Monday, July 22, 2013

RedState Briefing 07/22/2013


Morning Briefing
For July 22, 2013







1.  Conservatives, Beware the Hatch Effect
In 2014, several prominent Republicans in the House and Senate are going to be challenged by people more conservative than the incumbents in area where a more conservative person can still win. Leading up to these challenges, conservatives must beware of the Hatch Effect.

In 2012, many conservatives in print, radio, and television came out quickly and endorsed Orrin Hatch against Dan Liljenquist. Hatch had been a conservative warrior for a long time, he sounded conservative, and we’d need him in the fight against amnesty. He made the rounds on television, radio, and had references in various op-ed columns. Outside groups went to work for Orrin Hatch.


Those who fretted that Hatch might return to the ways of Ted Kennedy’s best friend on the right were drowned out by a near unified conservative front — one that did not include RedState.

In a debate against Dan Liljenquist, Hatch hit all the right notes on immigration.

"[W]e won’t be able to solve these problems until we secure the borders, and we have to do that. Every other large nation in the world knows how to secure their borders, why can’t we secure ours? And second, we can no longer grant amnesty. I fought against the 1986 Simpson-Mazzoli bill because they granted amnesty to 3 million people. They should have to get in line like anybody else if they want to come into this country and do it legally."

Orrin Hatch got re-elected and became an integral part to helping the Gang of 8 shape its immigration plans and run interference against conservatives. The shift back to what too few were warning about happened quickly.

Let Orrin Hatch be a lesson to you, conservatives. This year, some long time Republican Senators are going to get primary challengers. There will be large megaphones declaring just how conservative those Senators are. There will be people trotted out to remind you that for decades these have been the men we relied on to save us from big government. . . . please click here for the rest of the post

2.  WaPo reluctantly reports Terry McAuliffe’s bald-faced debate lie.
It’s bad when the Washington Post can’t come up with a way to excuse a Virginia Democrat . . . please click here for the rest of the post

3.  Mary Landrieu: Party Girl
Mary Landrieu is taken to task in this recent op-ed by James Varney of the New Orleans Times-Picayune. Ah, the challenges of being a Blue Senator, the only statewide elected Democrat, in what has become a very Red State. The 2014 elections loom just around the corner. . . . please click here for the rest of the post

4.  The Double Standard On The Zimmerman-Martin Case
While outrage peddlers try to inflame racial tension over George Zimmerman’s acquittal (a nice favor to the administration who’d like to forget its numerous scandals) these same peddlers are silent this case. The case of Roderick Scott and 16-year-old Chris Cervini is almost identical to Zimmerman-Martin.

Scott claims he shot Cervini in self defense. He was eventually acquitted, a verdict with which I also agree. . . . please click here for the rest of the post

5.  Great Achievements in Central Planning: The Renewable Fuel Standard
In 2005, Congress, in its infinite wisdom, imposed the Renewable Fuel Standard on America.  The RFS mandates yearly increases in the amount of ethanol that must be used in motor fuel, on an ever-increasing schedule, through 2022.

Problem is, nobody anticipated a crummy economy, high gasoline prices and shrinking consumption of motor fuel. But the RFS marches on.* As depicted in the video above (from our friends** at smarterfuelfuture.org), the numbers are starting to look wacky and detached from reality.  . . . please click here for the rest of the post

6.  Helen Thomas Attends Eighth Circle Gala
It is a tradition at RedState that we acknowledge the passing of particularly odious personages with a short obituary to set the record straight on their accomplishments. This tradition is a rather short one, the blog is only 9 years old, and began with this memorial on the death of Robert Drinan titled Is Hell Exothermic or Endothermic.

Helen Thomas, no-talent “journalist”, partisan hack, raving anti-semite, and the living embodiment of Rush Limbaugh’s theory that feminism was developed to give ugly women an entree into society, died yesterday at age 92.

Helen Thomas, contrary to what you will read, was not some sort of reporter on steroids. She was equal parts stupid and evil. Her writing was pedestrian. Her opinions banal but ever predictable. Her employment as a reporter, not coincidentally, has led to the decline of journalism in the United States. . . . please click here for the rest of the post


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Sincerely yours,

Erick Erickson
Editor-in-Chief, RedState

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