The Class III Senators

There have been pundits that have stated that while it does not look like the Democrats will get to 60 seats this year, it looks just as favorable in 2010 to increase the majority. Here is the current list of Class III Senators as of today.

• Bayh, Evan - (D - IN) - um, yeah, that's a Dem hold.
• Bennett, Robert F. - (R-UT) - and that would be a Rep hold.
• Bond, Christopher S. - (R – MO) - beatable, but not likely.
• Boxer, Barbara - (D- CA) - Dem hold
• Brownback, Sam - (R - KS) - likely retiring and good chance for a takeover.
• Bunning, Jim - (R - KY) - Sure, he's in the Baseball Hall of Fame, but he's still crazy. And Republican Senators in Kentucky can be (almost) beaten.
• Burr, Richard - (R - NC) - recently labeled as the most ineffective Senator. And the new Junior Senator is a Democrat. Like that trend.
• Coburn, Tom - (R - OK) - He's over there in the crazy corner with Bunning. But he's also the head of the RSCC. Unfortunately, likely safe.
• Crapo, Mike - (R – ID) - Safe.
• DeMint, Jim - (R - SC) - Rumors are he's disillusioned. Maybe he leaves?
• Dodd, Christopher J. - (D - CT) - The Senior Senator will surely be back for another term.
• Dorgan, Byron L. - (D - ND) - maybe retiring.
• Feingold, Russell D. - (D - WI) - a good, liberal, Democratic hold.
• Grassley, Chuck - (R - IA) - and crazy makes three. But not leaving, perhaps.
• Gregg, Judd - (R - NH) - Rep hold.
• Inouye, Daniel K. - (D - HI) - old, but a Dem hold.
• Isakson, Johnny - (R - GA) - finishing up his first term, does he get another?
• Leahy, Patrick J. - (D - VT) - another of the last liberals in the Senate. Don't go, Pat.
• Lincoln, Blanche L. - (D - AR) - Dem hold.
• Martinez, Mel - (R - FL) - I'd like to think he's toast.
• McCain, John - (R-AZ) - burnt toast
• Mikulski, Barbara A. - (D - MD) - no signs of retirement there.
• Murkowski, Lisa - (R - AK) - Senator Palin?
• Murray, Patty - (D - WA) - The Senator in tennis shoes is comfortable where she is.
• (OPEN) - (D- DE) - Paging Beau Biden, Paging Beau Biden. You're seat's all warm and ready for you. Come and get it.
• (OPEN) - (D - IL) - That would be President Obama's seat. Um, yeah, that's a Dem hold.
• (OPEN) - (D - NY) - Where the Secretary of State had been? Senator Clinton, perhaps? No, the other one. That guy who used to be President?
  
• Reid, Harry - (D - NV) - He has not been my favorite Majority Leader. But he's got a good majority. Let's see what he does with it.
• Salazar, Ken - (D - CO) - With Colorado's trend, he's safe
• Schumer, Charles E. - (D - NY) - wait, is that a microphone? He's safe.
• Shelby, Richard C. - (R-AL) - He might be leaving. But not a state good for takeover.
• Specter, Arlen - (R - PA) - He's old. The cancer's back. Ed Rendell is thinking of running. The best shot at a flip.
• Thune, John - (R - SD) - wait, I stand corrected.
• Vitter, David - (R - LA) - never mind, I meant this one.
• Voinovich, George V. - (R - OH) - leaving by choice or election? you pick.
• Wyden, Ron - (D - OR) - Dem hold in a Dem state
  

So What's Next?

There is a habit in my wife's family when we are relaxing enjoying a wonderful meal, we will begin to focus on the next meal. So because we are that bad, here's a list of what's coming up for the Governors in 2009 and 2010.

In 2009, 2 states will hold gubernatorial elections: Tim Kaine will be looking for work in Virginia (in one of the stupidest laws ever - Governors serving only one term) and Jon Corzine will be looking to return to Trenton despite some pretty high unfavorables.

In 2010, 36 states will have gubernatorial elections, of which 20 are currently held by Democrats and 16 by Republicans. This is the current list.

