GOP Comeback Climb Is Increasingly Steep

Source: Washington Post

Senate Minority Whip Trent Lott's resignation announcement on Monday was the latest in a wave of retirements to hit congressional Republicans, making an already difficult 2008 electoral landscape even more complicated for the minority party.

Party officials insist that the retirements -- 17 members of the House and six senators -- are simply the result of individual decisions and not indicative of a broader negative sentiment within the party. "I don't hear a drumbeat that 'We're not effective and I don't like it here anymore,' " said National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Tom Cole (Okla.).

But with so many lawmakers -- including a large number from competitive states and districts -- heading for the exits, it's hard not to point to the GOP's newfound minority status in Washington, the turnover in party leadership and the perilous political environment heading into 2008 to explain the exodus.

Another surprise yesterday came from Rep. J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.), who was toppled from the speaker's chair by Republican losses in 2006 and had said in August that he would not run for reelection. Hastert revealed that he is leaving Capitol Hill immediately, allowing Illinois to hold a special primary election for his seat Feb. 5.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/26/AR2007112602235.html

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They know they're going to lose big in 2008, so the quitters are going home.

Pussies.

It's a stampede for the exits as Republicans with brains realize the true depth of the rout that is coming for them next November. If I were them, I'd get out now too. There won't be a Republican elected dogcatcher anywhere in America after the economy tanks in 08.

Having to wait an extra year would mean millions of dollars in lost income.

lobbying pays a helluva lot more than being a congressman.

Then what difference does it make whether or not you're in the legislature, or the presidency?

They've already got the "Stopper" in the SCOTUS, and we know these people are not stupid. Greedy and criminal, but not stupid. Besides, it seems like "The New Majority" in congress can't change their diapers without Pelosi or Reid giving them permission.

The Coup of 2000 is far from over.

Seems to me, as you've astutely pointed out, these are chickenshit weasels who only want to play when they're guaranteed that they can own the game. Suggests to me that from inside the GOP, they're smelling even more of their own blood all over the battlefield next November. And these scheming, selfish, small schmucks with their big egos and gargantuan sense of entitlement are jumping ship. Spoiled sports!

One other thing that I've only heard on Olbermann and seen in OpEdNews - the fact that the laws on lobbying evidently change in January. At the moment, and for the next few weeks, if you're a politician you have to wait one year from the time you leave The People's payroll to the time you start taking money from lobbying firms ("consulting" work as trent lott would put it). In January, the law changes and you'll have to wait TWO years before you can sign on as a paid lobbyist - as I understand it, anyway. So this schmuck lott and his pal hastert are bailing now, before the end of 2007, so their departures occur under the jurisdiction of the present law. The one that hasn't changed yet. But they'll be gone before that switch takes place.

Criminy! Loophole republi-CONS they are. Always looking to cut corners. Always looking to game the system. Always looking to split hairs. Always looking for the technicality to exploit. Always looking for ways to slant the playing field, rig the game.

Ironic. The GOP is crumbling because the very people who put party before country also put personal bank accounts before party.

what-have-you-done-for-me-lately?

Plus, the Bushie-Nazis own or control most of the media, and what remains isn't interested in stressing themselves out with a lot of unpleasant work investigating stories when the Heritage Foundation basically writes their stories for them.

You think the Bushies know they are going to lose? Here's what I know about Nazis and Bushies, for they are merely variations of the same thing, they are dogged and ruthless inthe pursuit of their goals. They will kill anyone, murder anything including the Constitution to make it happen.

The mechanism of voter suppression, both electronic and those practiced "legally" in broad daylight, have not been substantively exposed nor attacked. Like all Nazi and Bushie endeavors thrpughout history, not attacking them means acquienscece. There is no in between for such as the Nazis and Bushies. We would all do well to remember that in the coming years.

You think the Bushies know they are going to lose? That would be a mistake as deep and vast as any German in 1934 thinking it was almost over for the German Bushies.

Guard against excessive optimism when dealing with totalitarian monsters, as well as premature declarations of victory. They love it when people do that.

Nazism and BushPutinism NEVER die. They have always been with us, they will always be with us. Bushies and those like them will always seek to put their followers' weak minds in obedient, unquestioning mental harness to drive the engines of their criminalities and atrocities.

