Republicans Rocked As Polls Show 4 Senators Could Lose Seats Due To Obstructing Obama

[KamaAina]

http://www.politicususa.com/2016/02/24/republicans-rocked-polls-show-4-senators-lose-seats-obstructing-obama.html

Two new polls revealed that incumbent Republican senators in New Hampshire and Wisconsin have joined vulnerable GOP incumbents in Ohio and Pennsylvania, who could lose their seats because of the Republican decision to block Obama’s SCOTUS nominee....

Earlier this week, PPP polls of Pennsylvania and Ohio found that Republican incumbents Pat Toomey (PA) and Rob Portman (OH) are in jeopardy of losing their seats due to the due to the decision by Senate Majority Leaders Mitch McConnell to obstruct President Obama’s Supreme Court nominee.

Democrats need to capture five Republican seats to retake control of the Senate, and thanks to the Republican decision to obstruct and Obama’s nominee before he or she has been chosen, Democrats have the inside track on four seats. It might not matter who Republicans nominate for president.

The Senate is slipping away from Republicans because the bill for years of obstructing President Obama may be coming due this November.

[Gothmog]

1. I think that more than four senators will lose their seats

[brooklynite]

2. Right now, WI and Il are easy pickups...

OH and NH are slight advantage, PA and FL are underperforming and tied up with Primaries, AZ and MO are outliers with potential.

[stevenleser]

3. With Hillary at top of ticket we win all 8.

Still doesnt help with the House though.

[longship]

6. Why Hillary?

Why not either Hillary or Bernie?

The Democrats have a rather large advantage this year for the Senate. The only way to say otherwise is to spin it for ones candidate. Which is just like this, and nothing else:

[stevenleser]

7. I think with a Socialist at the top of the ticket, Republican senators will run against him, giving

them a big advantage in swing states and red states.

[longship]

11. Oh brother!

Like they won't run against Hillary? Like she has no negatives?

I like your posts, but this one is weak sauce, my good friend.

I will gladly support the nominee in November, but will vote for Bernie in the MI primary. I am a proud lifelong Democrat, but that argument is hollow.

My best to you.

[greiner3]

92. I don't know prior to say the middle of last summer

But since then most of his posts since then have been one big bummer. And yes I tried for the rhyme

[Cary]

100. Words matter, even if there is no substance behind them

You underestimate the negativity of the word "socialist." I'm not saying it's correct, quite the contrary. Unfortunately years and years of "conservative" propaganda have instilled all kinds of thought viruses in people's minds including most of those Hillary's "negatives" that Sanders' supporters so eagerly try to perpetuate and capitalize on.

[longship]

103. That's why it is all the more insidious coming from fellow democrats. nt

[Zen Democrat]

111. FDR was our first socialist president. Who doesn't know that?

I want another FDR, not another Clinton Third Way.

[rhett o rick]

113. I agree we need an FDR and not Hover. nm

[Cary]

119. I don't really know what you're referring to

But as someone who hasn't said a bad word about Bernie Sanders I have to tell you that if anything is "insideous" it is the "conservative" Hillary Clinton propaganda that I have seen maliciously spewed by alleged Democrats.

Of course several have admitted to me that they are not now and never have been Democrats.

[longship]

124. Well, as a lifelong Democrat, I would prefer to set aside intraparty warfare.

And apparently that kind of plea just doesn't always work here.

I support Bernie in the primary but will gladly support, work for, and vote for the Democratic Party nominee.

So there's that.

My best to you.

[Cary]

126. Me too.

From your lips to God's ear, but not here apparently.

I'm not sure how much of it is, in reality, intraparty warfare. Personally I think the differences between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders are way, way over stated. Both will be severely constrained by reality. I believe both of them will work towards the policies I favor.

And I'm not the least bit interested in personalities.

So it is my opinion that most of the noise here at DU from either corner is just bluster.

[longship]

129. I like that. Corner bluster! The worst kind, eh?

[Hortensis]

108. Sure, and it's not just "socialist." If they thought somnambulist

worked for them they'd build a whole scandal out of supposed crimes he may have committed while sleepwalking. "Do we want a president who might be sleepwalking when he should be keeping the country safe?" ANYTHING could and might be manufactured.

And then there are the first 25 years or so of his adulthood. I may feel the way he lived his life is simply another type of diversity, but it offers incredible opportunity for creativity.

This isn't disapproval of Bernie, this is just realization that what they did to Hillary will be done to Bernie if he threatens them with too much success.

[Cary]

121. Nor is my comment a disapproval of Bernie

My opinion is purely tactical although I acknowledge the fact that the smears will come, regardless. I still would not give them that ammunition even though I agree 100% with his premise.

I would find another way to attack and neutralize "conservative" propaganda, based on cost versus benefit.

[getagrip_already]

164. it won't stop there, and won't be trivial..

just look at the low hanging fruit...

