1 Your local Tea Party may already be working on this. If not, get them moving on it now. Yep, they started right after the last election. BTW, are the comments section screwed up for everyone, or just me?

2 Interesting. Anybody in IN going to primary Lugar?

3 Can you tell me how do you vote out a chuckie shoo mer?

4 Redistricting has Tom Latham, my middle of the road rep, moving to the southwest Iowa district to take on Tom Boswell, the DSM Democrat rep. That would be a pickup. Steve King is now my rep in northwest Iowa, and will be taking on Christy Vilsack, the wife of the Secretary of Agriculture (and starring player in the Pigford drama). This could be a win win for Republicans in Iowa if Latham can take out Boswell, and King can hold off Vilsack with a more liberal district. I think it will be a similar situation in a lot of states with redistricting occuring.

5 Interesting. Anybody in IN going to primary Lugar? He's a Senator, of course, and the lesson we all learned in 2010 is that putting up a hardcore, perhaps untested, conservative in a statewide race is very risky. E.g., Angle, O'Donnell, Miller. The Kasten Plan works best in districted seats (Congress, state legislature), where the winner of the correct primary always wins the general.

6 Would love to support a primary challenger in this district.  Where is the internet resource that connects the donors and volunteers to the candidates?  The State Party apparatchiks won't provide that information.  Protecting the insiders and keeping the uppity serfs out is their primary function.

7

Curious,

I'll see you one Schumer and raise you a Boxer and a Feinstein.

8

Jim McGovern (D-MA 3)

There's nothing I can do about him.

9

 They resist bold action, based on the increasingly strange idea that their re-election matters.

Congress does have access to some sweeeeet underground survival bunkers.  

10 Steve King is now my rep in northwest Iowa, and will be taking on Christy Vilsack, the wife of the Secretary of Agriculture (and starring player in the Pigford drama). This could be a win win for Republicans in Iowa if Latham can take out Boswell, and King can hold off Vilsack with a more liberal district. I think it will be a similar situation in a lot of states with redistricting occuring.

I'm in Ames, too, Jay.  Latham is an appropriator (and not the most Tea Party-friendly guy as such) so I don't see the usual attacks on him being successful.  He was an 80 ACU in 2009 and a 90 ACU in 2010.  Boswell, IIRC, had some trouble last time and I don't see him doing well in a more conservative district that doesn't know him as well and some of them are used to Peter King.

As far as Christy Vilsack, I just don't see that.  King is a good conservative rep and even though he gets the same hits as Bachmann, they don't seem to land (there's probably a little sexism there).  He's an experienced campaigner and a good debater.  I get the feeling that Christy Vilsack is just being indulged by her husband in the way that the wife of a rich or powerful man often is.  It's either this or owning a flower-arranging store.

She does have the advantage that Vilsack was reasonably competent for a Dem, unlike his successor.

Ames is more liberal than Iowa in general, but not that much to overcome the NW part of the state. But maybe I don't know the demographics of Iowa well enough.

11 I'll see you one Schumer and raise you a Boxer and a Feinstein.

Ugghh.  I got a Durbin and a squish.

OT:  Anyone see this?  Carrie Underwood @ the Girls Night Out: Superstar Women of Country.  Not a dry eye in the house.

12 3
Can you tell me how do you vote out a chuckie shoo mer?
Posted by: curious at April 28, 2011 11:06 AM (k1rwm)

Reset your phaser to "2016".  And pay attention to what is taking place in your state as the new lines for the U. S. House of  Representatives (you're losing at least 2 districts, IIRC) and state legislature districts are being drawn up. It's going to take a while ...

13

660,000 people in a district.

50% registered = 330,000 people

10% vote = 33,000 voters

Winning = 17,501 votes

14 I am one of the lucky few (especially here in NJ) who is represented by a true fiscal conservative

Garrett's the name, and cutting spending's his game.

