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Disaster: Democrat beats Republican in Mississippi special election; Update: Panic time, say Boehner, Cole

posted at 10:29 pm on May 13, 2008 by Allahpundit
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And so the only election that mattered tonight, the bellwether of this fall’s congressional races, goes the wrong way. I’m going to go find some glue to huff. Talk amongst yourselves.

Update: It may not end up being all that close, either.

Update: Boehner and NRCC Chairman Tom Cole warn congressional Republicans that a hard rain’s a-gonna fall.


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Comment pages: 1 2 3

profitsbeard on May 14, 2008 at 12:05 AM

Waiting for the opposition to trip? Yeah, I agree that is the best hope we have, but damned pissed off that the RNC spent the last eight years drinking wine and eating cheese.

Limerick on May 14, 2008 at 12:12 AM

windansea on May 13, 2008 at 11:10 PM

Please explain how you can do that, the waterfront villa in Mexico. My understanding is that you can’t own property in Mexico unless you are a citizen of Mexico. You have to have a visa to be there and a visa is only good for 3 months. Also, why are you paying Mexico 10% income taxes and less than 1% property taxes.

I figured it out, you are a Mexican.

cjs1943 on May 13, 2008 at 11:48 PM

My retired parents have become “snow birds” who leave the Northeast for the winter to spend it in a condo they bought on the coast of Mexico. I don’t know all of the details, but they have a different kind of visa and are allowed to own property (although it may only be for 50 years or something like that, and then it reverts back to Mexican control).

windansea can give you the whole scoop, but don’t assume s/he’s Mexican.

Red Pill on May 14, 2008 at 12:17 AM

Almost time for Atlas Shrugged…

eanax on May 14, 2008 at 12:18 AM

This concerns me. Up to now, we couldn’t find decent candidates for these special elections. We lost Speaker Hastert’s seat because Oberweis was a crappy candidate. Trust me, 3 previous attempts for statewide offices (2 Senate seats & Governor), he is, and was, a complete joke. There was a hard time finding someone to run for that seat. The LA special had the same problem, crappy candidate. The NRCC can’t convince quality people to run when individuals know that there will be little monetary support from the national party. We’re going to lose a ton of seats this fall. With Obama on as the nominee, every moderate (rino) Republican House member is in serious trouble. We have around 30 open seats, plus all the “lean republican/toss up” seats to worry about. There is just not enough money at the NRCC to stop the bleeding.

The Hort on May 14, 2008 at 12:19 AM

Do you think the GOP is going to listen to Newt now?
Theworldisnotenough on May 13, 2008 at 11:55 PM

Why??? They are screwed up enough already.
Unless you are talking about the Newt of 1996, and not the current Pelosi loving, Gorebull Warming acolyte.

Yeah, we could use the Newt of 10-12 years ago. The current one is part of the problem, not the solution.

LegendHasIt on May 14, 2008 at 12:20 AM

Absolutely time for Term Limits for U.S. Representatives and U.S. Senators.

And it’s time to repeal the 17th Amendment…

eanax on May 14, 2008 at 12:21 AM

windansea can give you the whole scoop, but don’t assume s/he’s Mexican.

Red Pill on May 14, 2008 at 12:17 AM

here it is again

if you are not a Mexican national you can own property within 50km of the ocean through a fidecomiso or Mexican bank trust, it’s not a lease you have full ownership rights and be advised that huge financial institutions like GE Capital and Stewart Title insurance are backing these investments to the tune of $20 billion per year

Any American can get a 6 month visa whenever they enter, renewable yearly FM visas are easily obtained if you buy property or get a job here (you must be sponsored for the latter)

Properties further than 50km from the beach can be bought by foreigners fee simple, just like in the USA

windansea on May 14, 2008 at 12:25 AM

The Hort on May 14, 2008 at 12:19 AM

Even if the RNCC had DNCC money it would be able to defend that many seats. With the RNCC’s money troubles it’s no surprise Rep. Cole publicly stated Congressional candidates had to work hard to fundraise for themselves.

seanhackbarth on May 14, 2008 at 12:26 AM

I had an incredibly vivid dream last night that McCain died of a heart attack before the convention. Romney was selected and he drafted John Cornyn as his running mate. They won. John Bolton was confirmed as Secretary of State. Jeff Sessions got DHS, Patraeus got Sec Def, Newt got HHS and Janice Rogers-Brown replaced Bader-Ginsburg in year one. Volker came out of retirement to replace Bernanke. Meanwhile, in the private sector the NYT went bankrupt, and Google crashed to $5 per share.

Needless to say, I woke up.

PD Quig on May 14, 2008 at 12:31 AM

LOL. Now you done thru Erin off the boat.

Limerick on May 14, 2008 at 12:06 AM

Dude, it’s all about Mars.

- The Cat

P.S. Mars is the new Texas.

MirCat on May 14, 2008 at 12:36 AM

It should be noted that Childers, the Dem winner, in addition to running as anti-abortion and anti-gay marriage, explicitly distanced himself from Obama, denying he’d been endorsed by him and claiming never to have met him.

CK MacLeod on May 14, 2008 at 12:36 AM

Keep in mind the democrat Childers ran as a strong social conservative.

bard on May 14, 2008 at 12:37 AM

PD Quig on May 14, 2008 at 12:31 AM

Newt at HHS…LOL

Saltysam on May 14, 2008 at 12:38 AM

Makes me laugh to recall all the pseudo-Republicans who said they would shun McCain and only vote in the Congressionals. Where were they tonite? Greg Davis was no ‘RINO’. The people are abandoning conservatism in droves.

Face it – the Dems are going to slaughter the GOP and be sitting on super-majorities in Congress come the fall unless we start to make our case in a vigorous, constructive and positive manner. No use bleating amongst ourselves online – let’s get talking to our neighbors and colleagues. And better hope that McCain has long coattails.

Pax americana on May 14, 2008 at 12:39 AM

I dont know. I wouldnt mind being stranded on a distant planet with Signourney Weaver forever.

YOWZA!!!