He is a socialist who has openly supported castro and noriega

He is an atheist (yes, I know he is secular, but they don't know what that word is. Non-practicing = sinner = atheist as far as they are concerned)

He wants to break american industry and banking, only to rebuild it?

He is a pacifist. Sure he voted against the iraq war. He hates war. He hates foreign policy. He won't be aggressive.. blah blah blah

Trump will have him painted as a racist. He will have him ridiculed for being old and unhealthy.

Trump will even best him on the Jewish front (his daughter is converted).

And then there are the real policy gaps in his positions.... And how he pays for them....

Nope. Won't be pretty. But as a non-practicing atheist with some similar viewpoints, most of bernie's weaknesses don't really bother me. But they will resonate with a large swath of this country. And they will drive anyone with a small business to trump.

[Hortensis]

165. That's not even a partial list. Where are the scandals?

He's weak, he's old, he's a nut. They'll all be developed. It doesn't matter if he's not corrupt -- that'll be developed too. People expect scandals.

And handling the incoming is just part of the job when running against the GOP these days.

[getagrip_already]

166. well, when you think about it...

there is no scandal with either bengazi or the email server. All of that was invented out of whole cloth. So yeah, given time and a bernie nom they will find something. Maybe he didn't pay for his own girl scout cookies or something. (sarcasm).

Don't get me wrong, I like bernie as a person and as a senator. I would vote for him if he were the nominee, but I don't feel he will be as good a president as H will be. Look, Obamma wasn't the perfect president either, but he was much better for the country than mcain or romney would have been.

And the thought of trump picking 3 scotus members is sickening. What if picks people like himself; billionaires with a "you don't tell me what to do" attitude towards gubberment and a scalia attitude towards human rights? He could and probably would.

It will be trump. And he will lose to H (or bernie). As long as we as a party don't go to war.

[rtracey]

112. and me too

i totally agree, I hope the majority....ultra, complete majority feels the same way. I will support the nominee, either Bernie or Hillary..MD primary is soon...

[HooptieWagon]

20. FYI, republicans will rise out of their graves to vote against Hillary.

And that GOP turnout will vote downticket also.

[Cary]

102. Doubtful

Trump will have a big negative impact. The real interesting question is how the establishment plans to put Humpty Dumpty together again.

But hey, anything is possible.

[HooptieWagon]

104. Not doubtful...a certainty.

No matter how crappy the republican candidate is, all the GOP has to do to GOTV is say 'Hillary Clinton', and replicans will flock to the polls to vote against her.

[rtracey]

114. dont agree

I don't agree, I have seen and heard many reports that say they will vote Hillary/Bernie rather then Trump.... I do believe there will be a GOP candidate and a 3rd party run by Trump. I think his race bating, get america great again is working on the cretins who support him, but I dont think its going to fly in some of the bigger delegate states like California, Texas, even New York.....they know what Trump is...

[Cary]

117. You are very loose with the word "certainty"

I'll stick with my assessment, unless you have something to actually back up your judgment.

[HooptieWagon]

123. You don't think Republicans will turn out to vote against Clinton?

Have you been paying attention at all for the past 24 years? You think Whitewater, impeachment, Benghazi, and all didn't happen?

[Cary]

146. Trump has a 60% disapproval rating.

Democrats will be teeing off on his Trump University fraud, mismanagement all over the place, abuse of immigrant workers, sexism and racist remarks, and too much more.

Trump will be radioactive by summer.

[Major Hogwash]

150. That must explain why he won 3 out of 4 primaries!

Cruz got like 5 delegates in Nevada.
Rubio, the same.

Trump, 25.

High disapproval rating isn't keeping him from winning.

[Cary]

152. That has so much to do with a general election!

I can't believe you said this here at DU.

[getagrip_already]

167. sure, repugs will vote against h...

but guess what, they would vote in the same numbers agains bernie. it's what they do.

I doubt anyone who wouldn't otherwise vote will turn out just because it's hillary. Look at how many people voted against obamma. Same people.

The real question is how many won't vote because it's trump. I don't think it will be yuuge in the end, but he will lose some votes to the void.

And the reverse is also true. A lot of dems and blue indies will turn out because its trump. And with scotus on the very real line, even more will be motivated.

It won't be a low turnout election.

[Hortensis]

168. Every general topic is now an excuse to bash Hillary.

I've noticed a lot of that has moved over from the GD-P.

All I can suggest is not feeding the beast.

[Hawaii Hiker]

157. They said this in 2012 to

that Obama was so despised that Repubs will hold their nose and vote for Romney & it will be a landslide...

[HooptieWagon]

158. Obama narrowly won in 2012.

He captured 6 of 7 swing states. A couple of critical states going the other way, and Obama is a one-term President. I think GOP turnout was most ever, Obama got 5 million fewer votes than in 2008. So actually, Republican voters <did> turn out in big numbers and held their nose to vote for Romney.

