Congrats, Senator Lincoln

[PBS Poll-435]

It is going to be a 5 point margin of victory when everything is said and done.

Arkansas Dems took a big gamble on you tonight and you had better hold that seat in November against Boozy.

[moriah]

1. Agreed -- primaries are times when we get to decide what direction ....

... we want our party to go, but once that's been decided (and I would be very interested to see if Garland County will get a revote -- I'd like to see that they do, but I don't know if it will change much) it's time for party unity and enthusiastic Get Out The Vote efforts.

Anyone in Northwest Arkansas want to go door-knocking with me? Just let me know where and when....

[Bryn]

2. Bad news for you

I don't plan to hold my nose to vote for her. If the green party is on ballot this November I will vote green. If not, I will write in Mickey Mouse.

She proudly bragged about killing the public option. She's done as for as I am concerned.

[PBS Poll-435]

3. Do what you feel what you need to do.

I would prefer a 65% Dem to a 0% Republican any day. Especially a nasty Sessions/Saxby type.

[Bryn]

4. How will this work?

She keeps voting with the Republicans anyway. I feel a need to send DLCs a strong message that this will not be tolerated. I will glady wait a few years for the democrats to get their act together and work for us The People for change, not for the corporations. She *LOVES* the corporations.

[PBS Poll-435]

5. I know Arkansas, You know Arkansas

The potential is 0% for a Barbara Boxer/Russ Feingold/Mark Dayton type to be elected statewide in Arkansas.

Arkansas was the only state that the Democrats did worse in 2008 vs 2004.

[cascadiance]

6. And the DLC will discover they then LOSE when they push corporatist candidates on us...

There are issues where even those supporting some conservative issues such as gun ownership, etc. can reach across with in ways that WE would like (like voting for public campaign financing and get rid of corporate corruption), but those candidates are intentionally pushed out by the DLC! That sort of strategy needs to be stopped.

Yes, we may suffer the short term by voting Green, but until we "just say NO!" and say that we would rather lose than take the crap that they push on us, perhaps the next election they will put candidates that will be more responsive to our needs too.

Republicans are already discovering this with the Tea partiers... Huckabee actually campaigned to be a bit more populist in this fashion, even if his social agenda was way too right wing for all of us. And of course he was "pushed aside" by the corporate GOP leadership early on too.

[PBS Poll-435]

7. This madness has to end at some point. How much "short term" damage did we suffer

Because a few hundred Floridians sang the same tired tune that you are trying to sell to me?


Vote "Green" and render yourself completely and absolutely irrelevant in our political system.

[cascadiance]

8. Well, I'm not in Arkansas, and I think I see this as a reason I'm in Oregon and not there!

But if I was there, and I feel like I'm not being heard by the party that's supposed to be listening to me, at some point you have to say no so that they have to go back to the drawing board to find someone we could vote for.

I'm willing to compromise some, but I couldn't deal with someone like Blanche. When I was in California, I'd vote against Feinstein as well...

[PBS Poll-435]

9. Sen Lincoln is in for the political fight of her life in November

She votes with us most of the time 50%+ so why the insanity with trying to replace her with a Republican?

I swear, it makes so sense to me at all.

[cascadiance]

10. The goal isn't to elect a Republican, but to tell the DLC we don't accept them F'in us anymore!

The DLC must want her to win. And quite frankly if I were in Arkansas, I wouldn't see much difference between her in office and a Republican. So she means more to the DLC than she does to us progressives. And therefore, we need to make them feel our pain before we can have them listen to us it would appear! They don't seem to be willing to do so otherwise!

[PBS Poll-435]

11. The math is really, really easy. Take a conservative Democrat. She votes with the majority 50%+

Of recorded votes.


Take a nutzo Republican. Votes with us on recorded votes 0% of the time while being promoted as the the next great hope for the Republican Party nationally.



DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!DLC!


What does that even fucking matter anymore? I don't think it means what you think it means.


Give me somebody that is half-useful rather than someone who is just gonna throw feces like the rest of the Republican Senators from the South.

[Chisox08]

20. The number of tomes they vote with Dems doesnt matter

What matters is what they do to the legislation. Blanche Lincoln pushed he HCR bill to the right of Nixon. She bragged about killing the public option and she prides herself on being anti-union. She is useless to us. I'm sick and tired of Dems who are Repuke lite.

