When deciding which midterm incumbents to keep and which to get rid of, the nation might

[Atticus]

consider how an orchardist decides which limbs to cut away when he's pruning.

He wants to get rid of dead wood, of course, and he will trim off limbs that are headed the wrong way.

He will also take notice of limbs which are abrading and damaging others and they will be eliminated.

Finally, he will prune off any "sucker" limbs---the ones that never bloom or produce but suck nourishment from the tree.

Uncle Sam needs to sharpen his shears for November.

[Hoyt]

1. No arborist, but don't cut off too many limbs such that tree dies anyway.

[Atticus]

2. That is something I have never known to happen. The most common expert advice

about pruning is "Don't be timid---be ruthless!"

[Atticus]

4. Very well said. Thanks. nt

[jalan48]

6. The Democratic Party has a rule to protect sittng lawmakers.

House Democrats' campaign arm on Friday took an official step to protect sitting lawmakers, warning would-be campaign vendors that the party won't award contracts to political firms working for primary challenger.

With its new policy, posted Friday morning, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) said its "core mission" is to keep and grow the party's newly won House majority, "which includes supporting and protecting incumbents."

"To that end, the DCCC will not conduct business with, nor recommend to any of its targeted campaigns, any consultant that works with an opponent of a sitting Member of the House Democratic Caucus," the policy reads.

https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/435332-dems-seek-to-stifle-primary-challenges-to-incumbents

[lastlib]

7. I have a much simpler methodology.....

If it has an 'R' after its name, it has to come down. If it has a 'D' after its name, but is not producing as needed, I'll cut it unless it threatens to grow an 'R' offshoot. The worst 'D' is better than the best 'R'.