May 14 2008
Another GOP “True Conservative” & “Amnesty Hypochondriac” Bites The Dust
The fall out from the purity wars launched by the far right in the GOP continues to rack up successes – for the Democrats.
In a major blow to national Republicans, a Mississippi congressional seat that once voted for President Bush by a twenty-five point margin elected a Democrat on Tuesday. Prentiss County Chancery Clerk Travis Childers beat out Republican candidate Greg Davis, the mayor of Southaven, by a 54%-46% margin, a spread that several Republican strategists on Capitol Hill characterized as a startling wake-up call for a party in dire straits.
I have been one of those staunch (yet ‘impure’) conservatives who has been completely repulsed by the far right on Harriet Miers, Dubai Ports World and immigration. The clammer from the one-time sirens of conservatism is all about purity, and how they are pure and those who disagree with them are traitors, quislings, RINOs, etc. If the GOP wants to lose elections listen to the caustic talk radio of Savage, Levin and Hannity and believe the crap they spew about Americans (not America, which they wrap around themselves like some cloak of correctness) is going to entice those same Americans to create a broad movement of support. It won’t. If you like losing keep going over that cliff.
Note I have not included all conservative talking heads – many are fine and respect the diversity of opinion that makes up the conservative right. But there is a segment of the party that decided it had to wage a war and move so far right they lost common ground with not just the country, but a majority of the conservative governing coalition. They are so far gone they think losing is winning, and letting liberal ideology creep back into our society will be good, it will teach us all a lesson. They want to remove the ‘dead wood’ from the GOP.
“…Viguerie’s stance is not new. It is, however, getting a lot more play than it did two years ago when, in an interview on PBS’s “Now” less than a week before the November 2004 election, Viguerie told then-co-host Bill Moyers that after Bush won, “somewhere around … the morning after the election … the war starts for the heart and soul” of the Republican Party. “It’s gonna be a war,” Viguerie said. A war “between the traditional conservatives, those who identify with Ronald Reagan, people like myself. And, the big government Republicans. And then also maybe the Neo-cons.”
While admitting that he was supporting Bush and would vote for him, Viguerie, the undisputed king of conservative direct mail, added: “When the voting is done and the ballots are counted, then we’re going to choose up sides and fight for the heart and souls of the Republican Party.”
“It would be on our side, the traditional conservatives [against] the other side, people like Rudy Giuliani, Governor of New York, Pataki, Arnold Schwarzenegger. It’s going to be an interesting battle. Normally Bill, it wouldn’t be a fair fight,” Viguerie told Moyers. “Cause we’ve got the troops, we’ve got the organization…the resources, the issues. One thing we lack, a horse. We’ve got no horse. Hopefully, someone will come on the scene soon. But, but we had a lot of advantages when we came along.”
The war these nut jobs wanted has been waging since 2004. And since that time a lot of conservatives, good and not so good, have been outed from Office. The good ones are like Rick Santorum and George Allen, who allied too closely with these toxic and overbearing firebrands on the right. The one’s no one will miss are like Tancredo. I did not know exactly where Greg Davis stood on immigration, I went to his website and predicted he was from he must be a hardliner on illegal immigrants because he was having so much trouble. I only confirmed his status as an Amnesty Hypochondriac this morning, in the aftermath of his fateful loss. Here is Davis waging his purity war on immigration:
Here’s what Greg Davis’ new mud-bomb smear commercial says:
“He’s soft on illegal aliens and hard on us.†Davis Ad, WREG, Mar.
25, 2008Here’s what the actual quote from Glenn McCullough that Davis cites
says:Additionally, McCullough shared his thoughts on dealing with illegal immigrants. “We need to secure the borders,†he said. “Immigration is really a question of treating our hardworking tax payers fairly. We need to identify these people (who illegally cross the border) and deal with them in a way that’s compassionate and within the law. I want to work so people can become citizens of the United States, but in a way that protects your tax dollars,†he added. “We have to deal with the problem in a way that protects the taxpaying citizens. A bipartisan solution is needed and I’m a team builder.†– Columbus Dispatch, Jan. 26, 2008
And another quote from McCullough which has appeared in most of the state’s major newspapers:
“I believe the basic responsibility of government is to protect and provide security for all law-abiding citizens. It is clear that our nation’s borders are not secure, a failing of this basic responsibility.
