1 It's all politics.

2 "And worse, you'll lose a lot of the races and then they'll stop fearing you. " What if about twenty of us showed up at their office with a fence-rail, some tar and feathers?

3 The Roberts-Wolfe race is a total mystery to me.

You know the Senate isn't a lifetime appointment, right? 

4 While in my heart no candidate should go incumbent can go unchallenged...I can live with this conclusion. Only so much to go around...

5 I have no problem with this, primaries are a good way to keep incumbents in check. Too many of these a-holes think they are untouchable and they should be reminded about whom they represent. I don't think it's too much to go out and court your base once every 2 or 6 years

6 what's so great about John Cornyn?

7 Why, why, why couldn't it have been Gohmert?

8

Stockman isnt serious. No money and filing in on the eve of the deadline? What kind of a campaign is that supposed to be? This will end like the McCain primary in 2010. A wasted opportunity.

9 2nd most conservative voting record.. and he needs to be primaried because he pissed off some ultru-right group.

Circular firing squad, Ready! Aim! Shoot!

10 Stockman isnt serious. No money and filing in on the eve of the deadline? What kind of a campaign is that supposed to be? Makes me wonder who put him up to it...

11 Yeah, sometimes politics is politics and we have (and the tea party) have to stop reading ideology into everything. With Cornyn being a limp conservative from Texas, Stockman thinks he has a shot. Note, Stockman is a must-follow on Twitter, which may lead him to think he has the cache to do this. It doesn't sound like he does, but he might be looking to get into lobbying or the private sector as the booby prize here. The story with Wolfe-Roberts is that the Senate Conservative Fund is in with Wolfe. Who knows? Maybe Roberts said "F- you!" once to somebody high up in the SCF. The Stockman-Cornyn thing doesn't bother me. Texas is a conservative state and Republicans have to learn that they are not Democrats and must answer to their constituents...even when their constituents are wrong. The Wolfe thing is a problem because he's not exactly on the national radar and one Akin-like statement and he's out.

12 Makes me wonder who put him up to it...

Probably Terry McAuliffe.

13 I saw Losing the Plot open for Renaissance in '75. Annie Haslam was as sublime as always.

14 I saw Losing the Plot open for Renaissance in '75. Annie Haslam was as sublime as always. /checks pulse of meme It's dead, Jim.

15 I think you've ignored the fact that Primary Challenges are most often about little more than the challengers ego - Stockman has a long history of running for offices and losing, he gets off on that kind of thing. (I don't get it, I really don't, but then I don't have that kind of ridiculous ego) People bring up the Dewhust-Cruz race, but ignore the incredibly arrogant and incompetent campaign that Dewhurst ran. He stayed in Austin and refused to meet the voters, who were apparently beneath him, instead choosing to only campaign by putting out glossy videos that cost millions. (typical of Dewhurst, and the real reason I never voted for him - he is the typical rich guy who thinks every problem, personal or political, can be solved by throwing big wads of money at it) Dewhurst completely blew his election campaign with his own arrogance. Unless Cornyn repeats that mistake, and I do not think he will, Stockman's primary challenge is a joke.

16 /checks pulse of meme It's dead, Jim. Posted by: Brother Cavil +++++++++++++++++++++++++ Damn, it's all I got.

17 Unless Cornyn repeats that mistake, and I do not think he will, Stockman's primary challenge is a joke. Posted by: Tom Servo ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Agreed. I think Gohmert had a real shot at beating Cornyn. Oh well...

18 I saw It's Dead, Jim open for Arlo Guthrie in '78.

19 "No matter the outcome of the races, the GOP is not a healthy party. " Nothing that a laser like focus on sodomy, rape, and in flight cell calls can't fix!

20 I pray that we can get rid of Nancy Boy in the primaries next year. And I think we have a good chance.

21 Steve Stockman's campaign bumper sticker is "If babies had guns, they wouldn't be aborted."
http://tinyurl.com/na89b3k

So he's a SoCon dingbat that's obsessed with abortion. Yeah just the fight we need. Akin 2.0

I would honestly like to have seen a quality candidate challenge Cornyn.  Oh well.

22 Al those traitorous Republicans should lose because they all lie to our black president.

23 I'm not living in Texas right now, but the feeling from my parents is that Cornyn is far too comfortable in D.C.  The primary is to either shake him up or boot him.  They see it as a win win. 

24 Barack Obama is a stuttering clusterf*ck of a malignant traitor.

25 So he's a SoCon dingbat that's obsessed with abortion. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ So if you're against murdering babies that makes you a socon dingbat. Huh.

26 Addendum: those of you outside Texas probably don't realize what a fantastic grass-roots campaigner Ted Cruz is - best I've ever seen, since Reagan. Even though he's now a Senator with lots of name recognition, he is STILL making regular stops at smaller towns in Texas, meeting supporters and letting them know he cares. It's like he actually believes that the VOTERS are important! Contrast that with Dave Dewhurst, who has been in state office for nearly 16 years now and has not visited my town a single time - not once! He made it clear to me and everyone I know that he doesn't give a flip about what we think. Cornyn is no Cruz, but at least he's got a little bit more humility than that ass Dewhurst. (Btw, people outside Texas like to make fun of Perry, but he's always been a pretty good grass roots campaigner himself)

27
"Freedom from choice
Is what you want"



Apparently

28 I saw Pulse of Meme open for Daft Punk in Sydney in 2005.  outstanding!

29 If Cornyn is going to lose, it will be in a primary. The primary IS the election. Just as the Dewhurst/Cruz primary (well, the run-off) WAS the election. That said- I reject your "limited resources" argument, because it ignores the grass roots in the States. Yes, Stockman currently has ~32K in his war-chest. A couple of "money bombs" will shore that up. Additionally, Cornyn is already in trouble, as evidenced by the fact that he's been running "I am TOO conservative!!!" adds for at least the last 3 months- even before he had a challenger. Obviously he knows he's weak. So, while it's true that the Senate Conservatives Fund only has so much money, that doesn't preclude politicians from raising a fair amount of money. Also, simply being out-spent doesn't necessarily mean as much anymore. Finally, I'll say this- Primary all of them, every time. I want them to remember that they answer to us, not the other way 'round.

30 I have to bump this from the previous thread to get it off my chest. And now I'll shut up.....
"My gripe in this post with the Mandela situation is a fear on my part that history concerning the man will become lost and a legend will arise that promotes strongly the agenda of my enemies.
Every single damned issue in this country morphs into a diatribe about race and racial grievance. I am sick to death of, and in despair over, this because it's being used by Obama and the other Communists in our country to destroy what I love."

31 Posted by: HeatherRadish™ needs a beer at December 10, 2013 10:57 AM (ZKzrr) And you do know that if you treat your friends the same way you treat your opponents, your friends have no reason to keep being your friends, right? Politicians are like dumb animals. They react to being punished for doing something bad and to being rewarded for doing something good. If you punish them no matter what, they'll either stop working or they'll run off to find someone else who will reward them for what they do.

32

Heck,  I'm not just planning to vote against Alexander in the primary....I'm planning to vote Dem if he does win the primary.

 

Cutting off my nose to spite my face?  Maybe, in the short term.  But I will not be lied to by my representative again ......If you really think No Child Left Behind is great and that we need to add 30 million more low skilled laborers to the pool in order to help your business buddies make more money, then be a man and SAY SO.

Then, if you are the lesser of two evils, I'll probably vote for you.  Until then, Lamar Alexander AND Bob Corker can kiss my ass.

33 I never got a reply from Cornyn when I used his official Senator website to send a message that I was extremely disappointed in his voting habits and  conspicuous-in-it's-absence non support of Ted Cruz's stand against ObamaCare.  Told Cornyn that I would be supporting anybody else who chose to primary him.  I intend to honor that pledge and let Cornyn know about it.

34 I'm of the opinion that everyone needs a primary challenger. It doesn't have to be a bitter acrimonious affair, with tons of money spent. It's a chance to get positions laid out more clearly (with all the attendant lies, natch) and it will garner some free press as well.
 
I thought Ms. Lindsey does have a couple of respectable challengers? In fact, I'm pretty sure of it.
 
I don't think that the head cash groups, like the RNSC, should get involved in these primaries though. That ain't their job.

35

BTW - a "no primaries" for incumbents rule is the political equivalent of asking your Mom to buy your clothes.

36 tubal, I responded to your comment on the other thread, FWIW.

37 So if you're against murdering babies that makes you a socon dingbat. Huh. Posted by: Countrysquire

If you want to make that ridiculous slogan your campaign's official bumper sticker, yeah, you're a SoCon dingbat that's obsessed.

Every Republican that represents Texas in Congress is also pro-life, couldn't we find one that doesn't sound like Akin to take on Cornyn.

38 If you punish them no matter what, they'll either stop working or they'll run off to find someone else who will reward them for what they do.

Posted by: DrewM. at December 10, 2013 11:14 AM

That's THEIR fucking problem, Drew. I absolutely refuse to give politicians Special Snowflake status.

Some people believe you should rub a pet's nose in the mess when they poop on the floor. I don't. But I sure as hell advocate that for politicians.

39 Collins seems to be a lock and has high'ish approval.

http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/main/susan-collins/

Screwey as she is, its hard to unseat someone with 61% approval.

40 38 tubal, I responded to your comment on the other thread, FWIW.

Posted by: chique d'afrique (the artist formerly known as african chick) at December 10, 2013 11:16 AM (r+7wo)

Ok, Chique, thanks. I'll jump in the "Way-Back Machine" and go read it. Tubal

41 The other thing about Dewhurst is that not only does he make Cornyn seem charismatic he was not very popular. He treated the nomination to race to succeed Kay Bailey Hutchison as a coronation, and sort of as his consolation prize for never challenging Perry. He always assumed he would follow Perry as governor and made a bad job of concealing it too. I know someone who once called the Lt. Gov's office in Austin and they answered the phone: "Governor's Office". Naked and unprincipled ambition was always Dewhurst's strong suit and you could see he was offended at Cruz's impudence. Also Cruz was and will always be considered a lot more impressive than Stockman.

42 Can we just get someone to convince John McCain to just go away right now since he's not up for a while? Also, the question occurred to me while I was reading the Powell thread. Who's worse, McCain or Powell?

43 What is all this searching for reasons? We're the republican party. We're totally fucking stupid and damn proud of it. We'll primary everyone just for shits and giggles, plus run our national campaign on defining rape-rape and outlawing contraception. Don't try to reason with us, we're on a roll.

44 Drew, you are still trying to mastermind all this. How about we send this message to the GOP: "The old days are gone. Prepare yourselves." Primary anybody. Make every candidate earn their place on the ballot. It is not a waste of time and money to bring Conservative/Libertarian values and policies to the forefront everywhere and every time we can.

45 I usually agree with Drew, but I think he's wrong on this. At least partly.

First, the Podhoretz piece can be dismissed out of hand for obvious reasons--and I think Drew does agree on that. As long as it's even conceivable that the GOP will pass amnesty, the GOP is not conservative enough.

I understand the argument about resources, but the problem with just going after the "problem" Senators like Grahamnesty and McCain is that as soon as they're gone, some backbencher will just step up to the plate. So, targeting the backbenchers is acceptable too, *especially* in a deep red state like Kansas. Didn't Pat Roberts vote for amnesty? I'm pretty sure he did, and I'm pretty sure that Cornyn did too. The important thing is to keep leadership scared at all times, until the leadership looks just like Ted Cruz.

46 I won a major landlord/property rights case in the CA supreme court on a 4 - 3 vote (court has 7 members).  I was much more impressed with that win than my 7-0 loss on a very complex case where we had the entire political spectrum arrayed against us in amicus briefs and the opinion looks like a complete politically-motivated hatchet job.

47 So if you're against murdering babies that makes you a socon dingbat. Huh.

Posted by: Countrysquire at December 10, 2013 11:10 AM (LSJmV)

No, but an insane fixation on the least effective way to combat abortion is the mark of a dingbat.

48 As someone from Texas (living just a few miles from Cornyn's north Texas office) I can tell you that we have the distinct feeling that Cornyn no longer represents us. He represents some sort of DC, beltway, cucumber sandwich party type of Republican, and is no longer the fighter we sent to Washington a decade ago. He's too comfortable, and seems to think he's "Americas Senator" rather than a TEXAS senator. Cruz gave us a taste of what we DESERVE, and Cornyn can easily win the primary -- if he remembers that he has to dance with him what brung em.

49 I never got a reply from Cornyn when I used his official Senator website to send a message that I was extremely disappointed in his voting habits and conspicuous-in-it's-absence non support of Ted Cruz's stand against ObamaCare. Told Cornyn that I would be supporting anybody else who chose to primary him. I intend to honor that pledge and let Cornyn know about it. Posted by: Count de Monet
..........
Care to mention which votes exactly?  Besides his non-support of the symbolic Cruz statements against O'Care, what votes?

He has 100% rating with both NRA and right-to-life groups.  0% ratings with pro-abortion groups.

WTF did he do to piss you off so much?

50

Drew - keep in mind that we can't just look at a politician's voting record to determine their worthiness.  VRs can and are cherry-picked by the deciding organisation routinely.

 

Basically, it comes down to this question: does the politician in question have a record of standing by elite Washington interests over and against the people who elected them?  For Roberts, from all I can see, the answer would be "No," so I see no reason to primary him.  Cornyn, on the other hand, has way too much of the "old guard thick or thin" in him.  He probably needs to be retired.

51 If you punish them no matter what, they'll either stop working or they'll run off to find someone else who will reward them for what they do. He went full RINO. Everybody knows you never go full RINO

52 Posted by: SFGoth at December 10, 2013 11:19 AM (QX6cc)

4-3?

That is not pure enough.

We will accept nothing worse than 7-0

53 #45 We'll primary everyone just for shits and giggles, plus run our national campaign on defining rape-rape and outlawing contraception. Why yes, that is exactly what "we" "ran our national campaign" on. Who can forget all those RNC ads calling for the outlawing of contraception. And I especially liked when Mitt Romney used the debates to push the definition of "rape-rape." Good times, good times.

54 3 The Roberts-Wolfe race is a total mystery to me. You know the Senate isn't a lifetime appointment, right? --- Correct, but you need to pick your battles carefully. I'm not saying "Roberts needed to go unchallenged" but Roberts isn't someone like a McCain, Graham, Murscruntski, Cornyn, etc., who went out of their way to deserve a strong primary challenge.

55 As to ole Cochran, I'll have to start paying attention to that soon if he does pick up a decent primary opponent. Thad is a little to comfortably settled in front of the feeding trough to suit me.

56 And you do know that if you treat your friends the same way you treat your opponents, your friends have no reason to keep being your friends, right? ----------------- But they're not our friends. They're employees. Contract employees, at that. So, every two or six years, they need to re-bid the job. If I have a vendor that I'm dissatisfied with, I put the job back out to bid. If I can't find a better vendor, I stick with the original, but I never let a vendor get to where he just assumes he's got my business no matter how mediocre his results.

57 Yay, go Project Blue Texas! Let's make someone with a 93.8% conservative record waste money they could have used attacking the Democrat.

58 we sent to Washington a decade ago. Just highlighting this to point out we don't even send the President to Washington for more than a decade. When is current term is up, John Cornyn will have been a Senator longer than anyone is allowed to be President. He will have been "in politics" for pretty well his entire career.

59

Posted by: tubal at December 10, 2013 11:13 AM (YEQ2h)

_______

 

About Mandela...it made sense for anyone genuinely oppressed to flirt with communism in the early 60s; they had a good grievance game and won a lot of adherants.  Mandela didn't come out of jail in 1990 acting all commie.  He acted all healing.

