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Wrong. You’re conflating two totally different ideas while ignoring the reality of civics. A conservative Democrat winning elections empowers Reid and Obama. PERIOD. End of discussion.

A RINO Republican wining will increase the power of people like Ted Cruz and Trey Gowdy and Louie Gohmert and Mike Lee and so on. PERIOD. End of that discussion too.

The RINO angle gets posted on FR what, 500 times a day? Which is fine, but that’s another whole discussion than the point I was making, which is unassailable.

Exactly. I wrote this in regards to Scott Brown.

And I’m not one of those who throw around the ‘RINO’ and ‘GOPe’ tag very much. As a New England Republican, I’m pragmatic when it comes to messaging and trying to cobble up a majority/plurality in a Democrat-leaning swing state.

To me a so-called RINO is nothing but a back bencher and a number – allowing conservatives such as Rand Paul and Ted Cruz to have a bigger say in shaping legislation – in a Republican controlled Senate. Whereas, in a Harry Reid controlled Senate, conservatives have almost no sway. Reid could care less about what Limbaugh and Mark Levin are saying on the radio, or how many conservatives are flooding their phone lines. But Senate Republicans do – as they need our votes and money.

Plus, RINOs, while annoying, still vote far better than even the most (ahem) moderate Democrat. Susan Collins, for instance, voted against Obamacare. No so-called “moderate” Democrat did. And her 50% GOP voting record is 50% better than someone like Jeanne Shaheen.

A RINO Republican wining will increase the power of people like Ted Cruz and Trey Gowdy and Louie Gohmert and Mike Lee and so on. PERIOD. End of that discussion too.

C'mon Edmund; you know that's wishful thinking. I'd love to see Ted Cruz as SML and Trey Gowdy as Speaker of the House. But, when was the last time you saw a Conservative in leadership. As long as we keep McConnell, Cochran, Graham, McCain...... etc. We will never be in leadership.

You are wrong on all counts. A conservative democrat with a tight senate means Reid can’t provide cover votes. They are also a target to flip.

Rinos who vote with Reid on key votes like closure are the exact thing we do not need. If you think Senator Cruz was helped by shutting down his filibuster, you don’t have a strategy that I am interested in.