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TICK! TOCK! TICK! TOCK! TICK! TOCK! BOOM!          
Is This The End For Teapublicans? A Closer Look At Candidates Who May 
                  Unseat Infamous Tea Party Republicans In 2012. By David A. Franklin, Jr.

With only days to go before the most important election in the history of the United States, Tea Party backed Republicans are self-imploding. They are crashing and burning faster than the Hindenburg did. No knowledgeable voter respects them and these voters want to be done with them once and for all. They are a huge part of the gridlock in Washington, D.C. today. I refuse to waste precious space on my blog writing about Tea Party Republicans. Instead, I will focus on their worthy opponents who maybe spoilers. Every sensable voter would love to see these following candidates win on November 6th, 2012. I hope you enjoy the read? Here goes!
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Jim Graves (DEMOCRAT)
Minnesota - 6th Congressional District

Opponent          Rep. Michele Bachmann (Republican) 
                        Assumed office January 3, 2007           
 Websites          http://jimgraves.com/ 
                         https://www.facebook.com/JimGravesforCongress
                         http://www.youtube.com/user/jimgravesforcongress

What can one say about the self-made businessman and success story Jim Graves? He has an excellent chance of retiring unpopular Congresswoman Michele Bachmann who is the epitomey of what is wrong with the U.S. Congress today. Jim Graves on the other hand shows dignity, integrity, poise and good old fashioned common sense. Good grace and class is something one is born with. He has it in abundance unlike his "fly off the handle" extremist opponent, Mrs. Bachmann. 

"Minnesota's sixth district deserves a smart, compassionate, business-savvy congressperson who will fight full-time to create livable-wage jobs and strengthen the economy, ensuring a strong middle class and improving the lives of everyone." - Jim Graves http://youtu.be/fE26R3ZrnO0 

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Patrick Erin Murphy (DEMOCRAT)
Florida - 22nd Congressional District

Opponent              Rep. Allen West (Republican) Assumed office January 3, 2010
Websites              http://patrickmurphy2012.com                            
                            http://www.youtube.com/user/pmurphyforcongress
                            https://www.facebook.com/PatrickMurphyforCongress
 
"I’m a Pro-Choice, Pro-LGBT rights Democrat who values fiscal responsibility. I support the Affordable Care Act, Medicare and favors higher taxes on the wealthy." – Patrick Erin Murphy http://youtu.be/X2W3oKLEQD8

Young Patrick Erin Murphy is ambitious, bright, energetic, enthusiastic, and tenacious and has openly expressed his disdain of the Tea Party Movement. On many occasions he has called out his opponent, Rep. Allen West, for giving false and misleading statements. West has shown his incompitence and irrationality on a national stage which is humiliating for my beloved State of Florida. So, with no reservation nor hestitation, I would love to see Patrick Murphy in Congress. He will bring a freshness to Congress with intelligence and compitence. Murphy is definately a rising star on the national level. He has a bright political future indeed. 

Murphy is a hard worker who never shuns his responsibilities. He is for a stronger middle class and for cutting taxes for working families in his district. Whatever he sets out to do, he always gets the job done. Latest polls show him ahead of his opponent by a wide margin. There is no stopping this juggernaut as he is on his way to unseat controversial and the very unpopular Rep. Allen West. 

His star can only rise higher. All Florida, especially District 22, should be proud. Keep your eye on him America! This "kid" is going places.

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U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill (DEMOCRAT)
MISSOURI
Opponent   Rep. Todd Akin (Republican–District 2–Missouri) 
                 Assumed office January 3, 2001
Websites     www.mccaskill.senate.gov 
                   http://clairemccaskill.com (campaign)                     
                   http://www.youtube.com/user/clairemccaskill2012

Take a bow madam. I mean that, take a bow. You have been immense, colossal. Ever confident and always a lady, Senator Claire McCaskill, has shown grace and dignity under pressure. You show exuberance in doing your job representing the great State of Missouri in the United States Senate. 
Prior to defeating incumbent Senator Jim Talent in 2006, she was elected Missouri State Auditor General and served from 1998 to 2002. She has a stellar record in the U.S. Senate and currently holds several key positions on various Committees: 

Senate Committee Assignments:
Armed Services
Commerce, Science & Transportation
Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs
Special Committee on Aging (Chairwoman) 
Impeachment Trail Committee on the articles against Judge G. Thomas Porteous, Jr.

