Join Me in a Holy Crusade – a War on RINOs
One of the things we want to do at BJG is actually make a difference by actively promoting conservative principles and safeguarding our freedoms. With this in mind, I am planning what I consider to be a holy crusade and am asking any like-minded BJG followers to join me. But first, let me digress.
Anyone who follows BJG is probably aware that I detest RINOs more than just about anything else in the world. In many ways, I loathe RINOs even more than Democrats. Democrats are somewhat honest about their agenda – to turn our nation into a socialist third world cesspool. RINOs supposedly are on our side but usually end up stabbing us in the back and assisting Democrats in turning the United States into a socialist third world cesspool. The Stimulus passed because of Collins, Snowe and Specter. Cap and Trade made it through the House only because eight RINOs voted for it.
At least Democrats have values. Their values suck, but have them. RINOs have no values, but are simply out for themselves. They value the friendship of Democrats and media praise (as infrequent as it may be) far more than the wishes of the people who elected them. Case in point, Saxby Chambliss praising Ted Kennedy at a recent town hall meeting, explaining that “in the Senate, we are like a family.”End of digression.
Last week the closure of hearings on Cass Sunstein was made possible because six RINOs (Hatch, Bennett, Lugar, Voinovich, Snowe and Collins) voted with the Democrats. Not satisfied with stabbing Republicans in the back just once that day, Bennett and the Dingbat Sisters (Collins and Snowe) stood and applauded along with the Democrats as Barack Obama attacked the idea of death panels and basically called Sarah Palin a liar. Source The Hill. Then McCain publicly tore into Joe Wilson for the “you lie” comment. John McCain throwing a conservative Republican under the bus … who would have ever thought …?
In the eyes of most RINOs, Sarah Palin, Jim DeMint, Mike Pence, Joe Wilson and Michele Bachman are greater enemies than Barack Obama, Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi.
So, in 2010, my goal is to help take a RINO down and Utah looks like a good possibility.
Robert Bennett is up for re-election in 2010 and is expected to face a tough battle for the GOP nomination from Utah AG Mark Shurtleff, who is far more conservative. Shurtleff’s stances on issues: reduce government spending, suspend earmarks, end the bailouts, preserve traditional marriage, protect life and secure the borders. Bennett’s ACU rating for 2008 was 64. Shurtleff is not perfect. He supported McCain in the 2008 primaries and investigated the NCAA Bowl Championship Series selection process (an affliction that seems to plague most Utah politicians). The Utes were not national champions. Get over it.
Both Bennett and Shurtleff are Mormons, a key to holding office in Utah.
How bad is Bennett? From Congressional Quarterly:
He (Bennett) has received criticism from conservatives when he was seen as heavily involved in the process creating a $700 billion financial industry bailout fund last year. He also was a strong supporter of President George W. Bush even as the former president’s approval ratings took a hit. Conservatives became increasingly frustrated with Bush because of his deficit-creating budgets that Bennett voted for.
Bennett also voted for and got some criticism from activists on a 2007 immigration bill that would have overhauled U.S. immigration policies, provide for a temporary guest worker program and institute new border security measures.
Bennett noted that he has begun to “rehabilitate himself” with President Obama in office, saying he voted against automobile bailout package, the economic stimulus law, confirming Timothy F. Geithner as Treasury secretary — and that he would vote no on the upcoming budget resolution.
Bennett has stabbed his constituents in the back repeatedly for 16 years and now has begun to “rehabilitate himself?” Yes, in many ways Democrats are actually more honest than RINOs.
Many Utah Republicans believe Bennett has become too liberal and too much of a Washington insider in his three terms in the Senate. A potential primary could be a “barn-burner.” NOTE: Utah is weird. If anyone wins 60% or more of votes at the state convention, he/she becomes the candidate and there is no primary. In 2008, Utah voters “primaried” Representative Chris Cannon, a strong proponent of comprehensive immigration reform. Utah is a deep red state and winning the GOP nomination is tantamount to election.
“Primarying” Bennett would not only remove a thorne from the side of conservatives, but also send a message to RINOs everywhere - we’re sick of your crap and we’re not going to put up with it it any more. I plan to support Mark Shurtleff in any way I can from afar (I live exist in Michigan).
Let’s start ridding the GOP of RINOs one at a time or even faster if possible. If readers of true conservative at websites like BJG and Redstate get involved, we can help make it happen. There will be plenty of RINO targets around in 2010: Bennett, McCain, Isakson, Murkowski, Crist, Kirk, etc. Pick one out and work to ”primary” his/her butt. Had we started this process in the Reagan years, RINOs wouldn’t exist in red states like Arizona, Alabama, Mississippi, Utah, Texas, Tennessee and Utah.
CQ’s take on the Utah Senate Race.
