U. S. Congress—how's your Congressperson doing?

Great Debates
1

There will be midterm elections in the United States, as usual, in 2002. 33 senators are up for reëletion—twenty Republicans, thirteen Democrats. They are as follows:

Jeff Sessions—R, Alabama
Ted Stevens—R, Alaska
Tim Hutchinson—R, Arkansas
Wayne Allard—R, Colorado
Joseph Biden—D, Delaware
Max Cleland—D, Georgia
Daniel Kahikina Akaka—D, Hawaii
Larry Craig—R, Idaho
Dick Durbin—D, Illinois
Tom Harkin—D, Iowa
Pat Roberts—R, Kansas
Mitch McConnell—R, Kentucky
Mary Landrieu—D, Louisiana
Susan Collins—R, Maine
John Kerry—D, Massachusetts
Carl Levin—D, Michigan
Thad Cochran—R, Mississippi
Max Baucus—D, Montana
Chuck Hagel—R, Nebraska
Bob Smith—R, New Hampshire
Robert Torricelli—D, New Jersey
Pete Domenici—R, New Mexico
Jesse Helms—R, North Carolina
James Inhofe—R, Oklahoma
Gordon Smith—R, Oregon
Jack Reed—D, Rhode Island
Strom Thurmond—R, South Carolina
Tim Johnson—D, South Dakota
Fred Thompson—R, Tennessee
Bill Gramm—R, Texas
John Warner—R, Virginia
John D. Rockefeller—D, West Virginia
Michael Enzi—R, Wyoming
So with thirty-three senatoral races, there’s no doubt that some of the regulars here are going to choose to keep or kick out one of their senators in the upcoming election. Granted, I know it’s two years away, so it’s probably a little early to determine which way you’re going to vote, but if yours is one of the above, what do you feel about him or her? If the election were held tomorrow, would you gladly vote for another term for that person, or definitely take a chance on a new person no matter what? Do you even know anything about your senators? Speak up and praise, or vent!

2

That’s Phil Gramm (R-TX). Although I cringe when I hear him pontificate on just about any social issue, his grasp of economics is sound. He is a former Econ Professor, even though it was at Texas A&M :). Since I generally vote based on my own economic well-being, he would usually get my vote in a two-way race. However, I usually “throw my vote away” in practice, voting for the Libertarian candidate.

He will own that seat until he decides to retire (or gets caught doing something REALLY stupid).

3

I like Torricelli. I didn’t vote for him in 1996 because I moved to New Jersey just a month after Election Day, but I think I would have voted for him then. He’s interested in mending the country’s educational infrastructure without abandoning it to so-called “school choice” programs. He focuses on merit pay for teachers instead, as well as maintaining and increasing the quality of existing public schools. Torricelli also favors stricter regulation of firearms (not uncommon here in populated areas) and, finally, believes in an increased minimum wage. A higher minimum wage makes sense for New Jersey, too, what with its higher cost of living.

If the election were held tomorrow, I’d probably vote for him, though I don’t usually like to make such a statement without any challengers having been identified.

4

I don’t have a senator up for reelection (CA), but I assume that Strom Thurmond is not going to run for re-election. Please tell me that’s so.

I assume that Jesse Helms will run for re-election purely out of spite.

Since more Republicans are running in 2002 than Democrats, they will have their work cut out for them to hold on to their “majority” in the Senate. None of the Democrats stands out as particularly vulnerable except for Mary Landrieu, who barely won her first race.

There will be an additional race in 2002 because Missouri will have a special election for the seat presently held by Jean Carnahan.

5

Massachusetts here.

I’m probably going to vote for Kerry, both because he’s a democrat and I’m very much against the Republican leadership, and the fact that even if I weren’t so strong of Democrat, judging from who the Republicans “ran” against Ted Kennedy this year, it won’t be much of a race anyway.

6

Dick Durbin - D-IL

He’s a great guy - I’ll definitely vote for him again.

7

Durbin shouldn’t have much to worry about.

8

Mitch McConnell…ugh. I hope we boot the schmuck. But it probably won’t happen unless Bush does something big to cause a backlash.

9

Ooh…actually, I was just reminded, thanks to David B’s thread, that Kerry might be making a run for Governor. I’d still vote Democrat, though, unless the candidate was REALLY repulsive, and, seeing as how it’s Massachusetts we’re talking about here, I don’t think whoever DOES run will have much trouble winning.

10

Paul Wellstone—D, Minnesota is also up for reëlection in 2002. For the record.

11

If the only choices on the ballot are Mitch McConnell and a potted plant, I will get out and actively campaign for the plant. I have no idea why we keep electing the man.

Dr. J

12

Nice guy, quiet for the most part. I predict he’ll be back, if anyone bothers to run against him.