Why Some Republicans Don't Want to Win the Senate

CNBC ^ | November 02, 2010 | Eamon Javers

[CutePuppy]

What good is the United States Senate if you can’t use it?

That’s the question quietly being asked by several prominent Republicans on election day, as the GOP stands poised to capture the House and, just possibly, the Senate.

But two prominent inside-the-Beltway Republicans told me yesterday that they’re worried about Republicans taking over the Senate, because of the political hand it would give President Obama going into 2012.

It isn’t every day that political figures tell me why it would be bad for their party to win on election day.

But here’s their case: Unemployment is at near 10 percent and is going to stay at politically toxic levels for a long time. If unemployment goes down at the pace it went up, which is no sure bet given that that would represent a spectacular economic boom that few economists predict, it will still be high by historical standards in 2012.

And these Republicans worry that a unified Republican House and Senate will bear some of the brunt of voter anger about that unemployment—anger that’s now almost entirely focused on the Obama administration.

“I hope to hell they don’t take control in the Senate,” said one prominent Republican lobbyist. “Probably the best scenario for Obama is if the Republicans sweep.” .....

< snip >

“If you control Congress, you get almost half the blame for the lousy economy. The president will always get more blame than Congress, but why take the blame if you’re not going to be able to do anything in the Senate?” ..... < snip >

[misterrob]

Pubs can hold anyone that they want to so even then they are covered. But you are correct, with the Liberal Ladies in Maine to go with Graham who needs democrats?

[PhilCollins]

Sen. McCain isn’t liberal. According to www.vote-smart.org, these are some of his latest interest group ratings: National Tax Limitations Committee, 100%; U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 100%; Citizens Against Government Waste, 100%; John Birch Society, 90%; Christian Coalition, 80%; ACLU, 17%; Americans for Democratic Action, 5%; and AFL-CIO, 0%. In 2008, I didn’t vote for him, because he’s not as conservative as I am and because I knew that he couldn’t win my state, Illinois. However, he’s not liberal. He’s much more conservative than Kirk.

[Graybeard58]

He’s much more conservative than Kirk.

I shouldn't have lumped him in with the likes of Collins, Snowe and Kirk but he is not conservative.

[BillyBoy]

Marky & Alexi raise a toast to all the gullible conservatives who voted for socialism.

[Impy]

Maine twins, Kirk and Princess Lisa Murkowski who’s a smidge to their right are the level A RINO/DIABLOS. I don’t know if Lise is still officially a Republican.

No Castle to join them thankfully.

Alexi looks like a boxer who just took a dive. Look at them, Alexi in sweats. Did they make love afterwards? That is the sickest political spectacle I’ve ever seen.