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Current Events => Politics => Topic started by: formerlurker on April 10, 2011, 03:00:36 PM

Title: Markey: Republicans "passing legislation to destroy the whole wide world"
Post by: formerlurker on April 10, 2011, 03:00:36 PM
[youtube=425,350]AegTnmmf-ig[/youtube]

Short version?   the GOP is E-V-I-L. 

Watch the meltdown of this raving lunatic.

   



Title: Re: Markey: Republicans "passing legislation to destroy the whole wide world"
Post by: DumbAss Tanker on April 10, 2011, 03:47:20 PM
Quote
"Republicans "passing legislation to destroy the whole wide world"

Finally!  SWEET!!!

 :yahoo:
Title: Re: Markey: Republicans "passing legislation to destroy the whole wide world"
Post by: BlueStateSaint on April 13, 2011, 10:56:16 AM
Finally!  SWEET!!!

 :yahoo:

Really!  I was wondering when Teh Rove was going to get around to this!
Title: Re: Markey: Republicans "passing legislation to destroy the whole wide world"
Post by: NHSparky on April 13, 2011, 11:27:11 AM
Don't ever tell me there are conservatives in MA.  Ever.  If there were, ya'll would band together and get rid of some of these idiots.

But noooooooo...ya'll are like abused spouses, coming out of the trailer after Daddy-Democrat is done using you as a punching bag, and time after time, you keep pulling the lever, going back to them, "Because he loves me!"
Title: Re: Markey: Republicans "passing legislation to destroy the whole wide world"
Post by: Ptarmigan on April 13, 2011, 02:12:32 PM
Quote
"Republicans "passing legislation to destroy the whole wide world"

Does this mean a worldwide destruction of leftism?  :-) :fuelfire:
Title: Re: Markey: Republicans "passing legislation to destroy the whole wide world"
Post by: true_blood on April 13, 2011, 08:15:41 PM
Don't ever tell me there are conservatives in MA.  Ever.  If there were, ya'll would band together and get rid of some of these idiots.
But noooooooo...ya'll are like abused spouses, coming out of the trailer after Daddy-Democrat is done using you as a punching bag, and time after time, you keep pulling the lever, going back to them, "Because he loves me!"
It kills me Sparky. I'm surrounded by liberals. Even to this day, they, the libs/dems bitch and moan about unemployment, gas/food prices and yet they still vote "stupid".
Title: Re: Markey: Republicans "passing legislation to destroy the whole wide world"
Post by: formerlurker on April 15, 2011, 07:22:29 PM
Don't ever tell me there are conservatives in MA.  Ever.  If there were, ya'll would band together and get rid of some of these idiots.

But noooooooo...ya'll are like abused spouses, coming out of the trailer after Daddy-Democrat is done using you as a punching bag, and time after time, you keep pulling the lever, going back to them, "Because he loves me!"

 :yawn:
Title: Re: Markey: Republicans "passing legislation to destroy the whole wide world"
Post by: NHSparky on April 15, 2011, 07:37:17 PM
:yawn:


Yeah, go ahead and put that out there.  What did MA do last November?

We took back our Legislature, our state Senate, BOTH House seats, and damn near took the Governors office--and in fact he's known as the GINO, with the 3-1 GOP majorities in both houses.

You?  You still have Deville Patrick.  You still have all but a handful of state offices in the hands of the 'Rats.  EVERY SINGLE CONGRESSMAN is a Democrat.  If Scott Brown faced election today, he'd likely lose--and he may well next year.

So again, yawn.  But deep down you know I'm right.
Title: Re: Markey: Republicans "passing legislation to destroy the whole wide world"
Post by: formerlurker on April 15, 2011, 07:57:40 PM
Yeah, go ahead and put that out there.  What did MA do last November?

We took back our Legislature, our state Senate, BOTH House seats, and damn near took the Governors office--and in fact he's known as the GINO, with the 3-1 GOP majorities in both houses.

You?  You still have Deville Patrick.  You still have all but a handful of state offices in the hands of the 'Rats.  EVERY SINGLE CONGRESSMAN is a Democrat.  If Scott Brown faced election today, he'd likely lose--and he may well next year.

