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CA: Feinstein's moderate Senate posture portends a re-election in 2006
SFGate.com ^ | 11/17/04 | John Wildermuth - SF Chronicle

Posted on 11/17/2004 9:32:20 AM PST by NormsRevenge

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, viewed as one of the few moderate Democrats in an increasingly polarized Senate, is running for re-election in two years, and even Republicans admit she's an overwhelming choice to keep the seat she first won in a 1992 special election.

"You can probably call the result of this ... two years in advance,'' said Kevin Spillane, a GOP consultant. "There would have to be an event of 9/11 proportions to make her vulnerable.''

"She's going to be heavily favored,'' agreed Allen Hoffenblum, a Republican consultant whose California Target Book analyzes political races in the state. "I doubt if you'll see any heavyweights running against her.''

Feinstein is known as someone who is willing to work behind the scenes with politicians of both parties to get things done. Her ability to find common ground with the majority party will be more important beginning in January when the GOP increases its advantage over the Democrats to 55-44, with one independent. Feinstein's bipartisan reputation has eluded California's other senator, Barbara Boxer, who's seen as more liberal and more partisan.

"If you've got a serious problem, you go to Dianne Feinstein,'' said Hoffenblum. "If you want a rally in front of the Capitol steps, you go to Barbara Boxer.''

Still, Boxer won an overwhelming victory on Nov. 2, garnering more votes than any candidate in California's history in rolling to a third six-year term.

(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Politics/Elections; US: California
KEYWORDS: 2006; california; electionussenate; feinstein; moderate; portends; posture; reelection; senate
The CA GOP has apparently already written the race off, How FRench of them.

Mel Gibson, Bruce Willis, Fess Parker, Howard Kaloogian

just tossing out names... hint hint.

1 posted on 11/17/2004 9:32:21 AM PST by NormsRevenge
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To: NormsRevenge
Sen. Dianne Feinstein, viewed as one of the few moderate Democrats

A moderate?

2 posted on 11/17/2004 9:34:08 AM PST by Behind Liberal Lines
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To: Behind Liberal Lines

Yes, moderate. In Democrat parlance, a "moderate" foams from only one side of his mouth.


3 posted on 11/17/2004 9:35:33 AM PST by Luddite Patent Counsel ("Inanity is the Mother of Convention")
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To: Behind Liberal Lines

A SF Chronicle columnist labeling the biggest gun-grabber in the Senate a "moderate" is certainly no surprise.


4 posted on 11/17/2004 9:38:03 AM PST by Mr. Mojo
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To: Luddite Patent Counsel

Adaction.org (Americans for Democratic Action, an ultra-liberal group) rates her as 86 for lifetime average. Not especially moderate. John Kerry gets a 92.


5 posted on 11/17/2004 9:38:31 AM PST by MarxSux
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To: NormsRevenge

"a moderate?" ROFLMAO
well consider the source, the San Francissy Chronicle!

Maybe Condi Rice will come home in January '06 to run against Feinstein!


6 posted on 11/17/2004 9:39:08 AM PST by kellynla (U.S.M.C. 1st Battalion,5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Div. Viet Nam 69&70 Semper Fi)
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To: Behind Liberal Lines
>>>A moderate?

n.

1. A Democrat up for election who will appear more electable if he/she is portrayed as holding or championing moderate views or opinions, especially in politics.
2. A Republican who is already elected and has betrayed all his supporters by ceaselessly supporting key Democratic positions when it really counts. During electoral contests with Democrats, the "moderate" Republican is more properly called an "extremist."

7 posted on 11/17/2004 9:42:26 AM PST by patent (A baby is God's opinion that life should go on. Carl Sandburg)
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To: NormsRevenge
Still, Boxer won an overwhelming victory on Nov. 2, garnering more votes than any candidate in California's history in rolling to a third six-year term.

Geeeze. She had an opponent who didn't bother to campaign. She didn't win an overwhelming victory because she's so popular, she won because she had such a lame opponent.

8 posted on 11/17/2004 9:45:05 AM PST by .38sw
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To: NormsRevenge

The MO GOP did the same thing in the Missouri 3rd Congressional District this past election. The liberal DEM Russ Carnahan won it. The Lemmings in MO see the Carnahan name and get all choked up. Pathetic.

I actually held out hope that the pro-life voters in the more urban section and Jefferson County would cross over to vote for the staunchly pro-life GOP candidate to no avail.

Feinstein is the poster child of liberal DEM ideology. With as many good conservatives here from CA, I can't imagine that no competition exists for her.

Boggles my mind. Where is Ron Silver when you need him?


9 posted on 11/17/2004 9:59:57 AM PST by OriginalChristian (The Moral Values/Pro-Life vote was the difference...)
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To: NormsRevenge

There is one thing she did that was moderate. When everyone was criticising the patriot act, she called their bluff. She looked at every claim and found that almost all of them were not credible. Either the claims were totally bogus or were the ordinary result of something other than the patriot act.


10 posted on 11/17/2004 10:22:31 AM PST by Mount Athos
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To: NormsRevenge

Huh? Feinstein a moderate? In which century? Which one has the husband--Boxer or Feinstein--that survives on millions of dollars of govt contracts?


11 posted on 11/17/2004 10:27:06 AM PST by lilylangtree (Veni, Vidi, Vici)
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To: NormsRevenge
Even if it's true, whats the standard for being a moderate in CA? In CA someone could be for Post Birth abortion and favor "education camp" for gun owners and still be considered a moderate.
12 posted on 11/17/2004 10:29:56 AM PST by KoRn
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To: NormsRevenge

She is a moderately psycho gun grabber ...


13 posted on 11/17/2004 10:30:53 AM PST by GOP_1900AD (Stomping on "PC," destroying the Left, and smoking out faux "conservatives" - Take Back The GOP!)
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To: lilylangtree

>>Which one has the husband--Boxer or Feinstein--that survives on millions of dollars of govt contracts?

Try this:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=richardblum


14 posted on 11/17/2004 10:48:27 AM PST by calcowgirl
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To: calcowgirl

Thanks! No wonder the article praises her as "someone who is willing to work behind the scenes with politicians of both parties to get things done". She has to in order to get hubby awarded all those plum govt contracts--talking about feeding from the trough.


15 posted on 11/17/2004 11:14:22 AM PST by lilylangtree (Veni, Vidi, Vici)
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To: NormsRevenge

She'll be 73 so I was hopimg she'd retire. Either way can we even find a candidate?


16 posted on 11/17/2004 12:15:02 PM PST by byteback
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To: Behind Liberal Lines
A moderate?

Compared to BaBo, Kerry, Kennedy, Murray, Leahy -- yes, she is a moderate. That's not saying much, though.

17 posted on 11/17/2004 12:18:55 PM PST by You Dirty Rats (31 Red States - All Your Senate Are Belong To Us!!)
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To: byteback
Either way can we even find a candidate?

Hell, Yeah!!!

Whoever wins the GOP primary, we run the 2nd place finisher. That ought to do it this time. ;-)

18 posted on 11/17/2004 12:19:40 PM PST by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi ...... The War on Terrorism is the ultimate 'faith-based' initiative.)
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To: Behind Liberal Lines

BTW, I'm driving my daughter up to the University of Rochester tomorrow for a campus visit. Since that's up in your area, do you happen to know how liberal it is relative to Cornell?


19 posted on 11/17/2004 12:22:19 PM PST by You Dirty Rats (31 Red States - All Your Senate Are Belong To Us!!)
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