Conservatives cannot take the country back without taking our party back!
No more RINOs. Not now! Not ever!
Hat tip: Congressional Quarterly and The Hill
[1]
Conservatives far outnumber RINOs, yet RINOs control the RNC and most state organizations. It we can “primary” RINOs, control will soon follow. With the enthusiasm generated by the Tea Parties, now is the time to act. David Frum is whining about the influence Glenn Beck is having on the GOP. Let’s make the little man’s life miserable by “primasrying” his RINO buddies. Maybe he’ll go back to Canada.
[2]
We have allies
[3]
And here as well.
[4]
Why support people who continue to screw us? If I lived in Maine, I’d probably vote for the Democrat over Olympia Snowe.
[5]
even if Senator Bob Bennett (R-Utah) WASN’T a “RINO” I think it’s time for him to go.
Why? (I hear you ask)
‘Cause I follow politics closely (ok, TOO closely)…and I practically never HEARD of this guy! I actually had to strain to remember him!
We need FIREBRANDS in the Senate. It just gets worse when the only time they DO speak is to demean US!
Bob Bennett we hardly knew ye…but what we DID know, we didn’t like!
[6]
I’m in. We’ll never reform the R party while these jerks run it.
And down with Charlie Crist too.
The RINOS in the Senate are fully half of the 40 seats we hold. It’s going to be a long process.
Let’s get a few, and see what the response is.
There are always 2 battles going on in American politics.
1) The left’s war against America.
2) The R party’s war against conservatives.
And it’s hard to say which one is more savage, sometimes.
[7]
Yahoo -
You’re right. People like Frum make no bones about the fact that they are trying to purge us, In fact, I read that your state chairman id conducting a purge of the Florida GOP.
It’s going to be a long process, but we have to start some time. If we can take just a couple down in 2010, it will send a message. Had we “primaried” Lugar, McCain and Bennett years ago, the RINO problem wouldn’t be what it is. I realize we will never have true conservatives from solid blue states, but why have them from Utah, Arizona and Indiana?
Right now we have the momentum. The Frums don’t.
[8]
Justrand -
“Cause I follow politics closely (ok, TOO closely)…and I practically never HEARD of this guy! I actually had to strain to remember him!”
The same could be said for the likes of Cochran and Alexander. Or, buy a Richard Lugar doll: wind it up and it does nothing for 32 years.
[9]
bc3b: “Or, buy a Richard Lugar doll: wind it up and it does nothing for 32 years”
Ah…not true!!
The “Lugar doll” serves a VERY useful purpose!! Whenever the media needs to add the line “A leading Republican supported the Democrat legislation“, they call DICKIE!!
Lugar sits by the phone waiting for the call!!
[10]
Bennett and Hatch NEED to go.
But #1, #1 on my list is a guy we MUST defeat.
Crist.
He’s not even a RINO, he’s a Democrat liar.
His temp appointee to the Senate calls himself a Crist Republican.
His first act as Senator was to block a bill proposing offshore drilling in FL.
And he also said this: “Everybody in the chamber just gasped. He should be censured.”
That’s right. He wants Wilson censured.
We must support Rubio.
[11]
Justrand -
In 2006 the Dims didn’t even put up a token candidate against Lugar. I’m sure cost savings were part of it, but why run against a Republican who supports you nearly 50% of the time?
[12]
I realize we will never have true conservatives from solid blue states, but why have them from Utah, Arizona and Indiana?
That’s what really loses us votes in the Senate: Dems and RINOs from solid red states.
It’s frustrating, but look, a lot of people in those states can’t wait to vote for them, I don’t understand but there it is.
Look at Eph, for example. Nice guy and all, but he can’t WAIT to pull the lever for Kyl and McCain. And look what they do when they win.
We have to ask him, do you want 20 million new democrats in the country? Plus families? Do you want to lose 43 states every 4 years? Do you want the only 2 political parties in the USA to be Democrats and La Raza?
All we can do is keep trying.
[13]
I realize we will never have true conservatives from solid blue states, but why have them from Utah, Arizona and Indiana?
….
And SC and NE.
And KS and GA….
It INFURIATES me.
This is why I think the country is finished. People don’t understand there is a DIFFERENCE between winning and undoing the damage.
These politicians from BOTH parties are responsible for what happens in the near future.
It’s coming.
[14]
I wouldn’t necessarily put McCain and Kyl in the same boat. Kyl is squishy on one issue – perthaps the most important issue of them all. McCain is a true RINO with a history of backstabbing and “reaching across the aisle” that spans more than 20 years.
[15]
Artist -
Don’t underestimate the power of the Tea party movement. Hopefully is will play a role in ousting people like Bennett in the primaries.
We need to make sure that people like Bennett, McCain and Crist don’t make it through the primaries.
