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Egos And Infighting: The GOP’s Biggest Opponent In November
Townhall.com ^ | June 29, 2014 | Derek Hunter

Posted on 06/29/2014 5:58:45 AM PDT by Kaslin

Stars are aligning for a big Republican victory this November – solidifying and expanding the GOP’s majority in the House and perhaps gaining one in the Senate. This is a best-case scenario, and any majority in the Senate would be a slim one. But the importance of removing Harry Reid as majority leader cannot be overstated. That’s why Democrats will pull every dirty trick in their deep bag to hold the Senate, and sadly many Republicans will help them in that quest.

President Obama will have two years left to wreak havoc on the country after the next election, but he can only throw stones into the river of time, not permanently change its flow. The ripples from his stones will have consequences, but they will be nothing compared to the lasting damage he can do with more Supreme Court appointments. Obamacare, oppressive EPA regulations, executive orders, all of it can be changed or repealed, but not with a more activist progressive Supreme Court.

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is 81 and suffering from pancreatic cancer. So far, she’s resisted progressives’ calls for her to retire so the president can replace her with a younger reliable vote, but no one knows if that will continue. Justice Anthony Kennedy is the key swing vote on the court right now. He’s 77 and in seemingly good health. But he’s also an unreliable vote for the Constitution. If they, or any of the other justices could be replaced by a younger, unchecked Obama appointee, the chances they’d bastardize the court’s rulings to permanently enshrine unconstitutional unilateral presidential actions rises exponentially.

Harry Reid spared SCOTUS nominees when he changed the Senate filibuster rules, but he could close that loop quickly. The Supreme Court is key and it’s their goal. Pack it with progressives, particularly young ones with decades to serve, and it’s game over.

That’s what’s at stake.

With the ability to “fundamentally transform” the country on the line, you’d think Republicans could keep their eyes on the goal and put aside egos and petty in-fighting. Contentious primaries – even over-the-top nasty ones – are an unfortunate reality in politics. But once the winner is declared, the runners shouldn’t fight on the podium.

The cause of liberty is bigger than any one candidate, no matter what. In Mississippi, Thad Cochran won the Republican primary. Would it be better if hadn’t? Absolutely. But wishes don’t win elections, votes do, and he got more. Chris McDaniel is understandably upset, but he lost. How he lost can and should be studied. It should not be the basis for a fight that can’t be won that puts the general election at risk.

When Eric Cantor lost he was, understandably, upset. What he didn’t do was cry foul, threaten to sue and undercut the validity of David Brat’s victory in an attempt to harm his chances in the general election. For all his faults, and Cantor has many, he’s gotten out of the way.

It’s the lesson of Ronald Reagan in 1976, and it’s a lesson McDaniel should emulate.

Reagan mounted an insurgent campaign to win the nomination away from President Ford. He came close, but he lost. Reagan could have withheld support, could have raised holy hell, but he didn’t. He tried, he lost, he accepted it. He moved on and won the nomination and the presidency four years later.

Reagan’s smart, unemotional reaction to the disappointing events of 1976 advanced the cause of conservatism when he easily could have gone the other way.

The unselfishness exhibited by Reagan is a rare commodity in the time of Kardashians. And, unfortunately, the Republican Party is not immune to the viral entitlement strain worming its way through the culture nowadays. And the selfie-virus, if not held in check, will be what turns probable victory into certain defeat come November.

You may not like the candidate who won a particularly primary. You may even hate them. But they’re infinitely better than any Democrat, particularly in the Senate, because any Democrat in the Senate will vote to retain Harry Reid as majority leader. And Harry Reid as majority leader means unfettered access to lifetime judicial appointments for activist progressive judges, up to and including the Supreme Court. If the courts are lost for a generation, no election will matter.

The internal fighting, jockeying for position and ideological purges are all necessary, and I’m down for every bit of it…just not until progressivism is vanquished. The Tea Party and the establishment both need to heed this concept or risk neither getting what they want (which, by the way, has significant overlap).

