'Profound differences' keep Kolbe from endorsing Graf

The Arizona Daily Star ^ | 09/13/2006 | The Associated Press

[NapkinUser]

Republican Congressman Jim Kolbe, who is leaving office after eleven terms, will not be supporting the Republican candidate to succeed him.

Today, Kolbe, who supported state Representative Steve Huffman in the primary for the eighth Congressional district, issued a statement saying he congratulates conservative Republican Randy Graf on his victory. However, he says "there are such profound and fundamental differences" between Graf and him on several key issues that he can't endorse Graf for the general election.

Graf, a former golf pro, campaigned foremost on the need to secure the border with Mexico and put a halt to illegal immigration.

[NapkinUser]

"I congratulate Mr. Graf on his victory in the Republican primary. However, there are such profound and fundamental differences between his views and mine on several key issues that I would not be true to my own principles were I to endorse him now for the General election in November." -Jim Kolbe

[fieldmarshaldj]

Oh, Jim, if only you knew what I was thinking 'bout you now...

[onyx]

What are the profound and fundamental differences?

This is one crappy statement from Kolbe.

[ncountylee]

Yup...Graf likes women.

[pissant]

RINOS squeal that conservatives need to support them for the sake of the big tent. Yet they can't even support a middle of the road conservative like Graf after they win a primary. Pathetic.

[msnimje]

It is too bad that it looks like this means the Dems will win this seat.

[onyx]

Graf WON. The primary is over. Shame on Kolbe.

We support the winner of GOP primaries. ALL OF THE WINNERS.

[reelfoot]

It'll be nice seeing Kolbe go out the door. For profound differences.

[onyx]

How so?

These are AZ voters, fed up with illegal aliens.

[JohnnyZ]

Reason #643 why liberal scumbags like Kolbe are a cancer in the GOP and do far more harm than good, "good" being one vote for Speaker.

[zbigreddogz]

Graf was pretty vicious when he ran against Kolbe in the primary. While I disagree with Kolbe's decision, I think Graf is largely the author of his own problems.

[onyx]

Kolbe didn't run in this primary.

[msnimje]

How so?

These are AZ voters, fed up with illegal aliens.

I hope that is true on election day.

Larry Sabato (Political Scientist at U of V) said it would be near impossible for the Republicans to win this seat with Graf. Something about the delicate make up of the district.

Anyway, I hope he is wrong but I don't recall him being wrong often. There are also several such analysis by other politcos at RealClearPolitics.com.

[NapkinUser]

He means 2004, which Kolbe is still whining about.

[NapkinUser]

"Larry Sabato (Political Scientist at U of V) said it would be near impossible for the Republicans to win this seat with Graf. Something about the delicate make up of the district."

Larry is full of it. It's a republican district, which went for Bush in both 2000 and 2004 and elected Kolbe all these years. I think it's nothing more than Sabato's wishful thinking.

[onyx]

Correct, the handwringers were worried --- always playing for a "safe" win. NO SUCH THING.

[onyx]

Kolbe needs to butch up...lol.

[JohnnyZ]

Oh, Jim, if only you knew what I was thinking 'bout you now...

Careful, he might not take it (ahem) in the way you meant it ....

[zbigreddogz]

No, but Graf ran against him in the primary in 2004. That's in large part why he won, his name ID was already sky-high.

[SMM48]

Good Riddance!

[msnimje]

I am still searching for Michael Barone's take on this race. He knows each US Congressional district better than some of the people representing them!

[kittymyrib]

Sabato is a Bush door mat. Karl tells him to jump, and Sabato asks, "How far?" He was wrong about Tom Coburn in OK, and he can be wrong again. Of course, Graf won't get the Broke Back Mountain vote, as Kolbe did, but there aren't that many gay cowboys in AZ.

[onyx]

OK. I'd like to see his assessment.

[Digger]

Reason #643 why liberal scumbags like Kolbe are a cancer in the GOP and do far more harm than good, "good" being one vote for Speaker.

You are sooooo correct. Now let's watch who else will shun him. That will show that this corrupt "Two-Party Cartel" is owned & run by a bunch of liberal elites & no dollars should go directly to the Republican party in order to slam conservatives.

[VeniVidiVici]

True RINO. And yet the party tells us we need to get behind the nominee. Kolbe can take a hike.

[Malesherbes]

Exactly right. Next to the Dims (10 on a scale of 10), the RINO's are the biggest self-pitying, spineless whiners around (7 on a scale of 10.)

[yoe]

Kolbe is weak; an appeaser; a back-scratcher. Kolbe can now retire to his Washington penthouse and do what most of the failed or unelectable do, lobby. Heaven help us - we have not seen nor heard the last from this RINO enabler to illegal aliens. By the way, what were his ties to Jack Abramoff?

[yoe]

BUSH KNOWS HIS HISTORY

(important Barone article)

[B Knotts]

It is always demanded that conservatives support even the worst of the RINOs.

The RINOs, on the other hand, almost never support conservatives.

[B Knotts]

Larry Sabato (Political Scientist at U of V) said it would be near impossible for the Republicans to win this seat with Graf.

I saw Sabato say this, and it gave me hope that Graf will be elected after all.

[B Knotts]

Kolbe is weak; an appeaser; a back-scratcher

Well...err...hmmm...I better not say it.

[msnimje]

I guess that B.A. in history from Yale was not a total waste of time for the President.

[bouchard3333]

::sigh:: did you even read the article? Kolbe didn't run, Kolbe retired, it was his seat that graf was running for

[MrEdd]

(cough) _Rudy (cough)

[BinaryBoy]

How odd. RINO's always say it's essential to support the party even if you have to hold your nose. That doesn't apply when it's a conservative candidate?

Graf is the candidate. Get with it and endorse him.

[mewzilla]

The country needs a second party.

[Spiff]

Graf was pretty vicious when he ran against Kolbe in the primary. While I disagree with Kolbe's decision, I think Graf is largely the author of his own problems.

Graf only ran against Kolbe 2 years ago. If you're talking about that primary you are so wrong. It was the other way around. Kolbe's campaign was a campaign of lies and distortions that were only surpassed by the extremely dirty Huffman campaign that just ended last night.

[Spiff]

No, but Graf ran against him in the primary in 2004. That's in large part why he won, his name ID was already sky-high.

His name ID was high because Graf served as the Representative in the AZ Legislature for a good chunk of the district. He served for 2 years as the House Majority Whip. Name recognition is also high because he was one of the senior advisors to the successful Proposition 200.

[Dane]

Kolbe should of supported Graf. Heck if I lived in the district, I would hold my nose and vote for Graf, even though he is a bombastic bridge burner ala Tancredo.

BTW, how come the silence of the DNC putting $175,000 into the GOP primary attacking Graf's main opponent Huffman, while Graf tacitly approved the DNC tactics with his silence and non-denunciation of the DNC tactics.

[WOSG]

Rep Kolbe - STFU if you cant say something nice about the primary winner. What a disgrace.

[beyond the sea]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y221/seven007/Steffi_Graf.jpg

[fantom]

Indeed. As some have pionted out Graf won. So it can happen. With bush supporting the rino , i am pleased to see his boy go down. So to speak. If people pay attention Graf can win it all. The bush amnesty pathology is in trouble.

[colors]

http://www.petitiononline.com/heykolbe/petition.html