[Hawaii Hiker]

160. Well i respectfully disagree...Obama whooped Romney's ass

while Obama did receive less votes than he did in 2008, the only 2 states that he lost in 2012 that he won in 2008 were Indiana & North Carolina....And those 2 are rather red states historically so a Democrat even competing there is amazing....

And compared to the 2016 GOP pretenders, Romney was an adult in the room and was a formidable challenger despite some glaring flaws...

[rhett o rick]

115. This last weekend I spoke to a relative that is ultra-conservative. He commented on my Sanders

bumper sticker by saying he didn't mind Sander but he hated Clinton.

[Cary]

118. That's 1.

Impressive.

[rhett o rick]

125. I guess siding with the Billionaires makes one smug, but the People are sick of losing their

homes, their jobs, their retirements, and seeing their children and loved ones killed and wounded in Wars For Profits. We are sick of seeing our children charge high interest rates for money to go to college while our government charges zero interest to banks for billions in loans. We have a long road to haul fighting the Big Money but we will prevail.

"The choice is stark, keep living under corporate rule under Hillary and watch things get worse, or go with Bernie and fight TPTB to regain our Representative Democracy!"

[Cary]

127. Guess whatever you want, rhett

Your insinuation is subtle but it's there, nonetheless. It's cheap and not well-taken.

I'm really tired of the rhetoric: no pun intended. The outcome is almost certainly baked into the cake already and even if it wasn't I don't see the wisdom of alienating fellow Democrats. That is, if one is actually a Democrat. Right?

I don't appreciate being told things like I'm "siding with the Billionaires." Nothing could be further from the truth and it's just snide for no good reason. Not that you really affect me in any way, mind you. But in assessing who and what you are, and character and all that, I have to take into account things like the way you treat other people who don't share your opinions and don't toe your line.

Good Democrats are leaving this board because of the way they are being treated. A lot of them. It didn't used to be like this. Since you assume a leadership role here I would think it would behoove you to set an example.

[rhett o rick]

128. Good Democrats don't choose Goldman-Sachs over helping those struggling

in the 99%. This is a class war. Tell me it isn't. Tell me that Clinton, worth 50 million is a friend of the poor. Tell me she will hold Wall Street accountable. Tell me she wont send our families to die for corporate profits. More people in the 99% die from lack of proper care (6 babies die before reaching 1 year old out of every 1,000 live births) than any other modern nation. It's because corporations like Goldman-Sachs loot the resources we need to help our families survive.

There are clearly two sides to this class war and the Clintons and Goldman-Sachs are not on our side.

[Major Hogwash]

151. Exactly! Like the brain-eating zombies they are!

Their ancestors will rise up chanting their call to action, "Win this one for St. Ronny", or some such stupid meme.

[Ghost in the Machine]

23. I live in a VERY red State... Tennessee... and have found very few Trump supporters, but there

are a LOT of Bernie Sanders supporters.... mostly Millenials, but older people also.

One thing that really SHOCKED me though was my cousin, a lifelong Democrat and raised in a strong Union family just like I was, said that if Bernie didn't win the nomination that he was going to vote for Trump because he doesn't like HRC. I KNOW that he already voted for Bernie in the primary during the "early voting" period. We were in town one day and went ahead and did the early voting while we were there. I'm still trying to change his mind, hopefully I will succeed. I keep stressing the importance of having a Democrat in office for, if nothing else, the SCOTUS nominees.

His reasoning is the same as the other Trump supporters I've heard...."He's not a D.C. "insider" and doesn't care what he says, or who he offends, he 'tells it like it is'." I just look at them and say "You'll care who he offends when some Country decides to start a war with US because of his mouthing off!"

Peace,

Ghost

[elljay]

99. Trump has adopted part of Bernie's platform

There is actually some overlap in their positions, which is one thing giving the Republicans ulcers (everything else about Trump gives US ulcers). Matt Taibbi summarized it in yesterday's Rolling Stone:

"This is part of a gigantic subplot to the Trump story, which is that many of his critiques of the process are the same ones being made by Bernie Sanders. The two men, of course, are polar opposites in just about every way – Sanders worries about the poor, while Trump would eat a child in a lifeboat – but both are laser-focused on the corrupting role of money in politics.

Both propose "revolutions" to solve the problem, the difference being that Trump's is an authoritarian revolt, while Sanders proposes a democratic one."

https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/how-america-made-donald-trump-unstoppable-20160224?page=12

[MisterFred]

90. No, it won't.

The average Joe under 40 doesn't remember the Cold War. The Average Jane over 40 realizes we won it and its over.

[AlbertCat]

94. I know!

This red scare thing is ridiculous.

And it pales next to the irrational hatred of anything Clinton on the right.

[Major Nikon]

44. Certainly HRC isn't an enormous GOTV factor for the GOP

So you make an excellent point.

