The Other McCain

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Can Jim Rutledge and Charles Lollar Beat Barbara Mikulski and Steny Hoyer?

Posted on | September 5, 2010 | 25 Comments

Why the heck not? If my alma mater, Jacksonville (Ala.) State University, can beat Ole Miss, anything is possible. If there really is going to be a Republican tsunami Nov. 2 there is no reason to think Maryland voters would reject a fine Senate candidate like Jim Rutledge:

James B. Rutledge, III was raised on a beef cattle farm in Harford County. His father was a veterinarian and his mother an artist and antiques dealer. Rutledge’s mother comes from coalminers that immigrated in the 1800s. His father comes from farmers who first came to Maryland in the 1600s.
Rutledge attended North Harford High School (1979) before graduating with his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Georgia (1983), Magna Cum Laude. While at the University of Georgia, Rutledge was admitted to the Phi Beta Kappa honor society and was the Captain of the University’s club lacrosse team. Rutledge obtained his law degree from the University of Maryland in 1986 With Honors, where he represented the poor and disenfranchised of Baltimore, Co-Chaired the Moot Court Board, and served as a Special Master of the Orphans’ Court of Baltimore City. . . .

You can read the rest of that distinguished résumé.  The Rutledge campaign didn’t go with my suggestion for a slogan — “Barbara Mikulski: Too Ugly for Too Long” — but we’ll let that slide. We’ve blogged about Rutledge earlier and so you already know that Jim needs your contributions to help him win the Sept. 14 GOP primary. Now let’s talk about another top-notch Maryland GOP candidate.

Congressional Quarterly has called Charles Lollar‘s 5th District challenge to House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer “the longest of long-shot races” — and that’s exactly why I think Lollar’s got chance.

The Democrats are reportedly resorting to “triage” in a desperate effort to hang onto their endangered majority. If they’re doubling down on defending incumbents who are obviously endangered, it’s possible that they might be caught looking the other way on some of their supposedly “safe” seats. For the same reason that John Dennis could sneak in and blindside Nancy Pelosi, Charles Lollar may deliver an unexpected shocker to Hoyer. And let’s look at Lollar’s biography:

Charles Lollar is a concerned citizen, taxpayer, hard working business executive, Major in the United States Marine Corps Reserves and most importantly a father of four and a devoted husband. . . .
At the age of 13 Charles delivered newspapers before going to school every morning. He worked his way through both high school and college by bagging groceries, stocking shelves, and selling items door-to-door.
After attending McEachern High School, Charles earned an AA degree from Emory University, a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Political Science from Kennesaw University and an MBA from Regent University. . . .
Charles proudly served his country in the United States Marine Corps where he was on active duty in Kosovo. During his time as an active-duty Marine, he graduated from Officer Candidate School and was awarded several medals and decorations including: the Kosovo Campaign Medal, Navy Unit Commendation, Combat Action Ribbon, and Joint Meritorious Unit Award. Presently, Charles serves as a Major in the Marine Corps Reserves where he is an intelligence officer. . . .

You can read the whole thing, but . . . Wow, what’s not to like? The fact that he’s from my neck of the woods — McEachern High is in Powder Springs, Ga., just up the road from my hometown of Lithia Springs — is an obvious point in his favor. Even more impressive, of course, is that he’s an up-from-the-ranks Marine Reserve officer. Semper Fi!

Lollar has been endorsed by Combat Veterans for Congress, which has the support of Sarah Palin and Ed Meese, so he’s obviously got solid conservative credentials. Now let’s address the question that the doubters always ask: Can he win?

Consider this: In 2006, Hoyer got 83% of the vote (the GOP didn’t even have a challenger against him), but in 2008, he only got 74% — Republican Collins Bailey got more than 80,000 votes in a high-tide year for Democrats (Obama carried the 5th District by a 2-to-1 margin). 

Democrat enthusiasm is way down this year, so the turnout is likely to be far lower. In 2006, there were barely 200,000 votes cast in the 5th District race. So if there is a similar turnout Nov. 2, and Lollar merely matches the GOP’s 80,000 total from 2008, that puts him at 40% — add another 20,000 votes from fed-up-with-Obamanomics Tea Party types, and an upset becomes feasible.

Bailey is seeking the GOP nomination again this year, and I’ve got nothing against him, but Lollar’s impressive résumé clearly makes him the stronger challenger to Steny Hoyer. Here’s video of Charles Lollar in a Fox News “Strategy Room” interview:

I repeat: What’s not to like? Your contributions to Charles Lollar can make the impossible happen Nov. 2.

