D.C.'s Political Report now links to twelve sites
which report on individual state politics at
<a href=http://www.DCPoliticalReport.com/PolLink.htm
target=new>http://www.DCPoliticalReport.com/PolLink.htm</a> :<br><br>Arkansas:
PoliticsAR.com<br>California:
California Voter Foundation (calvoter.org)<br>California:
Rough & Tumble (rtumble.com)<br>Georgia: Georgia
Politics (georgiapolitics.com)<br>Louisiana: Deductbox
(Deductbox.com)<br>Minnesota: MN-Politics.com<br>Missouri:
MoPolitics.org<br>New Jersey: PoliticsNJ.com<br>Rhode Island:
InsidePolitics.org<br>Tennessee: Tennessee Politics (subscription
site)<br>Texas:
TexasCampaigns.net<br>Virginia: Political1.com<br><br>I will add additional
sites
if and when I become aware of them.

D.C.'s Political Report has added two new site to
its list of political links located at
<a href=http://www.DCPoliticalReport.com/PolLink.htm
target=new>http://www.DCPoliticalReport.com/PolLink.htm</a> .<br><br>Both new
links report to provide
coverage of individual state politics. Political1.com
claims to cover all states but in fact does only a half
hardy job of reporting politics in the Commonwealth of
Virginia. D.C.'s Political Report has known about
Political1.com for some time, but never included it on its lists
for several reasons, including the fact that the name
is so close to Ron Gunzberger's Politics1.com.
Politics1.com is, in my personal opinion, the closest thing to
an comparable site to D.C.'s Political Report.
However Politics1.com was recently purchased by a lobby
firm, making D.C.'s Political Report the best
independent source on the web (in my humble
opinion.)<br><br>The other new site is PoliticsAR.com which does a
pretty good job reporting on Politics from Arkansas.
D.C.'s Political Report recently discovered
PoliticsAR.com because it provides a hyperlink to D.C.'s
Political Report. Thank you PoliticsAR.

Two more U.S. Senators, Carl Levin (D-MI) and
Pete Domenici (R-NM) have given indications that they
intend to seek re-election in 2002. Their names have
been removed from D.C.'s Political Report's list of
potential retirees. (
<a href=http://www.dcpoliticalreport.com/Retire02.htm
target=new>http://www.dcpoliticalreport.com/Retire02.htm</a> )

John Warner is well loved in Virginia by the
crucial moderate voters for having stood up to Farris,
North and on occasion the Christian Coalition. If he
stays, there is no Democrat who could defeat him in a
normal year. If he decides to retire Rep. Bob Goodlatt
(6th) and Rep. Tom Davis (Head of the Republican House
Fundraising committee and website
<a href=http://www.virginiavictoryfund.com/
target=new>http://www.virginiavictoryfund.com/</a>) (11th district) in Northern
Virginia (about 30%
of state population) have both made the state wide
circuit passing out dollars and headlining local events.
Also the now term limited Governor Jim Gilmore
(Recently announced co-head of the Republican National
Committee) is also keeping a political organization alive.
John Warner relied heavily on Tom Davis political
operatives for his 1996 reelection campaign, as many of the
Christian Coalition members were unenthusiastic supporters
after his ditching of North. Now with six years since
1996, and the Republican control of the both state
legistlative bodies and the govenorship, they may all misdeeds
may be forgotten. <br><br>I do not believe the
Republican Establishment can or will attempt to push Senator
John Warner aside. If he does retire, Jim Gilmore
would have the inside track if he wants it. Otherwise
Tom Davis is the front runner. National money ties,
generous with his own pack donations, in kind support to
local candidates and sprinkling RNCCC money around.

And, that 50-50 tie keeps the Virginia
Conservatives off his back over Warner's opposition to North
and Farris. They might not be happy with John Warner,
but they'll be even less happy over the results of a
split party and a Democratic Senate.

Why Wouldn't John Warner retire? How about the
fact that the U.S. Senate is currently tied at 50-50?
Every retirement means that the GOP has to spend twice
as much money to keep an otherwise safe seat.

Ooops!  Yes I meant Mormons.

