Dick Lugar to tea party on START: Get real
posted at 4:56 pm on February 8, 2011 by Allahpundit
I wonder what his strategy is. Orrin Hatch is so nervous about a tea-party primary challenge that he’s now inviting himself to TP town-hall meetings to gladhand people. Lugar, meanwhile, is practically daring them to bring it on.
Only one thing is certain, my friends: If he wins in the primary, he’s a lock to keynote RINOcon.
Among other criticisms, Tea Party activists have taken Lugar to task for supporting the new START nuclear arms treaty with Russia, claiming the U.S. is giving up too much and Russia is not giving up enough.
“I’ve been working systematically for 20 years going to Russia trying to help direct a situation in which we’re taking warheads off of missiles every day, destroying missiles that were aimed at us; destroying submarines that carried misslies up and down our coast,” said Lugar. “I’ve got to say ‘Get real’. I hear Tea Party or other people talking about they were against START. I said ‘Well, now, hang on here.’”…
The senator was also ready with a retort for those who’ve laid into him for confirming President Obama’s Supreme Court nominees. Lugar said he looks at a nominee’s character and professional qualifications in order to avoid creating a polarizing atmosphere.
“I hope people sort of understand that because otherwise we polarize the Supreme Court business to a point that conservative justices offered by a conservative Republican president -who’ll be elected at some point- are going to have trouble,” said Lugar.
Note how, near the end of the clip, he refuses to rule out an independent run. Indiana has a “sore-loser law,” so he won’t be able to pull a Lieberman and run as an indie if he competes in the GOP primary and ends up losing. He’d have to pull out of the primary and turn independent beforehand, a la Charlie Crist. He probably couldn’t pull a Murkowski either and win via a write-in campaign: Granted, after 30+ years in the Senate, his name recognition in Indiana is sky-high, but Murky had the advantage of running in a state with a tiny electorate, making a critical mass of write-in votes easier to achieve. So presumably, if early polls show a tight primary shaping up, he’ll quit the party ASAP and recast himself as an independent in order to give the public time to get comfortable with the idea and make it seem less like he’s being opportunistic.
And … he’d probably win, no? A recent internal poll showed his favorable rating at 66/19. In his last Senate race in 2006, which ended up being a huge Democratic year, he won with 87 percent of the vote after the state Dems didn’t bother to put forward a candidate. He doesn’t have the disadvantage Bob Bennett had in Utah either, where Republican primary voters could rest easy knowing that whoever they nominated was a cinch to win the general. Obama won Indiana in 2008 and will be at the top of the ticket in 2012, which means Democrats surely will field a viable candidate this time in hopes of capitalizing on a GOP split between Lugar and the tea-party candidate. Under those circumstances, won’t most Indiana Republicans vote strategically and line up behind a guy they know and trust rather than risk a schism that turns the seat blue?
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Lynch was good today.
workingclass artist on May 22, 2013 at 9:25 PM
I believe the “overreach” meme is pathetic and not gaining traction. Let them explain why civil servants need to take the 5th.
rob verdi on May 22, 2013 at 9:27 PM
I am always suspicious of a Democrat wanting accountability with consequences rather than the standard fare of counseling and training. There were several D’s today acting fiery and only could surmise they must be up for reelection in ’14….
hillsoftx on May 22, 2013 at 9:30 PM
Future headline – Lynch Primaried Out of a Job
Steve Eggleston on May 22, 2013 at 9:30 PM
Poor Penny pritzker forgot to put down that other 80 million she made,seems the dems have a really tough time with math.But that little mistake will hardly rule her out as sec commerce.
rodguy911 on May 22, 2013 at 9:32 PM
Outside the beltway, I think the IRS overreach resonates more than the administration hopes. You don’t have to be a conservative to understand that the IRS is guilty of abuse of the very significant powers they have.
In short, the GOP will have to work very hard if they are to get that overrreach charge to stick. They won’t get there by expecting the truth out of arrogant cows like Lerner.
Happy Nomad on May 22, 2013 at 9:34 PM
Sounds good except for the Special Prosecutor part. If there is a Special Prosecutor, I can reliably predict that his report won’t be made public until December of 2014 at the earliest.
You know it’s true.
Curtiss on May 22, 2013 at 9:35 PM
been watching this go on on and on, but what will come of it, absolutely nothing, the senate might flip, but don’t bet the farm on it. the D’s have election fixing down to a science. will the mediate go against them don’t expect it, just a lover’s quarrel, they will make up in the end. to borrow from Shakespeare, the sound and fury signifying nothing.
RonK on May 22, 2013 at 9:42 PM
True.
There are congressmen that are offended by the continual dismissive attitude toward congress by this imperious executive who seems to forget that congress is a co-equal branch. And some of those might be democrats.
We’ll see if it’s more than posturing but after today Lynch is probably on Il Duce’s enemies list.
workingclass artist on May 22, 2013 at 9:42 PM
You are more than likely correct, however, even the fact that there is a special prosecutor might make more Americans take notice. Hopefully, that is.
Amjean on May 22, 2013 at 9:45 PM
New Liberal Definition of Overreach: Realizing the majority of Americans already despise and distrust the government, especially the IRS, you GOP really shouldn’t be twisting the knife on this issue, because you know….fairness and all that, (and we’re totally screwed).
can_con on May 22, 2013 at 9:45 PM
I guess now Lynch will be considered to have ‘lost credibility’ to many on the Left, including our trolls, much the same way they say LSM journalists seeking the truth of the scandals have lost it.
