Erick Erickson's Blog, page 25

GOP Consultants Palin on Paul Ryan

Palin (verb w obj.) pay • lîn

To pile on a Vice Presidential nominee and blame him/her for defeat so political consultants do not have to accept any responsibility.

There have been a number of stories out over the past few days from Republican political consultants on background claiming the GOP is now screwed because Paul Ryan is the Vice Presidential nominee.

There is an underlying kernel of truth in their concerns. For seventy-two hours now, the GOP has talked about Medicare, not the failing economy. Several of the consultants I have talked to express a deep concern, based on past performance, that the Romney campaign does not have what it takes to fight on this front and make it about the economy. Their concerns are based on legitimate issues.

The reality, however, is that we win on this playing field if the Romney team does engage. Fixing entitlements is directly correlated to fixing the economy and Paul Ryan is an articulate spokesman on that correlation.

Bill Kristol gets at the ridiculousness of a lot of the bed wetting. In 1980, 1994, and 2010, Republican consultants soiled their britches that the GOP would lose for daring to make the campaign about ideas and ideology. Each time they fought on ideas, they won.

Let me make a simple point without wasting all our time — Republican consultants have gotten lazy. Many of the new kids on the block came up through the 2000 race with Karl Rove and are absolutely convinced that instead of running on ideas, you run on tactics directed toward building piecemeal coalitions. That’s how a supposed conservative like George Bush went from steel tariffs in Pennsylvania to Medicare Part D for seniors.

Republican consultants hate running campaigns based on ideas and ideology because they (A) don’t have one (B) think conservatives who do are knuckle draggers and (C) don’t understand how to message ideological campaigns as a result. And by God we can’t have consultants out actually working and thinking.

There are some great Republican consultants out there who share the concerns reflected in the Politico and elsewhere. Their concerns are based on the Romney team not being able to execute an ideological race. I don’t think we should lump them in with the others.

The ones the media is talking to are the consultants, like Mark McKinnon, who really don’t believe we should be having these fights. They’d rather fight around the edges. Those are the fights that will not win at this time. Those are the fights fought by people who hated the Tea Party in 2010 and were convinced the “Party of No” was a nonstarter with the American people. Those are the people we all really need to put out business on our side.

If the Romney campaign will wage an ideological fight for the heart and soul of the American Dream, they will win. Ultimately, the vast majority of voters do not want Barack Obama being the arbiter of what is fair in America.

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After posting, a political consultant friend of mine writing to agree with me noted this in an email:

The only thing I’d add: Democrats have demagogued on Social Security and Medicare since the beginning of time. Anyone who isn’t preparing for Dem attacks on Medicare, especially House members who voted for the Ryan Budget twice, is crazy.

Josh Trevino, RedState Founder, Moves on Up

I’ve long wanted to see Josh in a place like CNN with me, but today’s Transom brings really good and cool news:

Joshua Treviño, a Redstate co-founder who has most recently served as vice president of the Texas Public Policy Foundation as well as a globetrotting raconteur and avid Twitterer (do not fight with him, as you will lose), will be announced today as a new Columnist for the Guardian and Writer-at-Large for Texas Monthly. This will include regular writing covering American politics for the Guardian, whose global reach is simply astounding—it’s one of the top five news sites in the world.

What’s significant here is that more and more outlets in the traditional media are hiring conservatives from new media because we are winning. The nation, according to Gallup and others, still tilts to the right. And some of the most refreshing voices from the right these days are from well outside Washington, DC — the one place in America most removed from authentic American conservatism.

I still remembered the day I read Josh’s post at Tacitus that was the genesis of RedState. I was a miserable lawyer looking for a way out. When I read it, I immediately emailed in to say “count me in.” He did. The rest is, as they say, history.

Congrats Josh! Keep winning.

John Boehner Calls TARP Opponents Knuckle Draggers

Considering that so many tea party activities first became inspired to get active because of the Republican push for TARP, and were then emboldened by Barack Obama’s stimulus plan, we can say, I think, that John Boehner is calling tea partiers knuckle draggers.

That’s unfortunate.

Now, I’m sure he doesn’t think of it that way. He’s just talking about TARP opponents — also known as the conservative base of the Republican Party.

The Crazy Fool From the Attic Turned Vice President Race Baits

In fairness to Vice President Biden, I supposed I should have a full post for our collective crazy uncle in the attic turned Vice President. The man from Delaware claimed that Republicans want to put people back in chains. Considering there is only one group of people ever put in chains in this country, it is clear he was race baiting. I have no doubt this was orchestrated by the Obama campaign, which immediately is again screaming that the old fool was taken out of context.

