More on the Tennessee senate race (the no guns edition)
I’ve been trying, in vain, to summarize my thoughts about Tennessee’s senate race. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it and put it into words. But #9 did just that in the comments here:
I see this as more than a race between two candidates. As much as I like what Harold Ford says I see the faint image of Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid standing directly behind him. I don’t see anything when I look at Corker, not even Corker himself. His image is gossamer thin.
I listen to every ad from Harold Ford. I mute every ad from Bob Corker. I thought this was a Hobson’s choice but after seeing Pelosi and Reid during the 9/11 ceremonies it is clear to me that you just hold your nose and do what you have to do.
He finishes with:
I may throw up a little but I will vote for Corker.
I think so. See, here’s the deal: I don’t fear or dread Harold Ford as a Senator. I fear the majority of Congress having Ds after their names. In the same comment thread, Rich says:
One the one hand we have Bob Corker, a candidate without a platform, and on the other we have Harold Ford, who evidently will say anything in order to get elected.
I think so. Bob Corker’s platform seems to be Harold Ford Sucks. But Ford’s ads, mannerisms, balls out media appearances, lack of fear, and conservative/populist message appeals to folks.
Rich took my bet. He also says:
I’ll go on record right now and say that Dems will win control of the House, Senate, and White House in 2008.
Could be.
September 15th, 2006 at 9:37 am
I think Rich is employing a little reverse election psychology.
That said, Ed Choate for U.S. Senate!
September 15th, 2006 at 10:24 am
That said, Ed Choate for U.S. Senate!
lmao…that guy is a hoot.
September 15th, 2006 at 11:28 am
I don’t fear or dread Harold Ford as a Senator. I fear the majority of Congress having Ds after their names.
That’s an irrational fear. What you should fear is the majority of both houses of congress having the same letter after their names — whether that letter is a D or an R doesn’t matter much. In that scenario, you prefer Rs and I prefer Ds, but too much power = lack of discipline and lack of restraint, as we’re seeing now.
My perfect world looks a lot like 1998: Democratic president, Democratic Senate, Republican House. Your perfect world would probably be the inverse of that. (Barring Libertarians in there somewhere.)
September 15th, 2006 at 11:41 am
Did the magnetic poles reverse or something – because I agree with Tom. 🙂 It’s bad for the country when the same party is in control of the White House and both houses of Congress.
FYI, I just checked and the betting at Tradesports.com is 83% that the GOP will retain control of the Senate in ’06 and 53% that they would maintain a majority in the House.
September 15th, 2006 at 2:03 pm
Les:
It’s been known to happen from time to time. 😉 Hell, Xrlq has even agreed with me a time or two…
September 15th, 2006 at 5:48 pm
Nope, I’m not that sophisticated. Barring a successful terrorist attack on US soil in the next two years, and assuming that the grownups remain in charge of the Democratic Party, I fully expect the Republicans to lose big in 2008.
September 15th, 2006 at 11:12 pm
Ain’t gonna happen.
90% of the Dem (proto) landslide is media hype. A contest by contest look at the house and senate with the latest info shows the RINOs keeping both.
If Kane wins in NJ (as he probably will now), the Dems can’t take the Senate…not enough contested races. The stupid party might lose a few seats in the House, but they might not. The closer it gets to the midterms, the better the GOP is doing. At the latest numbers, the Dims have to take about 75% of the really contested races to take the house…ain’t gonna happen.
Note: As far as I can figure having watched these pukes for the past 6 years, the Dems already control both houses and the President would have been considered a Democrat 40 years ago.
The only thing that is important is the SCOTUS…one more seat and we’re good for a generation.
September 16th, 2006 at 3:11 pm
Heh,
I finally found something I generally agree with tgirsch on.
sadly though, I can’t support the idea this time because of the absolute wackiness of the Democrats in the House. I’d give up the Senate and hold my nose over allowing someone like Pelosi to run the House.
and that, I think is one of the Ds biggest problems. Sure, there are nutjob Rs, we just don’t allow folks who turn off 90% of the country to achieve that level of control.
September 18th, 2006 at 1:37 am
Just a quibble: The Republicans controlled the Senate in 1998.
But since most of the Republican Senators act like Democrats anyway, it’s an understandable mistake. 🙂
September 19th, 2006 at 12:53 pm
Cap’n Holly:
By golly, you’re right. 🙂