Ramstad to be targeted from the right?

[Mr.Phips]

Conservatives may target Ramstad over war vote

One of the least suspenseful campaigns in Minnesota takes place every two years in Minnesota's Third Congressional District, where Republican Rep. Jim Ramstad regularly beats his Democratic opponents by large margins.

But Republicans might make things interesting in 2008, as activists are threatening to target Ramstad and 16 other Republicans who voted with Democrats last week in opposing President Bush's plan to send another 21,500 troops to Iraq, the Politico reported Tuesday.

The newspaper quoted Weekly Standard editor Bill Kristol, who said: "There's something called primaries we have in America, and there will be primary challenges in the Republican Party against some of those congressmen. And they deserve to be primaried, because they are acting, I think, in a shameful way."

Conservatives, led by talk show host Hugh Hewitt, are leading the campaign. Their first target is Rep. Ric Keller, R-Fla. Hewitt wants his listeners to identify possible challengers to Keller who are backing the war. He also said he won't donate money to the National Republican Congressional Committee because it's supporting "White Flag Republicans."I will continue to listen to our commanders in Iraq and vote accordingly, without regard to political considerations," Ramstad said.

http://www.startribune.com/587/story/1014711.html

I wish them luck. Beat Ramstad in the primary with a Bachmann-type nutjob and we'll pick up the seat.

Ramstad's seat actually has a DFL registration advantage and only went 50-48 for Bush in 2004.  A more Conservative Republican would have a tough time holding the seat.

[Mr.Phips]

I really hate the rightwing nutjobs in my party.

Get used to it.  They are the base of your party.

[Mr.Phips]

I really hate the rightwing nutjobs in my party.

you realize they make up a rather large % of your party and basically control everything in your party don't you??

Sadly...i hope for a day when more reasonable people join the GOP and by strength of numbers force a change.

Nothing good will happen by people like me leaving. Sure I can vote Democrat when the Republican is bad, but for change to occur...there need to be more moderate Rs.

They why not just vote Democratic?  By even voting for supposedly moderate Republicans you put wingnuts like John Boehner, Roy Blunt, and Patrick McHenry in charge. 

[Mr.Phips]

I really hate the rightwing nutjobs in my party.

you realize they make up a rather large % of your party and basically control everything in your party don't you??

Sadly...i hope for a day when more reasonable people join the GOP and by strength of numbers force a change.

Nothing good will happen by people like me leaving. Sure I can vote Democrat when the Republican is bad, but for change to occur...there need to be more moderate Rs.

They why not just vote Democratic?  By even voting for supposedly moderate Republicans you put wingnuts like John Boehner, Roy Blunt, and Patrick McHenry in charge. 

And look at the wingnuts America put in charge of committees by voting for the Dems.

John Spratt, Alberto Sires, Ike Skelton?  These guys are hardly wingnuts. 

[Mr.Phips]

I really hate the rightwing nutjobs in my party.

you realize they make up a rather large % of your party and basically control everything in your party don't you??

Sadly...i hope for a day when more reasonable people join the GOP and by strength of numbers force a change.

Nothing good will happen by people like me leaving. Sure I can vote Democrat when the Republican is bad, but for change to occur...there need to be more moderate Rs.

Many have already left, but with people like you staying its just enabling them to move even further into the loony bin of the extreme right with no reason to come back to the middle or hell anywhere near it.  You seem to think by staying in the GOP they will eventually move back or be more welcoming to your wing of the party, but you have to face reality and accept its not going to happen.

When was the last time the Republicans had moderates in leadership positions in the House and Senate?  You have to at least go back to the late '80s when Bob Michel and Bob Dole ran the show.

[Mr.Phips]

I really hate the rightwing nutjobs in my party.

i do too.

but minnesota is refreshing.  it is home to moderate, common sense republicans like ramstad, pawlenty and coleman.

and Bachmann.

I'm not really sure I'd call Coleman a "moderate"...

and Pawlenty isn't moderate either (well he's governing like one now, but that's mostly because he doesn't really have a choice)

The only moderate Republican in Minnesota is Ramstad.