It is remarkable that the party that thinks “states rights” is racist code thinks “put you back in chains” is hot and sexy talk. It is remarkable that the party that heard Sarah Palin had a political target list and cried foul would think telling people the GOP will enslave them is okay. It is remarkable that the party that screams bloody murder when you say they are marxists is okay with Joe Biden claiming the GOP will put people back in chains. It is remarkable that the party that screams bloody murder the moment you mention a death panel has no problem saying the GOP wants to put you back in chains. In short, if you use Barack Obama’s middle name, you are a racist. But if you race bait a crowd by telling them Mitt Romney will put them back in chains, Stephanie Cutter, the President’s spokesgal is cool with that. She’s also cool with telling people Mitt Romney killed a woman by giving her cancer and is perfectly cool with lying about her knowledge of Joe Soptic.

Actually, it’s not really remarkable at all. Inciting racial animosity for political gain has been the Democratic playbook since the Democrats were, well, not to put too fine a point on it, putting black people in chains. But I’m sure we are just, again, taking the Democrats all out of context.

Morning Briefing for August 15, 2012

RedState Morning Briefing

August 15, 2012

Go to www.RedStateMB.com to get
the Morning Briefing every morning at no charge.

1. Obama Administration Continues to Fail on Energy Policy

2. Romney hits Obama for cutting $716 billion from Medicare to pay for ObamaCare

3. $20 Million to Inspect Catfish: Zero Catfish Inspected

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1. Obama Administration Continues to Fail on Energy Policy

One would think that one of the primary requirements of energy independence would be having the ability to collect the energy through which one becomes independent by using. Somehow, this logic escapes the Obama administration as evidenced by their “Five-Year Plan.” However, if their goal was to diminish opportunities for energy resources, they’ve done a magnificent job.

It is pretty well established that there is oil in the Gulf of Mexico and in the Arctic. We should drill there until it runs dry and the administration puts forth the appearance that they agree on this point as they have been kind enough to allow additional drilling there. Specifically, they’ve agreed to set up 12 lease auctions in the Gulf and 3 more in the Arctic. Very nice of them but these are known quantities and probably don’t qualify as the savior of energy independence at this point. For that, we’d need to explore new areas. However, true exploration is not on the agenda.

Please click here for the rest of the post.

2. Romney hits Obama for cutting $716 billion from Medicare to pay for ObamaCare

The Romney campaign has released a powerful new television ad contrasting the Romney/ Ryan plan, which strengthens Medicare and protects the commitments made to current seniors, against Obama’s $716 billion cuts from Medicare.

Please click here for the rest of the post.

3. $20 Million to Inspect Catfish: Zero Catfish Inspected

A few weeks ago I wrote about how the government is doubling up on the ever important Catfish inspection duties by having the USDA inspect catfish at an even greater cost than currently spent by the FDA to do the same thing.

Please click here for the rest of the post.

Martha Zoller: Let’s Get Her To Congress

Georgia’s 9th Congressional District runoff presents the two faces of the Republican Party and asks voters to choose.

On one hand is Doug Collins. Collins would fit right in with the Congressional Republicans who raised the debt ceiling on the promise of spending cuts and then weaseled out of the cuts. He’d fit right in with a GOP that gives lip to repealing Obamacare, but is actually too scared of picking a fight on defunding it.

Doug Collins was an inconsequential legislator in the Georgia General Assembly whose only question when asked by Republican Leaders to jump was “how high?” He supported the largest tax increase in Georgia history, the T-SPLOST, but, like Lee Anderson running in Georgia’s 12th Congressional District, lacked the testicular fortitude to actually vote for the tax increase himself. Instead, he sent it off to voters telling them the legislature would punish them if they didn’t vote to raise their own taxes.

This is the second time Collins did this. The first time was with trauma funding. Doug Collins is not afraid to be a big spender or a big taxer, but is too chicken to man up and take responsibility himself for the consequences of his policy choices.

Then there is Martha Zoller. Martha is supported by Sarah Palin, Newt Gingrich, various tea party groups, and me. She’s been a talk radio host in North Georgia who, like me, has been just as willing to take on Republicans as she has Democrats.

Doug Collins is beating the stew out of Martha, taking her words out of context, and distorting her record as a way to distract from his. I want you to support Martha Zoller because, unlike Doug Collins, we won’t ever have to worry about lobbying Martha to be with us once she gets to Congress.

The runoff election in Georgia is August 21st and Martha is seriously going to need our help. Make a donation as soon as you can.

Election Day in Wisconsin: Go Vote for Mark Neumann

It’s time Wisconsin. Heck, it has been a long time coming.

Today, please go vote for Mark Neumann for the United States Senate. Polls in Wisconsin have the race incredibly close.

There is a real chance for Wisconsin to send a man to the Senate who will join Ted Cruz, Richard Mourdock, Deb Fischer, and the conservatives already there to bring back fiscal sanity to Washington.

Eric Hovde would not be going to Washington, he would be returning home. No man goes home and storms his own castle. Eric Hovde would protect the same policies Washington has churned out that have helped make him a very rich man.

Tommy Thompson still holds on the glory days of school reform, but has, out of office and in the Bush Administration, been a proponent of big government, Obamacare, and fiscal insanity.

Only Mark Neumann will go to Washington to make Washington as inconsequential as possible in all our lives. Go vote for him today.

