Posted on 06/22/2006 4:24:20 PM PDT by Mike10542
Question for freepers: I understand that RINOS are a big problem in our party and we need to vote them out of office. I also agree that the place to do that is in the primaries for the party's nomination. I supported getting rid of Specter in 2004 and will support attempts to get rid of other RINOS like Lindsay Graham, John McCain and others when their elections come up. However, I predicate my support for such actions on the fact that I feel that if we were able to beat these RINO incumbents, we would have a great shot of maintaining the senate seat. However, this is not the case in Rhode Island. If Laffey wins the primary, we will almost defintely lose the senate seat and thus will be starting off already -1 before the 2006 elections have even began. To me it does not make sense to kick out a RINO if we have no chance of winning the seat with someone else. However, I am open to being convinced why it would make sense to get rid of Chafee, even if that means Democrats will pick up the seat. So freepers have at it; let me know why it makes sense to vote again Chafee if Laffey has very little chance to win the seat. And I really want to be convinced because I do hate Chafee!!!!
If you are willing to mercilessly punish (at the ballot box) those who have been enjoying your past undeserved support, you might lose a seat, but the fear it instills (knowing that conservatives won't roll over just to add another meaningless "R" to the balance) will stiffen the backbones of others, giving us a more conservative senate in the long run.
Did you see the thread earlier today...that speculated that Chafee is thinking of going Independent?
Usually I say support GOP members to the hilt. But, there are times when they are so egregious that you jsut have to vote against them.
I voted for the Democrat that faced George Ryan in the 1999 Illinois' Gov. race, for instance. And if I was in Rogues Island, I would vote against Lincoln Chafee even if I had to vote Dem.
Chafee votes with the Dems on EVERY issue of importance. He is less than worthless to the GOP.
Chafee is a disgrace and should be eliminated.
Pretty good assessment. Right now they think they have us by the you know what and can do what THEY want... look at the comments after the senate passed their amnesty bill, they said they had passed the "will of the senate."
Lincoln Chafee has gone over the edge. He's worse than Snowe and Collins. He had a 12 in the last ACU ratings. After he was willing to cling to the lie that ANWR would "destroy the environment" to the point that he would filibuster funding for our military (the ENTIRE thing), I could care less if this idiot wins or loses. If Chafee lost, the NRSC probably wouldn't help Laffey, but they wouldn't be helping Chafee, either, so that would free up funds for better candidates elsewhere, like in Maryland and Pennsylvania.
I agree. Unless we are willing to run people that truly for the people and what is good for the country; we will continue to get the same kind every time and they will sit comftorably there. It may take some time; but we will find the right ones. But, you need to get the wrong ones out too. Don't let them walk on you. Make yourself heard.
"there are times when they are so egregious that you jsut have to vote against them."
I agree about Chafee. McCain and Graham annoy me, particularly Graham but their not worth throwing the election to the Democrats. Chafee we can afford to lose IMHO.
No message is sent to anyone by losing a seat in RI. The place to "punish" the rogue Republicans is in Red States where there is an actual constituency they aren't serving.
Vote for Laffey in the primary and hope he wins.
I respectfully disagree. If you let the Senate or House caucus go to the 'rats, you will see a holocaust of investigations, a bloodbath lovingly reported by the MSM. I would vote for Franklin Roosevelt if he would give us the edge in who selects the committee chairs.
You may wish to stand on your conservative principles and go down the tube. But I wish to see conservative principles triumph. That takes a while and FR is a very important part of it.
I am reminded that in Constantinople before its fall, they said better the turban of the Sultan than the tiara of the pope. Well, those who sought absolute purity NOW, got their wish. Go to Istanbul and check it.
Chafee is part of the Kennedy, Kerry, Collins, Snowe, Jeffers mindset. Does that answer your question? Do you imagine he will vote any different if he gets re-elected?
2. I don't think we need him to hold the Senate.
"I respectfully disagree. If you let the Senate or House caucus go to the 'rats"
My point was that I think we can do without Chafee and not lose the Senate. I'd say the odds are almost certain that we can lose Chafee and not the Senate.
I wish I had your optimism. We are in for a heck of a fight in Montana and I think Pennsylvania is gone. That cuts the margin of error way down.
Then we have DeWine in Ohio. Given the mess there, this will be touch-and-go.
Tennessee? Who knows? Where might we pick up a seat?
Two possibles at this moment: NJ? It is a RINO, but I have got to hope here. Washington. Well, based on immigration it is possible, but not likely. One of the Upper Midwest seats. Again, possible but not likely, except in Michigan where we do have a chance.
So, I just am not too optimistic these days.
I hope you are right.
Why do you assume that only Chaf(f)ee(d), Lincol(o)n, RINO-RI, can win the senate seat in the general election, but a person who beats him stands no chance even though that individual is the mayor of Cranston?
Now the downside. Laffey is very likely to be a RINO too. Perhaps better because of the effort to get elected will show him that Conservative support can give and take away.. but don't expect Laffey to remind you of Allen or McConnell.
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