Op-ed: Time to kick Snowe, Specter, and Collins out of the GOP caucus
posted at 4:05 pm on February 11, 2009 by Allahpundit
Reads like a lost Ed Anger column.
I don’t get it. What would it achieve?
This bill is purely Democratic pork to pay back their base and consolidate socialist power for years, if not decades, to come. They are scarcely attempting to conceal this fact and not even the most ignorant among us should be fooled in the slightest. But Senators Specter, Collins, and Snowe – a veritable Three Stooges of politics – appear to lack the wisdom and maturity of their classic movie comedy namesakes. And what they have foisted upon the public will not be a laughing matter. (Though I confess I wouldn’t mind seeing them get poked in the eyes or clonked in the cranium with a big wooden mallet.)…
The only purpose there ever was to allowing liberals like Collins, Snowe and Specter in the party in spite of all their wandering off the reservation was that they would still cast a few keys votes when numbers fell at important dividing points – e.g. a Republican as majority leader when the Senate was divided 50-50; with the party when at or near 60-40 to stop or end filibusters.
Neither one of these reasons exists anymore. Democrats presently have 58 votes, and with this betrayal, these three have proven they can’t even be counted on to uphold filibusters. As such, they have demonstrated themselves to be completely expendable.
What’s a surer way to get them to vote with the GOP on future filibusters, excommunicating them or trying to make nice? If you want them out, which is a distinct possibility in Specter’s case, follow the nutroots example and fund a primary challenger. Otherwise, why bend over backwards to alienate the last few pockets of Republican support in the northeast?
Blowback
Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.
Trackbacks/Pings
Trackback URL
Comments
Comment pages: « Previous 1 2
I would feel better knowing that Std’s were being prevented from completely destroying this country and the 2 party system as we know it from within our own party. Std’s(Socialist- Traitors- democrats)meaning anyone who votes with democrats against the principles the conservative and GOP party are based on. We wanted to fix our party-this is a step in that direction.
canditaylor68 on February 11, 2009 at 5:06 PM
this is wierd. When I go to view page one, and my comment, I get reverted to an old version of the page….
jimmy the notable on February 11, 2009 at 5:08 PM
nevermind, its working now.
jimmy the notable on February 11, 2009 at 5:10 PM
It would mean that there are consequences to abandoning their “so-called” principles. It would mean that the RNC is serious about opposing galloping Socialism. You don’t bend over and enjoy this, you stand up and fight! If you can’t, you can get out. Collins, Snowe, and Specter have shown that some expensive steak and a football game mean more to them than the people they are supposed to represent. Well, so be it. Don’t let the Capitol door hit ya on the way out!
gordo on February 11, 2009 at 5:12 PM
Are you actually suggesting that we should hang on to these losers who claim to be republicans during elections so that we don’t alienate their voters?
Allah’s logic: Keep the RINOs in the Senate because its better than having Conservatives in office, and alienated voters in Maine.
Yes, kicking them out of the caucus might be merely symbolic in practice, however, it’s a strong statement to anyother linguinni-spined Republicans not to stray off the reservation. It’s also one of the first steps in replacing the moderates with actual conservatives.
monotonousboy on February 11, 2009 at 5:14 PM
Absolutley kick them out of the caucus. It’s time to rebuild. Let them run and hang out with Democrats. In a re-building mode, you have to have a continuity. We are fighting for our lives here. Kick the traitors to the curb. It would do wonders for the Party. No more spineless wonders. Can’t afford to have the weak on board.
BetseyRoss on February 11, 2009 at 5:23 PM
Yeah, lets kick even more women out of the GOP! Surely we can keep winning with just old white guys!
Speedwagon82 on February 11, 2009 at 5:28 PM
.
It would make me happy.
.
Speedwagon82
.
Speaking as a woman – I’m fine with kicking them out. They are a disgrace to conservative women and have no business calling themselves Republicans.
BrideOfRove on February 11, 2009 at 5:33 PM
I’m deeply disappointed in Specter voting for the Economic Depression Bill, but I will vote for him in the Republican primary and the general election. Even when Specter, Snowe, and Collins f*** up, it’s still better to have them moderating our country’s policy than to have wild swings between LimbaughLand and DailyKosville.
And just as a general point, we have two political parties in this country, and politics means compromise. Except for an outright dictatorship, nothing could be worse than two fanatic political cults alternating in power. And I can’t help but think that one of the two cults would just make it an outright dictatorship.
thuja on February 11, 2009 at 5:33 PM
Kick them out, and hang them out to dry. If you are a worthless piece of trash, you get thrown out.
