the Republicans."  This is known, on the ground.  Use it as the baseline and never doubt it.

It's the same as the feelings about the economy -- "experts" can tell you reams of theory about how good it looks, but ask almost any man/woman on the street and they will tell you it sucks.  No one feels secure in these times and they have no confidence in this government.  

For some time now, I have believed that it is entirely possible to wrest not only the House but the Senate from the GOP.  The neocons have effectively killed the conservative movement.  The GOP is now known as the party of greed, waste, lies, corruption and incompetence.  

What is important is for any challenger to NOT ACT like GOP-LITE.  Be a liberal, a progressive and stand up and tell us what liberalism can do.