15 Demographics in Iowa are the same as everywhere else, more population density relates to more democrat votes. King was in western Iowa, with lower population, and won reelection with over 60%. Central Iowa has higher population along the I35 corridor, so that will cut into his vote total. Dems in Ames absolutely HATE King. That tells me he's gonna have a hard time in central Iowa, but he's gonna carry western counties. It all boils down to what Vilsack comes out with a campaign. It's gonna be interesting. Oh, and a more centrist Latham matches up better against Boswell, which will bleed Boswell's support in Des Moines. I hope this stands up, but Latham could be a primary target, just because of the Tea Party view against him.

16

Interesting. Anybody in IN going to primary Lugar? He's a Senator, of course, and the lesson we all learned in 2010 is that putting up a hardcore, perhaps untested, conservative in a statewide race is very risky. E.g., Angle, O'Donnell, Miller.

Thanks for reminding us of that.  The first thing that came to mind after reading your post was "oh, great- we're going to lose seats in the name of purity".

But yeah- House elections are different in that there are a lot of "safe" districts out there; the primary has more to do with deciding the winner than the general election.

17 como se dice Hal Rogers?

18

I'd think that if we learned anything from the 1994 and 2010 elections, it's that we need to run moderate responsible bipartisan Republican candidates who can go along to get along in order to forge a responsible moderate consensus. I say this as a life long Republican who felt he had to vote for Obama, Kerry, Gore, Clinton, and whoever ran again that extreme GHW Bush in whatever year it was.

 

snicker snort guffaw...

19 "como se dice Hal Rogers?"

Ah yes, the poster child for everything that is wrong with America.

20 diga me en francais -- Hal Rogers.

21

Can you tell me how do you vote out a chuckie shoo mer?

You don't.

One day, however, a TV camera will be taping a live aligator and he'll be unable to resist getting in front of it.

22 Same as it's ever been
Same as it's ever been.......

I'm beginning to believe that the Liberal Moment has passed--for a decade or so.
They're as Crazy as ever but they've mostly lost their ability to dupe 'independent' voters and the conservative base is engaged and increasingly organized

Lee in Utah is the paradigm, not awful mistakes like Angle or Witch O'Donnell.  Find a conservative, not a goofball woman pseudo-populist.

and yes, Ryan should be forced to run for Prez. 

23

Completely off topic, but I  came across a website that gives evidence of Obama's COLB having been manufactured.  I am not a graphic artist or photoshop wizard, so I don't know if this means anything, but it was rather compelling

 

I've NEVER been a "birther", so I wasn't prepared to see the White House release a fraudulent document.  Now I don't know what the hell to think.

Ace, either you or one of the COBS need to see this for yourselves, see if there's anything to it.

http://barnhardt.biz/ 

24 He's a Senator, of course, and the lesson we all learned in 2010 is that putting up a hardcore, perhaps untested, conservative in a statewide race is very risky. E.g., Angle, O'Donnell, Miller. The Kasten Plan works best in districted seats (Congress, state legislature), where the winner of the correct primary always wins the general.

I think untested is the key.  You do need somebody, unfortunately, who knows how the game is played.  Also, you need somebody who has some friends in power who can will go to bat for you and GOTV for you.

Let's look at your examples: O'Donnell was a candidate with a lot of baggage who was unknown to the electorate in a blue state -- not going to win.  Angle will likely be a great House candidate (she did better toward the end than I expected) but she ran up against the mob, a successful campaign against her and a lack of sense of political correctness, also a purple state.  Miller was on his way to winning but was kneecapped by Coke Bear. He also failed to appreciate certain realities of his state's view on entitlements.  I think they would have been very happy with his votes, but if you're new, people fear what you might do. Rubio might be a better model.

In the case of Lugar, it's a red state and Lugar doesn't have a reputation of bringing home the bacon.  He's a foreign policy guy and nobody in Indiana really cares.  However, you do need somebody who is known and well-liked in the state to go against him.

And Mitch Daniels has already endorsed Lugar.

25 #2  Primary challenger to Lugar has already declered.  He is Dick Mourdock,  the state treasurer under Daniels. 

Daniels is not getting involved,  although he says he will vote for Lugar (he started his career working for Lugar).

