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In reality, every product is sold via a multilevel system. The manufacturer marks it up and sells it to a retailer, who marks it up and sells it to a customer. This is a delivery system that has proved very effective over the centuries.
The multilevel system is different in two regards. First, the products are usually sold through part-time salespeople, who sell primarily to personal acquaintances and friends. Second, there are several levels of distributors, each making a percentage on the sales of those under his or her authority. In most programs, distributors are encouraged to recruit others to sell for them, thus expanding their sales volume and income.
Quite often, however, what started out to be a part-time job ends up as an all-consuming passion to sell more products or recruit more prospects. After a while, everybody is viewed as a prospect and every social activity as a sales platform.
There are many benefits you can obtain by multilevel system; the main advantage is that its a great choice to start your businesses. It times of crisis multilevel systems have gained market participation.
The important thing is to remember that through the multilevel system you can learn sales and business techniques which can become of great help to many organizations.
This type of sales can be very flexible, there for it can adapt to almost anyone.


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This Seawolf 26 is a smart looking cruiser designed by David Feltham with sparkling performance. Stiff, fast and comfortable with good accommodation. Last surveyed in 2011, she has a good teak fit out below, is a good sail away package, well presented and in good condition. Her twin keels are ideal for a drying mooring. Her owner will be moving to a larger sailing boat when she is sold.
Viewing by appointment only through our Suffolk Office - 01473 659681
The accommodation offers five berths in two cabins with approx 5ft 9in headroom. V berth forward with stowage under. Opening hatch to foredeck. Jabsco marine toilet to starboard. In saloon, berth to starboard (converts to a double) with settee berth opposite and folding leaf table between. L shaped galley to port with Eastham Max DL two burner gas cooker with grill and oven. Stainless steel sink. Various crockery and cutlery. Pressurised fresh water supply. Quarter berths to starboard. Carpeted. Grey/fawn upholstery.
Located abaft the companionway. Bukh DV10 single cylinder 10hp marine diesel engine. (Tear unknown). Electric or hand start. Seawater cooled. Shaft drive to fixed pitch two blade propeller (folding propeller available). Single lever control. Steel fuel tank.The engine gives approx 5 knots cruising and 6 knots maximum speed. There is a 15 year engine service log available from the owner.
Alternator and solar panel charging to 2 x 12 volt batteries. Both 100ah and 1/2 years old). 12 volt switch panel. Inverter.
Fractionally rigged sloop. Keel stepped anodised aluminium mast and boom. Stainless steel standing. Terylene running rigging. In mast mainsail furling system. Harken head sail furling system. Lines led aft to cockpit. Two Barlow 16RA sheet winches. Two Antal W6 secondary winches. Back stay tensioner. Spinnaker pole.
Built in 1982 by Seawolf to a design by David Feltham. White GRP hull with style stripe. White GRP superstructure with grey non-slip to decks. Alloy toe rails. Cast iron twin bilge keels. Spade rudder. Tiller steering. Aft self draining cockpit.
The company normally acts as broker for the vendor who unless otherwise stated is not selling in the course of a business. Whilst every care has been taken in the preparation of these particulars the correctness is not guaranteed and they are intended as a guide only and do not constitute a part of any contract. A prospective buyer is strongly advised to check these particulars and where appropriate and at his own expense to employ a qualified marine surveyor to carry out a survey and/or to have an engine trial conducted which if conducted by us shall not imply any liability on our part.
Suffolk Yacht Harbour
Ipswich, Suffolk IP10 0LN
United Kingdom

subset: commoncrawl


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The Nature Conservancy in Ohio focuses on three urgent policy issues that affect the lives of all Ohioans. We seek to apply the best available science to solve our freshwater problems, form new partnerships to promote clean energy development, and educate elected officials about the huge return from public investments in nature. We are nonpartisan and will work with elected officials and policy makers who share our vision of a world where nature is conserved for its own sake and its ability to fulfill our needs and enrich our lives.
The Conservancy believes that the integration of natural solutions, as well as the acceleration of agriculture best management practices, can help realize significant improvements in terms of Ohio's water quality. We have proposed the creation of an Ohio Water Trust, a statewide collaboration among private and public entities to improve water quality by reducing and removing excess nutrients before they pose a threat to public water supplies. This program would improve drinking water quality while making our waters more swimmable and fishable, and improving recreation, tourism, habitat, and the quality of life for all Ohioans. Among other things, it would contribute to the state's goal of reducing phosphorus loading in Lake Erie by 40 percent by 2025.
America now has the challenge and the opportunity to reinvent how we generate, transport and use our electric power. We can meet the growing and changing needs of Americans while acting to ensure a prosperous, clean and secure energy future.
The Conservancy sees unprecedented opportunities to advance clean energy at the federal and state levels. Clean energy can cost effectively address climate change, reduce health risks to people and create a more reliable energy sector. We support the development of flexible and meaningful state plans to implement the federal Clean Power Plan. In Ohio, the Conservancy also opposes efforts to weaken the state's energy efficiency and renewable energy portfolio standards.
Federal and state investments in nature bring big returns. They help America sustain healthy lands and waters that support thriving, resilient communities and dynamic economies. Investments in nature are also investments in clean water and clean air for our children and grandchildren.
The Land and Water Conservation Fund is a federal program that protects parks, battlefields and other iconic places nationwide for the public benefit. Since it was initiated, the program has provided $330 million to protect some of Ohio's most cherished places like Cuyahoga Valley National Park. The Conservancy urges Congress to permanently reauthorize and fully fund the program at $900 million per year.
The Clean Ohio Fund is a state program that funds greenspace conservation, farmland preservation and trail construction. Since its inception, it has benefited all 88 counties in Ohio and has leveraged millions of dollars of private support. The Conservancy seeks continued funding levels of $50 million per year in the state budget.
Speak up for nature! Use Your Outside Voice and let your elected officials know about your support for conservation.
Don't know who your elected officials are? Download Ohio's district maps below.


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Open Thread: It Happened to You
This is your place to talk about the funny, sad, outrageous things that are happening in your life -- whenever you're ready.
Cults interest the hell out of me. I'm fascinated that people can believe so strongly in a faith or lifestyle that they devote all of their time and money to the cause. The images of the mass suicide at Jonestown are forever engrained in my brain. So are the pictures of the Heaven's Gate members and their odd, matching Nike sneakers.
I know not all cults are as extreme as those examples and some groups are mostly harmless but the idea of group thought in general is still frightening to me. It's an intriguing concept to study, but not something I need to experience in person. And then my friend joined one and that's exactly what happened.
A couple weeks ago it was my birthday and I decided to take a road trip to visit a friend, Rob*, whom I met my freshman year in college. He dropped out our sophomore year but I visited him over the years and we stayed in touch mainly through text messaging. I hadn't seen him in about a year and was looking forward to celebrating my birthday over some drinks and catching up with him about his current relationships, music, and traveling.
Rob had attended a prep school before college and was a quarterback for the football team there. He also loved playing music and even had brief stint with modeling after he dropped out. He was an outgoing, attractive, interesting guy and (unlike some of his friends) he was a serial monogamist, constantly following his girlfriends to live in different states and finding jobs along the way. Whether it was a new diet, career, or home it seemed like he was always looking for different ways to find himself. It also felt like he was trying pretty hard to get away from the expectations his family had for him.
I asked if he had to work at all that weekend and he mentioned that he was helping out at a certain café, which happens to be run by a group known as Twelve Tribes. This group had the reputation of being a cult and some locals avoided their café altogether because they didn't want to support their lifestyle. The members compare their practices to any other religion. Their views are mixture of Christian fundamentalism and Messianic Judaism.
I wondered if Rob was actually in the Twelve Tribes but quickly dismissed the possibility. He had never been religious in the past, loved sex, enjoyed smoking weed and drinking, and most importantly hated to be told how to think. He told me I could stay with him and that I would even have a queen bed to myself where he lived. He said he wouldn't have a phone when I was visiting, but gave me the number of a friend to get in touch with him.
When I arrived in town, I called his friend to get his address. I pulled up to the street and found parking right next to a huge house dominating half the block. It was the home of the Twelve Tribes community. And then I saw Rob waving me down and walking towards my car with a big smile. My body was kindly telling me to "DRIVE. NOW. GET FAR AWAY FROM ALL OF THIS!" but I knew I wasn't going to do that -- I had come all this way to see him.
The Rob that greeted me had a full bead, long hair tied back, and a braided head wrap. I hugged him and listened as he began to list all the new changes in his life. He led me inside and explained that I had arrived just in time for their Sabbath celebration, which would involve a whole lot of dancing, singing, prayer, and food.
Part of me was thankful that I would have a distraction from the thoughts racing in my mind. I was alarmed by his physical transformation. I was happy that he was happy and had found something that worked for him. I was confused that this trip had taken such a weird turn. I was worried for his family and friends. I asked what his parents thought about his choice to join Twelve Tribes and he laughed and said, "They think it's pretty crazy!"
The women had no makeup on and wore headscarves to cover their hair. They were dressed very modestly in loose-fitting skirts or dresses down to their ankles. The men were wearing button-up shirts, mostly flannels, and khakis or jeans. And they all had long tied-back hair, full beards, and braided head wraps like Rob.
The children dancing around the room seemed very excited to be celebrating the Sabbath and that made me feel better about the situation -- they were adorable, curious, and very outgoing. Rob explained that the children in Twelve Tribes are home schooled and that getting your GED or going to college is forbidden. TVs are not generally approved of and kids are encouraged to explore their imagination through books, games, or puzzles.
