Re: 2010 elections, I think the Obama Administrations actions will:

[branders seine]

[Warpy]

1. I'm afraid it depends more on what Congress does

If they wimp out on health insurance reform and pass only an anemic jobs bill, you bet there will be a bloodbath.

They'll deserve one.

[SteppingRazor]

2. If you're referring to Afghanistan particularly, I don't think it will have much effect.

The Democrats' success in the 2010 midterm elections will live or die by job creation and economic turnaround.

[branders seine]

14. I think the Afghanistan escalation matters much more than you think

Not least because it will continue to harm the economy.

Second, it gives ammunition to the kill health care reform lobby.

Third, it drives another nail in the coffin of another round of desperately needed demand-side stimulus.

[graywarrior]

3. Too soon to tell

[Jamastiene]

5. That's my take on it as well. n/t

[Chemisse]

6. It is early. At this time in Clinton's administration

I thought we had made a big mistake. A year later I loved him.

[elocs]

4. The party in power in the WH typically loses seats in Congress in off-year elections.

In the last 70 years that didn't hold true for one off-year election for FDR and one for Clinton.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

7. Being only "not as bad" is becoming a hard sell.

[Chulanowa]

8. "Other"

DU, as we know, is basically an echo chamber, and the same groups of people make several posts each on the same topics, whatever that topic may be, creating the illusion of their opinion being dominant.

Everyone who voted for Obama knew he was going to send more troops to Afghanistan. Him doing so isn't going to cost much in and of itself. The only people who will sit out are the useless fucks who sit out every election and then bitch that they didn't get what they wanted.

However, what happens in Afghanistan will impact the voting.

If Obama pulls it off well, we're going to win, period. Americans hate fighting wars, but they love winning them. If as a result of these 32,000 more troops, tangible, solid gains are made in Afghanistan, then Obama is secure, "independent" and moderate republican voters are going to go for him, and on top of it all... we'll be making progress in Afghanistan.

On the other hand, if it doesn't work... everything goes tits-up. Republicans surge, while Democrats will sit down and cry. ironically resulting in those crying Democrats getting even more of what they didn't want anyway, under worse management.

[tblue]

9. How many of us will work to GOTV, phone bank, register voters?

That's what worries me. An unmotivated base is not a good thing.

[OHdem10]

10. This AM, I heard a report of a Gallup Poll which reports that 40%

of Democrats do not plan to vote in 2010.

[jaysunb]

11. You heard right.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/11/30/809213/-2010-Elections-Hinge-on-Reinvigoration-of-Democratic-Base

Lot's of the problem begins right here at DU w/ people who don't understand what THEIR job is. :evilfrown:

[L. Coyote]

13. The problem with this poll is the future tense. Fact accompli !!

[ixion]

12. chalk me up as alienated...

I was alienated, though, when he started continuing and advancing * era policies.