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The Spectacle Blog
Castle’s bitter refusal to endorse Christine O’Donnell suggests that Republicans have a problem. No, it’s not a tea party problem, as liberal wishful-thinkers are maintaining. It’s hardly debatable that the tea party groundswell has been an indicator primarily of political woes for Democrats. As Jonah Goldberg puts it, assuming O’Donnell can’t win, “What it proves is that amidst a massive and massively successful grassroots uprising, the tea parties miscalculated in one race. Unfortunate, but hardly calamitous.”
But Castle’s “screw you guys, I’m going home” moment suggests that what the GOP has is a problem with its moderates. There is no reason that a Northeastern-style moderate Republican can’t work with the tea party movement. Scott Brown is most assuredly a Massachusetts Republican, but his landmark upset would not have been possible without conservative enthusiasm. He generated that enthusiasm by working with the base on their number one issue, namely opposition to Obamacare. This isn’t complicated. It’s how coalitional politics works.
The tea party movement may be a little rough around the edges, and in some case inclined to support candidates who aren’t always ideal. This isn’t a surprise: One would hardly expect an organic grassroots movement to be a fully mature political machine. But one would expect experienced politicians to attempt to accommodate such a movement. Partisans interested primarily in winning as many GOP seats as possible — the types whose heads Mike Murphy sees exploding — may wish that the tea partiers would grow up and work with moderate Republicans. But it is clearly the case that, if they wish to remain competitive, a lot of moderate Republicans need to grow up and work with the tea partiers.
View all comments (67) | Leave a comment
More Blog Posts by John Tabin
http://spectator.org/blog/2010/09/15/on-mike-castles-churlishness
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Siegfried X| 9.15.10 @ 6:33PM
I have to disagree somewhat. O'Donnell was a very poor winner and parts of her campaign were way too dirty. Her speech was not gracious at all. She should have apologized for the times her campaign (or overzealous supporters) went too far over the line.
It's important to remember that RINOs are our allies, not our enemies, even though we are opponents in the primaries. Unless conservatives are planning on kicking all moderates out of the party, we need to be good winners in order to get their votes.
Douglas Fletcher| 9.15.10 @ 6:40PM
Her own party's leaders peed all over her throughout the campaign. It seems to me they're the ones who need to be apologizing instead of crying that there's something yellow on their shoes.
John Tabin| 9.15.10 @ 6:49PM
You're not wrong regarding O'Donnell herself. I'm just saying calls for unity cuts both ways.
Siegfried X| 9.15.10 @ 6:55PM
Yes, and agreeing with you, I think the Murkowski situation is even worse than Castle. Castle at least politely conceded and walked away without running third party. Yet even though Miller was more gracious in victory and has a better resume, Murkowski is still talking running third party, through a bizarre write-in campaign. She also called the tea party "extremists".
So I totally agree that the situation needs to change. Really it is part of the overall attitude of the establishment that conservative Republicans are an enemy, and often treated worse than Democrats. The establishment will try to spin us, use us, and defeat us, but they never seem to talk to us like we're on the same team. In fact establishment Republicans usually avoid their base like the plague, lest the MSM smear them with guilt-by-association. Yet the Democrats aren't afraid to talk to THEIR base.
albert constantine jr.| 9.15.10 @ 8:50PM
The deadline for any third party being added to the ballot has long since passed in Delaware, so Castle couldn't do that if he wanted. The only option that might be available to be included on the ballot for this election would be Coons to drop out, and the Dems to add Castle as their candidate before 093010. Of course, if Castle did that, it would validate all of the criticism that he is (was) a Republican in Name Only.
Nick| 9.16.10 @ 12:11AM
Mr. Constantine,
Don't put it past him.
RINO's have no ethics or principles.
JJ Brannon | 9.17.10 @ 5:29PM
I am moderately conservative Delawarean lifelong independent who has voted in every election for which I am eligible and who has been aware of Christine O'Donnell and her flakiness since 2004. She won by accepting large sums of out-of-state donations to rouse a disproportionate amount of otherwise disaffected or lazy Republicans who hadn't bothered to vote in the past 6 primaries, thereby creating a slim plurality of 3500 votes out of some 57,500 in a State with 293K Dems [47%], 183K Reps [29%], and 146K Indies [24%], three-fifths of the latter leaning centrist.
