Posted on 09/15/2010 3:29:42 PM PDT by unclebankster
HE WAS supposed to be a shoo-in. Mike Castle, the popular former two-term governor and tiny Delawares sole representative in the House, was the odds-on favourite to win Delawares special election to fill the seat Joe Biden held for 36 years. But on September 14th, his Republican primary opponent, the tea-party backed Christine ODonnell, won a surprising 53% of the vote. The perennial candidate was not taken seriously by Mr Castle, who refused to debate with her, or by the state Republican Party. Tom Ross, the chairman of the state GOP, described Ms ODonnell as "not a viable candidate for any office, from dog catcher to senator."
Mr Castle, a moderate Republican, at least until recently, appealed to most voters. The American Conservative Union gave Mr Castle, a direct descendent of Ben Franklin, a rating of 56, which means he voted along conservative lines 56% of the time. His career rating is 52. This seemed to satisfy most Delawareans, who re-elected him comfortably every two years since 1992 (indeed Beau Biden, the vice-presidents son, was said to have ruled out a run to avoid facing the moderate Mr Castle in Novembers general election). Americans for Democratic Action, a liberal organisation, considered him the third most liberal Republican in the House of Representatives. But this year Delaware's conservatives are feeling particularly anti-establishment and anti-incumbent.
Endorsements from the likes of Sarah Palin, a fellow mama grizzly, helped Ms ODonnell enormously. Republicans in the First State were treated to hearing Ms Palins folksy robocall supporting Ms ODonnell, a constitutional conservative. But it was the backing of the Tea Party Express which truly energised the campaign. After helping Joe Miller beat incumbent Lisa Murkowski in Alaskas GOP primary last month, the Tea Party Express announced it would equal what it had spent in Alaska in Delaware. Most of the money came from outside the state.
This race, for Delaware, the nations second smallest state, was decidedly nasty. The language was vitriolic. Mr Ross received a death threat over his support of Mr Castle. Ms ODonnells former campaign manager accused Mr Castle, who is married, of having an affair with a man. Ms ODonnell called Mr Castle "a closet Democrat" and a RINO (Republican in Name Only), while Mr Castle called her a liar who can't keep her personal finances in order.
"We are sending a message," says Amy Kremer, chairwoman of the Tea Party Express, "excessive spending will not be tolerated" and Republicans should be more conservative. Ms ODonnells surprise victory has shaken the state GOP party. The state GOPs executives are even rumoured to be contemplating resigning and endorsing Chris Coons, the democratic pick for the Senate. The national party will not be funding Ms O'Donnell's general election bid. Polls suggested Mr Castle was more likely to defeat Mr Coons in Novembers general election. Political observers as well as several leading conservatives, including Karl Rove, do not think the insurgent Ms ODonnell has a chance in November. But Ms Kremer and her tea partiers have heard such talk somewhere before.
“the NRSC/John Cornyn have endorsed her”
You got a lotta nerve
To say you are my friend
When I was down
You just stood there grinning
You got a lotta nerve
To say you got a helping hand to lend
You just want to be on
The side thats winning
You say I let you down
You know its not like that
If youre so hurt
Why then dont you show it
You say you lost your faith
But thats not where its at
You had no faith to lose
And you know it
I know the reason
That you talk behind my back
I used to be among the crowd
Youre in with
Do you take me for such a fool
To think Id make contact
With the one who tries to hide
What he dont know to begin with
You see me on the street
You always act surprised
You say, How are you? Good luck
But you dont mean it
When you know as well as me
Youd rather see me paralyzed
Why dont you just come out once
And scream it
No, I do not feel that good
When I see the heartbreaks you embrace
If I was a master thief
Perhaps Id rob them
And now I know youre dissatisfied
With your position and your place
Dont you understand
Its not my problem
I wish that for just one time
You could stand inside my shoes
And just for that one moment
I could be you
Yes, I wish that for just one time
You could stand inside my shoes
Youd know what a drag it is
To see you
Ooohhh...nasty vituperation. Horribly vitriolic. LOL -- bed-wetting pansies.
ANY state GOP chairman should be fired for bad mouthing ANY candidate in a primary. And ANY one who even hints at resigning to support a democrat should be forced to resign then have all republican credentials taken from him.
Not one member of the panel to Chris Wallace today said “Now that she’s won the party needs to support her.” Their mantra, even Krauthammer, is “elect people who can beat democrats”. But when the people decide to elect someone who is a true conservative they throw their hands up and, with tears in their eyes, say “We surrender!”
Besides, if they already KNOW who will win, why hold an election? Just go ahead and quit, you whimps!
Contact that State RNC chair and tell him NO MONEY to the GOP until they FIRE Michael Steele and replace him with a TRUE Conservative.
Thanks!
Forget about Castle. It’s time to take on Chris Coons: The Making of a Bearded Marxist. This is the title he gave himself in college. See: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0510/36726.html
Great article,Thanks unclebankster.
The presiding judge in the case was Bill Lee (R) who later ran for Governor unsuccessfully twice after retiring from the bench. The most incriminating piece of evidence was a cooler in which the body of Anne Marie was disposed at sea, later recovered by a fisherman.
Capano's brother testified that they had seen a member of a woman's body protruding from the cooler as it was tossed over board from Capano's boat. It was fourteen years ago, but I think I remember that when the cooler failed to sink Capano fired shots at it to get it to sink. As you say the body of Anne Marie was never found.
Well, that is interesting because the program I saw this week (Forensic Files) definitely mentioned Mike Castle as Governor. Did he become Gov. AFTER Carper — perhaps when the trial was going on? That might have been the reason that Castle’s name was mentioned.
I’ve seen at least 3 renditions of this case on TV and did not ever remember Castle being mentioned before. And now that YOU mention it, I do remember that Carper was the name referenced in the other versions of this sordid tale.
Thanks for the correction.
Last night I asked my husband (who has worked for various large corporations in upper management) if it were possible for people who worked in prominent positions in an organization to be carrying on an affair without being noticed by the boss (Governor). He laughed and reminded me of one of his co-workers who was carrying on with a secretary for years and NOBODY knew until he divorced his wife and married the secretary.
BTW, you are right about the cooler. They tried to get Capano’s brother’s testimony thrown out saying that he (the brother) was a known drug user. Capano certainly was/is a creep. He’s still trying to get out of prison. If he ever does, he’ll probably off his 2 brothers and his other mistress.
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