Roger Waters on May 14, 2008 at 12:45 AM

The media is making this out to be worse than it might be. From what I have read, this seat was held by democrats for a very, very long time and the Republican years were a “hiccup”. Remember, South Carolina voted for Fritz Hollings year after year while at the same time electing Strom Thurmond. Even democrats like Hollings are more moderate than the national democrat party.

SouthernGent on May 14, 2008 at 12:46 AM

I had an incredibly vivid dream last night that McCain died of a heart attack before the convention.

you must be so proud

get lost troll

windansea on May 14, 2008 at 12:47 AM

And better hope that McCain has long coattails.

Pax americana on May 14, 2008 at 12:39 AM

McCain is walking around bareassed. He (and many of the strange tendencies of President Bush) are the main reasons we got into this mess in the first place.
Remember, until that Immigration nonsense and Gang of 14 shenanigans of McCain hit in 2005, we were a fairly unified party.

It’s just time to rebuild. And keep Gingrich away – he’s crap.

TexasJew on May 14, 2008 at 12:49 AM

Freakin exactly right TexasJew.

Every word….exactly DAMN RIGHT!!!

Roger Waters on May 14, 2008 at 12:56 AM

Meh…….. four years of a democratic president, democratic senate, and a democratic house in a time of war against a faceless enemy and we can’t drill for an drop of oil in our our country, all with the global warming hoax of Al Gore setting the agenda with taxes for using energy in the pipeline to pay for a cure for a problem that can’t be fixed…….. anyone else still want some popcorn? Anyone else still want to stay home?

Seven Percent Solution on May 14, 2008 at 12:57 AM

four years of a democratic president, democratic senate, and a democratic house in a time of war against a faceless enemy and we can’t drill for an drop of oil in our our country, all with the global warming hoax of Al Gore setting the agenda with taxes for using energy in the pipeline to pay for a cure for a problem that can’t be fixed……..
Seven Percent Solution on May 14, 2008 at 12:57 AM

Yeah… And thats what we get if McCain wins.

LegendHasIt on May 14, 2008 at 1:00 AM

LegendHasIt on May 14, 2008 at 1:00 AM

I guess s/he missed McCain’s speech today.

Saltysam on May 14, 2008 at 1:03 AM

I had an incredibly vivid dream last night that McCain died of a heart attack before the convention. Romney was selected and he drafted John Cornyn as his running mate. They won. John Bolton was confirmed as Secretary of State. Jeff Sessions got DHS, Patraeus got Sec Def, Newt got HHS and Janice Rogers-Brown replaced Bader-Ginsburg in year one. Volker came out of retirement to replace Bernanke. Meanwhile, in the private sector the NYT went bankrupt, and Google crashed to $5 per share.

Needless to say, I woke up.

PD Quig on May 14, 2008 at 12:31 AM

…And read in the WSJ that McCain just got a titanium pacemaker, Romney renounced Mormonism and made the anti-Mormon bigot Mike Huckabee his spiritual advisor, and Newt Gingrich just fathered Nancy Pelosi’s lovechild.
Or was that Lindsay Graham’s lovechild?

TexasJew on May 14, 2008 at 1:05 AM

Meh…….. four years of a democratic president, democratic senate, and a democratic house in a time of war against a faceless enemy and we can’t drill for an drop of oil in our our country, all with the global warming hoax of Al Gore setting the agenda with taxes for using energy in the pipeline to pay for a cure for a problem that can’t be fixed…….. anyone else still want some popcorn? Anyone else still want to stay home?

Seven Percent Solution on May 14, 2008 at 12:57 AM

Why the hell not? I like popcorn. And Canadian Tar Sands. And offshore rigs. And Alaskan oil. Lots of it.
Sounds like you just reiterated McCain’s energy policy, word for word.
In fact, your post probably reiterated it better than that stupid useless bastard ever could.

TexasJew on May 14, 2008 at 1:11 AM

I guess s/he missed McCain’s speech today.

Saltysam on May 14, 2008 at 1:03 AM

Well she sure as hell heard his speech on Monday.

TexasJew on May 14, 2008 at 1:14 AM

HA HA HA HA!!!

I like this TexasJew dude.

Roger Waters on May 14, 2008 at 1:16 AM

The problem is we have no leader,,NONE. No one to step up and call for big ideas that people can see understand without a 20 minute explanation course i.e. Bush’s Social Security Reform.

-Presidential decree ordering immediate FULL ALT drilling from Anwar, Rockies, Shale, Gas, FL, other, all. Let the Dems explain to the gen pop why we should buy near $4.00 a gallon gas from foreigners instead.

-DEREGULATE EVERYTHING. Un-tie and release the US business/Industry/entrepreneurial/invention. Read up on some of the truly world changing inventions we invented in the early 1900’s. Can you imagine an Einstein today just running high voltage wires around NY to sell electricity, no OSHA inspection, no human studies, no EPA impact report, no County, City, State, Fed license?

-Immediate freeze of ALL federal corporate & citizen welfare, subsidiaries, bailouts. Freedom means the Freedom to SUCCEED and/or FAIL. Bailing out big companies with un-sound business practices is just delaying the inevitable and rewarding failure. When a big company fails it IS NOT the end of the economy but instead the other companies eat the remains and fill the void. Cream rises to the Top sh*t sinks. We are not supposed to have select special NOBLE class who are protected, only successful and un-successful.

-Immigration; enforce the existing laws and MAN THE BORDER. If not possible absorb Mexico in whole cutting it into a few states and put all Mexicans on a citizenship track. Mandate that track include learning English, and PRO-US American History. (I would wager that in 10yrs the US would gain cheap labor to rebuild our industry (freed by deregulation) and the new Southern States would be thriving resource rich, vacation, tourist, center pieces. Oh and the new southern border would be a third the size.)

-Taxes; well after we deregulate everything (ending the need for tens of thousands of government bureaucracies & employees in one swoop), and then ending all corporation/citizen, welfare/subsidiarity we can what cut it in half and still double the Military Budget so we can defeat any and all?