Speedwagon82 on February 11, 2009 at 5:28 PM
There is right and wrong, getting into identity politics will burn us every time! Either we are color blind and sex blind, or we are not. I prefer to be color and gender blind.
Conservative Voice on February 11, 2009 at 5:34 PM
Am I the only one who is sick of this lesser of two evils bullsh!t? We don’t want to chastise them because we might lose the support of voters in Maine? We don’t want them to lose their next elections because we might get someone worse? Are these really your arguments?
I am sick and tired of being sick and tired of my elected officials. They need to understand that their behavior has repercussions! If that means kicking them out of the caucus, then so be it. If it means losing the seat to some North East Liberal, then so be it. You cannot continue to dilute the values of the Republican Party and continue to call it the Republican Party. They are either fiscal republicans or they’re not. There is no in between. If they’re fiscally conservative, let them caucus with the party of fiscal conservatives, if they are not, then give them the boot!
monotonousboy on February 11, 2009 at 5:35 PM
thuja on February 11, 2009 at 5:33 PM
please explain to me how Limbaugh is equivalent to the Daily Kos? This should be entertaining.
Conservative Voice on February 11, 2009 at 5:36 PM
We get the Government we deserve. Have some self dignity and stand up for what is right. Don’t continue to give these idiots a free ride. Isn’t your vote worth something to you? Then make then EARN it!
I would argue that this Presidency is the DailyKOS Presidency. A Limbaugh Presidency would be a dream come true compared to this travesty!
monotonousboy on February 11, 2009 at 5:39 PM
Invite them our and then, if they won’t go, take away their committee assignments, withdraw their Party funding and ridicule their asses until they can’t take it anymore. These traitorous, leftist fools must go.
rplat on February 11, 2009 at 5:40 PM
*them
monotonousboy on February 11, 2009 at 5:40 PM
Speedwagon82: Are you being snarky or serious?
The fact of the matter is that people who are not going to assist in the cause should shown the door. That includes the two senators from Maine, Colin Powell, and anyone else who doesn’t get it. If the people have the right ideas happen to be old white guys, who the hell cares?
I’d rather be politically incorrect with superficial stuff than dead wrong on policy matters.
The sooner Republicans focus on general content and not worry about pandering to specific demographics, the better off the party will be.
This white male guilt crap has got to stop, and stop today.
itzWicks on February 11, 2009 at 5:41 PM
I fundamentally reject your suggestion that identity politics trumps principles. I want principled leadership not equal opportunity representation.
Frankly, you don’t know that a fiscally conservative woman couldn’t win those primary races.
moxie_neanderthal on February 11, 2009 at 5:44 PM
Face it- in Maine, Collins and Snowe is the best we can hope for.
Hilts on February 11, 2009 at 5:50 PM
FIFY.
platypus on February 11, 2009 at 5:51 PM
I wish this were the case.You think Reid’s comments are going to make the nightly news? The folks at HA and other conservative blogs are something like 2 standard deviations out of the curve. We’re a pretty small subset of folks who follow the minutia. Do you really believe Reid’s comments are going to make the nightly news? Even if it were heard, do you think a public that voted for Obama is going to actually care? Unfortunately not.
moxie_neanderthal on February 11, 2009 at 5:52 PM
I would love to see Lynn Swann run against Specter.
Hilts on February 11, 2009 at 5:53 PM
Colin Powell definitely should be shunned by all Republicans. I dislike the Maine twins and Specter but it is either them or a Democrat (at least in Maine). If we hope to ever regain the Senate we cannot turn them out of the party.
Hilts on February 11, 2009 at 5:55 PM
Identity politics ELECTED the Obamessiah. I think we can officially declare that the GOP’s colorblindness is not working. Even McPanderer couldn’t get a decent showing of the Hispanic vote.
Speedwagon82 on February 11, 2009 at 5:55 PM
What about Richard Lugar and previously Chuck Hagel (to say nothing about Lincoln Chafee and John Warner)? No bargains there. Also most Republican Senators from Tennessee tend to go native once they get to Washington D.C. think Howard Baker, Lamar Alexander and Bill Frist
Hilts on February 11, 2009 at 5:58 PM
So, even though identity politics is racist, and sexist, we should embrace it because its the only way to win?
