NYT: Rand Paul stormed out of GOP meeting!

[itshappening]

Ms. Collins, who faces re-election next year, said the gun ads were an example of the kind of internal Republican warfare that has hindered the party in Senate races the last two elections. She supports the amendments and other components of the new gun regulations legislation, and she released a lengthy statement on Sunday explaining her thinking.

Her comments, according to several Republican aides, ignited a tense debate, similar to many the party has faced since its loss in the race for the White House last year. Senator Rob Portman, Republican of Ohio, stood to say he had been raising money for Ms. Collins’ re-election, only to watch her have to spend it to defend herself against the attack from the gun group, which has been directed at other members as well.

Ms. Collins warned her colleagues that if she loses a primary to a strong opponent with gun-rights credentials, it could well cost the party her seat.

Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, a freshman ally of Mr. Paul’s, jumped in to promise he had nothing to do with the group, according to officials briefed on the event. Then Mr. Paul, feeling attacked, stormed out. (A spokeswoman for Mr. Paul did not respond to repeated requests for comment.)

The Republican leader, Senator Mitch McConnell, of Kentucky, is facing his own re-election race and appears to have ceded leadership on the gun issue to more junior senators, Mr. Cruz, on the pro-gun group side of the debate, and Senator Mark Steven Kirk of Illinois, who supports new regulations.

Don Stewart, a spokesman for Mr. McConnell, said the senator had encouraged the search for compromise. “Senator McConnell’s views on the Second Amendment have been consistent throughout his career,” he said. “He encourages his members to be involved and actually believes in broader member involvement, not less.”

Should the background check amendment fail, a broader package of new gun legislation would continue to the Senate floor, but wounded. It would increase penalties for illegal gun sales, stop some trafficking and improve mental health reporting.

SOURCE:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/15/us...sage.html?_r=0

[Cowlesy]

Ms. Collins, who faces re-election next year, said the gun ads were an example of the kind of internal Republican warfare that has hindered the party in Senate races the last two elections. She supports the amendments and other components of the new gun regulations legislation, and she released a lengthy statement on Sunday explaining her thinking.

Her comments, according to several Republican aides, ignited a tense debate, similar to many the party has faced since its loss in the race for the White House last year. Senator Rob Portman, Republican of Ohio, stood to say he had been raising money for Ms. Collins’ re-election, only to watch her have to spend it to defend herself against the attack from the gun group, which has been directed at other members as well.

Ms. Collins warned her colleagues that if she loses a primary to a strong opponent with gun-rights credentials, it could well cost the party her seat.

Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, a freshman ally of Mr. Paul’s, jumped in to promise he had nothing to do with the group, according to officials briefed on the event. Then Mr. Paul, feeling attacked, stormed out. (A spokeswoman for Mr. Paul did not respond to repeated requests for comment.)

The Republican leader, Senator Mitch McConnell, of Kentucky, is facing his own re-election race and appears to have ceded leadership on the gun issue to more junior senators, Mr. Cruz, on the pro-gun group side of the debate, and Senator Mark Steven Kirk of Illinois, who supports new regulations.

Don Stewart, a spokesman for Mr. McConnell, said the senator had encouraged the search for compromise. “Senator McConnell’s views on the Second Amendment have been consistent throughout his career,” he said. “He encourages his members to be involved and actually believes in broader member involvement, not less.”

Should the background check amendment fail, a broader package of new gun legislation would continue to the Senate floor, but wounded. It would increase penalties for illegal gun sales, stop some trafficking and improve mental health reporting.

SOURCE:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/15/us...sage.html?_r=0

I'd hazard a guess they're speaking of NAGR: http://www.nagr.org/2013/scollins.aspx?pid=mea

[itshappening]

McConnell is showing a weakness of leadership here.

He should be keeping his troops in line to defeat this and force red state Democrats to vote aye.

If not then he's stupid.

[jbauer]

McConnell is showing a weakness of leadership here.

He should be keeping his troops in line to defeat this and force red state Democrats to vote aye.

If not then he's stupid.

Why would team Red care? Both team Red and Blue are both strong supporters of bigger government.

[MRoCkEd]

I'd hazard a guess they're speaking of NAGR: http://www.nagr.org/2013/scollins.aspx?pid=mea

Great group.

[Zarn Solen]

He needs to be effective, because his entire re-election is dependent upon him being an effective conservative GOP leader.

[itshappening]

Hopefully Gov. LePage makes a name for himself in Maine and the GOP can once again win a Senate seat there without the sellouts of Collins and Snowe.

[MRK]

Ms. Collins warned her colleagues that if she loses a primary to a strong opponent with gun-rights credentials, it could well cost the party her seat.

It would cost the party her seat and it would benefit the party by giving her seat to a principled stateswoman or statesman with "a strong opponent with gun-rights credentials," by her own admission.

