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".
Please FReepmail me if you want on or off my ‘miscellaneous’ ping list.
Troll??
I'm always puzzled by people who seem in distress about the way I might vote. Do you imagine that being sarcastic will make me suddenly see the light? Would that work with you?
susie
"What's this "They" ... it's "WE"... "
Maybe I should clarify.
The "WE" is the GOP that thinks we are out here to be trotted out to vote for them, let them pander and beat their chests about how good conservatives they are (ala John Mclame), then try to stuff US back in the box and make us keep our mouths shut until the next election.
That is the "They" I'm referring to.
I'm a christian first, conservative second, american third, and republican dead last.
So.. I'm definately not in the "we" department.
THE GIPPER
"Nations crumble from within when the citizenry asks of government those things which the citizenry might better provide for itself... [I] hope we have once again reminded people that man is not free unless government is limited. There's a clear cause and effect here that is as neat and predictable as a law of physics: As government expands, liberty contracts." —Ronald Reagan
It's a leak, intended to scare the GOP leadership into getting off their butts and providing some reason for their voters to bother showing up in November.
We are an outlet for the truth, right here @Freerepublic. It will be up to us to begin linking more to posts like this so people can get the whole story.
We are going to have to get to work as Freepers.
Chat rooms, forums, create our Blogs and link back here,
etc. We need to do this for the next election cycle and the war on terror.
Ops4
Does RUSH OFFEND You today?
You listen to Rush today???
He's just like ME!
If he KNEW that Bush's WOT was just a talking point he's have been against it from the get go.
Vindicated!
Nope... you're still not making any sense. Did you start on a new bottle, or still nursing the one from last night?
You know I used to think that Dims were block headed, keep on message even if message was total BS but you just prove to me that Reps are no better than Dims in their opposition to reality and spin.
I'm not a Republican, Otis. Try again.
But you're making progress!! I at least understood the gist of your last post. Good boy!! [patting on head]
All politicians scare the living daylights out of me. They have entirely too much power and they like playing with the lives of others.
Carolyn
Figures.
Wassa matter? Took you 2 posts to say something?
Not that you said anything worth that bandwave you took up.
Bottom line, push comes to shove, you're alone in the voting booth with your conscience:
Could you .. would you seriously vote for the worse of the evils for this country?
Yup, I am.
susie
Steve, that might be the best post of the month. Would anyone put it past Karl Rove to give disinformation to a Rino like Shays or Davis knowing they would leak the garbage to Novak. Is it a way to get Rush Limbaugh and his listeners involved also? It surely woke me up to go volunteer for my GOP Congressman or candidate.
Probably not. In my original post at #7, I specifically mentioned that the GOP is still ahead based on the individual races.
Since I'm not one of those conservatives who sees a "liberal-bogyman" behind every political poll, I try to take ALL public opinion data at face value. In 1994 the Pew and Gallup polls had the GOP overtaking the Dems in the final month of the campaign. With 90 days to go, many GOP Congressmen believe the outcome in 2006 is very shaky at best.
"Wow, you are clueless. "
I could be...I could also be in good company
"Conservatives VOTE because they know what went into making that VOTE possible."
The point is that conservatives vote conservative. The GOP, as a whole, is not a conservative party anymore - especially on the government growth side. So the GOP should not expect to automatically receive the conservative vote, especially when it comes to individual house races.
The GOP needs to embrace conservative positions, or fake it well enough by November in order to maintain the most house seats.
If they don't go conservative, then don't expect conservatives to vote for the GOP simply because the "other guy is worse".
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