R+10 District Goes Blue: "It's Like a Democrat Losing in Brooklyn"
Absolute shocker tonight as the special election in MS-01, one of the reddest districts on the map, has been won by Democrat Travis Childers. Russert, Matthews, Olbermann, and even Huckabee all agree: this is very, very bad news for the GOP.
Download | play 
Download | play (h/t Heather)
Both Darth Cheney (Russert's words) and Mike Huckabee campaigned for Childers' opponent. Maybe it's not a good idea to have the least popular guy in America promoting you. Just a thought.
The Democrats are now 3-for-3 in these red district special elections: Along with Childers' win tonight, Bill Foster took Denny Hastert's old IL seat, and Dan Cazayoux took the solidly red 6th district in LA.
Another bit of good news comes out of Nebraska tonight, where true Democrat Scott Kleeb beat out fake Democrat Tony Raimondo by a wide margin for the right to take a run at Chuck Hagel's open seat. Congrats, Scott.
that zinger'd be a little more potent had barack not just been robbed in eliot spitzer/hillary clinton's harlem...
Three in a f*cking row!!!!!!!!!!!!
You hear that sound?
It's the entire GOP having a heart attack as they realize Obama can win.
Ha! The repugs are "re-branding" themselves as LOSERS. How's Rash Limpnuts going to spin this one?
Take that GOP.
Dumb shit Repugs forgot to rig their own districts. Too late now! Looks like a lot
ex-Congressmen will be going to jail next year!
Funny how Drudge does not have this election listed anywhere on its web site yet.
StirFry @ 3:
What was it that Rushbo used to say.... oh, yeah. "Elections have consequences."
Thank God Howard Dean and the Obama campaign team is using a 50 state strategy to win win win.
Yes Dems can win in heavily "red districts" and "states".
Guess the Hillary team didn't get the memo!!
An R+10 District.
By the time we have a Democrat in the White House the GOP will be on it's death bed.
CD @ 9:
RIP if they can.
Russert says he has never seen anything like this in his life.
Maybe, but go back a little farther. To 1932. That's what this looks like to me.
if i am holy joe, i start praying to god really hard about now, because his time with any power in the senate is almost up
This is heartening news. Now lets just hope that all of these progressives we are helping to put in office stay true to their word and convictions. I seem to remember some of our favorite progressive winners of 2006 doing some pretty shady Blue-dog shit.
here's one for all the repuglitards out there
Hey where was chuckie ( norris ) baby ,
Should mcCroake ( yes , yes ) have the big one , is there still a person running who has the best voting record in congress of ANYONE , of no flip floping ever , EVER . Na why start now .
McCroake , you are a hero in your own mind , and just what do Viet Namn vets against McCain have to say , oh SONGBIRD we hear you .
I can't chortle yet. The Dems can still wrench defeat from the jaws of victory.
Nevertheless, it's another fascinating turn of events. Despite the fact that Obama is an extremely attractive and exciting candidate, the main reason for these seismic shifts is America's disgust over the spectacular failures of Bush and the Republican Congress. The astounding thing is that Bush, et als could have controlled Congress and the Presidency for decades but for their intransigent and arrogant partisanship.
Dems can learn the clear lesson from the Republican implosion: When they trounce the Republicans this fall, remember it won't be a mandate for the Democratic Party brand of politics as usual, but rather a mandate for good government.
Ah, who am I trying to kid... what's that saying about absolute power corrupting?
How progressive are these 3 new congressmen? Does it really help our cause electing 3 blue-dogs? Will they win again in November?
Wow, even Huckabee admitted it was bad news.
Also, isn't this proof positive that Dr. Dean's 50-State-Strategy is a real winner? I hope the DNC keeps him on for another term. He's done worlds of good for our party on the state and local levels, and seems to really understand that hiding in New England, New York and California isn't the way to win the whole of America.
Ron @ 10:
I picture them haunting politicians the way Jacob Marley haunted scrooge.
