Just Who’s Leaving This Sinking Democratic Ship?

In the wake of Democrats losing the “Kennedy Senate seat”, Joe Biden’s son Beau has decided not to seek “his father’s Senate seat” in Delaware.  This comes on the same day that a new Rasmussen poll has another national institution, Indiana Senator Evan Bayh, trailing Congressman Mike Spence by three points.

Could it be that not only the Kennedy seat, but also the Clinton, Biden, and Obama Senate seats will all be lost to Democrats?

The only hope for Dems now seems to be the Dodd option, that tainted incumbents will step aside for less tainted Democrats to run.  Don’t be surprised if Harry Reid is the next to go.  While he trails two potential Republicans by double digits in Nevada, Oscar Goodman, the Democratic mayor of Las Vegas, fares very well indeed.

The irony couldn’t be sweeter.  Get rid of the dead wood.

What does this mean for New Hamphsire?  As reported here earlier, word is out that Finance Chair Marjorie Smith, Deputy Speaker Linda Foster, and Majority Leader Mary Jane Wallner are all planning not to run again.  State Senators Harold Janeway, a big income tax booster, along with Sgambati of Laconia and Reynolds of Plymouth were also remored to be leaning against seeking re-election.  The Mass-Delaware-Indiana signs could push them from leaning to deciding for sure.

The signs are clear.  As prominent Democrats continue to tell me (off the record of course) that my prediction of a 41-seat GOP gain in the NH House is way too conservative, it appears that many would rather throw in the towel than come back in a minority status.

For sure, Republicans will have a much easier time recruiting candidates to run this fall.  Imagine Raybo trying to persuade people, who won’t even show up if elected (Mike Farley and Maureen Nagle in my own Ward 8 for example), that they just need to put their name on the ballot.

We can only hope that Republicans don’t become so crass, that sensing a win of epic proportions, Republicans resist the urge to encourage unqaulified people to run.  The GOP need not sink as low as the Buckley-Sullivan cabal on the other side.  We can get good people to run and win, and we can commit ourselves to less government spending and interference in our lives if we regain control.

Those who still think Chairs Smith and Almy had a clue as to what they were doing the last four years need only look at the record.  12 percent in lapses (when we usually expect three or four percent) proves that we overbudgeted to begin with.  A nearly $300 million shortfall in revenues last year (with something in the $80-100 million range likely this year) proves that they overestimated simply so they could spend more.

As Democrats leave the sinking ship of state, Republicans need to pledge more prudent management when (as now seems likely) they get back at the helm.  Let’s not be overconfident with these polls; the task of governing after four years of Democratic mismanagement will not be an easy one.  It’s time for adults to govern again.

Having relegated herself to cheerleader in chief, thanks in no small part to JoeWMcq and the strange folks at the six-times-a-week Union Leader,  Kathy Sullivan should simply be ignored.  Or better yet…read her and think just the opposite of what she says is reality.  What a great counterindicator she has become.