Rep. Clay Shaw: I might have won if Rumsfeld had left before the election

[sabra]

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-1110shaw,0,3346094.story?coll=sfla-home-headlines

Shaw: I might have won if Rumsfeld had left before the election

Still smarting from the first loss of his 35-year political career, U.S. Rep. Clay Shaw, R-Fort Lauderdale, said Friday morning that if the news about Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's departure had come out before the election, he and many other losing Republicans could have won their re-election bids.

Shaw lost his bid on Tuesday for a 14th term representing Broward and Palm Beach counties as voters nationwide turned over control of Congress to the Democrats.

In an hour-long interview in his Fort Lauderdale office with reporters who covered his campaign, Shaw said if he had thought the Republicans would lose the House, he wouldn't have sought re-election.

He said serving in the minority --- which he did early in his tenure in Congress -- isn't nearly as satisfying as holding a position in the majority party. In the majority, he said, it's possible to get things done.

[niyad]

1. and this is somehow the dems' fault??

[Vox Acerbus]

2. I'm guessing many more might have won too...

I still don't understand why * waited until after the election.

Rummy's resignation on Monday would have changed things, I have no doubt. For the first time I am thrilled at the political tone deafness and stubbornness of this misadministration.

[WI_DEM]

3. Oh boo-hoo

[gratuitous]

9. Yep, call out the whaaa-mbulanc

Mr. Shaw's going to need his nappy changed.

Yeah, being in the minority sucks, Mr. Shaw. Looks like your surviving GOP colleagues are going to have to do a little more persuading and a lot less bulldozing in the new Congress. Oh well, there's always that juicy "consulting" job waiting for you, a sinecure worth hundreds of thousands of dollars a year.

[treestar]

4. This is one of the memes

There was an article about this in my local paper. We have an at large repuke rep. The paper quoted a lady saying she voted for the Democrat instead (and the Democrat in this case lost!) but would have voted for the (winning incumbent) repuke had * fired Rummy before the election!

If the entire election was about Rummy and a referendum on Rummy then * isn't that big a deal as a leader, is he?

Firing Rummy the day before would have been a clear manipulation and the voters already are seeing how they've already been manipulated. More and better manipulation would not have turned people 180 degrees.

[Vox Acerbus]

8. Oh I disagree...

You have a great point, but I think that the most manipulative ones in the electorate (i.e. the readers of the FoxNews ticker who believe everything) are far too stupid. They would have changed their votes, absolutely.

Remember, these are the people who are too dumb to see through Al Qaeda's, "We love the Democrats" strategy. They are incapable of pronouncing, spelling or even understanding the concept of reverse psychology.

That part of the electorate can be led around by the nose so easily, that I totally believe the Rumsfeld resignation would have switched their votes. They are just that stupid.

[Javaman]

5. sorry shaw, but you go to the election with the candidates you have

not the ones you want.

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

WHAT A FUCKING TOOL!!!!

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

:ROFL:

[Ferret Annica]

6. This question is going to haunt and bedevil Bush

if he manages to stay in office the next two years. And that couldn't happen to a more deserving character.

[warrens]

7. No, the entire base would have stayed home

That is the ONLY reason they didn't announce it beforehand. If anyone believes Bush saved it to make the elections fair...well, I got a bridge to sell. He would have been perceived as a wimp caving to cut-and-run Democrats and the right would have fileted his ass.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

10. If My Aunt Had A Package She Would Be My Uncle

eom

[we can do it]

11. WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

:crazy:

[LynnTheDem]

12. 2600 US civilians & 2900 US citizens might still be alive if

the US Supreme Court hadn't ignored the USC and appointed george w "blood for oil I don't know where he is and I really don't care" bush.

[ljm2002]

13. The most telling statement IMO...

..."Shaw said if he had thought the Republicans would lose the House, he wouldn't have sought re-election."

Good grief, that's some real commitment right there!

Hopefully many more Republicans think like that, and won't seek re-election in 2008!

[sabra]

14. how about him saying it's only fun when you are the majority?