Mourdock is not getting much traction,  because the only paper in the state (Indy Star) has pretty much disappeared him.

I happened to work with Moudock years ago.  He is a true fiscal conservative and a pretty straight shooter. 

26

"25 #2  Primary challenger to Lugar has already declered.  He is Dick Mourdock,  the state treasurer under Daniels. "

 

Thanks. My thought was, at Lugar's age, having to fight hard in a primary may just make him think retirement is perferable. The man has truly become a Senator from outer space. Maybe he is are own Byrd? Does he babble about Rome and such?

27 #26  He got really weird about the time Colin Powell was named secretary of state.  I think he thought he was going to get the position,  and spent a lot of time trashing elements of Bush's foreign policy.

Over the last few years,  I have begun to think someone is blackmailing him in order to force such ridiculous votes.

He really needs to go, if for no other reason than age. (And I am not a young whippersnapper; I am 62.)  You just know he isn't as quick as he used to be.

28 siamo disossate

29 the most important part was where you stick the crowbar.

Funny, my dad showed me the technique, too.  I learned about the fulcrum and feet on my own.

30
I will be working on the sticky note campaign.

31 Well, I'm so screwed.  The Republicans ran an excellent candidate, John Koster, against my representative, Rick Larsen (D) last year and Koster lost.  My senators are the brain trust of Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell. 

32

FEC regulates sticky-notes in 3...  

33 Hey, we know how to use a crowbar!  Just ask Wisconsin!

34 Then there's Canada, where you may like the local MP but detest the national party leader.

35 Today's economic headline should read like a fight update;

Hayek kicks Keynes in the nuts!

36

Posted by: Teacher's Unions at April 28, 2011 12:08 PM (zgZzy)

Our skills with crowbars and other melee weapons are legendary.  

/Along with the girth of our members.

37 Bwhahaha!  Mark Steyn:  "You win some and you lose some.  It turns out Barack Obama is a U.S. citizen but Superman isn't."  Heh! 

38 Yippee Ki Ai

39

Milton Friedman said:

"It's not about electing the right people. It's about making the wrong people do the right thing." (Ace posted the video once, but I can't find it on YouTube. I know it's there...)

The constant threat of a primary challenge can make even the wrong politician do the right thing.

It is much more effective than waiting, year after year, for a White Knight.

In the PA State Senate, I watched the Senate Majority Leader be knocked off in the Republican primary by a tire salesman. Had he understood the threat beforehand, he would have led differently while in power.

And while money is imporant, votes are what counts. On Election Day, two middle class votes count more than one millionaire's.

40 No DOOOOOOM! thread today?

41
To all of you Mitch Daniels fans:

Indiana GOP Gov. Mitch Daniels Says He “Hasn’t Decided Yet” if He Will Sign Bill Defunding Planned Parenthood

42 40 Milton Friedman said:

"It's not about electing the right people. It's about making the wrong people do the right thing." (Ace posted the video once, but I can't find it on YouTube. I know it's there...)

Here is that clip.

43

All one has to do is win the right primary. Five percent +1 of your district's registered voters can make it happen.

Even before targeting a Congressional primary, RUN FOR COUNTY COMMITTEE.

They are the ones who endorse those RINOs your complaining about. And you only have to win the majority of votes in a handful of neighborhoods.

Each county committee is usually broken down by townships/local municipalities. A few conservatives winning votes in a few neighborhoods can change a local GOP committee's endorsement. Which can change the county endorsement, which can change who gets endorsed and wins in a Congressional District.

It's more doable than people think.

44 Ditch, purge, and burn that purple, bloated sock! 

45

O/T  Rand Paul to Trump:  Show Us Your Long-Form Republican Registration Certificate!

46 There you go again .... are we supposed to have forgotten your silly "activism" posts of just a few months ago?

You (and by extension Ace) were preaching that conservatives could win in solid Phlegm 'n Crap districts.

You were wrong.

Ace admitted that his dreams didn't come true.

When will you?

47 Ha! Ha!  Mark Steyn addressing integrative complexity--heh!

48 Doom?

USD Index just hit its lowest point since March 08. My bet is it is going to crash through that floor pretty soon too.

