General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region Forums538 What John McCain's Death Means For The Senate
So what kind of politician should we expect Ducey to land on for McCains replacement, and what will that choice mean for the future of the Senate, President Trumps Supreme Court nomination and national politics in general?
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Some (journalists and pundit types) have floated the idea of Ducey picking McCains widow, Cindy McCain, for the seat. According to the Arizona Republic, the past few months, Cindy McCain, 64, has been speaking on behalf of the senator at events he could not attend because of his health. We dont know much about Cindy McCains political views. And that uncertainty is why I dont expect Ducey to choose her. I think Ducey is likely to pick someone who is a reliable Republican vote picking someone without a clear record on many issues is an inherent risk.
Ducey is not a McCain-style Republican himself and has no incentive to appoint someone who occasionally breaks with the GOPs priorities, as McCain did. To sum up the governors politics briefly: Ducey is a fairly traditional Republican on policy (he is a strong backer of cutting taxes, limiting abortion rights and expanding gun rights), doesnt have a record of bucking his party on major issues and has built some fairly strong ties to President Trump and the White House. He seems to have presidential aspirations, so choosing a replacement for McCain who is liked by key party activists and donors could help him there.
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/what-john-mccains-death-means-for-the-senate/
LandOfHopeAndDreams
(872 posts)Moderate Kennedy leaves, and we get someone far more partisan and conservative.
Same happens here.
The Fucking Continues.
SharonClark
(10,014 posts)Pundits floating ideas and journalists reporting them as if they were real news makes me scream.
Why do I think Chris Mathews is behind this?
lapfog_1
(29,223 posts)Cindy probably would vote to uphold the ACA when the repukes AGAIN attempt to kill it. And you know they will between now and the midterms.
Remains to be seen if Flake or Corker will go against party and maintain the legacy of McCain (and vote a "thumbs down" on the repeal).
riversedge
(70,302 posts)just in time for SC vote. damn
.......What will the new Arizona senator mean for national politics?
A new occupant of McCains seat is good news for McConnell, Trump and Republicans who want the party to largely follow the edicts of those two GOP leaders. McCain was largely absent from public life while he was receiving treatment for brain cancer, and during that time, the Senate was split 50-49 in favor of the GOP. That meant one Republican defection could kill any bill. With 51 active Republicans, one defection still left room for Vice President Mike Pence to cast a tie-breaking vote in favor of McConnell and the president. With 50, Pences vote isnt enough as long as one Republican sides with the opposition.
With the addition of a reliable McConnell ally, the Senates partisan breakdown returns to 51-49, giving Republican leadership some breathing room. Retiring Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona, a Trump critic who occasionally bucks party leadership, will have less power to stall Senate GOP initiatives. That could help the party get more federal judges appointed, a big priority for Trump and McConnell. (I dont think the return to full strength in the Senate will mean much for other issues, because the Republicans arent really trying to push through major initiatives before the midterms.)
MiniMe
(21,718 posts)her campaign for Flake's Senate seat.
LenaBaby61
(6,977 posts)Yeah, she's evil, rotten AND bat-shit crazy.
OF COURSE she fits right in with an evil, bat-shit crazy thuglican party, as Arizona's new Senator.