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The Real Lesson from Mississippi
The Weekly Standard ^ | June 26,2014 | Jay Cost

Posted on 06/27/2014 4:03:16 AM PDT by Hojczyk

On balance the Republican “establishment” has done fairly well this primary season. Its favored candidate in the Nebraska Senate race lost, and of course Eric Cantor went down to defeat, but Thad Cochran, Lindsey Graham, and Mitch McConnell all hung on. So, all is right in the world, right?

Not really. It is important to differentiate the candidates challenging the establishment from the voters backing those challengers. The candidates are either amateurs with no political background or upstarts who refuse to wait their place in line.

They often have fewer funds, employ less experienced consultants, and lack the personal assets necessary to campaign effectively. Occasionally, a virtuoso rock star like Marco Rubio emerges, but the typical insurgent is lucky just to know how to hold the guitar.

The problem for the Republican party writ large is that the Cochran-type does not seem like an outlier. People do not see the GOP as a party out to make the government “smaller and smarter,”

The party’s leaders need to ask themselves: if their purpose is to perpetuate interest group liberalism, why should anybody vote for them? There is already a party whose central purpose is to carve up the federal pie for its clients/voters. It is called the Democratic party, and nobody does interest group liberalism better than it does.

People do not see the GOP as a party out to make the government “smaller and smarter,” to “celebrate success, entrepreneurship, and innovation.” They certainly do not see think it is trying to “lift up the middle class.” They see a party that perpetuates and expands government as it suits them, often to the benefit of the well-heeled interest groups that have descended upon the nation’s capital.

(Excerpt) Read more at weeklystandard.com ...


TOPICS: Politics/Elections
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1 posted on 06/27/2014 4:03:16 AM PDT by Hojczyk
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To: Hojczyk

The revolt has started.


2 posted on 06/27/2014 4:07:05 AM PDT by Biggirl (“Go, do not be afraid, and serve”-Pope Francis)
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To: Hojczyk

Circa 1850 anyone? It is now coming apart faster than it did for the Whigs, and rightfully so.


3 posted on 06/27/2014 4:08:11 AM PDT by mazda77
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To: Biggirl

Cochran is toast. Childers will run all over him, as conservatives stay home in November.


4 posted on 06/27/2014 4:10:42 AM PDT by ScottinVA (If it doesn't include border security, it isn't "reform." It's called "amnesty.")
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To: Hojczyk

pathetic piece by an estab writer…….but at least some truth is sinking in.


5 posted on 06/27/2014 4:10:42 AM PDT by C. Edmund Wright (www.FireKarlRove.com NOW)
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To: Hojczyk

When you control the voting processes and procedures, you control the vote.
Anyone, even in Albany NY, knows that.


6 posted on 06/27/2014 4:22:02 AM PDT by BilLies (sharyl attkisson is alive and well HOORAY!!!!!)
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To: Hojczyk

.....employ less experienced consultants, and lack the personal assets necessary to campaign effectively.

Sounds like GOPe favorite Mitt Romney


7 posted on 06/27/2014 4:23:50 AM PDT by Steven Tyler
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To: C. Edmund Wright

Even some establishment shills are starting to get it. And the larger point stands, the point we here at FR have been making for years. What reason does the GOP-E give swing voters to pull the lever for them if they are just Dem Lite?


8 posted on 06/27/2014 4:23:54 AM PDT by dirtboy
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To: Biggirl

Cochran can rot in hell.


9 posted on 06/27/2014 4:33:44 AM PDT by Tugo (Never Forget.)
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To: Hojczyk
Of course there are alternatives.

Those states which allow "write-in" ballots, getting the required number of signatures yesterday,

Active dispute of primary results, psrticularly if irregularities can be proven - hint MS,

In the November mid-term elections, "hold your nose" and withhold your vote or vote heavily against any GOPe/RINO. If dims win, blame Shrub, ... So be it.

To borrow an adage - "At this point what difference does it make."

It is "us" versus "them" - and "them" are winning hands - down. Just think MS, SC, ... all fossils!