49 @ 23. That's all a red herring. I'll say the font doesn't match! The National Font Reserve was destroyed in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Hawaiian birth certificates have been handwritten since 1942, when existing font inventories ran out.

50

Here is that clip.

Posted by: SEIU at April 28, 2011 12:23 PM (9hSKh)

Bless you! This can't be repeated enough:

 

"The way you solve things is to make it politically profitable for the wrong people to do the right things."

 

Friedman applies the market concept to governance. 'You want politicians to do the right thing? Create a market for it.'  Stop waiting for Rep. Camelot Hercules, who's willing to lose a seat that he devoted millions of dollars and years of groveling to gain just to Do the Right Thing.

 

51

Ha! Ha!  Mark Steyn addressing integrative complexity--heh!

All kinds of closet pudding dippers out there, huh?

 

52 Mark Steyn was really born in Hawaii and uses a fake accent.

53 Kay Bailey is retiring and I'll be interested to see who runs for the seat. Hoping for as conservative a candidate as possible.

54 Ace admitted that his dreams didn't come true.

When will you?

Posted by: Chuckit at April 28, 2011 12:26 PM (NAaLp)

I don't see where he's advocating running conservatives in districts that won't elect them.

55 From the sidebar: Fuck Apple and their lying liars. Steve Jobs can shove the I-phone up his ass. They get no more of my business.

56 Your local Tea Party may already be working on this. If not, get them moving on it now.

Well I guess we've had 6 months off. (In amidst budget battles and the Wisconsin debacle) I will take this as the first official call to arms for the 2012 season.

57 Trump is ahead in a ras repub poll. My gpd, we uave to stop encouraging this bitch

58 Interesting. Anybody in IN going to primary Lugar? Posted by: Ginormous Goober DeLarge at April 28, 2011 11:00 AM (Q5+Og) Damn, Qadaffi has gone all Obama and attacked big oil. Next thing we know he will attack coal. Oh the huge manatee. Old Testament times. Cats and dogs living together. Posted by: Jessie Junior at March 09, 2011 04:45 PM (Q5+Og) So, how come you changed your name?

59 Just get us the Senate and the White House... wasting time with purity purges at the district level is stupid.

How many Republicans voted against the Ryan budget in the House?  Anyone?  Buehler? Buehler?

4 Republicans voted Nay.. 235 voted Yea.

This has you guys all upset and ready to primary GOP candidates????

Spend your time looking for another O'Donnel maybe? Huh?

Jesus H. Christ on a stick.. let's concentrate on the Senate and the White House and quit getting distracted by this nonsense.  We don't get anything done even if we fill 100% of the seats in the House with control of the White House and the Senate.

60 with=without

61

A serious primary candidate must start collecting checks right now

i agree, ready my money bomb!!!

27  oooooh, a snuck in HL reference, outstanding

62 " Well, I'm so screwed.  The Republicans ran an excellent candidate, John Koster, against my representative, Rick Larsen (D) last year and Koster lost."

Redistricting should help the Republicans here.  Koster barely lost last time around.   I think he wins in 2012 if he runs.

63 Give me a cluebat long enough and the room to stand and I could move both Houses!

64

Steyn posits, "If the guy is as smart as we are told he can't be inept..."

Yeah, Obama is in favor of high gas prices.  Funny how progressives are all about the poor while their economic policies cause what amounts to brutal regressive taxation through inflation.  Inflation is the ultimate regressive tax on the poor and middle class especially.  If your billion drops to eight hundred million in value, it really sucks but you'll still take the G6 for vacation this Summer.      

65

Posted by: Open Blogger

¿Quién es?

66 That's a perfect post 69 spam.   Skynet is operational, and horny baby.  

67 I've never voted in a primary before, but you better believe I will now that my political eyes are open. (Shame, though, that I live in a blue state.)

68 Open Blogger es yo.

69 More resources about this here.

For Liberty,
Cold Warrior
The Precinct Project

70 something weird going on here?

71

Open Blogger es yo.

