The possible 2012 Top of Tickets - unless Clinton goes back to Repbublian roots, this could be the Face of the GOP image: newsbusters
FromPolitco: The headline: “Democrats privately fear House prospects worsening”,is with 68 days left until the mid-term elections, a day late and a dollar short considering the mood of the electorate towards the Congress. Considering that Congressional Approval has dropped significantly since Democrats took control of both Houses in 2006, with only one in four voters approving of the job Congress is doing, according to combined polls at realclearpolitics.com, this should come as no surprise.
One has to ask, are the individuals who the voters send to Washington so isolated from their own states, districts and the mood of the country that they had no clue that, with very few exceptions, their jobs were in jeopardy? If the answer is yes, then they don’t deserve to represent the people in their respective districts and states. It is not that there hasn’t been ample warning from constituents: from explosive “town-hall” meetings where constituents vehemently opposed health care reform legislation, and massive to mini rallies held across the country by Tea Party members to protest government waste and spending, and specifically hard polling data, from both outside pollster and internal polling – these “endangered” representatives have to know the proverbial “jig is up”.
Therefore, they are now “privately” voicing their concerns and the DNC is frantically attempting to cover as much ground as possible in order to preserve a few seats in Congress and a glimmer of hope of maintaining control of the Senate. The option of painting a GOP Tea Party candidate as “extreme” is one way to go, however, it does not appear to be working – especially in the case of Sharon Angle – where incumbent, Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid is neck and neck in polls with Angle, after an ad blitz against Angle, painting her as “the extremist”. In fact, in viewing the polls, since the primary results, Reid initially had a 7 point lead, which has now resulted in a 2 point deficit (within the margin of error) with no signs of improvement on job performance polls either.
Can one expect to win in this climate, if their job approval is in the tank? Therein lays the crux, high profile and not so high profile politicians are being held responsible for, perhaps, the first time in history by a vast majority of American’s and, further, it crosses party lines.
The Congress goes through cycles, where it is “cleansed” of one party then another and this generally occurs during a mid-term election (election which does not include the office of the President). In recent history, 1994 saw the Republicans take the majority of both houses, in 2006, the same occurred when the Democrats did the same. Therefore, the natural ebb and flow of politics would indicate that some seats would be lost in 2010, enough perhaps to change party control.
Of course, that was prior to the Tea Party Movement formed out of frustration over an every growing Federal Government under this Congress and the Obama Presidency. Although cast in a negative light by most of the “mainstream media”, the Tea Party is made up of members of all backgrounds, and all political affiliations, and like other smaller political parties (i.e. Progressive Socialist and Libertarians), will put up candidates who run under a “major party label” in order to have a better shot at being elected. The problem that has occurred in general for most Democrats is that they now have two labels: Progressive and Democrat, and those hardcore Progressives (sic: Socialists) are part of their election woes.
There is a growing backlash and distrust, even among what’s become known as “Conservative Democrats” against their “progressive Democrat” counterparts. See argument for Progressives versus the Conservative Democrats and Republicans here)
It has gotten to the point where, according to Politico, two Democrats are running against their peers, essentially running against their own party this election:
“Indiana Rep. Joe Donnelly, a second-term congressman from South Bend, is airing a new TV ad in his South Bend-area district pointing out that he voted against “Nancy Pelosi’s energy tax on Hoosier families.”
“The Donnelly ad is who he is,” said Parker. “He’s independent.”
It’s a spot that is strikingly similar to one Pennsylvania Rep. Jason Altmire is running, which features supporters praising the second-term Democrat for “stand[ing] up” to Obama and Pelosi. “
Some Democrats have changed party affiliation, and are now running as Republicans: Sean Bielat, a Republican candidate for the Massachusetts 4th Congressional district, is taking a hard run against incumbent Barney Frank. Beilat, who was, until recently a “life-long” Democrat, was “outed” by a local journalist, who went so far as to dig up voter registration on the young Marine. Bielat in response blamed Barney Frank, the blatant “Progressive Democrat” who is wedded to the Freddie and Fannie disaster as responsible for the disclosure. Registered Democrats coming out of the Conservative Closet is on the upswing in Massachusetts especially, which gives Mr. Beilat an edge of sorts, as he will appeal to those Democrats who are either actively switching political party, and/or about to vote for a Republican.
