2006: Will Democrats win back either the House or the Senate?

[Pryderi]

I don't think it will happen. I believe Democrats will pick up seats, but will be unable to wrest control from Republicans in either side of Congress.

[saltpoint]

1. Possibly the House. The GOP will lose several seats, I think, and

among them I hope will be Tom DeLay' s in Texas and Jean Schmidt's in Ohio.

And several more, too -- enough to put Nancy Pelosi's voice in more living rooms than Dennis Hastert's.

The Senate is a stiffer current. But I hope Santorum is among the losers. For the GOP to lost both Delay in the House and Santorum in the Senate will be a large story.

Your first two poll choices play against each other to some degree, but a third variable might be information still forthcoming from Fitzpatrick or others that would have a similar effect on Dubya as the Watergate revelations did on Dick Nixon. History always has more cards to play than our best guesses.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

2. 7 months is an eternity in politics.

With all the exposed corruption, the endless war, and the general feeling of the country that wants change, it should be a shoo-in. But, things change quickly and the Dems have a noted proclivity for tip-toeing when they should be running hard.

Also, Dem politicians are not held in much more esteem than the Repugs according to the polls.

[KingFlorez]

3. I'm going to say we win both

The poll numbers and statistics indicate a similar enviroment to 1994, except this time Republicans are in control and Democrats have the edge.

[Savannah Progressive]

4. I voted no, but wanted to explain

The voters are turned off of us as well. The large turnout of angry voters won't happen, because we have voted too often for the Repugnik agenda.

Additionally, we won't embrace the progressive agenda that the people clearly want, we are instead trying to become a smarter more efficient Repugnik.

Voting machines won't help, Gerrymandering won't assist us, yet it's our own actions that will cause our defeat, running to the right and abandoning our Progressive ideals that are FOR THE PEOPLE, instead of FOR THE CORPORATIONS, and folks just won't turn out for us. Why bother they will say to themselvs, one corporate whore in Congress is pretty much like any other isn't he?

Instead, they will play the lottery, take the time to drink another beer or whatever.

We won't win in November, and while the voting machines, and Gerrymandering will play their part, the larger problem is our direction as a party, we can't offer a real clear alternative if our battle cry is "Smarter and more efficient violations of your individual liberties" which is how we are going to be perceived.

[WillyT]

5. Not If Us Democrats Act Like Dem Senate Judiciary Members And...

Don't bother to show up!!!

The Dems sure know how ta woo the base, eh???

:wtf:

Hell... looks like they're already taking us for granted. How far will they swing to the right, in order to grab Independents, disaffected Republicans, and so-called Centrists?

And at what point do those of us on the left say "Fuck It", and leave?

:shrug:

[Jeebo]

6. They'll do whatever it takes to hold on to their edge...

On Malloy's show the last Friday before the Nov. 2004 election, we were all hopeful and optimistic and even giddy with anticipation. Then a bucket of water was splashed in all our faces by a caller who was much more in touch with reality. He pointed out that the Republican-leaning voting machine companies had enough of their machines in place that a substantial majority of the votes that were going to be cast would be going through their machines. And, he said, they would do WHATEVER THEY HAD TO to make sure Bush won a second term.

That caller was right, of course, and let's face it folks, THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN. The Republicans have had six years since the stolen election of 2000 to hone their skills and refine their techniques, and now they're REALLY good at rigging elections, and more important, at GETTING AWAY WITH IT after the theft has occurred.

We might pick up a few seats, but you can bet the mortgage the Republicans are going to hold onto at least a slim majority in both the House and Senate. We could have a 70 percent majority among the electorate and the Republicans would STILL win. They would jigger the polls to make it LOOK like it was a lot closer than it really was, they would go on gerrymandering all the districts they could, they would push-poll and trash Democratic voter registrations and pull off whatever shady shenanigans they could, and then on election day that 70-30 would be down to 56-44, and then the rigged software in the Republican voting machines would take care of the rest. And then the corporate-controlled Bush-butt-kissing mainstream media would marginalize those of us who complained about it and make us look like tinfoil-hat lunatic fringe conspiracy theorists. And the Republicans will still be in control of EVERYTHING, they will have stolen ANOTHER election and GOTTEN AWAY WITH IT.

Let's be realistic, folks, THIS IS THE COUNTRY WE LIVE IN. THIS IS WHAT THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA HAS BECOME. THIS IS WHAT KIND OF PEOPLE ARE RUNNING OUR LIVES.

What are we going to do about it? What CAN we do about it? I don't know, I'm not sure, but right now my cat wants me to feed him and he won't take no for an answer...

Ron