Mitch McConnell hires Jesse Benton to run his 2014 re-election bid

[orenbus]

This a great thing no matter what your perspective.

If you hate Jesse Benton and blame him for the failure of Ron's campaign, then you can have hope that he will torpedo McConnell's campaign as well.

If you find value to working within the GOP, a Senate Majority Leader McConnel who is friendly with Rand Paul and has a family connection through Jesse Benton can give you hope that Rand's issues will come up for votes in the Senate easier.

Yes except some of us now are going to want to additionally see someone run against MM in 2014.

 

[CaptLouAlbano]

Sure. The message is ripe for the times, or the times are ripe for the message. All the more reason why I see no need to back-pedal and try to win over a dwindling neoconservative base, which is what I think some folks are advocating.

Makes no sense to me. 'No-compromise' is what tripled the size of the liberty movement since 2008, and might triple it again in 2016* (edit). Why start compromising now?

I think you are confusing compromising with building bridges. You can hold strongly to your principles and not bend on them, while at the same time playing nice with people you don't agree with on all issues. I have seen some folks in here call McConnell some pretty foul names, and I think they want Rand and others to echo those sentiments. That just won't happen, but just because Rand stands on the same stage as McConnell, or Rand endorses and campaigns for him in 2014 does not mean that he in compromising.

 

[Carlybee]

And you are free to choose the course of action that you wish to pursue. My point being though that this stuff will continue to happen, and folks like yourself will continue to cry foul. Rand is working to build bridges with the rest of the GOP. The moves he takes to do that are going to piss a lot off in here, as is evidenced by the comments I have seen on this site.

I'm not telling people what party they should belong to, my suggestion was simply that if folks are looking for a more dogmatic approach then the LP and CP are more suited to that. You can maintain principles and still work within the GOP, but in order to do so elected officials will need to stand alongside of people that they do not agree with all the time like McConnell.

I have spent the better part of my life in elected office at the local level, and I can tell you from experience taking a hard and fast dogmatic approach does not result in gaining any ground. You have to bend here and there to get what you want in the long run. We will continue to see that from folks within the liberty movement, and as I stated that is not going to be pleasant for those who wish to see a more dogmatic approach.

And you are welcome to keep doing what you are doing but those of us from the original non co-opted liberty movement are the only reason liberty candidates have been elected...through money and support...inspired by Ron Paul. Not inspired by Wars R Us people in the GOP.

 

[CaptLouAlbano]

Sounds like....dare I say it? Romney?

Pretty much so. I think as time goes on you'll see more and more politicians like McConnell vote for and even introduce bills that are more libertarian in principle. Guys like that are mold-able. I personally don't like it, but if he is going to try and remake himself in a more libertarian mindset because he senses that is the direction the party and the country are taking, then more power to us.

 

[georgiaboy]

Who Mitch McConnell, or anyone for that matter, has as his campaign manager, has zero to do with the legislator's political philosophy or legislative agenda.

It has everything to do with what said legislator thinks he needs to do to get elected.

 

[SilentBull]

I see a lot of knee-jerk reactionary statements here.

The political reality is that we must pick our battles. Furthermore, we don't have a printing press to fund our campaigns.

A move like this helps to legitimize our movement in the minds of people who were on the sidelines or who think we're all a bunch of nuts. It's the type of move that makes it harder to label us 'domestic extremists' or whathaveyou.

Dr. Paul made us aware that people in D.C. can be very 'political' if they sense the winds shifting - this is a prime example.

But all that being said, we still need to make Mitch work for the win. Even insincere rhetoric from a prominent figure can help to wake up more people. Our goal should be to force Mitch to embrace our rhetoric.

Yes.

 

[Tiso0770]

Hmmmm, Jesse needs another house?!, Piggy bank dried up?!...I donate a few of my chickens, but he can't have my hog.

 

[orenbus]

Who Mitch McConnell, or anyone for that matter, has as his campaign manager, has zero to do with the legislator's political philosophy or legislative agenda.

It has everything to do with what said legislator thinks he needs to do to get elected.

Exactly, and I think it's safe to say that we smell blood in the water, I still don't understand how we don't take advantage of this.

 

[CaptLouAlbano]

And you are welcome to keep doing what you are doing but those of us from the original non co-opted liberty movement are the only reason liberty candidates have been elected...through money and support...inspired by Ron Paul. Not inspired by Wars R Us people in the GOP.

You are taking far too much credit for yourself. One of the main reasons a lot of the folks that have been elected over the last 4 years got into Congress is because there were people involved at the local level for many years. You think Tom Davis is going to win a Senate seat because of some folks that came on board in the last few years, or maybe it is because Davis has worked his ass off in local, county and state politics for the past decade and then some.

