Pat Toomey’s Future An interview.

National Review ^ | 4/30/04 | Ramesh Ponnuru

[Elkiejg]

NRO: Is this your first interview since the election?

Rep. Pat Toomey: Yes it is.

NRO: Given that you lost, what do you think your campaign accomplished?

Toomey: Well I'm still sorting that out, Ramesh, and trying to figure out what if anything it accomplished. When you consider the obstacles we faced and how close we got, it makes it clear that there is a real interest in seeing the Republican party govern as a conservative party, certainly in Pennsylvania.

NRO: What does the campaign say about the strength of the conservative movement, most of its institutions having backed you?

Toomey: The vast majority of them were on my side but very much to varying degrees of involvement. The Club for Growth was terrific, very strong and very involved. Much of the conservative print media, led by National Review of course, was on my side. There were others: the Wall Street Journal, The Weekly Standard, Human Events.

NRO: Rush Limbaugh?

Toomey: I think to a large degree Rush sat out the race.

NRO: Looking back at the race, were there any mistakes you would avoid if you did it again?

Toomey: I really don't think we made any blunders, I don't think we made any significant mistakes in terms of allocating resources. Looking back, there might have been ways to more effectively exploit the Internet. But would it have made the difference in the race? It's hard to say. I have to tell you, I feel pretty good about how we ran the race. We had a lot of discipline in terms of our message. We had limited resources and we developed a strategy based on our resrouces and it came very close to working for us.

NRO: Why should your supporters vote for Specter?

Toomey: Well, the alternative is worse. Joe Hoeffel will never be with Republicans or conservatives on anything. That's number one, and number two: I think we're going to hold on to the Senate and probably grow our majority. Increasing the Republican majority is a good thing. Every Republican makes it harder for the Democrats to filibuster.

NRO: But given that so many conservatives wanted Specter out on Tuesday, and that he has been moving left since then, do you think Specter will be able to win the votes of your supporters?

Toomey: I don't know.

NRO: Do you have any hard feelings toward Santorum?

Toomey: (Pause.) No, not really. I haven't spoken with him in a while.

NRO: You didn't get a call from him after the primary?

Toomey: That's correct.

NRO: What does the future hold for Pat Toomey?

Toomey: I don't know. I really don't know. My wife and I are out on Block Island decompressing. I'm hoping to read a novel. In the next few weeks we'll start thinking about what to do next.

NRO: Any interest in running for governor in 2006?

Toomey: I haven't really given it any thought. Several people have started talking about it, but I just don't have any idea.

[ClintonBeGone]

Is everyone out to get you?

[Formoore04]

"You might start amends by not trying to shift responsibility to somebody who reacted to your intemperance."

This petty ad hominem attack was my fault?

"I'm sure you were relieved to know at that point that your tin foil hat was working."

[cynicom]

Pub...

Last time I looked, Robinson said this was a "conservative" forum. I been here awhile, last I knew the forum was for "turning back" big government etc etc.

Some here have assume this is now a Bush "cheerleader" forum, guess they are correct. No place for sneaky cry baby conservatives that think for themselves, can't have that. Off with their heads.

[Sabertooth]

Ok, now I understand what you're missing.

Clearly, no.

You're rationalizing your double-talk.

[ClintonBeGone]

Some here have assume this is now a Bush "cheerleader" forum, guess they are correct. No place for sneaky cry baby conservatives that think for themselves, can't have that. Off with their heads.

I'm curious to know what is conservative about making negative references to one's surname, language or country of origin? At least Luis has the guts to post under his real name. Something very few of us have the b@lls to do here.

[Criminal Number 18F]

It's telling that you have to resort to strawmen, lies, and demonization.

Identify same, troll. <- that's the name I've called you, but it fits.

YOU SAID that people should take Anglo names. I give you some examples of well-known Americans with non-Anglo names, waiting to see what you would suggest for them. I'm still waiting.

anyone who disagrees with you is a racist, sexist, homophobe, right-wing extremist wacko.

I didn't make any of those charges, and you stand up the strawman that I did. (Hmmm... you have a bit of what a psychiatrist might call "projection" happening here). I merely called you on your hatred for Luis G (evident in your insulting refusal to address him by his name) and ethnic names in general. That certainly smacks of racism, and is self-evidently extreme. I bet even Pat Buchanan could poll better numbers than that idea in America (even among those whose names meet your personal-approval test). (I notice you didn't mention Pat among your great third party results... how come? LOL).