Pres. Ronald Reagan espoused the 80:20 rule for political allies, which was a reformulation of William F. Buckley's pragmatic political objective of supporting the most conservative candidate who can win the general election.
In a Deep Blue State like Delaware, with ~64% moderate-to-left voters, that's not Christine O'Donnell: it was Mike Castle. Chris Coons is a well-liked non-Beltway Insider, so O'Donnell even loses that advantage.
As for smearing by the State GOP, O'Donnell -- who I've regarded as an undignified fruitloop for the past six years -- started the mudslinging a long while back by biting the hand which fed her by falsely asserting during interviews that the State Party never supported her [when, in truth, it paid her filing fees against Joe Biden] and that GOP operatives were stalking her by hiding in the bushes around her purported home. Again, these are her own words meant for publication, not opponents' allegations.
The reverse is more likely the truth that cost Castle the primary: the State GOP and the Congressman's campaign paid little attention to her until the final weeks of the campaign, when O'Donnell launched her dirty tricks accusations to smear the former Governor's personal life.
JJB
Trish| 9.16.10 @ 5:30PM
Couldn't agree more. I am a public school teacher with two advanced degrees. Many, many tea party folks are middle and upper middle class. We do not hold the establishment as our 'betters'.
They can get on our team. Theirs is shrinking.
Siegfried X| 9.15.10 @ 6:55PM
Yes, and agreeing with you, I think the Murkowski situation is even worse than Castle. Castle at least politely conceded and walked away without running third party. Yet even though Miller was more gracious in victory and has a better resume, Murkowski is still talking running third party, through a bizarre write-in campaign. She also called the tea party "extremists".
So I totally agree that the situation needs to change. Really it is part of the overall attitude of the establishment that conservative Republicans are an enemy, and often treated worse than Democrats. The establishment will try to spin us, use us, and defeat us, but they never seem to talk to us like we're on the same team. In fact establishment Republicans usually avoid their base like the plague, lest the MSM smear them with guilt-by-association. Yet the Democrats aren't afraid to talk to THEIR base.
Tim*| 9.15.10 @ 7:14PM
Can't we just send Castle and his RINO 's a Get Well Card and skip The Group Hug ?
This Election is about Jobs and The Economy.
Americans will again Vote Their Wallets .
Of Delaware's three counties , O'Donnell has strong support in Sussex and Kent Counties and will woo the job worried in New Castle County .
Independents fell off The Democrat Sled and Conservatives are pumped and galvanized
Now , O'Donnell has name recognition , financial backing and Tea Party Support and more Tea Party Moneybombs .
The Tea Party Rebellion Escalates
We Can See November From Christine's House .
Tom| 9.15.10 @ 7:23PM
".....It's important to remember that RINOs are our allies, not our enemies...."
NO! They are not our allies!!! So-called "moderate" Republicans are thoroughly despicable creatues, and do FAR more damage than far-left Democrats. They have spent decades doing little more than stabbing conservatives in the back on every oppurtunity they get.
I will vote for the most radical left-wing Democrat possible before I ever vote ffor the Arlen Specters, Olympia Snowes, and Mike Castles of this world. After I saw what John Warner did to Oliver North and Mike Farris here in Virginia during the mid-1990s, I ressolved never to vote for the man again. And I never did.
If I knew for a fact that my ballot would be the deciding vote in a race that would determine whether or not the Republicans or Democrats control the Senate, and the choices are a liberal Dem or a RINO, I would vote for the liberal Dem every day of the week.
One of things I am most thankful for in the election of 2010 is that enough conservatives have FINALLY seen through this "electability" nonsense shoved down our throats by the Republican Establishment, and are rejecting it in order to vote for pinciple. May it continue for a long, long time.
Siegfried X| 9.15.10 @ 8:47PM
"So-called "moderate" Republicans are thoroughly despicable creatues, and do FAR more damage than far-left Democrats."
Do you want those RINOs to leave the party? Do we want them voting for conservative candidates if they win and contributing money to them? Or should the RINOs just be forced out of the party?
