Best/Worst US Senate Delegation

[displacedyankeedem]

Best: Illinois-Barack Obama, Dick Durbin
Honorable Mentions: Washington-Patty Murray, Maria Cantwell
Michigan-Carl Levin, Debbie Stabenow, New York-Hillary Clinton, Chuck Schumer

Worst (by far): Oklahoma-Tom Coburn, James Inhofe
Dishonorabe Mentions: South Carolina-Lindsey Graham, Jim DeMint, Utah-Orrin Hatch, Robert Bennett, Kentucky-Jim Bunning and Mitch McConnell

[Elise]

1. "Back to the Future" or vice-versa

Best: California-Boxer, Feinstein
Honorable Mention: New York-Clinton, Schumer


Worst: Oklahoma-Nickles, Inhofe
Dishonorable Mention: NH-Judd, Sununu

[XemaSab]

40. Boxer

...more than makes up for DINO Feinstein.

She's the best.

[Pithy Cherub]

51. heartily agree

california has a Boxer :yourock: and well Feinstein... at least they are Dems! ;)

[catbert836]

64. Not a worst, but getting there

Arlen "Magic Bullet" Specter (Moderate Republican)
Rick "Beastiality" Santorum (Catholic Nazi Republican)

[Kire]

2. I like my Senators in New Jersey

Jon Corzine and Frank Lautenberg

[Elise]

3. I agree with you

n/t

[Kahuna]

5. Corzine and Lautenberg rawk! They make me so proud to..

be from NJ. :hi:

[robbedvoter]

27. One more vote for them - they rock!. I am ashamed of Hillary&Chuck

I was hesitating whether to vote for the Green guy on Nov 2nd and I didn't. Then I saw Schumer of the daily show and.....


In fact, i'd vote then as tthe worst democratic senators.

[Hippo_Tron]

47. Being from New York, Hillary and Chuck could stand to be more progressive

Although I really do like Schummer's work in fillibustering the judicial nominees.

[Chicago Democrat]

54. Hillary's new found conservatism is very very disheartening...

She used to be a liberal, I thought she was anyway. Plus she is so pro Likud it makes me ill.

[robbedvoter]

70. Did ya hear Chucky sputing the values BS on Daily Show?

[DemGirl7]

48. being from New York...

I don't mind Clinton and Schumer that much...but they could be a little more left.

[Comicstripper]

44. I'm with NJ

Although Maryland has Mikulski and Sarbanes (who MoveOn named the most liberal senator, if memory serves).
Worst has gotta be wherever Trent Lott is from. :-)

[CBHagman]

50. I am so grateful for Sarbanes.

He's the quiet type, very subdued. I think they call him "the stealth senator," if memory serves.

But the adherence to principle makes him a gem in my eyes. Would that we had a dozen more like him!

[bklyncowgirl]

73. So do I.

Since I moved to NJ I actually like my entire congressional delegation.

[latteromden]

4. *sniff* Minnesota was great when we had both Wellstone and Dayton... (n/t)

[Elise]

6. Wellstone

is my all-time favorite Senator.

I still miss him...............

[HeilChimp]

43. sorry, Dayton sucks

I suggest you read up on this thread. There are problem a dozen candidates the Dems could have run that would make a better Senator than Dayton:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1107075

And your senate delegation is now Dayton and Coleman, which is pretty far down anyone's list of a great progressive duo. RIP Wellstone.

I don't get why Democrat would be "proud" to have Jeffords as their Senator either...maybe proud that he's no longer a repug, but can anyone be "proud" of his voting record of tax cuts for filthy rich coorporate handouts, against Head Start, and in opposition to the enviroment? We need a REAL Democrat for that seat.

[dflprincess]

53. Dayton does not suck

and if there were any other DFLers that would have made a better senator than Mark, none of them bothered to run for the office.

I'm not thrilled with his appearance with Lieberman, but look at his whole record not just that (and remember, he's there with Lieberman because the 'pukes wouldn't let him go to Iraq on their trip even though he is on the Armed Services Committee). Besides, he did vote against the IWR and now he's talking to soldiers who don't have the equipment they need - it would be damn hard to vote against money to hopefully get them what they need.

[HeilChimp]

61. you ever seen this guy on TV?

I saw Dayton giving a speech on CSPAN and I was shocked how intellilectually dense this guy is. If I didn't know better, I would have assumed he was a repug like chimpy.

Dayton's one of those "moderate" establishment Dems who just around voting the "right" way when he "Has to" and upholds the status quot. Americans for Democrat Action reported that he "crossed over" and voted with the repugs about 1/4th of the time. I checked the American Conservative Union and they pretty much reported the same. He' just not very reliable.

