51 in the Senate is NOT good enough if one of them is ......

[Stinky The Clown]

..... that self selected third party guy running against Lamont.

He has no reason to keep any of his promises, including the one where he said he'd caucus with the Democrats.

We need to get at least a 52-48 margin.

That's a lot of work. I sure hope we're all up for it.

[wakeme2008]

1. I have that same problem in the House...

there are a number of Dinos that could go independent and side with the Repugs giving the Repugs control of the House.....

[cali]

2. Much as I'd like to take the Senate

it's not going to happen. Our odds are better in the House, and frankly, if I had to pick which one I'd rather have a dem majority in, it's the House, hands down.

[SharonAnn]

7. I want them both, but if not, then my preferred structure is this:

House - Democratic majority
Senate - Republican
President - Democrat

Democrats would be better than Republicans at controlling both Congress and the Presidency, but let's face it. Power corrupts and it's probably better if there's some opposition to keep us on the straight and narrow.

[longship]

13. I'm with you on preferring the House, if there's only one.

However, please don't not count your chickens...

If the election were held today, Dems would likely obtain a tie in the Senate. I agree, it's not good enough. However, we have just over a month to go and *everything* is going our way. There is no way that the Repukes can turn this around as long as they "stay the course". Sadly for them, that's virtually all they have. They've painted themselves into a corner and there is no escape for them.

All they have is their dirty tricks, and the electorate is not going to be listening to that because they are absolutely sick to death of the slime. Anything the Repukes do is only going to make things worse for them.

About the House...

It doesn't matter if there's a few DINOs in the House. Progressives will be in charge of all the important committees. That's what matters. And we'll control the agenda. The Repuke bullshit of the past several years in the House is all going to come home to roost.

The Repukes are going to reap the whirlwind next month.

[AlinPA]

3. These Diebold machines have me worried now. Several close races

are going on now. The r's can rig them easier if the states involved use a lot of Diebolds. I'm not so much worried of hacking/card swapping as I am of the Diebolds being delivered with bias built in.

[Sinti]

5. Diebold ain't the only one. ES&S machines can be hacked also

In fact, any computer that exists can be hacked. Anyone who tries to tell you otherwise is either woefully unaware of how computers work, or has an agenda. It can be hacked remotely if it's plugged into the network. Of course, you can be plugged into the network by being plugged into the electrical socket nowadays.

http://news.com.com/Power+outlets+may+feed+home+networking/2100-1033_3-269008.html

[AlinPA]

6. I understand the potential of hacking when networked, I'm very

suspicious of Diebold itself, recall their CEO's statement about "we will be making sure that Bush wins Ohio"

[Pale Blue Dot]

4. Agree 100%

I believe that Lieberman will caucus with whoever will give him the most power. If he wins, either the Democrats will have to give him a high-ranking committee assignment (which he really doesn't deserve considering how he's betrayed the party), or, if it is 51-49 or 50-50, he will bolt to the Republicans, who almost surely would appease him.

Sounds like a good time to do this:

www.nedlamont.com/donate

[wyldwolf]

8. regardless of whether the Dems win the Senate or not...

...it will be close to 50/50, a few over or under for Democrats, and centrists from both parties will be the power brokers.

Same in the House.

[Stinky The Clown]

9. Centrists are one thing ......

.... people who put self before party are another thing.

[wyldwolf]

10. I realize some have a personality conflict with Lieberman

...but the fact is, should he win, he won't change the way he votes on issues. So, if we're speaking of a Senate with the Dems ahead or behind by one or two, the most powerful Dems will be Clinton, Bayh, Biden, etc.

(this in no way implies an endorsement of Lieberman.)

[Zynx]

11. For God's sake, it's hard enough to get to 50 or 51.

Don't push your luck. Taking back the Senate in one election cycle is hard work when you only have 45 seats.

[Stinky The Clown]

12. I know its hard ......

..... but that doesn't change the essential calculus.

[Tiggeroshii]

14. I agree

There's also the possibility that he could take a SOD job with Bush and the Repug Governor would appoint a Repug to replace him, losing us that seat.

[Stinky The Clown]

15. Yeah, there's that, too.

The only way I'll feel happy at 51 is if Lamont is sitting in the junior Connecticut Senate seat.

[hvn_nbr_2]

16. That worries me too.

I wouldn't be at all surprised to see him switch.