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SSP Daily Digest: 9/28

by: Crisitunity

Mon Sep 28, 2009 at 2:11 PM EDT


A weirdly Senate-free version of the Digest...

• IL-Gov: State Rep. Jack Franks, a Democrat from exurban McHenry County, was a loud and frequent Rod Blagojevich critic, and he was considering parlaying that into a run in the Illinois governor's primary against incumbent Pat Quinn. Franks just decided against it, though. (He does sound like he's going for higher office in 2012, including a possible run against Rep. Don Manzullo in IL-16, a low-profile wingnut who's gotten a free pass for almost two decades in a district that just went for Obama.) Meanwhile, Pat Quinn got another key union endorsement, from UNITE HERE's Local 1 (giving him pretty much the big union trifecta, having already gotten the SEIU and Teamsters).

• MI-Gov: I can honestly say I didn't see this coming; businessman Rick Snyder, who's been polling in the low single digits in the GOP gubernatorial primary in Michigan, won a straw poll this weekend at a confab of party insiders on Mackinac Island. Snyder (who looks like he's positioning himself as the 'moderate' in the race) got 31%, while AG Mike Cox and Oakland Co. Sheriff Mike Bouchard each got 24%.

• MN-Gov: Minnesota's Democratic-Farmer-Labor just moved its statewide convention from June to late April. This change appears to be due in part to the expected shift in Minnesota's primary from September to August (or earlier), thanks to a new federal law regarding the date by which absentee ballots for the general election must be mailed. The new convention date probably makes life a bit harder for candidates who are currently members of the state legislature, since the legislative session doesn't end until May 17th, 2010. (D)

• OR-Gov: Up-and-coming Clackamas County Chairwoman Lynn Peterson was the subject of some gubernatorial speculation a few weeks ago, but now she's declared that she won't be running for the Democratic gubernatorial nod next year (despite her Facebook page saying otherwise).

• PA-Gov: AG Tom Corbett got another high-profile (if somewhat stale) endorsement in the GOP gubernatorial contest: Dick Thornburgh, Pennsylvania's former governor and US Attorney General.

• IN-02: GOP St. Rep. Jackie Wolarski (who has earned the sobriquet "Wacky Jackie" for her right-wing views) turned down the NRCC's entreaties for a run against Rep. Joe Donnelly in 2008, leaving them with the woeful Luke Puckett. However, she's sounding more interested about a run in the R+2 2nd for 2010.

• NV-03: Back to the drawing board for the NRCC in Nevada: their touted recruit John Guedry, a deep-pocketed banker who announced his bid last month against freshman Rep. Dina Titus, withdrew from the race over the weekend, citing family concerns. They may turn to former Clark County GOP chair Brian Scroggins instead, who had considered the race. Former state Sen. Joe Heck could be another replacement, but he says he's staying put in the GOP gubernatorial primary.

• NY-14: Our condolences to Rep. Carolyn Maloney and her family; her husband, Clifton Maloney, died while on a climbing expedition in the Himalayas, having just summitted the world's sixth-highest peak.

• NY-23: More trouble for moderate GOP candidate Dede Scozzafava on her right flank: the Club for Growth has endorsed her Conservative opponent, Doug Hoffman (although they'd certainly telegraphed their intents, having released a poll showing him making it a 3-way race). Also, Hoffman got another boost among the social conservative set, via an endorsement from Fred Thompson (of 2008 presidential nap race fame). Democrat Bill Owens isn't wasting any time; he's up with his second TV spot of the campaign already.

• TN-03: Robin Smith, the leading GOP candidate to replace Zach Wamp, is claiming that Barack Obama personally called her "everything from racist to terrorist to extremist". Smith, who served as chair of the Tennessee GOP during the last cycle, gained some previous notoriety for taking a hard run at Michelle Obama. The Smith campaign has yet to issue a retraction. (J)

• WV-01: Rep. Alan Mollohan, long-serving Democrat in northern West Virginia, has easily dispatched GOP opposition in his R+9 district over the decades. In 2010, it looks like he'll face off against state Senate minority whip Clark Barnes. One glitch: although Barnes grew up in the 1st, his Randolph County residence and almost all of his Senate district are in the 2nd.

• Census: Sen. Robert Bennett of Utah -- feeling the heat from the right in his primary -- is introducing legislation to require the Census to ask a citizenship status question for purposes of apportionment. Such a bill is unlikely to gain any traction in a Democratic-controlled Congress.
Crisitunity :: SSP Daily Digest: 9/28
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SSP Daily Digest: 9/28 | 136 comments
It looks like we can win TN-03
The Republicans in TN-03 found there Bill Sali, a Republican who's extreme and unacceptable enough to flip a strongly Republican district to the Democrats.

26, male, Dem, NJ-12
To be really honest
I'd rather have another Bill Sali than another Parker Griffith.  I doubt we will get anything but a very conservative Blue Dog out of TN-3.
[ Parent ]
Ditto.


Follow the elections in Georgia at the 2010 Georgia Race Tracker.
[ Parent ]
Forge that,
having a Bill Sali type in Congress is bad for that person's district and bad for the country. I'd rather have someone who will vote with us 70% of the time than a nut case like Sali. Saying you would prefer a Sali is cutting off your nose to spite your face.
[ Parent ]
You'd rather have a guy
from your own party who thinks that the Speaker belongs in a mental institution?

Fuck that.  If I lived in AL-5, I'd vote for the Repub and w/o holding my nose just to get rid of Griffith. He's a cancer.

[ Parent ]
Sorry,
I am not going to subject any district to a nutcase like Sali; people deserve representatives who will actually do their job, not act like insane nuts. I'm not saying Griffith is great, but he is much better than the alternative. And yes, I would rather have a guy who hates the speaker than a Republican. When we start demanding ideological purity everywhere (and let's be honest we won't get a better Democrat in AL-5), then we are headed back to the minority and none of the progressive priorities we care about have a chance of being advanced, but plenty of steps back for this country will be on the agenda.
[ Parent ]
Actually we can get a better representative
in AL-5.  At least one who shuts his fucking mouth.
[ Parent ]
The Democrats are already the ones who don't do crazy shit
One major difference between a conservative Democrat and a (excuse the euphemism) bat-guano Republican is that the Democrat won't try to force fundie issues.  Maybe he'll talk them, but he won't force them.

party: Democratic, ideology: moderate, district: CT-01
[ Parent ]
Again,
no one paid attention to what Parker Griffith said. While I thought he was out of line, the reality is that district will elect a conservative Democrat if we are lucky.
[ Parent ]
Doesn't matter
he's not welcome in my party.  Period.  You want to trash the Dem Speaker?  Do it as a Repub.  I'm sure Joe Wilson will applaud.

