Posted on 06/19/2006 4:40:37 PM PDT by dangus
The following is a list of Republicans that the party would truly be better off without. They are listed from liberal to moderate. Their rankings are largely based on recent American Conservative Union scores, slightly modified to reduce the effect of outlying data and to recognize regional voters' demands.
The Dirty Dozen:
CT Christopher Shays
IA James Leach
NY Sherwood Boehlert
CO Scott McInnis
VA Tom Davis
IL Mark Kirk
CT Nancy Johnson
MD Wayne Gilchrest
CT Robert Simmons
MI Carol Schwarz
NH Charles Bass
NH Bradley
The "Good" Democrats:
MS Gene Taylor
OK Daniel Boren
TN Linc Davis
LA Charlie Melancon
MN Collin Peterson
AR Marion Berry
AR Mike Ross
TX Henry Cuellar
TN John Tanner
NC Mike McIntyre
GA Jim Marshall
GA Sanford Bishop
Three Republicans are worse than Democrats: Christopher Shays voted conservative only 20% of the time; Jim Leach, from solid red territory, voted conservative only 33% of the time. Tom Davis voted conservative more often, but was also from a Republican stronghold. Amazingly, Bush broke arms to make this liberal in charge of passing out campaign money in his first term.
Henry Cuellar is particularly heroic; The National Democratic Party actually opposed him, yet he stayed moderate-to-conservative. A few other black Democrats just missed the cutoff, largely from Dixie.
Contrary to stereotype, 3 of the 12 most moderate or conservative Democrats are minorities, Marshall, Bishop, and Cuellar.
Pennsylvania had none of the most moderate/conservative Democrats, but the Democratic Party of Pennsylvania is actually quite moderate. Even Joe Murtha voted conservative 40% of the time.
I am starting to agree with test pilot Chuck Yeager's father's opinion regarding Democrats. When Yeager was invited to the White House to receive an award from President Truman for breaking the sound barrier, Chuck's father refused to shake hands with Truman.
Yeager said that in his father's opinion, "The first good Democrat had yet to be born."
jim leach is very knowledgeable on banking issues and for that reason is a huge asset to the nation, rino or not.
If memory is correct, he was one of the first to start yelling about the s and l crises.
The good news: Sherwood Boehlert, who I was surprised has taken to going by a woman's name (Sherry) since I left the state, is retiring. McInnis is already gone (I'm not sure why the ACU listed him as current). The Connecticut traitors are in deep doo-doo, but this isn't truly good news: the Democrats will be certain to be radical leftists.
MISTAKE: It's JOE Schwarz from MI. I was thinking of an Ohio person when I read Schwartz.
The fact that Cueller was opposed by his party says a lot about what the DNC thinks about black members who refuse to "Know their place."
>> jim leach is very knowledgeable on banking issues and for that reason is a huge asset to the nation, rino or not. <<
So, he's not only a liberal, he's an EFFECTIVE liberal... even worse.
>> he was one of the first to start yelling about the s and l crises. <<
Yes, but if I recall, he was also covering his butt... the first Big S+L collapse was in his district.
Funny thing is he has made some of the locals around here mad because he votes along with the Republicans just a little too often. Of course the fact the idea he is voting on may be good is beside the point. They would rather him vote against a good idea then vote with Republicans. Idiots!
>> The fact that Cueller was opposed by his party says a lot about what the DNC thinks about black members who refuse to "Know their place." <<
Well, Cuellar is Hispanic, but your point is made. Remember Denise Majeris (IIRC), the black moderate who was kicked out of office so Cynthia McKinney (sp?) could run? NYC even had some decent minority representatives, long, long ago.
... but now most of the Northeastern blacks obey their massas and don't step out of line...
Sen. Lincoln Chafee, Rhode Island
Gov. Robert Ehrlich, Maryland |
I don't get it. What's so "Main Street" about being pro-homo?
FWIW, several of the Main Street Republicans *vote* pretty well: Virginia Brown-Waite, Todd Platts, Debbie Pryce, Curt Weldon,...
But the list does include most of the Mexicophiles, homophiles, and RINOs.
What S&L was that??
Am I missing something? McInnis from CO not only was a solid conservative (to the best of my knowledge), but he left Congress in 2004. His successor is a Dem, so maybe they're counting his votes against McInnis. This could be some shoddy work by the ACU.
I don't know... Maybe I shouldn't have said something like that just from a vague recollection. I meant it honestly, but I shouldn't say anything which could be taken as an accusation, unless I'm more sure of what I'm saying. Sometimes I forget myself and respond as if these were personal conversations, and not part of what becomes a public record.