If they support our conservative candidates, then they are our allies.
The whole point of Tabin's article was that Castle, a moderate Republican, should support McConnell. That would mean that the moderates are our allies.
Tom| 9.15.10 @ 8:59PM
"Do you want those RINOs to leave the party?"
Good-bye and good riddance.
JP| 9.15.10 @ 9:14PM
But Moderates have walked away. Starting with Jim Jeffords and continuing with Murkowski they have done just that. And it's been that way for a long, long time. You know the game is up when a conservative like Buckley openly supported a liberal like Lieberman in order to remove a "Moderate" like Lowel Weicker.
And given the chance, most so-called Moderates Republicans would jump ship if there weren't all of those Senate and House party seniority rules.
Siegfried X| 9.15.10 @ 9:38PM
Yes and _I_ personally vote against moderates, for the reason you pointed out, that there is no party loyalty.
But Tabin, in this blog, says that Castle should have endorsed O'Donnell. Given that, it would seem that we would also expect losing conservative candidates to endorse the RINOs who beat them in the primary. i.e. Hayworth should have endorsed McCain.
Brooke| 9.16.10 @ 8:37AM
Hayworth should have been more gracious, but it would have been nice if RINO McCain had attacked Obama in 2008 as savagely as he did Hayworth in 2010.
McCain busted out the brass knuckles for Hayworth, yet didn't lay a glove on Obama.
Yes, we know; team-player RINOs are our allies and friends, and we must curry their favor at all costs.
Texas Mom| 9.16.10 @ 1:00PM
And don't forget that loser Charlie Crist. And Arlen Spector. If they were not RINOs then how could they have any principles at all....
Siegfried X| 9.15.10 @ 8:59PM
The whole point of a primary election is that the Republican candidates disagree on the issues, get the decision of the voters, then shake hands and fight the Democrats together.
If the party expects Castle to do that, then it needs to treat him accordingly.
Siegfried X| 9.15.10 @ 9:01PM
Oh, I missed the line about voting for a radical left wing democrat, so I didn't realize this was trolling.
Tom| 9.16.10 @ 6:27AM
"Oh, I missed the line about voting for a radical left wing democrat, so I didn't realize this was trolling."
Sir, that is an outright lie and slander. You may take issue with my assertions that "moderate" Republicans are worse than far-left Democrats. History bears witness to the fact that my position is correct.
But to call this "trolling" demonstrates that you are completely devoid of personal integrity; just like your RINO friends.
Cris Worth| 9.15.10 @ 8:49PM
That kind of thinking has brought grief to the GOP since the 1960's. Liberal Republicans don't view conservatives as allies, never did. Remember what lengths defeated Nelson Rockefeller went to undermine Goldwater in '64. At last the tables have turned and we can thank W. Bush for finally wakening up all true conservatives and via the Tea Party movement throwing closet left wing, pro abortion, and bailout supporting GOP rascals out of office. Castle you got rooked not by the King but Queen...CHECKMATE!
WL| 9.15.10 @ 9:17PM
SHUT UP
WL| 9.15.10 @ 9:18PM
That "SHUT UP" was for Seigfried
JFGalt| 9.16.10 @ 1:28PM
RINOS are not our allies - REMEMBER that - They are a worse enemy than the Democrats for they attack us from within. More so - you need to understand that this is a fight for the soul of America which is in the hands of a ruling elite class that is made up of both Democrats and Republicans. They are the same except for a few non-essential diversions. America is waking up - I just hope its not too late. The pendulum swung too far with OBAMA! (emphasis added since he is considered godlike by his adherents) and Pelosi and people are seeing how un-American they truly are.
Trish| 9.16.10 @ 5:37PM
I agree that we must come together. However, if the Rino is indeed a democrat, that won't happen. If I wanted a democrat, I would have stayed in that party. Castle was a democrat vote whore.
Douglas Fletcher| 9.15.10 @ 6:38PM
Castle's "screw you guys, I'm going home" moment
I have a suspicion that home will be in Washington DC, not Delaware. So many of these politicians never seem to find it back to their home states once they're out of office -- they can't make nearly as much money back home as they can in DC.
JJ Brannon | 9.17.10 @ 5:39PM
"I have a suspicion that home will be in Washington DC, not Delaware."
