RSS2010 Florida US Senate Race: Charlie Crist … Once Republican, Turned Independent will Caucus with the Democrats
Shocker … Charlie Crist will caucus with the Democrats if he wins the Florida US Senate election, REALLY?
Surprise, surprise, surprise …so-called Independent, the Democrat in Independents clothing, Charlie Crist will caucus with the Democrat party if he wins the 2010 midterm election for the Florida US Senate seat. Talk about you “no dah” moment of politics. Did any one really think that Crist would caucus with Republicans after he lied to the GOP and the people of Florida when he said he would only run as a Republicans? Was there ever any doubt?
Was there really any doubt who Charlie Crist would be caucusing with?
Florida Gov. Charlie Crist would caucus with Senate Democrats if he wins Florida’s three-way U.S. Senate contest on Tuesday, a close advisor told Washington Wire Friday.
US Senate is in Play: The Top 10 Senate Races that Democrats Need to Worry About in 2010
Democrats could lose the US Senate, once unthought of, now a real possibility.
Just curious, when Scott Brown won in Massachusetts in the special election for the seat formerly held by the late Ted Kennedy, why didn’t all people think at that point that it was possible for Republicans to win in any state? The Massachusetts special Senate election represented the shot heard round the world and was the symbol that all things were possible. Think Brown’s victory was a one hit wonder? Not at all,Brown is presently out-polling President Barack Obama and Senator John Kerry (MA-D)
Remember when the political pundits only said that the US House of Representatives was in play and Democrats feared that it could flip and control go back to the Republicans? Less than 60 days from the 2010 midterm elections and now many think that Democrats could lose the US Senate as well.
A terrible economy, near 10% unemployment, no jobs really being created, an unpopular $787 billion stimulus package, and unpopular Obamacare law passed, an unpopular President Obama and a complicit Democrat party that passed numerous laws against the will of the people and the unpopular suing of a state on illegal immigration has all lead to the most improbable outcome … a complete sweep of Senate races and control by the GOP. The following are the top 10 US Senate races that Democrats need to worry about.
1. North Dakota (1): Get ready to ho-down with Republican John Hoeven (R); yes, we’re running out of Hoeven puns. Ranking: Solid GOP. [This race is over Hoeven is up by over 40% in the polls]
2. Delaware (2): Does Mike Castle (R) survive his primary against Christine O’Donnell (R)? The GOP’s likelihood of winning this seat depends on it. Ranking (with Castle as nominee): Probable GOP.[This race is up in the air as who knows who will win the GOP primary? Castle is ahead in polls against the Democrat in a general election; however, he is a RINO at best. Can O'Donnell win the GOP primary, after all she is the real Republican in the race? If she does, can she wil the general election in a blue state?]
3. Arkansas (3): Bill Clinton campaigned this week for incumbent Blanche Lincoln (D), but it’s unlikely to change the dynamics of her race against John Boozman (R). Ranking: Probable GOP. [Probably GOP? Barack Obama has a better chance of providing tax cuts to the rich than Lincoln does of winning, she is down by 38% in the polls.]
4. Indiana (4): Speaking of being able to change the dynamics, Brad Ellsworth (D) hasn’t caught up to Dan Coats (R). Ranking: Probable GOP. [Republican Coats up by 21% over the Democrat, this seat is lost by the Democrats.]
5. Pennsylvania (5): After being dormant for the last couple of months, Joe Sestak’s (D) campaign has become more active, with Biden and Obama set to stump for him later this month. Right now, though, this is Pat Toomey’s (R) race to lose. Ranking: Lean GOP. [Not only is GOP candidate Toomey ahead in the polls, the Republican Gov. candidate Corbett is far outpacing the Democrats. It will be a clean sweep in the Keystone state.]
6. Illinois (7): The Alexi Giannoulias (D)-vs.-Mark Kirk (R) contest remains what we consider to be the truest 50%-50% race out there. Ranking: Toss Up. [Democrat candidate only gets 37% in the polling, hard to imagine that translates to a victory.]
7. Colorado(unranked): The Ken Buck (R)-vs.-Michael Bennet (D) race is close to being a pure 50%-50% race, too. Which force will be greater — the overall political environment, or the GOP’s woes in the state? Ranking: Toss Up. [The Democrat incumbent is only polling at 44%, far below the 50% usually considered needed.]
8. Nevada (8): Now we enter the contests where Democrats might have an advantage by a fingernail. But the Harry Reid (D)-vs.Sharron Angle (R) race is going to close. Fasten your seatbelts. Ranking: Toss Up. [Its a dead heat in Nevada; however, Harry Reid, the Democrat Senate Majority leader is polling below 50%. Do Nevada voters really want more in the same? Even though Reid wants to distance himself from Obama and the economy, Reid has been in lock step with Obama and is completely responsible.]
