Doug’s Candidate de Jour: Jeff Bullock
- Thursday, May 14, 2009, 8:00
- Krusty Konservative
- 1,016 views
- 26 comments
Doug Gross continues to go through his rolodex in search for a gubernatorial candidate. Doug’s candidate de jour is now rumored to be Jeff Bullock. Bullock is the President of Dubuque University and well respected member of his community. Bullock’s name was mentioned last cycle as a possible congressional candidate but those rumors went nowhere.
The problem is Bullock is unknown outside of his home community, and it’s probably going to be difficult to win a Republican primary when you give money to Democrats. If you don’t believe me ask my good friend Peter Teahen.
Bullock gave $500 to Democrat Congressman Bruce Braley last October. His wife Dana gave $750 to Rich Dickenson, who ran against Braley in the 2006 congressional primary. Bullock’s donor history combined with Gross’ constant lamenting that Republicans have to compromise on their principles isn’t going to do either of them any favors.
From what I know, Bullock is a good guy. He has supported Republican candidates in the past, and his wife probably contributed to Dickenson because he was the Director of the Greater Dubuque Development Corporation, and it’s not like Braley had a contested race last cycle.
But here’s the deal. If you have aspirations to run for office someday, don’t do stupid crap like giving money to a Democrat. You can never give a good reason to an activist on why you gave that money to a Democrat candidate.
I’m a little surprised on how public Doug’s search for a gubernatorial candidate is. First it was Jeff Lamberti and people think that’s a no go. Then it was Mary Andringa, then Branstad, both are said to not be interested. Now it’s Bullock. What if he says no? It could get embarrassing for Doug if you ask me.
Speaking of Doug…
The dude just came out and said he doesn’t want Vander Plaats to be the Republican Party’s gubernatorial nominee. Now, I don’t want the BVP people to get all pissed off at me, so if you are one of those people please read the following carefully.
Krusty Kudos to Doug Gross for having the balls to just come out and say that the reason he is out there saying what he is saying is because he doesn’t like Bob. Look, we are all entitled to our opinions and you should know by now that Doug doesn’t speak my language, but I appreciate people who shoot straight.
Hopefully this means that Doug will stop saying stupid crap like Republican’s can’t talk about marriage, because that issue isn’t going anywhere. So the guy doesn’t like Bob. We shouldn’t be surprised since they ran against each other in 2002. What’s interesting is that Gross must not like Rants either.
Question of the day: So if Bullock tells Doug no, do you think there comes a time when Doug just runs himself? He’s already invested a lot of his personal capital into this, at some point he has to go “all in” right?
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Krusty Konservative has written 203 stories on this site.
Herschel Krustofski is the pseudonym for the anonymous author of Krusty Konservative, a blog which focuses on Iowa Politics. Created in February of 2006, Krusty Konservative is the undisputed heavyweight champion of the Iowa blogosphere. Since its conception, Krusty Konservative has never shied from tackling controversial issues, and providing insight to the inner workings of Republican politics in Iowa.
26 Comments on “Doug’s Candidate de Jour: Jeff Bullock”
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No to Bullock. Surely, we can find a real Republican.
The fact that Mr. Bullock gave $$$ to a dem is what makes him attractive to independents and conservative dems. Repubs need to be careful about litmus tests. I admire Doug greatly because of his political courage and his ability to bird-dog candidates that at least have a chance to win a general. Remember folks, Doug is on OUR side.
Mod,
I think that you need to give the same advice to Mr. Gross. His comments directed at Vander Plaats seem a tad bit divisive to me. I do believe that Mr. Gross needs to remember which side he is on.
As for Bullocks donations to Democrats, it may attract independents and conservative Dems, but it will most certainly turn off the base of the party. That is what we don’t need. We need a candidate that can energize the base and attract Independents and Conservative Dems.
Al: In the final analysis it is the middle that will determine the winner. The socons need to realize they are not going get a pure candidate. They also need to realize they must work hard for a candidate that does not necessarily fit their bill as to an ideal candidate. Otherwise it’s another four years of no power.
Krusty WHO thinks Jeff Lamberti is a no go?
Lamberti is very much a go.
Jeff would be a fantastic candidate. Solid as a rock. He may be the only candidate that can bridge the ever-widening gap between socons and fiscal conservatives. Has a thick wallet, too.
WOW!! This is progress. No one can say he’s not a social conservative because I know better. He also knows his economics.
I’ve worked with this guy and I have a great deal of respect for him.
“In the final analysis it is the middle that will determine the winner.”
In a way, you may be correct but your solution for attracting those in the middle is totally off. As simple rule you need to learn MIE is that you cant make friends out of your enemies by making enemies out of your friends.
“The socons need to realize they are not going get a pure candidate.”
You’re right. Jesus Christ is constitutionally ineligible to run for Governor. But that dosent mean that we abandon the principals that define more than 50% of solid Republican voters.
“They also need to realize they must work hard for a candidate that does not necessarily fit their bill as to an ideal candidate.”
They aren’t your serfs MIE … You have to give them a reason to work for you. In the past, they have been willing to suck it up and do the work for the good of the order, but the general theme in 2010 is as it was in 2008 … They’re not going to give up their lives to work for a guy who regards them as “whackos” or “the God Squad.” Doug’s lost all creditability with them and I guarantee you that his candidate cant win a straight up one on one primary and if he squeaks out a plurality, his candidate will be lucky to get 40% in a General Election.
“Otherwise it’s another four years of no power.”
What good is power without purpose?
