Oh Nebraska – Sasse Win Credited by Drudge, National Review and one Ted Cruz

The article at Politico: ”Drudge, National Review spur Sasse win”, suggests that the Senatorial Candidate for the GOP win was brought about solely by the “Conservative” site Drudge Report, as well as the National Review Magazine. That in part is true, given the exposure that both publications brought to bear. That national exposure most likely fueled funds to Sasse, giving him an edge financially. They also partly mention Senator Ted Cruz, and the Tea Party, among other more “liberty” minded folk.

The Drudge Report is noted here as “Conservative” in quotes taken from the Politico article, which said moniker based on Drudge personal reporting is a positive, but overall headlines on the Drudge appear more often than not to be – mainstream. Headlines cover every aspect of the world’s news, including amusing articles that are so sadly lacking elsewhere.

The National Reviewhowever is a definitive conservative viewpoint magazine/site, that has been consistently right of center.

The fact that Cruz and company were on the ground in Nebraska, one might suggest, played a larger part in getting out the vote for Sasse – without the ground troops and the Headliners, one might make do with cash, however, perhaps not.

How important is Sasse? Slate Magazine Asks if he might not be the next Ted Cruz? – Perhaps given the gist of the article, it appears so, and would the U.S. not be better off with one more Constitutionally minded Senator in the recently not so august body? Definitely.

As the 2014 midterm “season” continues, one might find more “Ted Cruz’s” in the mix going into the final stretch. As the nation’s voters go to the poll, with more angst than normal, and according to a recent Gallup poll, less enthusiasm than usual, those candidates are sitting pretty. The GOP may indeed, win the Senate as well as the house, but one senses that there will be a continued shakeup in the ranks, as the more “liberty minded” join the herd.

Scott Brown Forms Exploratory Committee – NH Senate, Rand Paul tops Polls

From the Boston Globe: Scott Brown, former Republican Senator from Massachusetts, had move to New Hampshire, and now exploring a run at a Senate seat in the Granite State. Brown, who was one of the more bi-partisan – non “hack” Senators in the august body, would serve the independent streak of the New Hampshire voter quite well. Brown his MA Senate seat to Elizabeth Warren, Democrat, College Professor and avowed Progressive in typical Blue State Massachusetts. It was, in this opinion, a loss for Massachusetts.

Meanwhile, Ron Paul, the Kentucky Libertarian-Republican Senator, recently won the CPAC straw poll, which he had won the prior year, yet another straw poll The Northeast Republican Leadership Straw Poll, also finds Paul in the lead(Fox News). Straw polls, or political activist polls, are not always a bellwether of a candidates future, however, an early CNN/ORC International poll, shows Paul in the lead. (CNN). That poll combines familiar names that will, in all likelihood, never announce a candidacy – Paul, who combines Libertarian and Tea Party values, would most likely pick up the share of polling (given like minds) of those who are never going to enter the arena. Time will tell, however, Paul is, in this opinion, the most worthy candidate the GOP could hope to have. If there were a third party, Paul would certainly lead, and it would be hoped that the change to a more constitutionally based GOP or third party, would bring common sense to the U.S.

2014 Foreseeable Shift In Senate Power – Rand Paul – 2016 – Ted Cruz – Majority Speaker – Opinion

2014 should see a shift in power in both the House and the Senate, given 2013 local races and the anti-incumbency that drove incumbents out of office. Politico lists the 12 most vulnerable Democrat Seats here, and they are not far off the mark, figure 8 of the 12 are in any serious jeopardy. On both sides, the Progressive and Tea Party Factions will be pushing candidates that will in based on the aforementioned angst of the voter against anything Washington – throwing the baby out with the bathwater in some cases.

Although 2014 options are on the table – one who is suggested to run for the Presidency – but does not seem to be avidly pushing that front – is one Ted Cruz – he’s fighting in the trenches, and appears more concerned about being the point man for the base – against the Democrats – specifically the President and Harry Reid. CBS’s Bob Schieffer attempted to corner him this weekend, and failed – the transcript here is telling, in that Cruz shifts from a Presidential run to his usual for the people – which given the shift in power that is likely, Cruz would be a perfect replacement for Harry Reid. – One would have to have the support of one’s peers, however, once the primary dust settles, that may not be a problem on the GOP side.

