I am of two minds about the Halter Lincoln race

[dsc]

First, I can full well see why people are fed up with Blanch Lincoln. Honestly, I am too. Her behavior on the public option and the utter hypocrisy of her campaign are disgusting. But I have a huge problem with Halter. He supported the ban on gays fostering or adopting children. Leaving to one side the bigotry of that position it also was devastating to children. Let's be blunt here. Had that been any other minority he wouldn't have a Pope's prayer of getting progressive funding in a Democratic primary. But since it was only gays, well that is another story, now isn't it.

[treestar]

1. Sounds like he may not be a progressive

Or, that position ought to be enough for progressives to desert him.

[Art_from_Ark]

2. Nevertheless, he's still more progressive than Blanche

and he's about as progressive as a statewide politician can get in Arkansas, which voted for Dubyuh twice, and for McCain in the last election.

[treestar]

5. Which raises the issue, can he beat the Rethuglican?

[Art_from_Ark]

6. In the 130+ years since the end of Reconstruction,

Arkansas has had only one Republican US Senator-- Reverend Tim Hutchinson, who hails from the same county as the current Republican challenger. Rev. Hutchinson was elected in 1996, and defeated in 2002. The current republican challenger is currently the 3rd District representative, and will in all likelihood win that part of the state (northwest and north central), but the rest of the state is likely to go for the Democrat.

[treestar]

15. That's great

Were any of them progressives, though? I think of Arkansas as red. So if Dems, are they relatively Blue Doggish?

[Art_from_Ark]

16. Arkansas has had some decent Senators in the past

Joe Robinson was one of the biggest backers of the New Deal (and he ended up getting his face on a commemorative coin while he was still living, perhaps as a reward)
J. William Fulbright (1945-1975), who was the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, became one of the most outspoken critics of the Vietnam War in the Senate, authoring The Arrogance of Power in 1966 (and he has a prestigious scholarship named after him).
More recently, Dale Bumpers (1975-1999) and David (not Mark) Pryor (1979-1997) established names for themselves as Senators who could usually be counted on to vote for the progressive position.
Unfortunately, the last of the progressive-minded Arkansas Senators retired in 1999.
Here's looking at Senator Bill Halter.

[rpannier]

12. He's the sitting Lt Governor of the state

He's done it at least one time

[MadBadger]

18. I dont think either will beat the Republican.

Sadly

[saltpoint]

3. Were Halter to win the nomination, he would still have a tough fight

in the fall against the Puke nom. Right now that seat is predicted to go red, no matter which of the two Dems in the run-off win tomorrow night.

That said, I'm convinced that Halter is persuadable on progressive issues, plus he has key union support.

I've given up on Blanche Lincoln.

[left is right]

4. The only plus to Halter

is it is usually easier to get rid of a one termer who disappoints than it is a longterm incumbent.

[JVS]

11. Yup. If they both suck, pick the one that is more of a shake up to their grip on power.

[KingFlorez]

7. I think Blanche Lincoln is more socially moderate than Halter

But her position on economics leaves much to be desired. There are no heavy progressives in this race, just traditional Southern Democrats, the kind Arkansas is full of. Halter might be a better choice than Lincoln, but it's incorrect to consider him a real progressive.

[dflprincess]

8. I'd vote for Halter just because of the way the Democratic establishment

is trying to supress the vote.

Is it true in one county they've cut back to only two polling places and one of those is in a gate community?

[Bryn]

20. Yes, it's true that only two polling places are open in Garland County

City of Hot Springs where Bill Halter is very popular. I am sure they fixed it so that he would get less votes to give Blanche more chance to win. I voted against her today by going to Chamber of Commerce building just across from the gate community located in Hot Springs Village. This polling place has been open since June 1 for early votes, but the other place in Hot Springs kept turning away early voters to today was bad, difficult to find to park cars to vote.

www.bluearkansasblog.com this site has videos to show you what's going on today. I am so pissed! We will see. Hot Springs, AR is a big place!

[old mark]

9. To support Lincoln, the Democratic Party had come out as anti-union, anti

worker and pro large corporation. Bill Clinton was union bashing as he did in PA when the Party supported Specter over Sestak.

I am sending money and spending a little effort to support Halter because I can't stand this type of politics and I want the Democratic Party to KNOW that the people actually matter in elections, not just the politician's career plans....

mark

[smalll]

10. Well, at least major kudos to you -- for being able to correctly spell HYPOCRISY!

:toast:

Honestly, so few people get that right. :shrug:

[rpannier]

13. Did you support Edwards

In 2004 he said he was opposed to Gay Marriage

[dsc]

14. I didn't support him in part because of that

in 08 he was a temporary choice for me but he didn't last long enough for my state. But I have to say opposing gay marriage is quite different than opposing gay foster parenting.

[Jennicut]

17. Which is why people must not be naive and think we are getting a real progressive

in several of these primaries. We are getting less conservative.

[JI7]

19. i didn't know about this, and it does bother me

he has been talked up as progressive. but it seems like most of his support is more anti Blanche Lincoln regardless of where hestands on the issues.

[flpoljunkie]

21. Halter opposed the ban and was a member of the Host Committee for an anti-Act-One fundraiser.

http://irregulartimes.com/index.php/archives/2010/03/02/fact-check-bill-halter-resisted-the-arkansas-anti-gay-tide-of-2008/