Posted on 11/08/2006 2:10:11 PM PST by rond
Jim Talent's loss wasn't so much a slam-dunk by the Democrats.
Talent WON in 2002 with 49.8 percent of the vote, to Jean Carnahan's 48.7 percent.
Talent LOST in 2006 with 47.4 percent of the vote, to McCaskill's 49.4 percent.
The Dem gains .7 percent; Talent loses 2.4 percent.
A glaring difference: The Libertarian candidate went from 1 percent in 2002 to 2.3 percent in 2006.
Libertarian gains were more pronounced in southwest Missouri's 7th District:
•In Lawrence County, McCaskill pulled 35.2 percent -- exactly as much as Carnahan in 2002. But Talent's share dwindled from 62.2 percent to 59.7 percent. The Libertarian candidate received 1.9 percent in 2002 and 3.9 percent in 2006.
•In Polk County (home to Southwest Baptist University), Talent defeated Carnahan in 2002, 62.4-35.5 percent. This year, Talent was held to under 60 percent -- 58.7-36.5, with the Libertarian share growing from 1.4 to 3.8 percent.
•In Taney County, Talent went from a 64.3-33.9 split in 2002 to a 60.6-34.8 victory in 2006. The Libertarian vote grew to 3.4 percent, from 1.3 percent in 2002.
•In Christian County, Talent lost more than 3 percent of his support (63.6 in 2002, 60.5 in 2006). The Democratic share grew only slightly, from 34.6 to 35.3 percent. But the Libertarian vote more than doubled, from 1.2 to 3.1 percent.
•In Barry County, Talent was held under 60 percent (59.2, from a high of 63.3 percent in 2002). Dems inched up from 34.8 to 35.5 percent. Libertarians increased their share from 1.4 to 3.9 percent.
In all five counties, Democrats didn't grow their share by more than a point.
Maybe it's the devastation and depression of losing this election.
But my mind is jumping back and forth with agreeing with your above statement --- and with the knowledge that many Republicans fell prey to the incessant negative stories about the "wageless" recovery, or that Bush "lied" us into war, or that America is "less safe today" than it was five years ago.
I have friends who normally are logical, center-right thinkers (non-partisan, though) and even THEY had eventally let their brains get washed by the overwhelming propaganda put out by PMS-CBS, ABC (Foley had sex with minors), MS.DNC, etc.
It was pathetic.
They are spoilers and that is their function.
They have every right to run, just as the Green Party does and we have to accept that.
"Who are Libertarians?"
Libertarians are armed liberals that don't want to pay taxes.
Or maybe they are Libertarians who didn't want to reward the Republicans for doing nothing over the last six years despite contolling the White House and both houses of Congress.
He lost by less than 2000
The Libertarians gained 1.3%, and Talent lost 2.4%. Where the hell did the other half of his loss come from?
So why do Republicans squeal like stuck pigs when they lose close elections then?
2. They're more closely aligned with the Democrats anyway (that's why they're called "liberaltarians")
Libertarians and Democrats are totally night and day. You're comparison is truer with today's Republicans and Democrats. Apparently, you've heard of Log Cabin Republicans, Republicans for Choice, or Main Street Republicans, right?
3. They stole enough votes from GOP candidates to impact the election
BS - and this totally contradicts your first point. Republicans LOSE because they run as gutless, liberal, wanna-be Dim RINOs. If the GOP embraced some aspects of Libertarianism (like reducing penalties for marijuana possession or getting us out of the UN), they wouldn't have to worry about Libertarians.
Hey at least we're armed and exercising our 2nd Amendment.
I am serious about that, One of My "brothers" is a transsexual a pot smoker AND a Libertarian.. why i have "brothers" in quotes i because he has already had his testicles removed... more to come i guess... :\ ?
Add in the fact that every newscaster I heard in the past month, I mean EVERY newscaster (not talk show hosts), claimed in their newscasts that Republican so-and-so is "opposed to stem cell research."
Here in Philly, the 24-hour news radio am station constantly said that Rick Santorum "opposed stem cell research" during the recent stories about Missouri's ballot initiative, or stories about Limbaugh's comment about Michael Fox.
It is really pathetic how many news readers/reporters went out of their way to paint Repubs as mid-evil, archaic loons rather than family oriented dads and moms.
Yes the media has always been opposed to the GOP, but I've never seen it so blatantly skewed this time, and I believe I would be saying the same thing had the Republicans kept the Congress.
The newscasters didn't differentiate between adult stem cell research and embryonic stem cell research, which by my logic is a HUGE difference.
The Dem gained .7 percent. Coupled with the Libertarian gain, that accounts for 2 percent of the 2.4 percent drop for Talent.
Was there any signs of his insanity when he was a child?
Actually, he was pretty normal and has only recently went "weird" in his 30's... although he was always smoked pot
As a Libertarian, thanks for addressing GOP accountability for the election.
a win is a win .. but as to the % in R-Leaning Missouri counties ... we experienced the same thing here in Northern VA with our Congressmen who garnered 65+% in 2004 and only in the mid-50% range this year. The pendulum swings. R's will be back. Sorry for your loss (and ours, it seems)
We have to fight the 10% MSM bias and the 3% losertarian junk... wtf..
Dues don't pay for political work. Political work is done by volunteers. Did you volunteer? Did you volunteer to donate to the NRA-ILA, the NRA's political fund? Or, are you a member of the 2nd Amend Task Force, whose members donate at least $120 annually to support the NRA's political activity? Did you volunteer to host a fundraiser for the 2nd Amend supporting candidate. Did you get the post card alert for the election?
I guess that pot really does fry people's brains; no matter what the moronic LEGALIZE POT crowd keeps saying.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.