2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumWhy Democrats Think They Can Retake the House in 2014
In a memo sent to House Democrats on Friday, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Steve Israel said the caucus is in a stronger political position to start the 2014 campaign than in either of the last two cycles -- an argument aimed at rebutting the hardening belief in Washington that House Republicans have a near-lock on their majority.
Israel's memo, sent to National Journal by a Democratic aide, boiled down to one theme: Republicans and their tea party allies are deeply unpopular with the public, which means that Democrats -- with President Obama's help -- should be able to overcome a congressional map that leans red. Democrats, who won a net of eight seats last year, need to win another 17 more to retake the majority.
"Redistricting has empowered the worst elements of the Republican Party, amplifying the extremist echo chamber and making the tea party Republican congress toxic to voters," Israel wrote. "Republicans redrew already-safe members into even more Republican districts, driving control of their party more to their base, forcing more primaries, and making it less likely that they can put forward a party agenda that appeals to Independents."
Democrats have emphasized the dysfunction of the GOP-controlled House, highlighting parliamentary blow-ups like the failed "Plan B" vote and stumbling attempt to approve the Superstorm Sandy relief bill. And polls show most voters blame the GOP for Congresss dysfunction.
More...
http://www.nationaljournal.com/blogs/hotlineoncall/2013/02/why-democrats-think-they-can-retake-the-house-in-2014-15
still_one
(92,394 posts)can change the rules at anytime. They do not have to do it on the first day of Congress.
There is something wrong with both parties. No question the republicans are far worse, anti-women, anti- civil rights, pro- war, etc.
bemildred
(90,061 posts)Cosmocat
(14,572 posts)Two pretty significant trends they are bucking:
1) the tendency for dems to sleepwalk through non-presidential elections
2) the trend for the party in power in the white house to lose seats at mid terms
I think the 06 election very clearly was the building tidal wave to 08 from the massive backlash for the republican's being complete jackasses WITH power from 00 to 04. They managed to bully the country into reelecting Bush II despite his being a historically bad president, and once that election was over the full weight of him fell down on the Rs.
10 taught me a lesson. They threw a fit over losing in 08, and that alone was good enough for the people in this country to wave in one of the biggest classes of representatives ever and darn near got them the senate.
My lesson - this country will NEVER tire of finding reasons to elect jackass Rs. They had NO business making gains in 10, NONE, and they had one of the biggest waves in modern history.
With gerrymandering and it being the second term mid term, I will just be happy if they don't lose the Senate.
bemildred
(90,061 posts)Cosmocat
(14,572 posts)I knew, and the polling showed, they were going to have good days in 06, 08 and last fall.
Conversely, the polling was pretty clear the country had gone full in on stupid in 2010.
I was in denial of that. I thought they Rs would make gains, but I was in denial of how bad it was going to be.
I won't make that mistake again.
I knew BO was going to be in good shape, but that the Ds would only chip away in the House because the polling showed that.
Again, the lesson learned, the people in this county very much are looking for a reason to vote for republican jackasses.
At the federal or even state level, it is harder. But, most assuredly at the gerrymandered state level, they like eating shit sandwiches.
bemildred
(90,061 posts)NPolitics1979
(613 posts)CO-6(Coffman-R)
IL-13(Davis-R)
MI-1(Benishek-R)
MI-3(Amash-R)
MI-11(Bentivello-R)
MN-2(Kline-R)
MN-6(Bachmann-R)
NV-3(Heck-R)
NY-11(Grimm-R)
NY-19(Gibson-R)
NY-23(Reed-R)
SC-7(Rice-R)
VA-2(Rigell-R)
Democrats need to target
WI-1(Ryan-R)- Barca-D
PA-7(Meehan-R)- Sestak-D
PA-8(Fitzpatrick-R)- Murphy-D
PA-12(Rothfus-R)- Altmire-D
OH-16(Renacci-R) - Bocierri-D
OH-14(Joyce-R)- Fingerhut-D
NY-27(Collins-R)- Hochul-D
MT-AL (Daines-R)- Lindeen-D
LiberalFighter
(51,084 posts)Purveyor
(29,876 posts)realizing how the 'no tax' repukes they voted in, if fact...raised taxes on those least unable to pay them.
Of course 'big business' made out like pigs in shit.
I'm about to post an article on this shortly.
tabbycat31
(6,336 posts)Most people barely know who their state legislators are.
Scuba
(53,475 posts)stevenleser
(32,886 posts)seats.
Gerrymandering will be the main obstacle in 2014, not the issues.
ShadowLiberal
(2,237 posts)Historically the only time in the last half century that a president's party didn't lose lots of seats is Bill Clinton, and that was with republicans overplaying their hands with impeachment. And even then we only won around 9 seats, not 17+.