Scott Brown Leads Shaheen in new Polling – Significant Jump – Rove rants about Funding and potential Senate Loss

Two for one that are somewhat connected.

A vox populi polling released a new poll showing Scott Brown besting the incumbent by favorable numbers Although the polling firm is a Republican grounded firm (as in employees), they have a fairly decent tract record so far as calling a race. They had Eric Cantor in trouble prior to his significant loss to a man who had no money.

Which brings us to Karl Rove’s dire predictions on the Senate race published in the Wall Street Journal. Rove warns that the GOP is at a distinct cash advantage and Democrats are buying airtime over Republicans in key states.(WSJ)

One might be concerned if, those showing up at the polls were fewer and angrier than in most general elections. Additionally, between now and November, there is significant time for trends to change. That said, most of the nation does not know who to blame, but Congress. According to a new poll, most of those believe that Congress is controlled by Democrats! (Rasmussen) Add that to the President’s approval ratings, and one might think looking for six measly seats, may turn into find 12.

David versus Goliath – how Cantor Lost to the College Professor – David Brat

As Washington insides and pundits left and right are thawing out educated guesses as to why David Brat, a little known economics professor, bested, on no budget, a well funded, Congressional Majority Leader, the truth is rather simple – perhaps too simple. (See this link for Meet David Brat by NPR).

It was not necessarily the strength of the much maligned tea party, it was not that Brat “got lucky”, it is not that he is particularly far right, or far left, but more Libertarian –and pragmatic. It is simply put, an atmosphere in Washington of wealth, and degradation, as well as a propensity to watch out for Corporations rather than the general public, that has the general public, Democrat or Republican, rather sick of the same people in the same office. Therefore, they vote them out, good, bad or ugly, that’s the rub.

This phenomenon did not start yesterday, and it is not an across the board given, however, if one is to look back at minor races nationwide in 2013, at mayors races, in smaller cities, one might just find that incumbents, no matter how popular, got the boot. That boot was given by the general public, not because they were tired of the individual, rather because they were tired of multiple terms in D.C. and they took it out on the local level. Therefore, one can hypothesize, (exactly what this is all about), that this phenomenon will carry through the next few reelection cycles, and will reshape both major political parties. As to the Professor, David Brat, he will be doing exactly what our forefathers had done – Congress was made up of your ordinary neighbors, not the legal scholars of the day, those “gentlemen” preferred the Senate – but the real work is done in the House – which is history.

Expect more David Brats, not only in the House but in the Senate as well, this is going to be a season of unforeseen upsets, and it all comes down to the perception by the people, that Washington is working for Washington, and the lack of trust in the government (as witnessed by pollsters), is set firm. There is also a question of each parties base and the heft it carries foreword – specifically with the GOP – when Romney was nominated (as they are pushing Jeb Bush) – the backlash came not from the general voting public, rather from within their own party – millions stayed home and as a result, the race was lost President Obama. Perhaps, just perhaps if they (Those who run the RNC) paid attention to who will actually turn out and vote, and base decisions on which of their grass roots is going to put them over the finish line, they’ll be more careful in choosing a nominee that may appeal to just about everyone – even if that individual is reviled by his peers – and today, that leaves several people in mind. (And that goes for the Democrats as well, for in DC one can’t really tell the difference between the two.)

Obama – Mid-Term Election Strategy to Campaign Against Bush and Republican Congress – While Public Wearies Of Big Ticket Programs – Clinton 2012?

Clinton Run in 2012? Saving the Democrats from Self-Destruction -image lvitale wordpress blog

FromPolitco a treatment of the political strategy for Democrats going forward into the 2010 mid-terms: Obama apparently continues to campaign against George Bush and a Republican Congress, which, in this particular article, he does so without mentioning names.

“The message is layered. A shot at Bush (without mentioning his name.) A jab at congressional Republicans (although rarely saying “Republicans.”) A defense of the actions he’s taken so far.

The article concludes that this message may or may not work, depending upon the economy in November.

That said, as much as Obama continues to pound home the “It’s not my fault” message, and American’s, according to an AP release, aren’t buying it. The big spending from a Democrat controlled congress continues unabated while programs penned by the President, from the Stimulus to Health Care Reform, have the general public skittish.

Which may be why major special elections held this year, have gone to Conservatives, including the Pennsylvania 12th, where Democrat Mark Critz ran as far away from Democrat policy as possible: including the Health Care Reform bill and Cap and Trade. The recent win of Charles Djou in Hawaii’s 1st district emphasizes the desperation within the ranks of the Democrat party – with Progressives and Moderate Democrats fighting to deliver a message the electorate will buy – in this case, both the Progressive and Moderate refusing to bow out of a race. The smart move would have been to run with the moderate, in order to maintain the seat, even in a heavily Democrat controlled Hawaii – the Progressive message is tainted with the bigger taxes, big spending and unions pushing for more.

The fact that George Bush will have been out of the White House for two years, come November and the public is well-aware that Congress had been controlled by Democrats (see Nancy Pelosi’s approval) since 2006, will not play well in swing states, as well as traditional Democrat bastions such as Massachusetts and Hawaii indefinitely. It may have worked in the 2008 elections but the media has made it very clear that Obama is responsible, along with Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, for all major programs; thereby nullifying Obama’s argument.

To the point, Republican Whip, Eric Cantor , has a program entitled You Cut The premise: each week, five different spending programs before Congress are outlined on the website, the general public is invited to choose one of the five items by voting – basically offering the general public transparency (the bill is posted), and an opportunity to see exactly how ridiculous the current administration and Democrats controlling the Congress are when it comes to fiscal responsibility. Although touted by the press as a “Gimmick”, it sends a clear message that something has to be done to stop the bleeding. Cantor gets it, along with others, be it a “Tea Party Candidate”, or a Democrat who, in order to win in a strongly controlled Democrat district, must run against his own party (Critz-PA 12) in order to be elected. To cast your vote go to: You Cut. To find out how your Congressional Representative voted in the first round go to: Week One Vote

With Republicans becoming more vocal, and Tea Party politician’s doing the same, Obama is going to have a hard sell to the much needed independent voter and the moderate Democrat. Moreover, according to some on the left (see Huffington Post), Obama may be challenged come 2011 by Hillary Clinton, and depending upon the outcome of the November elections (which one can fairly conclude will be a boon to the Republican Party, a moderate Clinton could defeat Obama in a primary, given the fact that the majority of the “Super Delegates” who pulled the rug out from under Clinton in a Progressive Coup at the 2008 Democrat Convention, may not longer be in office. A Clinton run for the White House would set the stage for a resurgence or return of the moderate Democrat. Depending upon which of the four leading Republican’s (Huckabee, Romney, Gingrich and Palin according to a PPO poll) assumed to be running in 2012, specifically Palin, should Palin win the nod, (or end up on the ticket) it would be the most interesting race to the Corner Office in the nation’s history.

House GOP Asks America Where To Cut Spending While Democrats Push to Vote on Big Spending Measures before Summer Recess

Republican House members are planning to give the public a say in what programs should be cut in order to bring spending in line. The program, entitled “You Cut”, part of the House GOP’s Economic Recovery Group plan to cut spending, gives citizens a vote each week on five spending options. As spending spirals out of control, the plan to place additional spending items on-line – for a “citizen’s vote” is a breath of fresh air. The premise – the spending item with the highest number of votes will be brought to the floor of the House in an attempt to eliminate said item in a House vote. Although the Dallas Morning News opines that this is a “Gimmick”, the program is the first step towards transparency and democracy taken by either party, and a welcome change from Washington politics as usual.

The Dallas Morning News:

"The You Cut project is not about finding the one silver bullet to our debt problems. It is designed, rather, to challenge Washington's culture of spending and replace it with one of savings," says a fact sheet circulating among House Republicans ahead of today's announcement by Cantor, U.S. Rep. Jeb Hensarling of Dallas and others. "With a deficit near $1.5 trillion, we don't think it is too much to ask of Congress to spend some time debating bills to actually reduce spending."

Meanwhile, Democrats are planning on pushing additional spending programs though Congress prior to the summer recess. The Hill is reporting :

Democratic leaders are looking in the next three weeks to send President Barack Obama a slew of measures that cost more than $200 billion, including a multiyear extension of unemployment benefits, an extension of expiring tax provisions and Medicare doctor payments totaling $180 billion and a $33 billion Afghanistan war supplemental bill.

