Polls show Democrats can retake Congress

[quaoar]

http://www.pollingreport.com/cong2004.htm

Every one of those polls -- except Gallup's likely voters -- shows voters prefer Democratic candidates.

[ClassWarrior]

1. We WILL retake Congress!!

Now let's get out there and volunteer!! Less than two months to go...

[livetohike]

2. I'm working on Mike Byron's campaign

to dump Darrell Issa (the Cong. who started/funded the recall in CA). Also, Francine Busby has a shot at taking the 50th Cong. District.

Check it out and anyone down here in the 49th Cong. District, please help.

http://www.byronforcongress.org

[ClassWarrior]

16. Kicking for Mike, Francine, and my own Gwen!

:kick:

[KharmaTrain]

3. Shhhh...we may have '94 in reverse going here

Tip O'Neill was right...all politics is local and we've got some great opportunities as this regime alienates so many.

Here in Illinois, we're working on at least a couple of pick-ups and may surprise on election night. Thanks to Alan Keyes, we not only are seeing a surge in moderates and first-time voters coming over our way, but a very depressed and confused Repugnican base.

There's a disconnect happening and we have to exploit it. They hear we're winning the "war" yet try going through an airport. They hear the economy is better but they're paying a lot more for gas and earning less in both pay and investments. They hear tax cuts and they don't see it...except in higher local taxes or less local services.

The three issues that matter this year are health care, economy and Iraq...three big losers for the GOOP...and ones that affect everyone. Thing aren't getting any better, either.

The good thing is the Repugnicans now have been in control of all the branches of the government. They can't really blame Democrats as it's easy to show how they can and have rammed through legislation (prescription drugs anyone????).

I've always believed that people vote how their pocketbooks and emotions...how they feel about where the country is on election day. If they feel good, like many did in '84 or '96, then the incumbent is a shoe in. But when you see as much division as you do today, this is more like '80 or '92...where people went for change.

If you do some checking, I think the Repugnicans have had a net loss in every congressional election since '94. Their majority has been less and less each election.

Yes, while the Red States get redder, the blue are turning bluer and the northern, eastern and far west "purple" ones are going in our direction. I think we'll soon see this showing up on the congressional level. I sure hope it's in this cycle!

[terrya]

5. I'd love to see Phil Crane defeated.

Man, besides Obama winning...I'd love to see that tired old right wing has been Crane lose.

[KharmaTrain]

6. Hi Terry...We're Working Hard At It

Melissa Bean is working hard in a real goofy district (gerrymandered to protect Crane). She came within 5 points last time and we're feeling really really good about our chances this time.

She could always use help from DUers at www.melissabean.com. C'mon DU'ers, this is a seat we can grab!!!

Lots of depressed Repugnicans out here in Pleasant Valley Sunday. They might not like Obama, but they really hate Keyes. The Liberatarians are having a field day.

We keep hearing how hard it is just to get a lot to commit to going to the polls and voting at all...between their outrage at the Senate fiasco and how far behind Bunnypants is in the polls in this state. If this doesn't depress turnout in the collar counties, I can't see what else could.

It was amusing to read Mark Kirk's comments the other day to the growing number of Democrats moving into Repugnican suburbs. He's also in the vulnerable, but Crane is definitely within reach. Also the 6th district, Henry Hyde, may be interesting as well.

My dream is to see at least a one or two seat pick-up here and send a shiver through Hastert he won't soon forget.

[terrya]

8. My donation is heading her way.

Good God...Crane has been in Congress for what, now...170 years? Jesus, enough already. :-)

Melissa Bean sounds like a good person to represent the district.

That would be really superb to bring down Henry Hyde, as well. Maybe delayed payback for the Clinton impeachment?

Thanks for the info, IMRadioactive.

[KharmaTrain]

10. I First Worked Against Crane in 1970!!!!

Sheesh! Does that show my Democratic credentials or what? I worked for Robert Warman (his son was in my class)...and then was a "Mikva youth".

Crane's a total joke. Despite being an alchie, he's even a joke in his own party...all those years in Congress and not a single chairmanship! He's done precious little for the people here and is viewed as a corporate hack...not a good thing in an area severly hit by corporate downscaling and outsourcing.

Melissa's a great lady who would work superbly with Jan Schakowsky, Rahm Emanuel and the other members of the Illinois delegation, and open the door to taking those other districts...the 10th & 6th could be ours as well.

Rumor has it this is Hyde's last dance...and good riddence to youthful indiscretions. I don't see an heir apparent in that area and the rising suburban Dems and hispanics in that district could mean good things in 2006. I just wish Kane and Will Counties would wake up.

