Can you say "Speaker Pelosi"? I'd prefer President Pelosi

November 8, 2005
Kevin Drum

BLOWOUT IN 2006?....Brendan Nyhan has a few graphs showing the correlation between presidential approval ratings and midterm election losses, and the results aren't pretty: (Excuse me Kevin but they are beautiful!)

"A naive model in which the relationship between presidential approval and seat swings remains constant over time projects that the Republicans will lose approximately 47 House seats in 2006. And under a few different specifications I've tested, the predicted loss is always at least 36 seats, and usually much more."

In other words, even accounting for the fact that congressional seats don't change hands very frequently these days, George Bush's abysmal approval ratings could still cause the GOP to lose a few dozen seats. Can you say "Speaker Pelosi"?

All the usual caveats apply, especially the one about midterm elections still being a year away. Who knows? Martians might have invaded by then. In the meantime, though, Brendan suggests there's good reason for Republicans to be running scared right now.

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2005_11/007520.php


Impeachment, baby, impeachment.

then I remember she would be 3rd in line for the Presidency

I'd be very happy for that!

eom

...or we'll just have more of the same treasonous shit we have now.

How about Speaker Kucinich?

I'll take Pelosi any day of the week over what we have now.

I'll take a real People's Democrat over a limousine liberal any day. It's fun to laugh at Delay's indictment but Pelosi has some financing problems too. Albeit, they are not as bad as Delay's.

I want to see President Russ Feingold in the White House.

the point is that the House and Senate will most likely change control with the 2006 elections. OK? That means impeachment. This post is not about the 2008 Presidential election. I don't understand your comment. Do you foresee a constitutional amendment changing the line of succession?

I thought you wanted her as president.

Obviously, it would rock if the Democrats took over both houses. We are in complete agreement there. I'm just not a big fan of her that's all. She seems a bit phony, like moreso than your typical politician.

I appreciate your reply.

..Lieberman than Feingold. Hell, let's see if Zell Miller can run - I'd vote for him over Feingold.

Feingold is a snake in the grass who claims he's some sort of liberal and then supports people like Ashcroft and Roberts - candidates who we knew were not qualified to do the job. I'm hoping in 2006 they boot Feingold off of the judiciary committee if he's just going to rubberstamp all these horrible appointments. I'm expecting he'll do the same for Alito. At least with someone like Lieberman and even Miller they won't preach themselves as one way and turn around and vote the other way. What you see is what you get!

he's a Libertarian Democrat and the poster boy for the Democratic Freedom Caucus.

He is most definitely NOT the one to follow the crowd in Liberal OR Conservative OR Moderate issues. Everyone else voted for the USA Patriot Act. Feingold was the only one brave enough to stand up to Satan himself. He had called ASScroft before voting no and apparently told him where to shove it.

His recent Campaign Finance legislation (not McCain-Feingold, the newer one) is the greatest piece of legislation I have ever heard of. It severely restricts the power of lobbyists, therefore it will never see the light of day.

back to the House, where she belongs ;)

eom