Grave concern about Democrats retiring or dropping out of election races

self | 1/6/10 | NewJerseyJoe

[NewJerseyJoe]

My first reaction to the recent wave of Democrat politicians either retiring or announcing they won't run for reelection -- Chris Dodd being the latest -- was one of joy. "Here's the 'thinning of the herd' that we expected!"

Upon further reflection -- and seeing how eager Nancy Pelosi was to sacrifice the "blue dogs" in order to pass her Deathcare bill -- I'm wondering if this is not a grand scheme by the Democrats ... to throw under the bus (with promises of future payoffs, of course) any Democrats considered too "damaged" to re-elect -- and replace them with "more likeable" (and thus more electable) Democrats, in the hopes of maintaining a majority.

Considering the criminal shenanigans, payoffs, bribes, etc. that we've seen over the last six months, not only would I not be surprised if I'm right -- I actually expect to be proven correct on this (at least in some electoral races).

Comments?

[Vaduz]

Democrat politicians are going to be dropped like a bad transmission in 2012 also.

[fortheDeclaration]

That won't be the case in N.D., that will be a pick up seat. And the D. Congressman is also in deep trouble as well.

Having these Democrats resign is a good thing, since it makes it an open seat, and easier to pick up.

[fortheDeclaration]

The Dems improved their chances on those two by retiring unpopular incumbents.

No, in a Republican year, it makes the Democrats weaker, not stronger.

Incrediable how some conservatives will find defeat in every victory.

News-1942- America just won the Battle of Midway and sank 4 enemy carriers. FReeper-Oh No! That is just what they wanted us to do!

Now, they will REALLY start fighting hard!

[DoughtyOne]

I can see how that might work to their favor.

After watching what the Democrats have done with power, I’m not convinced Candidate(D) is going to look good to anyone this fall though. I think it does make it easier for a Democrat candidate to be viable.

If that U.S. Senate seat in Massachusetts goes (R), the Democrats will (hopefully) have done all this for nothing.

[Rockingham]

Your concerns are valid, but there are distinctions between a job search before retirement from public office, political horsetrading, and prosecutable corruption. I am hard put to construct a theory under which failure to run for reelection could be considered a prosecutable theft of “honest services” under the federal Hobbs Act.

[Political Junkie Too]

I'm interested in hearing more about Connecticut.

If you recall, when Lieberman didn't win the Democrat primary (Ned Lamont did), much was made about the political make-up of Connecticut. As I recall, only about 25% of Connecticut was registered Democrat, with the majority registered as Independent. With low turnout in the primary, Lamont won with effectively 10% of the Democrat vote. This is why Lieberman chose to run as an Independent in the general election.

Given that, do we still think that Connecticut will reactively go Democrat, or will the majority of Independents give the Republican a chance?

-PJ

[Biggirl]

Well the Dems KNOW that people in this country have turned against them.

[SmokingJoe]

“any Democrats considered too “damaged” to re-elect — and replace them with “more likeable” (and thus more electable) Democrats, in the hopes of maintaining a majority.”

Not gonna work.
Why?
Look at the Virgina governorship elections,
The Democrats had a new “fresh face” candidate (not the old incumnbebt governor), and they still got clobbered by a massive close to 20%, which is about the highest margin any Republican has ever won in statewide elections for decades.
It's not so much about individual Democratic Party candidates anymore, it’s the Tea Parties, It's the American voters being totally fed up with the Democrats(look at the latest Rasmussen generic congressional poll), and its about kicking the Democrats out of office.
All you need is to have a “D” after your name, and voters will vote against you.

[NewJerseyJoe]

I hope you're right -- but I disagree with you about Virginia. IIRC, even Democrats thought that Creigh Deeds was a loser candidate -- plus he'd been thrown under the bus by the Teleprompter.

The bottom line is that I won't trust a Democrat even one inch. I smell Pelosi and Rahm Emmanuel behind all (or most) of these resignations and droppings-out of races....