Most of the Dem Senators from MN have been pretty famous, larger-than-life figures: Senator James Sheilds, Senator Eugene McCarthy, Senator Humbert Humphrey, Senator Walter Mondale, Senator Paul Wellstone. Dayton is there simply because the pubbies managed to have an incumbent even weaker than he was. How Dayton won the nomination I'll never know, perhaps you are correct that no big name Democrat like Jim Oberstar stepped forward.

Sad really, I hope we can find a better candidate in '06.

[Dees]

7. Two from blue Maryland

Mikulski/Sarbanes. I've only lived here a little over a year and don't know all that much about them but they look good to me from everything I've read. I'm a Missourian...which has two of the most God awful senators in the senate...Bond and Talent.

[Devil Dog Dem]

19. Maryland delegation very disappointing

Sarbanes and Mikulski have the 2 safest seats in the country yet we've heard nary a peep out of them about how bad Bush is.

Mikulski -- that self-proclaimed fighter -- really makes me mad. Her big accomplishment since Bush has been in office has been to "save NASA" (Goddard NASA station in Maryland).

[FreeStateDemocrat]

62. Some questions about Mikulski??????

If I am not mistaken she voted for the chimps 2 million dollar yacht in going along with the his joke budget bill and then voted for Patriots Act II by supporting the "Intelligence Reorganization" bill? Correct me if I am wrong on this but I am becoming a little bit concerned about what her motives are and exactly who she is "fighting for."

[nickshepDEM]

71. Im from Maryland and I agree 100%.

These two could go through anything and still be untouchable in this state. Mulkulski seems like a real brawler but she isnt doing any brawling.

[cali]

8. agree on the worst

but NY doesn't deserve any accolades, particularly Sen. Clinton.
Illinois? Love Durbin, but Obama isn't even Senator yet, and I'll wait and see how he does. Washington state's delegation has been a big disappointment to me. I can't give high marks to any delegation that voted for the IWR.

I like my state's Senators, Leahy and Jeffords. I also like W. Virginia's Byrd and Rockefeller.

[sportndandy]

9. Delaware

Biden is a conservative democrat (I would rather have a liberal republican) and Carper is the invisible man.

[goddess40]

10. Wisconsin

Feingold and Kohl

[BurgherHoldtheLies]

11. Santorum didn't make the worst list....I'm insulted. Come on. nt

[hopein08]

18. PA Sens. deserve dishonorable mention...at least!

Specter has no spine and then there's Santorum...just plain creepy.

This is from the 108th Congress but I think that Chambliss and Miller from Georgia are pretty damn bad.

Best would probably be Feingold and Kohl (Wisconsin) although I don't know much about Kohl.

[hatrack]

12. Missouri's pretty much sucks Alpo Beef Chunks Dinner

Kit Bond - the Drunken Prince of Pork
Jim Talent - the Nerdiest Neocon

:puke:

[NoFederales]

15. And. . . .

You are too kind to Asscrack's 'lil buddy (NoMO)Talent.

Yes, indeed, from the State that gave you the aforementioned, John "the asscrack fundy" Ashcroft, we now are offering the Blunt Trauma of Missouri--Roy "the whipper" Blunt, and spawn Matt, gov-elect.

Oh lawd gawd, how we be a dissin' ya for yah for dese the lesser of us. . . .:puke:

NoFederales

[hatrack]

41. You mean Governor-elect Skippy?

Can't wait for his experienced hand on the tiller of the Show-Me State! :puke:

[NoFederales]

57. Familiarities, Sir!

Have you no respect?

Well, . . . me neither; I'm in hip deep with their backwash toughin' it out.

NoFederales

[hatrack]

58. You are aware, of course, that Governor-elect Skippy . . .

. . . served two FULL YEARS in the MO House of Representatives, along with four years dealing with the awesome responsibilities of being Secretary of State - except, of course, for that year or so when he was called up for military service.

If that's not a power-packed resume, I don't know what is! :eyes:

[NoFederales]

59. Skippy Who?

You know, back in October I asked a question of several members of groups who had access to the hearsay railway: Do the senior republicans really want Blunt as gov? The consensus was that no, not really--he was so young, so inexperienced, so this, so that. McCaskill seemed to be in a win-win situation. That blitzkrieg of political commercials that last month, however, got my attention but I buried my doubts not wanting to believe that he could win.

And now he is apparently rewriting the statutes to eliminate DNR and who knows what else, probably under some big omnibus bill that purports to streamline state government. No doubt he is preening himself for Kit Bond's seat and he will make his bones on Missouri.

I have been trying, w/o success, to find out who some of these legislators are that are doing the rewrite. I wonder if Gary Nodler is one? Any ideas on how to find out about these people?

