Posted on 11/09/2005 7:37:53 PM PST by Aussie Dasher
Democrats hoping to retake control of the US government glimpsed the beginnings of a possible comeback overnight, after major defeats for Republicans in election contests across the United States.
California's action-hero-turned-Republican-Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger suffered a stinging repudiation at the polls on Tuesday, failing to win approval for any of four referendum measures he proposed.
With national balloting looming next year and a presidential election in 2008, Tuesday's setbacks are viewed as a bad omen for President George W. Bush's floundering party, and consequently are a hopeful sign for opposition Democrats eager to reclaim the White House and US Congress.
"With less than a year until congressional elections in 2006, Democrats have gained momentum with a clear vision for progress and a national mood firmly united against the leadership of national Republicans," said Rahm Emanuel, chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, after the vote.
The leader of Democrats in the House was even more upbeat: "There were many victories last night, and I think they bode well for a Democratic sweep in next year's election," said Nancy Pelosi.
Just days before the balloting, Democratic National Chairman Howard Dean said he felt a sea change coming, as voters tire of the scandal-plagued Republican administration.
"Whether it's the string of arrests and indictments of corrupt Republican leaders or their pandering to extremist ideologues ... we need fundamental change in Washington," Mr Deab said.
Political analyst Larry Sabato said that the Democrats's hopes of a return to power are more than mere pipedreams. After Tuesday's elections, "Democrats now have hard evidence that their hopes are realistic," he said.
The Democrats racked up big wins as US Senator Jon Corzine decisively beat his Republican rival Douglas Forrester in the race for governor of New Jersey.
Democrat Tim Kaine also outpolled Republican contender Jerry Kilgore for the governorship of Virginia, a victory made all the sweeter for Democrats because US president George W Bush campaigned for Kilgore in the waning hours of the campaign, a sign, perhaps, of the president's diminished clout after weeks of scandal and missteps.
Only New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg garnered a Republican win, trouncing Democrat Fernando Ferrer to hold onto his job in the heavily-Democratic city.
Last week, the Democrats put on a more combative face, forcing the Senate into a surprise closed-door session to debate Iraq war intelligence, and leaving Republicans sputtering in disapproval.
And on Tuesday, election day, they threw down the gauntlet again, demanding that Vice President Dick Cheney clean house in the wake of his top aide I. Lewis 'Scooter' Libby's recent criminal indictment, while insisting that Libby not be granted a presidential pardon if convicted.
On the heels of the Republicans' problems, Democrats are making a new effort to present themselves to voters as a viable alternative.
"Enough is enough," said Mr Dean. "We're ready to lead."
But whether they will really be able to reclaim power remains an open question, political observers said. Mr Sabato said the first thing Democrats need is a clear, resonant message.
"It's not enough to carp and criticise," he said.
Secondly, they need a marquee-quality candidate as a standard bearer, and some pundits questioned whether the current presidential frontrunner, New York's US Senator Hillary Clinton, is the right person for the job, given the strong negative feelings she stirs among some voters.
Mr Sabato suggested Democrats quickly begin cultivating the next generation of young, smart and photogenic stars, like US senators Barack Obama and Evan Bayh, and current Virgina Governor Mark Warner.
"Democrats are going to have to create a candidate of national stature, because their one prominent candidate (Clinton) is extremely risky," he said.
I think the funniest thing was Bloomberg clobbering the Clinton candidate -- I don't even like Bloomberg but that made my evening.
"Political analyst Larry Sabato said that the Democrats's hopes of a return to power are more than mere pipedreams. After Tuesday's elections, "Democrats now have hard evidence that their hopes are realistic," he said."
That's what sabato says, heres what I say:
If you are a ratmedia type who is lurking, please read this response and shut up.
The ratmedia cheerleaders for the failing Whigs don't like to talk about these things, but here's a few
of the insurmountable problems they face, as they "retake power".
The end of big labor ATM access.This means half the extorted union dues money and half the union thug troops.
The loss of voter fraud through HAVA.PhotoIDs = Whig defeats. Please don't think this is not important. In many place Whigs simply can't win without cheating. If this was the end of the list it would be enough to stop them cold. But of course there is more.
The loss of Louisiana after the investigation. This won't go away. It won't be good for Louisiana Whigs. The people who left might even want to go back but to where? The nature of the rat party is to be greedy. The rats in Texas and other parts of the country that received refugees will register them as new rat voters. THERE WILL BE NO DOUBLE VOTING. The first result will be the election of a white Republican mayor in NOLA in Feburary 06.
The loss of Iraq as an issue. Things getting better by the month. The Whigs are falling right into this trap already. They are showing that they will make this an issue in the next cycle. Let them. The ratmedia can't lie enough to cover up the successes in Iraq.
The loss of plantation escapees jumping the fence. Blacks are starting to listen to the GOP and liking what they hear. The dumb Whigs have now started to make racial attacks on Mike Steele. This will NOT help them keep the plantation gates closed.
The loss of control of the Court. No more force feeding liberalism to America.
The lack of any message.An empty message " I'm not Bush." doesn't work.
Spokesmen and women like Dean, Moore, Sheehan etc chase voters away.
Gay "marriage" support. They are even loosing this issue in Oregon. "Oh for eleven" last cycle with no upturn in sight.
Anti 2nd amendment positions. Gave us West Virginia, helped us keep Arkansas and Tennessee.
Shallow bench: Paul Hackett for instance. Demoralized Whigs state organizations means fewer new faces.
The huge ass kicking Bloomberg whipped on freddy ferrer, right in the heart of rat central.
Continued defections.The ratio of Whig to GOP conversions in the last 10 years must be 10 to 1. This is one of the few areas that they consistently beat us in. :-)
Adoration of Partial Birth Abortion. Most Whigs that you see and hear about are devoted to PBA, something that chases decent people away. Even that stupid old creep jimmy carter has enough brain cells left to recognize the dangers for the Whigs in this issue.
For the Sixth time in the last eight months, a national poll has reported that Hillary Clinton is too liberal to be president. The numbers in these surveys DON'T BUDGE. She has been judged too liberal by 38, 39,39,40, 41 and now 45% of respondents say they would NEVER vote for her.
There is a term in Chess that fits the evil donkey's position very well.
Zugzwang: “Compulsion to move.” A German term referring to a situation in which a player would like to do nothing (pass), since any move will damage his game. Will any ratmedia type reading this please name an issue the Whigs can talk about safely?
The Whigs KNOW they can't do nothing/say nothing as issues come up, so they are compelled to comment. But the reality is that there aren't any issues they can say anything on and not be wrong either with their insane base or with real Americans.
When somebody explains away all of these I worry. Until then NAH!
Just heard from my brother in Virginia. Seems the races went about the same there. "Anecdotal" is trending toward "statistical"...
Thanks for your comments. It's reassuring to know that most Americans can see right through this media junk and another good reason to see why news networks and print media are losing audience and ratings in record numbers. Stories like this don't help their credibility. It only hurts it more to see stories like this fabricated. This is Mary Mapes all over again, but we're smart enough to see through it.
Meanwhile gay marriage was banned in Texas, a major stumbling block for democrats, yet this story is hardly heard of anywhere in the major news. Bernard Goldberg could have enough information to write 50 more editions to his book if he wanted to.
Expecting conservative Republicans to match the get out the vote effort of entrenched liberal interest groups-such as organized labor-in an off-year election, in a relatively liberal state, is a bit unrealistic.
Reagan called the same sort of special election when he was governor and lost as well.
Well, he must start running for re-election as soon as he can regroup. He has no choice now.
No mention, either, of the Democratic Supreme Court Justice we threw out here in PA, the first ever.
But that and Ohio didn't fit the narrative that the MSM is spinning, so out with it.
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