Remembering #39;liberal lion #39; Mario Cuomo / Democrats, New York
Remembering #39;liberal lion #39; Mario Cuomo Liberal lion and Former New York Gov. Mario Cuomo passed away at the age of 82. Ed Schultz and Fmr. Gov. Howard Dean remember the great man who ...
By: MSNBC News
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Remembering 'liberal lion' Mario Cuomo / Democrats, New York - Video
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Democrats are looking to reclaim their Senate majority in two years, but after losing nine Senate seats in 2014, their path back to that majority won't be easy.
Democrats will be benefiting from a favorable landscape, with Republicans defending 24 seats (many of them in blue territory) while Democrats will be defending only 10. To leverage that advantage into control of the Senate, however, Democrats need to net at least four seats (five, if Republicans win the presidency). That requires sweeping out blue-state freshman Republicans in states such as Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin while also defeating a couple of brand-name senators, such as Rob Portman or Marco Rubio, in perennial swing states.
So to kick off the new year, here is National Journal's preview of the seven most compelling Senate races in 2016, with the most pressing question that will determine the race's outcome listed below:
Nevada: Does Governor Brian Sandoval run against Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid?
Despite sporting the worst approval ratings of any senator running for reelection in 2016, Reid is as well prepared as anyone to take on his competitionor at least to scare them away from running in the first place. The GOP's dream candidate, Governor Brian Sandoval, would probably start out ahead, thanks to his statewide political profile, moderate reputation, and Hispanic background. But he's far from a sure thing to run, knowing Reid's excellent track record in pulverizing his opposition. Giving up an influential job where he's become one of the GOP's nationally compelling politicians to wrestle in the mud with the Senate minority leader isn't exactly a no-brainer of a decision.
Reid, however, is looking vulnerable enough that Nevada political analyst Jon Ralston rates his chances as no better than 55 percent, no matter whom the Republicans run against him. But if Sandoval passes on the race, there's a greater chance that a hard-right candidate could emerge in a primaryand that's proven to be a surefire path to victory for Reid in the past. And the presidential-year electorate in 2016, with higher Hispanic turnout, should be very beneficial for Reid. That's one reason he was such an enthusiastic champion of President Obama's executive orders on immigration. It's no coincidence that Obama announced the decision, Reid by his side, in Las Vegas.
Wisconsin: If Russ Feingold runs, will he welcome the financial support of outside groups, including the DSCC?
During his time in the Senate, Feingold was the Democrats' leading campaign finance scoldand he lived up to his principles in practice. He refused any outside spending from the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee in his unsuccessful 2010 campaign, and from any other outside super PACs. But a lot has changed in the past four years, and without the assistance of outside groups, Feingold would be badly outspent. Senator Ron Johnson, who self-financed his way to a comfortable victory to win the seat, has the resources to do so again in two years.
Feingold has been coy about his future plans, but Democrats expect him to consider a comeback against Johnson. Feingold is a favorite of progressives, and his candidacy would be a reliable way to energize the grassroots base. But some Democrats would prefer a more-moderate nominee with a better relationship with party leaders, such as Representative Ron Kind.
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Democrats' Narrow Path Back to Controlling the Senate
The third-ranking Senate Democrat predicted Sunday that his caucus could sustain a presidential veto of a bill to authorize construction of the Keystone XL pipeline.
Speaking on CBS's "Face the Nation" on Sunday, Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) said Democrats plan to introduce amendments to the Republican-backed bill in the new Congress. But even so, he plans to oppose it.
"These amendments will make it better but certainly not good enough at this point in time, and I think there will be enough Democratic votes to sustain the presidents veto," he said.
Republicans are set to take control of the Senate when the new Congress is sworn in this week. The soon-to-be majority leader, Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), announced last month that passing a Keystone bill would be an immediate priority.
Environmental groups and many Democrats oppose the oil pipeline, which would run from Canadas oil sands to the Texas Gulf Coast. President Obama has raised doubts about its environmental effects.
If Obama were to veto the bill once it was passed by both the House and the Senate, two-thirds of the lawmakers in each chamber would have to override him for the bill to become law. Veto overrides have been very rare occurrences.
Republicans have billed the Keystone XL pipeline as a job creator. A State Department review concluded it would support about 42,000 direct and indirect jobs. Once built, the pipeline would support 50 jobs, according to the review.
Speaking on "Fox News Sunday," Sen. John Thune (S.D.), who serves in Republican leadership, said the Keystone debate will test how far to the left Senate Democrats are leaning.
"We're going to find out whether or not there are moderate Democrats in the Senate," he said.
But Thune was uncertain about whether Republicans could override a presidential veto.
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Schumer predicts Democrats could sustain Keystone veto
Senate Democrats will introduce a series of amendments countering the GOP push to pass legislation approving the Keystone XL pipeline, Sen. Charles Schumer (D., N.Y.) said Sunday.
The amendments are unlikely to change the ultimate outcome of the bill, which is expected to pass and face a potential veto from President Barack Obama. But the Democratic strategy will add more political tension to whats expected to be a partisan showdown between Mr. Obama and Republicans pushing to approve the pipeline as their first item of business this upcoming Congress.
Democrats will introduce at least three amendments that would make the Keystone measure more of a jobs bill, Mr. Schumer, the fourth-most-senior Democrat in the upper chamber, said Sunday on CBS 's Face The Nation.
The amendments will require the steel used in the pipeline to be made in the U.S., ban exports of oil shipped through the pipeline and add financial incentives for renewable energy, Mr. Schumer said. With Republicans now controlling 54 seats, these amendments are unlikely to pass.
Mr. Schumer said he would still oppose the measure even if those amendments did pass. He also predicted Mr. Obama would veto the bill, a likely outcome given the presidents increasingly negative takeon the project, which has been under review with his administration for more than six years.
I think there will be enough Democratic votes to sustain the presidents veto, Mr. Schumer said.
The Senate in November defeated similar legislationapproving the pipeline, coming up one Democratic vote short. The bill is expected to garner some Democratic support, including those from energy-rich states like Sens. Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota and Joe Manchin of West Virginia, helping Republicans get the 60 votes needed for passage. Most unofficial whip counts say Republicans are a few votes shy of the 67 votes needed to overcome a veto.
Speaking on Fox News Sunday, Sen. John Thune (R, S.D.), expressed cautious hope that the Senate could get the 67 votes needed to override a presidential veto depending on how much Democratic support there is.
Were going to find out whether there are moderate Democrats in the Senate, Mr. Thune said.
The measures Mr. Schumer cited Sunday are among whats likely to be numerous amendments offered during both the committee and floor debates on the Keystone bill. The Energy and Natural Resources Committee holds a hearing on the bill Wednesday and plans to vote Thursday. The floor debate is expected to occur soon after that.
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Democrats to Push Clean Energy, Export Limits in Keystone XL Pipeline Bill
Louie Gohmert: Democrats Are #39;The Party Of No #39;
GOP Rep. Louie Gohmert said President Barack Obama #39;s admission that he relied on Harry Reid to block unfavorable legislation from the Republican-led House me...
By: Secular Talk
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Louie Gohmert: Democrats Are 'The Party Of No' - Video