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The Spectacle Blog
Andrew Pavelyev is at it again. On Friday, I pointed out that there wasn’t much evidence for his argument that even winning Tea Party candidates like Rand Paul and Marco Rubio cost Republicans Senate seats by diverting resources that could have been better spent elsewhere. He responds: “Antle says that extra campaign money would have hardly made any difference in California, while I actually very specifically mentioned a much closer race in Washington State.”
Well, he actually very specifically mentioned the California race too, with his reference to vulnerable “liberal Democrats (such as Barbara Boxer).” No matter. Let’s look at the Washington State Senate contest. The National Republican Senatorial Committee did spend $3 million there in the closing weeks. Maybe the other $1 million Pavelyev is dreaming about would have made the difference, but somehow it seems that Dino Rossi has lost two previous close statewide races in Washington, neither of which can be blamed on Rand Paul or Marco Rubio. By the time the NRSC made its last infusion of cash, Paul and Rubio were both polling well ahead of Rossi — and their own opponents.
Pavelyev continues: “I am a Republican primary voter and I do not necessarily want a majority that will actually do something (‘That government is best which governs least.’)” If the federal government’s existing spending commitments are allowed to grow on auto pilot, based on the current rules, good luck finding a government that governs least. Only Republicans who are willing to take positive steps to revisit those commitments can deliver anything approximating limited government.
Ah, but trying to do stuff like that is “dumb” — Pavelyev’s word for things like spending limitations. And abolishing the Federal Reserve, an idea endorsed by notorious dummies Milton Friedman and Friedrich von Hayek. I’ll agree with him that Linda McMahon’s congressional salary proposal was pretty poorly thought out, but pace Pavelyev, McMahon was a party establishment candidate. She was certainly not a Tea Party candidate. After Chris Dodd dropped out, the Republican establishment largely bailed on Rob Simmons in favor of McMahon precisely because she could self-finance, freeing up resources that could be spent on more winnable races elsewhere. (Which I thought was a good thing?)
My point isn’t that all of the Tea Partiers were rocket scientists or even competent candidates. Clearly, many were not. My problem is with context-free analysis by people who sneer at conservative activists without demonstrating any better grasp of the relevant facts.
View all comments (18) | Leave a comment
More Blog Posts by W. James Antle, III
http://spectator.org/blog/2010/11/08/tea-parties-and-the-stupid-par
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Tim*| 11.8.10 @ 9:29AM
It's Just More Drooling From That Pavelyev Dog.
" One of the biggest winners on Tuesday was South Carolina Senator Jim DeMint. Not only did the Republican pound his Democratic opponent by a more than 2-to-1 margin but his Senate Conservatives Fund PAC helped win a series of races for the GOP.
The PAC was an early contributor to the campaigns of Pat Toomey in Pennsylvania, Marco Rubio in Florida; Mike Lee in Utah; Rand Paul in Kentucky; and Ron Johnson in Wisconsin. "We were for Toomey and Rubio and Rand Paul before it was cool," said the senator. Thanks in part to Mr. DeMint's efforts, there will be at least five additional fiscal conservatives in the upper chamber of the next Congress."
WSJ
Aleck| 11.8.10 @ 9:48AM
It was the Tea Party insurgency that kept me and my vote in the Republican Party at all. I suspect that quite a few others are in the same boat as me. Frankly, I think that without the hope that the Tea Party has given conservatives, the Republicans would have continued to lose big.
martin j smith| 11.8.10 @ 10:28AM
My view is that the Republican party consits of three primary factions: The RINOS ( who are WINOS--Winning is not an option ) or really Demcrats at the slightest provocation --i.e. losing aprimary. There are the moderates--but at least loyal to some form of conservative ideas. These people fear offending by being "overly critical" of the Obama agenda--they are scared and timid. The third group are the true conservatives--afraid of nothing full steam ahead. What moved the election was a collective anger at the overreach of the Democrat Left--they do not want Socialism.
