Reply #1: It's probably true.

[blue_onyx]

I believe too much power has been given to the GOP, particularly these moderate members. I think Obama, Reid, and Pelosi should have pushed the best stimulus possible rather than watering it down for the sake of "bipartisanship." So there is probably little wiggle room. The moderate GOP members may jump ship if too much is changed.

We could do a lot worse than Stabenow. She voted against the Iraq war which has bankrupted our country. She voted against the first bailout, which threw 700 billion at Wall Street with no conditions. She voted against Alito and Roberts for the Supreme Court. She has made some bad votes (the vote to give the president the right to determine what is torture is the vote that bothers me most) but we could definitely do worse. Maybe she'll get appointed to Secretary of Health and Human Services like the National Organization for Women wants and we'll have to get a new Senator (I think this is very unlikely since I haven't heard her mentioned by anyone other than NOW).