Posted on 07/30/2006 2:06:41 PM PDT by rface
Rush Limbaugh announced on his show that the GOP house internal polling shows a circa 30 seat loss for 2006.
It is hard for me to write much on this subject, as internal polling is secretive and not generaly available to public scrutiny. But there are some thoughts for discussion here.
One, is Rush correct? I don't think Rush makes it up as he goes along. He is human, and can make errors (as can anybody talking solo for 15 hours a week). But I haven't known him to lie outright on a political matter ever. I believe Rush has reported what he has gleaned from a GOP member of congress or a staffer.
Two, is the information correct? Is it a leak, or a misinformation campaign? I guess I don't see much value in leaking incorrect data to Rush exagerating a potential house loss. So I tend to believe the leaker was being accurate.
Three, should Rush have reported this (and should I write about it)? No to the first part. Internal polling is not meant to be leaked or reported. Once millions of Rush listeners have the info, it is already public and so I offer it here for your analysis.
Four, implications? Internal polling isn't the "for public" polling that you get from groups like Zogby, Gallup, Rasmussen, etc. Internal polling is the hard core, scientific, no spin accurate stuff that the candidates and the parties get and is held close to their vests. Only the best of the best work directly for the parties and candidates. My point is that if the information Rush reported is accurate, there are dark times ahead.
Implications go beyond this too. With the recent failure of the GOP by raising the minimum wage and cutting (but enshrining) a major tax, and with no movement on issues like arctic and offshore drilling, the slow pace of federal court appointments, and unreal spending, the GOP is losing the base. Despite our war on terror and a robust economy, Americans see casualty numbers and gas prices.
Having just adjourned for a recess, I see little the house can do other than campaign localy in the near term. If we blow this election we have no one to blame other than ourselves (a moderate to liberal GOP senate and a spend happy house).
"Where have you gone Ronald Reagan, a nation turns it's lonely eyes to you".
The Big Bad Oil Companies have got to be spending all that moolah on SOMETHING. I'd like to be a vendor of that SOMETHING.
That's what I've read as well. (From Michael Barone?) The Dems would need a perfect night to make those kinds of gains.
The only way the Republicans WILL hold both houses is if the conservatives and "real conservatives" go the polls to make it happen...it won't occur because of Divine Intervention, and it won't occur without NUMBERS of Republicans successfully over-coming the gag reflex as they vote for the RINO's to prevent a Democrat takeover.
Speak for yourself.
The GOP has put themselves in this position.
If they aren't smart enough to figure out how to fix it, then they deserve to have their asses handed to them in November.
Here are the reasons why Limbaugh & Coulter are not lackeys & messengers for the RNC in this instance or any other, and would not be called by the RNC for said purpose, nor play said role if asked:
1) Both (each in their own independent way) are loyal Conservatives and only vote Republican for the same reason many FReepers do, because that is the only practical choice pragmatic conservatives have.
2) Both (again, each in their own independent way) are regularly and publicly critical of the RNC, of the Bush Administration, and of various Republican congress critters.
I would much prefer to have candidates I actually felt good about. If we refuse to even talk about the idea of not supporting Rinos, then our Republican party will have more and more of them. If some of us talking about not supporting them puts the fear of God into the party, whats wrong with that? If they believe they have our vote simply because they are better than the horrible alternative, why would they ever change?
susie
See it how you want. But don't complain when the Republican party and the Democrat party are virtually indistinguishable.
susie
Yeah, I can hardly tell the difference in the GOP and these people:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1674750/posts?page=66#66
Wow, you are clueless.
It's simple math for those with fully developed brains.
Conservatives VOTE because they know what went into making that VOTE possible.
To NOT VOTE is UN-AMERICAN.
Therefore, since conservatives are not un-American, I do not worry about the 2006 Election.
"You said this "NO WE DIDNT. %age of GDP basis its lower than under Reagan!" What the ... Are you kidding me? Do you try to make that argument with associates?? The budget jumps from 1.4 trillion to 2.2 and you say that??"
And if the economy increases commensurately in nominal dollar terms, the burden on the economy is the same.
I'm not saying we shouldnt have more fiscal restraint, I'm saying please keep the right perspective.
I wont quibble with your other points, as my basic point is you make a 'sky is falling' over-statement of the problems with Republicans in a way that is harmful not helpful to advancing conservative agenda.
"We need to atttack!!!"
Yes we do. Now is not the time to start a circular firing squad.
"Then you said this "but it is 100% because of not enough conservatives" as a reason to do what America wants us to do?? "
My point is 30 more conservatives in the House and 10 more in the Senate and we'd have a majority singing our tune.
WE DONT GET THERE BY INFIGHTING BUT BY DEFEATING THE LEFT.
As Reagan put it, someone on your side 80% is your ally not your enemy.
PICS OF THE MAYBE DEMS MAJORITY... GOOD ONE HOWLIN.
This is very troubling. Rush is the last person to act like chicking little. However, I can see why polls numbers are like this due to the poor job of the GOP to sell themselves and their accomplishments, and I don't like relying on the incompetence of the democrats.
What's this "They" ... it's "WE"...
If "WE" dont fix this, *WE* will get our assess handed to us in November, and *WE*, the patriots and conservatives, will suffer in the next few years under the idiocracy of the Liberal Democrats.
"I don't like relying on the incompetence of the democrats."
Indeed. You can always count on the Democrats to let you down, and I suspect they will let us down there as well, by looking (thanks to MSM putting massive rouge on the pig) better than they really are, at least past election day.
Coop great post about Hoyer. It shows you how many weak kneed freepers we have here. It is not even August for God's sake. Sure we would lose the house now, but everything tightens, including internals, after Labor day.
New Yorker right on. Too bad we have our own spinners at FR who are wobbly and do not post all the facts.
Nice try, troll.
I'm not in denial that the polls are worse now that in the last off-year election. But do you think the DNC is going to pick up 30 seats basely on a generic question?
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