From this morning’s Politico:
Republican Senate leaders — terrified by the prospect of losing five or more seats in November — have freed their members to vote however they need to vote to get reelected, even if that means bucking the president or the party’s leadership….
Now, who do you think has benefited from his masters letting him off the leash? Could it be? Oh, it is, Norm Coleman!
But on virtually all of these mixed votes, it’s not a case of McConnell and Kyl losing control of their conference and losing major votes. In fact, GOP leaders are allowing for political expedience to trump partisan stalemate.
By letting politically vulnerable GOP senators such as Norm Coleman of Minnesota, Susan Collins of Maine, Elizabeth Dole of North Carolina and Gordon Smith of Oregon join Democrats on key issues, Republicans are neutralizing the issues.
Now these senators can head home and brag that they stood up to Republican leaders in Washington and voted to save Medicare from cuts, to expand GI benefits and to help out in the housing crisis.
Norm Coleman has been a political opportunist since he came out of St. Paul. It’s worth remembering this fall when Norm Coleman tells you he’s been independent, it’s only when mommy and daddy let him.
Read the article for that comforting and warm feeling of schadenfreude that comes with watching the Republican leadership in Washington panic at the thought of another beating come this November.
Coleman’s been doing this for about 2 years already. After a few years of voting according to his actual beliefs, Coleman started trying to establish a “moderate” voting record once he thought voters might be paying attention.
I’ve been keeping tabs on Norm Coleman’s record for about a month now. You can actually see him moving towards the center. But he doesn’t really believe his latest votes — he’s just an opportunist. Next year, we’ll have Crazy Conservative Coleman again.
A couple of things, Jeff Rosenberg:
First, I don’t think it is accurate to talk about Coleman’s “beliefs.” That would imply a certain consistency that we have never seen. We almost need a word more malleable than malleable.
Second, do I understand you correctly that you are predicting a Coleman win in November? Your last sentence seems to imply that.
Ha! That’s a fair point. Let me amend that:
“If the unthinkable happened and Coleman won, we’d have Crazy Conservative Coleman again.”
I recognize the sad sack aspect of Norm the Weasel getting re-elected but as liberals we need to see the silver lining should it happen. The idiot Conservative Republicans will have spent millions to send a windsock to the Senate… a Democratically controlled Senate with a Democratic White House plus his narrow win (can’t happen any other way) will push Norm so far left that he will vote like a Democrat. Hell with his penchant for loyalty he may change back to being a Democrat if the chairmanships fall right. It is no fun being a minority Senator with no power nor any strings to pull. I also think that Normy knows which side of the bread the butter is on so he will mostly go along to get along with a Democratic Senate.
Face it as progressives we can’t lose in the Senate race… sure one distasteful option will be Norm in all his glory but still we get most of what we want. I’ll vote and support Franken but should an ill wind be blowing in November and we see an Edmund Fitzgerald campaign we just need to keep the pressure on the Weasel for the next 6 years.
OK, I am going to ask for something here. Readers here know that I was a very strong supporter of Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer. Readers here know that I considered Jack the best candidate I had seen during my adult years (dating from roughly JFK’s election). So all during the endorsement season, the argument was that Franken was an inevitable win, whereas Jack didn’t have the money.
So now I hear you guys getting squishy on me, describing how we will be running such and such a person against Coleman in 6 years, describing how a Coleman win won’t be all that bad after all. What the hell!
If you guys are going down that road, then I want you to explain to me all of Franken’s stellar characteristics, whether or not he wins. He might win. He might lose. I am certainly not supporting any other candidate myself. But before you were almost exclusive in saying simply that he would win, not why he SHOULD win. Now it is time to take a look at this candidate you have been supporting and tell everyone why you think he would be the best Senator in this universe, whether or not he actually wins. It is clearly time to talk about Franken in terms of the issues he supports and the talents he would bring to the office. The electability argument has had too many holes punched in it. Now it’s actually time to help people pick a good Senator.
If this is the candidate you think people should support, it’s time to talk about his strengths for the office.
Franken’s gonna win, and will legislate for the people without equivocation.
Ok I’ll admit it I’m mostly just screwing with the Coleman supporters.
Franken will make a much better Senator because of his intelligence, wit and dedication to the real needs of Minnesotans. While I think his campaign has not been run like the clockwork I expected, he is by far the best candidate for the job. His stands on Health Care, tax relief for the Middle Class and Education are almost on a level with Hubert Humphrey in tone. He is what the DFL stands for traditionally. A little too middle of road for me in some cases but overall he will make us proud in Washington. Al Franken doesn’t need the job so I think he may be the best man for it.
My whole speil about Norm the Weasel is founded on truth. The guy never met an opportunity for cash, advancement or power that he didn’t grab for… which means all these Republican true believer Grover Norquist admiring yahoos screeching support for old Normy are very nervous right now.
I do not think Norm can win this election if the DFL quits its’ prevaricating and gets behind Franken. Norm is playing the role of Kennedy from last cycle with his stupid hockey ads and slowly the electorate is figuring out this guy is George Bush’s buttboy. This latest Franken ad is going to move the needle in the polls because it is what Norm’s about.
