Erick Erickson's Blog, page 38
June 27, 2012
Ezra Klein’s Magical Mystery Meme Machine
There’s a growing trend in the core of the Washington punditocracy. People with little real world experience beyond the confines of think tanks and ideologically driven publications are becoming standard bearers of thought for the media and ideologues who populate the Washington to New York corridor. What may be drivel and dumb is treated as high brow and serious within the small world of the beltway chattering class. Take this Ezra Klein bit at the Washington Post.
Klein is a member of the Juice Box Mafia, a group of twenty and early thirty-somethings that all think the same, have the same backgrounds devoid of much real world practical experience, and are slowly working their way into positions of influence via the appropriate left connections within the Washington punditocracy circles, whether or not they have relevant backgrounds. Juicebox Mafia members think things like this. To his credit, however, at least he is not Matt Yglesias.
When Ezra Klein writes (and to his credit he is a very good writer), his friends listen. His friends have more and more transitioned from left-wing publications into mainstream media circles, so we will start hearing more of this drivel coming out of supposedly objective newsroom sources treated as gospel when even a bull would recognize the smell and steam of it on the ground for what it is.
In the supposedly reality based community, reality is a construction of intricately woven dung huts sheltering left-wing tropes as fact. “Memes,” as the kids these days call them, get started here. They are the thoughts that affect the presuppositions people make when weighing in on the news of the day.
According to Ezra Klein, first in the New Yorker and now in the Washington Post, if the Supreme Court throws out the individual mandate it will be because “[o]ver the past two years, the Republican Party has slowly been building a permission structure for the five Republicans on the Supreme Court to feel comfortable doing something nobody thought they could do: Violate the existing understanding of the Commerce Clause and, in perhaps the most significant moment of judicial activism since the New Deal, overturn either all or part of the Affordable Care Act.”
A permission structure . . . .
That’s right, the Republican Party had seized on an idea from the Heritage Foundation to counter Hillarycare in 1993. The idea was the individual mandate.
For seventeen years they did absolutely nothing to advance the individual mandate. But all along they knew it was constitutional and only flipped their opinion when Barack Obama came out for it. Then they orchestrated a campaign to make it okay for the Supreme Court to also change their mind.
To Klein’s reading of history — which is more wishful thinking than actual reading — the GOP made it a centerpiece of reform. In fact, it was such a centerpiece of reform that when the Republicans took over Congress in 1994 they did exactly nothing with it.
In his excellent Transom the other day, Ben Domenech really breaks this down for us in a way Klein couldn’t be bothered to do if only because Klein would have to actually pay attention to history instead of setting up a talking point.
[O]ne of the other bills Klein has cited as an example of Republican endorsement actually reveals what happened when conservatives were challenged on the mandate, even two decades ago. Note the second bill in this list, a proposal by Oklahoma Senator (and prominent conservative) Don Nickles introduced in 1993, one with 24 Republican co-sponsors. The bill is here, and you’ll note a bit of text at the bottom of the first page which says “Star Print”. Unless you’re a Hill staffer (or in my case, a former one), you probably don’t know that a Star Print is what a member does when there’s an error or problem with a bill and they want to retain the co-sponsors and date of introduction in the original. It’s there because Nickles swapped out his bill… to remove the mandate. Nickles explains why here – he changed his mind when confronted with opposing arguments.
And guess who was apparently behind that change of opinion? None other than David Rivkin, writing in the Wall Street Journal with Lee Casey almost two decades ago, with total prescience of the arguments the Court is tackling this week. “In the new health-care system, individuals will not be forced to belong because of their occupation, employment, or business activities — as in the case of Social Security. They will be dragooned into the system for no other reason than that they are people who are here. If the courts uphold Congress’s authority to impose this system, they must once and for all draw the curtain on the Constitution of 1787 and admit that there is nothing that Congress cannot do under the Commerce Clause. The polite fiction that we live under a government of limited powers must be discarded — Leviathan must be embraced.”
What the left likes to ignore is how much diversity there actually is within the Republican Party. Just as Klein is trying his best to set up a meme through his various outlets — a meme that the GOP only recently embraced the unconstitutionality argument — the left has long embraced and inculcated within the media the meme that the GOP is a homogenous group of troglodyte conservatives.
