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Band of centrists forming for Senate GOP in 2010
The Hill ^ | 05/06/09 | Aaron Blake and Reid Wilson

Posted on 05/07/2009 12:03:33 PM PDT by calcowgirl

For those writing Republican centrism’s obituary after Arlen Specter’s party switch, holster your quills.

In fact, if the next few weeks go well for the GOP, it might pave the way for a whole new chapter in the left flank of the right-leaning party.

The month of May will be huge, recruiting-wise, for Senate Republicans, with decisions expected from several big-name candidates, including Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge, Rep. Mark Kirk (Ill.) and possibly Rep. Mike Castle (Del.).

All would instantly be formidable — with Crist and Castle favored at the outset — and all are noted centrists. They would not only give Republicans a chance to win again, but give Republican centrists a chance to be a force again.

Kirk and Castle routinely rank among the top handful of GOP centrists in the House, and Crist and Ridge are already drawing heat from some conservatives for their decidedly middle-of-the-road records as governors.

But those aren’t the only potential GOP candidates with centrist credentials. Two possibilities in New York — former Gov. George Pataki and Rep. Pete King — are also strong examples, as would be former Sen. John Sununu in New Hampshire if he runs. Former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina is strongly indicating that she’ll run in California, and Rep. Jim Gerlach is considering running in Pennsylvania.

Indeed, it seems almost every Republican recruit who will have any chance of winning this cycle will be a centrist.

(Excerpt) Read more at thehill.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: 2010; castle; centrists; crist; fiorina; gerlach; gop; liberals; moderates; nc4na; ncna; pataki; ridge; rinos; rmsp; specter
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To: Big_Monkey
Political parties don't shape the will of the people, they conform to it.

Open borders.

101 posted on 05/07/2009 1:49:47 PM PDT by Mojave (Don't blame me. I voted for McClintock.)
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To: calcowgirl

bad sentence structure....

Not supporting it was the right thing to do. But, OTOH, I can’t fault states for trying to have the available money coming back to them instead of having it go to Detroit, CA or NY. If they are going to give it away might as well make sure your citizens get theirs


102 posted on 05/07/2009 1:51:15 PM PDT by misterrob (FUBO----Just say it, Foooooooooooooo Bohhhhhhhhh. Smooth)
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To: misterrob

“If you are a political party then its the ONLY thing and that is what the topic is about.”

I disagree. The point of political parties is not simply to win. For some, maybe most, members of the party, yes, I suppose it is. But for some of them, the point of the party is to institute certain platforms. To have a certain set of principles, not just a certain set of people, in power.

If winning is the only point, why bother having two parties? Why not have a one-party system? Then your party always wins.


103 posted on 05/07/2009 1:51:34 PM PDT by Tublecane
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To: misterrob

Classic liberal obfuscation: when you can’t think of anything intelligent to say, troll for a talking point from your opponent. Nice try, Bob. I joined this conversation because of your idiocy. Defend your own remarks.


104 posted on 05/07/2009 1:51:39 PM PDT by pgyanke (You have no "rights" that require an involuntary burden on another person. Period. - MrB)
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To: Big_Monkey
Are you taking the position that these "Reagan voters" from 30 years ago just sat home this election?

No.

Are you implying that John McCain was a Ronald Reagan?

And, they must have sat home the last 6 elections as California also has two of the most liberal Senators in the country and an ever-shrinking GOP caucus as well.

When the state GOP stabbed their own conservative candidates in the back, it is no wonder they lost. They're doing it again by pushing Fiorina.

105 posted on 05/07/2009 1:51:45 PM PDT by calcowgirl (RECALL Abel Maldonado! - NO on Props 1A 1B 1C 1D 1E 1F)
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To: CowboyJay

And you will doom yourself to irrelevancy in an “either or” situation where democrats are one of the two choices.


106 posted on 05/07/2009 1:52:33 PM PDT by misterrob (FUBO----Just say it, Foooooooooooooo Bohhhhhhhhh. Smooth)
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To: Mr Rogers

Ahh, but here’s the rub. The republican party is not the conservative party....


107 posted on 05/07/2009 1:53:34 PM PDT by misterrob (FUBO----Just say it, Foooooooooooooo Bohhhhhhhhh. Smooth)
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To: calcowgirl

More pearls of wisdom from the McKlintock malcontents.


