Looks like Reid has made his picks

[Keystone Phil]

I hate to be "that guy" but did anyone notice anything about ALL the Republican picks?

Yes, I notice that the above six has one of the most laughably token picks possible. Patty Murray? Can any of you seriously defend that one?

[Keystone Phil]

I hate to be "that guy" but did anyone notice anything about ALL the Republican picks?

Yes, I notice that the above six has one of the most laughably token picks possible. Patty Murray? Can any of you seriously defend that one?

Laughably token? From the guy who loved her opponent only because he had an Italian name?

That's why I liked him? Ok, I guess that's a cute meme but it's also false. Thanks for playing.

[Keystone Phil]

I hate to be "that guy" but did anyone notice anything about ALL the Republican picks?

Yes, I notice that the above six has one of the most laughably token picks possible. Patty Murray? Can any of you seriously defend that one?

And you accused me as sexist when I made fun of Huckabee's daughter.

I'm sexist because I think Patty Murray is a joke? I think she was chosen because Reid felt the need to have a woman on the committee. I think she's a joke. That doesn't mean I don't want her on because she's a woman.

[Keystone Phil]

I hate to be "that guy" but did anyone notice anything about ALL the Republican picks?

Yes, I notice that the above six has one of the most laughably token picks possible. Patty Murray? Can any of you seriously defend that one?

Republican gallantly standing against political correctness by only picking old white men.

Uh, hello, Pat Toomey is a minority!!!

It must feel great sitting up in that ivory tower in all white, suburban Seattle.

[Keystone Phil]

I love how this has nothing to do with what we're talking about. Classic Phil!

Yeah, I don't think Pat Toomey is a minority, therefore I'm the one in the ivory tower...

Sure it has to do with the discussion. You're doing your hand wringing routine, chastising the GOP for not having the proper amount of minorities/sarcastically saying that Toomey counts as a minority yet you probably have interacted with as many minorities in your entire life that have in one day.

[Keystone Phil]

I love how this has nothing to do with what we're talking about. Classic Phil!

Yeah, I don't think Pat Toomey is a minority, therefore I'm the one in the ivory tower...

Sure it has to do with the discussion. You're doing your hand wringing routine, chastising the GOP for not having the proper amount of minorities/sarcastically saying that Toomey counts as a minority yet you probably have interacted with as many minorities in your entire life that have in one day.

When did I chastise the GOP for not having minorities? Let's see---I laughed at your assertion that Murray is only there because she's a woman, and then I laughed at Krazen's assertion that Pat Toomey is a minority, and then I pointed out how off-topic your previous reply was. Hmm, nope, never did what you claimed.

And another unrelated personal attack? "Classic Phil" is on fire!

"Classic troll" wins this thread with a Photobucket image that exceeds bandwidth!

[Keystone Phil]

Ok, so here's what I learned in this thread: Pat Toomey might be part Portuguese. I highly doubt it.

[Keystone Phil]

Actually, yeah, saying Patty Murray was chosen because she was a woman and disregarding that she's in a Senate leadership position and been a senator for 20 years is a straight-up case of sexism. Even if you think you're making a reverse discrimination point.

Being a Senator for twenty years necessarily makes one a good pick? She can have all of the leadership spots she wants and that still wouldn't necessarily make her a reasonable pick.

I'm not the one reducing her to a token member. The post earlier in the thread that said, "Hey, look which sides has the woman! And the black guy. Oh, there's a Hispanic, too. We win!" did that.

[Keystone Phil]

Guys, Toomey isn't Portuguese. I can almost guarantee that he joined the caucus because he thinks it will allow him to better represent a rapidly growing group of people. And here's another important point: Republican leaders certainly aren't trying to claim that Toomey's membership in this caucus counts as ethnic diversity on their side.

[Keystone Phil]

He was of course born in Rhode Island but is of Portuguese descent.

1) Why is the first half relevant? I know it isn't a common ethnic background there but I don't see the point.

2) Where is the proof?

[Keystone Phil]

He was known in Congress for his expertize in fiscal policy and for being president of the Club of Growth.

Toomey, however, has been known for his involvement in bugeting

If by "expertize" (sic) and "involvement" you mean single minded right wing extremism, then yes, that's Toomey's M.O.

