MASON CONSERVATIVE

This Is Damning

If what Dick Morris says is true, Gov. Bob Riley is a hero and the Obama Administration is simply just incompetent.

I mean, WOW.  

I've noticed a lot of lefty's out there are calling out "small government" conservatives for being hypocritical on calling for the federal government's help on this.  Well, it looks like Gov. Riley tried his best to assert his state's right to take care of its citizens, its beaches, and really tis economy but was stymied by federal incompetence.

Gary Johnson

Something to think about.

Where Is Cantor Going?

A better question might be, can a member of the House of Representatives be elected president?  The last time that happened was in 1880, when James Garfield pulled it off.  Politico has an article up about Cantor's ambition and his sometimes off relationship of Minority Leader John Boehner.  I don't see Cantor going anywhere else, because nothing makes sense.  Why run for governor of Virginia when you can only get one term and leave all that you've built in the House?  I can get maybe running for the Senate if Republicans don't win the House back, he would be by FAR the best candidate of the conventional ones talked about.

But in this new viral era, I think any politician can build a constituency without holding a major statewide office.  Gone are the days where being governor of New York and/or governor of California where the most powerful positions in the country.  Now we see, for good or bad, folks like Michelle Bachmann and Alan Grayson become national players because they understand new media and how to go over the heads of seniority.

We are seeing a changing of the guard as old titans like Jack Murtha, Ted Kennedy, and Robert Byrd have passed away.  The seniority system is still in place, but in an age where a congressman can create a web video and reach millions over the heads of leadership and chairmen and old bulls.

"McCain, Once More"

I pretty much agree with every thing the National Review says here in endorsing John McCain's reelection for the US Senate.  I've been on a tear lately endorsing and talking about these new conservatives coming out of the woodwork to run for national office, but JD Hayworth is not one of them. 

If McCain had a different challenger, we might think differently. But, taken together, these considerations move us to suggest that Arizona Republicans nominate Senator McCain. If ever we needed legislators who favor a resolute foreign policy and budget restraint, that time is now.

Hayworth's record suggests why he was defeated for reelection in 2006.  McCain's bona fides on spending and foreign policy are actually pretty good, and he's become one of the Republicans most effective voices against Obama.  I know there are things that drive all of us mad about him, but I perfer the devil I know.  Hayworth's record on spending and ethics is abysmal.  Nothing should disqualify him more than this:

Robert Byrd "Seriously Ill"

I certainly hope the senior senator from West Virginia will recover, but at his age I think we better be ready for some bad headlines soon.  Godspeed to him.  But what I want to look at is Robert Byrd and the sheer volume of his career and how we are likely never going to see it again.

• Elected to Congress in 1952: Same years as Dwight Eisenhower is elected President and Richard Nixon is elected Vice-President.  Think about that - when Byrd entered Congress neither Ike nor Nixon had embarked on their national careers.  The Speaker of the House in the time Byrd was there were Joe Martin and Sam Rayburn.    
• He was elected to the Senate in 1958.  The majority leader was Lyndon Johnson, the minority leader was William Knowland
• He became Democratic leader and held it for 12 years spanning Carter and Reagan.  
• He is the longest serving senator in United States history.  The United States Senate has sat since 1789, and its Robert Byrd who has served the longest.

We can argue as Republicans and Democrats all we want about Byrd's career, the choices he made as a young man, but nobody can argue how incredible his career has been.  And with this new century that has brought us 24/7 news coverage, instant communications, and a much tighter scrutiny of politicians personal lives we will NEVER see someone last this long in the US Senate.  Pretty amazing career, al things considered.

Is There A Wimp Factor with Scott Rigell?

Bearing Drift is reporting that Scott Rigell wimped out of speaking to literally thousands of Republicans today because Sarah Palin was there.  The decision probably came from the belief that Sarah Palin will hurt him.  Not sure how, just ask Nikki Haley and Carly Fiorina and Rand Paul who all got huge boosts from Palin.  This idea that she is somehow toxic is a myth, like much about her, though she is controversial I'll give you that.  But this Freedom Feast should bring in thousands of Republicans and is a real chance to fire up the base and get Republicans motivated to work for our candidates.  And more than Palin or George Allen or Ollie North, Scott Rigell NEEDS to reach these voters because they will be his base and his core, the people who go out for him to convince their neighbors and community to vote for him.  If Scott Rigell is willing to buy into the Palin myth to the point that he won't even talk to core Republicans in his district, I'm worried about his future.  I get that Sarah Palin is polarizing, but if that's the best the Democrats can do your gonna be fine.  I hope Rigell reconsiders, because this is too big a chance here to pass up.

Next Week

Honor Thy Father

You know things are bad when your own son won't run with you using your last name.

Such is life for Dingy Harry Reid, who's son Rory ____ is running for governor along side the old man who's running for Senate reelection.  For all the flailing of the usual suspects on both the media and certain GOP circles, Sharron Angle remains in good position to win this race so long as she makes it about 1) that Nevada is number 1 in unemployment in the country, 2) that instead of dealing with this Reid has been carrying the water for the big spending Obama Administration that is making everything worse, and 3) she will vote for the principles of limited government and free enterprise so the state can get back to work. 

As for Rory ____, he gets the honored of being slaughtered by Brian Sandoval. 

Awesome.

I present this without comment

I Want A Poll On McDonnell

I don't think that internal polls are as inherently biased as some think - Keith Fimian's internal polling turned out to be pretty good - but I wonder why no major firm has yet to poll Bob McDonnell's popularity.  I got the same email as Brian about McDonnell's internal poll, and I tend to think that its probably true.  But Chris Christie, elected the same night, has had several polls taken on his popularity.  Why hasn't anyone done this yet?