Charlie Cook: Debacle Coming for GOP

http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2006/8/1/202008.shtml?s=ic ^

[Deek1969]

The 2006 midterm elections will be a disaster for the Republican Party -- unless a "cataclysmic event" saves the day.

That's the dire warning from political analyst Charlie Cook, who predicts in his "Off to the Races" column that the GOP's expected misfortune will result from a perfect storm of three factors:

[MaineVoter2002]

Correction:

Ofcourse the libs (35-40%) dont think we should be fighting the WOT at all and more and more conservatives think we're not fighting hard enough.

[A CA Guy]

Out of curiosity, what are United States prices compared to the rest of the world?

[mysterio]

There is no percieved sense of urgency about solving the problem. Instead we get "Actually, gas is still affordable. You're blowing it out of proportion. Move under the overpass a mile from your job if you don't want to drive." At least that's what I've been getting. It's made me ready to give up on oil, and I plan to as soon as I have the means to replace my own personal infrastructure.

Government needs to explain what's going on. And they also need to make it seem like their top priority is removing all of the federal legislative barriers to getting the problem solved. Nuclear electricity needs to be pushed top priority, refineries need to be allowed, boutique blends need to be consolidated nationwide or banned outright, and politicians need to be on tv weekly explaining how desperately they are trying to remove the barriers that are keeping the high prices in place. Until then, the average joe who doesn't think much is going to blame whoever is holding office.

[MJY1288]

OK, Thanks for your view, good night!

[TatieBug]

Just caught the very end of M Barone on Sean's show today but missed his thoughts on the house races...anybody hear his opinions? He layed out a pretty good cause for the R holding the Senate...can't see the D's sweeping every close seat...I can't either.

[MaineVoter2002]

Exactly! I'll bet the vast majority of that 63 percent think we're heading too far to the left yet the media will not tell us that.

They do the same with the Iraq War.

[mysterio]

I don't think the dems are going to take anywhere near the amount of seats that the MSM is drooling over that they might win. But the gas issue alone could theoretically tip the Presidency in '08. I'm just saying.

[BoBToMatoE]

I agree with you. It would be different if it looked as if the GOP was doing somthing about it.. but its not.. the best thing we can do is fire back "what will raising taxes do about it? not a thing."

Then we can pray the speculators will stop raping this country and base it on the real supply and demand situation.

[PhiKapMom]

I don't see any change in driving habits here in Oklahoma as most people buying new cars stick with the larger vehicles, SUV's, trucks, large cars. Living in an oil/gas producing state we probably see things differently.

This additional income is allowing more wells to be drilled and some marginal wells that no one wanted to invest in are now back on line and doing great. Hope to see refineries modernized and adding a few would be nice.

If we have good candidates, they will get elected.

[KoRn]

I'm NOT all that distressed regarding gas prices personally. I drive a gas guzzling sports car, but only live 2 miles from work. Gas could go to $10 per gallon for all I care, I'll just ride a bike to work. lol

Regarding my post I was pretty much referring to how I hear others speak of it all.

[MaineVoter2002]

Actually, gas is still affordable. You're blowing it out of proportion

If China becomes a major exporter of oil to the US. Is that a good thing?

[NaughtiusMaximus]

Help support my "Ride Your Bike to the Polls on Election Wednesday" endeavor. Spread the word of this fine ecoconsciousness raising project among the Liberals.

[mysterio]

You have to stop minimizing the issue. It's vastly important to everyone I know. Maybe it's the area I live in.

If you're asking for my personal strategy, I would like to see an alternative become very competitive, and sustained high prices are the only way that's going to happen. But this thread is about major issues that might affect the party in power in an election year. And I'm presenting a PR strategy to solve the problem using the oil infrastructure that we currently have.

[MaineVoter2002]

And as november approaches people start worrying how they will be able to afford the oil to keep the homes warm

[Kryptonite]

He expects the dims to gain control of the House, and the pubbies to hold the Senate. He attributes these gains to a "hostile political climate" for pubbies, higher voter turnout for dims and a less than average spending advantage for pubbies.

Makes me think....I wonder how all the gay marriage issues are going to turn around and suddenly help the dims with regard to turnout. I also don't understand why the political climate ought to be considered "hostile" toward pubbies, but I can agree with the spending point insofar as many on the right have themselves engaged in attacks on our own.

[mysterio]

I have seen less driving in my area. But people are still driving to work. I live in a semi-rural area that requires commutes to an urban area where housing costs are high. the driving I see is commuters mostly. Recreational driving has dropped noticeably here.

[mysterio]

Ok, maybe you misinterpreted my initial post. I was saying that most people have been giving me the "gas is affordable argument." I don't agree. Sorry if I misinterpreted your initial response to my first post as well.

[John Lenin]

At this point in time the GOP is looking bad. Immigration and gas prices have people pretty pissed off.

[Hong Kong Expat]

The US is still the cheapest out of the non-subsidized nations if you look at absolute prices, Europe is still paying 6-8 US Dollars a gallon.

But if you look at it as a % of price increase we've been hit the hardest. Europe has the advantage of the strong currency, minimal consumer gas useage and the flexibility that high gas taxes provides.