Ari Berman (The Nation): After Busby: Almost is not enough

[Jack Rabbit]

From The Nation
Dated Wednesday June 7

After Busby: Almost is not enough
By Ari Berman

Democrats keep talking about moral victories this election cycle. But to take back the Congress in 2006, they'll need to convert symbolic wins into actual ones.

In a normal election cycle, Republicans would've handily defeated Paul Hackett in Ohio (who was narrowly defeated by Republican Jean Schmidt in a special election last August) and Francine Busby in California. Busby lost to Republican Brian Bilbray in a special election last night by 49 to 45 percent, in heavily Republican districts. But this is not a typical political year, and for Democrats to take back the House or the Senate, they must pick up seats in places like Indiana, Kentucky and Tennessee.

The results last night in San Diego's 50th district prove the GOP's resolve. Republicans are still better at winning elections than Democrats are. Democrats had two months to try and increase Busby's total above the 44 percent she took in the crowded April primary, the same number John Kerry garnered in the conservative district. Those numbers barely moved, and turnout remained especially low.

Perhaps more disconcerting for Democrats, illegal immigration seemed to matter more than the "culture of corruption" message Busby hammered in Duke Cunningham's former district.

Read more.

[BillZBubb]

1. I agree with the article. We lost. No spin is going to change that.

People here scream that it was a Repug district, well duh. But Busby didn't do any better there than Kerry did--which should be sending out alarm signals to Democrats everywhere.

But, people seem to want to think happy thoughts.

[Tempest]

2. The article was bullshit

He completely ignored that Busby was being challenged by another Democrat in the recall election.

Griffith was a Democrat who declared himself an Independent just to get on the recall ballot. He didn't run in the last general election as a Democrat because he would have gotten trounced by Busby and would not have made it on the recall ballot.

As it was, Busby and Griffith received 1% less votes combined than Bilbray received total.

In a district where Cunningham received 58% of the vote in his last re-election, Bilbray's 49% is a stunning defeat for the Repugs.

It will be all that more apparent in the general election in the 50th district in November.

[BillZBubb]

3. It's always the next election, isn't it...

Wait til next time!

[Tempest]

4. Take a look at the 2005 special election results

And then get back to me since it appears you're not aware of the results.

[yurbud]

5. "We have to keep our powder dry!"

So the republicans can use it to burn us at the stake...

[applegrove]

6. Dems need a turnout of more than 65%. That says it all. Apathy will

kill any chance we have to overcome all types of voter suppression.