Danke!

72

Getting on the County Central Committee gets you the most bang for your buck

Here in Linn County Iowa the Tea Party is an effective voting block in the County Committee.  That did not happen by accident or overnight

For a record of that journey just  Google  "Hot Issues Linn County"

I get the first hit LOL You might enjoy the first post "Don't Feed the Pig"

73 Most excellent post.
Knowledge is power.

74 wow, that is Getting on the County Central Committee gets you the most bang for your buck Here in Linn County Iowa the Tea Party is an effective voting block in the County Committee. That did not happen by accident or overnight

75 I absolutely agree with this post.  We need to stop concentrating solely on politics at the national level and start taking this movement all the way down to the office of dog catcher.

Even in "non-partisan" offices there are things you can do.  Look at the candidates' political donation at opensecrets.  Have they made their political donations over the years to radical Democrats?  If so, that is where their sympathies lie.

Make sure no Democrat runs unopposed if there is any way to avoid it.  Many state legislative districts have seats that run unopposed.  That shouldn't happen.

Also, pressure elected executives at all levels (including county or municipal) to replace appointed positions with new faces that reflect their agenda.  We have seen too many liberal appointees serve decades under both Democrat and Republican administrations.  It is the prerogative of the executive to fire them and replace them with individuals that share the same agenda.  That is the *reason* those positions are appointed.

 

76 Somebody, kill that spam... and my tired old sock, BTW...

77 If you're going to bump this, can't you at least remove the damn spam?

78 Why use "red"?   You know you're playing into the Phlegm 'n Craps' game, right?

79 The upside to all this is that we swapped Grayson for Webster already.  So that means I can sit around with no pants until it's time to go vote again, right?

80 Anyone know where I can get some Obamagold?

81 What was the point of bumping this spam-filled week-old blog?

82

Derail a train to mark the 10th anniversary of 9/11?

Not that I'd like to see that of course, but...that's a little weak, isn't it?

83 diga me en francais -- Hal Rogers.


this website is very good, you can go and see it




http://www.shoes4world.com/

84 I live in WA-08 and I'm stuck with Reichert, and some fossils from the so-called  local 'Conservative Group' who think he's just swell, even though he supported crap & tax and illegal immigration. How's that for a joke? A former law enforcement officer who supports breaking the law. I contacted his office on this, and got a form letter piece of junk back that didn't address my points. He doesn't even have real 'town halls' just phone town halls, the last resort of the candidate who doesn't want to deal directly with the concerns of his people.

When Reichert supported crap & tax this WA-08 GOP group picked a few people (statewide and from the district, a total of about 8 or 9, including a woman who was a huge supported of his), and met with him privately so he could 'address their concerns'. Nice elitism there. Then the group leader, Mark, emailed us all that Reichert had satisfied them, he explained there was some bait and switch, etc etc, all a bunch of hooey. When I refused to swallow it and argued, I got a bit of an email lecture. I have not gone to one of their meetings since then, and my husband and I were the two youngest members. When someone does something wrong, they are wrong, even if they call themselves a Republican. Really put me off getting involved locally, I'm sad to say, esp. since no one will run against him.

Sorry, had to get that off my chest, it's been bothering me for a while.

85 I'll venture that part of the problem of getting good candidates on the ticket is the ESSENTIAL NATURE of Conservatives.  From what I see, most of us aren't looking for power; we don't want to tell anybody else how to live their lives.  We just want to live ours the way we see fit.  So you don't find a lot of candidates willing to go through the process, even at the lowliest low level.  The "payoff" of winning and the perqs of office aren't enough to offset the time, effort, and money-grubbing necessary to achieve it.

What brings this up is that in the recent Denver mayoral elections, MOST of the candidates were Democrats.  (It was a little difficult to find this out.  Apparently city/ county elections are considered not to be party-affiliated; and nothing on the mail-in ballots hinted who was a member of which party.  I had to go to the Democrat website, and was amazed to find that for one position, ALL FIVE of the candidates were Dems!)

How do we find and encourage good Righties to take on the Lefties???