What a Surprise, Sabin Upset that GOP Voters Choose Conservatives
From his column here.
"On May 23 the Republican Party went back to its old ways, nominating conservative Northwest Arkansas candidates for the top three positions on this year’s ticket.
Only the lieutenant governor’s primary was even contested, underscoring the lack of diversity within the Republican Party. And that race was won by Jim Holt, a right-wing religious extremist from Springdale, over Chuck Banks, a better-financed moderate from Little Rock.
There is no question that Banks could have competed more effectively in the general election, but that did not seem to matter to the typical Republican primary voter. Of course, the typical Republican primary voter is just like Holt: a right-wing conservative from Northwest Arkansas."
For my de-construction of Mr. Sabin's "analysis" (for lack of a better word), click "Wednesday" below...
"On May 23 the Republican Party went back to its old ways, nominating conservative Northwest Arkansas candidates for the top three positions on this year’s ticket.
Only the lieutenant governor’s primary was even contested, underscoring the lack of diversity within the Republican Party. And that race was won by Jim Holt, a right-wing religious extremist from Springdale, over Chuck Banks, a better-financed moderate from Little Rock.
There is no question that Banks could have competed more effectively in the general election, but that did not seem to matter to the typical Republican primary voter. Of course, the typical Republican primary voter is just like Holt: a right-wing conservative from Northwest Arkansas."
For my de-construction of Mr. Sabin's "analysis" (for lack of a better word), click "Wednesday" below...
posted by Mark Moore (Moderator) at Wednesday, May 31, 2006
25 Comments:
Number one, to liberals like Warwick Sabin, anyone who believes in Jesus and would have voted for Reagan is a "right-wing religious extremist". In Mr. Sabin's universe, words take on peculiar meanings. For example, in his universe his small group of leftists is the norm and the majority of the population are "extremists". Where you and I live, it is nonsensical to speak of the majority of the population as being "extremists". That assumes the views of your small group are the center of the political universe and all labels must be apportioned by how they compare to YOUR POSITION, not the position of the population as a whole. That is a long-winded way of saying liberals are arrogant.
"There is no question that Banks could have competed more effectively in the general election". The reverse is true. Jim Holt could not go into a courtroom and out-lawyer Banks and Banks was unrealistic to enter a statewide race thinking he would be better than Holt at Holt's profession.
Banks outspent Holt 4-1 and got steamrolled by 30 points even though there was another credible candidate in the race from Holt's own back yard to try to force a run-off by splitting the vote.
I saw Chuck Banks up close and personal on many occasions. He looked the part. He had a good three minute speech, and he could pound the table well when the facts and law were against him. That would be good enough to beat some people, but not Jim Holt. Chuck Banks only looks "more electable" to a social liberal like Warwick Sabin. That is not where most people in this state are.
"the typical Republican primary voter is just like Jim Holt: a right wing conservative from Northwest Arkansas".
Mr. Sabin should have taken a look at the actual election results which show that Holt was the winner in 72 of the 75 counties in this state. But why resort to facts when you and your friends can just spout "conventional wisdom" at each other? Holt by the way, was born in Camden- and the GOP ticket is no less or more balanced than the Democrat ticket is likely to be depending on who wins their run-offs.
I am reall upset by all this- I am upset that Warwick Sabin makes a living as a political commentator when I am so much better at it than he is!
Anyway, the rest of the article is bemoaning the fact that the Republicans are not going the way of Governor Huckabee, who the liberal Sabin sees as sensible. Government has grown greatly under Mr. Huckabee, and while I honor the good he has done in office, he has a view of government that is ultimately unsustainable. He is a moderately pro-life liberal. That is not how he CAMPAIGNED mind you, but rather how he governs. His end is to be regretted, not emulated.
The balance of the article is yet another liberal warning to Asa to not associate with Holt. He seems to think Holt will drag Asa down. Holt has the potential to drag Asa, and the rest of the GOP ticket, UP. This is especially true on illegal immigration, as the latest David Sanders article acknowledges; and on rural schools, where his record of support is unsurpassed; as well as in the issue of a return to Democrat rule is a return to corruption. Holt has a proven record as a reformer.
The real problem for the Republican ticket is not anyone on it, but rather the national Republicans, who ran as conservatives but seem to be the captive of mega-corporate interests. The low popularity ratings of Mr. Bush are the real drag on the Arkansas Republican ticket. We will see if they can overcome it.
Sabin is dead wrong. This state will continue to drift away from its democratic dominated roots. Unfortunately, we are little behind the rest of the South, but we will get there and there is nothing liberals like Sabin can do to stop it.
Please save this article and reprint his foolish prediction in about 10 years when the democratic party is only a shadow of its former self.
Asa once being part of the Bush adminstation does not help matters.
Warwick has now convinced me that he is clueless. He is wrong about every candidate he mentioned.
1. Asa is anything but extremist. Sure, he's no Rockefeller, but he definately a moderate Republican. Warwick picks one issue,school-consolidation to make his conclusion that Asa is extreme. By the way, Asa's stance on rural schools is in step with the vast majority of Arkansans.
2. Holt will beat Halter because he is so darn liberal. He'll probably beat Wooldridge as well. Banks would have lost BIG TIME because he comes across to moderately. It would be difficult for voters to contrast Banks with whoever the democrat nominee is. But with Holt, they know where he stands and he has name ID.
3. Lagrone is not running as a moderate, he's running on the issues that concern his campaign for SOS. He's been claiming for months that Arkansas is in need of election reform, meanwhile Charlie Daniels and ES&S has so bungled this primary that they have proven his case. Then, throw in the fact that so many Democrats despise Daniels. It will be tough, but Warwick is right when he says it is winnable.
4. Gunner Delay. Yes he is conservative, but if McDaniel wins (likely) he'll be running against an anti-gun, ultra-liberal from east Arkansas. He'll need more money but he has A LOT to work with. No way will McDaniel win if Gunner can get his message out. Suskie will be more difficult, but not unbeatable.
I'll also throw in that generally the values and issues presented by each one of these candidates-even Holt, are lock-step with how the majority of Arkansans think.
Will Republicans win them all? Probably not. But are Republicans a lost cause this fall. Not hardly.
OT99 is right. The RPA has one of the best ticket running this election. Arkansas needs
more people like Asa, Holt, Lagrone, and Gunner. If the elite Little Rock media
predictions come true as they did in the GOP primary we could very well have
Republicans win most state offices. All of your candidates can win. but we have to help
by donating, volunteering, and telling friends. If we do this the GOP will do well this
year.
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Thanks for sharing this post..I always like to read such type of stuff.
It was totally unexpected. I am just astonished but thank you for sharing the information.
That is a long-winded way of saying liberals are arrogant.
Banks could have competed more effectively in the general election..It is great that The race was won by Jim Holt.
That assumes the views of your small group are the center of the political universe and all labels must be apportioned...
And that race was won by Jim Holt, a right-wing religious extremist from Springdale, over Chuck Banks, a better-financed moderate from Little Rock.
i really don`t understand this post but i will check the other posts.
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