[sulphurdunn]

46. I think both parties have been crying wolf

so long with the name 'socialist' that more and more people are ignoring it, looking at policy statement, and ignoring the calculated, defamatory labels and name calling.

[RobinA]

84. I Disagree

In my experience, Repubs who are against Obama firmly believe that he is a raving lefty. This after 7 years in which he has done little or nothing to earn that title. When I encounter a friend spouting "Obama is a socialist" rhetoric I ask them what they feel he has done that fits that description. I get either a lot of sputtering or some nonsense about raising taxes. Facts don't matter. Nobody looks at policy statements, they look for catch words that fit a preconceived bias.

[Duval]

51. Oh! do they want to give up their Medicare, SS, police stations, public schools, because

they all are examples of Democratic Socialism.

[blondie58]

60. Democratic Socialist

Totally different thing.

[Chan790]

72. You are aware of exactly how much GOP voters hate Hillary, right?

I mean I fucking loathe Hillary Clinton (It rivals how much I hate Ronald Reagan--I openly advocated disinterring Reagan and setting up a queue for AIDS patients, the homeless, and the mentally-ill to use his skull as a urinal in revenge for his Presidency)...but in comparison to them, I look like Hillary's biggest fan.

Nothing is going to motivate GOP turnout like the opportunity to send Hillary miserable into a forced retirement. They'll show up to vote against her regardless who the Republican nominee is. Turn-out and energy are not on our side if Hillary is the nominee. It would dwarf any "running against the socialist" advantage the GOP might have in swing states and red states.

It's literally their raison d'etre to destroy Hillary. Nobody and nothing is going to motivate them more than a Clinton candidacy.

[okaawhatever]

77. Everyone knows HRC won't be picking up GOP votes. The question is whether she will gain the

independent voters. The GOP base won't vote for a Dem no matter what, so a HRC or Sanders nom won't change that. It is the independent voter that will change the outcome. (That and Dem turnout).

Where I am the GOP doesn't hate Hillary (not more than any other Dem). They desperately want Sanders to win the nom, but that is just because they think he is easier to beat.

[Chan790]

83. I didn't expect her to pick up GOP votes...

I expect her nomination to tank Democratic turn-out and motivate GOP turnout through the roof...I basically expect her to cause a turnout gap in favor of the GOP that rivals mid-term elections.

[mikeysnot]

105. Yes, the Socialist label worked real well for them against.

President Obama....

[Hortensis]

106. Agree. Bernie has not had his reputation smashed

by the right wing media yet, but they would come for him big time.

[LiberalLovinLug]

110. Socialist Schmocialist

Lower income Red State voters are being denied expanded medicaid, thus cheaper insurance, because their Republican leaders refuse that option out of childish spite. Years and years of Republicans simply stamping "NO" to everything the Democrats put forth, including affordable health care insurance, may catch up. Especially Bernie's single payer proposition that would solve all that.

[RoccoR5955]

133. What socialist?

I know of no socialist running. Only a DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST. The two are different.

[Beartracks]

148. Oh, good grief. They think Hillary's a socialist, too.

They've claimed for years that all Democrats and liberals are socialists -- even the obviously centrist ones. The only difference with Bernie, in their view, may be that he's proud of the label and hasn't tried to "hide it."

========================

[Android3.14]

42. Polls indicate you are typing nonsense

If Hillary is on the ticket, we lose everything.

[jmowreader]

62. Polls also indicate a vetted Bernie loses to every Republican

Also, polls taken as far from New Hampshire as we are to the general election indicated Bernie was going to lose by at least 50 points.

[Android3.14]

69. Link please. "vetted Bernie loses to every Republican"

[RoccoR5955]

134. There is no link

to polls that people pull out of their posterior.

[MattSh]

74. What a surprise...

7 hours later, still no link to back this up.

[jmowreader]

79. I've been trying to find it

This was on DU within the past week - of course, the way any post critical of Bernie disappears here, it's almost certainly gone now. The post said that a group of people who had no opinion of Bernie were told the Bernie platform then asked to rate him against the GOP candidates. He did well. Then they used the expected GOP attacks against Sanders...socialist, tax raiser, free stuff...and the GOP all pulled ahead of him.

If Bernie Sanders wins the Democratic primary, the GOP has got attacks ready for him he will not be able to withstand...and he will lose by the biggest margin in the history of this nation. Forget the "socialism" card, although the GOP will definitely play it. The American populace wants one thing from their government: less of it. They want lower taxes; Bernie promises higher ones. They want smaller government; Bernie promises massive expansion. They want the government to stay out of their businesses; Bernie will push them farther into the affairs of the private sector.

You can't even get people to accept higher taxes in the name of self-preservation: My sister is business manager for one of the biggest school systems in Idaho, and they have a problem: the boiler at the high school is within six months of exploding. It is not going to merely fail; a licensed engineer the state hired says that sucker is going to blow sky-high.