With SachsDC, you never know. :)<br><br>In
response to the earlier comments about Senator John Warner
(Va-R) not retiring, why wouldn't he retire? It can't be
much fun anymore: he's taking flak from his own party
for being too unconservative and disloyal; he's been
there four terms, if I'm not mistaken; and he always
looks like he's miserable. Isn't it time he quit?

I hope you meant to type "Mormon" and not "Moron".  :-)

Scratch three Democrats off the list of potential
retirees in 2002. U.S. Sen. Paul Wellstone (D-MN)
<a href=http://www.DCPoliticalReport.com/MN.htm#S1
target=new>http://www.DCPoliticalReport.com/MN.htm#S1</a> has decided to break
his 1992 campaign pledge and
seek a third term. U.S. Representatives Bill Luther
(D-MN-6) <a href=http://www.DCPoliticalReport.com/MN.htm#6th
target=new>http://www.DCPoliticalReport.com/MN.htm#6th</a> and
Collin Peterson (D-MN-7)
<a href=http://www.DCPoliticalReport.com/MN.htm#7th
target=new>http://www.DCPoliticalReport.com/MN.htm#7th</a> will most likely be
seeking re-election to their
perspective districts following Wellstone’s decision.

The precinct level figures are supposed to be
given to Virginia and New Jersey in March, but a recent
law suit filed by Utah might delay the release. Utah
is claiming that if oversee Moron missionaries are
included in the census, like oversea federal and military
employees, Utah, and not North Carolina would have received
the final district.<br><br>On a related matter, the
U.S. Supreme Court in early January said that Virginia
could not seek Court approval to ban the use of
statistical sampling in drawing districts until AFTER the
statistical samples had been released.

When will precinct level numbers be released for New Jersy and Virginia, as they
both have General State Elections in November?

A word of praise and condemnation for former
Governor Wilder. As a state senator, Wilder was a strong
and early advocate for a holiday for Martin Luther
King. However, the conservative dominated General
Assembly (even with a majority of Democrats) was not
willing to authorize a holiday for King, especially since
it already had an official February holiday for two
Confederate heros from Virginia, Robert E. Lee and Stonewall
Jackson. Wilder was able to convince the legislature to
add King’s name to the holiday and move the date up.
Virginia therefore for many years celebrated the memory of
the civil rights leader simultaneously with the
confederate slave owners.<br><br>Last year Gov. Jim Gilmore
(R) (<a href=http://www.DCPoliticalReport.com/VA.htm#Gov
target=new>http://www.DCPoliticalReport.com/VA.htm#Gov</a> ),
the incoming RNC chair,
(<a href=http://www.DCPoliticalReport.com/Republicans.htm
target=new>http://www.DCPoliticalReport.com/Republicans.htm</a>) convinced the
now GOP controlled, but as
conservative General Assembly to separate out King from the
Holiday. Virginia celebrated Lee-Jackson day last Friday
and Martin Luther King day today. Ironically, the
Republican Party had originally opposed the idea of having a
King holiday because it would have been fiscally
irresponsible to have two state holidays in February. Now,
Virginia Government is shut down for an extended four days
to celebrate two state holidays.

Recent visit by North Carolina’s Secretary of
State Elaine Marshall (D)
(<a href=http://www.DCPoliticalReport.com/NC.htm#SOS
target=new>http://www.DCPoliticalReport.com/NC.htm#SOS</a>) has fueled increased
speculation that the
Democratic Senate Campaign Committee has a favorite for the
U.S. Senate from North Carolina
(<a href=http://www.DCPoliticalReport.com/NC.htm#S1
target=new>http://www.DCPoliticalReport.com/NC.htm#S1</a>). Other Democrats
mentioned include St. Rep. Dan
Blue (D) and ex-White House Chief of Staff Erskine
Bowles (D). Former Governor Jim Hunt (D) continues to
show no interest in the seat he tried to wrest from
Jesse Helms (R) in 1984. <br><br>U.S. Representative
Bobby Scott (D-Va)
(<a href=http://www.DCPoliticalReport.com/VA.htm#3rd
target=new>http://www.DCPoliticalReport.com/VA.htm#3rd</a>) is rumored to be
considering a challenge to U.S.
Senator John Warner (R-Va)
(<a href=http://www.DCPoliticalReport.com/VA.htm#S1
target=new>http://www.DCPoliticalReport.com/VA.htm#S1</a>), assuming that Warner
doesn’t decide to retire
(<a href=http://www.DCPoliticalReport.com/Retire02.htm#Senate
target=new>http://www.DCPoliticalReport.com/Retire02.htm#Senate</a>). Scott, the
first African American elected to the
House from Virginia since Reconstruction, would be hard
pressed to win the increasingly conservative state.
However, it should be noted that Virginia is the only
state in the union to ever elect an African American as
Governor, L. Douglas Wilder (D).