So again, yawn.  But deep down you know I'm right.

Who is beating Scott Brown?   

Title: Re: Markey: Republicans "passing legislation to destroy the whole wide world"
Post by: formerlurker on April 15, 2011, 08:01:53 PM
Quote
A poll out this week from Wester New England College finds that a majority of registered voters in deep blue Massachusetts give Brown good marks on his job approval. In addition, Brown tops a couple of potential Democratic challengers in head-to-head matchups.

Fifty-seven percent of registered voters said they approve of Brown's job performance, while only one-quarter said they disapproved. That's even better than fellow Massachusetts Senator John Kerry's approval rating; while 57% of voters also approved of Kerry's job performance, a larger number, 34%, disapproved.

In hypothetical 2012 contests, Brown led Rep. Mike Capuano (D) 51% to 38%, and topped Elizabeth Warren -- the Harvard professor and liberal favorite for her support of stricter financial regulation -- by a comfortable 51% to 34%. And though Capuano and Warren don't have Brown's name recognition, that's not the only reason he holds such strong leads on them. Over half of all respondents (52%) said Brown deserves to be reelected.

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/03/poll-scott-brown-in-great-shape-heading-into-2012-reelection-campaign.php
Title: Re: Markey: Republicans "passing legislation to destroy the whole wide world"
Post by: formerlurker on April 15, 2011, 08:05:45 PM
McGovern is in the heart of the conservative area of MA, but he is owned by the unions that dominate the state so he won readily against a very lame tea party candidate Marty Lamb.   There were a few very strong (R) candidates in that race that lost out in the primaries because of the tea party -- which really blew it on this candidate as they did zero vetting.   Bielat will run against Frank again, and will come out stronger.   Especially if Frank's district gets redone, which is predicted to happen.

The redistricting may end up hurting the Democrats in 2012.   No idea how that is going to work out. 
Title: Re: Markey: Republicans "passing legislation to destroy the whole wide world"
Post by: Eupher on April 15, 2011, 09:54:20 PM
McGovern is in the heart of the conservative area of MA, but he is owned by the unions that dominate the state so he won readily against a very lame tea party candidate Marty Lamb.   There were a few very strong (R) candidates in that race that lost out in the primaries because of the tea party -- which really blew it on this candidate as they did zero vetting.   Bielat will run against Frank again, and will come out stronger.   Especially if Frank's district gets redone, which is predicted to happen.

The redistricting may end up hurting the Democrats in 2012.   No idea how that is going to work out. 

It would really be nice to see Fwank pack his bags.
Title: Re: Markey: Republicans "passing legislation to destroy the whole wide world"
Post by: NHSparky on April 16, 2011, 05:39:54 AM
It ain't gonna be him.  He's too senior.

And frankly, touting Brown as some sort of sign that MA is going conservative is, well, horseshit.  As he's shown so far, he's anything but.  If he WAS acting like a conservative in the Senate, he'd be out on his ass next year, and you know it.

Finally, at the state level, nothing changed, nothing will EVER change.  Even you can't deny that, fl.
Title: Re: Markey: Republicans "passing legislation to destroy the whole wide world"
Post by: formerlurker on April 16, 2011, 06:07:57 AM
It ain't gonna be him.  He's too senior.

And frankly, touting Brown as some sort of sign that MA is going conservative is, well, horseshit.  As he's shown so far, he's anything but.  If he WAS acting like a conservative in the Senate, he'd be out on his ass next year, and you know it.

Finally, at the state level, nothing changed, nothing will EVER change.  Even you can't deny that, fl.

:whatever:

Sure, sure, whatever you say. 
Title: Re: Markey: Republicans "passing legislation to destroy the whole wide world"
Post by: NHSparky on April 16, 2011, 06:56:50 AM
:whatever:

Sure, sure, whatever you say. 


Oh, quit with the snark and tell me where I'm ****ing wrong already!  Seriously, do you realize how silly you sound when you thump your chest about "Massachusetts conservatives" and then keep sending the same ****ing people back to Beacon Hill and DC?

