Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Formerly About Advanced Micro Devices -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Road Walker who wrote (515256)	9/22/2009 3:40:33 PM
From: Bill	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 1583406

Can you believe the dems in congress and Obama himself ran on a platform to end the wars? But there are more troops in the ME today than when they took office. Neither party is interested in ending them.

To: Road Walker who wrote (515256)	9/22/2009 4:14:50 PM
From: bentway	Respond to of 1583406

Squeeze From The Right For House Republicans By Alan K. Ota, CQ Staff cqpolitics.com ( Think they've BEEN crazy? The BASE wants them crazier! ) The passions of conservative activists could be reshaping the Republican Party and complicating some 2010 re-election campaigns. Indiana’s Mark Souder is among four House Republicans likely to face primary opponents drawing strength from the “tea party” movement and its fervent opposition to anything that might trigger higher taxes or bigger government. Souder, first elected in the Republican wave of 1994, usually lines up with his party’s right wing. But he has angered some conservatives by endorsing earmarks for his district and by backing both the 2008 financial industry bailout (PL 110-343) and the expansion of the program to help recreational vehicle makers. Rachel Grubb, a self-described “blue-collar mom,” is challenging Souder in the May primary, running on promises that she would strictly adhere to the Constitution and pay attention to those in the electorate “who say those in power have been there far too long.” The eight-term lawmaker said he expects other conservative candidates to join the field, as well. Souder said the prospect of several possible primary rivals makes it difficult for incumbents like him to embrace bipartisan deals on high-profile issues. “On the big issues, I don’t think you’re going to see much bipartisanship because our right wing has dug in so hard,” Souder said. “And there’s, quite frankly, panic among Democrats.” As a result, Republican lawmakers are increasingly reluctant to work with Democrats on health care (HR 3200, S 1685), climate change (HR 2454) and financial services regulations — even if their natural inclination is to work to perfect those bills rather than line up to thwart them. In The Same Boat Other Republicans facing primary challenges from energized activists are Reps. Todd Akin of Missouri, Lee Terry of Nebraska and Bob Inglis of South Carolina. Akin is facing a GOP challenge from Liz Lauber, a former communications consultant who once worked as an aide to former House Majority Leader Dick Armey, R-Texas (1985-2003). Armey heads FreedomWorks, the conservative activist group that has helped organize the tea party protests. “It’s a fairly spontaneous movement. . . . It could bounce both ways,” said Akin, raising concern that activists’ protests could alienate swing voters vital to Republican electoral victories. Inglis also faces challengers, particularly because he pushed a carbon tax on fossil fuels (HR 2380) that would be used to reduce payroll taxes while curbing greenhouse gases. He was also one of seven Republicans to support the resolution the House passed Sept. 15 rebuking fellow South Carolina Republican Joe Wilson for shouting “You lie” during President Obama’s speech Sept. 9 to Congress. “I’ve got four primary challengers and all of them hope to capitalize on the tea parties,” Inglis said. And in Kentucky’s open-seat Senate race, Rand Paul, an eye surgeon and son of libertarian-leaning Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, is a dark-horse challenger to the GOP primary favorite — Kentucky Secretary of State Trey Grayson. Texas Rep. Pete Sessions , chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, the group that helps elect House Republicans, and Texas Sen. John Cornyn , chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, the Senate counterpart, have been talking to incumbents about how to stay out of trouble with conservative activists and avoid drawing primary opponents. Cornyn said has advised GOP senators to spend a lot of time in their states to connect with voters and better counter attacks from challengers on the right. “And also, don’t vote for a bunch of wasteful Washington spending. That’s probably a pretty good plan,” he said. Republican pollster Whit Ayres said the “tea party movement” has given Republicans in Congress new reasons to stick to their guns as the opposition party. “It’s helping to create an atmosphere where all the incentives for Republican members of Congress are to oppose Obama,” agreed Eric Schickler, a political scientist at the University of California at Berkeley. Former Rep. Bill Frenzel, R-Minn. (1971-91), a Brookings Institution scholar, says the tea parties remind him of the third-party presidential campaigns of Ross Perot in 1992 and 1996. “It is a two-edged sword,” he said. “Democrats have a greater exposure. But Republicans are likely not to come out of this unscathed.” CQ Politics rates the seats of Souder, Akin and Inglis as “Safe Republican” in the general election; Terry, “Leans Republican”; and the Kentucky Senate contest as as toss-up. To see how all the 2010 congressional races are shaping up, check out the CQ Politics House and Senate campaign maps.