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Re: Bean gets Chamber TV help

NW burbs — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 17:54:41 -0000

Lovie actually has to ask, The only difference between them is that Bean is pro-enviornment and McSweeney is pro-life. Other than that, can you tell me a difference, NWBurbs?

McSweeney is movement conservative, and we've all seen how well conservative policies have been for work-a-day Americans over the past 6 years.

That, and Bean had to work to get where she is.

Since Bean and McSweeney are so close, it's pretty clear the incumbent will win -- why change horses midstream, especially if the other horse is the same?

-- NW "Proud to Be an Ass, Mr. Doubtful" Burbs

Re: Bean gets Chamber TV help

doubtful — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 10:53:28 -0000

NW burbs, first of all, just because you use the word "whines" to color what I wrote doesn't automatically invadlidate it. All it really does is expose you as an ass.

Secondly, I don't have to run for office personally to have a candidate I agree with and I never suggested I needed to agree with someone 100% of the time, as you erroneously imply. As Lovie's Leather pointed out, Bean and McSweeney are very similar in their platforms.

Frankly, I don't see why you don't resist the easy and irrelevant jabs at a commentor who is just expressing concern over this race.

Barring that, you go to the polls and vote for the candidate who best represents you, not the one who least represents you.

That's a false assumption. Sometimes people vote against the person who least represents them, not for the person who most represents them. The results may be the same or similar, but the motivation comes from two very different places.

Re: Bean gets Chamber TV help

Skeeter — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 09:33:47 -0000

Watcher, what is it exactly that you fear from Speaker Pelosi? Massive deficit spending? A massive new welfare giveway?

Looks like they've seen what Speaker Hastert has done and have taken the proper step of backing the pro-business Cong. Bean and at the same time, assisting in elevating Speaker Pelosi.

Re: Bean gets Chamber TV help

The Watcher — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 08:47:40 -0000

The Chamber's policy is to endorse any incumbent who has a 70% or better voting record with them, to guard against accusations of being merely politically partisan. Looks like Bean just made it under the wire. I'll bet the Chamber knows who would be the better candidate for business. And I'll bet that if their efforts succeed in electing Nancy Pelosi Speaker, that will be bad enough for business they'll change their policy.

Re: Bean gets Chamber TV help

Bill Baar — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 08:14:18 -0000

Lovie,
The real question is what they would do on impeachment....there is probably a big difference there.

Re: Bean gets Chamber TV help

Lovie's Leather — Mon, 07 Aug 2006 23:52:43 -0000

Here are the links to Bean and McSweeney's platform pages. The only difference between them is that Bean is pro-enviornment and McSweeney is pro-life. Other than that, can you tell me a difference, NWBurbs?
http://www.melissabean.com/...[05]%20Issues
http://www.davidmcsweeney.c...

Re: Bean gets Chamber TV help

8th CD Anonymous — Mon, 07 Aug 2006 22:49:27 -0000

Since Bean doesn't have a ground operation is in an overwhelmingly Republican district, she will have to rely on a big budget media campaign and as much IE money as possible.

This is similar to the Flanagan-Blagojevich race in '96, with the partisan roles reversed. Bean will not have the advantage of Obama and Kerry at the top of the ticket, or a beleaguered incumbent to attack.

She will have to convince the electorate that she will continue to vote the way she has been, while trying to paint McSweeney as a right-wing nut. In the 8th District, that's actually to his advantage, not hers.

Re: Bean gets Chamber TV help

IllinoisEddie — Mon, 07 Aug 2006 21:09:16 -0000

I live in the 8th CD. And I think his name is Brian McSweeney.

Larry McSweeney, possibly.

Re: Bean gets Chamber TV help

NoGiftsPlease — Mon, 07 Aug 2006 18:58:37 -0000

Was McSweeney the guy whose campaign ads were "elect me because I love my family?" Who also had his wife endorse him by saying 'he's always there for me?" If it is the same guy, that was the craziest campaign I ever saw. Vote for him because his wife endorses him?

Re: Bean gets Chamber TV help

Anon — Mon, 07 Aug 2006 17:42:57 -0000

Can't blame him for the name screw-up...Shawn...errrr, I mean David has changed his name a few times!!!

Re: Bean gets Chamber TV help

NW burbs — Mon, 07 Aug 2006 15:54:31 -0000

Doubtful whines, "I should go to vote for someone I truly feel represents me and that is what I doubt I will be able to do."

You missed your opportunity to circulate petitions in order to put yourself on the ballot. From the sounds of it, you're the only person in the district you'd be "motivated" to vote for because you are the only person who would agree with you 100% of the time....

