incumbents

Think Progress is reporting that there are now 16 tea partiers that are challenging GOP incumbents and recruits. Most of the races appear to be in the House, so this is great news for Democrats. Last week it was reported that the NRCC is facing some serious troubles raising cash for the elections, and if they have primary battles to worry about then it will drain the already depleted coffers. I bet there is some bit panic going on now in the inner GOP circles.

61%. That is the number of American adults who believe the Republican leadership has been covering for Foley. That is from the latest Rasmussen poll.

Other interesting numbers include:

• 61% say they are following the Foley story somewhat or very closely.
• 47% will vote for a Democrat this fall as opposed to only 34% who will vote Republican (Democrats up 5-8 points from August).
• 45% would allow their child to serve as a House page and 35% would not.

The Republicans are in big time trouble and it is no one's fault but theirs. They have tried to cover for Foley, it has now become public knowledge and Americans are interested. In turn the scandal has provided severe damage to the page program and to the Republicans chance of holding power this fall.

The news right now is that Republicans are defending Hastert and other leaders, but if this bad news continues then they will have to turn on him for their own self survival. They say these races are all local, but something as powerful as the Foley scandal will help overshadow even local politics. Already returning incumbents are facing tough questions on Foley and those are the first questions asked.

To sum it up - America wants answers - answers the Republican party does not want to give. Our government is "by the people for the people" and if the Republicans don't want to answer to the people then they will be fired. This is there mess. Democrats had absolutely nothing to do with it, no matter how hard the Republicans try to spin it that way. The American people know that, but the Republican party is once again in denial of what their constituents are thinking. There is no doubt that they are not a party meant to lead.

The tides are still turning in the country:

Republican Gov. Frank Murkowski, whose perceived missteps over the past four years have turned him into one of the most unpopular governors in state history, soundly lost his bid for re-election after finishing last in a hotly contested three-way race for the Republican nomination.

With 70 percent of precincts reporting, Sarah Palin, a former Wasilla mayor, won the GOP nod with 51 percent of the vote. Former state legislator John Binkley came in second with 30 percent. Murkowski polled just 19 percent.

Murkowski shook Palin's hand in the middle of a crowd of her supporters, all waving signs. "Congratulations, you've got my support. I'll do everything to see that you're elected," Murkowski told her.

Murkowski is the second lowest rated Governor in the country according to SUSA. He is just two points above the lowest, the governor of my state, Bob Taft (currently at 17%). Luckily Alaska had the chance to tell Murkowski that he sucks and send him packing. This is Taft's final term in office, so we just get to send him packing via the system of term limits (hell - at least he is gone).

Today Chuck Schumer, chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee made a statement that would lead us to believe the DSCC, whose mission is to get more Democrats elected to Senate, would support Joe Lieberman if he was defeated in the August primary and forced to run as an Independent.

I added a new Get Active item today to sign a petition by Ned Lamont urging Joe Lieberman to back Lamont should Lamont win in August. Lamont has already made the promise to Joe.

Jane has much more on what can be done. If the DSCC is worried more about protecting incumbents then helping Democrats get elected then they have no respect for a democracy. The people who identify themselves as Democrats elect the next candidate for a seat, not the DSCC. If this is the avenue the DSCC is taking then they can go to hell. I will not donate another single dollar to them until they show they are fully behind Democrats and not their buddies.