2012 distracts Republicans

Waterbury Republican-American ^ | http://www.rep-am.com/articles/2009/07/14/opinion/425399.txt | Editorial

[Graybeard58]

So, are you tired of the permanent campaign yet? Here in Connecticut, it's all Chris Dodd, all the time, as he runs one ad after another and scurrying around the state in his struggle to rebuild his shattered image ahead of his 2010 day of reckoning. But the 2012 presidential campaign, which one anticipates Sen. Dodd will sit out in favor of fellow Democrat Barack Obama, is also well under way.

At least six likely Republican presidential challengers have visited Iowa, site of the caucuses that presumably will mark the formal opening of the 2012 proceedings. Others have been on the pre-hustings elsewhere. Overshadowing them all are the doings of soon-to-be-former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, whose long-term intentions remain obscure. "The Republican Party has finally turned into a big tent," joked Gail Collins recently in a New York Times op-ed. "Everybody's a presidential contender!"

That Republicans are making national jokes of themselves with their premature electioneering is just the lesser of two problems they're making for themselves going forward. Like a football team looking past its next opponent, the GOP is neglecting duties and opportunities now at hand. The candidates are giving the impression the future of their party and the health of the nation hinge on ousting Mr. Obama in 2012. This is madness.

In Connecticut and other states, the emphasis should be on promoting policy ideas that compete with the dominant Democratic principles. Republicans should be educating voters on the issues, from energy to health care to foreign policy, and explaining why their policy prescriptions represent a better way. Instead, they're giving the impression nothing can be accomplished as long as Mr. Obama is in office.

Connecticut, California, New York, New Jersey and other states historically dominated by Democrats are in steep social, fiscal and economic decline, not because of anything Mr. Obama has done, but because of long-standing policies that manifestly have failed. Republicans should be explaining why their approach is better and recruiting candidates who will campaign on those principles in the 2010 state and congressional elections.

Jockeying for position in the next presidential campaign is a distraction at best, an exercise in futility at worst, because the political landscape in 2012 almost certainly will be far different from anything leading Republicans can imagine now.

[Graybeard58]

Ping to a Republican-American Editorial.

If you want on or off this list, let me know.

[Frantzie]

Anyone think Dodd might lose?

[ConservativeDude]

6? who?

[Dr. Sivana]

Huckabee
Romney
Pence
Cantor
Daniels
Pawlenty?

[Entrepreneur]

In Connecticut and other states, the emphasis should be on promoting policy ideas that compete with the dominant Democratic principles. Republicans should be educating voters on the issues, from energy to health care to foreign policy, and explaining why their policy prescriptions represent a better way.

This is because most of them, Palin excepted, are RINOs who are neo-Keynesians. Their notion of a better idea is democrat policy at a ten percent discount. Same stupidity, just a little less expensive.

The writer is correct about one thing. The focus today should be on defeating KOTUS' cap & tax, socialized medicine, and winning back House and Senate seats in 2010.

KOTUS is Kenyan Of The United States

[lucky american]

Peter Schiff is looking at a run on Conn. I don't know too much about him yet. I know that I will no longer vote for or campaign for a Democrat or a Republican. These ladies and gentlemen are all in the same bed with one another and it is time for REAL change. Vote the bums out.

[PhilCollins]

I live in Illinois, and, last week, Sen. Burris announced that he won’t run for his seat, in 2010. The best conservative, in that race, is Dr. Eric Wallace. His seat is www.wallaceforillinois.com.

[sickoflibs]

True

[Old Retired Army Guy]

I agree with this. They need to focus on 2010 and worry about 2012 after the 2010 elections are over.

[SERKIT]

We need to find a person and develop a plan that may not exist today (or if it has, no one seems to know about it).

Here are some traits:

-Newt-like “smart guy”, but one who can keep his pants on.
-Gov Palin-like but with more national experience (an organized speaking tour would help).
-Gov Palin-like that will take on the national-level GOP establishment in a sane way (Hint: Dump Steele!).
-A 1994-like nationalized campaign plan for ALL open House and Senate seats in 2010, but you need to have a plan.
-A Republican version of Rahm Emanuel or Tom "The Hammer" Delay but more charismatic to ramrod Conservative issues based on the national theme
-A Reaganesque public orator/communicator.
-A plan to discredit Barry without sounding wacko or shrill, and to have fun with doing so – they HATE being laughed at, but it sure flusters them.

