Shamefully there has been a total lack of attention by the media on what is going on around the country. In addition to yesterdays WV primary, Mississippi also held a special election for the 1st District U.S. House seat. This is one of the most heavily supported Republican districts in the country. Bush won the district in 2004 with over 60% of the vote. What's more amazing is the former Republican incumbent didn't leave in scandal. He was simply appointed to the U.S. Senate leaving a vacancy in his House district. There was no Republican scandal to taint the district or anything to give voters a bad taste about electing another Republican to represent them. Only the national stain of George Bush and Republican incompetence. Nothing local to help tilt the district.
MS-1 by all indicators should have been by far one of the safest GOP House seats around. And guess what? The GOP spent over $1.3 million to defend safe territory and lost it to Democrat Travis Childers!
Even if this was all there was to talk about it is huge for the Dems. But this isn't even close to what's been happening this year. This is the third deep dark red district the GOP has lost this year. Previously this year the GOP lost one of the reddest districts to have ever been drawn in Illinois when it lost former Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert's seat. The same thing in Louisiana in Dick Baker's old seat. That makes three pick ups already this year for the Dems.
These aren't swing districts the GOP is losing. These are solid red, historically safe districts for the GOP. In 2006 the Dems picked up 39 House seats, 6 Senate seats and 6 governorships. That equals 42 House seats in less than two years. This dwarfs anything the Republicans accomplished in 1994. But, oh yes, that was a Revolution! and judging from the media's coverage of what the Dems are doing this is no big deal and not worth front page mentions.
Here's a screen shot of CNN this morning. You have to scroll almost to the bottom of the page to find any mention of the Dem pickup.
And not so amazingly here is a screen shot of Fox News this morning which has no mention of anything at all on it's front page.
5.14.2008
Revolution Yet?
3.12.2008
Limbaugh Voters Unite!
It seems this time in Mississippi, Republican voters listened to the anointed one and tried to save the soul of their Party by showing up in large numbers to vote for Hillary Clinton-- ironic indeed. In Texas there just wasn't enough evidence to suggest Limbaugh had thrown the election in favor of Hillary. And even though Hillary lost Mississippi big time, there is evidence to suggest the drug-addicted Limbaugh had a hand in some crossover votes.
Nearly 12% of those voting in the Democratic Primary self-identified as Republican. That's quite an increase from the 7%-9% we've seen this whole election cycle. Unlike in TX, Hillary won the Republican Democratic vote 75-25. That's the exact opposite of what we've seen in this whole cycle. Usually Obama has handily won the Republican vote. But not this time. Hillary also won the conservative vote. And 57% of Hillary voters had a favorable opinion of John McCain compared to 37% for Obama.
Of course Limbaugh didn't deliver Hillary victory, but I would say it's reasonable to suggest he did persuade some votes. Strange bedfellows indeed.
2.28.2008
It's Called a Recession
I love how the media is so scared to call the economic situation a recession. Instead it's a standstill or a near halt, or a decline, but not a recession.
The economy grows at 0.6% in the final quarter of '07 compared to 3% for the prior three quarters and we're not in a recession? The final quarter of Clinton's tenure in 1999 the economy grew at 1% and Republicans claim Bush inherited a recession and a fledgling economy. But when Bush is in office 0.6% is still growth, because now "[u]nder one rough rule, the economy would have to contract for six months in a row for the country to be viewed as in a recession." Again the rules are conveniently changed to benefit Bush and the neocons.
12.28.2007
Democracy Spreads Again in Pakistan
This can only mean it's time to spread democracy into Iran.
Bhutto was fearless, from her college years in America to her cruel assassination yesterday. She had an unshakable belief that Pakistan should embrace the modern world with the same confidence and courage that she had. She believed in democracy, freedom and openness -- not as slogans but as a way of life. She wasn't perfect; the corruption charges that enveloped her second term as prime minister were all too real. But she remained the most potent Pakistani voice for liberalism, tolerance and change.
Update: U.S. suspects Taliban leader behind Bhutto plot. Wait, didn't we already