Rob told me that drinking, drugs, and premarital sex are not allowed. Using substances was filthy and not only was having sex a sin of the flesh, but it was also a sure way to ruin a loving relationship. I asked what he thought about homosexuality and he said it was unnatural and didn't want to talk much more about it.
I sat there in shock but kept nodding away. This was all coming from someone who I met during a sociology class. I thought of him as a person who was open-minded, carefree and a hopeless romantic. Someone who celebrated the weekends with bong rips, clove cigarettes, and cheap beer. The dude was there to make me laugh when I got my first tattoo.
He explained how Yashua (Jesus pronounced in Hebrew) was the reason for working so hard during the week and that he was going to do all he could to serve him. He warned me of a prophecy that our world was heading toward tyranny and destruction. He told me that I would realize this was the truth once judgment day came and I had to answer for my sins. I asked what would happen to me since I am not a religious person, but he reassured me that I would be safe. He said I was righteous in my everyday activities and not unjust or filthy like many others were.
I felt the tears coming on and told Rob I needed to go to the bathroom. A couple of the women asked if I was okay and I reassured them I was fine but admitted it was a lot to take in. Rob was sweet and told me not to worry about him and said that he was very content with his simple lifestyle. Having to sell his car and guitar didn't even seem to bother him at all.
Once the praying and dancing was over for the night, I was finally alone with Rob in the great room and I told him that I was going to spend the night with a friend. I didn't actually have a place to crash but the idea of sleeping at the house was making me feel uneasy. He walked me to my car and joked with me that I was going to drive right back to Pennsylvania and never call him again. I ended up paying 60 bucks to stay at a motel straight out of a CSI episode but I didn't mind one bit. I couldn't fall asleep anyway because my mind was all over the place.
I'm still feeling undecided about the whole ordeal but I know that I want to support him in some way. The sad truth is that the "joke" turned out to be true -- and I'm still not ready to make that phone call.


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A perfectly smooth silhouette, no visible panty line and a comfortable toning effect can now be yours with the Charnos Killer Figure 15 denier sheer control tights. They smooth out your shape, lifting your bottom and gently toning the thigh and tummy area effortlessly whilst you go about your daily life. With a simple and elegant body shaping brief area, they come in black or natural and have a comfort waistband, sheer reinforced toe and cotton gusset. Achieve that "killer figure" with Charnos - all day, everyday!
We send parcels WORLDWIDE from our warehouse in Letchworth, UK. Our aim is to ship all orders within 24 hours (Monday-Friday). All orders are sent in plain packaging. Standard delivery is just £1.75 for the UK, £5.95 for Europe and £7.50 for the rest of the world.
If you're unsure about a product you've purchased, you can return it for a refund or exchange at any time within 60 days.
To place an order, ask for advice, or if you have a query about an existing order, please call us FREE (UK only) on 0800 999 2 SHQ (0800 999 2 747). If you're outside the UK please call +44 1462 677970.
Alternatively, our email address is email@example.com.
Although these black sheer tights look gorgeous, their selling point is their perfect slimming effect. I bought them for a sculpting effect when I am at work or out in town, these provide all the compression you need around the waist for a slimming effect without them feeling constrictive. They do feel very comfortable actually and are quite durable. These are a must if you are looking for a pair of tights which is very pretty but also helps a lot around the waist area.
This product is a must for all ladies wearing close-fitting dresses. These are 15 denier sheer tights with control panels around the waist, bottom and top of thighs. You can actually feel these lift your bottom. They are extremely comfortable for all day wear, I simply cannot fault them.


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A novel method for the procurement of full-color three-dimensional (3-D) images of real objects has been developed. This method is based on extracting information from 3-D Fourier spectra, which are calculated from several projection images recorded using a white light source. 3-D Fourier spectra for three colors were obtained separately for projection images recorded with a color-CCD camera. Three computer-generated holograms (CGHs) were then synthesized from those Fourier spectra. The resulting numerically and optically reconstructed full-color images are presented.
©2004 Optical Society of AmericaFull Article | PDF Article
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Port Saint Lucie and Treasure Coast
Private Music Lessons
What instruments do you teach privately?
We teach most ALL instruments. Really, we pretty much do. We do not teach bag pipes or the harp, and a few other unusual specialized global instruments. However, we DO have many excellent music professionals on staff, and the majority teach private lessons for us. We strive for top quality music lessons, and we will pair you with a teacher who focused their instruction on your instrument(s) during their music studies or during the pursuit of their degree. This ensures the highest level of custom instruction™. Our most popular PRIVATE MUSIC LESSONS are offered in PIANO, KEYBOARDING, SINGING & VOCAL COACHING, DRUMS, VIOLIN, VIOLA, CELLO, DOUBLE BASS, ELECTRIC GUITAR or ACOUSTIC GUITAR, ELECTRIC BASS GUITAR or ACOUSTIC BASS GUITAR and we also offer BAND INSTRUMENT PRIVATE LESSONS. We teach every band instrument and orchestral instrument! We have a former superior rated band director/orchestra director on staff who can teach you how to prepare to play any BAND INSTRUMENT or ORCHESTRAL INSTRUMENT before season starts or get ready for that audition or solo/ensemble that is coming up. We also have many instruments in store for you to try out and eve have a rental or purchase program! Yes, we RENT INSTRUMENTS!
Where are the lessons?
We do most of our lessons in our main store. We opened our new main store front in May 2014 with 3 classrooms where most of our staff are able to teach, located at PAAR CENTER, 4007 SW Port Saint Lucie Blvd, Port St. Lucie 34953. Our store is adjacent to the Florist. A few lessons still occur in our home studio location in Western Port Saint Lucie, with Petrova, and we offer virtual lessons also at www.online-musiclessons.net. You will be clearly notified if your lessons are in the home location prior to lessons beginning. Plan on your classes being held at 4007 SW Port St Lucie Blvd at Paar Center unless otherwise instructed.
What age can you start taking lessons?
We believe the earlier the better. We can start private lessons as young as 3. We also offer complimentary evaluations for children under 5 and children with special needs to determine readiness and instrument recommendation. Please come on out, and try it out 'on us' for the little ones! Isn't it refreshing to have a business WANT to take their time with you to see if your child is ready, before you invest your money? Well, that is because we are a family business and we understand. We have kids too, and we know the value in building strong customer relationships. We want to have a great and successful journey with your child in music. Plus, we also know that amazing brain development occurs in students exposed to music at an early age as well, specifically prior to age 8. The research is amazing!
We also teach adults. You are never too old to learn or revisit music! isn't it time you did something for YOU? We currently have students of all ages, ranging from age 3- age 92 in our studio, but feel everyone can learn! Call 772-878-1680 TODAY!
What method do you teach?
We are a CUSTOM MUSIC EDUCATION tm company. We teach the style of music your child or you enjoy, and we work on teaching you how to play the songs that you want to learn. We even customize songs to your level, writing arrangements that suit you or your child's level perfectly. We find students learn to read music and music theory much more successfully when they have choice in their song, and are motivated and excited by their choice of piece. All of students work side by side with the instructor to choose, as a team, pieces and genres that will not only help them improve but also will motivate and encourage their progress. We are educators, and one thing we know for sure is no two students process the same, so why should every child be taught from a method book that is a one size fits all plan? We pull from many techniques and methods, from our classical or jazz or pop training, Suzuki methods, and other practices we have used ourselves and customize each lesson to the individual. We find that is one of the biggest way that we are different, and the best on the Treasure Coast. Oh, and ALL your sheet music is provided in your lesson fee each week too!
Who is the teacher?
Rest assured, we know that meeting new people can be scary and intimidating, but our staff our warm, friendly and above all, we are dedicated and passionate educators. We work with kids each and every day-we are not rock stars, we are teachers first and foremost and kids are our business! We also truly love what we do and it shows. See the 'Meet Your Staff' tab for more information on PETROVA JONES, STEPHEN RAGLAND, ELVIS PERA, ANDJELA VULOVIC, MOZART HADDAD SOBRINHO, MICHELLE CAMERON, CAIO FREITAS, AND ALLAN COLE our dynamic private lessons teachers!
What happens at your typical first lesson and how much is it?
A positive first experience with an instrument is so important to any child or adult. In this first music lesson, which we can begin as young as 3 years old, the student's comfort is of our utmost concern. Whether a child or an adult, we want our students to be a success. We will familiarize the student with the instrument, demonstrate how to play it, and begin to help the student play right away. In this way, students are excited to see the true potential of the instrument chosen! During this 30 minute private lesson, students are introduced to the basics of music theory, and begin day one to learn how to READ music. Most students will have choice in picking from many options for a first song! We will expertly guide students of all ages in how to play and by the end of the first lesson, most students will have between 2-4 new songs to practice for their family.
Going forward, students will attend a regular weekly music lesson and at that time will show what they have mastered in practice, any songs they are having problems on will be worked on, and new concepts and music will be introduced. Lessons are offered in our main Port Saint Lucie music studio, or we have instructors who can conveniently come to your home for instruction, with instruments, if necessary. Twice a year students will be able to play in a FALL and SPRING music recital to show off their talents! (Participation is not mandatory) We also have a special performing group of more advanced students who give their time and talents by performing in local nursing homes and hospitals!
Lesson fees are the same regardless of instrument type or if you are choosing vocal coaching. Lesson feesvary, ranging from $15-$30 a week per lessons, depending on age, concentration, readiness etc.
Please call the store at 772-878-1680 for specific pricing. In addition, all music sheets are provided complimentary to students, as part of their weekly lesson fee. Performing opportunities are included additionally. That is our gift to you for investing in your child's musical future.
