Posted on 04/25/2010 7:33:20 AM PDT by reaganaut1
ASHLAND, Wis. — Representative David R. Obey has won 21 straight races, easily prevailing through wars and economic crises that have spanned presidencies from Nixon’s to Obama’s. Yet the discontent with Washington surging through politics is now threatening not only his seat but also Democratic control of Congress.
Mr. Obey is one of nearly a dozen well-established House Democrats who are bracing for something they rarely face: serious competition. Their predicament is the latest sign of distress for their party and underlines why Republicans are confident of making big gains in November and perhaps even winning back the House.
The fight for the midterm elections is not confined to traditional battlegrounds, where Republicans and Democrats often swap seats every few cycles. In the Senate, Democrats are struggling to hold on to, among others, seats once held by President Obama and Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. Democrats are preparing to lose as many as 30 House seats — including a wave of first-term members — and Republicans have expanded their sights to places where political challenges seldom develop.
“It’s not a lifetime appointment,” said Sean Duffy, a Republican district attorney here in the Northwoods of Wisconsin, where he has established himself as one of the most aggressive challengers to Mr. Obey since he went to Washington in 1969. “There are changes in this country going on, and people aren’t happy.”
Mr. Obey, who leads the powerful Appropriations Committee, is one of three House Democratic chairmen who have drawn serious opposition. Representatives John M. Spratt Jr. of South Carolina, who oversees the Budget Committee, and Ike Skelton of Missouri, who runs the Armed Services Committee, have been warned by party leaders to step up the intensity of their campaigns to help preserve the Democratic majority.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
When a republican is in contention for office, it’s a threat. When a democrat is in contention for office, it’s an opportunity for fresh ideas.
You mean in all of Wisconsin there is no one who could better fill that pathetic Obey’s seat? That is really hard to believe when one sees the splendid Paul Ryan, who also hails from that state.
There. I fixed it.
Don’t care. Let’em stand down for a few cycles and get back into the game.
The “Hope and Changer” I want to see in 2010 is for RINOs, such as McCain and Crist, to be defeated by conservative candidates, and for the leadership of the House and Senate to be changed to Republican.
You’re right/. I’m still a nervous wreck when I think about what is going to happen.
Exactly. And for a reason. The disparity between the fine and the insurance premium is intended to force employers to choose the fine. That many more employees will end up without insurance, allowing the feds to offer up the "public option" as a solution.
Much government policy is designed to create a problem, so that the government can solve it -- and gain power in the process.
Not for "stupid things", per se, but "for Democrat constituencies".
Often the same thing, I know...
Agreed. Many people don’t realize we have to dump not only the Dems, but also those Republicans who don’t think the Constitution is important today. All that kumbaya krap with the Dems has to cease. With the Dems, cooperation equals capitulation. No more negotiating. Time to bring this country back to what it was — what it was meant to be.
For a long time, Helms was our only defense against slight of hand UN treaties slipped through the Senate.
If you think term limits work, then California would have a fiscally responsible legislature. As it is, we've got a revolving door of ignorant stooges for we-don't-know-whom.
Forget it. There is no systematic substitute for a vigilant populace.
I think that Joe Biden comes close to matching Obey’s record. I have to agree, that is too long.
I suspect Skelton will jump ship and retire into the night before he “steps up” any campaigning. The sense of entitlement some of these longtime pols feel simply wont allow them to have to actually deal with the lesser class.
yeah, well, the country is more racist than ever.
/sarc
Exactly, and it isn’t even close. Right now we provide full family coverage to our employees at no cost to them. this is a no-deductible, $10 co-pay, 100% coverage for almost everything (IE what the Dems call a Cadillac plan). To do this we spend $1900 a MONTH per employee. We fully expect this to double due to ObamaScare. The fine works out to around $300-400 a YEAR per employee. So $3800 a MONTH or $400 a YEAR — not a tough decision.
He is second in line after Ronald Reagan of American elected officials we should thank from that era for preserving this nation this long.
Vicky Hartzler has the stuff to take Skelton out. Spike Ike in 2010! Vote Vicky!
www.vickyhartzler.com
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