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Is GOP confidence for real? Is this a classic bluff?
Christian Science Monitor ^ | Nov 1, 2006 | Linda Feldmann

Posted on 11/01/2006 12:43:56 PM PST by rface

"We're going to win," President Bush asserted confidently in his latest press conference, when asked about the midterm elections....

Vice President Dick Cheney tells interviewers he is "optimistic" about the Republican Party's ability to hold on...

But the voice that gives Democrats the biggest chills is that of Karl Rove. Mr. Rove has seen the private polls from individual races, he tells interviewers, and the data point "strongly" in one direction: a Republican House and a Republican Senate.

Is this a classic bluff..... Or do Rove and his bosses really know something that's not knowable by the rest of us?

The rock-solid pronouncements of Rove, who cites not just internal polls but also the GOP's advantage in fund-raising and organization, buttress the predictable positive outlook...

"Rove is relying on the Rove mystique," says John Pitney, a political scientist at Claremont-McKenna College in Claremont, Calif. "A lot of Democrats are paranoid about it. ...

..... a comment by John Kerry that was interpreted as a slight against US troops in Iraq. "Education, if you make the most of it, you study hard, you do your homework and you make an effort to be smart, you can do well. And if you don't, you get stuck in Iraq." Kerry called it a botched joke.

Republicans maintain a funding advantage. At the end of August, in 30 of the most competitive races, Republicans had $33 million cash on hand versus $14 million for the Democrats, says Rove. The Republicans also tout their so-called 72-hour turnout operation. There have been reports of greater early-voting turnout by Republicans than by Democrats.

says GOP pollster Whit Ayres.... if the Democrats don't retake the House next Tuesday, "they should hang it up as a political party. If they can't win in this climate, when can they win?"

(Excerpt) Read more at csmonitor.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: rove
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To: unkus
It is sad that some in this country would even contemplate voting for these dispicable people. The Communist Manifesto is working.

Sadly enough, dead people do not have access to Free Republic or Rush Limbaugh, so they keep voting democrat.

41 posted on 11/01/2006 1:07:31 PM PST by Last Laugh
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To: rface

42 posted on 11/01/2006 1:09:15 PM PST by pabianice
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To: unkus

"Anyone voting Democrat does not understand what is at stake here."

No, a surprising number understand, but hate America and want the terrorist to punush us --- a good 10-15% of the electorate (and the core of core of the left).


43 posted on 11/01/2006 1:11:19 PM PST by MeanWestTexan (Kol Hakavod Lezahal)
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To: RatRipper

No, the Democrats can win again when they become the party of Harry Truman, FDR and JFK...even LBJ!

Unapologetic, militaristic, aggressive nationalists, flag-waving pro-American bigots, even, willing to firebomb Dresden, nuke Japan, and round up foreigners and put them in CAMPS to sort through them one by one, because national security trumps EVERYTHING sort of Democrats...
You know, the kind who won World War II, the kind who wanted to get INTO World War II and kick Nazi ass while the Republicans at the time were dithering Isolationists.

If THAT kind of Democrat stepped forward again, he would have a huge following.

People want social security, they want public education, they want public health insurance, they want an inheritance tax, and they want a substantially progressive income tax code. Democrats offer all of those things, and that's why they do as well as they do. There is a huge electorate for that.

Problem is, they then shoot themselves in the head by being the hate-America first party. If, instead, they were the flag-waving pro-American bigots that FDR and Truman were, they would get back all the Reagan Democrats and a good part of the Independent non-religious vote.

That's when they can win again.

But are they even CAPABLE of that anymore?
Or will it take socialist, nationalistic party to put the Dems to bed forever and replace them.

America would be a hell of a lot better off if our choices were between FDR and Truman on the Left and Reagan and W on the right. Because then we'd be back to elections the country couldn't really lose.


44 posted on 11/01/2006 1:12:14 PM PST by Vicomte13 (The Crown is amused.)
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To: RatRipper

I saw McCarville say almost this exact same thing on one of the Sunday shows during the summer. I sure hope that this election is the "stake in the heart" that kills this blood-sucker of a political party.


45 posted on 11/01/2006 1:17:04 PM PST by Big Red Clay (Greetings from the Big Red State)
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To: TheDoctorNoh

Ok was Kerry Ahead? Because I remember Bush being a few points ahead and that was the result. Am I remembering wrong? (Not including the exit poll scam)And what about mid term elections? Anyone have those being wrong before an election? Are they less accurate because of low turnout?


46 posted on 11/01/2006 1:18:23 PM PST by Pacothecat
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To: Victoria Delsoul

Ping.


47 posted on 11/01/2006 1:20:10 PM PST by Alberta's Child (Can money pay for all the days I lived awake but half asleep?)
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To: rface

Rove is a smart cookie and both houses are goingto be Republican. Expect a few results that will utterly shock the media.


48 posted on 11/01/2006 1:24:25 PM PST by TBP
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To: wideawake

You ought to hear it in French...pure genius.