9. Wisconsin (unranked): As was the case in ‘98, Russ Feingold (D) is fighting for his political life. What makes this time more difficult for him is that this political environment is much different than ’98 was. Ranking: Toss Up. [Incumbent Democrat Feingold trails GOP candidate Johnson in the polls. The fact that a dark blue state like Wisconsin is even being discussed tells us just how much trouble the Democrats are in.]
10. Washington (10):If Republicans indeed catch a wave on Election Night, we’ll be pulling an all-nighter watching the returns from the Patty Murray (D)-vs.-Dino Rossi (R) race. Ranking: Toss Up. [Republican Dina Rossi has a 2% point lead in the post recent Rasmussen poll and incumbent Democrat Patti Murray is polling below 50%. If Washington goes, one would think that Democrats would lose control of the Senate.]
But wait, there is more an an honorable mention of even more states that Democrats have to worry about. Check out California and West Virginia, both also in fear of being lost by Democrats. As stated by First Read, it is quite amazing that Republicans have a better chance of flipping West Virginia’s Senate seat than Democrats have in picking up the one in Ohio.
Check out the Scared Monkeys analysis made in February 2010, seems like some were ahead of the MSM curve. At that point, even before many primaries were complete, we were stating a +9 for Republicans.
Mother Jones importantly notes that there is not one Democrat gain on this list. This is literally unheard of. So many US Senate races and it is only the Democrats that are in fear of having seats flipped on November 2, 2010.
If Democrats think they have an issue in 2010 … 2012 does not appear to be much better. Check out some of the vulnerable races in 2012:
?WV – Robert Byrd is nor longer the Senator, this will be the vote for the 6 year term for whoever wins the 2010 special election.
?ND – Kent Conrad could be the victim of the anti-Obama vote.
?NE – Ben Nelson and the corn husker kickback. Payback will be on the minds of many and he just might be the Blanche Lincoln of 2012.
?FL – Bill Nelson and his preferential Obamacare deal
?VA – Jim Webb in newly “Red” Virginia like what swept Bob McDonnell into office.
?OH – Sherrod Brown in a swing state like Ohio in a Presidential year. How much of the vote against Obama will be a vote against Brown?
?PA – Robert Casey in a swing states that could trend against the incumbent President.
?NY – If Kirsten Gillibrand wins in 2010, will there be a strong GOP candidate like Rudy unseat her in 2012?
2010 Midterm Senate Election Round Up … Republicans Lead in many Races to Take Back Senate?
US Senate Races in 2010 Midterm elections.
How much will the economy, unemployment, federal spending, taxes, record deficits and a Democrats attempt to force Obamacare on “We the People” affect the 2010 elections?
Following the Scott Brown victory in the special election in Massachusetts, Democrats presently have a 59-41 advantage in the Senate as independents Lieberman, CT and Sanders, VT both caucus with the Democrats.
Republicans and Democrats will each be defending 18 Senate seats. There are six retiring Republican Senators that will have to be defended in an open election. Democrats had 5 Senators retiring, including MA Senator Paul Kirk who’s seat was decided on January 2010 when Republican Scott won the special election.
Republicans will need to gain a +10 in pick ups during the midterm election in order to regain control of the US Senate. It would appear to be a tall order; however, the mood of the country and the polling data suggests it is not out of the realm of possibility. The Generic Congressional Ballot is presently at Republicans 44%, Democrats 35%.
Presently we have Republicans with a +9 pick up in 2010. Question, if Republicans pick up nine seats and there is a tie, would Liberman caucus with Republicans?
One thing is apparently obvious when reviewing the 36 Senate races in 2010. Republicans will have a much easier time defending their seats than Democrats. Even what some would think are the most safe Dem seats, at this point appear to be in play.
- SOLID REPUBLICAN – 19
- LEANS REPUBLICAN – 8
- SOLID DEMOCRAT – 7
- LEANS DEMOCRAT – 2
1. Arkansas - Presently held by Democrat Blanche Lincoln.
All of the polls have incumbent Blanch Lincoln behind the suspected Republican challenger Boozeman by 23% points. Rasmussen has Lincoln trailing every potential Republican challenger as her favorability ratings have fallen and they can’t get up. Lincoln can thank her vote for Obamacare for her plight and her likely departure from the US Senate. Stick a fork in Blanche Lincoln, she is done.
This Senate seat is going to be a Republican pick up (+1). SOLID REPUBLICAN
2. California – Presently held by Democrat Barbra Boxer.
One would think that a Senate race was a solid win for Democrats. However, not since Barack Obama became President and the political climate in the US is anti-Democrat incumbents. It is incomprehensible to believe that Boxer only leads her Republican rival former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina in the most recent Rasmussen poll by 3 points, 46% to 43%. The trend of support has been to Fiorina as in Nov. 09 Boxer had a 9% point lead.
