CQ: Democrats Who Don't Retire Make Republican Takeover Tougher

[flpoljunkie]

CQ TODAY ONLINE NEWS
Nov. 17, 2009 – 12:01 a.m.

Democrats Who Don’t Retire Make Takeover Tougher
By Greg Giroux, CQ-Roll Call

A lack of competitive open-seat House races in 2010 could complicate Republican efforts to fully maximize a favorable national environment and make large seat gains after back-to-back elections where the political winds were blowing in the opposite direction.

So far, 18 members have announced they are not seeking re-election in 2010 and are running for other office — but only six of those races are currently considered competitive. No member has yet announced an outright retirement, which is unusual; at this point in the 2008 cycle, 14 members had announced their retirement and five others were running for Senate.

The number of members vacating seats in 2010 is certainly much lower than it was in 1994 — when Republicans last won control of the House from Democrats in the first midterm election of a Democratic administration. Next year, comeback-minded Republicans are confident the party will gain seats after big losses in the 2006 and 2008 elections, and they are hoping political elements will come together to produce a wave similar to 1994.

more...

http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docid=news-000003248535

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

1. What "favorable national environment?"

:shrug:

[flpoljunkie]

4. I think they are referring to the fall off of independent votes in the NY , VA governor's elections.

However, they neglect to factor in the fall off in their own numbers. There is also an anti-incumbent mood in the country.

[flpoljunkie]

2. This is good news for Democrats. Why the 'unrecommend?'

I really think we need to look at the 'unrecommend' feature of DU. Is the urge to 'unrecommend' so strong with some folks here that it sometimes outweighs reading the post to actually understand what is being 'unrecommended?'

[Kdillard]

3. Why would anyone unrec this?. I would think any Democrat

would not want a Republican takeover in 2010. There are times I wonder what board I find myself on.

[AndyA]

5. Probably a freeper, they don't much care for the truth.

Facts that don't go their way are to be buried.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

6. Have you been around here lately?

There are more than enough right here on DU cheerleading for a Democratic defeat in 2010. "Think Green" so to speak.

[AndyA]

7. Yeah, it's pretty disgusting.

I do think there are some Dems that need to go, but not if they're replaced with Pukes.

[Ikonoklast]

8. They are amusing, however.

They would burn down the city in order to save it.