The GOP’s Dilemma: Which to Destroy First?
The same week that John Boehner said that revenue is completely off the table in any sequester negotiations, the Club for Growth has decided to ramp up its war on Republican Squishes. Because, you know… When you think “how do we fix this Washington dysfunction?” The answer that leaps to mind is MORE and wingnutier wingnuts.
“Conservative advocacy group Club For Growth shows no signs of slowing down its efforts to purge the GOP of alleged moderates, launching a new campaign targeting Republican members of the 113th Congress.
The group’s new site, PrimaryMyCongressman.com, is designed “to raise awareness of Republicans In Name Only (RINOs) who are currently serving in safe Republican seats,” according to a press release announcing its debut this week.
The first round of targets are Reps. Mike Simpson (R-ID), Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), Rick Crawford (R-AR), Frank Lucas (R-OK), Steve Palazzo (R-MS), Martha Roby (R-AL), Larry Buchson (R-IN), Renee Ellmers, (R-NC), and Aaron Schock (R-IL).
Joe Flacco(impotant football player) DE. He sure makes us alot of money for someone who really does nothing to benefit the US. Football people are insane.
Thanks for your contribution.
The hard part is deciding whether or not to start contributing the the CfG, you know?
Lol. Good point. I’m sure they are getting money from “Friends of Hammas”.
And if they aren’t, maybe we could fix that!
At this rate Republican affiliation will reach 14% in a few months. We probably have another year, or so, to see who ultimately wins their purity purge. There can only be one man standing at the end, don’tcha know.
Once the base throws these guys under the bus it looks like eight pick-ups for us.
Since Mike Castle got retired by these Club for “Growth” idiots, I haven’t kept up with what constituted RINO-hood. It probably means that they once said something heretical about having a functional government being possibly, maybe…a good idea.
A TPM commenter has it. These people voted…
for the Highway Trust Fund, for Botanic Gardens, for National Parks Service.
“Once the base throws these guys under the bus it looks like eight pick-ups for us.”
IF the base throws them under the bus — some of them already have survived primary challenges from the right — Democrats have a good shot at picking up three of the seats.
Remember, these are safe GOP seats; no Republican on the list got less than 60% of the vote in 2012.
Here’s a rundown:
Idaho 2nd: Mike Simpson won in November 65-35, and no Democrat has topped 35% this millenium. District has been represented by a member of LDS (Mormons) since 1951. A Democratic pickup seems unlikely.
Illinois 16th: Redrawn by Democrats for 2012 to pit two incumbent Republicans against each other in the primary; Adam Kinzinger prevailed against the more conservative “incumbent” Don Manzullo. Kinzinger, only 34, could be vulnerable to a well-financed wingnut, and a wingnut could be vulnerable in the general. Under such a scenario, at least a 50-50 chance of a pickup.
Arkansas 1st: Rick Crawford is the first R in this rural district in ages, and got less than 52% in 2012. Strong possibility of a pickup.
Oklahoma 3rd: Frank Lucas has been re-elected five times since the district was redrawn, never with less than 67% of the vote. The Democrat got 22% in 2012. No chance of a pickup.
Mississippi 4th: Democrats have done well here in the past, and two-termer Steve Palazzo barely squeaked in on the 2010 wave. But he got 64% in 2012 after trouncing a Tea Party primary challenger. Slight chance of a pickup.
Alabama 2nd: Martha Roby won a close race in 2010 and followed up with 64% in 2012. Her primary win in 2010 was by 60-40, so there’s a chance she could lose, and the district has elected Democrats before. Less than 50-50 chance of a pickup.
Indiana 8th: Larry Buchson has twice defeated a southwestern Indiana version of Rose Izzo in primaries, but she has lacked cash, so CFG dollars could make a difference. The district also has a history of alternating between Ds and Rs every few years. A 50-50 chance of a pickup.
North Carolina 2nd: Renee Ellmers is another 2010 class member who ran against Obamacare and barely won, but she got a boost from redistricting and got 56% in 2012. She’s been Tea Party from the get-go, so she’s not particularly vulnerable from her right. If she lost aprimary this might be a 50-50 pickup seat, but the chances of that seem slim.
Illinois 18th: Aaron Schock is the only one on this list with an actual political future. He’s so strong that the Democrats gerrymandered his a safe seat in hopes of keeping him out of a statewide race, and he responded with a 69% win. The district is actually more moderate than Schock is, having elected Bob Michel and Ray LaHood before him. Zero chance of a pickup, until Schock runs for higher office.
All in all, I’d rank the Arkansas 1st the only district in which Democrats would be clearly favored against a conservative upstart, with the Illinois 16th and Indiana 8th as toss-ups and the Alabama and Mississippi seats as outside chances.
What constitutes “RINOhood”? Any deviation on any major issue of the Republicans. Failure to worship guns? RINO! Failure to be anti abortion to the point of killing the mother? RINO! And above all failure to worship the rich. RINO!!!!!!!