Republicans predict victory despite polls

[Judi Lynn]

Republicans predict victory despite polls
By Thomas Ferraro
13 minutes ago

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A top Republican lawmaker brushed off bad poll numbers on Wednesday and said his party would surprise analysts and Democrats by strengthening its grip on the U.S. House of Representatives in November elections.

"We have a good story to tell," House Speaker Dennis Hastert of Illinois told reporters as he emerged from a closed-door meeting with fellow Republicans, many of whom are worried about their own chances for political survival.

Hastert's prediction of election victory heartened many Republicans, caught others off guard and drew some ridicule.

"Either he is out of touch or has contempt for his audience," said Stu Rothenberg of the nonpartisan Rothenberg Political Report that tracks congressional races.
(snip/...)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060712/pl_nm/congress_dc;_ylt=A9G_RwLbYbVE7XkA1QUa.3QA;_ylu=X3oDMTA5aHJvMDdwBHNlYwN5bmNhdA--

[Vincardog]

1. Does he really think we will let them steal it AGAIN?

If the Mexicans can stop them what the hell is wrong with USA?

[Lorien]

39. The opposition and the people aren't outraged

IF a Democrat in the house or senate will even mention "election irregularities" (they won't call it what it is: theft) then their attitude seems to be "better luck next time; let's just cross our fingers and hope it doesn't happen again". Until we demand the anti American fascists PAY for their crimes and give up their ill gotten seats, nothing will change.

[Vincardog]

55. I don't know about you but I do demand the anti American fascists PAY for

their crimes and give up their ill gotten seats. No body in government seems to be listening. That is why we need to have a sea change in November.

[midnight]

66. He must think that the Gop is untouchable, and not

expected to follow the law. Therefore polls and votes don't matter.

[bitchkitty]

67. No, but he knows what he's learned the last Pres. elections -

He has every reason to believe that the Democrats won't fight it if it's stolen again. So he has a good reason for being confident.

[PassingFair]

75. Do you really think.....

we WON'T?

"Either he is out of touch or has contempt for his audience,"
said Stu Rothenberg of the nonpartisan Rothenberg Political Report
that tracks congressional races.


The second answer is correct. He has GREAT contempt for the
"masses". They will steal whatever they want.

Might makes right.

Do I need this?:

:sarcasm:

[Avalux]

2. "We have the machines fixed" - Hastert

We're not gonna let you MFers get away with it this time. NOT AGAIN.

[Tiggeroshii]

42. Has he really said that?

If so, do you have a source for it?

[OrangeCountyDemocrat]

3. The Election Has Already Been Decided

If you think the Democrats reaaaaaalllllllly have a chance this November, I've got this great bridge to sell ya.

I'm sure an Asshole like hastert knows the score. He realizes that even though his team is down 8-1 in the 9th inning, the umpire is about to award them 8 runs just for being competitive.

When the game is fixed, it doesn't matter what the vote count is. The game is over folks. Welcome to amerika.

[truth2power]

22. "The game is over.."

Sadly, I think you're right. On the local level most here think that if we just knock on enough doors and register enough new voters, our candidates can win.

I think they're delusional. We've still got that scum Ken Blackwell who's running for governor while holding office as Sec'y of State. The Fixer.

Maybe i'm just being defeatist. Yeah...sure. :eyes:

[EFerrari]

45. We also have lawsuits in more than several states --

challenging just about every part of the Hinder American Voters Act.

Find out who is running for Secretary of State in your state AND GET THAT DEMOCRAT ELECTED.

[Jawja]

47. But in MY

State, the Secretary of State IS a DEM who put in the paperless, non-auditable voting machines. :shrug:

[EFerrari]

48. We have an official in a CA co who is best friends with

one of those vendors. That's a tough situation. The only thing I can think of is find a pressure point and sit on it. If they're not responsive, that's the only course of action I can think of.

Find the local effective reform group in your area -- they probably need your help. :)

[Jawja]

53. Thanks.

Her pressure point might be in losing the Governor's race to the Repug thanks to the Diebold machines she championed.

[Sherman A1]

46. Agreed

[unpossibles]

4. huh. victory despite the public not liking them

you'd almost think they were bragging about stealing the election again. It wouldn't surprise me as many crooks are caught when they get too cocky.

[Cha]

5. Bullshite..I can't

wait for that ugly smirk to be wiped off your fatfuckface.

[TheCowsCameHome]

6. Yeah, right Porky. What're you going to be doing after the elections?

Scamming old folks out of their pension money?

Get a life.

[The_Counsel]

7. Well.... Let's Think About This For a Moment...

...what's Mr. Hastert supposed to say? That his party is screwed?

Naw... no matter how bad things get, you're supposed to put on a happy face. Sure it makes you look delusional in public, but at least you can rally the base that way.

