Senate Earmark Ban: GOP Hall of Shame

This is old news now, since it happened while I was on vacation, but it deserves a post all the same. On Tuesday, Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) brought a ban on earmarks to the floor of the United States Senate; the proposal failed 39-56, with 8 Republicans voting against it (with the majority of Democrats) and 7 Democrats voting for it (with the majority of Republicans).

Republicans in the House have already pledged to ban earmarks, and the Senate GOP has adopted a "voluntary" ban on earmarks within the caucus, and yet, in spite of the tremendous public outcry over earmarks and the need for Republicans to finally "get it", eight GOP senators decided to thwart the will of the people, and voted with the liberals.

Here is the Senate Republicans Hall of Shame from this vote:

Bob Bennett (R-UT)

Lost re-election this year

 Dick Lugar (R-IN)

Up for re-election in 2012

 George Voinovich (R-OH)

Did not run for re-election

 Jim Inhofe (R-OK)

Up for re-election in 2014

Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)

Lost re-election in 2010 primary, presumed general election victor as write-in

 Richard Shelby (R-AL)

Won re-election this year

 Susan Collins (R-ME)

Up for re-election in 2014

Thad Cochran (R-MS)

Up for re-election in 2014

The following Democrats supported Coburn's earmark ban: Evan Bayh (D-IN), Russ Feingold (D-WI), Claire McCaskill (D-MO), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Bill Belson (D-FL), Mark Udall (D-CO) and Mark Warner (D-VA). Bayh did not run for re-election, and Feingold lost his re-election bid.

Senators Kit Bond (R-MO), Sam Brownback (R-KS), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) missed the vote.

Unbelievable: Murkowski keeps GOP leadership post

After Senate GOP leaders like Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and John Cornyn (R-TX) said that Lisa Murkowski (R?-AK) would likely be stripped of her ranking membership on the Energy and Natural Resources committee, since she is now running as a write-in candidate against Alaska Republican senatorial nominee Joe Miller (who defeated Murkowski in the primary)...

... they decided to let her keep the post.

As Michelle Malkin said, another head-banging-against-the-wall moment for the still-don't-get-it GOP leadership.

Murkowski Launches Write-In Candidacy

Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski, who was defeated by Tea Party-backed Joe Miller in the GOP primary on August 24th, announced this evening that she will continue her campaign as a write-in candidate.

After losing to Miller, Murkowski had three options. One - accept the primary results; two - persuade the Libertarian Party to remove their candidate, and replace him with her; or three - run as a write-in.

At her announcement rally, she gave this gem of a quote:

"Today my friends, my campaign for Alaska's future begins. I announce today I will be a write-in candidate for the United States Senate seat I now hold. The easier route for me personally would be to accept the results of this primary and put me and my family first, and I gave that very serious consideration. ... But I looked into my heart, and I said, 'where is my heart,' and my heart is Alaska. I cannot leave you. ... I listened to Alaskans who said, 'Lisa, please give us that choice. We cannot accept the extremist views of Joe Miller.'"

With Murkowski back in the picture, the Democrats chances at taking the seat go from non-existent to a small potential. Miller and Murkowski could split enough of the GOP vote for Democrat Scott McAdams, although it is still unlikely, as polls show Miller and Murkowski far ahead of McAdams (one poll showed Miller in the lead, another showed Murkowski).

Murkowski is in a predicament, though. No one has won a write-in candidacy for Senate since Strom Thurmond did in 1954. Winning anything as a write-in - especially with a difficult name - is a huge hurdle.

Polling a race like this, also, is a problem. You can't simply name Miller, McAdams and Murkowski when polling - because Murkowski will not be on the ballot. You would have to say Miller, McAdams, and "someone else", and if the individual said "someone else", then ask Murkowski (and others) in order to more accurately simulate the actual ballot.

Murkowski has resigned her Senate GOP leadership position, following pressure from fellow Republican Senators.

I'm with Erick Erickson of RedState.com - "Is there anyone in Alaska named Murlowski? Can we get that guy to run as a write-in candidate?"