Tuesday editorial: Terms of endearment
In the latest CBS/New York Times poll, only 12 percent of the American public approved of the way Congress was doing its job.
Nevertheless, come Nov. 4, 95 percent or more of U.S. House incumbents seeking reelection are expected to keep their jobs. Senate seats are a little tougher to hold onto, although most of the incumbent senators seeking reelection this fall are expected to be reelected, too.
There are plenty of reasons for the dichotomy between job approval and reelection rates, particularly in the House. The boundaries of House districts shift every 10 years (more frequently in Texas), and Democrats and Republicans often cooperate to keep their respective incumbents safe.
Incumbents also have built-in advantages of name recognition, the disbursal of federal pork projects and in fundraising. In the five House races in the bistate area in which incumbents are running, they hold a 22 to 1 fundraising advantage over their challengers.
Still, if you’d like to hold your congressional delegation accountable, here are our recommendations in the races in the St. Louis metro area:
U.S. SENATE — ILLINOIS
Incumbent Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin of Springfield is seeking a third six-year term and deserves it. He has built a solidly progressive record in the Senate, where he is a leader on consumer product safety, veterans issues and international hunger programs. He opposed the war in Iraq from the start. As assistant majority leader, he has been a prominent critic of Bush administration policies.
His Republican opponent, Steve Sauerberg, is a political newcomer, a family physician from Willowbrook in suburban Chicago. Dr. Sauerberg supports lower taxes and less government spending but would be totally out of his depth in the Senate.
U.S. HOUSE — ILLINOIS
Both Metro East incumbents, Democrat Jerry F. Costello of Belleville and Republican John M. Shimkus of Collinsville, face token opposition from 27-year-old newcomers. Mr. Costello drew Republican Tim J. Richardson Jr., of Lebanon, while Mr. Shimkus is opposed by Democrat Daniel Paul Davis of Springfield. Neither challenger has made a strong case for himself.
U.S. HOUSE — MISSOURI
Most of the residents of the Missouri side of the metro area live either in the first, second or third U.S. House districts; those who live in western St. Charles and Franklin counties live in the ninth district, and they’re the only Missourians assured of electing a new representative to Congress.
In the Ninth District, incumbent Republican Kenny Hulshof gave up an all-but-sure shot at reelection to run for governor. Former state Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer, 56, of St. Elizabeth emerged from a five-way GOP primary and has raised more than $1 million for his bid. Mr. Luetkemeyer, a banker, insurance broker and farmer, is a staunch economic and social conservative. He blames the nation’s problems on the “failed liberal leadership” of a “broken Congress.”
Democratic state Rep. Judy Baker, 48, of Columbia, who defeated three candidates to win her primary, has far more progressive ideas, to say nothing of a deeper understanding of the real problems facing Missouri and the nation. She is a health care executive who could become a leader in the national debate over health care reform. She showed an ability in the Legislature to work across party lines. Judy Baker’s intelligence and independence make her the choice in the Ninth District.
In the First District, only Libertarian Robb E. Cunningham stands between incumbent Democrat William Lacy Clay Jr., 52, and a fifth term. In the Second District, incumbent Republican Todd Akin, 61, is seeking a fifth term against Bill Haas, 64, a former member of the St. Louis School Board. And in the Third District, incumbent Russ Carnahan, 50, is seeking a third term against Republican businessman Chris Sander, 40.
None of the challengers has raised enough money to conduct a viable race. All three incumbents probably will be reelected. In the case of Mr. Clay and Mr. Carnahan, that’s for the good. Mr. Akin is a pleasant man whose views are extreme even by normal conservative West County standards. But Mr. Haas, who lives in the city and is a perennial candidate for mayor, is not a creditable alternative.
This is a disservice to St Louisans. Not even a brief outline of ideals for any of the candidates. And the PD wonders why they don’t have any readers left. They have abandoned any coverage of local politics.
These people are actually are representatives. We don’t even vote for the president (rather we select electors who then vote for president) and look at all the press they get. And you can’t even come up with a single decent article about Carnahan and Sanders — for a congressional seat that was decided by a couple percentage points just four years ago.
This is a pathetic editorial.
First, I would like to thank you for another transparently disengenuous and hypocritical editorial. This is the first endorsement editorial that mentions the “m” word - money. Probably the only GOP candidate that has raised more money than his/her Dem opponent and you felt the need to mention how much Luetkemeyer raised, but of course not Jay Nixon or Obama outraising their opponents.
Also I was curious why you didn’t bother to mention that those getting kicked out of the most incompetent Democrat-led Congress in history are the remaining GOP candidates and not any of the Democrat candidates. Explain that one if you will or the difference in coverage by the MSM media regarding the Mahoney congressman that ran on moral values against Foley two years ago, now facing his own moral challenges. Where is Keith Olbermoron on this one?
I am also curious why you did not hi-light Todd’s Akin’s name since you lamely endorsed him as you highlighted all the Democrat’s you endorsed?
The editorial page’s work has sunk to comedic at best.
Eddie would have liked this video if these idiots were protesting Obama, but since they are protesting Palin, no one will report it. At least with Obama, he will put these anti-freedom and free speech nutcases to work so they don’t have so much free time to protest.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/10/21/palin.motorcade/#cnnSTCText
What will happen when the Dems take over with the gang of three and our Constitutional rights to free speech, guns, and privary are taken away?
Ever thought about that progressives?
Centrist - Progressives only care about free speech for homosexuals and Gitmo residents. And you are wrong, they did NOT endorse Akin, they attacked him.
As far as Democrats go … yes, they’ll get to stay. In fact, chances are good that even William Jefferson, the congressman from New Orleans whose entire family is likely to be in Club Fed within the next year, will get reelected. But hey, Democrats are for the people!
As far as money goes, yes it sure is interesting that they mention Luetkemeyer’s loot as though it is a bad thing. Yet Obama, who said he’d accept public funding, is a different story. He raised twice as much in September as McCain will have to spend in the entire election. But in Obama’s case, it isn’t dirty, it’s a sign of how strongly Americans support him.
To the St. Louis Post-Dispatch’s editorial board,
Thanks for nothing! That’s not meant sarcastically — the sentiment is genuine.
In three of the four US House races in your newspaper’s circulation area, you endorsed the Democratic candidate. In the remaining district, the 2nd, you made no endorsement … and the only reasonable way to construe that is as a silent endorsement of my own candidacy.
To describe Mr. Haas as “not a creditable alternative” is absurd. Mr. Haas is educated (Yale and Harvard Law), he has political experience (eight years on the St. Louis school board), and any personal difficulties or failings of his which might have played in your deliberations pale next to the Peyton Place stories that roll down from Capitol Hill on a daily basis. Furthermore, Mr. Haas pulled off a genuine upset victory in a five-way primary in which two of his opponents disposed of far more money and at least one of those opponents also had relevant political experience. He won that primary with hard work.
Frankly, given the Post-Dispatch’s strong preference for Democrats, your endorsement of Haas should have been a given.
The only factors I can think of that could conceivably move you to decline to endorse in this race are the fact that there’s a more progressive candidate in it — me — and that that candidate is a Libertarian, the candidate of a party you’re just not ready to endorse.
While I’d rather have an overt endorsement, I’m more than happy to settle for the roar of your silence. Thanks much!
Best regards,
Tom Knapp
Libertarian for US House of Representatives
Missouri, 2nd District.
I was genuinely disappointed in the lack of any substance in the state senate and house representative recommendations. I regret not being able to devote the time to following all of these individuals but I was hopeful that the PD editorial staff would be able to draw from their experience and insight to at least write some thoughtful comments as to why they support a given individual. It’s really a shame that independents like myself that vote the person rather than the party can’t find a reasonably unbiased source of information on the candidates to make an informed vote. Even an unbiased opinion with some substance would be better than nothing - at least then I could make up my mind whether the reasons for supporting the candidate are the ones I agree with. While the 3 questions/answers provided in the voter guide were well selected what was missing was an “our assessment” section challenging the candidates statements, otherwise these might as well be sound bites from a promotional brochure. I hope PD Management will explore opportunities for improvement in providing more useful information in the future.