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2018 GOP Senate … Mitch, Extend the Olive Branch
Majority Leader McConnell has been accurately described as both very strong and very weak. Unfortunately, his strength generally seems to be against different voices in his own Party and his weakness against the “other side of the aisle” (exceptions acknowledged for Garland and Gorsuch). There are continued signs of dissatisfaction with his leadership over the failed attempts at legislative accomplishments thus far this year. The natives are restless. Can’t we all just get along?
Unfortunately, the indications are that the GOP civil war continues. The war between these factions in the GOP (the President’s supporters versus his detractors) continues unabated. The memory of the fight in 2016 over how the President was going to lose the WH and the Senate is being regurgitated for 2018 … “you ‘angry populists’ must accept our Senate committee chosen candidates or risk losing the Senate.” Corker versus Trump.
Oh boy, there you go again. This is the essence of the Stupid Party.
In the 2014 Senate primaries, Mitch famously promised to “punch the Tea Party in the nose”. Well, he did. And he is facing the consequences of that now. Remember Mississippi! Hello President Trump!
So, Mr. McConnell, we ain’t in 2014 any more. And Alabama was a preliminary lesson for you on that. And 2018 is sitting on a silver platter for you and the GOP. If you are the gentleman from Kentucky that your career has shown you to be, humble yourself and make the first gesture of peace offering to the Administration and the “Tea Party” populists in the GOP (think Steve Bannon). It makes no sense whatsoever to fight against each other on this. Give and take. Learn from Alabama. You have certainly “given” a lot over your career (to the other Party). Sit down with representatives of the President and even his former adviser Mr. Bannon. Divvy up the states where the GOP has re-elections of current seats (AZ, MS, NE, NV, TN, TX, UT and WY). Give some to the Bannon wing rather than fight him, in return for their acquiescence on some of the states most important to you and your incumbents.
And from that understanding, form a cooperative strategy on the 25 states that the Democrats must protect in 2018. Fully 10 of these states are ones which were won by President Trump in 2016 (FL, IN, MI, MO, MT, ND, OH, PA, WV, WI), and VA is up for grabs too with the Hillary stain on Kaine. Acknowledge that. President Trump won states that you previously lost. There’s something different going on and instead of the status quo, let’s make some game-changing strategy together in the selection of GOP Senate candidates. This is good for the GOP, good for the Country, and good for your legacy. If you would prefer to go out on top versus having to fight an internecine war within your own Party to retain your leadership, this is a golden opportunity.
You have made great progress with the President with regard to remaking the Federal judiciary. Let’s take that momentum to the greatest GOP Senate win ever in 2018.
If this truce doesn’t occur, we already see the signs of what lies in store. We’ll get articles in the leftist pub The Hill … Bannon putting Senate majority at risk in 2018, Republicans warn. I remember well the same empty false fears thrown out in 2016 about the risk of President Trump and a GOP Senate majority. For the love of G-d, don’t do this again. The GOP needs more Senators. On this we all agree. But you must acknowledge and accept that many of these candidates will not be the same old, same old nice safe and squishy candidates that you most prefer. Accept some firebrands that give you the willies. The voting base of your Party demands it. This is not for Steve Bannon. He’s just the voice for a Yuge segment of your voter base.
Do it for your Country. Do it for your Party. Do it for own your legacy. Please. Don’t pull a Boehner.
Published in General
Enough good old boy corruption. Whoever has the best chance of winning should be supported.
The Turtle needs to go.
Assuming McConnell did offer the olive branch to Bannon, do you think Bannon would take it?
I don’t, but I’m curious the thoughts of others.
I like what Columbo is suggesting in theory. I don’t know how it would work in practice. I frankly have no idea what Bannon would do. I think this sort of thing can’t work in “public”
McConnell will likely back Jeff Flake in AZ. Sen. Flake has low approval in AZ and might be a seat that McConnell could quietly seed to Bannon’s wing.
