Rep. Patrick Kennedy Says No to Senate

[arcos]

Rep. Patrick Kennedy Says No to Senate

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Rep. Patrick Kennedy (news, bio, voting record) has decided not to follow in his father's footsteps and make a bid for the U.S. Senate — at least not yet.

The 37-year-old Kennedy, about to begin his sixth term in Congress, believes he can better serve Rhode Islanders from his place on the powerful House Appropriations Committee, said his spokesman, Ernesto Anguilla, ending speculation that the congressman would try to challenge incumbent Republican Sen. Lincoln Chafee (news, bio, voting record) in 2006.

"He's been able to demonstrate a real ability to steer resources to the state," Anguilla said Friday. "Rhode Island is a small state and has a small delegation. The state really depends on having a member on that committee."

The congressman's father, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (news, bio, voting record) of Massachusetts, has said he'll seek another Senate term in 2006. He was first elected in 1962

<snip>

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=512&ncid=703&e=5&u=/ap/20050101/ap_on_go_co/patrick_kennedy_senate

[PROGRESSIVE1]

1. Who can take Chaffee out then?

We need that seat!

[loyalsister]

2. Chaffee is great!

He is supportive of some of our most important issues. He voted against the war, for example. Just as Zell Miller was more useful to Republicans as a Democrat, Chaffee serves as an asset to us.
There are other races to spend money and energy on where the Senators aren't supporting our issues. I think we should keep our friends where we find them and choose our battles wisely.

[Prodemsouth]

16. He is too quite- Miller was a loud mouth- the whole nation knows a one

term Senator from Georgia, (Lincoln who is what people outside Rhode Island would ask..) Miller backed Bush and spoke at the Repug convention. All this sweet little mouse did was vote for Bush's father in protest and he told you that after the election. That did a whole lot of good didn't it! You will not pick up those Senate seats you are complaing about.."that don't support our issues"- Rhode Island voted for Kerry.. why not go somewhere people are voting for your issues, like RI. see my post below..

[FightinNewDem]

31. "No, he isn't!"

Let's take a look at how ol' Linc stacks up against some of the favorite Democratic punching bags here on DU, Joe Lieberman, Evan Bayh and Joe Biden...

AFL/CIO

Chaffee: 31
Lieberman: 100
Bayh: 85
Biden: 100




National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare

Chaffee: 60
Lieberman: 100
Bayh: 100
Biden: 100


National Committee for an Effective Congress

Chaffee: 40
Lieberman: 95
Bayh: 80
Biden: 95

Americans for Democratic Action

Chaffee: 65
Lieberman: 70
Bayh: 75
Biden: 75

[Prodemsouth]

38. Thank You - great post- and it is usually these moderate Republican

defenders that are beating up on Lieberman, Bayh and Biden. Not that they are my favorite Senators, but more people need to put things in prespective around here.

[Stinky The Clown]

3. I had this silly dream

that maybe people like Chaffee, who are already quite open about their disenchantment with the reign of Chimpus Khan, will finally reach their personal tipping points. Given that RI *is* such a small delegation, maybe young Mr. Kennedy knows something we don't.

But maybe it was all I said it was .... a silly dream.

[Mr_Spock]

5. "Chimpus Khan"

LMAO!

[NVMojo]

13. I got a good laugh when I read that name too! We must keep using it!

[mountainvue]

30. Chaffee is a RINO.

Always has been. He voted against IWR. We don't need his seat at all. Chaffee should either become an Independnet or Dem.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

37. Yes we do! If we want a majority then we need his seat!

Chaffee is supporting right wing leadership and must be shown to the world for doing so.

[DFLforever]

4. The moderate Repubs are more useful to us now

than ever. Senators like Chafee will help compensate for our shattering loss of seats.

I think the Dems should endorse him as well.

[NWHarkness]

6. I totally disagree

Anyone who votes to maintain the GOP leadership in the Senate is our foe. Period.