But what I think was destructive was the smearing and put downs of true conservatives by some moderates--I think it was detrimental to optimal performance. Still the results were spectacular--just look at the behavior of the Left Socialists. But, it could have been better yet. This if the results of primaries were accepted from the get go and the winners recieved full throttle support.
KR, GOP genius| 11.8.10 @ 10:35AM
Psst--the tea party cost the GOP the Senate. Especially Sarah Palin. Pass it on....
Tim*| 11.8.10 @ 10:57AM
The Tea Party Won 5 of 6 Republican Senate Seats: Pat Toomey of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, Dr.Rand Paul of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, Marco Rubio of Florida & Mike Lee of Utah.
"There have been only two elections since 1950 in which Republicans have gained more Senate seats than the six they gained in 2010. One of those elections was in 1980, when voters swept Ronald Reagan into the White House. The second was in 1994, in response to the Democrats' ill-advised attempts to pass Hillarycare."
PCC| 11.8.10 @ 1:12PM
So, it's the third time in 30 years that the GOP gained these many seats. Yawn.
Tim*| 11.8.10 @ 1:26PM
So, You Gave Your Opinion.
Zzzzzzzzzzzz!
Sean| 11.8.10 @ 10:45AM
How much money did supporting RINOs in primaries cost them? I am just glad we got a few conservatives elected. The Republicans have a tough fight ahead and we will see which ones are able to hold up and fight back.
Dale Cord| 11.8.10 @ 11:07AM
Most of the population of our country is suffering under the delusion that the Republicans are for the American people. There is no difference between these two UN-AMERICAN POLITICAL PARTIES, who have been fleecing the citizens of this country now since Woodrow Wilson's Communist regime took root in Washington. Being uneducated in history and politics is no shameful thing considering, our educational system is being controlled by the political machine in Washington and abroad. What is shameful though is to remain in a state of mental confusion as to who our enemy really is in this country. To focus your mind on entertainment though, instead of who is violating the sanctity of your freedoms, livelihood, home and privacy as an American citizen is the epitome of shameful stupidity. Your bible and history books have a multitude of warning signs for your survival in this world of predators. Who seek not only your income but your very soul. If you really want what is best for your loved ones, and true God given freedom and equality for all in America. Then open your eyes and unlock your mind and let truth, set you free. The removal of both the Democrat's and Republican's in this great country of ours would be a great start. Read our Constitution for the legality and authorization by the people to do this or, remain subjects and cannon fodder to the warlords and criminals who rein over us at this present time. "There is a way that seems right to a man but, the end therein is Death"
Curly Smith| 11.8.10 @ 11:39AM
Look at it from the GOP's point of view: The GOP campaigned vigorously for two years on their plan to restore fiscal sanity and return the country to our Constitutional underpinning. They held rallies, they had speakers, they sponsored marches. The GOP was everywhere one looked in the two years prior to the election talking about the era of Reagan and the Founding Fathers. Then along comes the Tea Party with their idiotic candidates, costing the staunchly conservative GOP control of the Senate - which, again, the GOP had worked tirelessly to achieve for 2 years.
So, yeah, the GOP has every right to criticize the Tea Party candidates. The GOP not only laid the foundation for fundamental change but also was fully committed to instituting far-reaching and truly revolutionary policies. And now the GOP is afraid that it will be blamed because of the compromises that the lousy Tea Party candidates forced upon them.
Or, so the GOP would have us believe...
Rich Fisher| 11.8.10 @ 12:29PM
Overlooked in all the rhetoric is this fact. For years the conservative right wing Republicans have supported Rinos in order to get a Republican in office, no matter how sorry the supposed Republican is, i.e.; Olympia Snowe and Mike Castle. Now, when the tea pary nominates a true conservative Republican the Rinos want to sit out the election in a snit and predict the Republicans can't win. So, they expect us to compromise our beliefs and vote for their Rino but they aren't willing to do the same and vote for a tea party backed conservative. It's the Rinos who lost Delaware and Nevada for us. If they had compromised like they always ask us to do "for the good of the party", we would have won those seats. As it is, we took back control of Congress without the Rinos. Sure we don't own the Senate but with the 46+ seats we have we can control everything that goes on there as a number of scared as hell Democrats are going to side with the Republicans for the next two years. So the fact is, we took back the government without the Rinos and we can make it even more solid in 2012 without them. If you Rinos want to be on the losing side then become a democrat. Otherwise, get a clue and join the movement. We have only just begun to fight.