GOP=Going Out Party
LOL! The repubs are gonna be up all night, calling each other in a panic. This is very scary stuff for them. Imagine the cursing and finger-pointing going on at this very minute...
Party on!
Even JOHN KING at CNN got caught up in the silly notion that the Red State election map from 2004 had ANYTHING to do with the mood of the country this year.
Hey John, can you spell BLOW-OUT?
huckabyebye, just had to get his gop pundit
keywords in and speak for a man mcnobrain, he
knows is definitely NOT qualified to be president.
six months in a pow camp does not make a president.
years with lobbyists working for terrorist dictators
does NOT make a president.
flipflopping does NOT make a president.
mcnobrain is NOT presidential material.
Is it me or does that guy look a little bit like Robert DeNiro.
A little bit.
What did the democraic victor run on?? lowered taxes? decreasing the welfare state?? Howd he win in a red district?
Maybe people finally realize republicans are liars and cannot be trusted.
I don't know about "blue dog," you can judge for yourself. He says he opposes social security privatization, supports expanding S-ChiP, and only mentions once, very subtly that he goes to church.
He doesn't sound like Harry Ford.
It wasn't so long ago that someone (I forget who -- Rahm Emmanuel?) was complaining that Dean's 50-state strategy had Democratic organizers "walking around Mississippi picking their noses." Uh-huh.
BobbyFlay @ 24:
lol...funny.
Real funny.
if all three are pretty progressive, this is evidence of why the dlc is such a fcuking failure- when given a choice between republican and republican lite, people will always choose the genuine article over the fake. i have seen firsthand evidence of that:
in 2006 in kentucky there were 5 of 6 districts held by republicans. 4 of the 5 ran as republican lite. one ran as a liberal democrat. guess what happened- the liberal democrat won, the republican lites didn't put up much of a contest. the midterms were about change, this election upcoming is about change. and the republicans (and i think the conservative blue dogs) are taking notice.
Democrats aren't 3/3 this year.
In LA-1, Stephen Joseph "Steve" Scalise (R) held the US House seat for the Republicans.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Scalise
Republicans held LA-1.
So Democrats aren't 3/3 in Republican US House districts since 2006.
Not to rain on everybody's parade, but since these are 'special elections', do these winners have to re-contest these elections in November?
ctk hussein ky3 @ 30:
Agreed. People are going to get up off their asses this time.
Well, the Washington Post thinks Childers is "socially conservative," but I can't find any primary source on it.
And although the Blue Dogs endorsed Childers, they didn't put any money behind it. Some friends, I guess.
But this is the guy that the NRCC was trying to tie to Obama in the hopes that it would be a negative (nice touch by human events, trying to double down on bigotry, pulling in some sexual-orientation bashing with their race-bating.)
I guess Obama does have some coat-tails - even in Mississippi.
Do not underestimate the HUNS, they are dangerous.
Bush may turn out to be the best gift the Democrats ever had. The Republican "brand" should have been rejected years ago. I'm sensing another trouncing this November...
info@gregdavisforcongress.com
Whats up loser? Change is coming to America. We the people have firmly rejected the failed policies of the Bush/Cheney maladministration. You might have picked up on that before you had them working on your campaign. Get a clue!
xtien -
Yes, the winners of US House special elections are candidates again in November, and might lose.
Here in Oklahoma, the democrat running against Sen Jim Inhofe, a young state representative named Andrew Rice, is running radio ads that are highly impressive. This young man is sharp, he my have a shot at knocking Inhofe off if he can raise the campaign cash. Here'e to hoping.....
Timmeh said 'seismic'.
Heh!
Huckabee is actually doing himself a favor by being honest and not spinning. But he's wrong that people 'don't buy the brand'; they do.
Looking forward to Timmeh using that word 'seismic' a whole lot more in coming months.
bethy @ 18:
I totally agree with you. Demos must never fall victim of DLC swing state fixation.
Remember, the only good Republican is one that's out of office.
Eric Jaffa @ 38:
But for now, they get to prove themselves. Barring a sex scandal, it's pretty hard for an incumbent to lose a seat.
