Who’s Is Keeping Count? UPDATED
Frank LoBiondo, a Republican congressvarmint from New Jersey has announced that after 20 years in congress he is retiring.
He’s a centrist Republican who voted against the repeal of Obamacare and does not support the tax bill. He say the extremes in both party are making it hard to govern. (Yeah, but, we know which party has the majority, right?)
His decision to retire does create a possible opportunity for Democrats.
While Donald Trump won the district in 2016, Barack Obama won it by seven points over Mitt Romney in 2012.
So, here’s another chance.
Thanks to Patrick for the heads up!
UPDATE:
Tonight Ted Poe, Republican of Texas, said he would not seek re-election. He’s the third Texas Republican this week, and the fifth this year, who has announced they won’t seek reelection.
Gohmert and Farenthold, we’re waiting.
This is getting too much like rats fleeing a sinking ship. I see the fell hand of Bannon and the Koch Bros and the Nazis looming and these guys don’t want to be in the line of fire.
Man the firehoses, folks.
1Anything to turn NJ from sorta blue to deep, deep blue is good.
2Ted Poe, headed back to Texas to play with all the grandkids? Outstanding! One less obnoxious jerk in the state’s collection of right-wing dipsticks. Hope the trend continues, even with Bannon lurking about.
3Ducky Boy and Loonie Louie are too stupid to pay attention.
4It is a good night to be a Democrat my friends. The governorships in Virginia and New Jersey have already been called for the Democratic candidates and there are many down ballot races yet to be determined.
5Has anyone noticed what seems to me to be a recurring theme with these folks? “The extremes in both parties”? As if the left has anything to compare with the repugnantly huge rightward swing of conservatives. When the reality is that Democrats have moved far to the center on many issues. Thereby creating a new center. But gays in the military? Marriage equality? A 2 term black President? A reality where it’s not okay for men in power to grope/rape women/men? Holy crap! What the hell have the deep state socialists been putting in the juice boxes of our precious children?
The sad thing is that I’d bet that LoBiondo and company are still just making those short little Lakoffesque comments (sorry George) to do their small share to keep repugnantcans in power. SAD!!!
6Better get a hammer and wooden stake for Gohmert.
7OT, but I wanted to pass on some good news. Virginia is having an election tonight. It’s looking like the Dems are going to keep all three statewide offices – we’re between 2-5 points ahead in each, and Fairfax County, which is both the largest and 3rd most blue county in the state always finishes counting last.
Furthermore, there are 10 confirmed Dem pickups in the House of Delegates, and I can’t find any Dem losses in the competative districts yet. 12 delegate races still to be reported and the current numbers are 43R 45D out of 100. Before tonight, the numbers were 66R, 34D. We might just flip it tonight
8Just saw that we took NJGov and NYC mayor.
All three VA statewide republicans have conceded.
Dems are now at 46 confirmed seats in the Virginia House, are ahead in another 7, and were behind by 4 votes in an 8th as of 10 minutes ago.
9All those R’s that have declared they are not running in 18? Well,the last time I looked, there was a list of at least 18 of them. However, one of them has changed his mind and has decided to stick it out for another term if he’s lucky. LoBiondo, Poe et al. might make that list longer but the point is, they can always change their minds.
10Don’t know anything about Danica Roem other than coverage by MSNBC. But she’s brave as hell.
11All “out” transgender people are brave as hell. They have to be.
12@ P.P. and AK Lynne, a quotation from Tyrion Lannister, the dwarf character on Game of Thrones: “Never forget what you are. The rest of the world will not. Wear it like a suit of armor and it can never be used to hurt you.”
13For years was in Sheila jackson Lee’s district. Don’t like her personally but she voted the way I wanted about 95% of the time. Then was gerrymandered into Culbertson district. A few years later gerrymandered into Poe’s district. He’s nominally less evil than Culbertson but I won’t miss him a bit. Dems should be looking for a decent candidate pronto!
14But mostly so relieved and pleased about the wins.
He may be against throwing millions off their health care and taxing us all back to the Stone Age — or at least the Gilded Age — but he still has a virulent case of Both-Sides-Do-It-itis.
Um, Mr. LoBiondo? Has a Democrat yelled, during one of Trump’s speeches, “YOU LIE!”? Yeah, didn’t think so. They may think it but they don’t spout it out just to make political points.
Meanwhile, if tonight is any indication, thank you very kindly for the seat you’re handing to the Dems.
15Republicans are getting and will continue to get trumped. I’m not happy about what happened in 2016 but maybe it took the country getting hit across the face with a 2×4 to see what the Republican Party has become.
When people vote, Democrats win.
16Ted Poe has leukemia.
At least he will have staff answer mail with a phone call. I have been called by his office in response to letters several times.
They were always interesting discussions.
I, too, hope the Ds put up a decent candidate. Nick Lampson may be a good union guy in Beaumont. His interest and knowledge of what works in Houston was negligible.
17@Crone
18Poe’s staff was always perfunctorily civil to me when I called. Then after the resistance started earlier this year every call I made, no matter what day or time, when straight to a canned message saying to leave message on the website. Yes, Poe is ill but he voted against healthcare for his constituents, including me, while getting excellent healthcare paid for by my and everyone else’s tax dollars. So let me check…checking…checking…Nope, still glad he’s (almost) gone.
yet another boomer
I hear ya.
Am now in Culbertson district. And while people said SJL was a camera hog, she never was as much as Poe.
I just hope the Democrats get a good candidate. We have 8 running for the chance to go up against Culbertson. Several IMO have a good chance.
19I liked one on FB. Within a month, he rang my doorbell. We had a good visit.
I’m just terrified that somebody like Dan Patrick or his clone will get Poe’s seat.
@Crone
20Yes! District 7. Boy, those Swing Left folks are busy, I get email from them all the time. I’m kinda envious of all y’all in District 7, I think there are some real candidates to choose from. Primary should be lively, which is much needed. But, aaraugh, I hadn’t even begun to think about a Patrick clone running here in District 2. You’re probably right though. (slowly banging head) Even if we could get a good Dem candidate, I’m not convinced there’s enough of us museum district/Montrose voters to have much weight.
Ok, now I’m sad again.