GOP win would result in ideological shift to center right

"The only internal fight they would be between the between right and the far right wing over who should prevail more often in setting their agenda."

Actually, with the departure of four of the top six movement conservatives from the Senate--Bob Smith, Jesse Helms, Phil Gramm and Strom Thurmond, there isn't really any "right wing" left in the Senate much less a "far right wing."

Republicans pretty much know — but aren't necessarily happy with — their new leadership lineup. They say that even if the GOP takes over, the Senate won't be quite as conservative as when they controlled the chamber from 1995 to mid-2002...None of the Republican candidates running for the seats left open by the five retiring Senate Republicans has equivalent stature among conservatives, several Senate colleagues said privately.

That has to be the understatement of the day. In each case of the five "retiring" Senate conservatives including moderate conservative Thompson, the GOP Senate nominee vying to replace them is well to the left of the incumbent Senator retired or being retired. Nowhere is that more visibly the case than in New Hampshire where moderate RINO 52% conservative John Sununu is vying to replace all time Senate conservative champion Bob Smith. I find it very ironic that Sununu was the one Senate candidate not specifically referred to even though it was stated in no uncertain terms that "none of the Republican candidates running for the seats left open by the five retiring Senate Republicans has equivalent stature among conservatives, several Senate colleagues said privately." Not only are none of the five movement conservatives like the Senators they are trying to replace, in every single case they are not conservatives at all, but moderates.

Some conservative senators had hoped he would challenge Mr. Lott for majority leader in the new Senate, but Mr. Nickles this week abandoned that bid. Vying to replace Mr. Nickles as whip is Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell and Mr. Craig. Colleagues say both are philosophical conservatives with a knack for clear and forceful rhetoric.

I am very dissapointed that Nichols dropped his bid to replace Lott. He should at least run for GOP Senate Leader if the GOP fails to take the Senate as it seesm set to do in November. However, both Craig and McConnell are somewhere near the top ten conservatives. I think McConnell has voted a bit more conservatively than Craig lately so I would support either for Assistant Senate Republican Leader

GOP SENATE TAKEOVER BUMP!

In case anyone is wondering, I meant to write "Nickles", not "Nichols" at the end of post one.

I too am disappointed in the Nickles decision. If we must continue to put up with Lott, at least he will be a puppet on a string for the administration.

Having moderate Lamar sure beats left of shillary bpb clement!

That has to be the understatement of the day. In each case of the five "retiring" Senate conservatives including moderate conservative Thompson, the GOP Senate nominee vying to replace them is well to the left of the incumbent Senator retired or being retired.

Bears repeating.

Let us not count our chickens before the hatch! The democrats often steal eggs.

One of those eggs just may be rotten too. Watch out for the egg from Rhode Island it may be as bad as the one from Vermont was last year!!!

"The Senate would be a dramatically different place under Republican leadership," said Tovah Ravitz-Meehan, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee communications director. "The only internal fight they would be between the between right and the far right wing over who should prevail more often in setting their agenda."

This is just demogogue. Anyone with half a brain knows that in a closely divided Senate, the most moderate members of the controlling party hold all the cards. In case of the GOP, that means the RINO's, like Olympia Snowe, Susan Collins, John Chaffee, etc. They will be wined and dined and cajoled like they've never been in their lives.

With Democrats controlling, like they have for about 2 years, moderate Democrats like Miller, Landrieu and Breaux have been the attention getters.

In case of the GOP, that means the RINO's, like Olympia Snowe, Susan Collins, John Chaffee, etc. They will be wined and dined and cajoled like they've never been in their lives.

Yep and with polls showing a likely GOP net gain of only one Senate seat, we are going to have a lot of the same worries we had last year like a liberal GOP defection (Chafee) and a centrist bipartisan Senate Majority Leader (Lott) who last time caved and gave away almost all of the Majority perks to the Democraps and just might do it again even with a 50-49-1 Senate.

Speaking of "half a brain" and "RINO's", let's not forget Texas' own Kay B. Hutchison!

She strongly supported "campaign finance reform", voted for it first time around, and only ended up voting against the House-Senate compromise version because she thought it "doesn't go far enough!"

Nowhere is that more visibly the case than in New Hampshire where moderate RINO 52% conservative John Sununu is vying to replace all time Senate conservative champion Bob Smith. I find it very ironic that Sununu was the one Senate candidate not specifically referred to even though it was stated in no uncertain terms that "none of the Republican candidates running for the seats left open by the five retiring Senate Republicans has equivalent stature among conservatives, several Senate colleagues said privately." Not only are none of the five movement conservatives like the Senators they are trying to replace, in every single case they are not conservatives at all, but moderates.

Sununu as a lifetime ACU rating of 94. Smith has a lifetime ACU rating of 92.

Bump!

bump

Well, Elizabeth Dole is a moderate at heart, but I suspect she will vote to the right when it comes down to it. Just like her hubby.