Redstate

Posted at 1:30pm on Mar. 25, 2008 Actually, Time, "nuts" was the *primary* consideration.

And, what: no link? We're all broken up inside.

By Moe Lane

In the process of raising many a heartfelt sigh for soon-to-be-officially-at-best-a-RiNO Ron Paul - you can endorse your ostensible Party's nominee any time now, Ron, and don't you think that you should be giving over some of that money to a candidate who can win? - and his wacky libertarian ways, Time.com mentions us! As usual, no direct link: God forbid that they should learn that tricksy HTML thing, or anything. Still, at least they got the name right. Lots of folks try to use RedState.org, in the mistaken belief that it doesn't redirect.

Anmyway, in the process of getting the record wrong, Time is forced to visit, however grudgingly, objective reality:

In fairness, though, another reason RedState's directors got tired of the Paulistas was that so many of them seemed — what's the polite word? — nuts. Paul's supporters aren't all black-helicopter paranoiacs, but the black-helicopter paranoiacs sure do support Ron Paul. The controversy over a few racist articles in his old newsletters was probably overblown; there's no evidence that Paul himself was ever a racist. But he is an extremist — partly in the Barry Goldwater extremism-in-defense-of-liberty-is-no-vice sense of the word, but also in the wacky let's-relitigate-the-currency-debates-of-the-1820s sense of the word. The late William F. Buckley wanted conservatives to stand athwart history yelling stop; Paul seems to want to slam history into reverse. The guy genuinely wants to abolish the Federal Reserve and start circulating gold again.

Mind you, this was only a brief segue into said objective reality; the author went right back to that comforting universe where we're all leaving the light on at night, just in case there's a Ronulan under the bed. Or something like that.

Funny: we seem to be getting a lot of people downright eager to tell us how scared we are, this election cycle. Yeah, yeah, I know: they did the same thing in '04. '06, for that matter - although, given the way that the Democrats urinated away their chance to change direction at the first sign of a scowl from the GOP (to the point that 2007 was, in some ways, one of our best years), one wonders who really won that one...

Moe Lane

PS: Any time now, Ron. There's a good loyal, member of the GOP. You are a good, loyal member of the GOP, right?

Posted in Archived | GOP | RON PAUL! RON PAUL! RON PAUL! — Comments (22)/ Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 2:10pm on Mar. 17, 2008 A Tough Decision For FL-22 GOP Primary Voters

The case for picking the candidate that makes strategic sense in both the long and short term.

By Martin A. Knight

The 22nd Congressional District of the state of Florida is currently represented by a freshman Democrat, Ron Klein, the former Minority Leader of the Florida Senate, who defeated Republican Clay Shaw in 2006, a very senior 26 year veteran of the House.

This is still a marginal district, a purple seat with neither red nor blue having a distinct advantage, even with the benefit of incumbency that Ron Klein currently holds.

And it is one of those seats we need to start winning before we can have a hope of regaining a majority any time within the near future. 2006 saw the GOP lose probably around 90% of every toss-up race in the country, and to make matters more ... difficult, we just lost our former Speaker's nominally Republican seat thanks to our side's nomination of someone who, by all accounts, was a terrible candidate.

Like Dan would say, it's people ultimately that run for public office, not disembodied ideas, ideologies or Parties.

Read on below ...

Posted in 2008 | Allen West | Archived | FL-22 | GOP | Mark Flagg | Primary | Ron Klein — Comments (10)/ Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 1:09am on Jan. 30, 2008 Ut Roma Exurat

And this is truly my last on the GOP before November 2008...Why, you ask? Well...it's simple, really - I'm sick of the whole bloody mess...THAT'S why.

By haystack

John McCain wins Florida. Rudy is set to endorse his candidacy, Huckabee sucked all through the process...and Romney is the Conservative we all knew better than to believe.

M'kay...and, now?

Well, see, this Presidential race was always about who in the GOP could win against the Democrat contender...and secondarily about whether Conservatism ever really had anything to do with it, or whether the plan all along was to seat Conservatism in the upper deck of ideas at Foxboro stadium...forced to endure piss-poor Governance over the course of the next 4 or 8 years...and we know where the GOP has decided to place her bets...don't we?

Congratulations are in order for Johnny Mac and the Mittster...and while I had endorsed Rudy after Fred had his butt handed to him in SC (knowing full well I would never have actually voted for anyone willing to take my guns, destroy the concept of "family" and willingly let more babies be butchered so as to not anger the female gender's insistence that they be allowed to commit murder because they are women), it has become quite clear that the GOP actually LIKES pretending that Conservatism is something that it isn't...and, as the youngsters like to say...I'm down wid dat...

