January 31 News.

IRAQ
Yesterday was Iraqi Election Day. The good news is that only around 40 people were killed, not the bloodbath some were predicting. Congratulations to the Bush Administration on not screwing that up. Now, Mr. President, it's time to get out of there and let them fend for their selves.
NEW JERSEY
Acting Governor Richard Codey (D) has decided not to seek his party's nomination to run for a full term in 2005. Also, Congressman Rob Andrews (D) has decided not to run. Both have yielded to multimillionaire Senator Jon S. Corzine. Corzine is extremely popular in the state and should have no trouble defeating any Republican.
DNC CHAIR
Donnie Fowler (SC) is getting a boost in his race for Chairman of the Democratic Party. Fowler, just in his late 30's, is the son of former DNC Chair Donald Fowler. Today, the executive committee of the Democratic Party's state chairs endorsed Fowler, choosing the young up-and-comer over Governor Howard Dean (VT). This may come down to a three-man race; Dean, Fowler, and former Denver Mayor Wellington Webb (CO). As for me, I've decided I'm going to support Fowler. Check his website out at http://www.changetheparty.com/
BIRTHDAY WISHES
Happy 64th Birthday to Vice President Cheney. Although what about the almost 1,500 men who will never see a 64th birthday, Mr. Vice President?
The "King" of the liberal wing of my party is celebrating a birthday soon. Happy early 73rd birthday to Senator Ted Kennedy!
VHSL
If nothing happens, tomorrow (Feb. 1st) the VHSL team will finally be going to Lebanon to compete in the Academic Bowl. Wish us luck. (Yeah, I know...that's like the fourth time I've said that.)
This will be all for now. Until we meet again.

Not much to say...

Not much to say today, but, hey, why not.
Here's a list of people I'm supporting statewide in 2005.
Governor-Tim Kaine (D)
Lt. Governor-This one's tricky...my top choice is State Senator Phillip Puckett (D-Lebanon), simply because I lived in Lebanon and Puckett is a nice guy. If Puckett can't get it, I would like to see it go for State Delegate Chap Petersen (D-Fairfax)
Attorney General-Not tricky at all. State Senator Creigh Deeds (D-Bath County).
So, my choices are again..
Tim Kaine
Phillip Puckett/Chap Petersen
Creigh Deeds

What do I think the GOP ticket will be, you ask?
Well, here's how it looks to me.
Governor-Jerry Kilgore (R)
Lt. Governor-The self-described front-runner is State Senator Bill Bolling (R-Hanover County), but State Delegate Joe May (R-Leesburg) may come from behind and win it.
Attorney General-Unfortunatley, no question about it...State Delegate Bob McDonnell (R-Virgini Beach). I've met this gentelman, and let me speak honestly and non-partisan...what a loser..
So here's how the GOP will go..
Jerry Kilgore
Bill Bolling/Joe May
Bob McDonnell

I'll analyze this race Monday or Tuesday.

Tomorrow (01-29-05) is our VHSL competition in Lebanon. Wish us luck..we need it.
Off to lunch.

More 2006 (and 2008) Stuff

CONNECTICUT
Today, Senator Joe Lieberman (D) announced he will run for re-election to a fourth term in 2006. This will also be his fourth bid for political office in six years, by the way. Count them for yourself: 2000 Re-election to the Senate, 2000 VP nominee, 2004 Presidential Candidate. A new poll says that Connecticut Republicans give Lieberman a 73% approval rating. This is actually higher than the approval rating Connecticut Democrats gave him. Oh yeah, and don't expect a rematch of 2000's Senate race. Former Waterbury Mayor Philip Giordano, Lieberman's 2000 opponent, is currently serving 37 years in prison for molesting two underage girls.
NEW YORK
Pull out the party streamers, boys! Hillary is going to be re-elected for sure now! Both of Clinton's major opponents, Governor George Pataki and former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani, both Republicans, are quietly backing away from a challenge to the incumbent Democrat. The only Republican voicing real interest is Westchester County District Attorney Jeanine Pirro, a relative unknown statewide. Look for HRC to be heading off to Iowa and New Hampshire to ready herself for 2008 the day after she is sworn in to a second term, on January 3rd 2007.
DNC CHAIRMAN
Here's a list of the candidates and which 2008 Presidential Democrats are supporting them...very interesting...
Wellington Webb-Hillary Clinton (NY), Bill Richardson (NM), Mark Warner (VA), John Kerry (MA)
Tim Roemer-Evan Bayh (IN)
Martin Frost-John Edwards (NC)
As for Simon Rosenberg, Howard Dean, Donnie Fowler, and David Leland...well, um..no 2008 candidates of note have endorsed them yet.
Time to leave.
P.s.-Saturday the 29th is the VHSL competition in Lebanon; wish us luck!