[PBS Poll-435]

21. Sadly, someone like Lincoln or Landrieu is the best that we can do in the South

It's not rocket science.

[cascadiance]

24. Hm... I don't buy it! Alan Grayson has what was traditionally a REPUBLICAN district now!

The bottom line is that you need to speak to what the PEOPLE want, and communicate to them that you are working for them. I would contend that you can still win in right wing areas. It's harder for a Senator to do so without as much personal contact with voters, but I don't believe its impossible.

I really believe that is why people like Schumer and other party insiders kept Paul Hackett from running for the Senate. Because he would expose the notion that someone who's right of center doesn't HAVE to be in corporate pocketbooks and can still be a populist. That is the war we need to win within the Democratic Party. We need that "moderate" who's NOT corporate to get us that big win! Unfortunately that is what corporate America wants to fight the MOST! Because if that candidate can win, then they lose control over congress, whether they try to own Republicans or Democrats!

[PBS Poll-435]

25. I don't think that Grayson has any reasonable chance in November.

It is either the price you pay for speaking up or political reality.

[girl gone mad]

27. And the sole reason is because of the crappy health bill.

He would have been alright if he wasn't forced to support that piece of corporatist junk.

[calimary]

30. No - really?

Damn. If that's true, I'm bummed. He's my favorite these days. He's a breath of fresh air, always seems to say what needs to be said.

[tmyers09]

32. Erm, not quite.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/04/grayson-leading-in-republ_n_486090.html

[stray cat]

39. The goal is for Arkansans to elect their representative - its a conservative state

[mdmc]

36. why even vote?

most folk don't care cause they get crap from both parties..

[moriah]

12. Are you one of Boozman's constitutents?

I am.

He believes in the candy-flavored meth myth.

He believes that parents should be notified if their child wants an abortion with no judicial discretion if the child cannot provide clear convincing evidence that they will be abused if their parents are notified -- placing more children in danger of abuse by their parents.

He wants unborn children to be declared to be persons under the Fourteenth Amendment even if they cannot survive outside the womb.

He is more against Health Care Reform than Blanche is.

He voted yes on a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage.

He voted no on a law to prohibit discrimination in jobs based on sexual orientation.

Check them out before you decide that Boozman would be just the same as Lincoln.

http://www.ontheissues.org/senate/Blanche_Lambert_Lincoln.htm
http://www.issues2000.org/House/John_Boozman.htm

[Bryn]

14. There's going to be a lawsuit for Garland County

A lawsuit has been filed against the Garland County Election Commission so we will see what happens. The Garland County has over 69,000 registered voters so many were deprived of voting. Only one voting place in the city of Hot Springs alone and another one approx. 40 min. away across from Hot Springs Village gated community. It's going to be a mess.

Halter is very popular in Garland County so he was robbed of votes.

[moriah]

17. And I hope Garland County gets a revote.

As I said in the first response to this thread :)

But if and when we have the full final post-lawsuit nominee, we need to support them. Boozman is much worse, and the idea of threatening to vote for a third party candidate or "Mickey Mouse" instead disturb me. It reminds me of when PUMAs said they'd refuse to support Obama, or when people thought Hillary might win and said they'd vote for the Republican nominee or third party instead.

Primaries are the time we decide what direction we want our party to go and it's only natural for things to get heated. But after the primary, it's time for party unity.

[Bryn]

23. Voting for the Green Party isn't a bad idea

if one is on ballot. I know Boozman sucks but so does Lincoln. She's all wrong for being a democrat. I am really tired of America being The Corporation rather than the Country of The People. Government is there to protect our interests, not the corporations that keep on screwing us.

Here's email I got from Arkgreens at yahoo groups I got today.

"I hope and desire that all active Green Party members will learn about research that contradicts the common assumption that it hurts Democrats to have Greens on the ballot.

A best-selling book that came out a few years ago is based on experimental social psychology research. The book is "Predictably irrational" and is a great read. Everyone should check it out of the library and read it. If there are 3 choices, and two of them are rather similar to each other, but of those 2 similar ones one is clearly superior to the other, then that superior choice gets a big edge over the third, dissimilar choice.