Do music students need their own instrument?
While having your own instrument is recommended, it is not required. We can also help you to purchase most instruments through our store or we have some instruments available for rent to own, or just purchse or rental, through our affiliate RMI.(Rent my Instrument) Please see our 'Rent an Instrument' tab for more info, or give us a call at 772-878-1680.
We are happy to work with you on finding the right instrument choice too! Sometimes parents rush to buy an instrument and within weeks the student may have changed their mind on what they actually want to study. To alleviate this stress you may use our instruments of course during your lesson time. We have full upright pianos, digital electric pianos, full drum sets, brass, woodwind and stringed instruments of various sizes and types available for student use at lessons in our storefront, and main studio. Of course, if you have your own guitar, or violin please bring it to your lesson for tuning as it is always best to play on your own instrument as you learn technique. Piano players do not need to bring a keyboard to our store, we havefull upright Baldwin pianos for you, and a fully weighted Yamaha 88 key keyboard and full keyboard lab. We also do not feel that students must have a piano at home right away. Sure, a piano is better, but be sure your child is going to stick with learning it first. To start, a keyboard is sufficient, although we recommend a fully weighted one with at least 61 keys and a pedal and stand to start. We can order these instruments for you through our store front.
- DRUM SETS (Digital and Acoustic, and Practice Pads)
-KEYBOARDS (61-88 key, non weighted to fully weighted)
-GUITARS (1/2, 3/4 or full size, acoustic or electric)
- STRINGED INSTRUMENTS (violin, viola, bass, cello)
- MICROPHONES, AMPS, BLUETOOTH SPEAKER COMBOS, MUSIC STANDS and MORE!
We also are a local affiliate of RENT MY INSTRUMENT .com and offer instrument rentals, rent to own, and lease and purchase options for most band and orchestral instruments. Instruments are delivered to your door, and may also include maintenance and repairs for a small monthly fee.
Do you sell instruments?
Yes- The good newsis we do sell instruments and instrument accessories in our new store! We do custom instrument orders and have distributors lined up to get you your ideal instrument, as we sell brands from a Peavey to Yamaha, Jupiter, Eastman Strings, etc. and in between! Because we do custom orders and are not stocking tons of retail shelves, this allows us to keep prices low for our customers, on retail.
Are your recitals mandatory? My child is very shy.
We NEVER force any student to perform in any show. It is a choice they must make on their own, or with your input. While we encourage everyone to try to perform in a recital some children are very shy and not interested in performance. Please know that this is not a problem for us. We want every child to be happy learning their instrument, and when/if they are ready to perform then they can let us know, and participate. Please note that we offer two free tickets to every recital for our students. If you need additional tickets for more famaily mmbers, we have two options for every budget. You can chose a flat $25 recital fee per participant or individula recital tickets
How much practice should my child put in each day?
Practice is not supposed to be tremendous fun for most children, as it is work. Just like school work, practice requires concentration, and discipline. Playing music and performing is the fun part but practicing is the necessary work required to get to that point. Don't let it become an argument, or something that is dreaded. Try to let your child choose a regular daily practice time, and receive a small reward at the completion of it. Practice time length is recommended based on doubling their age. So, if your child is 5, a 10 minute daily practice time is ideal because much more than that in one sitting will cause them to become distracted and zone out. I would prefer to see practice occur 4-5 days a week, with a day of two off for the child to have a break rather than a forced daily struggle. Some children will practice readily, and some will not. Remember each child is unique!
As students improve, practice requirements may be increased and of course, new exercises will be added into daily work. Practicing is not something most children choose to do. Especially not when electronics are readily available for play. It is work, and so you as a parent, must realize that it can be a struggle. Instead of allowing it to be one, put a piggy bank near their practicing spot, and when you catch your child practicing well on their own, without nagging, reward them with a quarter, etc. Soon they will learn that hard work pays off and they will have a little money to buy a toy or something they want, and they will know all the while that practicing paid off. Additionally, call your family together at practice time, and allow your child to put on a show for everyone, performing their songs! Encourage them, applaud them-ultimately, instill a joy and love of music!


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Pays sans chapeau (lit. 'Country without Hat') is a Haitian name for death, a place where a person's hat is never worn. And death is very much part of this novel, as indicated by the local painting Enterrement à la compagne ('Burial in the Country') by Jacques-Richard Chéry on the front cover.
Laferrière's novel describes the exile, the narrator (Vieux Os ('Old Bones')) getting together his mother Marie and aunt Renée (who both appeared in Tout bouge autour de moi), re-joining his friends Philippe and Manu and his former girlfriend Lisa, whom he learns has always loved him.
But the 'real' events described between family and friends are interspersed by dream sequences, so that the novel largely consists of relatively small sections which happen in a kind of dream or subjective world where zombies or Haitian gods exist, and larger sections in the 'real' world divided by smaller labelled ones. But there is a certain amount of merging, of confusion between the 'real' and the 'dream' world. The final section, where Vieux Os visits the other world and meets some gods, is logically called 'Pays sans chapeau' after the title of the book, and the final section is a one-page resolution of both the dream world and the real world.


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Over the past two cycles, Republicans lost 13 Senate seats (14 if Al Franken emerges victorious in Minnesota). And the GOP's Senate nightmare is set to continue for the third cycle in a row: 2004 was a great year for Senate Republicans, so they have many more vulnerable seats to defend in 2010.
No matter what the political environment will be in two years, Republicans are looking to spend yet another cycle playing defense and Democrats are more likely than not to gain the one or two seats they will need to finally achieve a filibuster-proof majority.
The ramifications of Barack Obama's victory have given the GOP new life in Delaware, Colorado, Illinois and New York, but that cannot obscure this simple statistic: Of the cycle's 10 most vulnerable Senate seats, only two are currently in Democratic hands. Those are tough numbers for Republicans to face given how few seats they have already been left with.
That said, a number of Dem-held seats could become competitive under the right circumstances, and a tremendous recruiting job on the part of the NRSC would allow Republicans play offense. They have no room for error: They will need Arnold Schwarzenegger in California, John Hoeven in North Dakota, Linda Lingle in Hawaii, Mike Castle in Delaware, Mark Kirk in Illinois. Such a dream team of Republican candidates would shuffle up the deck and put Democrats in a difficult position.
Even with such a dream team, however, it is unimaginable that the GOP could conquer a Senate majority. The GOP's objective will be to position itself well for 2012, a natural time for offense and a cycle in which Democrats will have a disproportionate number of seats to defend due to their successes in 2000 and 2006.
Needless to say, 22 months remain before the 2010 Election, and a lot will happen recruitment and retirement-wise in the coming months. In fact, I can identify only three seats (ID, UT and NY [Schumer]) with no conceivable scenario under which they would be competitive. Even VT and CT could become interesting if popular Republican Governors jump in! Underlying these rankings, then, are dozens of assumptions: It is for instance very unlikely that Govs. Douglas and Rell will challenge Sens. Leahy and Dodd and it is more plausible that Gov. Sebelius runs. We should expect many surprises to dramatically shuffle these rankings throughout 2009.
For now, we can proceed with the following breakdown, with some uncertainty due to the unresolved Coleman-Franken race:
- Safe Democratic: 47-48
- Safe/Likely Democratic: 55-56
- Safe/Likely/Lean Democratic: 58-59
- Toss-ups: 3
- Safe/Likely/Lean Republican: 38-39
- Safe/Likely Republican: 33-34
- Safe Republican: 31-32
Outlook: A 1-5 seat gain for Democrats.
Toss-ups (3 R, 0 D)
1. Kentucky (Jim Bunning)
A former baseball star, Bunning has never fully grown into his politician costume - so much that Republicans would most certainly be helped if Bunning decided to retire. His failure to raise much money combined with his age (he will be 79 by the next Election Day) has sparked speculation that he will do so - and the NRSC is certainly hoping to get such good news.
Bunning won his first two terms in extremely tough races, by 0.5% in 1998 and 1.4% in 2004. No one was paying attention to that latter race until the closing weeks of the campaign. But Bunning's numbers collapsed in the closing stretch due to a number of bizarre incidents and senior moments. There is no reason for Bunning not to repeat such faux pas this year, and his lack of stature makes him an appealing target - even a state that has been trending Republican.
A number of Democrats are likely to jump in the race whether or not Bunning runs for re-election (in fact, some declined to run against McConnell in 2008 hoping to have a clearer shot at Bunning). Lieutenant Governor Daniel Mongiardo (Bunning's 2004 opponent) has acknowledged that he is looking at the race; other potential candidates include Rep. Chandler, who many consider as the strongest Democrat and state Auditor Crit Luallen.
2. Pennsylvania (Arlen Specter)
Arlen Specter is one of the Senate's most powerful Republican members, but he is also highly endangered - if he even chooses to run for re-election. Unfortunately for Republicans, an open seat would improve nothing: Unlike in Kentucky, the seat's vulnerability is not related to the incumbent's unpopularity and Specter's retirement would only increase Democratic prospects.
If Specter chooses to seek another term, he could face as competitive a primary as a general election. Former Rep. Pat Toomey, who Specter defeated by less than 2% in a nasty primary in 2004, is considering another run; Toomey now heads the conservative Club for Growth and considers Specter a "Republican in Name Only." Indeed, the incumbent has a moderate profile and his vote over the next two years could make him even more vulnerable to a challenge from the right (Democrats have high hopes for Specter to join them on card-checks, for instance). In addition, a significant number of moderate Republicans have left the party since 2004 and will be unable to vote for Specter in the state's closed primary.
