The establishment is fighting back, alright.
This has not received a lot of national attention, but the Republican legislature in Florida is about to push through a plan which puts Allen West at serious risk, and the person leading the effort is one of Mitt Romney’s spokemen. As reported by The Shark Tank:
After last night’s [Jan. 26] Republican Presidential debate, the candidates’ respective spinmeisters made their cases to the media as to why their guy won the debate. One of Governor Mitt Romney’s spokesmen was Florida Representative Will Weatherford, and during the course of his remarks in the “Spin Room”, he shed a very dim light on the ongoing redistricting process in the Florida Legislature….
West’s congressional district inexplicably sheds the most out support as compared to all other incumbent Republican and Democrat Congressman. A few weeks back we quoted an unnamed legislator saying that, “Allen West was screwed”, a statement which was originally made about made five months before the purposed maps were made public, leading insiders to believe that the fix was in against Allen West. But in light of Weatherford’s comment, it is increasingly clear that this is a fait accompli.
According to Weatherford, those preliminary maps will not change- at the most, any additional changes would be minimal, and those changes would not make any appreciable difference from the preliminary maps. In addition, Weatherford stated that a deal was struck between him, Senate President Mike Haridopolos, and Senator Don Gaetz to finalize these maps and push them through as soon as possible.
Weatherford tried to hide behind a need to comply with [state and] federal law, but that’s obviously a dodge since there could have been many ways to comply yet not sacrifice West:
A website, SaveAllenWest, had been set up, but it appears to be too late.
One of the rising stars of the Tea Party is about to be sacrificed by the Republican establishment in Florida, led by someone spinning for Mitt Romney.
Don’t say you weren’t warned.
Update 1-30-2012: Florida redistricting looking even worse and Dem SuperPAC targeting “Tea Party 10″.
Also, Will Weatherford: The Florida legislature has NOT targeted Allen West
Update No. 2 1-30-2012: Mark Levin interviewed West on January 30. West stated that maps were submitted to the legislature which would have kept his district intact and still been in compliance with state and federal law. Levin said he did not believe the excuses being made that the map had to be drawn the way it was as a matter of law.
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Anybody but Romney\Obama! ABR & ABO!
Rick Santorum needs to drop out NOW.
Forget it. It’s not in him.
I like Rick but he’s beginning to look more and more like a pugnacious, obstinate pud or the scorned wife who refuses to leave the courtroom after the judge has gaveled the case.
I am beginning to wonder if the Romney campaign has promised Santorum somethng to stay in the race! There is no path to victory for him, he is out of money, yet he hangs on….how? and why?
These folks seem intent on forcing a Tea Party candidacy this cycle. There doesn’t seem any way to defeat the combine otherwise.
Agreed. But who? Allen West? Scott Walker? John Kasich?
Sharing an anonymous insider comment (I also called to verify, and the person said to take heart, Allen has a lot of independents and Dems who support him, he killed Klein in the last election):
Republican Establishment is what the whole problem is with both political parties. There is no way the average joe/jane citizen can participate. Great article.
The news today has been bad…need.to.stop.reading.it -rage.at.Romney.building.
You can take away Allen West’s congressional district, but you can’t take away Allen West.
If he winds up being redistricted out of office by this, look for him to take the opportunity to go for higher office – which would be an excellent outcome as far as I am concerned.
This man fights, literally and figuratively. I would not want to be on the wrong side of Col. West.
So…if Newt loses Florida, what do we have to do to ensure a brokered convention? Will not stand by Romney.
Both parties are scum. There are days when I find myself fantasizing about turning DC into a ghost town somehow, and this is one of them. Apparently we can’t even elect good candidates like Allen West to turn the mess around because the establishment will just look for ways to kick those people out. Well, what options are left when the swine in DC are actively barricading themselves against us like this? A million Tea Partiers descended on DC to make their grievances known, and they were ignored. We seem to be running out of peaceful options.
Our true enemy is not the Democrats. It’s the GOP elites. They don’t represent us and never will. They are just as totalitarian as their communist counterparts on the other side of the aisle and want to intimidate us.
I reside in West’s district. We are enraged against the Republican machine in Florida. They bought off Pam Bondi they bought off Rubio. There is a war going on down here and we are not sitting down and shutting up.
The Romney machine is running scared, very scared.
Yes. If nothing else, Romney’ campaign has shown just how much the establishment GOP is merely the other side of the coin with the Dems, with a generous helping of MSM distortions and misinformation included on both sides.
I’ve said it before on other forums: no longer is it Dem vs. GOP; it is Dem, the establishment GOP, and the MSM vs. all of us conservatives. That is what needs to be kept in the forefront and that is what we need to develop a long-term strategy to fight against.
There are many days that I fantasize about going to DC and dismantling the entire congress and the WH one brick and pillar at a time, if need be. I’ve told my husband this many times. He would prefer a bulldozer and a crane.
Then move on to K St..
Can’t stand Romney, and this just takes the cake. I wouldn’t vote for him if he were the only one in the primary; seriously, I’d write Sarah in first. I’m seething mad right now, so don’t ask me about the general (I’ll do the right thing in November, but am angry enough at this moment to say something stupid).
Every single GOP establishment type was already a target this (and next and the next) election, but I suppose one good thing about this primary season is that we can see just who they are right down to state legislators (and the local freaking dog catcher). He beat the TEA Party candidate in 2010; let’s hope there’s a another this time around. Or even the same one: http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/elections/florida-house-district-61-challenger-predicts-hell-lose-but-leave-his-mark/1114961
“Paul Weyrich Warns Conservatives on Romney and Endorses Gingrich From the Grave”
“Weyrich endorsed Romney in 2008.
