Uh-oh: Republican voters might just stay home in November

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review ^ | May 7, 2006 | By Charlie Cook

[johnny7]

There is growing evidence that Republicans will face a voter turnout problem in the November midterm elections.

The GOP faces not only enormous misgivings among voters about the war in Iraq -- which amounts to 70 or 80 percent of President Bush's problems -- but also a combination of Social Security, mounting budget deficits, Hurricane Katrina, Harriet Miers, port security, immigration, gasoline prices and various scandals. History tells us that when one party is either complacent or disillusioned -- and the other party is highly motivated, agitated or angry -- the results can be devastating to the former while providing boundless opportunities for the latter.

[staytrue]

Spend my money like democrats.

You won't have any money to spend at all if the dems take over. They will take it all "for the common good".

[TXBSAFH]

I have been there, my wife is from Methuen. So. The world will not end. Why should I support rinos when they are just as socialist as the rats?

[johnny7]

See a specialist... I can't help you.

[Jason_b]

Gee, thanks!

[staytrue]

This attitude that people should be obedient to the party tells me that some folks need to take some civics classes.

Everyone should vote their own self interest. If you think voting third party and electing democrats is in your self interest, go ahead. I say you are a moron for doing it, but it is your vote, not mine.

[cripplecreek]

I say you are a moron for doing it,

Such maturity coming from the party obedient. Who wouldn't want to aspire to that?

[staytrue]

Republicans get into trouble whenever their base is unmotivated.

Not true. Chafee will win reelection in a landslide as did Voinovich, Snow and Collins did before him.

[lonedawg]

Stay with your high principles, but don't start bitching when you get the results. Politics is often a choice of the lesser of two evils. Some of us are capable of making that choice some aren't. I'm not crazy about Denny Hastert but the alternative is Nancy Polosi, according to your statement you would take her to get rid of Arlen Spectre. Where's the logic there?

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

The Democrats would lead us to disaster at 100.0010 M.P.H. The Republicans are leading us to disaster at 100.0009 M.P.H.

[TXBSAFH]

It is time to start holding feet to the fire. The only way of doing that is to convince them we will not vote for them unless they listen to us. If you are willing to vote for them no matter what they do not care how you think. I will not vote for any more liberals with an R by the name.

[johnny7]

No big diff huh?

[staytrue]

It is my duty to keep liberals out of office.

Yep, voting third party will really help keep Pelosi out of the office of speaker of the house.

[lonedawg]

Put it anyway you want but the result is a liberal with a (D) by his name. You seem to believe there's no difference, I know damn well there is a difference. I'm pretty sure our preferences are the same, I prefer to look at the big picture. Liberal Demo = Pelosi, Rino= Hastert.Which do you want?

[lonedawg]

Put it anyway you want but the result is a liberal with a (D) by his name. You seem to believe there's no difference, I know damn well there is a difference. I'm pretty sure our preferences are the same, I prefer to look at the big picture. Liberal Demo = Pelosi, Rino= Hastert.Which do you want?

[lonedawg]

Put it anyway you want but the result is a liberal with a (D) by his name. You seem to believe there's no difference, I know damn well there is a difference. I'm pretty sure our preferences are the same, I prefer to look at the big picture. Liberal Demo = Pelosi, Rino= Hastert.Which do you want?

[lonedawg]

Sorry for the multiple post.

[trubluolyguy]

Agreed.

[Hildy]

I truly think those revolt days are over. When outraged Republicans voted Perot, we got Clinton...on the other side, they're thinking, when outraged liberals voted Nader, they got Bush. So, we'll all tend to scream and yell, but in the voting booth, everyone will do the right thing for their party.

[lonedawg]

The Democrats would lead us to disaster at 100.0010 M.P.H. The Republicans are leading us to disaster at 100.0009 M.P.H.

Can you believe he said that?

[moose2004]

"His words are by no means a prediction of results in November, too early for that. However, if we're being honest, we all see the same warning signs. I'm mad. You're mad. Conservatives are all mad, and if we don't do something to turn that anger into something positive, we will take a beating at the polls."

I completely agree with this comment. What I specifically find questionable in Cook's article is the poll he cites, especially this:

"Counting those who rated their interest as nine or 10 in our poll, 60 percent of Democrats and 51 percent of Republicans qualified as very likely voters."

I don't buy the fact that dems outnumber Repubs by 9% when it comes to "very likely to vote." The Republicans have had some problems, there's no doubting that, and those problems have hurt the party in the eyes of the public. But, whether our party is up or down Republicans are consistently more dedicated voters, and that's a documented fact. Scott Rasmussen recently adjusted his methodology to 3% more dems than Repubs (due to the War, gas prices, Bush's stumbles and the fact the American people are down on the dems and Repubs in Congress), a number I agree with considering his accuracy in 04'.