McConnell cuts himself a $1.8 Million check

Politico ^

[Din Maker]

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell plans to counter the influx of Democratic spending aimed at defeating him by writing a big personal check.

The Republican leader is loaning his campaign $1.8 million out of his own bank account, exceeding a $1.5 million investment by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and Senate Majority PAC to bolster the prospects of Democrat Alison Lundergan Grimes.

A McConnell campaign official told POLITICO Friday that his boss is making the donation because he has long said that the National Republican Senatorial Committee should spend money in other hotly contested races — not his own.

“Sen. McConnell has maintained a longstanding personal commitment to his members that he won’t draw any resources from the team,” said John Ashbrook, McConnell’s spokesman. “So he’s going to match Obama’s money men out of his own pocket.”

The move does not suggest that the McConnell campaign is short of money, officials said. In campaign finance reports filed last week, McConnell reported $5.2 million in cash in his account. But the move is also not out of character for the senator, whose minimum net worth was estimated by the Center for Responsive Politics to be $9.2 million in 2012.

In 2008, McConnell secured a $1.8 million loan in the final days of his campaign before his 6-point victory against businessman Bruce Lunsford.

Democrats are more upbeat about their prospects in Kentucky after a Survey USA poll earlier this week showed the GOP leader up just 1 point. As a result of favorable polling, DSCC officials said this week they would spent $650,000 on the air in the final stretch of the campaign, after signaling earlier they would not increase their spending across the airwaves. Similarly, the Senate Majority PAC, a big-spending Democratic super PAC run by top Harry Reid advisers, plans to up its attacks on McConnell on TV to the tune of $850,000, according to media trackers.

[Trapped Behind Enemy Lines]

Trying to find out if you spotted the signs on the front lawns of private homes or splashed all over the place on public utility polls and fences and other such places.

It does make a differences. If you saw a lot of yard signs in front yards of homeowners, that would indicate the candidate has a lot of support in that particular locality.

Otherwise, it could simply be the work of some political hacks plastering campaign posters all over the place.

[CSM]

“Bevin wasn’t prepared to answer questions about why his signature was on TARP documents.”

Not true. He answered it very thoroughly and very satisfactorily that very same day. I heard it myself.

“His campaign team allowed him to attend what was known to be a pro-cockfighting rally, and when it was explicitly identified as such he stayed instead of leaving.”

Again not true, it was a rally and there happened to be pro-cockfighting folks in attendence.

“Bevins may have been better on the issues, but he was a horrible candidate. Which matters too.”

Ah, style over substance. That’s a wonderful way to ensure liberty in governance.

“Had he won the nomination the KY Democrat political machine would have beaten Bevins like a redheaded step-child.”

That is very doubtful.

In reality, your entire note is based on the results of the GOP machine. Have you noticed how they are more interested in trashing the Conservative base while playing softball with their D opponents?

Personally, I hope that either Cochran or McConnel go down!

[CSM]

Shhhh, we need to re-write history now and trash Matt. That way the GOP treatment of the tea party won’t seem so bad....

[Din Maker]

And for a fraction of the cost that they’re incurring to take on McConnell.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Do the Dems REALLY think that they can take-out McConnell? Seriously?

[Din Maker]

was flabbergasted to see UMWA for Grimes signs
____________________________________________________________

They have endorsed her.

[Din Maker]

The primaries are over now. Time to close ranks just like the Dems.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

BULLS**T!! I don’t close ranks with people who hate me, vow to crush me and want to punch me in the face. I wouldn’t share a fox hole with the traitorous son of b**ches either. You go ahead and knock yourself out.

[Din Maker]

Personally, I hope that either Cochran or McConnell go down!
____________________________________________________________

How about both of them go down.

[Trapped Behind Enemy Lines]

If I refused to support a candidate simply because the candidate I supported in the primary, didn’t win, I would have to sit out a lot of elections.

Nothing in life is perfect, least of all politics. Choices aren’t always perfect. McConnell certainly isn’t perfect but he:

1) Has a lifetime ACU rating of 96%.
2) Voted against Obamacare.
3) voted against the Porkulus
4) Voted against Crap and Trade
5) Voted against Dodd-Frankenstein.
6) Voted against BHO’s SCOTUS appointments
7) Voted against Harry Reid as Majority Leader

McConnell, in addition....

1) Is pro-life
2) Pro-Second Amendment
3) Pro-traditional marriage
4) Pro-Keystone Pipeline
5) Pro drilling
6) pro-business
7) pro-coal
8) pro-oil
9) pro-nuclear
10 pro-defense.

Is McConnell perfect? Of course not. No one is.

But he is VASTLY preferable to his opponent. No question about that.

SO GROW UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[tanknetter]

Not true. He answered it very thoroughly and very satisfactorily that very same day. I heard it myself.

Do you mean his explanation that he was required to sign off on it by law, or his later one that since it was a digital signature it wasn't really a signature? Or his reversal back to saying that he was obligated to sign? Not having performed opposition on oneself for something like this (Bevins made opposition to TARP a big piece of his campaign), not anticipating how it might impact your campaign and not having a response prepped (even going preemptive) is a sign of an amateurish/not-ready-for-prime-time candidate.

Again not true, it was a rally and there happened to be pro-cockfighting folks in attendence

The rally was sponsored by the "Gamefowl Defense Network" which was/is a known pro-cockfighting organization. The people who organized the rally told the press at the time that the sole purpose of the rally was to legalize cockfighting. Not having done proper advance work, including understanding who is sponsoring a rally and googling them to understand their views is a sign of an amateurish/not-ready-for-prime-time candidate.

