The demise of the Democrats

Lue C Fur

Evil member
http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2010...crats-republicans-economy-elections-november/

The days of the institutional politician may well be over. Generally speaking in the days of yore, if you were an incumbent running for re-election, no matter your party affiliation, you had a leg up on all challengers. Not so anymore.
The American people are angry and frustrated at politicians who see themselves as "untouchable" and "sure things" for re-election. Citizens feel that lawmakers are not listening to the people and are taking them for granted. Voters today believe that elected [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]office[/COLOR][/COLOR] should be an opportunity and NOT a career. Americans today believe you should serve and get out.
Some politicians have seen the handwriting on the wall and have decided not to stand for re-election this fall. The rejection of incumbents is not necessarily limited to one party over the other. A question soon to be answered is how will the [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]electorate[/COLOR][/COLOR] treat incumbent legislators who give up
one position only to run for another. Will they still be treated as "incumbents?" Lets look at who has thrown in the towel so far, voluntarily or otherwise:
U.S. SENATE:
Democrats: 5 Retirements:
Dodd (CT)
Kaufman (DE)
Burris (IL)
Bayh (IN)
Dorgan (ND)

Republicans: 6 Retirements:
LeMieux (FL)
Brownback (KA)
Bunning (KY)
Bond (MO)
Gregg (NH)
Voinovich (OH)
Bennett (UT) ­ He was defeated in a party nomination process.

U.S. HOUSE:



Democrats: 11 Retirements:
Barry (1st Dist. AR)
Snyder (2nd Dist. AR)
Watson (33rd Dist. CA)
[COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]Moore[/COLOR][/COLOR] (3rd Dist. KA)
Delahunt (10th Dist. MA)
Stupak (1st Dist. MI)
Kennedy (1st Dist. RI)
Gordon (6th Dist. TN)
Tanner (8th Dist. TN)
Baird (3rd Dist. WA)
Obey (7th Dist. WI)
Retiring Democrats running for other offices (6) :
Davis (7th Dist. AL) running for Gov. AL
Meek (17th Dist. FL) running for U.S. Senate
Ellsworth (8th Dist. IN) running for U.S. Senate
Melancon (3rd Dist. LA) running for U.S. Senate
Hodes (2nd Dist. NH) running for U.S. Senate
Sestak (7th Dist. PA) running for U.S. Senate

Republicans: 8 Retirements:
Shadegg (3rd Dist. AZ)
Radanovich (19th Dist. CA)
Brown-White (5th Dist. FL)
Diaz-Balart (Lincoln) (21st Dist. FL)
Linder (7th Dist. GA)
Buyer (4th Dist. IN)
Ehlers (3rd Dist. MI)
Brown (1st Dist. SC)
Retiring Republicans running for other offices (12):
Boozman (3rd Dist. AR) running for U.S. Senate
Castle (at large Dist. DE) running for U.S. Senate
Putman (12 Dist. FL) running for Fl. State Commissioner of Agriculture
Diaz-Balart (Mario) (25th Dist FL) Running for 21st Dist. FL
Kirk (10th Dist. IL) running for U.S. Senate
Moran (1st Dist KS) running for U.S. Senate
Tiahrt (4th Dist. KS) running for U.S. Senate
Hoekstra (2nd Dist. MI) running for Governor
Blunt (7th Dist. MO) running for U.S. Senate
Fallin (5th Dist. OK) running for Governor
Barrett (3rd Dist. SC) running for Governnor
Wamp (3rd Dist. TN) running for Governor
Back in 1994 when Democrats took a beating at the polls and lost control of Congress few forecasted that devastating storm. Today, there is no doubt among political insiders and armchair pundits that 2010 will not be the year of the "incumbent" and since most incumbents are Democrats, it will not be the year of the "Democrat."
What will make the perfect storm for Republicans to make a comeback? Here is what political scholar Larry Sabato of the [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]University [COLOR=blue !important]of [/COLOR][COLOR=blue !important]Virginia[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR] says:
"What ultimately happens in 2010 could depend on how closely the electoral backdrop next year resembles 1994. At this point, there are some strong similarities. Like Bill Clinton a decade and a half ago, Obama is an ambitious young Democratic president who has seen his poll numbers drop sharply in the opening months of his administration. And like Clinton, Obama has invested a good bit of his political capital into a massive effort to overhaul the nation's health care system. As in 1994, it is so complex an undertaking that foes are finding it much easier to pillory the project as 'big government' than supporters are able to defend it as needed reform."
An obvious [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]target[/COLOR][/COLOR] for the GOP in fashioning a comeback would be a seat that they recently held­namely, those lost in the Democratic surges of 2006 and 2008. In the last two election cycles, Democrats scored a net gain of 55 House seats­consolidating their grip in the Northeast, while expanding their beachheads in the nation's heartland. Most of their gains were made in three distinct parts of the country­the Republican-leaning South, the increasingly competitive Mountain West, and the battleground states of the industrial Midwest.
As a result, these newly minted Democratic seats are in large part in competitive, even difficult, terrain. Roughly three-fourths of the districts (42) voted Republican for president in at least one of the last two elections. Twenty-one districts voted for the GOP presidential candidate in both 2004 and 2008.
Polling today more than suggests that members of Congress face the most anti-incumbent electorate since 1994. According to a recent Washington Post/ABC poll, less than one-third of all voters say they are inclined to support their current representatives this November.
I believe that what has many Americans so upset, is the fact that the Democrats -- who control all branches of government with high majorities -- have not concentrated on what most Americans care about most, i.e., the economy, jobs and the rising debt. Since taking power in 2009, Democrats have focused almost entirely on health care reform and increased government spending and deficits. Americans kept asking themselves, "What good is affordable health care, if I do not have a job to pay for it?"
The American people will send a message this November. It will say to politicians, listen to the people and be responsive to our needs. The American people will send a strong and clear message that elected officials are sent to serve the people not the other way around.
 