This is video of a boiler explosion:

The boiler at this school is large enough to level the building when it goes. If it goes while school is in session, it will kill the entire student body. They have tried to pass bonds to build a new school and they ALWAYS fail, no matter what they try.

A vote for Bernie Sanders is an endorsement of all the things you hate about government. And that, dear Matt, is the reason Bernie Sanders cannot, and will not, win the election.

[Unknown Beatle]

75. This is a Quinnipiac University Poll.

[erlewyne]

82. I'm voting for Bernie Sanders.

I should have discovered him years ago. I am surprised that
it took this long. Of course, I am from Ohio and that should
explain a lot. I still have my Kucinich signs! and I still back
Dennis Kucinich!

[harun]

97. +1

Trump as president and a republican controlled House, Senate and likely Supreme Court.

What could possibly go wrong?

[eridani]

81. Not harrdly. She'll bring out all the Repub nutcases--

--who would walk through fire to vote against her.

[PatrynXX]

136. too bad hillary ain't at the top :P

if she was might as well be Republican. truth hurts

[MJJP21]

149. I read

I read every article I can find from just about any source that comes my way on Hillary /Sanders and the presidential election. It is very difficult to find any of them that have a pro Hillary opinion. I for one said early on I was for Sanders but would hold my nose and vote for Hillary but right now Trump might be looking pretty good if the choice was Trump or Hillary and I am not alone by judging the comments I read. I look at Trump as being the wild card because I really don't believe he is serious in what he says and is only being opportunistic because he smells blood in the water. If he is serious in what he says and is president he will be thrown out or ignored by both houses or there will be blood in the streets.

[debunction.junction]

40. Do I hear 60? Hey, I know it is wishful thinking, but we can dream can't we?

[Fearless]

45. Well they're all not up for reelection, but that's the spirit!

[debunction.junction]

57. Well, there are 24 Rebublican Senators up for relection.

We only need 4 to retake the senate. We only need to split 50/50 on the other 20 to get to 60. So it is possible mathematically, right? I know, I know...

[Fearless]

58. Yes we can.

[rpannier]

54. My prediction is

Illinois, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania are definites
Ohio, New Hampshire probable pick ups
Florida good chance (60-40)
Indiana may be 50-50 if it's Coates again or a teahadist. The determining factor will again be Lake County. Lake County is very Democratic (Mondale, Dukakis, Cliton, Gore, Kerry, Obama). But it has an erratic voting history
Missouri would be sweet, but unlikely unless Blunt loses the primary to another Atkins
If Grassley would retire it would be helpful

Likely loss is Nevada. Especially if SanDoval runs

We only need 4 senate seats to pick up. That and a victory in the presidential election would give us 50-50 + Veep
It's 44-54-2 (The 2 being King and Sanders)

[Number9Dream]

86. I wish I was as confident about PA as you are.

Toomey beat Sestak last time because of the money advantage. This time, he will have a HUGE campaign fund advantage.

snip> "He also predicted that Toomey could have more than $10 million by the time a Democratic primary ends, while Sestak may have to fight just to win the nomination."

http://articles.philly.com/2015-04-23/news/61422406_1_democrat-joe-sestak-toomey-fund-raiser-campaign-funds

Toomey is also getting a lot of dark money from the Koch bros. Toomey has accepted nearly $60,000 in Koch cash, and has a 96% rating from Koch group Americans for Prosperity.

https://www.dscc.org/pressrelease/pat-toomey-once-again-benefiting-koch-connected-dark-money

[Betty Karlson]

73. These are just the four already imperiled.

But with Sanders at the top of the ticket, there will be more low-hanging fruit - which may be pickable on his coattails - and every day they obstruct Scalia's replacement will hang the fruit a bit lower.

[the zound of zilence]

138. I Completely Agree

The GOP is walking into our trap, believing the False Gospel of FOX. You'd think they'd have learned from the pre-election night forecast of a Romney landslide. Then again, "learning" is a dirty word to them!

[longship]

4. The GOP is basically screwed in the 2016 US Senate elections.

The numbers just work out that way. Plus, it is a presidential election year which also favors Dems.

Yup! The GOP will very likely lose their Senate majority. Buh-bye Turtle Man.

[Rex]

5. The longer the GOP Congress obstructs, the more votes they will lose.

Scalia kicked the bucket at just the right time for Dems.

[Shrike47]

8. Don't say that, it fuels the paranoia.

[Rex]

10. Well those that watch things like WND are already lost and gone imo.

Their paranoia is incurable imo.

[TheUndecider]

14. I hope you're right

But I think rank and file repubs are loving, even demanding this obstructionism.

[Rex]

34. I don't doubt it, a lot will always resist anything a Dem says out of spite.

As we can see with this Congress and the way the treat the POTUS.

[nykym]

9. great news

as long as the DNC does not screw our chances by no supporting the candidates.
They need money and physical support.