In the meantime, even from overseas I can hear the NRCC yelling at Karl Rove.
NRCC: Damnit Rove! Your "use Obama as a smear" tactic didn't work! The voters didn't fall for it!
Rove: How was I supposed to know that it wouldn't work?! It worked in 2000!
NRCC: This isn't 2000 anymore! The voters are mad! At us! At YOU!
Rove: Don't talk to me right now. Congress is on my ass about Siegelmann. Solve your own damn problems.
NRCC: YOU got us into this mess Karl! You better get us outta it!
Rove: that's not my job anymore. It's every man for himself. Bu-Bye.
This is a great night for Democrats. I am very, very, heartened by the failure of Jeremiah Wright ads failing to sway a close election, especially in Mississippi.
I'm not celebrating yet. Let's all take a deep breath, sleep easy tonight and get up ready to renew the fight like we were still behind tomorrow. DEMOCRATS CAN STILL LOSE THE WHITE HOUSE. Bubba stills rules the land, and Obama's failure to sway white lower-income votes is very, very serious. And Huckabee is right; the person matters more than the brand come November, and this election not withstanding; grandfatherly, trusted, vietnam war hero versus big-word-talkin', I-heard-he-was-a-moslem "God Damn America" is still a very, very tough sell.
Let's stay on target, people.
-Scott
P.S. Heck yeah, kudos to Dean for his 50-state strategy.
StirFry @ 3:
"We have them right where we want them my friends. They will get cocky and Barack Bin Lauden will screw it up ", or something like that.
towntalk @ 16:
That it corrupts absolutely. That's damn right.
Let's just say at this point I'm filled with cautious optimism; I only hope the Dems won't become overwrought with the same hubris that infected the GOP. But human nature being what it is, I, too, tend to view this victory will be taken more as a mandate for an agenda instead of a desperate cry for plain old leadership.
Not that I believe an agenda is necessarily a bad thing, but it's no substitute for leadership. That, IMHO, is the lesson that should be learned from the collapse of the 'permanent' Republican majority. And the leadership vacuum is why I believe Republican support for a candidate has splintered in the 'Solid South' 1st district of Mississippi.
Huckabee gives McCain his best nickname so far.
This is the math that Americans (of BOTH parties) are FINALLY figuring out:
REPUBLICANS + LIES +
REPUBLICANS + WAR +
REPUBLICANS + CORRUPTION +
REPUBLICANS + GREED +
REPUBLICANS + BIGOTS +
REPUBLICANS + HYPOCRITES +
REPUBLICANS + FALSE VALUES =
REPLUBLICANS = POISON
WASH, RINSE, AND REPEAT!!!!
This is what The Bush Crime Family (TM) and all his enablers
with an R next to their name have wrought. And they're
all getting what they deserve now.
It's like a "seismic" Scarlet Letter alright!
REPUBLICANS = POISON
(Sorry - I had to spell it right...and it just felt good saying it TWICE!) :)
Eric Jaffa:
Thanks for answering my question. I asked it not simply because I fear that they "might lose" the seats they just won, but rather because the conspiracy theorist in me can't help but be suspicious, and wonder if this isn't a part of some nefarious strategy. Give the Dems a couple of surprise seats the Republicans can easily win back in November. The Democrats can't do anything substantive with Bush in office anyway, especially during a presidential election year, so what's two or three seats in the scheme of things? Proceed to hammer the Democrats on how little they are accomplishing, even with more seats. Then tie in winning those seats back--as well as others--to creating a brand called "Obama Values" and market that brand as anti-Christian/anti-American.
I know. I know. I'm giving them too much credit. But just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean I'm wrong.
Well the republicans brought Sen. Obama into the race thinking it would hurt the Democrat but it back fired, Sen. Obama is beginning to grow long coattails.
OBAMA 08
Republicans are learning the hard way that people in the United States want good responsible government. Not slogans, not flag pins, not corruption, not lies, not filibusters, not Karl Rove’s divide and conquer political tactics, but good government. If the GOP wants to govern like children then vote the Bums out! I am happy to see that the US electorate is finally seeing the GOP as the party that produces rotten government.