As to 2016, Rand Paul (R-KY) is the most probable candidate to run at this point, and has been telling it like it is –most notably pointing out some disturbing facts about the alleged War on Women – going so far, The Daily News reports, as to suggest Bill Clinton’s relationship with a young intern was – predatory. He’s a favorite among those who are, again, looking for a different flavor other than – Republican and/or Democrat – he’s not seen as a strict Republican.

The chess board is open, there are few pawns and knights on the board as of yet, but there is plenty of time to speculate and look to the disillusioned low information voter to lead the charge.

2014 – Balance of Power in the Senate Hangs on Mistake of Democrats End to Minority Filibusters, and the Affordable Health Care Act, formerly known as Obamacare.

One does not even know the players in the 2016 Presidential stakes, however, there are the “maybes” that are being touted, yet it is a long way off. What is of import, perhaps more so than the 2016 elections, are the 2014 midterms, which will determine what power the political parties wield, and the power of the President. There have been a few errors recently that have set in motion the possibility for a serious route for the Democrats in 2014, and it is of their own doing.

The first was the disastrous rollout of Obamacare, the website dysfunction alone was not that big of a deal, it was the cancelled policies (with more to come) and the President insisting, time and again, individuals could keep their plans, he finally offered half an apology, and suggested that those who lost their plans, were paying more, or could no longer afford insurance, were getting better plans in the long run. What this did was assure the American people that trust in Obama was akin to trusting the wind – he’s lost much in the polls.

This, of course, with a less popular and floundering President, an angry and annoyed opposition party (over the Reid use of the Nuclear option to end all debates in the senate), will not necessarily affect the President (other than his legacy) but it will affect those Democrats running for reelection in 2014. The die has been cast, and it is only up to Republican’s or Independents to lose, rather than win those seats that a child could steal at this point.

An article in the Boston Globe suggests that donors to the Democrats, and specifically the fundraiser in Chief Obama, are starting to have grave doubts about investing in campaigns that stand no chance of winning. That, coming from one of the media cheerleaders, is telling. This is regardless of the fact that a “Hail Mary’ of delaying the enrollment until 2015 put into place this weekend and designed to “save” Democrats in Danger of losing the house, in all probability won’t matter a bit.

Those who have had any experience with the program at all are not thrilled and the majority of the public wants the mandate gone. – Delay or not wont’ help. The bigger problem is the Reid end of the 225 year Senate Filibuster in order to place more power in the hands of the controlling party. Of course, that’s a short term move. When the Republican’s suggested that they might opt to do the same in 2005, the Democrats were mightily opposed, as the editorial in the Dallas Morning News suggests that move will come back to haunt them – sooner than later.

An interesting take on the move by Reid can be found at Bloomberg news, written by Megan McArdle , who writes that Reid invoked the Nuclear Option out of desperation, in other words, Reid knew that in 2014 there would be a turn in fortunes for the Republican’s and/or Independents, and that the Democrats would most certainly loose the Senate, and at present it appears the House will remain in the hands of the Republicans. The reasoning is simple, Reid, in making this move, was helping the President get as much as he could in the remaining time – such as judicial appointments.

Either that or Reid is well aware of what has taken place in the special elections, and in the smaller local races across the nation – Democrats are poison, and more lost than won, down to the City Council. When that occurs, and the distrusts in Washington, especially for incumbents are as toxic as it is now, those in power should be as non-toxic as possible. One might also suggest that those Republicans’ who are feeling rather confident should rethink their positions, as they also could become a former Senator or Congressional Representative on the turn of a dime. That is not to suggest someone would choose a Democrat over a Republican, rather “other” than the standard Party.

What should be most interesting in the coming months will be Gallup’s Presidential approval by State, should it drop to more dangerous levels, mimicking his overall drop in approve (under 40), then those Democrats up for reelection might want to distance themselves from the President, in much the same way that the Republicans did with Bush in 2006 – although, one might recall, that did little good whatsoever.