As a Conservative first, and a Republican if it suits me (assuming Republican candidates want to attempt some level of engagement with conservative-minded constituents) I accept that I must support whomever is NOT a Democrat in November. While it may appear to be John McCain, in the end...all that will matter is that I vote for one who is NOT a Democrat. I get it.

There's always 2012...and until then, LOCAL elections will mean EVERYTHING.

In the mean time...Rome burns...

Posted in Elections | GOP | John McCain | POTUS primaries — Comments (32)/ Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 8:45pm on Jan. 21, 2008 Principled GOP Pragmatism: In Which I Endorse Giuliani For POTUS

Rudy is the man of the times for this Republican Party

By haystack

Things have moved on. The early primary returns send a clear message about the will of the Republican (and in some cases Democrat and Independent) voter; beating the Democrats is paramount...now is not the time to lose more elections quibbling over ideology and philosophy.

Under a Bush Administration America has seen a steady and persistent drift to the middle. It's happened before, so there's no reason to fear it or run in panic from it now just because the field of likely GOP nominees to replace him share similar traits and tendencies. Hell, we were more Conservative in Congress under Clinton than we have been since, save for the tax cuts and the SCOTUS fights (Miers notwithstanding).

To the "middle" merely indicates the Governed is hoping the Governing will tone it down a bit, and get to work doing a little more Governing and a little less mud slinging and caterwauling. Add a heaping helping of "shut the hell up and do your job" and that just about sums up where we are headed with the next Presidency and Congressional session(s).

We've fairly well debated and in some cases vilified each other bloody over the status of "Conservatism" in the GOP this cycle, and all the hot air that's going to be blown has been blown and has since dissipated. We've talked about it HERE, and HERE, and HERE, and as a parental bitchslap, talked about it HERE as well. The MSM is swimming in lamb's blood over the death of Conservatism, and the Democrats have been suggesting its demise will offer a whole generation renewed hope and the possibility of realizing all their dreams if only those evil Conservatives would go away and die somewhere. I get it.

What we're left with are a few uncomplicated realities all of which have led me (and I suggest everyone ELSE who is focused on beating the Democrats back from the White House doors) to decide Rudy Giuliani MUST receive the Republican nomination for the White House and be supported in the subsequent general election in November.

Rudy is not all things to all Republicans. Rudy is not a Conservative. Rudy has never apologized for being something different than he is, and (here's one of the clinchers for me) he has never tried to convince us that he is something he is not.

Scream at me below the fold over where I get this wrong...

Posted in 2008 | electability | GOP | independents | Moderate Republicans | you gotta win to play — Comments (275)/ Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 11:50am on Jan. 4, 2008 What I saw at the caucus in Caroll

(well, on television...)

By Mark Kilmer

In an indirect sense, I attended the Republican caucus Thursday evening at the Des Moines Area Community College in Carroll, Iowa. Yeah, while the other kids were watching Hume and Cooper and that lame sportscaster, I watched the caucus live on C-SPAN2. (A Dem caucus was on the main network, the GOP on 2.)

The opening scene was one of people filing past a table, showing ID, and receiving a ballot. They wandered off camera to the caucus room. The man seated behind the table on the far left, nearest the camera, brought the late Henry Hyde to mind. It was the hair: solid and white.

The people's voices created a mini-din and C-SPAN took phone calls.

As the proceedings were about to begin, the scene switched to the caucus room, which was a large, cleared-out classroom with many rows of chairs and people standing to the sides of the chairs and behind the chairs. These Republicans were there to participate, and they brought to mind an earlier caller to the program. More on him in a bit.

A fellow in a suit with a Romney sticker affixed to the front stood in front of the gathering and tested the microphones. He asked if there were anyone from the campaigns who would like to speak. This fellow was John Werden, chairman of the caucus.

A gal with a Rudy sticker led those assembled in the Pledge of Allegiance. A young pastor led the prayer, thanks to God Almighty "in the name of Jesus Christ, our savior" for the country, for freedom, for democracy, and for the process. No stickers on the pastor. A high school girl in a red top with white polka dots came out and sang, without musical accompaniment, God Bless the U.S.A., and for this, she received her due applause.

This was all so American and it all seemed so wonderful, and it brought to mind an earlier caller to the program. More on him in a bit.

Read On…

Posted in 2008 | Carroll | GOP | Iowa Caucus — Comments (2)/ Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 2:41pm on Dec. 13, 2007 "A Little Snappier Gentleman"

By Michelle Oddis

Was John McCain there yesterday? I didn’t notice. I think we need another rendition of "Bomb Bomb Bomb – Bomb Bomb Iran." Call someone a "little jerk," start a fight with Cornyn again… I like him better with guns blazing.

