Posted on 11/28/2012 3:25:16 PM PST by smoothsailing
November 26, 2012
By George Bennett
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
STUART — A defeated but upbeat U.S. Rep. Allen West told hundreds of supporters that he’ll continue to be a “voice” in politics during a gathering Monday night.
West, a tea party favorite whose fiery rhetoric brought him national followers and critics, lost by less than 1 percent to Democrat Patrick Murphy in a bitter, expensive race for the Palm Beach-Treasure Coast House District 18 seat.
With irregularities in St. Lucie County’s vote count leading to partial recounts and court challenges, West didn’t concede the race until last week.
Between 200 and 300 West supporters crowded into his campaign headquarters Monday for barbecue and thanks from the one-term congressman. In classic West fashion, the retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel’s remarks included references to three military battles (Chosin Reservoir in 1950, the Battle of the Bulge in 1944 and the Battle of Trenton in 1776) and a quote from Thomas Paine.
“Leaders don’t need a title to be able to lead. They can continue to stand up for the principles and values that make this the longest-running constitutional republic that the world has ever known. So you will not see my voice disappearing,” West, R-Palm Beach Gardens, said, drawing loud applause.
He read Paine’s “These are the times that try men’s souls” quote and professed his faith in America.
“We will overcome this fiscal crisis. We will overcome this energy independence crisis. We will defeat the enemies that want to destroy us and our best ally in the world that is Israel. We will be triumphant. The harder the conflict, the greater the triumph will be,” West said.
“So don’t come here tonight crying over your barbecue. Come here tonight and understand that at this place at this time there will be an awakening that will go forth all across the United States of America and you can tell your children that on the 26th of November 2012 that you stood here right where it began.”
Cindy Lucas of the Martin 912 Tea Party Committee encouraged the group to be ready to “help Allen if he wants to run again — and we’re all crossing our fingers.”
The crowd applauded and West smiled.
State Rep. Gayle Harrell, who ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 2008, said she’s received “lots of phone calls” about running in 2014 but suggested she and other Republicans would step aside if West decided to run.
“Allen West is the man of the hour,” said Harrell, R-Stuart.
Several West loyalists said they’d like to see the congressman challenge Murphy in two years, but Julia Webster of Stuart had even higher hopes.
“The guy as far as I’m concerned is the perfect candidate,” Webster said. “I would push him for president. Really.”
Just curious ‘Wolf, what are your thoughts on the Nazi Germany style, anti-American constitution, NDAA bill (Indefinite arrest/detention of American citizens here at home by our own military for any ‘terrorist’ type reasons the Feds come up with, no trial, no attorney, no due process, indefinitely) that was passed by our fearless leaders in DC?
It's another blatantly obvious violation of the Constition by our so-called "leaders," many of whom, frankly, belong in prison cells.
It sounds like you know the bill well and feel as strongly as I do about it. No matter how the ‘RATS spin it, when the day is done our, own darn military can be tasked by the Fed. to detain, arrest, incarcerate indefinitely, ordinary American citizens with no attorney, no judge, no trial, no due process for simply being labeled a ‘terrorist’ by someone in power. (Remember, Biden called the Tea Party terrorists!!!). This NDAA bill is 100% Nazi Germany.........and ALLEN WEST VOTED FOR THIS NDAA BILL!!!! He supported it! Unbelievable!!! He was my guy until I found out about his ‘AYE’ vote for the NDAA. (He will be again if he walks back that AYE vote, admit his mistake, and ask that we all move on. Heck, everyone screws up, he did on the NDAA.) I was for a Sarha/West ticket in ‘16 but not any longer.
Is there any truth to the rumor that Georga GOP is trying to recruit him to run for a House seat in his home State?
BTTT
Sure, there’s truth to the rumor. However, West has no interest in moving, says his family is settled and they like South Florida.
Funny quote from West:
“I’m not an NFL free agent”
http://www.sunshinestatenews.com/story/allen-west-georgia-im-not-nfl-free-agent
True patriot warrior.
Amen.
Heartbreaking that we lost this fine man in the House. I hope he runs again...
Today in the Senate...
http://pjmedia.com/blog/feinstein-tea-party-sen-lee-wage-war-on-obamas-indefinite-detention-powers/
Hey smooth. Feinstein and the Tea Party? Stay tuned on this huh? It is beyond pathetic that this nazi NDAA was passed in the first place and almost just as bad, along with Allen West, a tremendous amount of ‘republicans’ voted AYE for it!! The NDAA AYE voters have tried to spin the NDAA’s intent as ONLY to be used against ‘terrorists’ or ‘suspected terrorists’. BULL! When it is studied line by line it is clear to anyone who can read just exactly what this is and how/why it will be implemented and used in the near(?) future. I really hope West walks back his support of this NDAA bill and explains why he voted AYE for it in the first place. If he explains it well enough, I think Sarah, West and Rick Perry are gonna be the 3 choices fighting it out for the Repub. nod in 2016.
The NDAA is bad law, because it's language is subject to interpretation. This is most likely what tripped up West. When the wording in legislation means different things to different people, it leaves itself wide open to manipulation. Statists like Obama and his ilk love this kind of legislation. His buddy Holder and his hand picked judges can make this whatever they want it to be. And that can mean the end of ordered liberty.
West, Palin, Perry. I like it. It would give us a fighting chance. But you're right, I want to see the good Colonel walk back his boneheaded vote on the NDAA.
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