 

Two bad things didn't happen in the early 90s that seemed like they were destined to happen. The unwinding of apartheid and the unwinding of Soviet communism looked like unavoidable bloodbaths, but they weren't.  DeKlerk and Gorbachev had the grace to yield to history and not go down in reactionary violence.  Mandela's approach and the subsequent "truth and reconcilliation" was masterful.

 

There ain't no saints, but everyone who isn't Ronald Reagan isn't necessarily a sinner.

60 I have seen enough from Coryn to understand and support a primary challenge. Roberts, on the other hand? I don't get that one. But being the party of stupid, I do get it. Lots of stupid fucks out there who want to govern us instead of representing us.

61 #36

Concur 100% .   I call it political hygiene.  A big part of the problem for both parties is that  House seats across the country are, in large part, gerrymandered.  They are political fiefs, with federal and state apparatchiks selecting the most suitable, pliable candidate.  Someone who will vote the "right way" when that candidate arrives in DC.

62 Cornyn Isn't Ideal, but this isn't the time to take him out.

63 The important thing is to keep leadership scared at all times, until the leadership looks just like Ted Cruz.

 

 

Posted by: Mr Estrada at December 10, 2013 11:18 AM (5piqN)

 

 

What Officer Ponch said.

64 Well ain't this super special.  Former President Bush gets booed when his picture flashes on screen.  But Abbas gets applause.  At Mandela memorial.

From Twitchy - http://tinyurl.com/ogd8f62

65 The important thing is to keep leadership scared at all times...

^^^THIS  is the problem in a nutshell.  They should fear the electorate, and fear for the fate of the nation.  There's not nearly enough of either.

If they're terrified, they certainly aren't projecting it, or acting like they are.

66 It is not a waste of time and money to bring Conservative/Libertarian values and policies to the forefront everywhere and every time we can.
Posted by: eman
..........
Really?  Not a waste of money having to spend millions in some cases fighting your own party?  Only to then be left fighting against the same rhetoric again from your Dem opponent?

You are eff'n clueless.  The Dems simply sit back and collect all the dirt thrown at a candidate by his own party during the primary, then re-broadcast it during the general.

Not a waste of time and money?  As I said.. eff'n clueless.

67 But they're not our friends. They're employees. Contract employees, at that. So, every two or six years, they need to re-bid the job.

Especially when they are regularly screwing up The Job.

Perhaps we should look at making politicians "at will" employees who can be fired on the spot when they mess up big-time.

68 68 Yeah,all that charity and aid for Africa while he was President gets him nothing.

69 I personally think John Cornyn is the right man for Texas and the US Senate. I can vouch for his conservative leadership.

70 Don't worry guys. The GOP leadership will start continue making soothing noises about amnesty, and that will make everything all right.

71 You'll never get rid of RINOs if you don't primary them.  Don't count on the Democrats doing it for you.

72

So he's a SoCon dingbat that's obsessed with abortion. Yeah just the fight we need. Akin 2.0

 

Yeah, what's a few million murdered children here or there?  We've got elections to win, dammit!

 

Here's a tip for you, nickelfucker - keep  calling  people opposed to abortion "dingbats," just as you call people wanting to see the GOP fight back against the Dems "spoiled children,"  and see how many elections you win.  Because right now, I'm not supporting anyone who won't shove the deliberate, systematic murder of children right down the Dems' throats.

73

@ 70 - "Really? Not a waste of money having to spend millions in some cases fighting your own party"

 

You're right - and I'm sure all the conservative Republican candidates over the past few years who have had to spend millions to repair the damage from their own Party's "elite" would agree with you as well.

74 Perhaps we should look at making politicians "at will" employees who can be fired on the spot when they mess up big-time. --- I'm thinking of it like communities which take their football seriously. They don't bother with hanging and burning the coach in effigy. They use the real thing.

75

If you won't be a voice for conservatism in the Senate, then you don't deserve your Senate seat.

 

Primary everyone, and support  the  most conservative option.

 

That's the only way this works. 

76 steevy do not lump the ingratitude of South Africa with the gratitude that other countries in Africa accord George and Laura.  This is purely a South Africa problem.

77 Why yes, that is exactly what "we" "ran our national campaign" on. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> But the party is damned if it does and damned if it doesn't meddle in these primaries, because you find one weirdo with a magical vagina theory, and all of a sudden they're the face for the platform. Then you have one side saying the loon should be supported no matter what aka the DE Witch, and a sane side that bemoans a wasted opportunity and a lost winnable seat.

78 Not a waste of time and money? As I said.. eff'n clueless. Posted by: Chi-Town Jerry at December 10, 2013 11:24 AM (f9c2L) Heh. We can't try to push out RINOs because, eeek!, Democrats. You know, I still don't get why it is taking President Romney so long to pick his Cabinet choices.

79 This whole idea of giving Cornyn a scare is it might work the other way. Say Stockman got 30+% in the primary, Cornyn might think: 70% of Texas GOP primary voters think I am doing a great job.

80 Overnight I read a piece in Breitbart's Big Gov that Unions are funding a Super PAC to defeat TEA Party Candidates. http://tinyurl.com/p9crwbx If this isn't proof positive that The TP is the way to go and the GOP HAS TO GO, then I don't know what it would take. Between this, the push for Immigration BS, and Ryan's Budget Hokum, these ass wipes are showing their true colors.

81 Posted by: steevy at December 10, 2013 11:25 AM (zqvg6)

Luckily he is a grownup and didn't do it for the adulation....he did it because he thought it was the right thing to do.

But....a more reasonable sample of sub-Saharan Africa would yield much more benign feelings towards Bush.

82 Cornyn Isn't Ideal, but this isn't the time to take him out.

Stockman could just file and run a $0.00 non-campaign that just gets his name on the ballot.  He'd lose, but how badly or not that he loses by might prove sobering.

83 The 17% in the Cruz/Dewhurst race was a siphon off of Cruz. Not Dewhurst.

84 Don't fall into the trap that there is a limited amount of money available for political races.

That's silly.

What there is, however, is a limited amount of money for weak-kneed, go-along/get-along, "I'm super-conservative in election year" candidates.

The dollar amount of donations keeps shrinking not because of primary challengers but because the donors are finding less and less reasons to donate.

Did you ever hear the Dems condemn the Kos Kiddies for funding Lamont? No.

85 83 This whole idea of giving Cornyn a scare is it might work the other way. Say Stockman got 30+% in the primary, Cornyn might think: 70% of Texas GOP primary voters think I am doing a great job. --- Cornyn strikes me as a similar kind of shitbag to McCain... someone who knows that he has to pretend to represent his constituents when it is election season but who morphs completely as soon as the votes are in. He's going to view ANY re-election as an affirmation of himself, no matter how close.

86 68 Yeah,all that charity and aid for Africa while he was President gets him nothing. Posted by: steevy at December 10, 2013 11:25 AM (zqvg6) Facts don't matter. The media and their ilk have been very effective at demonizing Bush and lionizing Obama worldwide. Even my friend's hubby, who is incredibly intelligent and thoughtful and thinks Obama sucks was saying the usual things about Bush when he came to visit the US from the motherland for his first time this year. And this is someone that agrees with us on a lot of things and got there by thinking about things himself. I'm not saying Bush is necessarily a hero, but the MSM and libs (BIRM) did a fantastic job Emmanuel Goldsteining him.

87 "Former President Bush gets booed when his picture flashes on screen."
___________________________________________________

That was the US press corps booing.

88 Posted by: Chi-Town Jerry at December 10, 2013 11:24 AM (f9c2L) In what world does a sitting Senator who is kind of squishy (or outright Liberal) suddenly get MORE Conservative because he *isn't* primaried? I'll agree that going after Collins would be a waste- she's about as Conservative as we're going to get in Maine. I don't think Cruz could win in Illinois, either. But Cruz DID win in Texas. Cruz COULD win in VA or AZ. Primarying Senators like Cornyn, Graham, and McCain is not a "waste of time and money." Indeed, even primarying kind of squishy Republicans in kind of squishy areas isn't a bad idea. It's a good way for them to re-prove that they represent the viewpoints of their own constituents.

89 We wouldn't even be having this debate if Republican leaders would listen to their base or--even better--view their base as a positive asset. I don't see Democratic politicians thinking up ways to deceive or betray their straight-ticket voting loyalists.

90 Damn straight I booed Bush when they showed him.  The nerve of him trying to take My spotlight!

91

But the party is damned if it does and damned if it doesn't meddle in these primaries, because you find one weirdo with a magical vagina theory, and all of a sudden they're the face for the platform.

 

And yet, somehow, the GOP can't pull its head out of its ass long enough to make harridans who dance to "Celebrate" at Planned  Murderhood to celebrate abortion or idiots who run on "if men could get pregnant, abortion would be legal" slogans the faces of their platforms.

92 You know, I still don't get why it is taking President Romney so long to pick his Cabinet choices. Posted by: eman
............
Perfect case in point.  You don't think 6 months of primaries and debates didn't hurt Romney?  How man Dem ads did you see featuring the voice of Newt or Perry?  I saw lots.

93 Bush was the first to stand to give Bumbles a standing O.

94 But the party is damned if it does and damned if it doesn't meddle in these primaries, because you find one weirdo with a magical vagina theory, and all of a sudden they're the face for the platform. Then you have one side saying the loon should be supported no matter what aka the DE Witch, and a sane side that bemoans a wasted opportunity and a lost winnable seat. Posted by: Tattoo De Plane at December 10, 2013 11:26 AM (Y92Nd) You can wear all the socks you want, jwest, you're not fooling anybody. Keep regurgitating that MFM spin all you want, but the entire party is not defined by one or two loons anymore than the entire Dem party is defined by Hank "Guam's gonna tip over" Johnson.

95 The Goal??? The Goal is to serve notice on the entrenched REPUBLICANS in Washington, that they are NOT so entrenched. Hell.... I'm all for throwing EVERYONE out and starting over... as this Senate seems incapable of doing its JOB.... The Government shutdown happened because the SENATE would not pass, let alone vote on, the normal Appropriations Bills, many of which had already passed the House. I will also submit that the Senate has allowed Obama to put CLEARLY incapable people in charge of this country... and has not really raised any ruckus over appointments... (which is clearly part of their Job under the Constitution.... they are NOT just a rubber stamp).

96 Nothing that a laser like focus onÂ… in flight cell calls can't fix! What the hell is up with that? Do they really believe that the FAA is inclined to be too open to new ideas and that this policy change hasnÂ’t been thought out?

97 Funny that they are honoring a man that helped bring the end of repression of a group of people and fought against a system that murdered many of those people. He will be considered a legend and a hero when history books are written.

But at the same time they boo a man who did exactly the same thing.

98 Cornyn might think: 70% of Texas GOP primary voters think I am doing a great job.

What happens in the general if the other 30% sit it out?  He's still gotta do something to enthuse them enough to pull the lever for him in Nov.

With sitting it out and letting it burn becoming more attractive every day, the usual default voter actions no longer apply.

99 We need to primary this whole concept of "representative democracy". Fuck this idea of electing someone based on their intellect and character and trusting them to look at all the factors and make the right decision. I want them to read my mind and vote exactly how I would, even without knowing the details. It's time of direct democracy (mob rule) for our party. If someone steps out of line, we need to tar and feather him and run him out of town. 'Cause we're Republicans. And we're smart. Not like people say.

100 "On the other side of this debate are Michael Medved and John Podhoretz who argue that the GOP is conservative enough and all of this primary stuff is nonsense." Funniest shit I've read in a long time.

101 And yet, somehow, the GOP can't pull its head out of its ass long enough to make harridans who dance to "Celebrate" at Planned Murderhood to celebrate abortion or idiots who run on "if men could get pregnant, abortion would be legal" slogans the faces of their platforms. Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at December 10, 2013 11:30 AM (zF6Iw) Heh. I'm guessing that's in regard to the story I told here a week or so ago. Update: The dancing dufus city councilwoman quit the Catholic Church after being exposed in the newspaper. She's now a member of an Episcapalian church with, get this, a Lesbian pastor.

102 Did Obama push the casket off the platform so every camera could focus on him. (Not sure if there's a casket there, but you get my point.) What's the I, me count? Did he tell about the warm feelings he got when he first discovered the existence of SA and how he thought it might be a fun place to vacation at with the safaris and all?

103

Cornyn deserves it.  I got to hear his performance on the Sean Hannity radio program during the shutdown, and Cornyn exposed himself as a weasel on a par with Miss Lindsey.

 

 

104 If it hasn't been already repeated, insert Alexthechick's "why every politician should face a primary opponent every election" comment here. Cornyn needs at least a good scare put into him, especially after supporting (by proxy and directly) Murkowski after she lost her primary, among other things.

105

@ 96 Chi-Town Jerry

 

"Perfect case in point. You don't think 6 months of primaries and debates didn't hurt Romney? How man Dem ads did you see featuring the voice of Newt or Perry? I saw lots."

 

I fully agree, CTJ!  It's high time we eliminated all of this "letting the people vote" thing and just started appointing candidates by a committee of elected Republican office-holders.

 

106 hey Texans, Illinois Jerry and Drew M say we're doing it wrong.

107 a long-term well connected DC incumbent

To me that's a problem...but, that just me.

108 In deep red states, get the most conservative person you can find. The "R" will win no matter what. In purple states, find a conservative who can talk like a moderate. It's not that fucking hard GOP.

109 Um, Tatoo de Plane is not jwest. She's been commenting here for at least a few years, maybe not as often as jwest.

110

32 -

 

So runnng against them is punishing them, Drew?

 

That's just asinine.  I can't believe somebody could be so dense as to  think  something like that.   Reword, or I'll assume you  really are that dumb. 

111 Murky lost her Republican party primary and ran as a renegade write-in candidate against the party nominee.  She won after the Dems abandoned their candidate and went for Murky big time.  Mitch McConnell wept tears of joy when she returned to DC.  Primary all of them.

112

Mr. Drew,  since you claim you do not 'get the goal'.

The GOP will not fight anyone but conservatives.

Bring it, they say, e.g.,  McConnell's Examiner interview.

If we lose, really,  at this point, what possible difference could it make? 

113 I would totally do that Danish PM if she were a boy.

114 Posted by: polynikes self proclaimed king of walked into a bar jokes at December 10, 2013 11:32 AM (m2CN7) Not to mention Obama ignoring or enabling repressive regimes worldwide.

115 Rubio already passed the amnesty bill in the Senate, or I would say use the primaries to put the fear in the leadership and gum up the works. But I don't see any use in challenging Cornyn and McConnell right now. Shit, KY already has a Dem governor and the libs are crowing about Obamacare there. If you weaken Cornyn too much, you're that much closer to having Wendy Davis replace Rick Perry in the Lonestar State.

116

Let's see.  Who's getting all pissy here about Stockman?  Good enough for me!

 

Stockman 2014!

117 Did Obama push the casket off the platform so every camera could focus on him. (Not sure if there's a casket there, but you get my point.) Posted by: chique d'afrique (the artist formerly known as african chick) at December 10, 2013 11:33 AM (r+7wo) No. But he was taking selfies of himself during it. Michelle looked pissed.

118
I know little about Stockman, but I would take him because I do know about Cornyn.


In other news, Oblather took a smiling selfie of himself at the Mandela funeral.

119

In purple states, find a conservative who can talk like a moderate.

It's not that fucking hard GOP.

 

----------

 

Nope, but the GOP leadership is not conservative, so why would they bother?

120 Why primary John Cornyn? Because he tried to select Charlie Crist as the Republican Senate candidate in Florida...for electability. That level of nuclear stupid deserves a penalty.

121

You know, there should be no such thing as an ENTRENCHED politician of any sort in Washington, D.C.

 

Can I get an AMEN??