If the best we can do is a very conservative Democrat in AL-5, I would hope we get one who quietly votes no and keep his/her trap closed.  

[ Parent ]
To be fair
Hope you can then understand where Republicans were coming from when they wanted to primary Lincoln Chafee out of office ;). Not saying you dont, though.
[ Parent ]
Yeah I do
Chafee went to little too far on the other side.  Clearly he had to keep a liberal voting record to be elected in RI, but saying that he wouldn't vote for President Bush and the sort in a heated campaign, yeah I can understand why the GOP didn't want him there.

I didn't have this mentality until the last couple years.  The only guys I wanted to really see primaried were Lieberman in 2006 and Dan Boren in 2008, because of their nasty behavior.
But when you're in the majority, you've got to deliver, and those in your own party who do actual badmouthing and obstruction, rather than just opposition, yeah they need to go.

[ Parent ]
Obstructionism, badmouthing of the party
Im definitely with you that it hurts the party and their goals. Whichever party it is. It is one thing to just 'shut up and vote' and quite another to bash your party and vote. It does make me scratch my head why some people want to be a member of a party if all they can do, at least in the media, is attack their own party. But they do seem to be less of those these days.  
[ Parent ]
Depends
how many guys like that do we have to spare before we end up in the minority again?

[ Parent ]
There aren't that many
to put us in the minority.  Gerrymandering in California in 2012 will make up for the handful of assholes we can kick out of our caucus.
[ Parent ]
But where are you going to draw the line
Once you start pushing some out for not being ideologically pure enough, where does it end?
[ Parent ]
I'm not pushing them out
for not being ideologically pure.  I'm for kicking Parker Griffith out for being a fucking asshole who undermines the party.
[ Parent ]
Agreed.
And cancer like Bright, Minnick, Marshall, Ross, Barrow, Griffith, etc. need to be cut away before further damage is done to the organism(s).  Those organisms being the U.S. and the Democratic Party.

Follow the elections in Georgia at the 2010 Georgia Race Tracker.
[ Parent ]
You push
those Reps out and we get more conservative Republican nut jobs in Congress and let's be honest its the nutjobs (Bachmann, Palin) who have done the most to slow down healthcare reform because their wild, untrue accusations scare people. People in Griffith's district probably don't know about his Pelosi comment, but people across the country have heard the about Death Panels. If we want our agenda advanced, then we cannot let right wing hacks gain seats to give them a sense of legitimacy. Most of these guys I don't see how they are a cancer; they simply have worked to protect the interest of their districts, which they should be doing.
[ Parent ]
I'll take the cobra outside my house in the jungle than the cottonmouth inside my house.
Yeah, the cobra's bite is deadlier, but everyone is on the lookout for it's bite (or smart enough to stay out of the jungle).  On the other hand, you expect to be secure in your house, but when you least expect it, you get bitten.  And I'll most certainly take a jungle with more cobras than a house with more cottonmouths.

...let's be honest its the nutjobs (Bachmann, Palin) who have done the most to slow down healthcare reform because their wild, untrue accusations scare people.

That's not true.  Palin literally has no power in Congress.  And Bachmann is a member of a party that is numerically powerless (other than block a constitutional amendment).  No, it was the Blue Dogs and the DLCers that have slowed down healthcare, through their recalcitrance on the committees and threats of continuing that on the floor.  Were Democrats to vote like Democrats, this bill would have been passed months ago and we could have been spared all of the bullshit that has come to fruition.

Instead, the Blue Dogs and DLCers and other corporatists (and chicken shit Democrats) have stalled and stalled.  This is allowed Palin and Bachmann and Grassley and so on to say the very bullshit you're talking about.  It's allowed the Republican base to get fired up again and given the Republicans an opportunity to feed into that base.  On the other hand, our base has become more disaffected, less willing to turn out, to volunteer, to donate.  Obama has been caught in a media narrative of ineffectiveness.

And furthemore, if things continue down this path, with their base hyped up and ours disenchanted, and with Obama looking less credible, who are going to be the low hanging fruits?  Many will be these very same Blue Dogs/DLCers.  So, the Democratic Party now has more seats to defend against a more hyped up challenge with fewer resources and an unhappy base (not to mention, the inability to show what's improved).  In the process, we could end up losing good, more progressive Democratic such as Carol Shea-Porter, Tom Periello, Steven Kagen, etc. because we've stretched ourselves too thin in order to try to protect terrible Democrats like Bobby Bright, Jim Marshall, etc.

Not to mention, the Blue Dog stalling has further stalled when the benefits of the healthcare bill will be felt.  The earlier, the better.

If we want our agenda advanced, then we cannot let right wing hacks gain seats to give them a sense of legitimacy.

They've already been given legitimacy by the media, and the general opposition is further given merit when members of our own party are going against Democratic policy initiatives, regurgitating right-wing talking points,

they simply have worked to protect the interest of their districts

Poll after poll has shown the public option to be popular, including in the districts of some Blue Dogs/DLCers who are the most recalcitrant.  Had the Blue Dogs actually stepped up, they could have worked to explain the general Obama/Democratic objectives and keep the well from getting poisoned by the crazies you mentioned earlier.  Instead, they let the well get poisoned (or poisoned it themselves).

Not to mention, most Blue Dogs' districts would benefit greatly from a public option and healthcare reform in general.

It's time to stop making excuses for the Blue Dogs/DLCers.  

Follow the elections in Georgia at the 2010 Georgia Race Tracker.

[ Parent ]
Not sure Blue Dogs
Have much at all to do with Democratic lethargy. More to do with people think they did their bit in 2006 and 2008. While Repubs are energized. Just the natural course of things.
[ Parent ]
Certainly not helping
While you have a point, the stalling and fears of being thrown under the bus (or not getting anything at all) have certainly not helped keep Democratic attention and/or has turned apathy into antipathy.  Had our party members in Congress stood up and taken the fight to the Republicans on healthcare (among other things), it could have recharged our base, too, by making it a partisan/ideological fight.  Instead, there's a feeling that neither party cares.

