The Democratic Leaders in the Senate continue to do their best to abandon all campaign promises of reigning in wasteful spending. This time it’s over Sen. Judd Gregg’s presidential rescission amendment to the Senate Ethics bill.
I’m not really going to go into it, because RedState has everything you need to know.

HUMAN EVENTS also has a good roundup with more links, including some more Republican amendments to be considered from Senators Coburn (but of course), Cornyn, and Vitter.

This is not the way I would like for the Republicans to regain control of the Senate, but this morning it is looking like an almost sure thing now.

This is pretty serious……

Associated Press

We are one week out now and I am making my final predictions for what I believe the result of next Tuesday’s Senate elections will be. Let’s see how close I come:

Apparently, Jim Webb, Democrat Senate candidate running against George Allen, writes novels that describe in quite a bit of detail sexual acts involving underage children.

[EDIT: Not appropriate for the front page, you can view the rest of the post by clicking below - Alex]

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The Corner at NRO has a video up of Santorum’s great interview with Chris Mathews. It seems to me like he is trying to appeal to the pro-war base with the legislation he mentions passing. He is also clearly one of the most well spoken politicians in DC.

The brilliant Thomas Sowell writing at NRO explains to the RNC why no one is interested in helping them send more RINOs to DC:

How did the Republicans manage to bring themselves to this dire condition, just two years after winning both Houses of Congress, the White House, and most of the state governorships?

It wasn’t easy — and it wasn’t new. It was the same thing that caused the first President Bush to lose his bid for reelection in 1992, after having had sky-high approval ratings in 1991. It was betraying the trust of supporters.

Back then it was the betrayal of the “No new taxes” pledge. More recently, it was the even worse betrayal of trying to legislate amnesty for millions of illegal immigrants, combined with insulting our intelligence by saying that it was not amnesty.

Add to this the Republicans’ runaway spending and the fact that the war in Iraq has been going badly, and you have all the ingredients of a political debacle.

He does conclude with this advice however:

If this election were about the fate of one political party rather than another, it would hardly be worth thinking about.

***

It would be worse than obscene for some voters to cut off their nose to spite their face by either staying home on election day or actually voting a blank check from America for a party with a decades-long history of irresponsibility on national defense.

Even though I disagree with him this is good food for thought. The last time defense wasn’t a vital issue on election day was in the 1920s. I don’t see an election in the next 50 years that doesn’t include national defense as the number one issue. So does that basically mean that we will never, ever return to following the Constitution? That is not acceptable, I would rather bring the nation to its collective knees with a strong dose of Democratic mayhem than tolerate being misled and lied to for another minute.

The fact that Senator Santorum is losing to Bob Casey Jr. speaks volumes about how badly he has angered the base in PA. Here is a hilarious exchange between the Philly Inquirer and Jr. courtesy of Powerline:

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I saw this article on Real Clear Politics today that clarified what most of us have been saying for months. Chafee and Whitehouse are basically the same guy. The only difference is that they have different letters next to their names on the ballot.

Mark and I both worked pretty hard on the Toomey race in 2004. The establishment laughed at the idea that Pat would actually be a contender but they were soon eating crow when he came within a percent and a half of picking off Arlen Specter in the Republican Primary. Since that time Pat has earned a great deal of respect among Pennsylvania’s political elite and has become a conservative icon not just here, but across the country. There is no doubt in my mind that he will be running again come 2010, but will he have to fight the party again? That all depends on Rick Santorum.

We all know Rick is in the fight for his political life this year, running a race for reelection in which he has yet to come out above his opponent in any poll this entire season. Rick is the left’s number one target and is vehemently despised by their base for his outspoken conservativism. The problem is that Rick isn’t exactly the brash fireball he used to be when he told us all to “join the fight” 16 years ago during his first bid for Congress. While he still has a good voting record for the conservative cause, anyone who takes a closer look at his record can plainly see he has drifted left over the years and isn’t as solid as he used to be. That is the real problem Rick is facing this year. A lot of what used to be his base feels he sold out to Washington and his backing of Specter in the 2004 primary has really scarred him. If he loses in two weeks, which is panning out to be the end result, it will be because his based abandoned him for these reasons. However, the media won’t portray it that way.

