Monday, July 7, 2014

"2014 Senate rankings: Map favors GOP"

"[Republicans have] landed top recruits to take on first-term senators in New Hampshire and Colorado, nominated credible female candidates in open-seat contests in Michigan and Iowa, protected all of their incumbents from tea party challenges and thwarted more conservative candidates that could have hurt the GOP’s chances in states like North Carolina and Georgia.

With the general election field all but set, Republicans are looking to turn the midterms into a national referendum on Obama. Democrats want the focus to be squarely on the candidates, and they’re spending the typically quiet summer months trying to define Republican hopefuls as unlikeable and extreme."

Scroll down for "the 10 truly competitive races, ranked in order of likelihood of a party change."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is good news for the Democratic nominee.

45 comments:

edutcher said...

With more shoes to drop:

NSA

IRS

VA

ChoomCare, especially court decisions

Middle East

Ukraine

Murrieta Massacre?

Child rapes in illegal detention centers?

Third World epidemics

Border crime wave

New terrorism threats

I don't doubt the Demos will try to shift focus onto personalities.

Michael Haz said...

How is this good for the Democratic nominee?

Unknown said...

Caution: Voters are stupid and the democrat party is flush with money. The dems are on a "war on woman" and "evil oil companies" rampage here in CO.

Forget the real issues - the left know how to scare people. Well, the stupid ones.

The GOP has all the ammunition in terms of real issues. Sure with they'd use it.

Amartel said...

Media Rule: Everything is always good for the Democratic nominee. Republicans taking advantage of FACTS to discuss policies which address REALITY is good for the Democratic nominee because taking advantage of EMOTIONS to discuss policies which address FANTASY is much more popular.

Chip S. said...

This is good news for the Democratic nominee.

Autofill?

Unknown said...

Meanie republicans taking advantage of facts and reality.

The Dude said...

Well, except that they aren't.

Not for nothing are they known as the stupid party.

All Hail King Obama, long may he reign!

deborah said...

Haz, because some moderate voters will want to balance a Republican Senate with a Dem president.

ricpic said...

If only the GOP was in opposition to big government and all of the necessarily deleterious effects it has on the average unconnected person. But it isn't. Inevitable inflation under big government, which MUST spend to the moon in the name of compassion and then print money like crazy to lend itself the money to spend more, thereby decimating the average unconnected person of moderate means. Does the GOP talk about this? If it does win big in November will it do anything to reign in big government? No and no. Why? Because that would be RADICAL! A GOP win? Don't expect much change if any.

Amartel said...

"The stupid party."
This is a variation on another media rule which needs to be reexamined. There's dissension and open rebellion and backstabbing in the Republican Party. Apparently, this looks very stupid from the perspective of the socialist locksteppers.

The Republican Establishment has been playing both sides for dupes for a while now and with great success. Drafting off disgust with the excesses of big government while at the same time peripherally ratifying the sheep shaggers (progressive crisis politicizers) to benefit their own cronies. Remember Newt with Pelosi on the topic of global warming? Immigration sellouts? Healthcare sellouts? Everyone's got a weak spot but these fuckers think being elected to office means they get to fill that hole (at the expense of other people) and get good press in exchange. They're not stupid and they play very rough. (see, Tea Party.)

Tea Party conservatives are not stupid. These are Republicans or conservatives who have figured out that the Republican Establishment only represents them when it's convenient. However, it is very difficult getting traction when the entire political establishment plus the socialist asshattery plus the media are against you and willing to do anything to keep you down.

deborah said...

I think we're on the same page, ChipS :)

Dust Bunny Queen said...

They left off Mississippi which will likely get a Democrat Senator to replace Thad Cochran. He burned his bridges with the conservative base.

Many are either not going to vote at all or will vote for the Democrat. At this point, what difference does it make.

Aridog said...

