Sic Semper Tyrannis

[DKrol]

February-October, 2010: Who’s Steering This  Ship?

2010 went down in the books as the least productive year for the United States government since the Civil War. Congress was locked in an eternal struggle over healthcare reform, where the House would pass a bill by the skin of its teeth and then the Senate would reject the bill by the skin of its teeth. President Pelosi took up the tradition of having a weekly address, many of which she used to try and sell her healthcare plan. Very few of these addresses drew more than a million viewers and were considered by most to be a failure.

President Pelosi was given the opportunity to appoint her first, and probably only, Supreme Court Justice. Associate Justice John Paul Stevens announced his retirement in April. Pelosi and her staff conducted various interviews with possible appointees over a 3 month period, but ultimately she decided not to appoint anyone. At the press conference where she announced this, she told the press that she did not “possess the mandate of the American people” necessary to appoint a Supreme Court Justice. Stevens said that he would stay on the Court until his successor was confirmed.

The one shining moment for Congress came on March 3rd, when both Houses confirmed former Virginia Governor Tim Kaine as the Vice President. Following his swearing in by Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, he took to the podium in the Senate chamber and addressed the body. He pushed for an end to the partisanship that “has so bitterly divided us over the last four years.”

Many primaries took place in preparation for the midterms. Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski narrowly won the Republican Senate primary, as did Charlie Crist, Judd Gregg, and Bob Bennett. The Democratic primaries saw the return of Hillary Clinton for her former Senate seat, as well as the entrance of Michelle Obama to politics.

Key Senate Races - 2010

Arkansas
John Boozman (R) - 57%
Blanche Lincoln (D, Inc.) - 38%

California
Barbara Boxer (D, Inc.) - 49%
Carly Fiorina (R) - 49%

Connecticut
Richard Blumenthal (D) - 49%
Linda McMahon (R) - 47%

Florida
Charlie Crist (R) - 55%
Kendrick Meek (D) - 43%

Illinois
Michelle Obama (D) - 57%
Mark Kirk (R) - 41%

Nevada
Sharron Angle (R) - 50%
Harry Reid (D, Inc.) - 45%
None Of These Candidates - 5%

New Hampshire
Judd Gregg (R, Inc.) - 62%
Paul Hodes (D) - 30%

New York Class 1 Special
Hillary Clinton (D) - 53%
Donald Trump (R) - 43%

Oregon
Ron Wyden (D, Inc.) - 46%
Victor Atiyeh (R) - 46%

Pennsylvania
Pat Toomey (R) - 50%
Joe Sestak (D) - 46%

Washington
Patty Murray (D, Inc.) - 47%
Dino Rossi (R) - 47%

West Virginia Class 1 Special
Shelley Moore Capito (R)  52%
Joe Manchin (D) - 46%

Wisconsin
Tommy Thompson (R) - 49%
Russ Feingold (D, Inc.) - 44%

President Pelosi Approval Rating
Disapprove - 45% 
Approve - 43%                                         
Unsure/No Comment - 12%     

[DKrol]

November, 2010: Adios, Democrats



“We have the mandate here. Not President Pelosi, not Vice President Kaine, not the Democratic Party - we do. Myself, Leader Boehner, Whip Pence, the Republican Party.”

United States Senate Election Results - 2010

Republicans - 51 (+10)
Democrats - 46 (-11)
Independents - 2 (+/- 0)
Undecided - 1


The 2010 Midterms turned out to be a very poor year for the Democrats. Voters turned on President Pelosi and her failure to pass any major legislation despite having a Democratic Majority in both chambers of Congress. The Democrats failed to pick up a single seat in the Senate, leading to a Republican sweep. Democrats were dealt a swan song with the results out of California, where former HP CEO Carly Fiorina upset three-term Senator Barbara Boxer, Nevada, where State Assembly Member Sharron Angle bested Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, and Oregon, where former Governor Victor Atiyeh defeated Senator Ron Wyden. One, some would say the only, victory for the Democrats came in Illinois, where former First Lady Michelle Obama won the election to her late husband’s former seat. The race in Washington between sitting Senator Patty Murray and real estate mogul Dino Rossi is too close to call. Recounts at this point show Rossi up by about 300 votes.