122 What happens in the general if the other 30% sit it out? He's still gotta do something to enthuse them enough to pull the lever for him in Nov. And this is Texas. There are still a lot of Texas who believe we have a "more sane Democrat party." They look at what Abortion Barbie did as a "stunt" and not meant to be taken seriously. So, yes, they might vote Democrat (or just sit out). And in either of those cases, the Democrat wins in November. The problem is that Cornyn has burnt a lot of bridges. He's okay with Amnesty, for one thing, and he hasn't exactly been a budget hawk. So it's going to take a whole lot of convincing to get people to believe him again.

123 After the TARP vote in 2008, Cornyn was booed on stage at an outdoor event at the Capital in Austin. I think voters in Texas have been waiting to cast their ballot to remove him from office for awhile. He supported Charlie Crist over Rubio; touted removing Holder from office at the state convention in 2012 without any follow-up; and left Cruz out to dry. An insight into Cornyn's opinion on 2016 prez candidates...during a Q & A session sponsored by the TPPF after the 2012 election, he was asked who he sees as our nominee. First name he threw out there was Chris Christie! The audience groaned.

124 The Republican leadership clearly wants to gut the sequester, pivot to immigration, restore earmarks, and get back to "business as usual".
If they do, they need to be fired.
But they're not going to make their move until after the deadline to file for the primary election.
So we need to have strong challengers in place for the primary to keep them honest.

If the leadership keeps faith with us, no harm, no foul.  The challenge dies on the vine an the challenger gets a sinecure somewhere.
If the leadership betrays us, we can pour resources in, and have a good chance of making a very visible example of the miscreant.

125 Here's a tip for you, nickelfucker - keep calling people opposed to abortion "dingbats," just as you call people wanting to see the GOP fight back against the Dems "spoiled children," and see how many elections you win. Because right now, I'm not supporting anyone who won't shove the deliberate, systematic murder of children right down the Dems' throats. Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing

I'm done with the idiots that want to make this issue the cornerstone of their campaign ALL THE TIME.

If you won't support a Republican unless they trot around such an absurd bumper sticker or because they don't want to talk about the uterus all day, I'm fine with you leaving and starting your own Akin/Santorum political party. 

We're certainly not winning elections on this platform, so I don't see what we have to lose by pissing off the freaks.

126
Let's see. Who's getting all pissy here about Stockman? Good enough for me! Stockman 2014!
Posted by: buzzion





As they say, judge a man by his enemies.

127 Update: The dancing dufus city councilwoman quit the Catholic Church after being exposed in the newspaper. She's now a member of an Episcapalian church with, get this, a Lesbian pastor. --- The Episcopalian Church in the US is probably a few years away from a complete schism, as there is the progressive element that pushes this bullshit and a more conservative element that actually believes in the Bible and generally following the same doctrine as the Anglican Church. I'm a little shocked that it hasn't happened under Presiding Bishop Schori, though she's not out of office until 2015. If she continues being a complete and utter leftard, there will probably be a bigger movement for the dissenting congregations to leave the American version of the church and join the international version.

128 No. But he was taking selfies of himself during it. Michelle looked pissed. Posted by: RWC at December 10, 2013 11:36 AM (fWAjv) OMG. I thought you were joking until I saw the next comment. Pure class.

129

49 I saw The Sandy Flukes open for Everyone

 

 

I believe that is one of those continuing tour thingies.

130 124 Why primary John Cornyn? Because he tried to select Charlie Crist as the Republican Senate candidate in Florida...for electability. That level of nuclear stupid deserves a penalty. --- That's not even going into his attempt to get "Snarlin' Arlen" re-elected in Pennsylvania after he'd fucked the entire caucus by breaking ranks to vote with the Dems.

131

Nothing like threatening  the safety of  Republican  congressional seats to bring the RINOS and trolls out.

 

 

132 Can I get an AMEN?? Amen.

133 132 Hilarious,she made him change seats.Our president is a little buffoonish child.

134 There is no goal to be sought than to repopulate the GOP.  If your state GOP likes their incumbent, primary him.

135 "You can wear all the socks you want, jwest, you're not fooling anybody." Yeah, sorry, I'm not jwest. There's nothing trollish about observing the Buckley rule. Everyone seems in love with circular firing squads, but look where that got us in 2010 and 2012.

136 Posted by: BurtTC at December 10, 2013 11:34 AM (xCw24) It's so adorable when you make demands. And the thinking I give a shit what you think about me? So precious! Here's a cookie.

137 I'm done with the idiots that want to make this issue the cornerstone of their campaign ALL THE TIME.

Much like Morons For Apartheid, those candidates only exist inside your head.

138 >>>Everyone seems in love with circular firing squads, but look where that got us in 2010 and 2012. control of the House?

139 I am afraid to look for Gaylord Focker's speech at the Mandela memorial.

"I blah I blah blah I blah blah blah I"

140 Lest you forget, Cornyn was working behind the scenes on Rubio's amnesty bill. Cornyn supports some sort of amnesty.

As I said this AM, as a former TX Supreme Court justice, Cornyn was well-positioned to be the leading legal light in the Senate against Obaaamacare.

He has said nothing not already said. He is either a weak legal mind or he is weak in his opposition. Neither is good for Texas.

He had also done nothing to spotlight the poor legal qualifications of the JEF's court nominees. Again, speaks poorly of him.

That he made a big show of publicly removing his name from the Cruz letter drives another nail into his reputation as a conservative.

Don't forget that it was Cornyn who personally directed the support for Crist over Rubio.

141 Disagree with the post, Drew. To hell with political gamesmanship. These people have to be primaried, regardless of them winning or not. They have failed us and are now part of the leviathan that is taking us ever leftward into a mass grave. Leaving Cornyn, McConnell or whomever else alone does not help us reverse course. Better we take a shot, make them shit their pants and go from there.

142 That Obama "selfie" should be on every network, cable channel and website by tonight, along with all the late night dickweed comedies. We'll see how much play it actually gets. Perfect for social media dissemination.

143 In my state if someone is primaried then they can get double the contributions to the max..one for each election, primary and general.  So if you're allowed to give 800 to your guy, now you can give 1600.  

So there's that.

144 This is OT, but if ace or any of the cobs are around, could we get a post dedicated to the stupidity in the sidebar RE: offshore wind   farms  defanging hurricanes?   Because seriously,   that story needs the Horde Treatment.

145 Michelle looked pissed.

Dog bites man.  Let me know if she's ever at a state occasion and *doesn't* look pissed.

146 I fully agree, CTJ! It's high time we eliminated all of this "letting the people vote" thing and just started appointing candidates by a committee of elected Republican office-holders.
Posted by: J. Random FisCon
............
I'm not saying to do away with primaries...  especially presidential ones.  But the egos up on stage have to always resort to negative ads against their fellow Repubs.. and it always comes back to haunt them.  If they wanna run on their own records and policy proposals, that's fine.  But don't damage the party.

As far as Senate or House seats go.. geeebus.. spend the money on meaningful races, not one where the incumbent vote conservative 98% of the time!

147 "If you won't support a Republican unless they trot around such an absurd bumper sticker or because they don't want to talk about the uterus all day, I'm fine with you leaving and starting your own Akin/Santorum political party." Don't forget God is telling Huck to run again in 2016! I was looking forward to a primary field cluttered with moderates aka Huntsman, Ryan, Christie and Rubio, but Huck hates Perry so much, he's gonna play spoiler again like he did in 2008 to give us McCain as our nominee.

148 offshore wind farms defanging hurricanes? LOLWUT?

149 We're certainly not winning elections on this platform, so I don't see what we have to lose by pissing off the freaks.
Posted by: McAdams

Tsk Tsk.  That's what Democrats call conservatives.  Dial it back a bit to keep it real.

150 butthurt RINO iz butthurt

151

140 -

 

I'm not making demands, boy.  I'm offering you an opportunity to look less stupid.

 

You chose stupid.  Which is  back to form for you,  because you've been hiding it well for months now. 

152 It is amazing during that selfie photo to see Michelle have a sense of self preservation.  Remember how she acted at Ted Kennedy's funeral, as if it was a bother.

153 148 Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Assault Hobbit at December 10, 2013 11:42 AM (4df7R) Well, how about SCOAMF shaking hands with Raul Castro? Talk about symbolically spitting on the graces of 200 million victims of Communism. What a despicable, disgusting bastard he is.

154 Also, how do you stop a guy from running?  Anyone can run.  What do you do, send Guido in to talk to him? 

If the GOP does strong-arm someone to not mess up an incumbent's seat, then people shit all over them for that.

155 LOLWUT?

Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) STILL Home at December 10, 2013 11:42 AM (nUH8H)

 

Yes.   Exactly.  

156 defanging hurricanes??

I am with AllenG, LOLWUT?

Magical thinking again.  "Make it so!"

157 But the egos up on stage have to always resort to negative ads against their fellow Repubs You mean one of the things they do is try to point out why the other guy *isn't* the best choice? How dare they!?! Of course they "resort to negative ads." When at least half the point is "John McCain is an Amnesty Loving Cocksucker" you have to put out campaign ads that say, "John McCain is an Amnesty Loving Cocksucker."

158 158 Also, how do you stop a guy from running? Anyone can run. What do you do, send Guido in to talk to him? If the GOP does strong-arm someone to not mess up an incumbent's seat, then people shit all over them for that. Posted by: Jeanne of the North at December 10, 2013 11:44 AM (GdalM) ________ Oh please. Dems do this shit all the time. And in the end they get ultra libs in office.

159 Posted by: HeatherRadish™ needs a beer at December 10, 2013 11:40 AM (ZKzrr) Not sure if your comment referred to my comments in the earlier thread, but I will state again, as I have already done, that never in a thousand years would I ever think anyone here supports Apartheid. (I can't believe I just typed that.) It's your prerogative if you want to take my comments out of context. If I took your comment here out of context and am just being a self-absorbed twit by thinking you were obliquely referring to me, then ignore the above.

160

Late for work, but will say this:  break up/shake up the senority thing, and if people want to primary their senator, it's their business.  If these shitheads want to keep their jobs, make 'em work/pay for it.  Dearly.

 

Cornyn's a longtime behind-the-scene asshole weasel.  When Chuck DeVore ran for senate in 2011, Cornyn - in charge of the NRSC - wouldn't even meet with him.  Just ignored him.  Not even a courtesy meeting.  And they supported that self-funding, electable "sure thing" Carly Fiorina.  Note the Crist vs Rubio backstory.  Cornyn lied, plain and simple.

 

I think people are really fed up with the weasledom of these guys in general.  Everything's already burning, so what the hell why not?

161
Also, how do you stop a guy from running?
Posted by: Jeanne of the North




Seen our ballot access rules lately? BHAW HAW HAW!

Posted by: The Virgina Republican Party

162 Is Huckabee seriously running in 2016? Un fucking real.

163 I'm not making demands, boy.

Posted by: BurtTC at December 10, 2013 11:43 AM (xCw24)

You do know that DrewM is a person of color?

164 Thank God McConnell was smart enough to declare a fatwah against SCF and CFG. Or else we'd have loons fucking up WV and MT and other pick-ups, as they threatened to. Six seats in red states that went for Romney in 2012, and they decided it's time for purity tests while we're sooooo close to impeaching the JEF and repealing Shittycare.

165
The question is: if Cornyn announced retirement would Stockman be the one that conservatives would get behind?

166

Here are the Republican Senators that need primarying this time around: Lindsay Graham (SC) and Lamar Alexander (TN), based on two criteria: 1) red state and 2) voted for the Rubio-Schumer-Ryan amnesty plan.

The other red state amnesty-traitors should get primaried when their time comes.

167 148 This is OT, but if ace or any of the cobs are around, could we get a post dedicated to the stupidity in the sidebar RE: offshore wind farms defanging hurricanes? Because seriously, that story needs the Horde Treatment. Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Assault Hobbit at December 10, 2013 11:42 AM (4df7R)
I stand in awe of the unmitigated gall of those folks.
They truly believe that they can put a dent in nature's fury with the power of their own belief.
Absolutely astonishing. o.o

168 We White Conservatives certainly follow the minorities and manage to FRAGMENT ourselves now don't we? Politicians have multiple partners in crime at a single time and carry all kinds of Socialist and Communist diseases. Everyday and in every way , just practice righteous indignation. Do not support the opposition in anyway, trade , slack cutting etc..

169

Care to mention which votes exactly? Besides his non-support of the symbolic Cruz statements against O'Care, what votes?

He has 100% rating with both NRA and right-to-life groups. 0% ratings with pro-abortion groups.

WTF did he do to piss you off so much?

 

 

Posted by: Chi-Town Jerry at December 10, 2013 11:20 AM (f9c2L)

 

 

Well ya got me there.  Stopped me in my frothing snarling rabid posturing tracks. 

 

On  PAPER his voting record looks okay.  But it feels like the record of the Washington Generals since he    IS the #2 guy in the Senate.  Where was the fight, the opposition, the strong leadership to make a stand and not  mewlingly    accept his party's role as the practice squad.

 

But mostly it was his abandonment of Cruz that got me.  He chose Washington  cocktail parties   over Texans.  And for that he needs to go.

170

Well, how about SCOAMF shaking hands with Raul Castro?

Talk about symbolically spitting on the graces of 200 million victims of Communism.

What a despicable, disgusting bastard he is.

 

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at December 10, 2013 11:44 AM (olDqf)

 

 

 

God, I know.   Just... UGH.   The man... he's not even a man, i can't call him a man.   The CREATURE is repulsive on every level.

 

 

Of course his fangirls were out in force, screaming and getting him to wave at them during the ceremony.  Because even at a memorial service, it's All About Obama.

171

167 -

 

I have no idea what he looks like.  I believe he is behaving like a child. 

172 169 The question is: if Cornyn announced retirement would Stockman be the one that conservatives would get behind? Posted by: Guy Mohawk ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Not my first choice. I think Gohmert is the best house member we have and would make the best choice, but alas, it is not to be.

173 Stockman  would  definitely be the most grass roots conservative Senator in the mold of a Sarah Palin.    Probably more conservative than Cruz.   He definitely doesn't mind mixing it up or going against the flow.   Unfortunately his strong , tell it like it is personality may cause him to make a statement that will be twisted by his opponents.    I would like to see him and Cruz as our Senators but also  understand how senority helps in the Senate.  

174 I really need to see the WUWT response to that Wind Turbine silliness. we're sooooo close to impeaching the JEF and repealing Shittycare. That was sarcasm, wasn't it?

175 "You never rule anything out for the long term," Huckabee said on an Israeli political talk show. "I'm not making an announcement, but certainly when people say, 'Would you ever do it?' I very might well do that."

176 Yikes!  When I enter "SCF" and "CFG" on my decoder ring, the answer is "WTF?"!

177 I liked "kick em in the nuts" Drew better.

178 God, I know. Just... UGH. The man... he's not even a man, i can't call him a man. The CREATURE is repulsive on every level. Of course his fangirls were out in force, screaming and getting him to wave at them during the ceremony. Because even at a memorial service, it's All About Obama. Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Assault Hobbit at December 10, 2013 11:49 AM (4df7R) Hello, my fair twin. Does "odious" work? As people with health conditions are losing their insurance plans, doctors, ability to afford medication, it's all about him achieving a political victory and showing all those haters. No thought is given by him or his worshipers to the wake of destruction he's leaving behind, not only in this country, but also in other parts of the world.

179 Fuck Cornyn I will donate to Stockman and vote for him.

180

I stand in awe of the unmitigated gall of those folks.

They truly believe that they can put a dent in nature's fury with the power of their own belief.

