65% Would Vote to Scrap Congress

On the heels of a major midterm election, a new Rasmussen national survey finds that 65% of likely voters say if they had the option on election day, they would get rid of every member of Congress and start with a clean slate. Unsurprisingly, among those voting, 84% of mainstream voters would opt to get rid of them and 64% of the political class (read: liberal elitists) would vote to keep them all.

Among the "dump 'em" sect were 82% Republicans and 78% of unaffiliated voters. Democrats are almost evenly divided as 44% want to keep them and 38% prefer to kick them out. 

Despite Democratic loyalty to incumbents, only 12% of all voters think Congress is doing a good job. This begs the question of why the majority of 44% of Democrats think Congress is doing a poor job, but want to keep them in their seats. 

Despite Democratic schizophrenia, 62% feel it would be better for the country if most congressional incumbents were defeated next week. I agree with this contingency, but I have to admit, I want to start with the Democratic incumbents. Maybe after that, we can force the issue of term limits and get rid of these lifetime, do-nothing, entitled congresspeople once and for all.

Enthusiasm Gap Holds True: Republicans Leading Democrats in Nevada Voting

Republican voters continue to show up in Nevada in higher numbers than the Democrats to cast their votes in early voting. In fact, they have increased their turnout lead in the largest counties in Nevada, Clark and Washoe, to almost 4%.

Total Clark and Washoe County early vote plus the mail-ins in Clark (mail-in numbers not available in Washoe):

•Democrats: 113,193 (26.8%)

•Republicans: 100,702 (30.4%)

Angle Tastefully Responds to Behar

Joy Behar is a hack with no political intelligence and I usually wouldn't waste my time writing about her, but I just love this. Apparently, Sharron Angle sent Behar flowers in response to her comments that she is "going to hell" for her stance on illegal immigration. The card attached thanked Behar for "helping her raise $150,000 online yesterday."

Of course, the crass Behar responded that “those flowers were picked by illegal immigrants" and of course, she added, "they’re not voting for you, bitch.” As the writer pointed out, they're actually not supposed to be voting at all. And for that matter, neither is anyone from the Bronx, the place Behar told Angle to "bring her ad" and "see what happens."

When you listen to the dialogue, who do you think best characterizes the word "bitch?"

The Spirit of Self Approval

I usually don't read the New York Times, for obvious reasons, but every once in a while, it contains a beautifully crafted essay that isn't laced with farcical facts and left wing political jabs. The article linked to my title is certainly a great example of this. Of course, in it, Brooks makes fun of the collective psychoses of the Democratic party, which could have something to do with my appreciation for it. Who is to say?

Seriously, he tells us we, too, can "love ourselves, even in trying circumstances" by abiding by three lessons the Democrats have held dear this year. First, do not dwell on negative facts, polls, or circumstances. "Over the past year, many Democrats have resolutely paid attention to those things that make them feel good, and they have carefully filtered out those negative things that make them feel sad." For instance, they continuously discuss Christine O’Donnell and Carl Paladino rather than Rob Portman, Dan Coats, John Boozman and Roy Blunt, who are likely to actually win their races. Why? "It doesn’t feel good when your opponents are experienced people who simply have different points of view." 

Similarly, the Dems have picked fights with the Tea Party movement, rather than speaking to the "independent moderates who supported President Obama in 2008 but flocked away during the health care summer of 2009 and now support the GOP by landslide proportions." Why? "Losing friends makes you sad. It is better to not think about why these things happen."

Second, do not forget that "many great geniuses were unappreciated in their lifetimes." As President Obama admitted on the campaign trail, Americans are too stupid to appreciate "the grandeur of their accomplishments." They are moving to the right in the polls because they are scared and not because they are pissed and unhappy with his policies. 

Third, "You are the hero of your own children’s adventure story." Never admit reality. It simply isn't true that "parties that promote unpopular policies tend to get punished at election time." Instead, in your story, you are the caped crusader fighting evil and you must push on no matter the cost (even if it means losing scores of congressional seats). 

If you follow these rules, you can't lose, except at the polls.

"Better the Devil You Know"

Mississippi Democratic House Representative Gene Taylor told a newspaper he did not vote for President Obama in 2008 and instead voted for John McCain. Specifically, he said, “I did not vote for Obama. I voted for McCain. Better the devil you know.”