• Alabama: Bob Riley (R) - term limited and I don't see this state house switching parties.
• Alaska: Sarah Palin (R) - hey, whose this woman? Think she's got a future in the party?
• Arkansas: Mike Beebe (D) - a rarity, a Democrat in a Southern State House, can he hold it?
• Arizona: Janet Napolitano - she's term limited, likely going to Homeland Security. If not, she will crush McCain in his attempt to get reelected to the Senate.
• California: Arnold Schwarzenegger - again, term limited. Does he want to be Senator? Perhaps that Constitutional amendment will have passed and he can be VP to Sarah Palin in 2012?
• Colorado: Bill Ritter (D) - In the continuing bluing of Colorado, he stays put.
• Connecticut: Jodi Rell (R) - Somebody else who could run against Lieberman - an actual Republican.
• Florida: Charlie Crist (R) - Didn't he get married? Is he thinking of running for President in 2012? Who knows? Who cares?
• Georgia: Sonny Perdue (R) - Georgia will elect a new governor to replace the term limited Perdue. Max Cleland, is that your phone?
• Hawaii: Linda Lingle (R) - Also term limited. A Republican Governor is a very blue state. Go figure.
• Illinois: Rod Blagojevich (D) - Anyone want to bet he makes it to 2010? Rod, don't answer the door, it's probably the police. And they're not here to protect you anymore.
• Idaho: Butch Otter (R) - Whatever. You want fries with that governor?
• Iowa: Chet Culver (D) - Chet and Butch, are we going to elect Governor Spanky next?
• Kansas: Kathleen Sebelius (D) - Term limited and perhaps heading for the Supreme Court someday?
• Maine: John Baldacci (D) - A fine Governor for the Pine Tree State.
  
• Maryland: Martin O'Malley (D) - He's been a disappointment, but for the most part, he is a Democrat.
  
• Massachusetts: Deval Patrick (D) - Will his friend the President, come to get him for something good?
  
• Nebraska: Dave Heineman (R) - I'm thinking reelection.
  
• New Hampshire: John Lynch (D) - pretty happy in Concord.
  
• New York: David Paterson (D) - Announced around the time he took over for Eliot Spitzer that he would run for a full term in 2010.
• Michigan: Jennifer Granholm (D) - She's term limited, but the new President may find something for her to do.
• Minnesota: Tim Pawlenty (R) - You have to think that someone is thinking bigger and better from the Gopher State, yes?
• Nevada: Jim Gibbons (R) - something tells me there is not much of a future for him.
• Ohio: Ted Strickland (D)
• Oklahoma: Brad Henry (R) - term limited and in a very red state, sure to continue with an R in this state house.
• Oregon: Ted Kulongoski (D) - term limited, but likely to stay in the blue column.
• Pennsylvania: Ed Rendell (D) - term limited, may be eyeing the Senate (running against Arlen Spector. TV Commentator Chris Matthews is rumored to have his eye on state wide office in the Keystone State.
• Rhode Island: Donald Carcieri (R) - term limited. A small state and a very democratic one - Change is coming.
  
• South Carolina: Mark Sanford (R) - term limited.
• South Dakota: Mike Rounds (R) - term limited.
• Texas: Rick Perry (R) - maybe Shrub can get his old job back.
• Tennessee: Phil Bredesen (D) - A Democrat in a red state, wasn't that Al Gore's problem?
• Vermont: Jim Douglas (R) - He's hoping that Patrick Leahy decides it's time to retire. But he would probably be content to stay in Montpelier, or maybe not.
• Wisconsin: Jim Doyle (D) - pass the cheddar, he's staying.
  
• Wyoming: Dave Freudenthal (D) - term limited.
  

The First 100 Days

Something to look forward to . . . something to measure President Obama by (God doesn't that just look wonderful?)

The First 100 Days (the Good Sheet)

Depicts the first 100 days of the modern presidents (starting with FDR)

A cartoon

from my sister-in-law.

A New Day is Here

Here on the pulse of this new day
You may have the grace to look up and out
And into your sister's eyes, into
Your brother's face, your country
And say simply
Very simply
With hope
Good morning

- Maya Angelou, January 20, 1993

I went to bed last night overwhelmed. My wife and I drank champagne and toasted our president-elect and dreamed of a better country for our children. We reveled in the moment, unable to comprehend what had taken place. We were both moved to tears on several occasions last night - I again felt tears of joy when I saw this editorial cartoon in today's Washington Post and after hearing the commentator Colbert I. King on WTOP News this morning talk about growing up in a capital city where he had to enter buildings by the back door and now the Obama family will move into the Executive Mansion through the front door.

"If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer . . .

We are, and always will be, the United States of America . . .

But above all, I will never forget who this victory truly belongs to. It belongs to you. It belongs to you . . .

