The Wall Street Journal says that six senators who have previously indicated support for card check are now showing signs of wavering, in varying degrees. Four are named in the article: Blanche Lincoln, Mark Pryor, Mary Landrieu, and Arlen Specter.
Lincoln makes the strongest statement: “”I have 90,000 Arkansans who need a job, that’s my No. 1 priority,” she said. The legislation, she said, would be “divisive and we don’t need that right now. We need to focus on the things that are more important.” The others quoted say things more along the lines of “I’m rethinking things.”
The article notes that Lincoln and Specter may be influenced in their thinking by electoral considerations.
March 10th, 2009 at 3:44 pm
Is there anyone in the Arkansas GOP that could beat Lincoln? Huckabee would be the strongest candidate but he doesn’t seem interested.
March 10th, 2009 at 3:50 pm
I say keep Lincoln, she votes the Republican way twice as much as that idiot from Pennsylvania.
March 10th, 2009 at 3:56 pm
You know what Huck should do…just form an exploratory committee into the Senate seat as ruse to get Lincoln voting more with us. I was stunned that she voted for the stimulus given Obama’s performance in her state. She probably feels pretty safe given the lack of competition but card check may be a bridge too far.
March 10th, 2009 at 4:03 pm
I had a similar thought, Tommy. If Lincoln feels threatened she’ll be forced to the center. The safer she feels, the freer she is to vote with her party (and, even if she wants to cast a centrist vote, with no major threat, she has no excuses when pressured by the leadership).
March 10th, 2009 at 4:04 pm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Card_check
March 10th, 2009 at 4:20 pm
There is hope. This would be a disaster. Seriously a disaster. It would change our economy forever.
You want job creation, then card check is not the right move. I tremble at this one.
March 10th, 2009 at 4:52 pm
we have to start using stuff like this to target the moderate dems, the way they took out the mod repubs. bayh, dorgan, lincoln should all be challenged and organized against. moevan, daniels, and huck would wipe all 3 out.
March 10th, 2009 at 5:12 pm
Mazel tov, Barry!
Chas Freeman pulls out
http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=F22B00C6-18FE-70B2-A842052229442FD6
Embattled Ex-diplomat Chas Freeman Gives Up Top Intelligence Analyst Post
Controversy was growing over Freeman’s views on Israel and other issues
http://www.usnews.com/articles/news/2009/03/10/embattled-ex-diplomat-chas-freeman-gives-up-top-intelligence-analyst-post.html
Schumer Takes Credit For Getting Chas Freeman Ousted
http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/middle-east/schumer-takes-credit-for-getting-chas-freeman-ousted/
March 10th, 2009 at 5:22 pm
The imminent defeat of Card Check and the Republican opposition of the bloated omnibus bill were probably responsible for today’s brief uptick on the stock market. The Stock Market is rallying to Republican leadership as they find their voice.
March 10th, 2009 at 5:29 pm
No Southern senator has much of a reason to vote for card check besides sheer party loyalty. It’s directly to their states’ disadvantage. Every Democrat in the South that likes their state’s economic edge *should* break ranks…
March 10th, 2009 at 5:30 pm
How firm is Obama’s commitment to getting this passed? As crazy liberal as he is, I just can’t see him support this garbage. Isn’t Barry at least pushing back hard on the teachers unions? At least that’s what the MSM told me today.
March 10th, 2009 at 5:46 pm
Vaunted Obama message machine is off-key
http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE5294HH20090310
A Turning Tide?
Obama still has the approval of the people, but the establishment is beginning to mumble that the president may not have what it takes.
http://www.newsweek.com/id/188565
Conrad: Obama budget lacks votes
http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/conrad-obama-budget-lacks-votes-2009-03-10.html
Democrats’ new villain: Eric Cantor
http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=EDA8B274-18FE-70B2-A8FA293AE67A6FBE
McCain: ‘I don’t want him to fail’
http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=ED9FC2FA-18FE-70B2-A8D193368C2582F4
March 10th, 2009 at 6:25 pm
What utterly ignorant nonsense!
In 2007, Arlen Specter was more conservative than 54.5 percent of his Senate colleagues. Meanwhile, Blanche Lincoln was more conservative than only 37.7 percent of her colleagues in the Senate.
On economic issues, Specter was more conservative than 54% of the Senate body, while Lincoln was more conservative than just 30 percent of those serving in the Senate.
http://www.nationaljournal.com/voteratings/sen/cons.htm#results
In 2008, Specter was more conservative than 55.2 percent of his Senate colleagues. Meanwhile, Blanche Lincoln was more conservative than only 34.5 percent of her colleagues in the Senate.
On economic matters, Specter was more conservative than 57% of the Senate body, while Lincoln was more conservative than 43 percent of those serving in the Senate.
