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Firebrand Rep. Allen West, R-Fla., said Tuesday he had conceded in his bid for re-election to Democratic challenger Patrick Murphy.
Fourteen days after Election Day, West, a favorite of Tea Party conservatives who had sought a recount and raised the prospect of inaccuracies in the results, said in a statement that his legal team "does not believe there are enough over-counted, undercounted or fraudulent votes to change the outcome of the election."
"While many questions remain unanswered, today I am announcing that I will take no further action to contest the outcome of this election," West said.
Joe Skipper / Reuters
Republican Rep. Allen West speaks at a campaign stop with guests at SCORE South Palm Beach, a resource partner to the Small Business Administration, in Boca Raton, Fla. Oct. 18, 2012.
Murphy led by about 1,900 votes following a partial recount in the district.
He added a bit later on Fox News: "We're going to move ahead and we wish Congressman-elect Murphy very well, but I think that now is not the time to draw the process out."
West was a lieutenant colonel in the Army, during which time he served in the Iraq war. He successfully ran for Congress in 2010, aided by the Republican headwinds that year in his challenge to Democrat Ron Klein in a swing district. He sought re-election in a slightly more favorable district following the redrawing of congressional district boundaries prompted every decade by the Census.
The victory for Murphy adds to Democrats' pickup in the House, and disarms conservatives of one of their most brash voices in Congress. He, for instance, equated economic dependence upon government — through programs like Social Security — to slavery, and West called Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a fellow Florida lawmaker, "vile" and "not a lady."
West's departure from Capitol Hill also means that that Congress will lose one of its two black Republicans. West and South Carolina Rep. TIm Scott, R, are the only two African American members of the GOP conference; West was the only Republican member of the Congressional Black Caucus.
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I look forward to the Mid-Term Elections of 2014. I really wish that I had purchased a radio or television station before the 2008 elections. Piles of money will continue to roll-in for ad-time as more and more money flows into various political campaigns. The local stations refer to it as "Talking Head Cash".
The Brief tumultuous career of Allen (Wild, Wild) West
From the folks in his district...
http://www.postonpolitics.com/2012/11/allen-west-concedes-congratulates-patrick-murphy/
Great news. Now if we can just get Governor Skeletor (another Tea Bagger and a criminal) out in the next election we will have gone a great way towards lessening the stigma that Florida has about electing rednecks, tea baggers and religious nuts.
Already?? What's the rush?
He had to fight for his seat because there is NO WAY he will ever be re-elected to any office. The man is certifiable. I only wish his female counterpart, Michelle Bachmann had lost.
We need Michelle Bachman, as an endless source of comedy material for late night TV shows. Anyone who takes her seriously should be institutionalized and kept in restraints. If you can say, "I voted for Michelle Bachman because I think she makes sense.", you can also say, "Hey! Why are you putting me in a straitjacket?".
What a delusional steaming pile of excrement. Good riddance.
Reminds me of that idiot in MN who denied he lost to Franken on that Senate seat. How else can a person say the tea baggers aren't crazy, when you have proof like this that they are CRAZY?
And if a whole cemetary had to vote twice, hey that makes up for all the voter caging you baggers did, kinds of evens it out, doncha know? Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Sally you know that the Dumbos have been fixing elections all the way back to JFK. And remember LBJ walking throught the graveyard looking for Dumbocrat voters. Al Frankenstein in Mn all those votes appear in a drawer, and Malloy Gov of Ct, all the extra peeps that voted in Bridgeport and New Haven. But anyway I will give you the same task as I do all the Dumbos out there, ready. Name me one national election other than the 2000 "win" which I will give you Dumbos that was close that went to a Republick? Go ahead take your time.
1876. Handed to Rutherford B. Hayes by the House Of Representatives. Next question? Clueless Haters for $200, Alex!
Wow, someone speaks the truth in Congress and all the liberal whack jobs come out to try and tarnish his name and character. Too bad they don't look in the mirror before throwing stones. Oh well, laugh it up while you can. I understand that the un-employment and food stamp lines are long. Perhaps you idiots can share more of your bitter vile about how others put you there.
Semper Fi. Col. West.
Please tell us how and why this nut left the military, ok?
He was dragged out kicking and screaming then too!
I'm just wondering what he was doing as an Officer to gain that Rank LTC? Must have been an OCS Candidate, West Point Officers don't think like that.
Dbachrach Bitter?? I would say you need to look in the mirror chief. Your side lost get over it with the schoolyard name calling already...
Oh, you call that speaking the truth, do you? Well, since the Distinguished Gentleman isn't available for comment, perhaps you'd care to come in and pinch- hit for him: Out of the 90 card-carrying Communists in the House, would you be good enough to name one for the audience?
Just one name. One, single, authentic, sure-'nough Commie. Surely you, in the name of Truth, are equal to that challenge?
No? Then perhaps you, like your fallen champion, will do your community a favour and just PIPE DOWN.
It's "bile". Try to keep up.
Allen, we are never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever...getting back together.
Now, sing it with me:
Nah nah nah nah
Nah nah nah nah
Hey Hey Hey
Goodbye!
It is soul satisfying to see reason triumph over fear, uncertainty and doubt.
That is mighty white of him.
Can you imagine....in a body that represents the American people, the GOP, the controlling party who has some 240 seats in the House, only one of those seats is occupied by an African American.
