Posted on 05/30/2004 8:54:37 PM PDT by Badray
Badray, I agree Spectre is reprehensible, but voting for him at this point is the best hope we have. He'll at least support the Republicans on some issues, whereas a Democrat would vote for their party line. Frankly, I have zero confidence in Bush or the Republican leaders, much less Spectre, at this point. Bush is no conservative, in my opinion, and the Republican "leadership" isn't any better, but what else can we do? A vote for a third-party candidate is as good as not voting at all, and Democrats are too busy supporting baby killers and homosexuality--not much chance for conservatism there!
Sorry, but you lose worse with Democrats. Haven't we learned anything from the last 50 years? The Democrats absolutely cannot be allowed to make gains in Congress. We can't afford to go backwards.
The time to replace "RINOs" with "conservatives" is in the primary. Most RINOs are preferable to Democrats, because most RINOs can be bullied into voting on conservative issues, even a little bit of the time (whereas Democrats will do it none of the time). I previously posted to Freerepublic some of the things that the Republican Senate has accomplished. They will accomplish more when there are more conservatives, but you're not going to get that with Joe Hoeffel.
However, I understand that Arlen Specter is not your typical RINO, he's worse. He's a traitor, a man of no principles. And he will certainly cause damage as head of the Judiciary Committee. But you have to weigh the possible damage he will cause in 6 years, with the decades of damage Democrats will cause if they make gains in the Senate.
"Toomey was our best alternative and our best chance, but Bush and Santorum mucked that up. Plan B is to de-elect the RINO by whatever means necessary. Vote for Joe Hoeffel.
I AGREE. Hyl will be a much better committee chairman than Specter. If Hoeffel is elected at least you'll have a liberal Democrat who admits he is a liberal Democrat unlike the Rino Specter.
I think Bush pissed into the wind by endorsing Specter; thinking that he could help him carry PA. Guess what? The Conservatives in PA are so miffed at GW, he ain't even gonna carry the Keystone State.
Dan, I appreciate your comments and welcome your insights. I am as sure as I can be that we will hold the senate and without the likes of this rino, it will be a more solid reliable hold.
Specter is unreliable on the gun issue anyway. A moment after telling gun owners that he made a mistake in voting for the 93 AWB because it was ineffective and violated our 2nd Amendment rights, he then told us that he would vote for it again if it was part of an important package. Now there's conviction.
If we lose all of the races that we'd have to lose in order for the Dems to take back the Senate, then this country has more problems than just Arlen. I'm willing to take this chance because it's our best one.
And remember, if Hoeffel wins it will because of our votes. He won't have them the next time and the real Republican will. Have faith and courage. We can make this work for us.
The only thing that makes the thought of a Kerry victory tolerable is the knowledge that American and EU/UN interests in the Middle East are so divergent that even a Kerry will have to stand up to the Europeans after a certain point. But then I think again that he might be another Jimmy Carter and one who speaks French.
Please note the title of the article: PARTY OVER PRINCIPLE? There's a question mark at the end there.
Many of us are sick to death of all the political whores in both parties, who sell out their principles. The GOP had control of the Senate and couldn't even convict the impeached Bill Clinton. So, please don't talk your smack about "if we lose control of the Senate". We've already lost control padnuh.
I agree with this, voting for Joe Hoeffel cannot be supported. However, I don't fault people who refuse to vote for Arlen Specter.
[And remember, if Hoeffel wins it will because of our votes. He won't have them the next time and the real Republican will.]
Hoeffel doesn't need real Republicans to win elections. He could just assemble the same coalition that Ed Rendell created in 2002. This should enable him to be in the Senate for a long time.
DameAutour wrote: " The time to replace "RINOs" with "conservatives" is in the primary."
BINGO! As much as I despise RINOs, I agree with your assessment. A RINO will vote Republican once in awhile, while Democrats usually vote in lockstep with their party.
Thanks for your thoughtful remarks.
My main concern is who will chair the judiciary committee next year. For me Kyl (ACU rating of 97) versus Specter (ACU of 43) is a no brainer. I expect Specter to be closer to a 20 or 30 rating in this his (hopefully) final term, should he win.
He distanced himself from Bush within 12 hours of winning the primary and he wouldn't have won without Bush. Then he voted against Bush's overtime pay bill. Now he's standing in the way of one of his judicial nominees.
What do you think he will be like if he wins another term - with or without Bush's help? He will be insufferable.
I have confronted Specter twice before when there was an opportunity to enlighten some undecided people. I knew many of the people in the room and most stood firmly behind him because they are as squishy as he is. I was just losing my cool, as well as my cookies, at Melissa who refused to back him in the primary praise him hear. With the right audience, I will challenge him and any other politician. This one was not the right one.
What a defeatist attitude. Let me break this down.
The Democrats had control of Congress for decades. During that time period, they were infiltrated by leftists who were able to enact many Socialist policies. Also, the American populace was being fed a steady diet of socialist ideas and programs, by the media, the schools and many churches. Not understanding the consequences of socialist policies, the American people want more.
The Republicans slimly gain control of Congress in 1994, only to lose it a few years later. They regained it less than two years ago. Throughout much of this time period, they had to deal with a wildly popular leftist President and his leftist cabinet. Who is to blame for that cretin being in office? The American people.
So the Republicans have barely had control of Congress for a few years, yet so many "principled" conservatives expect everything to change overnight. Sadly, these "principled" conservatives don't even seem to realize that the real enemy is the Democrats. And the people whose hearts and minds you need to influence are the American voting public.
Congress is a reflection of the American people. Instead of blaming the Republican party, more of the blame should be placed on the shoulders of the people who demand the socialist programs.
The smart thing to do would be for conservatives to infiltrate the Republican party just like the socialists infiltrated the Democrat party. Change it from the inside and challenge non-conservatives in primaries. But always remember that the Democrats are your true enemy, not the Republicans. There still is a difference between the Republican Party and the Democrat Party. Most of the Republicans are simply a reflection of the voters.
Question to all the Arlen Specter haters: Will you devote the same amount of energy to knock off Ed Rendell in 2006?
Are you serious? Do you know that he is pro abortion? That he is weak on the 2nd Amendment? Do you know what he thinks of conservatives and our values?
Take a look (it's posted here on FR) at his speech for his 96 presidential bid. He despises conservatives.
Take a look at Philadelphia Common Pleas Court Judge Frederica M. Jackson. She's an example of the type of judge that he's promoted. She was opposed in her nomination bid by EVERY DA in PA.
Specter has already blocked one recent nomination (the name escapes me) and is standing in the way of another one now. Specter is not the man to chair the judiciary committee if we want conservative judges.
It will take at least 2 more elections to reach a filibuster proof majority of 60, but if we have RINOs in that number, we still won't be able to block a filibuster.
"But always remember that the Democrats are your true enemy, not the Republicans."
In my heart-of-hearts I know you are right and I could never vote for anyone who was on a the Democratic Party ticket. I just can't stand people like Arlen Specter.
I understand, and I believe that we will. But 52 without Specter is better than 53 with him. Trust me. Have I ever lied to you? ;-)
I understand that, and that is why I understand why someone wouldn't vote for Arlen Specter.
I think people are wrong when it comes to Bush, but not when it comes to Specter. He is responsible for Clinton not being tossed out of office. He is responsible for the betrayal of Robert Bork. He doesn't even have a sense of loyalty. Even a RINO like McCain can understand that, even if just a little. But Specter is a reprehensible man. Why should you vote for a reprehensible man?
Did you get that line from the trial lawyer, journalist, or used car salesman training manual?
Kerry is a repulsive idiot, nothing like a male gold digger for President.
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