Mr. Fletcher, you expose your vast ignorance of matters Delawarean. Mike Castle -- like the rest of Delaware's delegation to the Capitol -- never lived in Washington: well-known, to us locals, all commuted daily via Amtrak. We'd nod to them at the Wilmington train station.
JJB
Siegfried X| 9.15.10 @ 6:45PM
Also, compare the way the Republican establishment reacted to Joe Miller (Yale law school, war hero) vs. O'Donnell (allegations about personal faults). Except by Murkowski herself, Miller was treated much better. In fact with Miller, the Senate leadership like Mitch O'Connell sounded like they had won the lottery. Having a war hero, and one who is far ahead in the polls, is a big plus for the establishment, while O'Donnell is far behind in the polls and will generate a lot of negative press (fair or unfair).
So my point is that part of the reaction to O'Donnell reflects the allegations against her, and not just the establishment.
Brooke| 9.16.10 @ 8:41AM
Who do you think generated the allegations against O'Donnell? The establishment, perhaps?
JJ Brannon | 9.17.10 @ 5:53PM
"Who do you think generated the allegations against O'Donnell? The establishment, perhaps?"
She did for herself, in various interviews.
I have nothing against someone who pits oneself against the establishment. I've tilted against a fair number of establishment windmills in my time and been dismissed as a nutcase for my troubles.
I never, however, stabbed my allies in the back in the process, for my own personal aggrandizement, as O'Donnell did, nor alleged to the press that enemies where skulking in the bushes outside my home in a fit of paranoia. Moreover, that's been O'Donnell's modus operandi for as long as I've observed her public career.
As a note, I've met Mike Castle briefly on maybe six or seven occasions, mostly at public events like Newark Night, and a couple of times when he's boosted the small biotech business for which I am employed in goodwill PR for Delaware industry.
It's just that I hate to see a good man smeared by out-of-State operators. I support the Tea Party in spirit, but not in practive when it hands a US Senate to a liberal Democrat.
JJB
Siegfried X| 9.15.10 @ 6:50PM
Mike Castle wasn't treated with the respect he deserved as a good Republican. The main hit against him was that he voted for cap & trade. Well, John McCain was nominated and ran for president with cap & trade in his platform. So it's not surprising that some politicians might think that the Republican Party approved of it.
It's fine to vote against a Republican in the primary based on his record, but that doesn't mean he's evil.
Conservatives shouldn't be poor winners like the RINO establishment has been.
JP| 9.15.10 @ 9:21PM
No, McCain didn't. How could he? The House didn't come with a fully written, fleshed out bill until July of 2009. Niether McCain nor any other Senate Republican voted to even bring the House Bill forward (It still languishes in no-man's land). McCain, back when gas prices were at $4.50 a gallon, and the AGW spin was in overdrive gave some kind of "energy policy" lip service. But when the real deal came out of the House, he did a 180 degree spin away from it. Castle, on the other hand, gave his ringing endorsement.
And Castle early on, received plenty of "respect" from the GOP, as well as good press from the MSM. He was a shoe-in for election. But, he did nothing to increase his standing with Delaware conservatives (Yes, there are at least 30,000 of them there); he refused to attend any tea-party rallies (despite being "politely" advised to do just that from the RNC). And when he finally recognized he was in trouble, he did the normal thing liberals do: he let loose the attack dogs.
Siegfried X| 9.15.10 @ 9:42PM
Cap & trade was definitely in McCain's 2008 platform. In fact on election eve he attacked Obama's cap & trade, saying it would hurt coal states, and the media pointed out the absurd contradiction that McCain supported the same cap & trade.
McCain's platform was very similiar to Obama's. Both wanted amnesty, although McCain with different language. McCain pledged to shut Guantanmo and to end "torture".
JP| 9.15.10 @ 9:51PM
Hey, I'm no fan of McCain (I still cannot believe that someone with more standing than Hayworth couldn't run). But Cap and Trade in the abstract is easier to sell than the real thing. And once, the House version came out 14 months ago, everyone in the GOP (save a few like Castle) ran from it. Don't get me wrong; deep down I think McCain is no different than Chuck Schumer or Diane Feinstein. But he was smart enought to run away from that rotten egg. Castle was one of only 4 Republicans House members to votes for it (the other 3 I believe came from NJ).
