Here's how the strategy works: Florida's Republican legislative leaders are pushing through (or have pushed through) a redistricting plan which puts Allen West at serious risk for re-election. According to The Shark Tank, the person leading the effort is a Florida Mitt Romney spokesman, Republican state representative Will Weatherford:
After last night's [Jan. 26] Republican Presidential debate, the candidates' respective spinmeisters made their cases to the media as to why their guy won the debate. One of Governor Mitt Romney's spokesmen was Florida Representative Will Weatherford, and during the course of his remarks in the "Spin Room," he shed a very dim light on the ongoing redistricting process in the Florida Legislature...
West's congressional district inexplicably sheds the most out support as compared to all other incumbent Republican and Democrat Congressman. A few weeks back we quoted an unnamed legislator saying that, "Allen West was screwed," a statement which was originally made about made five months before the purposed maps were made public, leading insiders to believe that the fix was in against Allen West. But in light of Weatherford's comment, it is increasingly clear that this is a fait accompli.
According to Weatherford, those preliminary maps will not change---at the most, any additional changes would be minimal, and those changes would not make any appreciable difference from the preliminary maps. In addition, Weatherford stated that a deal was struck between him, Senate President Mike Haridopolos, and Senator Don Gaetz to finalize these maps and push them through as soon as possible.
Listening to Weatherford---remember he is a spinmeister for Mitt Romney in Florida---one would believe that the redistricting plan was driven by having to comply with election law in light of the 2010 census.
Despite the plausible deniability, the simple fact may be that the Florida Republican Party establishment---at the behest of the Romney operatives---is about to sacrifice (or has already sacrificed) Allen West because it cannot countenance this principled conservative and Tea Party member.
The odds against Representative West are overwhelming. But, The Motley Monk is placing his money on him. After all, West is a combat veteran and may very well have a few surprises up his sleeve that will make the likes of political sycophants like Will Weatherford look foolish. It's called "political jujitsu."
At least, The Motley Monk hopes so.
Let the discussion begin...
To read the Shark Tank report, click on the following link:
http://shark-tank.net/2012/01/27/24717/
Maybe, shaving with my Occam's Razor, Weatherford just wants West's job. Probably pays better.
ReplyDeletePerhaps, so. That makes sense.
ReplyDeleteBut, FL has gained two additional federal districts. So, they are squeezing the others in the state. And, if you can squeeze out an otherwise pain in the arse, it's a "two-fer."
Mitt is a mutt who is a puppet of the East Coast, 'Enlightened' Intelligentsia that has given us Rockefeller, the GOP-Nelson not DEM-Jay Bob Dole G-HW-B and GWB
ReplyDeleteThat make Mitt, next in line for the GOP!
Newt is a philanderer who has a history of 'ethics issues' and had no problem making millions as a lobbyist for Government giveaway programs like Fannie and Freddie...
That makes Newt, a wannabe Democrat!
Either way, conservative, honorable politicians like West, Rubio, Christie, Daniels, etc. should beware.
I also think that this shows a real schism in the G.O.P. between the so-called "establishment Republicans" vs. the Tea Partiers. The visceral disdain which Newton and Willard exhibit for each other is another symptom. However artificial their actual differences over policy are, the real issue is power and who has it. In a presidential election year, anything can happen (even an African-American can be elected POTUS, for example) and to even have a chance at the supreme prize is a supremely motivating force.
ReplyDeleteI also believe Newt and Mitt understand that this year is their last, real chance at that power and, perhaps even more important, relevancy. Newt has cast his lot as being the non-Mittens who is electable (uh, more on that later) and who the f*** knows what Romney stands for except Romney. I think the wingnuts sense (and they may be right) that Romney as POTUS would not be the guy they want to basically overthrow the federal government. They sense that he is a windsock to put it politely. I personally believe that were he to win the election he would be so beholden to the crazies that he would actually go along wiht their wishes more than Gingrich, but, who knows?
And while I believe Newt is unelectable outside his old Georgia congressional district (and maybe Texas, Mississippi, Alabama and South Carolina), he has vowed to be in it all the way which might lead to TMM's dream of a brokered convention. But wold the Tea Partiers countenance a choice foisted upon them by the Republican establishment after they've been pouring their heart and minds into the ABM (Anybody But Mitt) campaigns?
These questions can be discussed although I personally don't care to go all Chris Matthews-horse race aspect on TMM.
Be well, TMM. Root for an east coast team during the SuperBowl
Of course all one has to do is remember the cordial primary season shared by Clinton and Obama a few years ago. That schism may have been bridged after 'the powers that be' in the world of the "united' Dems had a talk with Hilary.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sayin.. I'm just sayin'....