Absolutely astonishing. o.o

 

 

Posted by: Kinley Ardal at December 10, 2013 11:49 AM (kM76g)

 

 

It's amazing.       They claim to have respect for nature, and then   go  flat out Titanic   on it.   "We can control the    uncontrollable!"

181 "Guys, we need to make more money, this windfarm act is getting old. Needs something fresh, something new."
"How about windmills tilting at hurricanes?"
"...what?"
"Windmills fighting hurricanes, weakening them, making life easier for the coastal folk."
"A windmill will get annihilated in a hurricane."
"What if there were thousands of windmills. "
"....have someone in PR get ahold of the press. We're gonna make a killing."

182 Yeah, I can tell the R wing of the Permanent Bipartisan Fusion Party is my friend; the tell me so whenever they want money. Then they go and do the exact opposite of what I want, because pragmatism, or some such BS. I really don't understand why so many people think the R party is worth saving. The have told me repeatedly what they think of me and what I want. Republicans are just as much my enemies as Democrats. Primary every damn one of them ! No More Incumbents ! I want my Opposition Party !

183

I'm done with the idiots that want to make this issue the cornerstone of their campaign ALL THE TIME.

If you won't support a Republican unless they trot around such an absurd bumper sticker or because they don't want to talk about the uterus all day, I'm fine with you leaving and starting your own Akin/Santorum political party.

We're certainly not winning elections on this platform, so I don't see what we have to lose by pissing off the freaks.

 

Posted by: McAdams at December 10, 2013 11:37 AM (2TMCu)

 

The issue is going to come up no matter what.  The assholes in the MFM will make damned certain of it, and you know it.  AFAIC, the issue should be attacked head on, and any variation of "it's settled law that I cannot change and I have no plan to.  But if you want to talk abortion, ask my opponent why he's comfortable taking money and votes from murderers."

Either stand for something or fold like a cheap suit.  You don't have to bring up abortion, but if the MFM does, kick  the  bastards in the balls.

184 Did the Mandela mob sell commemorative t-shirts like Gaylord's crew did in Arizona?

185

If you indiscriminately start primarying guys like Enzi and Roberts people won't take your complaints very seriously.

 

Maybe they don't take it very seriously  themselves. You can make a  decent living gathering support for a revolution you never seriously intend to wage.

186

173 -

 

Why, it's almost as if  these people in Washington know what their "voting records" will look like, and cast votes to up their percentages!

 

No... of course not, they only cast votes based on their conscience and common sense. 

187 On PAPER his voting record looks okay. That's because his voting record on paper doesn't take into account his votes in committee or on cloture. I can't remember which ones specifically (a look through Michelle Malkin's archives would probably find them, though), but Cornyn is really bad about saying "this should get a vote" and voting for Cloture then pretending he opposed [whatever] by voting against it's passage (when, since the Republicans are in the minority, it doesn't matter). It also doesn't take into account all the things he *didn't do* to stop some of the expansion of the Federal Government. I recall during the ObamaCare passage, he was one of the ones complaining when another Senator wanted to withhold Unanimous Consent to waive the reading of the bill.

188

I'm done with the idiots that want to make this issue the cornerstone of their campaign ALL THE TIME.

 

Seems to me the Republican party did pretty good with one issue as the cornerstone of their campaign.

 

**taps chin**

 

What could it have been?  Something awfully SoCon and divisive, no doubt.

189 This is so fucking stupid. Party Genocide. I am in it for my "Principles", my ego has nothing to do with it. Yeah, right.

190 Challenging entrenched power is healthy.

191 Pixy. Wtf? Sigh...

192

Hello, my fair twin. Does "odious" work?

As people with health conditions are losing their insurance plans, doctors, ability to afford medication, it's all about him achieving a political victory and showing all those haters. No thought is given by him or his worshipers to the wake of destruction he's leaving behind, not only in this country, but also in other parts of the world.

 

Posted by: chique d'afrique (the artist formerly known as african chick) at December 10, 2013 11:53 AM (r+7wo)

 

Hello, dusky hued twin of mine!   Odious is an excellent word to describe the Preezy.   I especially appreciate the assonance of Odious Obama.

 

His self-absorption, and the blinded devotion of his cultish followers, is mind-boggling.  It    puts the worst aspects of human nature on full display.   If I were trying to explain the hysterics to a group of aliens, I'd be ashamed.

193 "Here are the Republican Senators that need primarying this time around: Lindsay Graham (SC) and Lamar Alexander (TN), based on two criteria: 1) red state and 2) voted for the Rubio-Schumer-Ryan amnesty plan." Amen hallelujah. Everything should be put into taking these two sonsabitches out, even Cochran. Boehner just filed for reelection, too. Fuck him, have at weepy. But I don't see it with Cornyn and McConnell.

194 Did the Mandela mob sell commemorative t-shirts like Gaylord's crew did in Arizona? Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at December 10, 2013 11:54 AM (27gH7) At least that would be more appropriate here, unless you're talking about the family. In that case, unless they're giving them out for free as a remembrance of their relative, then that would be extremely tacky. But I still can't believe he actually took a selfie when he knew he would be watched by all those cameras. Just like I first thought it was a joke that he gave the Queen an iPod full of his speeches as a gift. *shudder*

195 "148 This is OT, but if ace or any of the cobs are around, could we get a post dedicated to the stupidity in the sidebar RE: offshore wind farms defanging hurricanes? Because seriously, that story needs the Horde Treatment.

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Assault Hobbit at December 10, 2013 11:42 AM"

*off to read this foolishness*

O_o  *blinks*


"Jacobson did not address the feasibility or the political and environmental challenges of building such massive offshore wind farms along hurricane-prone coastlines. Proposals for smaller offshore wind farms have generated significant opposition and controversy, especially along Cape Cod in Massachusetts."

Umm....yeah.  Let me know how that 1.5 billion wind turbine project works out, mkay?

196 Mooch looks like she's ready to withhold sex from Obozo for a awhile. She's gonna keep Reggie locked away.

197
If I could pick one gop goner and make it so, it would absolutely be Miss Lindsey.

198 Odious, mendacious, malignant...

199

Competition is good. Incumbents shouldn't feel like these are lifetime appointments. Go for it. Primary all of them.

200 Yikes! When I enter "SCF" and "CFG" on my decoder ring, the answer is "WTF?"! Posted by: mrp at December 10, 2013 11:51 AM (HjPtV) Senate Conservatives Fund Club For Growth (of Democrat Senate Majority)

201 Is Ace at the Mandela Memorial?

202 One reason democrats win? They have a farm team. Players start out in the city council, then maybe state legislature, then state wide office. Why do they have this? Because democrats all know they want to be government players, it's a job. Republicans attract working people to run because they are usually sick of the democrats. Most don't see politics as a profession, therefore we can not build a farm team and we get wild card players. It a big problem. Democrats are usually willing to wait their turn for an office and are kept busy with some job. Republicans usually don't want to wait, they want to go right away.

203 I am actually talking about his children.  I remember how the family was divided into factions.  So I would not put it past human greedy nature to cash in like Che's family does from that photograph.

204 When the White House Wookie is the model of decorum, Barky, you've really stepped in it.

205 Is Ace at the Mandela Memorial? Posted by: garrett at December 10, 2013 12:00 PM (gP4+L) Well, it is evening in SA, so he would be awake.

206 Remember those "Question Authority" bumper stickers?

207 148 This is OT, but if ace or any of the cobs are around, could we get a post dedicated to the stupidity in the sidebar RE: offshore wind farms defanging hurricanes? Because seriously, that story needs the Horde Treatment. Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Assault Hobbit at December 10, 2013 11:42 AM (4df7R) Dammit. They're moderating the comment section.

208 Odious, mendacious, malignant...

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at December 10, 2013 11:58 AM (27gH7)

 

We should come up with an alphabet of words to describe Obammy, from A to Z.  It would be fun narrowing down the most appropriate word    to represent each letter.  

 

For example, A.   Apathetic?  Asinine?  Arrogant?    What word is most    accurate in describing the Dear Leader?

209

The only one talking about "the uterus" all day is the commie vampires on the left (and those idiot morons on the right who aid and abet them).

Conservatives talk about babies being murdered.

210 I have a sneaking suspicion that the SCF is being unserious, more interested in internal fundraising than improving the makeup of the Senate.

1.  Pick high profile conservative who is almost guaranteed to win.
2.  Make news for backing challenger to high-profile conservative.
3.  Solicit donations from the naive Purity Brigade.
4.  Toss a small fraction of donations to said challengers, keep the rest.
5.  Rinse, repeat.

Does anyone really think that Steve (who?) Stockman has a snowball's chance in Hell?  Anyone?

211 When the White House Wookie is the model of decorum, Barky, you've really stepped in it. Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at December 10, 2013 12:00 PM (zF6Iw) This is because for all her flaws, Michelle does not suffer from malignant narcissism like her husband does.

212 I think Squishy Drew killed Conservative Drew. What a shame. Maybe he bought a new truck...

213 Lol, I love reading the comments about how we need any Republicans to win in the Srnate, no matter how squish, if we're ever going to repeal Obamacare. I hate to break it to everyone, but if Obamacare is ever repealed, it will be done by the Democrats... and within the next 4 months.

214 A is for Arrogant
B is for Bombastic
C is for Churlish
...

215

202 -

 

I'd go with McCain.  I realize he isn't up for reelection next year, but since we're dreaming, I'm gonna dream big. 

 

Honestly, as a body with 100 bodies, I think about 95 of them don't deserve their jobs, so  knocking off one incumbent Republican is about as good as any  other, I believe. 

216 I think Squishy Drew killed Conservative Drew. What a shame. Maybe he bought a new truck... Posted by: Countrysquire at December 10, 2013 12:02 PM (LSJmV) Why not an open primary challenge for the position of "Drew"?

217

217 -

 

He was feeling ashamed that everyone was comparing him favorably to Gabe. 

218

The GOP's farm team are usually strangled in their crib. 

 

As not to embarrass their elders in DC.

 

 

219 D - destructive E - egregious F - fabulist G - gargantuan ego (okay, that doesn't really count). H - hubristic I - incompetent

220 And there's Hollowpoint.  I was wondering when he'd show up.  Now the set is complete. 

221

I mean, FFS.

 

Hurricane Katrina, which devastated New Orleans and the Louisiana Gulf Coat in 2005, was the costliest and and one of the deadliest hurricanes to ever hit the U.S.

 

 

Jacobson's Katrina simulations assumed arrays of 70,000 turbines  — 300 gigawatts of installed power  — had been built 100 kilometers offshore southeast of New Orleans and were designed to withstand winds of up to 50 meters per second, just above the strength of a Category 3 hurricane, or roughly 111 mph.

 

 

The simulations showed that the turbines would create a net energy reduction in the atmosphere, slashing wind speeds as energy was sapped from the storm and dramatically reducing storm surge, which is caused by high winds pushing water inland as a hurricane barrels toward the coast.

 

 

Wind speeds would have been reduced enough to allow the wind turbines to survive the storm themselves, with winds never reaching 50 meters per second, above which the turbines could topple.

 

 

...

 

 

“If we have large arrays of offshore wind turbines — large walls of turbines — we could dissipate winds and storm surge quite a bit,” particularly in the vicinity of the turbines themselves, Jacobson said.

 

 

There is so much stupid bundled up in that   scenario, I don't even know how to unparse it without having   to have    myself committed    afterward.

222 "and those idiot morons on the right who aid and abet them" Well, Rape and Sodomy are important issues of the day...

223 J - jejune K - klassless

224 Texans have a pretty good fix on Cornyn by now.  And 2014 will not be incumbent-friendly in the primaries for Republicans.  Neutral at best.  If Sarah Palin endorses Stockman, all bets are off.

225 We're certainly not winning elections on this platform, so I don't see what we have to lose by pissing off the freaks.

Posted by: McAdams at December 10, 2013 11:37 AM (2TMCu)

 

A political party is as much a cultural and moral association as it is a political one. Currently, the Democratic Party advocates abortion up to and including the ninth-month moment of birth, which is essentially (and biologically) infanticide, the murder of a human being. Rahm Emmanuel's brother, Ezekiel, is a colleague and fellow of prominent bioethicist Peter Singer, and has written highly influential papers and delivered numerous lectures promoting Singer's ideas relating to preferential utilitarianism, which (boiled down) means the State decides whose life has merit and meaning worthy of medical care and treatment--even continued existence--and whose doesn't. Thus, theirs is the extreme, 'freakish' position on this issue. We're talking about life and death and the power of the State. Nothing is more culturally, morally, and politically crucial, not even your precious pocketbook issues. The Democrats get this. You don't.

 

If the GOP cannot oppose infanticide and euthanasia of the old and sick with as much fervor as the Democrats promote it, then the GOP doesn't deserve to exist.

226 Heh, so the eco-libs admit that wind farms alter the natural climate? I always thought that was a double + ungood?

227 And there's Hollowpoint. I was wondering when he'd show up. Now the set is complete. Posted by: BurtTC

LOL

228 I hate to break it to everyone, but if Obamacare is ever repealed, it will be done by the Democrats... and within the next 4 months.

Absurd.  There's exactly zero chance that Obama will ever sign off on repealing Obamacare, and there's just as likely a chance that enough Dems would flip to override it.

229

And thank you to the  Horde for listing other reasons Cornyn has to go, using his #2 role to put body english on not supporting conservatives in their  election races, being Amnesty friendly, advancing  odious legislation and nominees through committee when those votes are not counted on his "selected  voting record." 

 

He's too comfortable in Washington and not uncomfortable enough back home.  Yet.

230 Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Assault Hobbit at December 10, 2013 12:06 PM (4df7R) What? You don't think 1.5 billion wind turbines is feasible? Think of the children and middle class

231

A = Arrogant

B = Bullying

C = Childish

D = Dimwitted

E = Egotistical

 

...

232 Does anyone really think that Steve (who?) Stockman has a snowball's chance in Hell? Anyone?

Posted by: Hollowpoint at December 10, 2013 12:02 PM (SY2Kh)

 

That's what they said about Cruz.    Its possible that Stockman can win  the primary.    Unfortunately ,  Cornyn has a better chance to win the general because Stockman can be made to look like a boogeyman - women hater and will give any democrat nominee a fighting chance.   Unlikely a Dem could win but it would be closer than I want it to be.  

233 MWR the biggest assumption is being able to build all those rigs to support those turbines.  100Kms off shore from the mouth of the Mississippi River we are talking the deep Gulf of Mexico.  The cost of construction would probably dwarf all that has been spent in Iraq and Afghanistan.

234 They're sending the Wolfe against Roberts? Why didn't you say so?

235 There is so much stupid bundled up in that scenario, I don't even know how to unparse it without having to have myself committed afterward. Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Assault Hobbit at December 10, 2013 12:06 PM (4df7R) So does this guy know that most Hurricanes spawn tornadoes? I can see it now, Tornado vs Windmill. And the winner is......

236 Senate Conservatives Fund
Club For Growth (of Democrat Senate Majority) Posted by: Tattoo De Plane

Thanks.  Sometimes that inside-the-Beltway stuff is hard to follow.

237 OT moron type story:

http://tinyurl.com/p88px7b

238 Texans have a pretty good fix on Cornyn by now. And 2014 will not be incumbent-friendly in the primaries for Republicans. Neutral at best. If Sarah Palin endorses Stockman, all bets are off.

I'm confused- Stockman is running for Senate and competing on American Idol?

239

"I get being mad and wanting to punish these people for what they've done but it has to be done in a smart, methodical and most importantly, effective way."

 

 

Uh, no, Mitch, John, Paul or whoever you are......here is the problem with your type - Your idea of 'smart, methodical...effective' is not the same as mine.  Your idea of 'smart, methodical....effective' is what we've been doing for quite sometime, it gives us the Mitch's, the McCain's, the Romney's, it gives us the Paul Ryan Plans that balance the budget in 30 years..

