There’s Resignation, Capitulation and Full Blown Panic Exodus
This is actually a bit more than mere semantics, at least in political terms.
Resignation means that you can’t possibly win a reelection but your party can so you either retire or more accurately are pushed out by the real power brokers. This is the case with Senator Dodd. His long history if scum-baggery having finally caught up with him, he realized that he was totally unelectable. That being said, the state Attorney General is a very popular Democrat and Connecticut loves to impose is liberal white guilt on the rest of us so Dodd is in the “Resign” column.
Capitulation is different in that the candidate is so far up shit creek that no other candidate of the same party can possibly save the seat. This is the case in North Dakota where Dorgan and his famed comb-over has destroyed any possibility of a Democrat saving that seat. Of course a popular Republican governor who is sitting on 4% unemployment in a big recession isn’t going to lure any viable Democrats into this futility.
The latest rumor is that Arkansas Senator Blanche Lincoln is getting ready to pop smoke as well.
Speculation on the conservative side is that Democratic Senator Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas may join Democratic senators Byron Dorgan and Christopher Dodd in retiring instead of seeking re-election this year.
A Rasmussen Poll released today showed every single Republican candidate — well, the 4 polled — ahead by 8 to 12 points as she is unable to crack 40% support.
Blame Obamaccare.
“Just 35% of Arkansas voters favor the health care plan proposed by President Obama and congressional Democrats. Sixty percent (60%) are opposed. Those figures include 17% who Strongly Favor the plan and 51% who are Strongly Opposed. Bleak as those numbers are for advocates of the legislation, they are actually a few points better than the numbers from a month ago,” Rasmussen reported.
This is surely causing some headaches for the Democrat leadership but it’s not a panic yet.
Want to see a real panic? Watch what happens if, on the very slim chance, Scott Brown pulls out the upset over Martha Coakley in Massachusetts.
This is not very likely as Democrats outnumber Republicans in the Kennedy state by two to one but if it does happen one thing is certain…
Healthcare Reform is dead and the full speed ahead leftist train we’re on now will be slowed down considerably.
Category: Politics
Thanks COB6, for the insight on this. Most that I talk too feel that the resignees are doing it so that they can just stay home. Many don’t agree with me that they are “saving face” for either themselves or for their party. It has been long seen as the “right way” when a Republican politician, (how long since America has had a real “Statesman”?), has screwed up and declines running, or vacates his/her seat.
Long ago, on a distant blog called “Crotchety Old Bastard”, the writer recognized the train wreck that was coming, and foretold this scenario. Fortunately, it has the Democrats stamp of approval on it, and if the GOP plays it right,(very large IF here), can make a hell of a comeback.
“Never Forget the Ft. Hood Texas 14 of 11/5/09!”
Although a majority in the Senate would be nice, I’d just be happy with a cloture-proof number in the Senate. That would be to overcome some Senators with an R after their name who place more emphasis on “collegiality” and getting along than they do on standing on principle.
And, I certainly hope that the R’s can find someone to run against How-Now Stabenow in Michigan. She absolutely has got to go. Sadly, she makes Harry Reid look like a Rhodes Scholar.
Healthcare Reform is dead and the full speed ahead leftist train we’re on now will be slowed down considerably.
Actually, not quite so fast:
http://legalinsurrection.blogspot.com/2010/01/call-dems-bluff-on-refusing-to-seat.html
This dovetails nicely w/ the other post about insane corruption that nobody gives a shit about.
I grew up with Blanche Lincoln. She’s been totally ineffective in the Senate – well, except for her allegiance to “the party” – voting the way the Dems told her too. Definitely no loss to Arkansas.
COL Conrad Reynolds (ret) is running as one of the Republicans seeking the nomination. http://voteconrad.com/inner.asp?z=1
“Healthcare Reform is dead and the full speed ahead leftist train we’re on now will be slowed down considerably.”
Fast or slow, we’re STILL going in the wrong direction. With the Leftist Libtards, it’s fast. With the RINOs, it’s slow. No change of direction, just change of speed.
The bipartisan hands-across-the-aisle RINOs / Republicrats could still screw things up by refusing to listen to the will of the people & continuing to attempt to seat their fellow RINO douche-bags, instead of those of a more conservative leaning.
As for the DemonRats, watch out for last minute pull-one-from-behind-closed-doors surprises. The HellthKare bill is still in play, and the Border-Jumping-Scumbag question is being reintroduced, quietly, as a feint and a distraction.