10 posted on 06/27/2014 4:38:12 AM PDT by jamaksin
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To: dirtboy

yeah, but this goes way way way way beyond “democrat lite” - what they did in Mississippi…….


11 posted on 06/27/2014 4:41:19 AM PDT by C. Edmund Wright (www.FireKarlRove.com NOW)
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To: dirtboy

It’s a messed up system for sure. When push comes to shove however, I’ll take a moderate Republican over a liberal democrat...for now. Slowly but surely, we will prevail. They have to know that we will take more ground from them every year. Conservatism is inevitable in America. We need only endeavor to perservere.


12 posted on 06/27/2014 4:41:57 AM PDT by RC one (Militarized law enforcement is just a nice way of saying martial law enforcement. xtr)
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To: jamaksin

That’s because too many folks who should be “us” don’t know it yet, and they don’t recognize many of “them” as “them.”


13 posted on 06/27/2014 4:42:24 AM PDT by C. Edmund Wright (www.FireKarlRove.com NOW)
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To: C. Edmund Wright

Two basic issues here - the GOP-E offers nothing beside Dem Lite, and are willing to engage in the worst kind of slime to hold on to their power - including trashing their base. AFAIC, this wasn’t the last straw, it was just another straw placed on top of the camel’s back that was already broken.


14 posted on 06/27/2014 4:43:55 AM PDT by dirtboy
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To: Hojczyk
Thad Cochran, Lindsey Graham, and Mitch McConnell

The 3 stooges.

15 posted on 06/27/2014 4:45:13 AM PDT by b4its2late (A Progressive is a person who will give away everything he doesn't own.)
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To: RC one

The problem is, the GOP-E has shown us exactly how they view us. And will engage in scorched-earth campaigning to defeat us - far, far stronger and nastier stuff than they use against the Dems. So who are they really closer to?


16 posted on 06/27/2014 4:45:41 AM PDT by dirtboy
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To: dirtboy

Yes, it’s the “worst kind of slime” thing that makes this much different than the normal dem lite dynamic. But I think history will prove that Mississippi ends up being a lot more than just another straw on the camels back. This will be an anvil.


17 posted on 06/27/2014 4:47:10 AM PDT by C. Edmund Wright (www.FireKarlRove.com NOW)
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To: RC one
-- Conservatism is inevitable in America. We need only endeavor to perservere. --

With universal suffrage, or something close approaching it, conservatism is unlikely to prevail. Not to say abandon conservative principles, they can certainly take root in your personal and family affairs, maybe even in a community and local government. But in a system as large as a state or the USA, the number of people who will vote money for themselves out of the public treasury will always outnumber those who advocate limited government and spending restraint. It's human nature at work, and history is littered with examples.

I don't mean to "back off" fighting the bastards. It's the only way to figuratively take them out and set an example.

-- I'll take a moderate Republican over a liberal democrat ... --

If Cochran prevails in the GOP primary, the race will be between a conservative DEM and a liberal GOP.

18 posted on 06/27/2014 4:49:15 AM PDT by Cboldt
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To: Cboldt

I’m pretty sure I am in the minority here, but I think it’s time for Conservatives in Mississippi to vote D in November... Send the pre-Alzheimer’s Cochran back to Mississippi as a loud and clear message to Karl, Haley and the rest of the “established” R’s that these tactics will not be rewarded.
To those who say this rewards Harry Reid ... well, probably.... but so what? Stalemated government (if the house grows some gonads) will be better in the long-run. If the R’s take the Senate, then Hillary will run against obstructionist R’s for the next 2 years, and with the IQ of the electorate, likely prevail in 2016! Better to let the D’s take ownership lock stock and barrel for the next 2 years and re-load for 2016 and sweep them all out.
It would help, however to get rid of Johnny Tears as Speaker and get someone effective at articulating Conservative ideas as Speaker of the House.
OK, flame away !!


19 posted on 06/27/2014 5:14:55 AM PDT by Froggie
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To: mazda77
.

You nailed it ... 1850 and 1861 ...

.

20 posted on 06/27/2014 5:24:46 AM PDT by Patton@Bastogne (.)
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