And deeply regretted it.
And begged McCain NOT to choose him for VP.”
“This is from a PBS Frontline Interview in the mid 90’s. Weyrich died in 2008. And it is extremely revealing. Weyrich and Gingrich first met in 1970’s and reveals some juicy tidbits including:
Weyrich was afraid Newt would run for President BECAUSE HE THOUGHT HE WOULD WIN. He felt Gingrich was the only person who keep the coalition of Republicans with such different persuasions together.
He is adamant that Gingrich’s conservatism is deeply based.
He is convinced “reform” is Newt’s primary objective as a conservative.
He was never completely comfortable (at the time of this interview) because Gingrich based his conservative values on history and not scripture.
Weyrich says although he know realizes his (Weyrich’s) advice wasn’t always correct, that Gingrich fervently sought him out for advice, especially in his early years.
He agrees it was Gingrich’s leadership that bucked the establishment in taking the idea the GOP could become a majority.
Weyrich says Gingrich is defined by being “intellectually honest.”
Weyrich says Gingrich won’t compromise what he believes for popularity.”
And now this:
“The FOUNDER of the Moral Majority and two of the most important conservative think tanks says:
It is a mistake to choose someone just on the basis of who seems “electable” versus reflecting your values.
Voting for Mitt Romney is a repudiation of social conservative values.
Weyrich effectively felt Romney believed “Government is God”
Weyrich felt Romney “mocked” limited government and the separation of powers.
He believed Romney was harmful to the GOP.
Perhaps Paul Weyrich’s last part of the letter is the most important:
As citizens, activists, and leaders with our feet on the solid ground of real world Republican and Independent voters, it is our duty to alert you that the grassroots is nearing a point of breaking with Republican Party leadership on many issues, not the least of which is the relentless whitewashing of Mitt Romney as a so-called “conservative.””
http://www.politijim.com/2012/01/paul-weyrich-warns-conservatives-on.html
“Newt Was Hated But Elected Anyway. In 1989.”
“He was the original “Rogue.” He called the Democrats and Speaker O’Neil “blind to communism” and challenged their patriotism.”
“Mitt Romney is busy trying to remake history. This just in from the campaign trail:
Not surprisingly, Gingrich has often been diminished by his colleagues in the House as a fast-talking demagogue, or worse. Beryl Anthony Jr. of Arkansas,the head of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee says simply, “He’s crazy.” In 1985, The Washington Post wrote that “Newt Gingrich may be just about the most disliked member of Congress.”
Only this was from 1989. By a Democrat. Before Gingrich’s peers elected him Speaker of the House. And before those peers reprinted his picture on their campaign literature more than Mao on May Day in Kumming, China.
The PBS interview went on to say:
Why, then, would Republicans choose him as a leader? Because he is a rare and compelling politician.
The charges against Gingrich include:
He’s erratic and polarizing
No one will follow him
He’s a “big government” Republican
You remember Lee Atwater? The architect behind Reagan who invented the visuals for campaigns and let Reagan be as aggressive as he wanted against the media and the Democrats? The man who engineered the strategy to defeat Michael Dukakis resulting in a 49 state landslide? Here is what he had to say about Newt.
Atwater was among the first to applaud Newt Gingrich’s selection as whip: “He talks the kinda talk I like.” It is clear that the Atwater-Rollins wing of the party, at least, intends Gingrich to be the Republicans’ front man in the drive to do for all of the G.O.P. what Atwater did for George Bush–to “Willie Horton” the Democratic House of Representatives by hammering away at the theme of “institutional corruption.”
“I think Newt Gingrich has an opportunity to have a somewhat unprecedented role for a Republican House member,” Atwater says. “He can truly be a national political guru for our party. He can be a spokesman, he can be a philosopher, and he can be a strategist for our party. As Teddy Roosevelt once said about the bully pulpit, Newt Gingrich has an opportunity to be as big a man as he can be.”
OH MY GOD!! ALERT GLENN BECK!! LEE ATWATER WAS A COMMUNIST! HE mentioned TEDDY ROOSEVELT! Gimmie a break.
Was Reagan polarizing? Yes.
But it was to those who wanted status quo – especially the establishment. And yet he shocked the media and establishment by being nominated, elected (and to their horror) now is thought of as one of the greatest Presidents of all time. Quite a turn around from George Bush claiming an “actor” had “voodoo economics.”
Did Reagan make some people uncomfortable? Yes.
But it isn’t by people trying to get to his right. It is SOLEY from those saying he needs to be more “moderate.”
And the same could be said for Gingrich. With training at the right hand of Atwater, are we surprised at all about the image and aggressiveness of Newt Gingrich?”
http://www.politijim.com/2012/01/newts-was-hated-but-elected-anyway-in.html?utm_source=BP_recent
Allen West for Vice President! Gingrich/West 2012!
That is a ticket I could support with my time, $$$, vote, and talent.
One might conclude that for the GOP establishment perhaps this election cycle is more about crushing conservatism and those pesky Tea Partiers rather than defeating Obama.
Perhaps they’d rather lose with Romney rather than win with Gingrich (or Palin, or Cain, or any conservative and/or reformist). I do believe they would be quite comfortable as the minority party again.