Follow the elections in Georgia at the 2010 Georgia Race Tracker.
[ Parent ]
A lot to respond to here
    First, it doesn't matter if these nutjobs don't have power in Congress, by virtue of their position they can influence the public's opinion, which they have done successfully. The Blue Dogs have fought to change the healthcare bill in ways that are beneficial to their districts (not having payment tied to the Medicare structure being the biggest example). The Blue Dogs wanted a delay to sell the public on the bill, which appears to have gotten some positive results after Obama through his weight behind the bill.
    On a major bill like this we should expect disagreements in our caucus; the members represent very different constituencies. To expect everyone to go lockstep is a dangerous idea. Some of the changes the Blue Dogs have proposed are good for the bill, so I refuse to blame them for efforts to improve the bill. I may not agree with everything they want, but we should not blame them for trying to make changes they feel are important.
[ Parent ]
Irrelevant
If Michelle Bachmann and Joe Wilson are not spreading that shit, then Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck will be.
[ Parent ]
The fact
that they are elected officials gives them a sense of credibility, so it is much worse when a member of Congress goes off saying these insane things.  
[ Parent ]
Not really
Who do you think more people pay attention to: the Limbaughs/Hannities/Becks/Dobbses/O'Reillies of the world or the likes of Bachmann/Wilson/etc.?  Who do you think has more effect on national public opinion?

Follow the elections in Georgia at the 2010 Georgia Race Tracker.
[ Parent ]
Elected officials
carry a stronger message because the media will cover what they say. Everyone (dropping the hardcore Republicans who have drunk the Kool-Aid) knows the talk radio types are insane. They simply preach to the choir and people know they will say outlandish things. People view members of Congress as credible sources.
[ Parent ]
They media covers itself far more.
Again, Beck/Hannity/etc five days a week for a couple of hours vs. Bachmann/Schmidt/King/etc for a fifteen second soundbyte or the occaisional interview.

Follow the elections in Georgia at the 2010 Georgia Race Tracker.
[ Parent ]
Again
they preach to the choir, Just look at Beck et al.'s demographics. Members of Congress end up on real news, where people assume they must be making true points. That makes them more dangerous.
[ Parent ]
Whew
I'm glad there are still some on here who understand that concept. I'd love for there to be more Gene Taylors and Jim Marshalls, but I realize there are certain areas in the country where a liberal Democrat is the only thing that will work, hence the coalition within our party.

Those who advocate an all or nothing approach (ie: you vote the liberal/conservative way everytime or we primary you) within both parties are doing nothing but messing up any chance at getting something done. Sadly these people continue ignoring the realities of politics while at the same time purposely destroying a hard fought majority.  

[ Parent ]
I totally agree that ideological purity doesn't help things.
Oh gawd, another "primary the blue dogs" minithread.

I'll quote someone on this issue: more and better Dems.

It's far easier to change someone's mind if they "start" on your side already, even if they don't agree with your side yet.

Not to mention, the national appearance of Democrats having large majorities in Congress further reinforces the fact that the Republicans have dug themselves into a hole.

Finally, I can't believe that any Democrat here would actually be willing to vote for someone like Sali or Bachmann.  Gilchrest, Simpson, Crist, and these days, maybe even Inglis, sure.  But not Sali or Bachmann.

party: Democratic, ideology: moderate, district: CT-01

[ Parent ]
Simpson?
Who are you referring to...Mike Simpson of Idaho or Colin Simpson, the Speaker of the Wyoming House? I'm assuming you don't mean Colin's father, former U.S. Senator Alan Simpson, who, every time he's quoted somewhere, sounds way too sane for a Republican from Wyoming.
[ Parent ]
I forgot about Alan Simpson, actually
and I don't know what Colin Simpson is like at all.

I was referring to Mike Simpson, who sounds like he's somewhat sane--at least, sane enough to get the Republican base to consider hating his guts.

party: Democratic, ideology: moderate, district: CT-01

[ Parent ]
Frankly if I lived in AL-5
and Dick Cheney, Rush Limbaugh or Glenn Beck moved into the district and ran against Griffith, I'd vote for any of the former.
[ Parent ]
Then perhaps you and I are not on the same page.
Even if Zell Miller were the Democrat, I might vote for a sane Republican alternative, or not vote at all for a standard-fare Republican.

However, against people who are patently evil or insane (or both), I'd rather take the slightly-sane asshole.  That means voting for Zell over Cheney.

party: Democratic, ideology: moderate, district: CT-01

[ Parent ]
No we're not
but I can respect and understand your viewpoint.  Although I do not concede that Zell is "slightly sane"...
[ Parent ]
There was a time
when Zell was sane, but something happened when he went to the Senate.
[ Parent ]
Ain't that the truth
When he was governor, he instituted the state college tuition plan that has put me (mostly) through college, until the Republicans fucked with it and capped the number of hours at a very low number.  Unfortunately, when he got to the Senate, he decided to wash his hands in the blood of American troops and bankrupt the country.

Follow the elections in Georgia at the 2010 Georgia Race Tracker.
[ Parent ]
On a personal level
I actually like him. I was at the Summer Olympics in 96 and me (when I was only 14) and my dad went to the state Capitol and visited his office. He was kind enough to actually meet us and take a picture with us. And this was in the days after the terrorist attack. He could have made any excuse in the world to not meet 'tourists'. Its not like we were potential Zell Miller voters. Very classy of him to do, and, for that, I dont have a personal problem with him at all. Politically, hes a little to my right Id say (and I consider myself a moderate).  
[ Parent ]
That college tuition plan
Seems to be something that worked, at least early on. Perhaps in a couple years Obama can consider something like that on a national scale. As college tuition costs are amongst the most important issues facing our country. Its got to be addressed and something needs to be done about it. Now, a national lotto system, to help fund it (like GA does), would be controversial but, as a social libertarian, I certainly have no problem with it. And it he gets this issue fixed then it will not only help him but help his own party tremendously. I think even moreso than health care reform, IMO.
[ Parent ]
I think he'd run into problems with that.
Beyond the anti-gambling crap, he'd run into opposition from states not wanting competition for their lotteries.  According to Wikipedia, all but seven states have lotteries.

Follow the elections in Georgia at the 2010 Georgia Race Tracker.
[ Parent ]
Competition
That is a good point, too, along with the anti-gambling sentiment (or fears of certain interest groups, rather). Many local politicians, even Dems, will oppose a national lottery for fear of competition. But I dont know of any other way to pay for such an ambitious college tuition plan. Although I would limit the funding for those who arent rich, unless they come from a big family (but if youre family makes millions, for example, then that shouldnt apply) or can provide proof that they arent exactly on good terms with mom & dad. And a good way to prevent parents from lying (lying so they can save thousands of dollars) is by making them testifying under oath.  
[ Parent ]
I still haven't decided
I haven't decided if I would actually go that far to vote Republican, but I certainly wouldn't vote for the likes of Griffith, etc, and would cheer for his defeat.