Speaking just for Michigan, I'll take Terri Lynn Land over Gary (Obamacare uber Alles) Peters any day. She's actually run a business, run an executive branch office, improving both for efficiency and cost reductions. And she puts her own money where her mouth is...with far less in her personal stash than most of the Democratic sponsors....who like to rely on unions and corporate big wheels.

I am Tea Party and I can't figure out how Politico determines the Tea Party doesn't think she's conservative enough? In Michigan? Uh, just where on this earth have those pundits spent their life? Terri Lynn Land is about as conservative as you can get and be elected...it IS f'ing Michigan, damnit.

Amartel said...

The comments at Politico are just tragic.

Leland said...

Wrote a long comment, but it just says in many words that I agree with all of the above comments here.

Still, I can't say I'm happy with the potential of giving Cornyn my vote again.

AllenS said...

If only there was a Democratic Tea Party (or whatever you want to call it) that was as interested in getting rid of their incumbent politicians that are running up this debt, that will ruin the future of this country, and provide some new blood into politics, there's no hope.

ampersand said...

Don't blame me, I voted for Kodos.

Amartel said...

I'm so borrowing that.

Calypso Facto said...

This is good news for the Democratic nominee.

Autofill?


The NSA always gets the first comment.

Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together said...

That's a good idea. They should highlight all the ways in which they'll be different from Obama:

-- Will fight wars alone that we don't need to undertake and cost at least $75,000,000,000 per year to fight!

-- Will repeal the removal of the cap on lifetime health insurance benefits and pre-existing exclusions AND will decrease access to healthcare for the working poor!

-- Will make sure that sexually active women know their place!

-- Will make sure to keep the minimum wage at the level that best promotes economic stagnation!

-- Will fight against any and all renewable energy innovation and development!

Remember, America can't be great if anyone expects anything of it!

Democrats are horrible. They don't stigmatize sexually active women, or the poor, or the sick, and refuse to spend the greater amount of money that it takes to shift priorities to imperialism, corporate welfare, the drug war, and the prison industry. The solution is Republicanism. Yes, we know our party had to undergo a facelift lately to make you think we were different from the W's and the like, but those scars have healed! Ignore the bolts at the base of our neck! We are now not only corporatist and imperialist, but POPULIST too! Woot! Please vote for us. We are the only ones that promise to find people less powerful or less threatening than you to stigmatize and blame everything on. And that will solve all of America's problems.

In a way, just thinking this allows us to have won already.

Chip Ahoy said...

Oh for fuck's sake R & B putting cartoon balloon words in his cartoon version of Republican's mouths again. Is that all you ever have?

But more importantly, why has my ignore R & B's stupid fucking juvenile bullshit force field failed me again and allowed that dumb ass through? Do I not have it set on high? Click, click, click, there 11.

Democrats intend to depict Republican challengers as too radical. Ha! That's a good one. After Obama, fiduciary responsibility is seen as radical. Yeah, go with that. Ignoring all the flying climate change screaming monkeys is radical. Ignoring make believe bullshit utterly projected war on women is radical. Yeah, that's a good approach. It ought to work real well on idiots too fucking stupid to think for themselves with no intention of voting Republican anyway. Carry on dumb asses, nobody but incredibly stupid people with a serious bugs up their ass listen to you anyway.

Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together said...

Record low 9% congressional approval rating after their awesome "makeover" Chip and you think they're on the road to something great and in no way too reactionary. I rest my case.

Chip Ahoy said...

Liberal partisan Democrat voter, same as Todd Carney, Aussie Rugby player. Recently sacked. But why?

It's a thing. Started with sk8rz.

Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together said...

Sounds like an awesome campaign strategy. No smear or scatology too great to overcome a 9% approval rating. It would be easier to piss into one's mouth than to look past that.

But at least you give me this insight into your strange extracurricular interests. I never would have known.

I learn about your interests, you learn about 9% approval ratings. Not the most even trade-off - given how disgusting your interests are, but at least we get to learn something about each other.

Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together said...

And I love the framing of "Liberal partisan Democrat voter" for anyone not understanding the awesome appeal of a faction with a 9% approval rating. You must be a real treat at parties.