* * * * * * *

CHARLES LOLLAR for U.S. CONGRESS

* * * * * * *

JIM RUTLEDGE for U.S. SENATE

Category: Congress, Election, Maryland, Republicans, Senate

Comments

25 Responses to “Can Jim Rutledge and Charles Lollar Beat Barbara Mikulski and Steny Hoyer?”

  1. FilmLadd
    September 5th, 2010 @ 7:11 pm

    The RNC needs to get out there and support these guys! Yeesh!

  2. FilmLadd
    September 5th, 2010 @ 3:11 pm

    The RNC needs to get out there and support these guys! Yeesh!

  3. listingstarboard
    September 5th, 2010 @ 7:27 pm

    I have been trying to spark interest about Charles Lollar for MONTHS and no one seems interested in beating Steny Hoyer. IMO Hoyer is evil on the same level as Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi. What I have seen and heard from Lollar is another hardworking fiscally conservative former soldier that would be an excellent representative in the District of Corruption. Please everyone lets get behind him!

  4. listingstarboard
    September 5th, 2010 @ 3:27 pm

    I have been trying to spark interest about Charles Lollar for MONTHS and no one seems interested in beating Steny Hoyer. IMO Hoyer is evil on the same level as Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi. What I have seen and heard from Lollar is another hardworking fiscally conservative former soldier that would be an excellent representative in the District of Corruption. Please everyone lets get behind him!

  5. Can Jim Rutledge and Charles Lollar Beat Barbara Mikulski and Steny Hoyer? | Liberty News
    September 5th, 2010 @ 3:28 pm

    […] (Cross-posted at The Other McCain.) This entry was posted in 2010 Elections and tagged Barbara Mikulski, Congress, Maryland, Senate, Steny Hoyer. Bookmark the permalink. ← Which Direction Is *That*, Mr. President? […]

  6. charliemax
    September 5th, 2010 @ 7:49 pm

    How about Wargotz and Lollar? I like @wargotz4senate He has a good ad running during Glen Beck’s show. Check it out, please. I’m in Montgomery Village MD, born in Rockville-1959.

  7. charliemax
    September 5th, 2010 @ 3:49 pm

    How about Wargotz and Lollar? I like @wargotz4senate He has a good ad running during Glen Beck’s show. Check it out, please. I’m in Montgomery Village MD, born in Rockville-1959.

  8. The American Spectator : AmSpecBlog : Can Steny Hoyer Be Beaten by 'The Longest of Long Shots'?
    September 5th, 2010 @ 4:07 pm

    […] It's reported that Nancy Pelosi and the Democrats are doing "triage" in an attempt to save their House majority from an anticipated Republican tsunami on Nov. 2. If a really huge GOP wave comes crashing ashore on Election Day, even a challenge to Steny Hoyer — called "the longest of long-shot races" by Congressional Quarterly — might stand a chance at scoring an upset: […]

  9. daveinboca
    September 5th, 2010 @ 8:30 pm

    Long ago, my wife interviewed for the job of Mikulski’s AA, after having been an LA for another Demonrat Senator. She was told by the previous Admin Asst that Mikulski was subject to irrational tantrums and despite her 4’11” stature was “a danger to herself and others” when she lost her temper. The word on the street was that BM was also an active lesbian and wanted a female AA who would service her EVErY need!

    Why this preposterous physical and moral freak of nature is continuously reelected is testimony to the power of thuggish union gaylords like Trumpka and the corrupt Demonrat establishment in Maryland, centered in Baltimore where the crime rate per capita is worse than DC’s.

    Mikulski’s being a senator is a crime against democracy.

  10. daveinboca
    September 5th, 2010 @ 4:30 pm

    Long ago, my wife interviewed for the job of Mikulski’s AA, after having been an LA for another Demonrat Senator. She was told by the previous Admin Asst that Mikulski was subject to irrational tantrums and despite her 4’11” stature was “a danger to herself and others” when she lost her temper. The word on the street was that BM was also an active lesbian and wanted a female AA who would service her EVErY need!

    Why this preposterous physical and moral freak of nature is continuously reelected is testimony to the power of thuggish union gaylords like Trumpka and the corrupt Demonrat establishment in Maryland, centered in Baltimore where the crime rate per capita is worse than DC’s.

    Mikulski’s being a senator is a crime against democracy.

  11. beedubya
    September 5th, 2010 @ 8:36 pm

    Hey, wait a doggone minute. The pasty, porcine, pony-tailed pedaler over at Teensy Yellow Nutballs says you’re a white supremacist.

    *Gasp* you must not know that Mr. Lollar is black

  12. beedubya
    September 5th, 2010 @ 4:36 pm

    Hey, wait a doggone minute. The pasty, porcine, pony-tailed pedaler over at Teensy Yellow Nutballs says you’re a white supremacist.