Follow the elections in Georgia at the 2010 Georgia Race Tracker.
[ Parent ]
Griffith
His predecessor Bud Cramer was certainly alot more respected by average Democrats. It is always a possibility he could be replaced by someone like Cramer. Sometime in the future. Cramer was popular in his district so a fellow 'Cramer Democrat' might be popular too as their Rep. Only problem is: Its not completely as simple as that. Sometimes it takes years for voters to 'ignore' the "faults" of their representative (whether its being too liberal or too conservative or pro-life or pro-choice or not 'maverick' enough or whatever). And, in the meantime, when trying to get there, they could get booted from office. But who knows...its always possible a Cramer-like Representative could be popular and accepted early on.
[ Parent ]
Cramer started out as a liberal
who voted for gun control and abortion rights as well as liberal economic programs.  Then he nearly got booted in 1994, and he moved sharply to the right.  

So the difference between Cramer and Griffith is huge.  Griffith is really a Dixiecrat, while Cramer was being conservative enough to avoid being booted out.  I'm pretty sure that Griffith voted for McCain and Cramer voted for Obama.

[ Parent ]
Sometimes there is some addition in subtraction
And what I mean is that a guy who denounces our leadership is not helping our caucus.  His views could always taint others within the caucus, and that's not good.  Luckily, Griffith is only a freshman and has little if any influence over other reps, but given time he could be a major thorn in our back.

40, male, Democrat, NC-04
[ Parent ]
You're preaching to the choir
You should read my posts on Griffith here, I have clearly stated that if I lived in AL-5, I would even vote for Dick Cheney, Rush Limbaugh, or Glenn Beck over Parker Griffith.

AL-5 is one seat that I'll be cheering for the Repub.

[ Parent ]
LOL
there are a few dems we could live without, for sure...

40, male, Democrat, NC-04
[ Parent ]
And I'll paraphrase myself from above: I'd rather have the cobra in the jungle than the cottonmouth in my house.
...ideological purity doesn't help things.

I disagree profusely.  I think ideological purity, as tarnished as that phrase is, or at least something closer to that than we have now helps greatly.  It gives a clearer platform, a clearer objective, a clearer narrative.  It cuts down on distracting "Democrats in disarray" narratives.  It cuts down on giving the Republicans bipartisan cover.

In fact, ideological heterodoxy can be devasting.  The Whigs crumbled precisely because they were too disparate.  And becoming another party that stands for the same thing as the other, or yields the same result is likewise devasting.

The fact is most people expect there to be a difference between the parties.  Whether it's said or not, Democrats are expected to be the party that helps the common person, the party that fights for equality for women and gays, etc.  When we have Democrats fighting against improving healthcare or extending or against equal pay for woman or FOR banning marriage equality, that negates the promise of a Democratic victory and a Democratic majority.

Not to mention, the national appearance of Democrats having large majorities in Congress further reinforces the fact that the Republicans have dug themselves into a hole.

And the inability of those huge majorities to pass healthcare reform, card check, climate change legislation, and confirm many appointees has caused much of the Democratic base to become disenchanted, has allowed the Republican base to become refired, has allowed the Republican apparatus to tap into that fired up base, has alienated swing voters, and has cast Obama as ineffective.  The net result is now we're on defense more than we were before.

Follow the elections in Georgia at the 2010 Georgia Race Tracker.

[ Parent ]
It's a balance
Requiring all Democrats to be social democrat/greens would end any chance for the party to run any branch of the Federal government for the foreseeable future, unfortunately, because it is in large measure a pro-corporate party, at the elected and particularly Federal elected level. On the other hand, it is true that there remained a conservative wing of the Republican Party after Goldwater was drubbed, and that wing eventually elected Reagan twice and Bush I in the bargain - with all the harm it brought the country. I think the lesson isn't that all Democrats have to be socialist-leaning liberals, but that it was wrong and stupid for Democratic presidential candidates (I'm talking about you, Mr. Dukakis) to try to hide from the "liberal" label instead of giving full-throated paeans to the fact that all social progress in this country has been due to liberals.

"I'm not a member of any organized political party, I'm a Democrat!"
--  Will Rogers  
[ Parent ]
You are also the same guy
who thought it would be a great thing in the long run for the Dems if they kicked out the Progressive Caucus.
[ Parent ]
...do we really need the harsh arguing going around here?
I would appreciate a nice, thoughtful strategy discussion about whether progressive legislation will be better served with Republican or with Blue Dogs holding conservative seats.

party: Democratic, ideology: moderate, district: CT-01
[ Parent ]
In general no we do not
but I'm not going to give someone who wants more Gene Taylors and Jim Marshalls but claims to be for a big tent and has a history of desiring to kick out progressives out of the party a pass.  I wouldn't have thrown that punch (which I admit was harsh) to basically anyone else.  

But I agree that you bring up a good debate we should have.  And while I take a strong position with regard to loudmouths like Parker Griffiths, I'm willing to consider the opposite position to those who vote against our agenda but otherwise are not a thorn.  

[ Parent ]
Sali
If they have their Bill Sali then who is our Minnick?  

17, Gay Male, Democrat, NJ-8  
we'll find him/her
There has got to be a well-respected Democratic state legislator somewhere in that district.

26, male, Dem, NJ-12
[ Parent ]
Not much of a bench
There's one state senator in the entire district and a few state reps, mostly from the Chattanooga area.
[ Parent ]
Paula Flowers is in the race
She's actually a really good fit for the district, as she has a lot of ties to the local business community (especially in renewable energy) and she used to be the state Insurance Commissioner.  I haven't seen her fundraising totals yet, but she could put this race on the map if an ideologue like Robin Smith is nominated.
[ Parent ]
FL-Sen
For what it's worth, George Will predicts Rubio beats Crist
http://www.washingtonpost.com/...
I have some respect for Will
when he writes about baseball.  The book "Men at Work" is worth checking out at your local library.  He makes some pretty neat observations about managing a baseball team (my first true love...I'm an old ex-baseball Centerfielder who now plays in a Church Softball league).

