8
THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, October 28, 2010
BATTLE FOR THE U.S. SENATE ELECTION PREDICTIONS: Election Day is just about 2 weeks away. Now it
by Kevin Shafer Contributing Writer
is time for me to give my assessment of some key races in the fight to control the United States Senate. The Republicans need a net gain of 10 seats to win the majority in the Senate. That is a tough prospect even in a very strong year for the GOP. I will look at what I believe are the 8 Senate seats that will decide control of the Senate and assess who I think will end up victorious. Like most political watchers, I believe Republicans will win seats in Arkansas, North Da- kota, and Indiana for 3 easy pick ups.
1. Wisconsin (Russ Feingold) Senator Feingold looked like a shoe-
in for re-election just a few months ago, especially against his Repub- lican opponent, political newcomer Ron Johnson. But Johnson has captured a fairly sizable lead over Feingold in most polls in the last two months. Both Obamas have campaigned for Feingold, knowing he’s vulnerable. In a state that voted for Barack Obama by over 10 points in 2008, voters are most likely set to send their Democratic Senator and Obama ally Russ Feingold packing. Johnson wins the seat. GOP pick up #4.
2. Pennsylvania (Open Seat) The Democrats’ nominee is Con- gressman Joe Sestak. But he is a nominee that voted for the stimulus bill and Obama Care in a state that opposes those two key Obama/ Democratic bills. His Republican opponent, former Congressman Pat Toomey, is running a strong campaign and is favored to win this race. It will tighten though as Gov. Ed Rendell brings out some of the dispirited Democratic base in the state for Sestak, but I predict Toomey wins. GOP pick up #5.
3. Colorado (Michael Bennet) This race has tightened up in recent weeks with a number of unforced errors on the part of Republican challenger Ken Buck. Bennet has failed to get above 50% however in any recent poll and Colorado is a state where most voters disapprove of President Obama’s job performance. The Tea Party is a strong force there and will I predict put Buck over the top. But this will be a close race. I am predicting Buck winning. GOP pick up #6.
4. Nevada (Harry Reid) Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has consistently been around 45 to 48% in the polls—danger zone for an incumbent Senator that has been around for so long and well-known. But both Reid and his GOP challenger Sharron Angle have high un- favorable ratings. Angle has made this race about the bad economy and discontent with Washington under Reid’s leadership, while Reid has tried to make this race about Sharron Angle’s extremism. So, this has become one of the nastiest Senate races in the nation this year. I think Reid’s unpopularity defeats him and Angle wins nar- rowly. GOP pick up #7.
5. West Virginia (Open Seat) West Virginia is a longtime Demo-
cratic but more conservative state. Obama is unpopular here. But the Democrats have a chance by running popular governor Joe Manchin who has run ads stressing his pro-gun rights credentials and where he “shoots down” Obama Care. He’s in a
See SHAFER on 36
by Michelle Malkin Syndicated Columnist
FREE THE TAXPAYERS: DEFUND STATE-
SPONSORED MEDIA In the wake
of commenta- tor Juan Wil- liams’ feckless firing by Na- tional Public Radio, sup- por ters on the Internet sounded a cheeky rally- ing cry: “Free Juan! ” But
Williams has now been liberated from the government-funded me- dia’s politically correct shackles. It’s taxpayers who need to be untethered from NPR and other state-sponsored public broad- casting. Public radio and public televi-
sion are funded with your money to the tune of some $400 million in direct federal handouts and tax deductions for contributions made by individual viewers, not to mention untold state grants and subsidies. Supporters argue that this amounts to a tiny portion of state-sponsored media’s overall budget, and an even tinier portion of the overall federal budget. If it’s so negligible, why do NPR’s government-subsidized “journal- ists” cling so bitterly to the sub- sidies? Leverage. The government imprimatur gives NPR and PBS a competitive edge, favoritism with lawmakers and the phony appear- ance of being above the fray. The Williams debacle gives
definitive lie to the dulcet-toned facade. Without cause or notice, NPR announced Williams’ ter- mination on Twitter (the social networking service). Williams, who is a Fox News contributor, had committed the deadly sin of expressing public concern about traveling with “people who are in
Muslim garb ... identifying them- selves first and foremost as Mus- lims.” Confessed Williams on “The O’Reilly Factor” Tuesday night: “I get worried. I get nervous.” Williams compounded the sin of
post-9/11 candor by accurately quoting the jihadist threat of con- victed would-be Times Square bomber Faisal Shahzad: “He said the war with Muslims, America’s war is just beginning, first drops of blood. I don’t think there’s any way to get away from these facts.” Indeed not. Williams later emphasized in the
segment that a distinction needed to be made between “moderate” and “extremist” Muslims. But left-wing bloggers, the p.c. police and Fox-hating organizations weren’t listening. Think Progress, the same outfit that is waging war against the GOP-leaning U.S. Chamber of Commerce, decried Williams’ remarks. The liberal Huffington Post piled on. Former conservative writer turned liberal scold Andrew Sullivan bestowed Williams with his “Malkin Award” (yes, named after yours truly) and condemned him for sup- posedly bigoted rhetoric beyond the pale. The granddaddy of all grievance-mongers, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, pressured NPR to “address” Wil- liams’ feelings. CAIR, of course, is notorious for “addressing” its talk radio and TV critics -- from the late Paul Harvey to Dr. Laura to scholar Daniel Pipes -- by launch- ing relentless witch hunts to kick dissenters off the air. Upon summarily firing Williams
for violating the public radio sta- tion’s “editorial standards,” NPR CEO Vivian Schiller appeased the leftist mob by shamelessly See MALKIN on 28
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48