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The Spectacle Blog
Read the link for the latest from New Orleans’ ignorant (not to mention unethical, although that doesn’t come into play here) new congressman, who replaced the earnest, honest, moderate Joseph Cao. Yes, he actually said this: “For far too long, we’ve let companies dictate their decisions based on a bottom line, what they’re going to give back to their shareholders, their boards of directors. That’s not what this country was founded on.”
Nobody like this should be within sniffing distance of Congress, much less barroom brawling distance.
It raises this point for all the purer-than-thou conservative ideologues out there who treat moderate Republicans like the enemy rather than like a sometime friend: A vote with you half the time is better than no votes with you at all. Integrity is always better than lack of integrity. Partial understanding is better than ignorance.
Joseph Cao, the one-term Republican congressman from a 70% Democratic district, was a miracle. Conservative ideologues (which is a contradiction in terms, because no true conservative is an ideologue) spent too much time treating him like a pariah instead, because he wouldn’t toe the line 100% of the time.
Now this is what we get instead. Just by spouting his tommyrot in public, Rep. Cedric Richmons makes it all the harder for an ill-informed populace to understand the real ideals of the U.S.A. This sort of thing is horrible for the public weal.
This is not to say that Cao would have won re-election if conservatives treated him better. Probably not. But we’ll never know for sure. And what we do know is that conservatives did not appreciate him, nor nurture him, nor help him develop. What a waste.
View all comments (14) | Leave a comment
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Warrior | 1.30.11 @ 3:25PM
You continue to be the clarion for moderates while the progressives keep voting for ideologues. We keep losing the advancement of conservative values when we continue to allow RINO's to blur the distinct differences that separate conservative and liberal ideals. Look at what the moderates have given us from 1994 - 2006: SCHIP, Medicare D, TARP 1, continual deficits, No child left behind, 2 unfunded wars, continuation of open borders... All this moderation led to democrat super majorities which have now given us Obamacare, 1.5 trillion dollar deficits annually, takeover of companies...
Moderation has worked well, don't you think?
Ryan| 1.31.11 @ 8:21AM
What were conservatives supposed to do in Cao's district?
George S| 1.30.11 @ 3:28PM
When it was over, Republicans gained 60 House seats, 700 state legislative seats and a dozen governor seats. Every battle suffers a casualty.
Teflon93| 1.30.11 @ 8:37PM
What we got was a clear reminder to Louisianans---who after all DID vote for this idiot, as they have voted for so many Democrat morons in the past---that there are consequences to elections and that the Democrat Party is stuffed to the brim with fools and lunatics.
That lesson is worth the rental of a congressional seat for a couple of years. It will pay big dividends in the future--but only if the GOP runs a REAL conservative against this dummy next time.
Why should we keep screwing conservatives---who are almost always loyal GOP voters---for the sake of RINOs because they make people like you feel smarter, Quinn?
Ryan| 1.31.11 @ 8:24AM
70% Dem. 70% Dem. New Orleans. New Orleans.
The ONLY way that there will be a consistent conservative elected to that seat will be if there is some sort of change in district lines because LA is losing a seat.
What was supposed to happen?
Teflon93| 1.31.11 @ 8:41AM
How about the Democrats run a complete moron against a real conservative, thus prompting Democrats to either stay home or defect? We want to make more conservatives, not temporarily attract liberals and moderates.
Empowering RINOs always blows back---how's that McCain presidential campaign going? How's Arlen Specter doing? How about Jim Jeffords?
john dubose| 1.30.11 @ 10:41PM
There seems to be another political divide in the world. The divide is between those who try to negotiate with all players to get as much of what they want as practible and those who would ruin if they can not rule. Folks who say "If you are not with us, you are against us" When the word "RINO" escapes, one usually knows what camp the speaker is in. The other side certainly also has a group with that same destructive attitude.
Liberals are mostly NOT evil, they mostly just fail to see the total cost of of trying to save lost puppies with the ham fisted power of the state.
Interested Conservative| 1.30.11 @ 10:57PM
OK Quin, the other commenters don't seem to know much about Rep. Cao, and neither do I, but the little I learned impressed me that he was no RINO.
The Obamacare vote struck me as pure representative politics (of all 435 districts, this one seemed most likely to want that vote), and the rest of Cao's actions seemed more like self-help culturally conservative based, also in tune with at least part of the district.
Anyway, a few questions - what is Rep. Cao doing now? I always figured Gov. Jindal could easily find a spot for him somewhere in La. state govt., or is he staying local to NO? Also, considering the POTUS also showed no support to him (neatly illustrating both personal ingratitude and political ineptitude), could Rep. Cao have won in any set of circumstances - i.e. with a respectful word from the POTUS and outside conservative help?
