Very concerned about 2012

[maxrandb]

Was listening to NPR on the way home, and heard a discussion about the Senate in 2012. With the retirements of Lieberman and Conrad, Dems will have 23 seats to defend, and I think they said the Repubs have 10. Those are fairly awful numbers.

I hate to say it, but our side needs to find our own Luntz. The overly simple "language" of the Pukes gives them an edge. Facts don't matter, all they need to do is repeatedly use phrases like "fiscal responsibility", or "get gubmint out of the way", and folks eat that crap up.

Too early to need to be talked down, but those Senate numbers were shocking to me.

[gateley]

1. Come here --

:hug:

[FourScore]

33. Awww. Can I join? n/t

[gateley]

35. ...

:grouphug:

[Cetacea]

made ya look

[emulatorloo]

3. For what it is worth, David Plouffe is back in the stable

and Schumer is in charge of messaging coming out of the Senate.

The House Dems are doing a pretty damn good job of defending and promoting HCR right now.

[maxrandb]

4. I'll be working my a$$ off

to make sure the Repubs are sent back to the margins of power where they belong, but man, that's a lot of seats to defend

[politicasista]

6. Would rather have Durbin or Boxer

but understand that Schumer is becoming the go to guy now on messaging and everything else. Not suprising.


Thanks for optimism though. :hi:

[leftstreet]

5. The Democrats should counter with "Medicare For All" and "WPA Jobs Bill"

Oh...wait

[NorthCarolina]

19. Waxing nostalgic? nt

[elleng]

7. I agree Dems need a good 'mouthpiece,' or take good advice.

Heartened today that Weiner + Cohen slammed repugs for their lies, and hope Dems keep this stuff up.

[Lint Head]

8. 2012 is a long way off. A lot can change.

[former9thward]

28. Not a long way off. Signature filing deadlines are about 10 months off.

[Tx4obama]

9. BUT ....

Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) is retiring - her seat is up for grabs.
And there are a few republican senate seats that are toss ups so far - Nevada and Massachusetts.

Look at the 'predictions' section a third of the way down the page on the link below:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate_elections,_2012

[maxrandb]

10. Thanks

We, of course, can rely on Repubs over-reaching, and the Tea-baggers are beginning to be the proverbial "fingernails on a chalkboard". They are going to go the way of the Pet Rock. Of course, the "Pet Rock" never hurt anyone

I keep thinking..."Turnout-Turnout-Turnout"

[sharesunited]

11. That's a presidential election year, and it could be a drag on a lot of GOP senate candidates.

Who will be the top of their ticket?

Who are the likely choices?

I see that as a potentially tremendous impediment for their side.

[louis c]

12. I keep hearing about Lieberman

Big deal. Do you think the Democrat, any Democrat won't win in Connecticut? That's a blue seat and will be bluer than Lieberman the asshole. I didn't forget the Republican convention in 2008 where he shared the stage with Sarah Palin.

Conrad is a loss, but this will be a presidential election year and the blue turnout will be much greater. I expect a huge Obama win and coattails to match.

[former9thward]

29. You do know Lieberman caucused with our party don't you?

If a Democrats win there it is no pick up.

[social_critic]

32. Liberman was no Democrat

I don't care if the guy caucused with the Democrats, the guy was no Democrat. The Democratic party leadership should have told him to go take a hike and caucus with himself. The guy backed McCain, he's just another Dick Cheney when it comes to war mongering. The guy is one of the main responsible parties for the mess we're in Iraq and Afghanistan.

[GSLevel9]

13. it's really simple...

If the economy still sucks, DEMS lose.

If the economy is roaring ala 1990's... Obama and the DEMS win.

Not only is 23 seats to defend bad news... but don't forget that 2012 will reflect the new electoral vote changes giving Repub states an additional 6-7 EV's.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

20. The Republicans HAVE to have a credible candidate to win in 2012 first

Somebody able to win over the teabaggers AND the general electorate. I have yet to figure out which (known) candidate could potentially pull it off.

[GSLevel9]

26. kind of a blank slate chameleon like Paul Ryan.

But the Pubs aren't smart enough to run someone like that. It'll probably be a retread like Romney, Huckabee or a walking snooze-fest like Pawlenty or someone controversial like Newt, et al...

[mikekohr]

14. 63 Republican Representatives Are Up For Re-Election in 2012 From Districts Obama Won in 2008

The electorate in 2012 will be 20-25% bigger
The electorate in 2012 will be 20% younger
The electorate in 2012 will be 14% Browner.

Those are the big numbers, and I feel real good about them.

[GSLevel9]

15. well... we'll see in about 1 year and 9 months or so. nt

[mikekohr]

18. You are dead on my friend, "It's the Economy Stupid"

And I am of the firm belief that the economy will be in very good shape by early to late summer. If I am wrong, we get slaughtered in 2012. It's that simple.

[Kennah]

21. I want to believe the economy will have turned around by then ...

... but I'm afraid I'm clinging to hope rather reality.

[SoCalDem]

16. 2012 and 2014 are UGLY...maps here

Most republican seats are safe..most dem seats are NOT

[AsahinaKimi]

17. Frankly what scares me is another STOLEN election

Lets hope people can prevent this.

[Kalun D]

34. I agree

McCain was all set to steal 2008 but the margin was too large to make it believable

that may not be the case in 2012

[Initech]

22. I seriously hope the tea party fad dies the horrible death it deserves this year.

[bluestate10]

23. Republicans will have two years of running the House and a larger

piece of the Senate going against them. Plus, the 2012 electorate won't look anything like the 2010 electorate. With Obama running, Blacks and brown Hispanics will be decidedly more engaged. If democrats craft good messages and soundbites, 2012 will turn out to be the Waterloo for republicans.

[DeadEyeDyck]

24. besides all that, the Mayan calendar runs out!

[donheld]

25. Citizens United

[BoWanZi]

27. And here I was going to wonder why the heck someone here would worry about the end of the earth. :)

[RandomThoughts]

30. No reason to worry about that.

Would there be less then no beer and travel money?

Such worries are to try an intimidate to point direction. You do based on what you can best conclude is what you think is best based on who you want to be and how you think and feel. Otherwise it is ends justifying means with concepts where you can't know for sure the ends anyways.

:shrug:

For me that includes beer and travel money, and knowing that is due, so it will be paid, even if nobody owes it.

And many other concepts and thoughts, and experiences.

[Le Taz Hot]

31. So your answer is to appeal to stupid people?

How about offering up good, savvy, solid candidates who stand for traditional Democratic values?

On another note, Feinstein is up in 2012 and she'll be 79. I'm sure there are several M.I.C. contractors all too eager to have her on their respective boards so I doubt she'll run again. The problem is, the CDP will send up only corporatists to run for her seat. I'm REALLY hoping we'll get a progressive challenger in the primaries.