Democrats unable to wrestle away house seat from repubs

daniel49

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Jan 8, 2005
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Text

LOS ANGELES - A former Republican congressman narrowly beat his Democratic rival early Wednesday for the right to fill the House seat once held by imprisoned Randy "Duke" Cunningham, a race closely watched as a possible early barometer of next fall's vote.

Republican Brian Bilbray emerged victorious after a costly and contentious race against Democrat Francine Busby, a local school board member who ran against Cunningham in 2004.

With 90 percent of precincts reporting, Bilbray had 56,016 votes or 49.5 percent. Busby trailed with 51,202 votes or 45 percent.

....more on link.....


Looks like the dems are going to have to do better then play the blame game. They may have to aactually come up with some ideas to win back congress??
Could be a lot of close races as people are not real happy with either party.
 

Engineer

Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
39,230
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A 4.5% victory by a GOP player in an area that saw Bush and Cunningham win by 20 plus % points. Not a victory but a big change in sentiment.

I agree however that many aren't happy with either party. I look for a "status quo" type of situation. Probably no gains/losses on either side enough to amount to anything of a shift.


*shrugs*
 

Genx87

Lifer
Apr 8, 2002
41,091
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That is pretty much the standard though. What is the re-election rate of senators and house members? Something like 95+%? They redraw the district lines to keep themselves in power.

Democrats did it when they were in powers, not the repubs do it when they wield the district marker.
 

EatSpam

Diamond Member
May 1, 2005
6,423
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As long as the Dems take the house or the senate, I'm happy. I don't want the Dems to get both, since its very likely we'll have a Dem president in '08.

Its bad when one party controls the executive and legislative branches... need some gridlock to filter out some of the crap.
 

dullard

Elite Member
May 21, 2001
25,954
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Originally posted by: Engineer
A 4.5% victory by a GOP player in an area that saw Bush and Cunningham win by 20 plus % points. Not a victory but a big change in sentiment.
Exactly how I looked at it. To get 45% of the vote in a major Republican stronghold is probably a very good sign for Democrats. But this shows that Democrats cannot simply walk right over Republicans to an easy victory either.
 

Krakn3Dfx

Platinum Member
Sep 29, 2000
2,969
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Democrats need more Feingolds to step up the plate and actually say what they mean and mean what they say. While most of the Democratic party is bashing Feingold for actually speaking up and offering ideas, they/we are ignoring the fact that that's exactly what people are begging to hear. Democrats have more ideas in an hour than more republicans have their entire term, it's getting those ideas out to the public that they have some sort of aversion to. I've heard plans by the democrats when it comes to Iraq, the economy, foreign policy in general, good plans, honest plans that have as much chance of working as at least anything republicans are coming up with lately, which ain't much, but everytime a democratic leader gets on TV, they play the blame game instead of laying out actual plans of their own to fix this country. It's time for the democratic party to show their cards, or we need to get a new party together quickly before the new republicans in charge completely obliterate this country with corporate tax breaks, war, and the death of every social program in this government. Do you really want to have your local fire station run by a corporation?
 
Feb 16, 2005
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Or maybe it helps to run in a heavily republican based district and still only squeek out the election.

Bilbray also said that running in a heavily Republican district was an advantage, to a degree. ?It can also be a big negative, because people were really hurt by Mr. Cunningham. But it was one man's mistake, and we have to remember that,? he said.
link

Plus it helps if you spend roughly 5 million to ensure your lobbyist turn politician makes it in, where he shouldn't even have any competition.

Yea, the mini-duke won the battle, but the war is in november and the repug troops are looking worn, and leaderless.
 

aidanjm

Lifer
Aug 9, 2004
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I wonder how you could even trust the results? How do people know the result wasn't rigged as with the 2004 presidential election?
 

EagleKeeper

Discussion Club Moderator<br>Elite Member
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Oct 30, 2000
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Originally posted by: aidanjm
I wonder how you could even trust the results? How do people know the result wasn't rigged as with the 2004 presidential election?
The results could have been riggedd to show the Dems as having a closer margin that they actually did.

After all, this is in California - one of the Democratic lock states.

 

z3R0C00L

Member
Feb 11, 2006
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Originally posted by: aidanjm
I wonder how you could even trust the results? How do people know the result wasn't rigged as with the 2004 presidential election?

All results are rigged... it's VERY sad.
 

theeedude

Lifer
Feb 5, 2006
35,787
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It is an early peak, GOP is losing support. If they weren't, they wouldn't be bashing immigrants and gays now to shore it up.
 

Red Dawn

Elite Member
Jun 4, 2001
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Originally posted by: EagleKeeper
Originally posted by: aidanjm
I wonder how you could even trust the results? How do people know the result wasn't rigged as with the 2004 presidential election?
The results could have been riggedd to show the Dems as having a closer margin that they actually did.

After all, this is in California - one of the Democratic lock states.
Yeah but there are Republican hotbeds all over that state like th one in question.

