Posted on 10/30/2011 8:27:20 AM PDT by rabscuttle385
LAS VEGAS — For most Republican politicians, there is no smear more loathed, more insulting or more politically perilous than to be called a RINO — a Republican in Name Only.
Not for Linda Lingle.
“I’ve been called a RINO before, which I don’t mind,” the former Hawaii governor told a crowd of diehard Republican activists huddled in a Las Vegas ballroom. “There are a lot of people who support these RINOs, whether it’s me or [former New York Mayor] Rudy Giuliani or [former New Jersey Gov.] Christine Todd Whitman.”
(snip)
And from Lingle’s point of view, moderate Republican candidates such as herself are the GOP’s silver bullet and its best hope for expanding the map and retaking control of the Senate.
(snip)
Lingle’s record as governor includes...tax increases for mass transit projects and cigarettes, and [she] spoke out for expanding renewable energy.
(snip)
Meanwhile, Lingle knows exactly the role she sees herself playing in the Senate. She points to another centrist Republican woman, her close friend Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), as an example of the approach she will take.
“She’s been able to be very true to her values. She doesn’t always go with the party leadership, but they respect her,” Lingle said.
Describing an “executive caucus” of former governors and mayors who bring pragmatic experience to the Senate, Lingle said she expects to be one of the lawmakers called upon to serve in Gang of 12-like arrangements...
(Excerpt) Read more at thehill.com ...
Woman has a pretty high opinion of herself. You gotta get elected first, Linda. good luck.
“moderate Republican candidates such as herself are the GOP’s silver bullet and its best hope for expanding the map and retaking control of the Senate”
But what would be the point. Whether the Senate is controlled by “progressives” who happen to have an R next to their name rather than a D doesn’t make a bit of difference. Except to politicians such as Lingle acquiring personal power and opportunity for self aggrandizement.
Yes lingle, they are called democrats.
Centrist?
Of the Socialist Party perhaps..
Saying you are a RINO is like being straight but saying you are gay.
if you want ideological purity..don't support her.
The fact that she's willing to make the race suggests to me that she feels tnhat she can win..which means that the peopel are starting to turn against the extreme dem agenda..
...who supports tax increases for mass transit projects...
In other words, she supports raising taxes to prop up Big Government™.
Those type of candidates are how we have the mess we do.
Those type of candidates are how we have the mess we do.
I am not defending Lingle..I am merely saying that in Hawaii, she’s as good as we can hope for, at this time. She’ll be a start, in Hawaii, to developing a viable two-party structure..
Well Exactly. She is a product of her State.
RINO’s in most states arent doing so well/
It does no good if the two parties are "Communist" (D) and "Socialist" (R). Oh, wait, that's the way it is already, my bad.
See post #13. She not only did nothing to develop a viable two-party structure, she reversed all the prior gains to the point that the party is effectively dead.
Sounds like what Romney did in Massachusetts.
I’ll accept your statements as accurate. So let me pose the question differently. Is the GOP, and the country, better off with Brown in the Senate from Mass, or Coakley, or possibly a Warren? I think Brown, easily...and the same can hopefully be said with Lingle in the Senate.
Given the choices and the realities of Hawaiian politics, I’d vote for Lingle in a heartbeat.
I’m not thrilled with many of her positions, but she’s also for medical tort reform and health care vouchers, supports free trade, opposes partial-birth abortion, and has been critical of EPA over-regulation.
Not a perfect platform, but probably the best any of us can hope for out of the Aloha state. I’ll take “half a conservative” in this case over Akaka or his potential successor any day of the week.
Frankly, I couldn’t tell you what much good she did in office with respect to policy. The difference, however, is that unlike Lingle, Willard merely used the Governorship as a resume padder to the Presidency (when the Senate race against the Swimmer didn’t work out). Lingle knows she’ll never be President.
Well, Brown isn’t as left-wing as the Maine Twins (for whom Lingle would likely model herself on). I’m saying that with Lingle as a Senator, there’d be little positive to it if she intends to vote left 80-90% of the time (as the Maine Twins). She’d be the “lead Republican” in Hawaii and would likely keep the party as dead as it is at present. At some point and with some Republicans, it just isn’t worth it because they’re no help to the Conservative cause. I don’t expect her to win the race unless the Democrats completely blow it.
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