Dems Have Slim Chance To Control House Especially If Hillary Or Obama Or Sanders Is President Candidate

Could Democrats Retake the House?

• 02/12/2016 
• Source: AAN 
• by: Jim Ellis

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The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee released its early primary and secondary target lists for the 2016 campaign, which is a rather curious grouping.  It is already clear that the House Democratic leadership sees no path to the majority in this election, at least during this campaign period.

With the Republican advantage at 247 (once former Speaker John Boehner’s western Ohio seat is filled in special election) to 188, the Democrats would need a net gain of 30 seats just to obtain a one-seat majority.  The fact that their primary and secondary target list includes only 24 races suggests that they are nowhere close to putting enough seats in play to seriously challenge the Republican leadership structure.

On the primary list of 16 candidates, two seats are already under Democratic control, CA-24, the Santa Barbara seat of the retiring Rep. Lois Capps, and the FL-18 district of Rep. Patrick Murphy who is running for the Senate.  Therefore, what they believe are prime opportunity races number just fourteen.

A rather strange entry is FL-10, the seat of Rep. Dan Webster (R-Orlando) that the court made safely Democratic in their mid-decade redistricting ruling.  In a crowded Democratic primary for a seat that will certainly come their way in the general election no matter who the party nominates, the DCCC made former Police Chief Val Demings (D) a top priority support target.

They also endorsed contested Democratic primary candidates in several priority districts.  Even though former Rep. Joe Garcia (D-Miami) announced his candidacy to regain the 26th District he lost to Republican Carlos Curbelo (R-Miami) in 2014, the DCCC is putting its resources behind businesswoman and former congressional and Lt. Governor candidate, Annette Taddeo.  Yet in two other districts, IL-10 (Rep. Bob Dold-R) and TX-23 (Rep. Will Hurd-R), the Committee is backing defeated former members Brad Schneider, who is in a difficult primary battle, and Pete Gallego, who is not.

Two losing candidates from the 2014 cycle, Doug Owens (UT-4; Rep. Mia Love-R) and Emily Cain (ME-2; Rep. Bruce Poliquin-R), are back for re-matches and earn the committee’s early support.  Though Rep. Love’s 2014 percentage was lower than expected (51-46%), it will be very difficult to dislodge a Utah Republican incumbent in a presidential year.

ME-2 is one of the few districts that can award an electoral vote directly to a presidential candidate.  Maine and Nebraska are the only states that can split their electoral votes, with two going to the statewide winner and one each to the candidate who carries a particular congressional district.  Therefore, Maine’s western CD will draw national attention that could conceivably help Cain’s battle against Rep. Poliquin, even though the freshman incumbent has already raised almost $1.9 million with $1.55 million cash-on-hand.

The secondary eight targets, entitled “Emerging Races”, highlights one open seat already under Democratic control.  Clearly the DCCC does not think particularly highly of Republican-turned Independent-turned Democrat Tom O’Halleran’s campaign effort in AZ-1 (Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick-D; running for Senate), otherwise he would have made the top list since the party can ill-afford to lose any current seat.  Their lack of moving this race up is another indication the leadership does not believe converting the majority is a realistic possibility.

Despite him not being a candidate long enough to even file a campaign financial statement, the DCCC is giving attorney Cory Simpson the nod in WV-2 (Rep. Alex Mooney-R; Charles Town) over former state Delegate Mark Hunt (D).  The latter pivoted out of the Attorney General’s office to run for Congress, but the national committee has already decided to choose another candidate.

Several districts are surprising for their placement or absence in relation to early targeting.  Former New Hampshire Rep. Carol Shea-Porter (D), who has three times won the 1st District and twice lost it, is only on the Emerging Races list, instead of being a top target.  This, despite the fact that Rep. Frank Guinta (R-Manchester) is in deep political trouble and will likely lose.

Notable seats not on either list include retiring Rep. Steve Israel’s swing 3rd District in New York, vulnerable freshman Democratic Rep. Brad Ashford in Nebraska, California Rep. Ami Bera (D) who is in trouble with the unions for his willingness to support the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement, and vulnerable Nevada Republican Rep. Cresent Hardy, despite Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid and the state Democratic establishment already picking a candidate (St. Sen. Ruben Kihuen).

Another surprise is their neutrality in the new FL-13 District (Pinellas County), where former Gov. Charlie Crist (D) is running.  The DCCC neither endorsed him nor former Defense Department official Eric Lynn.   Source: AAN

- See more at: http://americanactionnews.com/articles/could-democrats-retake-the-house#sthash.AH0oa1Gy.dpuf

Mike Lee On Quixote Mission

A new concept in Congress; constitutional governance

Posted on February 5, 2016 by Bob Livingston

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“All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.” — U.S. Constitution, Article I, Section 1.

A small group of congresscritters have realized what many of us have been saying for years — that congress has ceded its powers to the president, the myriad alphabet soup government agencies and the bureaucratic class — and are now undertaking an effort at “congressional rehabilitation.”

Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) on Wednesday announced he’s launched an initiative he’s describing as a “network of House and Senate conservatives working together on a new agenda of government reform” that “focuses on congressional rehabilitation,” based on the original powers vested in Congress by Article I of the Constitution.

Constitutional governance; what a concept.

Joining Lee in the initiative to govern the country the way the Founders intended is Senator Jeff Flake of Arizona and Representatives Jeb Hensarling and John Ratcliffe of Texas, Mia Love of Utah, Barry Loudermilk of Georgia, Mark Walker of North Carolina, Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming, Gary Palmer of Alabama and Dave Brat of Virginia; Republicans all. But note the significant absence of any in congressional leadership.

In his announcement yesterday, Lee at least hit on one of the main problems plaguing the country:

“Congress has recast itself as the back seat driver in American politics. Today the vast majority of federal laws, upwards of 95 percent, are passed not by the House and Senate and signed by the president but instead they’re imposed unilaterally by unelected executive branch bureaucrats.”

I would add that Congress has also shirked its responsibility in allowing the executive branch to conduct unconstitutional wars (any wars not declared by Congress) and issue unconstitutional executive orders (EOs) and by not employing the power of impeachment against the unlawful executive carrying out said wars and writing said EOs, and against the federal judiciary which has likewise exceeded its constitutional authority and is also writing laws left and right under the guise of “interpreting” them. (Civics quiz: Find the concept of judicial review in the Constitution and show it to me. Hint: It’s not Article III, Section 2.)

Of course, no new “initiative” is necessary. Congress can and should just immediately defund the unconstitutional wars and the EOs and all the unconstitutional government agencies created during the last 100 years.

But that would mean actually governing; something “public servants” are loath to do if it endangers their invites to the big parties and upsets their masters who line their pockets and fund their reelection campaigns.

While a member of Congress in 1792, James Madison — who knew a thing or two about the words written in the Constitution and what they actually meant —  said, “It would be absurd to say, first, that Congress may do what they please and then that they may do this or that particular thing. After giving Congress power to raise money, and apply it to all purposes which they may pronounce necessary to the “general welfare”, it would be absurd, to say the least, to supersede a power to raise armies, to provide fleets, etc. In fact, the meaning of the general terms in question must either be sought in the subsequent enumerations which limits and details them, or they convert the Government from one limited as heretofore supposed, to the enumerated powers, into a Government without any limits at all.”

The enumerated powers he’s talking about are few and defined in the Constitution. (Civics lesson: The Constitution is designed to limit what the federal government can do, not limit what the people and the states can do.)

Doubtless, Lee and his group will face significant headwinds if they really begin to threaten the federal leviathan. And this may just be a feint by them to head off any possibility of an Article V convention – an endeavor that has about as much chance of successfully reforming government in any good way as Jim Gilmore has of winning the Republican nomination.

Those inhabiting the District of Criminals will be loathe to relinquish their power.

H/T: CNSNews.com

Elections Should Be A Good Omen For Israel. Will Obama See The Light?

Obummer: Pro-Israel Republicans Take Over Congress

By Lea Speyer November 5, 2014 , 2:41 pm

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“I know that you are pleased with me, for my enemy does not triumph over me.” (Psalm 41:11)

For the first time in eight years, Republican lawmakers control both houses of Congress in a major blow to the Obama administration. (Photo: Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

As Americans headed to the polls on Tuesday in the midterm elections, many supporters of Israel wondered what the outcome of the elections would mean for the Jewish state.

The results are in and it looks like Israel has gained a major foothold when it comes to bolstering support for Israel among American lawmakers.

For the first time in eight years, Republicans are in control of the US Congress. Republicans won control of the US Senate and increased their majority in the House of Representatives.

Republicans picked up seven seats in the Senate, giving them 52 out of a total 100 seats. In the House, several high-profile races ended in Republican victory, including Florida and Wisconsin. The usually Democratic-leaning states of Maryland, Illinois and Massachusetts turned from blue to red.

The results are a major blow to the Democrats, especially US President Barack Obama. Obama now faces an uphill battle during the remaining two years of his presidency with a Congress that is now controlled by a party that firmly and vocally opposes his policies.

The American people have spoken and they are not happy.

Elie Pieprz, the Director of External Affairs for the Yesha Council and a former DC lobbyist, explained to Breaking Israel News that the election results were a bit surprising and created a “much bigger wave than expected” among Republican support.

“The election results are consequential for Israel, especially since Netanyahu is trying to bypass the White House,” Pieprz said.

“The Democrats are trying to differentiate themselves from Obama, who has been radioactive to Israel and the Democratic Party as a whole,” Pieprz said, referring to the rising tensions between the Obama administration and Netanyahu.

In light of the results, Pieprz explained that Obama can either gracefully bow to the needs of the American people or work with Congress, or he can do the opposite. Democrats now have the task of redefining themselves outside of the Obama narrative.