In Arkansas
(<a href=http://www.DCPoliticalReport.com/AR.htm
target=new>http://www.DCPoliticalReport.com/AR.htm</a>), add the names of U.S.
Representatives Vic Snyder
(D) (<a href=http://www.DCPoliticalReport.com/AR.htm#2nd
target=new>http://www.DCPoliticalReport.com/AR.htm#2nd</a>) and
Marion Barry (D)
(<a href=http://www.DCPoliticalReport.com/AR.htm#1st
target=new>http://www.DCPoliticalReport.com/AR.htm#1st</a>) as potential
challengers to U.S. Senator Tim
Hutchinson (R-AR)
(<a href=http://www.DCPoliticalReport.com/AR.htm#S1
target=new>http://www.DCPoliticalReport.com/AR.htm#S1</a>). Personally, I think
Washington, D.C. has had
enough with individuals named Marion Barry
(<a href=http://www.DCPoliticalReport.com/1994/DC94.htm#Mayor
target=new>http://www.DCPoliticalReport.com/1994/DC94.htm#Mayor</a>).<br><br>In
Minnesota
(<a href=http://www.DCPoliticalReport.com/MN.htm
target=new>http://www.DCPoliticalReport.com/MN.htm</a>), add the names of St.
Paul Mayor Norm Coleman (R)
and Secretary of State
(<a href=http://www.DCPoliticalReport.com/MN.htm#SOS
target=new>http://www.DCPoliticalReport.com/MN.htm#SOS</a>) Mary Kiffmeyer (R)
as potential challenges to
U.S.<br>Senator Paul Wellstone (D)
(<a href=http://www.DCPoliticalReport.com/MN.htm#S1
target=new>http://www.DCPoliticalReport.com/MN.htm#S1</a>). D.C.’s Political
Report had previously listed
them as potential candidates for Governor against
Jesse Ventura (Ind)
(<a href=http://www.DCPoliticalReport.com/MN.htm#Gov
target=new>http://www.DCPoliticalReport.com/MN.htm#Gov</a>).<br><br>U.S.
Representative JoAnn Emerson
(<a href=http://www.DCPoliticalReport.com/MO.htm#8th
target=new>http://www.DCPoliticalReport.com/MO.htm#8th</a>)<br>continues to have
cold feet about challenging appointed
U.S. Senator Jean Carnahan (D)
(<a href=http://www.DCPoliticalReport.com/MO.htm#S1
target=new>http://www.DCPoliticalReport.com/MO.htm#S1</a>). The strongest
challenger against
Carnahan<br>however is current Attorney General designate John
Ashcroft (R) who was defeated for reelection by the
deceased governor Mel Carnahan (D)
(<a href=http://www.DCPoliticalReport.com/2000/MO00.htm#S1
target=new>http://www.DCPoliticalReport.com/2000/MO00.htm#S1</a>). Senator
Carnahan has an interesting dilemma. She
can either vote with her constituency and try to
block Ashcroft nomination for Attorney General, or vote
to make her own reelection campaign easier and
confirm Ashcroft.<br><br>If neither Ashcroft nor Emerson
is available to challenge Carnahan, look for the
Republicans to rally behind U.S. Representatives Roy Blunt
(R) (<a href=http://www.DCPoliticalReport.com/MO.htm#7th
target=new>http://www.DCPoliticalReport.com/MO.htm#7th</a>) or
Kenny Hulshof (R)
(<a href=http://www.DCPoliticalReport.com/MO.htm#9th
target=new>http://www.DCPoliticalReport.com/MO.htm#9th</a>). If the Democrats
had to have one of these four
Republicans as the nominee, they would prefer Hulshof whose
seat is most likely already targeted.

