Poll: Growing Majority Believe That Majority Members in Congress Should be Sent Packing in 2010

According to a new poll out byRasmussen Reports, 63% of respondents believe the country would be in better shape if incumbents were given the boot in 2010. Additionally, those who feel that Congress should be turned over, have a decrease in confidence in their own Representatives.
Rasmussen defines two classes in the report: The Political Class, or voters that trust political leaders, and Mainstream voters (or the rest of us).

This growing discontent is, perhaps, most noticeable in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, known first as the cradle of liberty, and lately as the Bluest State in the Union. That has changed, however, over the past two years, as Conservative candidates began to emerge to challenge entrenched Democrats. Although little notice was given, this snowballed when one Scott Brown defied the alleged odds, and managed to take back the “people’s seat”.

That said, as Brown was considering his run, individuals across the Bay State were doing the same – considering a run against those entrenched politicians who have held sway over Beacon Hill and Washington for decades. For the first time in memory, politicians such as Barney Frank, Richard Neal and Nikki Tsongas (to name but a few) are facing opposition from Conservative candidates – and, in most cases, there are multiple candidates who had launched campaigns - and most importantly – prior to Brown’s Senate win. What this tell us about the change in political think of those who are dubbed “the masses” by Progressive thinkers (i.e. some, not all, Democrats who hold an office), have had enough.

Surely, if the long suffering, over taxed, and citizens of what has been fondly called “The People’s Republic of Massachusetts, are seeking alternatives to Congress with a palpable enthusiasm, then it must be happening elsewhere. One may see those Rasmussen poll numbers increase over the next few months, and going forward into 2010, the energy on the part of the “average citizen” to get involved and facilitate change will increase – be it direct involvement in a political campaign, or heading straight to the voting booth – with gusto. For all the pundits, and what it is worth, the recent wins in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and most startling perhaps, New Jersey (for those on the inside of the Commonwealth looking out), was not an anomaly of any sort – it appears to be the beginning of a new “norm”.

George Bush – “Miss Me Yet?” Billboard – Coincides with December Poll 44% would Prefer Bush over Obama

Billboard: George W. Bush "Miss Me Yet" image: Minnesota Public Radio

Over at NPRthere appears to be a mystery afoot regarding the ownership of a billboard depicting former President Bush – with the simple phrase: “Miss me Yet?”. The board, which is located off a highway in Wyoming, has some blogs abuzz with the question of who might be responsible and alternately, if it is real or photo shopped. According to NPR, it is real, and the question as to who installed the board, is moot. Why? When one considers the fact that, although it’s only been a year since the much-maligned (in some cases fairly in most, not) George W Bush left office, a poll taken in December by Public Policy Polling and reported by Politico showed that 44% of the respondents wanted Bush back.

No kidding.

All about Civics:

When the majority wake up to the fact that the Office of the President is, indeed lofty, and the individual in the seat, is both the head of their political party, as well as either hamstrung or helped by Congress (should that congress not agree or be, for example, of a different political party). It is apparent that Bush made mistakes (human after all) and was, in essence, hamstrung, along with the rest of the Republican party, since 2006. 2006 by way of explanation, was the year the Democrats took the majority of the seats in the House and the Senate – as a reminder, the House and the Senate have control over finances, the President does not – unless of course, he (or someday she), has a congress in concert. In that case, all kinds of things can go either right or wrong, depending upon one’s political point of view.

Prior to 2006, Bush enjoyed an extremely vocal minority – one that took every opportunity to stick it to him, so to speak. Speaking of which, the Presidents “speech patterns” and colloquialism remained the butt of both mainstream media jokes (see your local paper, your evening newscast, or MSN and CNN), that said, his predecessor, even with the aid of a teleprompter has difficulties accurately pronouncing words – of course, that has not been widely publicized (YouTube video below), because it has happened, once, that we are aware of.

With the Iranians planning to ”Stun the West” on February 11th, one has to sit back and ask three questions: 1) Would the Iranians have dared to make such a comment if that madman, cowboy from Texas was in the driver’s seat? 2: How long will it take the Obama administration to issue a statement of condemnation following whatever “shock” the “west” is about to receive? Finally 3: Do you feel particularly safe lately?

