I'm sure this is going to be a thread-happy day in the politics forum, but this needs your attention. In a last ditch effort to steal the election, Thomas A. Daschle personally sued his opponent John R. Thune, trying to get Republican poll-watchers excluded from all the polling sites statewide, alleging voter intimidation on the reservations via, get this, aggressive eye rolling and note taking by Republican poll-watchers. I'm not making this up. Here's a Live-Blogged Report from a blogger who was in the courtroom for the proceedings The short version is that the case was a complete farce, the judge hearing the case is a longtime friend of Daschle's who actually represented Daschle in '78 during the first lawsuit that got Tom elected, and who was appointed to the bench by Daschle himself. They only called one witness who had been in South Dakota for all of 48 hours, a Deaniac from Iowa who got absolutely ripped to shreds on the stand. The judge ruled that Rep. poll watchers could not write down the liscense numbers of voters in one county in SD.
So, if Katherine Harris were in SD, and she had a license plate number imprinted on her ass, would she be in violation of the court order?
http://www.argusleader.com/news/Tuesdayarticle1.shtml "Republican poll workers in Lake Andes were intimidating Native American voters on Monday, a federal judge ruled early today. Republicans may not write down license plate numbers or follow Native Americans from polling places during today's election, U.S. District Judge Lawrence Piersol ruled in a temporary restraining order." Gee, why would people find it intimidating for strangers to tail their cars after they've voted?
Jim? Jim Crow, is that you?!! JIMBO!! You old bastard, where the hell you been dude? Florida.... ? Ooooooh, right.... Hey, nice tan. Well, I'm sure you're busy today, so I'll let you go. Hey, by the way, I'm mighty thirsty...got a firehose on ya? HAH! Just kiddin, ya! Take care, Jim, old boy.
If this was an off year, I would care a little more. Every seat in the senate counts, after all. But in 2004, when we have the most important presidential election in our lifetimes, I say BFD. Anyway, I want the Dem party leadership looking left, not right.
The second you cut loose Daschle, your whole state becomes a pinch of stinkbait on an appropriations committee hook.
Common urban myth. This country wouldn't have a 7.4 trillion defecit or whatever it is if only senate leaders bring home pork for their respective states.
If early polls are to be believed, that's what we're getting. Daschle is an Wuss Democrat. As long as Republicans threw him a bone every once in a while, he'd roll over for the worst legislation put forth by Lott / Frist. We need to establish consensus on some important things but the idea of consensus is to make legislation better, not accept blindly bad pro-SD amendments attached to bad bills. Get ready for gridlock, kids.
And why would they be writing down plate numbers of vans trucking in Indian voters? Because in '02 many Indians were paid between $10-$20 and trucked in by vans to polling places to vote for democrats. And puhlease don't believe anything the Argus Leader reports, their journalistic integrity is laughable even by New York Times/Jayson Blair standards.
Like so many Democrats, Tom Daschle ignored his state base of constituents; he's gone... John R. Thune is likely elected... and another big-time Democrat hist the skids... trading his state reputation for power in Washington! Bye bye Daschle... wish you could take Leahy and Kennedy with you! IntheNet Bush/Cheney in 2004 GO DC United
Gridlock would be better than the current porkfest. If we lose Daschle and Bush today, it will be my happiest day as a political observer, ever!
Early exit polling showing Thune up by 4 in the eastern part of the state which is inline with the latest polls.
Bump, for obvious reasons. In the end, Thune defeated Daschle by a margin of about 4,500 votes, 51-49%. This is the first time a sitting Senate Leader has lost his re-election bid in 50 years. Huge pickup for the Republicans in the Senate who were already having a good night with the news from the Southern Senate Races. The Reps will in all likelihood have a 55 seat majority, and a bonus for having the Obstructionist Daschle booted down to K Street. EDIT: As I've been saying all along, it sounds like Harry Reid (NV) has the votes to become Minority Leader next session.
Glad he's gone. Toodle-loo wimp. I've hated his ass since his lackluster work during the impeachment.
Very happy to see Thune elected. He was out here in the Bay Area several months ago when it looked like an uphill battle to unseat Daschle, but Thune was optimistic. Got to meet him. Quality guy.
Can't say it bothers me too much. Daschle was such a weak and ineffective leader that I would rather have one fewer Senator if it meant the leader had some balls and all jokes aside, that person might just be Hillary.
Well, if you're hoping to get a more liberal senator than Daschle out of South Dakota, all I can say is good luck with that.