Posted on 12/01/2011 8:43:07 AM PST by Fred
The Senate’s curious and byzantine rules and traditions are well explained in Robert Caro’s Master of the Senate, part of his sprawling, multi-volume biography of Lyndon B. Johnson (the fourth volume is scheduled to be released next year). Johnson, through his own cunning and ruthlessness, was arguably the most powerful Senate leader ever, as he bent the supposedly uncontrollable upper chamber to his will.
In one anecdote from the book, Johnson — characteristically — split the difference between liberals and conservatives in the Senate by ramming through a modest increase in the minimum wage. Johnson got the bill passed by holding a vote when the bill’s biggest opponents — liberals who wanted a bigger increase and conservatives who wanted no increase at all — weren’t on the floor. After the bill passed, one absent senator, Florida Democrat Spessard Holland, raced up to LBJ, demanding to know what happened. “Well, Spessard, I had a little vote. If you fellows aren’t on the job around here, I’ve got legislation to pass,” Johnson said.
As the Crystal Ball takes a fresh look at the race for control of the Senate, Republicans, unlike some of their predecessors during that sudden Senate vote in LBJ’s Senate, need to stay on the job, lest their seemingly inexorable march to a Senate majority be derailed.
For months, Republicans have been the ones to expand the playing field of competitive Senate seats this year, most notably thanks to the retirements of Democratic Sens. Jeff Bingaman (NM) and Herb Kohl (WI), which turned safe Democratic seats into toss ups.
(Excerpt) Read more at centerforpolitics.org ...
With Obama running Florida will likely go Connie Mack.
Democrats may keep Senate ping.
They’ve been trending toward D over the past few months. It’s a shame NE is at best a tossup and MI will probably stay with that reprehensible with Stabenow.
By sheer numbers, the GOP still has a shot at getting 50 or 51, hopefully.
Sad part is, I don’t think the establishment GOP is all that energized about winning back the Senate. To me, they seem somewhat comfortable with minority status.
Or not
http://nationaljournal.com/columns/against-the-grain/democrats-losses-could-grow-in-2012-20101110
http://www.newsmax.com/InsideCover/US-Democrats-2012/2010/11/09/id/376537
http://www.usnews.com/news/slideshows/vulnerable-senate-seats-held-by-democrats
LLS
LLS
I’m not buying it. The only question in my mind is whether there will be 51, 54 or 57 Republicans in the Senate in 2013.
Interest.
Dick Morris’s lunch alert seems to paint a better picture for GOP.
http://www.dickmorris.com/blog/race-to-sixty-senate-picture-brightens-dick-morris-tv-lunch-alert/
We will only know for sure on election day. Fingers crossed.
Just get to work and make it happen, cocky is what has gotten us into the nightmare...
Oh yes they are, they have a solid chance of doing it...
LLS
I believe the deep, deep anger at Pelosi & Obama over the healthcare throat-cram has been simmering for 3 +years. The voters aren’t done taking Barry to the woodshed.
Just a gut feeling, but I think we are going to witness a never-before-seen THROW THE BUMS out in 2012... including the Communist in the oval office.
Americans don’t take kindly to being hoodwinked (Obamacare) and being told what to do. And we sure don’t like our heath care being messed with. And we certainly don’t like high unemployment and high gas prices while the first “lady” flaunts her status in our faces time after time after time.
And we really don’t like being told what to eat ... while the first “lady” flaunts her binge-ing in our faces time after time after time.
I think the Communist-in-Chief’s day of reaconing is approaching.
2012 CAN NOT COME SOON ENOUGH AND GOD HELP OUR COUNTRY.
Agreed. The GOP will take the Senate as well.
Even here in the People’s Republic of Massachusettstan, Scott Brown is going to get reelected (FWIW).
Mo = Toss up? McCaskill, is in a weak position here, and her being out front, early and often for Obama in 08, has not been forgotten by the voters here.
Exactly right!!!
“We Suck Less Than They Do” should be the motto for 2012.
I think Sabato’s Crystal Ball needs a tune up.
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