Posted on 02/06/2010 9:51:52 AM PST by reaganaut1
...
Such Republicans are contesting six of the 20 most competitive House seats currently held by Democrats. At least as many are found in districts that could become more competitive as election season heats up. Filing deadlines to run for Congress are still months away in most states, so it is possible more newcomers could join the fold.
Running political newcomers is a proven strategy when the political tide swings drastically toward one side, and at times when voters have soured on Washington in general. In 1994, when Republicans won a majority of House seats after four decades in the minority, 55% of the party's 73 freshmen lawmakers had never held political office. Similarly in 2006, when Democrats took control, 45% of their new lawmakers had never held office before.
Chris Russell, campaign consultant for Mr. Runyan, called 2010 a good year to be running as an outsider. "I don't want to overstate it, but people hate politicians," he said.
The strategy could help Republicans tap into enthusiasm generated among Tea Party groups and other conservatives. Though these activists have sprung from the right, they remain antagonistic toward the GOP establishment. The movement arose in part as a backlash against the government's intervention in Wall Street and the auto industry, as well as opposition to Democratic initiatives, including a health-care overhaul.
This year, running newcomers is "absolutely the story of Republican recruiting," said David Wasserman, a House race analyst for the nonpartisan Cook Political Report. Cook currently predicts the GOP will gain between 25 and 35 House seats this fall, and doesn't rule out the more distant possibility of a Republican takeover, which would require a net gain of 40 seats.
Mr. Wasserman predicted a significant number of freshmen GOP lawmakers this November would be political newcomers.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
Arizona 5th district: Jim Ward (R) vs. Harry Mitchell (D)
New Jersey 3rd district: Jon Runyan (R) vs. John Adler (D)
Indiana 9th district: Todd Young (R) vs. Baron Hill (D)
Tennessee 8th district: Stephen Fincher (R) (open seat)
Michigan 7th district: Brian Rooney (R) vs. Mark Schauer (D)
Virgina 2nd district: Scott Rigell (R) vs. Glenn Nye (D)
Florida: Bruce O'Donoghue (R) vs. Alan Grayson (D)
Smart move. Wish they would recruit a bunch of Freepers. Then I would know who to trust.
That could start a snowball effect for both the party and the movement as a team effort.
Tim Walberg will be the Republican in that race.
For Barack Obama,
No Experience Is No Problem!
No Proof of Citizenship Is No Problem!
No Respect for National Security Is No Problem!
No Sense of Fiscal Responsibility Is No Problem!
No Consideration for the Constitution Is No Problem!
No Personal Humility Is No Problem!
No Verbal Integrity Is No Problem!
The press has a vested interest in helping to maintain political control in the hands of the “inside the beltway” political elite. Most are fellow traveller liberals, and those who are not, will make deals with the liberals to keep their bag of political power full.
They will tell us that only the intellectual elite with years of insider experience can possibly run the government and solve the problems of the world. Unfortunately, the evidence doesn’t support this line of thinking. Almost everything that the liberal and intellectual elite touch turns into a stinking, steaming mess.
Bring on the newcomers. Some will turn into beltway insiders. Some will screw up and prove unworthy. But, with newcomers there is hope to turn all of this around, there is certainly nothing to lose.
Never vote for an attorney, never, never, never. If they start off honest, they don’t stay that way.
**For GOP, No Experience Is No Problem**
After seeing what the “EXPERIENCED” Politisuckers have done to this country....
No Experience Is No Problem!
No Proof of Citizenship Is No Problem!
No Respect for National Security Is No Problem!
No Sense of Fiscal Responsibility Is No Problem!
No Consideration for the Constitution Is No Problem!
No Personal Humility Is No Problem!
No Verbal Integrity Is No Problem!
You really must look at the positive side:
No experience means he is not bound by the old ways of doing things.
Not having proof of citizenship is no biggie. We are all citizens of the world.
No respect for national security. This business about nations and national boundaries and patriotism is all so yesterday.
Fiscal responsibility is not really necessary. We can print as much money as we need.
In our postmodern world, the Constitution is an unreasonable constraint. We have to think "out of the box."
Humility is overrated. Especially when you are the Messiah.
In today's world, truth is what we say it is. And it can be different today than it was yesterday. So let's not get all hung up on "integrity," whatever that is. When a person (read: the Messiah) is striving for social justice, some situational validity is necessary.
Most valuable experience is achievements in one’s life.
If you have run a successful business, if you have a successful professional career, etc. then you have the experience to run for congress.
Not necessarily, Beagle8U. Brian Rooney was able to raise $215,000 in less than two months. If you are referring to the polling, it is important to remember a few things. One, Walberg commissioned it so it is probably biased. Two, the poll was of a 300 person sample size which is below AP standards for polling. Three, Rooney still hasn’t had an opportunity to introduce himself to the public. Fourth, Walberg has run for the office three times before and lost the primary once, lost the general once and won the general once. That means that, prior to this cycle, he has only won 33% of his congressional races.
Walberg wins easily.
Too bad newcomers have to accept being pre-tainted by the Republican (TM) brand.
Or Democratic (TM) brand for that matter.
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