On an individual to individual basis, each politician and power broker in the “establishment” here in Florida is doing what is in his/her personal career and/or financial interests. Many of them don’t have the intellect of a Gingrich, and they aren’t thinking strategically or altruistically about the big picture (the Bush machine aside). Romney has been buying them for years, and when he can’t buy them, suffice to say that he is no “nice guy”.
It’s disgusting beyond words. Gaggable. Unspeakable.
Rick Santorum has been back and forth to Virginia with family problems. He needs to get out, and when he gets out — NOW. We will see where his integrity is, whether he does so, and whether he endorses Gingrich.
A Gingrich/West ticket could solve a lot. (The greatest drawback to the idea is that it would be two men from the Southeast U.S., and usually presidential candidates like to get someone geographically “complementary”.) That could be overcome, however, and is not written in stone.
We in Florida are fighting, but we also are counting on the conservatives in other states across the nation, where it’s still “early”, to rise up.
For many years, I’ve believed that the GOP actually LIKES being the minority. (I even wrote an essay back in 2008 about just that.) They can get re-elected from conservative districts, complain that they’re powerless to prevent (wink-wink, nudge-nudge) what the Democrats are doing, while applauding behind the scenes.
The Establishment’s behavior is the abject panic of endangered tyrants. They are living in the moment, to win at all costs, NOW. They think this will be forgotten? This ugliness? Especially after 2008 and their arrogance after 2010?
For the first time in history, a tyrannical oligarchy is attempting to enslave a people that has always been free. It will be difficult at best. They may destroy the country, but they themselves will be destroyed.
We are on the cusp of revolution. There WILL be a revolution. Pray that it is peaceful.
“Stats Comparing Conservative Accomplishments of Newt and Mitt”
http://www.politijim.com/2012/01/stats-on-what-newt-and-mitt-did-not.html
West can come to Texas. We’d love to have him here.
If this is indeed true, why can’t he still run as an incumbent Rep in the new district–presumably all the districts around his are being altered? They redistributed a number of our Reps, as well (IL), Republican Reps (I suppose I don’t need to add that, seeing as I said IL). If West was elected once, why wouldn’t he be elected again? Maybe I’m simplifying this, I don’t know enough about his current district vs. the redrawn district demographics. does he have bipartisan support?
He can. But what is being done is his district is being made way less Republican and more Democrat. The Democrats hate West and will be gleeful on their job being made easier to take him out. There are a lot of democrats in that part of Florida. The redistricting is supposed to be done in a neutral matter, but it appears that the changes to West’s current district were not done in a neutral manner. Romney does not like the tea party. The tea party loves Allen West. West has not endorsed Romney. Low and behold, a Romney supporter throws Allen West under the bus.
At my job we’d need to have a business plan, the first step is the mission. Unless the fantasy ‘brokered convention, where a totally desireable candidate with money and brains shows up’ we have the field right here in front of us.
Does everyone here really hate the Republicans in the race SO MUCH that they will whine, cry, sit on their hands or get out their slime balls to guarantee 8 more years of Obama?
I understand re-electing Obama in 2012 will keep the conservative blogs and Fox and Rush alive with better-than-ever ratings (and income) but is that what the country really needs? It really could be minnie mouse for me, I support and desire whichever candidate can beat Obama.
Hilary Clinton could conceivably primary and defeat Obama. Would you support her? I’m being facetious in trying to point out that it is not enough to simply defeat Obama if he is replaced with someone who is Obama Lite. Defeating Obama is NOT the end goal – it’s just the beginning. The goal is to fix Washington DC, and for good. If I dangled a made-up political nickname like ‘The Great Reformer’, who springs to mind? Romney? Gingrich?
The establishment wants Romney because he’s already agreed to take their orders. The establishment does not want Gingrich because if he wins, he becomes the leader of the GOP, and will be issuing the orders. It’s as simple as that.
I prefer Obama White to Obama Lite myself.
“I understand re-electing Obama in 2012 will keep the conservative blogs and Fox and Rush alive with better-than-ever ratings (and income) but is that what the country really needs?” Yes, that’s the Romney campaign line, a way of shutting down critcism — it’s the same garbage coming from Jennifer Rubin. Bye.
Does that mean that, contrary to prior statements, you won’t vote for Romney over Obama if that’s the choice in November?
I obviously don’t know what the professor has decided, if anything, but I can tell you this: Two weeks ago I would have said I’d vote for Romney if he was the nominee after having done all I could to prevent that from happening. But what’s gone on since SC in FL (and probably elsewhere that we haven’t yet heard about) has been nothing less than a spectacular insult from the GOP controlling masters and their boy, Romney, toward the true conservative base, and we are many. Their treachery toward conservatives is on the verge of eclipsing obama’s treachery toward America, and I will not be a party to it. So, IF the professor has changed his position as to an ABO Romney vote in November, he certainly has company. It’s no longer just about Romney. It’s much bigger than that now, much bigger. We are seeing the most vulgar display of abandonment of principles ever witnessed in the last century.
I defended Romney when Newt unfairly attacked him two and a half weeks ago (so btw did Allen West) and we get paid back like this? With Romney not only attacking Gingrich just as bad but attacking the tea party and conservatives. It makes me sick.
I never dreamed I would say this, but it won’t matter to me if obama beats mittens. neither will rid us of obamneycare and neither will get government out of the way commerce.