This is your victory . . .

And I know you didn't do this just to win an election. And I know you didn't do it for me . . .

This is our moment . . .

This is our time, to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace; to reclaim the American dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth, that, out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope. And where we are met with cynicism and doubts and those who tell us that we can't, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people: Yes, we can."

- Barack Obama, November 4, 2008

When I awoke this morning, there was a sense that, "was it really true?" Had we elected a man to lead us in a new direction and get us believing in hope again? Yes, we did. Some of my readers have commented and questioned the validity of the two candidates in this race. My response is yes, neither of them are perfect, but we have elected the best person out there right now. Barack Obama is the real thing. He has to be.

The road ahead is long, the hill we must climb is steep. There is no perfect solution to the ills that are before us. Barack Obama was elected as an agent of change and he will do everything in his power, which with Democratic majorities in the House and Senate might be a great deal, to make this country a great nation again.

I had pestered a family member to vote, which she finally did. Prior to this she had not voted for President since Gerald Ford. I tried to explain to her that yes there were issues with the way this country votes, but we finally had a candidate that might actually be able to do something about the system. If not a first-term United States Senator, an African-American, and a Democrat who should cruise to election in the anti-Republican wave that was building all summer, then who? Change is coming and many of us will benefit.

She tried to tell me that her vote didn't matter - and yet her state has not yet been called. Don't tell me that every vote doesn't matter. If one person feels that way - there are others and that's how apathy gets out of control. She lives in a state where the black population is overjoyed at the idea of a black president, but this election was not about race. To a point. Yes, we have elected a black man, who defeated a white man, but first and foremost, we have elected a man who truly believes in the future of this country.

As President-elect Obama has said on many occasions, we are not a nation of red states and blue states, we are the United States. He will have to govern that way. He must surround himself with the right people (Rahm Emanuel is a good first pick) for the big tasks that lie ahead. He must be careful to avoid the pitfalls that befell Jimmy Carter in 1976, who arrived in Washington as an outsider and he and his advisors could not contain the Washington mentality.

President-elect Obama must also beware of lofty ideals that could derail some initiatives. He is given to high oratory. There is surely an international crisis out there waiting to test the new leader (Joe Biden wasn't wrong). But possibly the biggest danger may be the President-elect himself. Although he received a significant mandate (no Democrat had been elected with more than 50.1% of the vote since Jimmy Carter in 1976), winning traditionally Republican states and securing a large margin in the Electoral College, he is sure to face resistance from many sides. Change may be a good thing, but in general, people hate it. President-elect Obama will need to temper his enthusiasm to try and do too much, too fast.

One of my regular readers has left me comments with her criticisms of the current political climate and the lack of an acceptable candidate to her views. I grant her that our two party system is broken and that we are in need of real change in the way we elect our leaders and the party structure which we subscribe to. But as I said earlier, we have found someone who, first is willing to take this job right now, and two, was truly the best choice we had.

It is up to him to see if he can surround himself with the right people and truly lead this country in a new direction. Hope is alive, change is coming. Our wish and dream should be that Barack Obama can "Let America Be America Again." May God bless and protect our President-elect and continue to look over our country.

Let America be America again.
Let it be the dream it used to be.
Let it be the pioneer on the plain
Seeking a home where he himself is free.
(America never was America to me.)

Let America be the dream the dreamers dreamed -
Let it be that great strong land of love
Where never kings connive nor tyrants scheme
That any man be crushed by one above.
(It never was America to me.)

O, let my land be a land where Liberty
Is crowned with no false patriotic wreath,
But opportunity is real, and life is free,
Equality is in the air we breathe.
(There's never been equality for me,
Nor freedom in this "homeland of the free.")

Say, who are you that mumbles in the dark?
And who are you that draws your veil across the stars?

I am the poor white, fooled and pushed apart,
I am the Negro bearing slavery's scars.
I am the red man driven from the land,
I am the immigrant clutching the hope I seek -
And finding only the same old stupid plan
Of dog eat dog, of mighty crush the weak.

I am the young man, full of strength and hope,
Tangled in that ancient endless chain
Of profit, power, gain, of grab the land!
Of grab the gold! Of grab the ways of satisfying need!
Of work the men! Of take the pay!
Of owning everything for one's own greed!

I am the farmer, bondsman to the soil.
I am the worker sold to the machine.
I am the Negro, servant to you all.
I am the people, humble, hungry, mean -
Hungry yet today despite the dream.
Beaten yet today - O, Pioneers!
I am the man who never got ahead,
The poorest worker bartered through the years.