Sorry, but that’s not how I want to win. If the people of America can’t embrace conservative ideas, or don’t want to, then we deserve whatever fate we get.
jimmy the notable on February 11, 2009 at 5:59 PM
Speedwagon82 on February 11, 2009 at 5:55 PM
Did Obama win, or did John McCain lose? From my standpoint, Obama is there because McCain is a loser. Did some people vote for him because of identity politics…yep, but it isn’t a winning strategy, nor does it have lasting power.
Conservative Voice on February 11, 2009 at 6:04 PM
Let’s face it, our representatives don’t respect us. They don’t respect our work, our sacrifices and efforts to provide for our families. They don’t really care about the individual aspirations we have for our family’s futures because if they did, they wouldn’t be so cavalier with wasting our money.
moxie_neanderthal on February 11, 2009 at 6:05 PM
But somehow, DeathToMediaHacks, Dave Rywall, getalife, etc. are still completely fooled.
kirkill on February 11, 2009 at 6:07 PM
You fail to recognize the obvious point that identity politics is a one way street. Those with an (R) need not apply.
moxie_neanderthal on February 11, 2009 at 6:08 PM
Hell, they aren’t Republicans! Give ‘em the boot or a caning at a minimum.
jsanderssr on February 11, 2009 at 6:11 PM
What Reid did was calculated and shrewd. He just redefined patriotism for his party. Its something that the left has done since the early Clinton years when we had, “Its for the children,” and “Intelligent people understand that…..”
genso on February 11, 2009 at 6:14 PM
Limbaugh and Kos both want to make large almost revolutionary changes to our society. As a small c conservative, I don’ want large changes. There is no place we need to go that we can’t go there slowly.
thuja on February 11, 2009 at 6:26 PM
Another instance of shrinking the tent to grow it, as it were?
Sigh. Dumb.
Good Lt on February 11, 2009 at 6:26 PM
Too late. It will take a large move right just to get us back to level by the time this settles out.
genso on February 11, 2009 at 6:28 PM
Just for a moment- THINK of the OPPORTUNITY . . .
for Michael Steele (NOT McCONNELL) to go on the MSM NON-STOP and EXPLAIN CLEARLY …
…WHY WE THREW THEM OUT.
Not sound bites. Not Old-school RINO groveling to the elite media.
But someone with brains and balls CALLIN’EM OUT!
OVER. and Over, and Over.
Somone EXPLAINING LOUDLY AND CLEARLY WHY WE OPPOSE THIS CRAP SANDWICH.
ExTex on February 11, 2009 at 3:07 PM
ExTex on February 11, 2009 at 6:29 PM
Remember folks, this is Alla we are talking about. Of course a principled stand is beyond his comprehension.
A conservative thought and a cold drink of water would knock him out cold.
Jim708 on February 11, 2009 at 6:29 PM
Speaking as a Moderate Republican I find you to be a I am fine with kicking your type out of The Party. In fact the survival of our Party depends on it. Your type has become nothing more than cheap and partisan obstructionalists. If you are so Conservative where were you the last 8 years??
You are not a Republican, you are a Conservative so do yourself a favor and join The Constitution Party already and leave us alone. This is the Republican Party – not the Conservative Party.
This Far Right Mob idealogy needs to stop.
AprilOrit on February 11, 2009 at 6:30 PM
Right so The GOP approva; ratings can tank even more and come the next election there is no one left.
Join The Constitution Party – they will welcome you all with open arms.
AprilOrit on February 11, 2009 at 6:32 PM
Hate to get all Mark Steyn on everyone, but Reagan probably couldn’t win California and other blue states today because of the demographics. He definitely wouldn’t win 49 states anyway.
Speedwagon82 on February 11, 2009 at 6:34 PM
You keep telling people to leave the party and you will create a self-fulfilling prophesy for yourself. So, what’s your plan to fight back, beg all the representatives to please represent you?
genso on February 11, 2009 at 6:40 PM
AprilOrit on February 11, 2009 at 6:30 PM
Since when is a balanced budget, or fiscal responsibility, a far right ideology? What exactly pray tell is the ideology of the “far right” that is repelling you?
Conservative Voice on February 11, 2009 at 6:43 PM
If they are republican, I’m not. Alienate them? They alienated me. Let them choke on it. The republican party is done. There is no reason whatsoever to support any “progressive” member of the GOP – and with the numbers in Congress, and the moderates are to blame for it – to hell with the entire lot of them.