The future prospects of individual liberty hinge on whether the various factions of the Republican/conservative/libertarian movements can keep their circular firing squad powder dry long enough to win an election that couldn’t be better situated to be a tap-in putt. Between now and November we need to hope they have something in their bag other than a wedge.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Government
KEYWORDS: 2014elections; dingyharryreid; elections; scotus; senate; thadcochran
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To: Principled

Yep, this poor idiot writes that....oh the horror, Ginsburg may be replaced with a liberal. LOL


21 posted on 06/29/2014 6:44:16 AM PDT by McGavin999
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To: McGavin999

Yep, the GOP-E had a surefire way to make sure the GOP held on to the seat - not engage in dirty tricks to win the runoff. They instead got as dirty as it gets. And now pinheads such as this columnist are saying let bygones be bygones? No way. Otherwise, the Tea Party can expect this kind of crap from the GOP-E in just about every contested primary.


22 posted on 06/29/2014 6:44:21 AM PDT by dirtboy
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To: Kaslin

Nice pile of the same old same old.

The despicable tactics used in Mississippi are nothing new in the corruption that is inherent in all human endeavor. Men are not angels.

In the past, it’s been “done in the dark”. Sure, there would be rumors and hearsay about such, and an occasional challenge.

But, in Mississippi, they did it, KNOWING FULL WELL that it would all be exposed. And they would stand pat, with a “What are you going to do about it” smirk.

If they are not resisted by every possible method (up to and including at the next election) we will get more of the same. Why would they abandon tactics that work?


23 posted on 06/29/2014 6:45:03 AM PDT by don-o (He will not share His glory and He will NOT be mocked! Blessed be the name of the Lord forever!)
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To: dirtboy
I agree. They don't call them the stupid party for nothing. It is run by possibly the stupidest, most tone deaf people on the planet. All their money may buy ads, but they can't buy enough votes to make up for insulting their base. There is not enough walking around money out there to do that.

When the elites have become so far removed from their base that they have no clue how far they have gone, it's time to get a new party.

I have been a reliable republican voter for as far back as I can remember, I have held my nose and voted for some I detested, but no more, not now that I know what they really think of me.

24 posted on 06/29/2014 6:50:29 AM PDT by McGavin999
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To: ziravan
Yeah and a third party will be able to do what you want it to do.

Keep on dreaming

25 posted on 06/29/2014 7:09:48 AM PDT by Kaslin (He needed the ignorant to reelect him, and he got them. Now we all have to pay the consequenses)
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To: don-o

Exactly. Calling your own base a bunch of racists does very little for Republican solidarity. We are supposed to ignore that though.


26 posted on 06/29/2014 7:10:20 AM PDT by headstamp 2
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To: Kaslin
Yeah and a third party will be able to do what you want it to do. Keep on dreaming

Conservatives are looking for a second party.

27 posted on 06/29/2014 7:13:31 AM PDT by don-o (He will not share His glory and He will NOT be mocked! Blessed be the name of the Lord forever!)
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To: US Navy Vet

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28 posted on 06/29/2014 7:15:41 AM PDT by Kaslin (He needed the ignorant to reelect him, and he got them. Now we all have to pay the consequenses)
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To: Kaslin
-- Yeah and a third party will be able to do what you want it to do. --

Yeah. And the GOP will be able (hell, it's not even willing) to do what I want it to do. Keep on dreaming.

The GOP told me it didn't want my support, and I listened.

29 posted on 06/29/2014 7:17:36 AM PDT by Cboldt
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To: Kaslin

Rino’s would rather lose the Senate than allow conservatives in the party, even in the House they would rather lose seats than have conservatives win.

Rino’s will abandon all party principles, rather than have conservatives anywhere near their seats of power.

This business of taking over the party, is not going so well, the effort has been extinguished by the realization that the party, was far more corrupt than thought.