Catatonic

Nine Lives
The "demise of the Democrats" is a good thing as long as it does not lead to the "rise of the Republicans".
I wish there was someway to get rid of most of these two party's politicians and get some Libertarians in office.
Sadly, not going to happen.
Just going to be a series of swings where one party spends too much money followed by a swing to the other party spending money on different things and neither party actually ever cuts spending.
 

brett636

Well-Known Member
The "demise of the Democrats" is a good thing as long as it does not lead to the "rise of the Republicans".
I wish there was someway to get rid of most of these two party's politicians and get some Libertarians in office.
Sadly, not going to happen.
Just going to be a series of swings where one party spends too much money followed by a swing to the other party spending money on different things and neither party actually ever cuts spending.

I can share your sentiment on that. I would like nothing more than the Democrats to be voted out of office in November, but I fear we will get the Republicans we had from 2000-2006 back in power. The tea party is putting a lot of Pressure on these republicans to be more fiscally responsible, but once they get in office will the tea party lose its steam? Lets hope not...
 

unionman

Well-Known Member
Hows that working? America deeper in debt thanks to the Messiah...Thanks Odrama!!! :money:

Nope, another Republican Lie from said brain washed Lucy. You got that whole Tea party zombie thing down to a tea, hehe. Full of criticisms but no real solutions is what you stand for. Way to go. Donkeyboy......
 

Lue C Fur

Evil member
Nope, another Republican Lie from said brain washed Lucy. You got that whole Tea party zombie thing down to a tea, hehe. Full of criticisms but no real solutions is what you stand for. Way to go. Donkeyboy......

Sloution is comming...this November. he he:hypnosis::hypnosis::hypnosis::hypnosis::rofl:
 

unionman

Well-Known Member
Whats the matter Lucy you putting your tail between your legs and running away like a scared beaten dog. OK, I will talk to you tomorrow. LOL!!
 

ups1990

Well-Known Member
The governorship and Senators Boxer's seat will be very interesting to watch. The political tv and radio spots are down right annoying at this point.
 

moreluck

golden ticket member
color-obama-budget-vs-gop.jpg
 

MrFedEx

Engorged Member
GOP would be using the saw in the other hand.

Good one. The GOP is not only fractured, but also fairly impotent as evidenced by the "success" of the new Republican-controlled House so far. Once again, it's absolutely astounding how many UPS union members on this site support the Republicans, who would happily dissolve your union, eliminate Social Security and Medicare, and have you get around $10 per hour in pay, with no benefits. This is a party (the GOP) that is all about the rich, corporations, and assisting the top 1 or 2 percent of our population to become even richer at your expense. Unfortunately, many of you are dumb enough to go along with it and assist in your own self-destruction. Palin and Beck in 2012!!! YEAH!!!! Go ahead, be stupid.
 
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