And Tom Tancredo what was your problem? Was someone in a bad mood? You took your time taking cheap shots at Romney, what a waste of breath. Knocking the top tier’ers will not help you now... it’s too late. I thought his comments about Romney seemed spiteful and bitter. No political gain for him there so what was the point? As a matter of fact he was so aggressive that the Monotoner (boy was she the worst moderator or what? I take that back shes better than listening to Matthews) cut him off.

Alan Keyes -- What in the world was he going on and on about? His presence cheapened the debate. If I had an office in Iowa would I be able to participate too? If I did... I think I would have come off more coherent then he did. Stop preaching, start talking. I dont want a revival I want a president. Thank God Huckabee doesnt sing when he...

Alan -- the monotoner was ignoring you because your answers had NOTHING to do with the questions...

"EXCUSE ME, DO I HAVE TO RAISE MY HAND?"

"I'M GETTING TO YOU."

"NO, YOU'RE NOT. YOU HAVEN'T IN SEVERAL GO ROUNDS, SO I HAVE TO MAKE AN ISSUE OUT OF IT. I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF EDUCATION."

"YOUR UNFAIRNESS IS NOW BECOMING SO APPARENT THAT THE VOTERS IN IOWA MUST UNDERSTAND THERE'S A REASON FOR IT, AND THE REASON IS WHAT I'M ABOUT TO SAY."

Well, that was awkward.

“And I would say as president one of my goals would be I cant part the Red Sea, but I believe I would part the red tape."

Hmmm, who said that? It wasn’t Moses...

I thought Huck did well but the biblical references are starting to seem staged – or maybe I am more aware of them now? I knew Huck would make it to the top...He earned it. He participated and fought for it. He said the right things at the right times and he seems to really want it... (cough Fred Thompson cough)

Fred was good, but I don’t know that he won per se... I don’t think anyone "won" really. I wish Fred was there before, I really do. His best answer was on the new NIE on Iran.

"WE HAVE A REAL PROBLEM WITH OUR INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY. IT ALONG WITH CERTAIN PARTS OF OUR MILITARY WERE NEGLECTED FOR A LONG, LONG TIME IN THIS COUNTRY, AND WE'RE PAYING THE PRICE NOW. THE FACT IS NOBODY HAS ANY REAL CONFIDENCE IN THE RESULT THAT THEY'RE GETTING. THE RESULT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT WAS DIRECTLY CONTRADICTED BY THEIR STRONG BELIEFS JUST TWO YEARS AGO. SO YOU'VE GOT TO REBUILD FROM THE BOTTOM UP. I THINK THAT IN THE MEAN MEANTIME, WE HAVE TO RELY ON OTHER PEOPLE, THE BRITISH ARE HELPFUL TO US, THE ISRAELIS SOMETIMES ARE HELPFUL TO US."

I really liked his line about Romney getting good at acting.
I like Romney, but sometimes I do worry about that.

Sometimes I think: Mitt -- are you always "on?"

I wanna see Mitt in his pajama’s with his hair messed up. (NOW STOP IT THAT’S NOT WHAT I MEAN! GET YOUR MIND OUT OF THE GUTTER) I mean I need him to not be in a perfectly tailored suit with his hair all coifed. Go dig in the dirt or take pictures of you hunting or pumping your own gas or SOMETHING. I see a suit, and that’s all. That worries me occasionally.

Most of all, my favorite thing about this debate -- It means something now. It’s no longer a glorified press conference. I popped pop corn and sat at my desk analyzing Iowa on my 2006 election results map while I chuckled and boo’ed. This is when it starts to get fun.

P.S. I didnt forget Rudy... just didnt think he said anything worth mentioning.

Posted in 2008 | Debate | Fred Thompson | GOP | Iowa Caucuses | John McCain | Romney | Rudy Giuliani — Comments (0) / Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 3:56pm on Nov. 6, 2007 My man Mitt (I would have made this decision earlier if the bots had let me think)

By BlackRepub

I am writing this because I am willing to take one for the time that is not divisive. I have gone from supporting a man who does not want to be President, to supporting a man who will be Dukakised in the election. I have been reluctant because of the early botting that proceeded HWMNBN, and IMO, resembled a close second. I admit that I did hold some early prejudice against him, I feel like any man who says he isn't prejudiced is lying. But I have looked around and decided to put a few people back on the shelf. Yes, this is my official endorsement of Mitt Romney for the next President of the United States.

Posted in 2008 | Archived | GOP | Mitt | Primary | Romney — Comments (68) / Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 6:11pm on Jun. 14, 2007 Republicans doing yeoman's work on the House floor

If only this fighting for the taxpayer had been present at this time last year...

By Jeff Emanuel

Posted in Congress | GOP — Comments (6)/ Email this page » / Read More »