I have always viscerally detested Mitt Romney, but I was willing to vote for him against obama. No more. What he has done lately, especially in FL, has caused me to decide that I simply will not vote for the man, and I can’t vote for obama, either. So, if Romney is the nominee, I will vote down-ballot and local only. I will either write somebody in for president or leave it blank.
I never thought I’d say this either, but I would support starting a third party for conservatives. The GOP has pushed too hard this time. They have bitch-slapped this conservative one time too many with their drive against the true conservative/Reaganite base. The GOP has abandoned conservatism completely, and I refuse to be used and abused anymore. It’s beyond just being taken for granted. It has become as plantation-like as the ‘rat party is to their base and party faithful of ne’er-do-wells always looking for taxpayer handouts.
Not me. I’m beating the Republican machine first. Then beating Obama will be a piece of cake. The Republican Machine is my enemy. A vote for Romney is a vote for Obama. Romney lost to McCain and McCain couldn’t beat Obama even with a conservative on the bottom of the ticket.
It’s not Romney’s turn. It’s the conservatives turn. The Republican elites have forced us to realize that the conservative’s turn will NEVER happen.
The fight us right here, right now for the battle of the Republican party that has NEVER had the support of it’s base.
JRD is right, the fight is right now. And Florida is just a battle, not the war. Keep fighting.
I live in this district. I can assure you that the Republican Establishment is working to marginalize Allen West. When you listen to the video, you can clearly hear Weatherford being very defensive as he is making all kinds of excuses, rationalizations and justifications for the changes. These are all barometers of insincerity. When people do the right thing, excuses, rationalizations and justifications are never required.
This week has really opened my eyes to the extent the Republican Establishment is working to circumvent the efforts of The Tea Party and true conservatives.
I can assure you that this will not go down well over the long term. They have us over a barrel with the election in 2012 when even I would vote for Romney (who I do not support) in order to get Obama out. In effect, at this time, we conservatives have nowhere else to go because running a third party conservative in this election would only insure an Obama win.
After this election, if Romney loses I think the one good result will be that the Republican Establishment will be toast. Do not be surprised if a new party is established if Romney loses because the blame will squarely sit on the shoulders of the Republican Establishment in addition to people like Karl Rove, Ann Coulter, Chris Christie, Matt Drudge and others who employed extremely unsavory techniques against Newt Gingrich and put forth a lot of really dishonest spin.
The Republican Establishment will NEVER prevail. No political or cultural “establishment” anywhere has survived for long after they have been exposed for being duplicitous and repressive. While this is all inside ball at this time, it won’t be for long.
Just watch what happens if Romney gets elected and we end up with Obamacare light. Too many people are now engaged in the political process for the RINOs to prevail in the long term.
I live in the district also and I absolutely refuse to vote for Romney. This election has opened my eyes like no other. My enemy is NOT the Democrats. It is the Republican machine who has taken an oath to cut out the legs from under ANY conservative before they can gain any traction. A vote for Romney is a vote to continue the current situation. Romney and the GOP elites don’t represent you and they never will. They continue to present Obama as the bogeyman. Romney is the enemy not Obama. If Romney was on your side socialized medicine would be added to the dustbin of history. Quit falling for their BS. Get rid of Romney first. Beating Obama will be a pushover after that. The cancer is in our party.
Can you give me one good reason why having Romney in the WH would be better than obama?
Allen West is not a perfect conservative, but I have no doubt he is conservative. I have some doubts about Newt (he needs to be watched closely) and I am pretty much 100% confirmed Mitt Romney is NOT conservative.
So the Tea Party throws the Repukes a lifeline of new energy from their ossified stasis of praying for the reincarnation of human garbage like Nelson Rockefeller and they’re rewarded by getting the back of their hand and a knife in the back? Is anybody really surprised by this?
Politics is a long game. If the tea party set of values and policies are good they will survive, and just like it was begun in 2010, we can pick off these pretenders one by one and at some point reach the tipping point.
But do we have enough time left as a free nation to pick off the nose pickers one by one?
That’s always the question, of course. By definition, the tea party may only succeed via grassroots, because ain’t nobody riding to the rescue.
Apparently the Republican Party is the “scorpion” and the Tea Party is the “frog” that tried to carry the scorpion across the river and is now getting stung for the effort.
I’m done rewarding the Republican Party with my vote. Obama and Romney are basically two sides of the same coin and I don’t see a good reason to prefer one over the other.
Excellent analogy.
The conservative “leadership,” told us, NO, NO, NO! Third Party just guarantees four more years of Obama! Work from within! Change the game!
It turns out these “leaders” were just doing their part in the Romney conspiracy.
This is beyond ugly. BUT. There WILL be a tomorrow, however ugly. And our treacherous “friends” (Ann Coulter et al., call your offices) have revealed themselves.
Onward.
On the other hand:
West is not the only Republican to face a potentially tougher fight under the proposed maps. The districts of Republican Congressmen Steve Southerland of Panama City, Sandy Adams of Orlando, Tom Rooney of Jupiter and David Rivera of Miami would continue to lean Republican but become more competitive for Democrats.
Democrats, however, aren’t happy either. They say that the self-imposed losses by the GOP aren’t deep enough. There are currently 81 Republicans and 39 Democrats in the state House of Representatives. In the Senate, Republicans outnumber Democrats, 29-11. Statewide, Democrats comprise 40 percent of all registered voters, while Republicans represent 35 percent.