Therefore, it should be the federal government’s immediate priority to secure our borders using a combination of traditional methods, more immigration agents, and the latest technology.†– Daily Journal, March 3,
2008
Don’t go speculating I support McCullough’s view people. I don’t think we need to work to make immigrants citizens. I liked the last bill because it allowed for short term immigrant workers to come, do a job, make some money and go home. I am just observing the factors that probably led to Davis’ demise.
More here on how Davis pummeled a moderate GOP candidate in the primary, simply to be promptly beaten in what should have been an easy special election for a Republican. The fact is when the GOP candidate goes “Tancredo” on immigration they get dumped. The poison spewed by the crowd who called President Bush “El Presidente Bustrada” and who called those who supported the comprehensive immigration bill traitors, quislings, anti-Americans (whatever, the list is endless and repulsive) sent a signal to everyone else in the party. You are with us or we stab you in the back.
Well, the good news is Americans know exactly how to deal with people like that – don’t elect them. I am not surprised to see a conservative democrat pick off the far right conservatives when a firebrand like Davis does his Malkin routine. It is poison! How many lost elections and seats will it take to get the message? I guess it depends on how wedded the zealots are to a bad cause. A cause that has ignored the fact the borders are very secure and 1.3 million potential illegal aliens were turned back and deported last year. Also ignoring the fact almost none were under Clinton.
The same cause that has let myths and lies risk our war effort in Iraq, and the cause over 4,000 brave men and women died for, by allowing a liberal defeatist into the White House. The same cause that destroyed the opportunity to protect all life, no matter how young, in order to chase down maids and landscapers who don’t have proper work papers. The immigration mythology has become an obsession for the far right, and the Americans aren’t buying it – so ALL conservative values are now being consumed and at risk over this BS.
The only way out is for the Amnesty Hypochondriacs to Mea Culpa or be painfully pruned from the GOP. Admitting a mistake and fighting for all the other good conservative causes seems like a no brainer for me. But then I know I will make mistakes and I don’t sacrifice the general goals over the minor battles. But it has become clear that for many, hung up on the fact we will find a way to absorb the long term immigrants who have been here for years, the only path for them is the exits from political power. Tom Tancredo learned that lesson, many of the GOP presidential contenders who tried to shore up their prospects by aligning with Tancredo learned that lesson, and now Greg Davis has learned that lesson.
Who wants to be next, the exits are always open for business?
I cannot figure out who’s Death Sprial is worse the Democrats or the Republicans. Is it over yet?
AJ, Prentiss is a conservative Democrat (if there is such a thing). And we’ve seen this in the past midterms as well, the left must move right to gain seats, not left.
75,
Yeah, they dems move right, the GOP moves farther right and lose. Duh!
Those damn RINO voters – they won’t move too far right.
TomAnon – man I hear ya!
Both side racing to oblivion. Must be a boomer thing is all I can figure.
AJ, at least you’ve discovered the correction direction, anyway. Odd that you can only see it in one party and not the other. But that aside, for someone who claims to be a conservative, you seem to be awfully giddy at the republican establishment’s demise.
And now, YOUR obsession has cause you to make several absurd claims;
immigration has consumed “all” conservative principles,
your insinuation that conservatives have “allowed” a liberal defeatist into the White House,
that conservatives have put our troops war efforts “at risk”,
and the hint to have all conservatives “pruned” from the GOP.
I’d say it’s pretty clear who are “purist” and “hypochondriac is. Obviously you are setting the stage to blame conservatives for a McCain defeat as well.
75,
give it a rest. I simply note the obvious reason three elections were lost in super strong conservative districts. It’s news. And no, I would prefer the hypochondriacs wake up, apologize, and get back to the coalition promising to respect differences of views.
They don’t want to fix the mess they made so they end up forcing this purge by fire.
You need to learn to speak for yourself. You are piss poor at understanding what I mean and what I think. Don’t irritate me to the point you join the leftwing nuts in banishment. You are on the cusp with your accusations. Last warning.
That’s a great idea, AJ. Just “prune” the conservative from your group. My respect for you just left the building. But before you start your purge, allow me one last little nugget. The minute McCain won the primary is when the republican party started it’s grand slide. Do that math.
AJ,
Wow…do I hear the sound of a loud echo?
