Republicans recruiting RINOs for 2010

[Enrique]

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0509/22212.html

For the National Republican Senatorial Committee’s recruitment list for 2010 reads like a roster of some of the party’s best-known RINOs (Republicans In Name Only) and squishes — the derisive terms applied to centrists by movement conservatives.

The party’s top choice for Florida’s open Senate seat is popular Gov. Charlie Crist, who raised eyebrows earlier this year with his vigorous advocacy of President Barack Obama’s stimulus package — he even went so far as to appear with Obama at a Florida rally in February. In Connecticut, the national GOP has lobbied former Rep. Rob Simmons — who holds a higher lifetime rating from the liberal Americans for Democratic Action group than Specter does — to challenge Democratic Sen. Chris Dodd.

In Delaware, where there is widespread consensus that just one Republican — Rep. Michael Castle, the co-founder of the moderate Republican Main Street Partnership — can win Joe Biden’s former seat, the push is on to get him to announce for the Senate. Castle, one of three Republicans who voted for all six bills on the Democrats’ “100 hour” agenda in 2007, was the only Republican standing alongside Obama when he signed an executive order in March allowing federal funds for stem cell research.

In the Midwest, there’s Illinois Rep. Mark Kirk, another leading centrist viewed as the GOP’s best hope of capturing a blue-state Senate seat — the one Obama vacated after he was elected president.

On the West Coast, National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman John Cornyn of Texas is hoping to land self-proclaimed moderate businesswoman Carly Fiorina to run against Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) in a state that gave Obama 61 percent of the vote.

“I’m absolutely committed to recruiting candidates around the country that fit their states. Who would have thought we would be looking at states like Delaware, New York, Illinois and Connecticut for Republicans to run — and have a reasonably good shot at winning?” Cornyn told POLITICO. “It really is a recipe for permanent minority status and irrelevance if we don’t pay attention to the arithmetic and get back to a position so we can shape legislation.”

(...)

[Democrats_win]

1. Republicans really don't need to worry because of all the DINOs.

Of course the real issue for the elite is who gets to control the cocktail parties in Washington. That's why they ALL need to face a very angry mob. The real "ownership" society.

[lpbk2713]

2. The RNC has to settle for anyone they can get.

Simply because no one wants to be associated with the corrupt and evil rethuglican party any more.

It's a fact.

[ellenfl]

3. they already have (had?) moderates. why do they need rinos?

wouldn't rinos basically be the same as moderates?

ellen fl

[Enrique]

4. they're in danger of becoming even more hard core RW

they're on the verge of a vicious cycle which if it gets out of control won't stop til it hits China.

[ellenfl]

6. no doubt . . . and more power to them . . . but why drive out

the safe seated moderates they have now?

ellen fl

[gratuitous]

5. Alan Keyes and J.C. Watts not available?

Come on, GOP! Time to get cuh-razy!