Silly. O’Connell was a horrible capaigner who let her opponents trick her into humiliating herself. Angle was also a poor campaigner who should have been able to easily dispel silly smears, but somehow could not figure out how. On the other hand, Rand Paul and Ron Johnson proved to be very effective campaigners.
We have a new bunch of potential rising stars coming out of the Tea Party movement. Some like Paul and Johnson proved themselves in the field of battle and should be supported. Others like Angle and O’Connell proved lacking in campainging skills, so better candidates should probable be found to replace them. As simple as that.
I don’t think Rove’s comments singlehandedly cost her the election.
But he did GREAT damage. He handed the Democrats their talking points, a devastating set of soundbites, and in my extimation DELIBERATELY undermined her campaign, in attempt to maintain the illusion that he is a strategical wizard (all for personal gain).
The man is detestable to me. It disgusted me to see his fat, piglike face as Fox commentator on election night.
Thanks for the ping. We are in agreement.
“His poor choices contributed to a decay of no less than 15 percent-point in Delaware. Had Delaware been advocated by Rove, rather than diminished, today we would be looking at a three-seat Senate majority, & a Republican Governor in CA.”
I think Rove, et al had an impact. I’m not sure if they had *that* much of an impact - especially in freaky deep blue KalifornIyea...
I laugh at the hypocrisy.
On the dozens upon dozens of anti-NRA posts on FR prior to the election, all the NRA opponents (who claimed dozens of times to relinquish their life memberships) claimed that the only thing that was important was who they would have voted for for Majority Leader/Speaker.
Now, some are saying that they were glad we had COD, even if she lost, because she put an end to Mike Castle. Karl Rove was right. Guess what? By the same logic, Mike Castle would have voted for a Republican Majority Leader (in retrospect, it wouldn’t have mattered, but who’s to say what would have played out in that circumstance).
Rovian philosophy is likely responsible for Republican victories in 2000, 2002, and 2004. However, Rovian philosophy is almost certainly responsible for Republican defeats in 2006 and 2008. Republican victories in 2010 can be attributed to a rejection of Rovian philosophy.
There are many take-home lessons, but one important one is it does’t pay to assume the position of progressive-lite. The progressives don’t appreciate it, and they won’t reward you for it, and the conservatives who put you in office really won’t appreciate it.
So Christine O’Donnell’s loss has nothing to do with her own actions and campaign and her being a tough sell for a blue state like Delaware?
Let’s stop this circular firing squad.
Rove only expressed a belief that she was a weak candidate who couldn’t win. Maybe, just maybe, he was right.
United we stand, divided we fall.
He's a small 'r' republican and part of the reason the GOP lost its reputation for fiscal responsibility leading to the loss of Congress and the White House.
The TEA party is responsible for giving the GOP a second chance and the Republic what might be its last best hope.
Go away, Karl. You've done more than your share of damage.
Go away, Christine. You didn’t address your baggage in a credible way. You had your chance and blew it. Its no one’s fault but your own. Repeat: go away.
Blame Rove for the massive spending Dubya did during his terms in office... Rove is the architect of all the bloated spending...That is why the GOP was beheaded in 2006.
Obama is merely Bush on steroids...
Rove is a private person and what can be done to him is limited, but Senator John Cornyn could be kicked out of office.
btt
Rove is on my permanent shit list, as is Cronyn and every other Republican who did not support the legitimate winners of the various Republican Primaries!
Once the Primary is over, we are supposed to pull together to elect Republicans, not pi$$ and moan about the Republican Primary winner “not being electable!”
I cannot understand — simply cannot understand — their thinking! Any Republican in office is better than any Democrat (or RINO), yet Rove et al demonstrate petty, 2nd grade petulance when “Their Candidate” loses a Primary.
Damn them to Hell!
We really do need a Conservative Party that respects the Constitution and will not eat it’s young!
When a Republican wins a primary, Republicans should support him/her in the general.
This is not 2nd grade sandbox play; this is the real deal, and if your candidate does not win, you should be big enough to stay in the game and try to win one for the Gipper!
Rove and the other “Establishment” Republicans cost We the People the US Senate and the California Governor’s race by their non-support of the Republican candidates.
What should have been and “All or nothing” Republican effort to win the whole enchilada turned into a Democrat FRenzy highlighting disaffected Republicans.
How dumb can they get?
I’ll never be a fan of Karl Rove again — he may be a smart political operative, and a very rich man, but he stepped on his whang with track shoes in this election cycle!
Likewise the other “Republican Insiders” who did not support the ticket!
Shame on them — and the really, really sad thing is; They will not suffer the slings and barbs of the Democrat Senate and Democrat California! They are insulated FRom the vicissitudes of “normal Americans,” and can slither through the coming inflationary recession/depression without being dislocated too much.
The rest of us will have to suffer for their failure to work their butts off to ensure a Republican sweep of the House and Senate.
When the next election cycle comes around, Damn Straight I’ll Remember!
I blame Rove too!!!
I’ll throw in my comment, why not. We need to good candidates. Everyone that lost in this environment was, by definition, a bad candidate.
Learn or die. IF it means running moderates in leftist states, then so be it. That’s the real world. I see people on here yacking about how people gotta slum it in the workforce. We gotta slum it too, nobody’s immune. Elitism runs all ways. You have to be flexible and smart or you lose.
Mr. Way needs to start thinking with his big head.