Quick News

New York-
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. has ruled out a run for State Attorney General, citing his desire to devote his time to his family. He did, however, say that a political run was the next step in his future.
Virginia- (this is a big one...be patient...)
Several high-profile Democrats are lining up to run against incumbent Republican Senator George Allen in 2006. Democrats are angry with Allen because of his role in the 2004 Senate elections that elected 7 new GOP senators. Some names that are being circulated include: Governor Mark Warner, Lt. Governor Tim Kaine, Congressman Rick Boucher, Congressman Bobby Scott, 1997 Lt. Governor nominee L.F. Payne, Norfolk Mayor Paul Fraim, and retired General Claudia Kennedy.
Here's my opinion of each candidates pros and cons--
1-Mark Warner-Warner is a self-made millionare in the communications business (think Nextel). Everyone knows Warner will run for something...they just don't know what for sure. His options are...A)2006 against Allen..B)2008 in a potential open Senate race...C)President/Vice President in 2008. While I do hope he runs, I'm inclined to think he'll pass on this one.
2-Tim Kaine-Kaine, a former Richmond Mayor, is currently running for Governor in 2005 against Jerry Kilgore. If that doesn't work out like we hope it does, Kaine's most logical step would be to run for the Senate. Tim Kaine is a great person and a very nice guy to talk to, and if he can convey that on the campaign trail, he'll have a good chance. He must, however, avoid the "too Liberal" label that plagued him in the 2001 LG race.
3-Rick Boucher-Boucher has been my district's congressman since 1982, and prides himself on constituent service. He represents an area about the size on New Jersey, so running state-wide wouldn't be much of a problem. He's fairly moderate on economic issues, which will sit well with the voters in Central and Southside Virginia.
4-Bobby Scott-An African American, Scott will do very well in the inner cities where there are high black populations, but will probably sink in the rural areas. Scott is probably the farthest Left in the list of potentials. If I were a gambling man, I wouldn't put my money on Bobby Scott.
5-L.F. Payne-Payne is probably the least known of the group, but, like Warner and Kaine, has already ran statewide (although Payne lost to John Hager). Payne is also the oldest of the group, but he is plainspoken and does very well with senior citizens and minority groups. This will help him not only in high black population areas (southside) but also in areas such as Russell County, Dickenson County, etc. (Boucher's backyard)
6-Paul Fraim-Tim Kaine tried to convince Paul Fraim to run for LG in 2005, but Fraim passed, possibly for a 2006 race. Fraim has executive experience and is an excellent speaker. Watch Fraim closely to see if he comes from the socialist wing of the left to take out Payne or Scott.
7-Claudia Kennedy-The first woman to attain the rank of General in the U.S. Army, Kennedy would obviously do well with traditionaly Republican groups, like military voters and "soccer moms," not to mention the Conservative Democrats who couldn't stomach John Kerry's anti-war stand.
The candidates I'm going to support will be Kaine, Payne, Fraim, and Kennedy. Of the four, I can't pick a favorite.
In other news, Tim Kaine actually called me yesterday, and I'm his coordinator for my city! Petition drives, bumper stickers, signs, pins, and good ole politicing. Fun fun fun!
I'm gone.