D.C.’s Political Report now considers the Third
Congressional Seat from South Carolina
(<a href=http://www.DCPoliticalReport.com/SC.htm#3rd
target=new>http://www.DCPoliticalReport.com/SC.htm#3rd</a>) an open seat
(<a href=http://www.DCPoliticalReport.com/Retire02.htm#House
target=new>http://www.DCPoliticalReport.com/Retire02.htm#House</a>) in the 2002
Congressional Election. Roll Call
(<a href=http://www.RollCall.com target=new>http://www.RollCall.com</a>) quote
Lindsey Graham, one of the notorious
Clinton Impeachment Managers, as saying, “If I’m alive,
I’m running.” The only name D.C.’s Political Report
has heard as a possible replacement is St. Rep. Jim
Klauber (R). Despite the lack of a democratic candidate
at this point, D.C.’s Political Report has change
the rating of the Third Congressional District from
two stars
(<a href=http://www.DCPoliticalReport.com/update90.htm
target=new>http://www.DCPoliticalReport.com/update90.htm</a>) to three stars
(<a href=http://www.DCPoliticalReport.com/update77.htm
target=new>http://www.DCPoliticalReport.com/update77.htm</a>).<br><br>Added to
the list of potential retirees
(<a href=http://www.DCPoliticalReport.com/Retire02.htm#Senate
target=new>http://www.DCPoliticalReport.com/Retire02.htm#Senate</a>) are U.S.
Senator Pete Domenici (R-NM)
(<a href=http://www.DCPoliticalReport.com/NM.htm#S1
target=new>http://www.DCPoliticalReport.com/NM.htm#S1</a>)and U.S. Senator
Theodore Stevens (R-AK)
(<a href=http://www.DCPoliticalReport.com/AK.htm#S1
target=new>http://www.DCPoliticalReport.com/AK.htm#S1</a>).

Taking advantage of Martin Luther King Holiday,
D.C.'s Political Report has updated several
pages.<br><br>More Democrats have been added to the list of
potential presidential candidates
(<a href=http://www.DCPoliticalReport.com/pres04.htm
target=new>http://www.DCPoliticalReport.com/pres04.htm</a>) including U.S.
Senators Christopher Dodd and Jay
Rockefeller. Dodd has a disadvantage in that he comes from the
same state of the Democrats’ newest media darling, the
distinctly un-media savvy Joseph Lieberman.
(<a href=http://www.DCPoliticalReport.com/CT.htm
target=new>http://www.DCPoliticalReport.com/CT.htm</a>) Rockefeller hails from
West Virginia
(<a href=http://www.DCPoliticalReport.com/WV.htm
target=new>http://www.DCPoliticalReport.com/WV.htm</a>), the once Democratic
stronghold whose lost cost Al
Gore the presidency
(<a href=http://www.DCPoliticalReport.com/2000/pres00.htm
target=new>http://www.DCPoliticalReport.com/2000/pres00.htm</a>).

I joined the Guam Republicans club so I could post a question about it over
there.

Thanks for trying. I did check findlaw before I
posted my requested. Since first hearing the story, I
have confirmed that the current Governor is not
seeking re-election in 2002, but I still can not confirm
that he is barred from seeking re-election. He will be
listed oin D.C.'s Political Report as retiring until it
is confirmed that he is barred.
(<a href=http://www.DCPoliticalReport.com/Retire02.htm
target=new>http://www.DCPoliticalReport.com/Retire02.htm</a>

I searched the Guam Code at
<a href=http://www.guam.net/guamlaw/ target=new>http://www.guam.net/guamlaw/</a>
, but I didn't find any reference to a term
limit.<br><br>By the way, you can access state and federal laws at
<a href=http://guide.lp.findlaw.com/casecode/
target=new>http://guide.lp.findlaw.com/casecode/</a> .

