Will Indiana Republican senator Dick Lugar face a Tea Party–based primary challenge? Looks pretty darn likely:
Hoping to head off a primary challenge from the right, Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Indiana, sat down with Tea Party leaders last month but did little to persuade them of his conservative credentials.
The two-hour meeting, which took place over breakfast on Dec. 13th at a Marriott hotel in downtown Indianapolis, was described by participants on both sides as “cordial,” but the Tea Party activists left vowing to oppose Lugar’s bid for a seventh term. “The Senator said he hoped he could earn the support of the Tea Party, and that he is conservative,” said Greg Fettig, the co-founder of Hoosier Patriots. Fettig was joined in the meeting by Monica Boyer of Kosciusko “Silent No More,” a Tea Party group in northeast Indiana.
“We obviously would beg to differ that he is conservative, and our experience is that he won’t get the support of any Tea Party group across the state,” Fettig told CNN. “This is something that has really been building for years. A lot of Tea Party people have said, ‘Who is this guy? He might as well have a ‘D’ in front of his name.’”
It probably doesn’t help to hold that meeting when you are the most prominent Republican endorsing the “pass the START Treaty now” argument.
How many Democrats have life-time ACU ratings of 76%? So I think what Fettig is saying is ridiculous. He is a conservative.
That still doesn't mean it isn't time for Richard Nixon's favorite mayor to move on. Six terms is more than enough. Politicians should know when it is time to move on.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseHe's a semi-reliable vote, and loads better than an Evan Bayh clone. But has he ever taken a high-profile role on any conservative issue?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThis is a no-brainer for a trade-up.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseSenator Lugar and Senator Hatch should be shown the door by the Republicans. Both are go-along to get along party hacks. Both in the mold of Bob Dole, never going to call it the "Lugar Revolution or Hatch Revolution."
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseMarlin Stutzman is the man we need. Dan Coats and Richard Lugar are part of the old establishment. We may as well continue installing the new generation of conservative leadership.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseFrankly, we are living in a time when the Republicans in Indiana can put a better nominee to replace Dick Lugar. He could have demonstrated some adult composure not voting for START, but he not only voted for it, but endorsed the treaty! I hope we are taking his name down for when START comes and bites the US.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseLugar is a liability. his vote for Obama's START treaty was unforgiveable. Indiana can do better.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI think Mitch Daniels would be an EXCELLENT Senator, and would easily defeat Lugar in the primary and breeze to election in the general. If, God forbid, we do NOT defeat Obama in 2012, Senator Daniels would then be the front runner for 2016.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseFettig is an idiot. Lugar DOES have a "D" in front of his name. He has an "ick," too. Boyer isn't much brighter, either. She changed the name of "her" group to "Silent NO More" so they wouldn't be seen as a Tea Party group... until it stayed cool. Now she refers to "her" group as a Tea Party group, conveniently.
Anyhow, get Dick out of Washington. He's gone senile and needs to be put out to pasture.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThe T in Tea Party clearly stands for traitors.
These buffoonish amateurs need to be removed from office and placed in positions they might be able to handle, like a greeter at Wal-Mart.
A country such as the US needs intelligent leadership, not a bunch of children who throw their toys out of the crib when they don't get want they want.
GOP - party of treasonous obstructionists. America - with these clowns in Congress, good luck with your economy.
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