Subcommittees 
Airland and Personnel
Readiness and Management Support
Aviation Operations, Safety and Security
Consumer Affairs, Insurance, and Automotive Safety
Interstate Commerce, Trade and Tourism, ·         
Science, Technology and Innovation
Federal Financial Management
Government Information and International Security
Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations
Ad Hoc Subcommittee on State, Local and Private Sector Preparedness and Integration, 
Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Contracting Oversight (Chairwoman)

Senator McCaskill also served as the Chairwoman of the Select Committee for the Impeachment of Samuel B. Kent, which was disbanded July 22, 2009, after Judge Kent resigned. 

Her opponent, Rep. Todd Akin, is out of his depth and far off the reservation when it comes to representing all Missourians. His vomit inducing outbursts against women shows he lacks respect and proper temperament for the important job as a U.S. Senator. This has caused a backlash and Missouri still sees her in the most favorable light. If I were a betting man, I'd bet all on Claire McCaskill to win re-election to the United States Senate in 2012. Fight for what is right, integrity, hard work and loyalty to those who she represents. That's who Claire McCaskill is in a nutshell. In February 2012, the National Journal ranked her as 50th (out of 100 members in the United Senate) as "Moderate". Not liberal, not conservative. So, it can be said that she has a chip on both shoulders which makes her perfectly even. That's the type of leadership Missouri needs right now.

Missouri does not need a fringe right wing freak who calls student loans "a cancer", who wants to privatize Social Security and turn Medi Care into a voucher program. You deserve better Missouri---and you have that with Senator Claire McCaskill.

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Lieutenant Colonel Tammy Duckworth (Ret.) (DEMOCRAT)
Illinois - 8th Congressional District
Opponent      Rep. Joe Walsh (Republican – District 8) 
                    Assumed office January 3, 2011
Websites       http://www.tammyduckworth.com/                                    
                     https://www.facebook.com/TammyForCongress
                     http://www.youtube.com/user/TammyforCongress?feature=watch 

A legitimate war hero and is all substance, style, and the epitome of the American Dream. Nothing beats a strong woman and when compared to her opponent, Rep. Joe Walsh, there is no comparison. Rep. Joe Walsh is not even worthy to tie her shoes laces to say the least. Her opponent is crass, angry, bitter and a loose-cannon with many personal family "issues". It is alleged that he owes $117,000 in Child Support. That is frowned upon by many voters in the District and around the United States. 

Tammy Duckworth has shown her ability in top flight government leadership (Assistant Secretary of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs in the Department of Veterans Affairs). Duckworth is Pro-Choice, for the Affordable Health Care Act, one of the best known advocates for Veterans Affairs, supported the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006, for Gun Control and is for bringing greater fiscal discipline and accountability to the billions of dollars US is spending on our military efforts. She is beloved in the district she hopes to represent and is definitely a rising bright star in the Democratic Party. Many hope she wins and all indications say she just might pull it off. 

Your moment has arrived---step up Tammy Duckworth. You have earned it! 

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Mary Kathryn "Heidi" Heitkamp (DEMOCRAT)
North Dakota

Opponent      Rep. Rick Berg (Republican-At Large Seat) 
                    Assumed office Juanuary 3, 2011.
Websites     http://heidifornorthdakota.com/                    
                   https://www.facebook.com/HeidiforNorthDakota                          
                   http://www.youtube.com/user/heidifornorthdakota?feature=results_main 

Heidi Heitkamp is a maverick and trailblazer. 