What's not to like?

[Qdog]

What a boss! Go Rand. It sounds like Collins is a real piece of crap if she is just gonna fold like that on gun rights. The 2nd amendment is our only guarantee of our freedoms! (whats left of them anyway).

It would have been even more baller if he had told her at that meeting that she was part of what is wrong with GOP, and that he would work tirelessly to eradicate cancerous tumors like her from HIS party!

[supermario21]

Let Collins defect. Here's the thing. Team Red is going to lose Kirk, Collins, Toomey. At this point, I'd be more focused on keeping McCain, Flake, and Ayotte than the first three. The fact that several Democrats are already saying no should be enough of a red flag right there.

[Matt Collins]

It would have been even more baller if he had told her at that meeting that she was part of what is wrong with GOP, and that he would work tirelessly to eradicate cancerous tumors like her from HIS party!

The Pauls are too much of gentlemen to do that sort of thing, although at times I wish they weren't.

[kathy88]

Toomey makes me so MAD. But I'm in PA, so probably understandable.

[Jack Bauer]

Ms. Collins warned her colleagues that if she loses a primary to a strong opponent with gun-rights credentials, it could well cost the party her seat.

What's the point of her winning the seat, if she is going to vote with the Democrats?

[itshappening]

Because most of the time she will hold the line and vote how McConnell tells her.

However on key issues we do seem to have a number of GOPers peeling off. Reid manages to get his troops to vote for anything even really bad things like Obamacare which could lead to (and did in Blanche Lincoln's case) their election loss.

[jmdrake]

Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, a freshman ally of Mr. Paul’s, jumped in to promise he had nothing to do with the group, according to officials briefed on the event. Then Mr. Paul, feeling attacked, stormed out. (A spokeswoman for Mr. Paul did not respond to repeated requests for comment.)

Et tu Ted Cruz?

[trey4sports]

Oh now, she's just compromising to get things done. Ya know?

[Matt Collins]

That graphic is just mildly disturbing

[Sola_Fide]

Haha

[Sola_Fide]

Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, a freshman ally of Mr. Paul’s, jumped in to promise he had nothing to do with the group, according to officials briefed on the event. Then Mr. Paul, feeling attacked, stormed out. (A spokeswoman for Mr. Paul did not respond to repeated requests for comment.)

Et tu Ted Cruz?

Cruz is not reliable for liberty.

[T.hill]

Cruz is not reliable for liberty.

I don't think him saying he has no connections with a certain group is all that traitorous.

[itshappening]

When is Rand going to be on the Senate floor pushing back against this nonsense in a forceful and intelligent way?

Obama is continuing the campaign this week according to POLITICO.

We need Rand to be more visible against this.

[itshappening]

Why did Rand storm out the meeting then?

I'd like more details than a 2nd hand account in the New York Times.

Maybe Matt can ask him this week and report back?

[compromise]

Let Collins defect. Here's the thing. Team Red is going to lose Kirk, Collins, Toomey. At this point, I'd be more focused on keeping McCain, Flake, and Ayotte than the first three. The fact that several Democrats are already saying no should be enough of a red flag right there.

You think Toomey is going to join the Democratic Party? :S

Not gonna happen, Toomey isn't Specter on the fiscal issues.

[supermario21]

You think Toomey is going to join the Democratic Party? :S

Not gonna happen, Toomey isn't Specter on the fiscal issues.

Oh I know, I was just referring to the issue. Toomey is actually a very solid fiscal conservative, didn't vote for much of Bush's baggage.

[itshappening]

Flake is a No

Heller and Ayotte wavering.

TN traitors need to be kept in line

And so does Isakson.

That's all we need to worry about.

[supermario21]

I think Flake is coming to his senses. Thankfully he's not listening to Giffords.

[69360]

If you primary Collins and get rid of her, you really do risk a democrat taking her seat. Realistically the only way a Republican besides Collins wins is if there is an independent in the race to split the vote, which here in Maine does happen.

[supermario21]

Look, let Susan Collins do her thing, she's usually there on the most critical votes anyway. Our goal should be to flip Dem held seats and SAFE Republican seats, and then lobby for Manchin or Heitkamp to join the Republican Party after the 2014 midterms when Obama tries to ram climate change through.

[itshappening]

If you primary Collins and get rid of her, you really do risk a democrat taking her seat. Realistically the only way a Republican besides Collins wins is if there is an independent in the race to split the vote, which here in Maine does happen.

Gov. LePage isn't a Democrat.

[cajuncocoa]

If you primary Collins and get rid of her, you really do risk a democrat taking her seat. Realistically the only way a Republican besides Collins wins is if there is an independent in the race to split the vote, which here in Maine does happen.

Losing Collins would be no big deal. Doesn't she always vote with Dems anyway?