[saturnsring]

12. and then obama nomiates a con gov

[KamaAina]

16. He hasn't nominated anyone yet

speculation here is that he's floating Sandoval as a trial balloon so as to see if the repukes would reject one of their own because the black guy nominated him.

[saturnsring]

17. yes that is true-- thanks

[platitudipus]

59. What will that tell him?

If they say he's acceptable will Obama then try a more progressive candidate? If they say he's not acceptable will Obama run a more conservative candidate past them? No, if he's submits Sandoval for approval, that's who he wants. I would never expect Obama to nominate a progressive to SCOTUS, he's never even had a real one in his administration.

[maxsolomon]

13. I have to think this played into their decision

they've looked at the polls, too, and decided to pursue this course. at least for now.

they don't think it's going to hurt them, or they're trying to make this a campaign issue. either way, they're cornered rats - they have no choice if they want to preserve their 5-4 majority.

[Raster]

15. Keep those obstructionist politics coming boys!

Keep up the delay tactics 'til everyone in this country sees you what what you are: petty, obstructionist assholes that value their out-of-touch party's agenda over the good of the country.

Keep. It. Up! Let EVERYONE in America see the real republican party.

[kysrsoze]

18. Yes, indeed. I knew exactly why Mark Kirk (R-IL) wasn't going along with Mr. Turtle et al

He's got a really tough election coming up against Tammy Duckworth. I would LOVE to see Dems take back the Senate. I doubt we have a chance in hell though, of getting the House back as well.

[Wednesdays]

22. Never say never

Unlike the Senate, all House seats are up for election this year, and of course the Goopers have more of those to defend than the Democrats.

[elljay]

35. Gerrymandering

Yes, but they are so gerrymandered that almost all districts are safe. They haven't figured out a way to do that with the Senate, yet!

[Cosmocat]

56. Not for the lack of weaseling around with the senate

apparently Utah is trying to find a way to opt out of the 17th amendment.

Funny how these assholes who babble about how peoples right as so sacred just off handily say, well, the founding fathers wanted it that way, so we really think it is a good idea to let elected officials pick senators.

fucking jackasses ...

But, your are right, it something REALLY big has to happen for them to lose the House.

[MillennialDem]

141. The senate is already "gerrymandered" by design (not proportional representation, which

favors the smaller red states).

[3catwoman3]

130. I hope...

...Tammy takes her bionic legs and kicks Kirk's ass but good!

[madville]

19. Yes and no

Wisconsin was already a likely Democratic pick up with Feingold leading by around +10 in every poll back to last March.

Ayotte has around +5 polling average back into last year in NH.

It really just depends on the timing. If Obama nominates quickly and they deny it soon after then it will be a faded memory by election time because everyone will be watching the 24/7 Trump and Hillary show.

How many Independents that this would be an issue for would stay home and leave down ticket Democrats out to dry because they aren't motivated by Hillary and preferred Bernie (like in NH)?

What happens if Hillary is indicted as a result of the FBI investigations?

Republicans have been more motivated to turn out during this primary season,
That enthusiasm gap is troubling.

Of course there are about 99 other factors that could easily overshadow this SCOTUS nomination. I remember when the government shutdown in 2013 was going to cost Republucans their House majority in 2014 and the chance they had at winning the Senate back, how'd that work out? That's why these types of predictions are meaningless.

[Wednesdays]

21. Ya think?

Yeah, no one saw that coming!

[Bucky]

24. The horror of being demoted to a massively higher paying job as a lobbyist

Or do they call that "investment banking" now?

[SCantiGOP]

25. I want to believe this article

but why would any Republican vote against a Senator over this issue?

[KamaAina]

27. Independents might.

[MillennialDem]

144. Why would any republican vote against anything republicans do? Oh other than

be moderates, than they get primaried lol

[Vinca]

26. I think Ayotte in NH is especially vulnerable.

Her opponent is Maggie Hassan who has been a very popular governor.

[tammywammy]

61. I really dislike Ayotte. It would be glorious if she lost.

[Dont call me Shirley]

28. Good, I hope 6 gop senators lose.

[oldandhappy]

29. About time!

[Politicalboi]

30. Shutting the government down and costing us 28 BILLION

Still got them seats in 2012 and 2014. If the Queen is the nominee, we will lose. They'll vote a GOP ticket all the way. At least with Bernie we could gain with Indy's, and Trump haters. But no Trump hater hates him more than they hate Hillary.

[Chasstev365]

31. Kirk IL & Johnson WI were already in trouble

The GOP leaders are fools!

[MillennialDem]

143. Kirk and Johnson are done for no matter what.

[houston16revival]

32. Which is why

Obama should not play ball with these Republicans by giving them a Republican pick
they would sort of like to approve

[silvershadow]

33. Good. nt

[pandr32]

41. "...the bill for years of obstructing...may be coming due..."

Let's hope so!

