Unfortunately, because of redistricting it will be some time before we will get the house back. We

[still_one]

need to figure out a way to take the case to the people to put pressure on these criminals

[AnnaLee]

1. Maybe work on our own house.

I was watching the Andy Harris fiasco and the major problem in his district seems to be the Democratic party itself. I am not saying they should try to take this red district, I am saying that they need to see if they can help a moderate to primary Harris at least. Tea Party replaced a perfectly reasonable conservative representative in that district a few years ago. The backlash produced a democrat who tried to be republican enough to survive. When he failed Harris finally got the job.

I guess what I am trying to say is that, in many cases, a better strategy is needed. I just don't see how you turn a red, red district permanently blue. We are stuck with the redistricting BECAUSE the republican handlers recognized that state government control after the census was far more important than the federal government. Has anyone learned a lesson from this?

[ProudProgressiveNow]

2. +1 nt

[ananda]

4. In Texas, we got more tea party Reeps in our state house.

And they're out for bear to get their own speaker.

Luckily, they don't have a super majority, but they're all pissants
and spoiling for fights.

[SharonAnn]

9. The GOP learned it in 2000 and again in 2010. Us? Not so much.

[WI_DEM]

3. We really need to begin winning back state legislatures and governorships

in 2014 (We did well in CO & MN for example in this cycle with legislative races), and so we have a better shot of having control of redistricting in 2020.

[hfojvt]

5. We have always needed to take the case to the people

but the pressure is only gonna happen if we can beat them or at least make them FEAR getting beat.

Yesterday though, my mom told me this.

Obama won Wisconsin's first Congressional District.
So did Ryan.

That was not redistricting that gave Republicans a victory. It was the power of incumbency - the greater name recognition, the fund-raising advantages, the ability to travel the district and send mailers to the district at taxpayer expense.

But a Republican won in a blue district. So just because a district is red or blue does not make it impossible for the other party to win that seat - at least in some districts.

[byeya]

6. In North Carolina approx 2 Million voted for Democrats for the US House statewide

while 1.9 Million voted Repuke but the Repukes walked away with 10 seats and the Democrats got only 3 House members.
I think it's the same story - or worse - in Pennslyvania.

[Coyotl]

7. Maybe not. Watch them burn all their political capital with obstructionism.

They will not survive their own positions

[gravity]

8. The fiscal cliff could be the straw that breaks their back

Obama has all the political capital there so some Republicans are going to be forced to support a tax increases. It could be a bloody mess for the GOP.

[SharonAnn]

10. Actually, it could be a good thing and it won't last long.

It would automatically bump up the tax rates (including for the wealthy) and then rates can be lowered only on certain segments. The tax rates for the wealthy would stay up there. It's hard to raise someone's taxes and it's a lot easier to just not lower them.