In fact, the varied approaches to both conservatism and policy within the Republican Party is pretty wide spread. The big government conservative approach had been quite popular for a while. The Gingrich Revolution produced a notable increase in the size of government.
Only toward the end of the Bush Administration and his decision to kill the free market to save it did the actual small government conservatives come back in vogue. With them came the same arguments they’ve been making since the mid-90′s. Included in that list is the argument that the individual mandate was unconstitutional.
Concurrent to the resurgence of this small government philosophy came something the conservatives did not have last time — Citizens United. That decision broke the dam of money that had otherwise not flowed to challengers. In 2010, not only were small government conservatives vocal, they were well funded. Instead of just beating Democrats, they cleaned house with the Republican Party as well, including tossing out some of the old guard who had supported the individual mandate.
There was no orchestrated effort to create a “permission structure”. There was raw electoral carnage and, in something Klein and his Juice Box Mafia cohorts routinely choose to ignore, a majority of the American public standing with those small government conservatives.
Sometimes people change their minds. Sometimes those positions change over time. Sometimes events necessitate that change happen more rapidly than at other times. Sometimes correlation and causation can be confusing. If anyone on the left is shocked that a group of politicians can change their mind quickly, they need merely look at the rapid reversal of opinion about the Iraq War within the confines of the Democratic Party.
But it’s always so much more fun to create an elaborate and well orchestrated conspiracy to sell to friends in the media than actually fess up to being on the wrong side of history and the public.
“A permission structure.” Hahahahahahahaha.
Air Force Waaaaaaaaaaahhhhh
Air Force One turned to Air Force Waaaaahhhh yesterday in Atlanta. Barack Obama tied up lunch time traffic in the Peach State once again while he milked it for money. During a public speech, President Obama formally abdicated his role as Commander in Chief to become Chief Victim. Those dirty Republicans are outspending him, he cried to a sympathetic audience.
In fact, this may be the first time Barack Obama has ever been outspent and he just can’t handle rejection.
In 2008, the Annenberg Public Policy Center reported that Barack Obama outspent John McCain 3 to 1 and “raised more money than anyone in the history of U.S. politics.”
Turn about would be fair play except the present President has the temperament of a four year old and the skin of an onion. Consequently, he is forced to whine.
The simple truth is that rich leftists have not continued being rich leftists by being stupid. Even rich leftists will not throw good money after bad. People are, right now, voting with their wallets to reject Barack Obama and the trend will, hopefully, continue.
Bluntly, had Barack Obama not spent the past three years implementing policies that lowered the standard of living of many of his most ardent supporters, his supporters might have more money to give.
Now he’ll just tour the country whining.
Morning Briefing for June 27, 2012
RedState Morning Briefing
June 27, 2012
Go to www.RedStateMB.com to get
the Morning Briefing every morning at no charge.
1. Air Force Waaaaaaaaaaahhhhh
2. Charlotte Democratic convention’s appeal simply becoming more selective
3. Obama Terminates 287(g) Immigration Enforcement Program. Anyone Home?
4. Shale Fracking: If it Keeps Moving, Regulate it
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1. Air Force Waaaaaaaaaaahhhhh
Yesterday in Atlanta, Barack Obama formally abdicated his role as Commander in Chief to become Chief Victim. Those dirty Republicans are outspending him.
In fact, this may be the first time Barack Obama has ever been outspent and he just can’t handle rejection.
In 2008, the Annenberg Public Policy Center reported that Barack Obama outspent John McCain 3 to 1 and “raised more money than anyone in the history of U.S. politics.”
Turn about would be fair play except the present President has the temperament of a four year old and the skin of an onion. Consequently, he is forced to whine.
The simple truth is that rich leftists have not continued being rich leftists by being stupid. Even rich leftists will not throw good money after bad. People are, right now, voting with their wallets to reject Barack Obama and the trend will, hopefully, continue.
Bluntly, had Barack Obama not spent the past three years implementing policies that lowered the standard of living of many of his most ardent supporters, his supporters might have more money to give.
Now he’ll just tour the country whining.
Please click here for the rest of the post.
2. Charlotte Democratic convention’s appeal simply becoming more selective
It would appear that the Democratic party cannot afford a fourth day of festivities, to the point where they’re going to cancel their orignial kickoff event at the Charlotte Motor Speedway. But don’t worry: the ceremonial anointing of The One will still be taking place at the Bank of America Stadium. Hold on, let me repeat that, for the benefit of the six remaining progressives out there who are still pretending that the President cares about their somewhat sad attempt to create a populist movement.
