Botched Campaigns in Colorado (The GOP may end up losing two winnable races in Colorado)

National Review ^ | 08/02/2010 | David Harsanyi

[9YearLurker]

Fringe politicians are seldom up to the greater good.

[rhombus]

I remember Ross Perot well. I also remember that Nadar helped prevent a President Gore. Look through history, third parties have a rich history of defeating the people who support them. At this point the only hope the Democrats have is to rile up “real” conservatives into doing stupid things like running a third party. In fact, it should be obvious they will put big money into this as well as send out their minions on web sites such as this.

[April Lexington]

This is the difference between the collectivist and the individual. Individuals are not very good at sustained and organized control. They tend to default to the individualist position over time. The collectivist, however, can only survive in an organization. So to us, this is unnatural. To them it is natural. We either learn how to organize and stay organized. Or... we learn how to bust up Leftist organizations... Or, we are enslaved...

[saganite]

From reading the article it doesn’t look like Tancredo will do as much damage to Republican chances as they’ve already done themselves. What a mess.

[GladesGuru]

All are excellent points.

Why is Tancredo suddenly a non-starter?

[April Lexington]

but forcing people out... making the tent smaller... won’t work.

Um.... I hate to be the bearer of bad news, big tenter, but your way has brought us to today. It didn;t work. I once believed it myself. We invited in lots of independents and middle of the roaders and it blew up our party. We are now in the minority to Leftists who make up only 20% of the US population. No Big Tent over there! Nope! Just dictatorial control my a lunatic minority. Big Tent... blahhhhh.

[Vigilanteman]

We had just the opposite thing happen in the Pennsylvania Senate race. The asshat GOP Murtha loving chairman tried and failed to recruit Tom Ridge and other RINOs to take on Pat Toomey. He is running a splendid campaign in a state where Rick Santorum couldn’t even break 42% in a contest against the dumbest man in the U.S. Senate in 2006.

[zeugma]

. It takes a special kind of hubris to believe that everyone will always fall in line.

You'll find a lot of folks here on FR that thinks it is our duty to fall in line no matter who the Republicans nominate.

[zeugma]

. It takes a special kind of hubris to believe that everyone will always fall in line.

You'll find a lot of folks here on FR that thinks it is our duty to fall in line no matter who the Republicans nominate.

[SeekAndFind]

RE: Rubio lost a ton of support when he said he is against AZ’s law.

So what is Charlie Crist’s stance on the Arizona Law ? Is he for it ?

[Uri’el-2012]

I think the Republican party in Colorado
has gone the way of the Whigs.

[rwfromkansas]

I’ve heard this line before, but seriously. Immigration isn’t going to kill a candidate.
Prove it’s the reason for his decline and maybe I’ll take notice.

It’s just a convenient excuse for one-issue people who think everyone else agrees with them.

I’m for the Arizona law, but come on.

[TheClintons-STILLAnti-American]

"Clinton just took in 43% ( a plurarity of the votes ) in 1991. "

Clinton's vote total in '92 was just 21% of eligible voters.

[Yet_Again]

>So whatcha gonna do? Vote third party?

Yep. If the winner is going to be a corrupt liberal, his party affiliation doesn’t matter that much.

[LS]

You mean like Tancredo with his brilliant independent campaign? Get a clue. ALL pols do this crap---Republican, Dem, Reform, Libertarian.

The idiot Libertarians have been spared by their own ineptness from ever having to actually govern, otherwise their pristine image would be just as soiled.

Vote for the most conservative candidate who has a chance to win, period.

[SeekAndFind]

Yep. If the winner is going to be a corrupt liberal, his party affiliation doesn’t matter that much.

This of course supports what the article says... a lot of people think like this which in PRACTICAL EFFECT, means the GOP vote will split effectively ensuring a Democratic victory in a state where they shuold lose.

[ansel12]

Where are all the Tancredo worshipers from a few years ago?

Tancredo jumping on the pro amnesty Mitt Romney's bandwagon instead of Fred Thompson's did not help him, especially since Romney was involved at the time in his second major scandal involving his 11 year use of illegal aliens.

[catnipman]

As far as I can tell, the State GOP in Colorado is clueless and nearly 100% useless. And I really mean useless. Not actively messing things up by backing the wrong candidates, but simply not active. Practically non-existent and practically moribund.

For example, I sent them some money with the express intent on getting on some mailing lists. Supposedly I was to receive an “official” Colorado GOP Party Member card. Never got the card. Never got on an email list (maybe they simply don’t have any), and never heard back from them. I expected at least to have them get back to me to hit me up for more money, since presumably they would have thought they’d found a live one. Zip. Zero. Nada.

[sportutegrl]

Look through history, third parties have a rich history of defeating the people who support them.

Like in 1968, when a third party candidate split the Democrat vote and carried 5 states, allowing Nixon to win. It wasn't Republican votes that (Independent and former Dem)George Wallace siphoned off.

[starlifter]

I have a sneaking suspicion that the Colorado God-squad is involved in this fiasco.