Schumer Confident of Democratic Majority

R

rick_reno

Moderator
I'm willing to bet the Joker is going wake up on Nov 8th with a big headache.

WASHINGTON (AP) - The chairman of the Senate Democratic campaign expressed confidence Sunday his party can win a Senate majority in the Nov. 7 elections, calling the vote "more and more a referendum on George Bush."

"We're right on the edge. Every week things get better and better," said Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y. "With the exception of one candidate, no other Republican candidate uses a four-letter word - B-U-S-H. They're running away from him."

Democrats need to take six seats to gain power in the 100-member Senate.

Sen. Elizabeth Dole, R-N.C., who heads the Republican Senate campaign effort, predicted that GOP will retain its Senate majority, saying voters would not want a Democrat-controlled chamber that she said would weaken the economy by supporting tax increases.

"President Bush's name is not on the ballot," Dole said. "Our candidates are talking about issues important in their states, such as corruption in New Jersey. All politics is local."

Both parties are focusing on voter turnout efforts to gain the edge in what they acknowledge will be a close election.

In the House, Democrats need to gain 15 seats to become the majority in the 435-member House.

House Majority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, dismissed the notion that the House races would be a national referendum, describing it as "435 individual races all around the country."

"The issues are different in each of these races," he said. "What we're going to do is continue to work hard right up until election day and mobilize every vote that we can."

But Schumer cited growing voter discontent with President Bush's war in Iraq. He criticized the administration's "stay the course" approach that has been supported by the Republican-controlled Congress.

"This election is becoming more and more a referendum on George Bush, his failed policies both overseas and at home with a rubber stamp Congress," he said.

Dole and Schumer appeared on "Fox News Sunday," while Boehner spoke on ABC's "This Week."
 
rick,
If I were a betting man I'd take you up on that ;)
Do you have anything to support that position beyond "Karl Rove says so"?
'Cuz I've got hundreds of polls by dozens of agencies in hundreds of districts that say the threat of a House takeover is worthy of serious consideration. Not just a mere threat,mind you, but a foregone conclusion.

The Senate....I wouldn't predict a majority either way at this point.
 
It's all about money, and Rove and Co. have LOTS more to spend then the Dimocrats and they're targeting that money at the races they need to win. If Rove could get Bush elected President twice - and he did - he can probably walk across the Potomac River and not get his feet wet. The guy is a genius. If he says they'll keep both the House and the Senate it's good enough for me. I'm not even worried about it, not even a little.
The talking heads on the news channels need something to sell advertising time - so they make up stories of doom regarding the election. Turn them off until Nov. 8th - they'll be talking about the Republican miracle.
 
Point #1: It's not about money. Read "Freakonomics" to find out why.
Point #2: Even if it was about money, the Dems have eliminated the Republican advantage in that area this cycle.
I will agree that the Republicans are targetting more efficiently, but you tell me which races they're targetting and what that says about the state of things on the morning of the 8th. They're dumping huge amounts of money into races that are *supposed* to be easy wins if the Republicans are really competitive this year. They are abandoning races that were supposed to be competitive. Long-short, the spending backs up the prediction.

Your cheerful optimism is refreshing. We'll talk more about it on the 9th once you've accepted the reality of the situation.
 
Rick Reno:

I must respectfully disagree. It's not about money, it's about incompetence.

Yeah, the republicans generally support gun rights. That's about the only good thing I can say about them. They used to be the party of smaller government, not any more. They spend our money like drunken sailors. They used to be the party of smaller government, except regarding the most personal of family decisions, the right to die (Terry Schivo), comes up then suddenly the feds know what's best for you. These idiot republicans have decided serving their mean and narrow-minded version of God is more important than representing the interests of their constituants.

This gun owner is tired of having to choose between gun rights and abortion rights.

This gun owner is going to vote them out without regret,

Kowboy
 
If the Democrats do gain both Houses on Election Day, they will have very
slim majorities and their left leaning leadership will have to compromise with
their centrists and conservatives. As an example I heard a story on NPR's "Weekend Edition" about the House campaign in a district in Western
North Carolinia. The Democratic candidate-an ex-NFL player-empahsized what he called "Appalachian Values"-pro life, pro family, and pro gun. And the days of someone being a flaming liberal in D.C. and then "just folks" back home are over. I recall back in 1994 there was an up and coming congressman from Oklahoma named Mike Cinar. He voted for the AWB and
lost his primary to a political novice. The pundits were stunned by the show of
strength by the NRA and gun owners in the 1994 elections and I think those
members of the House who are from swing districts and who win by very slim
margins will probably not go along with a lot of the leaders agenda.
 
Kowboy....

I agree completely. These "Republicans" certainly aren't practicing being conservative now are they? I say they can take their spying program, their ban on gay marrige, and war on drugs and shove it. If people really want government to tell them how to be free, go to another country. This nation was supposed to be about being given freedoms not taking them away. If a gay Buddhist stoner chooses to light one up with their partner and meditate in their own home without harming anyone else, why should it matter? If a person who's terminally ill would be better off being dead, that is their choice. If a person feels like god is just pretend that is their choice, we don't need holy rollers making the excuse that America is a nation founded by their religion, because the first amendment makes note of the neutrality of religion vs. politics. It certainly is also unfair to the vast majority of people who don't follow one particular religion.


Epyon
 
This gun owner is tired of having to choose between gun rights and abortion rights.

This gun owner is going to vote them out without regret,
Click to expand...

Given a choice I would take gun rights over abortion rights. No matter which side wins you'll have to make a choice on rights. Call me silly but I don't remember an abortion right specifically spelled out. I do seem to recall a gun right specifially spelled out though.
 