 

Let me put it in number terms....Your idea of smart is having a 6 foot 10 inch apple picker only pick apples on the lowest branches, because there is a chance that if he has to reach above his head he might accidently knock one or two off in the process.

 

Your idea of methodical is only trying to obtain the 80% obtainable, leave the 30% or 40% obtainable alone.

 

Your (and Mitch's, John's, Romneycare's, etc), idea of effective, is to slow the growth of government from 8% a year to 6% a year then tell us serfs that you cut the government by 25%.

 

 

240 There is so much stupid bundled up in that scenario

There are devices that can slow surface wind speeds quite a bit and they require no power or maintenance...they've been cleverly disguised...as trees.

If you're inland a few miles with a decent bit of tallish foliage between you and the beach, the wind has been knocked down quite a bit by the time it gets to you.

The mistake is in building expensive critical infrastructure close to the ocean that doesn't NEED to be there. 

241

Perry will  endorse  Cornyn.

242 Also, windmills that run at excessive speed for any length of time burn out. No resistance at all then. The Stupid is Strong in this one.

243

I have a sneaking suspicion that the SCF is being unserious, more interested in internal fundraising than improving the makeup of the Senate.

 

Me too.

 

And losing candidates  who "took on the establishment" can always find a job selling such wares.

 

 

244 yeah, we still don't exist.

245 Medved and Podhoretz have about as much influence on conservative politics as does John McCain. They remain popular in DC based GOP circles, but are either unknown or loathed by the base.

246

Feckless

Genuflecting (to tyrants)

Hubristic

Infantile

247 it's open season on RINO's, there are no rules

248 230 We're certainly not winning elections on this platform, so I don't see what we have to lose by pissing off the freaks. Posted by: McAdams at December 10, 2013 11:37 AM (2TMCu) If the GOP cannot oppose infanticide and euthanasia of the old and sick with as much fervor as the Democrats promote it, then the GOP doesn't deserve to exist. Posted by: troyriser at December 10, 2013 12:08 PM (V9ol4) Well, if believing in your convictions makes one a freak, then I & my check book are freaks. Maybe we will write out checks to other groups, since we are freaks & aren't needed

249 There is so much stupid bundled up in that scenario, I don't even know how to unparse it without having to have myself committed afterward.
-
Yeah, don't they realize that would stop the rotation of the Earth?

250 Shuttup , tea party bullies!

251 Stanford civil and environmental engineering professor Mark Z. Jacobson and his research team found that if it was feasible to build tens of thousands of refrigerators and to leave them open the earth would experience a reverse in the warming trend. Failing that, Jacobson has proposed having homes with A/C keep their doors open - although this proves just to be a local fix for your neighborhood.

252
What? You don't think 1.5 billion wind turbines is feasible?

Think of the children

and middle class

Posted by: RWC at December 10, 2013 12:10 PM (fWAjv)

 

 

I mean, let's just pretend such a thing WERE feasible.   How would it affect shipping lanes?  Tourism?  Regular    air and ocean     patterns   in the absence of hurricane force winds?     

 

 

Hurricanes   suck, but they're a natural part of the earth's climate.   Would   diminished    wind and storm surge damage    over an extended period of time   have a negative impact on the coastal biosphere?  

 

 

And    having all these wind turbines is supposed to deplete the strength of a hurricane   to the point that the turbines themselves aren't destroyed.   Well, great.   But how about the turbines on the front lines?  The ones taht take the brunt of the    hurricane head     on, before it's has a chance to dissipate some of its energy?  What, are they just, like, REALLY strong?   Maybe they're reinforced with Unicorn Magic and Starlight?  

253

Your idea of smart is having a 6 foot 10 inch apple picker only pick apples on the lowest branches, because there is a chance that if he has to reach above his head he might accidently knock one or two off in the process.

 

 

There’s a danger pretending you have a 6’ 10” picker when it’s only 4’ 10” and you don’t want to do the planning necessary to acquire a bigger one.

254 An analogy for why to get rid of both Cornyn & McConnell Let's say you had a football team that for two seasons back to back never won more than 3 football games, and those three only after they were mathematically eliminated from the playoffs. No matter how good their previous records had been, don't you fire the Head Coach and Assistant Head Coach? Isn't that kind of what McConnell and Cornyn are? If they're our "leaders" why shouldn't we demand actual, you know, success. Or at least (since no analogy is perfect) some real fight?

255 D is for Demagogue
E is for Egregious
F is for Farcical
G is for Grifter
H is for Hyped
I is for Insipid
J is for Jerk
K is for Kleptomania
L is for Lackadaisical
M is for Mendacious
N is for Narcissist
O is for Over-inflated
P is for Petty
Q is for Quarrelsome
R is for Racist
 

256 >>This is because for all her flaws, Michelle does not suffer from malignant narcissism like her husband does. Whoa, whoa, whoa. Let's not get hasty here. I think Michelle gives Barry a very healthy fun for his money in the malignant narcissism department.

257 The issue is going to come up no matter what. The assholes in the MFM will make damned certain of it, and you know it. AFAIC, the issue should be attacked head on, and any variation of "it's settled law that I cannot change and I have no plan to. But if you want to talk abortion, ask my opponent why he's comfortable taking money and votes from murderers."
Either stand for something or fold like a cheap suit. You don't have to bring up abortion, but if the MFM does, kick the bastards in the balls.
Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing

No, he's MAKING it an issue.

Obviously, a pro-life Republican in Texas is par for the course, you're making some straw man argument that because someone doesn't talk about abortion politics with over the top language all the time, it means they want to kill babies.

Also, I get tired of this whining from SoCons when these issues are brought up, they attack people for saying it's a distraction, yet THEY are the ones that insist that candidates take these positions on hot button issues.  So which is it?  Somebody putting out a bumper sticker like Stockman did is putting it front and center.

But you're solution of politicians saying "abortion is settled law, but it's murder" is essentially the pro-choice position.  I was always thought the pro-life position was legally criminalizing abortion, not just name-calling.

258 If I have a vendor that I'm dissatisfied with, I put the job back out to bid. If I can't find a better vendor, I stick with the original, but I never let a vendor get to where he just assumes he's got my business no matter how mediocre his results. Posted by: Empire of Jeff at December 10, 2013 11:21 AM (pqBkB) Yes...well...government .

259 "I believe my party has gone astray. I think the Democratic Party is a fine party, and I have no problems with it, in their views and their philosophy."

260 Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Assault Hobbit at December 10, 2013 12:16 PM (4df7R) Why are you bringing logic and intelligence to this discussion, my esteemed twin? Let's not forget these are the same people who lose their minds at the thought of a 1 degree increase in average temperature.

261 That's what they said about Cruz. Its possible that Stockman can win the primary.

Cruz was a Republican / GWB administration insider with the associated connections, running for an open seat.  Apples and oranges.

It's 'possible' that Stockman can win in the same way it's 'possible' that I'll be struck by lightning while banging Kate Upton three hours after winning the lottery.

The "primary them all!" crowd will still give the SCF money for taking up the lost cause, and that's all that really matters.

262 Medved and Podhoretz have about as much influence on conservative politics as does John McCain. They remain popular in DC based GOP circles, but are either unknown or loathed by the base.

Posted by: WVinMN at December 10, 2013 12:13 PM (4Pleu)

About a month ago, my car radio was on the local station that Medved's on and out of curiosity I thought I'd listen to him to see if he was still a worthless squishball.  It was his "Disagreement Day" and the change from four or less years ago, when only libs would call in for it, and now when mainly conservatives call to bitch him out, was pretty severe.

263 Seems to me that the GOP leadership in DC excels at losing elections. The only bright spot they've had since 2006 was in 2010, and that year wasn't exactly because the base was dying to put Boehner and crew back in charge.

264 Anna Puma, bringing the "Q" for Quarrelsome!   I was trying to think of what would be a good word for that letter.

265 @242 Obama voters, they do the darnedest things.

266 Hey, let's primary Cornyn and build the hurricane-killing windmill wall. That way people will know we're double smart.

267 Perry will endorse Cornyn. And? He endorsed Dewhurst, too. Of course Perry will endorse Cornyn- whether he agrees with him or not. Perry has been a good Governor (especially these last couple sessions), but he's still a Politician first.

268 Whoa, whoa, whoa. Let's not get hasty here. I think Michelle gives Barry a very healthy fun for his money in the malignant narcissism department. Posted by: JackStraw at December 10, 2013 12:17 PM (g1DWB) I think she is a piece of work, but I don't think she's a malignant narcissist like her hubby. Obama is like a case study in it, from the admittedly little I've read.

269 The entrenched Republicans have proven to be statists and support the growth of the state.  Some more than others, but when was the last time you heard a politician in Washington use the phrase "individual freedom" in a speech, or even a sentence?

If they stood up for individual freedom, it would be different.

If 2009 to present has proven anything, it is that the Federal Government, and those that run it from all sides, is completely out of control and the first casualty is individual freedom.

The war is on, and right now is the next to last box available, the ballot box.

Because the only box left if the ballot box proves corrupt is the ammo box.

270 Obviously, a pro-life Republican in Texas is par for the course, you're making some straw man argument that because someone doesn't talk about abortion politics with over the top language all the time, it means they want to kill babies.

Unlike your SOCON strawman which you beat the shit out of with screams of " AKIN! AKIN! AKIN"  every time a conservative discusses pulling the party to the right.

Totally different.

271 Stockmans staffers were illegal contributing to his campaign in their family members names. He has fired them. But no doubt he knew, possibly demanded, they make said contribution. Some PAC is already running radio ads for him, touting his gun rights stance

272 /off McVain sock

273 Just imagine a hurricane spawning waterspouts and lightning amidst a large off shore windfarm...

I predict there would be many stumps and an ocean covered in debris.

274

Posted by: Hollowpoint at December 10, 2013 12:19 PM (SY2Kh)

 

You haven't a clue about Texas or Texans.   Though I have no doubt you believe you do. 

275

X = xenophilic

Y = yammerer

Z = zealot

276 Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Assault Hobbit at December 10, 2013 12:16 PM (4df7R) Right, and we'll be able to capture lightning and use it someday too. Fact is, nature is powerful as all get out, the idea that we can simply put up some wind turbines and call hurricanes "solved" is Pollyannaish at best. More probably it's insane. It's like trying to stop a freight train with a pebble.

277 I guess I'll send Stockman a little money. If he beats Cornyn, fine. If Cornyn proves more popular, also fine, but he'll know it's not a given.

278 >>>Perry will endorse Cornyn. he also endorsed Gore.

279 Why are you bringing logic and intelligence to this discussion, my esteemed twin?

Posted by: chique d'afrique (the artist formerly known as african chick) at December 10, 2013 12:18 PM (r+7wo)

 

 

I   know.   I'm just a glutton for punishment, what can I say?

 

 

There are devices that can slow surface wind speeds quite a bit and they require no power or maintenance...they've been cleverly disguised...as trees.

If you're inland a few miles with a decent bit of tallish foliage between you and the beach, the wind has been knocked down quite a bit by the time it gets to you.

 

"You mean when a hurricane moves inland, topographical features    actively   deplete the    wind energy, meaning that there's less damage?    OMG!   STOP THE PRESSES!!!!!

 

Next you'll be telling me that tornadoes are    most common in flat lands as opposed to places with lots of hills and mountains!   Then my gob will ahve been smacked!"

 

- Very, very stupid people, or roughly 52% of the voting public

280 Cornyn will win and in the process  nothing will be gained.

This type of one-dimensional thinking is a waste of time and resources.

Don't get me wrong. I don't care for Cornyn but it is not because he is not "conservative" enough. What the hell does that mean anyway when a guy gets an 87% rating? Zilch.

I don't like Cornyn because he represents everything that is wrong with Washington. He's a career politician who when in a pinch folds like a lawn chair in a windstorm to save his own ass and cut deals with his friends.

That being said, there are other ways to gain leverage from a senator who is clearly going to win. That includes pressuring his donors and supporters. Go after the things important to him and necessary to maintain his power.

Sure you may feel good you "sent him a message" with some buffoon primary candidate (he ain't no Cruz). But in the end, Cornyn doesn't change. In fact, he probably doubles down on bad behavior. Cornyn has what- one more term in him? STOOPID.

281 Fact is, nature is powerful as all get out, the idea that we can simply put up some wind turbines and call hurricanes "solved" is Pollyannaish at best.

More probably it's insane.

It's like trying to stop a freight train with a pebble.

Posted by: tsrblke, PhD(c) No Really! at December 10, 2013 12:22 PM (GaqMa)

More dead seagulls, pelicans and migrating waterfowl to pretend don't exist.

282 If the wind turbines stop just one sharknado they are well worth it.

283

I registered Republican (from Independent) so I could vote for Ted Cruz in the primary and run-off.

 

I look forward to using that status to vote against Cornyn, very possibly for Stockman.  Cornyn's behavior to cut Cruz off at the knees about the shutdown argument when later events with the ObamaCare launch proved Cruz right.

 

Even if he wins re-election, Cornyn needs  a course correction from the Texas electorate, I think.

284 I wonder how far a broken windmill propeller would go in a hurricane? One of those propellers hitting an oil rig would not be pretty.

285 But you're solution of politicians saying "abortion is settled law, but it's murder" is essentially the pro-choice position.

The "pro-choice[sic]" position is that dismembering a fetus is equivalent to having an ingrown toenail fixed, except abortion clinics don't need to be held to the same standards of cleanliness and safety as a nail salon, let alone a podiatrist's office.

They sure have you fooled.

286 Stockman is probably just trying to get a talk-radio gig

287 And? He endorsed Dewhurst, too.

Of course Perry will endorse Cornyn- whether he agrees with him or not. Perry has been a good Governor (especially these last couple sessions), but he's still a Politician first.

Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) STILL Home at December 10, 2013 12:20 PM (nUH8H)

 

There is no and about it.  It was just a statement.   And as a reminder  you didn't always think Perry was a good Governor. 

288 Q for "Quisling" would work out well, too.

289 Cornyn is a vote for Amnesty Then Texas is lost That good enough?

290 The good thing about filing indiscriminately is that you can still keep the GOP's feet to the fire.  We all remember the rumors about Boehner waiting until after filing deadlines to screw over the base on amnesty.  Well, with candidates already signed up, that removes that option, or at least pushes it back a few months.

291 If they we're doing their FUCKING JOBS we wouldn't be having this thread.

292 MWR, tsrblke, et al.  Has not stopped them from magical thinking in the past.  Idiots wanting to save the African elephant by moving some and its eco-system to North America.

http://annapuna.blogspot.com/2005/08/no-room-for-homo-sapiens.html

293 The divide is cultural. Most people live in the liberal bubble with no alternative news sources. The majority of Obama voters are not hard-core partisans, just clueless people who may be mildly interested in politics but are woefully uniformed by our "news" media. The few of us who are really passionate are not enough to get Joe Conservative elected. Hence, Bob Establishment always scoots toward compromise, which is the least imaginative way of appealing to the middle. We don't need more conservative Republicans primary-ing RINOs as much as we need an educated electorate. Solve the second problem and you've solved the first.

294 If we're smart enough to primary Cornyn, we're smart enough to mount those windmills on boats so that they can go wherever a hurricane is threatening. Come on, team! Put your thinking caps on for more good ideas!

295 Everybody else on the planet has to compete for their job.

296 >>You haven't a clue about Texas or Texans. Though I have no doubt you believe you do. Since when has that ever stopped anyone here? I've learned things about my state from people who have never been there despite me living there most of life. If this place is going to start being based on facts instead of opinions the threads are going to get a lot shorter.

