This is not good.
Charlie Cook is not a GOP pollster. Nor is he a Dem cheerleader. People in high places pay attention to The Cook Report.
I just watch Cook on Hardball explaining why his latest report predicts a loss of 35 - 45 seats in the House to the GOP. That would be enough to make John Boehner the Majority Leader. And give Darrel Issa and Michelle Bachmann free reign to start investigations and impeachment hearings.
Are you motivated yet?
Here's the lede from the Cook Report:
With today’s ratings changes in 10 House districts, The Cook Political Report is now raising its House forecast from a Republican net gain of between 32 and 42 seats to a gain of between 35 and 45 seats, with the odds of an outcome larger than that range greater than the odds of a lesser outcome. A turnover of 39 seats would tip majority status into Republican hands.
As Charlie noted on Hardball, this prediction and analysis of the hot races were developed prior to the Cordoba House dustup, which is quickly turning into a perceptual nightmare for the Democratic Party.
I know November is a ways off yet. And I know that most people don't even start paying attention to politics until after Labor Day.
It's time right now, though, to find a message that fits and works. Focusing on teabaggery, Glenn Beck, and Sarah Palin isn't going to do it.
Those of us who are politically engaged have to - have to - take this seriously, and move ourselves from "sit this one out" to "this might be more important than 2008".
The alternative is too scary to think about. So instead, please think about what you can do to prevent Cook's dire predictions from become reality. A Boehner / Bachmann / Palin reality is just too damn scary to contemplate.