When the Tea Party Goes Too Far
The Wall Street Journal just posted tomorrow's opinion page, including a "rando" (an item in "Review & Outlook," where the Journal's unsigned commentary--its editorials--appear) on next week's Republican Senate primary in Delaware. Voters, the Journal argues, ought to cast their ballots for Congressman and former Governor Mike Castle, a moderate Republican, and not for his conservative opponent, Christine O'Donnell, who has the support of the Tea Party.
So GOP primary voters must decide if they want to vote for Mr. Castle, ...who would help Republicans organize the Senate and who opposed ObamaCare but who will give them heartburn on some issue in the future. Or they can vote their heart even if it means giving up a Senate seat....
Politics in our two-party system is about coalition building, and any successful party must stretch across many groups. Republicans will have to accommodate much of the tea party agenda if they hope to assemble a new majority and avoid third-party challenges. But tea partiers who want to restore proper Constitutional limits, rather than merely pad the ratings of talk radio, might recall William F. Buckley Jr.'s counsel* that his policy was to vote for the most conservative candidate who could win.
I've been agonizing over this one--or at least co-agonizing, as I've read Paul Mirgengoff's continuing series on "The Delaware Conundrum," the fifth and most recent of which Paul posted earlier today. I keep hoping for a poll showing that O'Donnell would have even a remote chance of defeating the Democratic in the general. None has emerged. To the contrary. It appears as close to a certainty as ever arises in politics that, whereas Castle would win, O'Donnell would lose, and lose catastrophically.
If I lived in Delaware, I'd vote for Castle.
*William F. Buckley's actual words: that he always supported "the rightward-most viable candidate." And whereas Bill always receives the attribution for that remark these days, he lifted it, as he himself explained, from a liberal who once remarked that he supported the "leftward-most viable candidate." The liberal in question? Bill's friend and perpetual antagonist, John Kenneth Galbraith.
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Re: When the Tea Party Goes Too Far
Supreme Court nominations. Cabinet level appointments. I think those may be the most consequential benefits, and the most damning liabilities.
Sep '10
Re: When the Tea Party Goes Too Far
Peter, you have stated elsewhere on this forum that, after November, the Republicans must become a "Party of Principle." I absolutely agree. But they cannot do that unless they are willing to stand by their principles, even in the face of defeat. That is what holding a principle is all about. You never waver from it.
Mike Castle says he will not vote to repeal Obamacare. Well, what good is he? He is just another RINO, like Snowe, Collins and McCain. I hate RINOs because they give cover to the Democrats' no-faith attempts to "build coalitions" and establish "bi-partisanship."
If Christine O'Donnell stands for the principles we like, then we must support her, even if she is doomed to lose. That way, the American people will learn exactly what our principles are, and that, more importantly, we are willing to stand by them. If people say, "But O'Donnell is a nut," we say, "Hell, yeah; she's nutty as a fruitcake. But we love her principles." Then we explain those principles. That is how you regain trust – not by conveniently throwing the true-blue Tea Party candidate overboard, and supporting the unprincipled, faithless RINO.
Edited on Sep. 7 at 9:21pmAug '10
Re: When the Tea Party Goes Too Far
Peter, I consider Mr. Buckley to truly be my hero. I do not exaggerate when I say that the few early memories of life were of my mother watching Firing Line on the TV in the corner of the linoleum-floored kitchen. (The TV's place as a feature of the living room was not yet universal.) The theme song was burned into my brain and those powerful fragments of William F. Buckley made me a more refined man than I was likely to have become in the hardscrabble world of blue-collar Pittsburgh, son of a steel-fabricating laborer. Regarding the tactic of supporting the most conservative candidate with the best chance of winning, I say if it is of value, that value is severely circumscribed. It does not rise to the level of a long-range strategy. If it works, it can only be used as a rare hit-and-run technique. The task, as I see it, is this--educate thevoter. I've told my Pro-lifer friends this repeatedly: you can only cleverly suck so much out of the voter percentages as they are; after that, it is all downhill compromise. Change voter's hearts.
Edited on Sep. 10 at 9:29pmRe: When the Tea Party Goes Too Far
Dave Carter
Supreme Court nominations. Cabinet level appointments. I think those may be the most consequential benefits, and the most damning liabilities. · Sep 7 at 8:46pm
And don't forget my favorite: oversight hearings.
May '10
Re: When the Tea Party Goes Too Far
Were I a Delaware voter, I'd be royally ticked right now at the GOP for putting two absolutely abysmal candidates in front of me. Mike Castle, with his ACU rating of just about 50 is Republican pretty much only when election time rolls around. Christine O'Donnell is one of the least-impressive candidate I've ever seen and I've actually watched campaign footage of Alvin Greene.
We can't trust Castle to remember his party affiliation and we can't trust O'Donnell not to strap on the tinfoil hat or just flat-out fib. Let this be a lesson to us.
Sep '10
Re: When the Tea Party Goes Too Far
You're absolutely right, David. There's no long-term advantage in voting for RINOs and squishy Republicans (See post 22 on this thread). It's a sucker's game, and ultimately it plays right into the hands of the Democrats.
We need real conservatives in the House and Senate.
Re: When the Tea Party Goes Too Far
Jim Geraghty at the Campaign Spot is fond of pointing out how no matter how conservative a Blue Dog Democrat is, he votes to put Nancy Pelosi in leadership. And that vote is the most important.
It's probably worth considering the corollary in the Castle case.
Edited on Sep. 7 at 10:37pmJul '10
Re: When the Tea Party Goes Too Far
Perhaps an outstanding Tea Party candidate could beat Castle in the primary and go on to triumph over the Democrat in this extraordinary year.
But O'Donnell is far from outstanding. She has fatally wounded herself.
