Posted on 11/04/2010 4:30:30 AM PDT by Dr. Scarpetta
There is a singular event that shoved the Republican Senate car over the cliff.
That event was the primary victory of Christine O'Donnell. This morning she used a phrase that is right on the money. That description is "Republican Cannibalism."
I personally hold Karl Rove to blame, followed closely by Senator John Cornyn. Rove is an establishment Progressive Republican of the first order.
Following O'Donnell's message of values victory in Delaware, Rove started slinging mud in her direction because he realized she was a woman that couldn't be bought & sold on a D.C. street corner.
It was Rove who almost exclusively undermined an untested Republican. When challenged, he became entrenched, making it a media story.
Coming out of a surprise primary victory, everyone would obviously be questioning O’Donnell’s candidacy.
It's the "Man Bites Dog" story. Rove turned an opportunity to help create an up-and-coming political star into much less.
The bottom feeder Rove chose for his personal aggrandizement to put blood in the water. The sharks had a feeding frenzy.
The result was that yet another "Traditional Values Candidate" was beaten by her own political party, & the momentum of several other races was slowed.
It gave Reid & others the chance to further paint traditional values candidates as kooks. The Republican cannibalism resulted in the Senate leadership failure to get behind Republican nominees.
The cannibalism by a self-professed REPUBLICAN strategist, wrapped up is his own glory led to lost momentum by MIller, Fiorina (albeit her real defeat was the unfortunate infection), Buck, Angle & Rossi.
His poor choices contributed to a decay of no less than 15 percent-point in Delaware. Had Delaware been advocated by Rove, rather than diminished, today we would be looking at a three-seat Senate majority, & a Republican Governor in CA.
(Excerpt) Read more at stgnews.com ...
I could not agree more.
Most everything I’ve ever heard from Rove is not about Republican/Conservative ideology, but about winning.
I don’t know Rove’s true beliefs, but I do believe he is motivated primarily by his drive to win.
He believed that O’Donnell couldn’t/wouldn’t win. I would have voted for her, but I also agreed with him.
Voting for O’Donnell in the primary may have won a battle, but it lost a war. (in a metaphorical sense)
I do nor disagree with this article, but someone should also be called to task for coming up with her first major TV ad, “I am not a witch”. Compare this to the way way Rand Paul handled his similar situation.
Do you really believe Rove has that much influence? You don’t think people can look at a candidate and make up their own minds? O’Donnell wasn’t a good candidate. Simple as that.
I also agree...I remember so many FReepers repeating the term,
“Rove, you magnificent bastard”...
I never bought it, but he is certainly the BASTARD now, but nothing magnificent for our side.
Its clear President Bush won by those incredibly narrow margins in spite of Karl Rove and his juvenile white ink pad and 4th grade mathematical alleged wizardry! Now its clear that Karl Rove was to being the Lead Political Strategist for President Bush as was Scott McCllellan the Lead Press Secretary, both two thoroughly Incompitent Nitwits thay President Bush felt sorry for and was bound to by some strange Loyalty! Darth Vader would have vaporized both to Siberia in two nanoseconds! For You’al in Rio Linda,
thats a respectful reference to a truly great Leader, Dick Cheney!
Do we all have a better understanding of RNC Chair,Michael Steele’s struggles; trying to deal with the established GOP and the up & coming TEA movement candidates?
Upon reflection - he was herding cats AND chickens in a basement.
Free at last!!!!!
It has to stop.
Bullseye.
I agree. I really dislike that fat slob.
Let’s be real....Castle had a better chance for the seat.
Can you imagine Carville doing something like this to his own party?
That's quite possible, but once he lost, it was time to get behind the candidate who won.
O’Donnell came across as a young kid. She might have won a House seat but a Senate seat? Not.
Ping
It was personal, Karl was insulted because he couldn’t talk the tea party into not endorsing her, and Coats was his buddy. He was venomous in his rage against her on primary night. A first class temper tantrum. Karl trashed COD, then he trashed the tea party last week, then he trashed Sarah. I turn the channel now if he comes on, just like I do with Shep and Bambi.
Agree.
O’Donnell was not the best candidate to come down the pike but Rove clearly did not help.
Time for him to go...
I understand your views, but I've come to a point where I would rather have a liberal Democrat in a seat than a liberal Republican. I guess I've seen too many instances where moderate Republicans become the tail that wags the dog. Even if it costs us seats, better to have a Republican Party I can depend on, with fewer seats, than a Republican Party in the majority that ignores my conservative views.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.