Columnist Broder Sees Potential Party Switches by Senators McCain and Chaffee

The Washington Post | 11-18-02 | Theodore R.

[Theodore R.]

I cannot post the article. It is on the editorial page of the Laredo Morning Times, and that page cannot be copied and pasted. The current Broder article is not on the WA Post website yet.

At any rate, veteran liberal columnist David Broder said there is a real chance that Senators John McCain and Lincoln Chaffee will switch parties to allow Tom Daschle to remain as Senate Majority Leader. However, their scenario is dependent on the reelection of Senator Mary Landrieu, D-LA, in that state's Dec. 7 senatorial general election. However, if Republican Suzanne Terrell unseats Landrieu, the two GOP maverick senators could not save Daschle's majority status. If Terrell wins, the Senate would still be Republican even with the two defections because Vice President Cheney would break a 50-50 tie, and Trent Lott would again become Majority Leader.

In the "Meet the Press" interview Sunday, Senator Landrieu urged LA to retain its two Democrat senators because "Mississippi would otherwise have three senators." A similar argument was made by MO Republicans in support of now Sen.-elect Jim Talent.

Broder also said that there is a strong chance that McCain would seek the 2004 Democrat nomination to go against his now intraparty rival, President Bush. However, a close McCain friend, Sen. John Kerry, D-MA, is already an unofficial candidate for the Democrat presidential nomination.

[Cacophonous]

Cool...I'm all for gridlock

[wideawake]

I'd love to hear the McCainiacs explain that one if it comes true.

[ladtx]

More of Broder's wishful thinking.

[goldstategop]

David Broder is in denial. Neither McCain or Chaffee will do a Jeffords. They'd lose seniority and cushy committee chairmanships. And what exactly would The Daschle offer them that they can't get from the GOP? Then again its just like liberals to steal through bribes and crass political hijinks what they can't win at the ballot box.

[dennisw]

In don't think Tommy Boy's cute little scam will fly again. There will be too much public outrage at such scheming. No way would McCain switch. Perhaps Chafee but it still won't happen.

Also add the fear of being left high and dry if the Republicans really rack up in the Senate two years from now when a lot more RAT seats are in play. Give Jeffords that broom closet office to make this abundantly clear.

[OldFriend]

McCain and Gore are seemingly unable to move beyond the 2000 elections. Losers together!

[Numbers Guy]

Neither McCain or Chaffee will do a Jeffords.

And even if they do, such blatant attempts to "save" the Dem majority would likely lead Zell Miller to vote for Trent Lott for majority leader (he may not switch parties, or may pull a Jeffords and go "independent", but I think it's likely that such a blatant attempt to overturn the elections would be the last straw for Miller).

Now that the GOP has the majority again it's actually kind of nice that Jeffords is no longer in the party. He has no power anymore and the GOP doesn't have to kowtow to his dairy subsidies (or pie-in-the-sky demands for special ed) to protect him politically. And the caucus shifted rightward. I'd like to see Chaffee make the jump too as long as the GOP stays in charge, it's a good time to rid the party of the ideologically impure.

[TBall]

HS! That would be outstanding if McCain became a Republican.

[CatoRenasci]

right, and left-wing or no judges, and white collar government employee union control of government and weak defense policy. Oh, yeah, this is a great time for governmental gridlock. < /end sarcasm>

[E. Pluribus Unum]

McCain won't leave because he is the media's only pet Republican Senator. They already have 48 pet Democrat Senators. If he jumps ship he won't be on TV every other night.

[elenchus]

I'm going to find a way to take off from work to travel to Lousiana for the Terrell campaign.

Would someone kindly post information on the best person to contact about workers joining up from other states, as well as the best week to volunteer?

I hope many other Freepers will be doing the same. Is anyone coordinating efforts to bring in workers in the campaign? - If a response is posted giving contact information, please continue to bounce this information to every new thread on the topic.

[Blood of Tyrants]

Doubtful. McCaniac is still looking for a presidency. He would be completely out of the picture if he switched.

[Theodore R.]

Yea, were it to happen, would G. Gordon Liddy then follow McCain into the "democracy" with his old friend Lanny Davis?

[beckett]

Broder is indulging in wishful thinking, hoping that, if the press says it enough, the idea will gain momentum. McCain would open himself up to a withering attack if he pulled such a boneheaded move, which would cost him as many or more votes than he would gain if he runs for president.

Vain John McCain, war hero, will not want the word "traitor" attached to his name.

[pepperdog]

I get so angry when I read about politicians switching parties without standing for re-election. How in the world can we put a stop to this. "There oughtta be a law!" It is a betrayal of faith on the part of the party switcher. If a person really has conviction that he/she should switch parties then they should also have the courage to resign immediately and seek re-election under the banner of their chosen party. Anything else is an action without honor. Is there no way this behavior can be stopped?

[Stirner]

"He would be completely out of the picture if he switched."

Why? The Democrats might very well nominate someone like McCain in 2008 (assuming Bush is re-elected in 2004). They could use him to appeal to centrist and independent voters. The Left wing of the party would scream, but they would quiet down when it was explained to them that accepting McCain is their only way to get back into power further down the line.

[Barset]

I've posted suzieterrell.com, as well as Baton Rouge number on several threads. Shreveport office opened last week. Check the website for phone numbers, volunteers, etc. When I called to donate they said they really wanted volunteers for phone banks, on-the-ground people, etc. Hope this helps.

[gnarledmaw]

I wouldnt be surprised if McCain pulls something. Im one of those polled by a couple of different groups. Someone must be paying an awful lot of money to try to figure out how he would do in elections if he changed parties because Im pretty regularly asked questions like...

7. If the election were held for president today and Bush was the Republican candidate, Mccain was the Democrat candidate, and Ralph Nader was the Green candidate, who would you vote for?

8. If the election were held for president today and Bush was the Republican candidate, Gore was the Democrat candidate, and McCain was the an independant candidate, who would you vote for?

...

Ive been asked that question using every possible permutation of party and likely front runners for that party with McCain always in the formula somewhere.

[elenchus]

For those who understand why the Louisiana election is crucial to retaining the Senate in the face of possible Republican defections by Chafee and McCain, please see the article just posted on "How Suzanne Terrell can Defeat Mary Landrieu"

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/791117/posts