Posted on 01/30/2014 5:24:09 PM PST by Viennacon
I detect an atmosphere of pessimism from conservatives going into 2014, and feel it is misplaced and a little foolish on our part to be feeling so low this year. The grassroots was the entire reason for success in 2010. It had nothing to do with Karl Rove and the GOPe. It was us, and while many will say capturing the House has done us no good, this isn't true. The House Republican caucus as of now is more conservative than it has ever been in modern memory. It may still be led by GOP establishmentarians like Boehner, but we now have a layer of trustworthy conservatives who will at some point, be the senior leadership. How soon that happens, depends on us. It depends on us working hard to elect conservatives to the US House, as well as the senate, and taking over the party with a majority. This is the only way forward, and there are plenty of very good reasons to be optimistic about 2014, for it has the potential to be a bigger victory for conservatives than 2010 was. The reasons I outline below.
I look at the candidates and I don’t see any that are likely to implode. They’re all pretty experienced politicians without history of controversial statements. The one I might worry about is Mike Rounds, because he may have some scandal relating to his tenure as governor that I’ve heard rumblings of.
Aside from ‘implosions’, our candidates can lose just because they lack charisma. Rick Berg is a great example, but in that race you had a very good competent Democrat opponent. I’m looking at who the rats are fielding and a lot of these candidates are second tier no-names. The best new candidate the Democrats are running in 2014 is Bruce Braley in Iowa.
A lot of it will be dependent on Obamacare.
Nice post. But if the GOP passes amnesty, it really does not matter
who runs in ANY election. The GOP will be finished. Kaput!
The GOP will be Kaput— Yes. What emerges is a real conservative party with less government ( and I don’t mean a little bit).
I’m for it! Let the Kaput begin!
analysis is correct. Everyone now understands that this is the only thing that will ruin the gop, and why they are playing with fire is beyond me. Yes the republicans often do stupid things, but this is complete suicide.
I’m as sanguine as you. Good analysis. FReepers need to work the House campaigns and get involved in the Senate. If we take those two, Obama’s games grind to a halt.
He and his crew know this. They will use every lever of government against us. Publicize it and satirize them to death. We can and must win.
Unless the GOP completely spikes it (like they did in 1998) they’ll gain seats, that’s how second midterms work. Now will the gain seats with conservatives or just guys with Rs after their names has yet to be seen.
My hope on amnesty is that the Republican leaders are playing along with engaging on it as a delaying tactic. If the Dems are forced to admit that “good faith” efforts are underway (as they have) they’re limited in using it as a campaign issue.
This is a good thing. And I think the Dems are aware of the consequences of the GOP successfully playing it that way; which is why Obama’s starting to back away from a path to citizenship
Question therefore is whether the Republicans are smart enough to play it as a delaying tactic. Again i hope they are, and I’m willing to cut them a little bit of slack up until the point where something actually passes.
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