Sexist? Homophobe? Words I don't use. Wacko? Well, you're earning that one with oak leaves, swords and diamonds.

Also, I haven't said anything about "anyone who disagrees with me" -- a group which has probably included everybody else who is beating you up in this thread, at one time or another. I have strictly been zeroed in on you. It's quite possible to disagree on something without vitriol. For the rest of us, anyway.

Can't wait till you get your own show on Air America.

It'll be a while. But it could happen -- and would, before your bizarre idea of what is American hits the mainstream.

d.o.l.

Criminal Number 18F

[ClintonBeGone]

You're rationalizing your double-talk.

I guess I overestimated your desire to seperate your reading comprehension skills from your vile political agenda.

[cynicom]

Formoore...

Not to worry. I been here long time. Many of these same people were whining and sniveling because the 'DUMB DEMOCRAT VOTERS" found ways to justify everything Clinton did. They were always saying how dumb they were for not thinking for themselves, on and on. Well they were correct, the dem voters were dumb for buying into everything the "party" did.

[Sabertooth]

I guess I overestimated your desire to seperate your reading comprehension skills from your vile political agenda.

While the RC line is a trite and tired ad hominem, since you've played it, perhaps you can illuminate us as to your own estimable possession of such skills by accurately outlining my agenda?

[ClintonBeGone]

perhaps you can illuminate us as to your own estimable possession of such skills by accurately outlining my agenda?

Why don't you treat us to the reader's digest version. I'll add anything I think you've overlooked. I fear actually putting your agenda in my own words for two primary reasons:

1) I think it's racist and fear people will think it's my own. and 2) See #1

[Republican Wildcat]

"It's a shame that you cannot debate intelligently, and that all you can do is to spew out racist allegations. You don't agree with me, then prove me wrong... but you can't, so I am a racist. No doubt you'll be calling me a homophobe, sexist, right-wing bigot soon enough. What a pathetic creature you are."
_______________________________________________________
Your posts, sir:

Oh, by the way, you're in America now, not whatever 3rd world failed state you fled from.

You want to speak your accursed language go back to Mexico or wherever, we speak a civilized language here, we speak English.
--
And Luis is not an American name. It's spelled Louis. Assimilate, or go back to your "homeland", Luis.
--

No, following my post to its logical extreme the only American names would be Anglophone names.

Joseph, not Jose.
Albert, not Alberto.
John, not Juan.
Stephen, not Stefan.
Carl, not Carlos.
--
___________________________________________________

We're more than justified in calling you a racist. It is exactly what you are.

[Derrymcfall]

Toomey: I think to a large degree Rush sat out the race.
So did Hannity. These guys were totally non committal. Makes me wonder why they are on the radio. Why couldn't they use their clout to push a conservative challenger?

[phil_will1]

"So did Hannity. These guys were totally non committal. Makes me wonder why they are on the radio. Why couldn't they use their clout to push a conservative challenger?"

Do you really think that Hannity would oppose Bush in a high profile race like this one? Maybe I don't have a vivid enough imagination, but I can't envision that ever happening.

I know, I know, Hannity disagrees with Bush on spending, immigration policies and perhaps a few other things, but I don't see him standing toe to toe with him where he could really make a difference - such as this race. Perhaps someone will point out what I am missing.

[snopercod]

Waste of time using the term "statist" here on FR

Yes, using words like that around here is completely nugatory.

[WOSG]

do you think Toomey could win in Nov. running as an independent? "

Uh NO. He wont do it. And rightly so. We need him in the GOP, and running as an independent would end his republican career. We dont need him to go "Bob Smith" on us.

[TOUGH STOUGH]

From what I understand after contacting the legislature, Specter assuming control of the Judiciary is a DONE DEAL. If he wins this election, he will be chairman of the Judiciary.

The only way to stop Specter from becoming head of the Judiciary, is to stop him from winning the general election.

[TOUGH STOUGH]

Republicans will win enough Senate seats without Specter.

[WOSG]

"And Luis is not an American name."

?????

That's an insulting comment. Lots of americans have ethnic names from all sorts of places (my Grandpa was "Emil", you dont see that much)... they are still americans.

[TOUGH STOUGH]

If Pat Toomey had had the support of Bush and Santorum, he would have gotten a majority of the Republican votes. As it was, keep in mind the candidates in this race were a tad less than 2% points apart.