[humbled_opinion]

49. You cannot win the GE with

depressed turnout of your base... just saying, the minute that Trump releases the Goldman Sachs Hillary transcripts is the moment of departure of a large portion of the Democratic base.... that is if she is the nominee... I still pray that people will wake up from their slumber and vote for no baggage to represent the Democratic party.

[pandr32]

71. There is no revolution

Democratic turn out is down, and you can see one of the biggest paid Goldman Sachs speeches yourself...Google Hillary Clinton 's Goldman Sachs speech "10,000 Women..."
Suggesting Hillary Clinton took money from Wall Street in the form of speaking fees in a sort of "pay for play" is a deliberate campaign tactic for a desperate candidate--it is a manufactured scandal.

[humbled_opinion]

139. I'lll wait for the speech where

she supposedly gave them hell for making millions off of people who lost their homes....Oh yeah that one doesn't exist so maybe she will release the one where she is yucking it up with the wall street fat cats... no don't think she has the ....... to do that...but I am sure Trump will be playing it night and day during the GE and people like you will expect people like me to defend her..... LOL.. insulting to say the least.

[mountain grammy]

43. I think we may lose Bennet in Colorado

The fact that Udall, a far better Senator than Bennet, was beaten by the teabagger idiot Cory Gardner, has scared Bennet even more to the right.

[humbled_opinion]

47. How in the heck did they ever

win control of the Senate in the first place.... but I digress the most important point to remember is that we need serious turnout in Nov... the way you get serious turnout is to have a candidate that INSPIRES the masses.... there is simply only one Democratic candidate that does that.....

[KamaAina]

48. Lousy turnout in midterm elections

[humbled_opinion]

50. True so we better make sure

that turnout is good... can't imagine Hillary being able to muster a good turnout especially when Trump will be releasing her Goldman transcripts in the GE that will sure Depress this side...

[Hortensis]

109. Actually, apparently Obama's approval ratings

will have a lot to do with it. There's a strong correlation between a sitting president's approval ratings and picking up seats.

[Chicago1980]

52. How much is this going to matter if we have a President Trump?

I'm just saying.....

People better get their heads out their rears, hold their noses if need be and vote in November.

[AllyCat]

89. It will matter.

Better a Dem POTUS, but a Dem Senate would help against tRump

[Chicago1980]

95. That's not good enough.

It shouldn't even come to that. Having to have a democratic senate to stop him.

[Uncle Joe]

53. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, KamaAina.

[NurseJackie]

55. Please let it be true!

[newblewtoo]

63. I clapped to

save Tinker Bell too. But that is not the way things happen. A strong Republican showing will sweep weak incumbents like Ayotte back into office as offensive as it may be. A strong populist Republican candidate will change the landscape for years if we go with Hillary. Sorry. Reality sucks. If the Republicans continue to keep the momentum they have I see a very bleak future. It sucks, clapping won't change the outcome. Hillary will not win against an agitated Republican base.

We need an electable candidate. I do not think it will be Sanders.

[spanone]

64. it's about frickin' time

[blackspade]

65. KY could be in play if the State party actually puts up a candidate...

That's worth a shit. And who campaigns as a DEMOCRAT not a Repub in Democratic clothing.....

[KamaAina]

66. I believe Lexington mayor Jim Gray is running against Yertle.

Does he fit the bill?

[blackspade]

67. It depends on if he takes advice from the state party.

Our party has had a habit of nominating the worst campaigners that I have seen in a few decades.
Gray has some fire in him, so he could do well if he doesn't get hamstrung.

[JCMach1]

68. Great news... Democratic Win for President= Control of Senate

[toddwv]

70. It could be a great year to be a progressive.

SCOTUS leaning left.
A new Democrat in the White House.
The Senate changing hands.

I can't wait to hear the howling from the right about how it's not a mandate...

[merrily]

76. Good. Their little bubble world needs to be rocked.

[potone]

78. God, I hope so!

This Congress has been worse than useless. The arrogance of the Republicans is beyond anything that I have ever seen, including the impeachment trial of Bill Clinton. They simply cannot and will not accept that Obama is the legitimate president of the country that they have done so much to damage over the last 35 years. I don't know how he has managed to keep his sanity having to deal with these people. I long ago would have run screaming into the street.

[Helen Borg]

80. Haha, get the revolution rolling...

[Trust Buster]

85. There is one thing that is absolutely essential for the President and Democrats to do.

In the months leading up to the election, the President and Senate Dems must manufacture ways to keep Republican Supreme Court obstruction in the news cycle. Republicans are hoping that , after they initially ignore the President's nominee, the issue will fall out of the news cycle. I don't care if it comes in the form of a challenge in the courts, filibusters on essential legislation, showing the nominee getting the door slammed in his/her face on Capitol Hill or the President calling well timed news conferences on the issue over the coming months. THEY MUST EXACT A MAXIMUM PRICE FOR THIS OBSTRUCTION BY KEEPING IT FRONT AND CENTER IN THE NEWS CYCLE.

