There might not be a republican tsumani on the horizon?

[Daylin Byak]

I was watching the washington journal on C-SPAN this morning and they had two capital hill reporters on the show throughout the show and the one reporter was talking about the California 50th district special election between Francine Busby and Brian Bilbray saying that because Bilbray won by a wopping 5% that this dooms Democrats and there might not be a republican tsunami on the horizon.

Then the other reporter was on the show talking about the Senate elections and how that the Senate might be harder to take over than house and how the Democrats have there seats to worry about i.e the election in Minnesota where that seat is favored to go to Congressman Mark Kennedy over Attorney Amy Klobuchar. The reporter also says that that Democratic party in minnesota(DFL) has had troubles in the last few years due to the party being divided

So let me get this straight because Busby lost in a district that is overwhelmling republican, that dosen't bode well for the other races in the country.

Thoughts?

[Marnieworld]

1. Let them believe this and be complacent on election day then

It would make cocky repubs stay home and dems immobilzed to fight. Of course if we can't prove election accuracy...

[Warpy]

2. Busby closed a 20% gap to 5%

in a district where most people would rather poke nails through their eyeballs than vote for a Democrat.

She did really well, in other words, and the pundits have checked their brains at the door in favor of their wallets, as usual.

[Jackpine Radical]

3. Just keep thinking the pundits are being brainless.

Meanwhile they keep catapaulting the propaganda and laying the groundwork to make a Diebolded Puggy victory in November credible.

Yup--those Dems just never got their act together. No wonder they lost their asses again.

[Norquist Nemesis]

5. I understand what you're saying

and were we not in such dire straights in this country, I'd be more hopeful. The same thing was said about Paul Hackett...he did a suberb job given the demographics of the district.

But, the bottom line is that elections are winner take all. Second place doesn't get a seat at the table.

Sorry...just feeling kind of down about all of it at the moment. It's not anywhere near the level of devastation I felt after 2004, but it does feel like it's just...hard. *off to pity for a bit.*

[Armstead]

4. Typical overgeneralizing

One special election in one whacky right-wing corner of the country (apologies to DUers there) says a lot abouit that one special election.

This tendency by the media and pilitical "strategists" to try and establish a narrative based on isolated factors is one of the reasons America keeps getting led like lambs to the slaughter.

There is no way to predict how the election in November will turn out. It will depend on the accumulated results of a lot of local and regional races. It will be nationalized on some levels, but a lot will also depend on how individual candidates in both parties perform.

[Bandit]

6. Just remember over ninty percent of incumbents get elected

The odds are quite huge against Republicans losing. Remember Bush* is not running. People may not like the Administration but almost all like their own Representation...Republicans are quite correct in that people in the USA are not very bright..

[Poiuyt]

7. That's the point that people tend to forget

Everyone may say they want a change in Congress, but they think that their own senator or representative is doing a good job. It's all the rest of them that should be removed from office. In spite of all the talk about how much the country is tired of the Republicans, it will be VERY tough for us to take back control of either of the two Houses in Congress.

[stanwyck]

8. Republicans do one thing better than Democrats

show up. You have to show up in order to have your vote counted. And Republicans show up. Our country is not more conservative than liberal. But the Republicans know how to get their base to the polls.
Until we energize people to show up in greater numbers, we'll have trouble defeating Republican incumbents...they'll stick.
So. Our job is clear. Get people to vote.