I’ve have been against a third party, believing it could not win, but now I say BRING IT ON!


30 posted on 06/29/2014 7:24:43 AM PDT by PoloSec ( Believe the Gospel: how that Christ died for our sins, was buried and rose again)
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To: McGavin999
Oh it doesn't? I suggest you read the entire article in the link here

http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3173636/posts

31 posted on 06/29/2014 7:43:58 AM PDT by Kaslin (He needed the ignorant to reelect him, and he got them. Now we all have to pay the consequenses)
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To: Kaslin

If conservatives vote for Cochran...the GOP will pull the similar stunts again

I may be new here... but seems to be a lot of articles begging conservatives to vote for GOPLib, esp Cochran....after the Vote Fraud scheme in MS


32 posted on 06/29/2014 7:46:31 AM PDT by DisorderOnBorder (Hollywood...Washington DC for pretty people)
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To: DisorderOnBorder

The point is that open primaries must be stopped. The rats must not be allowed to vote in republican primary elections


33 posted on 06/29/2014 7:51:06 AM PDT by Kaslin (He needed the ignorant to reelect him, and he got them. Now we all have to pay the consequenses)
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To: Kaslin

Some of us would be happy with a second party.


34 posted on 06/29/2014 7:54:43 AM PDT by Black Agnes
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To: Kaslin

Who said anything about a third party? The establishment started this Civil War. I aim to finish it.

I’m just adopting their strategy and tactics, to wit: the establishment is more dangerous than the democrats.

Can you honestly tell me you believe that the establishment doesn’t think -act -the same way about its base?

Democrats need to be countered. To do that, we need an opposition party. Forcing the establishment into at least a coalition is a necessary first step to counter what is going on in Washington.

Failing a coalition, the establishment needs - and soon will - be subject to a hostile takeover.

You wait and see. Washington insiders lost much more than they gained in MS. The tipping point is here. Even here on FR, I’ve never seen as much open hostility to the leadership of the GOP than I have this week, and that’s saying something.


35 posted on 06/29/2014 7:56:13 AM PDT by ziravan (Choose Sides.)
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To: Kaslin

The Jolly special election in Florida is the most appropriate for this discussion.

After the GOPe moderate, female, etc candidates lost to the conservative in the primary the GOPe then rallied behind the conservative winner with money and organization.


36 posted on 06/29/2014 7:56:30 AM PDT by mrsmith (Dumb sluts: Lifeblood of the Media, Backbone of the Democrat Party!)
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To: Kaslin

Conservatives need to make an honest assessment of how big the Republican majority in the senate will likely be.

Once we know that Republicans will have 52 votes, a slim margin, then we can calculate how many RINOs can be purged by surrendering their seats to Democrats.

Mitch McConnell is the leader of the pack among potential purgees.

While Thad Cochran is reprehensible, the number two slot for those who should be abandoned goes to Lindsey Graham.

Cochran ties for third with Lamar Alexander.


37 posted on 06/29/2014 8:03:22 AM PDT by yefragetuwrabrumuy ("Don't compare me to the almighty, compare me to the alternative." -Obama, 09-24-11)
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To: yefragetuwrabrumuy

I’m not aware that Graham has accused the voters he’ll need in NOV of being in the KKK.

Enlighten me.


38 posted on 06/29/2014 8:27:28 AM PDT by Black Agnes
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To: Kaslin

This uniparty quisling is right in one respect: the cause of Liberty is bigger than any one candidate. Its also bigger than the uniparty or the nation state.

Where he completely misses the point, probably intentionally, is by suggesting that supporting one faction of the uniparty over the other will matter.


39 posted on 06/29/2014 8:32:11 AM PDT by RKBA Democrat (Be a part of the American freedom migration: freestateproject.org)
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To: ziravan

unlike you I am able to read through lines


40 posted on 06/29/2014 8:33:29 AM PDT by Kaslin (He needed the ignorant to reelect him, and he got them. Now we all have to pay the consequenses)
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