For once AJ is on the right side of an issue. So cut him some slack. The immigration issue is even more fundamental than Miers, Dubai, taxes, social security, and other policies because in its essence it is about people. The other issues are policy differences, i.e. supreme court policy, port control, and security policy, etc. But immigration goes to the heart of American exceptionalism. We welcome the poor, the outcast, the downtrodden that other countries discard to keep themselves pure. America then assimilates the newcomers into Americans within 2 – 4 generations.
Anyone who purposely and angrily trashes that tradition has a tough time at the polls. As my son would say to me, no duh. It all started in 2005 and I have to blame the White House and Rove. But more on that later.
There were probably a few more reasons than immigration that made the difference in this race. First of all, there was hardly a dimes worth of difference between these guys policy views to begin with. He has been described as the only guy in the state who could have lost the seat. He was a bad pick for a candidate. Not surprising for the current GOP leadership. But the overwhelming factor is the demographics. Mississippi is almost 40% black and less than 2% hispanic. They don’t have a very large illegal alien problem in Mississippi so it’s not that big of an issue to them. However, many of the blacks are shifting to support Obama and going straight dem ticket. As far as the GOP, they did not turn out. They did not contribute money, they did not campaigan well, they did not turn out to vote. They are fed up with the GOP offering nothing but the same crap as the dems. If you read the blog posts and articles about this and the other two recent losses, and I have been reading alot, you get the same story, the GOP is sitting on it’s hands and refusing to support a party that does not in any way reflect it’s views. This is going to assure that Obama is our next president. You can call it, the ‘McCain effect’. This is the centrist getting pummeled from both sides.
At the risk of upsetting AJ again, BikerKen you are dead on correct!
Again.
GOP voters aren’t energized because their core principles have been abandoned by their leadership.
Bikerken,
Thanks for proving my point – the far right both repulses the middle and sits on its backside when it doesn’t get its way….
And somehow they expect to be admired for all this? Too funny.
BTW, your assessment of the drivers in the race is wrong. The man was elected in a special primary where he demagogued is more moderate GOP opponent on immigration. The fact is this guy only differs on one issue with McCain and other successful Reps – immigration.
The far right is a lost cause. They can sit on their thumbs for a decade if they wish. Everyone else will get to work!
The far right you keep referring to, that just the right AJ. That aren’t any farther from the center than those whom you call ‘centrists’ are from the far left.
BTW, you forgot to say LOL.
Rush is reporting on this very subject today, if anyone is interested in tuning him in…specifically the “conservative” background of the winner in Ole Miss.
AJ
I agree with a lot of what you say in this post. The problem is I am noit sure the Democrat that won position on immigration reform was any different
“Is it over yet?”
I doubt it. Hello all. It is so ‘not over’ that I just had to take another little vacation from politics.
Since I am leading the Bush parade of 29%, that means I can’t tolerate much more. He is the only one of the bunch I still like. If it was not so darn important with enemies within, breathing down our necks, I would love to kick them all out. Only thing I dislike more than MSM (who really drives the train) is what the whimpy GOP Congress managed when they decided to not stand up to the Dems when Bush needed them. Add the enlightened immigration experts that decided this was the time to wage the war on Mexicans, what do we expect? Mix in all the constant disgust from various pundits over Bush, be it from Katrina to Israel to pork. I can hardly wait to see who they all manage to get into office that is so much better for us as a group.
I expected McCain. Not one of the immigration hardliners dislike that man more than me. Impossible. So I try to keep my mouth shut these days because we need him to appoint Supremes. Not easy (taping the mouth) when I see him in New Orleans, when I listen to him on Global warming, and add a dollop of ‘no drilling’……mix it with torture……..oh well…….and that does not even touch his stabs at Bush. Supremes. War. Sense enough to understand that we can not evict 12 million people. That will have to be enough. I will vote McCain.
But can he win? He needs someone to actually like him.
People like Obama.
Republicans have a hard road even with Wright and Farrahkan. Obama holds the magic. MSM’s Silence and the Voice. He scares me chitless. Can anyone even imagine who he and his Dem buds will place as Supremes?
Nope….it’s not over. Sorry, will try to go back into my hole
I’m beginning to think the Republicans that are losing are “pro Iraq War Victory Hypochondriacs”. That was the main difference between Chiders and Davis. Chiders wants out of Iraq now.
On immigration, I found this about Chiders:
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“Finally, Childers was asked his views on immigration.
“Illegal immigration has to have immediate attention,†he responded. “I think this Congress and administration has taken an out-of-sight, out-of-mind approach.