 

umbrella39

Lifer
Jun 11, 2004
13,816
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Originally posted by: daniel49
Text

LOS ANGELES - A former Republican congressman narrowly beat his Democratic rival early Wednesday for the right to fill the House seat once held by imprisoned Randy "Duke" Cunningham, a race closely watched as a possible early barometer of next fall's vote.

Republican Brian Bilbray emerged victorious after a costly and contentious race against Democrat Francine Busby, a local school board member who ran against Cunningham in 2004.

With 90 percent of precincts reporting, Bilbray had 56,016 votes or 49.5 percent. Busby trailed with 51,202 votes or 45 percent.

....more on link.....


Looks like the dems are going to have to do better then play the blame game. They may have to aactually come up with some ideas to win back congress??
Could be a lot of close races as people are not real happy with either party.

LMAO. Yes, this one race especially in this district, is the litmus test for November. :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
 

Harvey

Administrator<br>Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
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Originally posted by: daniel49
Democrats unable to wrestle away house seat from repubs

Looks like the dems are going to have to do better then play the blame game. They may have to aactually come up with some ideas to win back congress??
Could be a lot of close races as people are not real happy with either party.
The lie is in your title. This was NOT RepublicanS vs. DemocratS. This was one race in one district.

To put it in perspective, San Diego is a district where Bush won by 10 points in 2004, Republicans have a 44 percent to 29 percent edge in voter registration, and the Republican candidate, Brian Bilbray, spent $4.5 million to his Democratic challenger, Francine Busby's $2 million in a special election to replace disgraced Republican, Randy "Duke" Cunningham. Furthermore, this election only gets them to November, when the seat will again be up for grabs for the next full term.
 

daniel49

Diamond Member
Jan 8, 2005
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Originally posted by: umbrella39
Originally posted by: daniel49
Text

LOS ANGELES - A former Republican congressman narrowly beat his Democratic rival early Wednesday for the right to fill the House seat once held by imprisoned Randy "Duke" Cunningham, a race closely watched as a possible early barometer of next fall's vote.

Republican Brian Bilbray emerged victorious after a costly and contentious race against Democrat Francine Busby, a local school board member who ran against Cunningham in 2004.

With 90 percent of precincts reporting, Bilbray had 56,016 votes or 49.5 percent. Busby trailed with 51,202 votes or 45 percent.

....more on link.....


Looks like the dems are going to have to do better then play the blame game. They may have to aactually come up with some ideas to win back congress??
Could be a lot of close races as people are not real happy with either party.

LMAO. Yes, this one race especially in this district, is the litmus test for November. :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

considering the repub predecessor is in prison, yes I would say its significant?
It says to me even in the scandel dems couldn't win it.
Why, too many similarities. voters don't trust either party.
 

daniel49

Diamond Member
Jan 8, 2005
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Originally posted by: Harvey
Originally posted by: daniel49
Democrats unable to wrestle away house seat from repubs

Looks like the dems are going to have to do better then play the blame game. They may have to aactually come up with some ideas to win back congress??
Could be a lot of close races as people are not real happy with either party.

To put it in perspective, San Diego is a district where Bush won by 10 points in 2004, Republicans have a 44 percent to 29 percent edge in voter registration, and the Republican candidate, Brian Bilbray, spent $4.5 million to his Democratic challenger, Francine Busby's $2 million in a special election to replace disgraced Republican, Randy "Duke" Cunningham. Furthermore, this election only gets them to November, when the seat will again be up for grabs for the next full term.



The lie is in your title. This was NOT RepublicanS vs. DemocratS. This was one race in one district.

Semantics , you sound desperate already:frown:
 

dmcowen674

No Lifer
Oct 13, 1999
54,889
47
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www.alienbabeltech.com
Originally posted by: Harvey

Republicans have a 44 percent to 29 percent edge in voter registration

The notion I keep hearing that California is a whack Liberal State is just as false as the Media controlled by Liberals.

It's not the Left Coast any longer.
 

zendari

Banned
May 27, 2005
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Originally posted by: aidanjm
I wonder how you could even trust the results? How do people know the result wasn't rigged as with the 2004 presidential election?

Kerry lost, get over it.
 

gallivanter

Member
May 8, 2005
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It is very true, and worth repeating, that this was but one race in a heavy GOP district. It should also be pointed out that immigration played a major role in this race, a race in an area deeply affected by immigration. Ms. Busby was perceived by many to be on the wrong side of that issue, enough so that it likely cost her the election. As often happens, local issues greatly influenced this race.

However, given the troubles of the previous office holder and the so-called 'culture of corruption' pertaining to the GOP, along with the extremely high-profile nature of the race, the results do mean something and are probably a small positive for Republicans. Put another way, what would the spin have been if Mr. Bilbray had lost the seat?
 

Harvey

Administrator<br>Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
35,057
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Originally posted by: zendari
Kerry lost, get over it.
Clue -- Kerry wasn't running in this race. As usual, you're a troll, and I doubt you'll ever get over that.
 

johnnobts

Golden Member
Jun 26, 2005
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Let me point out a couple of facts about the Busby election:

1. It wasn't really as close as the Dems want to claim. Look at the poll results, a Conservative won 5% of the votes b/c he was more anti-immigration than Bilbray. So it was really more like a 55-45 win for conservatives over the libs.

