General Discussion

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May 14, 2008 · We know why the Republicans lost the March 8 special election in Illinois' 14th Congressional District. Yes, the GOP had won the seat in every election but two for the past 90 years. But this year, their candidate to replace the resigned Dennis Hastert, Jim Oberweis, was controversial and cantankerous.

We know why the Republicans lost the May 3 special election in Louisiana's 6th CD. Yes, the GOP had held the seat since 1975. But this year, their candidate to replace the resigned Richard Baker, Woody Jenkins, was controversial and cantankerous. We knew all that.

Knowing that a third successive special election defeat would be interpreted by some as a trend, national Republican Party officials pulled out all the stops to keep Democrats from winning Tuesday's contest in Mississippi's 1st District, called for when Rep. Roger Wicker (R) was appointed to the Senate seat vacated by Trent Lott.

Vice President Dick Cheney made a campaign trip to the district on behalf of the GOP candidate, Greg Davis. The party spent more than $1 million — money that is in short supply — to defend a seat Wicker won with at least 66 percent of the vote each time since his first election in 1994. They ran ads attempting to tie the Democratic candidate, Travis Childers, to liberal boogeymen such as Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi. All for naught.

Childers defeated Davis by a 54-46 percent margin. It's the first time since 1974 that Democrats have picked up three Republican House seats via special elections in a single cycle. (See last week's column.) Democrats now control the House 236-199.

Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, called the result "yet another rejection of the House Republican agenda, the Bush administration's misguided policies and John McCain's campaign for a third Bush term." Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK), Van Hollen's Republican counterpart, acknowledged that the "political environment is such that voters remain pessimistic about the direction of the country and the Republican Party in general. Therefore, Republicans must undertake bold efforts to define a forward-looking agenda that offers the kind of positive change voters are looking for." But Cole conceded that "time is short."

There will be recriminations, to be sure. Cole's job is said to be on the line. Former Speaker Newt Gingrich is among the many Republicans who have questioned the GOP strategy. This story is not over.

(And even while the party was struggling to hold on to the seat, they got a new headache with the revelation that Rep. Vito Fossella, the only Republican member of Congress from New York City, was arrested and charged with driving under the influence. The saga later morphed into his confession that he had fathered a child with another woman in Virginia — news that was probably not welcomed by his wife and three children back home. The GOP may sell itself as a pro-family party, but the guess here is that the fine folks back on the Isle of Staten interpreted "pro-family" in a different sort of way.

ahh. vito.

i lived and worked in staten island for some years. pretty italian.  wannabee mobsters. a goumada is expected :)

the republican party is swimming in dangerous terroritory. a 60 seat majority is probable this cycle. republicans must use this minority time to reflect how they became the majority in the first place.

conservative principles on its own, is truly sexy. when operated in the hands of self interest it pisses people off. but im sure once americans see their tax bill and mandates opposed on them by self interested democrats, the cycle will come around again.

we definitely need a republican in the white house to counter these democrat goons with a veto pen.

Originally posted by unconformed

we definitely need a republican in the white house to counter these democrat goons with a veto pen.

This season will be a clean sweep.

CHANGE : Coming soon to a district near you!

Beware of the change you wish for. A socialist government doesn't go over well with the people who pay the bills for it. Only the losers at the government trough will see a positive change. Once again all I can say is look at the voting records. If you are too lazy to do that then you deserve all you get.

Does anyone plan for their future these days, or am I the only one?

I have a plan, move out of the US when I graduate.

Originally posted by DailyBuzz

 

Originally posted by unconformed

we definitely need a republican in the white house to counter these democrat goons with a veto pen.

Republican president = more of the same = terrible for America

 

This season will be a clean sweep.

 

CHANGE : Coming soon to a district near you!

it would be if obama wasnt supporting a anti-semtistic, rasict reverand. TBH i believe a democrat could clean up this country, but they need somebody ALOT more competent, i mean whats up with their representitives? First it was John Kerry(LOL) and now Hillary RODHAM clinton and Barack "i am black" obama

Originally posted by peaceandlove

I have a plan, move out of the US when I graduate.

I guess you independently wealthy or have a country lined up that is going to accept you and give you a job.

Originally posted by tvalentine

TBH i believe a democrat could clean up this country, but they need somebody ALOT more competent, i mean whats up with their representitives? First it was John Kerry(LOL) and now Hillary RODHAM clinton and Barack "i am black" obama

I'm not sure I understand you're question. Aside from your general dislike of the democratic senators you listed, what competence do they lack?

Originally posted by DailyBuzz

Originally posted by tvalentine

TBH i believe a democrat could clean up this country, but they need somebody ALOT more competent, i mean whats up with their representitives? First it was John Kerry(LOL) and now Hillary RODHAM clinton and Barack "i am black" obama

I'm not sure I understand you're question. Aside from your general dislike of the democratic senators you listed, what competence do they lack?

to actually win an election without going the john kerry route and mudsling the entire election, or be like obama who is littered with controversy that ranges from his anti-semistic role model to his anti gun policy and half of everything hes said in the passed few months including when he called his grandmother or mother (cant remember) a "typical white person" (generalizing the white population .... if anyone else said "typical black person it would have been blown out of proportion). And well Hillary i havent heard alot from.

EDIT: in other words, they need better representitives