Rep. Ron Saunders, D-Key West, believes the sacrificed Republican seats are part of a 10-year strategy to preserve Republican power. “If you draw 70 safe Republican seats you’ll probably keep that for 10 years but if you draw 20 marginal seats, there is a greater chance you could lose all of them in a good Democratic year,’’ he said.
Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/01/04/2573903_p2/republicans-are-prepared-to-sacrifice.html#storylink=cpy
This just made the hair on the back of my neck stand straight up & sent a shiver through my entire body! @NewtCerto has it absolutely right….The REpublican establishment seems hell bent on destroying our country, damned be all the Tea Party conservatives who might upset the status quo in DC. This cannot stand, Gingrich/West 2012 & I am now gonna put my $$$ where my mouth is & send a generous donation to Newt, cause our paper’s gonna be worth nothing by the time the damn career politicians in DC of both parties are done with it. The grassroots movement for “we the people” constitutionalists who favor less government do indeed pose a major threat to both parties power. It seems clear to me the main reason they chose Mitt is because no other potential candidate could possibly outspend him & it is definitely pay to play politics everywhere now. This action will no doubt elevate Col. West to a major political leader when the dust finally settles, but it’s gonna be an ugly fight to unseat all those establishment GOPs & replace them with Tea Party Patriots. Am not sure our country has the luxury of the time it’s gonna take to accomplish this. WE must all get off our duffs & get out there & elect as many true conservatives as possible in 2012. The GOP elites are doing their best to marginalize Don Stenberg (true conservative) for NE Senate seat vacated by Ben Nelson & are supporting Atty Gen Jon Bruning instead. Jim Demint has already endorsed Don Stenberg, but he doesn’t have the power$$$ behind him, so any extra help would be appreciated!
[…] and the RINO’s are using O’s bus. Posted on January 29, 2012 8:12 am by genes Allen West being redistricted out of existence in effort led by Romney Florida spokesman After last night’s [Jan. 26] Republican Presidential debate, the candidates’ respective […]
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2012/01/28/allen_west_tells_liberal_leaders_to_get_the_hell_out_of_the_usa.html
Excellent video from Col. West. There’s no doubt in my mind that he sees the game being played and is fully prepared to take the long view and fight. The establishment GOP might be smart enough to figure it out, but I doubt it: one doesn’t mess with a military man.
I’m worried that Romney could ask West to be on the ticket. If that were to happen, what should he do?
People, let’s take a page out of our Tea Party handbook and come up with a meaningful response!
1) Donate to Allen West: https://www.allenwestforcongress.com/donatenow/
2) Contact the Republican Party of Florida: http://rpof.org/contact-us/rpof-contact-information/
3) Contact the Mitt Romney campaign and let them know the depth of your ire. https://mittromney.com/contact-us
Allen West disappears only if we do not fight for him. And if we don’t, then we deserve the ensuing badness.
Yep. THAT is how it is done!
[…] Legal Insurrection: One of the rising stars of the Tea Party is about to be sacrificed by the Republican establishment […]
If Mr. West sees the road blocked to another term in the House, there’s always that Senate seat election. Connie Mack may be popular right now, but a man like Mr. West would certainly get attention.
Gingrich/West would be a dream ticket, and a great way to snub the establishment.
Agreed.
This is war
Thanks. Just what I was going to say. At this point, it may be all that’s left to say. We’re at war.
I just hope Gingrich gets it. I saw him on Greta discussing how his relations with Romney were “collegial” and that he felt it was important for a putative president to represent a higher and more decorous form of discourse. True perhaps, in the abstract, but in our time a fatal miscalculation? Did he just say this for public consumption? If I could have five minutes with Newt I’d tell him that men like Romney don’t even understand concepts like “collegial” or “leadership” in these holistic or noble terms but rather fear him — and hate his guts because of their fear — and that he needs to use this awareness. He needs to use our patriotic outrage and all that we’ve learned about the Ruling Class to his advantage. He needs to goad, mock and expose Romney without mercy, because it’s all on the line now — not just his personal political fate but EVERYTHING.
Agreed with everything you said.
You can try contacting the Newt campaign to voice your concerns. They do listen.
Indeed it is, and I’m ready to take to the streets if we have to. Tar ’em, feather ’em, and run ’em out of DC and the statehouses on a rail.
I have had it with both parties maneuvering behind the scenes to undermine the will of the people. They do it with our money and, in the case of the GOP, with our faith and good will. That is treachery.
The American people are under the siege of tyranny NOW.
Establishment Republicans fear the Tea Party more than they fear the Democrats. Imagine that!
The problem is that they don’t fear the TEA Party as much as they should. They’ve failed to learn anything from history.
I agree. They don’t fear us enough. They have no fear of maneuvering behind our backs to undermine us. I think in the vernacular that’s called “dissing”, and we’re being dissed big time.
They are treating us as though we are a third party, but believe we object to obama more. It’s time to disabuse them of this. I am now at the point where I would support a third party, a conservative party, and let the chips fall where they may, win, lose, or draw.
[…] Readers: I opened Professor Jacobson’s site this morning to discover that the Florida GOP is proposing redistricting lines that have the potential to […]
I used to be a Republican. I voted for Nixon while in Viet Nam in ’68.
I’ll never be a member of that snake pit again.
I’ll not vote for Romney. He’s despicable.
THE FLORIDA GOP of Romney Supporters HAS PROPOSED REDISTRICTING MAPS POTENTIALLY ELIMINATING ALLEN WEST’S SEAT. The link has contact information to protest this inanity!