The only way that Franken loses this thing is if McCollum et al continue their circular firing squad. And since I’m an old dog they just might do it.
Franken has to get his head out of the esoteric political clouds and realize that Minnesotans are pissed every time they go to the gas station, grocery store or medical clinic. His campaign is filled with young executive types who have never had to make a payroll or run a family farm. He needs to get more advice from the Dew-Drop-Inn and less from Dartmouth.
Hey what do I know, I’m just a lifelong DFLer from a small town in tropical Minnesota who has watched Republicans drag our country through the mud of torture and greed for 7 plus years. I’ve never understood how the Republicans can talk people into voting against their own economic self interest but Republicans sure do seem to be able to do it. If Norm wins we can just say that minnesotans like hockey more than they hate war and economic recession.
1) He’ll work with the rest of the progressive democratic caucus to get us out of Iraq.
2) He supports universal health care.
3) He strongly supports worker rights.
4) He is a champion for the funding of education.
5) He is not an anti-drug zealot.
I have a hard time understanding why you insist we convince you of Franken’s worthiness. I would certainly not be harassing you to justify JNP’s candidacy if he had won the nomination.
“He’s not an anti-drug zealot.” Now that explains EVERYTHING lojasmo. It’s pretty amazing how the modern day Democratic Party supports legalizing illict drugs that ruin lives and harm society while opposing the companies that make prescription drugs that save lives and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans. I didn’t realize that was part of the change we can believe in.
By the way, does Franken support universal health care for everyone? If he does, that would include about 20 million people who are not in the U.S. legally.
Normally the GOP Leadership only allows defections when the vote has been whipped and the outcome is assured (see Coleman’s vote on ANWR from a couple years ago). Coleman was allowed to vote against ANWR then because it didn’t matter. Now it seems that it’s abandon ship if it means re-election. Captain Bush, First Mate Cheney and Seaman Second Class McConnell are steaming full speed ahead into an ice field. They best be listening to the lookouts for warnings of icebergs dead ahead!
Hey Chris, Ask your boy Arnold how stupid drug laws and 3 strikes and your in for life is working for California.
almost forgot Chris=right wing tool
Lojasmo, I’m not harassing you. I’m helping you out, whether or not you realize it.
Franken’s whole campaign was about electability, but that argument isn’t working very well recently. I truly wanted you to answer the question I asked, and I think if you come up with the right answer, Franken may just have a chance of beating Coleman in November. But, frankly, if Franken and his supporters can’t do any better than they have done so far, we are looking at another 6 years of Coleman. And I think you know it.
If Franken and his supporters actually spend some time working on issues, he has a chance. You guys get all excited every time someone starts talking about taxes or Playboy articles or lousy SNL ideas that you completely forget to talk about the issues. You completely forget to actually explain why Franken would make a better Senator than Coleman. In my opinion, this shallow “my team is better than your team” approach is no way to win voters, so I am delighted to hear even the brief and sketchy answers you and amuseinc have given so far. Flesh out those issues a little more, boys. It is actually what a campaign is all about.
There are no guarantees, of course. If the Republicans are able to tap into America’s deep vein of racism, Obama may have negative coattails and Franken might be at a disadvantage. And if Cheney uses that lost nuclear warhead to conduct a false-flag operation that gets the U.S. to bomb Iran in September, then we are all completely screwed. (Please call Amy Klobuchar on this one, since she has completely played into Republican hands by co-sponsoring that damnable Senate resolution.)
But if Obama keeps giving good speeches and if Cheney or Israel don’t provoke war with Iran before November and if a few political hacks can focus on policy … then maybe Franken has a chance. Let’s hope so.
I still haven’t warmed up to Al’s personality, but think he’d represent me well on most issues. Aside from being too slow in opposing the war, Franken sure seems to have mostly progressive convictions. Unlike blowin in the wind, who may really be or become a moderate but cannot be counted on.
Anonymous,
As I said before, it’s really amazing how you people want to legalize hard drugs which kill people, ruin lives and harm society but then demonize prescription drug companies which make drugs to cure diseases, heal people and improve the quality of life. I just wonder if Glaxo Smith Kline, Pfizer and the rest sold meth instead of the guy down the street if you would feel the same way.
Almost forgot Anonymous = left wing hippie.
Chris,I agree 100%,
It is important if we are to win arguments with hippie moonbats that we use some very broad brushes and stereotypes in order to win arguments.
For example, everybody knows moonbats want to legalize hard drugs. Not mentioning which drugs, or why, is important. This smear works pretty well. Nobody can see through your argument.
In addition, it is common knowledge that moonbats demonize perscription drug companies. It is important not to mention why, or which ones. What works better is to simply say just that, and you win the argument.
Everybody knows all these liberal european-socialist fascist marxist leftist are a bunch of hippies. That smear is my favorate, because hippies are not only extremely mockable, but they are all on drugs.
Great Job, Intellectually Superior Sean Hannity Comment Repeater Chris
Chris-
Your “argument” about drugs is asinine on it’s face.
Alcohol and Tobacco kill exponentially more people than all “illicit” drugs combined.
Please. Try to track.
