Why do senators (with 6-year terms) fear repercussions more...

[k8conant]

than representatives (with 2-year terms)?

It doesn't make sense to me.

[RoeBear]

1. Senators are elected on a statewide ballot

reps many times are elected from relatively small communities, many times they are small communities of like minded individuals.

[k8conant]

3. WV 2nd District is over 300 miles long...

not very small in area, that's for sure. Unfortunately we have Rep. Shelley Moore Capito who cozies up to Bush like crazy.

[RoeBear]

9. I'm betting that Michigan's

first congressional district is even larger than WV's; but that watn't my point.

[Warpy]

5. Senators are elected at large in some states

but by district in others.

The districts are very large, though, and it costs a great deal of money to run.

[RoeBear]

8. What state

are you saying that Senators are elected by district?

[beyurslf]

2. Because Senators are occassionally beat. Reps are almost never beat

for re-election. The return rate (minus the illegally changed districts in TX) this year was something like 98 or 99% for Reps. A "bad" year for incumbenets is still above 90% return.

[meganmonkey]

4. Especially given the average American's attention span!

It's not like most people will remember all this in a few years :P

[Pam-Moby]

7. If you ask me

they all should fear if they do not stand up, there will be a tide of discontent with the senators who ignore our demand and they will not serve another term as a democratic rep. as far as I am concerned. I let my state senators know that if they fail to be behind Confers I will personally work to replace them when their time is up!!

[IStriker]

6. There are only 100 of them so there's a lot less anonymity...

and since there are only 2 from even big states, voters are way more likely to know their names and faces than the gobs of congressmen who represent little blocks of voters in localized areas. There aren't too many "safe" states where you can make a fool of yourself and not be challenged in the next election (maybe Mass. or Utah;) there are still lots of "safe" congressional districts where you can be the biggest laughingstock in the country and still get re-elected because you represent a bunch of flakes and people who pay no attention.