Slog - Comments on 57 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/11/57 Another Republican Senator falls, this one Gordon Smith of Oregon. Despite Smith's rather brazen attempts to link himself to Barack Obama, he will be replaced by Democrat Jeff Markley, who was actually endorsed by Barack Obama (and helped along by a last-minute television ad that Obama cut for him). That brings the number of Democrats in the new Senate to 57, with Senate races still to be called in Alaska, Minnesota, and Georgia. As people try to tally up the races across the country that were swung by the Obama coattail effect, this race—in which high turnout in the liberal... Copyright 2008 Thu, 06 Nov 2008 11:15:18 -0800 Thu, 06 Nov 2008 13:36:10 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by DC Leiberman is NOT a Democrat.

]]> DC http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/11/57#c1197109 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/11/57#c1197109 2008 Thu, 06 Nov 2008 11:22:06 -0800 Comment by Chris in Tampa This one worried me, because even though I knew it wasn't a lock, I thought it was one of the safer 'lean Dem' races, not counting this Alaska fiasco. I'd still like to see Franken pull through too, but this is almost good enough.

]]> Chris in Tampa http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/11/57#c1197116 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/11/57#c1197116 2008 Thu, 06 Nov 2008 11:24:57 -0800 Comment by Julie in Chicago It will be interesting to see what the Dems total seats ends up at. Mostly because I'm fascinated to see what happens to Lieberman.

If we get all of the 3 remaining seats and so are at 59 (without Lieberman), I think the Dems will play nice with him (or at the very least, say we'll let you stay in the Dem caucus but strongarm him into siding with the Dems on ending filibusters).

But, if we don't get all 3 seats (which I doubt we will), I think they're just going to say fuck it and kick him to the curb. At least, that's what I would do.

]]> Julie in Chicago http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/11/57#c1197122 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/11/57#c1197122 2008 Thu, 06 Nov 2008 11:28:26 -0800 Comment by gry mklsk it was either at age 57 or 54 that the Ouija board told me when i was to lose consciouness/turn to dust/pass...along

god, that night, the motobike accident, the oilers being called for pass interferenece, the squirrel hides, the slow metabolism...oh and Ouija also said i'd be an architect...pretty much phooey, subliminally i'm sure i was in brady bunch phantasy attic...Johnny Bravo!

]]> gry mklsk http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/11/57#c1197132 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/11/57#c1197132 2008 Thu, 06 Nov 2008 11:34:14 -0800 Comment by elswinger #1 He is a tremendous Democrat on everything but the war.

]]> elswinger http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/11/57#c1197138 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/11/57#c1197138 2008 Thu, 06 Nov 2008 11:35:48 -0800 Comment by Timothy Lieberman. Oy.

I've been as upset about Lieberman as anyone; at one point, I made the suggestion that the DNC buy an old suitcase, slap Lieberman stickers all over it, and leave it outside the office on the sidewalk.

Still...reason returns.

Lieberman is now in a place where he is likely feeling the chill of having chosen the wrong side. We can either turn him into an enemy or bring him back home.

What's the upside of turning him further against us? Nothing.

The upside of bringing him back home would be huge.

Let's be reasonable. We won. Now, let's be smart in victory.

]]> Timothy http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/11/57#c1197141 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/11/57#c1197141 2008 Thu, 06 Nov 2008 11:38:40 -0800 Comment by ivan elswinger @ 5:

"Tremendous Democrats" don't support John McCain and Sarah Palin. FAIL!

Eli:

Try again with the OR Senator-elect. Merkley, not Markley.

]]> ivan http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/11/57#c1197144 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/11/57#c1197144 2008 Thu, 06 Nov 2008 11:40:31 -0800 Comment by Christin A co-worker has a conspiracy theory: Ted Stevens will get the Senate seat. He'll be removed because of the felony conviction. Sarah Palin will be responsible for choosing his replacement. And she will choose herself.

]]> Christin http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/11/57#c1197147 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/11/57#c1197147 2008 Thu, 06 Nov 2008 11:42:37 -0800 Comment by Will in Seattle Lieberman has a choice.

He can leave and suffer in the wilderness with the Socialist Republicans.

Or he can return to sanity and participate in rebuilding America.

There are no other choices.

]]> Will in Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/11/57#c1197149 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/11/57#c1197149 2008 Thu, 06 Nov 2008 11:43:09 -0800 Comment by Julie in Chicago I don't know, I obviously understand the desire to be nice and bring him solidly back into the Dems fold.

But... well, let's put it this way. Rahm Emanuel would have said, fuck that asshole, you don't cross our party in such a public and dramatic way and get away with it. And then he probably would have sent him a dead cat in the mail, with a note saying YOU.