Whether it's true or fiction, it shows the lengths Democrats will go to to distance themselves from the President. Better yet, it shows the lengths these egomaniacs will go to to keep their seats. Taylor's district voted for McCain to the tune of 67% in 2008, and Taylor’s battle with Republican Steve Palazzo is neck and neck. I hope his constituents don't go with the devil they know, as he appears to be a big, fat phony.

Fiorina Closes in on Boxer

Carly Fiorina is closing in on Democratic incumbent Barbara Boxer in a race that has remained a virtual tie for several weeks. With less than two weeks to go until election day, Boxer must be exceedingly nervous that Fiorina has inched one percentage closer to taking her senate seat. The latest Rasmussen telephone survey of likely voters shows Boxer getting 48% while Fiorina gets 46%, 3% prefer some other candidate and another 3% are undecided. 

Of course, as this race inches closer, so does the one in Pennsylvania, to the dismay of the GOP. Toomey, who held a ten-point lead, now only has 4% on Sestak. However, I still think Toomey will take it.

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/election_2010/election_2010_senate_elections/pennsylvania/2010_senate_election/election_2010_pennsylvania_senate

Are Chicagoans are Fed Up?

Republican Mark Kirk now leads Democrat Alexi Giannoulias in the race for the Illinois senate seat vacated by the president. The latest Rasmussen survey of likely voters shows Kirk grabbing 44% to Giannoulias's 40%. Surprisingly, Green Party candidate LeAlan Jones earns 4% and still 8% prefer some other candidate while 5% are undecided. The new poll represents a decline of 4% for Giannoulias.

Assuming Jones actually picks up his 4%, which he has held in every poll to date, and the "other candidate" votes are actually cast as such, there is only 5% of the electorate left to fight over. If this polling holds true, Kirk will either win by a larger threshold than expected or lose narrowly. 

Most Coveted Potential House Wins

Yesterday, when making my predictions for the House, I placed exclamation points next to the races that will afford me the most satisfaction when the Republican challengers make their victory speeches. Here's why:

FL-08

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1009/28786.html

FL-22 

http://www.newsmax.com/Headline/allen-west-house-ron/2010/10/19/id/374219

NC-02 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZoCRGlrFABk&feature=related

House Predictions: GOP Will Take 65 Seats

I predict the GOP will take the following seats in the House from the Democrats:

AL-05

AR-01

AR-02

AZ-01

AZ-03

AZ-05

CA-03

CA-20

CA-44

CA-45

CO-03

CO-04

FL-02

FL-08!! 

FL-12

FL-22!!

FL-24

FL-25

HI-01

IL-11

IN-08

IN-09

KS-03

LA-03

MD-01

MI-01

MI-03

MN-06

MO-04

MS-01

NC-02!!

NC-08

ND-AL

NE-02

NH-01

NH-02

NM-02

NV-03

NY-24

NY-29

OH-01

OH-06

OH-12

OH-15

OH-16

OH-18

PA-03

PA-06

PA-07

PA-08

PA-11

PA-15

SC-05

SD-AL

TN-06

TN-08

TX-17

TX-23

VA-02

VA-05

WA-03

WA-08

WI-07

WI-08

WV-01

Barney Fwank's Boyfriend a Wittle Upset

Are the Democrats just really petty people? We've seen the lascivious false ads hurled by Rand Paul's opponent, but now we're seeing actual playground antics. James Ready, Barney Frank's boyfriend, is obviously trying to intimidate his opponent, Sean Bielat, in front of the press and when Bielat calls him out, he basically says, "You started it," which, is entirely false as well as pathetic. 

Blumenthal's Lead Dwindles

Dick Blumenthal's lead has now dwindled to five points over Republican Linda McMahon in a poll conducted after their third and final debate. Blumenthal grabbed 51% of the vote to McMahon's 46% while 1% prefer someone else and 3% are undecided. This poll is surprising considering that just a week ago, Blumenthal had a lead of 11 points over McMahon.

Perhaps the lead is due to more negative press regarding his prosecutorial record. Regardless, while the  news is encouraging, McMahon still has an uphill battle. We're rooting for her all the way as a win in CT would relieve the pressure to take IL and WV to win the Senate.  

Cry Baby Murkowski Now Tied with Miller

A new Rasmussen poll of likely voters shows Republican Joe Miller with 35% to write-in candidate Lisa Murkowski's 34%. Only 1% prefers another candidate and 3% are undecided, which means that Murkowski only needs to pull the undecideds in to beat primary winner Miller. A month after the entitled brat decided to write herself back into a race she lost fair and square, Miller earned 42% support to her 27%. 