I-Day 2005

Today is I-Day..
Dum dum dum (cue the "Dragnet" music)
President Bush will be sworn in to a second term today. Only a few moments from the time I'm writing this.
Some people have said there should be no prayer delivered at the inauguration, but I say the day George W. Bush takes office for four more years is the day we need to pray the most.
Ok, I'm done with my Democratic rant.
Howard Dean has picked up the endorsements of the Democratic party State Chairs in Mississippi, Oklahoma, Utah, and Florida. Governor Dean is one step closer to becoming the Chairman of the DNC. (For the record, my candidate is former Indiana Congressman Tim Roemer)
Yesterday on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the vote to approve Condoleezza Rice to be Secretary of State was 16 yeas, 2 nays. The 2 voting against were Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and John Kerry (D-MA). At least someone stood up and said what they believed.
Wisconsin Senator Russell Feingold (D) is giving a speech next week in Florida. Former North Carolina Senator (and 2004 VP Candidate) John Edwards is in New Hampshire giving speeches as we speak. Both of these events signal a 2008 Presidential run.
This is all for now. I'm gathering up SWAC information to post soon.

2005 Governor of Virginia

Jerry Kilgore, the GOP candidate for Governor in 2005, is resigning from his job as state Attorney General to focus on his run for governor. A Virginia state law prohibits sitting state officials (i.e. Kilgore and Democratic candidate Tim Kaine) from raising money during the General Assembly session. The Assembly is scheduled to adjourn February 28th. If Kilgore resigned after 2/28, then Governor Mark Warner would appoint an interim Attorney General, a Democrat. This way, the General Assembly, which is Republican controlled, will select the replacement.
My opinion of all of this is that Kilgore has raised exactly the same amount of money as Kaine (3.3 million dollars) and, in a Republican-leaning state should be way ahead in fundraising. Kaine is also only 2 or 3 points behind in polls. That spells trouble for Kilgore. Plus an attack from the center of the Republican party i the June primary by Warrenton Mayor George Fitch will drain his time and resources. This resignation to focus full-time on the race signals that Kilgore is running scared.
Here are links to the candidate websites; I think they might be interesting.
Kaine's website http://www.timpac.org/
Kilgore's website http://www.jerrykilgore.com/
Stay tuned to see what happens.

P.S.-I'll be posting more SWAC stuff either Wednesday or Thursday.

In A Hurry...

Can't write much...we're on a snow schedule so I have to go to lunch now, but I can tell you some small bits of news.
Both of the Senate's most Liberal "Old-Guard Lions," Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts and Robert C. Byrd of West Virginia, have made plans to run for re-election in 2006. Byrd, now 86, will run for his 9th term, while Kennedy, almost 73, will run for his 8th term. Off the top of my head, I can come up with a dozen Senators over age 70:
Byrd (up in 2006)
Kennedy (up in 206)
Warner (up in 2008)
Feinstein (up in 2006)
Jeffords (up in 2006)
Domenici (up in 2008)
Bunning (up in 2010)
Stevens (up in 2008)
Akaka (up in 2006)
Inouye (up in 2010)
Lautenberg (up in 2008)
Hatch (up in 2006)
And there are more, but for time's sake, I won't list them. What this signals to me is that the Senate is becoming increasingly old. The average age has increased in recent years. At some point, all of these aging leaders will retire (or, God forbid..die). This will, in my opinion, leave a huge leadership gap in the Senate that won't be filled for years.

Off to lunch..

Part Two From Earlier Today..

Heres some more 2006 Senate races...
The seats Republicans are targeting are:
New York-Hillary Clinton (D-2000)--This is a constant target for the GOP; Knock off Hil and then you can say you really are the dominant party. I don't forsee Rudy Giuliani running against her, so the obvious choice for the GOP would be current Governor George Pataki. Of course, I don't believe anyone will take down this powerhouse of the Democratic party.
Florida-Bill Nelson (D-2000)--Since 2000, Florida has taken a considerable GOP tilt, and Senator Nelson is the last stand against the state Republican party. The 2004 election of Mel Martinez to an open Senate seat and President Bush's decisive victory in the state could spell trouble for Nelson. The potential candidates for the Republicans are: Congressmen Dave Weldon and Mark Foley, Governor Jeb Bush, and infamous former Secretary of State and current Congresswoman Katherine Harris.
Washington-Maria Cantwell (D-2000)--Senator Cantwell only won after a narrow recount in 2000, and with Dino Rossi's defeat for Governor this year, a so-called 300 pound gorilla is knocking on her door. Washington is heavily Democratic in the western portion of the state (think Seattle), and Senator Patty Murray was re-elected overwhelmingly in 2004. No matter who wins, it will be another nailbiter.