Cheers!

[in_cog_ni_to]

4. I'm working for my Rep. who's running against Jerry Weller....

a 5 term Rep. in my district. We'll see what happens. I would LOVE for Tari Renner to win and kick that jerk, Weller, to the curb. There's hope that Kerry and Obama have loooong coattails.

[KharmaTrain]

7. In_Cog...Is It True About Weller?

I used to work in Joliet and the word there was Jerry was in the closet. Any buzz about that?

The DNC needs to put some resources here...Obama's not gonna need the help, but we have some great congressional candidates that could complement a great delegation...and a lot of people out here working hard to make it happen.

I think the Barrington rally on Sept. 19th is going to be quite an event for this area. I'm hearing lots of people are planning to go...and could be far beyond the 1,000 they're predicting.

Cheers from the NW burbs.

[in_cog_ni_to]

9. I haven't heard that, but I do know

that he has never been married and is how old?? Late 40's early 50's? He's getting married. Did you know that? The woman he's marrying is the daughter of one of Guatemala's most BRUTAL dictators, Gen. Efraín Ríos Montt.

Here's HIS story. http://www.rennerforcongress.com/pressrelease.asp?RELEASE_ID=23

I've never heard that Weller is gay, but that doesn't mean he's not....I just haven't heard it. The end of Sept. I'm going to a Renner fund raiser in Joliet and I'll ask around and see if anyone there has ever heard that. :hi:

Tell me about the Barrington rally! Is that the anti-war rally? That's on a Sunday...I may go! Can I have some details??

[KharmaTrain]

14. Joliet Scuttlebutt Circa '92...

First...here's the DU post on the Barrington rally:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=150x1329

I strongly encourage all DU'ers in the area to come and join us. There's a man in this very Conservative burb whose been putting flags on his lawn to indicate the dead in Iraq and will be holding a peace vigil on that day.

When I worked in Joliet, there were some real wicked stories about the Tezak family...especially Bobby...who was County Coroner and just happened to own the radio stations I was working at. Long story short, Bobby's still doing hard time for his love of arson & nose candy...and Jerry Weller was among one of his best friends.

I'm very familiar with Rios Montt and knew he moved here to hide in the Evangelical western burbs. He's a war criminal, but will never face his peers. Shameful.

Cheers!

[dolstein]

11. These polls show nothing of the sort

Who controls the Congress will be determined not by a national sentiment (which is what these polls gauge) but on the relative handful (probably no more than 20-30) of competitive House elections. And the fact is, those elections are far more likely to be determined by local factors than by national opinion.

[terrya]

13. I don't know. I think there is an excellent chance the GOP could lose some

House seats here in Illinois.

I predict, at least in this state, that Democratic turnout will be higher than usual...the Obama factor. This state is firmly in Democratic hands for the forseeable future.

I think we have an excellent chance in November to pick up 1 or 2 House seats from the Republicans.

[quaoar]

15. I'm not conceding Congress to the GOP

and neither should anyone else:

Andrew Kohut, director of the Pew Research Center for People and the Press, said such results probably reflected weakening support for Bush rather than a solid indication of voting intentions. But they also were a reminder that "no president gets turned out of office without taking some of his brethren in Congress with him," Kohut said.

Republican strategists say such broad measures of public opinion are too generic to predict the outcomes in specific House races, which often are determined by local concerns. Other GOP leaders, however, worry that if these polls presage a major political swing that lasts into the fall, House seats not now competitive will become so.

"If that really is the mood of the country … we'll have races that turn from monkeys into gorillas," said Rep. Thomas M. Davis (R-Va.), former chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee.



http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/0523-09.htm

[zbdent]

12. Not entirely impossible, when you consider

1994, yes, the Repukes took the House and flipped the numbers on the Senate.

But, ever since then, except for 2002, the country's been slithering away from Repuke control (of the House and Senate) in favor of Dems.

Unfortunately for Ohio state Congress, the Dems mainly pack the northeast sector. Few Dems in the other regions. Some, but few.

[Selwynn]

17. Taking congress is more important that taking the white house

[terrya]

18. Taking back the Senate is a must.

IF the unthinkable happens and fuckface gets 4 more years, a Democratic controlled Senate will delay the mouth breathing nutjobs nominated for Federal judgeships (and heaven help us all, a Supreme Court vacancy)

[quaoar]

19. Not only that

But if President Kerry has a Republican Congress, you can bet there will be an endless series of congressional hearings.

[RobertDevereaux]

20. Please help oust the odious Marilyn Musgrave...

...and Colorado will stand proud and tall, and bluer than blue this November 2nd!