Democrats would love nothing more than to face Toomey in the general election, as they are convinced that he is too conservative to be elected statewide. But they are also confident about challenging Specter, and the Democratic primaries could be as entertaining as the GOP's. Hardball host Chris Matthews is considering a run and should announce his intentions in the coming weeks; at least two House members, Reps. Allison Schwarz and Patrick Murphy, could also jump in. All would make strong challengers, and a number of polls have already found Specter and Matthews in a toss-up.
3. Florida (Open)
Unpopular Senator Mel Martinez knew he was the Democrats' number 1 target in the next cycle and chose not to even try holding on to his seat. His mid-November retirement announcement throws a lifeline to Republicans who have a far stronger bench in the state than Democrats.
The GOP's dream candidate is former Governor Jeb Bush. Jeb left the office in 2006 with high approval ratings and national ambitions, but he will have to deal with his unpopular last name. Republicans insist that Jeb has never been handicapped by his brother's troubles, but this is somewhat disingenuous: Jeb has not faced voters since 2002, a year in which Dubya was still highly popular. It is difficult to know how formidable Jeb would be now that the Bush name has become so toxic.
Meanwhile, Democrats hope to recruit Alex Sink, the state CFO. Sink announced she would not run but Martinez's unexpected retirement caused her to reconsider her decision; Sink has already met with DSCC officials in Washington. The consensus appears to be that Sink is unlikely to run if the race appears too difficult, so a Jeb candidacy could be enough to scare her away.
Both parties have many other potential candidates, but none that has enough stature to clear the primary field. In other words, both parties could feature divisive battles if Bush and Sink do not run, and this could be an important factor in the general election: Florida holds September primaries, leaving a bruised nominee very little time to turn around and contest the general election.
Lean Retention (6 R, 3 D)
4. Missouri (Kit Bond)
Kit Bond has won four senatorial elections in Missouri, but the highest share he ever received was 56% in 2004. That statistic alone sums up Bond's vulnerability, and the incumbent could face a top-tier challenger in 2010 if the DSCC manages to recruit Secretary of State Robin Carnahan - the latest prodigy of Missouri's illustrious political dynasty; a recent Research 2000 poll found Bond leading Carnahan by 4%. Other potential candidates include Robin's brother Russ and
state Auditor Susan Montee.
That said, Bond can count on the once-bellwether state's increasingly reliable Republican nature. That John McCain prevailed in Missouri when he lost in all other competitive states (including Indiana) suggests that the state GOP still knows how to win elections.
5. Colorado (Unknown)
Senator Ken Salazar's appointment to the Interior Department complicates Democratic efforts to hold on to the seat, but Salazar was already up for re-election in 2010 and he himself looked vulnerable. Going forward, it is difficult to handicap the race before we know who Democratic Governor Bill Ritter will appoint as Salazar's successor. Interestingly, the different contenders are split along more substantive lines than in Illinois and New York, by which I mean that differences in policy preferences and ideology are part of the Colorado conversation.
Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper and Rep. John Salazar are conservative Democrats, and the former has antagonized unions; Rep. Ed Permlutter is closer to labor; former Senate candidate Ted Strickland is a top executive as a health insurance company; and state House Speaker Romanoff and Rep. Diana DeGette have a more liberal profile. Mark Udall demonstrated that CO can elect progressive Senator, but Ritter himself is conservative. That makes it difficult to imagine him choosing someone like DeGette and it might be enough to give the advantage to Hickenlooper.
Whichever Democrat Ritter chooses will have one major advantage in 2010: The GOP's thin bench. The Republicans' dream candidate is former Governor Bill Owen, yet Owens - who left office in 2006 - might no longer be formidable: A recent poll showed him handily defeated by Hickenlooper and Salazar. Not to mention that Owens passed on an open seat in 2008, so why would he now challenge an incumbent? Other potential Republican candidates include former Rep. McInnis, former football star John Elway and Rep. Tom Tancredo. (The latter faces clear electability issues in the general election, but Republicans are worried he would be hard to beat in the primary.)
6. New Hampshire (Judd Gregg)
Over the past three cycles, no state has shifted blue as dramatically as New Hampshire. In 2004, Democrats unexpectedly picked-up the governorship. In 2006, they shocked the political world by unseating the state's two Republican House members and seizing both chambers of the state legislature. In 2008, Jeanne Shaheen toppled Senator Sununu, leaving Judd Gregg as the Democrats' only target in what used to be a Republican stronghold.
A number of Democrats are looking at this race - perhaps too many. The DSCC's dream candidate is popular Governor Lynch who just won re-election with 70% of the vote; however, Lynch has to seek re-election again in 2010 so he would have to give up the governor's mansion to challenge Gregg. Two other candidates who are eying the race Rep. Paul Hodes and Rep. Carol Shea-Porter. Hodes is often described as the strongest competitor, but Shea-Porter is regularly underestimated. She could prove a formidable candidate if she can repeat statewide her district-level exploits.
7. North Carolina (Richard Burr)
This is North Carolina's cursed Senate seat: It has switched parties in the past five elections, and Democrats are hoping to prolong the streak by defeating freshman Senator Richard Burr. Democrats have a very deep bench in North Carolina. Most often mentioned are Attorney General Roy Cooper, former Attorney General Richard Moore, outgoing Governor Mike Easley, Rep. Heath Shuler. And the list goes on: Any number of contenders jumping in would make this a top-tier race. In fact, a recent PPP poll found Cooper leading Burr, a worrisome early sign of vulnerability for the incumbent.
Democratic hopes were surely boosted by the results of the 2008 election: Barack Obama, Beverly Perdue and Kay Hagan's victories suggest that Democrats have identified a roadmap for statewide victory. And that will certainly help the DSCC recruit a top-tier challenger.
8. Nevada (Harry Reid)
It is hard to believe how much Harry Reid's fortunes have improved since early November. Once considered one of the cycles most endangered incumbents, Reid enjoyed two strokes of luck when his top two potential challengers were damaged. First, Lieutenant Governor Brian Krolicki was indicted on charges of misappropriation and falsification of accounts; this all but eliminates him from the Senate race. Second, Rep. Jon Porter lost his House seat, 48% to 42%; he is still considering a Senate run, but he will have a harder time mounting a solid and well-financed campaign.
That said, Reid remains highly vulnerable and for a very simple reason: He is deeply unpopular. A recent Research 2000 poll showed him with an approval rating of 38%; that's deadly territory. The GOP might not have enough of a bench to guarantee a top-tier challenger, but Reid could be defeated by any credible Republicans. That same Research 2000 poll showed Reid leading Porter 46% to 40%; needless to say, it is not a good sign for the Senate Majority Leader to only manage such a narrow lead against someone who lost with barely 42% of the vote in his own re-election race.
9. Louisiana (David Vitter)
This is perhaps the most perplexing race of the cycle, and it is no surprise that it is occurring in the state that hosted the most perplexing contest of the past cycle (Landrieu-Kennedy). Once considered a rising Republican star, David Vitter would have had nothing to worry about if he had not gotten mixed up in the D.C Madam's prostitution ring; last year, Vitter was forced to issue an apology and acknowledge a "very serious sin."
In any other state, that might be enough to end a politician's career. But once proudly Democratic Louisiana has given itself almost entirely to the Republican Party - so much so that there is only one Democrat left in the House delegation and Senator Mary Landrieu only prevailed by 5% in 2008 despite Democratic assurances that she was in no real danger.
Is there a Democrat who could rise to take advantage of Vitter's scandal? Lieutenant Governor Mitch Landrieu is a Democrat - but he is also Mary's brother, and it is doubtful any state would elect two siblings as its Senators. The DSCC's recruiters will surely start with Secretary of State Jay Dardenne and Rep. Charlie Melancon. But they will have to first answer this simple question: Can Democrats still win a truly contested election in post-Katrina Louisiana?
10. Ohio (George Voinovich)
The first question mark is whether Senator George Voinovich (a two-term Senator who served two gubernatorial terms in the 1990s) runs for re-election. Retirement rumors have been swirling, and an early exit would dramatically alter the field of play. Ohio is one of the country's closest swing states, so we would surely be treated to a top-notch Senate battle.
For now, however, Voinovich has been preparing for another run: he already has more than $2.5 million in the bank! This does not mean that Democrats will be scared away. They have made big gains in the state over the past two cycles, conquering most of the statewide offices, defeating a Republican Senator in 2006 and picking-up four House seats. A number of Democrats could make this race a top-tier contest, starting with Lieutenant Governor Lee Fisher and Rep. Tim Ryan.
11. Kansas (Open)
The situation created by Sam Brownback's retirement is strikingly simple. Either term-limited Democratic Governor Sebelius jumps in and this race skyrockets to the top of the rankings; or she stays away and Democrats have no hope of winning their first Kansas Senate race in since 1936.
For now, the DSCC has reason to hope: Sebelius looked certain to join Obama's Administration and a Cabinet appointment would have barred her from running. But her decision to abruptly withdraw her name from consideration increased the speculation that she is looking to jump in the Senate race.
Republicans, meanwhile, are preparing for a heated primary between Reps. Jerry Moran and Todd Tiahrt. Moran has already announced his candidacy while Tiahrt is only mulling a run. Both have a conservative profile, but their opposition could ignite the Kansas GOP's famously nasty ideological split with Tiahrt in the role of the movement conservative. This would help Sebelius's general election prospects.
12. Illinois (Unknown)
The Blagojevich scandal has injected complete chaos in this race. The only thing we know for sure is that there will be an election in November 2010. What we do not know is whether there will be an election before then.
