Inhofe: Potential Democratic Challengers

[Chicken Little]

This is an interesting article from CQ Politics

quote:(snip) Despite the long- and strong-running Republican trend in conservative-leaning Oklahoma, Democrats argue that Republican Sen. James M. Inhofe is vulnerable for his 2008 bid for re-election in that state.

In justifying their optimism, Democratic activists point to Inhofe's penchant for blunt remarks — including his strongly worded skepticism about global warming as a threat to mankind. They also note Inhofe's steadfast support for the war in Iraq and President Bush, both subjects of widespread voter dissatisfaction. (snip)

[rwarn17588]

I don't see him getting beat, really.

Inhofe is a member of the Incumbent Party. So it would take millions of dollars to unseat him -- money that most potential candidates don't have. Incumbents have a huge advantage.

Short of a Jack Abramoff-style scandal, I think Inhofe will be re-elected.

[Conan71]

They would have to find someone a lot better than that Genteges they put up against Sullivan.

Any chance Carson will run again?  Brad Henry has enough bi-partisan popularity to challenge Inhofe.

Is he enough of a target that the DNC would move a nationally-recognized foe in like they did with Ms. Clinton in NY, and the RNC did w/ Keyes in Illinois?

[rwarn17588]

<Conan wrote:

Is he enough of a target that the DNC would move a nationally-recognized foe in like they did with Ms. Clinton in NY, and the RNC did w/ Keyes in Illinois?

<end clip>

Whew. I was in Illinois when Keyes ran against Obama. Talk about a bloodbath. Every time Keyes opened his mouth, he sank further in the polls. Keyes was his own worst enemy. The guy was an embarrassment, and the whole sorry episode was a symbol of how far the GOP had fallen in Illinois since now-convicted former Gov. George Ryan took the party off a cliff because of corruption.

BTW, the fellow who prosecuted Ryan and about 70 other state employees in the driver's-licenses-for-bribes scandal was a certain fellow by the name of Patrick Fitzgerald. Scooter Libby, to his eternal regret, now knows who he is. (On an aside, Fitzgerald would make a great U.S. attorney general for either side -- certainly a lot better than the lying or incompetent flunky who now has that job.)

I think the final margin of Obama-Keyes was something like 70-30 -- even worse than the Henry-Istook blowout, if you believe that.

You'd better come up with a better comparison, Conan. []

[NellieBly]

There is an Oklahoma blogger promoting Andrew Rice to run against Inhofe. It's getting a little attention nationally.

[deinstein]

We are too stupid to vote him out.

[pmcalk]

I have heard rumors that Mike Wallis might run against Inhofe.  No idea of the validity of that rumor.

[Conan71]

quote:Originally posted by NellieBly

There is an Oklahoma blogger promoting Andrew Rice to run against Inhofe. It's getting a little attention nationally.

http://www.andrewforoklahoma.com/

National attention?  Why?  The guy is a political neophyte.  Not a chance, he'd be as much of a political lamb as Genteges was.

[iplaw]

His wife's hot...

Issues page listed his concerns, but only contained complaints about the system as it stands.  No talking points or capstones or platform planks for people to see what he actually wants to do.  "The other guy really sucks" won't get you into office.

Someone needs to tell him he's running for the Senate and not student counsel president.  People are probably going to be interesting in hearing specifics...

[Chris]

I think Henry would have a good shot, if he chooses to run.

[iplaw]

Not a bad idea at all...

[Conan71]

quote:Originally posted by iplaw

His wife's hot...

Issues page listed his concerns, but only contained complaints about the system as it stands.  No talking points or capstones or platform planks for people to see what he actually wants to do.  "The other guy really sucks" won't get you into office.

Someone needs to tell him he's running for the Senate and not student counsel president.  People are probably going to be interesting in hearing specifics...

Keep in mind that was his state senate page.  Did he win?  Yeah, noticed that about the wife.  People say that about mine all the time, but I doubt it would get me elected.

