Rate a 5: Republican Senator Says He May Not Vote Bush

[Killarney]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20040920/pl_nm/campaign_chafee_dc
Republican Senator Says He May Not Support Bush

U.S. Sen. Lincoln Chafee (news, bio, voting record), a Republican moderate from Rhode Island, said on Monday he might not vote for President Bush (news - web sites) in the Nov. 2 election.

[cthrumatrix]

1. they are jumping ship like rats

[merbex]

8. Republican Senators from New England aren't rats, they're future

Democratic Senators from New England who may help us get back the Senate.

Even if they sit with Jim Jeffords

[PROGRESSIVE1]

2. kick

[Demi_Babe]

3. it's #5 on the most popular...we can do better

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=index&cid=1688

[Inland]

4. Unlike Bush, he will pay the price when the various frauds

are uncovered. Iraq, deficits, Plame, you name it, it is all being kicked past the election--Bush's last election, that is. Chaffee doesn't want to be on board with that, no congresscritter does.

[alarcojon]

5. It's something, but not a great victory

he says he might write in Poppy!

[bluestateguy]

6. He has his own reelection to think about

Rhode Island tends to not like Republicans, at least not those too attached to the national party, which is now run by southerners.

[Sporadicus]

7. Yeah, Buddy!

That's what we want to hear! On edit: 3.71 is none too shabby.

[Killarney]

9. The thing I like about this is that the more Republicans

that speak out and say they won't vote Bush (Chafee, Sullivan, Carlson) the more Republicans in general think it's "OK" to be mad at Bush and to not support him. So much of the past 3 years has been "must support the president at all times" and the Republicans have been very united since 9/11. So to see some jumping ship like this is great because it gives the average Republican voter "permission" to think outside the box and question their vote.

[Bleacher Creature]

10. kick

done -- this is a good one to keep on the list.

[BootinUp]

11. done.

[Bozita]

12. Avg Rating: 3.38, 793 votes

[9119495]

13. This is huge and here is why...

A reasonable projection for the senate next year is 51 repubs. and 49 dems (including Jeffords). If this happens and Chafee were switch sides it would be a 50-50 split. That would make (hopefully) John Edwards the tie breaker on votes.

This is also why we really need to get out and fight for dems running in what should not be competetive states. If we can capture OK, AK, plus hang on to seats like NC (Bowles), or SD, we may be able to switch the whole godsdamned thing--thus no matter who wins, at least we'd have the senate.

[cthrumatrix]

14. kick

[AnIndependentTexan]

15. CNN had him on

It was funny he so wanted to say it. However his pride held him back from saying he would vote for Kerry. He was like oh if we had someone like George Bush's father running I'd vote for him.

They are scared, they are finially awaking up, and they are like wounded dogs afraid to admit they need help and a real leader.

[Bleacher Creature]

16. KIck (and a comment)

Anyone ever check out the Yahoo! message boards. I've never seen such vitriol and ignorance in one place. But then again, I never visit FR!

[fdr_hst_fan]

17. One down-

20,000,000 to go!

[m_welby]

18. thats my senator !

no one should make too much of this. Lincoln is NOT going to switch parties. He is a republican (a real one not a neocon). His father served in the same senate seat for many years and was a tireless supporter of smaller government and the environment.

He is very independent and represents his constituents to the best of his ability. He believes in the ideals the Republican party and rolling over for the thugs who have taken over his party would not only betray his ideals and those of his father (Sen. John Chafee), but also all of us.Thats not gonna happen.

Lincoln has fought * and his own party in the senate from day one. I'm pretty sure that he was the ONLY Republican Senator not to vote for the Iraq war, and I (and most of us here in the biggest little) are very proud of him. As another poster has said we grow our democrats liberal and republicans moderate here. All of our federal officials are fine individuals (Jack Reed, who you may have seen with Hillary going to Iraq) and Jim Langevin (who you may have seen speak at the DNC), and of course Patrick Kennedy (although I must say I think he's not in the same caliber as our other representatives).

On the other hand, local politics is another matter entirely.