Why Toomey challenge of Sen. Specter is ill-advised:"Republicans will lose seat to Dems"

Morning Call ^ | 3/8/03 | Charles Snelling

[Dr. Scarpetta]

I think it is fair to say that I'm something of an old hand at observing the political process. I was first elected as a Republican committeeman 50 years ago! A half century is time enough to learn the rules.

The Republican primary battle between U.S. Rep. Pat Toomey and four-term Sen. Arlen Specter is unseemly, and bad for the party.

[Jim Noble]

Did Jerry Ford really win California?

[Dr. Scarpetta]

http://www.mcall.com/news/opinion/letters/all-smithmar08,0,1723790.story

LETTER TO THE EDITOR From The Morning Call


"GOP is deserting its long-time supporters"

March 8, 2003

I have been wondering why Rep. Pat Toomey wants to oppose Sen.Arlen Specter in next year's primary race for the U.S. Senate, since Mr. Specter is one of the few voices of moderation in the Republican party.

The March 1 Morning Call gave me the answer. It is precisely because Sen. Specter is a moderate that the hard-liners in the party want him out.

It has been increasingly obvious that the party is being dominated by the Christian right and other ultra-conservatives. Extremism should never be tolerated on either the left or the right; I fear it's destroying our Republican Party.

I have been voting since 1955 and have never voted for a Democratic presidential candidate. Ed Rendell is the first Democratic gubernatorial candidate I ever voted for, and unless things change in the Republican Party, I may vote for the Democratic presidential candidate in 2004.

Before the hard-liners accuse me of deserting my party, let me say I feel it is my party that is deserting me.

Robert H. Smith

Bushkill Township
Copyright © 2003, The Morning Call

[NEPA]

Did you see him in the Senate the other day yelling at Robert Muller?

I missed that. I only get C-Span 1. I don't mind Specter and others holding the fibbies feet to the fire if they're serious about it. But too much of the bluster you see in various committee hearings is nothing but grandstanding for the masses' consumption.

Supposedly Specter was looking into a possible Iraq connection regarding the OKC bombing. A serious inquiry would inevitably lead to discovery of gov't/FBI coverup (the middle eastern men that myteriously went non-existent). I'm sure he really doesn't want to go there. Hence he may be covering his butt going after Mueller; just putting on a show.

[dwilli]

How do we ever win an election with this kind of logic? The idea is to win control. I have no huge like for Spector
but will take him over, say, (pick any democrat)

[Russ]

If Toomey would win the primary I think he would almost certainly win in November. The Democrats, as of today, have not even put up a candidate to run (and I believe Monday is the deadline for filing to run).

Unfortunately, even here in Berks County, which borders Toomey's congressional district and is very conservative, the Republican Party leaders and legislators have (with the exception of one)come out in support of Specter.

[q_an_a]

People have short memories. You make a good point and in04 Bush will get a lot of Bush Democrats, that are working people who believe that it is better to take a stand than to be a coward, as supports in the election.

[Sci Fi Guy]

A RINO is always better than a Democrat.

I agree, but sometimes a challenge to a RINO can be a goood thing. It reminds them not to take the base for granted. It might move the RINO slightly to the center, which is a step in the right direction.

[Consort]

I agree, but sometimes a challenge to a RINO can be a goood thing.

Not when Democrat crossovers in a GOP primary defeat the RINO and then the Conservative loses in the election. Don't fall for that trap. RINOs that win re-election have proven themselves.

[Jack Black]

Top Map: Carter vs. Ford?
Bottom Two Maps: Reagan 1st and 2nd terms?
In all cases: Blue = Republican States in Electoral College, Red = Dems?

[dwilli]

But the November election is statewide and can a hard right
conservative carry all of Penn? That's my gripe with Republicans willing to cut off their nose to spite their face.
I wasn't overjoyed with E. Dole here in North Car. but I did realize she was our best bet to win the state. We actually had so-called Republicans saying they would rather see the democrat win rather that Dole.

[Temple Owl]

My own view is that Toomey doesn't have one chance in 50 of beating Specter in a primary.