MFG is far more tolerant of RINOs than I am, but I generally agree that in the general election a RINO is preferable to a Dim. Theer are exceptions, however: Snowe, Collins, Specter (when he was a Pubbie), Chaffee, Voinovich.
That’e why I don’t get upset about Norm Coleman. He voted with the Dims at least half the time.
[16]
I agree.
I’d also encourage everyone to sign up for the Club for Growth’s e-mail list. They target the worst RINOs very effectively.
[17]
wcvarones, you’re looking, um, well!
(of course, we all look like crap in the morning!)
[18]
I would have been on the other side of this issue a couple of years back. I always took Reagans statement, “Do no harm to a fellow Republican” to heart. After seeing RINO’s continually stab us in the back on NON-social issues, I have had enough. I want them all gone or perhaps they can become Democrats. I still say we can be a big tent and allow some moderation on social issues. BTW – I am pro-life 100% and think it should stay on the platform.
However, Hatch, McAmnesty, the Maine dingbats, Lugball and others sell us out on almost every important judicial, tax, climate vote. Also, look how most treated Palin. THEY are threatened by her. She might be the one that removes their friggin snouts from the cesspool of muddy corruption.
No more! They all need to go!!!!! We drove Specter away but that was only a start.
[19]
Good point Varones. Glad you can join us this morning. The key is unity and getting conservatives to show up for primaries. Turnout is always down in non-Presidential years, so a big conservative tuenout in a few key states like Arizona and Utah could help make a few Senate seats more conservative.
Mdefl -
Palin scares RINOs as much as she scares Dims.
[20]
The best message we could send to the GOP as a whole would be to unseat John McCain. Unfortunately, the only people running against him are Chris Simcox, from the minutemen, and Jim Deakin, a guy with NO experience who had $350 on June 30 according to the FEC. Simcox is considered to be an extremist and some of the posts I read about him were not very favorable. We need a candidate but if you really want to send a message, this is the seat.
[21]
Deakin has no experience you say. Is he just a regular citizen who wants to make a difference? I haven’t heard of him.
[22]
If Republicans vote for Obamacare a third party should seriously be considered. Even if it means giving the DEMs 80 Senate seats. Let the country burn to the ground by DEM rule then a new and stronger opposition party will emerge. But today’s GOP must be eliminated. Otherwise, the RINOs switch to the DEM party or they retire. Either way the GOP will suffer huge short term losses, only to be corrected in the near future.
[23]
20. McCain is the Ted Kennedy of AZ. The people here keep voting for him but have no reason why other than he’s better than the DEM. If the DEMs here put up a conservative MAC would lose.
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I mean no political experience for Jim Deakin. Other than that I don’t know much about him. I did just find out that he is being supported by a group called 912candidates. You can check them out here: http://912candidates.org/az/
that looks like a pretty interesting idea
[25]
BC,
You have not answered the important questions. What is my bag limit on RINOs? That, and do I have to tag those I bag? Finally can I bait the field?
[26]
Finally can I bait the field?
Heh. They fall for it every time.
[27]
Interesting idea indeed!
I like this guy:
Jim is not a career politician, but is an Arizona Businessman who is frustrated with the direction of our government and representatives.
You should vote for Jim Deakin because politicians cause our problems. Those politicians then campaign as being against those problems. During election time, the politicians tell us how they are going to stop “Pork” and “Earmarks” and “Balance the Budget”. After the election is won, it is business as usual. This cycle must be stopped. We need new people with real American ideals, principles and values in Washington D.C.
The time is now to honor the success of our forefathers. Remember that you are free men and women speaking for the blessings of Liberty. If we do not make our voices heard, if we do not stop this out of control tyrannical government, slavery will be our future and the future of our children.
Freedom is a gift from God! It is not a benefit of government.
[28]
Yeah, but which bait works better? An invite to “Face the Nation”, “Meet the Press” or an overnight stay in the Lincoln Bedroom?
[29]
If we coofrdinate with other trus conservative blogs, we can increase our effectiveness.
drdog09 – there is no limit. Bag as money as you want. Since you’re in a red state, why not making sure Kay Barely is replaced by a true conservative?
[30]
Yeah, but which bait works better? An invite to “Face the Nation”, “Meet the Press” or an overnight stay in the Lincoln Bedroom?
mpthompson
A hot tub party with barney fwank.
[31]
bc,
KBH, won’t win the governorship so its moot. Her election round is not due till ‘12. Now if she bows out after ‘12; Barton will probably try to replace her. He’s not a Wilson or Pence but he’s no RINO. Hell if I thought I could get some financial backing I’d run for his Congressional seat.
[32]
drdog09 -
I thought she said she would be resigning her senate seat. Has this changed?