Regarding politics, Will sometimes "out-thinks" the political environment.  Crist has the name recognition, and he's been very popular (albeit waning since the economic meltdown).  I actually would vote for Crist because he did support Obama's stimulus package.  That takes a lot of guts for a Southern GOP Governor to go against his party.  

When it come down to it, when the GOP primary is held, Rubio will be shown for what he is...an ultra conservative.  Crist will play towards the middle and will probably win the nomination fairly easily.  

If Rubio somehow wins the nomination, I think Meek will pull it out.  However, that is not a given, so at this time I hope Crist wins his party's nomination so we won't have another crazy-whack Republican on our hands.

40, male, Democrat, NC-04

[ Parent ]
Nah, it's Crist's to lose
If he runs a stellar campaign, perhaps Rubio can keep it within twenty, but Florida's Republican base skews older (over half who voted in the '08 Prez Primary were 65+), over 1/3 are self-described moderate/liberal Republicans, and less than 1/10 of the GOP base is of Cuban descent. It's going to be very, very hard folr Rubio to kick these problems to the curb.

For daily political commentary, visit me at http://polibeast.blogspot.com/ and http://twitter.com/polibeast
[ Parent ]
Upsets happen, and Crist could be the next one...
If Will is right about the race being decided by 450,000 voters, then Rubio's chances are quite good.   I find it a little hard to believe the number would be THAT low. Will is not to be taken too lightly though.  

 

[ Parent ]
???
I stated that Crist should win the nomination pretty easy.

I was only stating that if for some reason Rubio pulls the upset, he would probably lose to Meek, but nothing is a sure thing.  I agree that the the Republican base is not as conservative as many of the other Southern states, so your other point is quite valid.

40, male, Democrat, NC-04

[ Parent ]
Rubio/Meek would be a fascinating one...
...but I suspect Rubio would probably still win. Especially if Corrine Brown beats up on Meek in a Primary.

For daily political commentary, visit me at http://polibeast.blogspot.com/ and http://twitter.com/polibeast
[ Parent ]
That would be the worst of both worlds
As far as quality Republicans go, Crist is near the top of my list nationwide.  He's proven to me over and again that he's not a nutcase.  Rubio has proven to me that he's very conservative and could be swayed easily by the crazy whacks in the GOP Party.

I hope like hell that Corrine Brown doesn't get the nomination over Meek.  Corrine has been involved in some serious ethics investigations before, plus she has made some reckless statements, calling the George W. Bush administration as being racist and a "bunch of white men".  I don't think Condy Rice is a white man, and I don't believe that the bulk of George W. Bush's administration was racist.  Their policies were obviously bad for the bulk of the US Population, but to me that was a reckless statement.  Remarks like that paint her in a bad light.  I also don't think she's electable in Florida.

I'm hoping that Crist wins the GOP nomination, and that Meek wins the Democratic nomination.  Crist will probably handle Meek fairly easy, but there is always a chance that Crist's campaign will falter and that Meek's campaign will be stellar.

40, male, Democrat, NC-04

[ Parent ]
Agreed
But then Crist has gone a bit overboard lately talking about Obama losing in 2012 like Jimmy Carter in 1980. Because this isn't the change we voted for or something like that. No mention of course that the orange one supported much of that change until he decided to take on Rubio. Personally, I think as with most things Repubs have their analogies all backward - they think they are in for 1980/1994 repeat. More likely they get something analogous to the Carter midterm and the Reagan re-election in reverse IMO.
[ Parent ]
GW Bush "won" the 2000 election
and "won" "reelection" in 2004 by systematically suppressing the votes of black, duly registered voters. If that isn't a racist policy, I don't know what is.

"I'm not a member of any organized political party, I'm a Democrat!"
--  Will Rogers  
[ Parent ]
Got any proof that it came directly from the Bush Administration?
There's a big difference between the Bush administration and people sympathetic to the Bush administration.  

I've never seen any proof that it came directly from the Bush Administration.

40, male, Democrat, NC-04

[ Parent ]
You're aware
that the firings of Federal prosecutors were due to the fired prosecutors' unwillingness to conduct illegal vote-suppression? If not, read this Editorial as a brief introduction:

Phony Fraud Charges

There's way, way more where that came from. For example, Greg Palast has covered vote-suppression extensively:

Bush's New US Attorney a Criminal?

For a much more extensive treatment, read through this whole interview, or as much of it as you like:

Investigative Journalist Greg Palast Reports on the Firing of New Mexico Attorney David Iglesias

Denying black voters and other voters who are members of minorities their right to vote is not only a racist policy, but a bedrock, unreconstructedly racist policy.

"I'm not a member of any organized political party, I'm a Democrat!"
--  Will Rogers  

[ Parent ]
Sorry about the excessive bolding
This part is not a link: "For a much more extensive treatment, read through this whole interview, or as much of it as you like:"

"I'm not a member of any organized political party, I'm a Democrat!"
--  Will Rogers  
[ Parent ]
Thanks
That's actually pretty good evidence that the Bush Administration tolerated attempts to suppress minority voters.  I have no tolerance for acts like that.  Guys like Karl Rove should be waterboarded by Jesse "the Body" Ventura.  Rove is such a dick.

Anyway, thanks for the info.  I still believe it's wreckless for Rep. Brown to call the Bush administration as a racist group and a bunch of white men.  Comments like that really doesn't serve its purpose in a grandiose manner like that.  I'd have no problems if she identified specific individuals within the Bush Administration and call them out, but to stereotype all of the Bush Administration in that way should not be tolerated.  Feel free to disagree with me...I like hearing what you say because you add some gray hair and a Northern perspective to the dialogue.

40, male, Democrat, NC-04

[ Parent ]
I agree that she painted with slightly too broad a brush
After all, there were also black Bushites who supported the racist vote-suppression for depraved, un-self-respecting partisan reasons. So instead of calling them all racist white males, she should have simply said they were engaged in a racist, felonious vote-suppression campaign that had enabled them to steal two presidential elections. That's no better, but more accurate.

I enjoy discussions with you, but don't blame me for your gray hairs and I won't blame you for mine. Deal? :-)

"I'm not a member of any organized political party, I'm a Democrat!"
--  Will Rogers  

[ Parent ]
That's a deal dude!
I was lucky that I have good genetics.  My hair is still pretty much black with only a few gray hairs (14 years of marriage and 1 eight-year old will put a few in anyone's head).  I won't blame you for my gray hairs!


