NEWS: Republicans Looking At A Senate Beat Down

POLITICS: Republicans Looking At A Senate Beat Down

Next year’s elections are looking to be a mighty ugly experience for Republicans. Historically, incumbents usually win elections and that has been especially true lately because incumbents have a much easier time raising cash than their opponents. And cash is the name of the game. But Bush’s devastating policies led to a brutal Democratic sweep of both houses last year and ’08 is looking like it may be another massacre.

That means Democrats can spend their money in fewer races, while Republicans have to spread it out. And Democrats have been heavily out fundraising Republicans, which is very troubling for the GOP.

But Republicans are starting to bail, instead of putting up a fight. So far, several Republican Senators have decided to retire. They are taking polls and listening to their constituents and it does not look good. As of today the retirement list looks like this:

Colorado Senator Wayne Allard is retiring.
New Mexico Senator Pete Domenici is retiring.
Virginia Senator John Warner is retiring.
Nebraska Senator Chuck Hagel is retiring.
Idaho Senator Larry Craig is retiring. (To spend more time fucking dudes)

That makes five seats where there will be no incumbent and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has reportedly told insiders to expect more. Many of the open seats are in states that lean right, but New Mexico, Colorado and Virginia could all be easy pickups for Democrats.

Other Senators who are in deep shit are the rare New England Republicans. John Sununu of New Hampshire and Susan Collins are pretty much fucked. They have been voting with Republicans and the Bush White House for years, basically shoving the stake into their own hearts. Consider them done.

In Minnesota, Norm Coleman will have a tough race on his hands against Al Franken, who has been using his Hollywood connections to raise money. Gordon Smith of Oregon is also on shaky ground and Alaska is shaping up to be a complete disaster.

On the Democratic side, only one seat is in danger: Senator Mary Landrieu of Louisiana. Katrina changed the political make up of the state and the GOP now has a much greater chance of winning. Experts give her only a 50% chance of winning.

Meanwhile, Democrats are trying to spotlight Republicans who always vote to support Bush’s policies.

The Democrats are hoping for a 60-seat margin, which would make them filibuster proof. It is a very remote possibility, but nothing can be counted out as long as Bush remains in office, running the country like a drunken frat boy. Taking control of the Senate in ’06 was considered just as remote of a possibility and they pulled it off.

Either way, it looks like Democrats will pick up seats in the Senate. Right now the only question is how many. The good news is we will probably see douche bag Joe Lieberman lose his position as Chairman of the Governmental Affairs Committee. The only sad thing would be to watch Senate Republicans still manage to out maneuver Democrats and pass their legislation with only 40 Senators.

As usual, great article. And yes, I will consider them "done". WELL done!

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hope your right dude!

locally, congressman john dolittle will lose the republican primary, but the seat will probably stay creepublican. because in that corner of California, they think the dems will take their ranch land and distribute them to endangered homosexual spotted frogs that abort unborn baby handguns.

Too bad it'd be too late to name Russ Fucking Feingold as majority leader.

Good article. I think your analysis is on target. Historically, the Senate has been the slow to change hands (since we pretty much consolidated into a two-party system). It that sense, it was inevitable that the Democrats were going to hang on to control for a while once they regained a majority.

Add to your list Kay Bailey Hutchinson from Texas. She is retiring after this term as well (although I am not sure if that means the upcoming election or the next).

With a few exceptions I like John Sununu.
But I like Jean Shaheen too (The democrat running against him) She was an excellent governor and did a lot for New Hampshire.
So don't think that he'll lose just because he's a republican. His opponent is an excellent candidate and she barely lost the last time they ran against each other.

umm hate to tell you but ppl are still mad at congress. Lets see when a democratic congress has a LOWER approval rating then an unpopular president..... + the fact congress is totally even more out of touch now then before(like the whole amnesty thing + the senate is trying to pass that evil LOS treaty-Law of Sea).
I think if any independents or third party get into the race they would win, but it will be a sucky year for democratic incubents.

Oh, okay. Sorry I backed everything up with actual reasoning instead of "I think"

People are pissed at congress because they elected them to get us out of Iraq. So what will get us out of Iraq faster at this point? More democrats in both houses and a democratic president, or a turn back to the neo cons?

The writings on the wall, champ, or did you miss that whole part in the article about all those repub lawmakers retiring? Iit was the second half. Avoid the knee-jerk next time and you could probably make it all the way through it.)

I hate Norm Coleman SO MUCH.

I think you mean pollingreport.com, not pollingreport.org.

Think how we Minnesotans feel about him. I am so happy to be living here right now, getting the chance to (hopefully) kick him out on his ass...especially in favor of one of the very few people running for office in 2008 that I actually like and support with little reservation: Al Franken.

And especially to get him the fuck out of the seat occupied previously by the much-missed Paul Wellstone. That part particularly rankles.

Feingold represent!

One of the few true Progressives still left out there; great man!

What the fuck!

The Law of the Sea treaty is evil? How in fucks name is that?

Its a technical treaty governing maritime boundaries (territorial waters and EEZs) and a few other byzantine regs regarding international waters.

How in hell did this enter the right wing political arena in the US as evil?

He's been watching FOX News. They told him so.

I can believe that, but what's Rupert's (great traitorous right wing cunt that it he is) problem with the LoS?

Honestly, I can't tell you the specifics. I was flicking through the stations the other day and noticed it was all over the FOX channel, so I wanted to see what all the fuss was about. They're trying to say it can be used against our Navy, which is utter bullshit. The Department of the Navy was a major backer of the program. Moreover, our Navy's going to do what the fuck they want anyway. I think they're scared it's like some extension of the UN, which we all know the conservatives (or neocons rather) hate. Beyond that, not really sure, I couldn't listen to their drivel for more than a few moments.

lmao.. The treaty surrenders control of the Oceans to the UN. There already is a few treatys governing maritime boundaries on the books.
And the treaty allows for the UN to tax ocean travel and also would give the UN a certain amount of control over military naval vessels. And the fact that the creater of the treaty said it would be a founding stone for a world wide socialist order...

God forbid everyone follows a single set or rules.

Explain why those are bad things, please.

Because nobody can tell the US what to do, but we can tell everyone else what to do--that's why! bitch.

Yes, because the Anglo-American naval treaty of 1924 is SOOOO up to date

Zing!