Over the past week, Democrats have been backing away from calling a special election to fill Barack Obama's seat, meaning that the most likely scenario is for the seat to remain vacant until Democrats manage to remove Blagojevich from office. It would then be up to currently-Lieutenant Governor Pat Quinn to appoint a Senator - either a caretaker or a Democrat willing to run for re-election in 2010. It is impossible to handicap the race before knowing who Quinn might appoint.
But all bets are off if there is enough pressure for Democrats to be forced to call a special election in the spring of 2009, stripping the Governor of his appointment powers. A special election would be a wonderful opportunity for Republicans to pick-up a Senate seat: Democrats face a divisive primary, their nominee would be plagued by the taint of the Blagojevich scandal, and GOP Reps. Kirk and Roskam could jump in the race without having to fear losing their House seats.
Likely retention (8 D, 2 R)
13. California (Barbara Boxer)
California's 2010 gubernatorial election is an open race since Arnold Schwarzenegger is term-limited. This is both good news and bad news for Democratic Senator Barbara Boxer. On the one hand, Schwarzenegger is free to challenge Boxer. On the other hand, ambitious California Republicans are far more likely to try their luck in the gubernatorial race - meaning that Arnold could be all Boxer has to worry about. Whether this race is competitive, then, is likely to depend on the Governator's decision.
That said, the first obstacle to an Arnold candidacy could be the GOP primary, as a conservative Republican could try and derail him. Arnold has angered conservative during his gubernatorial tenure, and California's Republican primaries have tended to be a minefield for moderates. Another factor could be Diane Feinstein's possible gubernatorial candidacy. This could lead Arnold to wait for Feinstein's Senate seat to open up rather than challenge Boxer.
14. Delaware (Open)
This race is a special election that is being held because of Joe Biden's resignation. The state's Governor appointed a caretaker (longtime Biden aide Edward Kaufman) in an obvious effort to save the seat for state Attorney General Beau Biden, who is currently serving in Iraq. This transparently nepotistic maneuver has angered the entourage of outgoing Lieutenant Governor Carney, who was hoping to get the appointment. Kaufman has already confirmed that he will not seek re-election in 2010, so Delaware Democrats could be treated to a contentious primary battle between Carney and Beau.
The GOP's only shot at the seat is to recruit Rep. Mike Castle, a popular Republican who has represented the state's at-large seat since 1992. If Castle passes on the race (he is old and with health issues), the Democratic primary will likely decide the final winner; if Castle jumps in, we could have a highly competitive and somewhat unpredictable race on our hands.
15. Hawaii (Daniel Inouye)
The most relevant question in this race is not whether Democratic Senator Daniel Inouye will run for re-election but whether Republican Governor Linda Lingle will attempt to move to Washington. Lingle is term-limited and cannot stay in the Governor's mansion past 2010, so she has nothing to lose by attempting a senatorial run. The GOP has no bench in Hawaii and Lingle's victory in 2002 was a breakthrough for state Republicans. Lingle is popular enough that she would be a very credible Senate candidate.
That said, Hawaii remains a staunchly Democratic state, and for a Republican to win a federal state is a difficult proposition. Lingle would face a particularly uphill climb if she faces Inouye, who has been serving in Congress since Hawaii achieved statehood in the 1950s. Inouye would be running for his ninth term in 2010, at age 86, and he recently announced that he would run again.
The GOP's best case scenario is for Inouye to retire and Lingle to jump in the race - and even then Hawaii's overwhelming blueness would make the race no better than a toss-up for the GOP. If Lingle faces Inouye, she would have a shot at an upset but Inouye would start as the very clear favorite. And if Lingle does not run, the seat will quickly fall down the rankings.
16. New York (Unknown)
This race is a special election to fill the reminder of Hillary's Clinton term; the winner will face re-election again in 2012. It is difficult to handicap the race until Governor Paterson announces his pick sometime after Hillary Clinton is confirmed as Secretary of State in January - though I have repeatedly cautioned not to regard Caroline Kennedy as the most electable option. Her campaigning skills are so untested and her public record is so small that she could prove an electoral disaster just as easily as a political goldmine. There is also the possibility that Paterson appoint a caretaker who would not run for re-election in 2010.
Any Democratic candidate would be helped by the simple fact that New York's Republican Party is moribund, and there are few Republicans who can hope to be competitive statewide. One is Rudy Giuliani, but after his catastrophic presidential campaign the former New York City Mayor no longer looks formidable; Giuliani is also said to be more interested in a gubernatorial run.
Another Republican who is openly considering the Senate race is Rep. Peter King, one of the state's three remaining Republican House members. King would undoubtedly be a credible enough candidate to exploit any Democratic mistakes, particularly if Paterson appoints a political novice; but this is New York, and King is unlikely to get very far without Democratic help.
17. Iowa (Chuck Grassley)
Tom Vilsack's nomination as Secretary of Agriculture clarified the situation in this race by removing from consideration the only Democrat who would have given five-term Senator Chuck Grassley a run for his money. If Grassley runs again, he is unlikely to face a difficult race; but Grassley is on everyone's retirement watch - and an open seat in this increasingly blue state would become one of the Democrats' top takeover opportunity.
18. North Dakota (Byron Dorgan)
Like Kansas and Hawaii, the competitiveness of this race is contingent on the candidacy of one man and one man only: Governor John Hoeven. If Hoeven declines to run, popular Democratic incumbent Byron Dorgan will cruise towards re-election. If Hoeven jumps in the race, this will become a battle of political titans.
Despite the state's Republican lean, Dorgan is a popular incumbent with the advantage of seniority (not to mention that he is the chairman of the Appropriations subcommittee on energy and water issues). And North Dakota is not as reliably red as it once was: John McCain did end up winning the state, but Obama mounted a very solid effort. Will that be enough to scare Hoeven away?
19. Washington (Patty Murray)
In 2004, Republicans made a lot of noise about challenging Patty Murray and they extensively touted their candidate, Rep. Nethercutt. But in what was otherwise a good year for Senate Republicans, the often-underestimated Murray easily won re-election. Since then, Washington has grown even more reliably Democratic, giving Barack Obama a crushing margin over John McCain and handing Governor Gregoire an easier-than-expected victory in 2008. The GOP's bench in the state is stretched thin, and there is little reason for the party's few credible potential candidates - Rep. Reichert, for instance - to try their luck.
20. Wisconsin (Russ Feingold)
Senator Russ Feingold is a perennial Republican target, though he won a relatively easy re-election race in 2004. To make this race competitive, the GOP would need to find a very strong recruit and hope that the national environment pushes them. After all, Feingold is a longtime Democratic incumbent sitting in a blue state - and one in which Barack Obama crushed John McCain. Unfortunately for Republicans, they have a weak bench in Wisconsin. Potential candidates include state Attorney General John Van Hollen and Rep. Paul Ryan, a rising Republican star who is only 38 and might not want to endanger his career in such a difficult race.
21. Arizona (John McCain)
There is no question that Senator John McCain is vulnerable. He failed to get 50% in last spring's Super Tuesday Republican primary and he ended up winning the state by single-digits against Barack Obama after being forced to schedule an emergency last-minute campaign stop. That said, McCain looks relatively secure. For one, McCain remains a force in Arizona politics and he now has two years to reestablish his popularity with independents.
Second, Governor Janet Napolitano's nomination as Barack Obama's Homeland Security Secretary removed McCain's top potential challenger - and one that was already handily defeating him in early polls. Third, most ambitious Democrats are likely to jump in the gubernatorial race rather than launch an unlikely challenge to McCain. A retirement would naturally dramatically alter the playing field, but for now McCain has been positioning himself to run for re-election.
22. Arkansas (Blanche Lincoln)
In 2008, Arkansas Republicans did not even field a candidate against Democratic Senator Mark Pryor. Can they do better against Blanche Lincoln, who will run for a third term in 2010? The state has been clearly drifting in the GOP column, and Republicans desperately want to contest this seat. That said, Arkansas remains a reliably Democratic state at the local level, and the Republican bench is very weak. That explains why the race is ranked so low.
Some Republican names have been circulating - most notably that of interim prosecutor Tom Griffin, who was involved in the US Attorney's scandal two years ago. (The GOP's dream candidate is former Governor Mike Huckabee, but he is too wrapped up in preparations for a 2012 presidential run to risk it all in a difficult Senate race.)
23. Georgia (Johnny Isakson)
Saxby Chambliss's re-election race suggested that Democrats have a path to unseating Republican incumbents in the Peach State (Martin received 46% of the first round vote) but it also demonstrated how red a state Georgia remains (Chambliss crushed Martin by 15% in the runoff). In 2010, Democrats might not suffer from as abysmal a turnout of their share as they did on December 2nd, but the share of the African-American vote is unlikely to be as high as it was on November 4th - and Democrats still have no clear roadmap to winning statewide races in Georgia.
They have no obvious candidate either. A recent PPP poll found Isakson under 50% against two potential challengers, Rep. Jim Marshall and Attorney General Thurbert Baker. There is little pointing to either considering a run.
24. South Carolina (Jim DeMint)
A Senator's first re-election campaign is always the trickiest one, which is the only reason to think Democrats have any hope of unseating Jim DeMint. South Carolina is a heavily Republican state in federal races and it has gone increasingly red at the state-level as well, meaning that Democrats have a thin bench and no obvious candidate.
25. Alaska (Lisa Murkowski)
In 2008, Alaska proved that it was one of the most reliably Republican states of the country. Embattled GOP Rep. Don Young scored one of the biggest upsets of the cycle by defeating top Democratic challenger Ethan Berkowitz, and convicted felon Ted Stevens came within a few points of winning re-election. Sure, Young and Stevens are both towering titans of Alaskan politics - a title Lisa Murkowski cannot claim. But it would take nothing short of a Murkowski indictment for Democrats to have a shot - and even then, they have a rather thin bench.
