131 thoughts on “Weekly Open Thread: What Races Are You Interested In?”

  2. makes me sick. She’s launching an attack ad against Bill Halter trying to say he’s a corporate crook. She must not be able to tout her own miserable record advocating for big business, HMO’s, Walmart, and agricultural subsidies that her family profits off so she attacks Halter.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…

  3. http://www.portlandtribune.com…

    They’ve collected less than 1/3 of the required sigs for a recall, with less than a month to go (in the 90 day period).

    The campaign must collect 32,183 valid signatures from registered Portland voters to trigger a recall campaign. McGuire says around 10,000 signatures have already been gathered by volunteers and mailings to people who signed recall petitions during last year’s unsuccessful all-volunteer effort.

    though they’re getting modest cash infusions from Columbia sportswear CEO Tim Boyle, which is funding double the number of signature collectors….

    (Personally, I’m undecided, though have good progressive friends who have signed. Last I checked, Beau Breedlove, Adams’ former lover, and one of the centers of the controversy around Adams, joined the recall campaign.)

    AFAIK, Adams is the first openly gay mayor of a top-20 US city.

  4. Republican former Governor Terry Branstad ran a tv ad during halftime of the University of Northern Iowa/Michigan State NCAA game tonight. I can’t find the video yet on YouTube, but I described the ad at Bleeding Heartland and will try to do a rough transcript later.

    To my knowledge, that’s the first tv ad any Republican candidate for governor has run this year, and they picked a good time for it. Who knows how many Iowans are watching the game.

  5. Since I’m voting in Louisiana for the near future I won’t be voting on this in 2010 but it’s been on my mind a bit and some questions have come up.  Since no matter how it turns out it’ll be illegal under federal law how likely is the federal government to continue enforcing anti-pot laws in California?  Obama probably would do it less than previous presidents but his drug-czar has been very anti-legalization.  Also if the next president is much more anti-pot, what consequences could there be for California?  

    And since all three major Gubernatorial candidates are against it (http://www.fresnobee.com/2010/03/26/1873246/the-buzz-no-legal-pot-for-top.html) could that cause problems since it would still be illegal under federal law?

    I’m undecided about this but I’m a little afraid that this measure could be a bit confusing and potentially cause more problems then it would solve.  I’d hate to have people buy pot thinking its legal only to have get into trouble.  Also, for the legal minded of you: if California votes for this aren’t we trying to exempt the state from federal law, AKA nullification?   Not trying to be snarky: this is something I’m actually wondering about.  

  6. I wonder what the results would have been had we separated HCR into separate bills:

    1. Expanding Medicaid to poor childless adults (such as myself!)

    2. Prohibiting insurance companies from denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions

    3. Including assistance as part of unemployment benefits

    4. An individual mandate, with assistance given to people that either can’t afford insurance on their own, have pre-existing conditions, etc.

    5. Cost controls

    Breaking up a major measure into several smaller bills would not be unusual; Congress did the same thing 160 years ago. (As someone who spends countless hours studying California, elections, politics, and all, I had to appreciate that compromise, because that’s how my home state came to be!)

  7. I know there are some states where there are competitive gubernatorial races, where the redistricting is done by a commission, or other non-elected body, i.e. Arizona. I am curious to hear more about the states that may or may not lose or gain a congressional district where there are competitive races. I am talking about states like Ohio where the Governor SoS, and state legislatures matter, to states like Tennessee where the Democrats had full control in 2001, or states like Minnesota that had courts draw the lines because the split legislature and Independent governor couldn’t come to agreements. Pennsylvania was also a Republican gerrymander a decade ago. What states is major redistricting control on the line, and what are the statuses of these races?

  9. Hello everyone!  I have been on some much needed R&R in Tampa, Florida.  While I was there, I found out that my brother-in-law of 19 years is a big time Democrat!  I was in shock, to say the least.  He’s from Beaumont Texas, and his parents were big time George Wallace supporters and later to be Republicans.  Word to the wise:  never judge a book by its covers.  He thought I would be a Republican too, so we never talked politics.  My “bro-in-law” will hopefully join Swing State Project nation soon.

    Anyway, my brother-in-law and I watched with fascination the historic vote.  We both agree that the Democrats will improve quite a bit and will have nominal losses in November.  If I was a betting man, I’d say we will now lose no more than 15 seats in the House and 4 seats in the Senate, and even these numbers may be pessimistic.  I’d love to see some polling in some swing districts held by Republicans.  The November elections won’t be easy for the Republicans, either.

  11. BLAINE, Minn. – Democrats in Minnesota’s 6th District have endorsed Tarryl Clark to take on Republican Rep. Michele Bachmann.

    Clark beat Dr. Maureen Reed, a former Independence Party lieutenant governor candidate, on the first ballot at a party convention in Blaine on Saturday.

    http://www.startribune.com/loc…

    No suprise. Since Reed did not pledge to abide by the convention results she had no chance of getting the endorsement. Both candidates will go to the Aug 10 Primary.

    FWIW if I lived in the 6th District (I don’t) I think I would vote for Reed. Clark is just to liberal for the  district and Reed may be able to tap into being an outsider. Sadly I don’t think either one has much of a chance ahgainst Bachmann

  16. WP/ABC – Dems lead by 4 on generic ballot with RV flipping a 3 point deficit in February. No enthusiam gap. And big difference from 2006 in that there is an even split between people using their vote to show support or opposition to Obama. This is compared to double digit leads for showing opposition to Bush.

    People are split on whether it would be good or bad for Repubs to take back Congress. In 1994 and 1996 these numbers were at least double digits saying a good thing for the out party to get control. The current trend most closely matches 1998.

    A very good poll for Dems I think. It may not last but if it does we are back in business.

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/…

  17. I’m not concerned about the numbers for Bill Nelson and Obama, who have until 2012 to turn things around. But for all the good news about Meek’s campaign, it’s going to be very hard for him to win if the numbers on health care don’t change dramatically by November:

    TALLAHASSEE — Florida voters dislike the new healthcare law so much that President Barack Obama and the state’s top Democrat, U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, are paying a hefty political price, according to a new survey and analysis by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research.

    Only 34 percent of Florida voters support the new law while 54 percent are against it, according to the poll. Opposition is significantly strong among two crucial blocs: those older than 65 and voters with no party affiliation. Seniors disfavor the bill by a 65-25 percent margin, while independents oppose the law 62-34.

    The poll, conducted last week, is the first to be taken in Florida since Obama signed the healthcare reform bill into law.

  20. http://www.politico.com/news/s…

    Hawaii Republican Lt. Gov. Duke Aiona is breaking with Gov. Linda Lingle to back federal legislation that would create a governing body for native Hawaiians. Aiona is favored to win the GOP’s gubernatorial nomination this year, but opponent John Carroll accused him of taking a “politically correct position” in supporting the bill authored by Democratic Sen. Daniel Akaka.

    What’s he supposed to do? He’s part native, too.

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