The GOP will win big in November. It is completely irrational that their so-called arguments will prevail, but it is where we are. And but so, the out-of-power party has often done very well in the first midterm after a new president takes office (right? right. See: Reagan, Ronald; Clinton, Bill).
However, it doesn't mean there is no reason to fight back their nuttiness with reason and passion and therefore hope to mitigate the damage now, and recover in building towards the elections in 2012.
So, I would like the DNC or whomever to air lots and lots of commercials, and go viral on the web, with the snippet of Obama's speech in Cleveland the other day when he said: "A few weeks ago, the Republican leader of the House came here to Cleveland and offered his party’s answer to our economic challenges. Now, it would be one thing if he admitted his party’s mistakes during the eight years they were in power, and was offering a credible new approach to solving our country’s problems.
But that’s not what happened. There were no new policies from Mr. Boehner. There were no new ideas. There was just the same philosophy we already tried for the last decade – the same philosophy that led to this mess in the first place: cut more taxes for millionaires and cut more rules for corporations. Instead of coming together like past generations did to build a better country for our children and grandchildren, their argument is that we should let insurance companies go back to denying care to folks who are sick, and let credit card companies go back to raising rates without any reason. Instead of setting our sights higher, they’re asking us to settle for a status quo of stagnant growth, eroding competitiveness, and a shrinking middle class.
Why him when his popularity is down? Because I really think that a majority of American's want to like him and want to be reminded why they should like him. Plus, people want him to fight back. This accomplishes both these things, while also reminding an unfathomably short-memoried electorate that, "oh yeah, Bush and the republicans suuuuucked when they ran things. We don't like them, on account of the sucking." Too late to make a difference in November 2010, but it can mean a lot in November 2012 when the economy almost absolutely will have recovered in some meaningful way.
5 comments:
November will certainly sting but I'm still hopeful that the damage will be limited. As Tim Kaine pointed out on the Daily Show the other night, Obama was behind in the polls to McCain at Labor Day in 2008. There's still some time for him to get voters fired up.
I'm frustrated, though, by the polling that shows the country trusts Dems more on almost every individual issue but still intends to vote GOP. WTF?!? I have to think that it's a result of the administrations attempts to be high-minded about things. The Bushies politicized everything. They took some lumps for that but it kept their base pretty motivated until the horrible impact of their horrible policies became too glaring to ignore. If Barack gives us two years of chest bumping about his achievements and finger wagging at GOP shenanigans, I think 2012 will go well.
i was thinking the same thing, dave. it really is a long time from election day. not happy to see nate's prediction about the illinois gubernatorial seat though--nearly 90% likelihood that the Rs will win. bleck.
still and all, barack needs to come up with guns blazing, show some emotion, connect with the peoples. where is all that energy he brought to the trail?
Oh, and HI EVERYONE. welcome back to Sassy!!!
Oh, hey, thanks for having us back, Irms!
I think Obama can turn the tide enough between now and November to keep the house a Dem majority. The senate is safe. If the republicans do pretty well--but not a f-ing tsumani like they predict, I don't know how much mojo they have left. As you say Dave, OBama then moves into full-time campaign mode where he is both confrontational about the Repubs and aspirational about what he offers, and things are much rosier in 2012. The key is limiting damage now.
Regarding the 2008 labor day polls etc, I'm pretty sure McCain had a false post-convention, post-pitbull bounce, but that election was never really in doubt. This one is.
my word verification is "ommado." which reminds me, I would like to eat at Mado. Have either of you been, can't recall?
i've been to mado. YUM-MEE!
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