Just to prove how dysfunctional and bad things have gotten for the GOP Senate candidates, I have compiled a list of posts from around the blogosphere that demonstrates their continued growing dysfunction.First, Blogging for Bryant has a post going after Bob Corker's wild spending and a post attacking Corker's relationship with Democratic Governor Phil Bredesen.
"With Gov. Phil Bredesen (D) facing heat over the THP scandal, former Chattanooga mayor Bob Corker is trying to distance himself from the Governor. According to Mike Hamilton at TeamGOP, Corker made a point of telling the Republican State Executive Committee on Saturday that he never held a fundraiser for Bredesen in his home in 2002. Hamilton writes: Apparently this is one of those tricky situations where you need to define what the meaning of "is" is.
The key here is the difference between a fundraiser and a meet and greet in Corker's eyes. To Republican activists the key is loyalty to the party. Whether or not Corker's Bredesen event actually raised money for the Governor or just promoted his campaign, Corker's got a big problem with the perception among grassroots Republicans that he's not a party man."
And
"U.S. Senate candidate Bob Corker is on pace to spend over $1 million by the end of the year, but what does he have to show for it? Corker hasn't broken out of single digits in the polls, his grassroots network is nonexistent and with the recent firing of top GOP strategist Chris LaCivita, his campaign staff is dropping like flies too. Things just aren't going according to plans.
Plan A was for Corker to start raising campaign cash before the '04 election to intimidate other candidates from entering the '06 Republican primary for U.S. Senate. Plan A failed.
Plan B was to hire top Republican consultants to help convince grassroots conservatives that despite his past support for abortion rights and record of raising taxes as mayor of Chattanooga, Corker really was a conservative. Plan B failed.
With over $1 million in campaign disbursements and not much to show for it, it appears Plan C isn't going too well for Corker either. Look for Corker to hit the airwaves early in the new year."
Next, the Van Wagon apologizes for calling Ed Bryant's dirty money supplying friend, John Gregory, a "scum bag", and also calls Ed Bryant's credibility into question.
"My first point is the most important one. Please pay very close attention to the following statement. This blog does not speak for the Hilleary for Senate campaign. Charles Badger is an independent blogger--my statements do not in any way represent the views of Van Hilleary or the campaign. My comments should be taken to reflect the views of Charles Badger and Charles Badger ONLY. Therefore, whatever greviances that exist with my remarks in the aforementioned post--do not ascribe them to Van Hilleary. This blog is designed for me to express my views and offer commentary on the Senate race. Van Wagon is NOT the voice of the Hilleary campaign; Van Wagon does not represent Van Hilleary's views; Van Wagon is an entity completely seperate and apart from the Hilleary for Senate campaign. NOTHING said on this blog should be linked with Rep. Hilleary or his campaign.
Now, with regard to the post in question; let me use very clear language here: IT WAS A MISTAKE. Indeed I did post an article critical of Mr. Gregory and his company. The post was comprised largely using language not my own. In the article, I cited and linked to another blogger, from which most of the language came. It was NOT MY INTENTION for the article to read the way it originally did. IT WAS A MISTAKE.
Finally, allow me to extend my deepest apologies and regrets to the offense caused by my original remarks. I personally apologize to the Gregory family, and their supporters for mistaken language used in the article. Once again, it was a mistake. Van Hilleary has the greatest respect for Mr. Gregory and his family. That's why they are referred to as "men and women" of integrity in the article. Contrary to what has been said, I corrected the article after recieving a call from a friend who brought the errors to my attention--I immediately corrected them. I did NOT make the correction in response to a poster on this blog. The way the article reads now was my intent, not the mistaken original."
And
"Folks, it appears the Bryant camp just never learns. For months now I've been calling the Bryant flunkies out on their falsehoods and deceptions. But it appears they never learn their lesson because they're at it again over at Blogging for Bryant today! Senseless babble is all we seem to get from the Bryant people. First on polls (Click Here and Here); then on fundraising (Click Here); then desperately trying to get Van out of the race (Click Here). As the Bryant Camp keeps up its drumbeat of Deception, Distortion, and Desperation, Bryant's Crediblity Odometer conintues to register lower and lower numbers.
Today's attacks at B4B are merely tired and trite old talking points regurgitated as if they were something new. But it's really just more of the same. Bryant's Bits of Babble, today, surround the over-hyped "Hilleary--Abramoff--Indian tribes" story. But either the Bryant followers have been struck with a sudden case of amnesia about Bryant's record or they're engaging in their usual strategy of deciet and deception out of desperation.