Barring that, you go to the polls and vote for the candidate who best represents you, not the one who least represents you.

---

And if Lovie's Leather really believes Bean and McSweeney "really are basically the same" then I'm running out of bridges in Brooklyn to sell to conservatives. McSweeney is far and away an extreme conservative. Bean is at least something of a moderate (not extreme one way or the other). She votes with her caucus when it fits her principles. She votes against her caucus for the same reason. She's been representing the mood of the 8th fairly well in doing so. McSweeney is outside the mainstream for the 8th.

(As evidenced by the tied polls in the 6th the same can be said for Roskam and Duckworth. Though it is counterintuitive in this "red" district, Duckworth represents the mainstream and Roskam represents a movement conservatism pretty extreme for the suburban 6th as shown by his willingness to use NRA operatives to go door to door. C'mon Roskam -- common sense says you try to hide your gun-totin' allies from the already "scared" suburban housewives.)

Re: Bean gets Chamber TV help

Lovie's Leather — Mon, 07 Aug 2006 15:30:51 -0000

Everybody seems to be fighting about the numbers in the house. Nobody really cares about Bean or McSweeney... they really are basically the same. The Politics1 bloggers really criticize Bean because she is a "sell-out." In my opinion, both parties need a few more "sell-outs."

Re: Bean gets Chamber TV help

Yellow Dog Democrat — Mon, 07 Aug 2006 15:18:26 -0000

NW Burbs -

The key to electing "progressive" candidates is to educate the electorate, not browbeat Democrats. Show me a poll that shows that even a sizeable minority of Bean's district opposes CAFTA, and I'll have some sympathy for you.

I agree, she was probably way out-of-touch with her district on Schiavo, but I'm sure she learned her lesson. Is McSweeney better? I don't think so.

Re: Bean gets Chamber TV help

VanillaMan — Mon, 07 Aug 2006 14:59:42 -0000

Whatever. Voters in this district are perfectly capable of sorting through the rubbish that passes for news and political spin today. If they like McSweeney, they'll elect him. If they liked what Bean has done, she'll be re-elected. Endorsements and the backroom deals and rumors that float around about who got what and when is nothing but background noise.

As to when the Democrats take over Congress, well we have been reading those stories every two years since 1994. Historically, Republicans are supposed to take it in the shorts this year, so what's the big deal? There is still no one handing out a list of races that will make this happen. These stories are just speculation by desperate liberals.

I guess that is what really stinks. We are constantly barraged by garbage editorials trying to pass themselves off as news. Every pro-Democrat news bit is trumpeted as the second coming, and every anti-Bush news bit is trumpeted the same way. After ten years it is no wonder why so many voters have stopped reading yesterday's opinions in the newspapers and stopped watching CNN, CBS, NBC/MSNBC, and ABC.

At some base level voters sense BS but know the dance. When pollsters ask the fashion questions of the day, voters follow suit. But when they walk into the voting booth, their instinct decides. Will voters chicken out in Iraq or fight? Will voters embrace gay marriage or not? We know the public fashion statements to keep us looking pompous and hip, but in private, voters are going instinctual. Polls lie because respondents do.

Re: Bean gets Chamber TV help

RAI — Mon, 07 Aug 2006 14:13:59 -0000

If you dems think that the American people will put people like Dingle and Rangel as Chairman of major committees I got a bridge to sell you! Being anti american military and on the side of Hammas and Cuban dictators does not seem the way to reach middle america, at least to me.
But then you look at these stories

"In USA Today,"Economy, more than war, setting tone for elections,': A battle for control of the most closely divided Congress in 70 years enters its final and decisive phase... But for many voters, the economy appears to have eclipsed terrorism as a top concern... A recent Gallup Poll showed 50% of registered voters were more likely to vote for Democrats, 42% for Republicans."

"President Bush's vigorous campaigning to elect Republicans in November could make the elections a referendum on his presidency... 'If Republicans lose ground in the House and Senate, it'll be a major embarrassment to him,' said Gilbert St. Clair, political science professor at the University of New Mexico. Still, he also said a president 'doesn't have much control' over such elections." They go on to cite polling data that shows the American people vastly prefer Democrats to Republicans."

San Gabriel Valley Tribune, 'Bush's political capital may buy him nothing but trouble.' Consumer confidence is shaky and a majority of voters are pessimistic about the economy's near-term prospects. On national security, polls show that voters are not inclined to cast their ballots based on the issue; worse, according to National Journal's Charlie Cook, the recent debate over attacking Iraq may have hurt Bush's approval rating." "They cite polls showing that the country much prefers Democrats to Republicans."
Chicago Sun-Times, "From all indications, this fall's midterm elections should confirm the Judis-Teixeira thesis... They could win back the House on Nov. 5 and are favored to win key governorships. For the Democrats, happy days may be here again,'"

Christian Science Monitor, 'Deciding the fall elections... Polling numbers and historical patterns may provide the best clues."
they cites polling data that "suggests the majority of the country wishes to elect Democrats than Republicans."