Please click here for the rest of the post.
3. Obama Terminates 287(g) Immigration Enforcement Program. Anyone Home?
December 2010 was not ancient history; it was a mere 18 months ago.
On December 8, 2010, using the proper legal channels to change our immigration laws, the Democrat-controlled House passed the DREAM Act. Just 4.5% of Republicans supported it, even though it represented a “long-term solution” and was introduced in Congress. A week later, the bill failed to win 60 votes in the Senate, as only 3 Republicans supported it; Lisa Murkowski, Robert Bennett, and Dick Lugar. Some might even be brazen enough to call them RINOs.
That was 18 months ago. Now, after Obama has illegally implemented administrative amnesty to reflect that law that failed to pass the Senate, Republicans are largely silent. With the exception of Lamar Smith, Steve King, and a handful of rank-and-file members, Republican leaders have either remained silent, punted to Mitt Romney for a response, or offered some non-sequitur about long-term solutions vs. short-term solutions. Not only are they terrified to oppose the underlying policy, which will bankrupt us with subsidized tuition, refundable tax credits, and sundry transfer programs, most of them have issued only a tepid response to Obama’s end-run around Congress.
Please click here for the rest of the post.
4. Shale Fracking: If it Keeps Moving, Regulate it
Shale technology coupled with horizontal drilling has created the biggest oil and natural gas boom in recent years. Fracking could become the most auspicious innovation of the past decade. It has already created thousands of jobs, and has the potential to drive down the cost of energy and reinvigorate our economy. Unfortunately, the more successful the private innovation, the more Obama’s regulatory regime will ensure it faces inexorable obstacles.
June 26, 2012
Morning Briefing for June 26, 2012
RedState Morning Briefing
June 26, 2012
Go to www.RedStateMB.com to get
the Morning Briefing every morning at no charge.
1. The Arizona Decision and What It Means
2. I Can See Russia From My Backyard
3. On Elizabeth Warren’s Claims of American Indian Ancestry
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1. The Arizona Decision and What It Means
Today, the United States Supreme Court, in a 5-3 decision (with Justice Kagan recusing herself), mainly gutted Arizona’s SB 1070, the state’s immigration law. Make no mistake, although prevailing on the most publicized aspect of the case, Arizona lost. What is somewhat surprising is the legal rationale used and if you are a conservative proponent of state laws that address the problem of illegal aliens within their borders, this has to be disheartening news.
Please click here for the rest of the post.
2. I Can See Russia From My Backyard
Last week I released a video on the 2nd Amendment stating well-documented, historical facts about totalitarian leaders and their implementation of gun control laws prior to exterminating millions of their own citizens in 1911 Turkey and 1939 Nazi Germany.
Please click here for the rest of the post.
3. On Elizabeth Warren’s Claims of American Indian Ancestry
For those of you who don’t know, I’m a history major currently working toward his Master’s Degree in the same. My particular focus is American Indian history, so I think it should come as little surprise that I’ve been watching the Massachusetts Senate race for more reasons than wanting Scott Brown to win. The moment Elizabeth Warren’s claims of Native ancestry surfaced, a little something went off in my head telling me I had to follow this. I can’t say I was surprised when I learned that these claims are, by everything we know, spurious. Neither can I say I was surprised when I learned she has shown little to no interest in meeting with a group of Cherokees outraged over her apparently fabricated claims.
I can’t profess to be an “expert” on American Indian issues–there are so many tribes and cultures, there are so many differing opinions, and there is much I still have to learn–and I can’t claim to speak for American Indians, whether all or in part. Nevertheless, that doesn’t stop me from being outraged over what Elizabeth Warren has done.
June 25, 2012
Morning Briefing for June 25, 2012
RedState Morning Briefing
June 25, 2012
Go to www.RedStateMB.com to get
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1. The False Narrative of the Grand Bargain on Tax Hikes
2. Obama for America stiffing Durham, NH for… $30,000. Wait, WHAT?
3. Gasland’s Josh Fox Can’t Be Bothered with Facts
4. Is YOUR Democratic politician going to the Democratic convention?
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1. The False Narrative of the Grand Bargain on Tax Hikes
Over the past few months, there has been a daily trickle of establishment Republicans coming out before the media in hostage style confession statements to declare that they would accept tax increases as part of a “grand bargain” to cut the deficit. The latest member was Lindsey Graham, who stated his newfound opposition to the taxpayer pledge of Americans for Tax Reform, which he considered to be too ideologically intransigent. Tom Coburn continues to work with the “Gang of 6” in an effort to “raise revenue.”