-Health care; Very simple make it clear “Don’t want to give you welfare but instead make it so the government doesn’t take as much of YOUR money so you can take that money and Buy your heath care or whatever YOU WANT TO DO WITH IT. Government aint your Daddy unless you are a Democrat”

-GWOT and war in general. Make it simply clear that the US doesn’t go to war unless forced to HOWEVER never shall there be another Vietnam. We win or continue to turn up the volume from contained, civil, intense, brutal, ugly, horrific, and if required scorched earth. No one short the Soviets and maybe to a degree China can go full ALT with the US so if made believable this marker would avoid 90% of the “paper tiger” believers.

The time for niceties and hollow warm fuzzy BS is over.

Hollow words and we will do it less bad (health care/global warming/ etc.)from Repubs are not going to cut it after, 8 years of soaring deficits, expanded government, expanded regulation, $4.00 a gallon gas, worsening trade gaps, etc.

C-Low on May 14, 2008 at 1:18 AM

“Well she sure as hell heard his speech on Monday.”

TexasJew on May 14, 2008 at 1:14 AM

Ooops. You’re right!

Remarks By John McCain on Climate Change Policy

May 12, 2008

Saltysam on May 14, 2008 at 1:21 AM

Looks like I picked the wrong week to give up sniffing glue.

OneGyT on May 13, 2008 at 10:33 PM

Get it right. It’s, “Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit sniffing glue.”

Fortunately, I didn’t pick this week to quit drinking.

steveegg on May 14, 2008 at 1:30 AM

Fortunately, I didn’t pick this week to quit drinking.

“Say Billy… do you like presidential candidates dressed like gladiators?”

Skywise on May 14, 2008 at 1:34 AM

“We know that greenhouse gasses are heavily implicated as a cause of climate change. And we know that among all greenhouse gasses, the worst by far is the carbon-dioxide that results from fossil-fuel combustion.”

…”Over time, an increasing fraction of permits for emissions could be supplied by auction, yielding federal revenues that can be put to good use. Under my plan, we will apply these and other federal funds to help build the infrastructure of a post-carbon economy. We will support projects to advance technologies that capture and store carbon emissions…

Remarks By John McCain on Climate Change Policy

May 12, 2008

Saltysam on May 14, 2008 at 1:35 AM

Anyone else still want to stay home?

Seven Percent Solution on May 14, 2008 at 12:57 AM

Actually, I’m seriously thinking about joining windansea, only on the Carribean side. No foolin’.

Maybe it’s time for a counter-invasion. I’ve got a lot of research to do.

techno_barbarian on May 14, 2008 at 1:46 AM

“Say Billy… do you like presidential candidates dressed like gladiators?”

Skywise on May 14, 2008 at 1:34 AM

Surely you can’t be serious.

steveegg on May 14, 2008 at 1:54 AM

“We know that greenhouse gasses are heavily implicated as a cause of climate change. And we know that among all greenhouse gasses, the worst by far is the carbon-dioxide that results from fossil-fuel combustion.”

…”Over time, an increasing fraction of permits for emissions could be supplied by auction, yielding federal revenues that can be put to good use. Under my plan, we will apply these and other federal funds to help build the infrastructure of a post-carbon economy. We will support projects to advance technologies that capture and store carbon emissions…”

Remarks By John McCain on Climate Change Policy

May 12, 2008

That is just stunningly ignorant of the facts. CO2 is not an evil gas. This crap has gone way too far. It’s not about the environment. It’s about creating a ‘green’ economy.

techno_barbarian on May 14, 2008 at 1:54 AM

Game Over Man!

Kini on May 14, 2008 at 2:06 AM

Surely you can’t be serious.

No I’m not. And don’t call me Shirley!

Kini on May 14, 2008 at 2:08 AM

The DNC had already spent more than a million dollars on this particular seat by April 22, and kept spending until they won it, beyond vulgar.

If the RNC thought it was THAT important, then where was the overt fight outside of the district? Yes, it was important. But the people voted for the Baptist realtor who owns retirement nursing homes, and goes to show that not all evangelicals are GOP (McCain should take note).

maverick muse on May 14, 2008 at 2:08 AM

It’s not about the environment. It’s about creating a ‘green’ economy.
techno_barbarian on May 14, 2008 at 1:54 AM

It’s not about the environment. It’s about creating a ‘green’ ‘RED’, NON-economy.

LegendHasIt on May 14, 2008 at 2:09 AM

techno_barbarian on May 14, 2008 at 1:54 AM

You got that right.

If we want more “greening” of the planet, then it would make sense to pour MORE CO2 into the atmosphere. The plant growth will respond accordingly.

Duh…

Saltysam on May 14, 2008 at 2:09 AM

“permits obtained at auction!”

May the best wealthiest man win.

maverick muse on May 14, 2008 at 2:23 AM

“We will support projects to advance technologies that capture and store carbon emissions”

PBS tonight featured volcanic crater lakes, below the surface lay carbon dioxide gas bubbles that explode above water and hang over the surface of the earth killing everything.

There’s no “capture and store carbon emissions” in real life scenarios! We’ll capture lightening and put it in a bottle. We’ll cork a volcano and prevent it’s eruption. We’ll censor earthquakes from existence. The power of denial is strong in the Chartreuse crowd.

maverick muse on May 14, 2008 at 2:34 AM

I’m just happily drilling my little oil wells down here in Texas.

McCain can kiss my big fat Jewish Republican carbon footprint.

TexasJew on May 14, 2008 at 3:11 AM

McCain is playing the idiot candidate route. McCain would be better off working the economy, taxes and jobs route. Real tangible everyday issues. Not hoaxes and myths about Global Warming.

That strategy will not win elections. Real life, down to earth, straight talk issues campaigning needs to be done.

Else he’s setting himself up for defeat.

Here’s a thought….. how about repositioning the Bush tax cuts as an economic stimulus by not letting them expire?

BUT NOOOOOOOOOO! Let’s hug a tree.

Kini on May 14, 2008 at 3:27 AM

This another reason that the MDS folks make me gnash my teeth.

