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Pete McCloskey (I ♥ moderate Republicans)
I just listened to an On Point interview with Pete McCloskey, who is running on the Republican ticket in California's 11th district this year.
This would be a return to politics for him, as he served in the House from 1967 to 1983. His platform today is based on disgust with his party's current policies, as well as the corruption brazenly running through it; his opponent in the state primaries will be Richard W. Pombo, who is currently entangled in the Abramoff mess. On the show he compares himself to Sens. McCain, Collins, and Snowe, which makes me listen to him. Yes, it's just words, but the willingness to even say them sets him apart from so many of his mouth-foaming colleagues who consider these folks RINOs for not being so thoroughly evil and insane as themselves.
I urge my Californian readers to give him a listen, and consider tossing a sawbuck his way (via his website) if they like what they hear. (Actually, I am considering doing this myself, if it makes sense for someone who is not a potential constituent to do so.)
This would be a return to politics for him, as he served in the House from 1967 to 1983. His platform today is based on disgust with his party's current policies, as well as the corruption brazenly running through it; his opponent in the state primaries will be Richard W. Pombo, who is currently entangled in the Abramoff mess. On the show he compares himself to Sens. McCain, Collins, and Snowe, which makes me listen to him. Yes, it's just words, but the willingness to even say them sets him apart from so many of his mouth-foaming colleagues who consider these folks RINOs for not being so thoroughly evil and insane as themselves.
I urge my Californian readers to give him a listen, and consider tossing a sawbuck his way (via his website) if they like what they hear. (Actually, I am considering doing this myself, if it makes sense for someone who is not a potential constituent to do so.)
BTW
I used to think of him as a man of integrity who would play fair, be realistic (as an actual veteran) in his use of the military, and generally be a good President provided there were a Democratic House or Senate to keep the really conservative stuff off the table.
And back in 2000 I gave him major points for being the only major figure in the party willing to discuss taking abortion off the table. I even made a point of voting for him in a Republican primary to send that message.
But I'm pretty sure that's what killed his candidacy -- not that the Rove stuff in South Carolina helped -- because in 2000 there were too few people like me still willing to be associated with the Republican party; and I'm sure there are fewer now.
Given his actions since then, it looks like he's taken this lesson to heart (much the way Bush Sr. took his Senate race loss in 1970). Over the past few years he's thrown pretty much everything on the altar of party loyalty. I can't really tell what beyond that is motivating him these days. I suspect if he gets elected president and congress hasn't flipped, he'll continue to pursue the same agenda, just more competently. And that's just dangerous.