Charles Grassley Faces Formidable Challenger in Iowa Senate Race

[brooklynite]

Source: New York Times

WASHINGTON — With Senator Charles E. Grassley under attack for his handling of the Supreme Court nomination process, a formidable Democratic challenger will run against him this November, the most significant sign yet that Democrats see the court and the candidacy of Donald J. Trump as twin liabilities for Republicans.

Patty Judge, a former Iowa lieutenant governor and state agriculture secretary, is expected to announce her challenge this weekend to Mr. Grassley, who is seeking a seventh Senate term and had previously been seen as having little opposition to re-election.

Mr. Grassley, the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has come under fire in Iowa for his refusal to hold hearings on a potential nominee for the Supreme Court after the death of Justice Antonin Scalia.

The issue became more local for Mr. Grassley on Wednesday when it was revealed that the White House is vetting Jane L. Kelly, a federal appellate judge in his home state, as a potential replacement.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/04/us/politics/charles-grassley-patty-judge-iowa-senate-race.html?_r=0

[sharp_stick]

1. The timely passing of Fat Tony

has the potential of reaping us incredible benefits this fall.

We can't allow that to pass, I don't know if it would ever happen again.

[Chicago1980]

7. Only if we all vote... As one.

Too many Sanders supporters out there waffling on the idea of voting for Secretary Clinton.

There are times for a purity test and there are times to do what's best for us all.

[nichomachus]

12. What will prevent that is posts like yours

You refer to Senator Sanders -- a sitting Senator -- as "Sanders" and Mrs. Clinton -- currently unemployed and a one-time Secretary of State -- as "Secretary Clinton."

That is a very dismissive put-down of Senator Sanders, but typical of the disdain that is shown to him and his followers by Mrs. Clinton's operatives.

If they're trying to drive people away from her, they are doing an excellent job.

[Chicago1980]

24. You'e going to be persnickety about that?

Talking about being sensitive.

Take a Midol.

I'll bet that within the past seven years that at one time or another you've referred to President Obama as just Obama, whether it be in conversation or comment, so pull that holier-than-thou mess with me.

[potone]

32. "Take a Midol."

What a sexist comment! And some Hillary supporters accuse Bernie supporters of being misogynistic.

[MADem]

36. No. That was a dumbass thing to say. Wrong. Sexist. Trump-esque.

Midol is an over-the-counter analgesic that is marketed to women for the alleviation of menstrual cramps. It has no other purpose.

Calling someone, via an exhortation to "take a midol," a menstruating woman in pain is just a shit insult. It does not matter what THEIR gender is. On so many levels this is wrong, if you can't see that you need to check and correct yourself.

You should delete and say sorry.

https://www.midol.com/home/

[Chicago1980]

37. No. I won't delete it.

I know what the pill is for.

[MADem]

41. And when you tell people to use it, you are calling them "menstruating women."

That is just wrong--where's MIRT when you need them?

You can't possibly be a supporter of Hillary Clinton with that kind of approach to discourse.

[MADem]

27. There's only one Sanders -- but there are two Clintons (POTUS and SECSTATE) in public life.

No one thinks we're talking about "Jane" when we say Sanders.

That seems a bit nitpicky to me, your gripe.

[SCantiGOP]

43. MADem

Just a mention that I totally agree with both of your posts above. Thanks for a bit of sanity.

[MADem]

45. Cheers back atcha!

I feel like I'm clinging to a leaky life raft from the USS DIGNITY some days! LOL!

[Darwin Diplomacy]

15. I'll vote D downticket, but if Clinton is there, she's left blank

or if Jill Stein is in my ballot, she gets my vote.

[Chicago1980]

21. That's foolish.

Wasting a vote on someone who'd never win because of personal purity.

[Chicago1980]

25. No it really isn't because that'll open up the potential of actual evil.

That same mentality gave us Bush Jr, in 2000.

Than and the SCOTUS legislating from the bench.

Remember that and them?

One seat open on the bench and four other justices near or already over 80.

[SCantiGOP]

44. but voting for Nader didn't hurt anybody...

...if you were pulling for George W to win and ruin the country and wreck the world.

[sharp_stick]

29. I can't wait

Last edited Fri Mar 4, 2016, 10:47 AM - Edit history (1)

for the primary season to end so we can be rid of the whiners who don't like the outcome.