(Presumably) Open Seats:
Tennessee--Supposing Bill Frist (R) keeps his two-term pledge and retires to focus on the 2008 Presidential election, a high-profile and potentially dirty race will insue. The GOP bench is extremely deep: Former Congressmen Ed Bryant and Van Hilleary, current Congresswoman Martha Blackburn, Beth Harwell, and Chattanooga Mayor Bob Corker. The Democrats will likely nominate up-and-coming national star Congressman Harold Ford of Memphis, but a potentially mean primary could take place if Nashville Mayor Bill Purcell runs.
New Jersey--If Senator Jon Corzine (D) is elected Governor in 2005, he will appoint a replacement who will stand for election in 2006. The two leading contenders for the appointment are Congressmen Roert Menendez and Rush Holt (grandson of the former West Virginia Senator of the same name), both of whom would fare very well statewide. The Republicans will presumably turn to either former Governor Christine Todd Whitman, Jersey Cty Mayor Bret Schundler, or businessman Doug Forrester. The Democrat will definitly be favored.
Maryland--Senator Paul Sarbanes (D) has served since 1977, and may be up for a few golden years. Maryland is a heavily Democratic state, and also has a high African American population, which makes this interesting. The Democrat's best choice would be either Congressman Chris Van Hollen, Congressman Dutch Ruppersburger, or former Lt. Governor Kathleen Kennedy Townshend (one of the Kennedys). The Republicans will likely select current Lt. Governor Michael Steele (an African American). This shouldn't be close, but with Steele running, it could become very, very close.
Of course there will be other open seats, (these two aren't even "open" yet) but these are the two obvious ones right now.

I guess I saved the best for last...
Vermont-Jim Jeffords (I-1988)--When JJ bolted the GOP in 2001, he became the hated symbol of northeastern Liberals (with the exception of Teddy Kennedy) in the eyes of Republicans. Jeffords will be attacked from both sides; From the Republicans for bolting, and from the Democrats for not being Liberal enough for their tastes. Expect the Republicans to run Lt. Governor Brian Dubie, or possibly Governor Jim Douglas. The Democrats will try their best to draft Howard Dean as their nominee, but if they can't get him, expect just a minor candidate from the Left. No one will receive 50%, but the question is who will win just enough to be elected. This is just like bringing a giant Three-Ring Circus to New England.

That ought to wrap it up for now. Sure, there's plenty more we could cover, but maybe later. Good night all.

Until I Can Think of Something...

Until I can piece together some more information for the academic team, I'll just talk politics:
2006-U.S. Senate---
Targeted Seats By the Democrats:
VIRGINIA-George Allen (R-2000)--The Dems would like nothing better than to knock off this architect of the 2004 Senate massacre and possible 2008 Presidential contender. If Governor Warner passes on this, watch to see what happens in the 2005 Governor's election. If he loses, Lt. Governor Tim Kaine would be a front-runner to take on Allen.
MISSOURI-Jim Talent (R-2002)--Senator Talent only barely defeated Jean Carnahan in the 2002 special election, and will run for re-election after only four years service. The Democratic bench is strong, with possible candidates including State Attorney General Jay Nixon, former Lt. Governor Joe Maxwell, and two of former Senator Carnahan's children: Secretary of State Robin Carnahan and Congressman Russ Carnahan.
OHIO-Mike DeWine (R-1994)--Senator DeWine is potentially vulnerable, because of his opposition to some of the President's more conservative polices. Some possible opponents include Congressmen Tim Ryan, Ted Strickland, and Sherrod Brown, and former Cincinnati Mayor and, (in case you didn't know) Television personality Jerry Springer.

I'll add the Republican Targeted seats, plus open seats and the extenuating* circumstances in Vermont's Senate race later tonight. As it stands now, I have places to go and people to meet. See y'all later.

*--(Thanks to Justin on the spelling there!)

Polls Polls Polls!!!

