Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Tomorrow, Retire Dick Lugar
Red State ^ | 5/7/2012 | Erick Erickson

Posted on 05/07/2012 4:52:57 AM PDT by IbJensen

I really do adore Peggy Noonan. I respect her opinion and I love her writing. I take issue with her support of Richard Lugar, however.

Peggy Noonan writes that Indiana should “save the old guy. He has value.” She also says Washington needs grown ups and “we need mature folk involved in our governance, people for whom not everything is new.”

With respect, Mr. Lugar has no more value. He and his cohorts have given all the value to China.

Richard Lugar has been in Washington since January of 1977. I was one. The federal debt was approximately $650 billion. The federal debt now surpasses $15 trillion. And you know what? The grown ups did it. The grown ups, the mature folks, the adults in the room were the ones who did it. Richard Lugar was complicit in this catastrophic balance sheet. He rarely stood in the way of an increase in debt, an increase in spending, a bridge to nowhere, and a future to bankruptcy.

While Richard Lugar was joining the other grown ups in raiding the treasury for pet projects, Richard Mourdock was first in the private sector, then became Indiana’s State Treasurer. He fought the Obama Administration’s GM bankruptcy. He fought the Obama Administration on Obamacare. He helped Indiana balance its books.

The two men are both adults. Richard Mourdock’s parents are both World War II veterans. Yes, his father and his mother. He knows what sacrifice is like. He knows what hard work is like. And he knows that just as his parents quite literally fought for a better world, he must too.

In Washington, “adult” is the term of art for the men and women who reach across the aisle. They cut deals. They save face. They make government work. In their zeal to make government work, the perverse reverse has happened. We now work for the government. We sustain the leviathan. Our children’s children’s children will pay off the debt Richard Lugar helped incur.

I’d prefer it if we stopped sending his ilk to Washington to keep incurring debts for my children and grand children in the name of being grown up.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: getlugarout; hoosierhoople; mealymouth; rino
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-53 next last
... “save the old guy. He has value.” ...

Lugar has had very little value since he was elected 36 years ago. Peggy's scribblings in the WSJ should all be looked at askance after this gem.

Current Indiana State Treasurer Richard Mourdock will defeat Richard Lugar, Obama’s favorite Republican, on May 8 and go on to do a great job of representing the Hoosier state as their Senator. Mourdock is a principled conservative with a bright future ahead of him. There are several reasons Indiana voters should cast their ballots for Mourdock over Washington, D.C. insider and career politican Dick Lugar.

Let’s start with one of our most basic rights – the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms. Are you aware that Dick Lugar has an ”F” rating with both the NRA and the Gun Owners of America? Lugar marches in lockstep with his idol Obama on the issue of gun control. In fact, he was the ONLY Republican to support the global UN small arms treaty, which would allow foreign countries to dictate gun laws to Americans.

Yet he opposes border control and was a co-sponsor of the Dream Act which would illegal immigrants amnesty and citizenship. I am sure that Lugar’s lefty pals at the New York Times and the United Nations are downright giddy over the thought of simultaneously disarming our law abiding citizens and opening our borders to all who want to come here and cause our country harm. But I somehow do not think Indiana Republicans share Lugar’s liberal viewpoints on those issues.

Unlike Lugar, Richard Mourdock actually lives in Indiana. So he is very much in tune with the wishes of his fellow Hoosiers on these vital issues. In fact, Mourdock has been wholeheartedly endorsed by both the NRA and illegal immigration opponent ALIPAC. And here is what ALIPAC founder William Gheen had to say about Mourdock.

“Indiana voters have a clear choice between Richard Mourdock, who will fight to protect American jobs, taxpayer resources, and lives from illegal immigration, and Richard Lugar, who has fought to support the interests of illegal immigrants over American citizens,” said William Gheen, President of ALIPAC.

Indiana Republicans tend to be fiscal conservatives who care deeply about the direction that their country is headed. Career politicians like Lugar simply do not understand that the days of ”tax and spend” are over. Lugar lives in that ”Washington D.C. bubble” where politicians are treated like kings and hard earned taxpayer money is thrown around like monopoly money.

The American Conservative Union was founded in 1964 and has a nearly 50 year track record of diligently representing Americans who are concerned with economic growth through lower taxes and reduced government spending. For decades, their congressional ratings have been the definitive guide when it comes to determining where Members of Congress stand on conservative issues. We are talking about some serious long term proven credibilty here. Shall we see what they have to say about the two candidates?