Just in case you're wondering:

http://www.redstate.com/froster/2011/02/12/new-acu-ratings-analyzing-the-senate/

They are a little more pragmatic than me, but even they recognize he's about as RINO-esque as Snowe and Collins.
Title: Re: Markey: Republicans "passing legislation to destroy the whole wide world"
Post by: rich_t on April 16, 2011, 07:15:29 AM
Didn't a certain poster here make claims during the election season that no conservative could win in a state like MA?  Or words to that effect?

Weren't some of us chastised for not acknowledging the "reality" of politics when we expressed concerns about how Brown would act if elected?

My memory ain't what it used to be, but I do seem to recall a thread like that.
Title: Re: Markey: Republicans "passing legislation to destroy the whole wide world"
Post by: formerlurker on April 16, 2011, 07:44:23 AM
Oh, quit with the snark and tell me where I'm ****ing wrong already!  Seriously, do you realize how silly you sound when you thump your chest about "Massachusetts conservatives" and then keep sending the same ****ing people back to Beacon Hill and DC?

Just in case you're wondering:

http://www.redstate.com/froster/2011/02/12/new-acu-ratings-analyzing-the-senate/

They are a little more pragmatic than me, but even they recognize he's about as RINO-esque as Snowe and Collins.

Where did I thump my chest about MA conservatives Sparky?    Central MA is made up of moderate conservatives.  You do know the difference right?

NH is also moderate conservatives.   If you are trying to sell me that NH is conservative (save for the loon libertarians you all seem to have an abundance of) then it is you that is quite delusional.  

I explained to you why there is no Republican Congressmen in MA.    Our state republican party leader, Jennifer Nassour, really dropped the ball the past election cycle by lack of focus on key races that had a very good chance of winning (Polito and Connaughton).    She was almost ousted by the party delegates, learned from her mistakes and has regrouped and plotted new plans.    

We captured some more seats in the state legislature, are raising good money, and are moving forward.   Things are changing.  

Scott Brown has a war chest and no one can touch him (maybe Joe Kennedy, but he isn't running).    He wins in 2012 easily.    He took the seat held by a communist.   I really could give a flying fig if you think he's a RINO.    

Next.
Title: Re: Markey: Republicans "passing legislation to destroy the whole wide world"
Post by: formerlurker on April 16, 2011, 07:48:24 AM
I also want to point out the far majority of Congressmen in my state are long-termers.   It is extremely difficult to unseat an incumbent from the start, but add to that the fight against the lobbyists and special interest groups that own those Congressmen and spend lots of money supporting their re-elections, and your battle just got more impossible.  

McGovern whined like a school girl to the redistricting committee last week to leave his district alone.   Uh-huh.   They're coming for you Jim.   Next time the candidate won't be a tea party sponsored loser who filed for bankruptcy.   Enjoy it while it lasts.  

Title: Re: Markey: Republicans "passing legislation to destroy the whole wide world"
Post by: formerlurker on April 16, 2011, 07:49:42 AM
Didn't a certain poster here make claims during the election season that no conservative could win in a state like MA?  Or words to that effect?

Weren't some of us chastised for not acknowledging the "reality" of politics when we expressed concerns about how Brown would act if elected?

My memory ain't what it used to be, but I do seem to recall a thread like that.


Your contribution to threads is nothing worth noting.  Sad you don't notice that - perhaps it has something to do with your faulty memory. 

Title: Re: Markey: Republicans "passing legislation to destroy the whole wide world"
Post by: rich_t on April 16, 2011, 08:06:06 AM

Your contribution to threads is nothing worth noting.  Sad you don't notice that - perhaps it has something to do with your faulty memory. 



Aww....  poor little whuzzum.  Did somebody not get their nappy time?
Title: Re: Markey: Republicans "passing legislation to destroy the whole wide world"
Post by: formerlurker on April 16, 2011, 08:07:24 AM
Aww....  poor little whuzzum.  Did somebody not get their nappy time?

Come on rich, you can whine better than that.   Give it up for Lent?  

Title: Re: Markey: Republicans "passing legislation to destroy the whole wide world"
Post by: NHSparky on April 16, 2011, 10:01:02 AM
Where did I thump my chest about MA conservatives Sparky?    Central MA is made up of moderate conservatives.  You do know the difference right?