Oh, come on. Notice how even the most partisan people here chose not to blast Toomey. The guy know's fiscal issues and he has come to be respected by both sides as a fair, sane Senator.

[Keystone Phil]

Toomey and Kirk don't seem to be paying much attention to the views of people in their states, and should go down in flames in 2016.

Yeah, I'm glad you speak for Pennsylvania, jfern. Too bad you missed the fact that Toomey has good approval ratings in the state, Pennsylvania tends to like their incumbents and he is easily one of the most stand out freshman (first year, no less!) members of the Senate in a long time. He's getting a ton of great press so please spare yourself the embarrassment and not forecast races a) five years in advance and b) when you're uninformed. Thanks!

[Keystone Phil]

Toomey and Kirk don't seem to be paying much attention to the views of people in their states, and should go down in flames in 2016.

Yeah, I'm glad you speak for Pennsylvania, jfern. Too bad you missed the fact that Toomey has good approval ratings in the state, Pennsylvania tends to like their incumbents and he is easily one of the most stand out freshman (first year, no less!) members of the Senate in a long time. He's getting a ton of great press so please spare yourself the embarrassment and not forecast races a) five years in advance and b) when you're uninformed. Thanks!

I'd love to know what he's done to deserve such "great press", or where he's supposedly getting such great press form. The WSJ? Maybe. That's his crew alright.

The Philadelphia Inquirer is part of the Toomey conservative crew? Interesting.

You must be logged in to read this quote.

And this is based on your personal loathing. Nothing more.

You must be logged in to read this quote.

And this, gentlemen, is a newly minted moderator. Happy days are here again.

[Keystone Phil]

Pennsylvania likes incumbents. It's amazing how Santorum was able to win in a landslide in 2006.

An exception to the rule. Anyone with a clue about Pennsylvania politics will tell you that Pennsylvania is a very Pro Incumbent state.

[Keystone Phil]

I don't recall it being in the moderator handbook that a mod has to stop expressing his personal opinions on politics.

Badger is as combative as I am. I don't think elevating someone like myself as moderator would be a very popular decision. Do you?

[Keystone Phil]

Phil, Badger is well respected. I respect him. He will be totally fair as a moderator, trust me. Plus as a lawyer, I don't think he will get too uptight over the parry and thrust as long as it does not get too personal.

Well respected doesn't necessarily mean fair. We've had some "well respected" moderators recently get into trouble for conduct here.

And I take offense to your veiled jab at me there.

You must be logged in to read this quote.

See: Rick Santorum 2000...except Toomey isn't anywhere near as polarizing as Santorum.

[Keystone Phil]

As to the Toomey thing, yes he has some talent, and is a pleasant and articulate chap, but he will have to be very persuasive indeed, or the environment right when he runs for re-election, since it appears he is substantially more conservative in his views than PA is overall. To get it done, he may have to establish himself as having some "plus factor" so he holds votes that might stray due to his ideology. Or PA needs to lose its somewhat small but clearly present, Dem tinged PVI.  That is going to be tough, unless the Philly metro area stops trending Dem.

Well, first, Santorum was well to the right of Pennsylvania, and got re-elected once. 

Second, the state has been possibly drifting a bit rightward in the past two years.  One thing is that PA is  probably a pro-choice state, and Toomey does not emphasize that aspect in the same way Santorum did.

Third, there is no other Bob Casey, Junior out there and the strongest candidate is Rendell.  Rendell is not exceptionally popular.

And Rendell isn't running for the Senate in 2016.

I think your third point isn't a strong one though. Someone unknown now can build themselves up. Even if they don't have a good candidate when that election rolls around, 2016 could be a bad year for us and a weak candidate could be swept in. It's so obviously too early to tell.

The point is that Toomey isn't anything like the doomed incumbent that his detractors want him to be. We're a Pro Incumbent state. We've re-elected someone to the right of electorate before. In fact, he was re-elected in a Presidential election year and outpaced the Democratic top of the ticket. We like more mild mannered elected officials and Toomey is anything but a rabid flame thrower so that's another point in his column.

Bottom line: you're foolish to think that he's definitely or even likely to lose in 2016.

