McConnell wages war down South

[corbe]

McConnell wages war down South

The Senate leader is being pilloried in an Alabama special election as the hated symbol of the establishment — and he's responding in force.

By ALEX ISENSTADT
  | 07/31/2017 05:07 AM EDT
 
Mitch McConnell is unleashing the full force of his political machine in an all-out push to stop two far-right conservatives who threaten to make his life miserable in the Senate.

The Republican leader is aiming to thwart Rep. Mo Brooks and former state Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore in a special election in Alabama next month. Both men are campaigning against McConnell as a despised symbol of the establishment — and both would exacerbate his already stiff challenge wrangling his GOP Conference.

McConnell is responding in kind. His super PAC is set to spend much as $8 million to boost his favored candidate, recently appointed Republican Sen. Luther Strange. McConnell has activated his sprawling donor network and pressed the White House for more resources. And the National Republican Senatorial Committee, the Senate GOP campaign arm McConnell controls, has warned consultants they'll be cut off from future work if they assist Strange’s opponents.

And in a highly unusual step, one of McConnell’s top political lieutenants has begun quietly advising a long-shot Republican primary candidate running for Brooks’ House seat. The move is designed to get in the congressman’s head and dissuade him from emptying his campaign war chest in the race for Attorney General Jeff Sessions' old Senate seat.

It’s a massive undertaking by McConnell and his allies on behalf of Strange, who was appointed a mere six months ago to fill the seat until a special election. In part, McConnell’s urgency reflects his long-standing promise to protect besieged Republican incumbents in primaries. But it also underscores his struggles managing his narrow Senate majority, which were punctuated by the collapse of Obamacare repeal legislation last week after three Republicans broke ranks.

<..snip...

http://www.politico.com/story/2017/07/31/mcconnell-alabama-moore-brooks-strange-241138

[Free Vulcan]

This would be the perfect opportunity for Trump to cut McConnell off at the knees, but it doesn't look like it's going to happen. I wouldn't say he's in bed with McConnell on this, but he ain't exactly fighting him either.

[corbe]

   Not trying to Jack the Thread BUT McConnell knows this has worked in the recent past.

Untamed Cruz refuses to play nice with GOP campaign arm

 By Cameron Joseph - 07/08/14 07:11 PM EDT  

GOP hopes of corralling Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) during the 2014 primary season are officially dead.

The defiant Republican’s brutal criticism of Sen. Thad Cochran’s (R-Miss.) reelection campaign on Tuesday — and the involvement of a group he is technically a vice chairman of, the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) — is just the latest example of the Tea Party hero refusing to play nice.

That brazen approach has exacerbated already fragile relations with establishment Republicans, who believe the freshman senator is intentionally undercutting them for no reason other than furthering his own political career.

Meanwhile, his conservative base is rejoicing that he’s refusing to be cowed.

Cruz is furious at the NRSC for its involvement in the Mississippi primary to boost Cochran over challenger Chris McDaniel. After losing the June 24 runoff, in which national Republicans spent late money to help the six-term incumbent, McDaniel and his supporters are looking to challenge the result, citing evidence of illegal crossover voting from black Democrats.

On Tuesday, the Senate Conservatives Fund — another frequent thorn in the GOP establishment’s side that counts Cruz among its models and supported him in his own uphill 2012 primary bid — sent $70,000 to a legal fund set up by McDaniel.

National Republicans hoped they could tame Cruz when they gave him the NRSC position. But he officially took a hiatus from the group earlier this year when it became clear that it would be involved in helping incumbents win against Tea Party challengers.

<..snip..>

http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/senate-races/211641-untamed-cruz-refuses-to-play-nice-with-gop-campaign-arm

[jpsb]

McConnell back stabbing conservatives once again. No surprise here. Sure hope Judge Moore wins.

[Suppressed]

Dear Trumpers: This is one of those moments to "hold his feet to the fire".  Let's see it!

[Gov Bean Counter]

McConnell wages war down South

The Senate leader is being pilloried in an Alabama special election as the hated symbol of the establishment — and he's responding in force.

By ALEX ISENSTADT
  | 07/31/2017 05:07 AM EDT
 
Mitch McConnell is unleashing the full force of his political machine in an all-out push to stop two far-right conservatives who threaten to make his life miserable in the Senate.

