RINOs on the Endangered List
The last of the primaries are over, and there are a lot of fresh faces showing up in the general elections. The phenomenon has been attributed to many causes - the Tea Party, anti-incumbency fever, anti-DC fever, and a general horror as to the shape that the country is in.
None of those reasons adequately explains the election of Scott Brown (R-MA) to the Senate, or the defeats of Arlen Specter (R?D? - PA), Bob Bennett (R - CO) and this week's big casualty Mike Castle (R) in Delaware. People have claimed a rightward trend in response to the policies enacted by the Pelosi, Reid and Obama. That is partly true.
It has been said that America is a center right country that is blanching at the actions of our government which make no sense to many people. Issues such as national debt, unemployment, the crash of the real estate market and loss of value to most retirement plans dominate this election. The majority of people do not think that these front burner issues are being handled effectively.
The sordid dealings that made it possible for the healthcare package to be shoved through Congress is a component. It spoke to both the corruption of entrenched career politicians, and of those same politician's arrogance in passing the package over the objections expressed by the American public. Rather than taking the time to address those objections and persuade people, they instead passed a law that no one had even bothered to read.
The Tea Party has done it's share to promote some candidates to victory. Talk radio has certainly helped a few. Those who involve themselves in politics and talk media, are as a rule more intense in their beliefs. They are also more likely to vote. There are more of them now, many more than in the heady days surrounding President Obama's election and inauguration.
We at TPP have noticed an interesting trend. The RINOs (Republican In Name Only) are being picked off one at a time. These are the "establishment" Republicans who do not adhere to basic Republican principles such as fiscal restraint and responsible governance. There are a good amount of them, and they are being rejected time after time. There were career ending losses for RINO candidates in NV, NJ, NY, CO, FL, TN, DE, NH, AK, HI, CT .... it's a long list. That is just in statewide primaries. Congressional challengers are stepping up and winning in the district races nationwide.
About the only one to survive is "maverick" John McCain, whose badge of honor is "reaching across the aisle". He was helped by the Tea Party Poster Girl, Sarah Palin (paying off that deal that she signed with the devil in 2008), changing his mind a few times to find the right side of an issue (well, he's getting old...), and an opponent with a gift for political suicide. The Republicans have put the RINOs on the endangered species list.
"Across the aisle" we see a trend as well. The Blue Dog Democrats are hanging in and winning their primaries. The Blue Dogs are the so-called conservative Democrats who share a fondness with fiscal restraint and responsible governance. We also note that of the 34 Democrats who voted against the healthcare plan last January, all have won their primaries. Not bad for a group that was told that voting against the measure would assure their defeat.
There is one other thread weaving through both camps. It speaks to both the Republicans and the Democrats and has occurred in many races across the country. The winning candidates all come across as genuine. They say what they believe and do not equivocate. They don't spin. There are not awash in the slime of politics and political handling. They are real people - true citizen candidates who wish to serve the public and advance America to a better place.
This, we believe, is what America wants desperately. In uncertain times, America is looking for the assurance that a candidate will do what he has promised to do. America is looking for it's voice to be heard, and it's concerns to be addressed. This is lost on The Democratic Party in general. They have been tone deaf and condescending to the "little" people out there in flyover country.
On the Republican side "establishment" stakeholders (lawmakers, party operatives, campaign managers, etc) have exhibited a similar patronizing and arrogant attitude in dealing with the obvious will of the people. A prime example of this is Rep. Castle's loss in Delaware to Christine O'Donnell. He has refused to congratulate or offer support to his party's elected nominee. One would expect such a temper tantrum from a 3 year old, but not from a politician who has been feeding from the public trough for the past 40 years. Well maybe one would...
The American people want grown ups in office making adult decisions. They do not want the school yard bullying displayed by Pelosi and Reid, nor the petulance of Castle as a sore loser unwilling to work to aid his party in securing victory.
They do not want Party Leaders anointing who they are allowed to vote for from some corner office . Smoke-filled rooms are so last century. They want to chose their own representation.They want fresh eyes looking at the problems that the career politicians don't seem able to deal with.
They also want their Party Leaders to show good judgment and principles, not confused pandering that smacks of the cluelessness running rampant in DC. A prime example of late is John Boehner, Republican Minority Leader who over the past few weeks has indicated acceptance of President Obama's plan for the Bush Tax Cut expiration. It smells of the backroom deal-making that disgusted the electorate in the healthcare non-debate. He has also tossed out the phony issue of modifying the 14th Amendment to address illegal immigration "anchor babies". See our analysis on this at:
http://blog.thomaspaineproject.org/2010/08/14/amending-14.aspx
Common Sense Dictates
This is not a business -as-usual election. These are serious times, demanding serious people to actually deal with serious issues. The sheer number of new faces speaking plainly and passionately, and WINNING nominations reflects the mistrust of the American people towards "establishment" candidates. They are looking to elect legislators who will speak to them as adults, have integrity, and be principled. They want to transform the Senate and the House of Representatives from frat houses for old men back to an honored place of public service.