As a wife, mother, sister and daughter-her family, and those closest to her, can vouch that she's hardworking and dedicated to whatever she sets her mind to do.  She has a spine made of titanium it seems? She never backs down from a challenge whether big or small. Voters saw her tanecity when she was Tax Commissioner (1986-1992) and then State Attorney General (19912-2000) for North Dakota. Any normal person would probably fold under the pressure of such high profiled jobs...but not Heidi Heitkamp! 

Her prairie Mid-West down to earth charm, genuine suave and sophistication embodies who she is. That's what makes her such a cool person. Don't make that cool exterior fool you as she has the fire in the belly and guts like no other when it matters most. Now she offers herself up to be the next U.S. Senator from the great State of North Dakota. She offers common sense solutions and, no matter how unpopular it may be at the time, she is willing to take bold steps in doing what's right for all of North Dakota. She always put America first and not special interests. Unlike her opponent, Rep. Rick Berg, whose character is questionable at best. He isn't very upfront and acts very Nixonian. If North Dakota wants meaningful change on Capitol Hill, then the best person is Mary Kathryn "Heidi" Heitkamp. She is strong woman who is just simply amazing.   

Here is an excerpt from her website about who she is:

Big Family in a Small Town
"Heidi Heitkamp learned her North Dakota values of hard work and responsibility growing up in a big family in the small town of Mantador. Her mom was the school cook and custodian, and her dad did all kinds of jobs, from truck driver to seasonal construction.

She says her father taught her the importance of working within the community to get the job done, from building the town VFW hall to putting a public park in Mantador so that every child had a place to play. And she says her mother, who never let the bullies beat up on the little kids in school, taught her to stand up for the little guy and demand fair play.

Heidi brought those small-town values to her career, choosing a life of public service. Today, as a director of the one-of-a-kind Dakota Gasification synfuels plant, she’s a champion for North Dakota’s energy industry. Heidi believes we need to use all of North Dakota’s rich energy resources wisely, creating and keeping high-paying jobs right here. She believes in reducing our dependence on oil from the Mideast and investing in the sustainable, renewable power sources of the future, including harnessing North Dakota’s abundant potential for wind and solar power. And she believes energy companies should do their fair share to build the infrastructure that North Dakota needs to support a thriving energy industry." Source: Official Campaign Website

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Elizabeth Herring-Warren (DEMOCRAT) 
Massachusetts

Opponent    Senator Scott Brown (Republican) 
                  Assumed office February 4, 2011.
Websites    http://www.law.harvard.edu/faculty/directory/index.html?
                   id=82
    
                   http://elizabethwarren.com/ (campaign)                   http://www.youtube.com/user/ElizabethForMA
                   https://www.facebook.com/ElizabethWarren

It is my firm belief that a woman's place is in the House...and U.S. Senate...and ultimately the Oval Office one day as President. Elizabeth Warren is of strong political timber, worthy of such aformentioned jobs. The Democratic nominee for U.S. Senator from Massachusetts is a wife, mother, writer of numerous best-selling books, a Harvard professor and Attorney by profession. 

She is the embodiment of the American Dream. 

She hails from a working class family from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma that struggled to be successful in life. With many obstacles in her way, she persisted against all odds and is an American success story. Women and little girls all around the world should look up to as an inspiration. 

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The word "impossible" can only be found in the dictionary of fools. On a daily basis she proves that the word impossible does not exsist in her vocabulary. 

Elizabeth is proving it yet again by taking on The Establishment Candidate, Senator Scott Brown, and is being successful. Did we expect anything less? She's on her way to uprooting the Teapublican "yesman" in the very progressive State of Massachusetts. Love her or despise her, you can never take away the fact that she is a fighter for what she believes in and what is right. Beloved by many and envied/feared by the 1%, Elizabeth Warren will make a great U.S. Senator. Who knows - maybe she will make an even better President of the United Statess one day! Expect a lot from her as she is bright, enthusiastic and energetic when speaking and working on behalf of "We the People". 

