Representative Mike Castle (RINO-DE) is a man of great ambitions but seemingly few principles. He can be a tool of moneyed interests and jump to their call. Yet he can arrogantly ignore calls from hundreds of constituents and take the path of trendiness as with the recent energy bill.
He has powerful friends and what passes for leadership of his nominal party is laden with fawning sycophants. Such leaders have thrown away potential demographic advantages as refugees from tax-and-spend Maryland and New Jersey move to Delaware for fiscal respite.
Delaware leaders sought a quick financial fix by luring in bloodsuckers by abandoning usury rules. Yet what real industries have been attracted? Perhaps more gambling will save the day or squeezing the goose will yield a few more golden eggs. But this is State business and Mike Castle is simply a former governor.
When some in the Bush Administration called for some bailouts for bankers, there was a revolt that had conservative and neo-populist elements. Mike Castle voted to help the big banks. He knows his friends and supporters.
A year earlier, the Supreme Court dealt with the Second Amendment in what seemed to be a ‘clean’ case and not one with a criminal looking for a loophole. An amicus curiae brief was circulated among members of the House and Senate that supported the original intent of the Second Amendment. A majority in both houses signed, and this included a lot of Democrats. Among the few Republicans in the House who did not sign were Mike Castle, three nominal Republicans from New Jersey, and another renegade Republican from Cook County.
This move from Castle is what he could expect from a person who has long championed the cause of incremental victim disarmament. Perhaps making life safer for thugs in Wilmington is part of the Castle agenda.
Quite a few Democrats saw the harm in the Markey-Waxman ‘energy’ fiasco and defied their leadership in opposing it. Thanks to Mike Castle and his fellow RINOs from New Jersey and Cook County, Obama and his energy commissars won a great victory at the expense of the American public.
Mike Castle has Senate ambitions but could he be trusted with the duties of that office? A handful of weak-willed Republicans refused to stand up to Democrat obstructionists who blocked some excellent judicial nominees. Yet these same legislative weaklings have rolled over to confirm some of the worst Obama nominees. Could we expect better from a Senator Castle? He gushed over quota-queen Sotomayor so the answer should be obvious.
Mike Castle has long been weighed in the balance and found grossly wanting. His saving grace has been a blind party loyalty and the selection of someone far worst by state Democrat Party with a base highly populated by congenitally partisan ‘good old boy’ types in the base but run by Liberals at the top.
A GOP run by an elitist clique that is dedicated to a cult-of-personality worship of the likes of Mike Castle cannot hope to return to the a treasured concept that involves the true sense of the consent of the governed. This also entails the continued reduction of the positive influence of the Delaware Republican Party as an instrument for the furtherance of Liberty and Prosperity.
Mike Castle needs a primary. Even failed challenge would send a message that he cannot ignore. He might learn something from the experience.
The question is: is Representative Castle even going to run for anything? Some Delaware “Republicans” want him to run for the Senate, but who knows: he might figure he’d get beat by Beau Biden.
If Mike Castle runs for the Biden Senate seat, I don’t think Beau will run against him, because he probably would be beaten. Instead, I see Beau running for Castle’s vacated House seat, our only seat in the House, by the way.
In my view, Republican Mike Castle’s vote for the “American Clean Energy and Security Act” positions him politically for a run for the Senate. He will have other opportunities soon, for example on the upcoming healthcare bill.
Our state is a blue state, yet has reelected former Governor Castle consistently to the House, therefore it is hard to believe that a few disgruntled Republicans like Art Downs can have a significant negative impact on Castle’s political future.
Regarding Beau Biden, our AG, who is currently on a tour of duty in Iraq, some speculate that without Castle running for reelection in the House, Beau would step up for that position. However, he could face significant opposition in a primary contest against former Lt Governor Carney, who is a very popular Dem, and who could very well beat Beau.
Back to the Senate, Ted Kaufman now sits in Joe Biden’s seat by Gubernatorial appointment until 2010, when there will be a special election, but the term expires in 2012. Kaufman stated that he would not run for the seat, but he may be encouraged by the party to rescind that decision. Kaufman has been a long time friend of Joe Biden and has served in various staff and campaign capacities over many years, including Biden’s Chief of Staff. So he knows the Senate very well and seems to be serving with distinction.
My guess is that Kaufman will stick to his word to not run. Castle will run for the Biden Senate seat and win in a mid-term election which will favor Repubs. Beau Biden will not be primaried by Carney for our one House seat, and will go on to win, as the Repubs will probably put up former DE State Senator Charlie Copeland, who is not an effective Castle replacement candidate for the Repubs.
Beau Biden is an empty attache case and another would-be time serving hack.
Do we need more of his type?
Look at how he wimped out when evidence at the DPC was being shredded after nurses who took their duties were being threatened and harrassed by politically-connected goons. Add a recent bungled murder case and you have a picture of a guy with a famous name and great campaigning skill already in a job beyond his meager abilities.
Ferris Wharton may have been an indifferent campainer but he did get a well-connected killer sent to Death Row. Tom Capano still may have the connections to eventually beat the rap. He was even a counsellor for Mike Castle.
Interesting analysis Perry. It is quite thoughtful. I think the Congressman may have burned one too many bridges. We shall see if he can repair them this time or if it is time for him to retire.
Delaware is more quirky than blue.
It is complicated by a number of socially conservative congenital Democrats who have become fixtures and will serve for life. They are seldom challenged by Republicans. But they are mortal. There will be a special election to fill the seat of Thurman Adams and the race should be interested. The smart move would be to keep it in the family.
There is a growing grass-roots unrest with ‘party leaders’ who seem to be a chorus of political castratti singing hymns of praise for Mike Castle, a rather uninspiring (but pleasant) person who arrogantly ignores letters and phone calls. His dear friend Terry Strine failed to be selected as National Committeman and resigned as Party Chair so that was a good sign.
The lust for bigger government and a decline in revenues may force some changes. When the Governor had removal of a senior citizen school tax credit on his ‘wish list’ there was a popular reaction and the idea was dumped. There were a lot of phone calls made and some even showed up at Legislative Hall with signs.
Many Democrats running for legislative seats try to distance themselves from the National Party.
A State GOP that is seen as the tool of big banks and a playground for the country-club, boardroom set is not selling. There are people getting involved with libertarian and neo-populist leanings who may set a new and appealing direction.
[...] with the love-fest. Art Downs, our local wingnut tries to work up that kind of bile but it just seems like so much Wahhh!.. after that classic smack [...]
[...] Dump Mike Castle Posted on 08:45, July 16th, 2009 by admin Dump Mike Castle [...]
I’m starting to work on http://bootmikecastle.com. Perhaps this site will convince him to announce retirement sooner, rather than later. Then we can work on replacing him with a genuine Republican. If he decides to run again, we must defeat him in the primaries!
I wonder if Mike Castle is stupid or just a liar. He has become a millionaire on a government salary so his ethics may be also questioned.
Certain lies stand out. Just what is the ‘gun show loophole’? Has Castle ever attended one? Perhaps he finds Sarah Brady more appealing than Sarah Palin.
Has the man ever taken time out from tete a tetes with his banker buddies to ever attend a gun show? I have attended a few and even made purchases. All laws were followed. The Federal threshold for selling firearms without a Federal Firearms License (FFL) is rather low. There is a rather strong law enforcement presence at gun shows and I have never seen anyone wearing gang colors.
The only possible scenario involving a potentially illicit sale to a ‘person prohibited’ would involve a private transaction. Such transfers are far more likely to occur in the same venues where narcotics are bought and sold. Do we call drug dealers ‘unlicensed pharmacists’?
I noted the bobbleheads behind the Representative. Are these his sycophantic staffers?
Castle needs a primary, if only to answer some questions.