Take a look at history. The GOP acheived dominance by knocking off the most CONSERVATIVE Democrats, in the south and elsewhere. The way we can regain control is by winning in those states where we have the natural constituency, by knocking off the mealy mouthed appreasers like Chaffee and Snowe. I can't understand why any Democrat would counsel writing off a solid blue state like Rhode Island. For what, so we can try for long shots in Alabama or Utah or somewhere?

If Chaffee sits in their caucus, he is their boy, and he deserves to have a big fat target painted on him.

[Merlin]

7. Chafee will come to our caucus in a minute if we're on the edge.

He's made clear that he will switch if we get within 1 seat. Otherwise why should he walk away from the seniority and guanxi he and his father have accrued over the years.

I think Patrick is right about his choice. There will come a day.

[Rowdyboy]

9. Sorry, but I no longer trust him on the issue of party-switching

He's supported the enemy for far too long. I won't publicly defame him, but I'll keep my opinions private. He's voted for Trent Lott and Bill Frist as his party's leader....Perhaps he needs to reconsider.

[Wabbajack]

10. No he won't

he's a a puke through and through. He's always with them "when it counts".

[DFLforever]

14. You're absolutely right!

Chafee (and Snowe)help us best where they are.
They dilute Bush best as Repubs. Chafee has said if he could help by switching to Dem he would.

Where do you think he helps most now? As a member of the majority or as a member of the minority? No contest, imho.

I have nothing at all against the mod/conservative Dems IF they are people of principal. The same for mod Repubs.
Chafee comes from a long line of honorable Repubs. Give him a break. He's got it way over a slimy Bayh whose father is most likely spinning in his grave!

[Prodemsouth]

17. Well why not get closer to the edge by taking his seat.. tell him to get

on board or we go after him. That will put us closer to the edge- Patrick let National Democrats down.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

24. Every Republican Seat must be targeted for 2006!

A Democrat in Chaffee's seat will give us a majority!

[Proud liberal Kat]

12. I will not vote...

for party lines against someone who stood for my best interests and those of the globe when many of "my party" didn't. I am not in a schoolyard fight! He has served RI well and voted in line with my thinking more than many Democratic Senators have. When he stops doing so I will take the line against him. Give me a good reason other than trying to fight like the people I despise to line up against a man who voted my interests!
Kathy

[FightinNewDem]

33. Here's a question...

Will you support a guy who votes anti-labor 70% of the time?

That's Chaffee.

His record is markedly more conservative than that of any Democrat in the Senate over the last few years (with the obvious exception of the unhinged Zell Miller). Lieberman, Bayh, Landrieu, Lincoln, Pryor, Carper, all of the ostensibly "conservative" Democrats are more progressive overall than this waspy flaky lightweight.

[Prodemsouth]

15. I totally agree, isn't it amazing how many Dems go to bat for these

moderate Repugs- we need these fucking seats- Chaffee continues to vote for Frist and he sets the agenda, tell RI voters that. Oh that would not be nice. I see the pink tutu thinking is still very strong in our party. They should have pressured him to challenge Chaffee- You aren't going to gain the seats needed here in the south I can tell you that. We need to go after Snowe, Collins, that whole lot unless they switch parties. Why not tell Chaffee he switches parties or Kennedy will run for the Senate. Either switch parties or we will field a strong candiate against you-thats what the Republicans did in the south. And it worked, I know I live here. Are they to nicey nice to do it in blue states. This lets be nice to moderate Republicans is a reason why we will be a minority party from now on. This is one thing that really pisses me off about blue state dems. They complain about the right ward move in the Nation and wonder why the GOP is getting so much power.. GOD... why are we such saps...why am I in a party full of wussies.

[Old and In the Way]

20. Absolutely correct.

I'm in Maine and I like Snowe. But times have changed. Snowe and Collins have 2 choices:

(1) Move accross the aisle and support true moderation and American values.

