Rove on O’Donnell: This is a race we cannot win

I do not know much about Christine O’Donnell, although she sounds a little wacky. But she didn’t just win … she crushed Castle. Now the dogs are loose and they are hunting her down from the right and the left. Three clips here. One from Rove and two snarky ones from The Morning Joe. “Serious character issues.”

It didn’t take long for Rove to go after O’Donnell, although our friend over at Powerlineblog.com, John Hinderaker says she has enough baggage to fill a U-Haul and is a perennial candidate in Delaware. I do know the campaign got real dirty. She accused Castle of a homosexual relationship and voting for Bush impeachment, both untrue. And he went after her on not paying her college loans and not paying staff.

Here’s Rove. Then Mark Halperin on the Morning Joe.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tif_plMHhHg

Joe Scarborough couldn’t resist a little dig. Professionalism!

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxssR3L8YdM

Then, there’s Mark Halperin. Apocalyptic!

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXmH26SMXLA

Me thinks if the media bosses keep this up, she will in spite of herself. You think?

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Jim Vicevich

Jim is a veteran broadcaster and conservative/libertarian blogger with more than 25 years experience in TV and radio. Jim's was the long-term host of The Jim Vicevich Show on WTIC 1080 in Hartford from 2004 through 2019. Prior to radio, Jim worked as a business and financial reporter for NBC30 - the NBC owned TV station in Hartford - and as business editor at WFSB-TV in Hartford for 14 years while earning six Emmy nominations and three Telly Awards.

35 Comments

  1. Lynn on September 15, 2010 at 2:49 am

    I have not followed Christine O'Donnell enough to know her. I consider myself a Tea Partier, however, I do think that the Tea Party is beginning to focus so much on just the fiscal responsibility and knowledge of the Constitution that they are not completely vetting their candidates. When it comes down to the Election some of these flaws will be exposed. Also, if their candidate does not win the Primary the Tea Party refuses to support and vote for the Republican. In a Blue State a NO vote is a vote for the Incumbent.



  2. kareyk on September 15, 2010 at 2:49 am

    I am so glad O'Donnell won!  It once again shows the Tea Party movement is NOT astroturf.  I am so pissed off at the Republican establishment for not backing O'Donnell and for not listening to Conservatives.  From Dana Perrino to Karl Rove- they do not listen.  If O'Donnell could not win the primary- and then she won.  Why wouldn't she have a chance in the general election?  The RNC may not need to support her, I have a feeling she'll get more money from regular Americans.



  3. Anne-EH on September 15, 2010 at 2:51 am

    Jim, I look at all the primary wins and I see it as a sign that people have had ENOUGH with politics as usual. It is a sigh of PUSHBACK.



  4. Lynn on September 15, 2010 at 2:52 am

    On another subject, when the hell do you sleep? I can't believe you have a post on this already.



  5. chris-os on September 15, 2010 at 2:58 am

    Karek: "I am so glad O’Donnell won! "

    So are the democrats!

     



  6. TomL on September 15, 2010 at 3:19 am

    If I was an incumbent in Washington its time to get your resume together. It's house cleaning time over the next two elections they're all gone. Democrats and Republicans. It's time for the " Young Guns" in both parties.



  7. Plainvillian on September 15, 2010 at 4:13 am

    Could it be that Karl Rove (and all the other people who are always the smartest person in the room) are living in a paradigm that no longer exists?  When the old media were the only media available these nattering types could leverage their opinions much more effectively.  The inside the beltway crowd is clearly out of touch with real people and every Tea Party win is another example of that disconnect.

    The Tea Party wins could indeed be Pyrrhic victories, but in the long run, they will have an impact.  Just look at how many democrats, including those here in Corrupticut, are now running as more conservative politicians.  That's a good thing.

    Socialism still needs to be defeated however.  Re-electing the likes of Chris Murphy, no matter what his ads say, is just another step on the march to totalitarian socialism.



