A funny thing happened on the way to a Republican takeover in November

[pscot]

They got their butts kicked in a special election for John Murtha's seat. It was a seat they could have, and probably should have, won if the tide has really turned against the Democrats. But the Republicans have one small problem. They suck, and everybody knows it.

Given the resources the GOP poured into the effort to capture the seat and the decisiveness of the defeat—as it turned out, it wasn’t really that close—the outcome casts serious doubt on the idea that the Democratic House majority is in jeopardy and offers comfort to a Democratic Party that is desperately in search of a glimmer of hope.


The district itself couldn’t have been more primed for a Republican victory. According to one recent poll, President Barack Obama’s approval rating in the 12th was a dismal 35 percent, compared to 55 percent who disapproved. His health care plan was equally unpopular—just 30 percent of those polled supported it, while 58 percent were in opposition.


House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was even more disliked in the blue-collar, western Pennsylvania-based seat: Just 23 percent viewed her favorably, compared to 63 percent who viewed her unfavorably.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0510/37473.html#ixzz0oNuyG0l3

[sui generis]

1. Yep. Look who's coming to winner.

Not the republicans.

[ejpoeta]

2. if the republican would have won, even if by 1 point they would have made it out to be

some rebuke of obama and the democrats and they better watch out for november. but the dem won so we hear.... crickets.

[pscot]

3. Since it's the Politico saying this

It's clear someone has gotten the message.

[kenfrequed]

4. This is important!

And if this didn't make things uncomfortable for the triangulators and the DLC than it would be the news of the day.

People are tired of Democrats voting like republicans and trying to cater to their interests. If people were really tired of Democrats than this election should have been an easy GOP win.

[TreasonousBastard]

5. Wait'll everyone around here finds out Critz ran as anti-choice...

and kinda anti-Washingtopn.

I'll take it as a lot better than the other guy, but don't be surprised by the screaming about him in the not too distant future.

[chelsea0011]

6. Was this one of the 100 seats they said they would win back?

The media seems to be fixated on KY, a true blue red state, and a win by someone who courts the Teabaggers, but really is nothing more than a libertarian (which is really all the teabaggers are. There is no movement, just another name). But the republicants really thought this was one of the seats they would win back. And they lost. Big time. This is the story. Not KY.

[pscot]

7. Both events show Republican weakness

They lose a seat that would have validated the idea of a GOP comeback, and the Minority Leader can't get his hand picked guy elected in his own state. TYalk is cheap. At some point they have to win something.

[grantcart]

9. It was one of the ones that they were going to win 'easily'

district wasn't even carried by Obama.

[Scurrilous]

8. K & R

:thumbsup: