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Subscribe to RSSThe University of Minnesota's Smart Politics blog finds "just eight Democratic incumbents won by a larger victory margin during the Republican landslide of 2010 than during the Democratic wave of 2008 - including lightning rod (and outgoing) House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who improved by the second largest margin out of the entire Democratic caucus."
The "Magnificent Eight," as Smart Politics calls them: Bob Brady (PA-1), Pelosi (CA-8), Nydia Velazquez (NY-12), Chellie Pingree (ME-1), Jim Himes (CT-4), David Scott (GA-13), Chaka Fattah (PA-2), and Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-24).
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Sarah got rid of a lot of Tea Baggers which helped improved Democrats.
Wait...what?
Wow, to see hear the Tea Baglicans last week you'd think that Nancy Pelosi was no longer going to be serving in Congress. You mean, that's not the case?
No, just not serving as speaker. Pelosi was going to get reelected unless 1) she didn't run, or 2) San Francisco seceded.
If you live in an ultra left district and if you have unlimited funding and you are a far left politician; even a bucket of far left leaning horse manure can be re-elected.
same thing can be said of the far right
You are correct.
Bill you're disgusting..people like you is the reason while we will always be divided and not live together in peace..
Angel, I am disgusting???? I stated the obvious. No matter which extreme end of the political spectrum you ascribe, if your district supports your extremist ideology, you have tons of money, and you are an extremist...the probability of your re-election is pretty much a sure bet. I am happy to know that:
'people like me IS the reason while we will always be divided and not live together in peace...'
I'd hate to go through the rest of my life knowing I am less than disgusting for not being a proponent of extremism......but you've got your kumbaya peace slogan down pretty well. Have a nice day.
Angel, I am disgusting???? I stated the obvious. No matter which extreme end of the political spectrum you ascribe, if your district supports your extremist ideology, you have tons of money, and you are an extremist...the probability of your re-election is pretty much a sure bet. I am happy to know that:
'people like me IS the reason while we will always be divided and not live together in peace...'
I'd hate to go through the rest of my life knowing I am less than disgusting for not being a proponent of extremism......but you've got your kumbaya peace slogan down pretty well. Have a nice day.
If I am looking to relocate how do I know if the neighborhood is far laft or far right. How do all these far left and far right people know which district to gather in. What do I look for when I drive through the district, do I look for NRA stickers, NASCAR decals, children hugging the trees, solar panels? Just how is it that all these people know where they belong? How do you get thousands and thousands of like minded people to move into the same district.
Forrest Gump: historical political data are the most direct methods of ascertaining the political mindset of a community. I think your idea (sarcasm????) for the NRA/NASCAR stickers may be a good indicator that far left supporters may not be in the majority for the neighborhood. I may not be the brightest bulb on Broadway, but I can determine the political views of an area through reading/web-search for the past several elections and then reviewing the current political machine. It may take a day or two, but I believe that one can determine the political persuasion of an area without too much effort. Or you could just talk to the people in the neighborhood. Sorta like driving through Amish Country.....good chance that the people who live there are of similar mindset.
Yes you can do it, but you are into politics. My guess is that about 90% of the country does not know what district they are in, even if they vote. I guess my point is very few people even think of themselves as being far left or right, especially the ones that are! I think most people feel they are "normal" or "average" (if those are the right words) it is the other guy that is extreme. I don't think they give it the thought you do, that is why they just do the soundbite thing with the political adds, if they gave useful information most people would ignore it anyway. Don't make me think about facts, figures, or policy, just give me a catchy phrase I can latch onto. In the end nobody ever gets a 100% of the vote, and sadly many people in this country don't vote. The next "American Idol" or whatever it is called will likely get more votes than the next president.
Forrest Gump: the best result of the 2010 election is that more people have started to pay attention to politics. The damage caused by the failing economy may be the slap in the face that was needed to motivate the US. You are correct about the American Idol mentality. WE have lived with 60 second sound bites and 'reality' TV for too long. If a TV show is cancelled, the 'audience' goes into an uproar and demands a return of their favorite show. Many people know more about celebrities lives than who represents them in Congress or what Bills directly impact their lives. Sad, but complacency seems to be the order of business. We need both extremes of the political spectrum to verbalize their views and then (I am hopeful) WE can research the issues and make an informed determination. I am right of center----but I know this.
Like I said you give it far more thought than the average person, if more people would think the middle class would be better served left and right of center.
If anything, Pelosi has been considered too moderate in her district
Even the Gooper who tried to 'challenge' her ran to her left on some issues including the war
California is immune to the Tea Potty (e.g. Idiot's Delight)
When will the rest of America attain California's level of enlightment ?
Blue California, don't you wish that you could be here, too ??
