Posted on 01/12/2009 3:27:57 PM PST by americanophile
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The 111th Congress has just barely begun as Senate Republicans brace for more grueling elections in 2010 which threaten to further weaken the party's influence in Congress.
The latest setback for the party came Monday, when Ohio Sen. George Voinovich -- the 72 year-old two-term GOP senator -- announced he will not seek reelection in 2010. That leaves Republicans with a highly vulnerable seat in a perennial swing state that has drifted Democratic in the last two elections.
Voinovich's decision sent Ohio Republicans and Democrats scrambling ahead of what will likely be a competitive primary on both sides, and virtually guarantees the GOP will have to spend significantly more money defending a seat that otherwise would likely have been a safe bet.
"Republicans are starting the cycle on the defensive once again, it's a familiar but uncomfortable position," said Nathan Gonzalez of the Rothenberg Political Report.
Voinovich is the most recent in a string of Republican senators -- some from crucial battlegrounds states -- to announce his retirement, rattling Republicans in an election cycle that already promises to be difficult.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
I sure hope somebody shoots that damned Lugar off his perch.
We need a true conservative to run against him.
Oh please. You’ll be living in a media hyped paradise in 2010. No way Republicans are gonna gain seats. And frankly, their current conduct doesn’t indicate they should have more seats.
Each district has individual reasons for why they went a certain way. We don’t have a system where we vote “party” as opposed to individual candidates. After all, if we had had that in 1984, we’d have had well over 300 House Republicans (and in 1972, close to 400). There are far more Dems sitting in GOP districts than vice versa. We’re at more of a disadvantage since there are many districts where it’s nearly impossible for a Republican to win (such as Civil Rights districts), except in extraordinary circumstances (such as LA-2).
We can also have great candidates, but if we don’t have money to dislodge them, that is also a big problem. It’s hard to beat people who can massively outspend you. But the GOP, too, has to get its act together for 2010. Our leadership is piss poor and we’re running in a hundred different directions. We’ve got to get unified and on-message.
Dems didn’t even run anyone against Lugar in ‘06, quite telling.
They suck we gotta get a new “insurgent capitalist” party going and start from scratch. The sheeple are not going to like communism when the reality hits.
I can’t argue with what you say. Money is a issue as is leadership. Here’s hoping for better times. I worry...I live in Ohio...it feels like a shift to the left to me.
I can fully understand the reaction of union workers (and other employees of automobile companies) to Republican pronouncement of "no bailout".
If it is your ox that is being gored, the reaction is probably going to be a lot different than when "the other guy's ox" is gored.
Still, as conservatives, let's postulate that -- if a company is failing -- it is NOT the government's (and, thus, the taxpayer's) responsibility to bail them out.
However, once we agree on that proposition, is it not appropriate for the federal government to create a "soft landing" for any workers who are displaced by the failure of a government policy?
I pose this based on my view of farm subsidies. The government has intervened in agricultural markets for several generations and, in the process, created a monster. If the government withdrew all farm subsidies tomorrow, millions of Americans who have organized their operations around the subsidies would be put at risk.
Consequently, while it would be desirable to eliminate farm subsidies, it would be appropriate for the government to phase the subsidies out and, if necessary, provide some compensation to farmers for making the adjustment.
The same is doubtless true for automobile workers (though not necessarily for the companies).
Ohio has swung to the left before, it’s just a matter of fighting back and getting strong candidates to motivate voters. Getting rid of Voinovich is a step in the right direction. I’m getting very tired of so-called Republicans that want to play footsie with Democrats and carry out their agenda. There’s far too many of these RINOs who are VERY comfortable having the GOP be the permanent minority party. Those people ARE our enemy.
This is good. Voinovich was my mayor, then my governor, then my senator for 2 years before I moved. He has spent his whole life in politics and never done much of anything.
"You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy..."
Hooray. Now we can get started on seeking good candidates to replace Rinovich.
As for needing more money because of contested primaries, this has been the big problem with the Ohio Republican Party for years. Instead of having contested primaries, in which the Party members have a voice in selecting the candidate for the general election, the Party leadership has anointed the "winner," who usually then goes on to lose the general election. Save money but lose elections. That's real smart.
He served a purpose 30 years ago when he was a young up-and-comer getting rid of that termitic little pissant Dennis the Menace. He even continued to do so when he scared the American traitor John Glenn out of his seat. But he’s now become part of the problem. Too often, that’s what happens with people in government for far too long.
I disagree about Voinivich...he would have won...it’s a crap shoot now.
One of the two you mention is up for re-election in 2010 and the other is retiring. We've got 22 months before mid-terms. A lot can happen. If things don't go well for the CommieParty, we could see some serious upsets.
CNN is crystal-balling without noting the obvious. Liberals OWN the next 2 years.
Well, we’re gonna have to agree to disagree. An erratic 74-year old RINO will not turn out the Conservative base to vote for him. DeWine couldn’t do it, either, and he was only 59.
There is a huge difference...regardless of my personal situation-I work for GM after all- I happen to believe that America needs an auto industry. Since the financial meltdown caused by the Wall Street elite has devastated this country...it’s not like the big three failed in normal times where a chapter 11 might or might not have worked...this is a financial tsunami.
GM was well on its way in the restructuring process and has great products. I am all for the loan...not a bailout. American companies end up competing with countries not other companies because of unfair trade. Something must done about this. I’ll tell you something else-the oil price increase before the tsunami hit was caused by Wall Street manipulating the market which caused the initial problem for the auto industry and certainly did not help the overall economy.
Regardless, people in the Mid West value the auto industry and will not vote for anyone who tries to bring it down. If the GOP is seen as an entity which seeks to destroy the industry as they are at the moment...they are toast. Also, it would cost more to phase out the auto industry then to save it...every civilized country in the world has an auto industry. The economic mess clearly demonstrates that the service economy is a failure...we need more manufacturing. Farm subsidies would not destroy farming...so this is not really valid. Also, before the farming subsidies are ended...we better get our free trade ducks in a row...fair trade or we will lose more voters and win fewer elections. We might start with the Korean treaty.
There is a huge difference...regardless of my personal situation-I work for GM after all- I happen to believe that America needs an auto industry. Since the financial meltdown caused by the Wall Street elite has devastated this country...it’s not like the big three failed in normal times where a chapter 11 might or might not have worked...this is a financial tsunami.
GM was well on its way in the restructuring process and has great products. I am all for the loan...not a bailout. American companies end up competing with countries not other companies because of unfair trade. Something must done about this. I’ll tell you something else-the oil price increase before the tsunami hit was caused by Wall Street manipulating the market which caused the initial problem for the auto industry and certainly did not help the overall economy.
Regardless, people in the Mid West value the auto industry and will not vote for anyone who tries to bring it down. If the GOP is seen as an entity which seeks to destroy the industry as they are at the moment...they are toast. Also, it would cost more to phase out the auto industry then to save it...every civilized country in the world has an auto industry. The economic mess clearly demonstrates that the service economy is a failure...we need more manufacturing. Ending farm subsidies would not destroy farming...so this is not really a valid comparison. Also, before the farming subsidies are ended...we better get our free trade ducks in a row...fair trade or we will lose more voters and win fewer elections. We might start with the Korean treaty.
The Gang of 14 crap killed DeWine’s chances. He was not as liberal as Voinovich but he had forgotten how to do his job.
The problem with this is even among conservatives, we do not agree on who are the real conservatives.
Of the last crop we were all over the place.
Some thought Huck to be the ultimate conservative and he did very well but there was no way I would support him in the caucus. I would have voted for him for president because he is a heck of a lot better than Obammy. As a matter of fact, I was forced to vote for McCain for the very same reason.
What about Romney? Some think he is very conservative, others think he's not.
I was a Thompson supporter but he didn't have enough support to get the nomination.
This is only to show that if we all continue with this attitude of demanding our own definition of perfection, we will lose forever.
These RATS are far too dangerous to let them have it by default.
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