Posted on 05/16/2012 5:54:34 PM PDT by mdittmar
WASHINGTON (AP) — Divisive Republican primaries, an out-of-nowhere GOP retirement in Maine and an unexpectedly competitive race in North Dakota add up to an unpredictable battle for control of the Senate this fall, confounding early forecasts that an era of Democratic rule was inevitably coming to an end.
Adding to the uncertainty, tea party-backed challengers are on the primary ballot against establishment candidates in New Mexico and Texas in the coming weeks, a continuation of an internal Republican struggle that Democrats hope will aid them as it did in 2010.
With the support of two independents, Democrats now hold an effective 53-47 majority in the Senate, control that they and President Barack Obama can ill afford to lose. Republicans have repeatedly pushed their own versions of legislation through the House in the past year, only to have it blocked or altered by the Democratic Senate.
Democrats are defending 23 of the 33 Senate seats on the ballot this fall, including the two held by independents. Republicans must gain four to be assured of a majority when the new Congress convenes in 2013.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Next year’s Senate will be better than this year’s Senate, but the GOP’s failure to run a conservative at the top of the ticket will make things more difficult.
David Espo has been called upon to don the knee pads for Obama tonight.
David, old buddy, let me just clue you in: your Messiah isn’t popular AMONG DEMOCRATS. He is facing possible defeat in Arkansas. He only carried 6 of 10 voters in West Virginia. His lapdog senators in Montana and Missouri don’t want to be seen with him, and blacks—yes, blacks—in North Carolina went against him 2 to 1 on applauding sodomy.
His budget went down 99 to 0 in the Senate. He couldn’t even get Chuck the PUNK Schumer to vote for the stupid thing. Israel’s leader knows he is a clown, as does Germany. He failed to get the Chicago Olympics, he failed to score the World Cup, and he is failing at looking presidential.
The ONLY thing he succeeded at doing was keeping GITMO OPEN and continuing the mission Bush started to kill bin Laden.
Gas prices are 103% higher than when he took office. Food stamp users up 45%. Home values down. 70% of Americans say we’re on the wrong track.
Your hero Obama is a lead weight around the neck, waists and feet of every Senate candidate. Sure, there are some safe ones...but Democrats on the whole are doomed in 2012. And hopefully for a lot longer—this is making Jimmy Carter’s four years look like the roaring freakin’ ‘20s.
I’ll be glad to see a lot of Democrat losers on November 6. And the ensuing “retirements” of several more after that day.
If the Ass. Press is saying that winning the Senate is “no sure thing” for the GOP, they must think that the GOP has it in the bag.
LLS
When the source is the AP, Expect Aspersiona.
Espo and Aspo. I wouldn’t believe that combo if they told me it would be a hundred degrees in Arizona tomorrow.
Short version: Dems are wetting their pants in fear.
No sure thing for GOP: a tight battle for SenateHow will we be able to tell who won?
McConnell, Reid. One blathers and the other slobbers, that's the only way we can tell the difference.
But, but, can’t you just imagine the way things will swing in the right direction with the dynamic duo of McConnell:Boner operating....and their states are adjoining too...../s
...tea party-backed challengers are on the primary ballot against establishment candidates in New Mexico and Texas in the coming weeks, a continuation of an internal Republican struggle that Democrats hope will aid them as it did in 2010.Put down the crack pipe.
“How will we be able to tell who won?
McConnell, Reid. One blathers and the other slobbers, that’s the only way we can tell the difference.”
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When the next Congress organizes if NEITHER Reid or McConnell is Senate Majority Leader, WE THE PEOPLE will have won.
If we keep having candidates such as Richard Mourdock (Indiana) and Deb Fischer (Nebraska) win Republican primaries we’re on our way. Coming up are others such as Sarah Steelman in Missouri, Ted Cruz in Texas and Dan Liljenquist (over Orrin Hatch in the upcoming Utah primary). We need to keep folks fired up and supporting candidates such as these.
I pray you’re right but the party of Rove will try to destroy any and all of them from within.
“Adding to the uncertainty, tea party-backed challengers are on the primary ballot against establishment candidates in New Mexico and Texas in the coming weeks, a continuation of an internal Republican struggle that Democrats hope will aid them as it did in 2010.”
In the short term, the Tea Party may have aided the Democrats by running Angle and O’Donnell. However, in the long run, the Tea Party will have a line-up with many strong members voters can be enthusiastic about. Lugar, for instance, was going to lose, sooner or later. Mourdock could be around for a long time.
That senator has been out of nowhere for a long time. She could have been Boxer's birth twin. We're not fighting a short battle for another RINO senate. We are fighting the long war for a conservative US government.
The AP headline on the posted story projects a more optimistic view for the Dems than even the pro-Dem writer Espo can.
Contrary to the MSM spin, the GOP Senate primary results in Indiana and Nebraska have improved, not diminished, Republican chances in November.
FWIW, Dick Morris sees Republicans numbering in the upper 50s in the next Senate with a possibility of as high as a filibuster-proof 60 seats.Sorry to inform you but 100 Republican senators wouldn't be "filibuster proof".
I get your drift. Too many RINOs is always a problem.
“I get your drift. Too many RINOs is always a problem.”
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Not always and not forever—the “demographics” don’t favor the RINOs. They are diminishing in numbers among Republicans in Congress and TRUE CONSERVATIVES are gaining in numbers. And this trend seems to be picking up speed. We have to continue to try our best to reinforce that trend. Senator McConnell, beware—we’re coming after your “accommodationist” butt.
Dick Morris is often wrong; also it would be nice to have a veto-proof majority. But best of all is Zero sent packing.
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