Posted on 11/07/2002 10:59:52 AM PST by ER_in_OC,CA
Here are the Senators whose term expires in 2005 (meaning elections in November 2004).
Senators Whose Terms of Service Expire in 2005
Democrats
Bayh, Evan
Boxer, Barbara
Breaux, John
Daschle, Thomas
Dodd, Christopher
Dorgan, Byron
Edwards, John
Feingold, Russell
Graham, Bob
Hollings, Ernest
Inouye, Daniel
Leahy, Patrick
Lincoln, Blanche
Mikulski, Barbara
Miller, Zell
Murray, Patty
Reid, Harry
Schumer, Charles
Wyden, Ron
Republicans
Bennett, Robert
Bond, Christopher
Brownback, Sam
Bunning, Jim
Campbell, Ben Nighthorse
Crapo, Mike
Fitzgerald, Peter
Grassley, Chuck
Gregg, Judd
McCain, John
Murkowski, Frank (elected AK Governor, will be filled by appointee)
Nickles, Don
Shelby, Richard
Specter, Arlen
Voinovich, George
Remember: there's also a big six-year itch for 2004. Fitzgerald was the big anomaly in 1998, knocking off Mosely-Braun with 49%, but even he isn't definitely toast. Who's going to knock him off? But for the rest (Edwards, Lincoln, Feingold, Murray, Boxer--Condy Rice, anyone?; Hollings and Miller will retire; Schumer if and only if Giuliani runs), it could be payback time if the economy is smoking in 2004.
If that happens, and no top-notch dem wants to be the sacrificial lamb, it could be a Mondale-Ferraro (maybe Kerry-someone) scenario all over again, and we could win REALLY, REALLY big.
Governorships will also be up for grabs in NC, IN, WV, KY, MO. We'll already have MS next year. It could turn into a rout. Just to save themselves, the dems may beg Gore to go under the knife. And it may not help, either.
Again, it's all going to depend on how Bush does, particularly with putting conservative economic principles into action--cap gains and dividend tax elimination, soc. sec. reform, opening ANWR, downsizing the govt through retirements, and at least one controversial elimination of a whole department.
I expected us to gain in the Senate as early as May 2001, but just remember: anything can happen. I worry most about a disastrous war scenario in which Saddam nukes our troops.
Gore-Edwards, Gore-Bayh, or least likely Gore-Kerry.<> Let's hope heart attack Cheney steps aside to prevent another palpitation fiasco. Thanks god that happened hours after the election instead of hours before it.
Being from New Hampshire, I can tell you Judd Gregg is probably the most popular elected official in the state. He is a Reagan-Republican who offends nobody and he's the type of guy who is tough to dislike. I wish he'd served in uniform but that is another story. If he has problems it will either be a unique case (ala Hutchinson in Arkansas) or the Republican Ticket will have problems throughout the country.
Jeb Bradley, on the other hand, may have some problems. If he becomes another Christopher Shays, there will be substantial efforts to remove him in the primary. He is a draft-dodging, weak sister and if he starts voting social issues like Barney Frank he will be treated accordingly.
North Carolinians had best start working to replace Edwards now. He is slick and the "Block Vote"--as Jesse used to refer to them--- may be motivated to support him.
Campbell--no problem.
Rudy takes out Schumer.
Fitzgerald will have problems.
If Daschle loses his leadership position there will be no reason to reelect him. In the interim it is time for South Dakotans to put some folks in jail and review/purge their lists of registered voters. It ought to be no easier to vote than to get a drivers license; the fraud is killing the GOP.
These three are idiots. Bill Clinton was guilty of both perjury and obstruction, and they voted to acquit him. They are usually enemies of the unborn child and often enemies of our Second Amendment rights. I'm glad that they vote to let Republicans lead the Senate, but the ideas that they advocate are wrong for the country. If they become the people who shape the direction of the Republican Party, our country will be harmed.
WFTR
Bill
Graham is going down with the airing of his speech (with Bill Nelson) the morning after the Dem lawyers tried to throw out military ballots including sailors on the Cole. Both of these weenies were wearing sweaters, like Dan Rather used to do, I guess trying to assure their constituents that they were likable guys, hanging around the state capitol like it was Mr. Roger's neighborhood.
As for Boxer...Condi could beat her...and running from CA she would be formidable against Hitlery.
Graham was more like Zell Miller as a Gov., but his years in DC have changed him. As head of the intel committee, many people here hold him directly accountable for the intel failures of 911, and his participation in the stark partisanship in the senate has left alot of Floridians with a bad taste in their mouths. Nelson on the Armed Services committee is a joke- following his antics in the sweater speech with Graham.
Who to replace Graham? In Jax, Mayor John Delaney, former Dem, now a Rep, Catholic, pro life, actually did something about drainage (a huge issue in a town that floods at high tide) ran unopposed in last elections, retiring due to term limits. Also, former Congresswoman Tillie Fowler- came in with the 94 revolution, honored her term limit pledge, theerby retaining her popularity.
Jeb's running mate Frank Brogan would have some support. Several cities have new republican mayors that are black or hispanic, a sure draw for independent and dem crossover votes. It will be interesting to see how it shakes out in 04.
I've said this before and will say it again...I don't believe this bit of urban legend.
First, any half smart conservative would know when the polls closed. Second, given the importance of 2000, I can't believe any decent conservative who wanted to vote would turn around and go home, or leave the line at the polls, or whatever...just because they heard something on the news. They wouldn't care or know it's just typical liberal press fodder.
But if it's actually true, then these voters are as stupid as anyone who couldn't poke a hole in a piece of paper or follow a direct line from their candidate to the hole to punch.
Both my state Senator and state Representative were unopposed in 2002...but I voted for them anyway. Anyone who would not go vote based on a stupid news story would think, "oh, their unopposed, why bother to vote for them?"
The issue is not when they closed, the issue is that it was called for Nelson before they closed. Ask Californians if this suppresses the vote. Some of the testimony before Judge Sauls was on this issue.
If you think all Reps are "informed" voters, I have some oceanfront property in Tallahassee you might be interested in. While we don't round up the homeless and give them cigaretes to vote for our party, we do have folks who get their automated reminder calls from Dubya and his Mom and are just thrilled. Whatever floats your boat...when races are as close as 500 votes across a state.
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