That letter of resignation from Snowe is actually kind of sad. She devotes a lot of it to lamenting the hyperpartisanship in Washington right now, and seems pretty cynical about the potential for that to change anytime soon.
She and Evan Bayh can go be sad together while they lobby for corporate interests and make a fortune. Because partisanship was so sad they just had to retire and not do anything about it.
And then accept the lucrative private sector job being a good loyal little toady fuck gets you as your retirement package from the federal government.
You'll note this was my first thought as well. Jon Chait had a different thought.
enlightenedbum on
Self-righteousness is incompatible with coalition building.
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KalTorakOne way or another, they all end up inthe Undercity.Registered Userregular
Not for sure, as Maine is weird. But the President won easily there (58-40). It's either the best or second best pickup chance of the cycle, depending just how much money Wall Street throws at Scott Brown.
They consecutively voted for Gore, Kerry and Obama. Both of their House of Representative seats are held by Democrats. They DID elect a Republican Governor in 2010, and he IS Tea Party backed, but it was a weird race; a former Carter administration official who had also previously been a legislative aide in Democrat Edmund Muskie's U.S. Senate office ran as an Independent for reasons which I'm not familiar with. He ended up taking more than 30% of the vote. LePage won the election with less than 40% of the vote statewide.
Something similarly bizarre could conceivably happen this time around, but the odds are undeniably better than they were with Snowe running as an incumbent.
They've also elected those two Republicans to the Senate forever. Partly depends on how dumb the Maine GOP is feeling in their primary.
Maine hasn't gotten the news that the Republicans are right wing yet. They think Rockefeller Republicans are still a thing
Not for sure, as Maine is weird. But the President won easily there (58-40). It's either the best or second best pickup chance of the cycle, depending just how much money Wall Street throws at Scott Brown.
They consecutively voted for Gore, Kerry and Obama. Both of their House of Representative seats are held by Democrats. They DID elect a Republican Governor in 2010, and he IS Tea Party backed, but it was a weird race; a former Carter administration official who had also previously been a legislative aide in Democrat Edmund Muskie's U.S. Senate office ran as an Independent for reasons which I'm not familiar with. He ended up taking more than 30% of the vote. LePage won the election with less than 40% of the vote statewide.
Something similarly bizarre could conceivably happen this time around, but the odds are undeniably better than they were with Snowe running as an incumbent.
They've also elected those two Republicans to the Senate forever. Partly depends on how dumb the Maine GOP is feeling in their primary.
Maine hasn't gotten the news that the Republicans are right wing yet. They think Rockefeller Republicans are still a thing
Republican Congressional Candidate Says 'Holocaust Never Happened'
Now I love mocking them as much as anyone, but wackadoos run in primaries all the time. Let's wait until he wins the primary.
Yeah, I'm pretty sure both parties get their crazies that show up seeking the nomination in the primaries. It's when said crazies win the primary that one is allowed to say "the fuck?!"
So while I wait for Virginia's redistricting to be finalized, I've taken the time to look over the potential candidates in both the state's 1st and 7th districts since I could be in either one of them. The 1st is fairly easy since the democratic nomination is uncontested and the guy has wasted no time show up at rallies with other known democrats in the state. The 7th democratic nomination is currently contested, my choices are Wayne Powell and David Hunsicker. Right now I'm liking Hunsicker a little better because he seems to be more active and I like how he is be proactive in regards to combating the attempts to suppress voting blocs that aren't supportive of the GOP, by bringing stacks of registration papers with him.
I'm going to guess that Pingree won't now. King being in the race means that you're much more likely to get a 40/30/30 split in the Republicans favor and Pingree doesn't want to mount any suicidal campaigns.
Because too many of them are either egotistical assholes or they are convinced their way is the only way and fail to realize that they are fucking things up. I hate to say it but this is where "it's his turn" has helped the GOP because they don't shoot themselves in the foot like this for general elections, they move it over to the primaries. I'd also like to point out this isn't unique to Maine progressives.
Maine centrists, democrats and liberals should seriously write to this guy and tell him if he can't get into a primary race against the current dem, then he should drop out. Tell him it's not that they disagree with his policies per say but that he's being a fucking idiot that will divide the vote and get the shithead GOP another seat. That his running isn't actually helping the progressive cause, it's hurting it by ensuring that GOP can continue the facade of having moderates because that's the "only way to win a state like Maine!" and effecting policy. As in the two people that want to run against the GOP should have a get together and figure out which one of them should run based on who is more likely to win the seat.
