Matalin: 90% Chance GOP Takes Both House and Senate
That's what Republican strategist Mary Matalin told me this morning after seeing this poll number: by 7 points (53 to 40) voters support Republican congressional candidates over Democrats, the largest margin the history of our poll.
Matalin compared the current political environment to 1992 when President H.W. Bush lost his reelection bid in the midst of a frustrated electorate.
“It was about the deficit which is a framework for the size and the scope and the reach and the intrusion and the advocacy of government,” Matalin said this morning. “That is replaying itself out right here. This is not a petulant, angry, anti-Obama thing. This is against the reach, the over-reach of government on his watch. And the one party control of over-reaching.”
Donna Brazile gave Republicans a 50-50 shot of taking over both houses of Congress, but cautioned against overemphasizing the poll numbers.
“Politics today in Washington D.C. is poll driven, like the boats in the Venice canal. But it is unsteady in these rough waters,” the Democratic strategist said.
Brazile said some of the Democrats’ low poll numbers are self-inflicted because they are not explaining the policies that helped turn the economy around. In order to win in November Brazile said Democrats need to talk about what they have accomplished, how they spent our tax dollars and they must rally the base.
“We can close the enthusiasm gap so that many voters out there who are now frustrated feel like there is something to go out and vote for this fall. And I think it is too soon for the Republicans to go out there and measure the drapes because remember voters will blame them for the economic mess we’re in,” Brazile said.
Watch my interview with Matalin and Brazile and then tell me what you think below.
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Santorum: Money Will Not Defeat Obama, Ideas Will
Rick Santorum's Full Speech at CPAC 2012
Is it just me, or does anyone see that Social Security would have been fine if the government had stopped “borrowing” from it. We keep talking about privatizing it and yet look at what our “private” funders have done. Put the SS money back and leave it alone, but no not that-that’s too easy. Smarter people have better more complicated ideas. It’s time for the KISS method, get back to basics. Stop the finger pointing. Both Dems and Reps have ruined this country. That’s why there are more independants out there now, but alas they will fall too. Noone seems to be able to resist power and money. Noone does anything in politics for “the right reason” anymore and really did they ever? I’m so disapointed and I do know we are doomed to more bickering and lack of movement by either side. Nothing will change no matter who holds the most seats.
Posted by: Sue | September 7, 2010, 10:52 am 10:52 am
The current Congress and Administration have pushed an agenda the American people were clearly against. None of the policies pushed by them has worked to improve the economy or jobs. They passed a healthcare bill the American people did not want and all it seems to have done is made costs go up. The passed credit card reform but all that did was make the costs of credit cards go up for most people. The HUGE stimulus bill essentially turned out to be a waste of money. The Congress and Administration are actually at war with the very people who create jobs.
We need to get them out of office before they do any more harm. REMEMBER IN November…VOTE THEM OUT!!!
As long as our government continues the reckless spending and unprecedented meddling with businesses, we cannot expect real long term growth.
The Congress and current Administration have put the country on a course of reckless government spending that has mortgaged the future of all Americans especially future generations. The only way to fix this long term structural problem is to create a pro-growth atmosphere for business. To do this we must reduce taxes NOW. How many different taxes does a business or individual pay on a regular basis? We must eliminate number and complexity of all these taxes and reduce the tax burden.
We also need to end the micro-management of business and the economy. Until we GREATLY reduce the tax burden on business and consumers and remove the senseless regulations that accomplish little in relation to the cost they impose, our future is bleak.
REMEMBER IN November…VOTE THEM OUT!!!
Posted by: AngryMobVoter | September 7, 2010, 11:00 am 11:00 am
That sounds like a realistic estimate.
Posted by: Rick McDaniel | September 7, 2010, 11:43 am 11:43 am
The only way any Republican victory will matter is if it is decisive. If it is only a marginal victory, then no one wins because all there will be is gridlock. Even though I’m a Democrat I’m hoping for a decisive Republican victory in Congress. That way the Republicans become the party in power in the Congress. We know that with a fickle electorate, they will also be blamed for failed policies just in time for the 2012 campaign.
AAC
Posted by: A. Alyce Claerbaut | September 7, 2010, 1:50 pm 1:50 pm
I wonder if “AngryMobVoter” can actually name His/Her Representative and Senators. The President was elected on a platform of health care/insurance reform. 90% of the bill has not even gone into effect; so, rising costs cannot be blamed significantly on it. The credit card bill has made the total cost of reducing Consumer debt lower. Given all the construction going on near Me, claiming the stimulus bill was a waste of money is a joke at best. Lastly, federal taxes are significantly lower than the historical average since FDR; so, cutting the rates further will do almost nothing to increase economic activity.
