Bottom line, Frum believes that party candidates like Lieberman and Crist should stay loyal to their party.. although he seems to be a bit fuzzy on Lieberman.The center right has got to hold together. We cannot afford more NY-23s. In all but the most extreme circumstances, the rule has to be that those who participate in a party contest abide by the results of that process. It’s one thing if the race is Lieberman v. Lamont, and what’s at issue is success or failure in war. I used that comparison in a tweet today, but it does not stand up to scrutiny: the differences between Crist and Rubio are much more differences in tone, temperament, and personality. Had Crist prevailed in the Florida Republican primary, he would have had every valid reason to expect Rubio to support the outcome.
The reverse should have held true.
It does cause me to pause.. should Crist bow out gracefully and support Marco Rubio?
I expect that today Crist will give all sorts of reasons why he is choosing to run as an independent - possibly one reason is that he represents a different kind of republicanism.. a more moderate version.. and maybe even a flavor that will win in November when independent voters get to weigh in.
For me.. I am becoming less and less a fan of the two party system.. I think that the system has given us legislatures filled with extremely powerful career politicians who very rarely get defeated.. of course John McCain may be facing a serious republican primary challenge this year.. maybe the primary system can work.. doubtful that McCain would run as an independent.. but you never know?
So, I guess I am okay with Crist running as an independent in Florida.. even though it feels a bit strange to endorse disloyalty.. of course I have had to reevaluate my own misplaced loyalties these past few years. What do you think about loyalty? Should guys like Crist and Lieberman stay loyal to their parties even if it means they may have to get a real job?
i had no problem with Lieberman running as an independent. nor with Crist. Party activists seem increasingly to be moving further to the left and right that voters should get to vote for the one in the middle if they so choose.
ReplyDeleteindependents face challenges with organization and fund-raising -- but if they want to go for it, good for them.
Why should anyone remain loyal to a party? You join a party because it is closest to representing your interests/ideals, when that is no longer the case, it's time to leave the party. One of the biggest problems we have in Washington today is people are more loyal to their parties than they are to their country.
ReplyDeleteThat's his right AS LONG AS he offers to pay back (and does so immediately whenever requested) any contributions received from others for this specific Republican nomination campaign he just bailed from and instead has, in fact, opted to become an enemy combatant. Otherwise, he is just another political crony in politics for his own self-interest.
ReplyDeleteI think it speaks poorly of him that he has only chosen this route because the rubio will beat him. This is an example of what you don't want, a person that will do anything and become anything just to get elected and stay in power. He didn't have a principled split with the party. He was losing. The only good thing to come out of this is that Crist has been unclothed.
ReplyDeleteSome good points here. I do wonder how much money Crist got from generic GOP fundraising (and should possibly be paid back) and how much was donated specifically to him? I would think that in a GOP primary money didn't come from the "party" but from people supporting Crist specifically.
ReplyDeleteWhy should Americans be loyal to any political party that hasn't been loyal to us?
ReplyDeleteBTW, I went independent when my state's legislature (BOTH parties) decided no one would be given a primary ballot who did not formally declare a political party. That legislation (which violated the right to a secret ballot) was repealed fairly quickly, but it made me so mad I refuse to associate myself with either of them anymore.......and yes, I VOTE!
"even though it feels a bit strange to endorse disloyalty"
ReplyDeleteThese parties deserve no loyalty! Have either the Democratic or Republican parties demonstrated any loyalty to the people of the United State in the last twenty years? The leadership of the ruling parties is nothing more than a criminal class of professional political prostitutes.
Freedom and independence today begins with freedom and independence from the dictatorship of the Democratic-Republican two-party state and duopoly system of government.
I agree with Bob about political parties. The parties and the typical politicians represent themselves rather than their constituents. If we had term limits of 6 years (less than the 12-year limit included in the Articles of Confederation) there would be no career politicians and weaker parties. A career in politics attracts the wrong kind of person. We need candidates that are willing to serve in Congress but will be relieved when their terms are over.
ReplyDeleteOccasionally a member of Congress will vote against the party caucus to support the wishes of the majority of his constituents. The Democrats that voted against health care reform didn't please me or Democratic party but they did please the majority of their constituents. But one might also say that they were only thinking of the 2010 election when they voted.
Is it ever better for a legislator to vote against the wishes of the majority of his constituents?