The American public is not buying the time honored campaign strategy of avoiding issues, spinning positions and slinging mud at the opponent. The American public is not stupid nor needs the Congress to hold its hand to guide them through life. That the "establishment" of both parties do not understand this speaks to their certain extinction over the next few election cycles. This will happen in both parties. Nancy Pelosi promised to drain the swamp. As usual it is up to the American people to do the work that the politicians just talk about. The swamp is drained. The corrupt creatures living in it are exposed. It's time to remove them, one at a time, state by state, district by district. So says Common Sense.
RLB
Categories: political leadership, Partisan Politics
Tags: political leadership civic responsibility
Throw all the bums out - let's start fresh!
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Blue Dogs and no RINOs - sounds like a conservative shift to me. Obama is going to have to come around and play nice if he wants to get anything done.
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The issue isn't Republican or Democrat, it's conservative or progressive. Those who think government should be responsible and have limits versus people who think that government has all of the answers. There are progressives that wear both the "R" and the "D". I think that it's absurd for a "party" that stands for limited government to want to regulate private behavior (all of the social issues). It is just as ridiculous as the party that claims "compassion" would rather keep people in poverty than make them employable. The RINOs are progressives, as are the left wing nutjobs like Pelosi and Reid. The Blue Dogs may have different proposals than the conservatives, but they have more in common with them than they do with the progressives.
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At a time when government spending is insane, I can see the Blue dogs and the conservative Republicans sounding better to people. There are still a lot of other issues, but the out of control spending is right up there with jobs.
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It's still the economy stupid. Everyone knows what makes sense in hard times, and it was pretty wellstated here. Fiscal responsibility and an accountable government is exactly what the average household is doing now. We watch our money and are careful about how we spend it. The idea of being broke and then maxing out the credit cardsas a way to fix things is insanity. For all of the economics professors he has working at the West Wing, Obama isn't doing very well. Maybe he needs to hire someone living through this mess to balance the government books. Get in the real world!
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Obama is right that the Republicans spent money left and right. It's sort of ironic that they are trying to portray themselves as the party of limited spending. Tax cuts on top of wars, and the medicare expansion. Bush and his gang spent money like crazy. Now they are calling for fiscal responsibility. There's no one so proper as a reformed whore.
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Look, I don't thinkanyone has an absolute answer. I don't think anyone or any party owns the whole solution or the whole blame. I lean liberal and I'm in shcok over what is going on, just because the solutions seem to run in the opposite direction of reality. My senator is a blue dog - I support him. If Harry Reid was my senator, I'd probably be looking elsewhere. I'm not so sure about the conservatives. They talk a good game, but they did have a majority for a long time and did nothing with it except get us into more debt. The Tea Party candidates seem a little on the outside of mainstream thought. Some of them look a little scary. Abolishing social security? No gun laws? Really? I'm just not sure that I could take them seriously.
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Hi Nan. I understand your concern about the Tea Party, and some of the candidates haven't been helpful to themselves, but there's nothing to fear. We are mainstream, everyday Americans who are so disillusioned with the road the country is being taken down that we feel the need to act. When Obama did it it was great. When we do it, we are loonies and racists. Thereason our candidates have some warts is that they haven't been politicians with 30 years of practice eliminating controversy. The O'Donnells and Millers are regular people who want to serve the country. They don't have a million dollar staff of handlers and fixers. They are concerned citizens just like you.
Example - O'Donnell was pummelled for preaching abstinence to a church group. Would you prefer to teachyour children to slut around? She was beat up for admitting that she had a friend who dabbled in witchcraft IN JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL. Who doesn't know someone like that. She played with a Ouija board at a slumber party when she was 16. Didn't you? Meanwhile her opponent was a professed Marxist (by his own admission) in college. Funny how that isn't an issue.
The info is filtered,check out the Tea Parties and the candidates they back in person. Do your research. Don't just go by what you are told. And please check out for yourself what I'm telling you. Go to a Tea Party event. We are not the problem here.
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The country is being run by closet socialists (Reid and Pelosi) led by an empty suit. I was calling Obama that during the primaries. If we had to be stuck with a democrat, Hillary wouldn't have screwed things up so badly. I'm glad America is waking up. This election we stop the money bleeding out, next election we let Obama enjoy that 99 weeks of unemployment. Oh wait, no - he gets his pension and allowance for life. There is corruption in the system because the system is corrupt. Time to clean house.