On foreign policy issues this past year, the GOP senator from PA was more conservative than 60% of his colleagues in the Senate, while the Democratic senator from AR was more conservative than a measly 6 percent of those in the Senate.
http://www.nationaljournal.com/njmagazine/cs_20090228_4726.php
March 10th, 2009 at 6:31 pm
Give Obama a grade
http://www.polls.newsvine.com/_question/2009/03/10/2528064-midway-through-his-first-100-days-how-would-you-rate-barack-obama?GT1=43001
March 10th, 2009 at 6:31 pm
Aron- you have to remember that the “purists” on this site absolutely abhor Specter.
March 10th, 2009 at 6:39 pm
#13 & 15:
I’m no conservative purist. I voted for Giuliani and against banning gay marriage in FL, but the point ia that this is one of easy decisions to oppose a blatant atttempt to unionize every business in this country. If a Republican can’t oppose this, how are they Republicans. Honestly, how can you be a Republican and support union bullying?
March 10th, 2009 at 6:46 pm
The real question is whether Lincoln, Pryor, Specter, et. al. will actually vote to filibuster. I could easily see all the anti card-check Dems voting no on a floor vote for re-election purposes but voting for cloture to placate party leaders. And that makes Specter’s opposition crucial.
I was initially against Toomey challenging Specter for the nomination, but the Toomey challenge might be just what is needed to ensure that Specter doesn’t just oppose card check, he supports a filibuster of it.
March 10th, 2009 at 6:47 pm
Bingo Jonathan, sure Mr. Specter is better than a Democrat, but these people are beginning to look silly telling us how good Mr. Specter is.
March 10th, 2009 at 6:51 pm
Sean P, Clowns like Mr. Specter need to be kept in line. Hopefully, just the threat of Mr. Toomey running will smarten him up.
March 10th, 2009 at 7:22 pm
Why has no one yet posted about the passage of the Omnibus spending bill?
Apparently, Rep. Ron (the taxpayer’s savior) Paul has about $74 mil in earmarks. Also, I thought the “purists” wanted to get rid of those Senators who don’t follow party doctrine strict enough. So, I say, let’s get rid of Sens. Shelby and Cochran since they had the most earmarks among republicans.
Also, Sen. Snowe voted for the Bill but did not have a single earmark included in the bill, so who are the “real” bad guys in the GOP?
March 10th, 2009 at 7:25 pm
BTW- Jonathan, I apologize for calling you a “party purist” I know you aren’t one of those.
March 10th, 2009 at 7:26 pm
Here’s a link to my comments from #20:
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/03/10/gop-cross-overs-earmarks-gain-billion-spending/
March 10th, 2009 at 7:28 pm
“So, I say, let’s get rid of Sens. Shelby and Cochran since they had the most earmarks among republicans.” If they do not pull up their socks, that is always an option in the end.
March 10th, 2009 at 7:33 pm
Congress sends huge spending bill to Obama
President to sign measure, which GOP says is irresponsible
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29613324/
Question: On the Cloture Motion (Motion to Invoke Cloture on H.R. 1105 )
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=111&session=1&vote=00096
The following eight Republicans supported the measure:
Alexander (TN)
Bond (MO)
Cochran (MS)
Murkowski (AK)
Shelby (AL)
Snowe (ME)
Specter (PA)
Wicker (MS)
The following three Democrats opposed it:
Bayh (IN)
Feingold (WI)
McCaskill (MO)
March 10th, 2009 at 7:50 pm
Thanks Aron.
So, right now Bayh, Feingold, and McCaskill all seem more likely to get my financial support than Alexander, Bond, Cochran, Murkowski, Shelby, Specter, or Wicker.
Maybe I could support a Palin run against Murkowski, after all.
March 10th, 2009 at 7:57 pm
You do realize Ray that Mr. Feingold is voting against it for the wrong reasons.
March 10th, 2009 at 10:03 pm
#1 Ann Clemmer
March 10th, 2009 at 10:05 pm
Dan, with over 250,000 votes cast in the Obama poll, over 52% of the voters gave Obama a D or an F> WOW! Obviously I’m one of the 36% that gave him an F!
March 11th, 2009 at 12:09 am
Whistling past the graveyard again, I see. Card Check will pass.
Huck will also pass on a Senate race. By votes, he came in second and won most of the states in the base. If he convinces Wall Street Republicans that his tax plan can pass – or modifies it so it will (by not insisting it be a single tax), he could be a Reagan. He has to stop being goofy too. The point is, a loss in the Senate race would permanently marginalize him. In fact, because he won reelection so many times, a Senate seat would be a step back. There is no reason he would want this seat unless he decided not to run for President ever. Mitt would as soon run for Teddy Kennedy’s seat (to be indelicate about it all).
March 11th, 2009 at 1:22 am
I can see the Club for Growth ads now against the 8: “By voting for the Motion to Invoke Cloture on HR 1105, Sen. Specter is not a true Republican.” *Cue eerie music* followed by the ever-reliable facemorph into Obama. I’d love to see a white man morph into a black man.
March 11th, 2009 at 1:24 am
Michael Bindner Says:
Card Check will pass.
It doesn’t make it any less stupid a bill d!psh1t…I mean David Frum. Hi!