40, male, Democrat, NC-04
[ Parent ]
Owens is certainly
on-the-ball in this race.  I didn't think much of our chances here when I first got a look at the candidates, but with his strong start and Hoffman running interference, things are really looking up.
Minnesota Primary Date
I hope Minnesota changes its primary date to May or early June, rather than August; summer primaries often have extremely low turnouts.
Primaries mean little in MN
Most candidates drop out after the convention if they lose the endorsement.
[ Parent ]
Unfortunately, that's true.

[ Parent ]
actually primaries sometimes mean a lot in MN
In 1978 pro-life businessman Bob Short beat endorsed Congressman Don Fraser and was then easily dispatched in the general by Dave Durenberger.  In 1994, the party endorsed liberal firebrand John Marty, who then barely beat Mike Hatch in the primary.  In 1998 the party endorsed Hennepin County Attorney and son of a Governor Mike Freeman.  He was then clobbered 2-1 by state AG and son of a Senator Skip Humphrey in the primary.  In 2000 the party endorsed Jerry Janezich for Senator, who was then blown out by former State Auditor Mark Dayton in the primary.  He eventually won the general.

In 2010, the money is on former Minority Leader Matt Entenza and possibly former Senator Mark Dayton running in a primary against the endorsed candidate.  And it is also believed that at least one and possibly both will spend a considerable amount of money on a primary campaign.

Candidates drop out when the party endorses the biggest and best funded name (Hatch, Klobuchar, Franken) and they see no way to beat the endorsee.

[ Parent ]
Which is what happens the vast majority of the time
The only time the primary matters is if the loser of the primary has the funds and/or name ID to rally the troops after the convention and there's enough dissatisfaction with the nominee.  I wouldn't be surprised if a couple of competitors for the gubernatorial nod continue after the convention is over given how messy the field is, but again you just named candidates that have both money and ID.  I don't think you can really say that a primaries "matter a lot" in the state when you cherry-pick examples that only occured a few times over the past three decades and were due in large part to the challenger having a ton of resources at his or her disposal.  They certainly don't matter as much in states that aren't dominated by conventions (read: almost everywhere else).  And if a candidate like RT Rybak or Chris Coleman wins the convention, the state party will try to shove out anyone who tries to drag out the primary, especially if it's folks who've worn out their welcome with Democrats like Entenza or Dayton.
[ Parent ]
i pointed out many examples
and i did not cherry-pick.  to put it simply, since 1994, there have been 7 open senate or governor seats in MN and in 4 the endorsed candidate had a walk to the general and in 3 cases the primary was hotly contested.  in 2 cases the unendorsed candidate won the primary easily.

and yes, the only way a candidate can win a primary against an endorsed candidate is if they have money and ID.  and this year, it looks like candidates with money and ID are going to run in the primary so it means this year it WILL MEAN A LOT.

everywhere else, only candidates with money or ID win primaries.  at least in MN a candidate can come from less money and ID and win with an endorsement - paul wellstone being the notable example.

[ Parent ]
Bob Short Trivia
Back in 1972, Bob Short was the most despised man in D.C.  Republicans and Democrats despised him equally.  Does anyone know why?

40, male, Democrat, NC-04
[ Parent ]
Harry Reid's doppelganger?

[ Parent ]
Think about Baseball
And no, it's not about George Will.

40, male, Democrat, NC-04
[ Parent ]
Answer
Bob Short was the owner of the Washington Senators.  His club left town to become the Texas Rangers.

40, male, Democrat, NC-04
[ Parent ]
She will need
To do better than last quarter.  
For DFLer
In regard to Paula Flowers.
[ Parent ]
Thanks for the update

[ Parent ]
NY-23 has become "exhibit A" for why contested primaries can be good
With NY's special election rules having no primary election phase, the Repub intra-party divisions haven't gotten ironed out before the final election.
Our guy Owens now has a real chance to slip by and win.  
"Five Most Vulnerable House Seats"
Taegan Goddard's Political Wire has a summary of a longer "Monday Fix" article in the Washington Post that predicts that the following seats are most likely to flip:

5. IL-10 (Kirk/open)
4. NM-02 (Teague)
3. NY-23 (McHugh/open)
2. LA-03 (Melancon/open)
1. LA-01 (Cao)

I think we can all agree that Cao is very unlikely to win another election in LA-01, but I don't agree with 2-4 on the list. Where is Minnick? He's the most obvious omission.

Your opinions?

"I'm not a member of any organized political party, I'm a Democrat!"
--  Will Rogers  

DE-AL is also a gimme
Castle has indicated he's either running for Senate or retiring.  Though he could just as easily change his mind and run for re-election, the longer time goes by, the less likely I think it is he runs for anything.

PA-06 should also be an easy pickup without Gerlach in the mix.  I also strongly suspect Bill Young finally retires in FL-10 (giving us an easy pickup in an Obama district), but that would be premature for an official prediction.

As for the top GOP targets, I really don't see LA-03 being any worse than a tossup.  But I guess a tossup is their best bet because I don't believe any Dem districts are truly GOP-leaning at the moment.  I also think they're overestimating Steve Pierce's ability to just come back and get his old seat, considering how good a fit Teague is there (and how easily he won the open seat).

Minnick should probably be at the top of their list, just by nature of them running a non-crazy candidate this time.

[ Parent ]
You don't think any Democratic-held districts are truly GOP-leaning?
Including Minnick's district?

"I'm not a member of any organized political party, I'm a Democrat!"
--  Will Rogers  
[ Parent ]
If I had to put money on it
I honestly wouldn't know how to bet on Minnick.  I can see him losing.  But I could easily see him winning another term, he's done everything right for a freshman in a tough district, his fundraising is excellent, he's getting cross-party support, and so far he faces a bunch of second-tier candidates.  It won't be as favorable a climate for Dems next year, but then again there won't be the presidential turnout wave working against Minnick either.

They said Chet Edwards was a goner too.  The question is whether Minnick is another Chet Edwards or a Nick Lampson.

[ Parent ]
Which Republicans have endorsed Minnick for reelection?
If any, that is. When you say "cross-party support," do you mean in opinion polls or by politicians or both?

"I'm not a member of any organized political party, I'm a Democrat!"
--  Will Rogers  
[ Parent ]
hmm
Former US Senator Steve Symms headlined a fundraiser for Minnick in April.  I thought there was some more recently, but I wasn't able to find anything.