The White House is the ONLY branch of government you’re going to conceivably be able to possess this election year. Because Congress is out of the question, and won’t get back in your control for YEARS, despite the fact that Democrats haven’t done jack in the last 2 years.

So stop trying to piss the only victory you MIGHT get down the drain, to elect a socialist liberal Democrat who will utterly ruin this country thanks to a heavily Democrat Congress who will grant his every legislative whim.

Vyce on May 14, 2008 at 4:14 AM

McCain can kiss my big fat Jewish Republican carbon footprint.

TexasJew on May 14, 2008 at 3:11 AM

But what if he offered carbon credits at half price?

Just joking- my big fat pasty white Minnesotan V8 Jeep owning carbon footprint is pretty tired of the Global Warming scam too. There are no “free market solutions” to the non-existant problem.

Hollowpoint on May 14, 2008 at 4:37 AM

Conservatives need to boil down policies to those things that still appeal to the American public.

- Fiscal discipline
- Accountability
- Result driven policies
- Competent government
- Fairness

These core features have been lacking in the Republican Administration. The only way anything can be recovered is fom the ground up… all politics are local.

You can blame the media and whine about this and that but you have to start over since most Americans think Conservatism has gone off a cliff based on the last eight years of complete failure. Drop all the far right crap and get back to good government. It is possible.

lexhamfox on May 14, 2008 at 4:41 AM

very good news,
may be the bushrepublican slime can damage GOP hopefully for many, many years ahead

sashal on May 14, 2008 at 6:02 AM

. . . And that is why McCain must separate himself from the traditional Republican/conservative base lest he get his butt trounced in November. That’s not a value judgement, it’s just a fact.

rplat on May 14, 2008 at 6:25 AM

Texas Jew:

How soon they forget. Bush brought the Republicans a majority in the Congress as well as the White House. That is something Republicans rarely have.

And then the socalled base turned on him, did their best to help Pelosi and the gang ruin him and now they complain about Bush. Oh noooo, it ain’t them they say, America loves them. Why I bet that Bush had something to do with Newt not keeping it is in his pants back in the day. Can’t be the right. Nope, it is all the fault of Bush and McCAin.

You just keep telling yourselves that while the Democrats run right over the top of you.

So now they cry they don’t have a leader. Who would want to be the leader of people who would turn on them in a heartbeat?

Terrye on May 14, 2008 at 6:35 AM

Sashal:

Nothing stays the same in politics. Remember 2004 when people said the Democrats were done? They weren’t and the Republicans are not done now.

As for slime, I am more concerned about the Jeremiah Wright/Hamas kind of slime myself.

Terrye on May 14, 2008 at 6:36 AM

If the right thinks the way to win elections is to attack anyone who wants to cut green house gas emissions, they are just not reading the electorate.

McCain was not too keen on the drug prescription plan, which he said was too expensive. Conservatives bitched about that plan too. And his plan to cut emissions is not nearly as restrictive as the kind of things the Democrats are talking about. So it seems the choice here is one of how intrusive the plan will be…not whether or not there is one.

Now conservatives can whine about this all they want, but sooner or later they need to face certain realities: the country is going to the center and calling John McCain names and whining that he is not far enough to the right will not change that.

We have troops in harms way, they should be our first priority.

Terrye on May 14, 2008 at 6:42 AM

Everybody relax. The Repubs have nominated a young, popular conservative who’ll bring out the base in droves in November…oh yeah…maybe not! I’ve previously predicted a Filibuster proof Senate and a possible Veto Proof Congress…get ready for Obama’s socialism to be unopposed and implemented at will. This is going to be ugly. Better get your guns/ammo and tobacco now!

jwp1964 on May 14, 2008 at 6:47 AM

Republicans have no one to blame but themselves. We will all have to suffer for their scandals, power grabs and spending excesses. It’s going to be a loooooong 4 years but I hope they learn something from it.

ctmom on May 14, 2008 at 7:02 AM

And then the socalled base turned on him,

Terrye on May 14, 2008 at 6:35 AM

\

W-R-O-N-G ! HE turned on the base.

stenwin77 on May 14, 2008 at 7:13 AM

W-R-O-N-G ! HE turned on the base.

stenwin77 on May 14, 2008 at 7:13 AM

Don’t leave out the RNC and the state parties in the all-out assault on conservatives.

steveegg on May 14, 2008 at 7:24 AM

Face it – the Dems are going to slaughter the GOP and be sitting on super-majorities in Congress come the fall unless we start to make our case in a vigorous, constructive and positive manner. ***

Pax americana on May 14, 2008 at 12:39 AM

I agree. I now just hope that the GOP can keep its losses in the House to under 20 and can hold on to at least 42 votes in the Senate to retain the ability to filibuster (yes, I know 40 is the required number, but you have to throw some padding in because we have RINOs in our midst who theoretically could be bought off…) I hate to say it, but Newt was conceptually right in his recent article where he says that Republicans need to come out with a strong platform and statement of beliefs, and run from that platform… Whether items like solving global warming and installing GPS units on commercial aircraft should be on that list is a different story!

Outlander on May 14, 2008 at 7:31 AM

four years of a democratic president, democratic senate, and a democratic house in a time of war against a faceless enemy and we can’t drill for an drop of oil in our our country, all with the global warming hoax of Al Gore setting the agenda with taxes for using energy in the pipeline to pay for a cure for a problem that can’t be fixed…….. anyone else still want some popcorn? Anyone else still want to stay home?

Seven Percent Solution on May 14, 2008

That says a lot.

JellyToast on May 14, 2008 at 7:41 AM

Another Blue Dog Dem is taking the position that should be taken by the Republican. When are these idiots going to figure out that conservative principles is what gets Republicans and Democrats elected especially in the south. You gotta hand it to the Dems…they’ll say whatever it takes to win even if that includes conservative talking points.

orlandocajun on May 14, 2008 at 8:03 AM

“The results in MS-01 should serve as a wake-up call to Republican candidates nationwide. As I’ve said before, this is a change election, and if we want Americans to vote for us we have to convince them that we can fix Washington. Our presidential nominee, Senator McCain, is an agent of change; candidates who hope to succeed must show that they’re willing and able to join McCain in a leading movement for reform. We need to stop wasteful Washington spending, fight and win the war on terror, and stop the largest tax increase in history. That is truly the change the American people deserve — and that is a message on which we can succeed.”

