Voter Anger No Surprise to Democrats This Time

[groovedaddy]

NEVADA, Mo. — A year ago, dozens of protesters gathered outside the district office of Representative Ike Skelton, a Democrat who has represented a wide stretch of western Missouri since 1976. The anger they directed at health care legislation — and by extension most Congressional Democrats — left the party in a state of near panic.

It may, in retrospect, have been the best thing that could have happened to Mr. Skelton and his colleagues.

In the arsenal of advantages that Republicans hold as they seek to win control of Congress this year, one thing is missing: the element of surprise. Unlike 1994, when Republicans shocked Democrats by capturing dozens of seats held by complacent incumbents, there will be no sneak attacks this year. Democrats have sensed trouble for more than a year, with the unrest from town-hall-style meetings last August providing indisputable evidence for any disbelievers.

The result has been to goad many Democrats into better preparation: more fund-raising, earlier advertising, lots of time on the campaign trail.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/15/us/politics/15town.html?th&emc=th

[tridim]

1. The Republicans have no advantages, surprise or not.

They will not retake either chamber, which by historical standards is a loss.

That is two mid-term losses in a row.

[FBaggins]

3. That's wrong. They have one massive advantage.

They get to run against Democrats.

Were it not for that, we would never hear from them again.

[Edweird]

2. "What do you do if you’re in trouble? You change your behavior. They have not."