NH is also moderate conservatives.   If you are trying to sell me that NH is conservative (save for the loon libertarians you all seem to have an abundance of) then it is you that is quite delusional.  

I explained to you why there is no Republican Congressmen in MA.    Our state republican party leader, Jennifer Nassour, really dropped the ball the past election cycle by lack of focus on key races that had a very good chance of winning (Polito and Connaughton).    She was almost ousted by the party delegates, learned from her mistakes and has regrouped and plotted new plans.    

We captured some more seats in the state legislature, are raising good money, and are moving forward.   Things are changing.  

Scott Brown has a war chest and no one can touch him (maybe Joe Kennedy, but he isn't running).    He wins in 2012 easily.    He took the seat held by a communist.   I really could give a flying fig if you think he's a RINO.    

Next.

The "loon libertarians" you point out are the FSPer's who are more LIBERALtarians, pretty much confined to Keene, and are a joke.

And believe me, there are a hell of a lot more of us conservatives in tiny little Cow Hampshire than there are in all of Mass.  Things changing in Mass?  From bad to worse, maybe.
Title: Re: Markey: Republicans "passing legislation to destroy the whole wide world"
Post by: formerlurker on April 16, 2011, 02:25:14 PM
http://www.redstate.com/travelkingnh/2010/07/14/nh-senate-race-10-reasons-why-kelly-ayotte-is-not-a-conservative/
Title: Re: Markey: Republicans "passing legislation to destroy the whole wide world"
Post by: formerlurker on April 16, 2011, 02:29:58 PM
http://www.redstate.com/erick/2010/07/15/frank-guinta-the-grandstander/
Title: Re: Markey: Republicans "passing legislation to destroy the whole wide world"
Post by: formerlurker on April 16, 2011, 02:32:18 PM
http://www.electtherightcandidate.us/ETRC/Elect_The_Right_Candidate.html
 


:whatever:


Title: Re: Markey: Republicans "passing legislation to destroy the whole wide world"
Post by: NHSparky on April 16, 2011, 03:07:46 PM
This from a state that keeps sending the likes of Deville, et al back to Beacon Hill, and Lurch, Bwaney, Tsongas, et al, to DC.

Glass houses, stones, shit like that. 

Well then there's the other expression--People who live in glass houses shouldn't masturbate during the daytime.
Title: Re: Markey: Republicans "passing legislation to destroy the whole wide world"
Post by: formerlurker on April 16, 2011, 03:10:26 PM
Glass houses????  :rotf:   Your house is completely shattered Sparky, but you keep throwing that RINO stone.
Title: Re: Markey: Republicans "passing legislation to destroy the whole wide world"
Post by: NHSparky on April 16, 2011, 03:24:56 PM
Glass houses????  :rotf:   Your house is completely shattered Sparky, but you keep throwing that RINO stone.

My house is shattered.  Awesome.  Mass hasn't done shit except pull the chain ever harder, but there you are, telling us where we're all the ****ed up ones.

Priceless, seriously.

Seriously, I love ya like a sister, FL, but this is one of those cases where you're wrong, and until something changes there, you're not going to convince me otherwise.
Title: Re: Markey: Republicans "passing legislation to destroy the whole wide world"
Post by: true_blood on April 16, 2011, 03:32:14 PM
Scott Brown has a war chest and no one can touch him (maybe Joe Kennedy, but he isn't running).    He wins in 2012 easily.    He took the seat held by a communist.   I really could give a flying fig if you think he's a RINO.
Didn't he vote for the "financial reform" that the communists put through? I don't see how that makes him look conservative, let alone "republican"?
Title: Re: Markey: Republicans "passing legislation to destroy the whole wide world"
Post by: formerlurker on April 16, 2011, 03:36:14 PM
My house is shattered.  Awesome.  Mass hasn't done shit except pull the chain ever harder, but there you are, telling us where we're all the ****ed up ones.

Priceless, seriously.

Seriously, I love ya like a sister, FL, but this is one of those cases where you're wrong, and until something changes there, you're not going to convince me otherwise.

Uh no.   I am not claiming MA is the conservative capital of the US.    I explained why (R) lost in 2010.  You are the one claiming things about NH you can't support.

The New England Republicans are far majority moderate conservatives.    That is just the way it is, so whining from the far right to demand different is just silly.  I am not saying you are whining, just the party when they paint the (R) members of Congress from the northeast as RINOs.  

Title: Re: Markey: Republicans "passing legislation to destroy the whole wide world"
Post by: formerlurker on April 16, 2011, 03:38:03 PM
Didn't he vote for the "financial reform" that the communists put through? I don't see how that makes him look conservative, let alone "republican"?

You live in MA don't you?   I am honestly stumped as to why this needs to be explained to you.   Would you rather Coakley in this seat?   

Title: Re: Markey: Republicans "passing legislation to destroy the whole wide world"
Post by: NHSparky on April 16, 2011, 03:39:49 PM
You live in MA don't you?   I am honestly stumped as to why this needs to be explained to you.   Would you rather Coakley in this seat?   



Again, that's ancient history.  Why is Patrick still in office?  Why is Tsongas, Markey, Frank, et al?  What changes did MA make in 2010?
Title: Re: Markey: Republicans "passing legislation to destroy the whole wide world"
Post by: true_blood on April 16, 2011, 03:40:48 PM
You live in MA don't you?   I am honestly stumped as to why this needs to be explained to you.   Would you rather Coakley in this seat?   
Yes, I do. They both suck ass.
Actually, 90% of them in Congress suck ass. :-)
Title: Re: Markey: Republicans "passing legislation to destroy the whole wide world"
Post by: NHSparky on April 16, 2011, 03:41:23 PM
They paint with a pretty broad brush.  But frankly, NH has been the finger in the eye of New England more often than not.  VT used to be the same way until all the flatlander moonbats moved up from CT, NY, NJ, etc.
Title: Re: Markey: Republicans "passing legislation to destroy the whole wide world"
Post by: formerlurker on April 16, 2011, 03:54:54 PM
Again, that's ancient history.  Why is Patrick still in office?  Why is Tsongas, Markey, Frank, et al?  What changes did MA make in 2010?

Patrick in office because Cahill ran as independent.  Cahill dropped from race, Baker would be governor.  Of course Baker is a RINO anyway right?

Tsongas?  Lowell, Lawrence?   You need more of an explanation?

Markey, again -- look at the district

Frank? again, tough district but Bielat got 43% of the vote with half the money (or less than half).    Bielat is still a presence and will take him on again.    
Title: Re: Markey: Republicans "passing legislation to destroy the whole wide world"
Post by: formerlurker on April 16, 2011, 03:56:23 PM
They paint with a pretty broad brush.  But frankly, NH has been the finger in the eye of New England more often than not.  VT used to be the same way until all the flatlander moonbats moved up from CT, NY, NJ, etc.

More like the Canadians invaded from the North.   There are some pretty conservative parts of VT (Norwich University in in VT). 

Title: Re: Markey: Republicans "passing legislation to destroy the whole wide world"
Post by: NHSparky on April 16, 2011, 03:59:57 PM
More like the Canadians invaded from the North.   There are some pretty conservative parts of VT (Norwich University in in VT). 



And there are some pretty conservative areas of NH once you get outside Keene, Portsmouth, Durham, and along the CT River.

One thing I will give many (not all, but many) of the MA transplants to the I-93 corridor is that they do tend to be more conservative than the serious flatlanders like the Boston/CT/NY tourists, York/Kittery commuters, et al.
Title: Re: Markey: Republicans "passing legislation to destroy the whole wide world"
Post by: franksolich on April 16, 2011, 04:27:53 PM
Damn it, Sparky, sir, I always thought of you as a "big picture" man, but you surely aren't being that way here.

The Republican party leans conservative, the Democrat party leans liberal.

When Republicans are in control of Congress, the country seems to do okay, if not well.

When Democrats are in control of Congress, the country seems to do lousy at best.

So it's always best to have the Republicans control Congress.

If the Republicans can gain a majority by "tolerating" a few non-conservative Republicans in their ranks, so be it.  I can live with that.  I have no problems, for example, with Senators Snowe and Collins, and had no problems with former Senators Specter and Chafee.  Their political philosophies are (were) too soft for me, and it'd be better if people more reflective of the mainstream were in their places.

But that's not possible; no way would a Senator DeMint be elected from New England.

Given the alternative, one has to take what one can get.  It's not the best, but it's better than the alternative.

A liberal Republican votes for an (R) to be the leader in either house of Congress.

A conservative Democrat votes for a (D) to be the leader in either house of Congress.

The leader controls the agenda.

Liberal Republicans help conservatives by making the Republicans the majority party, and if "tolerating" a few liberals in a basically-conservative party helps make that party the majority party, I'm all for it.

If the votes of Snowe, Collins, and Brown help make the more-conservative party the majority party in the Senate after 2012, it's all good.

Remember, it was the liberal Republican Specter who got us two top-notch, grade-A, premium-quality Supreme Court justices more in tune with the mainstream of America.  If the Democrats had controlled the Senate at the time, well, I don't even want to think about what we would've gotten.

One has to take what one can get, and a liberal Republican is always better for conservatism than a "conservative" Democrat or, so help me, a liberal Democrat.
Title: Re: Markey: Republicans "passing legislation to destroy the whole wide world"
Post by: NHSparky on April 16, 2011, 04:36:06 PM
And what you fail to consider, sir, is that having the likes of Snowe, Collins, et al, serving in the Senate does the principles of conservatism and the Republican party not a whit of good.

LePage is proof that a conservative CAN win--albeit only when a suitably large field splits the votes, sadly.  In NH, Sununu was a conservative Senator, and may well run again.  Medrim Thomson was as conservative a man as you'll find anywhere.  Our current House speaker is also very conservative.

Frankly, FL is right in one regard--people are afraid of changing THEIR representation.  Look at the number of people who say Congress is screwed up, but ask those same people what they think of THEIR Senator or Representative, and they're just fine.
Title: Re: Markey: Republicans "passing legislation to destroy the whole wide world"
Post by: formerlurker on April 16, 2011, 04:38:46 PM
Excellent points Frank.  H5.
Title: Re: Markey: Republicans "passing legislation to destroy the whole wide world"
Post by: franksolich on April 16, 2011, 04:49:39 PM
And what you fail to consider, sir, is that having the likes of Snowe, Collins, et al, serving in the Senate does the principles of conservatism and the Republican party not a whit of good.

But sir, I strongly disagree.

The likes of them do conservatism a great deal of good.

The Republican party is essentially conservative, and so when the Republican party is in control of things, the agenda and policies and victories are, generally, conservative in nature.

If, to become the majority ideology (conservatism) requires that Republicans and conservatives "tolerate" a few left-of-center members in its ranks, that's a cheap price to pay for becoming the majority party.  Such fringe members don't ask for much, a trifle, a bagatelle, a toy, here and there, a few bones thrown their way.

Quote
LePage is proof that a conservative CAN win--albeit only when a suitably large field splits the votes, sadly.  In NH, Sununu was a conservative Senator, and may well run again.  Medrim Thomson was as conservative a man as you'll find anywhere.  Our current House speaker is also very conservative.

It would be nice, very nice, if every Republican were conservative, but in an imperfect world that's never going to be perfect, one does what one can, with what one can get.

And right now, the best Republicans (and conservatives) can get out of New England are left-of-center Republicans; the alternative being weird whacked-out far-left Democrats.

Electable left-of-center Republicans help make the more-conservative party the majority party, and the majority within that majority (i.e., in this case Republicans who are conservative) dictates agenda, policy, and the direction in which the country goes.

Quote
Frankly, FL is right in one regard--people are afraid of changing THEIR representation.  Look at the number of people who say Congress is screwed up, but ask those same people what they think of THEIR Senator or Representative, and they're just fine.

That's true, very true, but time is on our side.

These extreme far-left Democrats in Congress are not spring chickens, and in fact tend to be at least a generation older than Republicans in Congress more representative of the mainstream.
Title: Re: Markey: Republicans "passing legislation to destroy the whole wide world"
Post by: NHSparky on April 16, 2011, 05:06:14 PM
So how does one explain solid conservatives like Issa, Rohrbacher, and Royce, to name a few, in deep blue California, and barely Republican types like Lugar in Indiana?  I'd give other examples as well, such as former Senators Voinovich of Ohio, former Senator Jim Jeffords of Vermont, of and former Senator Specter of Pennsylvania.

Please, for the love of Christ, tell me how Jeffords was good for the Republicans.  Ditto Specter.  Same with Collins and Snowe, who, in some cases, are to the LEFT of some Democrats.

Principles, sir.  Principles.  One doesn't sacrifice them, one doesn't bend them.  One has them, or one does not.
Title: Re: Markey: Republicans "passing legislation to destroy the whole wide world"
Post by: franksolich on April 16, 2011, 05:08:35 PM
Excellent points Frank.

This ideology and party thing is an issue here in Nebraska, with our "conservative" Democrat Senator Ben Nelson.

Nelson won election twice as governor and twice as senator because of his reputation as a conservative, rather than a far-left fringe, Democrat.

But when push comes to shove, when the bottom line is reached, a conservative Democrat helps advance the liberal Democrat agenda, because he helps make the Democrats the majority party.

"Conservative" Ben Nelson helped conservatives not at all, because on the important issues, he went with party rather than with principles.

It's noble to go with principles, but in an imperfect world, that isn't going to happen.

I've only been cursorily, casually, keeping track, but it seems to me those such as Snowe, Collins, and Brown (and earlier, congressman Christopher Shays of Connecticut, or senators Specter and Chafee) have always voted on issues of substance with the party that elected them, suborning their more-liberal principles to help conservatives.

It's noble to go with principles, but in an imperfect world that will never be perfect, it isn't going to happen.

Not being God, I have no idea how the elections of 2012 are going to turn out, and it may yet be possible it'll be a cliff-hanger, the margin of control determined by only one or two members.  In which case conservatives should hail the presence of a few liberal Republicans, because they contribute to making the more-conservative party the majority party.

Or it could happen to be a Republican landslide, with more than enough conservative Republicans to make liberal Republicans less important, in which case I don't think anybody would be unhappy.  But unless and until that happens, one better take what he can get.
Title: Re: Markey: Republicans "passing legislation to destroy the whole wide world"
Post by: franksolich on April 16, 2011, 05:21:53 PM
So how does one explain solid conservatives like Issa, Rohrbacher, and Royce, to name a few, in deep blue California, and barely Republican types like Lugar in Indiana?  I'd give other examples as well, such as former Senators Voinovich of Ohio, former Senator Jim Jeffords of Vermont, of and former Senator Specter of Pennsylvania.

Once in a while it happens--it should happen more often, though, but it doesn't--that other qualities of an office-holder transcend his political party and ideology, liberal areas electing conservatives, and conservative areas electing liberals.  Personality, character, reputation, effectiveness.

Quote
Please, for the love of Christ, tell me how Jeffords was good for the Republicans.  Ditto Specter.  Same with Collins and Snowe, who, in some cases, are to the LEFT of some Democrats.

Prior to 2001, Jeffords helped make the Republican party, the party leaning conservative, the majority party in the Senate.  He went downhill after that, but I'm talking his earlier record.

Because Republicans were in control of the Senate during most of the Bush administration, this meant that Specter was chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and so had significant say in the selection of Supreme Court justices (as would a liberal Democrat senator had the Democrats controlled the Senate).

Specter helped marshal through Alioto and Roberts, men more conservative than himself, and more reflective of the American mainstream.

As far as I can see, whenever the chips have been down, the liberals Snowe and Collins have thus far always come down on our side, not their liberal sides.

When the chips aren't down, it doesn't matter so much; "in all things essential, unity; in all other things, liberty (to dissent)."

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Principles, sir.  Principles.  One doesn't sacrifice them, one doesn't bend them.  One has them, or one does not.

Yes, yes, of course.

But only God is perfect, man being fallible. 

The very best for which one can hope of another person is that he generally follow his principles with lapses here and there because of ambition or the hope of material gain or simple egoism; he's going to slip here-and-there.
Title: Re: Markey: Republicans "passing legislation to destroy the whole wide world"
Post by: NHSparky on April 16, 2011, 09:10:44 PM
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As far as I can see, whenever the chips have been down, the liberals Snowe and Collins have thus far always come down on our side, not their liberal sides.

Obamacare.  'Nuff said.