Nooooooooooooooooh! Do not, I repeat, do not use the word “change” if you want to win. We’re getting killed at the pump and the kitchen table and Mac’s fiddling around, lecturing us with junk science and playing tag with the Goreacles, and you think that’s our model for victory?

You need to grow some cojones and fight, concentrating on the failures of the current congress. Show some flipping leadership, and if you want to follow anyone, follow Kay Bailey Hutchinson’s example on energy.

Buy Danish on May 14, 2008 at 8:20 AM

We live in something called a Democracy. While we all know that thing about how the majority rules in a Democracy, we should also remember what the ancient Greeks knew about Democracy. The masses are damn fickle. What the Greeks hadn’t yet experienced is political parties on the extremes of the masses. Now, the masses have an incentive to be fickle and achieve moderation through time. Long term political thinking requires embracing this cycle and plotting strategy which acknowledges it.

Yes, the Democrats will have power in 2008 and probably 2010, but Republicans will be back in power. Knowing that this was likely to be the case, the Bush idea of undoing the filibuster on judicial appointees was simply insane. It’s just a hop, skip and a jump to eliminating the Filibuster altogether and then we would be at the mercy of Democratic Congress and President. Once again, it’s time to give McCain credit for the Gang of 14. Worse things would have happened without the Gang of 14.

thuja on May 14, 2008 at 8:27 AM

There’s the clip I was looking for in the McCain might pick Huckabee as VP thread!

Allah was saving it for something even more appropriate.

Heed that clip well, fellow Republicans… I think we might be in a world of hurt come this fall.

Nineball on May 14, 2008 at 8:30 AM

2017

2017

Where will you be in 2017 when Barak steps down?

Limerick on May 14, 2008 at 8:38 AM

I think 2008 will be the year I give up on politics. Probably best.

spmat on May 14, 2008 at 8:52 AM

C-Low on May 14, 2008 at 1:18 AM

[stands and applauds]

C-Low for President!

dominigan on May 14, 2008 at 8:52 AM

Show some flipping leadership, and if you want to follow anyone, follow Kay Bailey Hutchinson’s example on energy.

Buy Danish on May 14, 2008 at 8:20 AM

…but not on illegals.

JiangxiDad on May 14, 2008 at 8:57 AM

We live in something called a Democracy. [snip]

thuja on May 14, 2008 at 8:27 AM

And hence most of our problems… education in this country is seriously lacking.

Everyone say it with me…

“We are not a democracy! We are a CONSTITUTIONAL REPLUBLIC!”

dominigan on May 14, 2008 at 8:57 AM

Err… CONSTITUTIONAL REPUBLIC

(grumbles about totally messing that up…)

dominigan on May 14, 2008 at 8:58 AM

Correct me if I’m wrong-

But aren’t these Dems that are winnin’ mostly blue-dog dems??? i.e. aren’t they all right leaning conservative Democrats??

Hell if the Right is movin’ left with McCain and the other RINOs- And the Left is movin’ right then SHOOT call me a jackass! I’ll vote Blue Dog over RINO any day!

Ex-tex on May 14, 2008 at 9:04 AM

…but not on illegals.

JiangxiDad on May 14, 2008 at 8:57 AM

Why? As far as I can tell, she is great on that issue too. See here and here.

Buy Danish on May 14, 2008 at 9:06 AM

“And then the socalled base turned on him”

I’m not the first here to contradict that claim.

Hey, I stayed backing Bush through thick and thin for his and Rumsfeld’s idiotic refusal to fortify the troop advance along the route to Bagdad, keeping my misgivings to myself to maintain the united front at home for our military during the “shock and awe” advance.

We knew the danger of enabling a “Big Brother” but stayed backing Bush while he advanced the ubergovernment bureaucracy with a so-called CZAR to “oversee” the FBI/CIA in order to fight terrorism at home, all the while Bush’s open borders trumped our national border domestic security at home.

We spoke our concerns to Bush. Bush turned on us. Bush called us UNAMERICAN vigilantes. Bush abhored us! We properly petitioned Bush and Congress. Bush denied Republicans his leadership, proving once and for all that his is a Progressive wearing the GOP suit, aka RINO.

Congress had its face buried in the lobby trough and echoed Bush’s Progressive deterioration of anything conservative. And there we still are, with a government that refuses to meet its Constitutional obligations.

But by voting Democrat, we only change further for the worse enabling of HIGHER TAXES!

Americans don’t deserve what is happening. But the RINO pigs deserve a swift kick in the ass. So where are those “conservatives” running on the GOP ticket? Even if they get elected, the fogies on Capital Hill will lynch them before they get a chance to conserve anything for the people at home, as they corrupted our last Republican mandate into what we have today. Bush/Congress use our tax dollars to reincarnate the most obtuse, gross inequities ever, promoting destructive and corrupt monopolies.

There is no rationale excusing what our government is doing for banks that bankrupted themselves in order to profit three times for their contrived speculative “losses”. Bailing out is our government’s favorite flavor of action, investment companies only the latest of a LONG STRING of “favored loser status”. I’ve stated before, this same government bail-out practice further gorges the monopoly that traders hold on oil, forcing a much higher than supply/demand market price on the public; so when the price finally comes down to a supply/demand market price, the Wall Street traders will demand the government TAXPAYERS subsidize their lost profit margin. Suckers blindly “suck it up”.

There is no whole-sale immediate cutting back the size of bureaucracy without a bloody revolution as government employees unite against those they “serve”.

THERE IS, however, the discontinuation of bureaucratic growth; that is conservatism. TROUNCE THE RINOS with conservatives. And be persistent as the years pass by. Conservatives do need a more effective training ground and network than they use to date, obviously: CHANGE WE CAN BELIEVE IN means that the proof is in the pudding.

