Here are he races with limited commentary.
Coming in to this election cycle few thought the GOP would be in a position to take the majority in the Senate this year. Seventeen of the seats up are Republican, seventeen Democrat. The current makeup of the senate is 57 Democrats, 41 Republicans and 2 Independents. The Independents are both Democrats and caucus with them, so the effective breakdown is 59-41 Democrat.
The states with * (7) indicate Democrat controlled seats which will likely switch to Republican. ** (4) Indicates toss up states where Republicans are either leading or closing the gap. If Republicans win the * states and take three of the ** states they will have the majority, thus the chairmanship of all senate committees. If the Republicans will all the learners and toss up states the new senate makeup will be 52 GOP, 46 Democrat and 2 nominal Independents.
Under senate rules the majority party controls the majority in each committee and thus the chairmanships. Being in the majority is important because the chairmen and majorities in the various committees control the original bills going to the senate for consideration both in content and even whether o not a bill makes it to the senate for consideration.
Here are the senate races as they shape up today. Many states will have hotly contested primaries.
Alabama - Richard Shelby (GOP)- up for reelection. Secure for GOP.
Alaska - Lisa Murkowski (GOP) - up for reelection. Secure for GOP
Arizona… John McCain (GOP) - challenged by a former GOP congressman. Either should win easily in the general election.
Arkansas*… Dem Blanche Lincoln - GOP pickup. She is likely the weakest of all incumbents.
California**…Boxer has 2 point lead over GOP opponents. She is at 42%. Usually being under 50% at this stage of the process bodes spells doom for incumbents.
Colorado**…Tossup….with slight GOP lean. Seat currently held by a Democrat.
Connecticut…Chris Dodd quit, was going to lose. Long shot for GOP.
Delaware*…Probable GOP pick up of old Veep Biden seat. The Biden son chose not to run.
Florida…Currently GOP…Likely to remain Republican.
Georgia…GOP hold…Isakson should win.
Hawaii…Will stay Democrat
Idaho…Currently GOP and will remain so.
Illinois**…Obama seat may not remain in Democrat hands…
Indiana*…Evan Bayh quit…Likely GOP pickup.
Iowa…GOP Grassley a likely return.
Kansas…GOP Sam Brownback retiring but seat is likely safe for GOP.
Kentucky…Jim Bunning not running for reelection but safe seat for GOP.
Louisiana…GOP Vitter safe, up 25% despite nasty sex scandal last year.
Maryland…remains Democrat.
Missouri…Republican Kit Bond retiring but seat remains safe for GOP.
Nevada*…..Reid going, going, gonzo…GOP pick up
New Hampshire… appeared to be a Democrat pick up until a few months ago. The Republican (Judd Gregg) is retiring and the Democrats were feeling a sense of resurgence after the last election where they swept both house seats and the defeated the GOP incumbent senator..
New York**… a tossup depending on GOP nominee.
North Carolina… was considered a possible Democrat pickup. The incumbent
Republican now has a 16 point lead.
North Dakota*…Incumbent Byron Dorgan sees losing, not running…GOP pickup
Ohio…. was originally thought of as a Democrat pickup because the GOP senator is retiring. However the Republican holds a narrow lead (4 points) and at worst this is a possible toss up.
Oklahoma…Tom Coburn a slam dunk for the GOP.
Oregon…remains Democrat with reelection of the incumbent.
Pennsylvania* …..edge is to GOP
South Carolina…… is solidly Republican.
Utah…will remain GOP
Vermont…Sadly Patrick Leahy returns. Will be part of minority though.
Washington…Dem Patti Murray likely to return. Washington is solid fools gold for liberals.
Wisconsin*… looks like a possible GOP pickup.
Based on the 2008 presidential election cycle it appeared he Democrats could escape losing many seats in the mid-term election. The party in control of the White House usually lose a few seats in both the house and senate but this year could be a landslide for Republicans. Only 6 of the 17 Democrat seats appear safe for them. The final tally could be as lopsided as 28 for the GOP to 6 for the Democrats.
The numbers in the House of Representatives could be as devastating as the senate for Democrats. Dick Morris recently said the change there could be between 65 and 80 switches. The makeup today is 255 - 178 Democrat and 2 vacancies. The 77 vote majority could be reversed by having a GOP gain of 40 would switch the control of the House speaker ship and chairmanship of every House committee and subcommittee. The lopsided control the Democrats have in the House could, if Morris is correct in his prognosis, the GOP could have an even greater majority January 1 than Democrats have today.
A year ago Barack Obama and the huge Democrat majorities had all the earmarks of a dynasty. The Emperor, as we are beginning to understand, has no clothes.
Ciao…….Moe
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2 --- Khalid Sheik Mohammed to be tried by a military tribunal. What a novel idea. Hey fellas, keep Gitmo open , paleeze.
3 --- Cape Congressman William Delahunt is hanging up the cleats, the game passed him by many years ago..jpg)
5 --- Thanks to Charlie V for this one:



2 --- Breaking News From Vancouver, BC
3 --- It’s time for Moslems to grow up or shut up.

6 --- Let’s take a trip down memory lane. If you are not yet 60+ here is a primer to better understand those of us who are a little older than you. We ran into this totally by accident. Anyone over 65 will not be able to keep a dry eye.
7 --- When your presidency is reduced to a comic opera the end is in site. To see his medical team them lined up as if they were they were there to give testimony to Obama’s pronouncements took away from their professionalism. Gee, maybe they should have stethoscopes around their necks next time.
8 --- It’s one thing to take your child to work but to have them give life and death instructions directing the flow of planes approaching an airport is something way over the top. Heads should roll for this. Not just the jackasses who allowed this to happen but those superiors who hired and presumably supervised the parents.
9 --- Whatever happened to the flu season? It was bust. Thank God for that because the government turned the vaccine situation in a pure comic opera.
12 --- An interesting election took place yesterday in Texas. Rick Perry, who in traditional Texas fashion earlier in the election suggested Texas might consider going independent from the USA. After all Texas was an independent republic at one time. That sentiment is still strong there.
13 --- Republican Congressman Patrick McHenry from North Carolina wants the $50 bill to feature the face of former President Ronald Reagan. Bravo. Good idea.