All Hail The Stupid Party!| 11.8.10 @ 1:09PM
The Stupid Kamikaze Party are determined to commit suicide by becoming the Democrat Party II. Exactly why they'll NEVER get another cent from me or earn my trust. The Stupid Kamikaze Party will not change anything, will not fight the Democrats because it is no different than fighting themselves, & will devote their time, energy, & money to grow the size of the GOP Ruling Class, & demonize those who don't subscribe to Democrat-Lite strategies. The Stupid Kamikaze Party led by useful idiots like Lindsey Grahamnesty, Trent Lott, Newt Gingrich, & John Cornyn, to name a few will force the formation of a third party whether it's a good idea or not. The Stupid Kamikaze Party will then become the third party themselves. Until the current "leadership" is tossed out along with fools like those already mentioned, I'm done with them. Jim DeMint is the only member of Congress IMO, who is not satisfied with the status quo & truly aims to change things. Any monetary donations will be going to his PAC only until The Stupid Kamikaze Party wake up & get real.
Wotan| 11.8.10 @ 4:41PM
I'd also respectfully add Ron Paul's name beside Jim DeMint's. Congressman Paul has been working to change the status quo for many years; moreover, he's been consistent, which is something that can't be said of many other politicians. If the GOP fails to nominate Dr. Paul for a 2012 presidential run, in favor of someone like Romney, then the Republican Party can go to hell for all I care. I'll vote third party and never look back.
Patriot| 11.13.10 @ 4:25PM
No Ron Paul and no Myth Romney.
Ran / Si Vis Pacem | 11.8.10 @ 4:54PM
Mr. Antle, with due respect, why respond to Andrew's post in the first place? What did you expect to find on a Frum website - reasoned defense of small-government conservatism?
No, I'll not reward Lil' Andrew with a click over there. Frum, Knepper, Friedersdorf & Co. have wasted enough of our precious time as it is.
There's a war on: Tyranny from the Left wants to eradicate American Liberty... and those [pieces of work] can't get attention from the Right unless their broadsides are aimed at us!? They bring nothing substantive or new to the argument. H3ll, they bring nothing even entertaining to the argument.
OK, I take that back. There is an odd humor in their bungling targets.
Tim*| 11.8.10 @ 4:58PM
Dr.Ron Paul will now become The Chairman of Committee on Financial Services Subcommittee on Domestic Monetary Policy and Technology.
They monitor The FED & QE2 !
Wotan| 11.8.10 @ 6:02PM
I can't wait to see Bernanke's deer-in-the-headlights look when Chairman Paul has subpoena power and forces him to open the FEDs books. Brings a smile to my face just thinking about it..
aware| 11.8.10 @ 5:06PM
....." Pavelyev's word for things like spending limitations. And abolishing the Federal Reserve, an idea endorsed by notorious dummies ...."
The FED is proving right now that" spending limitations" don't exist in the Land of Unicorns and Rainbows they control. Here its always up, up, up. The biggest, most devastating bubble they have ever done, Public Debt Bubble will end as all cheap credit bubbles do. You only have 2 choices.
Choice #1.....repudiate the practices that brought you to this point and take your lumps. This is not the choice even under consideration(or possible with the existence of the Federal Reserve), so we are going to get....
Choice #2....continue to throw everything you can into the scheme to keep it propped up and risk catastrophic collapse of the entire system. And the end of the middle class, and possibly even bloodshed.
Do you think the FED was even interested in the election one way or another? They couldn't care less and it shows. They know who really "runs" the "economy" and everything else because of it.
When the Republicans insist on the abolition of the 3rd Nation Bank, then I'll know they are serious about corruption.