  8. ctbuckeye80 on September 15, 2010 at 4:45 am

    I didn't follow Christine O'Donnell either, but what is it the Wizards of Smart don't get. The people are sick of the status quo of the Republicans and that they are just Democrat Lite. I agree with Jim V, that the Republicans don't get it. I also consider myself a Tea Partier. The country is more conservative than liberal, at least in most states, and that is why the Tea Party's resonate. Lynn is right that the Tea Party needs to remember the same thing as the Republicans, a vote for NO is just letting the Dems win without a fight.

     



  9. Lynn on September 15, 2010 at 4:47 am

    Right on!



  10. Odonna on September 15, 2010 at 4:48 am

    Fox was on station break so I browsed MSNBC; just happened to catch Chris Matthews on Christine O'Donnell's chances in November.  He was cautioning Rachell Maddow that he'd seen a lot of elections, and the excitement of O'Donnell's camp was much higher than any Democrat's.  He said wins in these late Primaries often can carry candidates into the general election.  I thought it interesting that he was one of the few saying she definitely has a chance to win. 

    I know nothing about O'Donnell, but my desire would be to send as many career, constitutional-ignoring, high spending politicians to the unemployment lines as possible.  Try to get back to "citizen representatives", and then sort out the bad eggs from the better eggs as we go along.



  11. phil on September 15, 2010 at 4:58 am

    So, Christine O'Donnell has baggage?  So, we only elect perfect people? Where do we find them?  Hint: T'ain't me.  Bet it ain't you, either.



  12. Dimsdale on September 15, 2010 at 5:18 am

    The take home message is: "if you are a typical elitist politician from either party,  you have to worry".  I think that is a great message.  I am sure that the Democrats think they are happy now, but the bulk of the dissatisfaction is directed against them, and they have to explain their actions (and inactions), which is funny, given that most of them are running from the Democrat's "accomplishments" as well as "the three kludges", Øbama, Pelosi and Reid.

     

    It is the next best thing to a bloodless coup d'etat!  The people are speaking, and the ruling class is frightened.



  13. Jim Vicevich on September 15, 2010 at 6:32 am

    Reply to Lyn … I don't which is why my Doctors keep kicking my butt. LOL, but true



  14. Barb on September 15, 2010 at 6:42 am

    Jim, I checked it out over at Ed Morrissey's site as you had suggested.  Want to offer one more kudo for your fantastic site-visited number.  You, Steve, SOS, everyone's done a great job and your loyal fans are very proud!



  15. NH-Jim on September 15, 2010 at 7:09 am

    To the "Nay-sayers" lauding that O'Donnell, et al in the TEA Party victories, will guarantee Democrat victories in November, I say this….

     

    "SCOTT BROWN"

    'nuf said.



  16. NH-Jim on September 15, 2010 at 7:12 am

    Oh, by the way, Mr. Rove, with all due respect…..

     

    "You're Fired"



  17. ctrefugee on September 15, 2010 at 7:12 am

    Is she perfect. No. Does it make the party think? Yes. For a first election & time out the Tea Party is making noise. More noise then they(Blue bloods) wants to hear. And if they keep going they will be the minority in the GOP



  18. chris-os on September 15, 2010 at 7:14 am

    Umm Scott Brown distanced himself from the tea partiers.

    better analogy is:

    NY23

    'nuff said



  19. JollyRoger on September 15, 2010 at 7:24 am

    "…she sounds a little wacky."???  Compared to what?  Barney Frank, Pelosi, Reed, Lindsey Graham, or even Dick Blumenthal who's got all the personality of a really creepy serial killer; would you open the door if he knocked and asked you to help him look for his lost puppy?



  20. Dimsdale on September 15, 2010 at 8:33 am

    Judging by where the enthusiasm is, distancing yourself from the Tea Partiers is distancing yourself from public office.  Time will tell.



  21. NH-Jim on September 15, 2010 at 9:53 am

    True, Chris-OS, Senator Brown has distanced himself from the TEA Party, but he would NEVER have gotten that "seat" had it not been for this grass roots movement.  That is my point.  As for NY23, I saw it as a TEA party success for an unknown, unfunded candidate could come so ever-close to winning that seat; it was a valiant effort.

    And, now we see how Mr. Rove and persons like him are keeping us at a distance.  Well, their unfortunate miscalculation in the actual size of the TEA following will lead to their loss.  The TEA party is ever growing.