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

19. Don't worry, we will all be voting in the general.

Just not for Hillary Clinton. She may actually be in prison by then.

[Chicago1980]

22. Not going to happen.

But thanks for acting like a republican, which is what you're doing.

Spewing the talking points and drinking the Jim Jones Kool-Aid.

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

34. I want the law upheld. If you don't then you're as bad as Trump.

[Chicago1980]

38. And yet you're acting like a Trump supporter with you petulance.

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

39. Really? Then you are a Hillary supporter, I'll bet!

[MADem]

42. Anyone who could make those kinds of "Midol" comments here on DU is not a HRC supporter, I would

wager. Even if they play it that way. That's not the way HRC supporters talk.

I can't wait for the primaries to be over.

[Codeine]

31. I don't think you have a great track record with predictions.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/12511305580#post12

http://www.democraticunderground.com/12511286344

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

33. I always wanted to have an personal internet stalker troll!

Thanks!!

[SCantiGOP]

46. Thank you, Mr or Ms Codeine

[Dustlawyer]

28. Then we need to keep asking why Scalia was at this wealthy man's ranch on a "free stuff"

hunt that would cost the paying man (not average) over $10,000. Who were the other guests, did they have business before the court? Lots of questions and maybe some very hard truths.

[Cosmocat]

2. They dynamics going into this election

are SO bad for democrats, but it just might be possible that republicans are that big of raging assholes they will end up shooting themselves in the foot ...

[houston16revival]

3. Someone posted here yesterday

that they wouldn't want to play chess with Obama

He may stay with Judge Kelly, the latest trial balloon, or he may
move on to another target

If the GOP are going to reject every nominee, Obama can float
trial balloons for 2 months, then nominate one ... they reject
that ... nominate another

Each nominee targeted to a specific Senate race to help Democrats

Mitch's "Sit on Hands" tactic does not leave America powerless

[Ducksworthy]

20. Nice

[SCantiGOP]

47. Agree with this ^^^^^

[LonePirate]

4. Kicking Assley, er Grassley, from the Senate would be a welcomed event come November.

[MBS]

5. excellent.n/t

[TacoD]

6. Will gladly vote for her in Nov. Not optimistic though. If Ernst couldn't be defeated...(nt)

[mountain grammy]

8. I hope Iowa Democrats are motivated to do this

participation in the caucuses was down from 2008. Not a good sign.

[Betty Karlson]

9. Nice: another seat in play.

[beachbum bob]

10. grassely can't hide from his stated positions and an energized voting public

that is watching HIS and his party's racism and bigotry directed at Obama and his duties of being president will bring some welcome surprises...Iowa is not 100% made up of batshit crazy conservative zealots...

[rurallib]

11. I am not sure I would share the NYT's optimism on Ms. Judge

but she would be at least a candidate with state wide name recognition.

As part of the Culver Judge administration she may suffer from some resentment from labor for Culver's veto of a fair share bill. That probably had as much to do with their defeat by Branstad as anything.

Most Iowans really only have a surface knowledge of Grassley. He is very well packaged and presented out here as just one of them. But his last group of town halls after Scalia died were tense. Still Grassley is about as slick as any politician has ever been and has a seemingly bottomless campaign fund.

She is 72 so she is a bit long in the tooth, but she is a real fighter. Personally I have always liked her and would certainly vote for her, but she faces a huge challenge.

[iandhr]

13. The Republicans expected to easily hold Iowa. If we can force them to divert money there that...

... didn't think they needed to spend it is a plus as well.

[rurallib]

17. true

Grassley's role in the SCOTUS drama is not playing well here.
Judge's entry may bring some media attention that could help at least get the Dems known.

But Grassley is a force here. O how I wish we could beat him. Seeing him concede would be one of the highlights of my life.

[iandhr]

18. The fact the presidents potential judge is from Iowa...

... is of course by design. I'm sure many Iowians are excited at the prospect of one of their own on the Supreme Court

[liberal N proud]

14. He needs to be put out to pasture

[lark]

16. How sweet it is

to get rid of him!

I'm trying out the power of positive thinking.

[deathrind]

26. Good!

He needs to be voted out. I used to have some respect for the man but after seeing him give the same "The ACA will have death panels" speech (which was clearly a lie) several times during the ACA debate period I lost any respect I held for him. I hope the challenger wins

[question everything]

40. Good. Time to send him to pasture (nt)