Morning Briefing for August 14, 2012

RedState Morning Briefing

August 14, 2012

Go to www.RedStateMB.com to get
the Morning Briefing every morning at no charge.

1. Election Day in Wisconsin: Go Vote for Mark Neumann

2. Blowing Up the “Paul Ryan Will Turn Off Women” Meme

3. Martha Zoller: Let’s Get Her To Congress

4. Rick Allen for Congress in GA-12

5. Michelle Obama Poisons America’s Food Supply. Gives Kids Listeria.

———————————————————————-

1. Election Day in Wisconsin: Go Vote for Mark Neumann

It’s time Wisconsin. Heck, it has been a long time coming.

Today, please go vote for Mark Neumann for the United States Senate. Polls in Wisconsin have the race incredibly close.

There is a real chance for Wisconsin to send a man to the Senate who will join Ted Cruz, Richard Mourdock, Deb Fischer, and the conservatives already there to bring back fiscal sanity to Washington.

Eric Hovde would not be going to Washington, he would be returning home. No man goes home and storms his own castle. Eric Hovde would protect the same policies Washington has churned out that have helped make him a very rich man.

Tommy Thompson still holds on the glory days of school reform, but has, out of office and in the Bush Administration, been a proponent of big government, Obamacare, and fiscal insanity.

Only Mark Neumann will go to Washington to make Washington as inconsequential as possible in all our lives. Go vote for him today.

Please click here for the rest of the post.

2. Blowing Up the “Paul Ryan Will Turn Off Women” Meme

But hey! Barack Obama will always have the mom jeans voters.

Please click here for the rest of the post.

3. Martha Zoller: Let’s Get Her To Congress

Georgia’s 9th Congressional District runoff presents the two faces of the Republican Party and asks voters to choose.

On one hand is Doug Collins. Collins would fit right in with the Congressional Republicans who raised the debt ceiling on the promise of spending cuts and then weaseled out of the cuts. He’d fit right in with a GOP that gives lip to repealing Obamacare, but is actually too scared of picking a fight on defunding it.

Doug Collins was an inconsequential legislator in the Georgia General Assembly whose only question when asked by Republican Leaders to jump was “how high?” He supported the largest tax increase in Georgia history, the T-SPLOST, but, like Lee Anderson running in Georgia’s 12th Congressional District, lacked the testicular fortitude to actually vote for the tax increase himself. Instead, he sent it off to voters telling them the legislature would punish them if they didn’t vote to raise their own taxes.

This is the second time Collins did this. The first time was with trauma funding. Doug Collins is not afraid to be a big spender or a big taxer, but is too chicken to man up and take responsibility himself for the consequences of his policy choices.

Then there is Martha Zoller.

Please click here for the rest of the post.

4. Rick Allen for Congress in GA-12

The12th Congressional District of Georgia is routinely cursed with less than stellar candidates for Congress on the Republican side trying to take out John Barrow, the play it safe liberal who has cat like lives.

There is a runoff for the 12th District between Rick Allen and Lee Anderson. I’m going with Rick Allen.

Please click here for the rest of the post.

5. Michelle Obama Poisons America’s Food Supply. Gives Kids Listeria.

Michelle Obama has poisoned the nation’s food supply and potentially given listeria to America’s children, according to press reports.

Please click here for the rest of the post.

Rick Allen for Congress in GA-12

The12th Congressional District of Georgia is routinely cursed with less than stellar candidates for Congress on the Republican side trying to take out John Barrow, the play it safe liberal who has cat like lives.

There is a runoff for the 12th District between Rick Allen and Lee Anderson. I’m going with Rick Allen.

Naturally, Lee Anderson would have you believe that Allen, a small businessman, is a corrupt liberal. Naturally, Rick Allen would have you believe the same about Anderson.

In reality, the issue is pretty simple. Anderson is a farmer, in the state legislature, refused in the state legislature to take a “no new taxes” pledge, and voted for the largest tax increase in Georgia history in a way that lacked any testicular fortitude — he pushed it off to voters and told them to either raise their taxes or he and the legislature would cut all their infrastructure spending. It was a catch 22 for voters and I cannot support him as a result.

And then there is the short, simple, painful truth about Lee Anderson — the man has seemingly never met two syllables without tripping over them. In a debate, John Barrow would eat the man up with some fava beans and a nice Chianti.

Don’t believe me? Watch for yourself:

Blowing Up the “Paul Ryan Will Turn Off Women” Meme

I have always thought it was both vapid and shallow for the left and a whole lot of the supposedly objective media to claim that women voters vote with their uterus, or more specifically whether or not they get to kill kids.

All this talk about “Republicans will defund Planned Parenthood so women won’t vote for them” is ridiculous, not borne out in polling, and all involves a religious devotion to killing kids . . . errrr . . . abortion on the left.

If we’re going to use the left’s presumption that women are so shallow that abortion trumps all, we can play the game as well and presume Paul Ryan will not have a problem getting women to like him. Here are the top four searches on Google over the weekend related to Paul Ryan.

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But hey! Barack Obama will always have the mom jeans voters.