The media has extrapolated on Graham’s narrative, suggesting that Republicans are too unyielding to compromise and that they would even chase Reagan out of the party if he’d be president today. Buttressed by Jeb Bush’s comments concerning Reagan’s place in today’s Republican Party, the media is chastising us for being so stridently opposed to tax increases – even in the event of a “grand bargain” of $10 of spending cuts per $1 of tax increases.
The problem with this narrative of the grand bargain is that no such agreement exists. Nor will it ever materialize.
Please click here for the rest of the post.
2. Obama for America stiffing Durham, NH for… $30,000. Wait, WHAT?
The very short version: President Barack Obama is scheduled to make a campaign speech on Monday, in the town of Durham, NH. This will cost the town an estimated sixteen to thirty thousand dollars in additional overtime for cops and fire officials and whatnot. The town is taking the position that while they’d be happy to eat the cost for a Presidential visit, a campaign stop by the President is a different story; the town also claims that they’ve asked previous campaigns to foot the bill for overtime/costs. Obama for America has declined to do this, claiming that the Secret Service wants the extra security in place (this is fast becoming OfA’s favorite excuse for bad visuals); the town is now contemplating symbolically dis-inviting the President. If passed, then hi-jinks will then presumably ensue.
No, really, that was the really short version.
Please click here for the rest of the post.
3. Gasland’s Josh Fox Can’t Be Bothered with Facts
Oscar®-nominated filmmaker Josh Fox, he of the burning water tap, loves to scare people with the provocative word “fracking” and misleading images and claims of its potential to damage the environment, specifically groundwater.
To wit, this screenshot of a cute little animated .gif at Fox’s website gaslandthemovie.com.
It clearly depicts fractures from a horizontal gas well invading a freshwater aquifer. Scary! Now, consider the detail of that portion of the cartoon which depicts the fractures extending vertically up into the shallow water-bearing zone.
Please click here for the rest of the post.
4. Is YOUR Democratic politician going to the Democratic convention?
Because we’re getting quite a list going of Democrats who are too frightened of being associated with the President to want to go to an Obama-dominated convention (or, as Michelle Malkin rather elegantly put it, the upcoming “Tarheel trainwreck“). So far…
June 22, 2012
In for Neal Boortz
I’ll be filling in for Neal Boortz today and at 10:00 a.m. ET I will break a news story about Eric Holder and the Justice Department. The Talkmaster’s show runs live from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. You can listen to it live by going right here. Additionally, the call in number is 1-877-310-2100.
Tune in by 10:00 a.m. ET to hear a new Eric Holder travesty that has not yet been reported.
Morning Briefing for June 22, 2012
RedState Morning Briefing
June 22, 2012
Go to www.RedStateMB.com to get
the Morning Briefing every morning at no charge.
Just a quick note,
I’ll be filling in for Neal Boortz today and at 10:00 a.m. ET I will break a news story about Eric Holder and the Justice Department. The Talkmaster’s show runs live from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. You can listen to it live by going right here. Additionally, the call in number is 1-877-310-2100.
Tune in by 10:00 a.m. ET to hear a new Eric Holder travesty that has not yet been reported.
Thanks,
Erick
1. The RedState Gathering 2012
2. Jay Carney pretty much flubs everything about Operation Fast & Furious.
3. Farm/Food Stamp Bill Vote Tally
4. RICO Suit Against Powerful & Politically-Connected Chicago Teamster Bosses Moves Forward
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1. The RedState Gathering 2012
We can now share that RNC Chairman Reince Priebus will be joining us at the Fourth Annual RedState Gathering this August. Chairman Priebus has presided over a major turnaround at the RNC. He has dramatically reduced the party’s debt, made the RNC fully functional and operational, and worked with conservatives to build a grassroots operation to defeat Barack Obama. We at RedState support all that he has done and are privileged to have him speak at the Gathering.
