on our hands. LOL.

[George W. Bush]

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A new Dr. No in Congress?

[Jeff Blogworthy]

Just goes to show you - conservatism wins. Now let’s see if he’s serious or if it’s all just talk.

[rhombus]

Ah yes, The Nation just doing their part.

[George W. Bush]

Novak's take on the race. He emphasizes more conventional measures of a hungry upstart versus a complacent establishment tool. Yet, there is no denying the magnitude of Dr. Broun's victory in GA.

---

GOP DISCONTENT

The biggest political upset so far of this election cycle reflected rank-and-file Republican disgust with the party establishment when former State Sen. Jim Whitehead was defeated Tuesday as the anointed successor to the late Rep. Charles Norwood in a heavily Republican northeastern Georgia district that includes Athens and suburban Augusta.

Dr. Paul Broun, a little-known physician, outworked a complacent Whitehead to win the battle between two conservative Republicans. Broun's aggressive mail and telephone campaign attacked an overconfident Whitehead, who did not even respond. Whitehead had led Broun, 44 percent to 21 percent, in the first round of balloting.

Although the seat will remain in Republican hands, Whitehead's unexpected loss terrified those incumbent Republican House members who had thought themselves safe for re-election in 2008.

---

[George W. Bush]

See my subsequent quote of Novak. I think you should read both.

This was an incredible longshot victory, no matter how you spin it.

[OrthodoxPresbyterian]

Printed by The Nation so take it for what it's worth. It's hard to find other reporting on this race so I had to take this one.

Actually, Ron Paul himself personally "reported" on this race in his most recent Daily Update:

"Last Tuesday in Georgia, Dr. Paul Broun defeated state senator John Whitehead in a special election to Congress. John had all the establishment and money on his side. But Paul discussed obedience to the Constitution, limited government, the failure of the national Republican leadership, and a less aggressive foreign policy.

And he won.

Columnist Robert Novak said this "terrified" all the establishment types in the Republican Party. I had talked to Paul during his campaign, and was thrilled to congratulate him on his victory. There is a new wind blowing." -- Congressman Dr. Ron Paul

http://ronpaul2008.typepad.com/ron_paul_2008/

Incidentally, Ron Paul also said that he thinks that SC Governor Mark Sanford would make a terrific Vice President in a Ron Paul administration. Think I should post the Article?

[George W. Bush]

Think I should post the Article?

Sanford would make a fine choice.

I'd suggest that you save the Sanford article for a slow day. We've got two RP threads going already. We don't want people calling us spammers. LOL.

[WhiteGuy]

“I believe in the 10th Amendment to the United States Constitution, which clearly says that all powers not specifically given to the federal government, or prohibited by the Constitution to the states, are reserved to the states and the people,” Broun said. “I am not a person who believes that our lives should be controlled by politicians in Washington. I do not believe that the states are merely administrative units of the federal government, to do its bidding.”

Whitehead responded by attacking Broun, using the standard anti-gay, anti-crime rhetoric of the party’s congressional leadership.

Speaks volumes.

Bump for limited government

[OrthodoxPresbyterian]

Okey-doke. I'll save the Sanford article.

I do think it happily amusing that Dr. Paul Broun, "a quirky physician who claims to be 'the only doctor in Georgia whose practice is almost exclusively house calls'"... was the Ron Paul endorsed Candidate, and HE WON!

HAH!!

[383rr]

Thanks for the ping.

The message of freedom and personal responsibility is refreshing,instead of just slogans and bull$hit.

I’d like to see more of these incumbent elitists get the boot.

[OrthodoxPresbyterian]

John Whitehead was endorsed by everyone, literally everyone, in the Republican Party machine -- except for one Congressman.

Paul Broun was endorsed by.... Congressman Ron Paul.

And... Paul Broun WON!

[rhombus]

See my subsequent quote of Novak. I think you should read both. This was an incredible longshot victory, no matter how you spin it.

And it says much... about one district in Georgia. Now if you could show me that conservatism ALWAYS wins in suburbs of NYC, Boston, Las Angeles, Atlanta, DC, etc., they you'd have demonstrated a great point. Just spouting off about the 10th amendment makes a great GOAL. However the devil is in the details and that's where this "back to the founding father roots" stuff sometimes founders.

I'm very sad to say that States as well as individual citizens have come to depend on big federal dollars rolling in. Case in point... Democrats are pushing Universal health care. The public wants some relief from the high cost of insurance. Who are they going to vote for? Someone that promises them a pony or someone that says no, it's not the business of Gov't to help you... that's up to you. Vote for me, you're on your own. Or let's take the next Katrina that comes along. Are they going to vote for a candidate who feels their pain and sends money or one who says, nope it's up to your States to handle that mess? The Constitution won't let me no matter what it says about "domestic tranquility". Sadly I think the answer is all too painfully obvious as we will see in the next election. Did you see those YouTube voters at the Democratic debate?

Sorry, I don't mean to bust anyone's bubble but I think we are so far down this path we'll never get back to 1787.

[383rr]

“Whitehead responded by attacking Broun, using the standard anti-gay, anti-crime rhetoric of the party’s congressional leadership.”

I think a lot of people are getting sick of this kind of ignorance.

[George W. Bush]

Sorry, I don't mean to bust anyone's bubble but I think we are so far down this path we'll never get back to 1787.

Doesn't seem to hurt the two existing Dr. No's (Ron Paul and Tom Coburn). Didn't hurt Paul Broun either.

Admittedly, he was elected with liberal help and black votes. But also with some of that district's most conservative voters too.

What's wrong with that old Reagan message of smaller-government anyway? And if we won't believe our message can win, it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. It really is a futile effort to fight and spend to defeat Dims. What you're saying is that you think the road to socialism is unsafe at 65mph and the speed limit should be only 50mph.

Let's get back to a winning Reagan-style message. It wins every time we're bold enough to try it.

[WhiteGuy]

I think a lot of people are getting sick of this kind of ignorance.

Indeed, and it's all they've got.............

Ignorance yes, but driven by narrow minded arrogance. Sadly this disease has laid waste to the republican party.

[George W. Bush]

"paleoPaulie love slave" ping

[WhiteGuy]

Paul Broun was endorsed by.... Congressman Ron Paul.

And... Paul Broun WON!

A team worth being on!

[rhombus]

What you're saying is that you think the road to socialism is unsafe at 65mph and the speed limit should be only 50mph.

No, I'm saying we're already there. If you can find a road back without taking food from people's mouths you might find some success. It still really is about the economy and when people whine when unemployment rates go over 5% or when their 401K's go in the dumper or when they have to pay over $3.50 a gallon, I think you've got a problem finding the RIGHT road back. All that being said, I'm in agreement with the goal even though I question the methods.

[WhiteGuy]

Admittedly, he was elected with liberal help and black votes. But also with some of that district's most conservative voters too.

Exactly the sort of "winning hearts and minds" that actually works. - Americans who reside outside of the conservative tent, are still Americans. Address these groups concerns about bureaucracy and before too long, they've joined the group.