On Thursday I interviewed Sen. John Cornyn, head of the National Republican Sentorial Committee. When I asked him about the NRSC running someone against Sen. Arlen Specter in 2010, given the anger many Republicans feel about Specter's vote on the stimulus bill, Cornyn's answer was basically that he would rather have someone voting with him 80% of the time, rather than a liberal Democrat who would vote with him 0% of the time.
Well, it looks like Sen. Cornyn might be able to get someone who will vote with him more than 80% of the time. Former Congressman Pat Toomey, the current Club for Growth President, announced this morning on Bobby Gunther Walsh's 1-On-1 Show, WAEB, 790AM, that a Primary challenge to Sen. Arlen Specter is now 'back on the table."
Given Specter's abysmal poll numbers in Pennsylvania right now, this is interesting, to say the least.
On Sunday the Associated Press reported these words from Vice President Biden:
At a reception Friday in Philadelphia with Pennsylvania's congressional delegation, Vice President Joe Biden thanked Specter for supporting the stimulus bill.
"He knows what's worth losing over and he's willing to act on it," Biden said. "In his heart, I know he's a Democrat."
Now, if that isn't enough to make you want to bang your head against the desk, the AP story also has this to say about Specter's liberal votes:
"It is that streak of independence that the fifth-term Specter flaunts and Republicans fear."
No, it's that streak of liberalism that we despise, not fear.
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
The primaries is where we
March 2, 2009 - 13:43 ET by NewsbusterbrownThe primaries are where we need to make a statement against RINOs and moderate Republicans, not in the general elections, IMO. Hopefully Toomey can topple Specter and give us a conservative senator from PA again.
“There are no easy answers' but there are simple answers. We must have the courage to do what we know is morally right.” - Ronald Reagan (1964 Republican Convention)
Exactly,
March 2, 2009 - 13:48 ET by UpNorthNewsbuster, those who are vulnerable to primary challenges need to be primaried. At the least, let them know how much they're despised, at best defeat them. They need to be sent the message that we loathe them and what they've done, not only to us, but to future generations who are stuck with this horrendous bill.
"need to be primaried"
March 2, 2009 - 14:01 ET by BlondeIt's not as hard as one might think.
Years ago, we had a Republican Sheriff here in the heart of democratic Broward County....named Nick Navarro. You may have heard of him, he started and had BSO star that stupid show "Cops" (Bad boys, bad boys, watcha gonna do?).
It was such an embarassment, as was his continual blathering in the local media (hmmmm), that he got defeated by an unknown in the primary!
I hope he fails, too.
Hmmm. But it's the
March 2, 2009 - 17:34 ET by RR GOPHmmm. But it's the independents that often decide our candidates for us. To them I don't think the RINO label matters much to them...because, they're above all that base nastiness that party members associate themselves with.
Independents should only be allowed to vote for independents.
One of the 24% who thinks George W. Bush was a great President. One of the 89% who wants to bring back the stock and pillory.
Correct
March 2, 2009 - 20:44 ET by BlondeThe very first thing that needs to be done by Michael Steele and the RNC is to fix the broken primaries.
All else will follow.
I hope he fails, too.
Steele - Stop Yapping And Get Working
March 3, 2009 - 00:05 ET by stratmanThe first thing Michael Steele needs to do is stop going on Liberal talk shows and blather on like a prom queen bashing her date.
Steele bashing Limbaugh was bizarre. Is Steele so ungrounded in Conservative principles that he is unable to withstand the weakling prodding by the likes of DL Hughley? For pete's sake, that was pitiful and distressing. Steele may very well be the wrong man to lead anything Republican let alone Conservative.
I have heard that Steele offered up his mea culpa tonight for his anti-Rush debacle. The Left will no doubt point to this as the facist effect Limbaugh provokes. I say, if the populace flooded Steele with their discontent at his derogatory words, then FANTASTIC! About time these professional politicians felt the urgency and commitment we the constituents feel at this time in history.
Wise up Mr. Steele. Moving further to the left has not and will not work for the GOP. Return to the platform and policies that our Founding Fathers relied upon to forge and grow this nation, the policies that have worked repeatedly in advancing liberty and success for Americans and the world.
Mr Steele, we Conservatives and Republicans are your date to the dance. Do not undermine or marginalize us, for the result will be certain failure. Look no further than the McCain campaign to see the blueprint for failure. Do voice the principles that made and still make us great and have proven throughout history to be in the best interests of Americans.