Stay tuned because her star has just begun to rise and shine. Expect more from this wonderful woman in the near and distant future.

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Timothy Michael "Tim" Kaine (DEMOCRAT)
Virginia
Opponent     George Allen (Republican - Former Governor & 
                   Former U.S. Senator)
Websites      http://www.kaineforva.com/
                    http://www.youtube.com/user/kaineforva?
                    feature=results_main                     https://www.facebook.com/timkaine


Notable Jobs Mayor of Richmond (1988-2001), 38th Lieutenant Governor of Virginia (2002-2006), 70th Governor of Virginia (2006-2010) and Chaiman - Democratic National Committee (2009-2011)

Tim Kaine's Political Positions
He is against capital punishment except in circumstances such as the case of the Beltway Sniper John Allen Muhammad. He vetoed eight death-penalty expansion bills and adamantly opposes using the electric chair as an option. 


On gay adoption of children -  is open to adoption statint that judges should make a case-by-case analysis when dealing with adoption and unmarried couples and is open to consideration being made to all couples, regardless of their sexual orientation. 


On abortion as a practicing Roman Catholic, he is privately against abortions for religious reasons. However, he opposes overturning Roe vs. Wade  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roe_v._Wade

         "I strongly support the right of women to make their own health and reproductive 
          decisions and, for that reason, will oppose efforts to weaken or subvert the basic holding 
          of Roe v. Wade." (Source: http://www.kaineforva.com/

Abortion should be treated as an "individual right." Kaine has encouraged policymakers to focus on bringing down the number of abortions by - reducing teen pregnancy through abstinence-focused education. 
- ensuring women's access to health care and contraception and promoting adoption as an alternative
                                   
 Kaine supports some legal restrictions on abortion. Legal restrictions such as:
                                   - requiring parental consent 
                                   - banning partial-birth abortions in cases where the woman's life is NOT at risk.

He is a tested and proven leader. Definately Presidential Timber and worth keeping an eye on for the future.

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U.S. Senator Sherrod C. Brown (DEMOCRAT)
Ohio
Opponent             Josh Mendel (Republican) 48th Treasurer of Ohio (since 2011)
Websites              brown.senate.gov
                            https://www.facebook.com/sherrod?v=wall
                            http://www.youtube.com/user/SherrodBrownOhio 

Notable Jobs:        Ohio House of Representatives (1975-1982), 47th Ohio Secretary of 
                            State (1983-1991) and 13th U.S. Congressional Representative 
                            (1993-2007).

Looking for a stalwart in modern day American politics? Look no further ladies and gentlemen. Sherrod Brown is as assured, skilled and seasoned as they come. The 2011 National Journal Annual Rankings rated him tied for one of eight "Most Liberal" member of the U.S. Congress. He wears that mantra with great pride. He's passionate about the issues, yearns to serve and leads by example. The man is a legend in the making. Cut from the same cloth as Ted Kennedy, George McGovern and Paul Wellstone. Here is a list of what he does as a member of the United States Senate:

Senate Committee Assignments
- Appropriations
- Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry
- Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs
- Veterans' Affairs
- Select Committee on Ethics

Senate Subcommittee Assignments
Energy, Science and Technology
Production, Income Protection and Price Support
Chairman - Hunger, Nutrition and Family Farms 
Chairman - Economic Policy
Housing, Transportation and Community Development
Security and International Trade and Finance
Children and Families
Employment and Workplace Safety

Senator Brown advocates full equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered people. He voted against prohibiting same-sex couples from adopting children in Washington D.C., and received a perfect score from the Human Rights Campaign.On November 30, 2010 Brown made a contribution to the It Gets Better Project from the Senate floor and on December 18, 2010 he voted in favor of the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010.

Brown co-sponsored, with Senator Sam Brownback(R-Kansas), an Amendment to the Food and Drug Administration Amendments Act of 2007. President George W. Bush signed it into law in September of that year. 

