FOURTEEN SENATE DEMOCRATS joined all but one Senate Republican in confirming Rep. Mike Pompeo as the new CIA director on Monday evening, failing a crucial first test of whether Democrats would present a united front to defend human rights and civil liberties in the Trump era.Possibly they didn't think this was a big test on human rights and civil liberties. Maybe they thought they were voting to confirm a guy they've all known for years, thus shifting him from one place of power and responsibility in the government to another.
Maybe That's Not What They Thought They Were Doing
The Intercept:
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Those Democrat partisans who believe that they will be able to get all Democrats to vote against confirmation of Trump nominees forget the factor of upcoming elections. There were a number of blue dog Democrats who found out that voting straight party line for Obama was a factor in their not getting reelected in 2010, and future years. Similarly voting straight party line against Trump may not assist some Democrats who will be facing reelection in 2018.
Surprisingly enough, this may even be the case in Democrat stronghold Massachusetts, WBUR Poll: Republican Gov. Baker More Popular Than Democrat Sen. Warren.
Over four years in office, Elizabeth Warren has staked her claim as the Senate's liberal lion. And many Massachusetts voters like it — 51 percent view her favorably.
But according to a new WBUR poll, only 44 percent think Warren "deserves reelection." Forty-six percent think voters ought to "give someone else a chance."...
Warren’s numbers contrast sharply with those of Gov. Charlie Baker. His favorability rating is 59 percent — 8 points better than Warren. But what’s more striking is that only 29 percent of poll respondents think someone else should get a chance at the governor’s office.
How could the state’s top Republican be more popular than its top Democrat? Steve Koczela says it’s about bipartisanship.
"When you look at Elizabeth Warren's favorables, only 12 percent of Republicans have a favorable view of her," Koczela said. "When you look at Baker, 60 percent of Democrats view him favorably. So he has bipartisan appeal where Elizabeth Warren really never has.”
It appears that even in Massachusetts, fiercely partisan Democrats such as Chief Warren may be having a problem in 2018.
Rand Paul voted no. These Democrats voted yes:
Joe Donnelly of Indiana
Dianne Feinstein of California
Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire
Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota
Tim Kaine of Virginia
Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota
Joe Manchin of West Virginia
Claire McCaskill of Missouri
Jack Reed of Rhode Island
Brian Schatz of Hawaii
Chuck Schumer of New York
Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire
Mark Warner of Virginia
Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island
Heh. Tim Kaine, eh? Hillary's VP nod? That's gotta sting.
And Schumer!
By coincidence, here's a list from the Daily Signal of Senate Dems facing tough re-election fights in 2018, in states that Trump won or narrowly lost:
Donnelly (check)
Tester (Montana)
Manchin (check)
McCaskill (check)
Heitkamp (check)
Nelson (check)
Casey (Penn.)
Sherrod Brown
Stabenow (Mich.)
Baldwin (Wisc.)
Kaine (check)
Klobucher (check)
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