Double Whammy For Republicans (Ronald Brownstein Hold Muh Panky For Dying RINOs Alert)

Los Angeles Times ^ | 08/12/2007 | Ronald Brownstein

[goldstategop]

Other conservatives in this dependably Republican state are unhappy with Graham for supporting the failed Senate effort to legalize illegal immigrants and for his role in the 2005 bipartisan compromise that preserved the right of the Senate minority to filibuster judicial nominees. In the midst of this unease, several local Republicans -- including the lieutenant governor -- have floated the possibility of challenging Graham from the right for the GOP Senate nomination next year.

In Connecticut, Republican Rep. Christopher Shays has a different problem. Last year, he narrowly survived a Democratic tide that left him the sole Republican holding a House seat in all of New England. Now, at a time when disapproval of Bush and the war appears even more intense across the Northeast than it was in 2006, Shays has already attracted a well-funded Democratic opponent (Jim Himes, a former Goldman Sachs vice president) who will face him in 2008.

Shays and Graham embody the two forms of dissent from the dominant conservative orthodoxy in the modern Republican Party. In one category are traditional moderates like Shays, who pursue a centrist course, especially on social and foreign policy issues, but whose numbers have relentlessly declined for decades. In the second are maverick figures like Graham or Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel, who are too conservative to be considered moderates but too eclectic and unpredictable to be considered reliable allies by the right. Both of these groups -- moderates and mavericks -- are under siege at a moment when Republicans are struggling to reach independent and swing voters disillusioned by Bush and the war.

[goldstategop]

Ronald Browstein has a "Hold Muh Panky" for the dying RINOs this morning. He says its a double whammy for the Republican Party. He's no friend of the GOP - I say good riddance to the liberal turncoats in our ranks.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[counterpunch]

It’s the RINOs who are responsible for the 2006 losses.

[goldstategop]

They lost big and the excrecable Chris Shays will soon be gone too. Then there's Graham, the weak sisters in Maine and Chuck Hagel.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[goldstategop]

And of course the dumbest man ever to sit in the Senate: George "RINO" Voinovich.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[XR7]

In one category are traditional moderates socialists like Shays, who pursue a centrist leftist course...

[fieldmarshaldj]

Sen. Coital Itch.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Thank you. You could go nuts having to correct this silly man’s scribblings. Left is moderate, traitor is maverick, etc., etc.

[counterpunch]

Voinovich, Warner, Specter, and above all, Hagel are by far the ones most in need of the boot. Be glad we are rid of Chaffey.

[goldstategop]

There are no moderates in the GOP. The argument moderates would help the GOP keep control of Congress was destroyed in 2006 when the moderates were massacred in most of the country. The moderates contributed nothing to the Republican Party except to act as Trojan Horses for the Democrat agenda. Who needs phony liberals? Most lib voters now go for the real ones - Democrats.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[goldstategop]

Warner is retiring next year. Tom Davis, his potential replacement is another bubble-headed RINO from Northern Virginia.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[XR7]

The moderates contributed nothing to the Republican Party except to act as Trojan Horses for the Democrat agenda.

That's why the MSM loves them so.

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

“There are two sides to every issue: one side is right and the other is wrong, but the middle is always evil.”

AYN RAND

[fieldmarshaldj]

I always got a kick out of the media calling Lincoln Chafee a "moderate." His voting record was exactly identical to Hillary Clinton's. That's not only liberal, that's far left.

[counterpunch]

Warner isn’t officially retiring yet, but all signs do point to that.
Now if the GOP have any spine at all, they’ll nominate a solid conservative to run in his place. Perhaps Ollie North can run again. Warner endorsed an independent candidate when Ollie ran before.

[goldstategop]

I'd love it if Ollie North were to run again for the Senate. But I don't think the Virginia GOP establishment is supportive. Its infested by a lot of tax and spend RINOs.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[counterpunch]

If that’s the case then this article is BS.
If “moderate” are who inhabit the state parties, then “moderate” candidates aren’t endangered at all.

[goldstategop]

That's probably true. There are Republican pols eager to curry favor with the MSM. Its mostly a Beltway syndrome but the disease has been known to affect state parties as well.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[Lancey Howard]

Shays has already attracted a well-funded Democratic opponent (Jim Himes, a former Goldman Sachs vice president) who will face him in 2008.

The cowardly Shays' answer will no doubt be to go even further left. Good riddance.

[goldstategop]

He's the last Republican in New England. I think he's good as gone. Its a well deserved reward for the principal House author with Massachusetts Democrat Marty Meehan - of the BCRA law - better known on the Senate side as McCain-Feingold. Quite simply, his usefulness to the media and the Democrats is over.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[counterpunch]

It’s not the Republican politicians that are at issue so much.
A Republican politician cannot just run for office by fiat. He must be nominated by the rank and file. If rank and file Virginia Republican voters are spineless RINOs, then so will their candidates be in the general election. If they are solid conservatives, then they will nominate one.

It is ultimately up to the “grassroots” to put forth the candidate that represents their values.