The Reform Party, I think, was doomed from the
beginning: a party that didn't really stand for anything,
organized just to put an individual on the ballot. As soon
as Perot ceased to be an active part of things, they
really had no direction. The Buchanan campaign was
really a disaster; he belongs in the Constitution Party,
anyway. He only went to the Reformers to get that $12
million. A lot of good it did him.<br><br>I hadn't
considered the idea that the Natural Law Party might
disappear. I know that the US version has been trying to
distance itself somewhat from the TM movement, and
Hagelin's attempt to unite with the Reform and Green
Parties might indicate that the Natural Law Party could
evolve into something more political than what it is
now. Hagelin's showing in November wasn't that much
different from '96, but he probably should have done
better, because in 2000 he got quite a lot of attention
for a while, as he battled Buchanan for the Reform
nomination.

Today is Panda Day. The Smithsonian Institute’s
National Zoo will be displaying to the public its newly
acquired giant pandas, Tian-Tian and Mei Xiang, for the
first time. I was discussing with my wife the history
of pandas at the National Zoo and came to realize
that there was an eery parallel between the Peoples
Republic of China’s (PRC) actions and drug
pushers.<br><br> The PRC “GAVE” to the United States two giant
pandas, Ling-Ling and Hsing-Hsing. We fell in love with
them. Little did we know, Ling-Ling and Hsing-Hsing
would never have offspring. When they died, we went
into withdrawal.<br><br> Our desire for new pandas was
so great, we eventually succumbed to “renting” new
pandas at a rate of $1,000,000.00 per year for ten
years. Any offspring of Tian-Tian and Mei Xiang will
remain the property of the PRC and there is no guarantee
that we will be able to renew the lease at the end of
its term.<br><br> So here we are, addicted to pandas,
and forced to purchase the opportunity to get our
fix. Just like the drug dealer who provides the first
hit for free knowing full well that his “gift” will
create addicted clients, the PRC now has a captive
customer willing to pay though the nose for its
“product.”<br><br> Think I’m making this up? Read today’s
WashingtonPost.com article:
<a href=http://washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A41373-2001Jan10.html.
target=new>http://washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A41373-2001Jan10.html.</a>
First in line for the public viewing this morning
was Maura Backenstone who admitted that she suffers
from “panda-itis. The only cure is to see the
pandas.”<br><br> I can only hope that same sources of the
$10,000,00.00 necessary to purchase this addiction are willing
the pony up the funds necessary for the detox
program.

The name of Geri Gutierrez has been added as a
candidate for Governor of Guam in 2002.
<a href=http://www.DCPoliticalReport.com/GU.htm#Gov
target=new>http://www.DCPoliticalReport.com/GU.htm#Gov</a> Geri Gutierrez is the
current first lady of the
island territory. From the above link you can see the
news story announcing Geri's plans.

Does anyone know whether or not the Governor of
Guam is barred from serving a third consectutive term?
I saw a brief news summary from the Mariana Islands
which said that Guam First Lady Gerri Gutierrez was
considering running for Governor. It didn't mention when or
if there was marriage problems with the Gov. Carl
Gutierrez.

D.C.'s Political Report posted the following
updates today, January 8, 2001.<br><br>There is
speculation that former Montana Gov. Marc Racicot (R) might
challange U.S. Senator Max Baucus (D) in 2002. Other names
mentioned if Racicot decides not to return to political
life include former U.S. Rep. Rick Hill (R), St. Sen.
Mike Taylor and 2000 Reform party candidate Gary Lee
whose decision to drop out of the Senate race late in
2000 helped secured a victory for Senator Conrad Burns
(R). For more information visit
<a href=http://www.DCPoliticalReport.com/MT.htm#S1
target=new>http://www.DCPoliticalReport.com/MT.htm#S1</a><br><br>Out in
California, Bettye Dixon, the widow of
Representative Julian Dixon has decided not to seek the election
in the April 10, 2001 special election to fill the
vacancy. A large croud of Democrats are mentioned. The GOP
is given little chance of capturing this inner city
district. For more information visit
<a href=http://www.DCPoliticalReport.com/CA.htm#32nd.
target=new>http://www.DCPoliticalReport.com/CA.htm#32nd.</a><br><br>Thanks. Keep
reading D.C.'s Political Report.