108 posted on 05/07/2009 1:53:59 PM PDT by Deb (Beat him, strip him and bring him to my tent!)
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To: Big_Monkey
And, when cities are as densely populated as SF and especially NY, they may not be the sole indicators, but they certainly are significant indicators of how a state may vote.

San Francisco has 477,000 registered voters out of 17 million state wide. It is an indicator of how the far-left votes, not much else.

109 posted on 05/07/2009 1:56:22 PM PDT by calcowgirl (RECALL Abel Maldonado! - NO on Props 1A 1B 1C 1D 1E 1F)
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To: misterrob

I hate to post and run but 1) it’s family time and 2) trying to keep up with this thread on an iPhone is just too much...


110 posted on 05/07/2009 1:56:41 PM PDT by pgyanke (You have no "rights" that require an involuntary burden on another person. Period. - MrB)
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To: Dick Bachert
I really appreciated your post. I have been yelling this for years, clean out all of the dead wood in the Party. Also quilt beating a drum about abortions, also get away from yapping about a smaller government. People want a bigger government, after we get elected we can start to reduce the Government. Do just what the Dems do only do it louder, something for everyone,chicken in every pot. Then when we retake the House Senate and President we can do as we please.
111 posted on 05/07/2009 1:57:39 PM PDT by BooBoo1000 (Some times I wake up grumpy, other times I let her sleep/)
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To: jla

Cornyn is a conservative with a conservative voting record in the high 90’s. All it says is he took note, whatever that means. It doesn’t mean he agrees. Don’t assume anything when you are reading the propaganda press. They’re whores for the Democrat Party.


112 posted on 05/07/2009 1:57:52 PM PDT by Yankereb
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To: what's up

“Agreed. Do conservatives really think a Jindal is going to win a Senate seat in CA or NY at this point in history?”

Who cares? I’d rather see a Democrat win than a RINO. There is absolutely no point in winning seats if they’re going to turn into a Spectre.


113 posted on 05/07/2009 1:58:24 PM PDT by Tublecane
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To: Tublecane

You cannot get the platform out into play if you don’t win. If getting it together and doing nothing more then you are a think tank.


114 posted on 05/07/2009 1:59:25 PM PDT by misterrob (FUBO----Just say it, Foooooooooooooo Bohhhhhhhhh. Smooth)
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To: Big_Monkey

Some times a losing team needs to rebuild - and that rebuilding includes getting rid of poor performers.

Sometimes a store has to trim good selling products from its shelves, so it can concentrate the brand name on what it does well.

Pruning makes a plant smaller. It also encourages future growth.


115 posted on 05/07/2009 1:59:29 PM PDT by Mr Rogers (Everything for Unions, Nothing for Defense!)
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To: misterrob

“By having the majority in Congress and the Senate the democrats like Henry Waxmen, Pelosi, Frank and Durbin have real power.”

And what did we get when Republicans controlled Congress? Tax cuts. That’s about it.


116 posted on 05/07/2009 2:00:06 PM PDT by Tublecane
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To: Big_Monkey
Here is the 1980 Presidential Election map. San Francisco is the tiny, tiny, tiny little blue blip. Reagan lost in only three counties. San Francisco is NOT an indicator of how California as a whole thinks or votes.


117 posted on 05/07/2009 2:00:11 PM PDT by calcowgirl (RECALL Abel Maldonado! - NO on Props 1A 1B 1C 1D 1E 1F)
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To: pgyanke

Ahh, now who’s obfuscating. I asked you to tell us how you would go about getting candidates elected in less than conservative districts and you can’t. And you reach for the liberal card to boot.

Go back to watching reruns of Hee Haw and tractor pulls


118 posted on 05/07/2009 2:01:50 PM PDT by misterrob (FUBO----Just say it, Foooooooooooooo Bohhhhhhhhh. Smooth)
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To: anoldafvet

You’re assuming they don’t know that. They know he’s as left wing as they come, and he finally went over to the Party he really belongs to. It’s all part of the word games they play. Republicans are extremists, all left wing Repubs are moderates. The Republicans have allowed the drive by press to define them. I’m wondering if there are any Repubs with any guts left in the Party.


119 posted on 05/07/2009 2:02:05 PM PDT by Yankereb
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To: Big_Monkey

I was answering the post directed at me...

This a repeat of the congress under FDR...and “me too” republicans...

Didnt work then...and it wont work now...

You cant “out liberal” a democrat.

Sorry...I dont see how a bunch of spectors is good for the party


120 posted on 05/07/2009 2:02:41 PM PDT by Crim
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