Rick will have lost because he is too conservative to once again win a statewide race in a moderate state like Pennsylvania. At least, that’s what the New York Times will say. The question is what will the powers-that-be of the State GOP say and what will a Santorum loss mean for Toomey in ‘10? If the conventional wisdom of a state party that isn’t very wise subscribes to the myth that conservatism can’t cut it in Pennsylvania anymore then Toomey is going to have to fight a double battle when the times come.

This is what concerns me most about this Senate race and why I will be voting for Rick Santorum on November 7th.

MSNBC

Funny ad though it is very much below the belt.

“So we took money from porn movie producers, I mean, who hasn’t?”

That is a riot, whoever is doing the video’s for Corker’s campaign is a talented fellow.

Now for the issues. Am I to understand that with this ad Corker is saying that he will:

1.) Abolish the Estate Tax permanently?
2.) Vote for a millitary action against North Korea?

It will be interesting to see how he follows through on these if he gets elected.

Hat-tip: Redstate

” I have made it a rule of my life never to regret and never to look back. Regret is an appalling waste of energy… you can’t build on it; it’s only good for wallowing in.” - Katherine Mansfield

I agree. That’s why I think it is time for folks to face facts and start putting their last few weeks of energy into what we know we can salvage and even gain. So who’s hot and who’s not?

Conrad Burns - NOT. The liberals were just drooling over the Jack Abramoff affair. This was going to be the big scandal that rocked the GOP right out of Washington. Well, that was wishful thinking really. It was just too early and people have short memories, but it won’t disappear into the annals of past political sleaze without one casualty and that will be Senator Burns. Democrat Jon Tester has given Burns quite a walloping this year using Abramoff to inflict a heavy toll. Burns has been down well out of the margin of error for a few weeks now in every poll that has come out. That, with a state that has been trending more blue as of late, is just bad news for Burns. The GOP should write him off and put their money where it can be more effective.

Mike DeWine - Goodbye. There is simply nothing good to say about the Ohio Republican Party with the exception of Ken Blackwell. They are corrupt. They abandoned the principles of Goldwater and Reagan a long time ago. Republican voters don’t vote in Republicans so that they can raise taxes, chase out jobs, pork barrel spend, and roll around in a trough of power, corruption, and greed. The best way to save the Ohio GOP is to clean house by any means at this point. Sometimes taking a step back is the way forward. DeWine is trailing to a rabid Socialist. In a fairly conservative state like Ohio, that’s not a good reflection of the party’s character among the voters.

Rick Santorum - Pack your bags. Oh, how it pains me to have to write off my own Senator, especially after his bumper sticker was ripped off my car in Philadelphia last week along with the redecorating of my driver’s side door by that tolerant liberal’s key. I finally had to make myself face the facts last week. Rick just can’t do it. He has always been a polarizing figure and has never won either of his previous Senate races by large margins, but people respected Rick for standing his ground and speaking his mind. That respect whithered away two years ago when he firmly backed Arlen Specter over his conservative primary challenger, then Congressman Patrick Toomey. A lot of people were upset and swore they would never support Rick again. I really thought most people would get over it come two years later, but conservatives really don’t trust Rick any longer. Adding fuel to the fire is a perceived conservative Democrat challenger whose father was a very popular pro-life Democrat governor. Though he has narrowed the gap, not a single poll has come out all year with Rick ahead of Bob Casey, Jr. This is a recipe for an Election Night disaster.

