Dear Readers: I have been an avid reader of HillBuzz since the PUMA Summer of 2008. Under the tutelage of these savvy, Democrat activists, I have been taught to identify trolls, eeyores, and political operatives quite well. I must admit, I am a still a novice – but I encourage all my compatriots to check out their site for regular lessons.
Hat-Tip: Team HillBuzz
The recent internet activity to try and make Assemblyman Chuck Devore retire from the primary smells like the perfect blend of trolls, eeyores, and GOP political operatives.
I hope that members of the elite GOP corps recognize that such ham-handed tactics will result in a backlash against Republican handmaiden, Carly Fiorina. Strong-arming a good man and a patriot out of the race will not enhance her chances to prevail against Boxer in the fall.
I am a Democrat who detests Babs Boxer. However, I will NOT blindly vote for the hand-picked GOP candidate either. This is a new Tea Party environment. GOP activists need to get an updated play book. In case GOP elites have not noticed, Republicans have been targeted for replacement as well as Democrats.
If the GOP-politicos insert their presence into this race any more blatantly, it WILL reflect in the results this November. Once again, the GOP will snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
Let me give you examples of trolls and eeyores. Trolls were keen to spread the word that Red State’s Erik Erikson asked Devore to “step down” so that Carly Fiorina (theoretically more conservative than Tom Campbell) could win this June. However, it seems Erikson said just the opposite: California Pro-Life Council Owes Chuck DeVore and Me an Apology. The ACTUAL money quote is that he thinks Fiorina should step down:
We’ll see what the trends in the race are in two weeks, but if they are consistent I’ll be calling on Fiorina to bail, not Chuck — he’s the only one moving up in the polls.
The trends are favorable for Devore, indeed. A new poll (link here) indicates that in all the groups that poll reviews, Fiorina loses significant numbers within all primary-election groups categories; Campbell is stagnant; and DeVore posts significant increases in each one. In these last 21 days,the sorting-out process is underway as conservatives decide between Fiorina and DeVore — with the winner almost certainly going on to beat Campbell. And, right now, the momentum is 100% toward Chuck DeVore.
The “Devore needs to retire” meme is so pervasive that HOT AIR devoted a column to it yesterday: Chuck DeVore should drop out of the Senate race in California and endorse Carly Fiorina by C. K. MacLeod. Once this post came up, the eeyores were out in force — making Tom Campbell seem like the spawn of Satan and insisting that the “vote splitting” between Devore and Fiorina would doom Californians to the 9th circle of hell.
Two points: 1) Fiorina is NOT a true conservative, despite Sarah Palin’s claims otherwise. 2) California is in the 10th circle of hell.
I will let my friend, Sarah Bond, add details the first point:
WHY CARLY IS NOT CONSERVATIVE:
- She supported the Wall Street bailouts.
- She supported Cap and Trade.
- She supported the confirmation of Sonia Sotomayer.
- She has criticized the new Arizona immigration law.
- Before she was fired as the CEO of Hewlett-Packard, she allowed the company to sell technology to Iran.
- And last year when liberal Democrats and moderate Republicans were trying to push through a massive tax increase in a California referendum, Carly Fiorina had “no comment.”
How can anyone berate Campbell for NOT being a conservative in one instance, and then make it seem that Carly Fiorina is the American Margret Thatcher in the next? Despite the cries of “a vote for Devore is a vote Campbell” in the primary, I suspect that Campbell’s image will be polished in the fall should he prevail this June.
Furthermore, I respect Campbell for being willing to debate Devore. John and Ken of AM640 in Los Angeles is hosting the event, and Fiorina has not committed to appearing. Given her weakness in such encounters, I understand her hesitation. However, anyone offered this November for Senate has to be able to go toe-to-toe with Babs — effectively. If Fiorina can’t compete at this level with her two GOP opponents, then I don’t see her doing so when it counts.
Other troll-isms include that “Devore can’t beat Boxer” or that “Fiorina has a better chance as a woman to beat Boxer”. Frankly, as a Californian, a Democrat, and I woman, I am insulted by this short-sighted thinking. In an era in which citizen activists are revisiting the founding documents, a thoughtful legislator such as Devore — who acts so much on principal that he gave up his Minority Whip position in protest of fellow Republicans hiking our taxes — has more appeal that a minion of John McCain.
