“How ‘zactly is he a “RINO” Cotton?”
I’m trying to remember something specific and can’t. He was ranking member (and I think still is) on the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committee (Ted Kennedy got it to spell out HELP, wasn’t he clever) and was ranking member to Ted Kennedy and was always going along with him. And he was easily duped by Kennedy. Kennedy sent Enzi’s mother a birthday card, and then Enzi all of a sudden thought Kennedy was a great guy. And Enzi didn’t do much to stop the health care bill from getting through committee.
I just have a vague memory of always seeing his name in the wrong list on votes, like Alan Simpson always was.
Mike Enzi's ratings from dozens of different conservative groups speak for themselves. He's not perfect, he's voted the "wrong way" once or twice (who hasn't), but overall he is solidly conservative on social, economic, and foreign policy views. He is ranked as the 6th most conservative Senator for a reason -- Mike Enzi would be VERY very far down on the list if you were to rank Senators by how RINOish they are.
I have a very VIVID memory of seeing the Bush administration, which Liz Cheney was a loyal part of and always staunchly defended on TV -- being on the wrong side of numerous high profile issues from immigration to spending. And there is no doubt her family led the way to "evolving" on marriage and today's effort to destroy the institution of marriage, long before even Obama got involved.
I think it would very unwise for Liz Cheney to pick a fight with another conservative and try to run as the "more conservative" candidate because he's not 100% perfect and voted the wrong way once in a blue moon. If the choice is someone who supports an internet sales tax vs. someone who supports destroying the institution of marriage, she's going to lose.