What accounts for the 7% increase in popularity? If she pulls this off, I will be shocked. What a sore loser.  

Dem's Attacks Energize People to Donate

As I suggested in earlier entries, the unfounded attacks levied by a desperate Democratic party against conservatives only served to further fire up the Republican base. When I said it, I meant that I believed it would generate more votes, but apparently, it's also translating into major donations to conservative groups and GOP campaigns.

The American Crossroads group, which has ties to Karl Rove and Ed Gillespie, has raised over $13 million since being attacked by the White House for allegedly using foreign money. The baseless attacks have only led to a rain of contributions, which allowed the group to escalate it's fundraising goals. They now say they will be able to spend an additional $10 million in House races, and $5 million more in Senate races.

Similarly, two Tea Party candidates who have weathered an onslaught of Democratic attacks have received historical amounts of campaign contributions for their November races. Yesterday, Sharron Angle reported that she received $14M since entering the race in July. Another favorite whipping post, Michelle Bachmann, has raised $5.4M in the past quarter for her reelection bid for the House in Minnesota.

All this good news makes me hopeful that the Democrats unleash Alan Grayson on all the GOP candidates in the next month.    

The White House Acts Desperately in an Attempt to Smear the GOP Before November

Watching the polls turn against your candidates in the most liberal states must be upsetting.

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/election_2010/election_2010_senate_elections/wisconsin/election_2010_wisconsin_senate

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/election_2010/election_2010_senate_elections/nevada/election_2010_nevada_senate

Viewing commercials where your party's candidates run against you and your policies must also be difficult. 

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/1010/Dem_congressmans_ad_brags_He_voted_with_the_Republican_leader_63_of_the_time.html?showall

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2010/10/11/5271641-manchin-takes-aim-at-cap-and-trade-

Given all this, I understand the need to want to lash out against someone, but hurling completely baseless accusations against the opponent party? Really? Just Sunday on live television David Axelrod accused Karl Rove and the Chamber of Commerce of allowing foreign money to fund American campaigns. When the program's host asked him for proof that the money was anything more than de minimis, Axelrod said, “Do you have any evidence that it’s NOT? The fact is that the Chamber [of Commerce] has asserted that, but they won’t release any information about where their campaign money is coming from.” Rightly, the host shut down the line of questioning.

http://www.politico.com/blogs/politicolive/1010/Axelrod_continues_assault_on_GOP_spending.html

One day later, Joe "Genius" Biden claimed that if the Republicans gain control of Congress, they will challenge the constitutionality of social security, a program that has been in existence for decades, just like health care reform, a program that has not yet come to fruition. His basis? He claimed they were similar because they required that all taxpayers participate.

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/123727-biden-gop-could-challenge-social-security-in-court 

It's all so silly. I'm just glad they're hurling pointless accusations and we haven't been stupid enough to give them any red meat or real scandals this go round.

Boehner Says GOP Finally Gets It

When stumping for Republican House hopeful Allen West in Florida today, House Minority Whip John Boehner told the audience that Republicans will do an about face if allowed to govern Washington in 2011 with a majority in Congress. He said the party finally understands that they spent too much money and grew government under Bush and would not repeat past mistakes. To prove his point, Boehner says he will propose a spending cut every week he is speaker. 

Boehner's comments gel with the recent "Pledge to America" the party rolled out last month. "In the pledge, Republicans propose cutting spending by repealing the Democrats' healthcare law, instituting budget caps, reforming government-controlled housing lenders Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, cutting non-discretionary spending to 2008 levels and canceling future TARP payments."

West, a newcomer and fiery addition to the GOP who spoke after Boehner, stated that he would "hold [Boehner's] feet to the fire" on his pledge to cut spending. He believes the GOP doesn't need gimmicks and paper promises to do what is absolutely necessary for the country's survival and he has no problem saying it. I love his straight-forward, take no prisoners approach and hope that he beats his opponent Klein, in November. We need more like him.  

Dem's Election Tampering

Apparently there have been accusations that Democratic operatives have backed faux tea party candidates in an effort to pull votes away from Republican challengers. Now it seems they finally have proof of the election scam in New Jersey’s Third Congressional race. A local paper reported that Democratic Congressman John Adler's staff, with the help of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, hatched a plan to steal votes from Republican, and former Philadelphia Eagles offensive lineman, Jon Runyan.