    *Gasp* you must not know that Mr. Lollar is black

  13. Layaway
    September 5th, 2010 @ 9:03 pm

    Shhh! He’s not “authentically” black so it doesn’t count.

    You know, “inauthentically black” the way Condi Rice is, and Colin Powell was before he screwed Bush.

    Hey, college-ejjimacated white folks said so, so who are we to argue?

  14. Layaway
    September 5th, 2010 @ 5:03 pm

    Shhh! He’s not “authentically” black so it doesn’t count.

    You know, “inauthentically black” the way Condi Rice is, and Colin Powell was before he screwed Bush.

    Hey, college-ejjimacated white folks said so, so who are we to argue?

  15. WILL THE EXPECTED REPUBLICAN TSUNAMI WASH AWAY THE DEMOCRAT MAJORITY LEADER? « THE MILLSTONE DIARIES
    September 5th, 2010 @ 11:04 pm

    […] more on Lollar, see Can Steny Hoyer Be Beaten by ‘The Longest of Long Shots’? and Can Jim Rutledge and Charles Lollar Beat Barbara Mikulski and Steny Hoyer? by Robert Stacy McCain. […]

  16. Cynthia Yockey, A Conservative
    September 6th, 2010 @ 4:09 am

    Rutledge is the Republican candidate who has won the endorsement of Maryland’s conservative bloggers: me, Stacy, Jimmy Bise at The Sundries Shack, Anthropocon (who also is a Rutledge campaign volunteer), M.R. Newman at Redstate and Michael Swartz. Vote for Jim Rutledge for U.S. Senate in the Republican primary on Sept. 14.

  17. Cynthia Yockey, A Conservative Lesbian
    September 6th, 2010 @ 12:09 am

    Rutledge is the Republican candidate who has won the endorsement of Maryland’s conservative bloggers: me, Stacy, Jimmy Bise at The Sundries Shack, Anthropocon (who also is a Rutledge campaign volunteer), M.R. Newman at Redstate and Michael Swartz. Vote for Jim Rutledge for U.S. Senate in the Republican primary on Sept. 14.

  18. Estragon
    September 6th, 2010 @ 6:05 am

    I think Rutledge has a real chance, although he still will be a heavy underdog. Mikulski is a vile, petty, and stupid woman. She must dread the potential loss of Patty Murray, as that would leave her a strong contender for the dubious honor of “Dumbest Senator.”

    Beating Hoyer will be even tougher. The district has become a bastion of federal employees, whose own interests are in the sort of stupid government expansion that Hoyer stands for. Not altogether impossible in the building storm which is this election, but if Lollar could pull it off, it would probably mean we are gaining 75-80 House seats or more nationwide.

  19. Estragon
    September 6th, 2010 @ 2:05 am

    I think Rutledge has a real chance, although he still will be a heavy underdog. Mikulski is a vile, petty, and stupid woman. She must dread the potential loss of Patty Murray, as that would leave her a strong contender for the dubious honor of “Dumbest Senator.”

    Beating Hoyer will be even tougher. The district has become a bastion of federal employees, whose own interests are in the sort of stupid government expansion that Hoyer stands for. Not altogether impossible in the building storm which is this election, but if Lollar could pull it off, it would probably mean we are gaining 75-80 House seats or more nationwide.

  20. Mike M.
    September 6th, 2010 @ 3:31 pm

    Become? No, it was designed that way…to smother the conservative votes in Southern Maryland with Prince George’s and Anne Arundel counties.

  21. Mike M.
    September 6th, 2010 @ 11:31 am

    Become? No, it was designed that way…to smother the conservative votes in Southern Maryland with Prince George’s and Anne Arundel counties.

  22. Matthew Newman
    September 7th, 2010 @ 1:04 am

    Awesome to see you officially aboard the Rutledge train. Thanks for joining the club!

    Great candidate – great comments on him.

  23. Matthew Newman
    September 6th, 2010 @ 9:04 pm

    Awesome to see you officially aboard the Rutledge train. Thanks for joining the club!

    Great candidate – great comments on him.

  24. Suzie
    September 10th, 2010 @ 3:38 am

    Jim Rutledge and Charles Lollar representing Maryland in DC is a dream about to come true. Come on MD GOP voters, make it happen. These guys are so far under the radar that it going to truly shake up the Establishment when they get elected. Please support these two fine gentlemen. Donate, volunteer, vote.

  25. Suzie
    September 9th, 2010 @ 11:38 pm

    Jim Rutledge and Charles Lollar representing Maryland in DC is a dream about to come true. Come on MD GOP voters, make it happen. These guys are so far under the radar that it going to truly shake up the Establishment when they get elected. Please support these two fine gentlemen. Donate, volunteer, vote.