Senate Leadership

Senate Majority Leader
Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY)


Senate Majority Whip
Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN)


Senate Minority Leader
Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL)


Senate Minority Whip
Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI)

United States House Election Results - 2010
Republicans - 255 (+76)
Democrats - 1787 (-76)

Republicans also saw sweeping success in the House of Representatives. A major victory for the Republicans came from one of the most unlikely places - Massachusetts 1st. Former Acting Governor Jane Swift beat sitting Congressman John Olver, who had defeated her back in the 1996. Speaker Steny Hoyer also lost his scalp to RNC Chairman Michael Steele, the former Lieutenant Governor of the state. The most major news out of the House elections came from within the Republican Conference. Minority Leader John Boehner was passed over for the Speakership, instead the Conference elected Minority Whip Eric Cantor.

House Leadership

Speaker
Representative Eric Cantor (R-VA-7)


House Majority Leader
Representative John Boehner (R-OH-8)


House Majority Whip
Representative Mike Pence (R-IN-6)


House Minority Leader
Representative Jim Clyburn (D-SC-6)


House Minority Whip
Representative Chris Van Hollen (D-MD-8)

[rpryor03]

Looking good!

[SPC]

Did Specter not switch parties in this universe?

[DKrol]

Did Specter not switch parties in this universe?

...that might explain why my Senate numbers were always off. Give me a moment, I'll fix that.

[Enderman]

The results are pretty much the definition of a Republican Wet Dream.

[DKrol]

December, 2010 - May, 2011: The Media Primary


”I will not seek election to a full term as President, nor will Vice President Kaine run to succeed me.”

President Nancy Pelosi gave an address from the Oval Office in the beginning of January, where she announce that neither herself, nor Vice President Tim Kaine would run for President in 2012. Some sources inside of the Democratic Party hinted that Kaine wasn’t happy with that decision but Pelosi wasn’t going to budge. This announcement sparked the “Media Primary” and the reading of the political tea leaves jumped into overdrive.

For the Democrats, one name kept coming up: Hillary Rodham Clinton. Clinton is a former First Lady, former Secretary of State, and a U.S. Senator. She ran for President in 2008 and came in a close second to then-Senator Barack Obama. Names also mentioned included former Senator Birch Bayh (D-IN), Senator Mark Warner (D-VA), Senator John Kerry (D-MA), former Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI), and Rev. Al Sharpton (D-NY).

The Republican field was much smaller. Former Governor Mitt Romney (R-MA) and Governor Sam Brownback (R-KS) were immediately praised as the top-tier candidates. Also mentioned were former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R-NY), former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich (R-GA), and Governor Rick Perry (R-TX).

[Senator Cris]

Who wins in Washington State?

[DKrol]

Who wins in Washington State?

Washington - Final
Dino Rossi (R) - 48.07%
Patty Murray (D, Inc.) - 48.06%

[Free Bird]

Who wins in Washington State?

Washington - Final
Dino Rossi (R) - 48.07%
Patty Murray (D, Inc.) - 48.06%

Oh, Dino. Always cutting it close.

[NHLiberal]

Who wins in Washington State?

Washington - Final
Dino Rossi (R) - 48.07%
Patty Murray (D, Inc.) - 48.06%

Oh, Dino. Always cutting it close.

Rossi should move to New York and run against Andrew Cuomo. Then we'd have Dino against DINO

[The Other Castro]

Who wins in Washington State?

Washington - Final
Dino Rossi (R) - 48.07%
Patty Murray (D, Inc.) - 48.06%

Oh, Dino. Always cutting it close.

Rossi should move to New York and run against Andrew Cuomo. Then we'd have Dino against DINO

haaaa

[DKrol]

Who wins in Washington State?

Washington - Final
Dino Rossi (R) - 48.07%
Patty Murray (D, Inc.) - 48.06%

Oh, Dino. Always cutting it close.

Rossi should move to New York and run against Andrew Cuomo. Then we'd have Dino against DINO

Ba dum tssss!

[DKrol]

June-July, 2011: Believe in America


”President Pelosi has failed America! She doesn’t believe that America is the greatest nation on earth, that we have the best hospitals, colleges, and armed forces across the globe. I believe in America!”

The first candidates announced their campaigns starting in the end of June. Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) was the first, announcing her second bid while on “Meet the Press”. Reverend Al Sharpton (D-NY) followed Clinton’s lead, launching his campaign at the end of “MSNBC Live” (of which he hosts the 6PM block). Former Vice President Al Gore (D-TN) teased viewers with the idea of a Presidential campaign while on “The Daily Show”, but told reporters that he was “just joking around”. Governor Ed Rendell (D-PA) kicked his campaign off at a press conference, as did Senator Mark Warner (D-VA), former Senator John Edwards (D-NC), and former Governor Angus King (I-ME).

