If there was one Repub that might think of switching Parties...?

[kentuck]

Who would it be? Olympia Snowe? Susan Collins? Voinovich? Hagel? Specter? If we had only one that would switch, it would take Lieberman's knife away from the throat of the Democratic Party. Think about it. If Democrats want to investigate Bush, and Lieberman doesn't want it, it doesn't happen. Because if Lieberman threatens to go to the other side, there is no Majority Leader Reid and there is no Democratic majority..

[More Than A Feeling]

1. Lieberman won't switch.

All he has to do is look at which party has more senators up in '08. Then he'd know that switching would be only temporary, and when Democrats won it back, he'd be stuck. Think of Jim Jeffords stuck with Democrats, even after the senate went back to Republicans.

[Kolesar]

3. GOP won 9 when defending 15/33 senate seats. Next time they defend ~20, IIRC

The trend is not in their favor. So Lieberman would be in the minority again.

[tsuki]

2. If Lieberman defects, how will that affect bringing home the bacon

to Connecticut? If we continue energizing the base, the divide will grow in 2008, and I cannot see Lieberman going to the Republicans now.

[Auntie Bush]

22. If he defected now...or took the SoD job

his Rethug gov. would appoint a Rethug to take his place and Cheney would have veto power. We will just have to hope or depend upon some Rethug to vote Dem. I think some will...especially if they want to win in 08.

[Infinite Hope]

4. Collins would be first if any Rep switches. n/t

[MrFrankZito]

5. I don't want any of them to flip.

People like Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins are the only line of defense keeping the entire GOP from running to the fringe right. Hagel is fringe right on some issues, but at least rational with regard to military policy. I like Specter, but he seems to be a lot of sound and fury without real results (i.e., He caves to Bush).

I think we'll get Chafee though, who I've always liked anyway.

[Kahuna]

9. Chafee? Errr....Chafee lost and is out come January.

nt

[MrFrankZito]

14. There's always next time.

Maybe be a Rep? Gov? Presidential contender?

[blondeatlast]

16. The RRR wants nothing to do with him; too dangerous. Thinks for

himself, you know.

[MrFrankZito]

19. It was difficult...

It was difficult to root against him on Election night. But, alas, he had the wrong initial at the end of his name.

I'd love to see him as a Dem. He's a good man.

[TheFarseer]

20. Hagel is a douchebag on everything but the war

he's a corporate clown to the core.

[pscot]

6. Don't forget Craig Thomas

He says he's going to go into Chemo but will be ready for the new term in January. There are a lot of variables, but the prognosis for a person of his age are not so good. If his health fails Wyoming's Democratic governor will appoint his replacement.

[hlthe2b]

11. Not necessarily a bad prognosis..

Depends on the time and in some cases, the presence/absence of some genetic markers that influence response to therapy...

[Zambero]

7. Specter switching would not surprise me

He's further isolated as a GOP moderate, given the mass defeat of moderates in the Northeast and elsewhere. A popular senator like Chaffee going down has to be a wake-up call. And fellow Pennsylvania GOP Senator Santorum's 18-point margin of defeat has to be a shock. Little Ricky lost in Philadelphia better than 5-1. Would Specter be able to reclaim those votes? I doubt it. Merely being a moderate Republican is no longer a guarantee of re-election in a blue state. If Specter wanted to retain the built-in influence he had as a member of the GOP majority, he would need to switch parties. It would not be huge step ideologically speaking, and I would be surprised if this thought has not crossed his mind. Having said that, Collins and/or Snowe might be two other possibilities.

[Sugarcoated]

13. I noticed he stayed as far away from Santorum as he could

Specter was in an undisclosed location till the day after the election. He might've been a help to Santorum, not enough to save him. That had to have scorched Ricky's ass something fierce. :evilgrin:

[fujiyama]

24. Specter's term is up in '08

I'd be sort of surprised if he runs again then.

I don't think he'll switch, though I'm sure he's well aware of what APPEARING as a loony will cause ya. That's why he'll make a fuss every now and then appearing to be moderate (though in reality he still carries the water for RW).

[Doctor_J]

If Gordo Smith wants to avoid the inevitable in 2008, he'll jump

he's pretty much a lame duck as it is.

[Zambero]

18. Smith's probably too conservative to be a Democrat

His LDS membership tends to keep him in the social conservative realm, although he's softened a bit on gay rights. And the eastern and southwest parts of Oregon would continue to favor him by wide margins. I wouldn't rule him out just yet.

[pdxmike]

23. Smith ain't going nowhere

Gordo is way too conservative to switch. He's a repub for life.


btw- for some reason, lots of people think he would be an easy pick-off when he's up again. Don't bet on it. he's actually pretty popular here in Oregon. He's also a very savvy pol, being very carefull about seeming moderate and all.

[Kahuna]

8. My vote goes for Hagel.

I can dream can't I? :shrug:

[sampsonblk]

10. Maybe Spkr Pelosi should ask them

Wouldn't that be killer? "We welcome any Republicans who want to join the majority in taking America forward..." In that context, one or two defections would really crush them.

[hlthe2b]

12. Well, she can ask House members, but we need Senators...

so that is pretty much up to Reid/Durban et al. I'm guessing Snowe would be the likeliest, but who knows... Being in the minority is not a lot of fun, especially for a Senator.

[sandyd921]

21. I tend to think it's actually going to be lots of fun for Snowe

(and Collins too) since they'll be among the few swing votes on close votes in the Senate and will be courted by both the Dems and the repukes. Remember, it takes 60 votes to pass anything. I think Snowe and Collins are relishing their new position. In the previous far right Senate they were both pretty marginalized. Believe me, I wish more than anything that they were really Dems at heart and that they will shed their repuke skins and come out as Dems, but I can assure you that that will not happen.

[peacetalksforall]

15. We need to know who the R Majority Leader and Whip will be

and how viscously the WH will direct them. If they continue to 'force' the R Senators to vote en masse, we will need someone to switch officially. However, if they allow their Senators to vote their conscience instead by the whip, we may be safe, issue by issue.

I am totally mystified why the words coming out of the mouths of the half dozen mentioned often sounded thoughtful and rational - even promising. In the end they proved that their words were only ??? something to satisfy their constituents? I often wondered how much their arms hurt and what ointment they used on themselves for relief. It was disgusting to watch them vote with the party again and again - was it money?

All in all we're still talking about voting with the Party and I guess we have to accept that Dems are going to have to do it to reverse all the damage. BUT SOME OF THE DAMAGE WAS PLACED IN OUR LIVES BECAUSE OF THE NELSONS LANDRIEAUS STABENOWS BIDENS, etc.

Maybe we can't even talk about the Republican Senators when we have so many problem Senators in our own Party.

[nealmhughes]

17. I have a great deal of respect for Sens. Collins and Snowe as legislators.

I certainly don't agree with all of their votes, but I like their toughness and DownEast ways.

I like Warner when he debates Byrd, but not the way he votes, but I still do have respect for him.

And as a USSC justice, O'Connor was a great voice of moderation, as is Lincoln Chaffee.

Unfortunately, it seems that Chaffee may switch, but it will only be for a few months. I don't see any of the others right now. Snowe is retiring and Collins likes her position just fine, I suspect.