Bonfire of the Vanities # 68
Dodgeblogium is pleased to be your host for this week’s version of the best of the worst in the Blogdom. Each author will explain his or her own rationale for choosing the submission to be tossed on the pyre…..don’t blame the messenger for this mess…..all we do is print ‘em for your enjoyment/edification!!
Feste…a foolsblog is in fine form again! He even does his own publicity: With a bit of a mind flip…You’re into the time slip for Florida, April 19th, 2004. It’s astounding; Time is fleeting; Madness takes its toll. But listen closely… Let’s Do The Flip-Flop Again
Title: The Only Team America Review That Matters from Brian J.
“Admitting one’s geekiness probably isn’t the best post. In fact, it’s one of the worst.” Honesty Pays !! From Sean’s keyboard.
Trying to be clever, bLogicus blogs “no blogging today” thereby contradicting himself and the title of his blog.
“It was tough to pick a worst post for the bonfire, but since this post was entirely self-serving, it’s my entry from Espresso Sarcasm.
Mike, from Interested-Participant sends a cheery note: Salutations, Please dump the following into the fire: Woman Dies In Ticket Line
Gary must have thought this was so bad he didn’t even want to give the name of his blog or post in print…see what you think ??
King of the oneliners, More like two liners…so sayeth SpaceMonkey…he’s still learning to count.
The Accidental Moose, from Spare Change...more weird than worst, but it’s his choice.
“Playoff Picks 2” by Josh Cohen of www.d-42.com...apparently the true scores from previous weeks changed his mind.
The Gleeful Extremist is expecting a boy and is taking a poll for a name. Of course, he is legally bound to name the kid whatever wins the vote.
So, I just launched a new website, which pretty much sucks right now. I wrote an ass kissing article for my boss called ” Cookies, Bikes, Pizza and Perks- Why I Love my job” Dan says you can check out this poopfest here, if you are brave enough.
My worst post of the week in which I ask if you are calling me fat? (Mad Anthony – the answer is yes)!
> Week 69 (Oct. 26) – overtaken~by~events
> Week 70 (Nov. 2) – Neophyte Pundit
> Week 71 (Nov. 9) – blog.gleeson.us
Moronski on the Senate
Today in political punditry from Sean Moronski, he casts an eye over the US Senate races.
Every two years, approximately one-third of the U.S. Senate is up for grabs. Currently, the GOP has 51 seats to theDems 49 (including the so-called “independent” from Vermont). In addition to help shape legislation and policy, this body is responsible for granting consent to judges, cabinet members, and other Federal officials. Given the potential for several Supreme Court appointments over the next several years, control of this chamber may shape the Federal Judiciary for the next generation.Comments are off for this postAlmost every political observer believes the parties will swap seats in Georgia (to GOP)and Illinois (Dems win). Putting aside the non-competitiveraces, there are eight races that will determine control ofthe Senate – four in the South and four west of the Mississippi in GOP country. Of these seats, five are held by Democrats and three by Republicans.
North Carolina. John Edwards chose to run for Vice President rather than face almost certain defeat facing reelection. The Dem nominee is Erskine Bowles, former Clinton Chief of Staff, who lost a tough fight in 2002 to Elizabeth Dole. U.S. Rep. Richard Burr has the GOP nod. Bowles had a solid lead for weeks, but the race has closed to even in this solidly pro-Bush state.
South Carolina.After 36 years of serving as Strom Thurmond’s junior Senator, Ernest Hollingsis calling it quits. Republicans nominated U.S. Rep. Jim DeMint while the Dems are running StateEducation Superintendent InezTenenbaum.DeMint is running as a big Bush backer in this hardcore GOP state while Tenenbaum isdownplaying any connection to Kerry or the national Democrat party. Probably a good strategy in a state Bushwon’t lose.
Florida. Another prominent Democrat, Bob Graham, decided to call it a career. The White House asked Housing and Urban Development Secretary Mel Martinez to run. The Dem nominee isformer State Education official Betty Castor. This big race has been the sideshow in the media’s non-stop examination of the Presidential race here.
Louisiana. The wildest of wild cards with a unique open primary system that send the top two finishers regardless of party to a December runoffifno one candidate gets 50%plus one vote on Election Day. GOP candidate U.S. Rep. David Vitter is virtually assured of making therunoff, polling in the low to mid-40s. The race here is whether thenational Democrats can prevent him from winning outright on November 2, as well as what Democrat would make a runoff. Louisiana has never elected a Republican to the U.S. Senate, nor hasone served from there since Reconstruction.
South Dakota. Major race in a state with fewer than 800,000 people. Home of Senate Democrat leader Tom Daschle, promoting his role asprovider ofFederal largesse instead of being Bush’s chief opposition in Washington. Not unwise given that Bush is likely to win this state by at least 15 to 20 points. His GOP opponent, former U.S. Rep.John Thune, lost a Senate seat here in 2002 by fewer than600 votes.
Oklahoma. Surprise GOP retirement opened up safeseat in a sure Bush state. The GOP nominee, former U.S. RepTom Coburn, an obstetrician and anti-GOP establishment type, hasmade every mistake he can to turn a potential 25 to 30 point Bushlead into a horserace against the state’s lone Democrat congressman, Brad Carson.
Colorado. Another GOP retirement put this seat in play. Democrats nominated State Attorney General Ken Salazar while the Republicans are going with Pete Coors (“coldfiltered… not heat pasteurized”). Yes, thatCoors. Rocky Mountain Cold.
Alaska. In a word—nepotism.After being elected,new Governor Frank Murkowski had to appoint a successor to the U.S. Senate seat he vacated. Of course he chose his daughter Lisa, a state senator. This boneheaded move did the near impossible, creating a competitive U.S. Senate race inAlaska. The Dem nominee is former two-term governor Tony Knowles. This state has no business having a competitve statewide race in a presidential election year where Bush will win by 20+ points.
Bottom line…Dems must win 7of the 8 races to gain control, or 6 if Kerry wins and Edwards can make himself useful and break ties. All of these states were won by Bush in 2000, seven of themconvincingly. It cango either way… predictions next week.
