Thanks DJ.
Frank Church as the article points out, was a creation largely of the Idaho Statesman (Terry Dolan of NCPAC referred to the IS as the Pravda of the West) and the other leftist/liberal Idaho media outlets. I couldn’t help but think of Birch Bayh, John Culver, and George McGovern in their quests for re-election in 1980, because they were all flaming crackpot liberals masquerading as “moderates.” And each and every one of them were given cover by their respective state and local leftist media.
This is another reason why the left is in such a state of panic, because they have lost their media monopoly, and hence their ability to protect lunatic leftwing politicians in deep red states such as Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, and South Dakota.
Just out of curiousity, I know it’s early but... what’s your big GOP upset victory for the 2010 Senatorial races?
I was going to say Evan Bayh, but once again, the Stupid (and Cowardly) Party struck again, and Pence refused to run and followed by Sec of State Todd Rokita, who is running for Steve Buyer’s safe House seat, and instead we have weaklings John Hostettler (who was obliterated in his ‘06 reelection and always underperformed in his district) and Dan Coats, who infamously ran away rather than face Bayh in 1998. Coats is too old and hasn’t run a race in 18 years. Pence ought to be grabbed by the neck and kicked into the race as he was leading Bayh in the polls.
A lot depends on the November climate, of course, it may even be possible to take out Feingold, Murray or Boxer, but the challengers have yet to distinguish themselves.
I’d also add one other big surprise, and that being Robert Byrd. Byrd may die this year and if he does, the Dem Governor will appoint a seatwarmer whom will likely be weak, and I’d expect someone like Shelley Moore Capito to run (and if she does, she’ll win). WV has the distinction of being the state that has gone the longest without electing a GOP Senator, not since 1956 (for a 2-year vacancy). We went into the 1958 elections holding both seats in the state (Cecil Underwood appointed the other), but we lost both to Jennings Randolph and then-Congressman Byrd. The two men in HI are also potential deaths as well, since BOTH turn 85 this year, and the GOP Governor, to my knowledge, can appoint their successors until a special election is called.