Thoughts on why I support Orin Hatch and Mitch McConnell as a member of the conservative teaparty movement.

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Bluegrass Politics:

Mitch McConnell challenges Alison Lundergan Grimes to three debates  —  By Sam Youngman syoungman@herald-leader.com U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, fresh off his primary win against challenger Matt Bevin, is challenging Democratic nominee Alison Lundergan Grimes to three debates.

Editor’s notes:  I am associated with a large and local “tea party.”  The readership knows I am as conservative (in a thoughtful way,  I hope) as anyone.  But I am not one who believes we fight a winning battle with our use of labels.  Glenn Beck,  for example,  believes (it seems) that if you are not a member of a teaparty or have sympathies for that sort of thing,  you are a “progressives.” 

Don’t get me wrong,  I think Beck is both a patriot,  and a critical force in the move to reclaim this country.  He is huge and critically important and deserves our respect,  BUT,   his use of “progressive” is over-played. 

While Mitch McConnell is not a tea-party conservative,  he is a dedicated conservative, nonetheless,  and ranks in the 90 percentile range when his politics are scored for "conservatism. " 

I actually gave the use of “progressive” very little thought until my side of the aisle went after Utah’s Orin Hatch, one of my long-time Congressional favorites,  a “favorite” precisely because he is a (high scoring) conservative patriot.    Beck has spent considerable time trying to defeat Senator Hatch, branding him a “big government progressive,”  a comment as ridiculous as labeling Obama a “profound free thinking, man of God.”    

It is a fact that,  under Beck's Rules for Radicals,  Ron Reagan would be an establishment progressive.  

Look,  when everyone is a “progressive,” no one is a progressive.  Such labels not only identify who “is,” but,  by omission, who “isn’t” a progressive (or whatever label is being used).  

Reagan believed that it was wrong,  so very wrong,  to attack fellow Republicans.  Beck and (some) other talk show hosts,  make their living pushing the divide within the GOP.  I believe that internal debate within the GOP is important,  and sets us apart from the Democrats,  but we need to relearn the lesson of tolerance when our primary season is over,  and our candidates have won the right to fight for election.  We need to lay down the sword and take up the plowshare. 

McConnell is some 20 points ahead of his Democrat opponent after beating his teaparty opponent,  jus yesterday.   Two years ago,  Senator Hatch won his re-election bid,  as well.    More power to both men.  

You should know,  however, that my expressed thinking does not allow me to support either Chris Christie or John McCain, however.  One is a self-centered opportunist,  and the other is a pronounced dumb-ass.  Sorry for the language.  I will leave you to guess who is which.