He should run as the Tea Party Candidate. I’m sure he would not lack for contributions to run an effective campaign.
Can someone explain this?
If his district is redistricted away, can’t rep west have to then run in the new district?
I don’t understand this, I plan on donating to Col. West, doesn’t matter if he runs in another district. Does this mean he cannot run?!?!?
In effect, it takes his incumbency away…which is a powerful advantage for him.
He is essentially running as another contender for an “open seat” against other Rs.
oh I see, so its essentially harder for him to win, because he’s no longer the incumbent.
Ok, thanks for explaining. I guess I’ll be donating more to him that I orginally thought. I want this man to win. He’s one of the reasons I became a supporter of the tea party movement.
He doesn’t have to run against the DNC lady, does he?
Alex, I scanned the root post way too quickly, and told you wrong.
The West district is not being eliminated, as I incorrectly understood.
It IS being altered to make it harder for West to win, shifting it to a more Deemocrat population mix…IF I managed to read the SharkTank correctly.
My bad, and I apologize.
No Problem. thank you for explaining.
Buying another “gas can”, Representative West.
While I have breath and blood, I refuse living in a land that insists I live by “Rules for Radicals” AND where I must bow down to elite’s that have “Bain capitalists”, that wear ‘secret undergarments’!
[…] Line Posted on January 29, 2012 9:30 am by Bill Quick » Allen West being redistricted out of existence in effort led by Romney Florida spokesman … The establishment is fighting back, alright. This has not received a lot of national attention, but […]
Wow, Col. West unloaded both barrels in that one. Still, compared with what we hear out of liberals to describe the GOP, this is pretty tame stuff. A particularly fitting example this week from a high profile Democratic judge who decided to trot out the “C” word … http://bit.ly/qVdDUt
We need a brokered convention. Hopefully, Santorum or Gingrich will win in FL making it much easier to stop Romney before the convention. Once we get past the first ballot, the fun will begin. We need a 3rd party threat on the doubtful possibility that the GOP establishment actually wants to win this year and someone like Santorum and/or Paul bringing enthusiastic anti-establishment fervor to the convention. If there is going to be a deal, it has to be big and has to open the gates for conservatives to be part of the process going forward.
I believe that instead of dealing, the GOP establishment will turn 2012 into Alaska where Tea Party conservative Joe Miller, working within the party, won the nomination but lost to Karl Rove and RNC-backed corruptocrat Murky Murkoski running 3rd party in the election. Only a 3rd party threat can force this issue.
Romney or Gingrich is a false dichotomy. It only important that Romney not be the nominee. Gingrich is NOT an acceptable alternative and the others will NOT be allowed to win without a brokered convention. We need a brokered convention.
All Mitt Romney wants is an appropriate offer from Allen West. And an appropriate answer is due back to them…
Huh? Can you explain a bit more? I don’t understand your post at all.
Did you click on the link? Romney supporters are hurting Allen West’s re-election plans. West will have a much harder job on winning reelection. The deems hate West and would love to see him go. Romney Florida GOP just helped the Dems do that. West did not endorse Romney (I do not think he has endorsed anyone yet). West is a rising star of the GOP and a favorite of tea party conservatives. Tea party conservatives are unhappy with Mitt Romney. The whole point of this LI post is to suggest there is a connection–and I agree.
The symbolism of the movie link is sort of self explanatory. But in the words of Gen. George Patton (which fits just fine for Allen West): A man that eloquent must be saved.
I know all that. Yes, I clicked your link. I’ve seen it before. I don’t understand what you mean by “an appropriate offer.”
[…] LegalInsurrection.com is reporting that Congresman Allen West’s seat will come under severe challenge because of the way it will likely be redistricted by this the Florida legislature, and the person leading that effort is a Romney spokesperson Representative Will Weatherford. Legal Insurrection‘s conclusion is that while they’re using the excuse of complying with law, what they’ve done is draw a district in which Allen West will no longer be able to win because they’ve given some of his areas of greatest support to other districts in redrawing the boundaries of his. Indeed, the district could have been drawn differently, and what LI is inferring from all of this is that West’s failure to endorse Romney is going to have significant consequences: Allen West will likely lose his next race there, and it’s being seen by some as punishment by the GOP Establishment for his failure to support Romney. […]
Allen West is getting thrown under Team Romney’s bus. Debbie Wasserman Schultz will love this. http://evilbloggerlady.blogspot.com/2012/01/all-mitt-romney-wants-is-simple.html
[…] via Legal Insurrection […]
[…] via Legal Insurrection […]
[…] via Legal Insurrection […]
I don’t think it’s been mentioned that Will Weatherford will be Speaker of the FL House after the fall elections.
Legislators have high-stakes role in redistricting
Doesn’t stand to reason that Wasserman-Schultz will be given more republicans? Their districts border each other. At least there is some benefit in this.
We need to start having redistricting done by non partisan committees and not by politicans who are only interested in holding onto power.
Actually no, the way it is going West will be the net loser and his district is made more vulnerable to Democratic Party take over.
My understanding is that he has an80% approval rating in his district. That being the case, he still has a good chance of holding onto his seat, possibly.
[…] UPDATE!! In related news. Allen West being redistricted out of existence in effort led by Romney Florida spokesman […]
I can’t vote for Romney. At least obummer is true to his creed. He’s a lying, deceitful Marxist statist, but at least he’s honest about it. Romney changes his stance more times than I change underwear. No central core, his business cred is BS, and his demonstrated history is big government based.
