Republicans are uncertain as to whether opposition to a Democratic idea is in their best interest.

[Clio the Leo]

Finally. We've broken them .... lol at least for a little while.

Obama pulls out his boxing gloves in Calif.

By E.J. Dionne Jr.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
SANTA BARBARA, CALIF.

What does President Obama's visit to California this week on behalf of embattled Sen. Barbara Boxer have to do with passage of the financial reform bill? Far more than you'd imagine.

That Boxer is in any trouble says much of what you need to know about this year's election. California has become a Democratic bastion, and Boxer has been a liberal institution who never before faced a serious reelection challenge.

Now she is seen as sufficiently vulnerable that Obama will come to the state for another fundraiser for her next month. The threat to Boxer is grim news for Democrats.

Is this sense of the election about to be overtaken? That's where financial reform comes in. If health-care legislation had to fight uphill against a public mood that is skeptical of government's capacities, the financial reform bill that Democrats are pushing has the advantage of flowing with a public view devoutly critical of Wall Street, bankers and all their works.

And for the first time in Obama's presidency, Republicans are uncertain as to whether resolute opposition to a Democratic idea is in their political interest. There are strong indications that the GOP would prefer to avoid an all-out confrontation over re-regulating the financial system, and several Republican senators are saying that they would like to negotiate with Democrats. Suddenly, it's Democrats -- and, in particular, the often conflict-averse Obama -- who are relishing a fight.

This raises what might be the essential question for November: Can Democrats finally put the Republicans on the defensive?

Obama is betting that they can.

more....
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/21/AR2010042104449.html

"betting that THEY CAN" - imagine it. ;)

[Cha]

1. I don't even understand how

Barbara can be in trouble when she's been doing an admirable job all these years and Cali just had 8 years of arnie to show them what a repuke is like?

[Aramchek]

2. She will win, don't worry.

:)

[Cha]

3. Hope so!

:)

[Jennicut]

4. It is the economy. Many imcumbents are in trouble and Dems are the party in power.

Dodd was in huge trouble here in CT...thankfully he stepped aside. I think Boxer will eventually be okay.

[Cha]

5. That's why understanding how we got into this

mess it invaluble and how long it actually takes to get out is priceless.

Jerry Brown should be a shoe-in for Gov.

[Jennicut]

6. He was ahead in the recent Ramussen poll.

He has a lot of experience. I think he will win as well.

[Cha]

7. Rasmussen..wow! Even with all of Meg's ads

and a magazine.

Here's Jerry Brown's petition to get Meg to debate him and Steve Poizner..:)

http://action.jerrybrown.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=1665

[BlooInBloo]

8. We're talking about an electorate that voted in the Terminator. Twice.

Any more questions?

[Control-Z]

9. Yes, but many of them

were starstruck and voting for the Hollywood action figure. And I think possibly, for some folks, the Shriver/Kennedy connection offered a false credibility to him.

Now that Cali has crashed and burned, hopefully some of them will have learned the difference between Hollywood and reality.

[Cha]

12. And, they've had 8 years of terminated..

I know what you mean though 'cause I'm trying to think of good ones from there besides some Congresspeople and Barbara Boxer(who they might throw away).

[DCBob]

10. The heathcare battle is looking like a major epic fail for the GOPers..

Even though they had all the momentum and all the buzz words and coordinated disinformation coming from all sides.. yet they still lost. That means its time to regroup and try something else.

[applegrove]

11. Right on.