Chris, thank you for proving that the republiCon base is filled with morons, just like you.
I just googled “most abused drugs america”, because I knew what was going to come up - and pharma drugs, abused like El Druggo himself, Drug Limbaugh, abused, are way, Way WAY up there - here’s the number 4 hit:
NIDA - Drug Abuse and Addiction: One of America’s Most Challenging …- 4:10pmOver half (51%) of America’s teenagers have tried an illicit drug by the time … Vicodin is one of the drugs most commonly abused by high school seniors. …
http://www.nida.nih.gov/about/welcome/aboutdrugabuse/trends/ - 31k -
Go ahead - google “most abused drugs america”
And keep posting; it’s important that the undecideds see that people just like you are the GOP base.
Two Putz,
Maybe you should read what you post for a change, you imbecile. Marijuana is the most commonly abused illicit drug, not Vicodin.
I hope you push your mean spirited, hate agenda. You’re the poster child for why Minnesotans will vote for Norm Coleman over Al Franken. Mean spirited personal attacks don’t fly. People don’t like pricks, Two Putz.
Chris-
Don’t be so hard on yourself. I’m sure even a prick like you has a friend or two.
BTW, prescription drugs kill more people each year than your much feared “illicit” drugs do, as well.
Charley-
It’s not my job to campaign for Franken. It’s his job. I will GOTV, ID, phone bank, send mailings, and the like. I am not beholden to convince hold outs, purity trolls, and republican dead-enders to like Franken.
lojasmo,
Crack cocaine and meth for everyone! Hooray!
Chris= reduces every argument to the absurd.
lojasmo= elevates every absurdity into an argument.
lojasmo, Chris isn’t smart enough to realize that today’s kids are abusing scrips at an alarming rate.
However, the makers of hillbilly heroin are.
But I have to ask - why is it that bootlickers that profess so much faith in “the market”, ignore all the laws of the market when it comes to drugs?
Oh, wait! I know that one!!!
It’s because republiCons are hypocrites, and pick ‘n choose what they want to believe, and what they don’t!!!
Such as:
“Drug use, some might say, is destroying this country. And we have laws against selling drugs, pushing drugs, using drugs, importing drugs. And the laws are good because we know what happens to people in societies and neighborhoods which become consumed by them. And so if people are violating the law by doing drugs, they ought to be accused and they ought to be convicted and they ought to be sent up.”
— Rush Limbaugh. October 5, 1995 show transcript.
It’s amazing how much hypocrisy Chris exposes here.
Chris,I agree 100%,
Thank you for representing the Minnesotan Republican party so well. You’re doin’ a heck of a job!
It is important that we Republicans stalk Liberal websites and take moonbats down. I think it’s great that someone who has a natural talent at winning arguments is on the Minnesota Republican team.
Continue to obsess and stalk the websites of people you disagree with and post comments. You are obviously the smartest man in the room, and you will win every argument. Everyone knows that will help Minnesotas Republicans, because when you talk down to people you disagree with using scripted, vetted talking points, that wins hearts and minds.
It is common knowledge that many of the people who read MN Publius see your comments and change their party affiliation. That’s a given.
Great Job Representative Minnesota Republican and Smartest Man In The Room Swiftee….oops I mean Chris. It’s difficult to tell you two apart.
#1 internet stalker, see comment 18 re: pricks.
What I find amusing is that Chris ignores, entirely, the substantive part of the argument.
1) Decriminalizing and taxing drugs would be a HUGE windfall for the nation
2) The two most dangerous drugs are currently legal.
3) Criminalizing less dangerous (Or frankly harmless) drugs, while legalizing more dangerous drugs is asinine.
4) Personal choice and responsibility are admirable human traits.
5) Prescription drugs, alcohol, and tobacco EACH kill more people each year, and leverage a greater cost on our nation than any ‘ilicit’ drug does.
And……
5) The ‘drug’ argument was only one of several *more substantive* ones that I made about Franken’s candidacy. In fact…legalizing or decriminalizing drugs is not even in Franken’s policies.
And with that, I will respond no more to Chris’s inanity regarding drug decriminalization. As with so many other topics, Chris has demonstrated his complete lack of understanding.
Edit to add a couple of points
1) Glomming onto the most divisive argument and ignoring more germane arguments is a sign of intellectual weakness.
2) Terms like ‘illicit’ have no place in good-faith arguments.
3) when one resorts to name calling, one has already lost the argument.
Chris, I agree 100%,
When you call moonbats names, that will win the hearts and minds of those whom you disagree with. Calling people “pricks” certainly makes these moonbats think about their failed ideology, and their poor track record.
The policies these Liberal moonbats have endorsed has not made America a better place. That is what they have been promising us for years.
In addition, everyone knows that calling people you disagree with “pricks” does not energize anyone. It makes people you disagree with go away.
Great Job Impressively Intelligent Republican Commenter Chris
Hey! The US accrues $18 BILLION dollars annually from tobacco and alcohol taxes!
http://www.taxpolicycenter.org
The US spends $19 BILLION annually on the “war on Drugs” and an additional $9 billion annually on housing nonviolent prisoners convicted of drug offenses.