Remember that. Remember it, even if the Bushies lose in 2008.

The election is still a long way off and much can (and will) happen before the votes are cast. The MPLS Star Tribune is reporting Sen Coleman has an approval rating of over 50%. This past summer his numbers were in the low 40s.

How many of the rank and file Dems are not happy with the leadership, or lack thereof by Reid and Pelosi?

Don't count those chickens before they are hatched!

money, money, money! These scum (What is the plural for scum?) are going to fight each other to get the most lucrative lobbying jobs. The Congress apparantly does not pay enough even with all the bribes and kickbacks.

Why not say the GOP is "increasingly declining"?

destroyed the neo-con GOP, (a good thing), and that voters are looking for something new, (also a good thing); however, depending on who is being fielded, and the state/district involved, results are far from an overwhelming D victory.

One of the key items will be if D's can field candidates that people can respect. One way to do this is to keep local and national issues in the picture. My questions at Town Meetings w/politicos is "what are you doing for the citizens of this nation?"

I ask why Iraqi's have universal health care at US taxpayer expense, and we still have sick children that cannot see a nurse of physician because they can't afford to. I ask what is the threat from the Middle East to us, other than a cut off oil? I ask why alternative energy is not being pursued as if the nation's security wasn't at risk because of the whims of our "allies".

bush may have created the situation where we can finally rid ourselves of this malignancy known as the "neo-con", but it is up to every American to ensure they are wiped off the political map.

the media abetted Big Dog's problems, while during this decade they have done all in their power to prop up Little Boots.

covering this stumble-bum, as to what has happened in the past.

When you add that Clinton was essentially an amiable fellow, and this moron is a grating soulless bastard that has lived his entire life by intimidation simply because he has nothing else, one can understand just he has gotten away with this crud all of these years. There have been an incredible amount of articles that have criticized this "man", and yet, they are relegated to places where most people glance over it if not just pass over it. The RW has "scolded" the NYT's for being far to liberal, and yet, it remains the Newspaper of authority. This is not because of bush, but in spite of him. Radio is dominated by the RW, but even some of them are starting to realize that bush is by far, a bigger disaster than anyone could have possibly conceived.

If this abject moron did not hold the position of PotUS, he would have been little more than a scab on the butt of humanity. We all know that, but how often have we complained beyond message boards?

the responsibility lies w/us as much as it does w/the media. Part of our job as citizens is to ensure we have a free press, we fail on that level, we don't hold them accountable either.

FWIW, I have seen changes in my local paper; once a proud supporter of all things R, they are asking hard questions, and the responses are showing me that the people of Nebraska are not as "red" as one might think. This is because people have taken our R's to task, we have been handwriting letters, (the ones that really get read), e-mailing them, (not read as often), and calling them about issues of concern. I have gotten to the point where Fortenberry(R) 1st District, avoids me at all costs the few times he shows up around here. I don't "cuss him out", I simply ask him, in front of the locals that show up, why he voted to keep poor kids from getting health care, or why he voted against a bill that would have aided in rebuilding the infrastructure...or why the retired can't get decent meds when they fall into the "hole". Issues that the locals can relate to.

An aside, I shook his hand one day to make a point. The line was filled w/supports of his, almost all farmers and mechanics, and I said, "WOW! nice soft hands you have there Congressman, I can see you know how to avoid manual labor". i watched from the hall as many of those farmers and mechanics shook his hand, and I could tell they were checking out the "softness"...:D

So I don't think the resignation of Hell Toupee Lott will have much effect. If Gordo or Suzy Q or Normie or Voinovich were to retire, we'd have something.

But the buzz around the capital is that he's interested in the Governor's mansion. I wonder if he could be persuaded ....

Bake

According to Bill Press, there are now 6 Goper seats unexepectedly opening up:

Warner, Hagel, Dominici, Craig, Lott and one other who I can't remember... anyone fill in the blank?

:snicker: should we start a pool on who else will not run for senate reselection on the gop side?

but there is a definite shift coming.

It is ours to lose, and as the election draws closer, we need to get together, we need to act in our districts and get the vote out to ensure that we not just maintain what we have gained...but build upon it so that we keep the neo-cons out of power for good...:)