“I don’t know that you’d find any legislative body in
America — or the world — that’s as dysfunctional.”
America — or the world — that’s as dysfunctional.”
Jay Dardenne, the
Republican lieutenant governor of Louisiana, who decided
Republican lieutenant governor of Louisiana, who decided
not to run for Senate
against Sen. Mary Landrieu,a Democrat
against Sen. Mary Landrieu,a Democrat
considered among the most
vulnerable in the nation.
vulnerable in the nation.
So, I guess that means we’re No. 1. We have the most
awful, incompetent national legislature on the planet. Which, int turn, means nobody wants
to join.
awful, incompetent national legislature on the planet. Which, int turn, means nobody wants
to join.
In Michigan, Carl Levin’s seat is opening up for the
first time in four decades. Yet, Congressman Gary Peters seems to have the
Democratic nomination in the 2014 contest all to his own. Then we have the
Republicans …
first time in four decades. Yet, Congressman Gary Peters seems to have the
Democratic nomination in the 2014 contest all to his own. Then we have the
Republicans …
We have a GOP governor, attorney general, secretary of
state, Supreme Court and a state House and Senate dominated by the Republican
Party. Yet, so far, the GOP doesn’t seem to be even close to having a solid
candidate emerge for Levin’s seat.
state, Supreme Court and a state House and Senate dominated by the Republican
Party. Yet, so far, the GOP doesn’t seem to be even close to having a solid
candidate emerge for Levin’s seat.
What’s going on here? Nothing unusual. The same
phenomenon is occurring all over the nation. As the New York Time recently
reported, “rarely has the thought of serving in the Senate seemed so
unappealing.”
phenomenon is occurring all over the nation. As the New York Time recently
reported, “rarely has the thought of serving in the Senate seemed so
unappealing.”
Senate retirements are at record levels. Since the 2010
elections, a total of 30 senators have bowed out. More exits could be coming.
elections, a total of 30 senators have bowed out. More exits could be coming.
Once known as “world’s greatest deliberative body,” the
Senate is now paralyzed by hyper-partisanship and outrageous abuses of the filibuster
rules. As a result, eight of the 33 senators whose terms expire in 2014 have
decided not to run again. Those include lawmakers viewed as 2014 shoo-ins such
as Levin and fellow Democratic senators Tom Harkin of Iowa and Max Baucus of
Montana, chairman of the powerful Finance Committee.
Senate is now paralyzed by hyper-partisanship and outrageous abuses of the filibuster
rules. As a result, eight of the 33 senators whose terms expire in 2014 have
decided not to run again. Those include lawmakers viewed as 2014 shoo-ins such
as Levin and fellow Democratic senators Tom Harkin of Iowa and Max Baucus of
Montana, chairman of the powerful Finance Committee.
“In the old days, you’d have to carry the Senate Finance
chair out on a stretcher,” joked Ed Rollins, longtime GOP consultant, in an
interview with Jeremy Peters of the Times.
chair out on a stretcher,” joked Ed Rollins, longtime GOP consultant, in an
interview with Jeremy Peters of the Times.
Here’s a portion of Peters’ piece:
“… Potential candidates from Georgia to Kentucky, Iowa to
Montana are loudly saying, ‘Thanks, but no thanks’ (to a Senate run).
Montana are loudly saying, ‘Thanks, but no thanks’ (to a Senate run).
“Add to that the cost of getting there — which can
include fighting off special interests and “super PACs” from your own party,
exhausting criticism from the increasingly partisan news media, and prohibitive
campaign expenses — and a Senate seat no longer seems so grand.”
include fighting off special interests and “super PACs” from your own party,
exhausting criticism from the increasingly partisan news media, and prohibitive
campaign expenses — and a Senate seat no longer seems so grand.”
The election of 2014 presents a great opportunity for
Republicans as 20 Democratic-held seats are up, and many of those seats are in
states where President Obama lost in 201,
including North Carolina, Montana, Arkansas and Alaska.
Republicans as 20 Democratic-held seats are up, and many of those seats are in
states where President Obama lost in 201,
including North Carolina, Montana, Arkansas and Alaska.
Yet, Republicans still have no viable declared candidates
in any of those Red States. Even loose-cannon candidates who love the spotlight
but are probably too controversial to win a statewide race, such as the controversial
Congressman Steve King of Iowa, have declined to pursue their state’s GOP
nomination.
in any of those Red States. Even loose-cannon candidates who love the spotlight
but are probably too controversial to win a statewide race, such as the controversial
Congressman Steve King of Iowa, have declined to pursue their state’s GOP
nomination.
In his weekly column for the Mount Pleasant Morning Sun,
GOP activist Dennis Lennox expressed concern about the lack of party candidates
for Senate – and the seeming lack of concern among fellow activists about Peters’
head start in the ’14 race.
GOP activist Dennis Lennox expressed concern about the lack of party candidates
for Senate – and the seeming lack of concern among fellow activists about Peters’
head start in the ’14 race.
Here’s a portion of what Lennox wrote:
“… Congressmen Mike Rogers of Livingston County and
Justin Amash of Kent County …bring a lot to the race, but both have
considerations that could keep them out.
Justin Amash of Kent County …bring a lot to the race, but both have
considerations that could keep them out.
“Rogers has a plum position as chairman of the
all-powerful House Intelligence Committee that gives him a lot of national
prestige. (He’s also emerging as a potential new FBI chief.) Amash, on the
other hand, is a leading Ron Paul disciple who would have to give up his role
as the House helpmate to Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, heir apparent to his father’s
libertarian dynasty, in order to run against Peters.
all-powerful House Intelligence Committee that gives him a lot of national
prestige. (He’s also emerging as a potential new FBI chief.) Amash, on the
other hand, is a leading Ron Paul disciple who would have to give up his role
as the House helpmate to Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, heir apparent to his father’s
libertarian dynasty, in order to run against Peters.
“… Besides not having a candidate, Republicans are
worried about a contested primary dividing the party and forcing precious cash
to be spent on what amounts to a political scrimmage.
worried about a contested primary dividing the party and forcing precious cash
to be spent on what amounts to a political scrimmage.
“If Republicans are serious about winning then the time
is now for Schostak to exercise his prerogatives as chairman by drafting the
most viable candidate and, if necessary, changing the rules to prevent a repeat
of the three-ring circus that was the 2012 senatorial campaign.”
is now for Schostak to exercise his prerogatives as chairman by drafting the
most viable candidate and, if necessary, changing the rules to prevent a repeat
of the three-ring circus that was the 2012 senatorial campaign.”