]]> Julie in Chicago http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/11/57#c1197158 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/11/57#c1197158 2008 Thu, 06 Nov 2008 11:48:29 -0800 Comment by Chris in Tampa I love Julie.

]]> Chris in Tampa http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/11/57#c1197168 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/11/57#c1197168 2008 Thu, 06 Nov 2008 11:51:27 -0800 Comment by Glenn Fleishman Awesome news @8 on the Palin appointment issue. You wrote: "Sarah Palin will be responsible for choosing his replacement. And she will choose herself."

Not so! That's true in most states, but I read a few weeks ago that Alaskans, disgusted with the nepotism of Murkowski appointing his daughter to his senate seat when he was elected governor in 2002, changed the law in the state. The governor gets to appoint someone for about 60 to 90 days; a special election must be called unless it's close to a regular election, in which case the regular election carries the race to voters.

See DailkyKos's very very very long explanation of this which features constitutional law analysis.

Hey, know what? We just elected a president who is not just smart, not just a lawyer, but a constitutional law expert who actually thinks the constitution isn't toilet paper! Woo hoo!

]]> Glenn Fleishman http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/11/57#c1197183 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/11/57#c1197183 2008 Thu, 06 Nov 2008 11:58:31 -0800 Comment by Original Monique Hahaha, I bet 2 of my republican friends that we'd get over 56 seats and Obama would win by over 150+ electoral votes.

And I was spot, fucking, on.

Fuck the republicans and their shattered party.

]]> Original Monique http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/11/57#c1197203 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/11/57#c1197203 2008 Thu, 06 Nov 2008 12:08:18 -0800 Comment by Fnarf Glenn Fleishmann is right (though I didn't know about the temporary appointment; I think the seat just sits vacant). The governor does not appoint the permanent replacement anymore.

The real mystery in Alaska is, what happened to all the votes? Turnout is DOWN 11% in AK, the state's lowest presidential-year turnout ever. What the fuck? It's massively up everywhere else, and there was tremendous excitement throughout the state, with the local governor on the ticket, as well as Obama. Something definitely isn't right. Something couldn't have been fiddled, could it? Not in favor of a CONVICTED FELON, could it?

]]> Fnarf http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/11/57#c1197217 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/11/57#c1197217 2008 Thu, 06 Nov 2008 12:17:11 -0800 Comment by Christin @12 Thanks for the info and link! I should be reassured that Palin is highly unlikely to win a Senate seat in a fair vote. On the other hand, the idea of her in Senate is kind of hilarious. Can anybody say E-A-T-E-N A-L-I-V-E?

]]> Christin http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/11/57#c1197222 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/11/57#c1197222 2008 Thu, 06 Nov 2008 12:20:34 -0800 Comment by COMTE @12:

That sounds more like my understanding.

Even so, I'm betting she'll appoint Levi to the interim term if it comes to that; gotta make sure Bristol's baby-daddy has a job...

]]> COMTE http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/11/57#c1197224 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/11/57#c1197224 2008 Thu, 06 Nov 2008 12:23:23 -0800 Comment by Non Julie thank you for commenting here. for serious.

]]> Non http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/11/57#c1197225 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/11/57#c1197225 2008 Thu, 06 Nov 2008 12:24:32 -0800 Comment by Leslie N. @10, so we should expect good fun with him as chief of staff?

]]> Leslie N. http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/11/57#c1197231 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/11/57#c1197231 2008 Thu, 06 Nov 2008 12:28:46 -0800 Comment by mareada Re:Lieberman, Snowe and Collins of Maine are better prospects.

]]> mareada http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/11/57#c1197256 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/11/57#c1197256 2008 Thu, 06 Nov 2008 12:47:01 -0800 Comment by Darcy @18: It's gonna be awesome.

]]> Darcy http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/11/57#c1197273 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/11/57#c1197273 2008 Thu, 06 Nov 2008 12:57:48 -0800 Comment by UNPAID COMMENTER @15 you give my former home state WAY too much credit... This is a state with two of the most corrupt legislators in the country, and THEY KEEP RE-ELECTING THEM, EVEN AFTER THEY'RE CONVICTED.

Alaskan voters are not the sharpest tools in the shed.

Even with an election, I could see her nominating herself, and more importantly, I could see her WINNING.


...and now my cap-lock privileges have been revoked.

]]> UNPAID COMMENTER http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/11/57#c1197301 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/11/57#c1197301 2008 Thu, 06 Nov 2008 13:19:33 -0800 Comment by Will in Seattle @14 - voter fraud. they kept real Alaskans from the polls and only allowed Palin supporters in.

]]> Will in Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/11/57#c1197329 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/11/57#c1197329 2008 Thu, 06 Nov 2008 13:36:10 -0800