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Paul decries challenge in “my own primary”
Hot Air ^

Posted on 02/28/2010 9:08:09 AM PST by mnehring

Scott Brown likely won his special election to the US Senate through his retort to David Gergen in the final debate that he was running for “the people’s seat” in Massachusetts, not “Ted Kennedy’s seat,” when Gergen challenged his opposition to ObamaCare.  Conservatives cheered the populist message Brown sent to Democrats in one of the most liberal states in the country.  What will they make of Ron Paul’s statement about “attack dogs” coming after him in “my own primary”?

Rep. Ron Paul, the libertarian-oriented Republican whose 2008 presidential run provided kindling for the Tea Party movement, suddenly finds himself dealing with the blowback: a handful of Tea Party-inspired candidates are seeking to dislodge him in Tuesday’s Texas Republican primary. …

In a January email alert titled “They’ve Turned Their Attack Dogs Loose On Me!”, Paul warns that both parties are “doing everything they can to make sure I am defeated.”

“These candidates include three Republicans in my own primary on March 2,” he wrote, “and they will stop at nothing to tear down and destroy all we have worked for.”

It’s not your primary, Rep. Paul.  It’s the Texas Republican Primary, and it belongs to the voters who use it to hold their elected officials accountable.  That smacks of the same arrogance that led Democrats to reserve one of their Senate seats for the Kennedys or their approved, hand-picked successor in Massachusetts.

Why might TX-14 Republicans want to replace Paul?  They’ve gotten a little tired of the show:

“Where are you Congressman Paul?” reads the website of Tim Graney, a small business owner who is one of the Republicans running against Paul. At a debate last week, John Gay, another Paul challenger, took a shot at the congressman’s national political organization, Campaign for Liberty: “I applaud Dr. Paul for what he’s done and I want him to retire and do the things that he likes to do and run the foundations that he’s started.” …

Gerald Wall, a chemical worker who is also challenging Paul, echoed their criticisms.

“The problem with Ron Paul is that he doesn’t spend any time representing his people,” he said. “Everyone knows that if we elect him to Congress he will spend one month in Congress and 18 months running for president.”

In two interviews I conducted with Graney, the challenger says the issue goes beyond being an “absentee landlord,” although that’s certainly part of it.  Paul is simply not effective in Congress, Graney argues, because of his predilection for grandstanding to an absurd degree while participating heavily in pork barrel politics.  Graney also thinks that Paul’s foreign-policy positions are extremist.

Even if one is inclined to support Paul, the primary process is a healthy way to ensure that incumbent politicians are listening to and serving their constituents.  Claiming ownership of a seat as an entitlement is the first sign that a constituency needs to find someone new to send to Washington. (via William Amos)


TOPICS: Politics/Elections; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: 2010midterms; congressmanforlife; election; gopprimary; mineminemineminemine; primary; ronpaul; teaparty; texas; tx2010
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It’s not your primary, Rep. Paul.  It’s the Texas Republican Primary, and it belongs to the voters who use it to hold their elected officials accountable.  That smacks of the same arrogance that led Democrats to reserve one of their Senate seats for the Kennedys or their approved, hand-picked successor in Massachusetts.
1 posted on 02/28/2010 9:08:09 AM PST by mnehring
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To: mnehring; jd777

< giggle>


2 posted on 02/28/2010 9:13:39 AM PST by sauropod (Ill behaved women rarely make dinner.)
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To: mnehring

Paul needs to retire and spend his days on top of a double wide with Dennis Kucinich looking for UFO’s.

Those two kooks deserve each other.


3 posted on 02/28/2010 9:14:05 AM PST by shelterguy
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To: mnehring

It’s no surprise. On both sides of the isle, they think they are royalty, not elected servants.


4 posted on 02/28/2010 9:14:35 AM PST by brownsfan (The average American: Uninformed, and unconcerned.)
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To: mnehring

Have you heard Pelosis latest announcement from on high?

We have to pass this HC makeover in spite of the peoples objections.

Because it is what “the people” need.

Talk about arrogance and forget the Constitution Fascist.

