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A Senator Sees the Light
Townhall.com ^ | February 19, 2010 | Paul Greenberg

Posted on 02/19/2010 3:16:21 AM PST by Kaslin

LITTLE ROCK -- Have you noticed? The closer Election Day comes, the more conservative some blue-dog senators sound. Till they turn almost Republican red. Consider the case of Blanche Lincoln here in Arkansas. By the time the primary is held in May, this state's senior senator could be speaking at Tea Party rallies. A headline on the front page of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette said it all: "Pressure on the rise for Arkansas' Lincoln/ Amid criticism, she chides party, Obama." To quote the story's lede:

"U.S. Sen. Blanche Lincoln distanced herself from Democrats over and over last week. On Tuesday, the Arkansan told the Senate Finance Committee that she doesn't understand the Obama administration's economic vision. With cameras rolling, she blasted the White House's proposed budget and told Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner about life in what she called 'the real world.' Then, while Geithner was still testifying, she darted to a news conference to tout get-tougher-on-terrorism legislation with 2008 Republican presidential nominee (and Arizona senior senator) John McCain...."

Then there was Sen. Lincoln's little confrontation with the president himself at his pow-wow with congressional Democrats. He essentially brushed off her concerns about the party's extremists. Indeed, he brushed her off. After all, Barack Obama isn't the one who's up for re-election this year in a basically conservative state. Who says he's not willing to sacrifice (a Democratic senator) for his principles?

It's long been standard operating procedure for Democratic incumbents in Arkansas to morph into flag-waving conservatives as campaign season arrives. This year Miss Blanche is doing it at warp speed. She's just following the poll numbers. Not just Arkansas but the whole country -- even Massachusetts! -- has begun to react against the Obama-mania that was sweeping the nation just about this time last year. Enthusiasms change. Sometimes diametrically.

The same senior senator from Arkansas who supported that 2,000-page monstrosity of a health-care bill now has turned into a spirited critic of the party leaders whose bidding she once did.

It happens every six years. Blanche Lincoln already has begun to appear in cameos on Fox News. Look for her as the featured speaker at a Lincoln Day banquet near you any time now. It's going to be awfully interesting -- more awful than interesting -- to hear the senator explain how her vote to have government micro-manage your health care was actually a conservative stance.

At last report, Sen. Lincoln was headed for the political middle so fast she'll soon find herself a right-winger, or at least sounding like one. Much like many another species that has mastered the art of survival, she's learned the art of protective coloration.

Here's what she told Secretary Geithner when he appeared before the Senate Finance Committee last week in his usual role as punching bag: "I think most Arkansans don't understand the vision of the administration when it comes to putting in place an economic policy that works for our nation in today's economy and the economic climate today, to create the jobs that Arkansans need now in our economy." The words may be Blanche Lincoln's, but the tune is the Republicans' this election year.

Senator Lincoln has even started to talk about the need to push back against her party's left-leaning establishment, "and look for the common ground that's going to get us the success we need...." What a difference an election year can make in a politician's attitude.

Those who chase the bubble Popularity, rather than steer by the fixed star called Principle, have to do a lot of tacking to keep up with every shift in the political winds. They come to resemble cars in this respect: There's a new model out every year. This year's (Blanche) Lincoln comes with conservative lines.

After the election is over, and if she's still senior senator from Arkansas, there'll be plenty of time for her to return to her role as another Democratic backbencher who goes along to get along. In the meantime, Arkansas voters are catching on to her hexennial routine, and starting to wonder not just if the real Blanche Lincoln will stand up, but if there is one.


TOPICS: Editorial; Politics/Elections; US: Arkansas
KEYWORDS: 111th; blanchelincoln; epiphany; paulgreenberg
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1 posted on 02/19/2010 3:16:21 AM PST by Kaslin
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To: Kaslin

Shape shifter fool me once, shame on you. Shape shifter fool me twice, shame on me.


2 posted on 02/19/2010 3:17:26 AM PST by HiTech RedNeck (I am in America but not of America (per bible: am in the world but not of it))
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To: Kaslin
PROBLEM FOR HER: When she was needed to kill Obama-Care, she voted in lock step with what Harry Reid told her to do.

When she was needed to kill the Porkulous Bill, she voted on orders of Barack Hussein Obama.

Sorry honey, but you don't get any more chances.


3 posted on 02/19/2010 3:19:39 AM PST by SkyPilot
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To: Kaslin

They ain’t foolin’ anybody! Remember in November!


4 posted on 02/19/2010 3:37:25 AM PST by John-Irish ("Shame of him who thinks of it''.)
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To: HiTech RedNeck
It's going to be awfully interesting -- more awful than interesting -- to hear the senator explain how her vote to have government micro-manage your health care was actually a conservative stance.