I’m not concerned about “pockets of republican support” – I’m concerned about conservatives. End of story – and unfortunately today is the beginning to the end of our republic.
JeffinOrlando on February 11, 2009 at 6:44 PM
What? WHAT?!?! Since when are you against truth in advertising?
Besides, it wouldn’t make one iota of difference in the way those RINO’s vote.
Like they used to say in Brooklyn, “Kick da bumbs out!”
DannoJyd on February 11, 2009 at 7:08 PM
There is nothing irresponsible about stimulating our economy that has been wrecked over the last 8 years.
And again – where were all of you for the last 8 years?
When Bush came into to office the budget was balanced with surplus – again where were all of you?
AprilOrit on February 11, 2009 at 8:33 PM
I don’t like the Kick Out idea. It looked bad when the Socialists did it to Lieberman (luckily for them, he doesn’t hold a grudge). But strip them of prestige positions–take Specter off Judiciary for G*ds sakes. Reassign the old fogey to Agriculture. If there are no adverse consequences for stabbing the Carcass in the back, the Carcass should expect more back stab wounds.
james23 on February 11, 2009 at 8:58 PM
ps–don’t hold your breath for McConnell or Steele to do anything punitive. No oeufs, none, between the two of them.
james23 on February 11, 2009 at 8:59 PM
AprilOrit on February 11, 2009 at 8:33 PM
Really? The method of how we stimulate is more important than the actual stimulating. Cut taxes, deregulate, drill for oil, cut the size of government, and you will see the economy will explode. Socialize, and we will end up like Russia. Poor, no freedoms, and scared to death to speak up because the people in power destroys those who dare to oppose them.
Yelling at President Bush! He was wrong to increase the entitlement spending. ( btw Clinton cooked the books, but that is a different argument. I will take your premise as you stated and tell you we need to shrink government, not become slaves to it. )
So when are you going to yell at the Messiah Obama? Socialism will enslave us, make us vulnerable to our enemies, and break our spirit to achieve our full potential. You think corruption is bad now? It will compound to levels you could only imagine.
Conservative Voice on February 11, 2009 at 9:03 PM
james23 on February 11, 2009 at 8:58 PM
luckily he doesn’t hold a grudge? Why?
When an employee no longer listens to the employer, he should be fired…we the people are the employer, these RINOS are the employees. They are to represent us.
Any congress person who voted for this bill….should be tried for treason, but at the very least be removed from office in shame.
Conservative Voice on February 11, 2009 at 9:07 PM
Great point, he does this every time, and conservatives here in PA know it. We had him beat in 04, then the National RNC and Bush and Rove got involved and saved his as*, but just barely. Thanks for nothing, nitwits. Do me a favor you all, in 2010–if you can’t support the conservative running in PA, which may well be Pat Toomey again, at least keep the RNC from coming in to save Sphincter yet again.
james23 on February 11, 2009 at 9:11 PM
Buzz off, Whig. GOP=Whig. Kill it off.
james23 on February 11, 2009 at 9:12 PM
“…why bend over backwards to alienate the last few pockets of Republican support in the northeast?”
Because when you ask that they stand and be counted, they let the party down.
GarandFan on February 11, 2009 at 9:24 PM
Maybe you were but most here and Congress on the GOP side were not at all.
The whole Socialism rap is over stated, I am not buying it – too Chicken Little for me.
AprilOrit on February 11, 2009 at 9:52 PM
the “socialism rap?” OK, clean up on aisle 2, we’ve got a troll her.
james23 on February 11, 2009 at 9:58 PM
What were these three promised in the bill?
riverrat10k on February 11, 2009 at 10:00 PM
Or more likely, what pet projects were the three Senators promised support for in the future?
riverrat10k on February 11, 2009 at 10:01 PM
Our economy wasn’t wrecked over the last 8 years; to wit, it was wrecked on or about Sept. 15, 2008.
Someone(s) sold a lot of paper short and the money freeze began.
(See HA report on this here: The day the global economy almost died)
President Bush inherited an economy in recession, which he remedied with those marvelous tax cuts and Clinton created a “surplus” by gutting the military and defense, jacking up taxes and letting Greenspan keep the fed rate ridiculously low.
Everyone conveniently forgets the way their 401(K)s cratered when Clinton’s dot.com bubble burst.