ACU Chairman Al Cardenas issued the following statement: “Richard Mourdock is the clear conservative choice in the Indiana Republican Primary May 8. His record as a successful businessman and as State Treasurer shows that he will bring a needed understanding of free enterprise and sound fiscal policies to the Senate. As Treasurer, Richard Mourdock earned over $1 million in investment income for taxpayers and returned 10% of his budget back to the Treasury each year.

The incumbent, Senator Lugar, has frequently opposed conservatives on key issues in the Senate, such as earmark reform while supporting the bailouts of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac against a majority of Republicans. Senator Lugar opposed efforts by the late House Foreign Affairs Chairman Henry Hyde to support reforms at the United Nations and is also the lead sponsor of the Law of the Sea Treaty, which President Ronald Reagan opposed as a threat to U.S. sovereignty.”

Richard Mourdock was elected Indiana’s State Treasurer in November 2006 and was re-elected in 2010, leading the Republican ticket with over 62% of the vote. Obviously he is a strong candidate or he would not have been re-elected by such a high margin by the people of Indiana. Mourdock has also been endorsed by such well known conservatives as Redstate’s Erick Erickson, FreedomWorks CEO Matt Kibbe, Sarah Palin, Rick Santorum, Herman Cain and Mark Levin.

Lugar eagerly appeared in a campaign television advertisement for Obama during the 2008 presidential election, then went on to enthusiastically serve as a co-chair for Obama’s inaugural committee. Lugar is widely known as ”Obama’s favorite Republican. That is just not the type of title that an Indiana Republican should aspire to.

Indiana voters are faced with a clear choice this election period. They can either vote for a career politician like Lugar who doesn’t even live in their state, or they can vote for a principled conservative with a bright national future like Richard Mourdock.

1 posted on 05/07/2012 4:53:08 AM PDT by IbJensen
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: IbJensen

Peggy is such the RINO....


2 posted on 05/07/2012 4:58:30 AM PDT by rightwingextremist1776
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: IbJensen

He’s an sob...I can’t wait to see the last of him.


3 posted on 05/07/2012 4:59:28 AM PDT by nuconvert ( Khomeini promised change too // Hail, Chairman O)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rightwingextremist1776
Peggy Sue, the valley girl that moved to DC.

RINO is not even close, more akin to a left of center demonRAT that once worked for a pubbie, 30 years ago.

4 posted on 05/07/2012 5:05:11 AM PDT by USS Alaska (Nuke the terrorist savages, start today.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: rightwingextremist1776

THIS is where Conservatives STAND!

Throw Lugar OUT!

Vote Mourdock!


5 posted on 05/07/2012 5:07:46 AM PDT by G Larry (Criminals thrive on the indulgence of society's understanding)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: nuconvert

Lugar should have elected not to run again. He’s no Chuck Grassley...


6 posted on 05/07/2012 5:08:10 AM PDT by Eric in the Ozarks
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: IbJensen
....“save the old guy. He has value.”

The old guy has been living on our dime for the past thirty-six years and what of value have we received in return? Time for Lugar to be retired.

7 posted on 05/07/2012 5:08:36 AM PDT by Rummyfan (Iraq: it's not about Iraq anymore, it's about the USA!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: IbJensen
She also says Washington needs grown ups and “we need mature folk involved in our governance, people for whom not everything is new.”

Well, I'm sure Mourdock is a "grown up."

What she really means is "we need GOP-E stooges who will continue to play the same old game no matter what."

Part of the problem, lady, you're part of the problem. Retire these people, or take their Party away from them. Those are really the only two choices at this point. Continuing to play their game is a sure-fire losing proposition.

8 posted on 05/07/2012 5:09:06 AM PDT by Yashcheritsiy (Anybody but Obama and Romney)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: IbJensen

Too bad he can’t take Hatch with him.


9 posted on 05/07/2012 5:11:08 AM PDT by Venturer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rightwingextremist1776
What people forget is that Lugar did what Reagan wanted, what Bush wanted, what Bush II wanted ~

That whole crowd put entirely too much store in the Democrat complaint that unless the federales did something ~ always spend more money ~ women and chillun' would fester and die.

That was the message behind the "safety net" concept.

NOT ONCE did any of these guys attempt to control federal spending.

They still don't.

