The Activists Had Other Ideas

Ron Brownstein's LA Times article laments the difficulty so-called moderates had in Tuesday's primaries. I guess the activists weren't in the mood to heed the pundits' advice. Here's one statement from Mr. Brownstein's column with which I've always agreed:
The latest nationwide round of primaries demonstrated the persistence, and limits, of the ideological challenge faced by moderates in both parties during an age of intense political polarization.
Forget the "age of intense political polarization." There's never been a time when so-called moderates had vast political appeal. NEVER.
More Republicans are facing serious challenges than Democrats. Among the four senators who have received less than 75% of the vote in primaries this year, the only Democrat was Lieberman. Of the 23 House members who did not crack the 75% level before Tuesday, 15 were Republicans, Cook said.
This is a prelude to 2008, when I expect it to be open season on RINO's. I'm usually a 'Big Tent' Republican but some of the RINO's out there are trying to tie the hands of our interrogators. Others are openly critical of the President at every turn. That's simply unnacceptable.
In Arizona on Tuesday, Randy Graf, a staunch conservative who stressed his opposition to illegal immigration, defeated two moderates for the GOP nomination to succeed Republican Rep. Jim Kolbe, another moderate. Republican fears that Graf may not be able to hold the closely balanced district were instantly fanned Wednesday when Kolbe announced he would not endorse the nominee because of their "profound and fundamental differences."
This race in particular should send a message to Washington on the immigration issue. Expect Randy Graf to win this district going away. Graf ran as a no-nonsense on immigration platform and beat the White House's prefered candidate. The RNC worked against Graf and he still won. It's time that politicians realized that immigration is an issue that generates alot of visceral reactions. It's an issue in which triangulation doesn't work. You're either for tight enforcement or you aren't.

The politicians who don't harness the anti-immigration energy will have a rough go of it. The moderates are the most likely candidates/incumbents to not recognize and/or adjust to this.


Posted Thursday, September 14, 2006 10:20 AM

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