2010 Senate
Dick Morris sums things up nicely:
“If the Republican Party wins every senate seat in which it now holds a lead, according to Rasmussen’s polls, it will capture eight Democratic seats while holding all of its own.
The two remaining pickups, to assure control, could be in Indiana where former Senator Dan Coats may run against Senator Evan Bayh and in California. Even if Coats does not run, former Congressman John Hostettler is only behind Bayh by 44-41. And, in California, former Hewlitt Packhard CEO Carly Fiorina is also only three points behind Senator Barbara Boxer.
(This assumes that former Wisconsin governor Tommy Thompson takes on Senator Russ Feingold).
Here’s the data:
In these eight races, the Republican is ahead:
State Contest Latest Polling Date Delaware Castle v Coones Castle +29 Jan ND Hoeven v unknown Hoeven +20 (v Dorgan) Dec Ark Lincoln v 4 opps Repub (Baker) +19 Feb Nev Reid v 3 opps Repub (Tarkanian) +8 Feb Colorado Norton v Bennet Norton +14 Feb Penn Toomey v Specter Toomey +9 Jan Illinois Kirk v Giannoulias Kirk +6 Feb Wisconsin Thompson v Feingold Thompson +3 Jan And, in these two states, the results are close:
State Contest Latest Polling Date California Boxer v 3 opps Boxer (v Fiorina) +3 Jan Indiana Bayh v Hostettler Bayh +3 Jan If Republicans take all ten seats, they take control in the Senate.
In addition strong challenges may be shaping up in New York against Kirsten Gillibrand and in Washington State against Patty Murray.”
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February 8th, 2010 at 10:23 pm
Johnson, Paul and Grayson debate this Saturday.
February 9th, 2010 at 3:24 am
“Around the world, people who are seeking freedom from oppressive regimes wonder if Alaska is still that beacon of hope for their cause.”
-Palin at Tea Party convention
February 9th, 2010 at 5:11 am
Wild cards are Washington, Oregon, New York Schumer and Wisconsin.
AND for even measure, who is going to take on Barbara Milkulski in MD?
February 9th, 2010 at 5:55 am
Paul goes on a hostile Texas radio show.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eidhI7BDQM
and
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0QBsBlYixI
and
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPMsoPu0pmI
February 9th, 2010 at 7:25 am
“Around the world, people who are seeking freedom from oppressive regimes wonder if Alaska is still that beacon of hope for their cause.”
-Written on the palm of Palin’s hand at Tea Party convention
February 9th, 2010 at 7:30 am
“We don’t need a teleprompter President!”
-Written of the palm of Palin’s hand at Tea Party convention
February 9th, 2010 at 7:39 am
“I just made a cool 100 thou!”
-Written on the palm of Palin’s hand at Tea Party convention
February 9th, 2010 at 7:54 am
Written on the palm of Palin’s hand at Tea Party convention
…..
It would take Uhhbama at least 5 teleprompters to get those words out.
Uh,, I’d like to thank the corpseman….
Uh, your sick child should have been given a breathalyzer…
LOLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
February 9th, 2010 at 8:07 am
Thank you for supporting me artist. I appreciate your contribution to my $100 thou speaking fee. I assume that you are a middle-aged man, my base, and that you will therefore enjoy a little *wink* and smile from me.
February 9th, 2010 at 8:48 am
Grifter:
Seems like Sarah is picking up steam, no?
February 9th, 2010 at 9:40 am
And if Dick Morris had a brain, he would be human.
If if if. Here’s my analysis, free. IF Republicans DON’T pick up or win all of the elections they are contesting, then they WON’T take control of the Senate or House.
And to think Morris gets paid to spew meaningless blather like this. Perhaps he does have a brain after all…only its wired for self-gratification,
February 9th, 2010 at 9:41 am
Q: How many leftists does it take to screw up a supermajority in Congress?
A: Just one in the White house…
Q: How many leftists have a clue about Sarah Palin yet?