It is the most clear picture of the disaster that faces this party. They are on their way to becoming a permanent minority party.
Yea the Republicks are in trouble I agree, but not for having no blacks. Though with the likes of Rangle, Waters the Dumbos have a crew that is so nice. The reason why the Republick lose is that it puts up the same same Dumbocrat lite guys year in and year out. Papa Bush, Bad boy Bobbie Dolar, Jumpin Johnie McLean and of course Smit. I sure will not vote for any of them, and I know a ton of others who will not, we either stay at home or in my case vote for the Libertarian.
It's like the crowd at Romney's concession speech - whites only. And then Sir Willard complained about different constituencies getting "gifts" from Obama - how about the $250,000 tax cut he dangled at the millionaires? I'd rather have the money, thanks.
Hey Rob- SSHHH, ixnay on the ority-mineay talk! Karl Rove shot off his mouth like that back in '05 and jinxed himself- you don't wanna do that to us now do ya?
lo @Fox
Army, if you spent less time trying to create cutesy names for the pols you hate most, and actually focus on what you are writing....it might make a little more sense and give you a little bit more cred.
Army 1971: you talk like some one who is living in the 1950's, not 1971.
Wow, the Tea Baggers are going down. How many have been defeated so far?
So someone got West back on his meds! When will they get him back to the mental health facility? I hope it's for a 90 day stint this time, and not just a 30!
He will become a martyr to some people. Instead of a pathetic individual who accomplished little but to lower the level of discourse.
He will probably get a talk show, or become a political analyst on Faux.
How many baggers got dumped?
Another tea party member bites the dust.
Don't let the door hit you on the ass on your way out.
It took him 14 days to realise he was beat - he's a bit slow, this guy. Anyway, he's gone and good riddance to him. This means, however, he has more time to spend on Fox "news," but that's OK...it's where he belongs, after all.
Wow another close election, how many is that, the Dumbocrats have won, really is a puzzle how that continues to happen. Any of you "students" of the American election process tell me one, and I'll give you baby bush's "win" in 2000. That go to the Republicks when it is close? Boy I can't think of any, but I sure you Dumbos will.
Man, where did you learn how to write? West Virginia? If I were you, I'd refrain from posting on this blog. You MUST be a Tea Bagger because you have terrible grammar and you can't spell.
Say, Army- kinda early in the morning to be hitting the bottle, innit? Or have you just pulled an all-nighter and are waiting with bated breath (and white knuckles, no doubt) for the corner 7-11 to open so you can replenish your supply of Busch Light?
Dude, 12-step programs really do help some people... and unlike the liberals on First Read, they won't judge you. Good luck, homes.
North GA just nailed it- the so-called 'fiscal conservatives' are another example of the Bizzaro, anti-matter universe where American politics have resided since Son of a Bush, where words mean exactly what the Red Queen wants them to mean, and we are all expected to believe six impossible things before breakfast. "Healthy Forests Initiative", anybody?
Rep. West is certainly a 24k, barking-at-the-moon, bats*** crazy, certifiable loony; however, he's also a conservative darling, in that he represents incontrovertible proof that the GOP is NOT RACIST! (At least in the minds of their top strategists he does. How the voters of his district felt is now a settled issue.) That means he is a very well-heeled lunatic; and in America, there's almost no limit to how far a nut case with lots of money can go.
On the one hand, I can confidently predict that we've not heard the last of Col. West, the latest incarnation of General Jack D. Ripper. On the other hand, history shows us that guys like him are always undone by their sense of their own omnipotence and indispensibility, and it usually doesn't take long to catch up with them.
Allen West will be caught misappropriating funds from his huge campaign war chest, and/or will be caught with an underage 'rent boy' in the loading dock of a 24-hour WinnDixie. If that man manages to make it to Election Day 2016 without having been scuppered by some sort of revolting scandal, I will fly to D.C. and will kiss his ass at high noon on the Capitol steps. (I'm planning to be there anyway for the Clinton/Cantwell inaugural bash.)
Peace!
He may get a talk show at Fox, but there is an interesting dynamic at play. Fox likes the Tea Baggers because they get people angry, and angry people tune in to them. But the GOP doesn't like the Tea Party, because they are wacko and drive voters away.
Fox and the GOP now have fundamentally different motives. I wonder how that will play out. Will Fox changes, and kick off the wackos, and become more sane but more boring? Or will Fox and the GOP divide, and Fox run more people like Herman Cain who openly discuss the idea of a third party because the GOP has let them down?
Another Tea Bagger bites the dust. You idiot, if you think those raceist people were going to fight for you. You were a token hoping you can help them get black votes. That plan failed just like the plan they tried four years ago by having a black in charge of the Repuiblic National Party. That plan failed. It goes to show you those raceist TYea Baggers are dumb and desperate. They MUST show genuine sincerity and embrace minorities, quers, latino's, gays, and women. They can't find it in their prejudice hearts. Well they better wise up because women are on the move to regain the House in 2014 and Hillary will be elected in 2016.
You know, I don't like West either and agree he is really toxic, but wouldn't it be more effective and much nicer to acknowledge he is out and move forward instead of cackling and making fun of him? Just a thought...
That idiot betrayed his own race for some Tea Baggers.
Finally, your fever is breaking Florida! Just don't pick another one just like the one you got rid of or a lobotomy is in order. It took too long to crowbar this booger out of his seat.