Just wondering.
Quin| 1.31.11 @ 10:25AM
Cao is reportedly at least considering running for Secretary of State in LA, a perfect post for a man of integrity who just wants to make sure the state government (and elections) are run honestly and efficiently. Meanwhile, he has been quoted as saying that he felt a conflict sometimes between his more conservative philosophy and the views of his district, and he bowed to the district's views when his views were only tentative (which is only reasonable; he also proved he was willing to buck his district when his views were firm, such as for the pro-life cause) -- but that in a more conservative district, he surely would have voted more conservatively. That is representative democracy -- or, rather, small 'r' republicanism -- at its finest. Finally, there is a fundraiser to help him retire his campaign debt on Feb. 3. in New Orleans. I don't have details, but I think it is a purely newsworthy item to note that "To RSVP or for more information call or email:
Katherine Olivard kolivard@e-bmf.com
504-524-3342."
Warrior | 1.31.11 @ 2:29PM
Small "r" republicanism would have been for Cao to stand up and state that Obamacare was unconstitutional. Would have been perfectly in line with his swearing to uphold the Constitution! He should have advised his constituents that the CBO numbers were cooked and that another massive entitlement program being implemmented when the country is broke is a recipe for disaster.
I guess we should just go on making excuses for everyone who did not have the backbone to call this what it was. So now when the internet kill switch comes up for a vote, the fairness doctrine or any other liberty limiting vote, we should just allow our elected representatives to vote the way they believe their contituents want them to. Screw the Constitution and any other common sense that might apply. This is pathetic.
JASmius | 1.31.11 @ 11:40AM
Two comments:
1) After the fratricidal vitriol he spewed at the last Republican congressional majority back in 2006, Quin Hillyer is the least entitled contributor on this site to be throwing around phrases like...
"It raises this point for all the purer-than-thou conservative ideologues out there who treat moderate Republicans like the enemy rather than like a sometime friend: A vote with you half the time is better than no votes with you at all. Integrity is always better than lack of integrity. Partial understanding is better than ignorance."
2) Whatever you do, don't let Jeff "Mike Castle is Beelzebub" Lord see this post.
Oldefarte| 1.31.11 @ 11:51AM
As the Gipper would say, THERE YOU GO AGAIN [re:Cao]. Seem to recall that Cao voted FOR Obama's WELFARECARE legislation, so I guess El Chosen One's personal campaigning for him was his CHICAGO WAY political payback. Shame that Old Barry can't seem to pay back Louisiana Purchase Mary for her voting FOR same legislation, but no doubt the $350 mil bonanza to her state was payment enough [even though the rest of us taxpayers had to pay for that payoff and for its resultant explosion in our healthcare premium costs once WELFARECARE kicks in in 2014]. As to Cedric, see where he graduated from Tulane Law School AND the JFK school of business....WOW, SHAZAM, GADZOOKS! What a genius, huh? Also noted that he had his law license SUSPENDED IN 2008 for falsifying information on its application....SHAZAM 2! Charlie Boy, Cedric, Joseph....boy oh boy, them there cajun imbiciles over there really know how to suck the heads, pinch the tails and PICK A BUNCH OF LOSERS,right??????????
wayne thorburn| 2.1.11 @ 10:38AM
Amen to your comments on Cao! What worries me about Tea Party types is not only their lack of historical perspective but their inability to see that a half-full glass is better than an empty one and their failure to consider personal qualities and abilities beyond ideological purity. Mitch McConnell would be majority leader if the GOP had not nominated flawed candidates for several Democratic controlled Senate seats.
Oldefarte| 2.1.11 @ 10:55AM
No, McConnell etc wouldn't be majority leader, but would instead be facing ultimate challange/defeat by Democrats as a finishing act to trojun-horsing in El Chosen One on 11/2/08. Parsing words concerning candidates [Democrat vs Republican; conservative vs moderate or liberal;etc ]is asinine and ludicrous. I prefer American vs Un-American, sane vs. insane, patriot vs pinhead, taxpayer vs. welfare recipient, etc. This country is on the brink of destruction from financial bankruptcy, and if these Democrats, liberals, moderates, etc don't get their heads our of their backsides [or be forced to by Republicans, conservatives, or whatever], we'll be comparable to Cuba, Africa or other third world country in the near future. Compromise? Yeah, right, that's what's been occurring in this country for the last half century or longer, and look where that compromise has gotten us??????????????????