How A Topsy-Turvy Political World Got Turned Upside Down Again Link Directly To: CASH RIVER All Of A Sudden, The Future Of Big, Contentious Bills, Like Health Care And Climate Change, Is Up In The Air. Will The White House Hit The ‘Reset’ Button? SARA WYANT publicans also seized the Senate, picking up WASHINGTON, D.C. eight seats and Alabama Democrat Richard few weeks ago, most De - Shelby switched parties to become a Republi - SYNGENTA mocrats and even many can. Link Directly To: Republicans would have Berry suggests that there are strong similari - sAcoffed at the notion that a lit - ties to that period of time. tle-known Republican state “There has not been this much turmoil in senator from Massachusetts Arkansas politics in a long time,” Berry told could win a U.S. Senate seat Agri-Pulse. “I would be afraid to predict any - held for almost half a century thing. In the next few months, you could see all by the late Ted Kennedy. Even kinds of stuff coming down the pike.” more unimaginable: the Democrats’ filibuster Of course, Democrats aren’t the only ones in proof 60-vote majority in the U. S. Senate would hot water with voters, creating concerns that all disappear. incumbents up for re-election in 2010 could be But despite a whirlwind of last minute get-out- in jeopardy. Even though approval ratings for the-vote activity in the “deep blue” Democratic the President and Democratic leaders are at ex - state, Scott Brown beat Attorney General and tremely low levels, GOP lawmakers don’t fair Democratic candidate Martha Coakley by an much better. They would need to pick up 41 amazing 52 to 47 margin. Just one year ago, seats in the House to regain a majority. President Obama carried that same state by 26 So what’s ahead? points. Some have called it, “the Scott heard With all of this turmoil, what can you expect round the world.” in 2010? If the health care bill isn’t dead, the So what does an East Coast election have to current version is certainly on life support. The do with the future of agriculture in the High best bet for revival could come from conserva - Plains or the Delta region? All of a sudden, the tive “Blue Dog” Democrats like Berry and Mike future of big contentious bills, like health care Ross (D-AR) who have often been able to work and cap-and-trade climate legislation, is up in with Republicans. Berry is expected to offer a the air. And several Democrats, fearing a tide of scaled down health care bill that tries to correct angry voters, not unlike they witnessed in 1994 the nation’s biggest health care problems, like when a “Republican Revolution” won back the dealing with pre-existing conditions, without majorities in both the House and the Senate, taking an axe to the current system. have decided that retirement looks better than a Cap and trade legislation also seems destined re-election fight. Will history repeat itself? for retooling, perhaps in favor of a much History as a guide broader energy bill focused on job creation. Historically, the party in control of the White “We will likely not do climate change this year, House loses seats during a mid-term election. It but will do an energy bill instead,” emphasized doesn’t matter if the President is a Democrat or Sen. Byron Dorgan during a recent speech. The Republican. But it is the extent of the expected North Dakota Democrat says he supports “fuel political losses that have political pundits blog - economy standard increases, moving toward ging and twittering away, especially in states electric drive transportation systems, renewable that have historically elected conservative De - energy production, modern transmission grid, mocrats. conservation, and efficiency” as part of U.S. en - “Where there is trouble in Massachusetts, ergy policy. there is trouble everywhere and they know it,” Dorgan’s assessment is that “in the aftermath Brown told cheering supporters after his elec - of a very, very heavy lift on health care, I think tion victory. And GOP challengers around the it is unlikely that the Senate will turn next to country wasted no time piling on to that mes - the very complicated and very controversial sage. In Arkansas, one of the leading GOP can - subject of cap-and-trade climate change kind of didates poised to challenge Senate Agriculture legislation.” Committee Chairman Blanche Lincoln (D-AR), Fight, fight, fight issued a statement about how the political Several Democratic party members expect the winds are changing. president to learn from the recent elections and “Blanche Lincoln should look at this and real - hit the “reset” button on his far-reaching ize if Democrats can’t win in Massachusetts, agenda. Independent voters are fleeing their she can’t win in Arkansas,” emphasized U.S. party in droves. To get them back in the fold and Senate Candidate Sen. Gilbert Baker. The most re-energized, they expect him to move more to - recent Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of ward the middle, focusing on bread and butter likely voters in Arkansas shows Lincoln’s sup - issues like jobs and the economy, just as Bill port for reelection at 38% or 39% no matter Clinton did after the Republican takeover of the which of four potential Republican challengers House and Senate in 1994. she is matched against. Yet, many other Democrats are pushing Pres - Facing strong political headwinds, the list of ident Obama to charge ahead with a very liberal those who would rather retire than fight for re- agenda – despite the recent Senate loss in Mas - election appears to be growing. Long-time Sen - sachusetts, and losses in gubernatorial races in ators like North Dakota’s Byron Dorgan and New Jersey and Virginia last fall. It’s now or Connecticut’s Chris Dodd decided to throw in never, they reason, and if Democrats lose their the towel this year. majorities in 2010 it will be impossible to pass In the House of Representatives, four moder - health care reform the following year. They want ate Democrats already announced plans to step a fight to the finish, even if there is barely any - down. This week, seven-term Congressman one left to take credit. Marion Berry became the 2nd House Democrat With all of these different voices within the from Arkansas to announce his plan to retire Democratic party, the White House has been rather than run for re-election in 2010. The life - scrambling to develop the best political path for - long farmer, who served as President Bill Clin - ward, a job akin to tiptoeing through a mine - ton’s agricultural advisor, was first elected to field. And watching the debate unfold will be the U.S. House of Representatives in 1996. new Senator Scott Brown, undoubtedly smiling Berry says he still can’t get 1994 out of his about how a little-known state senator, could mind, the year when Republicans gained 54 cause such turmoil. ∆ seats in the House of Representatives, sweeping SARA WYANT: Publisher weekly e-newsletter, to power there for the first time since 1954. Re - AgriPulse.