A: None; but that’s a trick question as any Americans who become leftists don’t have a clue about anything else, either.
February 9th, 2010 at 9:43 am
BTW, “It’s the economy, Stupid!”
February 9th, 2010 at 9:57 am
If Thompson wanted to run in WI, we’d know it. He aint.
I also suspect Pataki is out. These chicken-skit azeleas could help the GOP by SAYING they’re out. Clear the field for candidates w/ more cojones, even if less name recognition.
I regard Coats’ candidacy with a groan. He’s 66. He’s been retired for 12 years. Coats puts me in mind of Conrad Burns, Ted Stevens, Widestance Craig, & other doddering GOP grandees from elections past.
On another topic, Murtha’s seat: PA GOP county chairpersons will select the GOP nominee. I hope they’ll select Lt. Col. Russell. If they don’t, they’re brain-dead idiots.
February 9th, 2010 at 10:25 am
Please run, Sarah, please, please, please!
February 9th, 2010 at 12:10 pm
I appreciate your contribution to my $100 thou speaking fee.
….
It will be donated.
I sense nervousness on your part.
Could it be your fear of having to provide for yourself?
Carry on failed citizen!
February 9th, 2010 at 1:17 pm
Meghan McCain was complaining about republican congressmen being racist again today.
She loves to complain and nag about every republican she can think of.
February 9th, 2010 at 2:00 pm
I sense nervousness on your part. Could it be your fear of having to provide for yourself?
As long as I have middle age Republican men donating money, I will be just fine. To think that I could still be governor of Alaska, rather than out making the big bucks!
“Bilk the citizenry”
-written on Sarah’s palm.
February 9th, 2010 at 2:56 pm
I find it fascinating to read all the hoopla & negativity concering Sarah writing on her hand, when all it does is draw attention to President Telemprompter’s inability to deliver coherent thoughts without the aid of his favorite crutch.
February 9th, 2010 at 3:02 pm
EarlG,
It’s like I said… American leftists couldn’t find a clue if it was nailed to their front door…
February 9th, 2010 at 3:19 pm
The chances of Obama being a one-term president are very HIGH each and everyday.
WHO DAT, GEAUX SAINTS.
February 9th, 2010 at 3:30 pm
“…when all it does is draw attention to President Telemprompter’s inability to deliver coherent thoughts without the aid of his favorite crutch.”
You must be joking or stupid or both. Did you or did you not watch him meet with the Republican Caucus a few weeks ago to discuss healthcare reform and other issues? He certainly didn’t need a teleprompter or a speechwriter to send them home with their tails between their legs.
Constantly harping on demonstrably false and idiotic criticism of Obama is the very definition of Obama Derangement Syndrome…which you and others here obviously are afflicted with.
So tell me again why anyone should take your “criticism’ seriously for anything other than that?
February 9th, 2010 at 3:37 pm
Can anyone imagine a day when Ari Fleisher attacked and mocked Hillary the day after one of her tirades on Bush? Obama is so LESS than.
February 9th, 2010 at 3:51 pm
I’ll leave the inane, stupid BDS remarks to you, McRock – you’ve repeatedly proven yourself more than capable of that around here.
I did not watch the event. but I understand that Obama did well at one, ONE event – what took him so long? He is obviously insecure and unsure of himself.
And you cannot defend his constant use of the teleprompter crutch. If Bush had done so, you would be all over him.
February 9th, 2010 at 4:39 pm
Can anyone imagine a day when Ari Fleisher attacked and mocked Hillary the day after one of her tirades on Bush?
Can anyone imagine Hillary glancing down at absolutely hilarious notes written on her hand?
February 9th, 2010 at 4:42 pm
…when all it does is draw attention to President Telemprompter’s inability to deliver coherent thoughts without the aid of his favorite crutch.
I could see that, if I were to first quaff from that Kool-Aid pitcher of yours.