Maybe this was a fluke, a happenstance. We’ll have to see over time if Lynch sticks to the impression he made today or if he ‘evolves’.
Liam on May 22, 2013 at 9:46 PM
The only way a more Americans would take notice, would be if the Special Prosecutor was a contestant on Dancing with the Stars.
can_con on May 22, 2013 at 9:47 PM
Civil disobedience will soon be making a comeback…
d1carter on May 22, 2013 at 9:47 PM
Communist, repressive regimes always have a leader, like Stalin, Ceauşescu, Castro, Mao. Does he say out loud who that leader is here?
VorDaj on May 22, 2013 at 9:48 PM
So are McCain and Carl Levin on the case? They’re not? No threats, harsh words? Nope, that is for you fkhead wacky birds.
arnold ziffel on May 22, 2013 at 9:48 PM
Come on, this guy is obviously a massive racist. I mean, just look at his name. Typical crazy right-wing…. Massachusetts Democrat.
Gingotts on May 22, 2013 at 9:49 PM
Maybe he should invest in a few burner phones.
Curtiss on May 22, 2013 at 9:49 PM
By the way, this is the guy who lost the primary in Massachusetts against Markey. Really is a shame. Though perhaps if he won and were in the midst of a general election campaign, he wouldn’t have had guts enough to shred the IRS like this.
Gingotts on May 22, 2013 at 9:51 PM
So, Tea Party grannies get a rectal and Pinchin’ Penny’s Pritzker gets a pass on an $80million woopsie??? WTH???
ted c on May 22, 2013 at 9:55 PM
Meanwhile, gangs of “youths” are rioting in Stockholm, shouting “Allah akbar!”
John the Libertarian on May 22, 2013 at 10:02 PM
And rightly so, because the comparison is valid.
Update:
ITguy on May 22, 2013 at 10:06 PM
Oh, about that transparency thing..
Lucy Ricardo has been ordered to investigate Sgt. Schultz.
Speaking on lunatic women, has DWS made a sound in the last 2 weeks?
Bueller? Bueller?
BobMbx on May 22, 2013 at 10:14 PM
According to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pritzker_family,
Penny Pritzker appears to be a cousin of Margot Marshall Pritzker.
And there is a Margot Pritzker who serves with Michelle Obama on the Board of Directors of The Chicago Council on Global Affairs
ITguy on May 22, 2013 at 10:17 PM
Yeah, well BO learned from the master.
Buy Danish on May 22, 2013 at 10:25 PM
Get it right sir, it’s Allahu Ahkbar. You no get no more warnins impedel.
arnold ziffel on May 22, 2013 at 10:27 PM
They’re all up for re-election as they are in the house. However, I am going to defend, as much as I don’t like them, a couple of them. Cummings and Lynch could’ve been as easy on them as they wanted and get re-elected. Cummings represents MD-7 which is a D+23 district. Stephen Lynch represents MA-8 which is a D+9 district. As safe as they are, they were a lot tougher than I though they would be and were far superior to the rest of the democrats.
topdawg on May 22, 2013 at 10:28 PM
John the Libertarian on May 22, 2013 at 10:02 PM
Let enough of these loser muzzie aholez in any country and they will turn it into Harlem on the Rio Grande without bricks and mortar.
SparkPlug on May 22, 2013 at 10:29 PM
arnold ziffel on May 22, 2013 at 10:27 PM
Are there any happy rag heads? They always seem to be irritated and miserable stoning each other and blowing themselves up bending over 5 times a day to bixch and moan but never seem to care about how they smell.
SparkPlug on May 22, 2013 at 10:36 PM
Don’t threaten.
F*CKING. DO. IT.
NOW.
Midas on May 22, 2013 at 11:43 PM
Their deep-seated resentment stems, in part, from pointing to an unfortunate woman and her feet barely peeking out of a portable tent and claiming it’s their “hot girlfriend over there” at which point their friends laugh, scoff and call BS even if the claim were true… because seeing is believing.
viking01 on May 22, 2013 at 11:56 PM
So I see Penny is doing Chicago proud.
Just an $80 million dollar oversight – no biggie.
$#%@ this administration!
Hill60 on May 22, 2013 at 11:57 PM
Michael Iannoti is an IRS agent in New Haven CT. Issa should have him testify about why he went after Anne Hendershott.
This should make you mad.
Jasper61 on May 23, 2013 at 12:27 AM
Here’s one of the reasons why the IG George was squirming later in the afternoon…
Update per Issa: “E-mails between @GOPoversight and IG show IG delayed reporting findings of #IRS investigation to Congress http://t.co/xMffZUSsRC“
workingclass artist on May 23, 2013 at 8:58 AM
Lynch is my rep and he is a good guy. He is often at odds with “mainstream” liberals in MA and likely why he lost the primary to total Elizabeth Warrenesque Moonbat Libtard, Ed Markey.
roy_batty on May 23, 2013 at 12:06 PM
Lynch is basically useless. He’s also my rep and I always either vote against him, or if a RINO is running, leave the race blank. This was a nice show, and I am sure that in his heart of hearts Lynch would prefer not to be part of the “go along to get along” crowd of Boston/Northeast Irish Americans who have sold their souls to the diseased Democratic party. However, he is always a good soldier and his motto (like his fellow Irish-American sellout brethren) is always: “Democrats uber alles”. I’ve lived in Boston all my life and his breed is not reliable.
wraithby on May 23, 2013 at 12:57 PM