Even though it seems like it sometimes, not all Republicans are stupid... :evilgrin:

[TheCowsCameHome]

20. That's some weird face.......don't know about happy.

[annabanana]

8. surprise analysts, surprise voters, surprise poll watchers,

SURPRISE SURPRISE SURPRISE

everyone except Diebold will be just astonished!

[w4rma]

9. The Democratic leadership needs to put their foot down on electronic

voting machines being bought by many "Democratic" secretaries of state around the country. Also, Dems - in general - need to handle the lowered number of polling places around the country and the long lines that will be prevailent in Democratic leaning districts due to the low number of voting booths that Repugs will allow in those districts.

[AndyTiedye]

12. The Democrats Haven't Got a Foot to Put Down

[w4rma]

23. They can call these Secretaries of State on the phone and tell them

not to use Dibold machines and instead switch back to whatever they used beforehand. And they could check each precinct to make sure there are enough voting booths to handle the voters expected. It wouldn't be very hard to provide this extra oversight with just a few dedicated DNC folks on the job. They probably already have the information somewhere, they just need to compile it.

[coalition_unwilling]

61. I think another issue that needs to be front and center is the

front-loaded scrubbing of African Americans and Latinos from voter rolls. Extensively documented by Greg Palast and numerous others. The Democratic Party needs to be the champion of "enfranchisement," and not stay silent on this pre-emptive "dis-enfranchisement."

[Master Mahon]

10. Whew.... 2 heartbeats and a brewski

away from the presidency!! OMFG...

[AzDar]

11. We have to come out HARD on Election Day..and be prepared

to take to the streets.

[cenacle]

14. I so agree...

This fall's election is going to be electric with excitement and anger. Unlike the focus in 2004 on Kerry/Bush, this is going to be a state by state, district by district firefight.

Finally it will be up to us to show what we are made of, not waiting on our reps. Our turn to speak out loud and proud!:bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[coalition_unwilling]

62. Since Jane "War Pig" Harman is my representative and

Diane "War Pig" Feinstein is my senator, I think I'll sit this one out, if that's OK.

[bdamomma]

57. we have to hit back hard this time

they have taken us for fools for too long.

[DELUSIONAL]

13. Be prepared -- he is telling us that the election is FIXED already

he is bragging before the polls have even opened.

And Kerry doesn't believe that the election was stolen.

Seems like the ones who need to fight are the progressive or democratic candidates -- BEFORE the theft happens.

[tom_paine]

25. That is exactly what he is doing. Rubbing our noses in it.

And of course, the Imperial Subjects of Amerika will do nothing except lick some more boot.

Yep. The 2006 and the 2008 "elections" are already over.

Does this mean I am giving up? No, I will play the fool and pretend we still have a viable electoral system. I will canvass, phone bank, and whatever else I can think of doing.

But I have zero illusions. I might as well be campaigning against the nazis in the big 1934 plebiscite.

[Nikki Stone 1]

83. That was exactly my first thought.

They have foolproof strategies for stealing the elections.

[jahyarain]

15. it must be fun being a repig

u can tell everyone you're a liar and a thief with a GREAT BIG smile on your face and never have to worry about ANY consequences. ain't it the life though? nail in coffin. or take the power back. last chance dems. no really. last chance.

[alarimer]

16. Republicans still insisting the world is flat

despite all evidence to the contrary

[daleo]

17. It's like Cheney going hunting with Scalia before that court case

That he had an interest in, and that Scalia was judging. It was breathtaking in its audacity.

I think they are telegraphing vote fraud here. They don't even bother trying to cover it up anymore - I think there is some kind of psychological ploy about being this in your face with corruption. Maybe they are trying to induce the learned helplessness response.

[AndyTiedye]

24. I Wish They'd Go Hunting Together Some More

And this time, make sure they have enough :beer:

Come on, tiger, that's just a piece of cheap clothesline. You can do it, BE FREE.
See, they can't hit a moving target, especially when they're all so hammered!
Oh, look! They're shooting each other!
Guns empty? Good! DINNER TIME!

[goforit]

18. Dream on.

[bemildred]

19. I vote for "has contempt for his audience". nt

[Acadia Blue]

21. A little help from fraud and Diebold goes a long way to steal an election

[Sadie5]

26. The repigs sure have changed since Nixon's day

After watergate had been exposed and the firings along with jail terms I remember watching the Piggies on TV begging the public not to judge all the little piggies by what Nixon had pulled. Begging the public not to make this a one party system. Now look at their brass in trying to take the country away from it's rightful owners, the people. The repigs have always been known as the party of crooks.

[LibDemAlways]

27. Translation of Hastert's comment : "We have a good

story to tell" is "Honest elections are fiction. With Diebold writing the script, expect a lot of surprise endings."

[truthisfreedom]

28. victory despite the votes. that's their message... they're confident that

they own the game.