[SmokingJoe]

“No, in a Republican year, it makes the Democrats weaker, not stronger.”

Correct.

“News-1942- America just won the Battle of Midway and sank 4 enemy carriers. FReeper-Oh No! That is just what they wanted us to do!

Now, they will REALLY start fighting hard! “

LOL!
Couldn't have put it better myself.
I bet these are the same Freepers who kept insisting that Christie would never be able to beat Corzine in New Jersey, because “New Jersey will never vote for a Republican” and The Democrats will “bring in ACORN, SEIU blah blah to steal the election”. They kept insisting that Corzine could win right onto polling day, even when it had become clear that Christie had won.
Personally, I think there are Democratic Party 5th columnists at FR, who's business it is to be “realistic” by constantly postulating that the Republican's can't win in such and such elections. You gotta take such posts with a great deal of skepticism.

[etraveler13]

Except for the fact that the other democrats have less than 40% approval ratings, and independents are pissed at them too. Republicans are outraged, and IMO the Dimocrats are foisting this on the American Public, leaving or retiring, and living off the Congressional and Senate Sweetheart health care system for the rest of their lives, at the taxpayers expense.
Now if we could just force ALL retirees and current Senators and Congressmen to live under the same healthcare bill....now, that would be something.

But, it will never happen...

[SmokingJoe]

“but I disagree with you about Virginia. IIRC, even Democrats thought that Creigh Deeds was a loser candidate “

Nope
You'd better check the graph of the polls at RTealClearPolitics. At one time, Deeds had caught up with McDonnell in the polls, and the Washington Post and the Democratic Party Establishment went after McDonnell when they leaked his university thesis. They tried to “macaca” McDonnell and went after McDonnell with everything they had..and still lost by a massive 18%!
The “D” after your name makes you the target of angry voters. No amount of switching candidates is gong to save them.

[poobear]

I think Blumenthal (sp) D will replace Dodd. The other dyed and true D States will reelect by votes or fraud another D.

Again, rearranging the deck chairs. With this new National ID, dissenters will never have a chance at voting anyone out. Yes, I'm depressed!

[chris_bdba]

They can try but the Amercan people know that it is the democratic leadership that is pushing all of these awful bills. Elect another democrat you will get more of this!

[fortheDeclaration]

bet these are the same Freepers who kept insisting that Christie would never be able to beat Corzine in New Jersey, because “New Jersey will never vote for a Republican” and The Democrats will “bring in ACORN, SEIU blah blah to steal the election”. They kept insisting that Corzine could win right onto polling day, even when it had become clear that Christie had won. Personally, I think there are Democratic Party 5th columnists at FR, who's business it is to be “realistic” by constantly postulating that the Republican's can't win in such and such elections. You gotta take such posts with a great deal of skepticism.

Very true.

[RinaseaofDs]

How’s she going to get them elected? What will they run on? The economy? Job growth? Success in the war?

Good theory, but most of these old legacy farts are leaving because they aren’t going to put the effort into running a losing campaign.

You have to take a lot of crap in a campaign. Why do it if you are pretty sure you’re going to lose?

Worse, what if you win? You want to be there for the next six years of THIS?

[rlbedfor]

Excuse me Mr/Mrs new fresh face rat, when we introduce a bill to repeal the current Health Care law (assuming it will be), will you vote to repeal the law or not. How about Cap and Trade, how about extending the Bush tax cut. Oh, you won't, just like Reid and Pelosi direct. Interesting you rat bastar.....

[poobear]

?!

I wasn’t going to respond to this but since I am awake at 2 AM, GO SCREW YOURSELF! NEVER call me a RAT dumb @as!

Geez!

[rlbedfor]

I did not call you anything. I was meaning this is what we should say to the new Dems that run in place of the retiring Dems. I am sorry for the misunderstanding. I should have used quotes and been more clear.

[Bellflower]

We had better start to close the primaries in all of the states we possibly can. They often attempt to control our elections by crossing over. Thats why we have been getting so many candidates that play right into their hands.