February 9th, 2010 at 4:44 pm
And you cannot defend his constant use of the teleprompter crutch.
That is your obsession. Why defend against an obsession?
If Bush had done so, you would be all over him.
If he had only used a teleprompter… But, as long as you are proposing thought experiments, imagine what you would have done if Obama were caught glancing down at the same notes written on his hand.
February 9th, 2010 at 5:38 pm
And yest, in the middle of the worst economic conditions in 70 years, the President and his minions devote so much time to attacking Fox news employees instead of actually doing what they’re paid to do.
The Obama Administration makes that of Jimmy Carter look like a domestic policy genius and that of GW Bush look like a foreign policy genius…
So where is the “hope” and “change” he promised? Or are we still hoping he will change?
February 9th, 2010 at 5:54 pm
- “…when all it does is draw attention to President Telemprompter’s inability to deliver coherent thoughts without the aid of his favorite crutch.” _ C’mon, dude, you know that’s not even true – just wingnut talking points. Obama crushed your nominee in all debates with no teleprompter. Last week he destroyed the republicans in their caucus with no teleprompter. True, they were poorly prepared (as always – talking points based on fiction will only get you so far when you have to come face to face with the truth), but Obama showed a command of the facts that you repubs could only dream about. Yep, no way GWB could have pulled it off – hell, he was scared of the NAACP. And then you repubs had to lie and say Obama used a teleprompter to talk to 6 grade students. This was all shown to be untrue, and right wing blogs got embarassed. Why don’t you all just admit it – the guy’s intelligent, well-spoken, thinks fast on his feet, and knows the issues. In effect, he’s just a real smart guy – smarter than you. This terrifies you, so you have to make up tales. You wish he was as bad in front of the camera as GWB so you don’t feel so bad about inflicting GWB on the rest of us for the last 8 yrs. Face it – repubs like having a bozo for president – it makes them feel like they’re not so dumb. That’s why you can’t get enough of Sarah Palin.
February 9th, 2010 at 6:05 pm
- “The Obama Administration makes that of Jimmy Carter look like a domestic policy genius and that of GW Bush look like a foreign policy genius…” – Really? Were you even around last year? Obama saved us from another great depression. The stock market got sick, but didn’t flatline and actually got better (that’s why you never talk about it). He’s poppin’ the caps of terrorists right and left (as well as some pirates). And employment’s getting better (pretty soon you won’t be talking about that either). Imagine life under John McCain, and Sarah Palin a heartbeat away from the football. And you call the guy that turned budget surpluses into record breaking deficits a genius. Got us into two wars with no exit plan, and saw 9/11 happen on his watch. Then oversaw the near meltdown of the entire country’s economy. You guys crack me up.
February 9th, 2010 at 6:44 pm
Good times!
You just can’t bring yourselves to admit that Palin was moronic. Instead you change the subject and talk about teleprompters and the economy.
Using the word retard is OK when Rush says it? You just can’t admit that Palin is a moron. It is impossible.
You obstruct the President 24/7…filibuster…holds on nominees…and then you complain when he hasn’t fixed Bush’s mess.
Morons.
And then you can’t bring yourselves to admit that Palin is a fake that uses palm Cliff Notes.
Morons.
February 9th, 2010 at 6:46 pm
Mikey,
{Sigh…} Does Obama have any shortcomings in your eyes? Is he to be defended unquestionably, uncritically and exempted at every turn? I can’t say I’d blame him if he had to use a teleprompter once in a while to express his thoughts, to make sure his “facts” were all straight. [Would that Bush could have presented himself more eloquently, to be sure], but…over half of the country doesn’t approve of him. Is this all the result of a VRW conspiracy? If Obama has such a command of the “facts” as generated by left-wing policy wonks, and after a year of selling the product at various rallys & venues, why has he not been able to rally people to his side? Why the need to force it through congress behind closed doors, in arm-twisting backroom deals with members of your own party, with votes on weekends during snow storms on Christmas Eve while the country doesn’t notice? This is the Chicago way of doing things, and the country wants nothing to do with it. Thus you have lost Virgina, New Jersey, and Massachusetts, and very likely Murtha’s seat soon enough. How can all this be ignored or trivialized? I’d suggest that Obama’s message has gotten out, and people do not want what he’s selling.