“Lower taxes inhibit intrusive government!”

Let’s not shoot Patrick Henry in the back as he said, “Give me liberty or give me death!” Vote to Conserve our American Dream. Don’t fall into the obtuse knee-jerk self defeating behavior of voting Democrat or staying home playing the lame game. America gets what it votes for. Your vote counts.

maverick muse on May 14, 2008 at 9:09 AM

The Bush Legacy: A party torn asunder.

Al-Ozarka on May 14, 2008 at 9:11 AM

Dear Republican Party:
Stop pissing on my head and telling me it’s raining.
Signed,
Conservative

trs on May 14, 2008 at 9:11 AM

“America gets what it votes for. Your vote counts.”

That’s why I refuse to vote for a Democrat…regardless of his/her party affiliation.

Al-Ozarka on May 14, 2008 at 9:12 AM

Ex-tex on May 14, 2008 at 9:04 AM

Good point. Study and vote the candidate and platform.

maverick muse on May 14, 2008 at 9:15 AM

Another Blue Dog Dem is taking the position that should be taken by the Republican. When are these idiots going to figure out that conservative principles is what gets Republicans and Democrats elected especially in the south. You gotta hand it to the Dems…they’ll say whatever it takes to win even if that includes conservative talking points.

orlandocajun on May 14, 2008 at 8:03 AM

Exactly! I live in this district, so Childers is my new congressman. My home is in the suburban county adjacent to Memphis and it went heavily for the Republican. But the majority of my district is very rural, full of small towns with lots of farmers and poor blacks, people who were historically Democrats. Childers is from one of the rural counties, which was in his favor.

Childers is a Southern Baptist who says he is pro-life, pro-gun, and anti-gay marriage. Based on his ads he seemed a lot like Huckabee, not in communication ability, but in beliefs, so it was easy for many conservative people who are frustrated with Republicans to vote for him. If the Dems keep running guys like Travis Childers and Health Shuler, they can slowly retake the South, which is made up of districts like mine.

A final thought, the Republican, ran ads tying Travis Childers to Reverend Wright, which was foolishness because it wasn’t credible. Childers is a typical small-town good ole boy with little in common with Reverend Wright and Obama.

flyfisher on May 14, 2008 at 9:16 AM

If the DEMS keep beating Republicans with candidates that lean more toward conservative principles, I don’t think that Republicans have a serious problem. I’ll take a conservative Democrat over a left-leaning Republican any day. The Democrats may continue to win House and Senate seats from Republicans, but they will be doing it by increasing the number of blue-dog Democrats in their ranks. That will be a big problem for them when it comes to Congressional votes that are driven primarily by idealogical differences.

Our bigger problem is a far-left liberal Democrat that could capture the White House this Fall. We should all be more focussed and that problem and support McCain’s centrist approach to capturing the White House. He is not a conservative, but he is far from being what Obama is. He will keep the war on terrorism where it needs to be for the next four years. He will also appoint far better candidates to sit on the Supreme Court. I don’t agree with McCain on many things, but I will support and vote for him to keep the country from adopting far-left liberal policies with long-term, disastrous effects.

Many of you are worrying far too much about the politics of global warming. The McCain global warming strategy is a centrist ploy that will have little real effect. Global warming hysteria will die on its own once the chicken littles are proven wrong by the preponderance of real data and that process has already started with the cooler temperatures and increased snowfall during the past year. Once it become obvious to the American public that global warming is a hoax, politicians on both sides of the aisle will quietly push global warming driven policies by the way side. Truth will win out in the end.

NuclearPhysicist on May 14, 2008 at 9:17 AM

And hence most of our problems… education in this country is seriously lacking.

Everyone say it with me…

“We are not a democracy! We are a CONSTITUTIONAL REPUBLIC!”

dominigan on May 14, 2008 at 8:57 AM

“We are not a democracy! We are a CONSTITUTIONAL REPUBLIC!”

maverick muse on May 14, 2008 at 9:17 AM

A final thought, the Republican ran ads tying Travis Childers to Reverend Wright, which was foolishness because it wasn’t credible. Childers is a typical small-town good ole boy with little in common with Reverend Wright and Obama.

flyfisher on May 14, 2008 at 9:16 AM

Then THAT Republican candidate ran a stupid campaign in a LOCAL RACE where folks actually know each other! Was this GOP candidate actually anti-evangelical? The GOP actually defeated themselves and, unless Childers was tossing sh*t at his opponent, inadvertently packaged Childers as the lesser of two evils on that ticket.

maverick muse on May 14, 2008 at 9:27 AM

Once again, it’s time to give McCain credit for the Gang of 14. Worse things would have happened without the Gang of 14.

thuja on May 14, 2008 at 8:27 AM

No.

The Gang of 14 deal was, for all intents and purposes, the deal that then-Minority Leader Harry Reid offered Frist the previous week. The Majority Leader turned Reid down flat. He opted to press ahead — something it would have been exceedingly strange to do if he secretly approved of the deal’s terms, as the Whites suggest. Frist obviously did that because he perceived, given the pressure from conservatives, that if compelled to be publicly accountable, many of the potential GOP defectors would vote in favor of ending filibusters despite their misgivings.

Forcing our political representatives to tell us where they stand is a fundamental democratic principle. Even losing a “nuclear option” vote would have been valuable for conservatives: It would have identified which Senators believed — like Sen. McCain obviously believes — that preserving senatorial privilege took precedence over their constitutional duty to consent to, or withhold consent from, judicial nominees.

Besides preserving their privilege (which allows a single senator, for absolutely no reason, to prevent a president from fulfilling his constitutional obligation to appoint officers of the United States, without whom the government cannot function), McCain and his confederates were most determined to avoid accountability. That was the essence of the Gang of 14 deal. The senators pretended, in a bluster of high-minded twaddle, to resolve the controversy without disturbing the chamber’s procedures. It was nonsense.