Some new polls out about the 2008 Presidential race...
Republicans:
Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani 29
Senator Bill Frist 25
Senator John McCain 7
Governor Jeb Bush 7
Senator Rick Santorum 3
Governor George Pataki 3
Senator George Allen 2
Governor Mitt Romney 1
Governor Bill Owens 1
Senator Chuck Hagel 1
Governor Haley Barbour 0
Other (vol.) 2 (Former Congressman J.C. Watts-1, Senator Elizabeth Dole-1)
Don't vote in primaries (vol.) 2
Unsure 17

Democrats:
Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton 33
Senator John Edwards 22
Senator John Kerry 13
Retired General Wesley Clark 10
Governor Bill Richardson 3
Senator Evan Bayh 2
Senator Russ Feingold 1
Governor Tom Vilsack 1
Governor Mark Warner 1
Other (vol.) 3 (Governor Phil Bredesen-2; Former Governor Howard Dean-1)
Don't vote in primaries (vol.) 3
Unsure 8

--What I tend to think this signals is that te Republicans are very evenly split; The Moderate wing supporting (for the most part) Giuliani, the Religious Right supporting Frist. The Democrats have four real contenders; Clinton, Edwards, Kerry, and Clark. The only two that I believe could win nationwide are Edwards and Clark. For some odd reason, Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen received a very miniscule amount of support...

Off to lunch...

Quick Follow-Up...

I guess I should tell y'all who the state-wide officeholders are...

Virginia
Governor: Mark R. Warner (D) -- (limited to one term)
Lt. Governor: Tim Kaine (D)
Attorney General: Jerry W. Kilgore (R)

Tennessee
Governor: Phil Bredesen (D)
Lt. Governor: John S. Wilder (D)
Attorney General: Paul G. Summers (D)

West Virginia
Governor: Joe Manchin, III (D)
Lt. Governor: Earl Ray Tomblin (D)
Attorney General: Darrell V. McGraw (D)

Currently...the living Former Presidents Are:

Gerald R. Ford (R) (1974-1977) Age 91
George H.W. Bush (R) (1989-1993) Age 80
Jimmy Carter (D) (1977-1981) Age 80
Bill Clinton (D) (1993-2001) Age 58

The Oldest Presidents Ever At Death Were (In Order By Age):
Ronald Reagan (R) (1981-1989) Age 93 at death
Gerald Ford (R) (1974-1977) Currently age 91
Herbert Hoover (R) (1929-1933) Age 90 at death
John Adams (F) (1799-1803) Age 90 at death

Youngest Presidents:
Theodore Roosevelt (R) Age 42 upon his ascension to the Presidency after President McKinley's assasination.
John F. Kennedy (D) Age 43 upon election. (Youngest elected President)
Oldest President: Ronald Reagan (R) Age 69 upon his election in 1980
Oldest Vice President: Alben W. Barkley (D) Age 73 upon his election in 1948

Members of the Supreme Court (with name of President who appointed them:
Chief Justice:
William Rehnquist (Nixon)
Associate Justices:
John Paul Stevens (Ford)
Sandra Day O'Conner (Reagan) -- (first female Justice)
Anthony Kennedy (Reagan)
Antonin Scalia (Reagan)
William Souter (Bush 41)
Clarence Thomas (Bush 41) -- (2nd African American to sit on Supreme Court)
Ruth Bader Ginsberg (Clinton)
Stephen Breyer (Clinton)
Note: The First African American Justice was Thurgood Marshall of Maryland, who was appointed by President Lyndon Johnson.

Ok, I'm finally done for the time being now...

Not About the Academic Team But....

In Tennessee, the new session of the State Senate gives the Republicans a one seat majority; The Speaker of the Senate is also the Lt. Governor. Before the election, the Speaker and Lt. Governor had been John S. Wilder, the oldest (at 83), and longest serving (over 30 years) Lt. Governor in the nation. Because he was a Democrat, the Republican leader, State Senator Ron Ramsey of Blountville announced he would challenge Wilder for the office. Perhaps Ramsey shouldn't have counted his chickens before they hatched? John Wilder is one of Tennessee's most beloved officials, and apparently Ramsey didn't know that; Three Republicans switched sides to vote for Wilder, giving him another two year term.

Of course, Ron Ramsey is never deterred, as he will probably be running for the U.S. Congress in 2006 when incumbent Bill Jenkins (R) is expected to retire. The first district, which stretched from Knoxville up to Bristol is one of the most reliably Republican in the nation (the only Presidential election in which it didn't go for the GOP nominee was in 1948, casting its votes for Dixiecrat candidate Strom Thurmond). Ramsey can expect to be working in Washington assuming the Democrats can't draft somebody like Al Gore to run (too bad he doesn't live in the district...)