On the other hand, the Republican primary could be one of the most entertaining races of the cycle if Sarah Palin decides to challenge Murkowski. (The GOP's former vice-presidential nominee defeated Lisa's father Frank in the 2006 gubernatorial primary, and one of the reasons Frank Murkowski was so unpopular then was that he appointed his daughter Lisa to replace him in the Senate.)
26. Maryland (Mikulski)
If longtime Senator Barbara Mikulski runs for re-election, she will be unlikely to face a serious Republican opponent: She is an entrenched incumbent in a solidly Democratic state. But Mikulski is rumored to be eying retirement. An open seat could create a competitive race, though Democrats would start with the upper-hand.
27. Oregon (Ron Wyden)
Democratic Senator Ron Wyden is finishing his second full term, and it's hard to see him in much danger in 2010. First, Wyden is a popular incumbent - so popular, in fact, that Republican Senator Gordon Smith touted his relationship with Wyden in his 2008 campaign ads. Second, Oregon reconnected with its reliably Democratic roots this year, giving Barack Obama a huge victory and making it that much more difficult to envision a GOP comeback.
It's unlikely Wyden will attract top opposition; Gordon Smith might be the only credible Republican candidate, but how could he defeat an incumbent he himself praised when he couldn't win his own re-election race?
28. Alabama (Richard Shelby)
First elected as a Democrat in 1986, Senator Shelby switched parties in 1994. Since then, the South has become the GOP's only safe refuge and Democrats have had a tough time in Alabama. That said, they performed exceptionally well in 2008, picking-up AL-02 and holding on to conservative AL-05. Ambitious state Democrats - like Agriculture Commissioner Ron Sparks, Rep. Arthur Davis and Rep. Bobby Bright - are more likely to jump in the gubernatorial race than to challenge Shelby.
29. South Dakota (John Thune)
Democrats would love to defeat freshman Senator John Thune, but it's difficult to see who could defeat Tom Dashle's 2004 slayer. Often mentioned as a future presidential or vice-presidential candidate, Thune represents a staunchly Republican state and he already had $3,730,617 in the bank at the end of the third quarter of 2008. Furthermore, he no longer has to worry about Dashle seeking a rematch since the former Senate Majority Leader is now Obama's HHS Secretary. One potential Democratic candidate is Rep. Stephanie Herseth, who is said to be eying a higher position. But Herseth would be much better served running for Governor or waiting for Tim Johnson's retirement from the state's other Senate seat.
30. Indiana (Evan Bayh)
Democratic Senator Evan Bayh is a popular - and very entrenched - incumbent who is unlikely to draw serious Republican opposition. He served two terms as Governor and then won two senatorial elections - in 1998 and in 2004. And if this was not enough to keep potential challengers at bay, he enters 2009 with a huge war chest: As of September 30th, Bayh had $11 million of cash on hand.
Furthermore, Indiana is no longer the staunchly conservative state of Bayh's first election: Barack Obama stunningly prevailed in the state, a shift of 21% since the 2004 election. The hundreds of thousands of new registrants that have now been brought into the mix will help all Indiana Democrats in the years ahead.
31. Oklahoma (Tom Coburn)
In any other state, as conservative and controversial a Senator as Tom Coburn would be in grave danger. But Oklahoma became the country's reddest state in 2008: John McCain won every single county and Senator Inhofe demolished promising Democratic state Senator Andrew Rice. The only threat to Coburn's reelection is Democratic Governor Brad Henry, who will be term-limited out his job in 2010. Unfortunately for the DSCC, Henry has rather emphatically declared that he is unlikely to run for Senate, citing the stress it would put on his family life.
32. Connecticut (Chris Dodd)
Democratic Senator Chris Dodd's approval ratings are not particularly high (48% in a recent Quinnipiac poll) and his position on the Senate's Banking Committee could give Republicans an opening to link him to the financial mess. That said, Connecticut is a heavily Democratic state, Dodd is a five-term incumbent and Republicans have no obvious candidate other than Governor Jodi Rell. This is a similar situation as in Vermont: Rell is up for re-election in 2010, so she would have to give up her relatively safe job for a very difficult race.
33. Vermont (Pat Leahy)
Now that Democrats are durably in the majority, Democratic Senator Pat Leahy gets to chair the Senate's Judiciary Committee - and for that reason alone he is likely to run for re-election in 2010. The only Republican who could potentially cause him some headaches is Governor Jim Douglas. But Douglas has to run for re-election in 2010, so why would he abandon his relatively safe job for a quixotic effort to topple Leahy?
34. New York (Chuck Schumer)
The Empire State's Republican Party is moribund, Chuck Schumer is a popular Democratic incumbent with remarkable fundraising skills and, to the extent that any credible Republicans with statewide ambitions can be found, they are far more likely to jump in the two other New York races that will be on the ballot in 2010: the gubernatorial race and the special election for Hillary Clinton's Senate seat.
35. Idaho (Mike Crapo)
In 2004, Senator Mike Crapo won re-election with more than 99% of the vote as he was running opposed. Finding a candidate to run would already represent progress for Democrats.
36. Utah (Bob Bennett)
Three-term Senator Bob Bennett will remain Utah's Senator for as long as he wants to be.


text:
My journey to my recent appointment as a Sheriff has been scenic and interesting . It was not necessarily a destination I planned when I embarked upon my legal career almost three decades ago. After graduating I secured a traineeship with Bannatyne Kirkwood France & Co in Glasgow where I remained for ten years, becoming a partner in 1992. As well as general private client and court work I specialised in media law, advising local and national newspapers on a daily and nightly basis. It was exciting for a newly qualified lawyer and offered me an avenue to qualify in English law and become a partner in the London libel firm of Peter Carter Ruck and Partners.
After the birth of my first child I followed my ambition and pursued a career at the Bar. I established a busy civil practice before becoming an Advocate Depute in 2008. The mix of civil and criminal experience has been invaluable in my current role. As a Legal Convenor of the Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland I had acquired some judicial experience and I took silk in 2013.
I was once advised not consider applying for judicial appointment until you have achieved all feel you would like to achieve as a solicitor or advocate. When the competition for appointment to the role of Sheriff was announced in 2014 I felt that time had come. While the application form is daunting it serves to focus the mind on where one's skills lie and whether one would really be suited to the job. The requirement to provide practical examples to meet the criteria allows reflection over one's entire career. If you think about it carefully you can surprise yourself as to the range of experience you can demonstrate.
The interview itself is demanding but there is helpful guidance on the website which enables you to prepare for the type of questions you may be asked.
Every step of the process requires time and effort and rightly so. However as I progressed through the stages I became more and more certain that this was the job I wanted.
Since taking up my appointment I have not doubted that choice. I very much enjoy the variety of work. One minute I can be dealing with summary crime , the next it can be animal welfare matters or a debate on a matter of contract. Versatility and a willingness to embrace new and unfamiliar areas of the law are essential. While the change of role is challenging it is also rewarding. As a floating sheriff I am gaining insight into the differences of approach between various sheriffs. My colleagues have been nothing but helpful and supportive.
Throughout the process and beyond I think it is important to portray your own personality and style. The diversity of the individuals appointed as Sheriffs strengthens the group as a whole.
I see this as the start of a new chapter in my legal career and look forward with enthusiasm to the years ahead.


text:
TracksDVD - 2014
From the critics
Community Activity
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Super movie. Mia W. is really convincing in her role. The bonus material (interview with the actors, and the real people they are depicting) is well worth watching. Amazing that Mia was able to learn how to handle the camels in just ONEWEEK!! Plus, she is so tiny that it was hard to believe she would be able to make it to the ocean.
A fantastic true story with beautiful scenery. It is about a young woman's remarkable journey through the Australia desert with only one dog and four camels. The movie was a bit slow moving but the photography was great !
Great little movie. Really held me with solid characters, fascinating scenery and great acting: above all must have been just as tough a film to make as the original trek thru the desert: a really engrossing film, highly recommended.
TRACKS, the movie from the book, "Tracks" by Robin Davidson, depicts the 1700 mile journey of Robin from Alice Springs, Australia to the Indian Ocean through the emptiest quarter of Australia's out back. A desert trek by Robin with 4 camels and one dog, shows her learning as she goes as she plots her journey with map and compass. Starting with just the idea of being let alone on her quest, she has little money until National Geographic sends sponsorship money and a photographer. They have a prickly relationship but further on the photograher, Rick Smolan, becomes her main support. The movie has voice over quotes that give us slight bits of what motivates her. One quote is that women who love animals are often depicted as off center. Against that stereotype we see her engage her camels and dog humanly as understandable pals and helpmates. This is opposite of the way she was taught by the Aussie's in Alice Springs which was as antagonist. On this point the book has more space to reveal Robin's sense of the camels personalities and they become there own characters in the book. The movie has the better ability to show the vast unceasing desert, and with a few shots from above we see her and her camels as just small dots on the sand. This is a very good adventure movie. ---Sherpaone
Beautiful scenery. I enjoyed watching Robyn Davidsons' trek; although I felt the movie could have been cut by 20 to 30 minutes.
A powerful, raw depiction of a woman as she reigns four camels across the Australian desert with only her dog as true company. Wonderful, adventurous and rugged at its core.