What were your criteria? I have a few comments:
"The Dirty Dozen:
"CT Christopher Shays"
Oh, and it's *Jack* Murtha (not Joe).
Huh?
Iowa went for Bush in 2004 by a mere 10K votes, after going for Gore, Clinton twice, and Dukakis!
No mention of McLame and his fav buttboy Pandsey "One Termer" Graham.
you can scratch Sherwood Boehlert off the DD list since he is retiring . and not seeking reelection.
Ah yes, 3 RINOs Reps from my beloved home state of Connecticut. Shays, I get, his district is full of Gold Coast limo libs. Also Simmons, his district was represented by Sam Gedjenson, a typical Reagan-hater from the 1980s, so I can see him being a RINO.
Nancy Johnson I don't get. She's been in office for years, she represents some of the few Republican areas in CT (NW quadrant, with the exception of New Britain and Waterbury). Her credentials are well known, and she's been a conservative (at least fiscally) in the past.
Maybe the redistricting after CT lost a seat changed things, but CT having more Republicans than Democrats in the house is truly "in name only".
Yeager would especially be disappointed in today's RATS. They're the bottom of the barrel.
He's going by the name of a beverage. Choosing "bourbon" or "cocktail" would be less confusing.
the first big sl collapse was in Ohio and linked to a democrat contributor and democrat gov. dick celeste.
If he's going to go by the name of an alcholic beverage, it should be a beer. Like Rep. Miller, Sen. candidate Coors, Rep. Bud Schuster, Rep. Schaeffer, etc.
Pay attention... we're five steps ahead of you...
>> Iowa went for Bush in 2004 by a mere 10K votes, after going for Gore, Clinton twice, and Dukakis! <<
Jim's district has been consistently Republican.
>> As much as I hate Shays, his record isn't *that* bad for someone for a district that gave Bush 43% in 2000 and 46% in 2004. <<
46% isn't half bad. It certainly doesn't explain why Christopher Shays votes liberal more often THEN MOST DEMOCRATS! He is by far, by very far, the most liberal Republican.
>>McInnis... Schwarz <<
Way ahead of you... Geez, don't you guys read the posts before you try piling on?... And, by the way, McInnis was no conservative. He's on the list for his voting record.
>> I would have ranked a couple Tim Holden of PA and maybe Bud Cramer of AL higher than them, but I guess you ranked them lower because they represent conservative districts. <<
Actually, they were in the list of the 20 most conservative... I gave a nod to the general conservativism of many Democrats in PA, and yes, holden is the most conservative.
This could be some shoddy work by dangus.
Iowa's Second Congressional District, to which Leach moved after redistricting a few years ago, actually leans Democrat.
You might want to re-think your position on Marshall.
“When calling the race in Marshall’s newly drawn district I can only conclude that if his reputation doesn’t sink him then his voting habits will.
" He has already been forced to vote along with Pelosi against building new oil refineries and drilling in ANWAR. He voted against repealing the Death Tax; despite, representing small farmers and businessmen who are negatively affected by this arcane legislation.
He also supported almost every funding bill for an unpopular and ineffective United Nations. Including the scandal plagued United Nation’s Population Fund which has been tied to China’s One Child Program of forced abortions and sterilizations. Frankly enough said. Come Election Day Marshall will be taking a midnight train back to Georgia”.
This means that Marshall needs to vote with the Republicans any time Pelosi lets him. Will this work? Probably not because of the clear choice offered by Mac Collins his GOP opponent.
"Georgia Representatives Marshall and McKinney vote against condemning Hamas"
Jim Marshall and Cynthia McKinney joined to vote against The Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act of 2006
Jim Marshall and Cynthia McKinney joined today to vote against H.R. 4681 - The Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act of 2006. The Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 361 to 37.
The Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act bans U.S. assistance to the Hamas-led Palestinian Authority, denies visas to its leaders and cuts off diplomatic contact with Hamas, which the U.S. has branded a terrorist organization.
“I would question why anyone would vote against this bi-partisan stand against terrorism. Jim Marshall should justify his refusal to condemn Palestine’s terrorist government to the voters of middle Georgia,” said Ted Prill, Campaign Manager for Congressman Mac Collins (Ret. R-GA).
"Congressman Jim Marshall supports talks with the terrorist group Hamas"
The Macon Telegraph June 17, 2005
{Murtha used to have a more conservative voting record, but not anymore}
I was shocked to learn that MoveOn's favorite RAT, Murtha, was pro-life. His brain cells must be eroding. I suspect Bob Casey Jr. shall morph into Murtha 6 years on from now.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.