If obummer gets re-elected, will make it easier to kill the republican establishment in 2016. That is, if we as a nation makes it that far.
[…] HT: Legal Insurrection […]
[…] the charge in making Allen West’s district much harder for him to hold (via Shark Tank, h/t Legal Insurrection): After last night’s Republican Presidential debate, the candidates’ respective spinmeisters […]
I truly believe that the establishment GOP know the Romney will never defeat Obama, but they are hoping that his nomination will have coat tails for the down ballot elections. They are counting on the voters to give them control of the House and Senate, because want their power back…and they know we understand that will be the only way to keep Obama in check during his second term. BUT they are forgetting, or willing to concede, the Supreme Court nominations he will be able to make in the next presidential term. And a far left supreme court will be able to make changes to our country far faster and far more permanently, than Obama and his left wing Congress ever did!
Oh come on…this is just ridiculous. It is paranoid in fact..and what establishment are you even talking about? Who is the establishment? Newt Gingrich has been part of Washington DC for decades..he is the former Speaker of the House..and here you are shilling for this guy and yakking about the so-called establishment like a bunch of freaking hippies..and then there is Sarah Palin, supporting a guy like Gingrich who is poster child for everything she supposedly stands against..the truth is Sarah Palin probably knows that Gingrich has zero chance of beating Obama and she thinks that if that crook Newt can get nominated and get beat that will make it easier for her to run..The problem with that is that she does not have anymore of a shot at winning this prize than Gingrich does. And btw, there is no connection between Romney and any sort of redistricting in Florida. There is a lot more of a connection between Gingrich and Pelosi, Gingrich and Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and Gingrich and ethics violations…that is what is killing his campaign.
And besides all that if you go to you tube you can find the video of Allen West endorsing Romney, he is not endorsing Gingirch..which I guess must mean that West is part of the establishment too…right?
[…] Allen West being redistricted out of existence in effort led by Romney Florida spokesman The establishment is fighting back, alright. […]
After we get Newt nominated, he would be wise to offer Col. West a cabinet or white house advisory position. He (and we) would be well served by Col. West.
Someone above posted: “Can you give me one good reason why having Romney in the WH would be better than Obama?”
Yes, I can. First lets address this situation from the point of view that considers who will derive what benefits, and who will become injured under any given outcome. In addition, I would put forward that the most mature person typically benefits in a conflict or a sea of confusion and frustration.
With respect to benefits vs down-side, consider that Obama is ruining our economy, he is engaged in abhorrent crony capitalism, he wants to have totally socialized medicine and he is a diminutive person who resents people of accomplishment. If you feel that you will derive some benefit from him serving another four years – by all means – you should vote for him or sit out the election. Either course of action will help him to get re-elected. If you feel that Romney will be as bad as Obama – I would encourage you to think a bit more about this matter.
Now lets consider some of the tenets of maturity that make a person wise and more prone to acting in a manner that is optimal under in an y difficult situation. One of the things that separates mature people from immature people is tolerance of frustration. Clearly, the current state of our nation is one that is conducive to people feeling very frustrated. The question is what do you do with your frustration? Do you just throw up your hands, have a temper tantrum and resort to histrionic, woe-was-me complaining? This would be the path of intolerance for frustration and I submit it is counterproductive. People who elect to behave like this are less apt to derive any benefit from it.
Another tenet of maturity is being able to assess the risks inherent in any situation and formulate a plan from which they will be most apt to derive the maximum benefit. Emotions have nothing whatsoever to do with this. When we assess risk, we consider both the likelihood of an occurrence and the significance of an occurrence should one occur. People do this when they cross the train tracks. While the likelihood of an occurrence (getting hit by a train) is very low, the significance of getting hit by a train is very high. Immature people thus drive across the tracks without looking. Cemeteries are full of such people. What harm does anyone derive from slowing down and looking to see if a train is approaching?
Now, when we consider the re-election of Obama, the issue of whether or not it will occur is not the issue, because there are factors out of our control that will determine the outcome. That said, when we consider the significance of Obama getting re-elected, most people can extrapolate from what he has done to date and make a reasonable assumption about what he will do in the future. If you like what he has done – vote for him. If not, don’t.
All the other side shows about whether Romney used nefarious methods or if Gingrich was this or that are irrelevant to the issue of Obama getting re-elected. Again, when the election comes about, the sole considerations each of us must address is the extent to which we feel we may derive a benefit or some injury from having Obama in the WH for another four years – and the extent of the damage Obama is likely to do if re-elected.
If you’re a conservative reading this blog, the choices should be clear.
Sorry, with all the flip-flops by Mr. Romney he is “ObamaLite” and will be as much a danger to America as Mr. Obama/Mrs Pelosi/Mr. Reid have been. But it really doesn’t matter, he will lose in the general election and point fingers, whine and cry. He’s the wrong candidate at the wrong time.
Rich Vail
Pikesville, Maryland
http://thevailspot.blogspot.com
Read your post twice. Still have no idea what argument you were trying to make.
To begin with, stating that ’emotions have nothing whatsoever to do with this’ is plainly ridiculous. If I didn’t know better, I’d be led to believe I was dealing with one of those ‘elitist’ secularists trying to prove their intellectual superiority (smarty pants from this part of the south). Those very human emotions – the heated arguments, debates and outright fights between separationists & loyalists, the Articles or re-written Constitution, Bill of Rights & their opposition – are what breathed the very life into this most Liberty-giving Republic the world has ever seen!