[randr]

87. I think Obama should nominate the most qualified liberal in the land

A person beyond reproach that has the bonifides as a fire brand liberal.
And he should challenge whether he can select and appoint a new judge without consent from congress.
The congressional challenge to NOT advise or consent is clearly a breach of the Constitutional responsibilities they have sworn to uphold, placing the Senate committee on impeachable ground.
The advice and consent clause of the Constitution serves an archaic purpose:
The concept serves to moderate the power of one branch of government by requiring the concurrence of another branch for selected actions. The expression is frequently used in weak executive systems where the head of state has little practical power, and in practice the important part of the passage of a law is in its adoption by the legislature.(from Wiki)
This may have been the case at the creation of our nation, when we were a bit monarchical shy.
However, in the current political climate it can be argued that it is the legislative branch that is weak and acting out of the interest of the nation.
I propose this challenge to be raised in hopes that the Supreme Court, in its current disorder, would make a verdict one way or another.
Otherwise, he should still call the bluff with a liberal nomination and let the chips fall where they may. If this is a priority issue in the next election whomever wins will have a free pass for their nominee.

[AllyCat]

88. RoJo was poised to lose his seat before this issue

He is awful.

[ffr]

91. 5 seats? Heck if we continue voting as we are now, we'll wipe them out completely

NV Caucus goers: Dems trounce Reps by 12%
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1064143

Let's make a democratic supermajority a reality for whomever our nominee is!

[AllyCat]

93. I doubt they are rocked. They are above the law and really don't care what we think.

[Chicago1980]

96. The republicans are all going to lose Rubio in Florida.

[HooptieWagon]

116. The Dem candidates for his senate seat aren't especially strong.

And the DNC is already throwing its weight behind DWS's favorite, a former republican.

[liberalfromaustin21]

98. Good news

The GOP's policies are cancerous. We need more progressives in office.

[AtheistCrusader]

101. 'Please proceed, Senators'

[caraher]

156. My thought exactly :)

[itcfish]

107. Only 4???

Only 4 up for re-election? Geez what is wrong with the United States?

[dbackjon]

120. McCain is in trouble in Arizona as well.

[rladdi]

122. In November, 2016, the Republicans will be real shocked having lost many

seats in the house and senate and even some governorship too. The people have not been asleep the past 7 years and noticed what the GOP has not done. Since McConnell claimed at Obama swearing Obama would be toast, He and other GOP gangs have been trying hard. But Obama fought on, creating millions of jobs, got the economy back on it feet, provided healthcare for millions. He would like to have roads, bridges and railroads updated, but the Republicans are not about fixing up America.

[SodoffBush]

131. My election $donations$ are going toward the Senate

I've been watching close races or waiting for the primaries to end and picking the Dems that have the best chance.

[RoccoR5955]

132. Perhaps we will gain seats in the House too. n/t

[KamaAina]

147. Our old friend Gerry Mander may have something to say about that.

[ut oh]

135. They will hopefully

lose those seats anyway....

We really need to make the Senate and House majority Dem again...

[bleedinglib]

137. This is why

BHO should pick the most Liberal person to nominate for the Court !! Then Democratic voters will come out & vote & throw all the bums out

[MillennialDem]

140. Johnson and Kirk are already toast.

[MillennialDem]

142. Actually we only need to pick up 4 seats to retake the senate, if we win the presidency.

[treestar]

145. We should be working on that

and trying to get back Congress.

[rladdi]

153. I don't think the GOP understands what there last 7 years of doing nothing

will result for them. It could be a huge win for Democrats in November. In reality the citizens of the USA want results, want this nation to have safe roads and bridges. A good railroad system, but the GOP wants to keep us backwards, back to the 18th century. American voters are to smart to elect those who want to defeat them and destroy the nation.

[lonestarnot]

154. Only fucking 4?

[Joe Chi Minh]

155. Something's just got to be done about those accursed machines. There's

something plain RIGHT about them ; intolerably right ! unconscionably right. It's just not good enough in this day and age. If you're not all very careful, your will have your banana export-licence rescinded.

[meow2u3]

163. Where's Anonymous when you really need them?

They can do a job of stopping RW vote count fraud attempts if they get wind of it. Rumor had it that they stopped Rove's fraud attempt in Ohio in 2012.

[Joe Chi Minh]

169. Well, let's hope they're waiting in the wings, eh?!

[hollowdweller]

159. So if Trump beats Hillary and the dems win the Senate....

Then does that mean the people have spoken and the dem senate should refuse any candidate till next election?

[KamaAina]

162. I suppose.

But I can't see any scenario in which we take the Senate but lose the White House. Besides, who says Hillary's gonna be the nominee?

[cyberswede]

161. Good! Fuckers.

Now...if only Grassley would get his ass handed to him, too.