Tag: Pete Hoekstra (page 2)

OK maybe a lot.

Gary Glenn announced last night that he would withdraw from the race and endorse charter school founder Clark Durant.  Citing Hoekstra's voting record, Hoekstra's record on right to work, and the ability for Durant to reach out across lines to a greater base in the general, Glenn made it clear Hoekstra was not the best choice to oppose Debbie in November:

"To help save our country from the brink of bankruptcy, our highest priority must be defeating big-spending liberals like Debbie Stabenow.  I've grown more convinced over the course of this campaign that because of the obvious vulnerability of his own big-bailout, big-debt, big-spending record, nine-term Congressman Pete Hoekstra can't beat Stabenow."

"Since Pete Hoekstra can't beat Debbie Stabenow, my sense of duty requires me to step aside and assist the conservative candidate whose broad and growing range of support from all corners, financially and otherwise, makes him clearly more likely to defeat Congressman Hoekstra in August so we have a chance to defeat Sen. Stabenow in November. That's clearly Clark Durant."

A point man who had passed Right-To-Work in Idaho along with Charlton Heston, Glenn made specific reference to a comfortable relationship with Jimmy Hoffa JR by Hoekstra.  That comfortable relationship insinuated along with a record of Hoekstra opposing RTW.

More than 40 tea party groups throughout Michigan had recently selected Glenn as their preferred candidate through the Michigan For Conservative Senate campaign. Glenn was identified through a series of debates and events as the most conservative,  yet the cost of a statewide campaign proved to be too much in the end.  Hoekstra's visible absence from most of the events where the other candidates attended will likely mean those groups break for Durant or Hekman, rather than the man who seemingly didn't consider their effort to be worth his time.

Durant was well received in those events as well making him a likely favorite for their efforts going forward.  Randy Hekman may receive considerable support as well, given his recent endorsement by tea party favorite Dave Agema, who recently defeated Saul Anuzis for Republican National Committeeman.  Anuzis, an NPV supporter backs Durant.

I don't doubt the ability of the tea movement to shoulder once again, a myriad collection of RINOs, power hungry moderates, and mislabeled Republicans this election.  I expect them to once again carry across the finish line, the standard bearers of establishment elitism and compromise. But there is something else that we will see.

They will have replaced a few of those along the way.

And it starts with the victory of Richard Mourdock over Richard Lugar in the Indiana Republican US Senate primary.  Tea party grass roots ultimately helped by favorites such as Palin, and Club for growth, to overcome the entrenched RNC financed defense of "Obama's favorite Republican" made the Bob Bennett loss of a couple years ago more real.  It took it from fluke status to a legitimate answer for politicians who pander too far over to the left for their own good.

Fair play,and a good game.  Play to win, and when we don't, we plod forward to the next election.

And while I recognize the value of Reagan's 11th commandment, there is a lesson that needs to be given.

Yesterday, our local party chair talked about how we need to pull together to support and elect Republicans.  Especially given the election's importance, and how badly we need to get rid of Obama.  Most agree with that assessment.  We need to rid ourselves of Obama, and all the legislative creatures who allow him to continue his destruction of our country.

And to do so, it takes cooperation from our elected officials who fly under the Republican banner, and especially those who would presume to occupy particular seats in congress or the Senate, or even the presidency.  Cooperation that certainly showed during the Herman Cain event a month ago.  Mr Cain showed up, drew over 1200 folks from our tiny area of the world, and allowed the local party to get info from interested Republicans that will be oh-so-important in the year to come. Information that allows us to reach out and inform of special events, fund raisers, and get-out-the-vote efforts that can make the difference in any of several races when needed.

We helped Cain, and Cain helped expand the party influence.  We would do the same thing for a Romney, Gingrich, Bachmann, etc. visit, even if Cain were the top guy and still in the race.   Its good to look at all of the messages, and let local Republicans choose who best represents their views.  Frankly its the BEST way to advance the Republican vision.

But apparently some of our politicians are too big for the party. At least our tiny part of it.

The Social Security Question.

Interesting responses.

However, When one looks at the bigger picture of this Ponzi scheme, it seems that some further out of the box answers may be necessary.  Opting out perhaps?

I wonder what Pete Hoekstra or Clark Durant would say?  Shame they didn't show up for this GOP sponsored event.

What about Obama care?  What should we do about it?

As we look to the possible results of next year's elections, the Senate will be playing an important part in how this is handled going forward.  If the SCOTUS says it stands with an expected ruling in April of 2012, it will be especially important to have Senators who are principled enough to destroy it from within the body of its creation.

It was too bad that candidates Hoekstra and Durant "couldn't attend" this debate, as it would have allowed us to see how committed they are in reversing the trend of big government mandates  and encroachment on our rights.  Perhaps for Pete, and his record, its best to stay "mysterious" so that some are easily fooled into thinking he might actually carry sufficient principle into this fight when its time. As For Clark, I don't know him well enough yet.  Maybe a video response by either of them would be a sufficient way to answer?

Less Government, more individual responsibility, and with God's help a better world. Do you have a problem with that as a Senate principle to follow?

Each of the participants had 2 minutes each to answer.