Posted on 07/09/2013 7:48:19 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
The fact that Liz Cheney is weighing a run for public office isn’t news. The fact that she phoned up Sen. Mike Enzi to serve tentative notice very much is:
In an interview last week after a town hall-style meeting at the county fairgrounds here, a few feet from a plaque marking the site of Mr. Cheney’s first political speech, Mr. Enzi revealed that Ms. Cheney told him this year that she was thinking about challenging him in 2014. “She called me and said that she’s looking at it,” he said. And did Ms. Cheney ask Mr. Enzi, now in his third term, if he was planning to run again? “No,” Mr. Enzi said…“I know of no one who doesn’t want Mike Enzi to run for the Senate again,” said Douglas W. Chamberlain, a former Wyoming House speaker. Mr. Enzi noted with a soft chuckle, “There’s at least one person out there who wants me to retire.” … But Mr. Enzi said he had not recently heard from the man he calls his “good friend” [speaking of the former Vice President]. “I would expect that he’d call before she declares,” Mr. Enzi said of Mr. Cheney.
Before she declares. It doesn’t sound like Enzi is under any illusions about what’s probably coming his way next year. Read the full Times piece for a glimpse at how key players within the Wyoming GOP are lining up behind the incumbent, even as they take great pains to avoid crossing the well-respected Cheney family. Also, don’t miss the laughably hyperbolic warning from former Wyoming Sen. Alan Simpson about how a primary challenge from Cheney could tear the party asunder and hand Democrats the keys to the state. (Highly unlikely). For his part, the 69-year-old Enzi just nabbed a plum committee assignment and telegraphs no intention of retiring. Over at Townhall, I’ve sketched out the contours of a hypothetical Enzi-Cheney primary contest:
What makes this potential internecine contest unusual is that Enzi is generally regarded as a conservative in good standing. This isn’t a typical “RINO hunt.” He’s earned a 93 percent lifetime rating from the American Conservative Union, and has matched the average Senate Republican score from Heritage Action. Enzi recently voted against the ‘Gang of Eight’ immigration legislation. Jonathan Martin speculatesthat Cheney would run to Enzi’s right on policy issues like the internet sales tax (which has split conservatives), while quietly taking up his left flank on gay marriage. More than anything, an Enzi-Cheney race would come down to a battle over style and parochial concerns. Cheney would paint herself as a fresh, invigorated conservative, willing to go to Washington and aggressively oppose the Obama agenda. As Martin’s piece notes, she might also cite the modern-era tradition that no Wyoming Senator has served more than three terms. Enzi’s supporters could respond with accusations of carpetbagging and nepotism. They may tread lightly, though, as to avoid offending the well-liked Cheney family.
Cheney for Senate upsides: She’s a sharp, young, tenacious, conservative woman whose candidacy would drive the Left batty. Cheney for Senate downsides: Is it wise to primary a reliable, if understated, conservative over largely stylistic differences? I’ll leave you with a bonus upside, via Allahpundit. Admit it, this political theater would be engrossing: ”Imagine the floor arguments she and Paul would have — with Liz, ironically, sometimes defending Obama’s positions as Paul inevitably makes the isolationist case against them. Endless blogworthy content.” Indeed. But irresistible fodder for the righty blogosphere isn’t necessarily aligned with the best interests of the Republican Party or the conservative movement.
Update (AP): As Guy noted, a Liz Cheney run interests me mainly because it would theoretically bring a new full-throated superhawk to the Senate at a moment when the GOP’s tilting a tiny bit more isolationist. Right now Rubio’s the closest thing to a superhawk from the new crop of Senators, but (a) Rubio doesn’t want to embrace that role too much lest it complicate things for him in 2016 and (b) Rubio’s hawkishness sometimes seems less part of a particular foreign-policy vision and more an adjunct of his overarching “America’s the greatest” message. (“America’s the greatest, therefore we need to use our unique influence and Midas touch to help spread democracy in Syria.”) Liz Cheney would embrace the hawk role in a way Rubio wouldn’t, which is why I’m eager to see her and Rand Paul engage and eager to see how the party reacts to a new generation of Cheneys in positions of influence. But all politics is local, so the Wyoming race is going to turn on stuff like the Internet sales tax and Mike Enzi’s “long” tenure in office rather than international affairs. Oh well.
I have no problem with her.
I'm not sure where she is on the two hot-button social issues, gay marriage & abortion?
I’ve heard the whining has already begun because she might displace an old line rep establishment current senator. Seems to me like a lot of the old guard NEEDS to go. To many compromisers and capitulators in the bunch now.
I was hoping she’d have Virginia residency in order to challenge the senior kneepad twin, Mark Warner.
>Just got this email
You heard it here first.
America needs Liz Cheney...and voters are taking notice.
One Nation PAC’s Draft Liz Cheney petition has received thousands of signatures and the media is starting to talk. In fact, over the holiday weekend, the New York Times reported that Cheney has already called Senator Mike Enzi — the man she would challenge in a primary — to tell him she’s looking at the race.
*******, momentum is building and this is our final chance to convince Liz to get in the race. It’s now or never. That’s why we’re preparing to go live with a national ad campaign to collect even more signatures to demonstrate our support for Liz — but we need your help. To go live by the end of the week, we must raise $10,000 by midnight tomorrow.
Can I count on your immediate donation of $25, $50, $100 or more?
Every dollar you give right now will go directly towards this ad campaign to make a final push for Liz Cheney to get in the U.S. Senate race. But the clock is ticking and your urgent action is critical — because for Liz to win the nomination, she’s going to have to jump in this race in the next few weeks.
So please, follow this link right now to donate whatever you can to show Liz Cheney you want her in the United States Senate.
Thank you in advance for your support.
Sincerely,
Kelly S. Eustis
Executive Director
P.S. If Liz Cheney is going to get in the race for U.S. Senate in 2014, the clock is ticking. Help One Nation PAC go live with a nationwide ad campaign to convince Liz to get in the race by helping us raise $10,000 by midnight tomorrow. Please follow this link right away to make the most generous donation you can afford. Thanks—Kelly
Seems to me there are a LOT more worthy “old guard” that need to go way before Enzi. I dont see the logic in replacing a conservative senator, with another one?
RE; I’m not sure where she is on the two hot-button social issues, gay marriage & abortion?
Her sister is gay... I don’t know if that will affect her decisions.
She was a hero of the Left on the repeal of DADT.
I have always like Liz. I hope she runs.
I like her on TV, but I think she is a Republican, NOT a Conservative. I think she would be an establishment candidate.
I agree with that. I would prefer that Liz knock off a democrat senator or maybe a corrupted republican.
What did Liz have to do with the repeal of DADT in the military?
A lesbian conservative? isn’t that an oxymoron?
http://www.advocate.com/news/daily-news/2010/02/19/liz-cheney-dadt-repeal
One of many links from that time.
That's me! I am sick of seeing our servicemen without arms & legs. FOR WHAT? I'm SICK of war. We don't give our troops the equipment they need. We (our government) don't have their “backs”. We have debased our military with political correctness. Soon our military will consist of just women (no offense) and gays.
Keep our troops out of Libya, Syria and Egypt.
Time to retire a 69 year old, too long, too very long, person.
I believe that ANY Congressman or Senator, has the possibility of ‘losing thier political virginity’, and thus, becoming corrupted, either during, or after, their first term, and therefore, should be replaced regularly, like oil in the car. No exceptions. No career-politicians, period.
She isn’t a Lesbian. Her Sister is a Lesbian.
Does she support homosexual marriage as well?
...most likely?
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