I may have been thinking about during his campaign against Sali, when he had a whole bunch of local GOP officials and donors on his side.  However, with Sali as nuts as he is that's not quite as notable.

I'll keep an eye out for more, and I'm sure Minnick will announce some in the coming year.  His entire campaign strategy seems to be to get as many Republicans to vote for him as possible, regardless of how his district's Democrats feel.

[ Parent ]
That probably a smart strategy
given the very Republican tilt of the district.

"I'm not a member of any organized political party, I'm a Democrat!"
--  Will Rogers  
[ Parent ]
Speaking of Castle, I wonder what's taking him so long
to make up his mind?
I read some speculation that he's waiting for Biden's decision on the Senate race. But would that really much affect Castle's decision whether or not to go it?

I don't see him running for reelection, though. At this point in his long career, it can't be that wonderful spending more years in the House minority.

[ Parent ]
There was some suggestion
He was waiting for Beau because he thinks he can beat him easiest. But I don't believe it.
[ Parent ]
I don't buy that.
Who else is there?  Sure, Delaware's got plenty of Democrats, but none of them will have access to the kinds of resources that Beau would/will.  The national party will go all-out for him, for the simple reason that a loss would be (rightly) taken as an embarassment for the Administration.
[ Parent ]
Agreed
We'll get a decent pointer from his fundraising in the next week or so. I'm truly on the fence.
[ Parent ]
I've actually heard...
...Mike Castle will only run if Beau Biden does NOT throw his hat in the race.

For daily political commentary, visit me at http://polibeast.blogspot.com/ and http://twitter.com/polibeast
[ Parent ]
Someone said it best here
Couple months ago - after the Kaufman appointment Beau had BETTER throw his hat in.
[ Parent ]
I really don't think Teague is that vulnerable
He's vulnerable, sure, but I'd be much more worried about people like Kratovil, Bright, Griffith, and Minnick.  I think if the Republicans could convince Andy Harris to stand down and let Pipkin be the nominee this time, Kratovil would be a goner.

For the Republicans, I think Gerlach's seat is more likely to flip this time than Kirk's is, even though they scored a huge recruit in PA.

The Crolian Progressive: as great an adventure as ever I heard of...

[ Parent ]
Harry Teague
I wouldn't underestimate Steve Pearce's ability to make a comeback and win back his old seat.

Teague may have won the open seat by a large margin, but he had Obama's coattails last year; right off the bat, lower turnout will probably make this a more competitive race. Also remember that Teague had to outspend Tinsley, who has never held political office, last year by a considerable amount in order to get the margin of victory that he did.  

[ Parent ]
Neither estimate under or over
I think tossup is a fair rating. Along with Kratovil, Bright, Griffith, Minnick, Perriello and Melancon (Open). I think those are the top five most at risk.
[ Parent ]
I can't count
6, 7 including Teague.
[ Parent ]
Maybe
If Harris is the nominee, Kratovil really goes down in the list.  Perriello will be high on the list provided that the GOP comes up with a decent opponent.  Unfortunately, I'm not sure Griffith is that vulnerable (I hope and think he'll lose, but not sure he's top five).  Bright, Minnick, and LA-3 are justified as at risk.

Here's my list (assuming Harris is the nominee in MD-1 and the Repubs come up with a decent nominee in VA-5):

1. LA-3
2. AL-2
3. VA-5
4. ID-1
5. MS-1
6. AL-5
7. TX-17
8. GA-8
9. NM-2
10.MD-1

[ Parent ]
Chet?
Really? Worth keeping an eye on but not in my top ten.

1.  Melancon (Open)
2.  Minnick
3.  Bright
4.  Kratovil
5.  Perriello
6.  Griffith
7.  Teague
8.  Sestak (Open)
9.  Hodes (Open)
10. Childers

Then some order of Kilroy, Shea-Porter, Massa, Markey, Kosmas, Carney, Driehaus, Grayson, Kissell, Marshall, Foster, Schauer, Hall, Murphy (NY), Arcuri, Nye, Kagen, Titus, Edwards, Kirkpatrick, Mitchell, Giffords, Dahlkemper. Beyond those is quite a stretch and would need to be truly 1994 redux.

[ Parent ]
Yes
As I have stated repeatedly, I believe that 2010 will be 1994-redux in the South because of near perfect turnout of birthers, teabaggers, and deathers, and incumbent protection to pro-Democratic outside of the South.  
[ Parent ]
one comment
the birthers, teabaggers, and deathers (aka, the Palin crowd) were out in force in 2008 too, but that didn't save them.  The only thing that can really hurt us next year would be if independents and moderates turn strongly pro-GOP.  I haven't seen that yet.
[ Parent ]
It did in the South
where in many states Obama did worse than Kerry among white voters, even in Georgia.
I'm predicting a 1994 in the South, and pro-incumbent outside the South.  If Palinistas turn out in huge numbers in the South, several Democrats will lose there.
[ Parent ]
No, it didn't
That is, didn't help the Republicans win lots of House seats.

"I'm not a member of any organized political party, I'm a Democrat!"
--  Will Rogers  
[ Parent ]
Dixiecrats
I'm sure that almost everyone who voted for Strom Thurmond when he ran on the Dixiecrat third party line in 1948 voted against Obama in 2008. In fact, I'm sure that almost everyone who voted for Barry Goldwater when the Republicans took the Dixiecrat states in 1964, after the passage of the Civil Rights Act, voted against Obama in 2008. Those still living, that is. But the Grim Reaper keeps harvesting those Dixiecrat voters, about 2% a year, more or less.

Of course, in some districts the younger generation still carries the flag of the Dixiecrat movement. In other areas, not so much. I agree the Palinists will turn out in force. Just don't know how many they will be where it matters.

OTOH In 2008, blacks were registered and encouraged to take advantage of early voting in N.C. and GA and elsewhere. We may not know how motivated they'll be to vote in 2010 until next October. The ugliness of the Palinists may motivate the Obama voters to turn out in far greater numbers next year than in a typical off-year election.

[ Parent ]
Outside the South
Obama voters outnumber the Palinistas big time.  In the Deep South, Palinistas would crush.  

Just 47% of the South, including VA, FL, and NC, think Obama was born in the US.  It is 87% outside the South. Just think about that, and remember that a good number of Southern voters are blacks.  

[ Parent ]
It is shocking
I would like to see a poll asking that specific question and to review the internals.  I imagine that a strong majority of the white, Southern voters with no more than a high school edcuation would believe Obaman was  born outside of the US.