George Bush: Miss me Yet? - Billboard from off the Wyoming Highway - image Minnesota Public Radio

Perhaps the best letter published is from the blog: Hillbuzz.org. The Letter, published immediately following Obama’s inauguration is a reflection from a group of Chicago Democrats who wrote the most heartfelt of all the letters and essays regarding President George W. Bush one can find. It is entitled: “Goodbye and thank you, George W. Bush. You did the very best that you could, and we are grateful for your service.” And can be read in its entirety here It is a strongly recommended read as it speaks volumes as to why, a year later, the former President is tracking strongly in polls, and someone in Wyoming feels t worth the time and money to put up that billboard. One wonders how long it will take before others pop up, here and there, along the highways and byways of the nation.

Video of President Obama, mispronouncing, not once, but three times, the simple word “corpsman”:

The MA 4th District – Scott Brown’s win in the District - Brings Candidates Out of the Woodwork in the Race against Barney Frank.

Barney Frank, with hands on the nations finances since 2006, faces multiple challegers in 2010

Barney Frank (D-MA) is facing competition for the U.S. Congressional Seat he has held for decades – from both the left and the right. Earl Henry Sholley was the first to announce his candidacy against Frank – Sholley is a long-time fiscally conservative Republican with a populist message. Sholley, who entered the 2008 race against Frank late, (in August of 2008), ended up pulling 30 plus percent of the vote with little or no name recognition – Sholley began his 2010 campaign early in 2009 – he hired Lisa Camp, from the Huckabee 2008 Presidential campaign as his Campaign Manager, and is now considered the front-runner on the Republican Side. Sholley believes that the Congress should be represented by “citizen legislators” – he also supports term limits.

Keith Messina, 28, of Medford, MA, a political newcomer, first entered the race as an independent, and recently designated himself as a Republican. His political philosophy is based on the Constitution. Messina, a mechanical engineer, entered the race because of the financial crisis facing the country. Messina will face Sholley in the Republican Primary.

The newest Republican to enter the race is 34 year old Sean Bielat, recently of Brookline, MA. Also a political newcomer, Bielat recognized that the 4th was winnable when Scott Brown won the district and he sees himself as a “conservative centrist”. The 4th District will enjoy a 3 way Republican contest, perhaps for the first time in history.l


On the left, Rachael Brown, Democrat is running on a stop-Wall Street, Mars Colonization program and CCC Youth training program. She has the support of Lyndon Larouche who has called for Obama’s Impeachment.

It is apparent that the once uncontested seat held by Barney Frank will be challenged left and right, in 2010. It is not so much Scott Brown’s campaign that has set the tone for the challenge, rather Frank’s long history with Freddie Mac and Fannie May, and finances of our nation, and the tax and spend philosophy that, in conjunction with a Democrat controlled house and Senate since 2006, helped shape the financial disaster we are face with today. It is also apparent that the voters are ready and willing to listen to a variety of candidates in the 4th district (which incidentally is not the only district in Massachusetts that has long-term Democrat incumbents facing challengers) and to place their trust in another candidate. The fact that there are three (and possibly more on the horizon) candidates on the Republican side alone, shows a shift of political think in the 4th district (and Massachusetts as a whole). Although the pundits that are insist that the seat is “Safe Democrat” (Coakley was given that designation as well), Frank first must face a primary from Brown, and then square off against the winner of the Republican primary. Sholley, who has been actively courting both independents and conservatives, is most likely the (at this point) candidate who will face Frank in that contest. Frank’s seat, from this perspective and regardless of the outcome vis a vis Scott Brown, is “not safe”.
References of interest
Sholley for Congress
Keith Messina for Congress
Bielat for Congress
Rachael Brown for Congress
The LaRouche PAC
Follow the Money: Open Secrets.org

Note of interest
Unenrolleds are able to vote in the primaries in Massachusetts, as long as they choose a party designation. From Massachusetts Primary Guide:

Can the Unenrolled vote in the Massachusetts Primary?
Yes. Unenrolled is the official term for what we used to refer to as Independent. If you are unenrolled, which means you belong to no party whatsoever, you may show up at your polling place and choose a Democratic or Republican ballot.)

Why can Independents/Unenrolled vote in the Massachusetts Primary?
We have what is called a modified closed primary in Massachusetts. This is worth explaining. In an open primary, any registered voter can vote in any party’s primary it doesn’t matter if you are a registered Democrat and want to vote in the Republican primary some states allow this to happen.