It was not the Republican’s or the Independents or the Tea Party Activist that put one Scott Brown in what has become fondly known as “the People’s Seat” – it was Democrats. The math does not support any other conclusion.
Therefore, it boils down to several factors, all of which do not bode well for incumbent Democrats (nor for some incumbent Republican’s who apparently have gotten caught up in the same anti-incumbent sentiment). The latest casualty, AK Senator Murkowski, who is now waiting for absentee ballots in the hopes that she can maintain her seat – it does not appear likely. Her opponent, Tea Party and Sarah Palin backed Joe Miller, will, in all likelihood, be the GOP candidate, and in all probability the next Senator from the Great State of Alaska.)
The Factors:
Successful integration of Socials Progressive throughout the Democrat Party, including its leadership, has caused an internal party rift.
Counting on the popularity of the President – whose job approval ratings are beginning to look a lot like Congresses.
Running negative ads against “dangerous or extreme” Tea Party Candidates
Excessive use of the George Bush blame game – which has resulted in the #1 Tee-shirt for Obama’s visit being: Miss Me Yet? Image: George Bush
Finally, and the most amusing - The DNC in a desperate attempt to hold onto what has been, in essence already lost - Poltico:
"In Washington, Democrats are testing a new strategy of trying to make the national conversation about Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) – who would become speaker of the House with a GOP takeover -- a tough proposition given that most voters have never heard of him."
John Boehner, the Congressional Representative of Ohio and Minority Leader of the Senate is someone who voters do recognize, in fact, those who were less than thrilled with the stimulus, and other massive bills that were rammed through Congress and the Senate, only need to recall the Ohio Congressman throwing a large tome on his desk and asking – “How are we expected to read this in under 12 hours” The same Congressman who, when Nancy Pelosi in 2008 decided to shut down Congress to go on a book tour, with gas prices through the roof, Boehner and a band of Conservatives stayed in session, in the dark, after Pelosi shut off the cameras, eventually forcing the Congress back into session.. Outside the beltway, people do pay attention and Boehner has become somewhat of a folk hero. Therefore, the casting of John Boehner as a possible GOP Speaker to replace Nancy Pelosi as an advertisement paid for by the DNC – is deliciously ironic. Note to future House Speaker Boehner, should the DNC follow through on this, have you staff send them at the very least a note of thanks.
How out of touch are DC Democrats both “party hacks” and the elected officials that are more Party Faithful, than constituent centered? We will all find out just how out of touch they are on the morning of November 15. One industry that should, by all accounts do very well, specifically with journalists and progressives, is the mental health agency – Bush Derangement Syndrome will pale by comparison should these elections go forward as predicated (note anything in politics as in history is up for grabs). Then it is from that point forward, crunch time for 2012. One has to already feel the angst of the media and those pundits who are also realizing that Obama is, in all likelihood a one-term Jimmy Carter president.
Therefore, as they cast about for possible replacement it becomes apparent that two of the most viable candidates are: women – one, a former Goldwater Girl who had one of the strongest records on Defense in the Senate during her tenure representing the State of New York, and one who has already proven her ability to govern, her ability to work with business and give back to the pole of a state, and most importantly, that she can survive and surpass the likes of CBS has been Cattie Couric. The Two, polarizing, yes, smart women, yes, and capable - yes. It’s not being suggested that it’s a “woman’s “turn” to hold the highest office – it is being suggested that either of these women would do a better job, and hold the congress accountable, no matter what party world be in power, and especially, work for the American People and not necessarily the party to which they are affiliated. Women can multi-task; one would think that critical to the Office of the Presidency.
Either way, the nation wins, in a race between the two fermented – of course, as the shift to the right has Democrats switching parties to Republican to run in Massachusetts Districts, perhaps Hillary Clinton would be able to channel her inner Goldwater Girl and run on the GOP ticket – either way, it world work to the advantage of the nation. As to the survival of the Democrat Party, should it continue to assimilate more hard-core Progressives (which accounts for approximately 20% of the population (polls) it is not out of the question that within a decade the once Proud DNC will be lining up in debates next to the Green Party and Libertarian Candidates while the Tea Party and Republican front-runners battle it out.
Are the Democrat in trouble – “you betcha!”
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