According to a recent statement you made, you believe the Republicans will come roaring back into the majority in next year's midterms if they can "break" Obama on health care. Let's take a few moments to examine why this is batshit crazy.
- The Congressional Dems and especially the leadership know what's at stake with health care reform. They hear from their consituents. They know how to read polls. They'll get it done. These things take time, especially when you have as big of a majority as the Dems do now in BOTH chambers. There will be lots of things that Bernie Sanders and Max Baucus don't agree on. It's to be expected. Expanding their tent to help the Dogs get elected is the reason why they're in power now and you boys are sitting on the sidelines.
- Let's say the Democrats don't pass health care reform before the midterms. Let's say that they don't get one more thing accomplished between now and November 2010. Think the Republicans will be in an excellent position to take back the majority? ...Nope.
Look at the map based on simple demographics. Honestly, Senator DeMint, where can the GOP make up ground? Sure, it's very much within the realm of possibility that they can win back a few of the seats they lost in 2006 and 2008 in swing districts. But saying that the Republicans will be back in the majority. How? They've alienated African-Americans, Hispanics, women, young voters, first-time voters, well-educated voters, non-religious voters, midwestern voters, northeastern voters, northwestern voters, coastal voters, and of course...Republicans themselves.
- Speaking of Republicans, according to several recent polls, the number of Americans who now identify themselves as Republicans is at an all-time low of (give or take) 20%. The Republicans have become LESS popular since the 2008 election, and with absolutely no help from President Obama.
- Remember the economy? I know it's kind of a mess right now, but the stock market is up over 10% since Obama was inaugurated. I'm not arguing that President Obama is directly responsible for the rebound, but that's one less talking point that Fox News has to attack him. Additionally, several of the most predictable economic indicators are pointing to a recovery during the next year. And just in time for the midterms. Gotta love that one.
I enthusiastically supported President Obama during the election, and even I feel like it's been an eternity since he was inaugurated. As we all know, we live in a 24 hour news cycle, and it seems like we're always waiting for the next big story/crisis to break. I have to remind myself every once in a while that this is a marathon, and not a sprint. So I really wish y'all would quit whining about how you lost last fall and pace yourselves.
One last point about why the Republicans are no where even remotely close to retaking Congress circa 1994: George W. Bush wasn't president eight of the ten years preceding that election as he will be in 2010. That man was a once in a lifetime stoke of luck for the Democrats.