Posted on 11/10/2009 12:05:42 PM PST by EternalVigilance
To hear them as they tear into Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, the Silver State will be the site of a conservative resurgence that not only will sweep true-believing Republicans into office in 2010 but will also improve the breed by weeding out those squishy middle-grounders called RINOs. (Republicans In Name Only.)
They're signing anti-tax pledges and strapping on their libertarian political six-shooters, firing at big-government Democrats and treating chamber of commerce Republicans like members of the Neville Chamberlain Fan Club. The RINOs will be an endangered species if they have their way.
Surely that belief in revolution gives Gov.. Jim Gibbons, who polls about as well as a war criminal and has a slate of primary challengers, hope for a triumphant comeback and a second term. As flawed as his tenure has been, Gibbons wisely has a tight grip on his conservative philosophy.
Good heavens, even formerly moderate Republican Dr. Joe Heck is talking like a hit man for some conservative mafia family.
After speaking in measured tones as a state legislator, the congressional candidate now barks like a born-again zealot.
My question isn't whether this strategy is based in sound reasoning. Unless it's being done to energize a downcast base, I think drawing a hard line and subjecting pretty good candidates to loyalty oaths and ridicule has the potential to backfire on Election Day.
There's a way Republicans can prove they really want a conservative revolution. They can support U.S. Senate candidate and certified conservative true-believer Sharron Angle.
Backing Angle in her long-shot candidacy to unseat Reid would not only shock the nation -- and send a few Nevada political pundits into cardiac arrest -- but also provide undeniable proof the state's voters demand dramatic change. (Yes, "change" will be a buzzword in the 2010 race, too.)
One conversation with Angle, the four-term state assemblywoman who has served on education, election, ethics, health and judiciary committees, is enough to convince you she's the real deal and isn't just parroting the latest from the right-wing radio dial. After listening to her discuss her conservative ideals, I was tempted to ask her whether her maiden name was Goldwater or Reagan.
Angle is a tireless campaigner who works both ends of the state on a shoestring budget. She's a fearless critic of those who fail to view the world through the conservative lens.
She's not shy about jabbing at her two best-known opponents, Danny Tarkanian and Sue Lowden.
"Danny has no record and no wins," Angle says. "She has never had to vote or experience the minority position. You need to have a strong, persuasive voice in order to do that."
Angle is unafraid to take a stand on embattled and embarrassing Sen. John Ensign despite his status as a member of the Republican power elite.
While other Republicans ducked questions about Ensign, or astonishingly supported him despite his ham-handed payoff and cover-up attempts in a sex scandal, Angle nails the wounded politician between the eyes.
"If your wife can't trust you, how can I trust you?" she asks.
How refreshing -- an office-seeker who actually calls it as she sees it.
Angle is believable when she says, "Never compromise, conciliate, or build consensus on your principles."
Some will question her electability as a Northern Nevadan, but I thought Campaign 2010 was about philosophy, not imagery.
Save the whining phone calls. Other candidates are good enough, smart enough, and doggone it, people like them. This isn't an endorsement of Angle's candidacy; this is a questioning of an election strategy.
As long as Angle is in the race, she'll be the most conservative candidate in the running. Serious conservatives will seriously consider her.
Nevada Republicans say they want a conservative revolution. In the coming months, we'll see how much.
How about taking subtle stabs at the other conservatives, but going after Reid here. If they all constantly attack Reid he will continue to be weakened. Why do Reid’s dirty work?
If you’ll read the article carefully you’ll see that it wasn’t written by a conservative.
Well it is a ‘major’ newspaper.
Badabing.
They’re touting Angle because she would lose the general election. I backed her for Gibbon’s seat in 2006, and she self-destructed in spectacular fashion after narrowly losing to Dean Heller. She was equally radioactive when she failed to unseat RINO Senate leader Bill Raggio in the primary last year.
Do we know where Lowden and Tarkanian stand on the issues?
From what I’ve read about Lowden, I would speculate that she is socially liberal (in particular, pro-abortion) but economically conservative.