February 9th, 2010 at 6:50 pm
Does Obama have any shortcomings in your eyes?
Good times!
The man that has nothing good to say about Obama, and will fight him at EVERY turn, has the audacity to question the motives of others!
Moron!
Good Times!
February 9th, 2010 at 6:53 pm
How can all this be ignored or trivialized?
Good times!
Did you state the same thing when Obama was elected?
No.
Do you know why?
Moron.
February 9th, 2010 at 7:14 pm
And why the need to attack me, Mikey…or The Ace….or whoever you are?
Perhaps this sterling example of a condescending leftist is the reason why people do not want to be ruled by them or trust their policies….fascinating…
February 9th, 2010 at 7:36 pm
And why the need to attack me, The Ace?
Because that is what I have always done. It is my nature. I am the epitome of the condescending right.
February 9th, 2010 at 7:54 pm
I see….
February 9th, 2010 at 8:03 pm
Pluto:
“Can anyone imagine Hillary glancing down at absolutely hilarious notes written on her hand?”
With the reception Sarah is getting, I think Obama would be wise to ditch the teleprompter and start writing on his hand.
February 9th, 2010 at 8:46 pm
Now I see why Meghan McCain was so mad. Tamcredo gave a speech thanking God that John McCain lost the last election, and that struck a nerve with Meghan.
February 10th, 2010 at 5:45 am
With the reception Sarah is getting, I think Obama would be wise to ditch the teleprompter and start writing on his hand.
Really? You really think that? That is a lot of what makes her so fascinating, that the right hates the populism of Obama, sarcastically calling him the messiah, but will turn around and embrace the populism of someone such as Palin. For example, the left thinks that Levi’s portrait of Palin is SPOT ON and accurate, no matter their opinion of him personally, whereas the right won’t give Levi or his descriptions the time of day. The blinders of partisan populism, right or left, are always interesting.
February 10th, 2010 at 7:15 am
Pluto:
“That is a lot of what makes her so fascinating, that the right hates the populism of Obama,”
I would venture a guess that Sarah has more populism in her pinky finger than Obama has in his whole body. She has drawn the venom of the left because she has exposed them…..not an easy task.
February 10th, 2010 at 7:31 am
I would venture a guess that Sarah has more populism in her pinky finger than Obama has in his whole body.
Then why does the right call Obama the messiah?
The left doesn’t.
February 10th, 2010 at 7:49 am
Pluto:
“Then why does the right call Obama the messiah?
The left doesn’t.”
What do the words of a few that fly around on poster boards have anything to do with Sarah’s popularity? From most accounts I have read, her messages are positive
February 10th, 2010 at 8:14 am
Via Instapundit:
“ABC NEWS: Wall Street Bonuses President Obama Once Called ‘Obscene’ and ‘Shameful’ Now He Doesn’t Begrudge.”
February 10th, 2010 at 8:15 am
Good times!
More Instapundit:
“MICHAEL BARONE: Team Obama Grows Stupid. “The same people who directed the campaign that defeated Hillary Clinton and routed John McCain, a campaign that raised far more money and attracted far more volunteers than any before it, have within a year come up with a legislative program that is crashing in ruins and that, to judge from recent polls, has left the Democratic party weaker than I have seen it in almost 50 years of closely following politics.”
February 10th, 2010 at 8:48 am
From most accounts I have read, her messages are positive
That is exactly my point. It is always interesting.
