I think Democrats will hold Congress,and possibly gain a few seats...I don't believe

[old mark]

the "anger at government" or the "midterm election wave" of the minority party...I think these things have become internet/MSM myths that have been believed because they have been repeated again and again...

I think there is no reason - judging by the primaries so far - that we should lose anything.

IF Democrats vote, we have the power to even gain a few seats in congress...

It is all in our hands - all we have to do is do it.

mark

[Sherman A1]

1. I agree with You

I think that the House will stay solid, the Senate perhaps a seat or two loss. But that is just my guessing.

[saltpoint]

2. Here's to a huge turn-out.

Recommended.

[pnorman]

8. "Here's to a huge turnout"

You nailed it! We here on Du are NOT the "base", but we ARE the "yeast"! So let's all get abubbling! November isn't that far off!

Proud member of the Unprofessional Left, meaning that during all these many decades, I have NEVER made a buck from my beliefs!

[old mark]

14. Hell, I have had a hard time making a buck from much of anything....nt

[saltpoint]

27. Hi, pnorman and old mark. Making a buck is truly tough

going these days... always has been for some of us.

Which is why I do a lot of shoplifting.

:hi:

[notesdev]

3. I believe

[SpiralHawk]

4. I think the Republicon noise machine is spewing oodles of poo

They figure if they spread enuf disinformation - as usual -- they can steal some more elections and no one in the so-called media (R - knee benders) will call them on it...

[Ramulux]

5. Gaining seats is not possible

I personally believe the senate is safe but we could end up with as small as a 2 or 3 seat majority. The house is a whole different story. There are a shit load of democrats in very vulnerable conservative leaning districts. Over the past 4 years the dems have picked up a whole bunch of seats that they really shouldn't have in terms of how those districts are made up. With the political winds against the dems a lot of those already vulnerable guys are in even more trouble.

However we do have a lot of money on our side and the fact that the repubs are running insane candidates benefits us greatly. A lot of stuff can happen in the next few months and if things turn against us even more it could be very bad.

[zipplewrath]

21. I know what you mean

And that is the conventional wisdom. The only caveat I'd put on that is that some of those districts aren't nearly as "conservative leaning" as they used to be. We are getting ready for redistricting again, and the ones we have right now are 10 years old. There's been alot of demographic changes, both in where people live and how they vote. We kept Murtha's seat. We lost Kennedy's. This could be the rare year in which we keep what we aren't suppose to. Grayson is suppose to be a GOP district, but he won before and he looks good to win again.

[Radical Activist]

6. The media is aways taken by surprise when Democrats gain seats in Congress.

Their shallow glance at national Dem/GOP favorability polls is meaningless.

The Democratic Party has two top priorities this year.
1) Gain one or two seats in the Senate.
2) Gain control of more state legislatures and Governorships to control re-writing Congressional districts.

We can do both. It's a shame that #2 gets so little attention.

[The Magistrate]

7. That Is True, Sir: The Hate Of Whites At The South For A Black President Distorts National Figures

Down there the imbalance is tremendous; elsewhere people remain more or less sane, taken as a whole.

[old mark]

16. More or less, anyway.......nt

[LawnKorn]

10. The Main Stream Media has been stating Democrats will lose the House since January 20, 2009

The MSM has been indoctrinating their audiences with the 'fact' that the Democratic Party will not control the House of Representatives after the mid term elections of 2010. The MSM has been overtly engaged in influencing the outcome of the elections, and they are not even trying to hide it. Such is the state of unbiased journalism in this country today.

If the media had countered the non-stop spew from the right wing talkers such as Limbaugh and Hannity instead of repeating it, they would have noted a few glaring facts:

1. The Tea Party peaked in April and has been running down hill since
2. The voting public has an overwhelming negative opinion of Republicans
3. The Republicans have nothing to offer; they are just against anything from Democrats
4. The voters know it was the policies of Bush and his wars that wrecked the economy
5. The media does not have as much influence on voting as either Liberals or Republicans would like to think

Overall, the Republicans will make no significant gains in either the House or the Senate.

[DrDan]

9. no way . . . we will lose - seats in both chambers - not the majorities, but seats

[sendero]

15. I agree with you...

... but that is not a popular sentiment around here. There is almost no way we won't lose substantial house seats, the senate may be somewhat safe.

As for GOTV, people who are unemployed or struggling are not likely to vote for the bunch in power, particularly as ineffective and even counter-productive bunch as what we have now. And anger is a huge vote motivator.

[DrDan]

18. exactly

those that remain unemployed or underemployed will find little motivation to take time from their day to vote

[pnorman]

20. "If Voting Could Change Anything, it Would Be Illegal" (Anarchist aphorism)

Anarchists eschew voting (at least publicly) in favor of other "more effective" activities. But few here describe themselves as`Anarchists. The greater number here profess high faith in the power of the ballot. If you're in that group, this coming mid-term election will be just as important as the epochal one 2 years ago! The Reptilicans do NOT want us to vote! All the more important that we not only vote in HUGE numbers, but also persuade our dispirited friends.

[LawnKorn]

11. K&R

[AndyA]

12. Democrats must get out and vote.

They must realize that all the hard work they did two years ago will be a waste of time if they sit it out this November.

The Democrats must do something to engage their voters and make sure they get out and vote. And where is Tim Kaine? What the hell is he doing? Talk about a waste of time and money! Fire his sorry butt and get Howard Dean back!!

[Cal33]

13. And let's hope that the Republican-made Electronic Voting

machines without paper trails, which most states are still using today, will
not make too much of a difference.

[a kennedy]

17. Rachel was saying this last night too.....

hope both of you are right..... :patriot:

[old mark]

22. ....she STOLE it from ME!!!!11 nt

[seabeyond]

19. i have not bought into this media crap from day one. nt

[Dark Knight]

23. If you look at the polling numbers

and the trend from other midterms, it looks like a real spanking from a realistic standpoint.

[spanone]

24. remember 2006 when the media assured everyone that the house & the senate would stay republican?

the democrats won both in spite of the fucking media

[Dark Knight]

25. Exactly the trend I was pointing out

change the status quo, those in power lose.

[uppityperson]

29. and won't you be happy then

[GSLevel9]

26. I appreciate your passion and thoughts...

but I'm sorry, it's going to be a fucking bloodbath.

No one cares about the blame game and no one cares about the good stuff that's been passed.

With 10% unemployment, no prospect for improvement and poverty as the "new normal" the electorate will "take it out" on the incumbents, especially the ones sharing the Party ID as the administration.

Obama needs to fire the fuck-ups "fixing" the economy and make some drastic improvements... and it wouldn't hurt to rework the Heath Care debate to include a Public Option.

Ride the middle of the road in the slim amount of time with a majority congress and you've failed.

People should have started to see Health Care benefits by November... an expansion of Medicare or SOMETHING.

Everything is smoke/mirrors.

Health Care Reform that isn't helping ANYONE, and won't do MUCH at all in the future.

Ending a WAR by sending the soldiers to Afghanistan and leaving 50,000 in Iraq there to... ??

Ending DADT... without really ending anything.

[TheKentuckian]

28. I think we'll take a serious hit in the House but maintain control

The Senate should be okay on the whole, maybe down a couple or so but could even pick up a net of one.