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.

[PGalt]

Wouldn't think of it. Never miss a chance to vote against The Democratic Crime Syndicate. I'm also counting the number of new voters that I've talked since 2004, to help vote these creeps into extinction.

[KJC1]

I've seen a fair number of posts where the poster is saying s/he will vote third party to "teach the GOP a lesson" and in the same breath saying their reason is out of concern for this country. To me that sounds like burning down your house to teach fire safety, and in order to "save" your house from being burned down.

[Coldwater Creek]

Suit yourself, just don't say that you were not warned!

[johnny7]

Voting is the ONE THING you must do. I'll suffer through a RINO hissy-fit in order to stave off Marxist socialism anyday.

[longtermmemmory]

I think the media is trying to "moby" the turnout.

The DNC made their BEST turnout effort in 2004.

Their PAID volunteers could not beat the will of GOP voters.


The more I hear stories like this the more certain I am about voting GOP in november. I am also going to make sure the entire extended family votes GOP too.

[MilesVeritatis]

Me, too! I am a broken-glass conservative, not a broken-glass Republican.

[conservative physics]

Congress controls the purse strings, not the President.

Clinton had absolutely NOTHING to do with the debt going down, in fact he did everything he could to drive up the debt, raise taxes, increase regulation, ect.

Real conservatives who were in charge of congress at the time are who accomplished that feat.

The problem now is that a few RINO's are joining with democrats in driving up the debt. But since Republicans are supposedly in control they get the blame.

[GeorgefromGeorgia]

I think the GOP is going to get their butt kicked. I have donated to the RNC for many years. They call me now for more money. I just don't have the heart to give more. Congress can't get it done. We have a GOP congress and President. Where is the balanced budget? It would be hard, but RATs can't filibuster budgets. Also, Bush is wrong on immigration. The Senate in particular keeps voting more spending.

[snowsislander]

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

I think it is apparent that the MSM is not only eager to see such, but is apparently willing to run articles ad nauseam to boost this idea.

Well, I won't be swayed by such blatant manipulation by the MSM. I fought too hard against the madness of the Assault Weapons Bill back when the Democrats ran the show; I never want to have to repeat that futile effort to stop such a stupid bill. And I can guarantee you those socialists in the Democratic party will bring such stupid bills up with great rapidity.

The Republicans may be timid about going after what they want, such as nominating good judges, expanding oil production, and creating new refineries, but the Democrats have no such compunctions.

Simple frustration with Republicans letting themselves be obstructed is nowhere as bad refighting for ground that we have already won.

Yes, the Republicans have been especially politically tone-deaf this year: splitting the base over Harriet Miers' nomination, over amnesty for illegal aliens, over the Dubai Ports deal, all were remarkably inept in an election year. But none of these will be a patch on having to deal with the sheer leftist lunacy that the Democrats will bring on.

[Rome2000]

All the GOP has to do to bury the Marxists masquerading as "Democrat" is to wage a TV campaign starting 6 weeks before the election showing who would be the new speaker of the House and Chairs of Commitees.

The GOP would pick up seats, not lose them.

Democrats sound a little overconfident of their chances, and lets not forget the enemy would love to see the rats in charge, a point that I trust the GOP is not tooo brain addled to make forcefully and often after Labor day.

[veronica]

BTTT...

[ConsentofGoverned]

"Voting is the ONE THING you must do. I'll suffer through a RINO hissy-fit in order to stave off Marxist socialism anyday."
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>.............
so GOP gave us: McCain's stopping of Free Speech
expanded GOV, big spending, Open borders..shipping jobs overseas, no counter to SCOTUS taking private property rights away, expanding socialist Health programs rx plan
yep they must be kept in power and rewarded for the
pork barrel spineless last 6 yrs, (how about suppressing the barrett report and able danger and the Clinton crimes remember Marc Rich ?? OUR VP loves the guy in bed with RICH mr Liddy) too much dirt kept under the rug there,

[LS]

Lessee, how right was cook in 2000? in 2002? in 2004?

As best I recall, he was always negative on the Republicans' chances, then right at the end started to shift his ground so he would be closer to reality.

An old sports adage is "you don't beat sumptin' wit nutin'" and the Dems got nutin. We may not be happy with big government spending, no border control, and Medicare drugs, but any Republican/conservative in his right mind knows that if the Dems get ahold of national security, it will be (to quote "Team America, World Police") "9/11 times a hundred." And THAT won't be funny.

[Stentor]

Republican voters cannot be that stupid. . .

Don't stand up. You'll bump your head on one.

[alarm rider]

Respectfully, I am one of those that will not vote for a RINO under any circumstances, nor will I ever vote for a democrat unless that democrat is a true conservative and renounces the leftward leaning of the present day democrat party.

I certainly understand the positions of those who will hold their collective noses and vote for anyone who has an "R" after the last name. That's how people get Specter, McCain, Snowe, Graham and the rest. I don't agree, but I understand.

It just seems to me that the frustrations with RINO politicians are not worth the effort, because in the end, they screw us over and continue to screw us over all the way to the next legislative session.

IMO, fear of the democrat party regaining power is viable, but on the other hand, Republicans need a huge wake-up call now and then. We have only to look at what has been squandered by appeasement WHEN we are in power. Maybe a time-out is required so that new leadership, with a clue, might rise.

We have not/are not getting very far with the present crop. Readjustment is needed, or strong leadership. I would prefer the latter, but I haven't seen many "R's" with a spinal unit and damn little leadership. Maybe if they realize that having an "R" after his/her name means you had better tow the line, we will gain ground.

Unless and until people who believe in conservative values begin to enforce that by voting for conservatives, we have nothing less than the death of a thousand cuts.

[longtermmemmory]

I submit the same people who will "stay home" are the same weenies who voted third party in 2000, 2002, and 2004.

Its the usual suspects. They are just being sought out by the drive by media to be represented as the conservative base. Where is a MSM mediot going to find a conservative? They don't know any conservatives.

Notices none of the MSM ever seeks out Rush to interview. He has more listeners DAILY than they have weekly (for some monthly), seems he would have a better pulse.

[ChildOfThe60s]

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

Hmm, this author is projecting his view onto the GOP. The repubs do have serious problems with Bush and the congress. But It's the DIMs that are obsessed with Irag, not the Pubs.

On the other hand, the author puts "immigration" at the bottom of the list in terms of priority. I see it and spending as the biggies with the party faithful. He doesn't because DIMs have no problem with either.

[JCEccles]

I can see Democrats being angry, but I don't see an affirmative policy.

Well said.

Americans are restive and unhappy with government. That includes the 45 percent of the legislative branch and the 60 percent of the SCOTUS superlegislature that comprises Democrats. Democrats have no alternative agenda apart from higher taxes, more government regulation, dithering in the face of (if not surrendering to) terrorism, environmental extremism, abortion on demand, and gay marriage. So far the Democratic leadership has done a decent job keeping the public focused on factors that fuel its unhappiness while carefully avoiding having to present its failed agenda for scrutiny.

That will change.

In the next several months the Democrats will have to do more than distort and manipulate the record. They will have to show their cards. When the cards are shown (and it is the prime duty of the Republican leadership to ensure all the Democratic cards are shown), any Democratic short term advantage will melt away like July snow.

Democrats: the closer you get, the weirder they look.

[JCEccles]

I think the GOP is going to get their butt kicked.

I think you're a troll.

Or Pat Buchanan.