Just so everyone knows.... Blanche Lincoln is the only No Senator up in 2010...

[WCGreen]

It would really be a wast of time to target the other gang of five since conrad and Nelson run in 2012 and Baucus and Carper run in 2014...

So, all of our attention should be directed at Blanche Lincoln.

It's politics.

Just think, if we can take her down and replace her with a progressive pro-health care Democrat, what a powerful message this would send to the other four....

[thunder rising]

1. We need a challenger.

[elleng]

4. Would be interesting (?) to see what MIGHT happen in Arkansas.

Not exactly a hotbed of populism, but they had some goog guys in the past. (Fulbright's one.)

[demwing]

19. Surely the Clinton's know someone?

From their Arkansas days?

[CoffeeCat]

2. They're counting on the fact..

...that we will forget about this.

They're thinking that "We The People" are stupid, don't remember anything that happened
a month ago--and that this will all blow over by the time their election time comes around
again.

They are counting on our bad memories and our stupidity.

[IndianaGreen]

3. Evan Bayh, who opposed single payer, is running for reelection

I won't vote for him. I am tired of voting for him expecting something out of this POS.

I will concentrate on electing a Democratic mayor, reelect my Democratic congressperson, and vote for progressives running for local office. Evan Bayh will never again get may vote, my time, or my money.

[TheKentuckian]

25. Do they run super crazy Reichers against him or centrists?

Not that it matters on voting for him. I figure if most Democrats didn't vote for him that he'd still win with a depressed vote by a lesser margin. He seems only slightly less popular than Jesus in Hoosierland saving liberals (in short supply) and the fringiest of the wingnuts.

[SpartanDem]

5. Replace with progressive pro-health care Democrat?

In Arkansas? I wouldn't bet on it.

[WCGreen]

6. I can dream, can't I...

[liskddksil]

7. Honestly if we lose the seat, I won't be shedding any tears

At least we won't have a fake Democrat doing everything to undermine the party. With her votes today against the public option and to restore abstinence only funding, she is officially no better than a Republican.

[TreasonousBastard]

8. Helluvabig "If" Seems she's running behind the Republican challengers as it is.

[countmyvote4real]

9. Then it is good time to dump her.

What has she done for us lately or ever?

[Freddie Stubbs]

16. State Senate President Pro Tem Bob Johnson may challenge her in the primary:

http://arkansasnews.com/2009/08/26/the-unpredictable-bob-johnson/

[global1]

10. Vote Her Ass Out Along With Mike Ross........nt

[Freddie Stubbs]

11. The primary is next May

[alsame]

12. "Strong Majority of Arkansans Support Public Option"

Maybe Arkansas CAN get a real Democrat into her seat.

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/09/strong-majority-of-arkansans-support-public-option.php

A new Research 2000 poll commissioned by Daily Kos has some interesting news for both Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR), and supporters of the public option.

Though Lincoln's favorable/unfavorable split is an unenviable 43 to 49, her potential opponents are still relatively unknown, and she maintains a considerable lead over all of them.

More interesting still is that respondents--600 likely voters--strongly favor "creating a government-administered health insurance option that anyone can purchase to compete with private insurance plans." The split on that score is 55 to 38. And remember, this is Arkansas, where Rush Limbaugh has a stronger approval rating than Barack Obama. Makes you think Lincoln could afford to be a bit more bullish on the public option than she has been of late.

[polichick]

13. Excellent point - maybe Howard Dean knows of a good candidate. nt

[freddie mertz]

14. She's nothing but a Repuke anyway. Just boycott the election.

If there is no primary challenge, I would encourage my (many) Arkansas relatives to just sit it out.

Let her go down in defeat.

[S_E_Fudd]

18. +1

[Freddie Stubbs]

15. 159 days until the filing deadline

[rhett o rick]

20. What does that mean Freddie the Freeper? nt

[WCGreen]

21. It means the candidates have to file petitions with their SOS....

[S_E_Fudd]

17. No way a progressive wins there...however....

I see no downside to a Republican just taking that seat. Lincoln is a defacto Republican anyway, might just be better to get her out of the caucus!!

Would rather have 40 dems in the minority who stuck to their guns than the current weak kneed majority we have now!

[girl_interrupted]

22. How about Wes Clark? He's from Arkansas

I think he would make a great candidate, and a great senator. Wonder if he is interested.

[mascarax]

23. Ah...now *that* would be interesting: Wes Clark

Doesn't he still live there?

[mascarax]

24. Donate to run "Blanche Public Option" Ads, currently running

in Arkansas and having a good impact (meaning negative for Blanche) in the polls.

You can even select which of the 3 ads they should run next. This is a joint effort by multiple blogs (Crooks & Liars, Firedoglake & Down With Tyranny). They're rightly targeting Blanche because she is up for reelection next year (the other Finance Committee Idiots are not).

I can't get a direct link to work, but try this in your browser:
http://blueamerica.crooksandliars.com/
or go to www.crooksandliars.com & select "Blue America" (right side)

Anything helps!

[TheKentuckian]

26. Of course there is little if any reason to care about losing Blanche

Even if she's replaced with a winger it they'll go to the back bench and we won't have her being a damper on the caucus on about everything. Plus, she's clearly can't be pressured because she'll do the wrong thing even if it is popular and she's in a bad environment to garner votes. What can you really threaten or coax here with when she could give a shit?

We have to look at these conservatives very individually. Some are persuadable in a variety of ways. Some vote their constituency and we'll have to balance the numbers game with dilution. Others are completely bought. Still others are loopy ideologues. Those like Lincoln are bought but apparently want to expand on that. As these folks come up they must be dealt with by exploiting their individual fault lines.

Blanche is one that probably should be handled with extreme prejudice, meaning that what ever happens will be a net and long term with immediate results positive. She's probably never going to be the 51st vote and my guess is she won't be 60th either. Maybe 68th but that would take enough map change to swing all sorts of chances.