All they had to do to get a random Mount Laurel woman on the ballot as the “New Jersey tea party” candidate, was to collect 100 votes. With another conservative on the ballot in a tight race, the Dems hoped to confuse voters and lessen Runyan’s support to try to hold onto the seat.      

I hope they expose these pathetic schemes in every district and the press continues to report them since all it will do is fire up already overly enthusiastic GOP voters.

Angle Now Ahead by Four

Republican Sharron Angle is now leading Harry Reid by four points in Nevada's senate race. More importantly, the Rasmussen poll has her finally over the 50% mark, while Reid has 46% of the vote. Two percent prefer some other candidate and 2% are undecided. 

Just a week ago, Angle was besting Reid for the first time since polling began, but only by a point. Before that, the race was tied. This is the widest margin of separation between the pair since Angle stepped into the race. 

The poll has a 95% level of confidence, which means Reid will probably step up his attack ads, but what more can he say this late in the game? I hope he doesn't have an ace in the hole. If not, Angle will win this race. 

More Bad Economic News for the Dems

Jobs slipped again in September to levels that were even worse than expected. Private employers cut 39,000 jobs after a gain of 10,000 in August. Analysts expected the private sector to only cut 24,000 jobs, but they were once again wrong.

This could not be welcomed news for Democrats, who are hoping for anything to stop the bleeding during this campaign season in which the pollsters are predicting a donkey thrashing. 

President Christie?

Why is Chris Christie teasing us? He insists he will not run for president in 2012, but he keeps making fantastic speeches in battleground states like Iowa. Last night in front of conservative activists he touted his success in deep blue NJ and advocated his brand of conservatism in Washington. He said that his "tough-talking, smaller government message resonates with all voters" and should be adopted by all the Republican winners in November, especially since his approval rating has jumped ten points since he took office. 

He also urged Republicans to "deliver on their conservative promises if they gain power" because if they don't, the people will banish Republicans "to the wilderness...for a long, long time." He suggested that voters will accept tough cuts in programs and a tightening of the purse strings of government spending "as long as they know the pain is being spread equally." 

He continued, "We lost our way a number of years ago, and we became tax and spend light. "Less spending, smaller government, less regulation, smaller government — we're going to be all about that again. We have to step up and stand for those principles again."

Obviously, as a northern Republican, Christie argues that the GOP should focus on fiscal conservatism, rather than social issues. And right now, he's particularly right. However, I can see Christie at the top of the ticket with a more socially conservative running mate like Pawlenti on the ticket in 2012. I know he insists he won't, but a girl can dream.

Sore Losers

Doesn't everyone hate sore losers? Why do politicians think they are exempt from this time-honored rule? Gore made a spectacle of himself in 2000 refusing to accept defeat. He transformed his entire party into sour puss losers by example by constantly insinuating that he would have won if the GOP wouldn't have cheated.

It's been a while, but now that we have another anti-establishment election year, we have more babies losing elections and crying about it. First we had Mikulski in Alaska, and now we have Tea Party candidate Scott Ashjian in Nevada. Apparently, this guy, like Mikulski, cares a lot more about himself than his party's ideals. Like Mikulski, he decided to wite himself onto the ballot, but he went further. Apparently, he secretly recorded and leaked a conversation with Republican senate candidate Sharron Angle wherein she asks him to step aside.

Besides being selfish, this tape recording was boneheaded. Who cares if Angle asked him to step aside?  Who wouldn't do the same in her shoes? If Angle loses, it won't be due to Ashjian, but it sure doesn't do much for the cause.

Rossi Now Beating Gubment Lifer Pat Murray

Incumbent Democratic Senator Patty Murray is now a point behind her Republican challenger, Dino Rossi, in Washington state’s race for the Senate. The latest Rasmussen Reports poll has Rossi picking up 48%, while Murray gets 47% of the vote, 2% prefer some other candidate and 3% are undecided. 

Just two weeks ago, Murray held a 51% to 46% lead and prior to this, the candidates were within two points of each other. These more distant polls gave the impression that Murray would handily win, but now that supposition has proven very tenuous. And if Ann Coulter's piece http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=39211 were required reading, Rossi would push past 50% quite easily. Apparently, she's said quite boneheaded things in the past.  For instance, after 9/11, Murray said this about Osama bin Laden:

He's been out in these countries for decades, building schools, building roads, building infrastructure, building day-care facilities, building health-care facilities, and the people are extremely grateful. He's made their lives better.

Whah?  I hope we hear more from her in the next month.