'Anonymous' Senator Who Called for GOP Centrists Revealed

Human Events ^ | 12/09/2008 | Erick Erickson

[redk]

Senate sources confirm for me that Mel Martinez was the famous “Senator Anonymous” from three weeks ago. Martinez, not wanting him name used, told the Politico “I don’t think we have learned much from the election in terms of what people want to see.” This senator said the Republicans needed someone who could “speak from the center” and wanted it known that “Sarah Palin is not the voice of [the Republican] party.”

[HereInTheHeartland]

Reagan and Palin are of course very different people. But I see the instincts for a smaller, less intrusive government, and the belief in the ingenuity of the American people in both.

A Reagan/Palin ticket would have been awesome...

[Constitutions Grandchild]

As I said — she's got game, but someone with better instincts is going to have to manage her. McCain's team was tin-eared on so many levels it defies belief. If you didn't have the experience of many campaigns under your belt, maybe you wouldn't recognize it. Those of us who did damn-near keeled over when we saw what was passing for a ground game. If Governor Palin is coach-able (which is the difference between a putz and a star) AND can hang onto her instincts, she may yet pull it off.

[Cedric]

Who are the “sources”?

[AuntB]

Now there’s a surprise....not!

[Philo-Junius]

“Pop culture savvy...”

Panem et circenses, I suppose.

[Prokopton]

Her educational background may not EVER satisfy an ever-increasingly educated populace

Are you serious? Are you aware of the ignorance of the typical voter?

[Constitutions Grandchild]

“We're not a club they wish to join.”

They could be. We are getting out here locally and just getting to know folks. We're starting to sell the Conservative Values. What we're finding out is we need a better ground game. If we get out and just “visit” through a meal at a restaurant, while waiting for an oil change, checking out in the grocery line, there are many more persuadable folks out there who understand and are drawn to our point of view. We, as a party, have put ourselves out of the mainstream. We need to get out more, ask more questions and listen.

Then explain our heartfelt true beliefs in a friendly way. Some plant seeds, others water and before you know it, you have a movement. Folks are hungry for truth and justice and the American way. They really are.

[Constitutions Grandchild]

That's where the media-savvy part comes in. You can't be an overly intellectual type, but you've got to be able to go a step higher than, “You betcha’.”

[TCH]

This is the same Apple Hole that is a big pro-amnesty fanatic, no? He just tatooed a political bull’s eye on his hind quarters.

[NormsRevenge]

How’s that ‘New Majority’ thing working for ya, Mel?

[Clintonfatigued]

Mel Martinez has already jumped the shark.

[longtermmemmory]

Mel Martinez is exhibit number one on the stupidity of the leadership.

PALIN IS THE FACE OF THE GOP MEMBERS. The stupid country club party need to wake up and smell the coffee.

The Republican rank and file and main street USA want the Republican party to be CONSERVATIVE. Not this wishy washing linguini spined mccaniac moderate mel amnesty martinez BS.

[demshateGod]

“It’ll swing back after some amount of time passes. That’s the way it has always worked.”

Not when we continue to do what you suggest we do. Heck, even Tom Coburn is getting soft because we keep doing what we suggest we do.

People, don’t vote for another “moderate”. It’s not about sending a message anymore, they wont get the message, it’s about getting them out of DC.

[Antoninus]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't this creep heading up RNC until recently?

[Antoninus]

Olympia Snowe is preferable to Baldacci. Specter was preferable to Hoeffel. Martinez was an exponentially better choice than Betty Castor.

I disagree. When we elected Christie Toad Whitman here in NJ, we got 8 years of Democrat-lite and the total evisceration and RINOization of the Republican state apparatus. Now it is impossible to nominate a conservative and when one sneaks through, like Schundler did in 2001, the lib-Republicans in the party simply defect to the Dems.

The RINOs are currently trying to employ that model on the entire country. Socons need to oppose this or else find ourselves in the political wilderness for good.

[Antoninus]

The conservative wing is on the politically endangered species list.

Keep dreaming, noob.

So, what's the plan?

Were it up to me, I'd start by running idiots like you out of the party.

[Antoninus]

I wonder what the GOP will ever have to offer the emerging electorate: pop culture savvy, youngish, Hispanic, unmarried, single, female, urban and only peripherally religious.

How about free college, free medical care, free abortions, and homosexual parents for the children you actually do birth out of wedlock? Is that what's so attractive about the other party? If so, you can join them. We don't want you.

[longtermmemmory]

Crist is getting married....to a woman....in Florida.

Just thought that would be useful in this discussion. It sets his photo op pictures for the future.

[Antoninus]

I refer to Gov. Palin as the “Curt Warner” phenomena. He managed a Super Bowl ring for the Rams because no one had a chance to study the film. Once they did, they had him covered. He got one “surprise” season.

Wasn't Warner a 2 time MVP? He's also having a pretty remarkable season this year....

[My Favorite Headache]

God he sucks