Residual Forces

Senator Norm Coleman may be the biggest loser from Caucus night. The conservative base was motivated and showed up in record numbers. They showed up to express their discontent with the Republican establishment and media for anointing a candidate who the base opposes. For years McCain has been at war with the movement conservatives and we remember that fact, but now we’re being told he’s our candidate, and well, we didn’t take it lying down. I’ve been opposed to him being the Republican candidate for 4 years.

Senator Norm Coleman (R MN) is also sharing in some of the very same troubles as John McCain here in Minnesota. Now, Coleman has never taken the joy that McCain has for stopping conservative policies and legislation, but his name has been showing up side by side with Democrats far too much for the conservative base to ignore.

Late last week, Coleman endorsed McCain. He had been a Rudy supporter and was campaigning around the country for him. Meanwhile, back in Minnesota, conservatives were wondering where their Republican Senator had gone and why we hadn’t seen him at our grassroots events.

Some of Coleman’s instinctive positions on liberal legislation have been at odds with the conservative base more often than not. He was wrong on SCHIPS last year. He was wrong on McCain’s Amnesty plan until conservative activists overloaded the switchboards to Coleman’s offices and he finally opposed the plan. He’s partnered with the uber liberal freshman Senator Amy Klobuchar (D MN) on much legislation, a slap in the face to those who worked so hard on former Rep. Mark Kennedy’s behalf in 2006.

There’s Coleman’s embrace of the man-made Global Warming theory, and support for the neo-socialist cap-and-trade solution. Opposition to ANWR and the leftist anti-growth, anti-oil, pro-renewable Energy debate which Coleman is on the wrong side of as well. Like McCain, Coleman is on the wrong side of many core issues for conservatives, and it is beginning to show.

Over on True North, Lassie notes that the Senator is part of a group of 8 (R)s who have sided with the Democrats in shoving billions more of your tax dollars into an already worthless economic stimulus package that has little chance of helping boost the economy.

The not-so-good news, but not-so-surprising news? Eight Republicans, half of whom are up for re-election this year, jumped ship and sided with the Dems:

In a suspenseful showdown vote that capped days of partisan infighting and procedural jockeying, eight Republicans - four of them up for re-election this year - joined Democrats to back the plan, bucking GOP leaders and President Bush, who objected to the costly add-ons. Supporters actually had 59 votes in favor of the Democratic proposal, but Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada switched his vote to ‘no’ at the last moment, a parliamentary move that allows him to bring the measure up for a revote.

Just to underscore:

The Republicans who caved: Coleman, Collins, Dole, Domenici, Grassley, Smith, Snowe, Specter.

Not voting: John McCain

*Sigh* What’s that saying about judging a person by the company they keep?

Last night’s Minnesota GOP caucus message seems to have been lost on Senator Coleman. Sadly, he may have to get used to the word “lost” this November if he keeps this up.

It is becoming more and more apparent that Coleman would rather work with Democrats than to stand with his Party. Call it political expediency or ‘what he has to do to win’, it is not what the base of the Republican party wants. His party vote ranking is down to just 64%, a sign that many Caucus goers and conservative activists have taken note of. Just who is the Senator more concerned about now? A more important question is, can the Senator win with only 64% of his base?

The sentiment by a growing number of conservative and Republican activists is, ‘just which party is he trying to win over?’

It has been 6 years since most of us have seen him. What most of us have fresh in our minds is how Coleman and Klobuchar have been on ….. that Coleman side with Dems on …… Coleman bucks Bush …….

Plus there is a whole new crop of activists who have recently gotten involved, and Tuesday’s record caucus attendance should be proof of that. The Senator, like McCain, is finding out that the base is showing up to take the party back. We know what we believe, do you share our views anymore Coleman?

70,000 people showed up at Republican Caucuses across the state Tuesday night. Norm Coleman was hoping to have tens of thousands of volunteers to help fight off the liberal attack groups funded by George Soros. Unfortunately for Coleman a vast majority of those who showed up Tuesday, weren’t there to share the Anti-Angry-Al sentiment Coleman and the MNGOP leadership seems to be banking on.