I hope one party gets the House and the other party gets the Senate. I don't like it when either party holds both houses of Congress and the Presidency.
 
How about a "Behind enemy lines" type of report on the canidates running for office. In your own state who are the Dems and what chance do they stand of winning. Here in my home state. Patty Wetterling is doomed. She is too liberal and the voters know this. Yeah there will be some that will vote for her but the swing voters see her as a an extremist. Also last time she ran she pulled out right before the election and this has damage her image. Amy Klobachar (sp?) stands a good chance of winning. She claims to support guns rights but with no record behind it. It's just a shot in the dark.
 
Its about voter turnout also. Suppose some who vote Republican are so disgusted they decide to just stay home? On the other hand they might feel they need to get out to keep the Democrats from taking over. Thr Republicans have taken a lot of hits lately in the moral arena. This is not saying that the Democrats are any better.

I really have no idea about the morning after, I beleive its going to be pretty close. Which would suit me fine if we might have gridlock.
 
I personaly would not be one bit disappointed if the Indepents took office. Just as long as they don't start making those my governor can kick your governor T-shirts agian :rolleyes:
 
Don,
No matter which side wins you'll have to make a choice on rights.
Click to expand...
+1. Sucks, doesn't it? :(
That's why I say that we're best off when neither side wins.

Also what SIGSHR said. Lieberman & Nelson aren't going anywhere and neither are Snowe & Collins. So while one party may end up controlling the committees with a slim majority, the majority doesn't really exist on the floor. That means more power to the independents and less extreme policies getting passed.
 
Oh, to answer Shotgun Minister's question,
My district is Leach (R) vs. Loebsack (D). Jim Leach (incumbent) is one of my favorite congressmen and he's got my vote, but he's in for the fight of his life this cycle. He won in '04 59-39, but I have yet to see a poll for this cycle that escapes the margin of error. This seat is a toss-up.

Wetterling...I'd call her seat a toss-up as well. I certainly wouldn't call her doomed. I say that because there have been 5 polls taken this month by 4 different pollsters with 2 within the MoE and 2 conflicting leaders. Nobody knows who's winning there.

For your Senate race, I'm calling it for Klobuchar. She has maintained a commanding lead over
Kennedy all cycle and is actually pulling further ahead.
 
In my humble opinion, some kind of quick-scoring I.Q. test should be given to every prospective voter. Anybody scoring less than, say, 95, doesn't get to vote. Of course, if that were the case, we'd never have another DemocRAT in office! ;)
 
Ive already read a news article (somewhere) which talks about how election districts are gerrymandered to favor incumbents, and that this impacts (of course) elections.

Bet we all have a surprise Nov 8 with, despite the polls, a repub majority intact and the media blaming gerrymandering for the results.

In my humble opinion, some kind of quick-scoring I.Q. test should be given to every prospective voter. Anybody scoring less than, say, 95, doesn't get to vote. Of course, if that were the case, we'd never have another DemocRAT in office!
Click to expand...

My Dad, a gun owner, voted democratic. Why doi you feel a need to insult your fellow citizens who excersize their rights to vote.

WildcuriousAlaska
 
In my humble opinion, some kind of quick-scoring I.Q. test should be given to every prospective voter. Anybody scoring less than, say, 95, doesn't get to vote. Of course, if that were the case, we'd never have another DemocRAT in office!
Click to expand...
We'd just have the Greedy Old Pedophiles
 
Don't sell the Republicans short just yet. The American people know for a fact the Democrats are soft on terror, and are in favor of amnesty for illeagles. They want the vote, and 30 MILLION+ Mexicans will give it to them, keeping them in power for decades to come, while WE pay for all their entitlement programs. I'm betting the bulk of America won't let that happen. If it does we're in real trouble in this country. Besides, whats so bad? Yeah, the war isn't going well. Has there ever been a war that has? We're looking at a 12,000 Dow, a 2,500+ NASDAQ, mortgage money is still cheap, houses are selling well, unemployment is under 5%. For God's sake, what the hell does everyone want, free lunch too? The Dems are making a lot of noise about nothing. "Yeah, but Cheney is getting money from Haliburton!" So what, I hope he gets more. The more money he gets, the more Haliburton makes. The more their subcontractors make. It benifits everyone down the line. Would it be better if Haliburton went broke? I don't understand peoples thinking some times. Bill T.
 
Bill, I'd like to believe so, but with the President continuing to do anti-american, anti-constitutional things such as the Military Commissions Act, and the John Warner Defense Act, which completely grants a president absolute power to order the military to hold American Citizens as hostage if he or she so wishes, it sure is making me want to vote Independant. And I am a lifelong Republican, and will be volunteering tomorrow for two Republicans at the early voting polling place.

But I am thinking of only voting for those two. And the reason is, the John Warner defense Act Bush signed on Oct. 17th.

I first was hacked when he signed the death warrant for the 1st Amendment, the "McCain-Feingold Campaing Finance Act" which makes it illegal for the NRA to mention the name of legislation, or the name of the person who sponsored the bill in congress, within 90 days of an election. When he signed that, and said he thought it was unconstitutional, but was signing it anyway (in defiance of Article II) claiming he was relying on the Supreme Court of all places, to declare it unconstitutional, I began to wonder as to his sanity.

Now, after he has signed the Military Commissions Act, and the John Warner Defense Act, he helped me make up my mind. I'm voting for anyone but a Democrat or Republican tomorrow in Texas, with the exception of my State Rep and a J.P. Candidate.

The folks that may wake up surprised on Nov. 7th, may be the ones who have taken us conservative, America Loving voters for granted.
 
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