297

I wonder how far a broken windmill propeller would go in a hurricane?

One of those propellers hitting an oil rig would not be pretty.

 

Posted by: Nip Sip at December 10, 2013 12:24 PM (0FSuD)

 

 

Decapitate one manatee and There Will Be Blood.

298 There is no and about it. Then why bring it up? Seriously, that's akin to saying "The Democrats will endorse Wendy Davis." Of course they will, it's a moot point unless you think it moves the needle. And as a reminder you didn't always think Perry was a good Governor. That's true. OTOH, he's cleaned up his act a lot, hasn't he? Almost as though he was primaried from the Right and realized that if he didn't want that to happen again, he'd have to govern from the Right.

299 Hey, where's Perry?

300 Hoot and a half, Obamas at the Funeral.  Scroll about half way down. Barky is yucking it up with some white woman and Mooch is not pleased. Next picture, Mooch is sitting between Barky and aforesaid white woman.

http://tinyurl.com/o6gb9f3

301

I'm a Texan that voted for Cornyn in 2008 only because at the last moment, I decided to be lazy and vote straight ticket.  I only decided that because I went to vote to do my part to help anyone beat Obama.  If I was going to hold my nose for McCain, I could do it for Cornyn.

Alas, Melissa's last tweet says it pretty well for me.  Except within Texas, it's not just telling us what DC thinks.  There is also the aspect of telling us what Austin thinks.   Both seats of government seem to think the people really don't know, and so they presume to act for what's in our best interest.  We can suffer that for awhile, but it gets old fairly quick.

Finally, regardless of money, the Republican will win in Texas.  Obama has done too much to screw over Texas.  Also, the Governorship is up for vote along with almost all the at-large positions in Texas State government.  There will be people like me in 2008 that will decide to vote straight ticket, and that will allow even a shortchanged Republican US Senate candidate to carry the day.

302 On the other side of this debate are Michael Medved and John Podhoretz who argue that the GOP is conservative enough and all of this primary stuff is nonsense. One can argue all they want about whether it makes tactical sense to primary this particular incumbent or that particular incumbent. But claim that the GOP is "conservative enough" is insane. The group who ALWAYS increases spending. ALWAYS increases the size and scope of gov't. Desperately wants amnesty. And outright hates conservatives is "conservative enough"? Conservative enough for who? They most certainly are not even remotely conservative enough for me. And, I'm not a purist that will only accept candidates to the right of Ted Cruz. I'm a realist as well. But claiming the GOP is even remotely conservative is a lie. The GOP is to the right of the DNC. That does not make the party, as a whole, conservative. Anyone who claims the GOP is conservative lies. Period. End of story. Their are conservatives in the GOP, but the GOP itself is not conservative. That is just simply dishonest.

303 Perry will endorse Cornyn.

he also endorsed Gore. Posted by: X at December 10, 2013 12:23

Yes, jackass ... 25 years ago.  Do you not want people to switch from D to R?

304 I'd argue that the lack of competition and primarying powerful sitting politicians is a sign that the DEMOCRATS are not a healthy party.

305 Corny a voting record is deceptive. He is a stealth democrat. He was a whip for them to try and crush Cruz. He's a type of weasel. But Stockman is NOT a good candidate and will NOT beat him.

306 The problem with the GOP civil war is the same as one of the GWOT problems.  Not enough very senior officer casualties on our side to stop the bullshit.

307

259 -

 

Continuing the football analogy.  So many of  these Republican Senators are like  Quarterbacks  on losing teams.

 

They get their yards after games are out of reach, when their team has to throw the ball, so they have big numbers  at the end of  the season.

 

But but but... 90% conservative voting record!!!

 

Yeah, and what's that gotten us?  How many wins  does that translate into? 

308 Decapitate one manatee and There Will Be Blood. Well, yes, by definition.

309 MWR, tsrblke, et al. Has not stopped them from magical thinking in the past. Idiots wanting to save the African elephant by moving some and its eco-system to North America.

http://annapuna.blogspot.com/2005/08/no-room-for-homo-sapiens.html

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at December 10, 2013 12:26 PM (27gH7)

 

 

Lefties are just...

 

I can't even call them idiots anymore.  It's not a strong enough term.  Lunatics.

310 You haven't a clue about Texas or Texans. Though I have no doubt you believe you do.

Balderdash.  I'll have you know that I have watched multiple episodes Walker Texas Ranger.

I don't claim to be an expert on Texas, but I do know what $36,000 and an announcement on World Nut Daily gets you against a well funded, senior leadership incumbent though.

311

If they we're doing their FUCKING JOBS we wouldn't be having this thread.

 

 

Their job is to get elected. Our job is to make our views so popular they need to adopt them to get elected. Different jobs. So far they have been doing theirs better that we have been doing ours.

312 Show strength or quit wasting time. Cornyn and McConnell have said FU to the base. The time for managers, like them, is over for now. We need leaders. If Mitt had been elected he would be busy implementing Obamacare. Who doesn't believe that? Cornyn and McConnell would be helping him.

313 Posted by: Thunderb at December 10, 2013 12:29 PM (zOTsN) Write in drive for AllenG! (I've actually considered writing my name in for the empty primary for a state rep slot that runs dem uncontested lately just to see what happens.)

314 305 Hoot and a half, Obamas at the Funeral. Scroll about half way down. Barky is yucking it up with some white woman and Mooch is not pleased. Next picture, Mooch is sitting between Barky and aforesaid white woman. http://tinyurl.com/o6gb9f3 Posted by: WalrusRex at December 10, 2013 12:29 PM (XUKZU) Hey, where the white women at? J/k, I'm not into women.

315 A broken windmill is right even twice a day.

316 >>If Mitt had been elected he would be busy implementing Obamacare. Who doesn't believe that? Me.

317

Decapitate one manatee and There Will Be Blood.

Well, yes, by definition.

 

 

Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) STILL Home at December 10, 2013 12:30 PM (nUH8H)

 

 

I was    going for layers of meaning.  You know, nuance.  

318 Idiots wanting to save the African elephant by moving some and its eco-system to North America. I donÂ’t know, I think we could introduce some elephants to DC, at least for one summer. ItÂ’s already a free-range zoo. Make it look like one.

319 Fookin Lunatics?

320 Stockman is a bad candidate. He will lose. Something is up with this. Doesn't feel right

321 Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at December 10, 2013 12:26 PM (27gH7) Heh, that's nothing. There are hunters around here introducing Elk back under the guise of "resorting the native species of the state." When one of those fuckers hits a car there will be hell to pay. Deer strikes are bad enough, elk are much much bigger.

322 Supposed to be A broken windmill is NOT right even twice a day.

323 slow news day I guess

324 Decapitate one manatee and There Will Be Blood. Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Assault Hobbit at December 10, 2013 12:28 PM (4df7R) No, there will be an investigation. How the fuck did a manatee got to LA from FL? Smugglers!

325 Stockman is a bad candidate. He will lose. Something is up with this. Doesn't feel right My theory is that the actual good candidates were either convinced or coerced not to run. I've never heard of Stockman, so I can't really say anything for or against him except that he's not John Cornyn. Which, honestly, is enough for me at the moment.

326 Steny Hoyer: “I Don’t Think There Are Any Extremists” In The Democratic Party… Too funny, Steny! Wait, you’re serious? Weasel Zippers: They lie so well. Quite a talent actually

327 Every incumbant needs to be challenged every time they come up for election. It keeps them accountable for ALL their actions while in DC.. It amazes me the number of people on this thread that don't believe in the American political process and tradition.

328 Talking about manifestly conservative politicians of the early 21st century as though they are no different from liberals rightly creates cognitive dissonance in the minds of voters who do not follow the ins and outs of Republican politics day to day, and inclines many of them to back away in discomfort as one does when seeing a married couple squabble in public. "manifestly conservative politicians"? By whose standard? Part of the problem with the leadership, such as McConnell and Cornyn, is that they may individually vote "very conservative" - they do nothing in their leadership positions to push or advocate conservative policy and instead routinely do the opposite. In other words, they are putting on an act to claim to be conservatives for the rubes back home, but where it counts, they are not conservative. I'm so sick of people who think we automatically owe our votes and loyalty to the GOP. this is tribalism, pure and simple. the tribe is the GOP, regardless of anything the GOP does, and we must always support the tribe. Well, conservatives who think independently do not believe that. We believe that actual results matter (not election results - the results of what the politicians do after the election). And, the GOP has NEVER delivered for conservatism. What is the biggest "conservative" victory in terms of actually passing legislation? Medicare Plan B? No Child Left Behind? Cutting spending? Reducing the size or scope of gov't? there have been no actual conservative legislative victories. Instead, conservative victories have all been stopping the GOP from doing things (amnesty, for example). When conservative "victories" are simply stopping the party that is supposed to be "conservative" from doing something asinine, that is hardly a case for the GOP or any of its members being conservative. Hell, were it not for conservatives, the GOP would have signed on to Obamacare long ago. Anyone who watches the news and reads comments by such stalwarts as Mitch McConnell know this is true. Medved and his ilk need to go away. They are not conservative, they are party sycophants, nothing more.

329 Hey AllenG, better buy the winning Mega Million ticket for tonight.  Then announce your candidacy with, "I just won the Mega Millions, I can't be bought.  And here are my opinions!"

330

There is no and about it.

Then why bring it up? Seriously, that's akin to saying "The Democrats will endorse Wendy Davis." Of course they will, it's a moot point unless you think it moves the needle.

 

Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) STILL Home at December 10, 2013 12:28 PM (nUH8H)

 

Why  bring it up?   Oh I don't know.   We're talking about the Senate  primary race?    I guess I shouldn't have mention that Perry will endorse one of the candidates.    He's not required to endorse anyone or the encumbent.   I liked you better when you just repeated the same post over and over.   

331 >>Posted by: Leland at December 10, 2013 12:29 PM (1hLHC) <<

This is as good and cogent an analysis as any others I've seen.
 

332 321 >>If Mitt had been elected he would be busy implementing Obamacare. Who doesn't believe that?

Me.

---

Nor do I. He may have come up with a replacement, but I think he would have kept his promise to EO Zerocare out of existence on day 1.

What can I say, I'm a fan of the Alternate History genre.

333 Stockman will get my vote.

334 Posted by: Nevergiveup at December 10, 2013 12:36 PM (t3UFN) It's not lying. They really believe it. To them, anyone who doesn't agree with them is an extremist. Anyone who agrees with them, therefor, cannot be an extremist. They also believe that currency is the same thing as money, and that artificially inflating wages will do anything positive for "the poor."

335 Stockman was the only candidate who was willing to challenge him, how did sticking with Specter work, or voting for Charlie Cheetah, (I still feel guilty about that, but I was young)

Lord love a waterfowl, they predicted a strike on New Orleans with Hurricane Ivan, the year before, a LSU predicted a much larger disaster, with the pumps being underwater, it will happen, no unicorns will stop it,

336 Elk are pikers.

337

So Obammy gets adoring fangirls screaming his name and all but throwing their panties at him during the Mandela memorial.

 

Dubya gets booed.

 

Tell me again which one has actually done a damn thing for the African continent?     Well, besides    throwing   the northern tier of the continent into abject chaos with Libya and Egypt.

338 From NRO:

Now, at first I thought this was a hoax. But it appears it isn’t. Apparently a fellow writing into a Jihadi chat show wants to do “martyrdom operations.” The sheikh he talked to says they’ve got a great new technique to blow up infidels. We hide explosives up your butt. There’s just one hitch. You’ve got to be repeatedly sodomized in order to be able to accommodate the explosive. So, the questioner wants to know if it is permissible for him to be regularly rogered, if doing so makes his posterior more amenable to hiding explosives. The fellow on camera, Shiite cleric Abdallah Al-Khilaf, says that even though sodomy is forbidden if it is necessary for jihad, well, then it is required. Because jihad is the highest obligation.

Now, what I find hilarious here is that it never occurs to anyone that there might be some kind of technological work-around short of repeated sodomy. You know, maybe thereÂ’s a device or a technique, something that is a little less unpleasant, inconvenient or forbidden than straight-up buggery? Nope. Gotta go with the sodomy. The Saturday Night Live skit writes itself.

    Jihadi: What if we make the bomb smaller?
    Sheikh: What? ThatÂ’s crazy. Sodomy is the only way.
    Jihadi: CouldnÂ’t I use replica of a male, well, you know. In private like . . .
    Sheikh: Shh!  LetÂ’s not even discuss it.
    Jihadi: What if IÂ’m willing to tolerate a lot of discomfort when it comes time for the martyrdom operation? I mean, itÂ’s my choice. I am blowing myself up after all. WhatÂ’s a little discomfort?
    Sheikh: YouÂ’re not hearing me. This is the way it has to be. DonÂ’t you want to murder infidels?

339 Your move, senator Cruz.

340 Stockman is known to spout off and say controversial things. His staffer just got in trouble for illegal campaign contributions which he no doubt compelled them to do. Just feels like he is one step away from an indictment for something. Like maybe someone is paying his debts if he runs

341 Unlike your SOCON strawman which you beat the shit out of with screams of " AKIN! AKIN! AKIN" every time a conservative discusses pulling the party to the right.

Totally different.
Posted by: Senator John McCain

Give me an example of a candidate that's gone "all in" on these issues and not blown up?  Conservatives that want to obsess over abortion politics usually go down in flames like Akin, see Cuccinelli for a recent example.  Sometimes men really are made of straw. 

And why is someone's obsession on abortion politics the ultimate test of how "conservative" they are?

Republicans like Huckabee were basically just big government statists, yet somehow they get street cred for being super awesome conservatives because of that one issue.

342 Hey AllenG, better buy the winning Mega Million ticket for tonight. Then announce your candidacy with, "I just won the Mega Millions, I can't be bought. And here are my opinions!" Filing deadline was Monday, so it's too late for that.

343 When one of those fuckers hits a car there will be hell to pay. Deer strikes are bad enough, elk are much much bigger.

Posted by: tsrblke, PhD(c) No Really! at December 10, 2013 12:34 PM (GaqMa)

 

They must have never seen the aftermath of a   moose strike.    

344

RE the Gulf Windmills and man's delusions of effect against Nature.

 

The 1900 Great Storm  at Galveston, TX had winds estimated at 145 mph (what would be a Category 4 when that scale came into being, later) and a storm surge of over 15 feet.  Between 6,000 and 12,000 people died, with the most common estimate at 8,000.

 

Galveston  then built a 17-foot high seawall and raised the city 17 feet on dredged sand.  Safety from hurricanes in our  time!

 

Mother Nature:  Challenge accepted.

 

The 2008 Hurricane Ike had wind speeds of 110 mph and a 22-foot storm surge.  37 confirmed deaths and hundreds are still missing.

 

Hooters was washed away.  (Oh, the humanity!)

 

On the day of landfall, police were stopping travelers at  La Marque,  4 miles (6 km) north of Galveston, and making them exit the highway.  Interstate 45 at La Marque had been closed because boats and parts of wrecked piers were strewn throughout floodwaters blocking the road.

 

Mother Nature:  Do  you feel me now?

345 Posted by: HeatherRadish™ needs a beer at December 10, 2013 12:25 PM (ZKzrr) I do love your comment some time ago about asking a pro-choice[sic, h/t you] woman why she should have a baby shower since no one celebrated Susie's tumor. Not sure whether you said you actually did that, but that was excellent.

346 If you are from Texas and you say you  keep up with politics and don't know who Stockman is,  then you are actually a  semi - LIV.    He is only one of 10 that voted against Bohener for speaker and voted againt the renewal of the Violence Against Women act  as well as being one of the most vocal regard to gun rights especially after Sandy Hook.

