A Special Thank You to the People of Rhode Island

[toasty]

As I was watching the returns come in last night, I thought the RI Senate race was, believe it or not, the one race that was really telling. It wasn't the closest by a long shot, but it was pretty interesting.

I've been an advocate of the idea that under the circumstances, voting out all of the Republicans in Congress was justified. That means you would vote out some good people, unfortunately, but the end game of wresting control from the whackjobs running the Republican party made it appropriate. Lincoln Chafee was one of those good Republicans who might end up being roadkill.

As it turns out, the people of Rhode Island agreed. Exit polls showed that Chafee had an approval rating of 62%, but he was still beaten rather handily. The only conclusion I can reach from that is that the folks in RI got rid of a guy they liked for the greater good of the country. I can't think of any other explanation for it.

So that you to the people of RI for taking one for the team. Much appreciated.

Thoughts?

[Lorn]

Re: A Special Thank You to the People of Rhode Island

You might be right on that one. Or its just votes against the President.

[thesightless]

Re: A Special Thank You to the People of Rhode Island

its good to see the balance return. the only thing im fearing is gridlock now. i mean, its good on one side to balance out the admin, but in the houses, i doubt we will see any legislation soon...

also, we really have to pay concern to a potential vietnam like disaster in the middle east if we run.

[BSully828]

Re: A Special Thank You to the People of Rhode Island

For all the complaining most of us do about negative campaign ads, this race was a perfect example of how they can work. Whitehouse started the mudslinging first and therefore was able to define his opponent before his opponent could define himself. There was a series of ads that ran which showed a video clip of Chafee saying "I'm a Republican and that's the party I'll support" followed by the obligatory "A vote for Chafee is a vote for Bush" crap. The Ocean State is no different than the other 49 in that the majority of the voters don't do their homework, don't look at voting records and pretty much lap up whatever they're fed hand over fist.

Chafee is a moderate Republican at best and has opposed most of the Iraq issues brought to the table (he was the lone Repub who voted against the first Iraq War bill). He countered with ads touting his anti-Bush actions and tried his best to prove that the Whitehouse whitewashing was off base. Think it made a difference? Nope - the voters in RI didn't care and made him a victim of guilt by association thanks to that (R) next to his name.

As much as I don't agree with Chafee's views on foreign policy, he's done great things for the State during his term. He had seats on some big time committees and made it a point to see that Federal money brought into the State was spent wisely. He helped get the funds needed to expand and improve the state colleges, worked to get the much needed highway reconstruction underway and has been a big proponent of environmental issues - all things Sheldon has said he will turn away from. Whitehouse has made no effort to hide the fact that he will be more interested in joining the team hell bent on taking down Bush then he will on issues that effect RI. He might be a welcome sight to those outside RI, but for us who live here - he's bad news.

(And if that last paragraph sounds totally like a "Vote for Chafee" spot, I apologize...... thank God these campaign ads are over.)

[toasty]

Re: A Special Thank You to the People of Rhode Island

Chafee is a moderate Republican at best and has opposed most of the Iraq issues brought to the table (he was the lone Repub who voted against the first Iraq War bill). He countered with ads touting his anti-Bush actions and tried his best to prove that the Whitehouse whitewashing was off base. Think it made a difference? Nope - the voters in RI didn't care and made him a victim of guilt by association thanks to that (R) next to his name.

I also liked that Chafee voted against Alito -- was the sole Republican that did that, I think...