The Shocking Results For The November Elections

[Me.]

My prediction. Haven't run the poll numbers and am not recognized as an expert. And the dems have mishandled both the message and the strategy. In short, with Kaine at the helm, they are doing their best, as people are fond of saying, of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. Yet, much to the shock of many, I think they will hold onto both houses. Why? Well I have nothing tangible to offer aside from a feeling, perhaps cock-eyed optimism in the middle of the storm. After all, we've been told over and over again about how '94 turned out to be a change election that stunned everyone. And that's the point, no one expected it, all the indices pointed in the opposite direction. So this year, if like '94, will produce unexpected results. Secondly, the one thing you can count on the Cons to do is overplay their hands. They're already thumping their chests and talking about defunding and subpoenas. In two months they could easily jump the shark. Finally there's the President. He doesn't have a long track record but what we do know is that he seems to have bad summers, with terrible Augusts, and then comes back in the fall.

I will know in two months whether or not I'm off my head with this.

[kentuck]

1. The Democrats don't have to lose..

They can win if they walk and talk like Democrats. Cowering in the corner, waiting for the clock to tick down, fearful of saying anything that might be construed as controversial, is not the way to win.

[Andy823]

2. I agree

They need to go on the offense and put the republicans on defense and keep them there till the elections. They can't let the republicans frame the debates, they need to use all the crap the republicans have been saying against them, make the republicans defend what they have said about the unemployed, teachers, firemen, police, single mothers, about defunding programs for those i need, about SS and medicare, about bring the government to a stand still, about trying to impeach the president or any of the other crazy stuff they have been saying! This stuff is just sitting there waiting for democrats to use it, and it's all on tape!

All they have to do is stand up and as you said, walk the walk, don't just talk it! Force the republicans into a corner and don't let them out! Show the people they are mad as hell and won't take anymore right wing BS! They can do it if they really want to be re-elected! What the left needs is a reason to get out and vote, and using all the things the republicans say they are going to do "when" they win back the house and maybe the senate, should be enough to get voters on the left, independents, and even some of the more liberal republicans out to make sure they "DON'T" end up with a republican controlled congress next year!

[indepat]

9. The message that social security is going to be gutted by a cadre of RWers just itching

to do the job and dutifully hand-picked by a right-leaning/accomodating Democratic president doesn't help for: if Dems betray America on this issue, what further won't they put on the table to betray America? :P

Edited to remove a superfluous by and add further.

[DrSteveB]

3. How many House seats do you think Dems. win or lose?

Approximately.

[Me.]

4. A Wild Guess Would Be Approx. 15 Loss, Give Or Take

[w4rma]

5. It depends on what they actually do. Currently they aren't doing much of anything.

The DLC is in charge, which means that there won't be any stark contrasts between Democrats and Republicans campaigned on. Also because the DLC is in charge, there is a MUCH smaller grassroots defending Democrats. I'm watching this train wreck and hoping we are able to protect the progressive Congressfolk. I really could care less about the DLCers that put us into this predicament.

[Me.]

6. Oh They've Given Screwing Up Their Best Effort

So much so that one wonders if they actually want to win. And God knows that Rahm's personal picks in '06 were/are a disaster. My feeling is that the dems will stay put in spite of them. My great hope is that whatever losers there are, that they all be blue dogs.

[gulliver]

7. I feel that way too.

I think Obama and the Dems will really start hammering the Republicans after Labor Day. The Republicans have been innoculating themselves in advance by poo-pooing negative ads. They wish. This Fall, the truth hurts...Republicans...bad.

[David__77]

8. People were talking about a potential GOP takeover in 94.

Do a search in the Google news archives. It wasn't a shock from the perspective of polls. If the election were held today, it is highly likely Democratic losses would be massive. The point is to change things between now and the actual election.