In case you missed the news earlier this week, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp (R) dared to defy the wishes of Donald Trump by appointing financial executive Kelly Loeffler to fill the soon-to-be-vacated Senate seat currently held by Johnny Isakson (R). Isakson is retiring at the end of the year for health reasons.
Trump and his Trumpist Republican buddies were quick to imply that bucking the wisdom of Dear Leader would likely cost Kemp in his 2022 re-election since Trump isn’t likely to support him.
.@realDonaldTrump told you how to be supportive: Appoint @RepDougCollins.
You are ignoring his request because you THINK you know better than @POTUS.
If you substitute your judgement for the President’s, maybe you need a primary in 2022. Let’s see if you can win one w/o Trump https://t.co/vtjT4CyLMI
— Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) November 29, 2019
Trump wanted Kemp to appoint Rep. Doug Collins (R), a Trumpist who, as the top Republican on the House Judiciary Committee, is now leading the GOP’s opposition to Trump’s impeachment as the next phase of the impeachment enquiry gets underway. Clearly, that qualifies Collins to be Georgia’s next Senator in Trump’s book.
In reality, this entire situation is merely a charade made to look like the Republican party is working to defend conservative values. Sadly, nothing can be further from the truth.
To begin with, Kemp’s reason for picking Loeffler had nothing to do with her qualifications. Instead, she was appointed in the hope that she could save the GOP by strengthening the Party’s appeal with women who have abandoned the GOP in recent years.
Still, Kemp attempted to assure Georgia conservatives that Loeffler would defend their values. How will she defend them? According to Kemp, by being more like Donald Trump and Georgia’s other Senator, David Perdue.
“I’m excited to appoint a lifelong Republican who shares our conservative values and our vision for a safer, stronger Georgia.
”We’ve seen firsthand the impact of political outsiders like Donald Trump and David Perdue in Washington, DC. It’s time we send them some reinforcements to keep America great.”
So, what kind of conservative values will Loeffler bring to the job? Based on Trump and Perdue, not the type you’re hoping for. Trump’s warmed-over socialism now dominates the GOP under the banner of Nationalist Conservatism, and David Perdue’s Conservative Review Liberty Score® comes in at 63% (D).
By the way, Trump’s preferred pick for the Senate opening is worse; Collins carries a 48% (F) Liberty Score®.
In fact, when it comes to Georgia’s so-called conservative values, of the state’s 11 Republican members of Congress, only two carry a favorable Liberty Score®: Reps. Jody Hice at 86% (B) and Barry Loudermilk at 71% (C). All of the rest, except for Perdue, carry a 56% or lower (F). In other words, conservatism isn’t all that high on the priority list of Georgia Republicans.
- Rep. Rick Allen – 56% (F)
- Rep. Buddy Carter – 50% (F)
- Rep. Doug Collins – 48% (F)
- Rep. Drew Ferguson – 50% (F)
- Rep. Tom Graves – 51% (F)
- Rep. Jody Hice – 86% (B)
- Rep. Johnny Isakson – 35% (F)
- Rep. Barry Loudermilk – 71% (C)
- Sen. David Perdue – 63% (D)
- Rep. Austin Scott – 46% (F)
- Rep. Rob Woodall – 44% (F)
If there were any doubts that Loeffler would be little more than just the latest monster to join the Washington swamp, they were laid to rest when Mitch McConnell gave his full support for her “re-election” in next year’s special election. Loeffler will have to run again in 2022 for a full six-year term.
In the end, another swamp monster is all we were ever going to get out of this mess, isn’t it?
David Leach is the owner of the Strident Conservative.
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