Until the GOP grows up and start to act and vote on issues in a mature manner they all should and need to be voted out of office.
Better luck next time!
And yet, despite exit polling to the contrary, on the morning following election day, McCain will have miraculously won by 4 votes!
BobbyFlay @ 24:
Yeah, as that arson inspector-guy in Backdraft.................
Mz. Piggy @ 48:
Actually we wouldn't have cared, but good on you for being conscientious.
Trolls at C&L are so OBVIOUS. (Hi.)
Voters won't express their dissatisfaction with the GOP by electing Obama. They're doing it right now by electing Democrats.
I wouldn't view this with anything like the giddy "we've already won!" spouting I see here (so reminiscent of the Kerry-can't-lose naivete of 2004). Electing a Democrat cleanses a vote for McCain in November: "well, at least we'll have a Democratic Congress and Senate--that will rein in the worst of what McCain might could do, which couldn't possibly be worse than having a negro in the White House."
The zeitgeist is not for electing Obama. It's for electing McCain and putting a few Democrats in there as a kind of levee. Of course, we all know how well the levees worked in New Orleans.
Tenderfoot @ 28:
Fuck the DLC. Howard Dean RULES!.....................
***OMG. Not Mz. Piggy!!! Scroll up.
Celebrate away. The GOP will be back. Stronger than ever. This is the same America that gave Bush a big ol hug after 9/11.
I voted GOP once. Never again. Reagan over Carter. Just got off years of heavy drugs and into Religion. Just a kid, who knew nothin 'bout politics. Or religion. America trashed Carter and his vision of Energy independence for Reagan, and the wars Carter warned us were the alternative to alternative energy. Scott Ritter nailed it when he stated that Americans didn't turn against the idea of the war, rather they turned against being the losers. Ritter saw Patton too I guess.
I hate the GOP, but I know too many dems will see this as a vote for their turn to screw us. How many dems voted for Bush's war? out of fear
Cowardice.
And we look to them with hopeful eyes.
The country is still full of muttonheaded folks who will run to the strongman when the next calamity comes our way.
You can bet aunt Shirley's shortbread that it's a 'comin now.
Just like the y always say "The Anti-American" al-Sadr, Everybody needs to start calling McCain "The Republican" McCain.
Sorry Huckabee, Russert, McCain can call himself anything he wants, Republican is as Republican does. Slick marketing isn't going to change that. The GOP is the party of criminality and the corporate overthrow of OUR government. People are going to recognize that even if the crooks,thugs and whores change parties and call themselves Democrats (why I won't vote for any ticket that includes HRC on it) or Libertatians. IT isn't the party affiliation that is being discredited, it's the thinking that people are finally beginning to show signs of rejecting.
Gas, food, and fuel prices will continue to rise. Which candidate will go into Iran and Venezuela and sequester that oil for 'Mericans? Not Obama. And if you think anyone is going to vote sweaters, lowered thermostats, and 55 mph over an outright oil grab that might sustain the American style of life just a little longer--even by a few years--then you're naive. "I didn't buy that F250 to drive less or drive slower. Those people in India and China can damn well go back to the fields--they don't have as far to fall as me."
McCain is a soldier. He'll go get the oil. For us. That will be the implicit message. And it will work, too. I'd bet all my stockpiled tuna fish.
I held my nose and went over to redstate to see what they were saying. Many were saying no problem he was just another bad candidate like in Illinois and Louisiana. I think they are right. Of course what they failed to ask themselves is why the republicans can only seem to attract lousy candidates these days
of course this being Nebraska the career rethug will probably win Mr Kleeb ran against a do nothing know nothing bought and paid for rethug and lost which in itself was interesting because the counties that voted for the winner are some of the poorest in the country and the least populated kinda wonder how the cows got in the voting booth? Whenever a Johann's campaign ad comes on I have to stop my gag reflex because it is so full of crap but then again this being Nebraska I sometimes wonder if Osama bin laden would shave off his beard and don coveralls and register as a rethug the state may vote him into office
Did I hear that right? Huckabee called McWorse a Frosted Flake? I agree with Mike for the first time in history!