Laura on May 14, 2008 at 9:28 AM

I’m still amazed at this late date that so many argue that the repub predicament is a political struggle of going too centrist or a social conservative loss of way. The party is dying, in fact it will be dead for awhile, for only one reason and one reason only. It has violated for almost the past eight years its primary function for existing–fiscal restraint and small government bias.

Hello out there all you arguers of left, right and center. Just like the current repub party in congress you don’t get it. This has nothing to do with the ‘base’ turning against the President, it has nothing to do with silly day to day politics of failed Supreme Court justices or Dubai ports, immigration reform or any of the other internal center vs right wing normal give and take. The repub party has a fork stuck in it because it violated its core reason for existing. Only until recently no bill was too large for Bush and company. To John McCain’s credit he was one of the lone dissenters all those years, perhaps that’s why he is now the nominee.

Until we genuinely get our arms around this and tar and feather every member who even remotely violates this principle of fiscal restraint and small government bias we will never have a majority in either house. We can still win the White House because that tends to be a personality contest to a large extent. But for the foreseeable future welcome to the wilderness, it’s the first turn off the bridge to nowhere.

patrick neid on May 14, 2008 at 9:28 AM

“Say Billy… do you like presidential candidates dressed like gladiators?”

Skywise on May 14, 2008 at 1:34 AM

Heh. Sounds like one of our Senators.

Jaibones on May 14, 2008 at 9:30 AM

A final thought, the Republican ran ads tying Travis Childers to Reverend Wright, which was foolishness because it wasn’t credible. Childers is a typical small-town good ole boy with little in common with Reverend Wright and Obama.

flyfisher on May 14, 2008 at 9:16 AM
Then THAT Republican candidate ran a stupid campaign in a LOCAL RACE where folks actually know each other! Was this GOP candidate actually anti-evangelical? The GOP actually defeated themselves and, unless Childers was tossing sh*t at his opponent, inadvertently packaged Childers as the lesser of two evils on that ticket.

maverick muse on May 14, 2008 at 9:27 AM

Greg Davis, the Republican, didn’t run the ads tying Childers to Reverend Wright. Those ads were run by either the RNC or some special interest group and I believe Davis denounced them. The Dems spent a fortune on television to win this seat and the Republicans couldn’t keep up. I don’t blame Greg Davis for his loss. I blame the Republicans in Washington.

flyfisher on May 14, 2008 at 9:33 AM

Global warming hysteria will die on its own … Once it become obvious to the American public that global warming is a hoax, politicians on both sides of the aisle will quietly push global warming driven policies by the way side. Truth will win out in the end.

NuclearPhysicist on May 14, 2008 at 9:17 AM

The thing is, it’s a race at this point to see whether that will happen before they can regulate and tax us to death. The name and the stated reason for the policies will change when the truth becomes obvious, but not the policies themselves. When did government ever roll back it’s power and shrink itself voluntarily? Which is why we need to dig in our heels and not let this nonsense get any further BEFORE the kind of crap McCain is proposing can be enacted.

Laura on May 14, 2008 at 9:34 AM

When we elected our GOP majority, they got trounced on the Hill by their seniors who glut our system.

9:17 Nuclear Physicist
That will be a big problem for them when it comes to Congressional votes that are driven primarily by idealogical differences.

I wait to see whether blue-dog Democrats on Capitol Hill will vote conservative against their party’s majority, or will vote progressive for political expediency.

The GOP refuses to do its own housecleaning, enabling illegals and open borders, while the blue-dogs attempt to clean the DNC.

maverick muse on May 14, 2008 at 9:36 AM

The people are abandoning conservatism in droves.

I dont think so. It’s the republican party that has abandoned conservatism and thus the voters have abandoned them. The voters have no place to go except to the democrats. We need a viable, conservative third party NOW.

abcurtis on May 14, 2008 at 9:37 AM

NuclearPhysicist:

global warming is a hoax

I have never looked into this issue due to a lack of time, but several people on the web that I agree with on other issues say the same thing. If it is a hoax, which I agree is a possibility, what is the motivation? Is it really to “tax us to death” like Laura says? All the people I see that discount the science never talk about what the motivation is for such an elaborate ruse. It sure seems like a lot of trouble to go through just for more tax money. It seems like it would be easier to add another gas or cigarette tax.

dave742 on May 14, 2008 at 9:42 AM

To John McCain’s credit he was one of the lone dissenters all those years, perhaps that’s why he is now the nominee.

Until we genuinely get our arms around this and tar and feather every member who even remotely violates this principle of fiscal restraint and small government bias we will never have a majority in either house…

patrick neid on May 14, 2008 at 9:28 AM

Yeah, well for all his fiscal restraint, Johnny Mac is proposing we establish a huge new bureaucracy with his economy killing cap and trade scheme. Who is going to oversee this tax on energy and the American people?

While he is right about ethanol, he is hamstringing conservatives who are up for re-election who correctly believe we should be drilling in ANWR and offshore, and who know what a disaster cap and trade (or any “carbon tax”) is, along with the whole fraudulent climate change meme.

Buy Danish on May 14, 2008 at 9:43 AM

flyfisher on May 14, 2008 at 9:33 AM

Follow the money. Knowing the convoluted path of propaganda, don’t count out those misappropriated ads having been backed by anti-GOP sources. When McCain bitched at North Carolina over the Wright ad, the RNC sided to disavow using it, no? Cheny showed up. He’s not dense. It would not be likely that he’d have anything to do with that ad.

maverick muse on May 14, 2008 at 9:44 AM

The Repubs have nominated a young, popular conservative who’ll bring out the base in droves in November…oh yeah…maybe not!