And Reince Priebus is not the only conservative star you’ll get to hear (and possibly chat with). I can now share that Joe the Plumber and former Texas Solicitor General Ted Cruz will be speaking at the Gathering. They join the likes of Bobby Jindal, Florida Governor Rick Scott, and Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson.
As you know, Joe “the Plumber” Wurzelbacher gained national attention in 2008 when he questioned Obama on his redestributive tax policy. He is now running for Congress in Ohio’s 9th district.
We’re also delighted to have former Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel joining us. Karen was recently in the news as the person at the Komen Foundation who spearheaded the effort to have the group cut funding to Planned Parenthood. She left Komen when it reversed that decision.
Former Solicitor General Ted Cruz is a true champion for Constitutional Conservatism. His battle against the establishment’s David Dewhurst for a US Senate seat is one of the most highly-watched battles in this primary season. Regardless of the outcome of his July 31st run-off, Ted Cruz has emerged as a true player in conservative politics.
I’ll of course be there as well, visiting with attendees, and you’ll also have the chance to chat with your favorite RedState.com contributors and diarists. As an attendee, you’ll not only be able to catch all the excitement up close, but also have the opportunity to meet our speakers and ask them questions.
If there’s one event you will want to attend this year, it’s the RedState Gathering.
2012 RedState Gathering
Where: Jacksonville, Florida
When: Thursday, August 2nd through Sunday, August 5th
Click here to learn more and register now
Please click here for the rest of the post.
2. Jay Carney pretty much flubs everything about Operation Fast & Furious.
This is going to be a very visual post, and, as usual, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney provides little if any actual semantic content, so I will simply summarize each video. First off, we have the standard obfuscation.
Please click here for the rest of the post.
3. Farm/Food Stamp Bill Vote Tally
Yesterday, Erick mentioned a revolutionary one-stop website designed to hold Republican House members accountable for their voting records. The Madison Project unveiled ConservativeVotingRecords. Com, which houses a simple yet novel index that compares the voting records to the ideological bent of the member’s district. The results are not pretty. 52 members who hail from solid Republican districts scored 20 points below where they should be given the ideological makeup of their district. They are displayed prominently in the Hall of Shame.
Please click here for the rest of the post.
4. RICO Suit Against Powerful & Politically-Connected Chicago Teamster Bosses Moves Forward
In the seedy world of the Chicago unions and the political pawns they control, there is a family dynasty whose name is at the top of heap in terms of power and political muscle. That is the Coli family. Without the blessings of the Coli family and the union they control, Teamsters Local 727 and Joint Council 25 (the governing body of 20 Teamster locals in Illinois and Indiana), Chicago might not have Rahm Emanuel as its mayor and America might not have Barack Obama as its president. Now, however, the Coli union dynasty may be in jeopardy due to a RICO suit filed against several members of the Coli family, including John Coli, Sr., and Teamsters Local 727.
June 21, 2012
The RedState Gathering 2012
We can now share that RNC Chairman Reince Priebus will be joining us at the Fourth Annual RedState Gathering this August. Chairman Priebus has presided over a major turnaround at the RNC. He has dramatically reduced the party’s debt, made the RNC fully functional and operational, and worked with conservatives to build a grassroots operation to defeat Barack Obama. We at RedState support all that he has done and are privileged to have him speak at the Gathering.
And Reince Priebus is not the only conservative star you’ll get to hear (and possibly chat with). I can now share that Joe the Plumber and former Texas Solicitor General Ted Cruz will be speaking at the Gathering. They join the likes of Bobby Jindal, Florida Governor Rick Scott, and Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson.
As you know, Joe “the Plumber” Wurzelbacher gained national attention in 2008 when he questioned Obama on his redestributive tax policy. He is now running for Congress in Ohio’s 9th district.
We’re also delighted to have former Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel joining us. Karen was recently in the news as the person at the Komen Foundation who spearheaded the effort to have the group cut funding to Planned Parenthood. She left Komen when it reversed that decision.
Former Solicitor General Ted Cruz is a true champion for Constitutional Conservatism. His battle against the establishment’s David Dewhurst for a US Senate seat is one of the most highly-watched battles in this primary season. Regardless of the outcome of his July 31st run-off, Ted Cruz has emerged as a true player in conservative politics.
I’ll of course be there as well, visiting with attendees, and you’ll also have the chance to chat with your favorite RedState.com contributors and diarists. As an attendee, you’ll not only be able to catch all the excitement up close, but also have the opportunity to meet our speakers and ask them questions.
