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R.I. senator may leave Republican Party
Yahoo! News ^ | 11/8/06 | MICHELLE R. SMITH

Posted on 11/09/2006 5:35:03 PM PST by libertarianPA

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Two days after losing a bid for a second term, Sen. Lincoln Chafee (news, bio, voting record) said he was unsure whether he would remain a Republican.

Chafee lost to Democrat Sheldon Whitehouse in a race seen as a referendum on President Bush and the GOP. On Thursday, he was asked whether he would stick with the Republican Party or become an independent or Democrat.

"I haven't made any decisions. I just haven't even thought about where my place is," Chafee said at a news conference. When pressed on whether his comments indicated he might leave the GOP, he replied: "That's fair."

Chafee, 53, is a lifelong Republican who has represented Rhode Island for seven years. His father held the same seat for 23 years before that.

He is the most liberal Republican in the Senate and was the sole Senate Republican to vote against the war in Iraq. But that was not enough to prevail against Whitehouse, who shared many of Chafee's views but was a Democrat in a heavily Democratic state.

Chafee said his loss may have helped the country by switching control of Congress.

"The people have spoken all across America. They want the Democrats and Republicans to work together," he said. "I think the president now is going to have to talk to the Democrats. I think that's going to be good for America."

Chafee said he waged a lonely campaign to bring the party to the middle. He described attending weekly lunches with fellow GOP senators and standing up to argue his point of view, often alone.

"There were times walking into my caucus room where it wasn't fun," he said, adding that he stayed with the GOP largely because it allowed him to bring federal dollars home to Rhode Island.


TOPICS: Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: chafee; election; goodriddance; lincolnchafee; rhodeisland; rino; rinos
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To: libertarianPA

Like he ever was a republican in the first place! Half of the problem we have right now is the refusal to drop-kick RINOs like Chaffee, McCain, et al, ad nauseum!!


41 posted on 11/09/2006 5:45:34 PM PST by Bean Counter (Stout Hearts!!)
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To: KoRn

Ditto.


42 posted on 11/09/2006 5:45:42 PM PST by madison10 (Live your life in such a way that the preacher won't have to lie at your funeral.)
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To: KoRn

Ditto! Right ON! Make that double.


43 posted on 11/09/2006 5:45:42 PM PST by golfisnr1 (Democrats are like roaches - hard to get rid of.)
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To: libertarianPA

there is a saying which involves door and ass but I cant remember it right now


44 posted on 11/09/2006 5:45:51 PM PST by TheRedSoxWinThePennant
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To: libertarianPA

was he ever a republican


45 posted on 11/09/2006 5:45:54 PM PST by The Wizard (DemonRATS: enemies of America)
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To: libertarianPA

Talk about lack of integrity.

RNC, in their own ignoble move, backed Chaffee when there was a clearly superior Republican challenger. Millions down the drain.


46 posted on 11/09/2006 5:46:38 PM PST by School of Rational Thought (Republican - The thinking people's party)
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To: libertarianPA

He knows his brand of republicanism is dead


47 posted on 11/09/2006 5:46:38 PM PST by TheRedSoxWinThePennant
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To: libertarianPA
...adding that he stayed with the GOP largely because it allowed him to bring federal dollars home to Rhode Island.

Hey Lincoln, that's a big part of the reasons Republicans LOST Tuesday.
48 posted on 11/09/2006 5:46:44 PM PST by rottndog (WOOF!!!)
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To: libertarianPA

The little turd is going to make an excellent DemocRAT. He's yellow and he don't stand up for anything. Yup! Excellent DemocRAT.


49 posted on 11/09/2006 5:47:53 PM PST by FlingWingFlyer (Burns and Allen Concede! Say Goodnight Gracie!)
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To: libertarianPA

He's a Republican? So that is why there is always an R after his name. It thought that stood for rat.


50 posted on 11/09/2006 5:48:00 PM PST by P-40 (Al Qaeda was working in Iraq. They were just undocumented.)
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To: doug from upland

(( ping ))


51 posted on 11/09/2006 5:48:24 PM PST by Lancey Howard
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To: alarm rider

No doubt the "vote for a guy with an "R" after his name NO MATTER WHAT HIS VOTING RECORD" peanut gallery will be teary over this.



Not a tear will be shed for his lection loss by me. The damage is done so he is no longer useful.


52 posted on 11/09/2006 5:48:51 PM PST by crazyhorse691 (Diplomacy doesn't work when seagulls rain on your parade. A shotgun and umbrella does.)
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To: libertarianPA

Chafee was a Republican?


53 posted on 11/09/2006 5:48:56 PM PST by The_Victor (If all I want is a warm feeling, I should just wet my pants.)
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To: libertarianPA

I'm starting to sour on 'famous parent'
politicians.

there is a concept called,
'regression toward the mean',or something like that.

great people --> have average offspring.


54 posted on 11/09/2006 5:49:08 PM PST by greasepaint
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To: libertarianPA

What is the sound of a RINO resigning when no-one is cares?

What is the sound of one clapping (in applause) when a RINO resigns?

These are the philosophical questions of our day.


55 posted on 11/09/2006 5:49:27 PM PST by Disambiguator (;^))
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To: libertarianPA

Well...bye.


56 posted on 11/09/2006 5:50:08 PM PST by Hawk1976 (And for my next trick I will use splel chuck.)
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To: crazyhorse691
Not a tear will be shed for his lection loss by me. The damage is done so he is no longer useful.

I have been saying since the dark day on Tuesday that at least there was a silver lining.... Chafee lost.
57 posted on 11/09/2006 5:50:59 PM PST by AaronInCarolina
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To: libertarianPA
I can't imagine anyone would care if he leaves.
58 posted on 11/09/2006 5:50:59 PM PST by Jorge
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To: Laverne

Bingo. Chafee would make it very easy for the GOP to execute this.


59 posted on 11/09/2006 5:51:06 PM PST by AmishDude (Libertarians didn't lose it for us. They're losers who work against what they claim to want.)
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To: libertarianPA; jwalsh07
Chafee said his loss may have helped the country by switching control of Congress.

I think maybe the guy needs a good long talk with his shrink. That comment evidences a disturbed mind on several levels.

60 posted on 11/09/2006 5:51:31 PM PST by Torie
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