Dump Chafee?
Senator Lincoln Chafee has a conservative opponent in the upcoming Republican primary: Stephen Laffey. But, a new poll shows Laffey running much weaker against potential Democratic opponents than Chafee. (Hat tip, Captain's Quarters).
So who should conservatives support? Many have commented that losing the Senate seat wouldn't be much of a loss. Chafee, after all, voted against Alito and didn't even vote for President Bush in the 2004 election. What difference would a Democrat in his seat make?
I'm not so sure. In many ways, the most important vote a Senator makes in any term is the first: which party slate for leadership do I join. Chafee votes, in this vote, as Republican as any other Republican Senator. And that vote determines every committee chairmanship, that Republicans get a majority of every committee, and a whole host of other benefits that come from being the majority party.
This is not an easy call.
So who should conservatives support? Many have commented that losing the Senate seat wouldn't be much of a loss. Chafee, after all, voted against Alito and didn't even vote for President Bush in the 2004 election. What difference would a Democrat in his seat make?
I'm not so sure. In many ways, the most important vote a Senator makes in any term is the first: which party slate for leadership do I join. Chafee votes, in this vote, as Republican as any other Republican Senator. And that vote determines every committee chairmanship, that Republicans get a majority of every committee, and a whole host of other benefits that come from being the majority party.
This is not an easy call.
posted by Harsh Pencil | 2/09/2006 09:15:00 AM
Unless we are willing to put a boot to the rear of such a pretender as Chafee, we will eventually lose other Senate seats, and Congressional seats, and governorships, and school board members, because there will be no reason for the man on the street to vote Republican.
So I say, Aye. Cash in your Roth IRAs and send every legal dime to Mr. Laffey.
Do not forget that incumbents tend to enjoy their incumbency in the polls, and that once there is a legitimate campaign waging and war chests built, these numbers will be mere puffs of smoke. Poof.
Scribbler,
What is the evidence behind the assertion "Unless we are willing to put a boot to the rear of such a pretender as Chafee, we will eventually lose other Senate seats, and Congressional seats, and governorships, and school board members, because there will be no reason for the man on the street to vote Republican."
If you are correct in this prediction, then, of course, I agree with you that Chafee needs the boot. But I don't see your assertion as obvious.
To examine this point, let us imagine there are little Chafees everywhere, in all levels of government, some not quite as moderate, but all with essentially the same flaw -- they represent very little to nothing of the Republican platform.
Now let's take our man on the street off the street and plop him down in front of a television where he can learn all about the things Republicans stand for before he runs off to vote. He can learn, from all the little Chafees, that Republicans oppose cutting taxes, oppose cutting spending, like to inaugurate new programs and extend those that have failed.
I don't think I'd bother to get off the couch to go vote either.
Its a tough call. Chafee is a Republican in a very blue state. If a democrat were to hold that seat they would certainly not be a conservative democrat. Further Chafee allows democrats to claim they are doing "bi-partisan" things when they get Chafee on board.
The taxpayer league said Chafee was at 50%. I suppose 50% is better than 0%
I should add that, were there only 50 or even 52 Republican Senators, I would not be so quick to advocate giving Chafee the boot. But with 55 Senators, I think the play has a good benefit for risk ratio.
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