The Republican base is not simply in it to win elections anymore. They have realized the years of supporting any candidate or anything to win has resulted in a party that stands for literally anything. I’ve had this Reagan quote on my sidebar for a very long time, and heard Jason Lewis mention it last night on KTLK.

“A political party cannot be all things to all people. It must represent certain fundamental beliefs which must not be compromised to political expediency, or simply to swell its numbers. (Ronald Reagan March 1, 1975)

Coleman is in serious trouble folks. I know it is not something the party leadership wants to talk about or even acknowledge, but it is true. I have personally tried to explain this to Coleman’s top campaign staff to no avail. The base is not happy with the Senator, and “you don’t want a Senator Franken do you?” is not enough for us. Why should we vote FOR you Senator Coleman, especially when you have been voting against us at times?

We’re a party of substance, not rhetoric. We need to be inspired with the idea that our working for a candidate will bring with it far more reward than a good feeling on election night. US Senators have a 6 year term. They have 6 years to do what we elected them to do. Sadly, the Coleman of today doesn’t resemble the Coleman most of us remember getting elected in 2002.

How has the Senator repaid those who helped push him over the finish line, lately?

S.2123 Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act of 2007

That’s a bill Ted Kennedy has introduced in the Senate. It is a Pro-Union bill. Unions are not the friend of conservatives or Republicans, and they are the enemy of free markets. The Unions have already endorsed Coleman’s DFL opponents. But guess who is co-sponsoring this Big-Union backed bill.

Biden, Clinton, Dodd, Durbin, Harkin, Kennedy, Lieberman, Obama, Coleman, and scores of other non-conservative Senators.

I’ve heard and seen myself that on Caucus night, when Senator Coleman’s letter was read, eyes were rolling in countless Precincts around the state, that is, if the letter was even read at all since there were more important things to do in many cases. In some Districts I am told of staffers going around with clip boards and not getting more than a name or two on their volunteer forms despite the turnout 4 times that of years past. There just doesn’t seem to be any excitement for Senator Coleman, and if there is, it is hard to spot at the grassroots level.

Coleman is losing the base, and his maverickness of late is not helping. The base showed up Tuesday night, but it wasn’t to beat back the Democrats. It wasn’t for Norm Coleman. It wasn’t to keep Angry Al from becoming a Senator. It was to beat back the Republicans in our own party, IE McCain, who Coleman endorsed, that have been on the wrong side of critical political battles.

The results from Tuesday night hopefully show that Coleman’s choice for the Republican Presidential candidate is the minority position in Minnesota. 4 in 5 Minnesota Republican caucus goers voted against John McCain.

You can’t win with out your base Senator. You may want to think about that before you sign your name on to more leftist legislation or partner with liberal Sen. Klobuchar and her pals on another project. Triangulate if you want, but be ready to suffer the consequences.

The advice I gave to your campaign manager last year still stands. It is not too late for you yet, but things have got to change quickly. You need to get back to the base. You need to reintroduce yourself and hear what we think. You also have some explaining to do for some of your votes and positions we disapprove of. I’ve seen you work crowds very well and at least leave people understanding why you do vote the way you do. Unlike Pawlenty who tells conservatives how we should think, we at least understand how you do, so agreeing to disagree is achievable.

It is time to refocus your effort here at home with the people you need to get elected, not fundraisers across the country or for Presidential candidates. You need the footsoldiers in Minnesota to get elected. You should be racing around Minnesota to local Republican events and spending time with your base.

I’ll be honest, It probably will not be fun for a US Senator. You may do more listening than talking. You may be told how wrong you are on some issues and votes. But that is what elected officials are supposed to do. Represent the people that elect them. Senator Coleman, in Minnesota that is the conservatives, not moderates and independents.

One final word to those who believe the era of conservativism is over and moderation is the key to Republican salvation. Three times more people showed up at the DFL Caucuses than the Republican. Many of them were moderates.

Why vote for a Maverick…..