In the 2005 Virginia Gubernatorial Race, Republican candidate and State Attorney General Jerry Kilgore of Gate City is running only 3 percent ahead of Democratic nominee and Lt. Governor Tim Kaine of Richmond. In a fairly reliable Republican state, perhaps the 2001 election of Democrat Mark Warner as Governor, and now a liberal such as Kaine within the margin of error should signal a state-wide tilt toward the left.

Now some SWAC stuff...
109th Congress--Senate Freshmen:
Senator Richard Burr (R-NC)
Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK)
Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC)
Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA)
Senator Mel Martinez (R-FL)
Senator Barack Obama (D-IL)
Senator Ken Salazar (D-CO)
Senator John Thune (R-SD)
Senator David Vitter (R-LA)

Some Important Committee Chairmen:
Foreign Relations: Richard Lugar (R-IN)
Judiciary: Arlen Specter (R-PA)
Appropriations: Thad Cochran (R-MS)
Commerce: Ted Stevens (R-AK)
Armed Services: John Warner (R-VA)
Veterans Affairs: Larry Craig (R-ID)
Homeland Security: Susan Collins (R-ME)
Small Business: Olympia Snowe (R-ME)
Budget: Judd Gregg (R-NH)
Finance: Charles Grassley (R-IA)
Environment: James Inhofe (R-OK)
Indian Affairs: John McCain (R-AZ)
Health: Michael Enzi (R-WY)

That'll be all for now.
Adios.

Continuing SWAC Post..

To continue my Academic Team Facts and Figures...
The following are the only African Americans to serve in the Senate:
Hiram R. Revels (R-MS) 1870-1871
Blanche K. Bruce (R-MS) 1875-1881
Edward W. Brooke, III (R-MA) 1967-1979 -- (first elected; previous two appointed by State Legislature)
Carol Mosley Braun (D-IL) 1993-1999
Barack H. Obama (D-IL) 2005-
Only Asian Americans:
Hiram L. Fong (R-HI) 1959-1977
Daniel K. Inouye (D-HI) 1963-
Samuel I. Hayakawa (R-CA) 1977-1983
Spark M. Matsunaga (D-HI) 1977-1990
Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI) 1990-
Only Hispanic Americans:
Octaviano Larrazolo (R-NM) 1928-1929
Dennis Chavez (D-NM) 1935-1962
Joseph M. Montoya (D-NM) 1964-77
Ken L. Salazar (D-CO) 2005-
Melquiades R. Martinez (R-FL) 2005-
Only Native Americans:
Charles Curtis (R-KS) 1907-13; 1915-29 (Kaw)
Robert Owen (D-OK) 1907-1925 (Cherokee)
Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R-CO) 1993-2005 (Northern Cheyenne)
Recent Governors of Virginia:
Mark R. Warner (D) 2002-
James S. Gilmore, III (R) 1998-2002
George F. Allen (R) 1994-1998
L. Douglas Wilder (D) 1990-1994 (first popularly elected African American Governor in U.S. history)
Gerald L. Baliles (D) 1986-1990
Charles S. Robb (D) 1982-1986
John N. Dalton (R) 1978-1982
Mills E. Godwin (R) 1974-1978 (only Governor to serve two terms; see below)
A. Linwood Holton (R) 1970-1974 (first 20th Century Republican Governor of VA)
elected under the "Byrd Machine":
Mills E. Godwin (D) 1966-1970
Albertis S. Harrison (D) 1962-1966
J. Lindsay Almond (D) 1958-1962
Thomas B. Stanley (D) 1954-1958
John S. Battle (D) 1950-1954
William M. Tuck (D) 1946-1950
Colgate W. Darden (D) 1942-1946
James H. Price (D) 1938-1942
George C. Peery (D) 1934-1938
John G. Pollard (D) 1930-1934
more Governors to come...