I'm going to guess that Pingree won't now. King being in the race means that you're much more likely to get a 40/30/30 split in the Republicans favor and Pingree doesn't want to mount any suicidal campaigns.
Maine, you are totally our Quebec.
SammyF on
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lonelyahavaCall me Ahava ~~She/Her~~Move to New ZealandRegistered Userregular
Now having read the article thoroughly, it looks like Pingree might step aside for King rather than run the risk of losing and costing the Dems that senate seat. If that indeed happens, King should see try to get the nod from the dems for the seat, having a (D) next to his name can't hurt and that would get him some additional advertising. I'm pretty sure he's going to be caucusing with them anyways if he wins the seat, so might as well get started early.
"I'm not beholden to either party" is apparently going to be one of the major talking points for the campaign, so, no, I don't see him wanting anyone's partisan nomination.
Then I hope the dems don't run anyone in that race. Better to let an independent get it that will be caucusing with the dems anyways than to let it fall into GOP hands.
Then I hope the dems don't run anyone in that race. Better to let an independent get it that will be caucusing with the dems anyways than to let it fall into GOP hands.
That's probably true, but here's the problem folks haven't considered yet: a lot of us liberals are not nearly that smart. Pringree probably doesn't want to run a suicidal campaign, but if some self-important whackjob with delusions of grandeur gets tired of lobbying his town council over parking ordinances and takes it upon himself to start circulating a petition to get his name on a primary ballot, we could be fucked.
I'm going to guess that Pingree won't now. King being in the race means that you're much more likely to get a 40/30/30 split in the Republicans favor and Pingree doesn't want to mount any suicidal campaigns.
Then I hope the dems don't run anyone in that race. Better to let an independent get it that will be caucusing with the dems anyways than to let it fall into GOP hands.
That's probably true, but here's the problem folks haven't considered yet: a lot of us liberals are not nearly that smart. Pringree probably doesn't want to run a suicidal campaign, but if some self-important whackjob with delusions of grandeur gets tired of lobbying his town council over parking ordinances and takes it upon himself to start circulating a petition to get his name on a primary ballot, we could be fucked.
Well he seems to resonate with enough voters that he wouldn't turn off people, at least that's what I'm getting. When you get you're no named whackjob with delusions of grandeur running, the dems are probably safe fielding a candidate against them in the current political climate.
My main issue is that the GOP is insane and I really don't want them running anything but god damn the dumbass and/or egotistical liberals that turn a certain GOP defeat because 60% of the voters don't want them into a victory by splitting the anti-GOP vote.
Then I hope the dems don't run anyone in that race. Better to let an independent get it that will be caucusing with the dems anyways than to let it fall into GOP hands.
That's probably true, but here's the problem folks haven't considered yet: a lot of us liberals are not nearly that smart. Pringree probably doesn't want to run a suicidal campaign, but if some self-important whackjob with delusions of grandeur gets tired of lobbying his town council over parking ordinances and takes it upon himself to start circulating a petition to get his name on a primary ballot, we could be fucked.
Well he seems to resonate with enough voters that he wouldn't turn off people, at least that's what I'm getting. When you get you're no named whackjob with delusions of grandeur running, the dems are probably safe fielding a candidate against them in the current political climate.
My main issue is that the GOP is insane and I really don't want them running anything but god damn the dumbass and/or egotistical liberals that turn a certain GOP defeat because 60% of the voters don't want them into a victory by splitting the anti-GOP vote.
I think maybe I'm not communicating my point well. What I'm saying is not "what if a whackjob runs as an independent?!?!?!" What I'm saying is "What happens if some whackjob decides to run as a Democrat?" It's really, really hard to prevent someone from running for the nomination if you're not willing to put someone else up to run for the nomination instead. And even without partisan support, said whackjob can steal votes from low-information voters who don't know that we want them to vote for the independent.
Then I hope the dems don't run anyone in that race. Better to let an independent get it that will be caucusing with the dems anyways than to let it fall into GOP hands.
That's probably true, but here's the problem folks haven't considered yet: a lot of us liberals are not nearly that smart. Pringree probably doesn't want to run a suicidal campaign, but if some self-important whackjob with delusions of grandeur gets tired of lobbying his town council over parking ordinances and takes it upon himself to start circulating a petition to get his name on a primary ballot, we could be fucked.
Well he seems to resonate with enough voters that he wouldn't turn off people, at least that's what I'm getting. When you get you're no named whackjob with delusions of grandeur running, the dems are probably safe fielding a candidate against them in the current political climate.