49 posted on 11/01/2006 1:25:36 PM PST by perez24 (Dirty deeds, done dirt cheap.)
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To: rface
"Rove is relying on the Rove mystique," says John Pitney, a political scientist at Claremont-McKenna College in Claremont, Calif. "A lot of Democrats are paranoid about it. ...

Statements like this from someone who apparently makes a living by analyzing polls make me wonder about their common sense. No one, even Karl Rove, is going to go on record relying on his 'mystique'. Not with November 8th looming (no I didn't get the date wrong). Rove is looking at local/state polling. He's said as much publicly. These are polling different than the polls news organizations buy for many reasons. And he's already stated they show different results than what the public hears.

I have no idea how this election will come out. But I do know that knuckleheads like this John Pitney don't have a clue if this is how they rate things.

50 posted on 11/01/2006 1:27:09 PM PST by bcsco ("He who is wedded to the spirit of the age is soon a widower" – Anonymous)
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To: Pacothecat

I never saw a poll where Kerry was ahead, but I remember hearing it was going to be very close and it wasn't!


51 posted on 11/01/2006 1:30:45 PM PST by Halls (I am not a Republican, but I voted straight Republican and you should too!)
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To: rface
well, for one thing - the DUmmies say that Rove has already hacked the voting machines and the results of the Nov. 7 election are already determined..... I believe them.

For once the DUmmies are right -- but they do not know the details of Operation Phoenix and are powerless to stop it.

Operation Phoenix worked perfectly in 2000 and 2004 to ensure victory in the President election. What many don't know is how it was also used -- on a more limited basis -- in the 2002 midterm elections.

And the best part is -- even if someone eventually figures it out, it will be too late and anyway it's not illegal. Well, at least it's technically not illegal.

52 posted on 11/01/2006 1:31:59 PM PST by You Dirty Rats (I Love Free Republic!!!)
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To: Pacothecat
"Ok was Kerry Ahead?"

The final Harris, FoxNews and Gallup polls all showed Kerry ahead or tied. Zogby had Bush ahead by .4 points. The big three MSM outlets had Bush ahead by 1 point. None had him gaining over 50% of the vote. He won by 2.4% with 50.7% of the vote.

53 posted on 11/01/2006 1:32:18 PM PST by Rokke
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To: Rokke
Cool, That is what I was wondering. It's always been my theory Dem's are obnoxious and outspoken. Reps are more private, mentally controlled people. I never talk to pollsters the questions are skewed.
54 posted on 11/01/2006 1:35:53 PM PST by Pacothecat
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To: You Dirty Rats

Operation Phoenix ?


55 posted on 11/01/2006 1:37:39 PM PST by Pacothecat
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To: TBP

Yep, everyone is watching "certain" races. Mark my word, Rove's working on some others, behind the scene.

Some Dem seats everyone thought were safe, will suprisingly become Republican wins.


56 posted on 11/01/2006 1:38:40 PM PST by musikman
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To: Halls

Oh, I think there were some polls with him ever so slightly ahead. And for sure, the exit polling indicated a Kerry win. I was pukin' sick on election afternoon when things were looking bleak.


57 posted on 11/01/2006 1:40:52 PM PST by musikman
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To: dsc
I have never thought that the demonrats were as strong in this election cycle as the PWDP has insisted.

This election, like most elections, will be won by voter turnout. Both sides have their base. It all depends how well the parties do getting their base to the polls.

The MSM has had the idea for quite awhile that the GOP is hurting because it's base is not fired up. Well, whether it was ever true or not, it's certainly changed since Kerry 'foo paaad'. What with his idiotic comments, the foregone conclusion that if the Dem's get the house/senate they'll spend 2 years getting 'back' at Bush, etc, any true conservative who still believes it's in his best interests to 'give the GOP a message' is simply a jerk (I'm being kind).

The DIMs are another story. yes, the far left is energized, but can their vote be counted on (physically)? I'm not so sure. Also, the DIMs don't have a message other than hate and 'cut and run'. That's not a real good sales pitch to those still on the fence.

I certainly don't have a crystal ball. Who knows what's going to happen next Tuesday? I sure don't. But I'm beginning to wonder if all these DIM pundits aren't whistling past the graveyard during this last week. This is the first stirring of optimism I've had.

58 posted on 11/01/2006 1:41:44 PM PST by bcsco ("He who is wedded to the spirit of the age is soon a widower" – Anonymous)
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To: All

V O T E and PRAY !!!!


59 posted on 11/01/2006 1:43:28 PM PST by musikman
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To: musikman

Amazing even exit polls were wrong a bit. Seriously I don't trust polls, but there are so many showing how far behind we are in the House I have to think some may be right. This sucks, we can't lose the House!


60 posted on 11/01/2006 1:44:53 PM PST by Halls (I am not a Republican, but I voted straight Republican and you should too!)
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