The Republican leader is aiming to thwart Rep. Mo Brooks and former state Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore in a special election in Alabama next month. Both men are campaigning against McConnell as a despised symbol of the establishment — and both would exacerbate his already stiff challenge wrangling his GOP Conference.

McConnell is responding in kind. His super PAC is set to spend much as $8 million to boost his favored candidate, recently appointed Republican Sen. Luther Strange. McConnell has activated his sprawling donor network and pressed the White House for more resources. And the National Republican Senatorial Committee, the Senate GOP campaign arm McConnell controls, has warned consultants they'll be cut off from future work if they assist Strange’s opponents.

And in a highly unusual step, one of McConnell’s top political lieutenants has begun quietly advising a long-shot Republican primary candidate running for Brooks’ House seat. The move is designed to get in the congressman’s head and dissuade him from emptying his campaign war chest in the race for Attorney General Jeff Sessions' old Senate seat.

It’s a massive undertaking by McConnell and his allies on behalf of Strange, who was appointed a mere six months ago to fill the seat until a special election. In part, McConnell’s urgency reflects his long-standing promise to protect besieged Republican incumbents in primaries. But it also underscores his struggles managing his narrow Senate majority, which were punctuated by the collapse of Obamacare repeal legislation last week after three Republicans broke ranks.

<..snip...

http://www.politico.com/story/2017/07/31/mcconnell-alabama-moore-brooks-strange-241138

Strange's appointment was political payback for his failure to investigate a corrupt governor. Strange is as dirty as the day is long.

[INVAR]

This is the same shit McConnell pulls in KY against ANY grassroots Conservatives that he sees as a threat.

McConnell will indeed go to 'war' against Conservatives, but never 'goes to war' against Democrats.

He handled Lundergren-Grimes with kid-gloves compared the absolute personal character assassination he levied against Matt Bevin for 13 months.

Then of course there is the infamous quote that the Tea Party Conservatives should be 'punched in the nose' because we dared to hold their feet to the fire.

McConnell's a stealth Democrat and a more dangerous enemy to Conservatism than the actual morons on the Left are.

Because Republicans actually think he is on THEIR side, which is how and why he is so easily able to stab them in the back.

[Free Vulcan]

Brooks, the one they are targeting, is the hind leg in this race. He needs to drop out, endorse Moore, and go back to defend his House seat. Moore should then go to Trump for support and stuff it in McConnell's face.

[Applewood]

Interesting that McConnell can use his clout to destroy the candidacies of conservatives, but he can't get Obamcare repeal passed. 

[Free Vulcan]

Interesting that McConnell can use his clout to destroy the candidacies of conservatives, but he can't get Obamcare repeal passed.

Ain't it? And this is where Trump could throw down some heat to got that accomplished. To be honest if he sides with McConnell on these races here he's going to lose any support I have for him.

[corbe]

Trump Gave $50k to McConnell to Defeat Tea Partier Bevin

http://www.gopbriefingroom.com/index.php?topic=191619.0

  Link is 4th on BING, searching for Trump McConnell donations.
  Congrats TBR

[INVAR]

Trump Gave $50k to McConnell to Defeat Tea Partier Bevin

http://www.gopbriefingroom.com/index.php?topic=191619.0

  Link is 4th on BING, searching for Trump McConnell donations.
  Congrats TBR

Yup.  We remember.

So, don't be holding your breath @Free Vulcan for Trump to Twitter in favor of Conservatives in those races.  Trump will go with McConnell's choice.  Same as he did with Thad.

What else would we expect from a NY Liberal Democrat working hand-in-hand with a Better-Managed Socialism Statist like McConnell?

[Free Vulcan]

Yup.  We remember.

So, don't be holding your breath @Free Vulcan for Trump to Twitter in favor of Conservatives in those races.  Trump will go with McConnell's choice.  Same as he did with Thad.

What else would we expect from a NY Liberal Democrat working hand-in-hand with a Better-Managed Socialism Statist like McConnell?

Not betting the farm on it for sure.

[Emjay]

   Not trying to Jack the Thread BUT McConnell knows this has worked in the recent past.

