Jeffords (I-VT) expects to be GOP bullseye, suggesting that if
he can raise his profile, his chances for victory will improve.
Posted on 03/26/2005 6:01:47 AM PST by AmericanMade1776
After all the last president to not lose senate seats in his second year in office was FDR in 1934. That took a massive depression to bring about. So Jeffords figured he would be in the minority by 2003. But if he went with the Democrats and gave them the senate in 2001, he would be in the majority for at least the next 8 years.
Jeffords figured that the Democrats would gain control of the Senate in 2002. It was also very likely that in 2004 that the Republicans would lose more seats. That is what history taught.
What Jeffords thought he was doing was remaining in the majority from 2001 to 2003 and keeping majority status from 2003 until at least 2009. He saw it as a win win situation for him. If the Senate stayed close, the Democrats would really need him.. He could always get lots of perks and power in exchange for his votes.
All jeffords got was what he already had ... being in the majority from 2001 to 2003. Then he lost what he would have had if he had remained a Republican.. He was relegated to the minority. He may stay their until perhaps 2010. He is now in a situation where he is of no value to the Democrats and no value to the Republicans. Jeffords is reduced to the state of having nothing to offer either side. As a turn coat neither side trusts him. He is at best a nothing.. with nowhere to go and nothing with which to negotiate.
Jeffords became an independent thinking he could command power by being a deciding vote. But Daschle once the Senate was lost to Democrats did not try to get things done. Daschle tried to block everything. Dashcle only needed 40 Democratic votes. He did not need Jeffords at all. And the Repubicans had no way of getting 60 votes. They had no use for Jeffords either and tons of reasons to screw him. So no one has needed Jeffords after 2002. His phone calls are not returned.
Now with the Republicans having 55 seats and likely to gain more seats in 2006, Jeffords is in a terrible position. The Democrats don't need his vote and the Republicans don't need his vote. And since he jumped ship, neither side would trust him farther than they could throw him.
What Jeffords did was place copious amounts of excrement in his own nest. Now he wants us to believe he does not regret doing it and really likes the smell.
He is just trying to convince the folks back home that he is important. Let's hope they figure out he is not important to anyone..anymore.
The sad thing is, that in a three-way race, Jeffords might actually win.
If I were a fellow senator, I'd kick his ass on the senate floor.
Maybe do a Nancyu Karrigan to the bastard in one of the halls of congress.
Now a for working to get him unelected, he will be the biggest target for the repubs next to the hitlery bitch.
He's not only a turncoat, he's a coward too. If he's going to do what he did, why didn't he at least have the cojones to say he was going to become a Demwit? He's sure no Independent.
Would Jeffords win in a 3-way race? Wouldn't the Pubbies stay united, while the Lib vote would be divided between "independent" Jeffords, and any Dem candidate?
I suspect that a lot of Jeffries voters would vote for him again, and they are the folks who voted for the "Republican" last time. The remaining 'Pubbies would probably nominate a firebrand who will scare everybody away. Jeffries would certainly poach votes from the Democrat as well. Does it add up to 40%? It might...
I'd consider trying to get rid of Hagel and Warner, because they're in red states. Running more conservative Republicans in their place would probably result in a victory. Arizona maybe. But we have to be pragmatic. Any conservative Republican who runs for Senate in Rhode Island or Maine will lose. We need role players in our party -- people who manage to win elections even though they're out of the Republican mainstream -- because that's a prerequisite to a national majority.
Good insight analysis. Your post also shows why it is a waste of time to vote for third party candidates for Congress. It is tough being an army of one in Congress.
Now, tell us what you really think of him.
Jeffords is a brazen liar. He left the party in a snit because he didn't get money for the milk mob.
You might get flamed for that, but you are absolutely correct.
Jeffords jumped because he could. The state that sends Bernie Sanders and Pat Leahy to Congress is not going to throw Jeffords out because he jumped. GWB carried 30 and 31 states in his two elections -- all we have to do is get Republican Senators in Red states and hold onto a few other Senators in Blue states and we should get to 60 within a couple of elections.
Those people who think that can replace wobbly Republicans in New England states with conservatives are not realistic.
Chafee!! And probably Collins, too.
Somebody wants the Vermont Democrats to remember that he's not really "independent".
Hey, Jim, take a look over your left shoulder, will ya?
...it's a 3-way race.
What a geek! And I'm saying this as a mathematician.
Yes, but the state that needs milk subsidies may find itself wanting a Senator in the majority. Or at least not getting too worked up if a real Democrat syphons off his votes.
If Jeffords gets some Democrat money and has no Democrat opponent, he'll win easily. Otherwise, he might have to campaign.
He didn't mind being a Republican when he was using GOP cash to get his senate seat back in 2000. He sounds like somebody that already expects to loose - he ought to run as a Democrat.
So, where can I send my money to help defeat this defeatist loser!
"Well can’t you see me standing here,
I’ve got my back against the record machine
I ain’t the worst that you’ve seen.
Oh can’t you see what I mean ?
Might as well jump. jump !
Go ahead, jump.
Might as well jump. jump !
Go ahead, jump."
If the GOP starts dining a bit more at Taco Bell, maybe Jefford's can be the GOP's "No. 2 target" as well.
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