Secondly, there are a lot of newcomers in DC after MT '06 who got there by saying the other guy and his president suck. [xx(]

Only thing else I see is that he's started some activist organizations and he looks a little like a troofer.

[joiei]

After the Senator said this  

quote: "The whole idea of weapons of mass destruction was never the issue, yet they keep trying to bring this up," Inhofe said.
 When asked why Gen. Colin Powell, then U.S. secretary of state, told the United Nations in 2003 that such weapons posed an imminent danger, Inhofe replied: "I can't answer that.    
  In fact, I've never been one of the real strong fans of General Powell."   Pressed for an explanation, Inhofe said weapons of mass destruction were "incidental" to the decision to invade Iraq.  
  "The media made that the issue because they knew Saddam Hussein had used weapons of mass destruction. So we knew that they were there. But that was incidental to the fact we were going after terrorist camps."

there is no way I would vote for him.  I seem to remember WMD's being the entire reason for the invasion as was explained by the president.  He had to find them and destroy them before they used them on us.  At least that is what Fox News told us back then.  They all seem to of forgotten the Whitehouse talking points from that era.  I will step down from the soap box now.

[iplaw]

quote: there is no way I would vote for him.  I seem to remember WMD's being the entire reason for the invasion as was explained by the president.  He had to find them and destroy them before they used them on us.  At least that is what Fox News told us back then.  They all seem to of forgotten the Whitehouse talking points from that era.  I will step down from the soap box now.

What is it with you people and Fox News?  

You act as if they're the only news station on television.  If I recall correctly they offered the exact same reports that were carried on all the major news stations, even beloved CNN.

For people who supposedly hate Fox News, you all must watch it closely to be so familiar with it.

[Conan71]

Joiei, it was a lot more than Republicans beating the drum, and it wasn't just on Fox News either.  There are a lot of people suffering from selective memory loss on WMD.


"People can quarrel with whether we should have more troops in Afghanistan or internationalize Iraq or whatever, but it is incontestable that on the day I left office, there were unaccounted for stocks of biological and chemical weapons."  

  Former President Clinton
  During an interview on CNN's "Larry King Live"
  July 22, 2003   http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/07/23/clinton.iraq.sotu/

"There is now no incentive for Hussein to comply with the inspectors or to refrain from using weapons of mass destruction to defend himself if the United States comes after him.  And he will use them; we should be under no illusion about that."
   
Joseph Wilson, Advisor to John Kerry 2004 Presidential Campaign
   In a Los Angeles Times editorial: "A 'Big Cat' With Nothing to Lose"
   February 6, 2003; Page B17

BILL MOYERS: President Bush's recent speech to the American Enterprise Institute, he said, let me quote it to you.  "The danger posed by Saddam Hussein and his weapons cannot be ignored or wished away."  You agree with that?

JOE WILSON: I agree with that.  Sure.

BILL MOYERS: "The danger must be confronted."  You agree with that?  "We would hope that the Iraqi regime will meet the demands of the United Nations and disarm fully and peacefully.  If it does not, we are prepared to disarm Iraq by force.  Either way, this danger will be removed.  The safety of the American people depends on ending this direct and growing threat."  You agree with that?

JOE WILSON: I agree with that.  Sure.  The President goes on to say in that speech, as he did in the State of the Union Address, is we will liberate Iraq from a brutal dictator.  All of which is true.  

   Joseph Wilson, Advisor to John Kerry 2004 Presidential Campaign
   During an interview with Bill Moyers
   February 28, 2003    

http://www.pbs.org/now/transcript/transcript_wilson.html

"I come to this debate, Mr. Speaker, as one at the end of 10 years in office on the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, where stopping the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction was one of my top priorities.  I applaud the President on focusing on this issue and on taking the lead to disarm Saddam Hussein.  ...  Others have talked about this threat that is posed by Saddam Hussein.  Yes, he has chemical weapons, he has biological weapons, he is trying to get nuclear weapons."  

  Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi (Democrat, California)
  Addressing the US Senate
  October 10, 2002  

http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/
  cgi-bin/getpage.cgi?position=all&page=H7777&dbname=2002_record