(2) Stay associated with the Republican Party and prepare for a RW assault in the primaries or defeat in the general election.

We need those seats if we want to take back control of Congress. Any Blue state cannot afford to have Red Senators in COngress.

It's not about their personal voting record. It's about the majority that they give the criminal party who rules our government today.

[Prodemsouth]

28. Amen! Bro!

You folks in Maine seem more level headed- hopefully I can visit your great state one day. One of the few I have never been to.

[NWHarkness]

22. Thank you!

I am disheartened by much of what I've read on this thread.

A vote for Chaffee is a vote for Frist as Majority Leader. It is a vote to enable the Bush agenda.

This whole "he would switch if it would make a difference" thing is absurd. All that tells me is that he makes his decisions based on political opportunism, not principle.

Sorry folks, but I'm a Democrat. I support Democrats.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

26. Prodemsouth, I am going to put you on my prefered poster's list.

I like the way you think. It is Democrats like you and I that will bring the party back to a majority some day. WE are WILLING to fight like warriors to protect our country. These Alan Colmes/Al Franken mealy mouth "Democrat" who defer to the Right in the name of "fairness" and "integrity" are no good to us. When did the Republicans give one DAMN ABOUT "FAIRNESS". Chaffee is a Trent Lott Republican. He backs the right wing caucus in the Senate, therefore he is supporting the right wing agenda!

[Prodemsouth]

29. Thanks, you are on target, his opponent should mention Trent Lott

after Chaffee's name every opportunity he/she has.. The repugs mention Ted Kennedy down here whenever they are running against a Democrat, they even did that to Zell Miller in 2000.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

36. Bingo!

:)

[PROGRESSIVE1]

25. I'll endorse him if he changes his caucus to the Democratic Party's!

He's no good on THAT side of DAS AISLE!

[JI7]

8. it would be kind of weird working in the same place as dad

even though both are liberals and would pretty much be on the same side.

and Lincoln Chafee is already pretty much on our side. if the numbers in the Senate were such that him switching would turn control over to Democrats he would do it. but it's not the case right now so there really isn't much reason to switch.

[Proud liberal Kat]

11. I am a renter in RI

I do not live in Chafee's district at the moment...but who knows what may happen.

I will vote for the man. He voted against IWR, he voted against tax cuts. He has done better than many with the (D) next to their names people would scream to save!
Kathy

[Prodemsouth]

18. If you live in RI- you live in Chaffee's "district" he is a Senator not a

Congressman you also live in Kennedy's district- because I think RI is so small in population it has only one rep.

[CTLawGuy]

21. nope it has 2

James Langevin is the other rep.

[Prodemsouth]

27. I stand corrected, thanks, What affiliation is Langevin-if he is a Repug

go after him too. Explain to folks in his district how blue states are footing the bill for everything..BTW this should be done in all Republican districts in all blue states, "Moderate" or conservative get rid of them - I don't care if the Human Rights Campaign Fund gives them a 100%- THEY GOT TO GO IF THEY ARE A REPUG - because the decision makers are the right wingers.

[CTLawGuy]

34. nope

Langevin's a Dem.

[whatelseisnew]

23. James Langevin's the other Congressman in RI

http://www.house.gov/house/MemStateSearch.shtml#RI

[gorbal]

19. He should run for Governor instead

He should run for governor instead....preferable for Virginia. Then he won't have a nasty senate record when he runs for president one day:)

[Tacos al Carbon]

32. The day a Kennedy becomes governor of Virginia

You should start looking out your window for the other horsemen of the apocalypse.

[Prodemsouth]

35. LOL. Good One- or maybe he should come down here and run for

Governor of Georgia, or South Carolina. Both are up in 06. Actually polls are showing both Repug Govs could be defeated- but I don't think a Kennedy could do it, heh heh..not after the 20 years we heard of Conservative Democrats being compared to Ted Kennedy by Repugs.