Foley (R) Formally Begins Fla. Senate Bid

The Associated Press ^ | 7/8/03 | Ken Thomas

[clintonh8r]

I'm not optimistic that we will pick up this seat.

[onyx]

I gathered as much! ;-(

[AuH2ORepublican]

"The social conservatives, despite your mocking, are still damn strong in the GOP, and do not need to settle for a pro-gay, pro-abort congressman who would have significant weaknesses in a general election."

---

Absolutely. The only way Foley can win is if Deutsch or Hastings gets the RAT nomination and social conservatives (including conservative Democrats, who are still the majority in many parts of North Florida) actually turn out to vote AGAINST the RAT nominee, since they sure as hell wouldn't walk on broken glass to vote for a pro-abortion, pro-gay moderate such as Foley. If Penelas or Boyd get the RAT nomination, Foley would be toast.

If true conservatives such as Webster or Weldon run, they should be able to win the nomination and defeat all comers in the general. The one guy I'm afraid of is Penelas, who projects a moderate image and may be able to chip away at the GOP's stranglehold on the Cuban vote, but clearly Webster and Weldon would give us a better chance than would Foley.

[clintonh8r]

I agree about Penelas. He projects a moderate image and was not a raving RAT lunatic during the 2000 recount fiasco. He will peel off a lot of Cuban Republican and swing votes. He will be difficult to beat. Wexler, Deutsch and Hastings won't get many votes beyond the northern Palm Beach County line.

[Kuksool]

The winner of the GOP primary will have to carry the panhandle and the I-4 corridor. I don't think Boward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach Counties (Foley's home base) will make much of a difference in the GOP primary. I suspect most of the people in South Florida will be voting for the RAT candidates: Alex Penelas, Peter Deutsch, and Alcee Hastings. Thus draining away potential votes for Mark Foley.

[samantha]

Mark Foley can carry the entire state. He has the finances,the drive,the personality,the energy,and most of all he handles himself well on the talking heads programs. He does his homework and is very informed. He thinks well on his feet,and gets along great with fellow congresscritters. Hollywood also likes him. He supports President Bush 90 percent of the time.I don't care who he sleeps with as long as he is not trolling for young boys or young girls. He is catholic,and has a wonderful family. Another point for Barry Goldwater fans,he lived the last years of his life PRO GAY,and somewhat liberal thanks to the lefty young thang he married.We want a great candidate that can win. Penelas is no longer viable on the dem side, the other libs Wexler,Deutsch,Hastings,etc are too liberal for a right leaning florida. I want Graham gone for good before the anesthesia wears off.

[samantha]

I am a social conservative,but pragmatic. I worked with right to life in Broward Co,and supported the christian coalition ideals through the hate that was spewed against Dr Kennedy and Coral Ridge Church by the radically hysterical gay rights lefties in Broward. Been there,done that!!!!!Mark Foley is not the enemy,Baghdad Bob Graham is. I used to listen to Al Rantel on WFTL in Broward,he is a very conservative out of the closet gay,and he went through Hell with the radical gays in Broward. He now is on in Los Angeles and doing well because there is a need for a well read,computer geek,very intelligent,courageous,tough conservative voice. Just for your info Al Rantel told me about freerepublic right after it had come on line. I say a little thank you prayer every day for Al Rantel passing on that info to me. I have signed up for Mark Foley's campaign,and will work as hard for him as I have for George W,JEB,and all the other winners.

[longtermmemmory]

He can silence this whole issue by simply stating he is not a homosexual.

WFTL? boy you go back a ways...

[samantha]

When I moved from Broward, Al Rantel had already gotten famous in LA,but he had had much success with clear channel on 940am in FT lAUDERDALE before he kicked it up a notch. Mark Foley is also pro second amendment. A large chunk of his district is rural farms,ranches,citrus groves,and ornamentals farms. He takes care of everyone,and has an excellent staff.

[AuH2ORepublican]

"Mark Foley is not the enemy, Baghdad Bob Graham is."

