The Base's First Serious Response
In Pennsylvania primary voters threw a tantrum, and sent a clear message to the GOP:
(Hat-Tip: Captain Ed Morrissey)
Angry taxpayers on Tuesday tossed out the two Republican Senate leaders who helped engineer last year's legislative pay raise, an issue that apparently cost 15 House members their jobs, too.
Senate President Pro Tempore Robert Jubelirer of Altoona, and Senate Majority Leader David Brightbill of Lebanon County conceded to their challengers, becoming the first lawmakers in major leadership posts to lose a primary election in 42 years. The House defeats would be the most since 1980.
"We have had a dramatic earthquake in Pennsylvania," said Jubelirer, a 32-year legislator.
The defeats of Jubelirer and Brightbill "will send shock waves throughout he political establishment for years to come," said Mike Young, a retired Penn State University political science professor.
Brightbill, 63, a lawmaker since 1982, lost to Mike Folmer, 50, a tire salesman who served briefly on Lebanon City Council and preached a message that it's "time for Republicans to be Republicans again." Brightbill came under fire for becoming a tax-and-spend career politician.
"The people have spoken," Jubelirer, 69, said shortly after congratulating his challenger, Blair County Commissioner John Eichelberger. "They have said this is a time for change. It is a historic year."
The base has tossed several of the RINOs that had been plaguing the GOP since they arrived. These people are no different from those in the Senate that the base has a problem with right now. And hopefully, those RINOs will also suffer in their own primaries.
In the overall debate raging across the blogosphere--that between the Geraghtyites from Jim Geraghty and Tapscottians from Mark Tapscott--we sit on the side of Jim Geraghty. We are not giving up on the GOP. To do so would be to invite disaster. The fight never end; it simply changes fields of engagement. Compare our debate right now, which has been civil yet stern, to the sort of debate the Left engages in. Seems a bit better on our side, huh? Might have something to do with the fact that we have the ideas, and they have invective and vitriol.
Congratulations to the voters in Pennsylvania for firing the first shot across the bow for the RINOs that might seem a little uneasy this election season. They should be. Their days this year may be numbered, indeed.
The Bunny ;)
In Pennsylvania primary voters threw a tantrum, and sent a clear message to the GOP:
(Hat-Tip: Captain Ed Morrissey)
Angry taxpayers on Tuesday tossed out the two Republican Senate leaders who helped engineer last year's legislative pay raise, an issue that apparently cost 15 House members their jobs, too.
Senate President Pro Tempore Robert Jubelirer of Altoona, and Senate Majority Leader David Brightbill of Lebanon County conceded to their challengers, becoming the first lawmakers in major leadership posts to lose a primary election in 42 years. The House defeats would be the most since 1980.
"We have had a dramatic earthquake in Pennsylvania," said Jubelirer, a 32-year legislator.
The defeats of Jubelirer and Brightbill "will send shock waves throughout he political establishment for years to come," said Mike Young, a retired Penn State University political science professor.
Brightbill, 63, a lawmaker since 1982, lost to Mike Folmer, 50, a tire salesman who served briefly on Lebanon City Council and preached a message that it's "time for Republicans to be Republicans again." Brightbill came under fire for becoming a tax-and-spend career politician.
"The people have spoken," Jubelirer, 69, said shortly after congratulating his challenger, Blair County Commissioner John Eichelberger. "They have said this is a time for change. It is a historic year."
The base has tossed several of the RINOs that had been plaguing the GOP since they arrived. These people are no different from those in the Senate that the base has a problem with right now. And hopefully, those RINOs will also suffer in their own primaries.
In the overall debate raging across the blogosphere--that between the Geraghtyites from Jim Geraghty and Tapscottians from Mark Tapscott--we sit on the side of Jim Geraghty. We are not giving up on the GOP. To do so would be to invite disaster. The fight never end; it simply changes fields of engagement. Compare our debate right now, which has been civil yet stern, to the sort of debate the Left engages in. Seems a bit better on our side, huh? Might have something to do with the fact that we have the ideas, and they have invective and vitriol.
Congratulations to the voters in Pennsylvania for firing the first shot across the bow for the RINOs that might seem a little uneasy this election season. They should be. Their days this year may be numbered, indeed.
The Bunny ;)
posted by Syd And Vaughn | 6:56 PM
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