-- Shape shifter fool me once, shame on you. Shape shifter fool me twice, shame on me. --

Sad to say, too many of the people are gullible, and quite a few are persistent leftist moonbats. Ms. Lincoln, for example, is touted as "seeing the light," and yet she will defend her every vote. She doesn't make mistakes or errors, her decisions are, in her calculations, what's best for her reelection prospects. The headline writer is making stuff up. "See the light" is false, if it means she now understands how to participate in governing a free people and a free economy, and intends to change her ways.

5 posted on 02/19/2010 3:39:21 AM PST by Cboldt
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To: SkyPilot

Purple is not a flattering color.


6 posted on 02/19/2010 3:47:03 AM PST by applpie
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To: applpie

Listen to Mulder and Scully........
TRUST NO-ONE!


7 posted on 02/19/2010 3:52:37 AM PST by Flintlock
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To: Kaslin

The prime example of this is Evan Bayh...


8 posted on 02/19/2010 4:00:32 AM PST by JohnLongIsland ( schmuckie schucks)
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To: Cboldt

She already has a campaign war chest of over $5 million. Her Republican challenger has less than $700,000. The press will also help her rewrite the story. The story the people hear will be what she wants it to be.


9 posted on 02/19/2010 4:03:49 AM PST by Soul of the South (When times are tough the tough get going.)
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To: Kaslin

I’m more concerned about Democrats who decide to retire from political office instead of running again. For example, it’s going to be much more difficult for the GOP to win Senator Dodd’s seat, now that Dodd is leaving.


10 posted on 02/19/2010 4:20:20 AM PST by johnthebaptistmoore (If leftist legislation that's already in place really can't be ended by non-leftists, then what?)
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To: Kaslin

LOL...funny stuff. The RNC/GOP still doesnt get it tho.


11 posted on 02/19/2010 4:25:31 AM PST by rrrod
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To: Kaslin

Stayed in bed all morning just to pass the time
There’s something wrong here
There can be no denying
One of us is changing
Or maybe we’ve just stopped trying

And it’s too late baby, now it’s too late
Though we really did try to make it
Something inside has died and I can’t hide
And I just can’t fake it

It used to be so easy living here with you
You were light and breezy
And I knew just what to do
Now you look so unhappy
And I feel like a fool

And it’s too late baby, now it’s too late
Though we really did try to make it
Something inside has died
and I can’t hide it
And I just can’t fake it

There’ll be good times again for me and you
But we just can’t stay together
Don’t you feel it too
Still I’m glad for what we had
And how I once loved you

But it’s too late baby, now it’s too late
Though we really did try to make it
Something inside has died and I can’t hide
And I just can’t fake it


12 posted on 02/19/2010 4:37:48 AM PST by almcbean
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To: SkyPilot

That’s a MAN, BABY!!


13 posted on 02/19/2010 5:50:02 AM PST by Ann Archy (Abortion,,,,,,the Human Sacrifice to the god of Convenience.)
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To: Kaslin

Blanche is a liar. When the chips were down, she bent her knee to her party’s idol: Barack Hussein Obama.


14 posted on 02/19/2010 6:11:49 AM PST by SoFloFreeper
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To: Soul of the South

Money won’t save her.


15 posted on 02/19/2010 8:28:13 AM PST by fortheDeclaration ("Our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people".-John Adams)
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To: Kaslin

Too late!! Don’t be fooled, Arkansas! Vote her out!


16 posted on 02/19/2010 8:49:48 AM PST by jch10 (It is an ill wind blowing...)
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To: Kaslin

She saw “the Light” after taking “the Heat”, but, her campaign is still “up in flames”.


17 posted on 02/19/2010 2:00:10 PM PST by no dems (If you think Obama is a better President than Sarah Palin would be, lay down the crack pipe.)
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To: no dems
LOL!

You are smokin'.

18 posted on 02/19/2010 2:14:55 PM PST by N. Theknow (Kennedys: Can't fly, can't ski, can't drive, can't skipper a boat, but they know what's best.)
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To: no dems
LOL!

You are smokin'.

19 posted on 02/19/2010 2:15:09 PM PST by N. Theknow (Kennedys: Can't fly, can't ski, can't drive, can't skipper a boat, but they know what's best.)
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To: SoFloFreeper
Blanche is a liar. When the chips were down, she bent her knee to her party’s idol: Barack Hussein Obama.

Mmmmm.....mmmmm.....mmmmmm, Barak Hussein Obama.

20 posted on 02/19/2010 3:27:44 PM PST by highlander_UW (Obama has lost or not saved over 4 million jobs!)
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