NoFederales

[hatrack]

67. Good person to contact - Bill Bell of the Post-Dispatch

He's their state government correspondent. I've met him a couple of times. Very nice guy and very sharp on all things Jeff City. You can probably find his email at the paper's homepage:

http://home.post-dispatch.com

[semass]

13. Best: Massachusetts - Kerry and Kennedy

[cali]

20. Kerry voted for the IWR

and Kennedy crafted the disasterous NCLB. Don't get me wrong, I like both of them, but they don't rank as best in the Senate.

[DaveinMD]

21. Ted Kennedy

has done more for progressive causes than anyone. One mistake made for good intentions does not change that fact.

[cali]

26. Your right. I was too hard on Ted.

I love the guy. However, I wouldn't say he's done more for Progressive causes than anyone, I'd say he's done as much for Progressive causes as anyone. There are several others who are just as dedicated as Ted.

[DaveinMD]

32. that's a better way of phrasing it

I just get very upset when people throw out a lifetime of work for one mistake.

[Bridget Burke]

14. Let's hear it for Texas.....

John Cornyn has had a hard time living up to Phil Gramm's example, but he shows promise. Lots of people were surprised when he beat Ron Kirk--the moderate African-American Democrat who was a popular mayor of Dallas. (But 2002 was the first year we used electronic voting in Texas--pioneered in Austin & fairly liberal Harris County.)

And Kay Bailey Hutchison keeps her nickname "Not as Dreadful as the Other Senator." She may be challenging Rick Perry for Governor.

[juslikagrzly]

16. My home state tops yet another

"worst" list. We're always at the top for # of teen pregnancies, divorces, meth labs, etc. etc. All those wonderful social ills the fundies scream bloody murder about.

and at the bottom in education per capita, income per capita, restrooms on highways (not kidding on this one....pee before you get to OK)

Coburn - psychotic narcissistic sadistic
Inhofe - stupid stupid stupid

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

17. Murray Excellent. Cantwell voted for the war.

Patty Murray is a great and courageous senator. Can't say the same for Cantwell, and she probably won't get my vote in '06.

[DaveinMD]

22. great

let's elect another Republican Senator. Another step towards 60.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

23. No problem. Republican(R) vs Republican(D)

I'll be voting Green.

[DaveinMD]

25. you are just making it easier for the far right

you are doing exactly what they want. There are so many differences between Cantwell and whoever they will run against her. You don't agree with everything, so you call her a Republican. I bet she votes with the Dems around 90 percent of the time and you call her a Republican. You are helping the extreme conservatives. They should send you a holiday card for helping them achieve their goals.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

29. Wrong. SHE helped the extreme conservatives.

She voted for the war and has called for MORE money and troops to help with the slaughter. I don't give a rip if she has a (D) after her name. She sold out.

[DaveinMD]

31. nope

you help them. She voted for the war. What about votes on choice, health care, social security, taxes, judicial appointments. You are helping the extreme right. Once again, perfect becomes the enemy of the good.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

35. The "good". Interesting choice of words.

I, then, assume that you support the war and occupation of Iraq as being "good"?

I find supporting slaughter repugnant, especially when done for political gain. I could forgive her if she "compromised" on virtually all the things you mentioned. But, killing people is a bit too much for me.

Perhaps Karl will send you a thank-you card for supporting the war.

[DaveinMD]

39. nice distortion

you'd fit right in with your reactionary friends. Doesn't agree with everything you think, just most. But you can't have that. You demand perfection.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

42. So, where is the distortion?

Reactionary? You support politicians who vote to kill people and you call me reactionary? Speaking of distortions.

[DaveinMD]

45. I support politicians

who I agree with on the vast majority of issues. I'm not a single issue voter. I don't it against politicians when they disagree with me on one issue, but agree with me on most issues. Its really pretty simple.

[Zhade]

55. You don't hold it against politicians who support an illegal war?

Jesus, man, where is the line for you?

[iwantmycountryback]

69. Cantwell got a 90% rating from the ADA for her 2003 votes

And yet you're telling us she sold out? You're never going to find anyone who has the exact same stance on every issue as you do, and having a Republican senator would be significantly worse. You're being very shortsighted in your thoughts. She gets 100% ratings from NARRAL and Planned Parenthood. The Christian Coalition gives her a 0% rating. She got 100% from the Sierra Club and the League of Conservation voters. She gets ratings in the 80's and 90's from liberal groups. If you honestly tell me there's no difference between her and a Repubican, that's just not true.

