Two women seeking the Republican nomination

WWE Chief Executive Linda McMahon Brings Strong Democratic Ties to Her Attempt to Smackdown Chris Dodd
Published by Michael Beckel on September 16, 2009 6:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
McMahonWWE.jpgLinda McMahon, the chief executive officer of World Wrestling Entertainment, announced today she's seeking the Republican Party's nomination to upset incumbent Democratic Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.). (She also announced that she would be resigning from her WWE post to focus on her campaign.)

But McMahon's history is hardly that of a hardcore Republican.

McMahon and husband Vince McMahon, who is the chairman of the WWE, have contributed nearly $90,000 to federal candidates and committees since 1989, the Center for Responsive Politics has found. And of this sum, 51 percent has gone to Democrats and 47 percent has gone to Republicans.
opensecrets

Can you say Rino!!!!!


Jane Norton formally enters Senate race

Saying she had become "more and more alarmed about the direction our nation is headed," Jane Norton, a Republican and former lieutenant governor, formally launched her 2010 campaign for the U.S. Senate today with rallies spanning the state, including one at the downtown Antlers Hilton.

Norton's theme here and at appearances in Denver and Grand Junction was the size and reach of the federal government.

"At every turn, Washington's giant hand seems to be grabbing everything in sight," she said, "seizing control of our car companies, banks, insurance companies, exploding the national debt and chipping away at individual liberty."

She promised to be "a senator who will stand up to big government power grabs."
gazette

Fine you for not buying health coverage

Am I readin' this right. The Senate Democrats unveiled a bill that says that Americans who refuse to buy affordable medical coverage could be hit with fines of more than $1,000.
The fines could raise an estimated $36 billion over ten years.
Are You freekin' kiddin' me. Talk about your big brother state run government.
Who do these people think they are. OMG

Specter To Switch Parties

Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter will switch his party affiliation from Republican to Democrat and announced today that he will run in 2010 as a Democrat, according to a statement he released this morning.

Specter's decision would give Democrats a 60 seat filibuster proof majority in the Senate assuming Democrat Al Franken is eventually sworn in as the next senator from Minnesota. (Former senator Norm Coleman is appealing Franken's victory in the state Supreme Court.)

"I have decided to run for re-election in 2010 in the Democratic primary," said Specter in a statement. "I am ready, willing and anxious to take on all comers and have my candidacy for re-election determined in a general election."

He added: "Since my election in 1980, as part of the Reagan Big Tent, the Republican Party has moved far to the right. Last year, more than 200,000 Republicans in Pennsylvania changed their registration to become Democrats. I now find my political philosophy more in line with Democrats than Republicans."

President Obama was informed of Specter's decision at around 10:25 a.m., according to White House officials, and reached out to the senator minutes later to tell him "you have my full support," and we are "thrilled to have you."

Specter as a Democrat would also fundamentally alter the 2010 calculus in Pennsylvania as he was expected to face a difficult primary challenge next year from former Rep. Pat Toomey. The only announced Democrat in the race is former National Constitution Center head Joe Torsella although several other candidates are looking at the race.

The precariousness of Specter's political position -- a Republican in a Democratic-leaning state -- was on display earlier this year when he was one of three GOP senators to back President Obama's $787 billion economic stimulus plan. That vote was strongly condemned by conservative Republicans and Toomey used that vote as the launching pad for his candidacy.

Because of the shrinking Republican vote in the state, Specter was seen as a dead man walking politically in the primary with polling showing him trailing Toomey by ten or more points. The bar for Specter to run as an independent was also extremely high due to the rules governing such a third party candidacy.

That left a Democratic candidacy as Specter's best option if he wanted to remain in the Senate beyond 2010.