Posted on 02/26/2010 5:14:48 AM PST by Kaslin
After Sen. Scott Brown, R-Mass., voted in favor of a jobs bill endorsed by President Obama and the majority of Senate Democrats, I immediately heard from a number of Republican friends in and around Washington, D.C. who knew I am a conservative from Massachusetts.
The questions were rapid fire and the anger was surprising. How dare he side with Obama? Is he just a Kennedy Republican?, and Where do I go to get my donation back?
My response to all was, You have got to be kidding me. This guy has not been in office a month, hes only taken three votes, and youre willing and anxious to label him a traitor to the GOP because he voted in the best interests of his constituents?
The anger, name-calling, and profanity now being directed at Brown from a minority on the right is a perfect example of why I left the Republican party a few years ago. In columns and on the air, I now refer to myself as an independent conservative.
In the increasingly worrisome and dangerous Post-9/11 world we all inhabit, its more important than ever that we have adult and independent leadership in Washington.
As one who has worked in and around national politics for the last 20 years, I have become disgusted and horrified at the sight of politicians from both sides of the aisle who purposely put self and party before the welfare of our nation.
Again, in a pre-9/11 environment, while not acceptable, such behavior was not fatal. Today, terrorists literally plan night and day to attack our nation in the most lethal way possible.
In his victory night remarks, Brown made it clear that he recognized the pending and growing threat of terrorism. While most in Washington still choose to bury their heads in the sand on the subject, Brown would be wise to seek out former senators Bob Graham and Jim Talent, who now head up the bipartisan and congressionally mandated Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism.
If he does, they will tell him quite candidly that they cited a recent study from the intelligence community, which projected that a one-to-two kilogram release of anthrax spores from a crop duster plane could kill over 400,000 Americans. They would further tell him that these anthrax spores are by far, the easiest WMD available to terrorists.
From all that I have seen and read about Brown, he is an honest and independent voice in Washington. A voice which needs to be welcomed for reasons of national security, independent thought, and civility. Not vilified immediately because he failed to vote in partisan lockstep with the Republican leadership.
With Browns somewhat surprising victory, the entrenched political machines of both the left and the right got a timely wake-up call. Not only were the voters of Massachusetts tired of the destructive politics-as-usual coming out of Washington, but the American people are beyond sick of it. So much so, that the majority of voters in our nation now rightfully label themselves independent.
For the moment, the Democrat party finds itself the target of that independent anger and worry. Soon, those same disappointed independents will turn their weary eyes toward the GOP. And when they do, they wont like what they see. To paraphrase talk show host Glenn Beck, for the Republican Party to say we suck less than the other guys is not only not the answer, its an insult.
If independent-thinking Brown keeps voting his conscience, he, the Bay State, and our nation, will be the better for his convictions. He just needs to keep fighting that machine and its special interests.
What’s with all the shock? The guy represents Massachusetts. If he doesn’t take liberal positions on some issues (probably a lot of issues), the voters will kick him out and vote in some Kennedy disciple before you can say “Martha Coakley.” He promised to oppose the administration’s current policies on healthcare and the handling of terrorists. If he sticks to his guns on those issues, I’ll be more than happy. I mean seriously, whatever conservatives can get out of Massachusetts should be considered icing on the cake.
It’s asking us to embrace another mini-McCain. Many of us swallowed our bile about the lack of cultural conservatism in Scott Brown, but fiscal conservatism is the minimum requirement. The “jobs” bill is a travesty. Scott Brown and the other Repubs should have stood up and asked when TARP became the Dems’ private permanent slush fund.
We lamb basted McCain for the same hypocrisy. Brown should be NO DIFFERENT.
Holy Holstein! This is like a mass psychosis where people, from various states, want a Senator from Massachusetts to vote EXACTLY like they want him to.
The people who supported Brown wanted him to win against Martha Coakley, he did that.
Seems you got what you wanted, yet you’re still not happy.
I agree. Scott Brown was a trade up. And so is JD Hayworth a trade up from McCain. People might call that inconsistent thinking, but you fight a war with the tools you have.
A soldier would rather have an M-16 than a bolt action rifle. But he’d also rather have a grenade launcher [like Hayworth], attached to his weapon. Does that mean he allows himself to remain strapped with a bolt action rifle? “If I don’t have my grenade launcher, I’ll just keep this slow-shooter.”
Please note post 28.
Post 26
It’s refreshing to see someone represented by these Senators http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm?State=MI so concerned about a newly elected Massachusetts Senator.
No excuses. Period. That’s how the GOP became the mess it is.
Your point would be valid if *I* voted for them. But I didn’t. So take your faux outrage elsewhere and have fun embracing your (R).
Bump to the best post of the whole thread
I concur. Some are acting like the libs by their constant complaining and griping. I had no delusions that Scott would tow the Republican line on every vote. However, I was thrilled that he won that seat held by Ted Kennedy for nearly a half a century.
Why must conservatives eat their own and act like the libs they detest?
Sen.Brown has a ‘break’. He has the opportunity
to change his ways and start siding with the GOP -—
instead of the Democrats, as he did in this case.
Politicians must be judged by their votes, and
not their claims (and lies) before their election.
“take your faux outrage elsewhere and have fun embracing your”
Interesting that you accuse me of what you have demonstrated, that is so... DU.
Be sure to give him a break when he catalyzes the "bipartisan compromise" on socialized medicine, kiddies.
An empty suit by any other name...
“No excuses. Period. Thats how the GOP became the mess it is.”
Third parties had a lot to do with it, and a smidgeon of corruption that has largely been purged.
God isn’t running this year, but ticket splitters probably will be.
Let me give you a little background, hon. Some of us here on FR do not embrace the (R) just because its an (R). That's called blind ideology. Now if you need someone to explain to you what that means, or the reasoning behind why some don't automatically vote for the (R) label, I have two words for you:
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Psst. Used bridge for sale. Interested? lol
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