Re: Lincoln Chafee: I hate to dash your hopes

[cali]

but his leaving would change nothing.

[LuminousX]

1. He needs to stay in the GOP

and help the Dems push items onto the agenda.

[hlthe2b]

4. Stay or go... he can still vote with the DEMS...

[9119495]

5. It would be a great taste of the Zell Miller synfrome for the GOP

if he continued on in their party and voted with us. If it ever gets to 50-50, then he can switch.

[bowens43]

2. Certainly it would change things......

anything that deals a psychological blow to the bush machine changes things.

[BlueEyedSon]

3. One less to recover in 2006

[The Magistrate]

6. If He Does Not Change Parties, Sir, He Must Be Eliminated

No single person alters anything, certainly, but it is essential to make Republican's holding national office from Northeastern and Great Lakes states as extinct as Democrats holding national office from Southern and High Plains states are becoming. Even if it is not sufficient to alter the balance, it must still be done, because it can be done, and would be of at least some benefit. The worst thing conceivable just now is a person who votes Republican on such matters as Senate organization or Speaker of the House, and with the Democrats on most other occassions. A person who votes Democrat on Senate organization or Speaker, and with the Repuiblicans on most other matters, is infinitely preferable. The structure is the key; nothing else is so important....

"The conservatives have offended, but it is the moderates who must pay."

"The way to reduce what is strong is to strike what is weak."

[LSK]

7. I agree

[cali]

8. Agreed. Structure is everything.

And I certainly agree that blue states cannort afford to vote for republicans to represent them in the Congress. Alas, Chafee's switch to Ind. or Dem would do nothing toalter the power structure in the Senate. We need Chafee, Snowe, Specter and Collins to take a principled stand and leave the party. They could join Jefford as Independents caucusing with the Dems. It's my current favorite political fantasy.

[The Magistrate]

9. Specter, Sir, Is Unpricipled Slime

He has been high on my ;little list of those who would never be missed since the Thomas hearings, and nothing he might do or have done subsequently could change that verdict. It is damnably regretable Pennsylvania's voters returned him to office this year....

"The dog returns to its vomit, and the sow returns to the mire."