Posted on 11/03/2010 12:07:48 PM PDT by HarleyD
I normally don't like vanity post but last night I watch Joe Manchin acceptance speech. If anyone think that this guy really want to work on both sides of the aisle, they should know that his election to the Senate is just for two years to finish up Senator Byrd's turn. After that he will be able to compete for the full six years. In other words, I think that he is more likely to cross over with the Republicans to get things done.
That started me to thinking, given the vast changes in the House, has anyone drawn up a map of these endangered Democrats whose terms are up in 2012 and now find themselves deep into Red country? How many of them are there? I know Jim Webb from Virginia is one. How many more?
I don’t know the answer, but thats a great point. The gains for the Republicans are not going unnoticed by the Democrats in red/reddish states. I think we may have wrested more power away from the Democrats than we think.
>>In other words, I think that he is more likely to cross over with the Republicans to get things done.
Here we go again... the MYTH of the moderate Dhimmicrat. I’ve lost track of the number of times that’s been debunked...
There are something like 22 Dem Senate seats up for reelection in 2012. 10 Republican. They had better vote with and for the good of the people during the next 2 years.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1010/44289.html
Analysis of 2012 here. Things look GREAT for us in 2k12. I bet we can get a lot of these endangered dems to caucus with us.
HarleyD,
I thought it funny that folks worried about the lame duck congressional secssion.
You think the dems will allow themselves to be herded after this?
Ain’t gonna hapen.
There will be loads lining up to do damage to obammy, not help him at this point.
2012 is right around the corner and the dems and RINO’s are ALL nervous at this point.
I think this is an excellent point you are making, because I watched the speech last night also.
But, to be quite honest, I think he is going to goose step behind Harry Reid and the others right off the cliff.
I think the only GOP policies he will go along with are domestic energy development, which is good, but he will probably sell his soul for West Virginia pork just like Bob Byrd.
Manchin’s positions are entirely antagonistic with rank and file Washington Democrats. He reminds me of Sen Richard Shelby of Alabama who won as a Dem in 1994, switched GOP and has been a party stalwart since then. He can switch with very little political risk since WV is highly anti-Obozo.
Incumbent fear of conservatives is the big story.
That’s why the media won’t mention it.
Can’t help you though, Jim Webb is the one I know of and you already know he has an impossible role to play.
I’d be the first to agree with you that there is NO such thing as a “moderate” Democrat. Heck, there are few “moderate” Republicans. But many of these guys love being called “Senator” before being called a “Democrat”. I’ve started to receive emails from Mark Warner’s office saying how he’s working with Republicans to reduce government. (I fired back a letter essentially saying “This is laughable. Are you crazy?”.)
They’re far more interested in holding on to their seat (like Manchin) then they will be in defending this radical agenda.
we should be able to count on cantor and the house to take a machete to the pork
And we have 40 conservative Senators to block any mischief there! Plus the effect the poster mentions.
I’m ecstatic with the election results!
And the next one looks to be even better!
Interesting point.
But they should do the right thing and cross over openly (way prior to the next election), and cross over to a clearly defined position.
We have seen things like Republicans jumping ship when they lose a primary or changing parties at the last minute and then sabotaging the legitimate GOP candidate, and while it may be a strategy, it’s ugly and we shouldn’t encourage GOPers to do it just because the Dems have done it.
The other thing that we need is clearly defined positions. Once we went to the “Big Tent” model, we stopped defining GOP positions on anything. Even when we had them, nobody expected a candidate to abide by them. And that has got to stop.
So if they want to jump, that’s fine. But they should be fair to their party and announce it well in advance. Also, there has got to be something they are jumping to and they have responsibilities once they jump there.
His constant refrain in the speech was ... "Country First". (now where have I heard that before?)
Jon Tester is another one.
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