Retirement in 2010

We are now in retirement season for members of Congress who are not going to run for election in 2010. Most people are on vacation or starting their school shopping. For members or Congress this is the time to announce your retirement. It gives any potential replacement the time needed to organize a campaign. There have not been any retirements yet this year however there will be, and depending on who does will determine the winds of 2010. There are 15 members of Congress that are not seeking re-election but they are all running for another elective office. I doubt if there will be as many retirements in Congress as there was last year since the political winds have calmed to a certain degree and it won't be a Presidential election year.

A Way Forward

The Republican party needs a way forward, especially a conservative way forward. On the international front we should re-adopt the Weinberger/Powell doctrine when it comes to warfare. We must have a large and robust state department so that we have as much diplomatic influence and soft power as we can. On the domestic front we must stop trying to legislate morality. Being rigid ideologues that do not have a realist common sense approach does not help us either. we must be seen as a party that champions the immigrant that legally wants the American dream and attains it. we must exude confidence in our Public schools and back it up with proper funding. We must always remember that the best government is a constrained and small government.

2009 Governors races

The two states which have governors races this year are close races. The race in Virginia continues to be close with Bob McDonnell leading Creigh Deeds 44-41 in the latest polls. The New Jersey race is starting too tighten however Chris Christie is still leading incumbent Jon Corzine 42-37. This means two things that if things keep going the way they are with the economy President Obama will cost his party one governor's maybe two. Most experts believe that Jon Corzine was going to be in trouble for re-election anyway with his poor handling of state issues. But for Creigh Deeds don't expect a bunch of help from President Obama because of the states purple tinge.

Looking at 2010

I was surfing the political websites I usually look at to gauge goings on and noticed a very interesting thing. Even if you take out the incumbents there are still more republican declared candidates than democrats. Now I accidentally labeled Christopher Geary a democrat he is a republican. Also Matt Sakalosky who is challenging Lee Terry in a primary Geary is challenging Gov.Heineman in his primary. As of right now and I am sure it will change the only declared democratic candidate is Rebekah Davis a minister who is challenging Congressman Adrian Smith. Now it is assumed that State Sen. Tom White is going to challenge Congressman Lee Terry while White is trying to lay low before his official announcement when you spend your time at the Morrison-Exxon dinner attacking Rep.Terry its hard to believe that you haven't made up your mind on the race or not. With the democrats trying to recruit State Sen.Steve Lathrop into running as a sacrificial lamb to Gov. Heineman it again brings up an issue that the democrats will have to face.
Both Senators White and Lathrop seats in the Unicameral are up for re-election in 2010 so they have to make the decision whether to pad their political resume with easier re-election campaigns to the legislature or do the risk those seats and and go for higher office. Now if the do seek higher office the republican state party will be overjoyed. the state republican party wants to pick up two legislative seats and with both senators White and Lathrop running for higher office this would open up two more legislative seats that would be put in play in 2010. So the democrats with their limited bench have tough decisions ahead of them more than likely the democrats will not field a full slate of viable candidates for office in 2010.

We must be a symbol

The Nebraska Republican party can be a symbol of political power. We are a party that still dominates its state while that national party is in transition. We have a chance to make transition with new ideas and still be the dominating force in state politics. we as a state party should be reaching out to young voters but we must be careful not to talk at the or too them but with them. We must make our conservative points in a thoughtful manner that does not demonize the opposition. Younger voters do not care for social warfare that dominated the '90's. But many young voters are conservatives they just don't know it. But they are more libertarian in there views which is a conservative view point. We must make our pitch of personal responsibility and individual freedoms. Those are two areas where we as conservatives can recruit younger voters.

They have 60

With the Minnesota State Supreme Court unanimously vote 5-0 against now former Senator Norm Coleman the democrats have 60 seats in the U.S. Senate. Not something that has been achieved since LBJ won a super majority with his election. Now LBJ and the democrats over reached and were swatted in the '66 election cycle. Now will that happen this time nobody knows republicans are not helping the brand any. We as republicans have yet to come up with an idea besides no which does not help. We can run against the message of the democrats of more spending, more deficit, and more government. But when voters ask us what are we for we have to have our own ideas.
Right now lets take a look at former Senator Norm Coleman this is a man who lost as the Republican nominee to Jessie Ventura in '98. Norm Coleman was not a strong candidate to begin with. He said many times that he was a Brooklyn Jewish kid who somehow ended up in Minnesota. That is not helpful either the public wants politicians they can identify with somebody they can see as a childhood friend.
Second Coleman Won his seat six years ago because his opponent died Paul Wellstone and his funeral became nothing more than a partisan rant. Former Vice President Walter Mondale still almost beat Norm Coleman. I am happy that Norm Coleman won but are we really surprised he lost this time. For 2010 the party needs to find youthful articulate candidates that aren't angry and don't frighten people. The key is to find the articulate candidates that can deliver a message for the future that the republican brand has ideas for the future and that if you vote republican you are helping to shape a more positive common sense future for your district, state, and our country.