347 Who gives a shit. The Republicans' bad behavior opened the door for this to happen. Chickens are roosting.

348 "Conservatives that want to obsess over abortion politics usually go down in flames like Akin, see Cuccinelli for a recent example" Hey, I, er...

349 Drew, I would add to your list of who should get primaried: - people who are harm conservatism by their actions in leadership positions (whether by design or by true incompetence) - regardless of individual voting record. that would explain McConnell and would also be a strong case for primarying Boehner. Also, I would argue that if you are an 85% conservative voter from a 100% conservative state - you should be primaried. There is no sense giving away that 15%.

350 Re: sidebar: Rich get richer, rest stagnate in economic ‘recovery’ It feels more like an economic retribution. Sorry your father didn't care about you, Barack, but please fuck off.

351 Obsess over abortion = mentioning it.

352 "Politicians are like dumb animals. They react to being punished for doing something bad and to being rewarded for doing something good.

If you punish them no matter what, they'll either stop working or they'll run off to find someone else who will reward them for what they do.

Posted by: DrewM. at December 10, 2013 11:14 AM (SgXEz)"

They are being rewarded by contributors for doing things that I wish they would not do.  I certainly can't outbid the money guys so the only option I have is to withhold my vote and my support. 

I imagine that some of the dissatisfaction with John Cornyn is not all stuff that he has personally earned but overflow from McCain, Lindsey, Alexander and the rest of the GOP establishment that Senator Cornyn is so comfortable with.  There is a certain amount of "We can't vote against your buddies but we can vote against you" going on.

353 Better watch out for straight ticket team-R voting here in Texas 2014.  You might end up with the enduring shame of having voted for P. Bush.

354 He is only one of 10 that voted against Bohener for speaker and voted againt the renewal of the Violence Against Women act as well as being one of the most vocal regard to gun rights especially after Sandy Hook. Then that's more reason to vote for him. What say you to Thunderb's assessment of the campaign contribution issue?

355

Every incumbant needs to be challenged every time they come up for election.

 

Every Republican needs to be primaried every time? The only candidates who would welcome that prospect are career politicians. For the House, it will mean campaigning always, non-stop. The few folks who put their lives on hold to run and do the right thing will opt out.

356 From a Mother Jones article about Stockman, only to show what we are in for Stockman is almost certainly the only member of Congress to have been caught with 30 mg of valium hidden in a cellophane wrapper in his underwear. He's defended militia groups; accused an attorney general of "premeditated murder"; appeared on a Holocaust-denying radio program; waged a one-man war against Alfred Kinsey; compared his constituents—favorably—to Branch Davidians; and traveled to Denmark to protest climate change while wearing a red blindfold.

357 You might end up with the enduring shame of having voted for P. Bush. BTW, have the Democrats announced who they're running against him for that spot?

358 Obsess over abortion = mentioning it. Posted by: Chris_Balsz at December 10, 2013 12:42 PM (5xmd7) Heh, it's a wedge issue here, you can't avoid it if you tried. If you try to avoid it, they'll ask you during the any interviews, debates, etc. And if you don't engage in any of those they'll say you're hiding. Lose/Lose, it's why I heavily advocate learning to deflect the question and have that down colder than the current weather.

359 I have an idea, send Mike Castle to Texas to primary Cornyn!

360

Chickens are roosting.

 

Posted by: soothie at December 10, 2013 12:41 PM (mZGNr)

 

Better than what I'm used to.

361 At least Krispie Keme has his priorities straight.

http://tinyurl.com/pjz4x7b

362 Stockmans tweets are moron worthy however He is a flamethrower

363 I read that article about hurricanes and wind farms in the side bar. My brain hurts now.

364 "If you try to avoid it, they'll ask you during the any interviews, debates, etc. And if you don't engage in any of those they'll say you're hiding. Lose/Lose, it's why I heavily advocate learning to deflect the question and have that down colder than the current weather." Posted by: tsrblke, PhD(c) No Really! at December 10, 2013 12:45 PM (GaqMa) << There's another option besides deflecting, avoiding and refusing to engage.

365

"Conservatives that want to obsess over abortion politics usually go down in flames like Akin, see Cuccinelli for a recent example"

 

Yeah, because Terry McAwful never had a word to say concerning the state of women's vajayjays during the campaign.

366

356 -

 

Which, ironically enough,  would  be a  better  description   of  pro-abortion Republicans, who can't seem to stop talking about it.

367 329

No, there will be an investigation. How the fuck did a manatee got to LA from FL?

Smugglers!

Posted by: Nip Sip at December 10, 2013 12:35 PM (0FSuD)

It got lost because global warming.

368 We're certainly not winning elections on this platform, so I don't see what we have to lose by pissing off the freaks.


Posted by: McAdams

DU much?
You make the ProgStatist case very well.

Give me an example of a candidate that's gone "all in" on these issues and not blown up? been destroyed by the MSM
FTFY

Obama thinks it's cool to kill babies who survive abortion. He is president.
Cornyn is a guy who will selll out to Obama in 2 seconds if it means keeping his job.

You can close one eye and step around that shit pile if it suits you.

Some of us freak and idiots prefer to have both eyes open.

369 The problem with Stockman is all the D's in TX have to do is run a fake conservative Democrat against him to win. Same goes in Kansas. Or in any reddish state.

370

#227

 

Well, sodomy is the left's obsession....they are in our K-12 preaching how normal and loving it is, all day, every day.  As for rape....the Dems could care less, as evidenced by their shrugs at Bill Clinton and OWS rape camps.

 

And may I remind everyone how the Senate GOP promised Jim DeMint they would "leave his (conservative) legislation on the kitchen counter like a rotten banana."

 

Which is prob why he went to the Heritage Foundation.

 

Scaring the shit out of them is always good news.

371 thunderb stockman tweet "If babies had guns, they wouldn't be aborted." brilliant!!!

372 Is it an abortion if you eat the afterbirth? I'm asking for a friend.

373 Obsess over abortion = mentioning it.  Answering a direct question posed by an interviewer, debate moderator, or opponent.

FIFY.

374 You can call it the Joe Manchin Model, if you like. Talk like a conservative Republican, vote like a Pelosi Democrat.

375 A sample tweet I won't be Harry Reid's senator from Texas Or Democrats playing the knockout game with your health care

376 You might end up with the enduring shame of having voted for P. Bush. Appears to be running on one issue only, school choice. Which is pretty important for keeping Texas sane. (That and ballot integrity.)

377 "Conservatives that want to obsess over abortion politics usually go down in flames like Akin, see Cuccinelli for a recent example"

Yeah the COMPLETE FAILURE of the RNC/GOP establishment to support him caused him to lose by a MASSIVE....

3%.

But we shouldn't primary Cornyn. Because (R) .

And shit.

378 The problem with Stockman is all the D's in TX have to do is run a fake conservative Democrat against him to win. Check your instruments, son, you're getting a bad reading. Short of actively alienating Republican voters, the R candidate WILL win Texas. That's not even really in doubt. Besides, the Democrats want to run Wendy "I'm so in love with abortion that I don't want abortion facilities regulated" Davis- hardly a "fake conservative Democrat."

379 Tom Steyer knew he had to make the AGW scam pay off, seal off the Chesapeake from fracking, disarm the citizenry, that's why he chipped in 8 million on his own, it's not McAwful's engaging smile. Although if one actually supports a candidate, it doesn't do to get the vapors over everything he ever said, did, or can be construed to being,

380 from the dailybeast http://tinyurl.com/okqmqs2 i really didn't find anything outrageous about stockman in this article.......

381 Posted by: Chris_Balsz at December 10, 2013 12:49 PM (5xmd7 Balderdash, that assumes a fair broker of information, which we don't have. If you do that (and I've seen it tried) they make up your answer for you. That strategy doesn't work for any other topic, why would it work here. Posted by: physics geek at December 10, 2013 12:48 PM (MT22W) I especially love the bit that their model included turbines that can withstand a Cat 3 hurricane, but they ran it on a Cat 5. and magically somehow their model didn't merely end with destruction of all the turbines. I believe that's what we call a "failed" model.

382

How did those senators handle their roles in the Senate's infamous Shamnesty vote this year? Did they roll with McCain and Rubio? Then primary them!

383 Seriously go to his twitter feed It's like crack

384

Stockman is almost certainly the only member of Congress to have been caught with 30 mg of valium hidden in a cellophane wrapper in his underwear. He's defended militia groups; accused an attorney general of "premeditated murder"; appeared on a Holocaust-denying radio program; waged a one-man war against Alfred Kinsey; compared his constituents—favorably—to Branch Davidians; and traveled to Denmark to protest climate change while wearing a red blindfold.

 

I love the prospect of having to waste time once again explaining away another jackass who appointed himself spokesman for conservative views.

385 Obsess over abortion = mentioning it.
Posted by: Chris_Balsz

No, obsessing over it= making your official campaign bumper stickers say " If babies had guns, they wouldn't be aborted."
http://tinyurl.com/na89b3k

This stuff is just the tip of the iceberg for Stockman, he's a nut who's spent more than a few nights in jail for things like drug possession.

Look, Stockman is going to go down in flames, I'm not actually worried about him making it to a general election and handing a seat to a Democrat, but conservatives need to call out the freaks before they do real damage.

386 Yeah the COMPLETE FAILURE of the RNC/GOP establishment to support him caused him to lose by a MASSIVE....

3%.

But we shouldn't primary Cornyn. Because (R) .

And shit.

Posted by: noone, really at December 10, 2013 12:52 PM (5ikDv)

 

 

^^^THIS^^^

387 Why would you believe a word Mother Jones prints?

388 Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) STILL Home at December 10, 2013 12:52 PM (nUH8H) I thought they were running her for Gov.

389 Rep. Steve Stockman ‏@SteveWorks4You 26 Nov Obama pardons White House turkey. Turkey was holding out for an Obamacare waiver.

390

I registered Republican (from Independent) so I could vote for Ted Cruz in the primary and run-off.

 

I look forward to using that status to vote against Cornyn, very possibly for Stockman. Cornyn's behavior to cut Cruz off at the knees about the shutdown argument when later events with the ObamaCare launch proved Cruz right.

 

Even if he wins re-election, Cornyn needs a course correction from the Texas electorate, I think.

 

 

Posted by: Advo at December 10, 2013 12:24 PM (7vbG1)

 

 

Texas does  not register voters to a party.  In  the primary  you just go to that party's polling place.  Your Voter Registration card will be stamped Democratic  or Republican to show  in which primary you voted in case there is a runoff election.  You can only vote in  that runoff if you did not vote in the  other party's primary.

391 392 Why would you believe a word Mother Jones prints? Posted by: soothie at December 10, 2013 12:55 PM (mZGNr) Well, a guy named Corn is the editor, so it must be true.

392 stockman tweet If your relative shows up for dinner clutching that Obama email, remind him there are more people at the table than in Obamacare in Oregon.

393 I love the prospect of having to waste time once again explaining away another jackass who appointed himself spokesman for conservative views. Is there an outspoken conservative you wouldn't have to "waste time... explaining away?" 'Cause I'm thinking "no." The only way not to have to "explain away" someone is if they're so mealy mouthed that the Democrats can't even manufacture anything. Such a person would not exactly fill me with confidence.

394 You can only vote in that runoff if you did not vote in the other party's primary. I love Texas.

395 You people heaving your shit at Stockman because he mentioned abortion need to sit down and ponder this question: Who was it and what political party did she belong to who brought the abortion question to the forefront in TX?

396 How is it, the left is willing to go on the most insane notions, on a flier, and they take everyone along with them, Landrieu, Lincoln, Pryor Begich, doesn't matter if it's a blue, purple or red state, Alaska qualifies as the latter,

397 But you're solution of politicians saying "abortion is settled law, but it's murder" is essentially the pro-choice position. I was always thought the pro-life position was legally criminalizing abortion, not just name-calling.

Posted by: McAdams at December 10, 2013 12:17 PM (2TMCu)

Well, there's your problem. You just don't think very much.

398 I thought they were running her for Gov. Last I heard was Senate vs Cornyn. But I've been busy, so I may have missed something.

399 Look, Stockman is going to go down in flames, I'm not actually worried about him making it to a general election and handing a seat to a Democrat, but conservatives need to call out the freaks before they do real damage.

Posted by: McAdams at December 10, 2013 12:54 PM (2TMCu)

 

Do you live in Texas?  Why exactly is Stockman a freak? 

400 Another President pardons White House turkey. Turkey was holding out for an Obamacare waiver

401

How the fuck did a manatee got to LA from FL?

 

 

Monorail!

402 Why exactly is Stockman a freak? Didn't you get the memo? Because he thinks abortion is murder and Mother Jones says so.

403 398 I love the prospect of having to waste time once again explaining away another jackass who appointed himself spokesman for conservative views.

Is there an outspoken conservative you wouldn't have to "waste time... explaining away?" 'Cause I'm thinking "no."

The only way not to have to "explain away" someone is if they're so mealy mouthed that the Democrats can't even manufacture anything. Such a person would not exactly fill me with confidence.

Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) STILL Home at December 10, 2013 12:57 PM (nUH8H)

 

The only time McAdams posts here is when he gets to bash conservatives/tea partiers

404 402 But you're solution of politicians saying "abortion
is settled law, but it's murder" is essentially the pro-choice position.
I was always thought the pro-life position was legally criminalizing
abortion, not just name-calling.

Well, there's your problem. You just don't think very much.
Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon

So instead of name-calling, what part of my post do you disagree with? 
Is the pro-life position not outlawing abortion?

405 Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) STILL Home at December 10, 2013 12:58 PM (nUH8H) I'm 95% certain that she's running for gov. Which, IMHO is even more hilarious.

406 You people heaving your shit at Stockman because he mentioned abortion need to sit down and ponder this question: Who was it and what political party did she belong to who brought the abortion question to the forefront in TX?

 

Posted by: Soona at December 10, 2013 12:58 PM (7MnqG)

 

Damn skippy.

 

Here's another thought - if you hear about Kermit Gosnell and your first thought is, "shit, the Dems will crucify me if I mention this, rather than "the fucker and everyone who supported and covered for him should burn in hell," maybe that's a clue you're in the wrong party.

407 So instead of name-calling, what part of my post do you disagree with?
Is the pro-life position not outlawing abortion?

Posted by: McAdams at December 10, 2013 01:01 PM (2TMCu)

 

Well the pro life faction supported the 20 week Texas bill.   They did not demand that  Texas outlaw abortion.    Or is this the slippery slope people like you are afraid of?

408 Soothie I only repeated it to show what we are in for, what will be used against Stockman. Someone is supporting him. A pro gun PAC is already running ads on the radio for him. Maybe filing at the last minute was a tactic?

409 398 I love the prospect of having to waste time once again explaining away another jackass who appointed himself spokesman for conservative views.

Have you SEEN the man's watch? It just screams wealthywomenminorityprolifewingnutpoorhater !

410 Appears to be running on one issue only, school choice. Which

proves he's smart enough to not talk about his views on amnesty at this time.

411 Davis is running for gov. Not Senate

412
Do you live in Texas? Why exactly is Stockman a freak?

Posted by: polynikes self proclaimed king of walked into a bar jokes at December 10, 2013 12:59 PM (m2CN7)

How about smuggling Valium in his underwear to get it inside the jail cell with him?

http://tinyurl.com/nhxwwft

  If a Democrat was busted doing something like that, would you call him out on it?

413 You can call it the Joe Manchin Model, if you like. Talk like a conservative Republican, vote like a Pelosi Democrat. Posted by: soothie at December 10, 2013 12:51 PM (mZGNr) That also describes at least 65% of the GOP. Part of the GOP's problem is that it allows democrat candidates to play this game. The GOP - were it truly a conservative entity - would work to educate the public that a vote for the allegedly conservative "d" is a vote for liberalism. The GOP doesn't do this - or at least not even remotely effectively. The reason the GOP doesn't do this, IMHO, is that the GOP doesn't want to brand itself conservative. Which makes sense, because the GOP is not conservative. It has conservative supporters. there is a big difference.