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Nor are Daniel Webster or Dave Weldon the enemy. I would support either of them over Foley because (i) they are more conservative than Foley, (ii) I think they would make better Senators, and (iii) I think they would have a better chance at beating the RAT nominee, whoever he may be. We can't count on the RATs nominating someone unelectable such as Alcee Hastings---and even if they did, I don't see why we should settle for a social liberal-to-moderate like Foley over a true conservative like Webster or Weldon.

As in Pennsylvania (where all conservatives should support Pat Toomey over Arlen Specter), nominating a pro-abortion Senate candidate does not make sense when there are alternatives that are (i) socially conservative and (ii) more electable. There is no trade-off here between someone closer to our views and someone who would have a better chance at winning---in PA and FL, the social conservatives have a better chance at winning statewide than do the suburban liberals because elections are decided largely by rural or blue-collar conservative Democrats.

So support Foley's candidacy if you wish, but I don't believe he is the right choice for the GOP in Florida. And once Webster or Weldon get into the race, I have a feeling that the Florida Republican electorate will agree with me and vote for a true conservative.

[Kuksool]

If you worked for the Broward County Right to Life, then you would know that there are pro-life people would find Mark Foley's voting record on abortion to be unsatisfactory. Foley has adopted a "don't ask, don't tell" policy in regards to his personal life. I think the media should honor his policy. Foley's personal life is not the problem, it is his pro-abortion stand that is the big deal. I doubt that the Florida Right to Life will give its endorsement to Mark Foley. It is very difficult for a pro-abortion candidate to make it through the GOP primary.

[Ax]

Wexler is my congresscritter. I DO NOT like the guy as he is a #1 clinton butt boy. BUT, give the devil his due. I recently wrote to him, expressing my total displeasure with the US involvement in the UN. He came back with a very reasoned response and in fact actually agreed with me on a couple of points. I'd NEVER vote for him except maybe as guy who would get out and clean up some of the canals in Palm Beach County, but that letter erased SOME of his sins.

[onyx]

Wexler is too mean, too mad and too damn left-wing democrat. A lawyer by profession, the senate already has way too many of them. I despise him, (in case you hadn't noticed)!

[AuH2ORepublican]

"Wexler is too mean, too mad and too damn left-wing democrat"

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Relax, Wexler ain't running. Peter Deutsch jumped out early, and Wexler would be competing for the same base as Deutsch. So we'll have to listen to Wexler whine from the House floor for at least two more years.

[Dan from Michigan]

Better Foley than McCollum. Not real excited about either of them, but McCollum lost once, and pushed for a major Freedom Grab with secret searches awhile back with Butcher Reno during the Klinton years.

[Dan from Michigan]

It's none of my business or anyone elses.

[longtermmemmory]

It is absolutly everyone's business. These are elected representatives.

He just needs to say "I am not a homosexual" and its over.
This coy crap over direct questions is garbage.

The sun sentinal carried an article written by a homosexual writer about the whole foley sex issue. The homosexuals are drooling over the prospect of outing foley. As long as he does nothing on this issue he will be vulnerable. Vulnerability in a US senator is not acceptable.

[onyx]

Everyone os better off with Wexler confined to the House where he's 1/435. Look at the damage Schumer has done since he left the House for the Senate!

[cardinal4]

I saw a letter that a buddy of mine received from Dick Durbin. What the Senator did for this guy goes beyond what most pols will do once elected. After reading the letter, I could no longer hate the guy for the (D) after his name. I just transferred it to Hillary, Daschle, Pelosi, Waters, Boxer, Levin, Leahy........

[samantha]

I guess you want the entire loaf instead of 90 percent. Keep standing rigid refusing to bend at all,and not only will your back hurt,but you might just break. Tom Feeney was a disaster for Jeb against Chiles in 1994 because he is too far right. It is fine for his district as in the case of Webster and Weldon,but not statewide. Foley is already way ahead in donations,and will scare off the competition,and if that does not work,the RPOF will talk about party unity,and the need for there to be no GOP primary. We have to be smart about this,and united we stand,divided we lose.