MyDD :: Party switchers?

Party switchers?

by Tom, Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 08:41:03 PM EST

Politicians like to be in the majority. That's a given.

After the 1994 Republican sweep, two Democratic Senators and a few Democratic Congressmen switched parties. Part of it was to be in the majority, and part of it was to bolster their own chances for reelection.

It's been a long time since we had a Republican switch parties. Even before they took control of Congress, there weren't a lot of Republicans who switched to the Democratic Party. The last I can remember is the Congressman from NY-01 who switched and then lost in the Democratic primary.

But will we see some now? I heard a rumor today that a Republican Senator (not sure who) has made a deal with the Democrats to switch parties after the election. If it were true, that would give us a 52-48 majority (or 51-48 if you don't count Lieberman.)

Any thoughts? On a personal note, a state Senator here in Tennessee who was elected in 2002 as a Democrat and switched parties in 2004 lost his bid for reelection last night. That was great.

Tags: Senate, House, Democratic Congress (all tags)

Permalink :: 9 Comments :: Post a Comment

Re: Party switchers? (none / 0)

where did u hear this rumor about a repub switching parties? i just cant imagine who would do it-maybe collins?

by art3 on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 08:56:46 PM EST

Re: Party switchers? (none / 0)

Not exactly an official source... some guy I go to law school with who worked on the McCaskill campaign this summer mentioned something about it, but it's only a rumor.

Collins would make the most sense... she might be fearing a CFG-funded primary challenge, or a serious general election fight. After seeing Chafee go down, she might be spooked.

by Tom on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 10:45:07 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Who... (none / 0)

It can't be Olympia Snowe, she was just elected as a Republican. That would be strange. Specter is too old and ornery to do party switching. Although, he does have a history of party switching and making deals. (He used to be a Democrat). I'm sure he's pissed that he lost his seat as the head of the judiciary committee. He's not running for reelection; he's too old. It does sound like he would be in the mood for some backstabbing.

Jim Oberweis

by cilerder86 on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 09:01:28 PM EST

We've Had Party Switchers (none / 0)

They're just not in Congress. And not very likely to be, IMHO. (Dems will attract principled party-switchers, just as reps attract unprincipled ones. Ergo, not in Congress.) Doesn't mean it won't happen. Just not too likely. But I think we truly are seeing something close to the death of the GOP in the Northeast, if New Hampshire means anything.

by Paul Rosenberg on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 09:05:45 PM EST

I never thought I'd say this... (none / 0)

New England now has ONE Republican representative...Chris Shays?! Weird. He gets too much favorable media attention.

Jim Oberweis

by cilerder86 on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 09:09:29 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Party switchers? (none / 0)

Norm Coleman? He has a history as a back stabbing party switching weasel. He has no character what so ever. His word means less than nothing. He pretended to be a Democrat while he was mayor of Saint Paul. He might try it again to defend himself against a challenge by Al Franken. It wouldn't work, but I like to take every opportunity to call Norm Coleman a weasel.

by Fridley on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 09:07:59 PM EST

Re: Party switchers? (none / 0)

heheheh - I already put up a diary about this - I wonder if someone else beat me to it?

http://www.mydd.com/story/2006/11/8/1459 50/065

by daninvirginia on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 09:14:24 PM EST

Re: Party switchers? (none / 0)

I got it:

Shelby in the Senate and Alexander in the House.

by Jerome Armstrong on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 09:22:21 PM EST

Re: Party switchers? (none / 0)

I was actually thinking more along the lines of Jim Inhofe in the Senate and Marilyn Musgrave in the House. Heh.

by Tom on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 10:56:12 PM EST
[ Parent ]

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