414

Is there an outspoken conservative you wouldn't have to "waste time... explaining away?" 'Cause I'm thinking "no."

 

I didnÂ’t have to waste much time with Rand Paul. I want someone who can appeal beyond the conservative base. To sell limited government to more voters. I donÂ’t need quips and hackneyed tweets. I want candidates able to speak in compete sentences that appeal to new voters. No more faux pas machines. No more goofballs. Even good guys who canÂ’t make a good point without grating on people. Sorry Ted Cruz. I prefer a Rand Paul style.  

 

415 Cornyn's dem challengers are a collection of nobody's and fools

416 Posted by: McAdams at December 10, 2013 01:07 PM (2TMCu) That was a fun read Yes, let's run this guy against the second most conservative senator in the country. He sounds like a regular Ted Cruz. "By his own account, Stockman spent time homeless as a young man, sleeping in a Fort Worth park, looking for food in trash cans and going by the street name “Max.” He has been jailed more than once, he has said in interviews, and was charged with a felony after one such incident when authorities found Valium in his pants; he said a girlfriend put the pills there, and the charge was later reduced." Bitch set him up!

417 How about smuggling Valium in his underwear to get it inside the jail cell with him?
http://tinyurl.com/nhxwwft If a Democrat was busted doing something like that, would you call him out on it?

Posted by: McAdams at December 10, 2013 01:07 PM (2TMCu)

 

 

 

I suppose if we have to stay out of bedrooms, we should also  stay out   of underwear.

 

418 As a longtime Texas voter, and AOS moron, I understand the primary fears. However, in Texas, it's not a matter of if we'll elect a Republican senator. It's a matter of which Republican we'll elect.
I've personally met, worked for and given to Cornyn. Not anymore. Too many times he would rather take the Washington side of a vote and not protect Texan interests. I know you guys look at from a national perspective and justifiably so. As a local, I expect Texan Senators to represent our state interests and Cornyn has come down on the DC side of the fence one time too many for me.

419 Rand Paul actually shifted public opinion on Obama's use of drones with his filibuster, by one measure 50 points. See Dave Weigel's Slate story.

420 I suppose if we have to stay out of bedrooms, we should also stay out of underwear. Posted by: Havedash at December 10, 2013 01:21 PM (gvqyH) Not when you're in jail on felony charges.

421 Sorry Ted Cruz. I prefer a Rand Paul style.

Posted by: CJ at December 10, 2013 01:14 PM (9KqcB)

 

Let's just hope Rand Paul doesn't bring any of his father's style with him, or some of his ideas, such as the elder Paul's belief that Iran, for example, is a victim of evil Zionist subterfuge and persecution.  You know, the jew-hating stuff.  Or the elder Paul's personal and professional associations with  the likes of Willis Carto, 'Spotlight' publisher and founder of the Holocaust denial 'movement' and conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, who believes the Rothschild family is at the heart of a world-conquering Zionist banker plot to Rule Ze Vorld. Yet more jew-hating stuff.

 

I'm guessing young Rand Paul was spoonfed this hateful shit when he was growing up, kind of like Mel Gibson and his virulently antisemitic father. We know how that turned out.

422 This country was founded by extremist felons with guns.

And that  article on Stockman was as deep and politically dispassionate as the ones on Choom Boy and Marion Berry and their recreational habits.

riiiiiiiiiiight.

So MAC. Who's the "purist" now?

423 The more these useless losers try and fail, the sooner conservatives across the country will begin to understand the futility of Purity Testing.

Even Stalin understood that you can only afford ideological purges when you have a firm grip on power, not in the middle of the struggle for power.

424 The more these useless losers try and fail, the sooner conservatives across the country will begin to understand the futility of Purity Testing. Why is it never the GOP's fault that its base hates it? Have you never considered that if the GOP made any effort to actually act conservative - not "pure" conservative however your snarky condescension defines such terms - but, you know, follow through on some of its promises - cutting spending, reducing gov't, etc? Even a little bit of follow-through on its conservative talk would help. People like you - who believe this is a game where we select a "team" and that victory is that team winning - regardless of what the team does once in office - are a huge part of the problem. You don't care about policy. You only care about which "team" is in office. In your mind, the GOP always increasing spending and the size and scope of the gov't is perfectly acceptable - as long as it is the GOP doing it. How you believe that is good for the country is beyond those of us that think outside of the team mentality and actually look at policy. But, regardless of all that - why is it not the GOP's fault that its base wants to primary it? Why is it the voter's fault? Do you blame the consumer when they don't buy a bad product? If you want to sell me a shit sandwich, and I refuse to buy it, it is my fault? that I try to tell you how to make a decent sandwich instead of a shit sandwich, but you refuse saying a shit sandwich is good enough - you expect me to accept that answer and buy your shit sandwich? Maybe in reality the sandwich I offer is not any better than the sandwich you offer. Or maybe even my sandwich is worse. But, that doesn't mean I have to buy your lousy sandwich. If you had offered a decent sandwich in the first instance, I wouldn't have gone in search of a better sandwich. Yet, in your (and other party loyalists') mind, I should never question the quality of the sandwich. I somehow, should buy whatever you decide to sell me with no questions or criticism. I find that mindset very strange. Particularly if you proclaim to believe in free markets.

425 Sometimes you have to lay out a marker, just to keep the other guy honest. While I think Grahamnesty and McConnel should be priorities, I think most of the Republican leadership in both houses needs to go. They're stuck in the old ways, and haven't adapted to fighting radical leftists.

426 " 317 Show strength or quit wasting time. Cornyn and McConnell have said FU to the base. The time for managers, like them, is over for now. We need leaders. If Mitt had been elected he would be busy implementing Obamacare. Who doesn't believe that? Cornyn and McConnell would be helping him. Posted by: Huggy at December 10, 2013 12:31 PM (o00SF) bingo!

427 I think most of the Republican leadership in both houses needs to go. They're stuck in the old ways, and haven't adapted to fighting radical leftists. Posted by: Iblis at December 10, 2013 01:49 PM (9221z) This. Politics has changed radically in the last 20 years, yet the GOP establishment and party leaders in congress still play by all of the old rules. For instance, McConnell and others still pretend the Senate is a gentlemen's club - while Reid and Schumer completely ignore those old rules. It's infuriating to watch. Schumer and McConnell call GOP senators all kinds of names, insinuate or outright say they want to kill your grandma, and McConnell, et al never say anything negative in return. But McConnell, et al will to all out in their attacks on conservatives.

428 Posted by: monkeytoe at December 10, 2013 01:47 PM (sOx93) even better...

429 If you have to cite Mother Jones and Slate for gossip on GOP candidates, don't get pissy if some of us are skeptical.

430 If Mitt had been elected he would be busy implementing Obamacare. Who doesn't believe that? Cornyn and McConnell would be helping him. Posted by: Huggy at December 10, 2013 12:31 PM (o00SF) Its worse than that. Had conservatives not kicked up a huge fuss, they would have started helping Obama implement Obamacare after the election. They constantly said (and McConnell just recently again said) that they have no real intention of repealing Obamacare, just "fixing" it. The GOP is not a conservative party. It is a party with some conservatives in it. It is not remotely the same thing.

431 What I find amusing is that we have these same arguments every 2 years - during every election cycle. And the same people ALWAYS tell us it is not the right time to primary incumbents or that THIS PARTICULAR incumbent should not be primaried. Which proves that in their minds, no incumbent, at no time should be primaried for any reason. In other words, it proves my point a little further up thread - that these people have a tribal mentality and for them, it is ONLY about their "tribe" winning elections. Policy is completely irrelevant to these people. results are irrelevant. It is only the game that matters. I can see in one or two particular cases being against some particular incumbent losing a primary - either because you believe that incumbent has done a good job or that the challenge can't win the general election. But these people ALWAYS argue against a primary. So basically, they are arguing against the very idea of a primary.

432

Let's just hope Rand Paul doesn't bring any of his father's style with him, or some of his ideas

 

I fully expected that. Or that the media would hang those issues around the sonÂ’s neck. DidnÂ’t happen.

433 Posted by: monkeytoe at December 10, 2013 02:01 PM (sOx93) I'd bet that if you go back and look at what Podhertz or Medved said about every challenge to an incumbent GOP candidate in the past 10 years, they would be against it every time. Same for the commentators here who are so adamantly against it now. So, you are basically arguing that we should get rid of the system. Perhaps we should get rid of primaries for open seats as well? After all, sometimes a bad candidate wins those too (such as Akin - supported more by evangelicals than conservatives [and those are not the same thing]). We should just institute a system whereby the GOP establishment (meaning the incumbents, their staffers and the full-time GOP employees) pick GOP candidates with no primaries?

434 I fully expected that. Or that the media would hang those issues around the sonÂ’s neck. DidnÂ’t happen. Posted by: CJ at December 10, 2013 02:02 PM (9KqcB) They will if he ever ends up as the presidential nominee. Of course, no matter who the GOP nominee is - the media will crucify in some way.

435 "What's the goal here?" Fear... to make the GOP leadership so afraid of losing their seats that they dare not go against us ever again.

436 Cornyn is Poppy Bush except he is starting from the Senate. During the Cruz shutdown Cornyn started running re-election ads in Texas as a "strong conservative" while he trashed Cruz in public. He has an Austin base and always takes the compromise view. Ask him about the second amendment and he will say he is open to perhaps bans on high capacity mags or certain calibers and it is fine with him that the ATF has a faux registration list in Texas and border States. NSA and the 4th? No real problem for a law and order guy like him. If he was the last vote for impeachment he would take a payoff. If a President Christie offered him a cabinet post or similar he'd jump at the chance and be a team player even if it meant moving way Left. Look at Rodgers on the intelligence committee who is just fine with a STASI State as long as he is read into the intrigue and you'll see Cornyn. Yeah, Cornyn is the Senator from DC assigned to Texas. Stockman won't win but I'm glad there is a challenge.

437

The reason for primarying Roberts is simple; Kansas is more conservative as a state than he is, and can do better than a Senator who is little more than a seat-warmer. Same with Cornyn, whose outstanding virtue as a Senate leader is doing nothing.

The real issue is that the GOP "moderates" have a very poor track record of handling primary losses, and tend to throw hissy fits attacking the conservative candidate who beats them.

Medved and Podhoretz keep dancing around this, but the facts are simple; conservatives have a far better track record of accepting losses and taking one for the team than do the GOP "moderates", who are all of the John "How Dare You Challenge ME, Whacko Bird!" McCain and Jon "Chinese Say Stab in Back Save Two In Front" Huntsman school.

438 I fully expected that. Or that the media would hang those issues around the sonÂ’s neck. DidnÂ’t happen.

Posted by: CJ at December 10, 2013 02:02 PM (9KqcB)

 

As a GOP primary voter, I'm not demanding that Rand Paul disavow his own father. I do ask that he explain what, if any, of his father's ideas he does share. He cannot evade his father's legacy--or notoriety. The elder Paul hung around ideologically with some disreputable assholes like Willis Carto, like Alex Jones. The younger Paul needs to address those associations and the ideas that go with them. If Rand Paul cannot or will not repudiate all of that nonsense in its entirety, then no, I'm not voting for the guy.

439 "29  If Cornyn is going to lose, it will be in a primary. The primary IS the election. Just as the Dewhurst/Cruz primary (well, the run-off) WAS the election.

That said- I reject your "limited resources" argument, because it ignores the grass roots in the States. Yes, Stockman currently has ~32K in his war-chest. A couple of "money bombs" will shore that up. Additionally, Cornyn is already in trouble, as evidenced by the fact that he's been running "I am TOO conservative!!!" adds for at least the last 3 months- even before he had a challenger. Obviously he knows he's weak.

So, while it's true that the Senate Conservatives Fund only has so much money, that doesn't preclude politicians from raising a fair amount of money. Also, simply being out-spent doesn't necessarily mean as much anymore.

Finally, I'll say this- Primary all of them, every time. I want them to remember that they answer to us, not the other way 'round."


Hear, hear! It's not necessary to enumerate the many bath-house antics of the McConnell/Cornyn & NRSC stiff arms here for we all know. Losing Cornyn is a lynchpin to losing an establishment senate.

Primary them all.

440 I'm just so pleased that Podhoretz and others have taken it upon themselves to explain to me when it is ok to primary. Gosh, I wouldn't want to offend the slightly righter wing of my fascist masters by primarying someone in a way that offends an internet blogger. Politicians need to convince me not to primary them, every election, with action, not words. That should be the default position. Anything else just boosts their already sociopathic tendencies toward believing they are entitled to the power we lend them.

441 Posted by: Brian at December 10, 2013 04:28 PM (pKkx4) that's the right attitude to have...

442 Cornyn vote for cloture on Obamacare which was, as we ALL know, a vote FOR Obamacare. Cornyn is a RINO and a snake in the grass.

I'm so excited that Stockman is challenging him. Texas should not have to put up with a RINO liar like Cornyn, not when their other senator is Cruuuuz.

443 As a Kansas resident, this makes me scratch my head a bit.  I like Wolf, don't get me wrong.  The guy gives a hell of a speech, and his columns are always brilliant.  But this has left me scratching my head.  There had been talk of Wolf or Tiahart picking up the seat after Roberts stepped down, but nothing about an incumbency challenge if he didn't.

I'm a little annoyed at Roberts for endorsing Sebelius as HHS, but he was there to #StandWithRand and although out of DC and couldn't be there in person to #MakeDCListen, he was tweeting his support the entire time.

444 Didn't Pat Roberts vote for amnesty?

Posted by: Mr Estrada at December 10, 2013 11:18 AM (5piqN)

Nope, he didn't.  He is 100% sealed border by USCB.org ratings.

445 Drew, you fed this monster of PRIMARY EVERYONE, PUNISH THE GOP! so now you have to live with your Frankenstein.

446 the GOP needs to be punished... hard

447 Allow me to explain this to you, Drew.

You don't know why these things are happening?  It's because there are people out there who have the same attitude you have toward people they think of as RINOs (read:  any Republican who doesn't agree with you on at least 90% of things).  And they're trying to do something about it.

And only now, it seems, do you realize that some of this energy is misspent.

Sigh.

448 since the status quo goes on unabated (but it's "user fees" now) it would seem like the energy is not misspent, in fact there doesn't seem to be enough of it yet. the hand-wringers are paralyzed by fear, there is nothing to fear we've all ready lost everything, and this is the only path left.

449 And only now, it seems, do you realize that some of this energy is misspent. Sigh. Posted by: Demosthenes at December 10, 2013 08:59 PM (c5AtG) Because energy spent being loyal team players and electing who are betters tell us to has accomplished exactly what conservative goal? When the GOP held the WH, Senate and House - did they reduce spending? No, they increased it. Did they reduce the size or scope of gov't? No, they increased it. Did they get rid of any stupid federal agencies, programs, or statutes? No, they added to them. And, since then, what has the GOP actually done? Capitulate. Say they are going to capitulate (McConnell just last week stated he did not intend to repeal Obamacare - only "fix" it). Say they are going to do really, really stupid things (amnesty). And just now, "compromise" away any potential for cutting spending or fixing entitlements (see Paul Ryan's newest crowning achievement). You people who are party loyalists rather than conservatives need to get a grip and realize the wasted energy is yours. The GOP not only is NOT conservative in any way - it hates conservatives and loves big government. What we seek to do is change that. What you should be saying is "thank you".