I guess GOP really does stand for Grumpy OLD Poops.

abcurtis on May 14, 2008 at 9:46 AM

The people are abandoning conservatism in droves.
I dont think so. It’s the republican party that has abandoned conservatism and thus the voters have abandoned them. The voters have no place to go except to the democrats. We need a viable, conservative third party NOW.

abcurtis on May 14, 2008 at 9:37 AM

I agree. The MSM has continually presented George Bush as a conservative, but he’s no conservative. Few Americans understand conservatism and that is the fault of the GOP. Washington is full of faux-conservative office holders. When guys like Lincoln Chafee and McCain flirt with going independent, Republicans should give them a swift kick in the back to help them make their decision. We need real conservatives with stones on Capitol Hill and in the White House! The RNC needs to get behind actual conservative candidates so there are clear contrasts between the parties. I think it would be better to have an effective conservative minority than an ineffective RINO majority. The RINO’s have been marching us toward socialist tyranny for years and it is long past time to do something about it.

flyfisher on May 14, 2008 at 9:46 AM

Trent Lott is to blame as well. What’s the difference? A democrat in his seat, or Trent, who wets himself every time he has to stand up to the Democrats?

-T

The Therapist on May 14, 2008 at 9:47 AM

Which is why we need to dig in our heels and not let this nonsense get any further BEFORE the kind of crap McCain is proposing can be enacted.

Laura on May 14, 2008 at 9:34 AM

Exactly. Yesterday in a stunningly arrogant interview with Carl Cameron, McCain claimed that he knows more about the issue than Republicans because “he has traveled all over the world and he has seen climate change”.

Buy Danish on May 14, 2008 at 9:48 AM

Patrick, You are right to a degree on spending proposals ,but I am afraid that the ignorant electorate is too enamored of free health care for all, and tax the hell out of the oil companies retoric, to pay attention to spending.
Sadly, I think we will have to suffer through at least 4 years of insane tax increases and serious economy damaging universal heath care, immmigration subjugation, global warming energy policies, and sadly, surrender at any cost military policies if there is to be a change.

I prefer that the Dems get credit for the mess not the republicans by electing a Dem wrapped in Republican hides (Jaun McCain).

Fact is the Republican party has been AWOL on all of these issues for the most part primarily do to the inclusion of the left wingers in the party.

May even be time for a third (consevative) party and let the other two fight it out for the left of center.

dhunter on May 14, 2008 at 9:51 AM

Dave 742 @ 9:42

sure seems like a lot of trouble to go through just for more tax money

Look again, because taxes are only a speck in the “global warming” totalitarian universe. POWER over the world to manipulate all populations and governments, to “own” such power as elite mongers of all is not bad for a Green Day’s Work.

“By their fruits ye may know them.” Look at the starving masses suffering WORSE OFF because the Green Work absconded with our food crops!

The Green political ramifications have yet to be recognized by those brainwashed into belonging to the “go” color, and yet to be addressed effectively by those who recognize the Green fraud.

maverick muse on May 14, 2008 at 9:59 AM

C-Low on May 14, 2008 at 1:18 AM

Your ideas are good. But the $64,000 question is, “Why would anybody in Washington want to fix the problems?”

fossten on May 14, 2008 at 10:04 AM

I don’t agree with McCain on many things, but I will support and vote for him to keep the country from adopting far-left liberal policies with long-term, disastrous effects.

(grimace) ditto

maverick muse on May 14, 2008 at 10:06 AM

Texas Jew:

How soon they forget. Bush brought the Republicans a majority in the Congress as well as the White House. That is something Republicans rarely have.
Terrye on May 14, 2008 at 6:35 AM

Wrong.
The Republicans had a majority in congress before Bush ever showed up. He lost it for us with his poor leadership and kissing the Dem’s ass on Education, Immigration and other issues – muddying the waters, so to speak. He was able to defeat two fatally flawed candidates, but his coattails didn’t prevent the disaster in 2006. Of course, on many issues, he is fantastic, and he is adamant about the tax cuts. (I am not anti-Bush, by the way, I used to work for him in the Permian Basin oilfields as a geological consultant) He is primarily a social conservative in his heart.

The purely social conservatives are taking some strange left turns these days, into Globaloney, pro-illegal immigration issues and other arenas. Our own Mike Huckabee is a good example of this, as far as his positions on the illegal immigration mess. McCain is, to me, not even a Republican, so I’ll take him out of the conversation, if you don’t mind.
As long as a Democrat makes some meaningless noises about being Pro-life, the social conservatives flock to him like a pack of fools. Of course, the Dem’s boss is Pelosi and the hard-left, and its all BS, but look at the votes in Mississippi this morning. The Blue Dog won. Of course, that’ll result in MORE abortions being performed, but the “bleeding heart” social conservatives are often not the sharpest knives in the drawer.

TexasJew on May 14, 2008 at 10:09 AM

dhunter,

Of course you are spot on.

My main focus was outlining why the repubs are now the minority party. Without that recognition they will never be able to recover. When we start finger pointing about transitory debates as root causes we’ll stay lost. Underneath all conservative principles lies fiscal restraint and small government bias. It is from this that all else springs. Every misstep in every program, every debate, every social engineering project etc etc etc has its footprint in violating these two core tenets.

My fear is the cost of this failure may be with us for decades. I can only hope that McCain gets elected to pursue the war, have some say on Supreme Court justices and demanding fiscal restraint if only on earmarks. Everything else is gone.

patrick neid on May 14, 2008 at 10:10 AM

Laura on May 14, 2008 at 9:34 AM:

McCain’s proposed free-market approach to global warming is centrist election year pandering at its finest. The politics of global warming is still young and has resulted in no real consensus on how to deal with it in either political party. Furthermore, proposals related to global warming that require more revenue from the American electorate while the economy is perceived as struggling will be overrun by fierce lobbying after the election is over. As the global warming myth unravels during the next ten years, politicians will find other axes to grind. Global warming hysteria will be overcome by real events and data.

NuclearPhysicist on May 14, 2008 at 10:13 AM

Frankly, I’m happy to see the GOP get its just desserts. For six years under Bush they gave us unrestrained discretionary spending, a Medicare drug benefit, campaign finance reform, steel tariffs, farm subsidies, etc. If we’re going to be governed by statists, let’s at least elect the ones that seem to sincerely believe that big government is its own reward.

The GOP deserves to lose disastrously in November, and I won’t feel sorry for them one bit.

Enrique on May 14, 2008 at 10:13 AM

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