Let's all hope and pray! http://www.salon.com/politics/wire/2001/05/22/switch/index.html ------------------ www.swirve.com "Pre-born, you're fine, pre-school, you're f*****."-George Carlin [This message has been edited by Rocketman95 (edited May 22, 2001).]
It should already be 51-49. Strom Thurmond is legally incompetent - it's common knowledge. He's incapable of physically going to vote many days. It's only out of respect for his seniority that he hasn't been ousted. Personally, I think the democrats are being pansies. That state has a democratic governor... kick the man out. He's not representing his constituents interests, and is just a placeholder. ------------------ A few years back on the Senate floor... Phil Gramm: "If Democrats could, they'd tax the air we breathe." Ted Kennedy (jumping up): "By God, why didn't I think of that sooner!" Boston College - NCAA Hockey National Champions 2001
McCain could be turning Democratic as well. Happy days are here again! 52-48! And the Rockets win by FOUR! ------------------ The Protrolls.com message boards! Protrolls.com! Don't visit my site.
ZRB, are you just saying that, or did you really hear that somewhere? that would be awesome ------------------ http://www.democrats.com mgh 1924-2001
The thing that is bad about the situation with Jeffords, is that he won reelection this past November. It is not like he was 3 years into his 6 year term and decided to switch. You should not be allowed to switch party affiliations during your term. Obviously you can vote whichever way you decide, but the chairmanship of committees is decided based on the majority. This would also be extremely unfair to the Vermont voters. They elected a Republican not a Democrat or Independent. If he was going to switch, he should have done it before the election. ------------------
Would any of you vote for a Dem/Rep ticket in McCain and Russ Feingold? I admit I have an aversion to conservatives, but it'd be the most ETHICAL ticket ever, and after Clinton's sex drive and Bush's big oil bias I think we need something like that. ------------------ A few years back on the Senate floor... Phil Gramm: "If Democrats could, they'd tax the air we breathe." Ted Kennedy (jumping up): "By God, why didn't I think of that sooner!" Boston College - NCAA Hockey National Champions 2001
It is a rumor I heard. Apparently he feels that he simply doesn't have anything in common with the republican party anymore. That is interesting because he has always struck me as being a liberal type. I think I heard it on CNN. ------------------ The Protrolls.com message boards! Protrolls.com! Don't visit my site.
Speaking of Phil Gramm (he's mentioned in haven's sig), when Gramm switched from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party, he resigned his seat in the House and stood for reelection in a special election. Some others that have switched parties didn't do that. During the Clinton administration, we saw such Democrats as Ben Nighthorse Campbell, Billy Tauzin and Richard Shelby defect to the GOP. I can kind of understand where these people are coming from. They are, generally, more moderate than the leadership in their parties and feel their Party no longer holds many of the same views that they do. And when one party is in the White House (and, therefore, usually sets the debate of what issues get pushed to the forefront), it's easier to see those divisions and differences. As it stands, having a 51-49 or 52-48 Democratic majority in the Senate probably isn't going to make that much difference. The Senate already has enough moderates to prevent either party from straying too far from the middle. Even in the 50-50 Senate, we aren't seeing straight party-line votes, to any great extent. ------------------ Houston Sports Board Film Dallas.com AntiBud.com
Anything that will stop Bush from destroying the National Arctic Wildlife Refuge. That b*stard! ------------------ The Protrolls.com message boards! Protrolls.com! Don't visit my site.
mrpaige It is not the voting that is the concern, it is the "run of the senate". The perks that go along with having the majority, such as committee chairmanships and choosing whether or not to appoint special prosecutors. I feel that everyone should have to face a special election if they change parties. It is only fair to the people of their state. It is especially evident in a 50-50 split. ------------------
Good morning Rocket fans! "This would also be extremely unfair to the Vermont voters. They elected a Republican not a Democrat or Independent." Bobrek this is just an observation, but Jeffords is one of the most liberal Republican Senators in the senate. And although the majority of the Vermont government is Republican, the voting constituency is overwhelmingly Democratic and liberal. (witness the passing of the only law granting "civil union" status to Homosexuals). Now how a state that is predominately Republican in its politics, but retain more of a Democratic feel is beyond me. But it might explain why he feels he won't be deserting the Vermont voters. Its going to be interesting to see how this all plays out! ------------------ Everything you do, effects everything that is. [This message has been edited by mc mark (edited May 23, 2001).]
mc mark is right-- Vermont elected Jeffords. "Republican" is just a label; I think they (the voters) knew what they were getting when they elected him. I mean, even if they'd known he was leaning towards switching parties and they worried that this country would take a step closer to socialism by allowing the Democrats to take control of the Senate, would they have voted for a Democrat instead? Not likely. ------------------ Handsomer than Buster Poindexter since November of 2000.
Of course, Jeffords decided to go the Independent route instead of joining the Democratic Party, so the split is 50-49-1 now, which still gives the Democrats the majority (just as if Jeffords had actually joined the Democratic Party officially). Of course, now the Republicans will double their efforts to get Conservative Democrat Zell Miller to switch parties and put the Republicans back in charge. ------------------ Houston Sports Board Film Dallas.com AntiBud.com [This message has been edited by mrpaige (edited May 23, 2001).]
Again, I agree with Kagy. He's been a Senator since 1988. Vermont voters probably realize that he's fairly moderate, and won't get that upset at the switch. If they do, he'll be voted out in 2006. ------------------ www.swirve.com "Pre-born, you're fine, pre-school, you're f*****."-George Carlin
My, aren't we being nice today! Brian agrees with me, Rocketman95 agrees with Kagy. What's going on here? Hey sam! ------------------ Everything you do, effects everything that is. [This message has been edited by mc mark (edited May 23, 2001).]
"All right brain. You don't like me, and I don't like you. Let's just get this over with so I can go back to killing you with beer." ------------------ Bingbong was set up, led to an untimely death in the prime of his life for no other reason than pure malice. Things like that do not go unavenged. Sometimes it spills out onto the field of play.
It just looks like this administration played the same games as administrations past by punishing weyward votes. This time they happened to do it to someone that has nothing to lose. They ****ed w/ Jimbo. Jeff, can you give Jimbo some hair and a little t-shirt hair band? ------------------ women love me, fish fear me.
Boy oh boy! The GOP is running scared! hehe! "GOP Leaders Willing to Give Jeffords leadership Spot If He Stays" http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,25516,00.html ------------------ Everything you do, effects everything that is.
I hope that Jeffords' decision (whatever it is) does open the door to more moderate leadership and tone from the Republican Party. They've often strayed too far to the Right, especially the Leadership. And they often scare many of the more moderate Republicans (who are actually probably a majority of the Party). I think a loss of the Senate could also help the Party focus itself more on what it stands for and what it wants to get done. While in the short term, the loss of Jeffords, and therefore the loss of control in the Senate, may be a bad thing. It's probably a good thing for the Party in the long run. (Plus, having opposition having some power can help. That way, if things don't get done. The President can blame the Senate and claim they are playing politics, stalling the agenda and preventing the American people from getting what they want). ------------------ Houston Sports Board Film Dallas.com AntiBud.com
And, by the way, the Dallas Morning News reported it as a done deal that Jeffords was going Independent. Turns out, that's apparently not the case (he may still go Independent, but it's not a done deal yet). ------------------ Houston Sports Board Film Dallas.com AntiBud.com
