I've compiled a handy
Gloating Guide to help you improve your gloating should the Republicans lose seats in the
Senate next Tuesday as widely expected. The guide covers outcomes ranging from a Democratic gain of 1 to a gain of 8 seats. I assume an order of pickups which is just my own opinion but also roughly reflects the pundit consensus.
DISCLAIMER: Please ignore posters who will scold us that we "haven't won anything yet". Of course we haven't, but proper gloating takes preparation.
continued...
If Democrats take 1 seat (Santorum):First member of Republican Leadership to be defeated since 1972 (Chair Margaret Chase Smith).
Only the second member of Republican Leadership to be defeated since 1934 (Whip Felix Hebert).
If Democrats take 2 seats (DeWine):
Largest off-year loss of ruling party since 1994 - a stinging rejection of President Bush.
If Democrats take 3 seats (Burns):
Largest off-year loss of ruling party's elected incumbents in 20 years ( see 1986 ) - a stinging rejection of President Bush.
If Democrats take 4 seats (Chafee):
Republican lost as many elected incumbents as Democrats did in the previous 5 elections combined.
Democrats now hold a 17-5 advantage in the Northeast, continuing a steady 50 reversal from 1956 when Republicans held an identical 17-5 majority.
If Democrats take 5 seats (Talent):
Republican lost as many elected incumbents as Democrats did in 2004, 2002, 2000, 1998, 1996, and the landslide year of 1994 combined.
If Democrats take 6 seats (Allen):
Only the second time since 1918 that a second term President has lost the Senate ( also 1986 ).
Largest loss of either party's elected incumbents in 20 years ( see 1986 ).
If Democrats take 7 seats (Frist-Corker):
Largest loss of Republican elected incumbents in nearly 50 years ( see 1958 ).
First time Republican Majority Leader's seat has been lost since 1932 (James E. Watson).
If Democrats take 8 seats (Kyl):
A pickup of 8 matches the Republican wave of 1994.
Of the 8 Democrat pickups in 2006, 7 were elected incumbents. Of the 8 Republican pickups in 1994, only 1 was an elected imcumbent.
Just 2 terms later, only 3 out of 12 Senators from the Republican class of 1994 remain in office (Thomas, Snowe, Inhofe).
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