[Keystone Phil]

Pennsylvania likes incumbents. It's amazing how Santorum was able to win in a landslide in 2006.

An exception to the rule. Anyone with a clue about Pennsylvania politics will tell you that Pennsylvania is a very Pro Incumbent state.

'Course it is. But relying on that rule isn't intelligent at all. In other words, I'm not predicting anything about the 2016 Senate race until 2015 at the earliest.

I'm not relying on the rule but it's worth noting. It means something. But the second half of your post is what I've been really emphasizing.

[Keystone Phil]

Pennsylvania likes incumbents. It's amazing how Santorum was able to win in a landslide in 2006.

An exception to the rule. Anyone with a clue about Pennsylvania politics will tell you that Pennsylvania is a very Pro Incumbent state.

Incumbents defeated in a general election in the House from Pennsylvania in the last 3 elections: 9

Incumbents defeated in a general election in the House from California in the last decade: 1

Ok? So California is more Pro Incumbent with House races so Pennsylvania can't be Pro Incumbent? Nice logic. Note that your state also solidly leans one way statewide, has a few strongholds that lean the other way and very few swing areas so your logic fails even harder.

By the way, I was specifically referring to Pennsylvanians being Pro Incumbent on the statewide level.

[Keystone Phil]

Phil, Badger is well respected. I respect him. He will be totally fair as a moderator, trust me. Plus as a lawyer, I don't think he will get too uptight over the parry and thrust as long as it does not get too personal.

Well respected doesn't necessarily mean fair. We've had some "well respected" moderators recently get into trouble for conduct here.

A moderator responded to you in disagreement and dislikes the politicians you like. He didn't infract you or advocate your banning or something.

The point is that others have been refused moderator status because they're too combative. He's not much different. We'll see how long until posts magically disappear.

[Keystone Phil]

Pennsylvania likes incumbents. It's amazing how Santorum was able to win in a landslide in 2006.

An exception to the rule. Anyone with a clue about Pennsylvania politics will tell you that Pennsylvania is a very Pro Incumbent state.

Incumbents defeated in a general election in the House from Pennsylvania in the last 3 elections: 9

Incumbents defeated in a general election in the House from California in the last decade: 1

Ok? So California is more Pro Incumbent with House races so Pennsylvania can't be Pro Incumbent? Nice logic. Note that your state also solidly leans one way statewide, has a few strongholds that lean the other way and very few swing areas so your logic fails even harder.

By the way, I was specifically referring to Pennsylvanians being Pro Incumbent on the statewide level.

OK, statewide the last two US Senator elections had an incumbent defeated.

One was defeated in a primary (though he would have lost the General) but I'll count it. That's two in the last two Senate elections. Go back to Wofford and that's three. You have to go back to the 1960s to find another time when that happened.

We're a Pro Incumbent state when it comes to statewide elections, jfern. You're wrong on this. Just take a breath, admit it and go back to trolling.

[Keystone Phil]

And how exactly have I misrepresented Toomey's well-documented position as a jihadist against federal taxation of almost every kind?

...

My goodness, Phil, this whole moderator thing does have your panties in a bunch, doesn't it?

Again, folks, this is your new moderator. Fair and level headed!

[Keystone Phil]

A moderator just said "panties"?! FIRE THIS MAN IMMEDIATELY.

It's his tone. He'll be nothing more than another Joe Republic: "I'll do whatever I want and get as aggressive as I want and will remain as a moderator. Deal with it."

[Keystone Phil]

A moderator just said "panties"?! FIRE THIS MAN IMMEDIATELY.

It's his tone. He'll be nothing more than another Joe Republic: "I'll do whatever I want and get as aggressive as I want and will remain as a moderator. Deal with it."

Phil, if he deletes stuff inappropriately, complain.   But why complain otherwise?  Why can't he be aggressive if the delete button and infraction button aren't being used improperly?  Seriously, I don't get it.   I'll admit, I consider Badg a personal friend and have had the pleasure of meeting him, but vigorous arguments don't mean he wont' moderate properly.

He's already engaging in excessive hyperbole in response to a post that questions his ability to fairly moderate the board.

[Keystone Phil]

And I know this won't dissuade one little bit!  I was born at night but not last night.

So you're the one just trying to start a fight. Got it.