Yes, women and chillun' will fester and die ~ but they'll do so anyway. All men die ~ that's the rule.

10 posted on 05/07/2012 5:13:17 AM PDT by muawiyah
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: IbJensen

He is SO old and SUCH a RINO that I was surprised Lugar was not put up as our Presidential candidate in the spirit of the “the next old guy” and go on to be as successful as Dole or McCain.


11 posted on 05/07/2012 5:13:54 AM PDT by SERKIT ("Blazing Saddles" explains it all.......)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: IbJensen

The only election I’m voting in tomorrow is Mourdock and Lugar.

We get a double bonus this time. One less RINO and Obama loses his buddy.


12 posted on 05/07/2012 5:18:37 AM PDT by Azeem (There are four boxes to be used in the defense of liberty: soap, ballot, jury and ammo.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Rummyfan
In reality, as the Republican with the most seniority in the Senate Lugar is probably worth several billion dollars more to the residents of Indiana than another Senator with less seniority.

Although Lugar is long past his prime, his "staff" can take care of garnering the goodies seniority brings with it. There's more than one drooler in Congress ~ and who can forget when they wheeled Teddy Kennedy in to vote, brain pan in full view ~ there was nothing there as we all suspected ~ but look at what he got for Massachusetts ~ HUGE grants to the biggest state industry ~ higher ed!

Jesse Helms lived past his prime, as did John Stennis, and then there was the Fritz Hollings and Strom Thurmond ~ they sucked down hundreds of billions for South Carolina. Without their seniority the place'd been UNLIVABLE!

Never imagine that a ruling party senator with top seniority isn't worth something to the voters in his state.

13 posted on 05/07/2012 5:19:27 AM PDT by muawiyah
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: rightwingextremist1776

Lugar was such a sellout when he took over the Foreign Relations committed when Jesse Helms retired. I remember watching him during the John Bolton hearings. He was complicit with the the democrats at every turn. Lugar is a liberal. Please, Indiana, make Richard Lugar a lame-duck tomorrow. He can screw us through the end of the year and then he’ll be gone one way or the other.


14 posted on 05/07/2012 5:19:43 AM PDT by cotton1706
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: IbJensen
I really do adore Peggy Noonan. I respect her opinion and I love her writing.

I really do despise Peggy Noonan. I disdain her opinion and I point and laugh at her writing.

Noonan is an ageing harridan who struggles for relevancy.

15 posted on 05/07/2012 5:21:46 AM PDT by Old Sarge (RIP FReeper Skyraider (1930-2011) - You Are Missed)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: muawiyah

I hope you’re voting for Mourdock tomorrow. You know Dick has got to go.


16 posted on 05/07/2012 5:21:59 AM PDT by fieldmarshaldj (If you like lying Socialist dirtbags, you'll love Slick Willard)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: IbJensen
I really do adore Peggy Noonan. I respect her opinion and I love her writing.

I don't adore or respect her. She is one of those fools who pushed the ridiculous propoganda in 2008 that Obama was new, fresh, and exciting. Either she believed it herself, and is a fool, or she didn't believe it, and promoted it anyway, and is a liar.

17 posted on 05/07/2012 5:26:28 AM PDT by PGR88
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: fieldmarshaldj
Really? I'm from Indiana. My folks pioneered the state even when the King of Spain owned it, and that's a long time ago.

Currently I reside in Virginia (with Senator Santorum, Senator Lugar, Senator..... hey, even Kennedy lived here).

So, I vote in Virginia.

But the cold hard facts are that the state "establishment" has worked many decades to get a seniormost senator in place.

Mourdock is asking people to "give it up for Jaysus" so voting for him is not without real cost.

18 posted on 05/07/2012 5:28:18 AM PDT by muawiyah
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: cotton1706
Look, Lugar is a drooler. He has a liberal on his staff. What you needed to do was find some reason for him to need to hire replacements. That's what most state establishments do when their drooler senators get out of line.

Sometimes they find "Miss so and so" and she does her thing, the cameras get the picture, and that's the end of that.

19 posted on 05/07/2012 5:30:38 AM PDT by muawiyah
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: muawiyah

You’d better change your flag. You’re still flying Indiana on your page.


20 posted on 05/07/2012 5:31:58 AM PDT by fieldmarshaldj (If you like lying Socialist dirtbags, you'll love Slick Willard)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-53 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson