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   Dan Savage, the brilliant and foul-mouthed sex columnist, has become one of the most important ethicists in America. Are we screwed?
 The federal government is supposed to issue new rules about debt levels for students in for-profit colleges. In the meantime, the states are working on their own regulations.
 Washingtons budget hawks want to decimate the federal workforce to shrink the deficit. It will have the opposite effect.
 There arent nearly enough counterterrorism experts to instruct all of Americas police. So we got these guys instead.
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February 3, 2010
REPUBLICANS FIND THEIR COATS.... Republican leaders in D.C. and Indiana have been working overtime to find a credible challenger for Sen. Evan Bayh (D). In recent weeks, the two most credible opponents -- Rep. Mike Pence and Indiana Secretary of State Todd Rokita -- announced they would skip the race. Today, however, the GOP appears to have landed a strong recruit.
Today's announcement wasn't a formal campaign kick-off, and Coats said he merely intends to "test the waters." But it seems unlikely that Coats would launch this committee unless he fully intends to run. At least on paper, the Republican seems to be a credible challenger. Coats held this exact same Senate seat for a decade, before retiring 12 years ago and seeing Bayh succeed him. He also served in the Bush administration as the U.S. ambassador to Germany. But I think it's fair to say Coats faces an uphill climb, and not just because Bayh is a relatively popular incumbent with a whole lot of money in the campaign coffers. First, Coats, after returning from Germany, became a corporate lobbyist in D.C., representing, among other clients, Bank of America. Given that neither banks nor lobbyists are held in especially high regard right now, Coats represents a tough-sell to Hoosiers. Second, Coats represented Indiana in Congress for many years, but he doesn't live or own a home in the state. He's not even registered to vote in Indiana, and at present, couldn't even vote for himself. In fact, Coats lives inside the beltway -- as many corporate lobbyists do -- and has voted in Virginia since 2000. Democratic National Committee Press Secretary Hari Sevugan said in a statement, "Dan Coats is a Washington lobbyist for the banking industry, who lives inside the beltway, and is registered to vote on the east coast. Sounds like a great candidate for the heartland. Was Jack Abramoff not available?" Ouch. Let's also not forget that Coats' congressional career wasn't exactly sterling. He is perhaps best known for criticizing President Clinton for his efforts to kill Osama bin Laden in 1998. In the larger context, Coats probably wouldn't even consider a race against Bayh unless he was convinced this is a strong year for Republicans. And it may be. But given Coats' background, profession, and residence, Bayh probably isn't panicking right now. —Steve Benen 1:55 PM Permalink | Trackbacks | Comments (28)
Comments
Um, am I the only one who maybe wouldn't mind it too terribly much if Bayh lost? At least we'd know where we stand with Coats and wouldn't have to put up with Bayh's grandstanding and finger-wagging at his own party. Posted by: Anonymous on February 3, 2010 at 2:01 PM | PERMALINKCoats, the banking industry lobbyist, vs Bayh, the healthcare industry lobbyist. *Sigh* Posted by: bookworm on February 3, 2010 at 2:03 PM | PERMALINKwho needs abramoff when your choice is bayh or coats? sounds like "the heartland" hasn't exactly been represented in the clown car senate for a long long long time... Posted by: neill on February 3, 2010 at 2:10 PM | PERMALINKAnd thanks to the Supreme Court, it won't be in the foreseeable future. Posted by: dalloway on February 3, 2010 at 2:11 PM | PERMALINKWe must find a strong progressive candidate to primary against Bayh. Coats will win hands down in a head to head with Bayh, so to get out the democratic vote in that state we MUST run an unapologetic progressive with cajones. Posted by: citizen_pain on February 3, 2010 at 2:14 PM | PERMALINKOh gee! Another carpetbagger rethuglican. How original. Posted by: buddym on February 3, 2010 at 2:15 PM | PERMALINKthats some great oppo research on Coats. too bad Bayh can't use any of it without painting himself and his wife with the same tar-covered brush. Posted by: zeitgeist on February 3, 2010 at 2:20 PM | PERMALINKIt would be way cooler if Dan Quayle moved back to Indiana and ran for something. Just sayin'. Posted by: howie on February 3, 2010 at 2:25 PM | PERMALINK"Bayh probably isn't panicking right now" Umm... Scott Brown. Not saying he needs to panic but he better damned well pay attention and be sure to campaign like his job depends on it. Posted by: LGRooney on February 3, 2010 at 2:26 PM | PERMALINKI seriously doubt that Coats can win the Repub primary, it's teabagger central these days. While he doesn't exceed the maximum IQ requirement, he'll get killed as a Washington insider. That quote in your post is only the beginning, he'll be Crist-ed. Cristified? Not that I care a bit whether Bayh loses. Posted by: Allan Snyder on February 3, 2010 at 2:28 PM | PERMALINKdoes coats still sport that ridiculous combover ??? Posted by: comb over on February 3, 2010 at 2:31 PM | PERMALINKWere Coats to defeat Bayh would we even notice any difference in the Senate? Posted by: ckelly on February 3, 2010 at 2:35 PM | PERMALINK
Thank god I no longer live in Indiana. I'm committed to not voting for Republicans until at least 2016 and I would have been tempted to vote against Bayh just on general principle. I think the "At least we would know where we stand with Coats" comment applies. Also the lobbyist comment... Bayh is a waste of space in the Senate for everyone but Bayh. Posted by: C-Red on February 3, 2010 at 2:44 PM | PERMALINKREPUBLICANS FIND THEIR COATS: Now if we can just hand them their hats, perhaps they will leave? Posted by: KenInTenn on February 3, 2010 at 2:45 PM | PERMALINK"He is perhaps best known for criticizing President Clinton for his efforts to kill Osama bin Laden in 1998." Is it correct to say that most liberals are supporters of extra-judicial assassinations? (Or is Mr. Benen in the minority here?) The missiles fired into Afghanistan and Sudan were 12 days after the African embassy bombings. At the time many were not yet convinced of the government's assertions of responsibility. Posted by: flubber on February 3, 2010 at 3:04 PM | PERMALINKcitizen_pain is full of crap to say that Coats would defeat Bayh 'hands down'. There is an age old (about 5 minutes old) saying about politics: Money talks and knowledge & truth walk! Never mind that neither Coats or Bayh would have integrity, knowledge, or truth. Bayh has the money, honey. $13+M and many millions more if needed. In our brave new world of Citizens United (Not Timid) vs FEC, money rules! I fully expect there to continue to be a '2 party' system so that the corporate and wealthy interests can maintain the pretense of a democracy. Bayh is fully owned by corporate/wealthy interests and they will continue to fund him. Nobody will come close to the amount that he can/will spend to keep the senate seat and he is a good example of corporate interests keeping democrats around, as long as they remember who bought and paid for them. Posted by: SadOldVet on February 3, 2010 at 3:05 PM | PERMALINKIt's hard to believe that Indiana is north of the Mason Dixon line. Posted by: JW on February 3, 2010 at 3:34 PM | PERMALINKIndiana is north of the Mason Dixon line only in a geographic sense. Indianapolis is just south of the birthplace of the John Birch Society. The Indiana Historical Society has the KKK membership roles for the early 1930's. During that time, more than 60% of white males belonged to the KKK. Not that much has changed, it is just only slightly more subtle. Posted by: SadOldVet on February 3, 2010 at 3:51 PM | PERMALINKWhy do they want to run a Republican against Bayh, he's already a model Republican! Posted by: Trollop on February 3, 2010 at 4:44 PM | PERMALINKCome everybody Let's start a
Typical move by the NRSC. Instead of helping a candidate who could run a competitive race against Bayh on the war issue like John Hostettler (he's a against it and one of the few Republicans consistently against our Empire), they'd rather dig up Dan Coates tired old bones conviently forgetting Coats has always been a servant of the state. That's why he lives in theBeltway and not Indiana. It's pathetic. Posted by: Sean Scallon on February 4, 2010 at 1:49 AM | PERMALINKCan I just say that I love Hari Sevugan? He always has the snarkiest "official statements." I'm overdue for a visit to DC to visit my mom, and I would love to buy that guy a beer. Posted by: hamletta on February 4, 2010 at 2:59 AM | PERMALINKThe real candidate in the US Senate race in Indiana! Check out state Sen. Marlin Stutzman a true Patriot who has constantly fought for the people of Indiana. http://www.gomarlin.com/ Recent video on Marlin Stutzman: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D94Y3aV9_7Y Posted by: Hoosier on February 4, 2010 at 8:09 AM | PERMALINKThe Indiana Tea Baggers will choose Hostettler over Coats. Posted by: Al on February 8, 2010 at 1:07 AM | PERMALINKQqdwqdsaas ascaassc fdrewe: Post a comment
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