The Bryant Camp keeps marching ahead with its attacks against Van. Yet the same line of attacks have been waged against Ed Bryant. Harold Ford has exploited Bryant's connection to the Gregory family for sleazy poltical purposes. These attacks are unwarranted and simply don't wash. The Gregories are good people--men and women of integrity. The attacks against them are pure smear politics from the Left. But liberals don't seem to need FACTS before waging their attacks. They had no FACTS when they attacked the Gregories, just like they had none when they went after Ed Bryant and Delay, and they have none now that their going after Van! Liberal attacks dogs, like the Ford's minions have been dragging the Gregory family's name through the mud for months now--and it's been a unpleasant illustration of the lenghts liberals will go to bring down good people.
Nevertheless, the allegations have been waged. To say nothing of Bryant's connections to Rep. Tom Delay (R-Texas) which have been twisted and exploited as a political tool. Liberals want to take every Republican who raised money through PAC's to defeat Democrats and paint him or her as a "crook." These attacks can niether be rationalized by facts nor plain old common sense. Yet the Left has persisted--firing shots at Van Hilleary and Ed Bryant. Thus, it's clear to anyone who'se been following this race that Van and Ed are in the same boat here. They've both been subjected to smear campaigns from Leftist attack dogs.
The attacks against Bryant for his friendship with Rep. DeLay are no more warranted and well-founded than the attacks on Van Hilleary's PAC contributions. They only have legitmacy in the minds of liberal partisans. Liberals attack because they want to bring down all conservative Republicans (note that I said "conservative Republicans"--nowhere has Bob Corker's name showed up--have you noticed?). We understand the liberal's motivation. But what reason would the Bryant Camp have for repeating the Left-Wing attacks against Van? Maybe the Bryantonians should come up with their own material, rather than lifting talking points off Harold Ford's press releases!"
Then, Conservatives for Corker discusses Ed Bryant's failed campaign strategies and questions Van Hilleary's credibility.
"By their actions, Ed Bryant’s campaign has made it abundantly clear that do not they think they can win a three-way race. They have tried three different plans to force Van Hilleary out of the race, but each has been unsuccessful. Let's look at the three plans in-depth.
Plan A: Prevent Hilleary from entering the U.S. Senate race.Progress: Despite Bryant’s early declaration of his candidacy and early endorsement from Janice Bowling (Hilleary’s former district director), Hilleary officially entered the Senate race last summer.
Status: Failure
Plan B: Force Hilleary out of the race by raising more money than him.Progress: To date, Bryant and Hilleary have raised essentially the same amount of money. Last quarter, Hilleary out-raised Bryant by nearly $60,000.Status: FailurePlan C: Force Hilleary out of the race by getting more endorsements than him.Progress: Hilleary and Bryant’s silly endorsement battle is a wash. While Bryant has received endorsements from Tennessee Right to Life, the Home School Legal Defense Association, and three state representatives, Hilleary has received endorsements from the Free Enterprise Fund, four state representatives, and two state senators.
Status: Failure
With his first three plans failing, one must wonder what Bryant’s plan D will be. Only time will tell, but – for Bryant’s sake – it better be more successful than the last three."
And
"We would like to consider Ed Bryant, Van Hilleary, and Bob Corker serious U.S. Senate candidates. However, with some of the Hilleary campaign’s recent statements, one has to wonder – does Hilleary even take himself seriously?
Let’s just look at some of the ridiculously statements coming from his campaign recently.
************************************************************************************
"You can put lipstick on a pig, but it’s still a pig.”
- Hilleary Campaign Manager Jennifer Coxe in an Official Campaign Email
“This week I am sending Ms. [Jane] Fonda a formal written invitation to a debate, in Murfreesboro or any Tennessee city she chooses . . . I'm ready for that debate when you are, Ms. Fonda, and I know my fellow Tennessee veterans will be too.”
- Letter to Supporters Signed by Van Hilleary
Tennessee's U.S. Senate race got its own version of the hit reality TV show "Extreme Makeover” today.
- Official Hilleary Campaign Email
************************************************************************************
Not that we don’t appreciate humor, but when the backbone of Hilleary’s campaign is comments about Jane Fonda, pop television shows, and pigs wearing lipstick, one really has to doubt whether Van Hilleary is the kind of candidate the founding fathers had in mind for the U.S. Senate."
Finally, the D.C. Political Report discusses the Van Hilleary-Jack Abramoff link.
"Van Hilleary's Abramoff Link: Last week, an attorney for the Coushatta tribe of said indicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff directed all campaign contribution checks to politicians and PACs in March of 2002 when then gubernatorial nominee former U.S. Representative Van Hilleary (R-TN) received two checks totaling $5,000.00."
Wow, talk about a dysfunctional family!
As shown the posts above, the Tennessee GOP along with their U.S. Senate candidates are in disarray.
Put simply, their mounting dysfunction coupled with the Ford campaign's growing momentum, will spell DEFEAT for the GOP in the 2006 Senate race.