Yet I'm the one who dreamt our basic dream
In the Old World while still a serf of kings,
Who dreamt a dream so strong, so brave, so true,
That even yet its mighty daring sings
In every brick and stone, in every furrow turned
That's made America the land it has become.
O, I'm the man who sailed those early seas
In search of what I meant to be my home--
For I'm the one who left dark Ireland's shore,
And Poland's plain, and England's grassy lea,
And torn from Black Africa's strand I came
To build a "homeland of the free."
The free?

Who said the free? Not me?
Surely not me? The millions on relief today?
The millions shot down when we strike?
The millions who have nothing for our pay?
For all the dreams we've dreamed
And all the songs we've sung
And all the hopes we've held
And all the flags we've hung,
The millions who have nothing for our pay -
Except the dream that's almost dead today.

O, let America be America again -
The land that never has been yet -
And yet must be - the land where every man is free.
The land that's mine - the poor man's, Indian's, Negro's, ME -
Who made America,
Whose sweat and blood, whose faith and pain,
Whose hand at the foundry, whose plow in the rain,
Must bring back our mighty dream again.

Sure, call me any ugly name you choose -
The steel of freedom does not stain.
From those who live like leeches on the people's lives,
We must take back our land again,
America!

O, yes,
I say it plain,
America never was America to me,
And yet I swear this oath -
America will be!

Out of the rack and ruin of our gangster death,
The rape and rot of graft, and stealth, and lies,
We, the people, must redeem
The land, the mines, the plants, the rivers.
The mountains and the endless plain -
All, all the stretch of these great green states -
And make America again!

Let America be America Again
- Langston Hughes

Did You Take the Day Off?

A PROCLAMATION

WHEREAS The Fourth Day of November in the year 2008 represents the long-awaited resolution to the fiercely contested Presidential election.

WHEREAS By nature of Mr. Obama’s residency and its proud Democratic tradition, the great city of Chicago finds itself squarely at the center of attention on this momentous day.

WHEREAS No municipal or government body has shown the foresight or fortitude to state what needs to be stated.

NOW THEREFORE WE, Coudal Partners, do hereby proclaim that
NO WORK be done on NOVEMBER FOURTH

WHEREAS All employees are hereby required to report for work at the regularly appointed time and subsequently spend the morning hours unfettered by any assignment or memo, conversing with coworkers and furiously surfing political blogs for the latest information.

WHEREAS It would be nice if someone brought bagels.

WHEREAS Commencing at the hour of lunch, all employees will be set free from obligation, to leave the workplace and join friends and family at places of community and conviviality.

WHEREAS An exception will be made for those employees in “battleground states” with certain disagreeable political leanings who are required to arrive at work before the polls open and work until they have closed, without a lunch break and under constant supervision.

WHEREAS For everyone else in Chicago, we will see you at Grant Park. In all other American burgs, villages and hamlets, pretty much anywhere with a television is acceptable. Bowling alleys, rec rooms, firehouses and taverns are a few suggested venues.

WHEREAS Employers not obeying this proclamation are forewarned that they will find the day without productivity or profit and in the end only earn the ire of their tireless and devoted workers.

WHEREAS By the authority vested in us by us, all employees in the U.S.A. are encouraged to forward this proclamation to their supervisors and if there is some doubt about said supervisors agreeableness to follow the guidelines stated herein they are further advised, in the great tradition of American Democracy, to take matters into their own hands and sneak out the back door at lunchtime leaving this web page open on their computer as a statement of their whereabouts and intentions.

WHEREAS Employers are also advised to allow great leniency for late arrivals on the morning of the Fifth Day of November.

Signed and Stated by Coudal Partners, 31 October 2008

"Bob Rumsen's [John McCain's] Problem is He Can't Sell It!

Vote and Then Go Get Some Ice Cream

from Ben and Jerry's.

But no sprinkles for you if you don't do the right thing and vote for change.

Don't Listen to Me

Look at the pictures and decide for yourself. Please. Change is Coming. Be a Part of it.

Are They On to Something?

One could get very tired of polls and projections, punditry, etc. Well there is one group out there that has picked the winner in 12 of the last 13 presidential elections. Yep, the students of Weekly Reader. C'mon - do it for the kids.

So the Big Guy Wins, Right?

So says the New York Times. But everyone expected them to endorse Obama anyway . . .