Former Governor Mitt Romney (R-MA) also launched his second campaign for president after giving a speech at Saint Anselm College. Joining him in the Republican nomination battle is Governor Rick Perry (R-TX), Governor Luis Fortuno (R-PR), Governor Bob McDonnell (R-VA), Senator Bob Corker (R-TN), Senator Charlie Crist (R-FL), and former Senator Judd Gregg (R-NH).

Republican Nomination- June 2011
Gov. Mitt Romney: 24%
Sen. Charlie Crist: 24%
Sen. Bob Corker: 16%
Gov. Bob McDonnell: 14%
Gov. Rick Perry: 12%
Gov. Luis Fortuno: 5%
Sen. Judd Gregg: 3%

Democratic Nomination- June 2011
Sen. Hillary Clinton: 30%
Sen. Mark Warner: 21%
Gov. Angus King: 17%
Gov. Ed Rendell 13%
Sen. John Edwards: 10%
Rev. Al Sharpton: 9%

[Enderman]

Wait, why is Fortuno running?

[DKrol]

Wait, Fortuno is running?

Yes.

[Enderman]

Wait, Fortuno is running?

Yes.

Wow... I thought they had different parties in Puerto Rico, or is he just running as a Republican?

[DKrol]

Wait, Fortuno is running?

Yes.

Wow... I thought they had different parties in Puerto Rico, or is he just running as a Republican?

They do have different parties in Puerto Rico, but when Fortuno was the Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico he was a Republican.

[Free Bird]

Wait, Fortuno is running?

Yes.

Is King governor again?

[DKrol]

Wait, Fortuno is running?

Yes.

Is King governor again?

No. He's running as a former Governor. He's been on a speaking tour, so his name recognition is a up a bit.

[MyRescueKittehRocks]

What Ron Paul isn't running? Also what's Charlie Crist still doing as a Republican? Where's Marco Rubio? He was still gonna beat Crist badly in that race assassination or no assassination.

Pelosi can't tell Kaine not to run for President since she's not. Kaine has right to protest and buck her. Come on.

[DKrol]

What Ron Paul isn't running? Also what's Charlie Crist still doing as a Republican? Where's Marco Rubio? He was still gonna beat Crist badly in that race assassination or no assassination.

Pelosi can't tell Kaine not to run for President since she's not. Kaine has right to protest and buck her. Come on.

Go away. I've told you before, these are my TLs and I will take them in what ever direction I want. I welcome people's comments and questions - except for yours. You try to hijack my TLs and make them yours with every comment that you've ever made on any of them.

[DKrol]

August, 2011: All Eyes on Ames


”What we’ve done here today is show that the Republican Party is still the conservative party of the United States of America!”

The Republican Party, and the national media, convened in Ames for the quadrennial Ames Straw Poll. Governors Rick Perry and Bob McDonnell both have been plastering the Hawkeye State with their campaigns, spending far more time in the state than any other candidate. Perry pulled off a narrow win over McDonnell and their other opponents, giving a boost of energy to his all-but-dead campaign.

2011 Ames Straw Poll
Rick Perry - 4,391 (25%)
Bob McDonnell - 4,054 (23%)
Charlie Crist - 3,040 (17%)
Mitt Romney - 3,040 (17%)
Bob Corker - 2,303 (13%)
Judd Gregg - 307 (2%)
Other - 119 (<1%)
Luis Fortuno - 30 (<1%)
Total votes cast: 17,280

Republican Nomination- August 2011
Gov. Mitt Romney: 20%
Gov. Rick Perry: 19%
Sen. Charlie Crist: 18%
Gov. Bob McDonnell: 17%
Sen. Bob Corker: 10%
Sen. Judd Gregg: 10%
Gov. Luis Fortuno: 6%

Democratic Nomination- August 2011
Sen. Mark Warner: 24%
Sen. Hillary Clinton: 21%
Gov. Angus King: 18%
Sen. John Edwards: 15%
Gov. Ed Rendell 11%
Rev. Al Sharpton: 11%

[Enderman]

What happened to the whole "Sons of Liberty" terrorist group? Or are they yet to come?

[DKrol]

What happened to the whole "Sons of Liberty" terrorist group? Or are they yet to come?

They've died down for the time.