February 10th, 2010 at 8:59 am
Don’t worry, Obamacare is the answer to everything!
via The Corner:
‘Obama Budget Rigs Health Care Numbers’ [Veronique de Rugy]
Instead of shoveling the gigantic amount of snow accumulating around and on top of my house, I read this very good article by AEI’s Andrew Biggs in The American. Biggs explains how the health-care numbers in Obama’s FY2011 budget are a total manupulation of the truth in order to achieve a political goal — the public takeover the health care. He writes:
For the first time by any administration in memory, the Obama budget forecast rejects the Medicare Trustees’ projections for long-run healthcare cost growth. The reason: the Trustees’ projections undercut the administration’s narrative that increased federal control over private sector healthcare could painlessly reduce Medicare and Medicaid costs. The Obama budget instead assumes long-term health cost growth at twice the rate projected by the Trustees.
How much manipulation are we talking about?
The rate of health cost growth per beneficiary combines with population aging, which swells the number of beneficiaries, to raise overall Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid spending. The Medicare Trustees have for years projected that per capita health costs will grow around 1 percent faster than gross domestic product. In health experts’ lexicon, “excess cost growth” will equal “GDP plus 1 percent. . . .
The 2011 Obama budget, by contrast, assumes per capita health costs will grow at GDP plus 2 percent, double the Trustees’ rate. The effects of this change are staggering: the administration’s 2010 budget, which followed the Trustees assumptions, projected Medicare costs of 9.6 percent of GDP by 2080. The 2011 budget, which uses White House assumptions, projects Medicare will consume 22 percent of GDP by 2085.”
In short, the administration intentionally decided to ignore the fact that population aging is by far the biggest contributor to entitlement spending over the next several decades, and that Obamacare won’t do anything to address this problem.
February 10th, 2010 at 12:44 pm
- “{Sigh…} Does Obama have any shortcomings in your eyes?” – Sure he does. But why don’t you nail him for his real faults instead of making stuff up.
- “…but…over half of the country doesn’t approve of him.” – See, that’s what I mean. You’re making stuff up. His popularity is over 50% depending on the poll. But no matter what poll you pick, he’s still higher rated than the republicans – inconvienent facts that are left out of the narrative.
- “If Obama has such a command of the “facts” as generated by left-wing policy wonks, and after a year of selling the product at various rallys & venues, why has he not been able to rally people to his side?” – Generally because of the crap spread by the knuckledraggers at this and other sites, as well as a constant barrage of falsehoods by the Fox News crowd. Lies travel the world before the truth puts it’s boots on.
- “Why the need to force it through congress behind closed doors, in arm-twisting backroom deals with members of your own party, with votes on weekends during snow storms on Christmas Eve while the country doesn’t notice?” – He’s not forcing anything. The republicans did everything possible to delay the votes. The weekend vote during the snowstorm was caused by the republicans delaying a war funding bill (forcing every word of the bill to be read aloud). Their delaying tactics caused the troops to go for a short period without any funding. They also delayed and voted “no” to a man, the VA funding bill. I’ll bet you didn’t know that. That’s because the media is generally braindead, and Fox News is not going to tell the truth about anything. Imagine everyone as ill informed as you – not knowing the real reasons behind the late night votes over the weekend. Now you know why the president’s ratings are what they are and the HCR bill is unpopular.
- ” Thus you have lost Virgina, New Jersey, and Massachusetts, and very likely Murtha’s seat soon enough.” – More propaganda. I notice you don’t include NY23 in your list. That’s because it goes against the narrative that you’ve been spoon fed. The dems are losing overall support not because of the right – they’ve always been against them. They’re losing support from the left because the left believes that there’s been too much compromise with the republicans. Look at the HCR bill. It has everything in it the republicans want except for tort reform. You and I know that lawsuits are almost nothing in the total cost of health care. Yet the republicans fight for tort reform. And with this being the only thing republicans don’t have in the bill, they still are against it (even republicans who voted for a more left leaning bill in committee). Why? Just be honest with yourself when you answer. Meanwhile, everything the left wanted in the bill is out. Universal, single payer, and public option – even the public option that almost nobody’s eligible for – it’s all out. Why would the left support this?
