Political geekery

[sethrak]

NYTimes.com has a handy little interactive map showing the upcoming contested House, Senate, and gubernatorial races this fall. Took a little look around several states of particular interest.

On the WI Senate race:

Dear Robert Gerald Lorge: Bwahahahahahahahaaaaaaaaaaa!!! ::wipes tear from eye::

Dear WI Republican Party: You and I both realize that the only way you will ever get Sen. Herb Kohl's seat is if he voluntarily retires, dies from eating too many cream puffs at the State Fair, or is proven to have taken part in what Clerks II calls "interspecies erotica". He's immensely popular, he's got a great service record, and he's extremely rich. I know this must be frustrating for you. But Lorge? Are you serious? Can't you do any better than a guy with a shoddy website design, a tendency to refer to himself in the third person not seen since Bob Dole's last campaign, and an obsession with the "Red Communist China Threat to America"? What is this, a remake of Head of State? (Only with zero likelihood of the underdog winning this time.)


On the VA Senate race:

I'm torn. On the one hand, most of Jim Webb's positions as stated on his website are pretty much in line with how I feel on the issues, which was what I expected from the Dem. candidate. Jim Allen's positions tend to not be terribly congruent with mine, as I expected from the Republican incumbent.

But.... Allen was one of only 15 senators for vote against funding the infamous "Bridge to Nowhere" in Alaska. Part of me would like to reward such sense and integrity. And, his positions aren't so far right-wing that I'd feel bad if he won, or if I voted for him.... I just don't know.

It would help if even one of them had a position on birth control and abortion rights on their website. Unfortunately for me, although probably wise for their campaign, they've both carefully steered away from any mention of it. I'll probably have to send emails inquiring.



There may be more geekery after lunch. Haven't decided yet.


Quick ETA: Hey Steph, according to that website, FL's Gov. Jeb Bush isn't running for re-election. Any idea why? I'd have thought it'd be a lock for him.

Comments

[thoth-of-nd.livejournal.com]

Senator Conrad and Representative Pomeroy up here. Benches opposite is fielding the usual unknowns--no one in their right mind wants to run against Conrad--with predictable results.

However, there's no bench strength. The Congressional delegation aside, North Dakota Dems have one statewide elected official--the Agriculture Commissioner. And I don't anticipate many of those offices changing hands, to be honest. Come to think of it, I don't see much improvement in the state legislature, either. Maybe I'm getting pessimistic in my old age...

[isisamour.livejournal.com]

The only thing I can think of it that he just may have run all his terms and just isn't able to be re-elected to office...either that or he is just tired of dealing with all the hurricanes. ;)