elcid89: blog 
elcid89's blog
harbingers and portents ...
Published May. 14, 2008
Yesterday, Democratic candidate Travis Childers beat a Republican in a special election to determine who would fill the Congressional seat from the Mississippi 1st.
Thus converting to Democratic contol a seat that had been reliably Republican since 1994. 14 years of Republican incumbency rejected.
Similarly, Democrat Don Cazayoux defeated a Republican in the same scenario for control of the Lousiana 6th, a seat that had been reliably Republican since the early 1970s. 36 years of Republican incumbency rejected.
And the piecé de resistance, in March Democrat Bill Foster beat a Republican for control of the Illinois 14th, a seat that had been under continuous Republican control since its creation ... in 1961 ... 47 years of Republican incumbency rejected.
One has to wonder what this portends for the Republicans in the coming Congressional elections, where they are defending twice as many seats as Democrats and have lost quite a few long time incumbents to the one that Dems have lost.
Not looking very good for them ...
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Amen
GOLO member since September 6, 2007
May 14, 2008 2:47 p.m.
I have another blog coming up a little later about the death of the Eisenhower Republican. You might find it interesting.
GOLO member since September 6, 2007
May 14, 2008 1:40 p.m.
I am a moderate republican (who some would argue is the same thing as a "liberal", then use the word as a swear word). I cannot embrace the Democratic party because, even though I am a social moderate, I am a fiscal conservative...that is what keeps me in the GOP, but still, with that said, I am concerned that the national deficit ballooned under GOP controlled Legislative and Executive branches...how can we be fiscally conservative and so irresponsible with the tax revenues...people howl about "Dems gonna raise taxes" but really, how has the previous 6 year GOP financial plan worked out for the USA so far?
GOLO member since November 21, 2007
May 14, 2008 1:33 p.m.
GOLO member since January 25, 2008
May 14, 2008 1:33 p.m.
"Nor am I, but it's worth hoping for."
Amen to that. In my fantasies I envision centrist voters coming together to form a third party, based on pragmatic solutions to our problems. But then I wake up.
Of course, new political parties have formed in the past, so it's not totally impossible, no matter how improbable. Might be a topic for some future blog.
GOLO member since January 25, 2008
May 14, 2008 1:32 p.m.
I think they -will- increase it, based on these indicators. The extra boost of a few more seats will make a difference. The positives I can see amongst the negatives are that at least we would stand a better chance in the balancing act with the senate to better influence the agenda going forward. Moderates and centrists need to have their day in the sun again, in my view.
GOLO member since March 18, 2008
May 14, 2008 1:23 p.m.
GOLO member since January 25, 2008
May 14, 2008 1:22 p.m.
Actually, if I might step in here...I am a Christian also. And I beleive that the political evangelist is the worst kind of evangelist. While I believe that I have the right to my religious beliefs, I am not compelled to take away from Ceasar, that which belongs to Caesar. Legislative power belongs to the government, it is when the "moral" majority push their agenda to the governemnt level then I am afraid that our evangelical brothers have crossed the line. The Bible tells me that God places rulers and powers into place and that we should obey the law insomuch as it does not contradict the Law of God, but too many religio-political leaders want the Law of God to be the Law of the Land...that is not a democracy, that is a theocracy. If you want that, move to Rome. The separation of Church and State is crucial to prevent usurption of power in "His" name and I prefer those guardrails (they keep us on the road).
GOLO member since November 21, 2007
May 14, 2008 1:21 p.m.
Nor am I, but it's worth hoping for.
GOLO member since September 6, 2007
May 14, 2008 1:19 p.m.
It wasn't meant to be an exclusive definition. It was just pertinent to her particular complaint.
"And I don't just count "treehuggers and social engineers" as part of the extreme left. In my view, much of the Democratic party consists of people who feel in some way that historically they have been victimized or oppressed, and are looking to the government for redress. I consider the angriest or most militant of these to be part of the far left as well."
I'd agree. It was just prohibitive to attempt to classify both demographics in their entirety.
GOLO member since September 6, 2007
May 14, 2008 1:18 p.m.
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