  22. Dimsdale on September 15, 2010 at 11:17 am

    Part of the problem in NY23 was that Scozzafara, in a huff, threw her support to the Democrat.  Would Hoffman have won otherwise?  Maybe.  Would he win today?  Probably.  Will real conservatives win in November? Hopefully.  The odds look better and better each day.

     

    I wonder why the Republicans are trying their best to ensure that O'Donnell doesn't win instead of backing her?  This does not speak well of the old boy network of both parties.  Nor does it bode well for them.



  23. TomL on September 15, 2010 at 12:44 pm

    I think Sean Hannity is one of the only ones who gets it (along with some here) but I'm not surprised he's a blue collar guy.



  24. Anne-EH on September 15, 2010 at 12:57 pm

    What took place yesterday with Christine O'Donnell winning should send a message that the American people are rebelling against out-of-controll government.



  25. PatRiot on September 15, 2010 at 2:36 pm

    The real story is that the Tea Party is:??
    1.?A force to be reckoned with.??
    2.?Not about Republican or Democrat.
    What the Tea Party just said was “Get back to basics and common sense or you are out.”
    I hope O’Donnell is listening.
    The Tea Party will have some growing pains. ?O’Donnell may be one of them.



  26. Wind on September 15, 2010 at 4:49 pm

    Rove just realized he is old..he is having a problem of not being in control…and it will hurt him with a disconnect like this. He had a moment of embracing…Air… and that rocked his foundation.  Hopefully he will rethink and look into what is happening and have enlightenment that change is happening and the PEOPLE are voting it.



  27. weregettinghosed on September 15, 2010 at 5:51 pm

    The Republicans if they are smart will back O'Donnell, not because they want to but because they need to in order to win. Still the Republicans do not understand We the People do not like the 'game' of politics, we know in order to gain our America back we need to do some serious work. The political game will have to end here and now, allowing We the People to take control, call the shots and make things happen for us. Republicans need to seriously understand we are in control, not them and they had better like who we pick to run or we will reconstruct the Republican party to suit us. Reconstruct of the Republican party is beginning to take place, although not well taken, but any strong medicine is a bit bitter at first.



  28. chris-os on September 16, 2010 at 2:27 am

    “it does conservatives little good to support candidates” who “do not evince the characteristics” that “the voters are looking for.” is what Rove said.

    But wait, you guys are saying it is OK to not work, not pay taxes or your mortgage or student loans if you are 'a conservative".

    Got it!



  29. djt on September 16, 2010 at 2:56 am

    O'Donnell's got a better shot at winning since she'll get sympathy votes caused by both sides piling on her these last couple of days. But what's more interesting to see is how much people will overlook just because they agree with someone politically. From the Weekly Standard:
    http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/citing-mental
    Put her baggage in a democratic candidate and this blog would be hammering her without mercy.



  30. Dimsdale on September 16, 2010 at 5:24 am

    chris: what did the win by Charlie Rangel say to you?



  31. NH-Jim on September 16, 2010 at 6:37 am

    But wait, you guys are saying it is OK to not work, not pay taxes or your mortgage or student loans if you are ‘a conservative”.

     

    Who and when did we say that?  I think you have voices in your head, Chris.



  32. Dimsdale on September 17, 2010 at 1:26 pm

    chris?  The ball is yours yet again.



  33. TomL on September 19, 2010 at 6:25 am

    Chris "Crickets"



  34. gcremese on September 19, 2010 at 3:01 pm

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    I understand that Christine O'Donnell has split the Republican Party (the true conservatives from the Republican establishment) Ordinarily I would consider that a problem, being a conservative and a Republican supporter. However in this case I think that it breathes new life into a party that’s perceived by the general public to be a bunch of old guys that are reluctant to accept new ideas. The thought of traditional values to some is like being condemned to a life of restricted supervision, and it’s presented in such a way that it typically prompts us to rebel against it. By putting a young attractive face on these conventional long-established principals by someone that really believes that this is the best approach for country’s future could quite possibly encourage others to follow suite.



O'Donnell 2

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