I have already exceeded California's level of enlightenment by the mere fact that I can correctly spell the word.
Pelosi has been reduced and is just trying to save face. Good luck with that face.
Funny, everyone actually did at one time. California has everything, from the beautiful coast to mountains, desert to magnificent Redwood forests, beaches to the wine country. Central Valley's rich agriculture to the rich in silicon valley. Hollywood, to international trade, on and on. What state has more to offer?
Yet, 14% unemployment - 100,000 to 150,000 leave every year and growing. Something must be missing.
That one thing missing is sanity in government. California is the petri dish for progressive politics. What a ridiculous joke if it wasn't such a horrific failure. California can't even afford to keep felons in jail - that's protecting the children - right, Nancy?
Enlightenment? Texas chooses your text books, which isn't much of a problem actually since California can't afford teachers much less textbooks. But hey, that new almost 1/2 billion dollar high school sure is pretty.
Health Enlightenment? No San Francisco treats in those Happy Meals, but the kids at the World Series are exposed to enough 2nd hand pot smoke to almost relapse the Ranger's Josh Hamiliton standing in center field. What a joke, uh.. wait a minute.. that was true.
Speaking of pot, why didn't that legislation pass? Don't want to pay taxes, or is everybody afraid the potency will be effected? I guess government can't make everything better. Or, maybe for the really important things, Californians are a little free market.
Doesn't matter. The progressives have doomed California.
The next fight will be over how much the unenlightened have to pay to bailout the enlightened idiots.
Since you did not mention swamps like the great everglades, I would have to guess that Peolsi drained the swamps.
Under the Democratic governor California had a surplus. But, along came Arnold and the Republicans and now they are in a deep hold.I live in Louisiana. Under our Democratic governor Blanco, we were enjoying the largest budget surplus in state histiory. Now under Republican governor Jindal the state is broke, laying off 400,000 of workers just this month, cutting back on basic services with education topping the list. Remember, under Clinton we had a surplus and a even bigger projected surplus, Then along came bush and the gop, They took this country down. Now Bonehead wants to restart gutting this country all over again.
Tommyjames,
Yea, Arnold's a real tea bagger ain't he.
California is "midnight blue" blue. At just about all levels of government, California has been controlled by progressive/liberal blue and unions and environmentalist and everyone blue. Like ABC, All Blue California.
Highest sales tax, 3rd highest income tax rate and rank 48th.
Have 12% of the nation's population, but 1/3 of the nation's welfare recipients! 15.3% live in poverty. (Some Golden State)
Dead last rating for job creation states. Have lost 34% of their industrial base. State competitiveness is ranked 31st, a drop of 7 points from last year.
When it comes to business, another ABC - Anywhere But California.
Yea, progressives/liberals have a clue, a real prize.
Eric Cantor has declared that democrats aren't listening to voters if they choose Nancy Pelosi as their minority leader because she only has a 24% approval rating. Nancy Pelosi's name did not appear on my ballot or any other national ballot so voters did not make a choice; House democrats will decide who will be their leader and the person they choose has my support. Odd, the entire Congress only has a 19.8% approval rating--seems to me she's doing better than most. Did republicans listen to voters in 2008? No, because if they had been listening, they would have been less obstructionist and more willing to help solve the country's problems. Welcome to the real world, Mr. Cantor, now your House party must lead or those who won in 2010 will be relegated to the ash can of history in 2012--this is no longer about Nancy Pelosi, it is about House republicans and their choice of leader.
You are so correct. Now just sitting back drawing a fat paycheck just saying no will no longer work.The republicans had to spend nearly 5 times the amount of money that the Democrats did to win the minds of uninformed people. They had to lie, cheat, revert to name calling, with racist over tones and undertones. Appealling to the worst part of humanity. Yet, we find out that even with all that negativity on the airwaves, the republicans could not unseat Harry Reid. A small quiet, but powerful man.
The problem with Nancy Pelosi is the fact that she have been a very effective in her post. The GOP have been on a unprecedented campaign to unseat all of the Democratic leaders. The GOP want power back any way possible,and what is the best way?. Starting with the most powerful. Even now that they have stolen the house and are in power, they are only concerned about their political ambition and not governing. they have to pay back the Koch Brothers i.e. United Health Care first. So they want to go after the so called healthcare act. Next they need to pay back the U.S. Commerce department by letting out sourcing continuing, so they are trying to gut the department of education, insuring that we do not have qualified workers. And of course, Mitch McConnell wants to be president, so he have been campaigning for 2 years now, but, first he have to pay back wallstreet by stifling wallstreet reform.
One thing is for sure, Hitler was right. Tell a lie long enough and load enough and people will start to believe it.