GOP Set for Rebound in New England?
The six states of New England — never a hotbed of conservative politics in the best of times — have been particularly blue since the Republican bloodbaths of 2006 and 2008. The 22 House seats shared among Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Massachusetts are all currently held by Democrats. Republicans hold only four of the twelve Senate seats there, including the recent upstart invasion of Scott Brown in the Bay State. But as Bob Dylan once mumbled, the times they are a changing, and this very blue region is showing signs of turning increasingly purple in 2010.
Connecticut may be leading the way in this tidal shift. In the 4th District, Democrat Jim Himes is sitting on an impressive $1.3 million war chest, but as many as five Republicans are vying for a chance to take him on, and Himes’ support may be far shakier than the raw fundraising numbers would indicate. The 5th District also has several GOP contenders, including Litchfield businessman Mark Greenberg, who has tuned into voter discontent on key issues by promising to eschew the plush congressional health care plan and refuse the government pension scheme if elected.
The Senate is another question, however. Chris Dodd is on his way out under a cloud of perceived scandals, but this has opened the door for Richard Blumenthal, who seems to enjoy popular support across the state. On the GOP side, Rob Simmons has seen his fundraising efforts cool in recent days and former WWE CEO Linda McMahon’s largely self-financed campaign has failed to generate a lot of heat.
That seat is something of a parallel to the governor’s race in neighboring New York. While Republicans have enjoyed the plunging approval numbers and scent of scandal surrounding David Paterson, his eventual exit will open the door for Andrew Cuomo. The attorney general currently rides a wave of roughly 70% popularity across the state.
Both of Rhode Island’s Democratic-held House seats appear to be teetering. In the state’s 1st District, Patrick Kennedy has already announced his retirement under the weight of sagging approval numbers, and retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. John Loughlin is showing serious signs of life as a Republican challenger. On the other side of the state, it would be surprising if Mark Zaccaria were able to unseat incumbent Democrat Jim Langevin, but Langevin is facing a surprisingly well-financed primary challenge from Elizabeth Dennigan, and if that battle turns bloody enough, Zaccaria’s fortunes may begin to rise.
Meanwhile, in the always independent-minded New Hampshire, the GOP feels confident about their chances to hold on to Judd Gregg’s Senate seat after his retirement. The Granite State’s 1st District is already in turmoil for the Democrats. Rep. Carol Shea-Porter has seen her approval ratings sink to 35% and she trails in the polls to all perspective Republican challengers. Leading the pack is Manchester Mayor Frank Guinta, who whips her outside the margins with a ten-point lead. The 2nd District isn’t looking much better for Team Donkey. Charlie Bass leads both of the likely Democratic hopefuls in recent polling.
New England voters who do not earn their living in the public sector realize they are under attack by public union employees. On a practical level, this means that one’s own relatives or close friends are trying to stick it to them good and hard. They must be opposed. The Democrats represent the public unions—and the Republicans are the only hope to stopping them. It really is that simple. There is no reason to overcomplicate the matter.
President John F. Kennedy is greatly responsible for our present crisis. He signed an executive order in 1962 allowing government employees to unionize on a national level. Our situation has only significantly worsened since then. Kennedy is famous for many things, but few Americans know about his decision forty-eight years ago. I will make a prediction: within the next five years—this will be the number one thing his administration will be remembered for in the history books. He may have meant well, but the resulting damage has been overwhelming.
Here’s a cause that the Republicans should take up:
THE WAY to Really Call The Democrats’ Bluff and Save Us in the Process
Barak Obama just wants to give granny a pain killer, not treat her condition. And the state of Oregon would rather assist suicide than give one of its residents cancer treatments/medications.
In response, here’s what we do:
Introduce and pass legislation that would prevent the Federal government, or any of its agencies, from harming us, killing us, or otherwise prevent us from receiving life-preserving treatment, as a matter of its operating any sort of health care system (to include the murdering of infants in the womb).
Push for a constitutional amendment. Really raise as much stink as possible.
Credit Rose Pappas, senior citizen, of Chicago, Illinois.
“Purge the RINO’s”. Hmmm. Defining RINO’s is the problem. Here’s my definition, and it is self-explanatory asa to why they should be purged.
RINO’s are the big-spending, big-government Republicans. This flies directly in the face of what being a Republican is all about. If you’re for small government, you are right-of-center. If you’re for big government, you are left-of-center. It’s really that simple.
The RINO’s should become Dems, so as to quit ruining the Republican Party. Then, all the Indies who care not for big government could see that they are supposed to be Pubbies, and it all gets sorted out. Purge the Quislings.
Don’t forget Peter Schiff (R) in Connecticut.
Obama’s Winter Fall From Grace: BARGAINING
Third in a series on the collapse of the Obama presidency, its causes, and its effects on Barack Obama, effects comparable to the 5 stages of grief. Part One dealt with denial, Part Two with anger.
Today: BARGAINING
In the 5 stages of Obama’s grief over his failed presidency, after denial and anger comes bargaining.
We bargain all the time.
The lover bargains with his beloved when she no longer wants to be his beloved. The workman bargains with his employer when he tries to wheedle more pay. The supplicant bargains with God, often on his death bed.
And the politician bargains when he compromises with his fellow politicians and bargains with the electorate when he campaigns for election.
In Obama’s case, he is bargaining out of desperation: A new Gallup poll shows the incumbent president in a statistical dead heat with . . . every Republican, i.e. against any generic Republican. Worse, Mr. Generic Rep leads Obama 45%-31% among American independents: http://bit.ly/bLoz41.
Those sad realities for Obama in and of themselves represent a sad commentary on the status of his presidency.
Compound them with doubts within his own party and things look even worse: “He says ‘I’m for clean coal,’ and then he says . . .
(Read more at http://www.genelalor.com/blog1/?p=1505)
As a resident of NH’s 2nd. I hope to all that is good in the world that Charlie Bass doesn’t get past the primary season. He is a “proud moderate” Republican who helped get us in this mess before he got booted out and replaced but someone who was worst then him.
Sorry Charlie, (pun intended) you have done nothing to earn another chance. I’m not sure who I’ll go with but I know it will not be Charlie Bass.
You don’t need squishy rinos to fill a big tent 40% plus of Americans define themselves as conservatives. 40% or better of the American electorate would be the biggest tent in American politics. As someone else wrote in another comment recently only your friends can betray you never your enemies. It is more principled to be forced to compromise with your adversaries than your supposed allies. The democratic efforts to pass health care particularly in the senate are evidence that it could also be cheaper to buy your opposition than your friends.