While Bush was President–even with the 9/11 attacks–U.S. productivity and G.D.P went up all the time and the Dow Jones hit 14,000.
Although we focus now on those who have been foreclosed on, there must be a record number of Americans who were able to get into a home for the first time and who have stayed there.
Even now, with all his ravings about how bad the economy is, it still is in pretty good shape because the prosperity of the Bush (and Reagan) years is carrying us through, although this Porkulus bill threatens to bring an end to all that.
Jenfidel on February 11, 2009 at 10:19 PM
It sounds like someone wants Republicans to pay blackmail to traitors. Sounds quite a bit like Democrats’ arguments regarding Iran and North Korea.
Buddahpundit on February 11, 2009 at 11:18 PM
AprilOrit on February 11, 2009 at 9:52 PM
funny, all one has to do is open the history books and socialism fails every time it is tried…and tyranny ( which socialism is ) always hurts the little guy. There is nothing chicken little about it.
You really want the people who brought us the DMV be responsible for over 40% of the gdp?
Conservative Voice on February 11, 2009 at 11:22 PM
This is the only solution. Republicans must find a real republican to challege Specter. I know he is from a blue state but Specter really is a democrat. If the voters really want a RINO to represent them, there isn’t much repubilcans can do about it, but if someone with an (R) after their name can win, republicans should find one who isn’t RINO enough to approve a Trillion dollar porkfest for the other party.
Dollayo on February 12, 2009 at 12:11 AM
Where is Michael Steele in all this? Oh yeah, he’s also a RINO!
nelsonknows on February 12, 2009 at 12:26 AM
I think it is now official Rino Season Is Now Open
albuddy on February 12, 2009 at 3:19 AM
Is that a joke, lol?
xblade on February 12, 2009 at 4:37 AM
Garbage like this from a so-called Conservative is another reason why the Republican party loses elections. This thread from Allah is stupid at it’s core… for ANY party to exist it MUST have basic principals. For you :moderates: you have NO pricipals, so it’s hard for you to understand core values, no compromises stances and convictions. Your type would rather hold a finger in the wind and move accordingly. Wussification and spineless, gutless and with no purpose other than to compromise ANY values, just for the sake of being in the middle or center. Conservatives want OUR representatives to have a backbone and stand against the far left radicals that have taken American is such a dangeous direction. What do you not understand about the dangers Obama poses? To allow Specter, Snowe and Collins to have an “R” by thier name and SELL AMERICA OUT AS TRAITORS is too much for ANYONE to accept except people like you with no point of reference, no core… If Maine goes Liberal Dem, so be it… at least when we fight to take America back we know our enemy… The Dems are going to own the crap sandwich, we DO NOT NEED EVEN ONE “R” to be a part of it… Let the radicals own this… What would you compromise on Sir? America’s core, our Constitution? maybe the Bill of Rights? All this and more comming to a town near you… Starting in 3, 2, 1… And Allah, with folks like you on our side wanting and allowing RINO’s to vote for the Destruction of America and not react is ALSO TRAITOROUS! People who have no spine, no morals, no core are destine to be SLAVES. I will not go quietly into Socialism, nor will I support thru the RNC anyone that is voting to socialize our health care (this bill does), ration care (this bill does), provide money for ACORN (this bill does), and provide the largest power grab of the far left in American HISTORY (this bill does)! So Allah and all you “centerists” and “moderates”, time to sit down, shut up and let Conservatives save this country from the radicals. Your type of lost election after election, it’s real Conservatives turn now… Hell, we can’t do any worse then you guys have in turning our once proud Republican party into a guttless, directionless, no values, no core, no clue party of appeasers…
Mark Garnett on February 12, 2009 at 9:16 AM
Amazing how this election cycle and after every Tom, Dick and Harry troll is quoting Karl Marx and discussing Marxism and socialism like they really know what they are talking about…hilarious.
He’s the President, live with it or surrender as a KOS Kid facsimile with
BDSODS. Own it.AprilOrit on February 12, 2009 at 10:16 AM
Hmmmm….I remember in 2005 the GOP wanted to get rid of the fillibuster altogether.
AprilOrit on February 12, 2009 at 10:20 AM
April,
Uhh, of course Obama is the president. If he acts like a socialist, the he is a socialist president. If I disagree with the president, I am going to oppose his policies. What part of this is deranged? What, is it deranged to critique the president now?
OmegaPaladin on February 12, 2009 at 5:57 PM
Comment pages: « Previous 1 2