Lugar is up for re-election in 2006

[paineinthearse]

Will there be a GOP challenge?
Is he beatable?
Who are the Dem contenders?

[bobbobbins]

1. Hulk Hogan will beat him at Wrestlemania

[DrGonzoLives]

2. The only way a Dem could beat Lugar

is if Lugar retires. If he does, then it might be a wide-open race, where hopefully someone like Susan Davis or Bart Peterson runs against whatever demon piglet the GOP trots out.

[saltpoint]

3. I think Dr. Gonzo has got it down cold on this one.

Lugar is getting a bit long in tooth but is eminently re-electable in Indiana.

If he retires -- and who could blame him after Dubya attacks Syria and Iran -- there are a handful of Democrats who might be interested in the race -- Peterson and Davis as Dr. Gonzo mentioned -- and former Congresswoman Jill Long and former Sec. of State Joe Hogsett.

I've met Hogsett, and he is a peach of a human being.

[thinkingwoman]

6. I've heard great things about Hogsett

I'd like to meet him some day.

I agree with you and Dr. Gonzo. Lugar's seat is his as long as he wants to warm it.

[DrGonzoLives]

8. I've met Hogsett

He comes off as just a prick to me, which is why I didn't vote for him for AG. Not the best reason, but there it is.

He's also been a bigwig for the state party, and we all know how well it's done.

No, I think someone else would be better, though Hogsett would definitely be in the running.

[saltpoint]

9. You might have caught him on an off day.

I've been with him when he was doing everything for the party rallies including putting up the folding chairs.

I have close friends still working in Indianapolis for his firm and a couple others and they are fond of him personally & professionally.

I'm not saying he wasn't as you say he was the day you met him, but in any case, I will send Indiana my best vibes to dump as many Republicans as possible.

Your new governor reminds me of a cactus. Prickly and not any fun to be around. Gives me the creeps.

[Voltaire]

10. My wife works at his firm

Says he's kinda loud. But in a good way. I met him my first day in Indiana....8 years ago. He helped me get my first job here actually.

[saltpoint]

12. Hi, Voltaire.

I'd heard that, yes. He helped you get a job? My aunt says he is like that. I'm glad you have one in George Bush's America, just for starters.

good wishes to you.

[DrGonzoLives]

11. Could be

It was a Labor Day parade in Terre Haute, Kernan was there as well as Jennings (who tried to beat Hostetpieceofhumandogshit) and he just seemed like he had better things to do. Maybe it was a long day.

[indypaul]

16. Don't know if he

would want to or not but how about Baron Hill?

[Ouabache]

17. Nah

n/t

[B0S0X87]

4. Anyone know how old he is?

He's been in the senate for nearly thirty years, so he's got to be near seventy at least.

And if he does run again, don't even bother putting up any strong opposition.

[hippiechick]

5. I'd guess about 130 ?

He's an old fart, that's for sure ...

Belated welcome to DU, Bosox ! :hi:

Hope to see you at an Indy DU Meetup in the future !

[B0S0X87]

7. Thanks for the welcome, hippiechick!

On an only semi-related subject, does anyone else think "Dick Lugar" sounds like a porn star's name?

[saltpoint]

13. It does, yeah. When you see him, though, then suddently --

-- it doesn't. He's kinda well, conservative.

Nixon described him once as "my favorite mayor."

Talk about the kiss of death.

[LiberalFighter]

14. Lugar's DOB 4/4/1932 (Will be 73 this year)

[Hippo_Tron]

15. If he runs again, we don't stand a chance

Even Democrats will vote for him because, frankly, his position on the war is better than Bayh's.

[Ouabache]

18. I thought his position on Iraq was to trot out in front of tv cameras

every chance he gets. Mush mouth around about the planning, yada yada yada. Then scurry back to the Senate to vote on any and all bills the way his Bushmeister commands him. How is that better than Bayh? Other than everyone who fawns all over him for that little act, who really understands the guy?

[salin]

19. bwahaha

that about nails it.

Criticize, warn, hand-wring in front of the cameras...

Then go vote like a good loyal bush republican. Like clock work.

[SpeedwayDemocrat]

20. You pegged it, Salin!

At least he's consistent.. O.K., consistently bad...
What will be the "next crisis" - the Social Security crisis thing about played out - so what's next on Lugar and Rove's playbook?

[salin]

22. hand wringing over Bolten nomination to the UN

while the neocons pressure him to rush to call a hearing (forcing the process to start speeding up) in order to bumrush the nomination before much press coverage (and the real aversions many, including moderate republicans, have to this nomination) can slow things down or even derail the effort. Let's see if he calls to hold the committee quickly or not. Josh Marshall is covering this...

[descolada99]

21. My biggest fear?

Eric Miller crawling out of his hole and running for Senate and somehow winning it. I sure hope (and don't think) he could win it, but if he did...

*shudder*

[IndianaGreen]

23. My biggest fear is to roll over and the GOP keep this seat in 2006

Democrats need to mount a credible challenge against this mummified relic from Shortridge High School (no offense to Shortridge grads).

If Peterson won't run, we should get someone like Jack Crawford (our former Lottery chief) to run.

We cannot beat the GOP at the "Holier Than Thou" hypocrisy game, so we just as much run people that are "sinners" like everyone else, but that can provide the sort of representation in Washington that Indiana sorely needs.