END THE REPUBLICAN'S PARTY
NOW
AND
FOREVER!
As of 8:56 AM, still no word about this up on Drudge.
snicker
StirFry @ 3:
He's going to take credit for his "operation chaos" making democrats win. Than son of a bitch made up that shit about operation chaos because he didn't know how to explain to the zombies that listen to his show why republicans are being reformed. He will say that he gave the dems the victory.
The Mississippi school system is so bad that residents forgot that "R" meant "Right", not "Rong".
FUCK the GOP.
They all have had their chance to listen to what the American people wanted and all we got was arrogant crap from the Repuglicans. I think Cheney summed up the GOP's sentiment properly about his concern for the American peoples will, "so?"
They can expect the same back now.
Big fucken deal, so a Dem. wins, and the beat goes on, no impeachment, no end to the war, no health care for all. Just another asshole on the tit. Wake up there is only one party in America, thats the war for profit party. Wake up.
Wow.
Even Republicans hate the Republican Party.
Obama (or Hillary) can now officially put it in 'neutral' and just coast to the White House.
Thank you, thank you, Thank you..... George W. Bush !!
What a guy ! A true Uniter (of the DemocratIC Party)
prairiedog @ 71:
CHANGE .......
is on the way.
towntalk @ 16:
Yeah but they can only get away with it if we let them as we have with the current Republican regime. If the Democrats start going down the same path then it's time for torches and pitchforks.
V LaRoche @ 61:
It'll work for some, I'm sure. But not all Americans are mouth breathing retards. "Going to get the oil" isn't going to work. Hell, relying on oil isn't going to work. Even the idiots are realizing that now.
Unfortunately, this might be a blue dog. But a D is a D.
Mz. Piggy @ 48:
They always struck me as more of a cancer.
Or at least a blight.
Ron @ 10:
Here's hoping RIP stands for wRithe In Pain
The Right Wing is SO SO screwed.
"......this is very, very bad news for the GOP."
Hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee.............................................
Tommy Hussein @ 29:
He looks more like Dennis Farina to me.
and what, pray tell, did the pundits at fox have to say about this latest trend?
i'd love to hear it!
V LaRoche @ 56:
keep rubbing that magic lantern!
Old Billy Hussein @ 34:
I live in this district and I voted for Childers yesterday. I'm glad he won because of the numbers in the House, but he's not particularly liberal by non-Mississippi standards. His ads emphasized that he is "pro-gun and pro-life" and in some of them he tried to distance himself subtly from the Obama endorsement (which I think worked in his favor regardless). He was also helped by the fact that his opponent is a physically unattractive man with the charisma of a sweaty car salesman.
Nonetheless, it was good to see the attempted "he knows Obama! and Pelosi!" smear backfire. And I'm glad the ads are off TV. It was nonstop mudslinging by both sides.
this story can't be true cause it has not been covered by Fox News. Two trips to their website this morning and I come up empty on this story.
This was a big surprise. Glad to see my state go Blue. Always been a strong left in the state, but just not enough to overcome the ancient generation.
Haley Barbor's Neo Con antics as of recently couldn't have helped either.
Rusty Shackleford @ 83:
Nonetheless, it was good to see the attempted "he knows Obama! and Pelosi!" smear backfire. And I'm glad the ads are off TV. It was nonstop mudslinging by both sides.
Interesting. I didn't know you were a MS fella yourself.
Glad to see the ads gone myself. The office TV's are usually turned to local affiliates and some of the mudslinging was just ridiculous.
david yates @ 86:
Anything in there about Monica Lewinsky ?
