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George Allen: Republican Cheerleader
Virginia Sen. George Allen hit all the partisan high notes in his speech to the Southern Republican Leadership Conference Saturday morning, repeatedly bringing the audience to its feet despite the early hour.
Allen cast himself as an outsider to the big-spending Republican party in Washington, proposing three measures to bring spending under control in the nation's capital: giving the president line-item veto power, adding a balance budget amendment to the Constitution and imposing a "paycheck penalty" on lawmakers who fail to pass appropriations bills by the start of the new fiscal year. "If you fail to pass all of your appropriations measures by the start of the fiscal year, your paycheck will be withheld until you complete your job," Allen said to a roar from the crowd, which numbered roughly 1,000.
Allen, too, left no grey area on his position on the war in Iraq. "The strategy is we win, they lose and there is no substitute for victory in the war on terror." Applause immediately erupted.
As has become his custom in speeches and media interviews, Allen also repeatedly referenced former President Ronald Reagan, ending his adress with the words of the Great Communicator: "If not us, who. If not now, when." In a media gaggle following his speech, Allen credited Reagan with inspiring him to get involved in politics.
Allen said he was agnostic about the results of this evening's straw poll and used a sports metaphor (no big surprise there) to explain its importance in the 2008 nominating process. "This is not even an intrasquad scrimmage," said Allen. "This is a pickup game."
By Chris Cillizza |
March 11, 2006; 12:33 PM ET
| Category:
Eye on 2008
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Posted by: Alan Shapiro | March 14, 2006 11:19 PM
Why do you bloggers keep thinking that just because Allen acts like a hayseed, that he's dumb? He ain't! He's like a fox; watch out!
He wasn't a failed Governor; unlike his successor who was promoted to Head of the Republican National Committee, and failed there also.
Just because you didn't like Allen's initiatives (I didn't), didn't mean that he was a failure.
Just the opposite, he was too successful with his initiatives.
Posted by: Vienna Voter | March 13, 2006 3:18 PM
To use one of GWB's favorite quips, "In Texas we have a phrase for guys like George Allen. All hat and no cattle."
He is a hack who has gotten by for far, far too long on family name, good looks, and that affected Southern charm.
Posted by: Rick in Cincy | March 13, 2006 2:31 PM
Allen is a poser. Get out there and stop amnesty Allen, then you can claim to have done something Americans can place value in.
Posted by: VirginianJeffersonian | March 12, 2006 11:38 AM
You've got to be kidding me. Allen is a clown. The guy is clueless.
He is no President Reagan.
Posted by: YoudontspeakformeCindy | March 12, 2006 1:19 AM
Haha...yeh I actually thought about that for a sec but settled on II. Technically, the current Bush is 'Jr' and II coomes after Jr....but then again I could be really wrong on that, maybe his grandfather had the same name too and he is II.
I just realized something....I am really, really, REALLY happy the current prez failed to produce a son.
Posted by: Ohio guy | March 12, 2006 1:14 AM
Ohio Guy don't you mean he would be George Bush III.
Posted by: Anonymous | March 12, 2006 12:05 AM
This is a man who wasn't even aware that the Senate had approved a new Federal Reserve Chairman to replace Alan Greenspan several weeks ago. He is an empty suit and unworthy of the Presidency. Which makes him right at home in the Republican Party since they have a tradition of nominating and electing men who are unfit for the job.
Posted by: Intrepid Liberal | March 11, 2006 9:05 PM
I wonder what Ron Reagan Jr would have to say about George Allen comparing himself to President Reagan.
George Allen is no Ron Reagan - he is George Bush II. He has so many things in common with the current president it's scary.
1 - he was a terrible governor
2 - he's incompetent
3 - he's unaware of what goes on around him (ex. Ben Bernanke vote)
4 - he has that "homer simpson"....uh... "quality" - likable in a way but too stupid to be trusted with anything important
5 - he LIES....A LOT
Posted by: Ohio guy | March 11, 2006 5:55 PM
Interesting thing... just as with his speeches, Allen's website mentions nothing about values issues. On his volunteer page (http://www.georgeallen.com/subscribe.asp) he doesn't provide a check box for traditional social con issues like abortion, gay marriage, etc.
Posted by: Stephen | March 11, 2006 5:27 PM
Flash forward to 2028:
Every Republican running for the Presidency will continue to say, "I'm the heir to the Reagan legacy".
Posted by: J. Crozier | March 11, 2006 4:27 PM
a pickup game...yet he and his wife...voted in straw poll...from an srlc attendee...
Posted by: commonwealth republican | March 11, 2006 3:30 PM
Allen is a joke. A poll showed in Virginia if the Presidential Race was between Allen and Mark Warner, both Virginia natives, Warner would beat Allen by a long mile. Mark Warner is better at anything that Allen does. He reformed education better, brought in more jobs, balanced the budget from a high deficit, increased healthcare, increased technological research and made Virginia the most prepared state for a terrorist attack in America. Allen will most likely be the nominee but Warner or Edwards or even Hillary can take him on. He not a Ronald R. Republican. He is a Bush Republican and that will not sell in 2008.
Posted by: Josh | March 11, 2006 3:19 PM
Mccain is the only republican who can beat Hillary. If they nominate anyone other than Mccain, it will be 2004 in reverse. I think Allen will be the nominee. Hillary will wipe the floor with him.
Posted by: Adam | March 11, 2006 2:47 PM
>>>Allen cast himself as an outsider to the big-spending Republican party in Washington
He's such an outsider that he didnt even know who Ben Bernanke was right before the confirmation vote. That's pretty far "outside" the fiscal policy round table. Actually, its more like not paying a lick of attention...
Posted by: FairAndBalanced? | March 11, 2006 2:31 PM
George Allen for President - you have to be kidding. Hillary will clobber him. But then, the Republicans are in so much trouble that Hillary will clobber any of them.
Posted by: Ginny | March 11, 2006 1:27 PM
I thought "victory, not defeat" was the goal, not the strategy. But then again, I thought George Allen had all the gravitas of a moldy banana.
Posted by: Jeff | March 11, 2006 1:07 PM
If not us, who, etc., is not a quote from Ronald Reagan. If Reagan actually used those words, he was quoting Robert Kennedy.
Posted by: Jaymurph | March 11, 2006 12:50 PM
The comments to this entry are closed.
"If I am not for myself, who will be for me? If I am not for others, what am I? If not now, when?" This is the original source for the quote. It is by Rabbi Hillel, approx. 40 B.C.
Clearly, this is a philosophy that Frist would not understand.