Personally, a true GOP New England "Moderate" would at least make an effort to caucus with conservatives. And despite my enthusiasm, I fully realzie that state like Delaware and Rhode Island will never turn out a DeMint or Jessie Helms. But these guys don't even try anymore. Like Bloomberg, they run as Republicans for the simple fact that they cannot win in thier states running as Democrats.
Brooke| 9.16.10 @ 8:45AM
Castle has an F rating from the NRA; do you defend that, too, Siegfried?
Besides, who is a fan of the RINO McCain?
Tim Williams | 9.15.10 @ 7:02PM
Maybe we can put a little finer point on it?
The fact that Castle has reportedly refused to endorse O'Donnell makes it abundantly clear that even if he'd won, Mike Castle was never going to be the 51st "R" vote.
It stands to reason, then, that even if O'Donnell loses, the Republican party hasn't lost a thing.
Siegfried X| 9.15.10 @ 8:49PM
JD Hayworth still hasn't endorsed McCain, after being defeated in the primary. Does that mean that Hayworth is not a Republican? That he's a RINO?
JP| 9.15.10 @ 9:25PM
Hayworth has very little organization behind him. He was a one trick poney. But, unlike Castle, McCain took him seriously and poured $20 million into the campaign. Hayworth barely had any organized support -even from the Tea Party folks. The fact that McCain spent such large sums, was an indication of his own weakness than any strength Haywood possessed. You raise a strawman. But the fact that such an established, well known politican like McCain was being flanked from the Right, is an indication that the true "independents" are not "Moderates", but Conservatives.
Tim Williams| 9.15.10 @ 10:52PM
A couple points:
1. Hayworth should endorse McCain as a show of party unity. Who's he for at this point anyway? The Democrat? That he hasn't endorsed him, it seems to me, is a bit petulant, but it doesn't really damage McCain. I suspect at some point he will come out in support, but we'll see.
2. It's less important in Arizona (obviously.) The argument by the establishment for Castle was "he can win, and it's really, really important to win." The refusal to endorse O'Donnell demonstrates that Castle never really believed it was important for the Republican Party to win. Because what's changed?
3. The further argument for Castle was that he is popular throughout Delaware. His endorsement, one presumes, would therefore carry some weight. See # 2 above.
4. I may not like Castle's stance, but at least I understand it. He's for Mike Castle, not for the party. I don't get Karl Rove's angle.
Hey, I still hope Castle comes around and at least makes a show of supporting his party. It took McCain a few weeks (as I recall) to endorse Bush in 2000. But in the meantime, while you lick your wounds, just shut up about it, and tell your staffers to shut up about it, too.
rigdum_funidos| 9.16.10 @ 4:28PM
i have a high regard for Karl Rove and was shocked by his comments, since he has always been a true-blue (or should I say true-red) Republican. it must have come from so much work to design and fund a careful takover of the Senate, and then see a neophyte kick down his erector set. When he calms down, I expect him to support O'Donnell.
Ivan| 9.15.10 @ 7:09PM
"The tea party movement may be a little rough around the edges, and in some case inclined to support candidates who aren't always ideal. This isn't a surprise: One would hardly expect an organic grassroots movement to be a fully mature political machine."
In translation; The Tea Party is a bunch of crackpots, and they support and elect the crackpots and nuts like O'Donnel, Rand or Angles, not such wonderful luminaries like Charlie Crist, Arlen Specter of Mike Castle. Give me a break!
JimH| 9.16.10 @ 9:18AM
You've got to remember, that these are just simple farmers, these are people of the land, the common clay of the new west. You know . . . morons. - Waco Kid
Sheila| 9.16.10 @ 12:09PM
"One would hardly expect an organic grassroots movement to be a fully mature political machine." That line caught my eye, too, Ivan. Mr. Tabin/Toobin is oh, so politely calling us immature, ignorant rubes. Nothing personal, you understand, but we must learn our place.
Rich Rostrom| 9.15.10 @ 7:16PM
"The fact that Castle has reportedly refused to endorse O'Donnell makes it abundantly clear that even if he'd won, Mike Castle was never going to be the 51st "R" vote."