My main issue is that the GOP is insane and I really don't want them running anything but god damn the dumbass and/or egotistical liberals that turn a certain GOP defeat because 60% of the voters don't want them into a victory by splitting the anti-GOP vote.
I think maybe I'm not communicating my point well. What I'm saying is not "what if a whackjob runs as an independent?!?!?!" What I'm saying is "What happens if some whackjob decides to run as a Democrat?" It's really, really hard to prevent someone from running for the nomination if you're not willing to put someone else up to run for the nomination instead. And even without partisan support, said whackjob can steal votes from low-information voters who don't know that we want them to vote for the independent.
Right I see what you're saying, now.
I'm not saying don't run any against people in democratic primaries. I'm saying that if King is popular and doesn't want to run as a democrat but will likely caucus with them anyways. Given the current political climate the dems would be better served not running anyone against him since that could prove to be the deciding factor in a GOP win.
I fully agree that the dems should be running people against whackjacks in the primaries so that they have decent candidates instead of being the leftward version of the GOP. That really isn't proving to be an option in Maine, unless you're implying that King is a whackjob. In that case, I don't know what they should do since he seems popular in the state, to a point where he could siphon enough votes to sink their candidate while not getting enough to beat the republican. So the question is which will do more harm the leftward whackjob that is going to find that he needs to caucus with the dems, who are mostly sane or the the wingnut that could give the GOP a majority.
Crazy person Brad Wenstrup leads crazy person and incumbent Jean Schmidt in Ohio's Second District (Cincinatti suburbs). I'm not sure why the Tea Partiers decided to primary one of their own (and a birther!), but they did.
enlightenedbum on
Self-righteousness is incompatible with coalition building.
Crazy person Brad Wenstrup leads crazy person and incumbent Jean Schmidt in Ohio's Second District (Cincinatti suburbs). I'm not sure why the Tea Partiers decided to primary one of their own (and a birther!), but they did.
Crazy person Brad Wenstrup leads crazy person and incumbent Jean Schmidt in Ohio's Second District (Cincinatti suburbs). I'm not sure why the Tea Partiers decided to primary one of their own (and a birther!), but they did.
Perhaps they deemed him not conservative enough?
Her.
Self-righteousness is incompatible with coalition building.
Crazy person Brad Wenstrup leads crazy person and incumbent Jean Schmidt in Ohio's Second District (Cincinatti suburbs). I'm not sure why the Tea Partiers decided to primary one of their own (and a birther!), but they did.
Perhaps they deemed him not conservative enough?
Her.
Welp, I'll admit that I screwed up there.
Now given the party's track record, clearly their issue is that the incumbent crazy person is female.
Looks like Marcy Kaptur is going to beat Dennis Kucinich in the new Ohio 9th District's Democratic primary.
And this is getting negligible coverage in Democratic media outlets because the average Democratic voter isn't especially interested in the fact that one of the few left-of-center incumbent Democrats is being drummed out by a conservative in his own district's primary; they're much more interested in the latest instance of Republican Said A Thing.
Kucinich never got anything done. He was useless. Also, she's an incumbent and in line to chair the appropriations committee. That was a pretty rational decision by the voters of the Ninth District, especially as Kucinich spent a good portion of the campaign being a shitheel. Shockingly, insulting your district is not good politics.
EDIT: If we lost Raul Grijalva or Donna Edwards or someone like that I'd be pissed.
enlightenedbum on
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AManFromEarthLet's get to twerk!The King in the SwampRegistered Userregular
Kucinich was as much of a shit as Ron Paul and after this election our government will be all the better off when they're both sitting on their useless butts back wherever they came from.
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You'll note this was my first thought as well. Jon Chait had a different thought.
I thought we were at the bottom with "Republican Candidate for Governor Emails Horse Porn"
Peak wingnut is a myth.
Maine hasn't gotten the news that the Republicans are right wing yet. They think Rockefeller Republicans are still a thing
QEDMF xbl: PantsB G+
I've been working on getting the info out.
It's difficult, but I've been trying!
Democrats Abroad! || Vote From Abroad
Now I love mocking them as much as anyone, but wackadoos run in primaries all the time. Let's wait until he wins the primary.
Yeah, I'm pretty sure both parties get their crazies that show up seeking the nomination in the primaries. It's when said crazies win the primary that one is allowed to say "the fuck?!"