That and the whole "pissing in the mouth" thing -- which I think, BTW, is the perfect metaphor for what the Republicans are attempting to pull off.

edutcher said...

Dust Bunny Queen said...

They left off Mississippi which will likely get a Democrat Senator to replace Thad Cochran. He burned his bridges with the conservative base.

Last I heard, McDaniel says he's got 5000 illicit votes, and he only needs another 1400 to throw out the election.

Don't write off that on just yet.

Rhythm and Balls said...

That's a good idea. They should highlight all the ways in which they'll be different from Obama:

-- Will fight wars alone that we don't need to undertake and cost at least $75,000,000,000 per year to fight!


Coalition of the Willing.

WMDs that turned out to be there, after all.

-- Will repeal the removal of the cap on lifetime health insurance benefits and pre-existing exclusions AND will decrease access to healthcare for the working poor!

Premiums going through the roof in September.

Death panels

Only half pre-existing conditions insured

-- Will make sure that sexually active women know their place!

First Amendment

-- Will make sure to keep the minimum wage at the level that best promotes economic stagnation!

Seattle ring a bell?

Raising the minimum kills jobs, but Ritmo never got the memo

-- Will fight against any and all renewable energy innovation and development!

It's worked out so well

How many companies have gone belly up?

I know Ritmo believes all this stuff, but you'd think he'd see it doesn't work.

Record low 9% congressional approval rating after their awesome "makeover" Chip and you think they're on the road to something great and in no way too reactionary. I rest my case.

How much of that belongs to Dingy Harry's Senate?

And Ritmo's case never made it off the floor.

Got it must be awful to be him.

Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together said...

ed, your introspection, humility and objectivity never fail to impress me. Those are useful skills and virtues in life, and a grateful country expresses its relief in knowing it has a citizen as upstanding and productive as you to exemplify them.

Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together said...

And, ed, thanks for the talking points. A man as busy as you are must have a heck of a time watching enough tv to absorb them as extensively as you do.

But what I really would like to know is if you have any thoughts of your own on the matter.

Amartel said...

How many more strawmen have to die before progressive commenter can feel better about himself?
La Strawza was formed to prevent these abuses and ensure that Straw People everywhere are treated fairly. Straw Justice!

Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together said...

You'll need plenty of propofol to convince a majority of Americans that those really aren't the policy directives animating the GOP, Amartel. If they're not outright verbatim quotes, they're logical conclusions - based on what their past positions brought us.

But keep trying to keep the lid on that. I mean, someone has already convinced ed of the necessity of the trillion dollar righteous WMD search. Which of course, means that at least 9% of America must also be on board.

Almost there. Just don't get to 47% approval. There's something magically nefarious about that number. 9% is a better number. Sucks for electoral prospects but it has integrity!

edutcher said...

Gee, Ritmo you know so much about me you'd think you'd dreamed it up on your own.

After all, I'm the one who cites his arguments, not you. You just take yours off the email you get from Troll Central every day.

edutcher said...

Rhythm and Balls said...

You'll need plenty of propofol to convince a majority of Americans that those really aren't the policy directives animating the GOP, Amartel. If they're not outright verbatim quotes, they're logical conclusions - based on what their past positions brought us.

Logical conclusions?

They're the usual lies dreamed up by the Lefty Politburo.

No, that stuff worked, if you know the facts.

Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together said...

Whose arguments, ed? When you use a personal pronoun, you need to define it. "His" could be anybody's arguments.

I noticed you lifted that minimum wage quote without even bothering to check the link. Which is good, because if you had actually browsed on through you might not have liked what you found. Might've had to change up your whole response.

Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together said...

They're the usual lies dreamed up by the Lefty Politburo.

This is the guy who demonized Comedy Central.

Yup. Americans sure prefer their political analysis from Karl Rove and Tucker Carlson.

Ed, it's good that Comment Home has you to summarize the Republican defense. I mean, it's such an under-represented opinion here, people might run the risk of not understanding any other opinions. They might think that the only political opinion in America is left-wing.