So where do we divert all of this money? George Allen’s race is a little too close for comfort and while I think he will have a decent showing, the GOP shouldn’t take any chances. Jim Talent has served us well, but he is neck and neck with a leftist nutjob who does not in any way represent the mainstream values of the people of Missouri. Jim needs the bulk of the money. Then, of course, the Republicans have their two pick up opportunities in New Jersey and Maryland. While I am not all that fond of Tom Kean, him stealing a New Jersey Senate seat keeps us in the majority. As for Michael Steele, the Republicans would have to adopt the jackass symbol of the Democrats if they don’t spare every resource they have for that race. Michael Steele is the future of the Republican Party, the GOP of the 21st Century.

Yeah, I know. I left out Lincoln Chafee. He might win; he might lose. Who really cares? I get sick every time I think of the millions of dollars Liddy Dole sunk into that Rhode Island primary that could now be going to these other guys. Maybe if she had taken a couple of Bob’s Viagaras she would have risen to the occassion.

The Republican Party moved quickly today to deny a New York Times report that the GOP is pulling out of embattled Ohio Sen. Mike DeWine’s re-election bid to focus on Senate races in which it faces better odds of winning, like those in Missouri, Tennessee, and possibly Virginia.

“The evidence of our commitment [to DeWine] is that we’re putting our money where our mouth is,” Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman said on a call with reporters this morning. “No state will receive more resources from the RNC than Ohio.”

U.S. News

There was talk early on in the campaign season of possible primary challenges to Mike DeWine. It is unfortunate that they never materialized because Mike DeWine cannot win this race. A 20 plus year incumbent does not trail his challenger in every poll this close to Election Day and still pull off a victory. DeWine is getting toasted by a series of Republican scandals in the Buckeye State as well as the backlash of conservatives towards a state party riddled with the RINO disease. DeWine, himself, has never been a warm friend of conservatives so there is no saving grace for him in those regards. I personally won’t be losing sleep over his loss, however, it does pain me that he will replaced by a member of the Democratic Socialists of America.

Two respected polls last week showed DeWine trailing his opponent by 6 to 14 percentage points, while a third, by the University of Akron, found the contest to be in a dead heat, with roughly 14 percent of voters undecided.

Wow! Today’s Survey USA poll has Michael Steele tied with Ben Cardin for the Maryland Senate race!

Toss-Up For Open MD US Senate Seat: In an election for U.S. Senator in Maryland today, 10/18/06, Republican Michael Steele and Democrat Ben Cardin tie, according to a SurveyUSA poll conducted exclusively for WMAR-TV Baltimore and WUSA-TV Washington DC.

Survey USA

Michael Steele has been a rising star in the Republican Party and winning this Senate race could bring even bigger things in the future for him.

As astonishing as it is to see a potential Republican Senate seat pick up in the very blue state of New Jersey, especially amidst the current political climate for Republicans, I don’t think Tom Kean, Jr. is much to get excited about.

The Senate candidate in New Jersey challenging the incumbent constantly reinforces the same point: his opponent is corrupt, so voters need to dump him and pick someone with a higher sense of ethics. Increased funding for stem cell research, a ban on offshore oil drilling in Alaska and outlawing gifts from lobbyists to lawmakers are major planks in his campaign platform. He’s also been sharply critical of the Bush Administration handling of the war in Iraq, and is pro-choice and liberal on environmental issues. Now, in the wake of the Mark Foley scandal, he’s called on House Speaker Dennis Hastert to step down.

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1545459,00.html

I’m not certain if Kean is just running to the left because he thinks he has too in order to win or if he actually holds these positions sternly in his heart. In either case, one thing is clear. It looks like New Jersey keeps a “Democrat” Senator no matter who wins.

I’ve been in Michigan the last few days and will be here most of the week. This weekend is spent in Detroit and lounging at my parent’s farmhouse about 40 minutes south in the middle-of-nowhere near Ohio. Throughout the coming week I’ll be working in Flint, Saginaw, and Lansing as well before heading back to Pennsylvania so I’ll be getting the grand tour of the state.