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This is going to be my most practical vote ever. The issue is the economy. How do we get it going again? I'm thinking not by spending us into bigger debt. My vote goes with whoever comes up with the most sensible plan to get the rconomy humming again without bankrupting us further. It's not going to be a party line vote for me either. There are good ideas on both sides of the aisle. This year I forget the party and vote for the individual, and I vote on this issue. If the conservativ dems and the conservative reps can agree on this, we get something done. As to the side issues, lets do what we agree on and toss the rest back to the gridlock.
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It's like the old saying "when there's no food on the table, there is only one problem. When there is food on the table, there are a million problems."
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I can't believe what lousy sports the RINO losers are - Crist and Murkowski have launched independent bids. Castle is refusing to endorse O'Donnell. Then you have the remaining establishment RINOs lining up for slaughter. Lindsey Graham came out today for the Murkowski write in campaign. You're next Lindsey! It's RINO season.
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It's not just the RINOs getting no slack from the public. Obama got his behind handed to him at his town hall. You've seen the stories. There was black woman government worker asking if this is her new reality. Then there was the hedge fund guy who said Obama was beating on him lke a pinata. Another was the young man who was so inspired and now thinks that the American Dream is dead for him. These were his supporters voicing everything from disappointment to anger. The left is losing it's reasonable people. I feel your pain and share your concern. Join us in trying to fix this.
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Looks like Obama is making adjustments Summers is out now too. Looks like a big purge in the economic team. I wonder how long Geithner will last.
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Assuming the Republicans win in November, it might be a good idea to persuade Boehner to step aside. He's been acting like clown lately.
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When the Govt. is mute and speechless, the vow of conservative republicans really sounds good as well and taking care of general people of the nation. Specially the beyond control spending is the cynosure of their main strategies.
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I'll agree that the Duke of Orange is not in the best interests of the Republicans. If they take the House back it is n't so much because of him, but because some real conservatives stepped up. Boehner has been a good minority leader, but his train is running off the rils right now. He either needs to get contol of himself and look serious again, or pass the reigns to someone like Paul Ryan.
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You're right, the voters are sending a message.I'm not sure anyone from either party is listening. If not, they will be replaced, in both parties. Everyone I know is fed up with how the politicians are trying to run us. I thought it was the other way around. We vote for them to do what we want. That's the point, right?
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The problem with the whole cutting back the money is that the burden always falls on the poor. Social programs are always the first things on the chopping block. This affects those most in need. You don't see Congress cutting back on the sweetheart deals for the lobbyists. They always steal from the poor to give to the connected.
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This is why we need to clean the bums out. It's all about the special interests and both sides are equally corrupt. That's one of the basics in the Tea Party. Mr. Turner, I hate to tell you, charity is not the business of government, it is the business of charity. I will support any program that helps with self-sufficiency such as education or training. I will never support a program that pays someone my hard earned cash to sit on their butt all day watching TV and eating McDonalds.
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Roy, it is unfortunate that you think in such stark terms. There are many out there who are trying desperately, and struggling to provide for their families. This is an incredibly horrible economic time for millions in this country. That little bit of government assistance is sometimes the full measure between keeping shelter and fed, and life out on the street. It's not that they aren't trying. It's that there are no jobs.
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I'm sorry, Mr. Turner. Before FDR we did just fine without all of the social programs. While I sympathize with those in need, the place for that help lies with the churches and with charity. I am not cold or heartless. I volunteer at the local soup kitchen once a week, and I give to charities to support those in need. I just don't think that my taxes a should be used for it. My taxes should be spent on defense, infrastructure, and the things that benefit all. Like I said, I even support education and training. It keeps people off of public assistance, which is a public good. No cash payments though. If we eliminated all of the taxes that go to social programs, my paycheck would nearly double. Imagine the giving to charity that I could do then. Sorry, we just disagree.
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I'll pray for you, brother.
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There are people out there who really want to go back to the basic Constitution, and they make a good, if moot, point. That's not going to happen. The bare bones limited government is gone. There would be rioting in the streets if you eliminated Social Security or Medicare. You can tinker, fix and improve, but they are here to stay. I think that the argument resonating with most people is that we need to be responsible in how we give out and pay for these services. That is why the fiscal conservatism is so popular. People understand that the money isn't infinite. It's what we send to Washington. We have a right to expect that it's collected frugally and spent wisely.
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Term limits guys - it's the only answer to entrenched politicians.
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A RINO is no different than any of those corrupt sellouts on the left. As a matter of fact they are the corrupt sellouts of the right. It's about time all of these clowns get put on notice. The voters are not going to put up with this garbage any longer. I'm gonna call you tonite.
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This is what the Tea Party movement gains strength on - the BS coming out of Washington.
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