Getting the discussion going...
As I prepare for my trip to Washington next week, I've been trying to read up on what is happening there as Democrats prepare to take control for the first time in 12 years - and I caught this little item in the New York Times.
The Times is reporting that House Democratic Leader, Speaker Nancy Pelosi has instructed her aides to begin immediately working on plans to make sure freshman lawmakers are positioned well for re-election in 2008. That includes appointments to some prime committees and sponsorship on some prized bills that should be approved easily in the opening days of Congress. And more importantly, start raising money for them.
The so-called "incumbent retention program" is a very detailed plan to fortify the re-election bids of incumbents who represent districts where President Bush has done well in the past, and for those who won close elections this time out.
That would seem to suggest that U.S. Rep.-elect Joe Courtney, D-2nd District, will do very well in the early days of the new Congress. Courtney defeated three-term GOP Congressman Rob Simmons by a mere 83-votes out of more than 240,000 cast - the closest House race in the entire country.
On another front...it's beginning to look pretty clear that U.S. Sen. Christopher J. Dodd, D-CT, will make it official next month, and announce that he is making a run for the Democratic nomination for president in 2008.
So what you think about either of these items?
The Times is reporting that House Democratic Leader, Speaker Nancy Pelosi has instructed her aides to begin immediately working on plans to make sure freshman lawmakers are positioned well for re-election in 2008. That includes appointments to some prime committees and sponsorship on some prized bills that should be approved easily in the opening days of Congress. And more importantly, start raising money for them.
The so-called "incumbent retention program" is a very detailed plan to fortify the re-election bids of incumbents who represent districts where President Bush has done well in the past, and for those who won close elections this time out.
That would seem to suggest that U.S. Rep.-elect Joe Courtney, D-2nd District, will do very well in the early days of the new Congress. Courtney defeated three-term GOP Congressman Rob Simmons by a mere 83-votes out of more than 240,000 cast - the closest House race in the entire country.
On another front...it's beginning to look pretty clear that U.S. Sen. Christopher J. Dodd, D-CT, will make it official next month, and announce that he is making a run for the Democratic nomination for president in 2008.
So what you think about either of these items?
posted by Ray Hackett at 12:19 PM
2 Comments:
Simmons was a three term incumbent not a six term. I think the Washington insider games these guys like to play have little or no effect on the voters in Connecticut's 2nd Congressional district.
I don't think Chris Dodd has a very realistic chance at the Democratic nomination for President in 2008, he has essentially no "base."
People whine like babies about the "political" ads on television prior to Election Day. Why don't we hear the same "outrage" about the ridiculous number of television ads for new cars right at this time of year? Those are much more numerous, far worse are far more offensive that poltical ads.
Right you are Bill.,..Simmons was a three-term, not six. (I've already corrected that from the original posting. Guess that's what happens when you take an extended time off - the fingers get out of practice on the keyboard and the mind starts to show it's age.)
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