Van Hollen: '10 Won't Be Like '94 -- We'll Be Better Prepared

[NJmaverick]

It's about the ground game, the base, and using the Republicans' weaknesses against them--and even then it will be a hard slog.

In the clearest articulation yet of his strategy to avoid huge losses at the polls this November, the chairman of the House Democrats' re-election committee, Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) says vulnerable members will be better prepared than their counterparts were in 1994, when a huge wave of Republicans swept into office and took control of Congress. And this time around, the Republicans have a number of problems of their own: Sarah Palin, the radicalized tea party movement, an association with Bush-era economic policies, and, more generally, a sense among the electorate that they don't represent a real alternative.

"To the extent that there's a national message, the message will be, again, do you really want to go back to the Bush economic policies, because one thing is pretty clear is that that's question is fresh in voters minds," Van Hollen told me and two other reporters after a breakfast roundtable discussion this morning. "When you ask them who's responsible for the huge deficits, they still appropriately lay more of the responsibility ."

In response to a question from TPMDC, Van Hollen said that the Democrats' health care victory has measurably bolstered the energy of the activist base of the party--though it's unclear what impact passage of the law has had on the GOP base, which will ultimately determine whether Democrats can shrink the enthusiasm gap this November.

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http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/04/jiu-jitsu-armed-with-renewed-enthusiasm-dems-will-draw-sharp-contrast-to-republicans.php?ref=fpb

[Captain Hilts]

1. The Republicans are an irrelevant party. That helps us. nt

[liberal N proud]

2. The one advantage the GOP does have is the Media

It's hard to beat 24/7 propaganda against you.

[NJmaverick]

3. True, they own FAUX news and talk radio and they are able to manipulate the rest

[wryter2000]

4. I know it's common knowledge that the Dems will lose big

I imagine we'll lose some seats. We can't maintain the sort of wins we had in 2006 and 2008. But, seriously, the GOP isn't raising any money. The head of the RNC is a joke. The teabaggers are fighting the "regular" Republican idiots. We've just passed Health Care Reform, and some people will get immediate benefit. The student loan program has been taken from the hands of the banksters.

How does all that add up to a Republican rout?

[NJmaverick]

5. The key is jobs. If enough of them are created by Nov

I think there is little the GOP can do. If the economy is still down and unemployment is high the GOP will win despite themselves.

[whattheidonot]

10. jobs

much more should be done about jobs and wages now. it has been slow to develop. the republicans will produce jobs that do not pay well and laws that benefit few so the economy will still be bad. a couple of years of rep policy might be the shock the country needs. Obama has been to slow to get people working and to cozy still with Wall Street.

[NJmaverick]

11. Unfortunately the best jobs for the economy would be private sector jobs

and there is only so much pump priming the government can do. Although when you consider the record billions the corporations are sitting on, along with pent up demand and I have to think things will take off in the next month or two (3 at the outside)

[pinboy3niner]

6. He wants Dems to run against Bush?

Okay, now I'm really worried . . . does anybody think this is a good strategy?

[daleanime]

7. Did you forget?

:sarcasm:

[kctim]

8. They also thought

their anti 2nd Amendment "victory" helped them then. Who knows.

It will all boil down to whether the people want this health care plan or not.

[NJmaverick]

9. I really don't think Health Care will be an issue then. By the time the elections role around

it will be clear that the bill does not spell the end of our nation.

[kctim]

12. This HC plan

will be the defining factor, IMO. It is a government mandate that is going to require frequent tax increases.

If the people want more like it, they will keep Dems in power. If they don't, they will transfer power, again.

That is why I believe these next few elections are going to determine the path our nation is going to take.

[ccarrick]

13. capital strike?

Does anyone else think that the unprecedented capital reserves that corporations now enjoy has to do with more than just the recession? What can be done to mitigate against a capital strike?

One of Bill Maher's recent guests made the point that if the "move your money" campaign was really successful, it could actually jeopardize the big banks and by extension the national economy.

I think we're all really over a barrel unless Obama can get in front of the financial reform issue, and sadly I think Simon Johnson is right - we shouldn't hold our breath for that to happen.