Rong Williams Calls It For Bill Lee
On the gubernatorial level, Republican Bill Lee will again crush Mike “Whatshisname,” setting the stage for “Whatshisname’s” next unsuccessful run for something or other in 2010.
Republicans better hope Williams is, by some fluke, correct.
Think about what a Protack win would mean for Delaware’s minority party. The servants will be sitting at the dinner table in their Sears polyester suits expecting Pete DuPont to bring them some food. The whole GOP world will be turned on its head is Mike Castle’s hand picked stalking horse for Charlie Copeland fails to make it to the general election starting gate.
It will certainly be a low ebb moment for the Delaware Republican power brokers. But then again, who knows, a Protack win in the primary and 20% vote share in the general might provide the party with the utter humiliation that they need to pull the party back toward it’s pro-business – antisocial engineering roots.
Lord knows that fixing the broken mess that Dave Crossan left in his wake is going to take years. So why not start with a historically low vote tally in the Governors race to kick off the renovation?
Bonus Round:
How many Democratic incumbent State Representatives have Republican challengers this year?
Answer: Not enough.
I’m tempted to call the man and make a few wagers. I’m thinking I could make a little profit on his bad guesses.
He’s pretty much off kilter all the way down the line.
I’m assuming that Lee will win the primary. However, his heart doesn’t really seem to be in it at all. Is he even trying?
I’m assuming that Lee will win the primary. However, his heart doesn’t really seem to be in it at all. Is he even trying?
Aside from the candidate forums (which is, admittedly, a big aside – but was a stated decision of Lee not to participate in until after the primary), what is he doing differently than the other candidates?
* He’s marched in the same parades.
* He’s held events for different groups.
* He’s appeared on the same radio stations.
* He’s raised a decent amount of money (especially considering the well had dried up a bit with no credible Republicans entering the race until he did so in May).
* He’s had a number of fundraisers with national and big name figures (Du Pont, Barbour, et al).
* He’s had three tele-conferences with primary voters.
I’m aware that there’s nothing Bill Lee can do that will win over most of the readers on this site, but he is out there working.
This one makes me LOL
* He’s had three tele-conferences with primary voters.
Like I’ve been saying all along, he can’t wait for this to be over. Just going through the motions.
The News Journal asked for candidate positions on several issues. Carney, Markell, and Protack filled the space. Lee used shorthand, responding in about one-third of the depth of the other three candidates.
That, RickJ, is what he is doing differently from the other candidates. He is making it hard for voters to know where he stands. Isn’t that Job#1 for a candidate? If so, he deserves to be fired (not that I think he will).
“The News Journal asked for candidate positions on several issues. Carney, Markell, and Protack filled the space. Lee used shorthand, responding in about one-third of the depth of the other three candidates.”
This is not true. The News Journal pulled those issue positions from the candidate’s web sites, debate answers and news coverage. They were not asked to submit answers.
OK, then his website is sorely lacking. I don’t subscribe to the NJ, but when I saw a spread on the Gov. Candidates, I laughed when I saw what little space was given to Lee. It was like whitespace was actually a position.
When they asked questions, he answered them quite well, in the Imagine Delaware series. But I think he’s very comfortable running his campaign instead of letting the News Journal do it for him.
But I think he’s very comfortable running his campaign (from vacation) instead of letting the News Journal do it for him.
He’s had teleconferences with voters.
LOL!!! He’s literally phoning it in!
I’m sorry, but Bill Lee is not preparing to be governor. I don’t know why the Delaware Republican party is in such a bad shape, but apparently it is.
Does anyone know why the Republicans did not file a candidate for County Council President or for County Executive? Both positions seem pretty vulnerable to me. (Someone correct me if I’m wrong here.)
They hardly have a candidate for Governor — where were they supposed to get any others from?
Good question, Cassandra. Why are the Republicans in Delaware in such dire straits?
When Republicans end the year, I predict they will keep the house, gain seats in two counties ( they are guaranteed to win Sussex County Council), hold all but one senate seat, gain one to two statewide offices, and generally be alive and well. Republicans in Delaware are down, but not out. They will get up fighting and show this is a two party state.
Perhaps worthy of a separate thread, but I heard today that, in the Insurance Commissioner race, KWS is going to be on the ballot in the general on the Working Families ticker and Savage has filed as an independent.
Is this true?
jason…do I need to call you again?! Weak!
Selander – I believe the updated candidates list on the state website reflects those changes as well.
Ron gets it (sort of) right as often as he gets it wRONg. I think he’ll get it wrong more often (or at least have fewer seemingly interesting tidbits for those who do not enter the blog ether) now that the Grapevine is gone. I think one of your biggest beefs with him is the same one you had with Celia – they still try (tried) to do it as “professionals.”
As far as calling it for Lee in the primary, I think he has it right this time. The party brand may be taking something of a hiatus in Delaware, but the organization is still there, and it will respond to Lee – or against Protack. Don’t underestimate the vehemence with which the Republican Party of Delaware despises him, probably with some reason. Protack’s persistence in the face of insurmountable opposition would be laughable (for example see Mike Miller for the D’s) if it did not underscore the depths to which the party has fallen.
Bill Lee’s heart is simply not in it this time. He’s bravely, and foolishly, responding to the party’s call one last time. He has no illusions of winning. Probably one of the turning points for the R’s in Delaware was when they eschewed Lee in 2000 to prop up a more pro-business and monied Burris campaign. (Don’t go off the deep end, Dave, that’s no slam against the family). By doing that, they missed their chance to go in a new direction at the right time.
Thanks, PO. I’m still (relatively) new to Delaware so I’m still learning what’s going on around here. Why is it the Republican party hates Protack? I know he’s run many times unsuccessfully many times…is it more than that?
UI
Mostly they hate him because he is smarter then they are… See the reference above to the News Journal, then check it out yourself….
(Remember the Republican establishments hatred of McCain, just after he won the delegate count) It is like that….
The conservatives in the party are blaming Protack as they did McCain six months ago, for spoiling what they believe is the taking over of “their” party. They should be blaming themselves for being conservative, for that is the reason voters have lost confidence in the republican party…(their ideas don’t work) .. not that some reformer is trying to muscle in…
The best thing that can happen for the Republican party is for their parties equivalent of DeLuca, Adams, McDowell, to be thrown on the ash heap, so that new talent like Cathcart, Nixon, Lavelle, Burris, can make Republicans the party of ideas once again….
Having a strong Republican party again, would assist us in ridding ourselves of DeLuca, Adams, and McDowell, which has been hard since no democrat seems to be wanting to run against them….
Every Republican should consider that voting for Protack will do the party the favor that it needs, since the old dogs are refusing to voluntary step down…..
What watchers are waiting to see, is……. how many of the Republicans can think for themselves, and how many will follow orders….
There is no data for that call yet; we just have to watch and see……
Hey! I resemble that remark! 😛
What is funny, and this is just my guess, but you probably do……
I know you are a Cathcart supporter and I’m sorry you did not get the chance to see him at his best on Thursday night……
Delaware Republicans need less Copeland, and a lot more Cathcart…
how many of the Republicans can think for themselves, and how many will follow orders….
Protack is doomed.
Kavips: You think Protack is LESS conservative than the Delaware GOP in general? Then he’s fooled at least one person. The “reform” that Protack represents would be to make social conservatives the driving force in the state party, which has always been run by the money men. Didn’t the finger-wagging at Lee’s lifestyle tip you off?
“This one makes me LOL
* He’s had three tele-conferences with primary voters.”
I was on the phone for one of them. It struck me as a decent way to reach voters.
Al, respectfully you have no clue what you are talking about.
‘The “reform” that Protack represents would be to make social conservatives the driving force in the state party, which has always been run by the money men’ is simply misinformed.
Lee’s lifestyle is indeed an issue as you look at someone who won’t offer one tidbit of policy unless it involves driver licenses to illegals but will gladly inform us on his enjoyment of women, dancing and the atmosphere (what ever that is).
http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=election2008
This News Journal feature lays out the views and issues very well. My focus is on health care, education and economic growth.
Al, respectfully you have no clue what you are talking about.
All due respect with that…lol.
kavips…you are a genius! 😀
Your should have stuck with your anti-abortion origins. Look where it got Sarah Palin.
Mike –
Care to make a prediction? I’ve got you losing by 35 points.
67.5 to 32.5? Look, I can give him SOME credit with all his stick-to-it-tiveness. 67-33.
David SAID
“When Republicans end the year, I predict they will keep the house, gain seats in two counties ( they are guaranteed to win Sussex County Council), hold all but one senate seat, gain one to two statewide offices, and generally be alive and well. Republicans in Delaware are down, but not out. They will get up fighting and show this is a two party state.”
I can’t stop laughing about his predictions!
Why is it the Republican party hates Protack? I know he’s run many times unsuccessfully many times…is it more than that?
Protack has pointed out some shortcomings of the State GOP leadership. While a single high profile run can be a good way to gain name recognition, a series of top-of-the ticket runs seems to be more ego-gratification than serious politics. Some grass-roots activism in behalf of other candidates might add to credibility.
It also pays to be able to work a crowd.
Toxic Obama Shock may not bode well for the rest of the ticket in Delaware.
Why doesn’t the GOP support Protack?
Maybe it’s the way Protack made Bob Valihura’s wife feel “threatened” by emails, or maybe it’s because Protack can’t seem to tell the truth.
http://www.delawaretalkradio.com/talkblog/?p=9
The bigger question is why would anyone, especially someone like kavips, defend a gubernatorial candidate that thinks that it’s “just plain wrong” that state employees get a pension and healthcare?
“Why is it the Republican party hates Protack?”
I have no idea Arthur why the party and the party operatives hate him. I don’t agree with all of his policy suggestions, but I appreciate how doggedly his trying. I have been telling all my republican friends to vote Protack. Maybe our supposed leaders will see something in the number of votes he gets. A half-hearted candidate like Bill Lee is just plain insulting.
“They should be blaming themselves for being conservative, for that is the reason voters have lost confidence in the republican party…”
Sorry Kavpis, I have to disagree. I haven’t seen any conservativeness demonstrated by the State Republicans here (at least since I moved here last year). Much like Palin’s conservative views have energized the base, a strong GENUINE conservative would go a great way toward waking up Republicans in this state.
I don’t know if Protack is that person or not, but I know Lee isn’t. Protack for me.
Maria’s link should be:
http://www.delawaretalkradio.com/talkblog/mike-protack-caught-spinning-on-sussex-county-radio/
Chris…not all Republicans are social conservatives, either. Maybe if we ceased spitting on each other for the differences on that side of the political spectrum, things would move forward.
“The “reform” that Protack represents would be to make social conservatives the driving force in the state party, which has always been run by the money men’ is simply misinformed.”
And what is this? Protack forgetting that he’s posting under his own name this time?