Just heard on CNN

[clydefrand]

that Sen. Chaffee(R) is not voting for the shrub. Bet there's lots of others on the hill that aren't voting for the ignorant asshole.

[hatrack]

1. Alright Linc!!

VERY cool!!!

[NewYorkerfromMass]

2. Well that's helpful

although Rhode Island may have the larget majority for Kerry anyways, it sends a good signal to moderates.

[USA_1]

22. "good signal to moderates"

Actually, Mr Kerry is NOT a liberal.

An article appeared some time ago in the Orlando Sentinel which analyzed his voting record and it revealed that his is a moderate record. There is absolutely no basis for calling him a liberal.


Mr Kerry's excellent record as a public servant appeals to liberals, moderates, and a great many conservatives. I have observed his record since the early 1970s and I cannot think of anyone more deserving of the title "public servant" than him.

A vote for Senator Kerry is a vote for America.

[BootinUp]

25. Welcome to DU USA_1

:hi:

[USA_1]

35. Thank you!

A vote for Kerry is a vote for the America.





GOD BLESS THE USA!!!

[briemann]

52. Well put!

[Langis]

3. Great news!

How many more will come out of the closet?

[demfaithful]

4. Senator Chafee negates Senator Zell Miller.

Sen Chaffee shoud really cross over to our side. He votes with democrats most of the time, Miller with the repubs. It's an even exchange.

[mbali]

17. Unfortunately, he votes Republican when it really counts. n/t

[Thrill]

20. Like when?

.

[ochazuke]

24. I think he voted to end closure on a shrub court nominee

but he voted agn. closure on ANWR drilling.

[mbali]

29. For example,

Chafee consistently votes to confirm the worst of Bush's judicial nominees

[maxsolomon]

5. there won't be any plum spots for you in the reich, chaffee

but be my guest, go down in flames!

[UrbScotty]

6. Now if we can get him to switch to the Democratic Party

...that would make my day.

[ochazuke]

28. If he is a know anti-shrubber...

then next session, can the Rs count on his vote for Majority Leader? He may do a Jeffords.

[BootinUp]

7. Is he from Ill. ?

[StopTheMorans]

11. RI

n/t

[Doosh]

13. Rhode Island

[A_Possum]

8. HAH

Hagel...check!

Lugar....check!

Chaffee...check!

Bush is twisting...twisting...twisting in the wind...

[clydefrand]

12. I'll bet McCain doesn't vote for him either

Nor will Kyl (sp).

[WyLoochka]

36. Are you kidding? Jon Kyl would fall

on his sword for BushCo. He is an extremely extreme right winger - a corporatist all the way.

[n2mark]

46. Kyl

Kyl is an idiot. There is no way he will go against Shrub, no matter what. I've sent many emails to him and signed many petitions but he keeps supporting the village idiot. But, it takes one idiot to know another. Another saying, "birds of a kind flock together."

[Sparkle]

9. It would be a big deal if he was one of those rabid right wingers

that hated Clinton for being Clinton. Is he?

[Doosh]

10. one for OUR SIDE! This is big!!!

Did he issue a press release or something?

did he say he was endorsing John Kerry?

[clydefrand]

16. Just heard them say this on Inside Politics

No statement from Chaffee.

[Julien Sorel]

14. If he would campaign for Kerry it would be devastating.

A sane Zell Miller.

[demfaithful]

23. Not really

Let us be honest, there are some democrats that belong in the republican party, and some republicans that belong with us. I wish they would cross over and be honest about it. Zell Miller was a major blow to us because he did it in front of how many millions of people? If you live in the south, you will know how southern democrats always loved and respected Miller. That is just the truth. I don't know much about Chaffee. I suspect he will remain in his party as long as they hold the majority.

[Julien Sorel]

31. Miller has been campaigning in swing states

for Bush. Get Chafee in Pennsylvania and Ohio, and it will make a difference. He doesn't necessarily need a national introduction as did Zell -- but a commercial wouldn't hurt, of course.

I think this is even more important than Zell, because Republicans are the lock-step party, and here you have a senator breaking ranks. There has to be a fair chunk of moderate Republicans who look at Iraq as a disaster, but who need to be told it's OK to cross over. Democrats have been doing it for decades now; for Republicans it's not so common.


BTW, Zell's popularity in the South is kind of empty for Bush, since those states were in his column anyway.

[bushwakker]

15. C'mon over Linc!!! Make the leap - the water's fine!!

[cheezus]

18. turn OFF the tv and back away

quit encouraging those cable news liars.