So while I wait for Virginia's redistricting to be finalized, I've taken the time to look over the potential candidates in both the state's 1st and 7th districts since I could be in either one of them. The 1st is fairly easy since the democratic nomination is uncontested and the guy has wasted no time show up at rallies with other known democrats in the state. The 7th democratic nomination is currently contested, my choices are Wayne Powell and David Hunsicker. Right now I'm liking Hunsicker a little better because he seems to be more active and I like how he is be proactive in regards to combating the attempts to suppress voting blocs that aren't supportive of the GOP, by bringing stacks of registration papers with him.
battletag: Millin#1360
Nice chart to figure out how honest a news source is.
Angus King is running.
I'm going to guess that Pingree won't now. King being in the race means that you're much more likely to get a 40/30/30 split in the Republicans favor and Pingree doesn't want to mount any suicidal campaigns.
Maine centrists, democrats and liberals should seriously write to this guy and tell him if he can't get into a primary race against the current dem, then he should drop out. Tell him it's not that they disagree with his policies per say but that he's being a fucking idiot that will divide the vote and get the shithead GOP another seat. That his running isn't actually helping the progressive cause, it's hurting it by ensuring that GOP can continue the facade of having moderates because that's the "only way to win a state like Maine!" and effecting policy. As in the two people that want to run against the GOP should have a get together and figure out which one of them should run based on who is more likely to win the seat.
battletag: Millin#1360
Nice chart to figure out how honest a news source is.
Ego? Seriously, its like Ralph Nader and the 2010 Gubernatorial race never happened
QEDMF xbl: PantsB G+
Maine, you are totally our Quebec.
DAMMIT!
damn you former home state #3! damn you!
Democrats Abroad! || Vote From Abroad
battletag: Millin#1360
Nice chart to figure out how honest a news source is.
battletag: Millin#1360
Nice chart to figure out how honest a news source is.
That's probably true, but here's the problem folks haven't considered yet: a lot of us liberals are not nearly that smart. Pringree probably doesn't want to run a suicidal campaign, but if some self-important whackjob with delusions of grandeur gets tired of lobbying his town council over parking ordinances and takes it upon himself to start circulating a petition to get his name on a primary ballot, we could be fucked.
and now...
I am speechlessly angry.
Democrats Abroad! || Vote From Abroad
We need a gun and 2 bullets or a picture of him fucking a young boy, whichever is easier.
No, that's still Texas.
That too.
Well he seems to resonate with enough voters that he wouldn't turn off people, at least that's what I'm getting. When you get you're no named whackjob with delusions of grandeur running, the dems are probably safe fielding a candidate against them in the current political climate.
My main issue is that the GOP is insane and I really don't want them running anything but god damn the dumbass and/or egotistical liberals that turn a certain GOP defeat because 60% of the voters don't want them into a victory by splitting the anti-GOP vote.
battletag: Millin#1360
Nice chart to figure out how honest a news source is.
I think maybe I'm not communicating my point well. What I'm saying is not "what if a whackjob runs as an independent?!?!?!" What I'm saying is "What happens if some whackjob decides to run as a Democrat?" It's really, really hard to prevent someone from running for the nomination if you're not willing to put someone else up to run for the nomination instead. And even without partisan support, said whackjob can steal votes from low-information voters who don't know that we want them to vote for the independent.
Right I see what you're saying, now.
I'm not saying don't run any against people in democratic primaries. I'm saying that if King is popular and doesn't want to run as a democrat but will likely caucus with them anyways. Given the current political climate the dems would be better served not running anyone against him since that could prove to be the deciding factor in a GOP win.
I fully agree that the dems should be running people against whackjacks in the primaries so that they have decent candidates instead of being the leftward version of the GOP. That really isn't proving to be an option in Maine, unless you're implying that King is a whackjob. In that case, I don't know what they should do since he seems popular in the state, to a point where he could siphon enough votes to sink their candidate while not getting enough to beat the republican. So the question is which will do more harm the leftward whackjob that is going to find that he needs to caucus with the dems, who are mostly sane or the the wingnut that could give the GOP a majority.
battletag: Millin#1360
Nice chart to figure out how honest a news source is.
Perhaps they deemed him not conservative enough?
battletag: Millin#1360
Nice chart to figure out how honest a news source is.
Her.
Welp, I'll admit that I screwed up there.
Now given the party's track record, clearly their issue is that the incumbent crazy person is female.
battletag: Millin#1360
Nice chart to figure out how honest a news source is.
And this is getting negligible coverage in Democratic media outlets because the average Democratic voter isn't especially interested in the fact that one of the few left-of-center incumbent Democrats is being drummed out by a conservative in his own district's primary; they're much more interested in the latest instance of Republican Said A Thing.
EDIT: If we lost Raul Grijalva or Donna Edwards or someone like that I'd be pissed.