“Many Democrats have seen the mistakes of the Obama administration. In the 2016 presidential election, we will see many Democrat and Republican candidates who will want to restart the relationship with Israel,” he said.

“Many Democrats will say they have a different approach to Israel than Obama. The toxicity of communication between the two administrations is something the Democrats don’t want to replicate again.”

While Obama has hit some pretty intense lows when it comes to foreign policy, Pieprz said that when it comes to Israel, the president has been very “successful in pressuring and pushing Israel.” However, with Congress in the hands of the Republicans, the threats imposed on Israel by the Obama administration will be that much tougher to see through.

“When it comes to Israel, the Senate has more responsibility and authority in regards to foreign affairs,” Pieprz explained. “Now we have a number of Republican senators who are fairly strong in foreign policy and very pro-Israel.”

One such senator is Tom Cotton (R-AK), a Gulf War veteran who is “very strong in international affairs.”

In the House, Representatives such as Lee Zelden (R-NY), the only Jewish Republican in Congress who “campaigned with a strong religious perspective on Israel; Carlos Cordello (R-FL), “a very solid advocate on behalf of Israel”; Alex Mooney (R-WV), who has been to Israel a number of times, worked in Christian political movements and is a “strong asset in the House”; and Mia Love (R-UT), the first African-American female Republican who uses her Mormon religious beliefs to “govern her positions and Israel is certainly one of them,” will be fresh faces and vocal allies of the Jewish State.

“To have these kinds of personalities in Congress is very consequential for Israel,” Pieprz stated.

Read more at http://www.breakingisraelnews.com/23852/obummer-pro-israel-republicans-take-congress/#SvHEABYC7Ukx6u0E.99

Yes There Are Black Conservatives. This One Is From Utah!

Republican star Mia Love gets second chance to make political history

 

By Jennifer Dobner6 hours ago

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Republican U.S. congressional candidate and Saratoga Springs, Utah Mayor Mia Love addresses the second …

By Jennifer Dobner

SALT LAKE CITY (Reuters) - Utah's Mia Love, a Republican darling who could become the first conservative black woman elected to U.S. Congress, is getting a second, and likely better, chance to make history after narrowly losing to a popular incumbent Democrat in 2012.

Love, 39, is a Mormon mother of three who is upending stereotypes about the state and its predominant faith. She locked up her party's nomination to vie for an open seat in Utah's 4th District at a state convention last month with an overwhelming 78 percent of the vote.

The seat became available when Jim Matheson retired after seven terms in Congress as the heavily conservative state's lone Democrat in Washington. Two years ago, the politically savvy son of a beloved Utah governor beat Love by fewer than 800 votes.

If Love wins this time, she would become an unlikely champion in Washington of staunchly conservative views - limited government, fiscal discipline and state's rights. The daughter of Haitian immigrants is pro-life, pro-gun and holds a concealed weapons permit.

She also supports Utah's effort to reclaim public land from federal agency controls, a hot issue in the U.S. West among conservatives, and has said she would vote against regulations she believes would restrict economic development.

"I love the story of David and Goliath, because in that story, David runs toward Goliath. He ran toward a seemingly impossible challenge," Love said during a testy debate this week with her opponent, Doug Owens, a Democrat and first-time candidate.

"That's the type of confidence we need to have as we take on the Goliaths of our debt, out-of-control spending, Obamacare and that Godzilla we call the federal government," she said.

In November, Love will face Owens in a conservative district created after the 2010 Census that encompasses parts of Democratic-leaning Salt Lake City, then runs south along the Wasatch Front into parts of rural Utah that are typically Republican strongholds.

Her competitor, a 50-year-old attorney, is the son of former Utah U.S. Representative Wayne Owens, also a Democrat.

WAR CHEST

Despite her 2012 loss, Love has never left the political scene. The former mayor of Saratoga Springs has continued to speak at state and local Republican and community events, and has been tapped as a conservative commentator by numerous conservative national media programs.

Federal Election Commission records show that, as of April 6, Love had amassed a campaign war chest of more than $2 million. The 2012 Love-Matheson contest, with candidates chalking up more than $10 million in spending, was the most expensive House race in Utah's history.

Her exposure and experience should put Love in a stronger position than previously, said Chris Karpowitz, associate director of the Center for the Study of Elections and Democracy at Brigham Young University.

But Love, who was named one of the Republican party's "Young Guns" to watch and given a speaking slot at the 2012 national convention, appears to have toned down some of the Tea Party-style rhetoric, he said.

"She is in a good position in the sense that she has run already, so people know her name," Karpowitz said. "And she seems to be running a campaign that is a little more focused on the kind of voters that Jim Matheson traditionally won."

A spokeswoman for Love did not respond to questions about how the 2014 campaign would differ from her earlier run.

Owens, viewed as the underdog, told Reuters by email that he believes voters have tired of partisan rancor and extreme viewpoints.

"I will beat Mia Love the same way that Jim Matheson did," said Owens, a self-described pragmatist. "By focusing on the issues that are important to Utahns and not on national partisan ideology."