“We have to close our border to illegals,†he continued. “We can’t provide services to people who aren’t our citizens. Good government begins at home. We have people in North Mississippi who don’t have access to health care and, by circumstance, illegals are getting access to health care.â€
Childers suggested enforcing laws already on the books and giving “border patrols resources to do something about it.â€
“It’s a serious problem,†he added. “I’m keenly aware of it.â€
http://www.cdispatch.com/articles/2008/02/08/local_news/local02.txt
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By AJ’s definition, Chiders was an Amnesty Hypochondriac, wasn’t he?
Macsmind Blog has been giving the other side of the analysis of these losses if anyone is interested. Here’s the one on Chiders:
Childers win not a indication of Jack Squat
http://www.macsmind.com/wordpress/2008/05/14/childers-win-not-a-indication-of-jack-squat/
Macsmind Blog has several posts on all of these losses if you scan it.
I suspect the truth is somewhere between AJ and Mac. Oops, guess that makes this “Amnesty Hypochondriac” sound centrist. Sorry.
Several of the bloggers have also cited some dirty Dem politics with the dropping of flyers spreading a lie that Davis was tied to the KKK on the eve of the election. I don’t know if that had any effect or not.
Karl Rove was asked about these turn overs a few days ago and said…..
you can’t win elections with bad candidates no matter which party.
AJ can only see “immigration” ; but, the whole picture tells many different stories (it’s not one dimensional). There are ethics problems surrounding one candidade, conservativdes turned off by another candidate did not show up to vote, Dem dirty politics, etc.
The GOP is voting like Democrats right now. And, that ain’t conservative; nor is it centrist. I think that’s why they are losing.
The Dem strategy in 2006 was to run blue dog dems in conservative areas (politics are local). It worked. It may make it hard for the liberal Dem leadership to push through their agenda. But, the Repubs of today don’t even seem to have an agenda. What do they stand for? Do their votes show it?
But, conservative values are still winning in many, many ways — and the country is still center right. Does it matter if it comes about by Dems or Repubs?
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“Georgia’s victory is the third big win for school choice this year. Louisiana enacted a tuition tax deduction during Jindal’s first special session. Last week, Florida increased the cap on its corporate tax credit program to $120 million. Importantly, that win came with strong support from Democrats. Democrats are also sponsoring school choice measures in Maryland and New Jersey. I wouldn’t be surprised if a couple more states pass bills this year. All in all, 2008 is turning out to be a good year for school choice.
05/14 05:23 PM
http://corner.nationalreview.com/
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There is another position Chiders took (in same link I gave for immigration stand above) that really stands out to me. It seems to be the most common thing I can find among the blue dog Dems that have been winning traditionally GOP seats.
Chiders said, “We can’t just continue to spend and spend with no plan of paying for it. Everything has to be prioritized. I intend to have a plan to pay for it.â€
The blue dog Dems have been pretty strong on rejecting even Dem plans that call for increased spending programs without cutting other programs to pay for it. Repubs up in DC continue to spend out of control even after the 2006 slap in the face.
Is that why Dems are winning? Is that the message the people are hearing the most? Just a thought.
Another con. The only way Dems know how to pay for anything is more taxes…and it’s never enough.
Maybe I am on to something–Ed Morrissey at Hot Air sees it the same way I did in my last post — it’s about spending:
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excerpt:
They lost those mid-term elections not because voters stopped supporting conservative principles, but because the House GOP stopped supporting conservative principles. Look at who won these special elections; they’re all Blue Dog Democrats, running in support of conservative themes such as gun rights. Now look at the Republicans who last held those seats, such as Hastert and Wicker — Republicans who spent other people’s money on waste and personal ambition.
Did the House GOP caucus take a hard line on pork-barrel spending or adopt policies to cut federal spending? No. Republican voters and conservative pundits begged the House and Senate caucuses to make dramatic breaks with the previous six years and adopt real conservative policies of fiscal responsibility and federalism. What did they do? They offered to stop earmarking only if Democrats followed suit, a deal everyone knew would never take place. Instead of appointing one single anti-pork activist to the House Appropriations Committee in Jeff Flake, they appointed Joe Bonner, a good Congressman but a well-known earmarker, and mostly because Flake’s anti-pork crusade irritates his colleagues.
http://hotair.com/archives/2008/05/14/the-lesson-for-republicans-they-didnt-learn-the-lesson-of-2006/