Democratic Defector

[bomelia]

This comes as a small surprise to us in this Congressman's district. Yet, it is one of many indicators that Democrats are in trouble. And rightly so.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1209/30896.html

Mike

[coryb]

Now if only a Senator would do the same thing right away...

[October-1881]

Originally Posted by coryb

Now if only a Senator would do the same thing right away...

Yeah, Like John McCain going over to the dems where he belongs.

[Excaliber]

,,,freakin' Benedict Arnold I tell ya...

[bomelia]

Hey get ready, more is coming (in many varied ways).

[Excaliber]

Let's put this in perspective.

Traditionally a new administration always loose's seats in a mid term election, so it's a given some will change no matter what else is going on.

Second, when the economy is in bad shape, again, seats change. In fact, that's the #1 reason Obama was elected in the first place. Repub's paid a very heavy price for screwing up the economy. We could argue back and forth over who's fault it was, but the fact is, Repub's were in power for eight years. The economy got trashed, your fault, my fault, it doesn't matter, Repubs took the heat big time. Now with huge deficits as a RESULT of the economic crisis it doesn't matter if Dem's did the right the right thing or not. They ARE going to take the heat come election time. It's a classic scenario played out and over and over every cycle.

Third, a Demo majority WITH a Demo Pres is pretty rare as well! "Natural selection", if you would, always tend to put a balance back in favor. The end result often being political dead lock and they can't get anything done.

Defectors are rare but not unheard of, this is one guy who has been at odd's with the party for some time. It's not out of the blue.

All in all, just another bump in the road.

[Ralphy]

It's very rare to defect from the controlling party.

Originally Posted by Excaliber

Let's put this in perspective.

Traditionally a new administration always loose's seats in a mid term election, so it's a given some will change no matter what else is going on.

Second, when the economy is in bad shape, again, seats change. In fact, that's the #1 reason Obama was elected in the first place. Repub's paid a very heavy price for screwing up the economy. We could argue back and forth over who's fault it was, but the fact is, Repub's were in power for eight years. The economy got trashed, your fault, my fault, it doesn't matter, Repubs took the heat big time. Now with huge deficits as a RESULT of the economic crisis it doesn't matter if Dem's did the right the right thing or not. They ARE going to take the heat come election time. It's a classic scenario played out and over and over every cycle.

Third, a Demo majority WITH a Demo Pres is pretty rare as well! "Natural selection", if you would, always tend to put a balance back in favor. The end result often being political dead lock and they can't get anything done.

Defectors are rare but not unheard of, this is one guy who has been at odd's with the party for some time. It's not out of the blue.

All in all, just another bump in the road.

[Excaliber]

Ah, good point Ralphy, man that guy must be PISSED!

[Anthony]

“Unfortunately there are those in the Democratic Leadership that continue to push an agenda focused on massive new spending, tax increases, bailouts and a health care bill that is bad for our healthcare system,”

some people eventually see what is the right thing to do. There are others who always knew what the right thing to do was, and finally others who never will understand due to their blinding idealistic views on utopia.

Originally Posted by Excaliber

Let's put this in perspective.

Traditionally a new administration always loose's seats in a mid term election, so it's a given some will change no matter what else is going on.

Second, when the economy is in bad shape, again, seats change. In fact, that's the #1 reason Obama was elected in the first place. Repub's paid a very heavy price for screwing up the economy.

And Obama logic is going to make it worse by multiples.

[bomelia]

Republicans did not screw up the economy. A mix of 9/11 and long standing democrat policies forcing banks to loan to folks who could not repay, mixed again with a$$holes on Wallstreet who could not think past their d!ck and their wallet led to our screwed up situation. However, as it is customary to blame the administration, and given the loopy adminstration we now have, I am willing to accept the criticism.

Mike

[SoTxButler]

Excaliber....you seem to forget or don't want to admit the fact that the country has been under a Democratic House and a Democratic Senate for 3 years now, 2 under Bush and 1 under Obama. So, your comment of 8 years of Bush is a little disingenuous. At least be intellectually honest. Your party has controlled the government for 3 years now.

As you know, the House appropriates the money and people like Barney Frank were in a position to shut down any attempts at reform of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which he did. The liberal cry of "lack of regulation" by Bush, should rightfully land in the laps of Frank in the House and Dodd in the Senate. So, lets please make sure that the Democrats get their due on the economy as they have been in control for 3 years.

I guess another way to look at the question of the economic mess is that it only took the Democrats less than 2 years to ruin a thriving Republican economy. After all, Congress controls the money, spends the money and makes the rules.

What happened today needs to happen in greater numbers, either by defection or defeat in November 2010.

[Ron61]

Liberals countered that Griffith was essentially a Republican all along, and Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), the chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, said he should give back the money Democrats have contributed to his campaign.

Pretty much sums up the whole Liberal platform. Everything begins and ends about the money.

Ron

[Excaliber]

Democratic Senate for 3 years now, 2 under Bush

The last year under Obama doesn't mean squat as to how the economic crisis happened. It happened UNDER BUSH and was inherited by Obama. The cause of the failure could be debated until the cows come home, VERY MANY reasons. Bottom line: Bush was in control, the Repubs got their azz kicked come election time.

[SP01715]

Your argument makes no sense. When Bush was president but did not have control of congress everything is his fault. When Obama is president and has control of congress nothing is his fault. Typical liberal logic...

[Excaliber]

Au contraire! (FTF)

Obama will take the heat if the economy doesn't turn around, regardless of the finger pointing. He did it, the other guy did it, Congress did it, no it was the banks, wait, it was greedy Wall St. It was the Repubs, no it was the Dems! It was massive tax cuts, yeah, that's it. No end to the finger pointing.

Bottom line, again, come election time the Commander in Chief is gonna take the heat. Just like Bush and the Repubs did. Unfair? Well, life is like that, it's just SO unfair.

[bomelia]

Well, I am from Griffiths district and know more about him then I care to know. His medical license to practice in Huntsville was revoked. Something about unethical business dealings, etc. Owns many funural homes. Over radiated his patients. Supposedly benefitted from their illness AND death. But nothing sticks to him. A local radio host went after him really hard (http://www.wvnn.com/dale.php to learn more). But the republican challenger was a joke. The congressman that he replaced retired early... on purpose to force a mid term election. These mid-term elections have notoriously low voter rates. It was all set up from the get go. Since Health Care, he has been beat up over and over. Our district is amazingly conservative and has only remained in democrat hands out of tradition. That is changing and he knows it. Mo Brooks (great guy) announced his intention to run against him and Griffith saw the writing on the wall. So he switched.

He potentially is more conservative than a blue dog democrat. But his character seems to make him a narrow, unreliable conservative... just someone who wants to be in power. He lost the mayoral race here 4 years ago, won a mid-term election to state house, and then leaped to Congress in a mid-term bid (Bud Cramer retired, but knew who he wanted to replace him). Like I said, it was choreographed. Now that he is where he is, we will see if he can make it on his own.

Mike

[Excaliber]

So, your saying this guy might be a crook? Man, he's gonna make an excellent politician, he'll fit right in.

[Ronbo]

Mike brings up a valid point about the "good old boy" democratic seat of the south. Jacksonville was very much this way when I first got down here in the early 80's, unbeliveable corruption in the local government. The mass immagration of yanks changed the tide and Jacksonville took off after the very first Republican took the Mayor's seat.

Republicans weren't very popular down here after the Civil War...

[392cobra]

Judge Judy to Prostitute: "When did you realize you were raped?"

Prostitute (wiping away tears): "When the check bounced"

At some point the American public is going to feel the same way.