[barbtries]

29. out of touch or...

he knows something we don't know, but may suspect? i remember gw saying before the 2004 debacle to a reporter with absolute confidence, "We're not gonna lose," and it was suggested then that he knew it because the fix was already in.

that's what i think. and i'm nervous about november

barbara

[Just Me]

30. Lie, steal, cheat, betray, screw, defraud their way to power. Yup.

They aren't "conservative", they're abusive assholes. Do you know how many programs exist for kids and adults alike to overcome such bullies in this country?

GACK!!!!!

[superconnected]

31. Yeah because no matter who is voted in at the polls, they

will fix it and claim victory.

[lpbk2713]

32. Just like they predicted they would find the WMDs and OBL.

And they're still looking.

[indepat]

33. 'Pukes know it's not who votes but who counts the votes that matters

[RFKHumphreyObama]

34. Gee...Republican leaders having contempt for their audience

and being out of touch and arrogant?

That's a first :sarcasm:

[damntexdem]

35. Oh, they don't worry about poll numbers, or votes for that matter --

all they care about is what the voting machines spew out on election night.

[SHRED]

36. Hastert...

What a squinty eyed SOB that lop of shit is.

[Demobrat]

37. Well of course they're predicting victory.

After the last two uncontested thefts, who can blame them? Duh.

[SoCalDem]

38. They certainly ARE full of stories..

Fairy tales:puke:

of course polls never really matter if the machines are "pre-cooked"..

[mitchum]

40. Because that ugly motherfucker and his goons own the machines

[Rowdyboy]

44. And our Democratic secretary of state here in Mississippi bought Diebold

just this year! We "voted" last month for the first time on those toys. What a sham.

[mitchum]

73. Our "Democratic" secretary of state did the same thing here in Georgia...

another reason that I do not like to have a southern Democratic politician on the national ticket. It seems that they are always "sort of Democrats" Ex; neither Jimmy Carter nor Bill Clinton were liberals or progressives by any stretch of the imagination

[farmboxer]

41. The Republican manufactured and programmed voting machines

It so appears they are counting on their voting machines to win the election for them, so they do not care about the polls, it does not matter, it's the voting machines stupid. Democrats did nothing in 2000, 2002, not much, in 2004, so Repubs plan to just run over Democrats again. The number one problem/voting machines. Democrats can win on the issues, but not if the voting machines are allowed to win the elecion for the Republicans. All the money in the world will do no good if the Repub voting machines are not gotten rid of "before" the 2006 elections, not after. It's so obvious that Republicans do not care about the polls when, to them, the election has already been decided. The votes have been cast, they have won, but I still have hope! The news of criminal elections is getting out, so I keep hoping. I was so sick watching the coup of 2000 that over a period of years, it got to me, had to take some time off. However, I feel there is a small light of hope now, let's just hope it stays in the news. 2006 is it, I doubt if there will, in reality, be anymore elections if Repubs win 2006. The history of Nazi Germany makes me think a lot. I just thank all those who have either kept on working or have lately begun to work for free elections. I put out DU URL everywhere I can, tell all I can tell and have been since that very sick January. "We The People" can win. "We The People" defeated King George once before and it can be done again. I just can't believe there are so many sheep in this country.

[0rganism]

43. I'm inclined to give Denny the benefit of the doubt on this matter

Come on, since when have polls, whether before, during, or after an election, really mattered to these ratfuckers? I think Stu Rothenberg may be wearing a puzzled expression on his head come November.

Why can they steal elections? Because the American public just doesn't give a shit. As long as we can afford to fill up the ol' gastank on the 12mpg SUV at $3/gallon, as long as we can pay off the last credit card with the one we just got, we'll find a way to justify rolling over for whatever happens no matter how heinous or stupid it may be.

[Javaman]

49. The. Fix. Is. In. nt

[sweetheart]

50. "republicans predict vasectomy despite polls"

Ending of the neocon spawn surely begins with its electoral eggs.

Oops, where did all the votes go?

[BreweryYardRat]

51. Of course he does.

Fucker. That just screams attempted election theft.

Maybe we'll get lucky and Hastert will get hit by a bus, linger in agony for days, then die vomiting blood.

[Tight_rope]

52. Why worry when you know you will steal the election again.

[Bush_MUST_Go]

54. Business as usual for the Republican party....

"Those who vote decide nothing. Those who count the votes decide everything." Joseph Stalin

[coalition_unwilling]

63. Stalin had a great sense of humor, imho (eom)

[tavalon]

56. I won't be surprised if that happens

but only because of electronic voting. And plenty of pundits will explain why it happened but I will know that it was stolen and that our representative republic is no more.

[bdamomma]

58. let's get those e voting machines and dump them in Boston Harbour

our patriots threw tea away, let's throw those e voting machines away.

this is one of our biggest problems we have to eliminate those machines.