Other Important Bills he voted for
- Patience Protection and Affordable Care Act (December 2009)
- Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (March 2010)
- Affordable Care Act of 2010 (Obama Care)
- American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (February 2009): Casted the 60th deciding vote.
- Co-Sponsored Protect-IP Act of 2011 (PIPA)- 2012 NDAA which sparked major controversy over indefinate detention of U.S. citizens. 
- Appropriated funds to combat drug trafficking, reduce Medicaid fraud, assist victims of natural disasters, and fund the  
  Department of Defense (2008)

The latest polls show Senator Brown has a commanding lead against his GOP opponent, Josh Mendel, Ohio State Treasurer. As of October 28, 2012 this is what the latest poll for Ohio Senate looks like:

Candidate                      Statewide  Own Party Support    Favorable/Unfavorable   Not Sure
Sherrod Brown (Democrat)    53%                89%                        47%           44%                9%
Josh Mendel (Republican)     42%                81%                        38%           51%              11%
Source: http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/main/ 

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Christie Vilsack (DEMOCRAT)
Iowa - 4th Congressional District
Opponent   Rep. Steve King (Republican-District 4-Iowa) 
                 Assumed office on January 3, 2003.
Websites    http://www.christievilsackforiowa.com/ (campaign)
                  http://www.facebook.com/ChristieVilsackforIowa
                  http://www.youtube.com/user/christievilsack4iowa

These days, current Agriculture Secretary and former Iowa Governor, Tom Vilsack is simply known as "Christie's husband". She has come out locked and loaded, with all guns blazing against her unpopular and misinformed Teapulican opponent. It does help having been the First Lady of Iowa. 

She continues to be dedicated to higher education having worked as a teacher and Community Organizer. A native of Iowa, Chrisitie Vilsack has the common touch and knows how to reach accross the political isle for compromise. With the toxicity in Washington D.C., who better for the job than her? 

The good people of Iowa have suffered fatigue long enough from Tea Party extremist stupidity. They will make their voices heard, especially women, on Tuesday, November 6, 2012 by electing the former First Lady of Iowa as their Congressional Representative. 

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Rep. Chris Murphy (DEMOCRAT)
Connecticut- 5th Congressional District 
Opponent          Linda McMahon (Republican)
Websites          http://chrismurphy.house.gov/ (Congress)
                        http://www.youtube.com/user/chrismurphyct
                        http://www.chrismurphy.com/ (Campaign)
                        https://www.facebook.com/ChrisMurphyCT

Rep. Chris Murphy has served Connecticut in various capacities. He was elected to the Connecticut State Senate at age 29 representing District 16 (1999-2003), State Legislature in District 81 serving two terms (2003-2007) and District 5 (2007-present).

Today he is running to be the next U.S. Senator from Connecticut. He sponsored a bill to that would subject Supreme Court Justices to the same ethical code that applies to other federal judges. He suggested in 2011 the possibility of an investigation to decide whether Justice Clarence Thomas had committed ethical violations that would justify removing him from office. Murphy proposed making home invasion a federal crime in 2008 after a mother and her 2 daughters were brutally raped and murdered in his District. He opposes the Three Strikes Law. Here is a list of what he does in Congress today:

House Committee Assignments
- Foreign Affairs
- Oversight and Government Reform

House Subcommittee Assignments
- Middle East and South Asia
- Health Care, District of Columbia, Census and the National Archives
- Technology, Information Policy, Intergovernmental Relations and Procurement Reform

Connecticut District 5 should be proud of their Congressional Representative. He makes things look easy and is always dependable in getting the job done correctly. That's what is needed in the U.S. Senate today. If you want a visionary leader who makes it his duty to work with people on the opposite side of the political isle? Then Rep. Chris Murphy is a man for all people. He's a great Congressman and he will make an even better U.S. Senator. What greater reward is worthy of this patriot other than a U.S. Senate seat? Chris Murphy is deserving of it and so much more. Connecticut won't regret it.                          