These additional programs will be added to the already unsustainable budget deficit, which is a concern for the average voter. With special elections taking place within weeks in the Hawaii 1st and Pennsylvania 12th both trending Republican, additional spending foisted on the American public seems to be a Jim Jones act on the part of the Democrat Party. In States across the country both House and Senate races are steering right (see polls at Real Clear Politics.com), one has to wonder if the current powers that be are either ideologically driven to the extreme or just plain incompetent. It is to the point where, regardless of party, one has to recognize that, with only half of the nation paying taxes, sooner or later, the house of cards is going to collapse. Kudos to the House GOP, gimmick or no, for at least giving a ray of hope to the “masses” who are left to foot the bill and to those Democrats who will be further bankrupting the nation, November is less than six months away, and the voters will, indeed have an opportunity to weigh in on out-of-control spending.

Barney Frank – Unhinged – Spends Week Blasting Obama

Barney Frank (D-MA) is certainly garnering a great deal of press this week. He’s been busy trying to recast Freddie and Fannie, an agency which he helped to destroy. (From the Boston Globe “Franks Fingerprints Are All Over the Financial Fiasco”). He also feels that he need not wait for the President Elect (or head of his Party), in order to take control of dispersing Bailout billions:

AP

Barney Frank, chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, said Monday he is preparing legislation to require that some of the bailout money be spent for specific purposes, such as stemming foreclosures and reducing mortgage rates. Frank is pushing to get the second half of the $700 billion rescue fund released next month, before President-elect Barack Obama is inaugurated.
Frank's bill would impose tighter restrictions on the second $350 billion, such as requiring banks to report on their new lending every quarter and toughening limits on executive compensation. Many U.S. banks have received federal capital in an effort to stimulate lending.
"I don't want to wait until Obama," the Massachusetts Democrat said in a phone interview. "I think we can do it now."

Reminder: This is the very same Barney Frank who felt there was no need for Transparency in how the Bailout Billions were dispersed by the Fed:

In an interview Nov. 6, House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank said the Fed's disclosure is sufficient and that the risk the central bank is taking on is appropriate in the current economic climate. Frank said he has discussed the program with Timothy F. Geithner, president and chief executive officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and a possible candidate to succeed Paulson as Treasury secretary.
``I talk to Geithner and he was pretty sure that they're OK,'' said Frank, a Massachusetts Democrat. ``If the risk is that the Fed takes a little bit of a haircut, well that's regrettable.'' Such losses would be acceptable, he said, if the program helps revive the economy.

Barney Frank is always Pretty Sure – He is never 100 percent positive unless of course, he’s writing glowing letters to his buddy George Soros (PDF download available from Canada Free Press!) or involved in his latest hobby: Trashing the President-Elect.

Apparently, Barney, is already duking it out with the new Republican Majority Whip Eric Cantor over the auto bailout. Cantor indicated that the Republican’s would be willing to work with Obama, putting Frank’s proverbial panties in yet another bunch.

Frank has been after the President Elect for a variety of issues, and none more pressing than the selection of Pastor Rick Warren inauguration invocation, which is a personal affront to Frank. Warren, as a Christians leader, does not support Gay Marriage, neither does President Elect Obama – one has to wonder who Frank would have Obama choose to deliver an invocation (prayer).

Now that the President Elect has stood up to Frank and his minions, Frank is spouting to anyone who’ll listen “Obama overestimates his Charm”. From She Wired.com Frank complains that Obama, in choosing Warren, did so only to strengthen relations with the “other side of the aisle”, and that he would not be able to work with Republicans, due to their extreme partisanship.

Seriously, Barney needs to keep his interviews straight; the Republican’s are willing to work with Obama, its Frank that’s not willing to work with anyone. Furthermore, he had little to do with Obama’s election or campaign, for that matter; so, one could assume that the President Elect owes Frank nothing.

It is the article of from “The Hill entitled “Rep. Frank: Obama 'Overestimates' Ability to Unify' (See article from She Wired.com), or more specifically, the comments, that give insight into how Rep. Barney Frank is viewed by most.

Frank, although recently reelected (one could surmise on Obama’s coattails), has not had stiff competition from any party. Although he did face a Republican opponent, in Earl Sholley, the Press was most favorable to Barney Frank (go figure), and Sholley had no name recognition or branding behind him which would have given Frank, this time, a run for his money. Those in Massachusetts who would like some dignity and accountability in a politician, may feel compelled to actually mount a serious campaign next time around.

In the meantime, Obama is gaining respect from those independent conservatives for sticking to his guns about Warren, despite Barney Frank and Co’s, incessant whining, as well as his move to the center. One can imagine a day might come, when like King Carlos to Chavez, President Barack Obama will tell Barney Frank to “Shut Up”.