BTW All these stories are from August of 2002, so don't believe everything you read in the media!

Re: Bean gets Chamber TV help

doubtful — Mon, 07 Aug 2006 14:12:58 -0000

If a choice between McSweeney and Bean doesnÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t motivate you, then you deserve to be represented by McSweeney and his right wing pals.-Skeeter

My problem is it shouldn't be the choice that motivates, but the candidate. I shouldn't go to the polls to vote for "not McSweeny," I should go to vote for someone I truly feel represents me and that is what I doubt I will be able to do.

Re: Bean gets Chamber TV help

Bill Baar — Mon, 07 Aug 2006 13:46:57 -0000

Those pesky primary and general elections just keep popping up and letting people decided who they want to represent them. Annoying, arenÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t they?

I thought Bean and Duckworth excellant candidates. I wish them both well.

Re: Bean gets Chamber TV help

Bill Baar — Mon, 07 Aug 2006 13:45:12 -0000

...has spent the past six years alienating its own base.

That's the point too. But I'm betting Republicans do better repairing that damage for 2008, then Democrats; who won't be in a repairing frame of mind.

Re: Bean gets Chamber TV help

Skeeter — Mon, 07 Aug 2006 13:39:10 -0000

Doubtful,

If a choice between McSweeney and Bean doesn't motivate you, then you deserve to be represented by McSweeney and his right wing pals.

Re: Bean gets Chamber TV help

Veritas — Mon, 07 Aug 2006 13:38:08 -0000

Baar,

You're mistaken. When the democrats win in November, it will be because the GOP, from Bush to Congress, has spent the past six years alienating its own base.

Re: Bean gets Chamber TV help

doubtful — Mon, 07 Aug 2006 13:35:35 -0000

Problem is come the 2008 convention, theyÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ll turn on the moderates with the same anger theyÃ¢â‚¬â„¢re turning on Joe in ConnÃ¢â‚¬Â¦. because those moderates wouldnÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t get relected in 2008 if they shift to the netroot-left. -Bill Baar

Those pesky primary and general elections just keep popping up and letting people decided who they want to represent them. Annoying, aren't they?

Endorsements or no, Bean will have a hard time motivating progressives in her district. Maybe she'll benefit from a close Governor's race. I may give her my vote, but I won't be putting her sign back in my yard this year.

Re: Bean gets Chamber TV help

Bill Baar — Mon, 07 Aug 2006 13:24:01 -0000

Skeeter,

Yes for sure Dems have run a bunch of moderates; many of whom the netrooters bitterly opposed earlier. Witness the hits on Duckworth.

The point is just that: if they take the house in 2006 it will because the Dems ran moderates.

Problem is come the 2008 convention, they'll turn on the moderates with the same anger they're turning on Joe in Conn.... because those moderates wouldn't get relected in 2008 if they shift to the netroot-left.

It's a heck of a spot for a party to work itself into... that a fossil like Gore seems to be the contender now for 2008 just deepens the morass.

Re: Bean gets Chamber TV help

Niles Township — Mon, 07 Aug 2006 13:22:35 -0000

Pretty boring ad if you have seen it. Looks like it was done by amatuers. Maybe uninspired support is all the Chamber could mount for a Dem.

Re: Bean gets Chamber TV help

Skeeter — Mon, 07 Aug 2006 12:52:36 -0000

Baar said:

"No I blame them for driving out the moderates. For folks who refrained Bush was the most divisive Prez in history theyÃ¢â‚¬â„¢re lunching at Lieberman with vengence."

Interesting. For a post on Cong. Bean you launched into an attack on a Democrat in Conn. who is running a winning campaign against a Democrat who sides with the Democratic Party about as often as Zell Miller. Democrats tend to vote for people who vote like Democrats we are funny that way.

Moreover, it is fascinating because it makes no reference to the fact that the Democrats this cycle have run a bunch of moderates, including people like Casey, Heath Schuler, Tammy Duckworth and others. Meanwhile, the ILGOP has been overrun by right wingers like Keyes and Salvi and Syverson who have made the party the weakest Republican Party in the country.

Facts, of course, don't mean much to Baar. He sure keeps talking though.

Re: Bean gets Chamber TV help

Bill Baar — Mon, 07 Aug 2006 12:44:00 -0000

lunging... thinking lunch I guess