Posted on 08/07/2014 9:37:08 PM PDT by Jet Jaguar
Republican Lamar Alexander became the latest U.S. senator to fend off a tea party challenge in a primary race Thursday, defeating a state senator who had used a familiar tactic in trying to cast him as an out of touch insider.
Meanwhile, scandal-plagued U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais' bid to hang onto his seat was too close to call. Unofficial returns with all precincts reporting showed him with a lead of only 33 votes over state Sen. Jim Tracy, who had raised far more money. A recount was possible.
Alexander's win dealt another blow to national tea party momentum after the stunning primary win over Republican Rep. Eric Cantor in Virginia in June.
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Too bad
Many voters vote only for someone they know. Doesn’t matter that the new face would be better than the guy who has been in office for 40 years or whatever. This is one of the reasons why I’d like to see more term limits.
Of course, we all know the GOP is the party of the status quo - which is why the incumbents continue to win elections. I’m beginning to think it isn’t the candidates sent to Washington, but in the stupidity of Republican voters.
I wouldn’t necessarily call DesJarlais an entrenched encumbent and definitely not GOPe. He’s the first to tell anyone he doesn’t have a lot of friends in DC - - meaning the GOPe. There have been times he voted against a bill the other Pubs voted for, always with good reasons. I live in District 4 and have been VERY happy with Dr. D’s job performance as our Representative.
He’s a strong Conservative and I hope he’s able to pull this out. Jim Tracy will be just another RINO and we have too many of those already.
It sure would have been nice to see Lamar! given the boot tonight but nobody really expected that to happen. *sigh*
“Bummer. It’s a stupid thing and has to be done away with.”
You keep what you like in your state and keep your nose out of how we do things. No party registration is just fine with the folks here. Party registration is looked at like mandatory union membership here
Having the opposing party have any say in your party’s candidate is stupid, everywhere and always.
bump
Being beholden to a party is beyond stupid. Being chained to a party is what is keeping people like Alexander in power. There was no crossover in todays election, Alexander was never threatened by Joe Carr. Carr did amazingly well with the money he had and considering the GOPe was pulling out all the stops. It was closer than it should have been. You can keep your party registration and be beholden to the party Massas
I am not registered with a party. See tag line.
It does not change the fact that having non-party members have a say in a party’s candidate is stupid.
No, individuals may be stupid, but giving individuals the right of choice is called freedom. Do what you like in whatever state you’re in, we’ll do things the right way here
Open primaries have the effect of turning the primary into the general election and the general election into a run-off.
BTW - do you speak for all Tennesseans? You seem to think so.
ERIK SCHELZIG ought to remember what happened to his hero Joe Goebbels.
Karma is a bitch.
That’s what I said last week. Most of our senior population will vote for him because they recognize the name so they think they “know” him. Stupid people.
You mean “stupid GOP voter” .
Second long term Senate incumbent this week who couldn’t get more than 50% of the vote in the primary. And this is something for the GOPe to be crowing about?
Crap. People vote based on name recognition. Oh, and skin color.
Like it or not as the ballot box keeps failing then I am in agreement with the likes of Steven Quyale and Doug Hagmann that the time to fix things by elections is over. The next phase is upon us.
Another “big” win for the GOPe as Lamar gets less than 50% as Robertson did. We are winning the war and anybody who doesn’t se that is not paying attention.
We are winning the war and anybody who doesn’t se that is not paying attention.
Disagree. I think the Dems are winning. Every year of non opposition to the their agenda cements their policies. The GOP has already telegraphed they will mail in the next Congress. The only way Obama can get away with his lawlessness is if there is no engaged opposition party. So naturally the GOP accommodates him. Makes you wonder which team the beltway GOP are playing for.
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