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Rep. Joseph "Joe" S. Donnelly (DEMOCRAT)
Indiana - 2nd Congressional District

Opponent  Richard "Dick" Mourdock (Republican)
Websites   http://www.joeforindiana.com/ 
                 http://www.facebook.com/pages/Congressman-Joe-Donnelly/
                 http://www.youtube.com/user/joeforindiana
                 http://donnelly.house.gov

Cool, calm and collected best describes Rep. Joe Donnelly. Regarded as a moderate, he is a rarity in Indiana and in the total body politic of America today. He brings this uniqueness to Congress trying to break the gridlock that currently ensnears the once respected American Institution. 

He is a breath of fresh air who respects women, loves America and is a devouted family man. He is pragmatic and thought provoking. His every move is deliberate and motivated by making America and Indiana be a better place. He is for a stronger the Middle Class. He wants to save (and create) more American Jobs from being outsourced. He is for cutting taxes, job training, strengthening education, balancing the Federal Budget and having a more efficient government where the majority in Indiana benefit. Rep. Donnelly is definately not for the 1%. Here is a run down of his roll as a Congressman:  
Committee Assignments
- Financial Services
- Veterans' Affairs

Subcommittee Assignments
- Capital Markets, Insurance, and Government-Sponsored Enterprises
- International Monetary Policy and Trade
- Health
- Oversight and Investigations (Ranking Member)

Donnelly is a member of Blue Dog Coalition, a group of moderate Democrats in Congress. In June 2007, Rep. Donnelly was ranked as one of the ten most independent Democrats by the non-partisan Congressional Quarterly report. He often times broke away from the Democratic Leadership as it pertained to budgetary issues.  

His opponent, Dick Mourdoch, is for tax breaks for big Oil Companies and Wall Street. Mourdoch only pays lip service by pandering to anyone who will listen. It is safe to say that Mourdoch suffers from "Romnesia". Mourdoch has selective memory, speak first then think after the fact. Not giving proper thought to the sensabilities and needs of the Indiana voter. A perfect example of Mourdoch pandering was when he made the assinine "God intended" statement on rape: 

"I struggled with it myself for a long time, but I came to realize life is that gift from God. And I think even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape, that it is something that God intended to happen." 
~Richard Mourdoch - 2012 Republican candidate for U.S. Senate 

Mourdoch is like Missouri Rep. Todd Akin...but on steroids. The Indiana voters are clearly rejecting the "my way or the highway" approach and extremist nonsense politics. People want smart leaders who can represent them and who they can be proud of. 

Richard Mourdoch does not fit that mold. 

He's subserviant to his Tea Party Masters like a love sick puppy. Murdouch jumps to the every wish of Tea Party psycophants. Richard Mourdoch is an embarrassment to the great State of Indiana. 

The clear choice, because of his cool, calm and collected leadership, is Rep. Joe Donnelly. He has proven himself as a sensable leader who doesn't conform to Special Interest every wants and needs, unlike his opponent. He's for the people and for making Indiana and America stronger economically. A vote Joe Donnelly is a vote for practicality and common sense. The politics of stupidity and crazy fringe behavior is a thing of the past. Indiana! Reject Richard Mourdoch---elect Congressman Joe Donnelly as your next United States Senator. 

You deserve better. Don't you think? 

I think so...  

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So, we are down to the wire. The moment of truth has almost arrived. It is up to the American people to decide. Do we want trickled down economics, which has been proven an absolute failure? Or do we want real change as we move forward in the 21st Century? 

Don't complain---vote! 

Give President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden the mandate of a Democratic majority in the next Congress. It is how we can move forward from this gridlock . 

The Republicans had their chance and blew it. 

The Tea Party is the Republican Party. America has suffered at their hands long enough. It's finally time for change we can believe in. 

Forward Forever, Backward Never

Vote Republicans Out!
Visit
http://www.barackobama.com/

https://www.facebook.com/barackobama

http://www.youtube.com/user/BarackObamadotcom


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