Byrd Machine - Harry F. Byrd, Sr. first came to prominince in 1922 fighting for "Pay As You Go," a principle saying we shouldn't spend money we don't have. In 1925, Byrd was elected Virginia Governor, one of the youngest in state history (38 at the time). He served from 1926 to 1930, and was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1932. From his retirement as Governor until his death in 1966, Senator Byrd controled every aspect of Virginia politics, from statewide down to every county courthouse. The Byrd Machine stood for:
1) Fiscal Responsibility ("Pay As You Go")
2) Segregation (Massive Resistance)
3) "Golden Silence" (the term coined by Senator Byrd for supporting national Democratic candidates such as Stevenson and Kennedy, but not publicly endorsing them.)
As Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, Virginia received more money per capita that any state in the nation. No person in modern day politics could completely control a state like Harry Flood Byrd did.

America has 50 states..sort of...
46 States, 4 Commonwealths
Our 4 Commonwealths are:
Virginia
Pennsylvania
Massachusetts
Kentucky

--There are currently 55 Republicans, 44 Democrats, and 1 Democrat-leaning Independent in the U.S. Senate

The Democratic Tickets:
2004: (LOSS)
John Kerry (MA)
John Edwards (NC)
2000: (LOSS??)
Al Gore (TN)
Joe Lieberman (CT)
1996: (WIN)
Bill Clinton (AR)
Al Gore (TN)
1992: (WIN)
Bill Clinton (AR)
Al Gore (TN)
1988: (LOSS)
Michael Dukakis (MA)
Lloyd Bentsen (TX)
1984: (LOSS)
Walter Mondale (MN)
Geraldine Ferraro (NY) -- (First {and, thus far, only} female on a national ticket)
1980: (LOSS)
Jimmy Carter (GA)
Walter Mondale (MN)
1976: (WIN)
Jimmy Carter (GA)
Walter Mondale (MN)

The Republican Tickets:
2004: (WIN)
George W. Bush (TX)
Dick Cheney (WY)
2000: (WIN??)
George W. Bush (TX)
Dick Cheney (WY)
1996: (LOSS)
Bob Dole (KS)
Jack Kemp (NY)
1992: (LOSS)
George H.W. Bush (TX)
Dan Quayle (IN)
1988: (WIN)
George H.W. Bush (TX)
Dan Quayle (IN)
1984: (WIN)
Ronald Reagan (CA)
George H.W. Bush (TX)
1980: (WIN)
Ronald Reagan (CA)
George H.W. Bush (TX)
1976: (LOSS)
Gerald Ford (MI)
Bob Dole (KS)

More to come...stay tuned...

Post Number One

Ok, what I'm going to do on this whole blog is talk about politics. Right now, I'm the Co-Captain of our Social Studies Academic Team at school. For this first post I'll record some important stuff we'll need to know for our competitions.
-Well, If you need to know the members of President Bush's 2nd Term Cabinet, you can't find it on the White House website until at least January 20th, so I thought I'd add the new members here...
State-Condoleezza Rice (CA)
Attorney General-Alberto Gonzales (TX)
Agriculture-Mike Johanns (NE)
Education-Margaret Spellings (TX)
Energy-Sam Bodman (TX)
Veterans'-Jim Nicholson (IA)
Homeland Sec.-Michael Chertoff (PA) --- (not VA, like I said earlier...)
Commerce-Carlos Gutierrez (MI)
Health-Mike Leavitt (UT)
The Only Minorities In The U.S. Senate Are:
Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) -- (African American)
Senator Ken Salazar (D-CO) -- (Mexican American)
Senator Mel Martinez (R-FL) -- (Cuban American)
Female Senators:
Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD)
Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)
Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA)
Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME)
Senator Susan Collins (R-ME)
Senator Patty Murray (D-WA)
Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA)
Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-AR)
Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA)
Senator Elizabeth Dole (R-NC)
Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY)
Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX)
Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI)
Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)
Senior Senator: Robert C. Byrd (D-WV)
Leadership:
Senate:
President-Dick Cheney (R-WY)
President Pro Tempore-Ted Stevens (R-AK)
Majority Leader-Bill Frist (R-TN)
Majority Whip-Mitch McConnell (R-KY)
Minority Leader-Harry Reid (D-NV)
Minority Whip-Richard Durbin (D-IL)
House:
Speaker-J. Dennis Hastert (R-IL)
Majority Leader-Tom DeLay (R-TX)
Majority Whip-Roy Blunt (R-MO)
Minority Leader-Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)
Minority Whip-Steny Hoyer (D-MD)

That'll be it for now. Got any questions about it, I'll answer it for you.