Can’t Heller change his mind already and run for the Senate?
Although she doesn’t explicitly state it on her website, a scan of some articles claim she’s pro-life (ditto Tarkanian). She was slimed in this article from yesterday:
http://www.politicsdaily.com/2009/11/09/reid-challenger-feels-backlash-after-questioning-assassination-a/
As long as it’s Heller and not loopy RINO Porter, who lost his seat to Dina Titus last year.
Heller is running for reelection to his House seat.
“Do we know where Lowden and Tarkanian stand on the issues?”
I don’t know, but it’s possible that a Freeper from Nevada would know.
I see that Lowden claims to be pro-life. Maybe she’s a recent convert (which, if her conversion is genuine, I don’t mind at all):
“Lowden was one of 11 Nevada delegates to the Republican National Convention in 1996. With fellow delegate and then State Assembly Co-Speaker Lynn Hettrick, then-State Sen. Lowden said that “the national party ought to follow Nevada’s lead and take abortion out of the platform.” Nevada Republicans, after a heated debate at the state convention in Reno earlier that month, had struck the abortion plank from the state platform. (Las Vegas Sun, May 18, 2009)”
Tarkanian’s near-misses for elective office under incredibly difficult circumstances (including in a district in which President Bush was losing by 20%) are a good sign, and he may be a better candidate than the apparently gaffe-prone Lowden. He’s no Dean Heller (whose House voting record has been a pleasant surprise), but he might be able to beat Reid.
I’d love to Lowden in the Senate if she’s truly pro-life (it is embarrassing how we haven’t had any pro-life female Senators since, who, Paula Hawkins?), but I’d rather have (the unquestionably pro-life) Tarkanian as our nominee if he would be less likely to blow it against Reid. We’ll get our pro-life female Senators from NH (Ayotte) and CO (Norton).
I honestly don’t know which is the better candidate here. I think the approach of the Dems is going to be to attack Lowden as a “flake” or eccentric.
You may have seen this article.
"In a recent television interview on Channel 13 (Las Vegas), Lowden hinted that she was amenable to more big-spending pork when she attacked Reid by saying, “What has he delivered for Nevada? … Lyndon Johnson gave Texas NASA. Robert Byrd is bringing the CIA to West Virginia.” Lowden has also admitted she voted for and contributed to Reid “early on.” In addition, Lowden was one of 11 Nevada delegates to the Republican National Convention in 1996. With fellow delegate and then State Assembly Co-Speaker Lynn Hettrick, then-State Sen. Lowden said that “the national party ought to follow Nevada’s lead and take abortion out of the platform.” Nevada Republicans, after a heated debate at the state convention in Reno earlier that month, had struck the abortion plank from the state platform. (Las Vegas Sun, May 18, 2009) "
"Tarkanian is a solid opponent of earmarks and opposes abortion in all circumstances except the life of the mother. He lost a tight race against a longtime Democratic state senator in 2004 in a district that George W. Bush was losing by 20 percentage points. Two years later, he waged a strong-but-unsuccessful bid against Secretary of State Ross Miller, son of popular former Democratic Gov. (1988-98) Bob Miller. But the activist following he attracted in the two losing campaigns has clearly laid the groundwork for a strong Tarkanian candidacy in 2010. Among Republicans, Mason Dixon shows Lowden with 23%, Tarkanian 21%, and former state legislator Sharron Angle 9%. "
Gotta prefer Takanian based on this info. Lowden likes pork and used to be a Reid supporter?
That position may prove problematic. Dems will hammer him as an extremist for not including rape and incest in the exceptions case. You also tended to underscore the point that Lowden may be looking a bit too flaky. She's got some work to do with clarifying her stances. I guess I can say at the moment I'm leaning a smidge to Tarkanian. Dingy Harry better pray Sharron Angle is the nominee, since she's probably the only person he could beat.
His poll numbers are fecal.
But he does have a lot of money and influence.
I’m not optimistic enough to call him dead yet.
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