Bayh really hurt the GOP this time

[Betty Karlson]

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2010/02/16/bayhs_timing_infuriates_republicans.html

Turns out that Cornyn is outright fretting about not getting that very red state seat. And all because Bayh left so late that the Democrats have no room for a primary anymore, while the Republicans are in for a four-way recrimination match.

Bayh is not known for being a team player, but I'll give him some credit for the nasty way he tackled the other team on his way out.

[JTFrog]

1. Fuck Bayh.

And the DINO's he rode in with.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

2. I disagree

First, Saint Ronnie issued his firsteth commandment: THOU SHALL NOTH PISSETH ON FELLOW GOPPERS.

I can assure you that the word is coming down from DC that all four must comply with this rule. They can compare and contrast, but no enemy research, no out and out attacks on their fellow Rs. They will all point fingers, mainly the middle one, and attack Obama, the Democrats, Bayh, and whoever the party annoints to run.

Even worse, THEY GET FREE FACE TIME IN THE PRESS. This is priceless. Name recognition, repetition, background stories - all of these will provide positive views of the GOP and of these four candidates. It is a no lose situation, if handled right.

[Betty Karlson]

3. Then why is Cornyn afraid? N/T

[ChairmanAgnostic]

4. He has plenty of reasons to fear.

No matter how bad Ds in congress rate, no matter how bad Razz plays with numbers about Obama, one thing is certain. The GOP is in even worse shape.

Even more people hate them than hate us. SO long as they remain the party of No, their only hope is to hide their lack of plans until the election.

[Betty Karlson]

5. And a long, long primary is just the way

to hide that lack of plans, you mean?

It seems to me that your statements are self-contradictory. Unless there's something I'm missing?

[JTFrog]

6. Have you made it your mission here to change people's mind about this scum DINO?

Cuz you sure are trying awfully hard.

Good luck with that.

[Betty Karlson]

10. The issue is not if he is scum.

Right now, I just want some esprit de corps on DU.

Yes, Mr Bayh is not exactly a team player - and he never was.

Now that being a team player becomes increasingly important because of the GOP group thinking, he did the only right thing for someone with an over-centrist desire for independency: he got out.

BUT: in getting out, Mr Bayh hurt the other team. Not his own team, the other team. That's why the other team's coach is crying "FOUL!"

Why can't we be glad anymore? We are heading for a dire challenge in the November elections. And someone who was not, by any accounts, a team player surprised us by tackling the GOP on his way out.

Just say "take that!" to the GOP and gloat. Better yet: get motivated to serve the GOP a few more bleeding noses. It's not as if THEY have got any centrists left!

[JTFrog]

11. You have some odd fairy tale going on there.

:shrug:

[Betty Karlson]

12. Because?

Are you seriously suggesting we are discussing this issue in alternative realities?

Did you see the link I provided?

[JTFrog]

13. There is nothing in your link that

convinces me that any "good" can be manufactured from this situation, nor that Bayh intentionally pulled some genius "partisan" move to fuck the people he'd been holding hands with his whole career.

[Betty Karlson]

15. Sorry to hear that

Let's hope future developments will encourage you to change your mind.

[JTFrog]

16. Like I said, you're not going to change my mind about this scum.

But I figured that was your agenda.

:thumbsdown:

[Betty Karlson]

18. His way of leaving office

I want to change your opinion of the way he left. That's my agenda.

More broadly, I would encourage Left Democrats to respect centrists with genuine reasons for their moderate position. The GOP moved the political centre to the right (in the seventies) by touting centrists and right wingers at the same time.

Surely we can do the same, but in reverse?

[JTFrog]

20. No.

[Betty Karlson]

21. I can see we are not going to agree on this.

That is a pity.

But allow me to remind you of two things that we potentially agree on:

* Your tag line says: "let go of bitterness and move on". Seems a good way for us to take on the Indiana senate seat challenge. I hope you agree.

* Even if we do not agree in our assessment of Mr Bayh's way of leaving office, we certainly agree that GLBT minorities are unduly discriminated against. In that respect we stand shoulder to shoulder, don't we?

(Edited to insert better word)

[JTFrog]

24. I prefer the term LGBT. n/t

[Betty Karlson]

25. Corrected accordingly. N/T

[LiberalFighter]

26. If Bayh had genuine reasons I would agree. But Bayh never did.

Bayh and so called moderate Republicans want people to think they are the middle when in reality it has been shifting to their left. IMO

We should be making the comparisons so the American people see where they fit within the political spectrum.

Democrats in general are not hawks when it comes to war and I don't think most of the American people are either. The hawks in our party are not moderates.
Democrats in general favor balancing the budget. While Republicans and those Democratic moderates put tax cuts for the rich ahead of balancing the budget.
Democrats in general favor jobs. While Republicans and those Democratic moderates put tax cuts for the rich ahead of jobs.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

8. You are mixing apples and tangerines. Cornyn's fear is not based

on the D's lack of a primary fight. He fears for his entire party's status - it future may be relegated to a regional minority, big business, christian party.