The problem with your analysis Altoona is that what you expect of the political process is unobtainable. I much rather be in power with a moderate Repub than any democrat. The purity you strive for happens only in church.
Mod, you have to be kidding about purity in church. Have you paid any attention to most of today’s “churches”. They’re not churches at all. They’re just as much leftwing political institutions as the Democrat party.
Therein lies our problem. We have Republicans who probably attend these “churches” not caring the “church” is extremely liberal all the while expecting their political party to be pure. It needs to be the other way around. I expect far more purity from my church than my political party. Church is supposed to be about delivering the saving grace of Jesus Christ but now they’re more about delivering a feel-good, social gospel with lots of entertainment.
MIE,
It isn’t purity that he wants. He wants a candidate that will not look derisively at social conservatives. The problem is that a lot of moderates look at socons as whackjobs. What the socons want is respect.
DVFO,
Wow, you found something that you and Deace agree about.
How is it so unobtainable? Because your poll tells you that the middle wants us to talk about fiscal issues in a General Election? I’ll concede that point to you, that is why you want to have a candidate that can mobilize the party workforce before the electorate in a General Election turns off American Idol and starts paying attention to politics.
The problem with moderate candidates is that they fail to do that, and are stuck talking about life and marriage in a General Election because they realize that the base wont just follow them blindly. I would think after dropping the ball for the last 8 years, Doug would have figured that out … But maybe that’s asking too much. Simple rule, if you don’t have the base of the party mobilize and working for you before the primary is over, you’re dead in a General Election because you cant make up the lost ground. Heed the political ghost of John McCain, Bob Dole, Greg Ganskie, Jim Nussle and Doug Gross. Their disembodied voices from beyond the political grave speak much more loudly to me than any overpriced poll Doug can produce.
DVFO–your comments expose a HUGE problem with socons. You in essence are establishing a litmus test for a political candidacy based on what YOU believe a church should be. This is what scares independents (who may be members of congregations you criticize) and moderates. Again, the big tent is really a pup tent made up of the self-ordained chosen. BTW, Al. I have nothing but respect for socons as I am one myself. However, I have lived the long and painful process that ends with the conclusion that there are lots of people of good faith who feel differently than me. They deserve my respect also.
MID,
Basically what I am saying is that I have no problem supporting a moderate candidate. However if they look at me with contempt they will get the same in return.
Understood. It works both ways also. No matter the candidate, I will work my tail off for them.
Mod, you misunderstand. I am saying that many social conservatives will accept liberalism in their churches while expecting purity from a political candidate. I believe this is wrong.
Certainly, I will vote for whichever candidate comes closest to my idea of the correct candidate based on my religious beliefs but I am not necessarily going to withdraw my support in a general election if this person does not fit my idea of the perfect candidate.
As much as I would love for this to be a perfect world, it ain’t gonna happen.
This is not heaven and our political candidates are asking for our votes–not access to Heaven.
DVFO–no quarrel.
Altoona Guy, exactly WHO is trying to make enemies out of friends? Hint, 3 hrs. daily on a 50,000 watt radio station is one example. There are many here who’d rather continue to argue with people who agree on most of the issues because of some percieved slight or whatever. The majority of the party has compromised and been more than willing to be inclusive of the socons. Tell me, how much support do these issues have in the dem party? There are many on the conservative side getting fed up with all or nothing attitude, this is not the time to risk losing their support.
The 50,000 watt radio station you are referring to is just a symptom of a much larger ailment facing the party. It would be one thing for Gross to be out saying that Republicans need to broaden the appeal to the general electorate by talking more fiscal issues. As I said, I agree with that premise completely. I don’t want a candidate in a General Election out trying to win over the general electorate with social issues. That doesn’t work. The general electorate isn’t interested.
But that isn’t what Doug is saying at all. He’s saying that in order to win, Republicans need to lock the social conservatives in the basement with a pre-approved phone script and pre-paid cell phones to do his heavy lifting. I wouldn’t call that a perceived slight … I would call that a pretty deliberate slap in the face. As I said before, I like Bob Vander Plaats and Christopher Rants isn’t a shabby candidate either but apparently they don’t meet the Gross litmus test. So he feels the need to pontificate to the rest of us on why we are misguided and politically irrelevant. I have a serious problem with that. MIE said it best. “Respect is a 2 way street.”
AG, did you happen to hear Doug last week on Jan Mikelson? I’m no fan of his, but he contradicted what you are saying about him here. I think we need to be willing to hold his feet to the fire, but I don’t think we need to start locking horns with him either.
I did listen to him. I also watched him on WHO TV 13 last night and he was pretty much saying exactly what I’ve been saying about him here. I am also curious to know how you plan to hold feet to the fire? He is nothing more than a former political hack who wants to play Kingmaker. Considering you can’t vote him simply vote him off of the island, what fire exactly do you presume you’re going to holding his feet to?
Dear Doug, Go away. Please. For your good and everyone else’s.
It saddens me deeply that many of the posters choose to demean Doug Gross. Why? Because he has the temerity to suggest that Repubs be careful with their message. Doug has been a tireless worker for the Party. He has raised a wonderful family. He is a devout Christian. He has distinguished himself as a lawyer. And yes, he knows how to raise money for the party. In my opinion he is every bit an excellent Republican as Rants and BVP. I have never heard him utter a negative word about socons or the issues that are important to us. Give me one example of him treating socons with disdain as some posters have suggested. Also, there are lots of folks who think the world of Doug and are turned off by all of this negative talk. Saint Theresa’s admonition comes to mind: there are more tears shed for answered prayers than those that are unanswered.
They don’t pay any attention to Reagan’s admonition either.