Please tell me, from the list of current Republicans in the US Senate, which ones of them are worthy to keep? How do you plan to ever get to the magical number of 51 or is it more noble to allow Democrats to control the senate until we get 51 perfect Republicans?
First of all, I’m not seeking perfect republicans, but republicans who vote conservative most of the time. And republicans with strength who don’t go all wobbly on the big issues because even a majority with these people is no majority at all (Jim Jeffords comes to mind)
We can get to an actual conservative majority by removing or threatening those who tend to go wobbly in primaries, so even if they are re-elected, they’ll be looking over their shoulders when they vote. Look at all the conservative votes we got out of Orrin Hatch for the last two years after his moderate buddy Bob Bennett was defeated by Mike Lee. Hatch has been voting in lockstep with Lee. And look at how all-american and strong Lindsay Graham has been lately. But he can’t help himself when it comes to his liberal buddy McCain and immigration.
Here’s how a republican majority and a more conservative majority can happen in 2014:
First, the democrats. Begich in Alaska took the seat in 2008 from ancient, corrupt and moderate Ted Stevens. Hagen in NC took the seat from moderate (wife of Bob) Dole. These two should be easy. I think Franken in MN is very beatable. Johnson in SD has had a stroke and may retire but either way he is beatable. Harkin in IA and Rockefeller in WV are retiring so we have a good chance of taking these two seats. Levin may retire but MI is tougher. Lautenburg in NJ is 88 and will likely retire and Corey Booker is already running. However, Menenedez scandal is heating up so he may be forced to resign. That gives Christie a republican (if moderate)appointment so there’s a seat right there. Pryor in AR is another easy seat. The republicans just took the legislature for the first time since Reconstruction and Boozeman defeated Lincoln in 2010. And there’s Shaheen in NH. With the right candidate, she can be defeated. And Bauchus in MT and Warner in VA are iffy. Oh, and Landriu in LA could be a potential pick-up. So I think there’s a real possibility of taking seven of these seats. There’s a majority right there.
On the repubican side, I would like to see these moderates get primaried: Alexander in TN, Cochrane in MS (been in the senate since the late 70’s and an republican would win MS), Collins in ME (I think she’ll see the writing on the wall and retire), Cornyn (he’s the whip and we need new leadership and he’s been supporting moderates), Enzi (loved to vote with his buddy Ted Kennedy), Graham of SC (definitely needs to go), McConnell (we need new leadership). I had Chambliss on this list but since he said he was for tax increases, several said they would run against him so he “decided” to retire.
Replacing some of these democrats while at the same time working to defeat those that tend to vote with them will lead to a much stronger and more conservative republican caucus.
I'm only interested in 51 CONSERVATIVE senators. I care not at all about the republican party. In fact, the GOP can go molder in the grave with the Whigs where it belongs.
Not looking for the perfect candidate - just looking for a recognizably Conservative one.
Just giving you an aside regarding our conversation on Scott Brown. There was an editorial by one of Scott’s most ardent supporters and defenders. And she finally saw the light and turned against him becuase he delayed announcing he wasn’t running until his crony was made chairman of the republican party here in MA (see below articles). He told the delegates that if his former staff member wasn’t chosen, then he wouldn’t run for the senate. In reality, he was working to prevent a tea-party type conservative from becoming head of the party. The day after the chair election, he announces that he wasn’t running. This is the type of insidiousness that pervades moderate republicans. I’ve seen it time and time again. They always work against conservatives, kicking them and thwarting them whenever they can. Now in MA, we’ll have a party chair that will pick and fund more worthless candidates so more democrats will win. Keep your eyes open to this type of stuff in your state.
http://www.masslive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/01/massachusetts_gop_chair_endors.html