Paul Hacket and Republicans and Party Unity

[bryant69]

I don't have a strong opinion on the Paul Hacket scenario, but did want to suggest something.

Republicans have a deserved reputation for party unity. They pick their guy usually and that guy ends up being the candidate. Look at what happened to McCain - yeah some of that was Karl Rove, but the party itself slammed into him as well, because they had already decided on Bush.

In contrast in the last election cycle we had 8-9 candidates? So that when Kerry got through the primary process he was bloodied up a bit.

My question is this; is it worth slapping down Paul Hackett in the name of party discipline, if such discipline would lead us to winning elections down the road?

I"m not sure myself - the question is who decides who we get to represent us, if not through the voting process. It might help us present a clearer message, but at the cost of certain messages getting marginalized or shut out (in fairness we are already doing this, and a certain amount of this is probably a good thing (unless, of course, it's something I believe in getting shut out, in which case it is a bad thing)).

Any thoughts?

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[wakeme2008]

1. IMHO, Brown will not be running against Devine

I think Devine has too much baggage now and the repug party leaders will have him "spend more time with his family" and bring in a ringer like a Movie Star or Football player. IMHO

[CAcyclist]

2. Democracy or Fascism

You decide. Personally, I'll go with the democratic model - the real one, where all the candidates that want to ,run, and we, the people, decide.

Fuck the republicans and their fucking party unity. What did it get them - are these true Republicans? No, they are corporatists and fascists, selling their souls for money.

[OzarkDem]

3. No one held a gun to Hackett's head

it was his decision to get out of the race. He was offered support (no doubt financial) to run for the OH-2 Congressional seat.

He's the one who chose to get out of the race. If he wanted to stay in and thought he had a chance of winning, he should have stayed in.

[LisaM]

4. But he entered the race only after Brown said he wouldn't

and doesn't want to run for Congress because he likewise promised potential candidates there he wouldn't run.

It's a MESS.

[bryant69]

6. I see your point

On the other hand, if our message is so scattered as to be unrecognizable what does that get us? You ask 20 democrats what being a Democrat is all about and you might get 20 totally different answers. You ask 20 Republicans and you will start to notice similar themes right off.

Or at least that is my opinion.

[NoodleBoy]

5. if anyone wanted to keep Hackett in play for something,

he should have been offered the Lt. Gov. spot on Strickland's ticket.