If there’s one event you will want to attend this year, it’s the RedState Gathering.
2012 RedState Gathering
Where: Jacksonville, Florida
When: Thursday, August 2nd through Sunday, August 5th
Morning Briefing for June 21, 2012
RedState Morning Briefing
June 21, 2012
Go to www.RedStateMB.com to get
the Morning Briefing every morning at no charge.
1. Obama’s Blatant Disregard for the Constitution is Appalling
2. More Data About Squishy Republicans Busts Common Theory on Squishiness
3. The Facade of Transparency has Crumbled: Executive Privilege Seals Fast & Furious Documents
4. Tax Cuts for the Rich – Bad; Subsidies – Good
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1. Obama’s Blatant Disregard for the Constitution is Appalling
In order to become President, Barack Obama had to swear to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution. But three years later, I am disgusted with the disregard that the President continues to show to our Constitution. Has he forgotten about the separation of executive, judicial and legislative branches found in our founding document? Our founders gave us a system of checks and balances so that one person could never seize more power than was provided in the Constitution.
President Obama’s actions demonstrate that he thinks he’s above the law. When he doesn’t get his way, he creates new policies to his liking.
Please click here for the rest of the post.
2. More Data About Squishy Republicans Busts Common Theory on Squishiness
Why do so many Republicans vote like squishes, often siding with Democrats on issues — or at least not voting with conservatives in the House?
The most common theory is that these Republicans are in tight races in swing districts. They have to sometimes cross the aisle. They have to sometimes vote like squishes just to stay elected.
The Madison Project this morning is completely blowing up that common and oft repeated theory.
Please click here for the rest of the post.
3. The Facade of Transparency has Crumbled: Executive Privilege Seals Fast & Furious Documents
In a stunning move, Eric Holder’s request for President Obama to assert executive privilege over documents related the Fast & Furious scandal has been granted.
Darrell Issa’s committee went ahead, nonetheless, and voted to hold Eric Holder in contempt of Congress.
Please click here for the rest of the post.
4. Tax Cuts for the Rich – Bad; Subsidies – Good
Barack Obama and the Democrats have promised to make this election a turning point in the fight to make the rich “pay their fair share” of taxes. They are using biblical innuendo to suggest that it is immoral for the top 1% of earners (who happen to make 17% of nation AGI) to only pay 36.7% of the federal income taxes. This is their hill to die on.
Accordingly, one would expect Democrats to be the first ones to issue garrulous protestations against farm handouts for the rich. At present, more than 3/4 of farmers who earn upwards of $250,000 a year receive subsidies from at least one farm program. Farm subsidies and crop insurance programs help promote income inequality in farming by offering larger subsidies to those who already have larger farms. These farmers can enjoy multimillion dollar insurance policies that are subsidized in order to guarantee their multimillion dollar investments that would otherwise not be supported by the free market. Also, federal guarantees of bankers’ loans to rich farmers have further increased their borrowing capacity, thereby driving up the cost of land acquisition. This, in turn, has shut out small farmers from the business, making it nearly impossible for them to compete.
June 20, 2012
More Data About Squishy Republicans Busts Common Theory on Squishiness
Why do so many Republicans vote like squishes, often siding with Democrats on issues — or at least not voting with conservatives in the House?
The most common theory is that these Republicans are in tight races in swing districts. They have to sometimes cross the aisle. They have to sometimes vote like squishes just to stay elected.
The Madison Project this morning is completely blowing up that common and oft repeated theory.
Today the Madison Project introduced its Hall of Shame.
What they did was pretty simple. They took the Cook measure of the partisan of a district, stacked it with the voting records of members of Congress, and found a startling list of Republican congressmen from solidly Republican and conservative areas who don’t really vote like conservatives.
You will not be surprised to learn that Don Young (RINO-AK) is the worst offender of the bunch.
What’s really surprising is how people like Frank Lucas of Oklahoma and Michael Simpson of Idaho are on the list. Their districts are R+24 and R+17 respectively.
For the tea party, the Madison Project just handed you a list of people to absolutely beat in primaries without having to deal with the “but . . . but . . . you’ll hand the seat to a Democrat” line so many want to hurl.
This is some of the most useful data to come out this political season. About the only draw back is that most of the primaries are over. We’ll need to hold on to this data for 2014.
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