Not long ago there were Reagan Democrats and Blue Dog Democrats who voted Republican and/or supported fiscally conservative policies. Those folks are still out there. All you need to do is remind them of our common desires/goals, explaining again why traditional Conservative ideology is in their/our best interest just as it had been and did work before, and that these principles are more important than our differences when it comes to protecting and promoting the quintessential ideals of liberty and the pursuit of happiness embodied in our Declaration of Independence.
Frame the discussion honestly in our terms. Stop playing catchup to the Democrat partyline. Have concise, understandable replies ready to the customary Democrat ideological arguments. Do not be sidetracked by ad homenum attacks except to firmly call out the agitprop and illuminate his false and weak attack. Then return to OUR message.
Above all, do not treat us as the redheaded step-child that you keep in the basement when company comes to visit. Long after your new-found Liberal Media "friends" have departed, WE will still be here and YOU might end up a castaway on a deserted island.
Mr. Steele, heed your own words: "...anybody that gets in the way will get run over."
Talk about Chicken Hawks!
March 2, 2009 - 13:42 ET by BlondeI think since the Bamster has miraculously ended the war in Iraq, we can now redefine "chickenhawk".
Republicans who tolerate and who do not openly disdain the RINO's like Snowe & Specter.
I hope he fails, too.
Specter fails at the wrong times
March 2, 2009 - 13:57 ET by pgrossjrThe problem with Arlen is that the 20% of the time he is on the wrong side of the aisle are on key issues. One of the problems the party needs to address is their unwillingness to confront mavericks and stand on principle. He needed to attend CPAC and pay attention. We win when we have leaders who stick to party principles. We may lose occasionally, but as we will soon see the other party's ideas will fail spectacularly and we will be back in power IF the voters dont see us as just a modified Democrat party. That was the lesson of the last two elections.
Well what you gonna do
March 2, 2009 - 16:05 ET by 10ksnookerTo get attention when most of the time your argument are an order of fries short of a hppy meal. They crave attention, and this is the one way for the mavericks to get it. Spector did himself no good with the after action interviews he did -- Just proved he should retire while ahead.
Toomey is back in ?
What to do?
March 2, 2009 - 14:01 ET by slickwillie2001Specter and the Fair Ladies of Maine are an interesting predicament, textbook cases in the value of political compromise. In primary challenges we could replace them with more conservative candidates, who might lose the general election. That could make the difference between winning control of the Senate 51-49, or leaving it in the hands of democratics 49-51 to continue Obammy's rage against our country.
One or two votes can make the difference in controlling the agenda and blocking Obammy, and having a majority on every committee that call hearings and actually writes legislation. If we lose we take pleasure in retiring these worthless RINOs, but isn't politics about winning?
The numbers are contradictory. Specter might retire anyway, he's older than Pennsylvania.
So Willie. Don't you think
March 2, 2009 - 17:27 ET by CaringwhiteguySo Willie. Don't you think after a year and a half of Obama that a conservative can win Pennsylvania? Santorum won twice.
Santorum
March 2, 2009 - 17:46 ET by slickwillie2001Santorum squeaked by twice in Republican years and was crushed 60/40 the third time in 2006 in a democratic year. Pennsylvania is winnable for Republicans, but it will take the right kind of Republican in a Republican year. A real conservative will only win in Republican years.
How much damage Obammy does to our country in the next two years will determine what kind of Republican can win in PA.
We should have had Toomey last election
March 2, 2009 - 14:04 ET by averageschmoeToomey would have beat Spector in 2004 if it hadn't been for Rick Santorum and President Bush coming out for and backing Spector.
Idiots.
You got that right!
March 2, 2009 - 17:07 ET by doug1950And I am still pissed about Bush and Co. doing that. They also baked Mel Martinez here in FL instead of Katherine Harris who took a sled load of **** from the media and late night tv hosts just for doing her job as the Sec of State when GWB needed FL in 2000.
Doug
March 2, 2009 - 17:31 ET by BlondeI don't know what you're hearing up your way....but down here even the dems are saying if Crist runs for this seat, he's in like Flint.
We need another RINO like a hole in the head....and we need to unseat Nelson while we're at it.