The Democrats are going to crush the Republicans in November... forget about all the media news... the poles.... the bullshit.. forget about McCain as the maverick or running against his party... the Republicans are going to lose, lose, lose.... end of story.. it is going to be a bloodbath... they could put anyone in there as the democratic presidential candidate and they would still win... this is a change election and there is only one change the people want which is to get rid of the Republicans.. period.... all the democrats have to do is hammer away at the economy and the war... all else is bullshit..... they can have as many swift boats and reverend wrights as they want, but all that matters in the economy and the war... after 8 years, the republicans own both the economy and the war... and McCain offers no change... it was he and his Republican party that are responsible for screwing up both the war and the economy and they alone..
I just heard a talk show host say if anyone disagreed with CPI stat that are a conspiracy theorist. How much more of this shit can we take. All retirees are being cheated by atleat 20%. Lets forget about congress, let the old folks sit on his trial.
A democrat... winning... in MISSISSIPPI?
Has anyone actually been to Mississippi? They bleed red like a overly rare steak. For a democrat to win means things are pretty damn bad for the republicans.
For a good laugh check out humanevents attempt to smear Childers a few weeks ago.
http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=26373&s=rcmp
"Both Darth Cheney (Russert’s words) and Mike Huckabee campaigned for Childers’ opponent. Maybe it’s not a good idea to have the least popular guy in America promoting you"
That is what I said yesterday!!! Why oh why would ANYONE ANYWHERE want cheney near their campaign?
cheney - the kiss of death in more than one way
and ... going for the WIN.... please don't forget to ALWAYS call him
JOHN "THE REPUBLICAN" MCCAIN
he hates that middle name... but should wear it proudly ... like a flag lapel pin
WE'S GOING TO THE WHITE HOUSE ... WE'S GOING TO THE WHITE HOUSE ...
REPUGS PLEASE STEP TO THE BACK OF THE BUS !!!!!!!
[Are we going to have a problem with posting in all Caps Dick? #2 Site Monitor]
jake3988 @ 92:
As of yesterday, three of our four Congressmen are Democrats (at least in name).
Phillip @ 90:
And if you believe that, I have a multilevel marketing scheme to sell pieces of the Brooklyn Bridge to the Japanese.
E in MD @ 76:
Oh, sweet Christ. There are enough deniers of peak oil to elect McCain, easily. "All we gotta do is drill ever last well in the US and Alaska and we'd have plenty of oil" is what I heard from someone who ought to know better and doesn't.
And many people won't want to make the moral or ethical choice over giving up their lifestyles. Concern for the well-being of faraway nations and their peoples will blow away like a toothpick in a tornado once the gas stations start running out and home heating oil isn't delivered soon enough to keep the baby's fingers from turning blue.
V LaRoche @ 57:
Don't waste your breath with the Team Blue zealots in this place. As you point out, these people were saying the same thing about Kerry in 2004 and they were shown to be completely out of touch. Once McCain starts the campaign in earnest, Obama will sink in the polls. The brainiacs here don't seem to realize that because Obama is incapable of winning the primary of his own party, he will get so trounced in the general. He will be lucky to get 30% of the overall vote.
V LaRoche @ 98:
The strategy is quite easy. Watch gas prices decline in the fall, watch the economy begin to improve, and voters flock to McCain.
The Repugs thought they could run a successful campaign just by linking (insert Democrat here) to Barack Obama, Rev. Wright, and Nancy Pelosi.
Now they're just running around pissing their pants.
Couldn't happen to a nicer bunch of douchenozzles.
The republican brand-name is badly, badly, damaged, but again; personalities are more important. Obama is still an "elitist" (Read: he thinks he's smarter 'n us!) effite, snob in Bubba's eyes, and "God damn America!" and "clings to guns and religion" will override rational self-interest in a majority of voters. Bush was not hugely popular in 2004, and he ran against a real war hero; but most of America saw "one of their own" in him (Read: He talked dumb.) The godless, elitisit snob label sticks and works.
There is one other positive factor for Dems, though. They have attracted and registered so, so many new voters this year. Kudos Dean! They could well make the difference.
-Scott
Scott Kleeb's my homeboy, he's a professor at Hastings College in my hometown of Hastings, Nebraska. Way to go Scott!
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