So, applying that research to elections, if there is a Republican, a Democrat, and a Green, the Democrat and the Green may be perceived as being somewhat similar on the issues (obviously it depends hugely on which Democrat it is). But the Democrat will be perceived as superior to the Green because the Democrat has a chance to win. This constellation of candidates hurts the Republican.

Another scholarly reference to validate this point is Samuel Lubell's "The Future of American Politics", a far older book. I think it came out in 1952 or so. He was a pollster and then he became a political scientist. His survey results show conclusively that Harry Truman was helped by having Henry Wallace run against him in the 1948 general election as the candidate of the Progressive Party."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I joined Arkgreens recently not to become a greenie, but to get information. The Green Party seems to me so far to be more of a progressive democrat. So if one makes it on ballot this November I will go for the Green Party candidate. I just can't stomach Lincoln.

[moriah]

26. Really???

A best-selling book that came out a few years ago is based on experimental social psychology research. The book is "Predictably irrational" and is a great read. Everyone should check it out of the library and read it. If there are 3 choices, and two of them are rather similar to each other, but of those 2 similar ones one is clearly superior to the other, then that superior choice gets a big edge over the third, dissimilar choice.

So, applying that research to elections, if there is a Republican, a Democrat, and a Green, the Democrat and the Green may be perceived as being somewhat similar on the issues (obviously it depends hugely on which Democrat it is). But the Democrat will be perceived as superior to the Green because the Democrat has a chance to win. This constellation of candidates hurts the Republican.

That's completely discounting the conservative vote in a narrow election. The conservatives are going to go for Boozman because both the Democrat and the Green Party candidates will be awful in their eyes. There are only two choices for liberals with a Green Party and Democrat in play.

I could see where your logic would make sense given the three-way primary vote in, let's say, the 2008 presidential primaries.

But look at Florida in 2000. It was a very close election. If the Green Party voters had voted Democratic, Bush would never have been elected.

[cascadiance]

29. But there was a difference between Gore and Bush... With Blanche, I can't really tell...

... the difference between her and the Republican.

Just watch that amendment she put through to *buy* votes from those who don't see through her get dropped as soon as this election gets over! Of course that would also mean that there are no lawsuits on the shenanigans that were pulled to close down polling places.

Once she feels she's insulated from progressive wrath (and she assumes many like you will vote for her rather than the *slightly* right of her Republican), she'll go back to her old corporate serving ways.

Having to lose to win might be harder medicine to swallow than it would have been with Halter to win the primary. But it is essential or this pattern will happen more and more and our democracy will disappear even moreso than it has already (if it hasn't already gotten to the point of no return).

[moriah]

31. You really can't tell the difference?

http://www.ontheissues.org/House/John_Boozman.htm
http://www.ontheissues.org/senate/Blanche_Lambert_Lincoln.htm

Same sex marriage:

Lincoln opposes amending the federal constitution to ban gay marriage. (Oct 2004)
Lincoln voted NO on constitutional ban of same-sex marriage. (Jun 2006)
Boozman voted YES on Constitutionally defining marriage as one-man-one-woman. (Jul 2006)
Boozman voted YES on Constitutional Amendment banning same-sex marriage. (Sep 2004)
Boozman wants to amend Constitution to define traditional marriage. (Jun 2008)

Gay rights in general:

Lincoln voted YES on adding sexual orientation to definition of hate crimes. (Jun 2002)
Boozman voted NO on prohibiting job discrimination based on sexual orientation. (Nov 2007)
Boozman voted NO on enforcing against anti-gay hate crimes. (Apr 2009)

Drug war:

Lincoln voted NO on increasing penalties for drug offenses. (Nov 1999)
Boozman voted YES on more funding for Mexico to fight drugs. (Jun 2008)
Boozman is rated -20 by NORML, indicating a "hard-on-drugs" stance. (Dec 2006)
Boozman believes in the "candy-flavored meth" myth -- http://boozman.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=63834

Energy:

Lincoln voted YES on tax incentives for energy production and conservation. (Jun 2008)
Lincoln voted YES on addressing CO2 emissions without considering India & China. (May 2008)
Lincoln voted YES on removing oil & gas exploration subsidies. (Jun 2007)
Lincoln voted YES on factoring global warming into federal project planning. (May 2007)
Lincoln voted YES on disallowing an oil leasing program in Alaska's ANWR. (Nov 2005)
Lincoln voted YES on reducing oil usage by 40% by 2025 (instead of 5%). (Jun 2005)
Lincoln voted YES on banning drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. (Mar 2005)
Lincoln voted YES on removing consideration of drilling ANWR from budget bill. (Mar 2003)
Lincoln voted NO on drilling ANWR on national security grounds. (Apr 2002)
Lincoln voted NO on preserving budget for ANWR oil drilling. (Apr 2000)
Lincoln vated 67% by CAF, indicating a mixed record on energy independence. (Dec 2006)
Boozman voted NO on keeping moratorium on drilling for oil offshore. (Jun 2006)
Boozman voted NO on enforcing limits on CO2 global warming pollution. (Jun 2009)
Boozman voted NO on tax credits for renewable electricity, with PAYGO offsets. (Sep 2008)
Boozman voted NO on tax incentives for energy production and conservation. (May 2008)
Boozman voted NO on tax incentives for renewable energy. (Feb 2008)
Boozman voted NO on investing in homegrown biofuel. (Aug 2007)
Boozman is rated 0% by the CAF, indicating opposition to energy independence. (Dec 2006)

Health Care:

Lincoln voted YES on expanding the Children's Health Insurance Program. (Jan 2009)
Lincoln voted YES on overriding veto on expansion of Medicare. (Jul 2008)
Lincoln voted NO on means-testing to determine Medicare Part D premium. (Mar 2008)
Lincoln voted YES on adding 2 to 4 million children to SCHIP eligibility. (Nov 2007)
Lincoln voted YES on requiring negotiated Rx prices for Medicare part D. (Apr 2007)
Lincoln voted NO on limiting medical liability lawsuits to $250,000. (May 2006)
Lincoln voted YES on expanding enrollment period for Medicare Part D. (Feb 2006)
Lincoln voted YES on increasing Medicaid rebate for producing generics. (Nov 2005)
Lincoln voted YES on negotiating bulk purchases for Medicare prescription drug. (Mar 2005)
Lincoln vted YES on allowing patients to sue HMOs & collect punitive damages. (Jun 2001)
Lincoln voted NO on funding GOP version of Medicare prescription drug benefit. (Apr 2001)
Lincoln voted YES on including prescription drugs under Medicare. (Jun 2000)
Lincoln voted NO on limiting self-employment health deduction. (Jul 1999)
Lincoln is rated 50% by APHA, indicating a mixed record on public health issues. (Dec 2003)
Boozman voted NO on expanding the Children's Health Insurance Program. (Jan 2009)
Boozman voted NO on giving mental health full equity with physical health. (Mar 2008)
Boozman voted NO on adding 2 to 4 million children to SCHIP eligibility. (Oct 2007)
Boozman voted NO on requiring negotiated Rx prices for Medicare part D. (Jan 2007)
Boozman voted YES on denying non-emergency treatment for lack of Medicare co-pay. (Feb 2006)
Boozman voted YES on limiting medical malpractice lawsuits to $250,000 damages. (May 2004)
Boozman voted YES on capping damages & setting time limits in medical lawsuits. (Mar 2003)
Boozman is rated 11% by APHA, indicating a anti-public health voting record. (Dec 2003)

And finally... Abortion:

Lincoln voted NO on restricting UN funding for population control policies. (Mar 2009)
Lincoln voted NO on prohibiting minors crossing state lines for abortion. (Mar 2008)
Lincoln voted NO on barring HHS grants to organizations that perform abortions. (Oct 2007)
Lincoln voted YES on expanding research to more embryonic stem cell lines. (Apr 2007)
Lincoln voted NO on notifying parents of minors who get out-of-state abortions. (Jul 2006)
Lincoln voted YES on $100M to reduce teen pregnancy by education & contraceptives. (Mar 2005)
Lincoln voted NO on criminal penalty for harming unborn fetus during other crime. (Mar 2004)
Lincoln voted NO on maintaining ban on Military Base Abortions. (Jun 2000)
Lincoln is recommended by EMILY's List of pro-choice women. (Apr 2001)
Lincoln is rated 50% by NARAL, indicating a mixed voting record on abortion. (Dec 2003)
Lincoln wants to expand embryonic stem cell research. (Jun 2004)
Lincoln is rated 0% by the NRLC, indicating a pro-choice stance. (Dec 2006)
Boozman voted NO on expanding research to more embryonic stem cell lines. (Jan 2007)
Boozman voted NO on allowing human embryonic stem cell research. (May 2005)
Boozman voted YES on restricting interstate transport of minors to get abortions. (Apr 2005)
Boozman voted YES on forbidding human cloning for reproduction & medical research. (Feb 2003)
Boozman voted YES on funding for health providers who don't provide abortion info. (Sep 2002)
Boozman is rated 0% by NARAL, indicating a pro-life voting record. (Dec 2003)
Boozman is rated 100% by the NRLC, indicating a pro-life stance. (Dec 2006)
Boozman would prohibit transporting minors across state lines for abortion. (Jan 2008)
Boozman wants to grant the pre-born equal protection under 14th Amendment. (Jan 2007)

[PBS Poll-435]

40. That is simply fantastic

(Should be its own OP...)

:D

[moriah]

42. Actually, if you can think of the best ones to choose from in the list...

... it'd probably make a great door-to-door handout.

I'm willing to wait to see what happens with the Garland County revote, but even if you add in the difference in turnout between the primary and the runoff and give 75% of that to Bill Halter, it won't change the result unless the other counties that haven't turned in their results vote 100% for Halter.

Given the current preliminary results of the runoff, Arkansans need to start preparing to hit the ground running to keep the seat in Democratic hands. Blanche may not be a Barbara Boxer, but she is most certainly better than Boozman.

[sabrina 1]

19. I disagree. I used to think that, but now we've had a chance

to see that theory in action and look what we got. A Corporate written Health Insurance bailout that had Republicans been in office, would have been almost identical. The two wars, the lack of accountability for war crimes, with a Republican majority, things would be exactly the same. Education, I don't even want to go there I am so angry about this administration's attacks on teachers. And Offshore drilling, Wall St. bailouts and on and on. What we have learned is that it makes no difference, UNLESS we can elect some real progressives.

Another thing to think about is that when Dems are in the minority, they behave better towards the base. And the base becomes energized.

Next time though, all that energy will be better directed. I hope there will be more Independent candidates running so the party doesn't get to choose for us.

[Greyhound]

33. Exactly.

[That Guy 888]

13. She had plenty of opportunity to be a Democrat

When she loses her election if she'll try to come back as a gopper.

[avaistheone1]

15. With Dems like Lincoln, the republican can't be much worse.

[PBS Poll-435]

16. But, actually, they are

That is why we settle (or should) for conservative Dem's in conservative States.

[sinkingfeeling]

41. I have about 150 reply letters from John Boozman. Want to bet that he can't be worse than Lincoln?

[moriah]

43. Me too.

Are you in NWA as well?

I'm looking for a door-knocking buddy up here....

[sinkingfeeling]

44. In Fayetteville.

[ddeclue]

18. Oh dear God.. she got the nomination?

How will we ever get rid of this Republican-lite Democrats like her that keep selling us out?

[PBS Poll-435]

22. Duh. n/t

[cali]

28. I hope she loses.

She's utterly useless and she's no dem.

[moriah]

34. Compared to Boozman she's a lot better of a choice.

Please don't wish him on the Senate. Surely you like your country better than that.... She's pro-choice, he's staunchly pro-life and wants the unborn to be given equal protection under the 14th Amendment. She wants hate crimes legislation to include violence against gays or lesbians if they are attacked because of their sexual orientation and is against a ban on gay marriage, he wants them to not even be secure in their jobs and wants a constitutional ban. He believes that candy-flavored meth actually exists. He's as right-wing as they come and he's delusional besides.

Signed,
One of his current constituents.

[mdmc]

35. meh

[mmonk]

37. And congrats to the health insurance companies.

Their investment paid off.

[stray cat]

38. Arkansans voted for their choice and probably decided to keep the agricultural chair

in this economy