It is on to 2006 from here!

[Ignacio Upton]

2005 has been the first year, in my humble opinion, since 1998, that the Dems have had a good year politically. Let's see:
*Social Security Privization DEFEATED (Grassley said it won't be discussed again until 2009, which is not a guaruntee)
*Harriet Miers WITHDRAWN (will we stop Alito too?)
*Tom DeLay INDICTED
*Scooter Libby INDICTED
*Bill Frist UNDER INVESTIGATION
*Abramoff INDICTED
*Two important victories in the NJ and VA State Houses
*The fundies have seen a backlash in the case of Terri Schiavo. People do not want their medical privacy intruded.

However, while the battle for 2005 has been won, the battle for 2006 has begun, and it matters a lot more than 2005.

For the Senate, we have 17 seats to defend while the Republicans have 15. Out of our 17 seats, Minnesota and Maryland will be the closest (I trust that Corzine will appoint a worthy sucessor in New Jersey so we will not have to fret). Washington and Michigan are also iffy, but I believe that we will pull them off. Florida and Nebraska are also looking better, as Nebraska Republicans do not have a candidate against Ben Nelson, and Katherine Harris is in terrible position.
For Republicans, they are in trouble in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Arizona, Rhode Island, Missouri, and Montana. Virginia could have been in play had Mark Warner decided to run.

In the House, we are down by only 30, and we need to get 16 seats in order to take back the House. Historically this is not hard to do (Republicans won 54 seats in 1994.) However, races are not as competitive as they once had because of gerrymandering and polarized voters voting along party lines. However, it is not impossible that the House could be Democrat. If we contest enough seats with enough number of candidates, then we can win. I think that if we have the right strategy, we could take back the House before the Senate.

With the Governor's races, 34 states are having their's. We will get 8 open States. I do not know our chances in all the states, but I know that we are looking good in New York (where Eliot Spitzer will Hopefully be my Governor next November :) )Massachusetts, and Maryland.