Republicans Threatening Congressional Seats Long Held by Democrats

Rep. David Obey has won 21 straight races, easily prevailing through wars and economic crises that have spanned presidencies from Nixon to Obama. Yet the discontent with Washington surging through politics is now threatening not only his seat but Democratic control of Congress.

Obey is one of nearly a dozen well-established House Democrats who are bracing for something they rarely face: serious competition. Their predicament is the latest sign of distress for their party and underlines why Republicans are confident of big gains in November, and perhaps even winning back the House.

The fight for the midterm elections is not confined to traditional battlegrounds, where Republicans and Democrats often swap seats every few cycles. In the Senate, Democrats are struggling to hold on to, among others, seats once held by President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden. Democrats are preparing to lose as many as 30 House seats - including a wave of first-term members - and Republicans have expanded their sights to places where political challenges seldom develop.

"It's not a lifetime appointment," said Sean Duffy, a Republican district attorney here in the north woods of Wisconsin, where he has established himself as one of the most aggressive challengers to Obey since the Democrat went to Washington in 1969. "There are changes in this country going on and people aren't happy."

I would be happy with +50 House and +5 Senate, but I am starting to think that you might be correct. It might be more of a landslide than I imagined and closer to what you predicted.

I would be nice to continue the trend in 2012 and get a filibuster proof Senate (maybe even 2/3rds). Might provide the opportunity to push through a couple of amendments that will weaken the liberals and promote conservatives.

My three would be:

Federal election amendment - Only US citizens can vote in federal elections, Registration for voting is cut off 30 days prior to the election, Proof of citizenship and current residence required to register, Federal or State ID required to cast a vote.

Equal taxation - Congress shall treat all of the People the same with regards to the rate of tax collection and shall not distinguish between the people with regards to race, religion, sex, age, residence, possessions, income nor wealth

Freedom of Association - Nether Congress nor any State shall enact legislation to force religious, social, employment or economic association with others.

I have others as well that I would like to see but I would settle for those three.

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