the biggest blow to republican 2006 hopes

[welshTerrier2]

thus far, the Democratic strategy seems to be "let them beat themselves" ... frankly, that's unfortunate ...

the good news, if you call this good news, is that the number one issue that will destroy republicans this fall has reared its ugly head this week ... while we've all been distracted with Rove and Iraq and immigration, the big storm's been comin ashore ...

even old line "genuine conservatives" may have to jump ship on this one ... here's your headline:

The Dow has lost more than 500 points this week - today, the DOW suffered its worse loss in more than 3 years ... the DOW, of course, is just a symptom and a barometer - the disease, my friends, is inflation ...

nothing will destroy the republicans faster than an economic collapse - running the wild deficits they've built up with their borrow and spend wastefulness is about to bring economic growth to a screeching halt ...

source: http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=newsOne&storyID=2006-05-17T220842Z_01_N12331337_RTRUKOC_0_US-MARKETS-STOCKS.xml&src=051706_1816_TOPSTORY_dow_plunges

U.S. stocks plunged on Wednesday, wiping out $64 billion in market value from the 30 companies that make up the Dow and giving the blue-chip average its biggest one-day drop in three years, as investors bet the Federal Reserve will need to keep raising interest rates to fight inflation. <skip>

The Dow has lost more than 500 points this week, paring its advance for 2006 to 4.6 percent. <skip>

Wall Street got the inflation chills before the market's opening bell, when the Labor Department said the Consumer Price Index rose 0.6 percent in April, above economists' forecast for a rise of 0.5 percent. Core CPI, which excludes food and energy costs, advanced 0.3 percent, also faster than forecast.

[Warpy]

1. The Dow may rebound and stay stagnant

because there really aren't that many places for ill gotten rich mens' money to go these days. They've bid fine art, rare wines, and antiques past the point they want to spend money on them (they'd rather loot US of the few heirlooms we still have). Real estate is cooling off. The futures and currency markets are chancy. All that is left is the stock market.

They can stand to lose 99% of their money and they'll still be unimaginably rich, so if the market crashes, it crashes.

That's why it's likely to rebound.

[TexasProgresive]

2. I've always used the price of gold against the dollar as

my rough inflation index. When the dollar was held to $32/oz inflation remained low but when the dollar was allowed to float against gold the price of gold skyrocketed and so did inflation. Gold went to a high of $800/oz and then settled to $300-350 which is roughly 10 times $32/oz. That has been fairly stable for some time but the dollar started devaluing against gold and is now near historic highs.

This is a really simplistic idea of mine but it seems to work. The dollar is always worth what is ration to gold is in real buying power. So get ready for hyperinflation.

[FrenchieCat]

3. the Democratic strategy seems to be "let them beat themselves ?"

I think those are republican talking points repeated by the press.....just heard that on "Average ex-Republican-Rep-Operative Joe" scarborough that the Democrats might beat the GOP with Nothing.

Many Democrats have been very vocal on Republicans and all of their misdeeds....just that it's not being broadcasted much.

I think that the "failed" Dubai Port deal is a big factor in the percentages that Democrats are now polling on National Security. That particular fiasco is staying in the recess of the subconscience of many voters...and if I recall correctly, Schumer and other Democrats attacked like mad dogs on that one, if you might recall.....and actually were crucial in getting the deal to fall through. The "Spying on Americans" is also hitting a home run, and this will become more and more evident....as long as Democrats stay on it.

So I think that what is important that is being reported this week is the fact that Republicans are now LESS trusted in handling terrorism as opposed to Democrats. this is an indication that what Democrats are doing in that arena is clearly working. They are calling for Responsible redeployment out of Iraq starting this year.....and for many voters, they know based on what they have heard from Murtha, Clark and others, that Democrats are more competent than are Republicans in getting us out of this mess that was primarily a GOP backed war...which is all that they want to know, at this point....from what I can tell.

As for the economy, and the Dow....I wouldn't depend on what the market does to determine how the election might pan out. The Market does whatever it wants to do, and I don't trust that six months from now, somehow we will hit bottom economically, and Democrats will win because they said...."I told you so".

Sure, I think that a discussion of the deficit and gas prices and the fact that the GOP lowered taxes on the higher income taxpayers should be part of the Democrats' election strategy.....as should Healthcare, the Environment, energy policies and Education.....but in the end, it is the weakness on National Security that is gonna make the Republicans bleed...because it is their trump card, i.e., Achilles heel that is being messed with now.

[UrbScotty]

5. Exactly - and we must be willing to do what it takes to help Dems win.

I noticed in your post on my thread that you're pretty active, which is important.

Keep it up, and make sure other Dems you know are also active.

[ShortnFiery]

4. With Hayden on the team, they're set to blackmail / bribe / Diebold

their way into stealing the elections in both 2006 as well as 2008. Prepare yourself, if Hayden gets nominated, for a long cold REPUBLICAN CONTROLLED COUNTRY for decades to come. :(