With the results of the last Presidential
Election, many have said we should do away with the
Electoral College and go to straight popular votes for our
Presidential results.<br><br>I think that changes are in
order, but I think the E.C. fills a valuable role. There
are four characteristics of the E.C. that cause
protest.<br><br>1. The human element. The people's votes determine
who gets to vote, not who gets to be president. A
small group of rogue electors can change a result, for
better or worse.<br><br>2. Winner take all. The winner
of the state gets all the votes regardless of the
margin of error, regardless of the presence of areas in
the state with very different views. Causes a
concentration of campaign efforts in large states.<br><br>3.
Extra votes to smaller states. Gives a greater
proportional representation to small states. Reflects the make
up of Congress (House + Senate).<br><br>4. Regional
Grouping (Compartmentalization) of Votes. Prevents a
candidate winning by running up a lot of votes in a few
very populous areas. This encourages candidates who
can get their message across several regions.
Prevents our Presidents from all being from New York and
Los Angelos.<br><br>I feel that the E.C.'s most value
comes from the Compartmentalization of the votes. It
not only requires a broad regional appeal, it
minimizes the effects of voting problems (fraud, mistakes
in ballot design). As bad a recount of Florida would
have been, a straight popular vote may someday require
a recount of the whole country!<br><br>My proposal
carries compartmentalization even further, and undoes the
large influence of a few large states. We should adopt,
nationally, the Maine/Nebraska rule that does away with
winner takes all in the state to Congressional District
by District, with the winner of the state getting
two bonuses for the Senators.<br><br>Voting problems
in any one precinct can effect only 3 votes,
furthering compartmentalization. Campaign resources will be
spread out over more states -- the heavy emphasis on
large swing states will be decreased. <br><br>This
change can be achieved in three ways.<br><br>1.
Constitutional Amendment Requiring It. Hard to do, but can be
done.<br><br>2. Wait for Individual States to do it. Very few
large states will consider it, because the winner takes
all increases their potential influence. States do
have the authority to adopt this. Maine and Nebraska
already have.<br><br>3. Congress could encourage states
to switch using the power of the purse. Congress
could pay for electoral reforms, voting machines, etc.
in exchange for adopting this system. Would be a way
to experiment without having to adopt it totally.
Maybe there are unintended results and it could be
abandoned easily.

I think it's good that someone got objections to
the recent election mess into the records. I wish it
could have had a more complete hearing -- I suppose a
Senator would have had to sign on. It would have been
wrong to pretend the election was "normal" or there was
a clear winner. <br><br>Let me make clear that I do
not think Congress should have changed the results.
It took five weeks to clear it up last time and
additional rounds would have taken a toll on the country and
our democracy.<br><br>We should take this opportunity
as a reminder to seriously reconsider voting
procedures and the structure of the electoral college.

So what do you think of the Congresspeople who
refused to endorse the Florida count? Did Gore do the
right thing? Is this a good or bad precedent for how
the Hill is going to work in the next two years?

After the dismal purformances of Pat Buchanan and
John Hagelin in this year's presidential campaign, I
am predicting that neither party will field a
national candidate in 2004. Unlike the Constituion,
Libertarian and Green Parties, these two parties lack the
ideological basis in order to survive the loss of their
political patron. <br><br>In the case of the Reform Party,
the loss of Ross Perot doomed Pat Buchanan's
campaign. Although Pat Buchanan will continue as a
political force (on the edges) it is likely that he will be
involved with the Constitution Party and not the Reform
Party.<br><br>In the case of the Natural Law Party, the political
patron is not John Hagelin but Maharishi Mahesh Yogi who
recently called for the disbandment of the Natural Law
Parties worldwide. It is likely that Hagelin and the
Natural Law Party of the United States will try to form
alliances with other self-described centralist
organizations. Keep an eye open for a new national party likely
called the Independence Party which will try to
coordinate the various state Independence Parties (except
those which call for independence from the United
State) and the remnants of other state parties like the
New Alliance, Patriot, United Citizens, Cool Moose,
and A Connecticut Party.<br><br>Comments?

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