Yesterday, I wrote that the NRCC’s efforts to recuit Jim Ramstad out of retirement demonstrates a clear lack of faith in Erik Paulsen’s ability to hold the seat for the GOP. Imagine my surprise when I found that “True North” (a Republican blog who’s contributors include Michael Brodkorb, Mitch Berg, Kevin Ecker, Phil Krinkie and David Strom) agreed with me.
Nancy LaRouche, who goes by “Lassie” on True North and is “a delegate and committee member with SD-45 and CD-5”, writes today that:
National GOP leadership and the StarTribune queried outside the CD-3 area and predict a GOP loss unless moderate Jim Ramstad returns as a candidate.
She goes on to say
It appears a vote of no confidence for anyone but a moderate Republican (Ramstad), as more potential candidates have dropped out. Rep. Erik Paulsen of Eden Prairie (a conservative) is the leading contender.
And then
RNCC members quietly meeting with the Rammer to plead he not drop out. What is the GOP afraid of? And the NRCC wonders why their fundraising numbers are so low.
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This is an embarassing situation for the GOP.
I just don’t understand the rationale behind this. These suburbs are loaded with smart people who have solid credentials and good ideas.
And I am speaking of both Democrats AND Republicans.
Is the MN GOP telling a staunch conservative like me that they can’t find ONE really good candidate to run in this district?
Good God. If Erik Paulsen doesn’t knock your socks off — -fine. But for God’s sake, let Ramstad retire on his own terms and with the dignity and legacy he has built.
To ask him to run again in the midst of this uncertainty of the MN GOP is an embarassment.
Ron Carey should be ashamed of himself to allow this within the party’s structure.
If I’m an ambitious Republican, I don’t want to start my political career in 2008. Its looking like another election whose dynamic will be dominated by a spectacularly unpopular president, an unpopular war one’s own party had the leading role in starting, and a domestic economy/culture that have a lot of people uncertain, whatever the economic indicators might say.
So if I am a GOP State House or Senate member, I turtle up, try to keep my seat, and wait until ‘10, when hopefully the dynamic will be a popular governor with a Democratic President in the background.
John S -
Not to mention that by ‘10, you may have a better idea of what could happen with redistricting. The last thing you’d want is to be a Sophmore Congressperson competing against other incumbents for your new district’s seat.
I think there is also a little bit of fracturing happening inside the Republican party. Whatever few fiscal conservative small government Republicans are left are reacting against the Bachman religious authoritarian types. The retirements of the those from the Ramstad or Hagel mold will make the remaining Republican party look even more extreme likely causing further elections victories for the Democrats.
Hopefully that fact will either mean the rise of a new party or the Republicans kicking the neo-con agenda to the curb.
So, is this how Strom Thurmond’s multi-multi-multi terms got started? Up to and including hauling his bony butt and addled mind in to vote the party line? Run, Ramstad, run. Not for re-election, but for your life.
bajonimi,
Yep - just as the Democrats are doing the same thing to KKK Robert Byrd.
I wouldn’t attack Ron Carey just yet. The post fingered the NRCC, not the MN GOP. Carey wouldn’t necessarily have a hand in it.
If true, this is an unseemly action by the NRCC and anyone else involved.
I was at Ramstad’s press conf. announcing his retirement - it was obvious to everyone there this was a decision long pondered and an incredibly emotional one at that.
Whether or not you agree with Ramstad’s moderate-conservative policies, the man devoted years of his life to Repubs on various causes. He deserves a retirement of his own choosing without pressure from the the NRCC because they can’t recruit a healthy stable.
I had heard through reliable sources that Ramstad had some second thoughts — let’s not assume that he has zero interest in putting his hat back into the ring.
I thought I heard some right wing lips quivering in here…hmmmm…….
Never mind. It was probably nothing.
who cares… it will be fun watching the Dems implode
“It will be fun watching the Dems implode”?!?
Is that what you just said?! Shoot…We’ve just begun to watch the GOP implosion! My happy-thought is about “Dirty Boy” Craig isn’t going to step down. Well, that and “Dirty Boy” Joey DiFatta down there in Louisiana who’s skanking around the adult book stores looking for a date. Or that guy Ralph Regula-Dude in Ohio who’s walking off the job just because he’s got better things to do.
Oh stop me now! I could go on forever! Knowing that Jim Ramstad can’t even be BEGGED to stay in office makes it all the better.
Grab your mega-slurpy and your large popcorn (butter mixed throughout please) and let’s head back in there. By this time next year, the GOP will be considered an STD. This is going to be an awesome ride ramping up to the 2008 GOP “ass-stomping” of the century.
The Fruit Fly
Is the “ass-stomping” you refer to the Democratic victory or the subsequent effect on all Taxpayers as the Dems proceed to crank up the tax rates?
yea I said it… Hillary will be HILarious…. what will you loons have to piss and moan about when you have absolute power?
You all found plenty to bitch about before last November…and you’ll have the Court, so we still won’t have totally reversed things if Hillary takes it next year. Though even with all three branches, welcome to the USA, neither party will ever get absolute power. You make it sound like the winner next year gets to assume of control of Germany circa 1941.
The Repubs have lost their way, folding to the Religious Right. They deserve to be humbled.
You are misrepresenting the point of Lassie’s post. Lassie was talking about the need to get a conservative elected to the position - and saying that the Republican party pushing for a moderate - that doesn’t clearly distinguish themself from a democrat is a recipe for failure in the district.
There’s clearly some division within GOP ranks on this - some want Ramstad back in the race because they don’t want to be spending money this year defending this seat - and would rather use that money for Bachmann and the Presidential race. (There was a comment to that effect on Andy Aplikowski’s blog).
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