Similarly Bannon has been reported to want to take out Sen. Fischer in Nebraska. Her crime was backing away from Trump during audio tape of Trump saying vulgar things about grabbing women. This is a seat Bannon should back away from.
I have no belief that either side will actually back down in public. They may maintain their public support for candidates in certain races but also not divert many resources to the particular race, backing down more in action than in word.
Where I think this might be more helpful is in dividing resources to attack the seats held by Democrats. Let Bannon focus on taking out some Democrats and McConnell focus on taking out others.
That is a fair question. But Mitch better not repeat Alabama x 33 either …
Buckley’s axiom has a caveat; The conservative candidate may not be able to win if he has to fight the Republican establishment, the Democratic candidate, and the liberal media all at once.
As far as Bannon, he may not take the olive branch, but McConnell has more options than just all out war with Bannon and complete capitulation. McConnell should pick his battles. Qualified candidates should not be opposed just because they are populist/nationalist. We did alright in 2016 with a bad Senate map as much because we ran credible candidates as because of Trump. That said, opposing Kid Rock (if he runs) is as futile as playing the Globetrotters.
I love analogies and metaphors. That is a really good one.
Even if McConnell tamely submitted to Bannon, Bannon is not going to be interested in any detente.
Bannon has called it a war. I’f I’m McConnell, I treat it like a war and I don’t give any money to the Roy Moore’s of the world. Why would you ever give the other side ammunition to kill you?
I get this to a point. I don’t expect McConnell to change course and support the Roy Moore’s of the world in Primaries. I think that supporting the Republican candidate in the General in in McConnell’s interest.
Reagan said some one who supports you 80% is a friend and ally. In determining the allocation of resources McConnell needs to decide whether his interests are better supported by a Roy Moore Republican or a Democrat.
But why would it be in his interest? One of Bannon’s criteria for supporting these challengers is that they don’t vote for McConnell as leader. So, he could potentially be in the minority but he is still the Republican leader, or maybe they keep the majority but he has leave his leadership role. Not seeing the upside for McConnell in these scenario’s.
What is in McConnell’s interest may be retirement. I’ve voted for him three times, growing up in Kentucky. I like him, mostly because his office has always helped me and people I know when we’ve asked. But what I hear from back home is that even Kentuckians who have always liked him and voted for him think it’s time for someone new to have that seat. He’s 75, and he’s been in that seat for 32 years.
I guess we need to define his interest. Is his interest doing what is best for or wanted by his constituents in Kentucky?
Is his interest advancing a philosophy, beliefs or policy ideas?
Or is his interest simply remaining in power?
How we answer the above decides what is in his interest. If someone would advance McConnell’s agenda/world view in some way and advanced the interests of the people, including people in Kentucky but not support McConnell as leader, Is this person in McCconnell’s interest or not?
Same as 90% of elected politicians, and many of those trying to get elected, included those Bannon is supporting.
Ideology and policy papers are just used as a front so they can present themselves as noble, caring civil servants. But for almost all of them, it’s about acquiring and maintaining power.
Comment 4 suggests: McConnell will likely back Jeff Flake in AZ. Sen. Flake has low approval in AZ and might be a seat that McConnell could quietly seed to Bannon’s wing.
It has been said that all situations or questions in life can be answered from a quote from either The Godfather or Star Trek. To that end, I quote Captain James T. Kirk from the 2009 Star Trek movie as to my position on Steve Bannon:
“Either we’re going down … or they are. Kirk out.”
I assert that Steve Bannon is a cancer on the Republican Party and is no conservative. I will do whatever I can to defeat him and any candidate he has endorsed. Either conservatives will go down in the Republican Party, or the populists will.
I am a registered Republican in the State of Arizona. Jeff Flake has served our State as the head of the Goldwater Institute, U.S. Representative and U.S. Senator with honor and distinction. He has an extremely high 97% conservative rating. If Kelli Ward or any other Trump aligned person defeats Jeff Flake in the Republican primary, I will offer my services to be part of “Republicans for Krysten Sinema” and/or “Conservatives for Krysten Sinema” and will work for the defeat of the Trump aligned person.