2. The culture of corruption grabage isn't going to fly, not by a longshot. The Dems did their best with smear campaigning trying to tie Bilbray to Cunningham. It syill didn't succeed. What makes Dems think that they can tie other Republican candidates to a so-called culture of corruption if it wouldn't even work with this guy?

3. Busby was a well-known Dem. candidate in CA and she still lost. You can call it a "moral victory" but that's just what losers say.

4. This was clearly and ANTI-IMMIGRATION vote. The Republicans in the Senate better pay attention.

5. This election does hurt Bush, John McCain and the rest of the Amnesty crowd in the GOP.

6. This bodes bad for the democratic party, contrary to CNN, its not a positive sign.
 
Jun 27, 2005
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1
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I heard on the news (can't find a link - was some political analyst - I was getting ready for work) that looking at the percentages is a bit misleading in this case. The actual number of votes was more telling. The D candidate received about as many votes as Kerry did in '04. It was the R turnout that was low and made the race as close as it was (if you can call 5 points close).

So if anything, the message this one race puts out is that the Republican party had better do something to get Republicans to the polls this fall.

 

Red Dawn

Elite Member
Jun 4, 2001
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Originally posted by: daniel49
Originally posted by: umbrella39
Originally posted by: daniel49
Text

LOS ANGELES - A former Republican congressman narrowly beat his Democratic rival early Wednesday for the right to fill the House seat once held by imprisoned Randy "Duke" Cunningham, a race closely watched as a possible early barometer of next fall's vote.

Republican Brian Bilbray emerged victorious after a costly and contentious race against Democrat Francine Busby, a local school board member who ran against Cunningham in 2004.

With 90 percent of precincts reporting, Bilbray had 56,016 votes or 49.5 percent. Busby trailed with 51,202 votes or 45 percent.

....more on link.....


Looks like the dems are going to have to do better then play the blame game. They may have to aactually come up with some ideas to win back congress??
Could be a lot of close races as people are not real happy with either party.

LMAO. Yes, this one race especially in this district, is the litmus test for November. :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

considering the repub predecessor is in prison, yes I would say its significant?
It says to me even in the scandel dems couldn't win it.
Why, too many similarities. voters don't trust either party.
A Democrat winning in that district would be like a White Person winning the Mayoral race is Washington DC.

 

EagleKeeper

Discussion Club Moderator<br>Elite Member
Staff member
Oct 30, 2000
42,589
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Originally posted by: Red Dawn
Originally posted by: daniel49
Originally posted by: umbrella39
Originally posted by: daniel49
Text

LOS ANGELES - A former Republican congressman narrowly beat his Democratic rival early Wednesday for the right to fill the House seat once held by imprisoned Randy "Duke" Cunningham, a race closely watched as a possible early barometer of next fall's vote.

Republican Brian Bilbray emerged victorious after a costly and contentious race against Democrat Francine Busby, a local school board member who ran against Cunningham in 2004.

With 90 percent of precincts reporting, Bilbray had 56,016 votes or 49.5 percent. Busby trailed with 51,202 votes or 45 percent.

....more on link.....


Looks like the dems are going to have to do better then play the blame game. They may have to aactually come up with some ideas to win back congress??
Could be a lot of close races as people are not real happy with either party.

LMAO. Yes, this one race especially in this district, is the litmus test for November. :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

considering the repub predecessor is in prison, yes I would say its significant?
It says to me even in the scandel dems couldn't win it.
Why, too many similarities. voters don't trust either party.
A Democrat winning in that district would be like a White Person winning the Mayoral race is Washington DC.
Was not Barry covered in white stuff?

 

Red Dawn

Elite Member
Jun 4, 2001
57,529
3
0
Originally posted by: EagleKeeper
Originally posted by: Red Dawn
Originally posted by: daniel49
Originally posted by: umbrella39
Originally posted by: daniel49
Text

LOS ANGELES - A former Republican congressman narrowly beat his Democratic rival early Wednesday for the right to fill the House seat once held by imprisoned Randy "Duke" Cunningham, a race closely watched as a possible early barometer of next fall's vote.

Republican Brian Bilbray emerged victorious after a costly and contentious race against Democrat Francine Busby, a local school board member who ran against Cunningham in 2004.

With 90 percent of precincts reporting, Bilbray had 56,016 votes or 49.5 percent. Busby trailed with 51,202 votes or 45 percent.

....more on link.....


Looks like the dems are going to have to do better then play the blame game. They may have to aactually come up with some ideas to win back congress??
Could be a lot of close races as people are not real happy with either party.

LMAO. Yes, this one race especially in this district, is the litmus test for November. :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

considering the repub predecessor is in prison, yes I would say its significant?
It says to me even in the scandel dems couldn't win it.
Why, too many similarities. voters don't trust either party.
A Democrat winning in that district would be like a White Person winning the Mayoral race is Washington DC.
Was not Barry covered in white stuff?
Barry White?