It’s been non-stop political ads on TV for both governor and senator. The Republicans are pouncing on the Democrats up here hard and the Democrats are taking no chances. Every fifteen minutes I see an ad for Jennifer Granholm or Dick De Vos, and Debbie Stabenow or Mike Bouchard. The Republicans are capitalizing on the massive layoffs going on throughout the state from The Big Three and Ford didn’t do the D’s any favor on Friday when they announced another 10,000.

There is potential, a lot of potential, here in Michigan for big Republican pickups. The Democrat Governor is very unpopular and polls have her and Republican challenger De Vos in a dead heat. Bouchard is trailing Stabenow still for the Senate but he has been gaining ground. The question is, will the people of Michigan seriously embrace change or will these heavily Democrat voters behave like those in my own city of Pittsburgh, like lambs to the slaughter, reelecting a failed governor and a do nothing Senator with a disdain for Slim Fast all because their arms might turn gangrenous and fall off if they even graze the Republican lever.

My prediction:

De Vos picks off Granholm in a very close race. Bouchard gives Stabenow a major run for her money but barely misses the brass ring.

Talent’s numbers have been on the up and up suddenly and a recent USA Today/Gallup poll has him 6 points over Atilla McCaskill. Of course, Talent recently received a gift so pure it could have only come from heaven itself when his Marxist opponent made the following remarks:

“George Bush let people die on rooftops in New Orleans because they were poor and because they were black.”

Open mouth, insert foot, Claire?

I just got back from my Republican Committee meeting and there was a lot of casual talk about all kinds of issues, but someone brought up the prospect of Santorum running for President in 2008. Actually, it was more than a prospect as far as this individual was concerned. I have heard rumors that Rick is considering a run, but apparently it is more than just a rumor. In fact, according to the individual that brought up the subject, if Hillary jumps into the race then Rick is almost definitely going to run. Of course, he has to get over his first hurdle which is to get reelected to the Senate first. If he loses that then I think any hopes for the White House are shattered. Furthermore, I do recall earlier this year at a Young Republicans meeting where Rick’s State Director was speaking and someone asked him that, if reelected, would Santorum pledge to serve a full term and not seek another “opportunity”. The gentleman, without hesitation, said no. Interesting gossip among the talking heads here in Allegheny County.

Today is a big day for the Republican Party. In a little over four hours the polls in Rhode Island will close and we will see whether principle or power prevail. It’s been no secret that Senator Dole has poured well over a million dollars into Chafee’s survival. From her perspective, keeping the seat in Rhode Island keeps the Republicans in power, but to what consequence? In four years of complete GOP control we have not seen tax code reform, Social Security private accounts, responsible spending, and limited government and that is because the Republicans continue to harbor individuals like Lincoln Chafee and others who do n0t believe in these things. It makes you wonder why Chafee is even a Republican considering he seems to disagree on just about every principle the party was built on. How is he any different than a Democrat?

I’m just as aware as the next guy that the probability of Laffey keeping the seat in the most Democrat state in the country is slim, but that is not really what this primary is about. This is about sending a message to D.C. that we don’t all get out there and bust our butts to keep Republicans in the majority so that they can stumble over their own feet by defending those who thwart the very agenda we put them in there for.

Good luck tonight, Steve!

1) Rally doesn’t have an “E”
2) An ethnic rally, I mean come on…

Totally unrelated:The girl on the left is a GW CR, so kudos to the GW CRs for getting out there and campaigning, they can’t help it if Team Allen chooses an incredibly ridiculous way to use their man power.

MSNBC’s Meet the Press aired the first debate between Rick Santorum and Bob Casey Jr. Putting my bias aside, I honestly think that Santorum came out looking like a rock star. Bob Casey Jr. should go into the business of making cassette tapes for insomniacs. He’ll put anybody to sleep.

Tim Russert was fair. He nailed both candidates equally with some tough questions, heavily weighted with just the right ingredients to make them both squirm. Again, Santorum outshined Junior. He was direct and confident with his answers, no stumbling or back tracking. Junior definitely appeared uneasy in some of his answers.

No contest. Santorum won the debate handily. If the rest of them go the same way I think Rick keeps his jobs.