The Patriot Room

Reality hits and AP reports it: Health Care Overhaul Faces Stone Wall In Senate

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 01:39:00 GMT

It's called a filibuster, and the dems lose. Smile. You had your fun, Nancy, now crawl back under your rock.

Israel reporting: Obama To Recognize Palestinian Statehood

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 01:03:00 GMT

Would this surprise me? No. Abbas has been threatening to quit. That's a power play. Obama has no spine. He thinks he can end run Israel on this. Tell me, Barry, what are your plans for Jerusalem?

2010 numbers look bleak for Senate Democrats

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 23:33:00 GMT

NPR is wringing its hands . . . with good reason. Let's look at their list of Senate races and see how much good news is there for the Dems.

Democratic leader Harry Reid is woefully unpopular in Nevada. Six Republicans are competing for the chance to topple him the way GOP Sen. John Thune of South Dakota did to then-Democratic leader Tom Daschle in 2004.

RCP has both Republicans Lowden and Tarkanian beating Reid. Let's keep track. So far we are R-1, D-0. There are three open seats vacated by Democrats.

The GOP is going after three Democratic-held seats filled with appointees after Obama chose sitting senators for his administration. Sen. Michael Bennet in Colorado [Republican Norton leads by double-digits] is seeking his first full term; Sens. Ted Kaufman of Delaware, who has Vice President Joe Biden's old seat [Republican Mike Castle leads Beau Biden by 5, if the latter even runs - if not it's Castle's in a walk], and Roland Burris of Illinois, who has Obama's old seat [Republican Kirk lead Giannoulias by 7], aren't running.

That makes a total of R-4, D-0. As for incumbent Democrats, the numbers are also pretty bleak.

Republicans also have in their sights Democratic Sens. Blanche Lincoln in Arkansas [she trails all 4 Republican challengers], a state John McCain won last fall; Chris Dodd in Connecticut, hampered by a mortgage controversy [Simmons leads Dodd by 6]; Arlen Specter in Pennsylvania, the party-switching former Republican [Toomey leads Specter by 2]; and Barbara Boxer in California, a frequent GOP target [Boxer is probably safe, leading Fiorina by 10].

So that makes R-7, D-1 in flipping Democrat-held seats. But NPR bravely says that the Dems have their own targets. Let's see how vulnerable these GOP seats might be.

Democrats want to pick up seats left open by retiring GOP senators in Florida, Kentucky, Missouri, New Hampshire, and Ohio. They also are seeking to overtake scandal-scarred Republican Sen. David Vitter of Louisiana and are eyeing GOP Sen. Richard Burr in North Carolina, where Obama won last fall.

In Florida, both Republicans Crist and Rubio lead the Democrat Meek by double-digits in the Florida Senate race. R-8, D-1. In Kentucky, the Republican, Trey Grayson, runs ahead of or even with the two Democrat challengers. Call that a toss-up. R-8, D-1, Toss-up-1 Missouri is a dead heat between Blunt (R) and Carnahan (D). R-8, D-1, Toss-up-2 New Hampshire shows Republican Ayotte with a 7 point lead. R-9, D-1, Toss-up-2 In Ohio, the polls show a toss-up. R-9, D-1, Toss-up-3 Republican David Vitter lead Melancon by 11 in Louisiana, and Burr leads Marshall by double-digits in North Carolina. R-11, D-1, Toss-up-3 The Senate has 58 Democrats, 40 Republicans, and 2 Independents who caucus most of the time with the Dems. If the Dems lose the seven seats and the GOP holds all of theirs, the Senate will be 51 Dems, 47 Republicans, and the 2 independents. That will not only make it extremely difficult for Obama to ram through any earth-shattering legislation as he will be nowhere near filibuster-proof, he may have difficulty even getting a bare majority to pass anything. Charlie Cook says that if you think 2010 looks bleak for the Democrats, wait until you see 2012 and 2014.

With Democrats having just short of twice the number of exposed seats as Republicans up in 2012 and 2014 -- 43 vs. 22 -- it is important for Democrats to hold the line and, if possible, expand on their majority in 2010. When their big classes elected in 2006 and 2008 come around in the next two elections, they might be hanging on for dear life. Conversely for Republicans, if they chip away a few seats this time, it increases their odds of retaking their majority.

Looks like Tuesday's election may have been the start of a new era of Hope and Change, Republican-style.

Different perspective: Putin feels 'nostalgia' for East Germany

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 22:38:00 GMT

Vlad is just a softy at heart. Yeah, yeah, yeah, put aside the KGB thing, the midnight raids on democracy-loving Germans, and the summary executions of dissidents of all stripes. It was a fun-loving time of picnics and good friends interrupted only sporadically by screams, gunfire, and anonymous burials in mass graves.

Palin on the passage of PelosiCare

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 22:16:00 GMT

Nice piece. She calls them out on all the snake-oil about a 72 hour online bill, Obama's lie that abortions were not covered (coverage for which was removed in the Stupak amendment), death panels, and coverage for illegals. And the kicker (while pointing at her own eyes then theirs) . . .

We will make our voices heard. It’s on to the Senate now. Our legislators can listen now, or they can hear us in 2010. It’s their choice.

Reuters: Healthcare measure faces tough path in Senate

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 22:07:00 GMT

MSM throwing cold water on all the fun.

New York Times tries another Obama-with-halo pic for old time's sake

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 21:59:00 GMT

Except this one is made of clouds, which are easily blown away. And the piece is about Obama's speeches losing their magic. I am sure there wasn't a dry eye in the news room.

Israeli Poll: Is Barack Obama a friend of Israel?

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 21:53:00 GMT

Interesting results.

Newsweek: Rather than a civil war, we appear to be witnessing the beginnings of a significant Republican revival

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 21:51:00 GMT

This isn't NRO. It is Newsweek, the liberal town-crier. Obama has been the best thing for Republican unity since Jimmy Carter.

A-jad to cancel food, fuel subsidies, for transfer to nuclear projects

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 21:49:00 GMT

When the Islamic regime last tried to cancel subsidies, it was forced to back down by rioting in Iran's cities. Ahmadinejad proposes to offer the poorer classes the sop of a $17 handout to every low-income household.