Posted by
NOTLEGALROADKILLYET on Thursday, September 07, 2006 12:00:49 AM
I knew that would get your attention! But, I would.
Let's face it, Lincoln Chafee is as close to being a Rockefeller Republican (them's fight'n words) as anyone since Rockefeller. If I lived in RI, though, I'd vote for Chafee in a heartbeat against any conservative primary opponent. That doesn't make me a lover of Chafee. I doubt that we have much in common. What it does make me is a practical Republican.
Some Republicans love to carry around big butcher knives, ready at a moment's notice to cut off their nose to spite their face. Instead of being content with control of the Senate with the help of an occasional Republican like Chafee, they'd much rather give it up to the Democrats by forcing Chafee off the ballot. It is a matter of pride to them.
Control of a 50-49-1 Senate is not unimportant. The controlling party names committee chairmen and it gets two extra members on each committee, including Judiciary. Chafee might never vote for a single conservative judge, but his presence in the Republican Caucus makes it much more likely that conservative judges will make it to the floor for a vote if four other Republicans bite the dust this fall.
Practical Republicans who want more conservative judges, as I do, wouldn't be cheering on an unknown RI coservative who has no chance to win in the general election. I disagree with the
Powerline folks on this one.
Would I vote for Chafee in a primary if he moved to Colorado? Are you kidding?