Another reason we should be afraid: When you are in a fight for a spot, you get practiced, honed, and tempered. The more you work steel, the more flexible, sharper and stronger it becomes. Same thing with politicians. If the D candidate sits and does nothing, no press time, no public face, no practice, and worse, no way to get the message out. Even worse, who do you attack? All four? That's 4x as expensive. The front person in the polls? Why do the GOP's work for it?

[Betty Karlson]

14. There's a chance for us, though

If we can make a united front (hint: stop bickering about the guy who is out anyway), we can lay the ground work for the general campaign when Republicans are still busy with each other.

[liberal N proud]

7. With the Democrats not being able to field primary candidates

the M$M will play the "smoke filled back room deal" card on whoever the Democrats run in place of Bayh.

If you think that this was done to hurt the Democrats watch the campaign against whoever is on the Democratic side of the ticket come November.

[KharmaTrain]

9. If Coats Is The Best They've Got...

...and that appears to be Cornyn's horse in this race. Yep...there's the tea bag element that could turn the GOOP primary into a mess and if Coats survives he'll be torn apart. Bayh saw the same thing coming his way...he's gonna cash out instead.

I don't see things that tinfoily or bad in Indiana. Not that this is a Progressive state, but it isn't as ruby red as the beltway pundits like to make it look. A well organizaed Democratic campaign, especially against a Coats would be very effective. Let's see who the Indiana Democratic party gets behind...that will say a lot about how confident the national party is in retaining the seat.

Despite all the beltway punditry, the GOOP bench remains very weak...and Cornyn better not get too over confident about his party picking up seats...he's got a lot of his own to protect.

[LiberalFighter]

27. Their best (Coats) was in all likelihood the result of the RNC and him

getting together to decide who to select to run in Indiana. And it will be a reflection on his bad decision and he is upset that they couldn't come up with anyone better.

[KharmaTrain]

28. They Wanted Pence...

I suspect there's something in his closet that made him decide to take a pass on this race. Seems like when he took his name out of the race the scrambling began and Coats got the call. Not a sign of strength by the RNC or RSCC. Just shows how weak their choices are...and more reason to watch their primary. The Democrats can now sit and wait out whose the survivor. For those who think Bayh left them in a lurch, it wasn't as if there were dozens lining up to go after him in a primary...and even so, once the state party put its support behind a candidate, the others really don't stand a chance. The money is now saved for the fall.

[LiberalFighter]

30. Bayh can't give much money to the State Party or the candidate from his slush fund though.

Whoever becomes the nominee will have to start from scratch in fundraising essentially.

[SoCalDem]

32. What a nasty piece-of-work that little twit is..

I'm glad he got edged out..

[asdjrocky]

17. I have to respectfully say bullshit.

Buh-Bayh has done no one any favors.

[Betty Karlson]

19. Well, at least you said it respectfully

Thanks, I guess, for that

[asdjrocky]

22. You're quite welcome.

For what it's worth, I'd defend your right to say it, even if I disagree.

Perhaps I should have elaborated. Stating that Bahy did a good based on how a repug Senator is acting, is asking a lot.

[Betty Karlson]

23. Perhaps I'm just getting addicted to silver linings?

Or maybe some others endulge themselves a bit too much in their resentment.

Never mind. I appreciate your position.

B.K.

[NorthCarolina]

29. The premise is simple. Bayh's late departure was "by design"

to ensure that the people had zero chance of selecting a Liberal/Progressive candidate to replace him. The party caucus will of course select a good-ol-conservative DLC Dem to run in his stead. They are aware of the mood of the country, and this was a move to help ensure that the conservative status-quo in the Democratic Party is maintained. I bet many thought that "the people" choose the candidates in a Democratic Society....think again.

[Cosmocat]

31. YEP, we have a winner ...

Bayh has had a VERY long career in Indiana politics by being a good party guy in the state ...

There simply is no denying the timing, he bowed out when he did to keep any insurgent candidates from getting any big ideas, and to let the state party pick its horse ...

[Political Heretic]

34. That's *exactly* right.

[Hippo_Tron]

35. Not exactly a deep bench of liberals in Indiana

If Bayh had retired sooner it still likely would've been Hill or Ellsworth getting the nomination, they just would've had to fight for it.

Granted I still would love to draft Mellencamp but I doubt he'd run.

[invictus]

33. How soon until three of the Repub candidates withdraw and back Coats?

This is just spin to cover up Bayh's real reason: so that the Indian Democratic Party can pick a DLC/Blue Dog candidate.