[HeilChimp]

38. we'd have one more Dem seat right now if the Jeffords worship would stop

It simply amazes me that so many progressives think Jeffords is some kind of deity because he opposed the war and had the brains to leave the Repug party (conviently after supporting chimp's tax cuts for the rich and Ashcroft for A.G.)

We could have 45 Dem seats right now if people woke up and ran a REAL Democrat in a solidly Dem state, instead of settling for a "free agent" with zero clout who's main purpose seems to be writing books promoting his "independance".

As for the best Senate duo, I'm going with Corzine and Lautenberg. Honorable mention to Rockefeller and Byrd.

[genius]

24. You're probably right about the best.

[Serial Mom]

28. WI - Feingold and Kohl - 2 Dems - Neighbor of your best, IL

The Great Midwest!

[WI_DEM]

30. Leahy-Jeffords. Too early to say about Obama, has yet to serve

but I do have high hopes for him. I think the best is Leahy-Jeffords of Vermont.

The worst is Bunning and McConnell, imo.

[comsymp]

33. Wait til next year. The NC delegation will be a top contender

for worst.

Queen Elizabeth and Richard Burr- definitely a duo to watch!

[Misskittycat]

34. I've always really liked Jay Rockefeller. eom

[cyn2]

36. Biden is a good one.

And, who's that guy from CA who just married the young naked wife? He would be on my worst list....Dana Rohrbach.

I'd have to argue against Lindsey Graham being on the worst list. I think he did some corageous things this past year with regard to Abu Greb.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

37. "Enlightened Nationalism" Biden?

Yeah, right.

[Athletic Grrl]

66. Rohrbacher isn't a Senator...

...and never will be if I have any say in the matter. :puke:

[Hippo_Tron]

46. Nobody mentioned Hawaii

Best: New Jersey Crozine-Lautenberg

Close seconds: Hawaii Inoue-Akaka, Vermont Leahy-Jeffords, Massachusetts Kennedy-Kerry, Michigan Levin-Stabenow, Illinois Durbin-Obama
Other honorable mentions: California Feinstein-Boxer, Wisconsin Kohl-Feingold, North Dakota Conrad-Dorgan.

Worst: Oklahoma Coburn-Inhofe
Close seconds: South Carolina Graham-DeMint, Utah Hatch-Bennett, Tennesee Cat killer-Alexander, Georgia Chambliss-Isakson, Pennsylvania Man on Dog-Specter, Texas Man on Turtle-Hutchinson.

[NoPasaran]

49. Man-on-Turtle is Cornyn

Right state, wrong senator

[Hippo_Tron]

60. I meant Man-On-Turtle AND Hutchinson were senators from Texas

Not that Hutchinson was Man on Turtle (Belive me, I've seen that Daily Show Episode 2 or 3 times).

[Chicago Democrat]

52. Go Durbin! Go Obama!!!

Illinois! Illinois!! Liberal Land! Land of Gay Lincoln!

[Withywindle]

63. Hear hear!

and, here here.


Also wanted to point out that, of the three African-American Senators who have served since Reconstruction (shameful number though that is), TWO of them, including the only woman, were/are from Illinois.

[alcuno]

68. I agree. IL Dems are liberal but carry the torch for "mid-west values."

Northeastern liberals are not able to connect the way that those in the mid-west can. It's geographical location.

[zacho]

56. Vermont

is the best duo (and the best state)

Oklahoma comes in last and Texas is next to last in terms of Senators.

[fujiyama]

65. Best: (I have a few choices here)

WI: Feingold and Kohl (Don't know enough about Kohl, but Feingold kicks ass!)

MI: Levin and Stabenaw (Yeah, this is where I'm proud of my state! I'm disappointed more people here haven't listed them. Their records are much better than Hillary or Schumer, both voted against the war, against the recent budget, I can't complain too much.)

IL: Obama and Durbin (Durbin is great. Obama shows promise)

NJ: Lautenburg and Corzine (I think these two are great.)

Worst: The OP is absolutely correct. Nothing beat OK's senate delegation. What a bunch of nutjobs.

But I see you forgot GA! Saxby Chambliss and that new repuke (Isakson)...haha, for now it's still traitor Zell Miller though...

Others: Utah, Idaho, MS, AL, MO, TX God, I could go on and on...Most of the states that have two repukes...PA's is pretty bad as well.

Another category, most disappointing:

NY's Shumer and Clinton. Decent, but they've backed too much of Bush's corporate agenda.

CA's Feinstein (Boxer is good though).

CT (We all know which senator is from there), though I'd say Dodd is much better.

[autorank]

72. Allow me to offer VIRGINIA for WORST: They know better.

They're not as vile or stupid as OK, but they're worse. Why? Because they're both reasonably intelligent individuals and should know better than to support *.