Young Connie Mack is kind of a dummy....I met him and I was not impressed. IOW, I think we're in for more of the same.
I hope he fails, too.
Blonde
March 2, 2009 - 18:43 ET by doug1950FL panhandle may as well be the dark side of the moon. We hear very little or receive little attention until they need the conservative votes. I had not heard that Crist was even in the running but I am not surprised because of all the legal immigrants from up North who reside in central and south FL. I hate hearing that he is considering a run at it. I have ZERO respect for him. I do not know about young Connie Mack but I almost hate the idea of another political family legacy candidate as well. Time for some fresh blood and stop all this incestuous behavior in the GOP. I have to think about this now. Scarbourgh is useless as .....you know ....on a boar hog,.
Interesting Follow-up
March 2, 2009 - 14:14 ET by CaringwhiteguyIt might have been interesting to ask Cornyn if he thought a conservative candidate could win in Pennsylvania. If yes, why not run one? If no, why are you the head of the National Republican Senatorial Committee?
It also might have been interesting to pursue the "get back into the majority" angle stated by Cornyn. "Senator, how can Republicans best and most quickly get back into (and keep) the majority - - by running attractive, conservative candidates or Democrat Lite? How could conservatives best keep a regained majority, by sticking to the principals on which they were elected, or getting sucked into the Washington way of doing things?"
'Bipartisan'
March 2, 2009 - 14:17 ET by JDWRhinos and moderates are bipartisan.
What are Palin's poll numbers today? Carter's are higher than Obama's but find that in the news media. They do not matter.
Specter, Snowe..., will not lose because as a result of being bipartisan nor possessing low poll ratings, they are tattooed with passing the spendulus.
JDW
DAILY WAVE
The government works for me, not the other way around
Toomey!
March 2, 2009 - 15:19 ET by bigtimerThis is great news...GREAT news!
Now let us see if people like Steele and Cornyn along with other big-wigs behind the scenes do the same thing to Toomey as they did before...and withdraw the support and money for him...
Groups like Club for Growth is where we need to sink any money we have to support, not the RNC from what I have seen so far.
Go Toomey Go!
We conservatives have to take back the 'R' party.
Arlen Spector is toast and he knows it!
March 2, 2009 - 15:35 ET by CTHe wont have Rick Santorum and President Bush campaigning for him in 2010.
It broke my heart when
March 2, 2009 - 16:21 ET by bigtimerIt broke my heart when Santorum did that back then, he was one of my favorite politcians back then, I still love him, just wished he wouldn't have been pressured to do as such, if that is what happened.
Someday it would be great to read a book about what all went on behind the scenes with the characters that ran the elections behind the scenes etc.
sorry double post
March 2, 2009 - 17:26 ET by Caringwhiteguysorry double post
What good is having a guy
March 2, 2009 - 18:21 ET by fitzfongWhat good is having a guy who's with you 80% of the time when he's against you on the 20% that actually matters? If John Cornyn is so willing to accept this crap, perhaps Texans should consider running a primary challenger against him the next time around. RINOs like Arlen Specter, Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe freelance with the socialists because self-described "Conservatives" are too cowardly to keep them in line. Perhaps instead of focusing anger on the turncoats like Specter, we should be saving it for the bystanders like Cornyn.
"Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." -Winston Churchill
fitz... Bingo! ...and I have
March 2, 2009 - 18:36 ET by bigtimerfitz...
Bingo!
...and I have enough anger for all of them.
Exactly!
March 2, 2009 - 22:22 ET by doug1950Ive been saying we need to replace ALL the sombitches..now! and replace them with Patriots. Mean, steely eyed Patriots.
this is what happens
March 2, 2009 - 18:25 ET by katainkentwhen they are more afraid for their jobs then they are for their country.
More on Specter
March 3, 2009 - 00:37 ET by slickwillie2001Interesting Specter article here: The Specter that Haunts Conservatives: http://spectator.org...
Makes good points about our poor Senate prospects in 2010 based on which Senators happen to be running and the Republican retirements coming up.
I will NOT be voting for
March 3, 2009 - 09:48 ET by oldArmyI will NOT be voting for Sen. Specter. It took all I had to vote for McCain.....but in the end...I did....I knew he was more along my lines than Pres. Obama. Specter....just needs to go away..
TERM LIMITS!!!
GO TOOMEY!!!!