Then again, no one though Scott Brown would win in Massachusetts either. How bad and detrimental to Democrats was Obamacare, in California, 49% favor the health care plan, while 48% oppose it. Boxer presently has a 4% point lead over Carly Fiorina.
To close to call bright now but it is a Democrat hold for the time being, but the Senate seat is in play … LEANS DEMOCRAT.
3. Colorado – Presently held by Democrat Michael F. Bennet.
According to recent polls incumbent Democrat Senator Michael Bennet is in real trouble against the presumed Republican challenger Lieutenant Governor Jane Norton. Norton leads Bennet 51% to 37%, a two-point gain for her from last month as Bennet is witnessing a Rocky Mountain low. Is it possible that Bennet could get defeated in the Democrat primary by former state House Speaker Romanoff . The story in Colorado is about anti-incumbency and many wonder whether an Obama campaign visit fir Bennet is going to be yet another Obama campaign kiss of death.
This Senate seat is going to be a Republican pick up (+2). SOLID REPUBLICAN
4. Illinois – Presently held by Democrat Roland Burris who was appointed after Barack Obama was elected President in 2008. Burris is not going to run in 2010, this will be an open seat election.
Illinois represents a major targeted state for Republicans for the symbolic nature of taking over President Barack Obama’s former Senate seat. Following the recent primaries, Republican Mark Kirk won big, while Alexi Giannoulias won a tough Democrat race. Shortly after the smoke cleared from the primary, polls showed that Kirk had a 6% point lead over Giannoulias, 46% to 40%. Republicans stand poised to pick up this open Democrat seat as voters not affiliated with either party, the Republican holds a sizable 59% to 22% lead.
This Senate seat is going to be a Republican pick up (+3). LEANS REPUBLICAN
5. Kentucky - Presently held by Republican Jim Bunning who is retiring. This will be an open seat election. With Jim Bunning retiring, GOP candidates Trey Grayson and Rand Paul have wide leads over the Democrat challengers Daniel Mongiardo and Jack Conway. Kentucky has been a RED state that will see the GOP hold the Blue Grass state.
The election result will be a Republican Senate hold, SOLID REPUBLICAN.
ARUBA: Has The Netherlands Really Done Everything “REASONABLE” to Solve the Natalee Holloway Case?
Define “reasonably”? Can the term reasonable and a crime being investigated in 
Aruba actually be used in the same sentence?
Why is anyone supposed to believe everything reasonable was done to investigate the disappearance of Natalee Holloway? Many stated from the outset that the fix was in when two black security guards were arrested while the last three people to be with Natalee Holloway, Joran Van der Sloot, Deepak and Satish Kalpoe remained free to walk the streets. Dutch official Hero Brinkman is on record as saying that Aruba is “Corrupt as Hell!!!”
What is reasonable when one knows that the very island that the crime took place on is corrupt and that one of the suspects, a Dutch citizen, has connections through his father to obstruct justice?
In the case of the article that appeared in Amigo February 11, 2009, The Netherlands: ‘Done everything to solve the Holloway case;’ “reasonably” as defined by whom, former US President Bill Clinton in that it all depend on what the meaning of is, is. Going through the motions of looking like one is cooperating in an investigation into the disappearance of Natalee Holloway is hardly a sincere effort.
The Netherlands has ‘reasonably’ done everything a country can do to solve the case of the disappeared American teenager Natalee Holloway, says state secretary Ank Bijleveld-Schouten (Kingdom Relations, CDA) in a letter to the Lower House that have asked for more information.
Holloway disappeared in May of 2005 and the case is still not solved. There are currently two investigations going in the disappearance case: the criminal investigation into the disappearance of the teenager and an investigation by the national detective into the allegations of Justice-minister Rudy Croes in the early stages of the criminal investigation.
Jan van der Stratten
It was in December of last year that Croes accused the former chief of police Jan van der Straaten of having blown the investigation in the first ten days. He did this in consideration of his friendship with Paul van der Sloot, the father of Joran van der Sloot, who is still the prime suspect. The Public Prosecutor doesn’t give any details during this investigation, writes Bijleveld to the Lower House.
The Dana Pretzer Show – Thursday, June 28th, 2007 – Special Guests Clint Van Zandt, Carolyn Johnson & Barbi Kinsey
The Dana Pretzer Show on Scared Monkeys Radio: Thursday June 28th 9pm et
Special Guests:
- Clint Van Zandt- Jessie Davis Murder Case
- Carolyn Johnson - Mother of missing person Clinton Nelson
- Barbi Kinsey – Sister of missing person Patty Vaughan, Find Patty Vaughan.com
- Jerry from Ohio – Scared Monkey who helped search for Jesse Davis gives his insights to volunteering for a missing persons search.
Standard Podcast [84:23m]: Download