Untamed Cruz refuses to play nice with GOP campaign arm

 By Cameron Joseph - 07/08/14 07:11 PM EDT  

GOP hopes of corralling Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) during the 2014 primary season are officially dead.

The defiant Republican’s brutal criticism of Sen. Thad Cochran’s (R-Miss.) reelection campaign on Tuesday — and the involvement of a group he is technically a vice chairman of, the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) — is just the latest example of the Tea Party hero refusing to play nice.

That brazen approach has exacerbated already fragile relations with establishment Republicans, who believe the freshman senator is intentionally undercutting them for no reason other than furthering his own political career.

Meanwhile, his conservative base is rejoicing that he’s refusing to be cowed.

Cruz is furious at the NRSC for its involvement in the Mississippi primary to boost Cochran over challenger Chris McDaniel. After losing the June 24 runoff, in which national Republicans spent late money to help the six-term incumbent, McDaniel and his supporters are looking to challenge the result, citing evidence of illegal crossover voting from black Democrats.

On Tuesday, the Senate Conservatives Fund — another frequent thorn in the GOP establishment’s side that counts Cruz among its models and supported him in his own uphill 2012 primary bid — sent $70,000 to a legal fund set up by McDaniel.

National Republicans hoped they could tame Cruz when they gave him the NRSC position. But he officially took a hiatus from the group earlier this year when it became clear that it would be involved in helping incumbents win against Tea Party challengers.

<..snip..>

http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/senate-races/211641-untamed-cruz-refuses-to-play-nice-with-gop-campaign-arm

How dare Ted Cruz be a Republican.  He needs to be stopped before he does more harm to the cause.

[Emjay]

Ain't it? And this is where Trump could throw down some heat to got that accomplished. To be honest if he sides with McConnell on these races here he's going to lose any support I have for him.

Surely even Trump knows that McConnell has been no friend to what Trump wants to accomplish.

Or what Trump purports to want to accomplish.  It will be interesting to see Trump's direction on this.  I cannot stand McConnell.

[Free Vulcan]

Surely even Trump knows that McConnell has been no friend to what Trump wants to accomplish.

Or what Trump purports to want to accomplish.  It will be interesting to see Trump's direction on this.  I cannot stand McConnell.

Right there with you. McConnell wants power for power's sake alone and stands for nothing. He's almost worse than a liberal.

[libertybele]

   Not trying to Jack the Thread BUT McConnell knows this has worked in the recent past.

Untamed Cruz refuses to play nice with GOP campaign arm

 By Cameron Joseph - 07/08/14 07:11 PM EDT  

GOP hopes of corralling Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) during the 2014 primary season are officially dead.

The defiant Republican’s brutal criticism of Sen. Thad Cochran’s (R-Miss.) reelection campaign on Tuesday — and the involvement of a group he is technically a vice chairman of, the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) — is just the latest example of the Tea Party hero refusing to play nice.

That brazen approach has exacerbated already fragile relations with establishment Republicans, who believe the freshman senator is intentionally undercutting them for no reason other than furthering his own political career.

Meanwhile, his conservative base is rejoicing that he’s refusing to be cowed.

Cruz is furious at the NRSC for its involvement in the Mississippi primary to boost Cochran over challenger Chris McDaniel. After losing the June 24 runoff, in which national Republicans spent late money to help the six-term incumbent, McDaniel and his supporters are looking to challenge the result, citing evidence of illegal crossover voting from black Democrats.

On Tuesday, the Senate Conservatives Fund — another frequent thorn in the GOP establishment’s side that counts Cruz among its models and supported him in his own uphill 2012 primary bid — sent $70,000 to a legal fund set up by McDaniel.

National Republicans hoped they could tame Cruz when they gave him the NRSC position. But he officially took a hiatus from the group earlier this year when it became clear that it would be involved in helping incumbents win against Tea Party challengers.

<..snip..>

http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/senate-races/211641-untamed-cruz-refuses-to-play-nice-with-gop-campaign-arm

IMHO, not jacking the thread at all; the Cruz/McConnell rivalry goes back to when he first took his Senate seat  in 2013; he knew Mitch was trying to keep conservatives from replacing the GOPe incumbents and refused to play his game.  The Turtle hasn't changed.

[Sighlass]

VOTE ROY MOORE