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News & ArtsWednesday, April 14, 2010
Politics A Good Look at the Midterm Elections
Posted by Charles Mudede on Wed, Apr 14, 2010 at 8:22 AM
Democratic state Sen. Ted Deutch cruised to a special election win in Florida’s 19th District Tuesday to succeed former Rep. Robert Wexler, who resigned earlier this year to head a Middle East think tank.Suddenly, everyone wants to be all silent about this race. But for a week or so, the press went on and on about how Lynch had a chance to beat his rival and claim a symbolically powerful seat for the GOP. And how was he going to do this amazing thing? By showing America that Americans really don't want Obamacare. The man he saw in the mirror looked to him a lot like Scott Brown. He and his party were mighty sure of this resemblance. But now they see there was no such resemblance. What Lynch's image only shows us is that the GOP needs a better look at itself.A state senator since 2006, Deutch was the heavy favorite heading into Tuesday’s election. He raised $1.5 million for his campaign and had secured the backing of Wexler, neighboring Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz and former President Bill Clinton before easily winning the Democratic primary.
Lynch, a contractor who lost to Wexler by nearly 40 points in 2008, had hoped for a Massachusetts Senate-style upset.
1
I'm hoping this election leaves the R's on life support. It should, but then the Mass. election left me feeling that Americans never seem to realize who has their interest at heart.
3
I wish more people would understand that the reason Scott Brown won the Mass election is because Martha Coakley was an uwful candidate who was out of touch with the populace. She thought that Curt Schilling was a Yankees fan. Curt Schilling is the Boston Redsock who was resonsible for finally breaking the curse that kept every Masshole from celebrating a championship for 80+ years. And he did it with a freakin bloody sock. This is the stuff of legend. The Democratic candidate thought he was a fan of thier most bitter rival (which is one of the biggest rivalries in sports). Of course the GOP wants to make this an indictment on healthcare. It was really an indictment on a bad candidate.
People want to downplay sports as having an impact on politics, but most voters know a lot more about sports than they do about policy. Ask Greg Nickels if angry Sonics fans had an impact on his last election.
People want to downplay sports as having an impact on politics, but most voters know a lot more about sports than they do about policy. Ask Greg Nickels if angry Sonics fans had an impact on his last election.
4
Don't get your hopes up guys. As much as I'd love to see the Repubs get trounced even further next year it's more likely they'll start to make some sort of comeback unless the economy shows huge improvements (and people see it and credit Dem's) and people start to realize they like not having their kids kicked off insurance for being sick. Dems will almost definitely lose seats in the next election. The only question is how many. Let's hope it's not too bad.
As for this election. Is anyone surprised that the "liberal media" doesn't give a damn? Election wins are only news if it means "the nation is turning away from socialism".
As for this election. Is anyone surprised that the "liberal media" doesn't give a damn? Election wins are only news if it means "the nation is turning away from socialism".
5
Don't get your hopes up guys. As much as I'd love to see the Repubs get trounced even further next year it's more likely they'll start to make some sort of comeback unless the economy shows huge improvements (and people see it and credit Dem's) and people start to realize they like not having their kids kicked off insurance for being sick. Dems will almost definitely lose seats in the next election. The only question is how many. Let's hope it's not too bad.
As for this election. Is anyone surprised that the "liberal media" doesn't give a damn? Election wins are only news if it means "the nation is turning away from socialism".
As for this election. Is anyone surprised that the "liberal media" doesn't give a damn? Election wins are only news if it means "the nation is turning away from socialism".
7
@ 4 & 5 has a point. Except in extraordinary years, the opposition party always makes gains at the midterm. However, it's very encouraging to see this race turn out this way. The fact that it has a large Jewish population may even lead the 'pubs to conclude that this was just a very liberal district (which it probably is - 40 point victories don't happen in places with lots of swing voters) and they should keep up with their losing strategy.
8
@3,
It might also be because Coakley was an uncharismatic empty suit who felt she was entitled to the Senate seat.
It might also be because Coakley was an uncharismatic empty suit who felt she was entitled to the Senate seat.
10
Let's face it, the voters have spoken - and along with the markets and the middle class - they LOVE PRESIDENT OBAMA!
11
@6 -- Mudede making sense? Don't get your hopes up.
I rummaged around a bit, and found no basis for this characterization either in mainstream J or credible political-junkie journals.
