Looking at the reelection of Senator Ma’am from a purely partisan point of view, it is not entirely a bad thing for Republicans. To be sure, had my gal Carly won, she would certainly have become an effective advocate for the Golden State in her party’s caucus. And now the largest state will have to rely entirely a 77-year old former Mayor of San Francisco to get things done in the Senate.
Given how ineffective Mrs. Boxer was in a filibuster- and near filibuster-proof Democratic Senate, imagine how inconsequential she will be in a Senate with fewer Democrats, an increasing number of whom are now becoming wary of associating themselves with the party’s left wing. Many fault the career politician for preventing the Senate from moving forward on a climate-change bill entrusted to the Environment and Public Works Committee which she chairs.
With fewer Democrats on her committee and with new and energetic Republican freshmen replacing retiring Sens. George Voinovich and Kit Bond, Ranking Republican Member James Inhofe will make this the committee where big-government environmental legislation goes to die. He’s not going to have much trouble outmaneuvering the ideological chairman.
Oh, she’ll still get to be called Senator, but she won’t be able to use that title for anything but her own edification. Oh, and according the San Francisco Chronicle, “delivering partisan shots.” But, that’s pretty much what she’s been using it for for the last 18 years anyway.
Expect her, even in a Democratic Senate, to be in the minority on many votes.
NB: Tweaked the post to fix some mistakes and improve its flow.
I’m sad about the senate results in Nevada, Washington, and California, especially since I think the Republicans, especially Dino and Carly, would be great assets to the Republican party. But the reelection of Murray, Reid, and Boxer means we will continue to have Democratic dunces who will in all likelihood continue to embarrass their party to the advantage of Republicans. They may win reelection due to a friendly electorate, but they do provide inspiration to the rest of America to vote out their less obnoxious Democratic colleagues. Let’s keep them in front of the microphones.
Just keep the pressure on Arizona’s John McMa’am. Maybe one of these days the 28 years in Congress, career politician and (religious-right backed) anti-gay will come around on DADT.
But, don’t hold your breath, Daniel.
In other words, Grannie Goodness agrees that the Republicans have the best chance of repealing the Democrat supported and enacted DADT policy.
Thank you for conceeding the point.