For ever person that has come into this in the last 4 years there were 10 people that had already been laying the groundwork at the local, county and state level. Who the hell do you think encouraged Paul to run in the first place? It sure as heck wasn't the people who found out about after he started his candidacy.

 

[specsaregood]

And you are welcome to keep doing what you are doing but those of us from the original non co-opted liberty movement are the only reason liberty candidates have been elected...through money and support...inspired by Ron Paul.

Funny, I could swear its those who vote that are the only reason and true believers represent what 5% max of that vote? how many liberty candidates that have been elected have you personally voted for?

 

[acptulsa]

I think you are confusing compromising with building bridges.

For decades in Washington you've had to play ball to get any cooperation at all. Of course, money has run rampant and the public has spent decades swallowing anything they're fed.

Canny politicians will smell in the air the fact that people have finally had enough of this crap. This happens periodically, even if it takes about a century for the pendulum to swing. And some politicians turn honest and start representing the people as soon as a good voting record becomes a better route to reelection than buying up massive amounts of name-recognition advertising/publicity/whatever works. This will happen. McConnell is just ahead of the curve--assuming, of course, that his 'libertarian conversion' is more than tea party window dressing.

Thanks to the 'net, we have a chance to hold their feet to the fire and keep everyone apprised as to the quality of their voting records. This is an important task for us. Very important. This may become as important a task for this very site--comparing politicians to the standard Ron Paul has set--as any it has had. I can't think of a site that could be more authorative than one where many informed voices can offer perspectives.

 

[ninepointfive]

This a great thing no matter what your perspective.

If you hate Jesse Benton and blame him for the failure of Ron's campaign, then you can have hope that he will torpedo McConnell's campaign as well.

If you find value to working within the GOP, a Senate Majority Leader McConnel who is friendly with Rand Paul and has a family connection through Jesse Benton can give you hope that Rand's issues will come up for votes in the Senate easier.

This post is the thread winner

 

[nobody's_hero]

I don't get why some here are pretending to be upset by this. You all wanted to kick Benton off the liberty island. Ok, he's out. Shouldn't you guys all be celebrating now?

I'm not pretending. I AM upset by this. I see the liberty movement going the way of the Goldwater movement. Back into obscurity. Back into this belief that we can change things by working within the system, instead of openly defying it.

Screw it. I'm going back to sleep. I didn't sign up for this. This does not inspire me. Wake me up in 50 years when the next Goldwater or Ron Paul candidate comes along. Let's see if people are not willing to repeat history once again, when or if that time comes.

 

[wrestlingwes_8]

Funny, I could swear its those who vote that are the only reason and true believers represent what 5% max of that vote? how many liberty candidates that have been elected have you personally voted for?

Yeah, because campaign donations, advertising, canvassing, and just basically getting the word out plays no role whatsoever in the outcome of an election...do you even hear yourself??

 

[Okie RP fan]

Will the real Benton defenders please stand up?

 

[cajuncocoa]

McConnell is the type of politician who will bend whichever way the wind is blowing. If liberals we suddenly gaining ground in the party he would do that way, if it was social-cons he'd be talking about abortion and prayer in schools non stop. As I see it, he sees which way the wind is blowing nationally and particularly in his home state and wants to do whatever he can to reach out to that wing.

And he will sell us off to the next coalition that waves shiny objects in front of his face...assuming he would pretend to play house with liberty candidates in the first place. Why do some of you support flip-flopping? That's antithetical to our mission...in my opinion.

 

[kylejack]

I don't get why some here are pretending to be upset by this. You all wanted to kick Benton off the liberty island. Ok, he's out. Shouldn't you guys all be celebrating now?

Oh, I'm elated. Now we can fight him tooth and nail without all the naysayers trying to stop us.

 

[orenbus]

For ever person that has come into this in the last 4 years there were 10 people that had already been laying the groundwork at the local, county and state level.

Hmm I would say Ron Paul got a lot more supporters as a total number than supporters he had existing prior May of 2007 vs. May 2007 to today, not sure how this can be proved either way, but I think it would make sense if you talked with those that experienced the before and after.

 

[acptulsa]

Will the real Benton defenders please stand up?

Oh, come on. This deathly silence doesn't mean anything. Someone has to be on Jesse's side--but it's just hard to type standing up!

 

[specsaregood]

Yeah, because campaign donations, advertising, canvassing, and just basically getting the word out plays no role whatsoever in the outcome of an election...do you even hear yourself??

Those things help persuade the voters and get them out; but voters are the ONLY reason one is elected. Are you actually agreeing with the person I replied to that claims those donors and supporters are the ONLY reason?