Posted on 10/09/2010 12:51:28 PM PDT by freespirited
After 18 years, it's time for a change. Barbara Boxer, the junior U.S. senator from California, has been in office long enough to have built bridges in Washington, forged meaningful first-name alliances outside her primary spheres of influence and advanced some of the needs of the Central Valley. But she hasn't -- not to the degree we would have expected or hoped. After three largely noneventful terms, the time has come to send her packing.
Enter Carly Fiorina, a fiery former corporate CEO with a strong pro-business outlook. With the state and national economy still in the dumps -- yes, even though the recession is "over" -- her passionately held views should help maintain the right balance in the U.S. Senate.
Boxer, elected to the Senate in 1992, is a perfect example of an elected official who seems quite comfortable going through the motions without actually accomplishing much except casting party-line votes in the Senate, flinging partisan barbs and defeating the succession of weak or flawed challengers she's been fortunate enough to draw.
Nothing leaps to mind when we attempt to recall her legislative triumphs. Even as chairwoman of the Environment and Public Works Committee, she lost control of important global-warming legislation to a party colleague out of an inability to smooth over partisan divisions.
Similarly, her committee's efforts to create a widely anticipated transportation bill sits broken down on the side of the freeway.
It's telling that Boxer's campaign against Fiorina has been negative from the start. From an incumbent, it's a sure sign that there's nothing strong enough to go on in her own legislative history.
Liberal Californians -- and that's a substantial constituency -- have counted on Boxer's vote to support core issues such as abortion rights, a blunt instrument she has used to win past campaigns. She's wielding it again, accusing Fiorina of a willingness to overturn Roe vs. Wade.
But rather than trumpeting her own legislative record, Boxer has played the wealth card often in an attempt to stir up contempt for her multimillionaire opponent. And she has tried to characterize Fiorina's tenure as the head of Hewlett-Packard as that of failure. She would have been better off augmenting her arguments with more of her own policy achievements.
Fiorina's style makes her hard to ignore. She's confident, engaging and straightforward -- strong selling points for that vast middle of the electorate, the independent voter. She inspires strong feelings among more polarized voters on topics from gun rights to immigration to education. We can't say we agree with every position she has taken, but it's clear she speaks for many -- especially those in the Central Valley.
Californians need a senator who can provide forceful leadership without being a lightning rod for hyperpartisanship. Fiorina matches that job description best. We recommend her for the U.S. Senate.
I’d like to believe that. I’d love to see Boxer gone, but I’ve also seen this show before. She may not be much good at anything else, but she’s a wicked closer in California elections.
I’ll keep my finger crossed.
Fiorina needs to get a lot more ads up. Time to spend Carly.
Boxer's husband is a multimillionaire workers comp attorney - not even counting her own 18 years in the Senate collecting kickbacks and under-the-table compensation. :)
People from the central valley know Boxer isn’t buttering their bread.
Maybe there will be a widespread awakening.
I’m headed to California on Wednesday, going to register to vote on Thursday... (Deadline for registering is Oct. 18th...) and I’m going to stay around and vote...and then leave. Why not?
Yes, Ma’am, it’s time for Boxer to go.
She needs to be called Senator because she worked so hard to earn that title.
I can think of two words I would like to substitute for the title of Senator for Barbara Boxer.
“Private citizen” Barbara Boxer has a nice ring to it.
Isn’t that something. USA #1 on the CIA-FBI hit list is a global warming freak. Birds of a Feather Flock Together
I fined it disgusting that a person with 18 years in the Senate is still the Jr. Senator!
Boxer is an embarrassment to California...and with all Californians have to be embarrassed about, that’s saying a lot.
So Ms. Barabara (Don’t call me Ma’am) Boxer is a stupid bitch. Who woulda thunk it...
I do hope that Fiorina can close the deal. So far, neither she nor Boxer have succeeded in that.
Boxer is getting killed in the central valley in the polling by 20-25% points. Question is going to be can southern california help put this effect over the top.
Sure, if you're not voting anywhere else go for it!
How has this zero of a hag hung on as long as she has?????
With all deference to Dave Ramsey:
Barbara Boxer is STUPID ON A SANDWICH;)
By telling lies, damned lies, nothing but damn Dem lies. You would think that in 18 years enough of the electorate would catch on to Dem scare tactics (Repubs want to cut off granny's SS); class warfare (Repubs represent the rich and don't care for anyone else); the race card, gay card; and now the hoax of global warming.
CA is especially bad off because of the EPA, union and state pensions, and illegal alien expenses. They need a smart conservative woman
vaudine
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.