To the mix I'd add Bevin's website claiming that he'd been to MIT, rather than a graduate program that happened to take place on the MIT campus. Not properly vetting one's website for accuracy, including red-teaming it to identify and mitigate potential lines of attack, is a sign of an amateurish/not-ready-for-prime-time candidate

In reality, your entire note is based on the results of the GOP machine.

Nope. It's based on paying attention to the local KY (emphasis on Louisville) media. Which is decidedly pro-Grimes. One problem with a lot of Conservatives is that they expect that if the more Conservative candidate can just win the primary, they'll be able to overcome the hostility and attacks of a media machine bent on electing Democrats. Bevins would have been subjected to the same onslaught as McConnell, he just wouldn't have had the experience, or money, to overcome it. Which brings me to:

Ah, style over substance. That’s a wonderful way to ensure liberty in governance.

Both are incredibly important, and another issue with a lot of Conservatives is that they ignore style without recognizing the consequences of doing so. Look at the 1960 election, for instance. One reason why Nixon lost what should have been a winning election is due to his performance during the debate with JFK. Or rather his appearance during the debate. JFK brought a hair stylist and make up artist with him, and went on stage looking clean, well groomed and well-shaven. Nixon ... didn't. Looked pasty-faced, especially with the five-o-clock shadow he was wearing. The people who heard the debate on the radio thought Nixon had won it. The people who watched it on television thought Kennedy had won. But for the next 8 years or so ex-Vice President, failed Presidential candidate, failed CA gubernatorial candidate Nixon could console himself with the knowledge that HE had been the "substantive" candidate in the race ...

The truth is that Bevins was a lousy candidate who ran a lousy campaign. And would have been crushed by the KY Dem Machine had he gotten the nomination.

[combat_boots]

Harry Reid started as a DC policeman.

[Fledermaus]

They should be investigated for insider trading. Damn them if they passed “a law” that “exempts” members of Congress. Try to get 12 jurors to buy that.

We need a true conservative as president willing to stop this crap in both parties.

[lodi90]

McConnell, in addition....

1) Is pro-life
2) Pro-Second Amendment
3) Pro-traditional marriage
4) Pro-Keystone Pipeline
5) Pro drilling
6) pro-business
7) pro-coal
8) pro-oil
9) pro-nuclear
10 pro-defense.

Is McConnell perfect? Of course not. No one is.

---

You left out one:

11)McConnell is now plotting to fully fund the Obama agenda in the lame duck. Obamacare, abusive IRS, etc. All of it.

Giving away the Congressional purse strings will knee cap genuine conservative opposition to the rampaging Dems. Rather than substantively engage Obama a GOP “lead” by McConnell intends to give us another 2 years of surrender monkey Potemkin opposition.

How do you like them apples?

[RinaseaofDs]

McConnell is also:

Pro - Open Borders
Pro - Weak Pandemic Controls (Ebola (Stands with Obola on Ebola) and Enterovirus (relative of Polio))
Pro - Obamacare
Pro - Appeasing Senate Democrats

[1010RD]

More like United Mind Workers. It’s like they’re drones in a hive. Do they really believe Democrats will spare them?

[Trapped Behind Enemy Lines]

Yup...let’s leave well enough alone and let Harry Reid continue running the Senate. At least we won’t get the blame if anything goes wrong. Great idea for every election going forward. We don’t have to worry about winning anymore. Just sit back and whine and bitch all day. Sounds like a great plan. I totally agree.

[CSM]

Funny that you reference Nixon as the example of substance losing to style. Yet, when “the party closed ranks and rallied behind Nixon,” the result was what could be argued as a top 5 worst presidential administrations in history.

You can thank that “rallying behind the party” for the EPA, the War on Drugs, the federalization of medicare and HMO’s. He even wanted to use the IRS to attack his political opponents.

So, no thank you to “rally behind the party” to win an election. The GOP can KMA. Their stated goal is to “crush the tea party” and by extension that means that they want to extinguish individual liberty.

[CSM]

“How about both of them go down.”

I’d be up for that.

[sarge83]

It is interesting watching the so called conservative apologist on this thread and other FR threads trying to get those darned conservative tea party rebels back on the plantation. First there is the we must be Reid to beat obama line(worn thread bear since 1992). Fail. Next comes but our candidate is a real conservative honest. Fail. Then here comes if we re-elect old senator so and so he will be in a position to really bring home the bacon to our state!(really conservative view there boys and girls). Fail. But we are all one big happy family, join the winning team and lets win together(not mentioning that if and when you do win you will be told to shut the hell up). Fail.

Next comes the you owe the Party your vote or they have a right to your vote nonsense(earn it!). Fail. Next step if you don’t vote for our Republican slug you are voting for the democrat and the liberal which is laughable considering some of the liberal slime bags with an (R) in front of their names they expect us to vote for. Fail. Then it’s the Republicans in Washington really really really mean they will govern like conservatives this time. Fail.

Then they go into a huddle with themselves and decide will ridicule and name call conservatives, that is sure to sway them to our side, they learned this in their Dale Carnegie how to win friends and influence people course. Epic Fail!

[CSM]

To many it is a sporting event, “our team must win at all costs!” To me it is much more than that, it is about my life. I will not vote for a person that I wouldn’t want in my foxhole.