At least in NC, I think education is also a big factor.  The less educated one is, the more likely one will buy into the birther movement.

40, male, Democrat, NC-04

[ Parent ]
Obama lost NM-02...
Hell if anything, Obama probably benefited from Teague's performance rather than the other way around.

I'd also like to point out that while Pearce might have held the seat, he's also got to explain why he abandoned his district in order to make a suicidal run for the Senate in which he couldn't even win his own district against a Santa Fe liberal like Tom Udall (not a diss to Udall, he's been an excellent Senator for New Mexico).

Politics and Other Random Topics

24, Male, Democrat, NM-01, Chairman of the Atheist Caucus, and Majority Leader of the "Going to Hell" caucus!

[ Parent ]
Yup
If Pearce can't beat Udall in NM-2, how does he expect to beat Teague?
[ Parent ]
Teague is no Udall
Tom Udall has been a known quantity in the state for a long time and was a popular Attorney General.  You're comparing apples to oranges.
[ Parent ]
Udall is also substantially to the left
of Teague and is a die-hard environmentalist.  It is the issue of climate change and cap-and-trade is what Pearce wants to make the primary issue in 2010.
[ Parent ]
Which has now come up
The environment wasn't on voters' minds during 2008 so it was a non-issue.  They were more focused on the economy than anything else.  Plus, folks were still pissed over Pete Domenici's US Attorney imbroglio and the New Mexico GOP was it its lowest point in years.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not concern trolling here for Teague, but the political environment in 2008 will be much different than in 2010.  Not to mention, Teague is getting tagged as a "Pelosi Democrat," something Tom Udall never had to deal with.  Plus, Pearce can make this race about local issues whereas last cycle was more about the nation and he had to hone his message for a statewide campaign.  It will be different than last year so I can't use 2008 as a baseline for what to expect.

[ Parent ]
I agree with you
Teague is going to face a challenging race next year. I hope he can hold on.
[ Parent ]
Udall's a Santa Fe based liberal politician
And Steve Pearce was the local boy, as it were. Being popular state-wide does not necessarily translate to being popular in NM-02 (which is substantially to the right of the rest of the state).

Politics and Other Random Topics

24, Male, Democrat, NM-01, Chairman of the Atheist Caucus, and Majority Leader of the "Going to Hell" caucus!

[ Parent ]
I disagree.
Obama barely lost the district (50%-49%). That's a significantly better performance than that of John Kerry in 2004, which was also the year that Pearce was re-elected by a 60-40 margin. Perhaps there was some mutual benefit, but I think it'd be more fair to say that the more heavily covered presidential race drew more new voters in the district than did Teague's campaign against Tinsley.
[ Parent ]
Kerry ran a bad campaign though
and Steve Pearce likely benefited from George Bush's relatively strong performance among latinos in the district (not to mention the fact that none of Pearce's opposition has been particularly strong). I think the race will be hard-fought, but Steve Pearce has plenty of problems, and I still think that Teague is the slight favorite.

Politics and Other Random Topics

24, Male, Democrat, NM-01, Chairman of the Atheist Caucus, and Majority Leader of the "Going to Hell" caucus!

[ Parent ]
That list is pretty close
Minnick would be in a top ten but not a top five list.  Polling-wise he's actually done pretty well, which I'm sure is the reason why he didn't make the list.  Another thing to consider is that even though the district is extremely conservative, the fact that his townhalls never devolved into crazy teabagging affairs spoke alot to how folks in the district still respect him even if they disagree with him.  

Three of those on the list are open seats, which by their nature are the hardest to defend for either party.  Teague is on that list as the former incumbent Steve Pearce is running for his old seat, where he was very popular (they never faced off as Pearce vacated the seat to run for Senate last year) and Teauge's cap and trade vote was extremely unpopular in the energy-rich district.  Overall, for three of those vulnerable seats to be GOP held is great for Team Blue, we'll likely be picking up seats to partially offset losses in 2010.

[ Parent ]
And skaje is right
DE-AL is an absolute given.  We will win that one by more than we will win LA-02.  At least the GOP has a sitting Congressman in LA.  Whatever loser they put up in DE will get stomped.

The Crolian Progressive: as great an adventure as ever I heard of...
[ Parent ]
SC-Sen
A second Democrat is going to challenge Sen. Jim DeMint: Chad McGowan, a lawyer from Rock Hill.

http://www.wbt.com/news/detail...

I think the likes of "wamba"
Make this an impossible task for any Dem.
[ Parent ]
Wamba?
Who?

"I'm not a member of any organized political party, I'm a Democrat!"
--  Will Rogers  
[ Parent ]
Comments at the link

[ Parent ]
I see
So you think a single random commenter on a Charlotte, North Carolina TV news station thread represents South Carolina. I'm not saying you may not be right, but it's a bit of a thin reed.

"I'm not a member of any organized political party, I'm a Democrat!"
--  Will Rogers  
[ Parent ]
Oh come on
I don't think that is far fetched for an average voter in South Carolina. This was all I was saying.
[ Parent ]
Warner Robins, GA Mayor
Okay, this is of minimal electoral significance, but Warner Robins (GA) Mayor Donald Walker has committed suicide:

http://www.macon.com/149/story...

Follow the elections in Georgia at the 2010 Georgia Race Tracker.

Let me add a disclaimer: He APPARANTLY committed suicide.


Follow the elections in Georgia at the 2010 Georgia Race Tracker.
[ Parent ]
MI-Gov
Heh, I finally have something to say interesting enough to make an account here!

Snyder won that straw poll by buying it. He paid for buses, ferry rides and hotels (the island is expensive) for a bunch of folks from the Grosse Pointes.

This info is second-hand (I heard it this morning from someone who was there), so take it accordingly.

Also, an ability to organize and pay for a mob of supporters to flood a straw poll like that isn't entirely irrelevant when calculating a candidate's strength, so I am not saying that just because he bought it he is a phony.

The GREAT Recession
I'd heard the economy in Michigan was terrible, but it must be truly TERRIBLE there if even people from the Grosse Pointes need help with their travel expenses!

Then again, they say even the rich love a bargain.

And I agree, if he bought the straw poll fair and square it is interesting.

[ Parent ]
Manzullo is in IL-16, not IL-14
The 14th is Bill Foster's district.

party: Democratic, ideology: moderate, district: CT-01
Ah, yes
Thanks.
[ Parent ]
SSP Daily Digest: 9/28 | 136 comments

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