“The known propensity of a democracy is to licentiousness which the ambitious call, and ignorant believe to be liberty.” –Fisher Ames, speech in the Massachusetts Ratifying Convention, 1788
With that, I believe, with the unanimous agreement of this site’s subscribers, I can assure you that I will never vote for the Democratic (capital ‘D’) simply because there is absolutely nothing of their platform that I can, with good conscience, agree with. However, I believe the point being made is the lack of principle – First Principles – on which this “animated contest of Freedom” was founded is lacking in ALL of these ‘cunning, ambitous and unprincipled men’ that our founders WARNED us of. A tablespoon of socialism or a shovel full? That’s what you advocate.
As one of the great minds, from whom our founders drew on, especially on Natural Law and Liberty, Montesquieu said “The deterioration of a government begins almost always by the decay of its principles.”, from Montesquieu’s The Spirit of the Laws, VIII, ch. 1, 1748.
West should run for Senate. Or be considered for VP. Or SecDef.
[…] Story during Legal Insurrection […]
Here are Florida redistricting suggestions, the present map is the bottom most, as you can see the present district is very ugly, and they had some ballot initiative to ban freaky redistricting, that’s the reason, Allen West’s didstrict is surrounded by blue districticts and one swing disctirct to hard to keep
http://www.tampabay.com/specials/2011/reports/redistricting/congress.shtml
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/findyourreps.xpd?state=FL&district=22
Florida Congressional District Boundaries Amendment appeared on the November 2, 2010 ballot in Florida as an initiated constitutional amendment where it was approved. The measure proposed amending the current practice of drawing congressional district boundaries in such ways that they establish “fairness,” are “as equal in population as feasible” and use “city, county and geographical boundaries.” Florida CD-22, West’s district, doesn’t really take into account “city, county and geographical bound.
Florida CD-22, West’s district, doesn’t really take into account “city, county and geographical boundaries”. In google maps, it seems to in general pick up neighborhoods with golf and other green areas, lots of bonds and pools, and pass many neighborhoods that lack them.
Links about amendments that limit redistricting, they were put in by Florida peolle http://www.collinscenter.org/page/1gFLAmAmend5and6_MS
http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Florida_Congressional_District_Boundaries,_Amendment_6_(2010)
Also here is 2010 house election map, yuo can see how allen wests disctrict is mosly surrounded by democrat districts, and it’s weird shape enables makes it a swing district rather than Democrat leaning district. http://elections.nytimes.com/2010/results/house
There are tools for people to draw their own redistricting maps, put them online, with all the information, showing what is swing and which leans where, those who want to prove that Allen West is victim of some conspiracy, should put up their own redistricting plan online, with all 27 distritcs, that show how to save Allen West’s district without causing republicans to lose more districtis elsewhere. Represent them in similar format as on this site:
http://www.tampabay.com/specials/2011/reports/redistricting/congress.shtml
If you can’t do that, stop spreading conspiracies.
[…] Jacobson at Legal Insurrection is convinced the fix is in […]
Linked:
THIS IS WAR: If They Succeed in Forcing a Romney Nomination On Us, The Republican Establishment Must Be Destroyed
I get awfully tired of this “establishment” stuff. No one is trying to force Romney on you. He’s a candidate. People vote for him or not. A lot of people who actually know what they’re talking about (try it some time) dislike Gingrich because (a) he has not consistently been conservative, (b) he is dishonest (just ask his ex-wives), (c) he is unreliable except as a self promoter, which he does very well. When people start to figure that out, they tend not to want to vote for him. Unless they’ve, you know, drunk the Kool Aid.
Speaking of Kool-Aid, do you know what I bet is a downright nasty tasting brand? That would be that RINO flavored shit you’re drinking here.
[…] One thing for sure this isn’t a conspiracy. […]
It is important to listen to the audio clip. There is no conspiracy to hurt Allen West nor does it have anything to do with Mitt Romney. The blog here claims that “there could have been many ways to comply yet not sacrifice West.” But none of those other ways are mentioned. Trying to tie Romney to the details of Florida redistricting law isn’t helpful.
I was planning on voting for Romney because I don’t think Newt can beat Obama. If this crap is true about trying to re-district Al West out of the House, he can kiss my vote goodbye. He can also kiss the votes of my entire family goodbye. I’m Mormon and I’m a veteran.
If you mess with Al West, I’m not going to vote for you. No matter who you are. Period.
I’d vote for Al West over the entire field of current, or past, candidates.
[…] the narrow, antiseptic way to put the matter. Legal Insurrection and Shark Tank put it differently, suggesting “GOP establishment” complicity in singling West […]
[…] the narrow, antiseptic way to put the matter. Legal Insurrection and Shark Tank put it differently, suggesting “GOP establishment” complicity in singling West […]
[…] Legal Insurrection and our own J.E. Dyer in the Greenroom. According to WaPo, the new congressional map under […]
[…] like the latest example of the establishment fighting back against the Tea Party, according to Legal Insurrection. One Florida legislator, who happens to be working for the Mitt Romney campaign, “tried to […]
[…] Legal Insurrection The establishment is fighting back, alright. […]
[…] more Democrats within it … many more than other Republican incumbents.” The “inspiration” for this move is state representative Will Weatherford, who just so happens to be Mitt […]
[…] more Democrats within it … many more than other Republican incumbents.” The “inspiration” for this move is state representative Will Weatherford, who just so happens to be Mitt […]