[rockinqsranch]

Thanks for the ping Graybeard. I don’t particularly care who is running at this point in time as much as I care about the platform of the GOP, and focusing upon tightening up the participation in, and establishing that platform.

There is no truly established platform IMO when there is a call to reach out to everybody to run and join the GOP club. Simply increasing the numbers of the club doesn’t increase the numbers at the polls if there isn’t a strong, sincere conservative message for all Americans uniformly delivered by all the Republican candidates no matter what they are running for.

Solidarity, and not the RINO’s.

[RED SOUTH]

God help us if we end up with Romney.

[PhilCollins]

In 2010, Republicans will gain seats, only if they campaign together, similarly to the contract with America. They should promise that, if Republicans regain control of both houses of Congress, they’ll pass about five bills, including cutting tax rates to the 1988 rates, repealing all laws that violate the 10th Amendment, and immigration reform that would triple the fines for employers who hire illegal aliens. The money, from those fines, would be used to build a brick wall, along the Mexican border.

[rockinqsranch]

“God help us if we end up with Romney.”

“Solidarity, and not the RINO’s.”

[Graybeard58]

You live in Illinois’ tenth district? Throw that bum congressman rino Mark Kirk out.

[ConservativeDude]

The two I had not anticipated are Pence and Cantor. intrstng.

[PhilCollins]

I think that Rep. Kirk will run, statewide, and that he’ll lose the primary to a conservative. I’m looking for a conservative elected official who will run for his congressional seat.

[Clintonfatigued]

“Anyone think Dodd might lose?”

It’s possible, if Republicans play their cards right.

[Taxman]

Every CONSERVATIVE dollar and all CONSERVATIVE effort should be directed to the 2010 Congressional Election and a major emphasis made to retake the House and Senate.

Any other activity is not helpful, IMHO.

ALL 435 Congresscritters are up for re-election, and the following 36 Senate seats are up for grabs:

Retiring Democratic Senators:
Ted Kaufman of Delaware
Roland Burris of Illinois

Retiring Republican Senators:
Kit Bond of Missouri
Sam Brownback of Kansas
Judd Gregg of New Hampshire
Mel Martinez of Florida
George Voinovich of Ohio

Democratic incumbents:
Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas
Barbara Boxer of California
Michael Bennet of Colorado
Christopher Dodd of Connecticut
Daniel Inouye of Hawaii
Evan Bayh of Indiana
Barbara Mikulski of Maryland
Harry Reid of Nevada
Kirsten Gillibrand of New York
Chuck Schumer of New York
Byron Dorgan of North Dakota
Ron Wyden of Oregon
Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania
Patrick Leahy of Vermont
Patty Murray of Washington
Russ Feingold of Wisconsin

Republican incumbents:
Richard Shelby of Alabama
Lisa Murkowski of Alaska
John McCain of Arizona
Johnny Isakson of Georgia
Mike Crapo of Idaho
Chuck Grassley of Iowa
Jim Bunning of Kentucky
David Vitter of Louisiana
Richard Burr of North Carolina
Tom Coburn of Oklahoma
Jim DeMint of South Carolina
John Thune of South Dakota
Bob Bennett of Utah

There is your list.

EVERY Democrat should be targeted and a strong candidate selected to oppose them, CONSERVATIVE or not!

EVERY Republican who voted for any of Obama’s legislation should be targeted and a strong candidate selected to opose them, and, any of the RINOs in the House and Senate should likewise be defeated.

Our FRee Republic is counting on us to make the last two years of the Obama Administration into an ineffective Lame Duck administration.

Let there be no mistake about it, the 2010 election is a War Against the LIEberal/Socialist/Marxist Bastards who whould destroy America!

We cannont, we must not, fail! We must win this War!

And, once we win the War, we must begin to deconstruct the Obama Administration and begin to return America to a Constitutional Republic. Furthermore, once we begin the process, we must do it in such a way as to ensure that the 2012 election go to true CONSERVATIVES at all levels of governemnt.