But luckily we have you to come in and show them that yes, there is right-wing punditry also. A whole bubble-full of it.

deborah said...

Golden slumbers fill my eyes.

Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together said...

Smiles await you when you rise.

edutcher said...

Let's put it this way, the voters this time will be older, whiter, smarter.

A lot harder to fool.

Not to mention the fact that Ritmo's Messiah is losing ground with every demographic.

Hopenchange is dead.

Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together said...

Every election is always less white than the last. You don't understand demography.

Older voters are also usually more foolish. Being more set in one's ways is not a form of wisdom.

The central conceit of Tea Party-ism is that Obama put us on an untenable course. But that's completely wrong. Republicans put us on the wrong course with corporate favoritism, imperialism and cultural despotism. And Americans have grown increasingly sick with its poor returns, even if accounting for that involves a lot less drama than what the Teahadists and their cohort Hillary prefer to dish out.

ed is one of those "cool" cons who mistakenly believe that Republicans deliver stability. But their worship of all things anti-social simply requires a dramatic worship of economic bubbles, imperial bluster and CEO-theatrics. The need to be anti-rational is so great that they wrap themselves into hysterics trying to persuade themselves and others that science, Keynesian economics, alliances, diplomatic statesmanship and cultural liberty are bad things.

But those are pragmatic, practical and time-tested things. The dramatic radicals are the hysterics of the GOP fighting a war against everything that's ever worked for America.

But it gives ed and guys like him comfort. And then the rest of us woke up to 2008 and said enough with this shit. And only the the Teahadists don't get that, while asking for even more of what got us there.

sakredkow said...

Forget the real issues - the left know how to scare people.

No, you guys know how to scare people. Just sayin'.

Your non-extremist candidates might do a lot better if it wasn't for your base.

Michael Haz said...

Saul Alinsky: “Never have a conversation with your adversary, because that humanizes him, and your job is to demonize him."

Unknown said...

Ritmo - This is what your ideological nonsense brings to the table.
Failure. Blame shifting won't save the left's failed ideological identity, Ritmo. It's rotten to the core.

Unknown said...

When you fall in line with the vilification of ordinary Americans and ordinary American pursuits while you demand & cheer more government control, you are part of the problem.

sakredkow said...

You must believe your Americans are more "ordinary" than other Americans - the Americans you vilify.

Dust Bunny Queen said...

The central conceit of Tea Party-ism is that Obama put us on an untenable course. But that's completely wrong

Actually, you are completely wrong in that this is not the CENTRAL tenet of the Tea Party thought. First of all there is not an official Tea Party organization like there is for the Democrats and Republicans. The Tea Party started out as, and still remains, a grass roots organization with many localized organizations.

The CENTRAL tenet of the Tea Party groups that I know is that Government, all government, has grown too large and is too intrusive. The Tea Party respects the Constitutional principles and the Bill of Rights. States rights and local control are the preferred methods of restoring freedom. Overweening Federal Government and excessive taxation are the main complaints.

The Tea Party blames both Republicans and Democrats. That Obama has put us on fast speed in expanding the government, destroying the Constitution, creating chaos and economic destruction is true. That he is a Democrat is true too. But....the Tea Party recognizes that it is Government in general which has gotten too large, too powerful and is unaccountable to the PEOPLE.

The central tenet of the Tea Party as I know it can be summed up with "kick the bums out". Get rid of the entrenched, crusty old guard and get back to the basics. This is why the cheating and manipulating by the Mississippi GOP and the National GOP to ensure that their good ole boy Cochran can continue to lap it up at the trough will not bode well for them. The Tea Party candidate and the people who supported him will not take this cronyism, yet again, without some push back.

If you are going to opine about the Tea Party, why don't you go to some meetings and meet some of the people who are motivated to spend their time at them.

Amartel said...

Progressive commenter has ably demonstrated the use of emotional argument to promote fantasy.