I remember in 1976 that after a vicious Republican Primary between two Republican Representative John Conlan and Sam Steiger, Democrat Dennis DeConcini was elected as our senator and he served for three terms. Arizona has become substantially more Democratic since that time. If Republicans want Democrat Krysten Sinema to be elected in 2018, all they have to do is to refuse to nominate Jeff Flake in the Republican Primary.
Other than proving a dislike of all things Trump, what would this accomplish? What conservative principle, conservative policy or conservative judicial nomination do you think will be advanced by Majority Leader Chuck Schumer?
If Bannon and McConnell go to war in my state, more power to them. I will vote for the Republican Candidate because that is the only way for Conservative ideas to advance.
You jump to the conclusion that a defeat of Jeff Flake in the GOP Senate primary automatically means democrat Sinema will win the seat. Why is that? Why is it Jeff Flake or a democrat for you? Are you suggesting an incumbent should never get a primary challenge?
Jeff Flake has vehemently opposed his President. Trump won AZ in 2016. Surely the GOP voters who elected the President get an option for Senate besides a nemesis of their President.
And Dr. Kelli Ward is no flake.
Meet Dr. Kelli Ward
Flake has voted with Trump 97% of the time. However, he correctly sees Trump as contrary to our conservative ideals. I strongly recommend that you read Flake’s “Conscience of a Conservative.”
Also, Kelli Ward has promoted the myth that contrails are “chemtrails.”
I have no problem with you liking Flake or supporting him in the primary. My concern is your position that if Flake loses then you will not only fail to vote for the Republican winner but will publicly advocate for the election of the Democrat.
Reagan’s rule was that if some was with him 80% of the time that person was an ally not an enemy. Would a non Flake Republican betray your policy preferences more than 20% of the time. Would a democrat come anywhere close to agreeing with you 80% of the time, or even 20% of the time?
I am 65 years old. In my mind, Trump represents the greatest danger to our country in my lifetime. Period. Full stop.
Last year, I voted for the Democrat for AZ-1 over a Trump supporter. I do not regret my vote in any way, shape or form. When the Republican Party nominates Trump acolyte, I will vote for the Democrat.
The Republican Party has gone through this inter-party fight every 52 years, in 2016, in 1964 and in 2012. To quote James T. Kirk in 2009 Star Trek:
“Either we’re going down … or they are. Kirk out.”
In 1991 David Duke was the Republican nominee for Governor of Louisiana. I wouldn’t have voted for him either. Would you?
In the 1950’s Democratic Senator John F. Kennedy refused to endorse a fellow Democrat for the U.S. Senate. When party member implored him to respect party loyalty, Senator Kennedy famously said: “Sometimes party loyalty asks too much.”
Voting for a Trump clone would ask far too much of party loyalty.
I already read Barry Goldwater’s – you know, the real one.
Both are great books.
Heh. Krysten Sinema. Looks like one of those easily-triggered College girls.
Uh huh. Would ‘Conservative with a conscience’ Barry Goldwater support this?!
Yeah, she wants higher taxes, single payer health care, more gun control and is anti-Israel. So clearly she is the best choice for a “principled conservative “
Bill Kristol is verklempt.
Citation, please.
You have provided no citation for this scurrilous claim. Furthermore, reputable sources dispute your unsupported assertion.
Kelli Ward: I don’t believe in ‘chemtrails’
No, Kelli Ward doesn’t believe in the ‘chemtrail’ conspiracy theory
There is a provision in Ricochet’s Code of Conduct lists the following as an infraction:
By rights, your comment should probably be flagged.
Citation? This also fails the sniff test. At least concerning immigration, Mr. Flake’s voting record is decidedly hostile to Mr. Trump’s agenda. NumbersUSA rates him negatively.
If it is, don’t count on anything being done about it.