Posted on 02/20/2014 1:19:16 PM PST by Kaslin
Few columnists have railed against the GOP "establishment," aka the "silk underwear crowd," more than I. For the most part, these retread politicians who put their finger into the wind, who are run like puppets by their younger staff members and who find comfort only among their closest colleagues and leach-like friends have virtually destroyed the Republican Party.
Call it "Requiem for a Heavyweight" or nostalgia for the past, but in the case of Mississippi Sen. Thad Cochran, who faces stout opposition from an admirable GOP "outsider" challenger, I feel compelled to punch back, or at least take a try at it.
Yes, Cochran has been in the Senate for many years, and yes, over that time period he has become a part of the GOP "establishment" as well. I can't bad mouth his GOP primary opponent, Mississippi state Sen. Chris McDaniel, who is a young firebrand devoted to getting government out of the lives of his state's citizens. His message is right in line with where the GOP should be.
So why special consideration for Thad Cochran? Well, for one thing, he is one of the most decent men to serve in that body in modern times. He has developed over the years a reputation for being soft-spoken, respectful, thoughtful and considerate. And, I might add, it was Thad Cochran who helped launch the true conservative movement in Washington in the 1970s. He was willing to run as a Republican back in the days when being a Republican wasn't cool, even in Mississippi.
And Cochran, to his credit, logged plenty of miles promoting other Republicans fighting to become the first Republican to hold whatever office they sought in the 1980s and 90s in other southern states where the word Republican was considered a dirty one.
At first glance, one can understand some conservatives' beef with Sen. Cochran. He is known for earmarks and bringing needed money to Mississippi. But here is where we have to take the rhetoric, even my often conservative and anti-GOP establishment observations, and put it all into perspective.
Earmarks continue to be a fly on the back of a giant donkey. On the big-ticket items such as the Affordable Care Act, Cochran was ardent in expressing his opposition. And on most issues that are considered critical to the conservative cause, Cochran has had a stellar record.
So let's consider this earmark issue. To be blunt, our country sends massive amounts of our tax dollars to underdeveloped nations under the theory that they are critical to maintaining our relations in the international community. Of course, comparing Mississippi to an underdeveloped nation would be an affront to that state, one which some pundits and media too often tend to do.
But unfortunately, Mississippi often time finds itself at the bottom of lists related to income, health and education. The ignorant would blame it on "a southern state where backward beliefs and concepts hold a people back." It is more a factor of historical and demographic issues, handled poorly by Democrats many years ago. And sadly, federal funds are a necessary part of solving those problems. Considering the many modern and magnificent aspects of Mississippi, it is a venture worth undertaking.
Certainly when more obvious forms of woe have struck, Cochran's seniority and power on Appropriations have not sparked conservative ire. When Katrina devastated the state, Thad Cochran got the federal dollars needed to put shattered lives back together, and no one complained.
Sen. McDaniel says he wants to end Mississippi as a "welfare state." And that's a worthy goal. But if we are to spend federal dollars, why not at home in our nation, and why not in a state where statistics suggest the greatest domestic need? Why dollars for our near enemies and a grudge against a state that deserves our attention?
Sen. McDaniel is the future of the GOP, and against any other man I wouldn't hesitate to think twice about the matter. But Thad Cochran and his truly beautiful state of Mississippi are a dear and special case and deserve some thoughtful consideration of their own.
This is why Cochran should be removed: his voting record, which isn’t at all conservative.
Cochran (MS) - 06/03/14 - 46% (Average) - 53% (Heritage) - 48% (CFG) - 52% (ACU) - 29% (FreedomWorks)
Cochran (MS) - 06/03/14 - 43% (Average) - 53% (Heritage) - 48% (CFG) - 29% (FreedomWorks)
He voted against Obamacare, like every other Republican, then he refused to vote to defund it.
Wow, that resembles Mitch McConnell and Cornyn’s records...
What progress on protecting the Constitution has Cochran made in the last 30 years?
It doesn't matter if he speaks the right things, if he can't get others to listen.
The GOPe is rallying to the defense of GOPe politicians in their quest to keep conservatives in the minority of the Republican Congressional caucus The GOPe’s grip on power is weakening from the Tea Party onslaught—and they know it. Let’s keep the pressure on these GOPe desperadoes.
Chris McDaniel BUMP!
"Cochran is a nice guy and has been there for a long time."
Totally NOT in keeping with preserving the Union. We are in trouble here and this guy is part of the problem.
Matt Towery is a graduate of England's Cambridge University and Florida's Stetson University Law School (Cum Laude). Matt Towery is a former member of the Georgia House of Representatives, and at age 30, he was his party's nominee for Lt. Governor of Georgia.
Matt Towery has served as campaign chairman for Newt Gingrich and chief strategist for numerous national political campaigns. He is known for his bipartisanship. Matt Towery became the first and only Republican to preside over the Democratically controlled Georgia House prior to leaving politics in 1997.
Towery is an attorney, businessman and successful author. His first major book, Powerchicks: How Women Will Dominate America, received national attention in publications ranging from The Washington Post to Ladies Home Journal. Matt Towery has appeared on national programs ranging from ABC's "Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher," FOX News' "The O'Reilly Factor," CNBC's "Hardball with Chris Matthews," NBC's "Leeza," and CNN's "Talk Back Live" and "Inside Politics with Judy Woodruff." Towery continues to appear on national talk shows and recently authored the book Mean Business: The Insider's Guide to Winning Any Political Election.
Matt Towery has written columns for publications ranging from trade magazines (such as Hollywood's Daily Variety) to daily newspapers and monthly magazines. As a businessman, Towery was CEO of his family-owned Color Graphics, the South's largest commercial sheet fed printing company. He sold the company to Mail Well (NYSE) in 1997. He currently serves as chairman and CEO of InsiderAdvantage.com, a subscription-based source for advanced information about government and public issues for corporations and the media. Its GovernmentBids.com division is the most active site on the Internet for information about government contracts.
Matt Towery lives in Atlanta with his wife and two children.
“Support Chris McDaniel to oust Thad Cochran in MS”
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Amen...Support McDaniel as much as you can.
http://www.senateconservatives.com/site/endorsements
“Wow, that resembles Mitch McConnell and Cornyn’s records...”
McConnell and Cornyn’s voting records are better than Cochran.
No more RINOs!
Period.
I just read his conservative ratings in votesmart.org. You’re right they aren’t that good. He’s not to good on gun rights either and he kind of was waffling in the right to life issues. You’re right 36 years is long enough, but that is for the citizen of Mississippi to decide, not me, or anyone else who is not from MS
towery is a party hack indebted to barbour and rove. cochran is neither moral, conservative, truthful or trustworthy. He has been in DC too long... 42 years is long enough! I HAVE THAD ENOUGH!
The jerk has NEVER answered any letter or email that I have EVER sent to him... and I have been writing to him for years. He doesn’t live in Mississippi... oh he has a home here but he spends his off time in the resort of Orange Beach, AL. Guess where he will retire to?
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