An incredible daring if not suicidal journey which was only probable with the National Geographic sponsorship and the photographer's loving care. However, didn't get into the seeking human isolation theme any more than in "Wild 2014." What glaringly lacked were more scenic shots that should be abound (Understand the "Camel Lady" with the camels were actually deep inside the Uluru National Park during her epic track - link in "Summary,") and what the antagonists really learned along the way other than to cure their private loss. A better watch in this genre was "A Walk in the Woods 2015" in mho.
SummaryAdd a Summary
National Geographic photographs capture the 1978 Robyn Davidson's "Track." One of the shot showed Davidson and two of her four camel entourage inside Ulufu:
Robyn with her camels at Uluru, more famously known as Ayers Rock. Standing at 1100ft high and five miles in circumference, it is the world's largest single rock and has a history that goes back to the beginning of time. A sacred site to the Pitjantjara and Loritja tribes for over 10,000 years, Uluru today attracts many Australians who regard a trip to the Rock as a pilgrimage
or this link:
and shown swimming naked in a waterhole inside Uluru in National Geographic Video "Alone Across the Outback," at about 7 minute mark:
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Freeman's Storage can be found at Nw Madras Hwy 938. The following is offered: Storage. The entry is present with us since Sep 9, 2010 and was last updated on Nov 14, 2013. In Prineville there are 5 other Storage. An overview can be found here.


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Welcome to Calliope Town! Established in July 2015, our community seeks to capture the simple charm of the Harvest Moon video game series while providing a relaxed, friendly atmosphere for roleplayers. Although we draw inspiration from the games, no prior knowledge is necessary to jump into our little world. If you want, think of us as a slice-of-life roleplay!
|calliope town • a harvest moon roleplay
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|Leira Conner
Posted: May 23 2017, 05:11 PM
Leira sat behind her desk in her small office, doing the paperwork she so despised. Per the doctors orders, she wasn't allowed to go out into the field for anything more extensive than supervising, and she bloody hated it. It was making her sour and angry, and everyone knew it. Most of them were walking on eggshells around her, which only ramped up her irritation to nearly unbearable levels. She was nearly ready to snap, and when her phone rang, she heard a slight pop from the plastic bic pen that was in one hand. She very, very carefully set it down, before she picked up her phone.
"911, this is Chief Conner. What's the emergency?" She was incredibly shocked her voice was so calm despite how annoyed she felt at the interruption. And the fact that her healing wound was itching like crazy, and predictably hurt every time she absently went to scratch it.
"Chief! Thank Goddess. Someone just broke into my house, he took off with my Nana's expensive necklace!" The voice was Layla's, frantic and tear filled. It made Leira feel a little guilty for a second at being so annoyed. Layla was a sweet woman, and friendly with everyone. "I saw where he went, Rollo chased after him, but he kicked him and I think he really hurt my dog. He's in that old abandoned farmhouse about a mile behind mine."
"Alright, Layla. I'll get someone out there asap. I don't think I need to tell this, but stay away from that house, Layla."
"I know, chief. Thank you." There was a click, and the line went dead. Leira growled softly under her breath before she stood and went to the door. There was a slight limp to her gait, half because her leg was hurting again. The only officer there was Merrick, as well as a rookie who would probably piss his pants if he went after this guy. Leira sighed again.
"Merrick," She said to get his attention. "Layla Murphy just called. Someone broke into her house while she was there, stole her grandmothers necklace, and ran off to the farmhouse about a mile behind Layla's. It's abandoned so no hostage situation or anything. Can you go flush the idiot out and get the necklace back before he takes off again?"
|Merrick Hart
Posted: May 23 2017, 05:22 PM
A pen flitted between Merrick's fingers. He'd finished what little paperwork he'd needed to that day, and unless somebody committed a crime bigger than walking out of the cafe without paying for their pastry, he wouldn't have much else to do that day. He knew it stood a not insignificant chance of annoying Leira, but he couldn't for the life of him think of anything else to do at that point in time. He couldn't even make the excuse of oging out on patrol - there was more people out than was needed already.
His ears perked up when she mentioned a robbery. He hated to admit it, but something to actually do that day almost made him relieved. He was still rather concerned about what'd happened, though.
"Layla's been robbed? Who'd even- Nobody here'd even think of doing that, let alone actually do it..."
Merrick mumbled to himself as he went to fetch his jacket - checking to make sure his gun was loaded as well. He'd not had to use it at all in Calliope, and was hoping that the case with Layla would follow suit. But, even so, something just seemed... off.
Merrick reached for the door, and hesitated.
"Leira, I'm going to need some backup. I've got a bad feeling about this. Nobody here'd just break into Layla's house and take her grandmother's necklace. Even if they were scummy enough to do it, everyone knew her grandmother. There's nowhere here they could sell it."
Every moment he was there was a moment wasted, he knew that. But his gut was screaming at him to tread lightly, and to take an extra gun with him. He didn't know if any of Calliope's cops had much experience with violent crime, but he knew it'd make him feel a hell of a lot safer to know that someone'd be there to help keep him from bleeding out.
|Leira Conner
Posted: May 23 2017, 05:38 PM
"She didn't say who or if she knew the guy," Leira said, her voice a little more snappish than she'd intended it to be. She didn't take it back though. She couldn't, not just then. She watched Merrick, watched him as he grabbed his jacket. And suddenly she did want to apologize for her tone, for being such a bitch for the last week or so to absolutely everyone. But then he spoke, and her irritation ramped up again. She grimaced.
"The only other one here is Jones. I still can't do anything." And Goddess, having to admit that made her want to grind her teeth.
At the mention of his name, the rookie looked up, his eyes huge in his skull. Goddess he looked like he was ten. Leira scraped her hair back, even more irritated than before. It shouldn't be Merrick and the rookie out there with this guy. He had to be from Anthem, no one in Calliope would rob Layla of all people.
"Fine, take Jones with you." She glanced at the rookie, and he jumped up and nearly stumbled over his own feet to grab his own jacket. "Jones, your gun..." Leira said, and the guy actually flinched. With his back turned, Leira looked at Merrick with a are you really sure? face before the rookie got his stuff together and was standing next to Merrick at the door.
"Be careful," She muttered, and went into her office and couldn't help the little slam the door made behind her.
|Merrick Hart
Posted: May 23 2017, 05:51 PM
Merrick was visibly shocked by Leira's tone. Sure, he'd expected her to not be in the best of moods, given how her leg was affecting her, but even then, he'd expected a little more restraint. He tried to gather himself, but when she told Jones that he would be coming with him, Merrick couldn't help but let his surprised expression linger. Even he - a person who's equivalent to laughing was smiling slightly more widely than usual - couldn't help but look shocked at what she was proposing. Perhaps even a little angry.
He knew it wasn't the kid's fault. he was just there trying to be the best cop he could be. He was still green, fresh out of the academy - he didn't need to be facing down an armed robber. Merrick glared at Leira briefly, as if to try and get her to change her mind, but knew that this was the best he was going to get. All he could do was try and keep the kid out of harm's way.
"Come on, Jones. Just stick behind me and remember your training. You'll be fine - probably just some punk that didn't expect small town cops to be able to deal with him."
He opened the door to let the kid out, glancing one last time at Leira before he left. The anger on his face was far more visible now. He almost couldn't believe what Leira was making the both of them do, but there wasn't much that could have been done about it.
"Leira, I'm speaking as someone with experience here. If you can't get anyone else to come with me, get on the radio and tell anyone near us to be on standby. Something's not right here. I don't care who it is, just make sure they can handle him."
Merrick slammed the door behind him, and left.
|Leira Conner
Posted: May 23 2017, 05:58 PM
Leira's lip curled at Merrick's tone, at the look on his face. She didn't think she'd ever seen him angry like that before, not in all the years she'd known him before, not even when he'd knocked that idiot out when they'd first met. The fact that he had a point didn't help her temper, and after he slammed his way out of the precinct she stalked; read limped; around her office for a few minutes before snatching up her radio.
"Any available unit, head out to the abandoned farm to assist Deputies Hart and Jones. Possible armed robber present. Give me your ETA."
As Leira limped, she scowled at the radio, waiting for it to squawk back at her. When someone finally replied back, it wasn't great news. "Daniels reporting. ETA twenty minutes, can't make it any faster. Hart if you're listening, sorry, I'm going as fast as I can." Leira sighed, but it was the best she could do.
She flicked the radio down low and went back to her paperwork, trying to bury the slowly burning guilt that was trying to twist her stomach into knots.
|Merrick Hart
Posted: May 23 2017, 06:13 PM
The minutes ticked by, and neither Jones nor Merrick came into the station to report. Not a peep was heard from or about them - it was silent. For a little while, this was to be expected. Merrick wouldn't radio into HQ to update his situation until he was certain everything was done and dusted, and even then, he was close enough to the station that he could just tell Leira what'd happened if it wasn't urgent. And yet, the minutes ticked by, and nobody had arrived with news about either of them.
Eventually, one of them burst in through the door, drenched in sweat and pale as a sheet. A few flecks of crimson were on his shirt, spread out by the sweat. He started shouting incomprehensibly, something about a machete, Merrick, the robber, and Layla. Nothing he said made a lick of sense, but anyone could tell that it wasn't something pleasant.
"Easy there, son." Said one of the older men in the station, rubbing the deputy's shoulder reassuringly. "Just take a deep breath, and tell us what happened. That's it, breathe slowly, get your bearings.
Jones was still in a panicked state, but at least what he was saying was intelligible.
"It's... It's Merrick. He- the robber- he had a machete, and-and Merrick drew his gun. He didn't w-want to shoot, but he - the, the guy- he ran at him, and he attacked, and Merrick shot him. The guy, he - he got Merrick though, and he..."