Voting for her in the primary might be a satisfying, principled act.
But she cannot win the general election. Probably should not win, on her own lack of merit.
May '10
Re: When the Tea Party Goes Too Far
Kenneth: .....Voting for her in the primary might be a satisfying, principled act.
But she cannot win the general election......
Hmm, logic...pragmatism...caution...
You, Gen. Patton, are coming along nicely. Just don't lose all your spunk, because we're going to need it, too, soon enough.
Aug '10
Re: When the Tea Party Goes Too Far
Kenneth: But O'Donnell is far from outstanding. She has fatally wounded herself.
Voting for her in the primary might be a satisfying, principled act.
But she cannot win the general election. Probably should not win, on her own lack of merit. ·
Molly, that consideration should have been given long before the primary. Delaware is a hard place for conservatives. That is what must be fixed. Sending a compromised Republican from such places to Washington will not only not fix the problem, such strategies inevitably progress from localized infection to septic condition threatening the nation. And Kenneth, I do not do things for "satisfaction." It is all strategy, and the strategy is get conservatives in office by making conservatives (including me) work hard. What makes conservatives work hard? Losing elections. If the Republicans do not like it that the Tea Party is being a "difficult child," then they should have paid attention over the last couple of decades, when, as well-behaved Republicans, we kept saying that we did not like being played for fools. No, the RINOs were the impudent children. It is discipline time.
Edited on Sep. 8 at 5:54amMay '10
Re: When the Tea Party Goes Too Far
Mike Castle supported DISCLOSE. He voted for Crap & Tax. He doesn't support repealing Obamacare. I keep hearing that O'Donnell is a whack-job over & over again. I've read all the stories and frankly they seem a little thin. And don't those allegations of "whack-job" sound familiar?
I don't live in Delaware; I live 25 minutes away in suburban Philadelphia. Most of my neighbors & many of my friends have moved there over the past 10 -15 years. The Wilmington suburbs (the northern part of the state) mirror the Philadelphia suburbs on a smaller scale. Southern Delaware is mostly conservative.
O'Donnell is far the ideal candidate. Neither is Castle. But don't underestimate the effects of the Grand Awakening on the state that brought us Joe Biden. Or the anger at the outsiders and pundits (on both sides). If the good people of Delaware nominate O'Donnell, I believe she has a decent shot at winning. My two cents.
May '10
Re: When the Tea Party Goes Too Far
This thread perfectly illustrates why we will find a way to blow it yet. This earnest and heartfelt statement is uselessly hyperbolic: "Castle, if elected, will vote with the Dems 99.9% of the time. He could even likely switch parties."
Remember- the GOP, including the Maine senators, voted 100% against that law. Saying that control means nothing betrays ignorance of Senate rules and procedures. When you control the Senate, you control the agenda- what bills get voted on and what is in them (the "manager's amendment" process let Harry Reid write the "health care" bill).
Castle has not said he supports ObamaCare- he said that the effort for full repeal is fruitlessly tilting at windmills with TVG in the WH- purely symbolic:
"You're not going to be able to repeal this legislation," says Castle. "Now maybe we could if there's an election for a new president and you have a couple of elections for Congress. I'd be willing to consider it.""
If I could vote for Castle against Al Franken or Amy Klobuchar (author of the Global War on Toys), how long do you think it would take me to blacken in the circle?
Aug '10
Re: When the Tea Party Goes Too Far
Thank you Mr. Oyen, but so you know, I am quite aware of the importance of procedural politics as well as ideological politics. I trust that the Republican establishment is also aware of the importance that procedural politics (committees, bringing bills up for a vote, judiciary picks, etc.) play--since they are always trying to scare us into keeping RINOs safe in order to preserve their procedural latitude. No more! Comforted, now, by knowing of their keen awareness of procedure, I trust that the GOP leadership will start to listen to the adult voices that are now thriving because of the Tea Party movement. Procedure? Exactly. And we are going to make sure that we really have conservatives in place for the long haul of profound procedural and ideological victories. These new voices are spirited--but soberly rational; zealous--but savvy in tactics and long-term strategy; maligned by the Left and the establishment Republican alike--but they are going to continue to organize, reorganize, adapt, learn and--as they go along--make a permanent and amazingly successful mark in American, conservative history. Enjoy the ride.
May '10
Re: When the Tea Party Goes Too Far
David Schmitt
....so you know, I am quite aware of the importance of procedural politics.... I trust that the Republican establishment is also aware .... we are going to make sure that we really have conservatives in place for the long haul of profound procedural and ideological victories.
I heard True Believers keening non-stop in 2008 that we should just let Obama win and the public would usher in the Perfect New Right in revulsion to TVG. Yes, he has been bad, and there is a negative reaction. Not enough- the balance of electoral power is still in the middle, especially in blue states. And we need blue state Republican senators because we have too many red state Dems.
Anyone who pretends that the damage TVG and his near-supermajority have wrought in the last two years was worth it because we are now going to elect all Real Conservatives or none- that will fix everything- needs to take an antidote along with the Kool-Aid. It will take at least 10 to 20 years of outright control of Washington to un-do the last two.
Jul '10
Re: When the Tea Party Goes Too Far
Read this and weep.
Weep for "conservatives" who vote RINO.
Somehow Reagan won in Delaware.
Edited on Sep. 10 at 6:34amJun '10
Re: When the Tea Party Goes Too Far
Little help here please: TVG?
Aug '10
Re: When the Tea Party Goes Too Far
Thanks pilgrim, I was wondering this myself.
Jun '10
Re: When the Tea Party Goes Too Far
David Schmitt
Thanks pilgrim, I was wondering this myself. · Sep 10 at 9:07pm
Looks like a dead thread, I am guessing from context: '"the virtual god" You?