The Dummies actually belive THEY have the GOD-LIKE power to force their insanity on the American people.


5 posted on 02/28/2010 9:14:40 AM PST by Marty62 (former Marty60)
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To: mnehring

“my own”? That reeks of entitlement.Do any of these politico’s realize that all of the seats belong to the people and not the other way around? You work for us not the other way around and we can choose to fire you at the next election, got it?


6 posted on 02/28/2010 9:16:34 AM PST by chris_bdba
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To: mnehring

Starting to sound like he`s been in power a little too long.

Time for a fresh and bold new start.


7 posted on 02/28/2010 9:22:59 AM PST by Para-Ord.45
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To: mnehring

...and you wonder why so many politicians don’t understand capitalism and the competitive spirit!


8 posted on 02/28/2010 9:23:07 AM PST by Erik Latranyi (Too many conservatives urge retreat when the war of politics doesn't go their way.)
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To: mnehring

This is a REALLY GOOD post.

Thanks much for putting it up.

Semper Fi,


9 posted on 02/28/2010 9:23:32 AM PST by 2nd Bn, 11th Mar (The "P" in democrat stands for patriotism)
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To: mnehring
“Everyone knows that if we elect him to Congress he will spend one month in Congress and 18 months running for president.”

And he did so well in the last one. Not. Except for maybe getting Osama elected.

10 posted on 02/28/2010 9:29:28 AM PST by McGruff (Don't criticize. Explain to me who I should support other than Sarah Palin.)
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To: mnehring
In a January email alert titled “They’ve Turned Their Attack Dogs Loose On Me!”, Paul warns that both parties are “doing everything they can to make sure I am defeated.”

Ronnie WHA WHA.

11 posted on 02/28/2010 9:29:44 AM PST by PGalt
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To: mnehring
I wish the media would be more accurate...

Rep. Ron Paul, the libertarian-oriented Republican @ssclown...

12 posted on 02/28/2010 9:33:13 AM PST by big'ol_freeper ("Anyone pushing Romney must love socialism...Piss on Romney and his enablers!!" ~ Jim Robinson)
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To: sauropod

Hats off, Pod. I know you’ve been a big Tim Graney supporter.


13 posted on 02/28/2010 9:40:25 AM PST by jd777
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To: mnehring
Eventually, the elites in most societies tire of pandering to the unwashed masses and dispense with any pretense of representing their views. This sentiment is most clearly expressed in the arrogance of Pelosi, Maher, and Obama.
14 posted on 02/28/2010 9:47:10 AM PST by JimSEA
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To: mnehring

Who turned the dog loose? ..... Who?........Who?

The man is a nut case.


15 posted on 02/28/2010 9:54:26 AM PST by PeteB570 (Airborne, the only way to get to work in the morning.)
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To: mnehring

Uh oh, looks like Ron Paul is a bit unhappy that he has gone from being the “big heroic outsider who gets to take down the establishment” to being the establishment that’s getting took down.

I’m sure Doctah Paul’s leading conservative opponent could use a money bomb or two....how about we FReepers give it to him??


16 posted on 02/28/2010 10:00:48 AM PST by Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus (We bury Democrats face down so that when they scratch, they get closer to home.)
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To: mnehring

Like all leaders on the fringe, Ron Paul imagines that he commands legions.


17 posted on 02/28/2010 10:07:20 AM PST by samtheman
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To: shelterguy; mnehring
Paul needs to retire and spend his days on top of a double wide with Dennis Kucinich looking for UFO’s.

Those two kooks deserve each other.

No, he needs to be fired! Don't give him the honor of voluntarily stepping down and retiring.

18 posted on 02/28/2010 10:10:59 AM PST by Paleo Conservative
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To: mnehring

RP seems to spend more time promoting himself at the national level than helping to solve Texas’s problems.

Tea Party members are VOTERS, not attack dogs.


19 posted on 02/28/2010 10:15:41 AM PST by Zathras
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To: mnehring
Tim Graney for Congress
20 posted on 02/28/2010 10:20:27 AM PST by Falcon28
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