Allen West. Allen Effing West.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

Allen Effing West.

My neighboring congressional district (not mine fortunately, but little comfort to that) just elected a man who thinks it is okay to shoot guns at the heads of POWs. Who has a problem with the notion of "co-existing" with other religions. Who is so scared of the opposition that he insists he have motorcyle thugs literally bully anyone who they think they don't like.

But it's all good. The Republicans finally found that that "black friend" that they were looking for to prove they aren't racist. :sarcasm:

Allen Effing West.

[RandySF]

1. Hey, it's all in the name of freedom!! n/t

[Gaedel]

2. Allen West

West ran a much better campaign then did Ron Klein.

Ever since the 2008 election (Klein 54% and West 45%), West has been out actively speaking to any group that would listen. Ron Klein has been virtually invisible.

The district has the highest percentage of "no party" registered voters of any congressional district in Florida. It is a natural swing district.

A lot of the Jewish voters in the district resonated to West's claim that militant Islam was out to destroy the USA. Ron Klein's response was a feeble bunch of newspaper ads the last couple of days before the election that he was a true "Friend of Israel".

West claimed that Klein was a "lapdog" for Nancy Pelosi. Ron Klein's flyers talked about
West being behind in his homeowner's association dues.

Ron Klein (and his staff) lost this election.

My stockbroker is an Allen West volunteer and kept me abreast of the occurrences of West appearances, rallies, and fundraisers. West just outran Ron Klein. He worked hard.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

3. Perhaps, but it doesn't make West any less of a psycho.

And no bones about it, the man is truly a psycho.

And his rants weren't just against "militant Islam" but really about Islam in general. Hence his fit over "Co-Exist" bumper stickers:

"Every time I see one of those bumper stickers, I look at the person inside that is driving. Because that person represents something that would give away our country. Would give away who we are, our rights and freedoms and liberties because they are afraid to stand up and confront that which is the antithesis, anathema of who we are. The liberties that we want to enjoy."

[Gaedel]

4. Yes, but

You can't just put up some yard signs and run a few TV ads to beat him.

At the HOR level, you have to "work" the district, meet people, and press the flesh. Klein didn't do that and there was a big switch from 54-45 to 45-54.

Klein didn't do it and has to blame himself instead of ranting about "knuckle draggers".

We got out-campaigned.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

5. A little background on the Congressman-elect from Fla. 22

http://www.thegrio.com/politics/meet-allen-west-the-tea-partys-black-jack-bauer.php

In August 2003, while commanding the 20th Field Regiment, West ordered his soldiers to pick up an Iraqi policeman, Kadoori Hamoodi, who West's unit suspected of helping the insurgency. According to Hamoodi's testimony, he was beaten and threatened, and at some point during the interrogation, West fired his pistol near Hamoodi's head in a mock execution. Hamoodi was never charged with plotting against U.S. troops, and West later admitted he might have been wrong about the Iraqi.

***

He has become a YouTube sensation for his fiery speeches at Tea Party rallies; saying he would go to Washington and tell House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to "give me that damned gavel!" and enjoining his supporters to "gather your muskets" to fight what he calls the "tyrannical government" in Washington. He is particularly harsh in attacking President Obama, whom he has said he "absolutely can't stand," compared to Hitler, and called "probably the dumbest person walking around in America right now." That rhetoric has helped him rake in more than $5 million for his campaign -- outpacing his Democratic rival, and joining other conservative firebrands like Sharron Angle and Michele Bachmann as leading fundraisers -- and prime targets of attack by those who consider their views to be extreme.

But West's fiery rhetoric - he warns that the U.S. is in danger of falling under Sharia Law, saying the U.S. is at war with Islam and even lashes out at bumper stickers calling on people to "co-exist" -- along with his controversial past, have even turned off some seemingly natural supporters.

Although he is a veteran, West failed to win the endorsement of the Veterans of Foreign Wars PAC to Klein, prompting an outcry from conservatives. Klein also got the nod from Veterans and Military Families for Progress, and the Broward Police Benevolent Association, and even from West's primary opponent David Brady, who called West "extreme and radical."


(More at link)