Deutch was the heavy favorite (as Politico reports), Lynch was outspent, out-campaigned, out-endorsed, and further hobbled by embarrassing personal financial disclosures in the days leading up to poll time.
There may be bellwether special elections ahead, but this ain't one of them. (Maybe Mudede was confused by inclusion of this contest among profiles of the 5 special House races combined.)
a week or so, the press went on and on about how Lynch had a chance to beat his rival and claim a symbolically powerful seat for the GOP
I rummaged around a bit, and found no basis for this characterization either in mainstream J or credible political-junkie journals.
Deutch was the heavy favorite (as Politico reports), Lynch was outspent, out-campaigned, out-endorsed, and further hobbled by embarrassing personal financial disclosures in the days leading up to poll time.
There may be bellwether special elections ahead, but this ain't one of them. (Maybe Mudede was confused by inclusion of this contest among profiles of the 5 special House races combined.)
12
So A democrat wins an overwhelmingly democrat district?
Big Whoop!
Loyal Americans will kick the Marxists out in November. All of them. You see, check any Rasmussen poll, and you'll see the growing buyer's remorse since January 20, 2009. People who were blinded by Barack Hussein Obama's charisma and beautiful family have opened their eyes to this man's arrogance and incompetence.
He won't even release his freakin birth certificate, and this guy promised transparency!
I predict that he won't run in 2012. If he did, and faced Sarah Palin, I'm convinced it would be a historic 50 state sweep. Plus, recent polls show that more Americans favor Hillary Clinton over the Kenyan Marxist homosexual, and a majority don't want him to have a second term. So I further predict that she will take his place at the top of the Democrat Party ticket in 2012.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washingt…
It's a great time to be a hard traditionalist!
ROTFLMAO!!!
Big Whoop!
Loyal Americans will kick the Marxists out in November. All of them. You see, check any Rasmussen poll, and you'll see the growing buyer's remorse since January 20, 2009. People who were blinded by Barack Hussein Obama's charisma and beautiful family have opened their eyes to this man's arrogance and incompetence.
He won't even release his freakin birth certificate, and this guy promised transparency!
I predict that he won't run in 2012. If he did, and faced Sarah Palin, I'm convinced it would be a historic 50 state sweep. Plus, recent polls show that more Americans favor Hillary Clinton over the Kenyan Marxist homosexual, and a majority don't want him to have a second term. So I further predict that she will take his place at the top of the Democrat Party ticket in 2012.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washingt…
It's a great time to be a hard traditionalist!
ROTFLMAO!!!
13
You know it's a good sign when the usual right-wing trolls don't even want to talk about it, and all we get is the excellent parody that is Lord Basil.
@12: I agree that Obama versus Palin might actually be a 50-state-plus-DC sweep.
@12: I agree that Obama versus Palin might actually be a 50-state-plus-DC sweep.
14
@12:
All of them booted from office?
And Obama won't run for a second term?
And Palin will take all 50 states?
Really?
I'll take that bet!
How much you want to put down?
All of them booted from office?
And Obama won't run for a second term?
And Palin will take all 50 states?
Really?
I'll take that bet!
How much you want to put down?
16
From '12': "...Kenyan Marxist homosexual..."
.
Really?
.
Kenyan: His father was Kenyan, but he was born in Hawaii. You "birthers" don't seem to have your facts straight, but your racist ignorance persists.
.
Marxist: What baloney! Not one real Marxist (what few there are in America) would ever call Obama a Marxist. Most leftist voices I've heard here in the USA actually call Omama a "corporate lackey", but never a Marxist. Your understanding of history & economics is severely lacking.
.
Homosexual: That would be laughable, if it wasn't such a poisoned use of the word. You really take the cake! I never heard that one before. There is absolutely no basis for it, and it only goes to show how poisoned with hatred your mind really is.
.
Really?
.
Kenyan: His father was Kenyan, but he was born in Hawaii. You "birthers" don't seem to have your facts straight, but your racist ignorance persists.
.
Marxist: What baloney! Not one real Marxist (what few there are in America) would ever call Obama a Marxist. Most leftist voices I've heard here in the USA actually call Omama a "corporate lackey", but never a Marxist. Your understanding of history & economics is severely lacking.
.
Homosexual: That would be laughable, if it wasn't such a poisoned use of the word. You really take the cake! I never heard that one before. There is absolutely no basis for it, and it only goes to show how poisoned with hatred your mind really is.
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