Senate Races 2006 (Vanity)

NRSC, et al ^ | 9-20-2005 | TitansAFC

[reelfoot]

Regarding Tennessee's open seat, there's a good chance the Senate could become more conservative with the election of Ed Bryant to replace the weak-kneed Bill Frist. The republican field is made up of Bryant (send illegal immigrants home, pro-life, etc.), Van Hilleary (also more conservative than Frist but probably less so than Bryant), and Bob Corker (CINO like Frist). The almost certain Dim nominee is Harold Fraud Ford, Jr., who comes from the most corrupt political-dynasty family in Tennessee. While Ford is slick, and gets a lot of free national media attention, I don't see him playing well outside of Memphis and Nashville. If Bryant does win the repub nomination and is willing to take the gloves off on Jr.'s record, Bryant should win this one hands down.

[Politicalities]

IMO conservatism—i.e., shrinking government, expanding personal responsibility and affirming traditional mores—is the answer.

The problem is that government power is like a ratchet... it turns in one way, not the other. A new government entitlement is permanent, and is virtually impossible to eliminate, or even roll back, or even slow the growth of. Therefore the amount of freedom in this country steadily declines and very rarely increases. It's not hard to see where that road leads.

Talk to your idols Cornyn, Allard, and Chambliss. Ask if they'd even consider eliminating Social Security, the Department of Education, Medicare, or otherwise returning the federal government to its defined Constitutional role. You may be depressed by the answers.

[Politicalities]

Uh...I'm not idolizing those guys at all; I'm just holding them up as examples who by far and away outshine the pathetic excuses for "Republicans" that we seem to keep electing for Ohio.

And yet these, perhaps the best examples of small-government Republicans in the U.S. Senate, would still never dare openly suggest actually making the government smaller. Which is why we're doomed.

[zbigreddogz]

You'd understand if you came from a state with Patty Murray, and were living in a state with Barbra Boxer.

[itsudemo]

Will Hoevel run in ND?

No.

Can the GOP actually take one from the Great Lakes states?

If Thompson runs against Kohl, hell yeah.

Is Oklahoma REALLY in play?

Um... considering there's no race in OK, I would guess not.

Is Santorum already dead and buried?

Yes. And here's the deal: fundraisers are going to POUR money into PA hoping to bail out the sinking ship, and it's not going to work. There reaches a point where you have to stop being blinded by your love of the candidate and just say, "would my money be better spent elsewhere?"

I think that money would be better spent on George Allen, just in case Warner jumps in the race (which I think is likely) - if Mark Warner runs, that's going to be THE race to watch.

Is Florida trending GOP, and can we pick-up Nelson's seat?

It is trending GOP, but they love the old fuddy-duddy down there. As soon as he retires, that seat will go Red. But not before then.

Can the GOP win back Jefford's seat? Who could do it

Looks like VT is going to elect their "I" column Rep to take their "I" column Senator's place.

Is Byrd an inevitable winner in a state that might be renamed after him in the next ten years?

See Nelson in Florida - same deal. When he retires, that seat will go Red.

Is there a true dark horse race out there where the GOP can pull an unexpected upset?

It's not an "upset", but I think Kennedy will pick up Dayton's seat in Minnesota. Depends if Franken runs, too, though I doubt he will. Sounds like a joke but the biggest mistake Minnesota Repubs could make would be to underestimate him.

What will the final tally be?

Tough call. Republicans lose a couple of seats but retain control, 50-48-2 or 51-47-2 The two are Sanders in VT and Chaffee, who post-election goes independant.

Other predictions:

Hillary and Jeb make a handshake agreement that neither will run for president, sparing the country 24 straight years of a Bush or Clinton in the White House. They both break that pledge, and the country winds up with 24 straight years of either a Bush or Clinton in the White House.

The Supreme Court finds gay marriage unconstitutional. As a joke, Chief Justice Roberts gives Harriet Meirs responsibility for writing the majority opinion, but she screws it up and winds up accidentally legalizing it instead. At which point Chelsea Clinton and Jenna Bush get "married" to unite the two families in joint rulership over the United States for the next 100 years or so.