To say I’m disappointed would be an understatement, but in the world of politics we have victories and defeats. In this case, what I like about the entire Cheney family, their decency, seems at play here, too as her family is coming first. Ms. Cheney’s willingness to enter the arena is good news for all of us, now we just have to make sure she stays the course and that we get her to DC at one point or another.
Liz Cheney, daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney, on Monday abruptly abandoned her effort to unseat Republican incumbent Sen. Mike Enzi of Wyoming.
Cheney cited “serious health issues” that “have recently arisen in our family” as the reason for her decision.
But her candidacy had raised hackles in the Republican Party and caused a public rift with her sister, Mary, a lesbian, over Liz Cheney’s opposition to gay marriage.
In her withdrawal statement, Cheney did not mention those controversies.
“Serious health issues have recently arisen in our family, and under the circumstances, I have decided to discontinue my campaign. My children and their futures were the motivation for our campaign and they will always be my overriding priority,” Cheney said. She did not specify those health issues.
She added: “As a mother and a patriot, I know that the work of defending freedom and protecting liberty must continue for each generation. Though this campaign stops today, my commitment to keep fighting with you and your families for the fundamental values that have made this nation and Wyoming great will never stop.”
A reminder that we won’t always get what we want, and so must put every effort we can into attaining our goals and be prepared to make adjustments along the way for the bumps in the road.
Yes, you’re right. But if we’re going to supplant the machine we’ve got to be able to run campaigns like this. The fact that the GOP was so against Cheney and so supportive of Enzi confirms her threat to the status quo and the importance of retiring cogs like Enzi.
I hope Liz Cheney will come back soon to the political world. The Establishment is working overtime and you see the outline of their plans. First, keep any issues that may inspire tea party sympathizers off the front page such as fighting extension of unemployment benefits on moral grounds as well as the budget; second, attack any incumbent Republican challengers as crazy and/or losers; and third, make sure immigration vote is not put to a vote until after June primaries. They will depress the Tea Party vote enough to keep the challengers from winning but still allow incumbents to win and maybe Republican challengers in Red States. The Republican Establishment wants to win but not have to share it’s win with Tea Party as they had to do in 2010.
They are going to make us chose which battle to win either against the Democrats and Obama or the Republican Establishment. Just like in WWII we fought the Nazi first even though Japan bombed us, I believe we must stop Obama and the Democrats first in 2014. However, come 2016 and 2018, we need to go full throttle at the Republican Establishment. They know they don’t have the bench and patriots like Cheney and Palin should have their house in order for us to lean on them as well as others.