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

  1. I have been anxiously awaiting one of these posts.  Rep. Fossella (R-NY13).  Friday the DCCC announced he will be one of 35 Republicans they are going to start to target early, and list him as one of six most ethically challenged Republicans.  Today we find out that he was forced to leave one of his two powerful committee assignments (Finanace and Energy) choosing to leave the House Financial Services Committee where he had less seniority.  With that he will lose some major sources of campaign contributions.  He took nearly $400,000 in donations last term from sectors benefiting from his presence on that committee. 

    http://ny13.blogspot…

  2. LA-04, LA-05 and LA-07.  We can win AZ-01, and we should field strong challengers in all Louisiana districts, especially 4,5 and 7.  Should we write recruitment diaries?

  3. Although Dem leaders at high levels are painting the crosshairs on Norm Coleman’s back in 2008, there seems to be a feeling among DFLers in Minnesota that our potential candidates (entertainer Al Franken, trial attorney Mike Ciresi, and others) might not quite measure up in terms of political prowess or star power.  With announcements hopefully forthcoming in the next few weeks, I think it should be worth watching.

    2. I think it would be really hard to gerrymander. Splitting Staten Island up into more than one district would be politically difficult, and the alternative – adding it to Jerry Nadler’s district – is probably no less so.

    1. This should be a bigger target in 2008.  Fossella is way too conservative for the district.  The Republicans that represented in the past have been moderate to liberal Republicans.

  5. It is time to start lining up a Democrat to runn for this seat in 2008.  Greg WALDEN the incumbent Republican has his sights set on the Governors race in 2010 and he may stand down in 2008 rather than complicate his chances at winning the Governorship.

    Combined with the Oregon Senate challenge to GOP Senator Gordon SMITH, team blue might really press the Oregon GOP to its limits in 2008.

    1. and Tom DeLay split Austin into three congressional districts.  Before we’d had a simple Austin district that occupied the east half of Travis County, and that’s it.

      It was blatant and repulsive — as blatant as splitting Staten Island would be — but they didn’t really pay much of a price for it, at least not right away.  Because they had to break finance laws to get that many GOP statehouse seats that quickly, it did eventually catch up to them.  On the other hand, they took four seats from us (five if you count party-switcher Ralph Hall) that we’ll never get back.  The fact that Chet Edwards survived, the plan couldn’t save Bonilla from himself, and Lampson took DeLay’s seat for one cycle barely rate as consolation prizes.  They still won five seats and didn’t really pay for it.

      I don’t think we should split Staten Island, and I don’t underestimate that it would be politically difficult.  Although if we’ve won the State Senate and the 2008 presidential election… when you’re on top of the world, people don’t make you pay too hard for this stuff.  That’s what I took away from Texas 2003 and Georgia 2005.

      Anyway, I think we should redistrict aggressively, but perhaps not by splitting Staten Island.

  6. Would it be appropriate to have a Diary that would list who significant political actors (members of Congress, Gov’s, state Chairs, CEOs, ex-officeholders, etc.) according to who they have endorsed for President.  They are starting to fall into place now as just this week Gov. Pawlenty of Minnesota aligned with McCain and ex-Rep. & losing GOP Gubernatorial nominee Jim Nussle today was announced as aligning with Guiliani. A further breakdown by state in fact would also be of interest.

    Are these diary’s meant to be be used for often updated material?  The Comments threads would allow for others to post  endorsements as they come in.

    Thoughts anyone?

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