The American public has been ill served by its media, when they let the right get way with outright lies, and no real followup questions to their answers. When right wing figures can say that there have been no terrorist attacks under GWB and not be questioned by the host or reporter, there is something wrong. When the media lets wing nuts get way with saying the president spoke to 6th graders using a teleprompter when that was blatantly false, then we are in a sad state. Even Jon Stewart blew it last night when he let Newt get away with saying the reason it was ok to try the shoe bomber in court and not the underwear bomber was because the shoe bomber was an American citizen. Of course, the shoe bomber was not – he was British, and Newt’s whole arguement was bull shit (as usual). But, Stewart never called him out on it, until the end of the show after the interview, when Newt wasn’t there to explain his lie. But that’s the state of affairs that we have now. For the last year, the right has been allowed to lie their asses off about everything, with little to no fact checking by the press. It’s a wonder Obama’s got anything done.
February 10th, 2010 at 3:57 pm
Mikey,
I’ll give you a great deal of credit in believing in the left wing causes, and you state your cause valiantly & passionately. True, I am as skeptical as any on the right, but….
“They’re losing support from the left because the left believes that there’s been too much compromise with the republicans.” – the polls I see are him losing independents who do not favor his version of HCR and in general. You are correct that the right will never support him, though it seems his support from the left is also diminished, no doubt for the reasons you mentioned.
“Generally because of the crap spread by the knuckledraggers at this and other sites, as well as a constant barrage of falsehoods by the Fox News crowd. Lies travel the world before the truth puts it’s boots on.” – but Mikey, even after an entire year of campaigning on HCR? It seemed as though every time he appeared in public on the issue his poll numbers went down. Couldn’t his version of the truth cut through the fog eventually? He needs you to be his spokesperson…
“See, that’s what I mean. You’re making stuff up. His popularity is over 50% depending on the poll. But no matter what poll you pick, he’s still higher rated than the republicans – inconvienent facts that are left out of the narrative.”
Mikey, here is today’s composite polling of Obama as compiled by RCP: today he’s at 48.1 percent, with 46.4 disapproving.
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/other/president_obama_job_approval-1044.html
Here also is a generic ballot as compiled by RCP. It presently shows republicans ahead by +3 points:
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/other/generic_congressional_vote-901.html
As an aside, true NY 23 did in fact not go as hoped. I’d wager that at that point, Obama was still popular (though waning) and had not yet become a drag on the Democratic party’s appeal. Not to mention that the Republican candidate had issues unfavorable to the base.
Take care, Mikey…. Truly. I’m glad that we both live in a free country to express ourselves without threat of political payback. Those who serve in the armed forces are truly noble to ensure such freedoms.
February 10th, 2010 at 5:30 pm
Not sure why my post back to Mikey was “moderated”…I didn’t swear or use anything derogatory….hmmmm….
February 11th, 2010 at 9:08 am
Earl G, it was the multiple links.
But don’t expect Mikey to change. The lefty sock puppets that post here are just drive-by talking point sheep…
February 11th, 2010 at 10:28 am
- “…but Mikey, even after an entire year of campaigning on HCR?” – Who was campaining for HCR? All you heard this summer was “death panels” and “socialism”, how big the bill was, and how the government was going to separate you from your dr. On Fox, this was 24/7, and on the other news outlets, with reporters too lazy to even read the bill, you got really nothing at all. There was no full court press by Obama or the dems to get the truth out on HCR, but there was a full court press by republicans and teabaggers to distort and discredit it. All eyes were on townhalls packed with folks that had no clue what was in the bill complaining about stuff that wasn’t in the bill. No mention of civil townhalls with open, honest discussions. The press was only interested in blood and destruction because that sells papers – facts are boring and require some legwork. So we get what we got.
February 11th, 2010 at 6:40 pm
If you think Fiorina has a chance, you are on Drugs.