Does it? Castle has been a Republican for forty years. His voting record has been mushy (but NOT liberal), but there has never been a question of his party loyalty. Until O'Donnell and her crew raised it. This in addition to lying about his voting record and calling him a homosexual. Now he's being pilloried for not saying "Thank you ma'am, may I have another"?
Tim Williams| 9.15.10 @ 7:36PM
There is a big difference between a House member whose influence is diluted by both the larger number of members and the procedural rules, and one of 100 members of the Senate, whose rules magnify each individual Senator's powers.
I think it is a virtual certainty that he would have been the public face of Republican dissent on a key issue sometime in the next four years.
I admit, however well founded, that is all just speculation. That's why, had Castle won the nomination, I'd still be for him over Coons, because he'd (obviously) be the lesser of two evils.
Only he didn't win. O'Donnell won. So why can't he make the same calculation as me? You say "there's never been a question of his party loyalty." Well, now there is.
JJ Brannon | 9.17.10 @ 6:08PM
Because carpetbagger Christine O'Donnell broke the cardinal Delaware "One Degree of Separation" rule of politics: "Don't drag one's family or personal life in the mud."
Full disclosure: while I was born in NJ and lived one town over at the same time O'Donnell lived in Moorestown [she's about the same age as my baby brother], my grandparents and extended clan have lived in or around the Newark area for hundreds of years.
JJB
DrTomVoter| 9.15.10 @ 7:24PM
You call them "moderate Republicans," we call then "moderately Republican." That is the difference in a nutshell.
Gazinya| 9.15.10 @ 7:31PM
So what I'm reading is that all these RINOs and 'moderate' Repubs have spent the last 2 or 3 decades in 'public service' on the vote of a thin margin of Repub voters. If the people who lost to those supported by the tea party think they have been screwed it is because the majority of the Repub got tired of being screwed also. In reality, we don't care what you 'party machinists' think. We will be heard.
Hank Archer| 9.15.10 @ 7:40PM
I suppose Castle has some good political stands, but he was for Cap'n Trade, pro-abortion & anti 2nd Amendment. I don't think being on the right side of Obamacare and squishy on taxes and spending overcome these problems.
Teflon93| 9.15.10 @ 7:55PM
Piss off, Rockefeller Republicans---the 60s are over.
SoCon| 9.16.10 @ 9:44AM
LOL!
Troll Hunter| 9.15.10 @ 8:03PM
Hmmm...the posts of Siegfried X here are much different than the ones yesterday. Today, very snarky about O'Donnell. Yesterday, very supportive.
Overnight conversion? Or DNC-inspired identity theft?
Siegfried X| 9.15.10 @ 8:55PM
No, I haven't changed at all. I said that if I lived in Delaware I would vote for O'Donnell and that is still true.
But that doesn't mean that I think she's a perfect candidate. Some of the allegations about her are troubling and if I had the choice I would have voted for another conservative candidate. But O'Donnell is better than the moderate, Castle.
I grew up in a time with less spin, when people weren't afraid to criticize their party or its candidates. I just call them the way I see 'em.
Brooke| 9.16.10 @ 8:51AM
You're spinning, Siegfried.
Good catch, Troll Hunter: Deceitful Siegfried is a Concern Troll.
Greycoat | 9.15.10 @ 9:33PM
Mike Castle is a petty little man-child who thought he was entitled to the office and now is bitter. He lost because he and those like him are destroying this country and enough is enough. It does this nation no good to have just another RINO in Congress who plays along with the very people across the aisle destroying this country. This is a war to save our country and you don't fratanize with the enemy, you defeat them. If you like the other side of the aisle, drop the R after your name and join them. Good riddance to Castle and RINO's like him. They are disgusting human beings.
Ken (Old Texican)| 9.15.10 @ 9:44PM
Folks,
May I imitate Toby Keith's song : "I Love This Bar"
Folks,
I love this site. God bless the owners.
I learn stuff every day here. We got every kind of thought in the universe here.
Get a giggle and go watch Toby sing the song on youtube.