[DemsRBetterLovers]

59. I'm sorry...

But if there arent any Dems with some major "guts", then its quite possible that we could lose again. Look, just admit you voted for teh patriot act, its ok, we make mistakes. It doesnt mean we have to live with them. And for the love of God, stop being on the defensive. Defend your actions once, and then take it to the attack with as much furver as some of these Dems here on the message board. Hell, I'll run for office if you really want me too. I'm a 22 year old eagle scout. That gets me brownie points with the conservative nutjobs. But I'm also pro-gay marriage, pro-choice, and for universal health care...so maybe not...I dunno. Regardless, its time to take to the offensive.

For the love of God (or whatever diety you pray to) engage these Right wingers. Tell them they are wrong on so many levels. Tell the conservative christians they are going to hell for thier willfull blindness (its makes them think). Tell the owners of large coporations that it is more profitable in the long run to have a living wage (dollars makes them think). BUY A HYBRID (seeing as most electric cars have been destroyed) or walk somewhere. Go to a city council meeting, figure out how you local community is run, and by whom. Tip your pizza delivery driver (lord knows they need it now).

Blah...its good to be back on the board again...sorry for the rant.

[bdamomma]

60. rant away

we all do it. and Welcome :hi:

[Kurovski]

64. Hastert is a thieving, corrupt sack of hamburger fat and excrement.

That's a fact far more verifiable than our elections. :mad:

[Generic Brad]

77. You have a colorful way with words!

"Thieving, corrupt sack of hamburger fat and excrement". That is the most accurate description of Dennis Hastert I have ever read!

[Kurovski]

80. I lived full-time in Illinois up until 20 months ago.

I had plenty of time to "grok" the dutiful wrestling coach.

He has a real hold on my imagination.

[BrokenBeyondRepair]

65. criminals

[Ian_rd]

68. Jesus. That pic of Hastert reminds me of the pigs from Animal Farm

[shanti]

81. piggies, yes

Have you see the little piggies
crawling in the dirt
And for all the little piggies
Life is getting worse
Always having dirt
to play around in

Have you see the bigger piggies
In their starched white shirts
You will find the bigger piggies
Stirring up the dirt
Always have clean shirts
to play around in

In their sties with all their backing
They don't care what goes on around
In their eyes there's something lacking
What they need's a darn good whacking

Everywhere there's lots of piggies
Living piggy lives
You can see them out for dinner
With their piggy wives
Clutching forks and knives
to eat their bacon

One more time

[leftofthedial]

69. why not

they still own Diebold and ES&S

nothing has changed, except for the worse. 999 out of 1000 Murkans scoff if the subject of fraudulent elections comes up.

[democracynowfla]

70. OF COURSE, THE'LL ROB US AGAIN

VOTES, WHO NEEDS ANY STINKING VOTES.....

THE 06 ELECTION IS ALREADY FIXED.... GOD HELP US ALL !!!!!

[fudge stripe cookays]

71. Every Dem candidate that gets taken...

this way...because face it, it's going to happen again....needs to just NOT concede. Scream it from the rooftops, get people out marching....be VISIBLE! Do interviews, go door to door, get volunteers out door to door, and fucking GET this crap out in the open, so everyone knows about it.

LOOK AT OBRADOR! Have some fucking balls! Don't concede, call for handcounts, and start lawsuits against every county and every state where this occurs until we get hand counted paper ballots in place. Above all, once again...DO NOT CONCEDE THE ELECTION!!! Make these people's lives a living hell until they WISH they'd let themselves lose naturally.

THEN we'll see whose laughing, DENNY.

[zara]

72. Its who counts the votes!!!

Just need the right Algorithm and all will be fine for our feckless leaders.

[Amonester]

74. Does cellulitis get to that pig's head?

Speaker Hastert Admitted to Bethesda Naval Hospital for Skin Infection:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2387187

:evilgrin:

(I dunno, just askin' if it could happen, if there's a DU Doctor.)

[dave123williams]

76. "Either he is out of touch or has contempt for his audience,"

That, or he knows the fix is already in.

[regnaD kciN]

78. "...or has contempt for his audience"

"Either he is out of touch or has contempt for his audience," said Stu Rothenberg of the nonpartisan Rothenberg Political Report that tracks congressional races.

His audience was a group of fellow Congressional Republicans...need I say more? :evilgrin:

[xxqqqzme]

79. denny is just repeating what raisin brain told king

last week that he EXPECTS the rethugs will keep the house and senate.

[tedzbear]

82. Of course they do. They'll cheat like the last 2 elections.

They'll just have to get bolder while stuffing the ballot boxes.

[HuffleClaw]

84. well, in all fairness, what the hell ELSE are they gonna say?

'well folks, we're fucked' ?

i'm reminded of how rumsfeld routinely calls increased violence in iraq a GOOD SIGN.