March 23, 2010
Posted on 03/23/2010 9:43:13 AM PDT by smoothsailing
March 23, 2010
By D. Patrick Mahoney
Since President Obama was sworn in, the Republican Party has won surprise statewide victories in New Jersey, Virginia and Massachusetts. But in a big year for the party, Republicans lost all five special House races, including two in ruby-red districts because House special-election candidates are not chosen by rank-and-file Republicans in a primary but rather by a handful of party insiders in a back room.
Consider the special election to replace Senate appointee Kirsten Gillibrand last spring in upstate New York's 20th District. Behind closed doors, members of state and local Republican committees chose career politician Jim Tedisco, leader of the powerless Assembly minority, to be the party's standard-bearer though he didn't even live in the district. Mr. Tedisco lost to 38-year-old upstart Scott Murphy despite 70,000-more Republicans than Democrats in the district.
Republicans farther north in the Empire State's 23rd District didn't learn any lessons from the Tedisco disaster. Last fall, they nominated liberal Assembly Republican Dede Scozzafava and rejected Doug Hoffman even though he had far more support from actual Republican voters.
Republicans recoiled at Mrs. Scozzafava and backed Mr. Hoffman, who secured a third-party nomination from the state's influential Conservative Party. Mrs. Scozzafava ultimately dropped out of the race and endorsed the Democrat, who narrowly defeated Mr. Hoffman. The Republican establishment's self-inflicted wound handed the Democrats a seat that just 10 months earlier gave the Republican candidate 65 percent...
But these nightmare scenarios are nothing compared to what the Republican establishment did on March 11 in Pennsylvania's 12th District special election to replace the late Jack Murtha....
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
I don’t know whether you think you’re cute or what by implying smoothsailing, myself and Russell are supporting Critz because Russell doesn’t publicly support Burns in the special.
Get it through your thick skull that Russell is running against Burns in the primary, that shouldn’t be hard for even you to understand.
You are a complete idiot if you think any of us would support Critz, he’s not only a RAT but a Murtha RAT. The only Republican that I know of who supports RATS in PA is the chairman of the PA party, Rob Gleason. Gleason supported Murtha for years and now it seems Gleason wants Burns over Russell, that should tell you something.
Again, I've never implied that.
I have asked over and over if you or smoothsailing support Burns over Critz in the special election. The answer should be obvious.
You have both refused to answer and resorted to distortions and personal attacks.
Russell has repeatedly indicated that he does not support Burns over Critz in the special election.
How hard is it to say, "Of course I support Burns for the special election, and I look forward to Tim's support when I win the primary and face Critz in November."
I believe from what I said in my last post you would have deduced I do support Burns in the special, he’s the only one running against Critz and I certainly don’t want that Murtha RAT in DC. Happy now?
I can’t vote for any of them and I don’t have deep pockets, the money I do have to donate is going to Russell for the primary. Does that make it clear for you?
Second your comments!
If you don’t like the local organization work to replace them and be willing to do the job yourself.
The National Vietnam and Gulf War Veterans Coalition has also endorsed Col. Russell this year.
Sure - like I said, I think it's a no-brainer. I'm surprised anyone is taking a different tack.
Taking a different tack?
Maybe there are some here at FR that feel it’s none of your business but I’m not speaking for them nor implying because they won’t confide in you they support Critz.
Should Bill Russell win the primary will you be supporting him in the general?
If you do or do not answer I’ll still take for granted you will because he’ll be running against a RAT.
Excellent!
The last estimate I saw was 20% of registered voters in PA12 are veterans. And they of course have spouses, children, other relatives and friends in the district. It’s a very important voting bloc.
Posted on Wednesday, August 13, 2008 3:46:47 PM by smoothsailing
More links here if you're interested:
FR Russell Search
Our concern runs a bit deeper - though, you'd need to be familiar Haditha to understand why.
The thing that’s always impressed me about Russell is his commitment to the district. He stepped forward when no other Republican would, not one local Republican, and that tells me alot about Russell and alot about the Pennsylvania Republican Party.
Great point.
The GOP needs to rebuild locally. The elite inner class has failed.
Good post, Gene.
As Smooth says, he stepped forward when no one else had the stomach to. Some say it was only because of Murtha but from the beginning he told people they had to stop relying on pork and develope the resources they have.
the development of coal-to-liquid technology.
I've heard Col.Russell speak at length on this topic on the campaign trail. He's extremely knowledgeable and well versed on the subject.
He calls Southwestern Pennsylvania the "Saudi Arabia of Coal" and cites experts in the field and various studies that estimate SW PA's untapped coal reserves at $350 billion.
Here’s more from Col. Russell on energy during the 2008 campaign. and except the reference to Murtha, the statement remains timely and sound.: ...
....................................................................
As the chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommitte on Defense, Congressman Murtha has never in the past seized the opportunity to develop the area’s coal and natural gas reserves that could lead toward energy independence and national and ecomic security.
We have technology to produce coal to liquid fuel which has been around since the the 1940’s; as well as the technology to produce clean coal for electrical power and energy consumption. We have enough coal in the U.S. to produce a million barrels of liquid fuel that would be used in cars, airplanes and trucks every single day for the next 20,000 years; we are the Saudi Arabia of coal and we have key coal deposits in this area.
It is the role of the federal government to provide for the national security and the development of domestic sources of energy is a national security priority. By investing in the development of our natural resources, this would lead to freedom from Middle East politics and OPEC and spur the local and national economy.
Because of the need for premium jet fuel by the U.S. Air Force, coal to ethanol to kerosene technology would produce the needed energy source that could also be used throughout the airline industry.
The development by private industry has been blocked by federal regulations.
That’s why we have not built a new nuclear plant in 30 years, and that’s why we need to develop the coal to energy industry.
This is good stuff, I remember reading some of it.
RINOs like Dede of NY-23 would have been avoided if conservatives took active roles in the GOP County organizations. Its a shame that Ron Paul supporters are doing the things that conservatives should be doing (i.e attempting to gain influence on local and state parties).
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