The detestable tactics on display in this recent surge against Devore will result in backlash. Do you honestly think, after being so engaged for so long, that Devore’s grassroots supporters (and there are thousands of them), are just going to roll over and get excited by the GOP hand-selected candidate? I think not, as explained by my compatriots:
Fiorina has zero conservative credentials. The one thing she has done in politics is tie herself to the disastrous ultra-RINO John McCain. A conservative should drop out for her why? As for electability, she is widely despised by her former employees at H-P. You think that’s not going to come out in the general election? Campbell is more conservative and more electable.
Right now, in the primaries, is the time to make our voices heard. Incumbents and wannabes of both parties need to start getting the message that THE TIME FOR BUSINESS AS USUAL IS OVER! Sorry to shout, but the nation is in a fiscal crisis without historic parallel. No previous record indebtedness of the nation was caused by such willful political malpractice of running up debt by increasing entitlements and spending on federal salaries and contracts. The crisis is primarily moral and political, so I am unwilling to compromise in the primary election season, when I am given a choice to vote for a true conservative who is dedicated to smaller government.
These men, and many other I know, have backed Devore. He has the endorsement of such luminaries as Tom McClintock, Andrew Breitbart, and Mark Levin — none known for their love of liberalism. These citizens and pundits have spent a lot of time opining, at rallies, and donating money and creativity in spreading the word. Chuck Devore’s radio campaign has just started, and as the election day draws nearer, I suspect his poll numbers will improve dramatically. And, any charge that he can’t beat Boxer this fall is false: A Rasmussen polls shows Devore does better against Boxer than Fiorina. As people come to know Devore, they also come to admire him. It would explain the fact over 3000 people attended the San Diego area Tax Day Tea Party rally in Oceanside that was hosted by Stop Taxing Us; Chuck Devore was the guest speaker. Only 100 participants were at the Carly Fiorina Tuna Harbor event the same day.
It is known to us that the state GOP manipulated the press to direct attention to Fiorina. DO NOT think this has been forgotten, or forgiven.
Another item that has not been forgiven or forgotten: Using a highly placed Fiorina operative to smear Devore via “concern troll” posts of a trumped up scandal. The details are provided here: CA-SEN: Fiorina and the GOP Launch Last-Minute Back-Door Attack on Chuck DeVore. The money quote:
A simple Google search shows “California Citizens for Ethics in Government,” which wrote the letters, has no website. The letters demanding investigations are dated April 6, signed by “Bob Davis,” the president of the organization with an address listed in El Dorado Hills, California, a suburb of Sacramento. A listing at Campaignmoney.com shows “California Citizens for Ethics in Government” is a 527 political organization set up in 2008 by Charles H. Bell, Jr. who gives an address of 455 Capitol Mall, Suite 801, Sacramento….
When contacted by Saturday by telephone, Mr. Bell confirmed his law firm represents the California Republican Party, Carly Fiorina’s Senate campaign, the Meg Whitman for California governor campaign, and “many others.”
In conclusion, I offer this warning to the GOP hacks trying to direct the primary race: Stay out. Let the primary battle be a fair fight on principles, values, and history. Allow the winner to win with dignity, so there is at least SOME incentive to back that candidate in the battle with Boxer this fall.
Even by independent Democrats, like me.
Concern Troll: HillBuzz
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MUT’s News and Views:
[…] Memo to CA GOP: Don't TRUCK-UP the Senate Race! « Temple of Mut […]
I wish people would quit making decisions for candidates and voters. We get enough of that from Washington, D.C. I will only vote for a true Conservative (regardless of WHO thinks the candidate can’t win)…that Conservative in this race is Chuck DeVore!
Well said !
If Fiorina, and Palin, are so intent on stopping Campbell, then Fiorina should step-aside, and send her big bucks to Devore, and Palin should put her support behind Devore. They won’t, because both of these characters are phonies with personal agendas, who really don’t care about the country.
Chuck Devore has proven that he cares, and he is for real, and he can beat Barbara Boxer, and he can be trusted to maintain his values, and integrity when he goes to Washington.
The GOP establishment would sell rope to Lenin, and would morally cower before him, too. I hope that all the RINOs become an extinct species this year, and join Bennet and Specter in the political graveyard. (That includes you, Sen. McCain.) Only a clean sweep, internally, will facilitate a clean sweep, externally, of the swindlers and utopians who take turns ruining America for their own fun and profit.
According to Numbers USA, believe or not the liberal Campbell is better on immirgation being against illegal immirgation than either Carly or Devore. Devore use to be better on immirgation but after the passage of prop 8, he stated that we should not alienate the hispanics which is the old line of the Republican Party which cons Conservatives to vote for them even if they go back on forth on dealing with illegal immirgation.