[Thrill]

19. This is not a suprise

Lincoln Chafee is not a Republican. THere is nothing about the man that suggest he's republican

[Jackpine Radical]

27. "THere is nothing about the man that suggest he's republican"

Well--except--you know, like--his party membership, and who he caucuses with. I think he'll wait to jump until it makes a difference, like if he could swing the majority of the Senate by doing so. If yer gonna jump, you might as well make as big a splash as possible, and make sure that the people you're joining will be appropriately grateful in terms of rewarding you with committee chairmanships, etc.

[mbali]

30. And how he votes . . .

[Thrill]

44. Chafee was against

Chimpy's tax cuts. Against Gay Marriage admendment. He is for Affirmative action and raising the min wage. He also is pro choice. He is more of a Democrat than Evan Bayh.

[mbali]

51. But he's always there for Republican caucus when they need him on close

votes

[Thrill]

54. True BUT

I bet Chafee will never vote yes to appoint an anti Roe v Wade judge to the Supreme Court.

I also think the day the Dem win back the Senate he will switch over. He's more of a liberal than Lieberman and Bayh

[PROGRESSIVE1]

21. We need conclusive evidence of this.

[jefferson_dem]

26. LINK HERE - From AP

GOP Sen. Won't Commit to Voting for Bush
Republican Sen. Lincoln Chafee Won't Commit to Voting for Bush, May Write in Candidate

The Associated Press

Republican Sen. Lincoln Chafee said Monday he plans to support his party in November but may write in a candidate instead of voting for President Bush.

The Rhode Island lawmaker, known for moderate views that often run counter to the Bush administration, said he was going to vote for a member of his party even though he disagrees with the president on many issues.

<SNIP>

http://abcnews.go.com/wire/Politics/ap20040920_1118.html

[Jackpine Radical]

32. Bet he writes in McCain.

[noamnety]

41. yes, McCain

If I were a republican that couldn't in good conscience vote for Bush, but wouldn't ever vote for a democrat, I would write in McCain.

In fact, I would start a movement to motivate lots of republicans to write in McCain, to send a clear message to the extremists that were taking over my party. I wonder how many would go along with that?

[David Zephyr]

33. Now This Is Real NEWS.

Let's see how Conglomerate Network News and Murdoch News do the very least possible to even report it.

[cthrumatrix]

39. some repugs are bailing...the Iraq mess is a tragedy

[BlueNomad]

34. he can write in dog meat...

for all I care...As long as he does not vote for Bush...

[Killarney]

37. Damn. I wish he was a swing-state senator!

We have Rhode Island.

But, that's great though. Hope it gets a good amount of press.

I'd be scared if I were him. They are going to skewer him for this.

[in_cog_ni_to]

38. EXCELLENT!

I'm shocked that he actually let it be known. Man, he must take a LOT of heat from the repukes in congress. Chaffee has principles.

Good for him!

[cthrumatrix]

49. this really is news

[CBHagman]

40. Chafee is more the future of politics than Zell Miller is, generally.

Let's face it. Does anyone really believe that Zell Miller, who is retiring from the Senate, represents some kind of new political wave in this country? Does anyone believe that his speech at the RNC will wear well and that it outshone Barack Obama's appeal at the DNC? NOT BLOODY LIKELY, FOLKS.

Chafee is relatively young and a pro-environment Republican. Granted, he is from the Northeast and also from a tiny state, so it's not as though he represents some sort of demographic boom. But I don't expect the Zell Millers of the country to appeal to the growing Latino population and young African Americans and the baby boom echo. And eventually the highly divisive, acrimonious tone in the current GOP is going to carry a price. They screw over and punish their own (e.g., McCain, Lugar et al). I'm not saying there will be mass party switching, only a reassessment on both sides.

Stay tuned, folks. This could get interesting.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

42. Achtung Herr Chaffee

You vill immediately report for duty on ze Eastern Front. Und you vill enjoy it!

[mvd]

43. That's great!

Now he should move to our side. If Zell moves afterwards to make up for it, at least they'd both be on the right sides.

[Zero Division]

45. I knew we could count on Chafee

Yes, he may most unfortunately support the Bush admin. on important votes like SC nominations, but his overall voting record is more liberal than some Senate Dems and he does support the Dem position on some very important issues like the War in Iraq.

He's far more liberal than McCain, for instance.

[DemOperative]

47. he should have said "seriously. I quit"

Because he'll be shunned by the republicans in congress for the duration of his term.

One can only assume he has a cushy lobbyist job with a dem-leaning firm all lined up.

God bless him, either way.

[n2mark]

48. Another Kyl message

A few years ago I was in D.C. to support a child care issue, we went to visit his office, thought a Texan was strolling out of his office. What a loud mouth! He dressed like a Texan. Sorry I am probably profiling. He did give a very negative impression.

[npincus]

50. is he voting for kerry? abstaining?

[dennis4868]

53. COME ON.....

other repubs...come out come out wherever you are...it's okay, yyou can vote for Kerry....he wont bite you...