I will pray that you are wrong and vote for Toomey. Specter is a horse's ass. Specter is a left-wing liberal RINO.

[Jack Black]

The party's are realigning. It's true the Republican Party has been taken over by Conservatives. If you are a Conservative this is a good thing. The Republican party is here to serve Conservatives and advance Conservatism. Outside of that, to me, it has no use. Note, as the letter from the old man indicates, it hasn't always been this way. Nixon was a Republican, but not much of a Conservative. He created the EPA, he put wage and price controls into place, effectively making FedGov the final employer of all citizens. If that's not Socialism I don't know what is. Nixon *might* be able to run as a Dem now, but as a Republican. No, the party has moved beyond him. If you loved the Republican Party when it was represented by the likes of Nixon, Ford, Rockefeller, Bob Dole and others of that ilk then perhaps the Democratic Party is really the right home for you know. Certainly hundreds of thousands of other Americans have heard the call of the Conservative movement and have taken it on them selves to change their party affiliation to "R" to support the Conservative values of right to life, limited government, lower taxes and individual responsibility. That we must lose some memebers is to be expected in such a transformation. No worry.

As to when we jettison established leaders from the last era, that is a tougher call. But it is exactly what primaries are for. Incumbants have huge advantages. If Spector can't win the primary then it is fitting that he leave office.

To see Conservatism accomplish any goals we HAVE to do both: Nominate Conservatives and Get Them Elected. A few RINOs are a tactical compromise, but such compromises always hurt in the end.

[fatima]

bump

[ken5050]

Don't forget that Hatch is term-limited as Chairman of the senate Judiciary Committee, and up next to succeed him is, you guessed it....Arlen...IMHO, this would be a disaster. Can you see him trying to control the Dems, especially with the likelihood of one or 2 Supreme Court nominations....or to run the debate on the senate floor....it wouldn't surprise me if WH endorsement came at the price of a promise by Spector NOT to take the chairmanship....

Another question...if Toomey were to win the primary, do you see any possibility that Spector would accept the Dem nomination?

[Jack Black]

How do we ever win an election with this kind of logic? The idea is to win control. I have no huge like for Spector but will take him over, say, (pick any democrat)

I disagree. The idea is to accomplish something, or to prevent the Socialists from achieving anything. There are lots of ways to prevail. The Dems are giving the Reps a good lesson in ass kicking right now over Estrada. With only 45 members. They do not have control, but they have power!

If we want our Conservative ideas to have force we need people willing to use what ever power they have have. We need clear thinkers. The Republican's in the minortiy and majority in the Clinton era mostly went along with his agenda. Fewer, but better organized and more ideologically pure Republicans might have been able to spare us a lot of bad legislation. 41 R Senators could have prevented the assault weapon ban. The Republican House could have refused to appropriate for NPR, NEH, NEA. For that matter they could have not sent up spending bills for AFDC. Why didn't they?

As the party's get more ideological there will be more Jeffords anyway. Socialists are over represented in BOTH PARTIES. Getting rid of them is a priority. I love to see RINOs is primary battle.

Spector voted to not impeach Clinton. Can you forgive him for that? I can not.

[shamusotoole]

I had a "Religious Conservative" friend use the same argument during the last Presidential election. The candidate he was talking about not supporting, you ask?
George W. Bush.

[dwilli]

So You would rather we be back in the minority? Why don't you start a recall petition to unseat all so called RINO's
Maybe get GWB to resign and name Nancy Pelosi as his Successor. What a moral power play that would yelling and screaming from the back bench again.

[Eva]

I agree, the Republicans are cutting off their nose to spite their face (as my grandmother would have said).

[Jack Black]

Fine, he didn't support Bush in the Primary. Did he support him in the General? I am saying that primaries are the correct (only) place to contest issues of "are you a conservative". Once that process is concluded one votes Republican because then the issue is "Dem or Rep" or throw your vote away as a protest.

[Tribune7]

I'm going to vote for Toomey in the primary. I'll support the GOP nominee in the general. I do fear that is more that Specter's supporters will do for Toomey.