Siegfried X| 9.15.10 @ 10:00PM
In an imaginary world we might have a primary in each district each election, one which had both moderate & conservative candidates, each of which had experience and roughly equal campaign funds. The party leadership wouldn't take sides in primaries.
In that imaginary world elected politicians would actually act like a team, respecting each other instead of acting like free agents.
In that imaginary world it might make sense to vote for the moderate candidates under the "lesser evil" theory which is trolled here so often.
But in the real 2010 Republican Party it doesn't work that way. The leadership and many of the politicians are far to the left of their voters, and constantly trying to push even further left. Every vote for a moderate politician is seen as proof that the leadership should run more RINOs in uncontested primaries. Everytime a RINO votes with the Democrats on important issues and then gets reelected it is seen as license to keep being "bipartisan".
Given this reality it is clearly better to vote against all RINOs. The only thing which will stop the party from saying that only RINOs are "electable" is stop electing them. The only way to stop RINOs from getting too close to the left side of the plate is to throw political fastballs under their chin from time to time.
The reason why it is worth it to lose 1 or 2 seats by voting against RINOs is because it can change the behavior of dozens of other senators. Better to lose a battle and win the war. Defeat two RINOs for voting with the Democrats, and the other Republican senators get the message.
albert constantine jr.| 9.15.10 @ 10:08PM
Appropos of nothing, but if you like the video for "I Love This Bar" and apply the metaphor to this site, perhaps the discovery of a left wing troll blogging here is the equivalent of scene where the apparently beautiful woman is found in the Men's Room at the urinal?
Mad Hatter| 9.15.10 @ 11:43PM
Castle, realizing he was early gone,
Picked Christine O to get churly 'pon.
While Mike's rantin' and railin'
Said, "You've got Sarah Palin!"
Sounds like Christine wasn't the girlie-mon!
mike| 9.16.10 @ 4:41AM
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Mike Hamilton| 9.16.10 @ 9:47AM
The Republicans have a history from the beginning of electing unelectable candidates, look at Abe Lincoln or Ronald Reagan. Mr Rove should wait for the voters to have their say before giving up.
Tom T| 9.16.10 @ 11:26AM
I'm with Cris Worth: Liberal Republicans don't view conservatives as allies, never did. Remember what lengths defeated Nelson Rockefeller went to undermine Goldwater in '64." But you don't need to go back all the way to Rockefeller v. Goldwater. Dede Scozzafava? Charlie Crist? Glaring examples of what Rino's have always done to the Republican Party, and will continue to do until the voters wake up. This guy (http://mercurialpundit.blogspot.com/2009/11/political-season.html) made the point rather well in the wake of the Hoffman/Scozzafava fiasco: "History shows, and NY-23 confirmed, that Rinos and Molteds not only lose consistently against Democrats, but are a net negative for the Party's other candidates. Republicans are either the opposition Party to Democrats, and define themselves so by their policies and principles, or they will be the minority Party in American politics for many years to come. "
JohnRice| 9.16.10 @ 2:28PM
Castle was a problem. He was one of the incumbents who did not face up to the growing problems affecting the nation.
Sparky3650| 9.16.10 @ 2:49PM
O'Donnell's victory may represent a tactical defeat - the probable loss of the seat - but I think it is a strategic success. It shows that even in a liberal state like Delaware, a true conservative can win a primary. Even if we lose in November, there will be other elections and this is part of the "new paradigm", if you will, for conservatirvs. No matter what happens in November, I think vistories like this lay the ground work for success in 2012
Reneeca| 9.16.10 @ 4:14PM
Castle shoukld have lost. anyone who gets phone calls after his defeat from our Leader Obama and Dingy Harry telling him how sorry they were that he lost, deserves to lose! These are not just Rhino's. They are Democrats with an R in front of their names. good riddance after 40 years already. We need to get these elitists out of their political lifetime careers and their greedy hands on their power!
Robert| 9.22.10 @ 9:16AM
So suppose Castle had won the primary and were to win the general election. We would promptly see him voting for the Obama-Pelosi-Reid statist agenda. What exactly is to be gained from that? O'Donnell represents a change away from the malicious Marxism of Obama-Pelosi-Reid that Castle would only be too happy to aid and abet.