"Easy son, easy. Just sit down, get some rest. Must've been hard on you to run all the way here."
"Merrick tried to radio in before we went in, and I... I tried to radio in, tell the chief what happened after I got an ambulance, but she- her radio, it..."
The older officer shot a look at Leira. He said nothing - there was no need for it. The sheer, immeasurable fury in his eyes said enough.
|Leira Conner
Posted: May 23 2017, 06:25 PM
Leira had completely forgotten she'd turned the radio down by the time Jones ran in so fast she thought he'd collide with the deputy who'd come in about ten minutes before. She got up, walking as fast as she could to the door of her office and swung it open so fast she nearly smacked herself with it. His words had all the blood draining from her face, and as she looked at Jones, she realized there was blood splatter on one of his cheeks and on his shirt.
Leira didn't even see the other officers look. Her vision narrowed on that blood, and she felt her head go light with pure panic. "Where is he?" Leira asked, and when Jones didn't say anything, she grabbed him by the arm. "Deputy!"
"T- the clinic," Jones barely got it out before Leira was out of the door, the pain in her leg barely slowing her down. She ran, her hair wild behind her, her heart racing so fast she could barely breath as she pelted from the police station, out of the doors of the town hall, and all the way to the clinic where she knew Tatiana would be with Merrick. Leira wasn't sure she took a breath the entire way there. If she were being entirely honest, Leira didn't even remember leaving the police station. She was just suddenly outside the clinic, and she flung that door open too.
"Merrick? Where is he?" She asked Layla, who was sitting in the waiting room, her hands covered with blood. Layla didn't say anything, just pointed towards the back, one of the exam rooms. She was shaking. So was Leira.
She turned and started fast down to the room Layla pointed out, her heart in her throat.
Tatiana Rouzet Merrick Hart
|Tatiana Rouzet
Posted: May 23 2017, 07:14 PM
The worst to be expected in a small town like Calliope was a few cuts from farming machines, a broken rib from an awry horse's kick, a broken nose from a bar fight. When Merrick was dragged into the clinic, the sight of so much blood was almost shocking to Tatiana.
Then, she understood exactly what she needed to do and fell into the sort of focus that was required to save a life. Merrick was placed in an examination room, his blood quickly spilling over the sterile sides of the examination table. Step 1, access the damage. Step 2, stop the blood.
Step 3? Well, she'd cross that bridge when she got there. Every other detail melted out of existence. If anyone asked who was lying on her examination table, she'd say it was a patient. Not Merrick. If anyone asked why he was there, or what had done this to him, she would shake her head and return to patching him up.
Her job as a doctor was not to ask why. It was simply to fix what had been done. Her heart was beating in her throat as she and a near senile nurse treated the patient, hands flying as she stopped the blood and stabilized his position. And when she'd finished, and began making him comfortable, she looked to the clock.
It was then that a familiar voice rang out, and she returned to her own self. The self that recognized the man on the examination table, and the voice that was calling out.
Merrick. Leira.
She worked the muscles of her jaw, an onslaught of suppressed emotions hitting her at that particular moment.
"Here, Leira." Tatiana called, momentarily stepping out of the examination room. Her eyes flicked from Leira to Layla, who still sat in the waiting room.
"He's stable." Tatiana began, rather coldly, moving to the sink in the examination room to wash her hands. Though Merrick was freshly wrapped with bandages, his blood was still on the tables and Tati's hands.
When a tick of silence had passed (the doctor was courteous enough to allow that moment to her former roommate) Tatiana turned and sighed.
"Layla mentioned the farm, not much else information got to me. I'll be administered a tetanus shot just in case the machete had rust on it -- though I still have to check when his last one was." She paused then, blame dripping from the next two words, "What happened?"
|Leira Conner
Posted: May 23 2017, 07:25 PM
Tatiana's wrath went unnoticed, at least for a the moment, as Leira tried to look in the room past Tatiana. The amount of blood Leira saw had her blacking out for several seconds, though when she came too, it was with Tati's hard glare and the words "What happened?" ringing in the air, dripping with so much blame that Leira could almost feel it sliding over her skin like tar. She obviously hadn't fallen down, she was still standing there, with Tatiana talking to her like she was a normal sane person. Right then, Leira was not. And then those words rang in her head again. "What happened?"
Leira's mind came to a stuttering halt then. She didn't actually know what happened. She only knew second hand garbled information. "I asked Merrick to check on a robber who went after something of Layla's," Leira said. Her voice sounded dead, flat, to her own ears. She could only imagine what it sounded like to the other two in the room. She couldn't look at Tati, at Layla, her eyes were trained on the still form in the bed of the room Leira couldn't move towards. It was like her feet were glued to the floor.
"I sent him with the rookie cop because I didn't think it was that bad. Just a simple B & E, over and done. The next thing I know the rookie is back, covered in blood, saying someone was after Merrick with a machete and he was here."
"I was there," Layla said, her voice weak. "I lead them out the way the guy went. I heard the rookie screaming for help and the gunshot. I went in to find the guy dead and Merrick... I did what I could until the ambulance arrived." Layla looked down at her hands and started visibly at the blood still staining them. "T- Tatiana, may I use your sink to wash?" She asked weakly.
|Tatiana Rouzet
Posted: Jun 9 2017, 08:32 PM
Tatiana didn't reply at first. Instead, she nodded mutely at Layla -- the sound of the faucet turning on filling the silence. Then, Tatiana clenched her teeth. The stress that followed crunch time was overwhelming -- and something vile was brewing.
"You sent him...with a rookie?" Tatiana began, her voice strained -- perhaps revealing her stress, or bringing the old wounds of their shared college days out of the limelight."Goddess, Leira...did you want to get him injured? This is the same guy right? -- The same Merrick?"
"Is this how you get rid of exes? Because I can't think of any qualified police chief who'd underestimate a robber holed up in a barn yard. You sent him without backup to deal with a cornered wolf."
Leira Conner
|Leira Conner
Posted: Jun 10 2017, 09:56 AM
Leira's eyes flashed with something akin to rage at Tatiana's words. There was also hurt, deep and profound. What if Merrick thought that was why she'd sent him with the rookie? She hadn't known the man even had a weapon, if she had she wouldn't have sent him essentially alone.
"You fucking bitch," Leira said, stalking forward slowly. She reached up and shoved Tatiana back hard, a hand on her chest. "I would never purposefully put him in danger. Or any of my other officers. You don't know what it's like to do my job so back the fuck off."
Leira was shaking, though it wasn't only with rage. Fear that Merrick would die was twisting her heart so painfully she almost broke down.
"Leira you're bleeding," came Layla's soft voice, and Leira snapped her head to look at her, then down at her leg. Evidently the run over had torn a few stitches.
"I'm fine," Leira said, barely able to keep the snap out of her voice. It wasn't Layla she was mad at. It was Tati. And herself. She turned back to the blonde doctor, her top lip drawn back in a sneer.
"What do you know, anyway, Tatiana? The worst you've ever had to deal with was someone being sick. Why don't you do your job and keep your prissy, stuck up nose out of mine?"
Tatiana Rouzet
|Tatiana Rouzet
Posted: Jun 10 2017, 05:44 PM
Tatiana's eyes narrowed to slits as she recovered from the blow, the pain blooming from the center of her chest. It subsided after a second. The shove itself hadn't been enough to bruise-- and it had hardly appalled Tatiana. She'd expected retaliation from Leira, she'd wanted retaliation subconcsiously.
She was just surprised that her words warranted a physical response. She'd struck a chord deep enough to break the police chief's usual control. Despite herself, a smile -- thick with malice -- slid up her lips.
It no longer mattered that Merrick was behind her, nothing but a curtain to keep him out of view. Tatiana was no longer even aware of Layla, who'd spoken to Leira.
"What, Connor, you can't take an ounce of criticism?" Tatiana asked, snidely, "I wouldn't call a machete attack a "sickness." But, you know, there's a reason I got through medical school and you didn't. And! Because I was able to do my job -- your boy toy is still alive. "
Here, Tatiana took the step she'd lost when Leira had pushed her. She went so far as to lean in, the words like venom: "So don't tell me I know nothing-- because what I know saved his life. Maybe I should stick my nose in your business. The police department would be better off."
|Leira Conner
Posted: Jun 10 2017, 05:59 PM
"Criticism? That was... Criticism?" Leira's voice dripped with venom as her eyes flared with rage. "That sounded more like you accusing me of purposefully trying to get Merrick killed. Trying to get anyone killed." Her lips drew back in an almost feral snarl as she stalked forward slowly, only her own restraint keeping her from hauling out and hitting Tatiana in the face. "You know full damn well I would have made it through med school if my parents hadn't died and I'd gone to fight. You're just jealous because you knew I was smarter than you, Tatiana." Leira wasn't even sure where that came from, but it sounded good and she was so pissed she didn't even care.
At Tatiana's next comment, Leira let out a noise that could only be called a growl. "You'd just end up letting the thieves and criminals run loose because your lily white ass would be too afraid to send anyone out if you ran the police department." They'd gotten so close now that they were all but in each others faces. Leira could feel Tati's breath on her face they were so close.
At some point Layla had gotten up, but the poor girl was standing, eyes wide, off to the side and unsure of what to do. She looked panicked. Leira barely even noticed her, wouldn't have at all if she hadn't been just within her line of sight. Still, she paid the girl no heed despite the frantic motions she was making to get them to quiet down.
"Me and my officers keep this town and the people safe. We're going to get hurt. If I'd known that jackass was armed, I'd have gone myself and I'd have made fucking sure it wouldn't be Merrick on that table, so back. The. Fuck. Off."
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