Incidentally, AngryMobVoter, when I write something, I have the conviction to actually sign My name and not hide behind some ‘handle’.
Sincerely,
Brian P. Rabbit
Posted by: Brian P. Rabbit | September 7, 2010, 3:56 pm 3:56 pm
Incidentally, Sue, the Social Security budget projection presumes the government pays back all the money it has borrowed from the program. Even if the government had not borrowed from Social Security, the program would still be facing the same problems.
Sincerely,
Brian P. Rabbit
Posted by: Brian P. Rabbit | September 7, 2010, 3:59 pm 3:59 pm
Enter…the “Demolicans” – the new party blend.
Posted by: Gerald | September 7, 2010, 4:11 pm 4:11 pm
Donna looks like she just swallowed a bitter pill. That pill is called REALITY.
Posted by: JACK | September 7, 2010, 5:08 pm 5:08 pm
Brer Rabbit: your opinions do not match the facts. Your president did not run on healthcare reform and had he done so he would not have been elected. The polls say so. The majority wants this bill repealed. Again the polls say so. They also say most Americans do not see the benefits of wasteful government spending and that insurance premiums have gone up. Why do you ignore the facts Mr Rabbit?
Posted by: Jay | September 7, 2010, 5:12 pm 5:12 pm
“Brazile said some of the Democrats’ low poll numbers are self-inflicted because they are not explaining the policies that helped turn the economy around.”
That’s hard to do because the policies did nothing for the economy. Why do administration apologists remain shackled to arguments the vast majority of America rejects or which defy common sense?
Posted by: TheLastBrainLeft | September 7, 2010, 5:20 pm 5:20 pm
“I wonder if “AngryMobVoter” can actually name His/Her Representative and Senators.”
Anthony Weiner. Chuck Schumer. Kirsten Gillinbrand.
Next lame response?
Posted by: TheLastBrainLeft | September 7, 2010, 5:23 pm 5:23 pm
“The only way any Republican victory will matter is if it is decisive. If it is only a marginal victory, then no one wins because all there will be is gridlock. Even though I’m a Democrat I’m hoping for a decisive Republican victory in Congress. That way the Republicans become the party in power in the Congress. We know that with a fickle electorate, they will also be blamed for failed policies just in time for the 2012 campaign.”
so much here. dude, gridlock was the 1990s, right?? balanced budegts, gov shutdowns, limiting spending. gridlock is terribel right?? sorry. when they “work” overtime to kill health incurance and the banks thru regulation, gridlock is not only preferable, its required for survival. too funny. oh, and when the rep policies that aren’t vetoed by BHO succeed, hows that gonan work out for ya in ’12?? peace out bro. good luck. read more books ok?
“Your president did not run on healthcare reform and had he done so he would not have been elected.” – i disagree here. he ran on: ‘YOUR premiums will go down, we will cut costs, ADD 30 million people to the rolls, and no one has the change their insurance company” THATS what he ran on. if he had thrown in a free unicorn for every voter it would have been more plausible. people voted for insanity. you CANT insure everyone without cutting costs WITHOUT rationing. WITHOUT a decrease in R&D. you cant cut costs while adding young uninsured without a mandate. you cant enforce a mandate if the penalty is unconsitutional. if the unconsitutional penalty is fractio0ns of the premium it wont work and genrate premium doallrs to offset higher costs form insuring high age/high cost (sickly) policy holders. you cant cut medicare add a new program and balance the budget with a reduction to doc reimbursements of 40% (that wont happen due to doc fix). you cant cut doc reimbursements by 40% and keep enough doctors in the business (unless you import foreign docs, pay them peanuts, and make every doc a hospital employee). the dems abandoned cost containment immediately. the budget is now busted with doc fix plus healthcare act. and private insurers are raising rates not decreasing them (variety of reasons there, even with mandate [in the future]). and more are dropping out of markets, reducing competition, which does NOT reduce costs. the “people” who voted for him, we’re lied to, basically rejecting the old addage 2+2=4, and they wanted to be lied to. and believe it. the obama voter experienceing buyers remorese has no one but himself to blame for not doing the math. the dems war on math will be the most welcome casualty of november. the grown-ups are going to have to start picking up a pencil and showing the obama voters their work. we cant afford any more unicorn salesmen like BHO. the soon to be ireelevent president.
Posted by: fredCPA in DC | September 7, 2010, 5:36 pm 5:36 pm
Seriously, how bad does unemployment have to be, and for how long, before Democrats quit claiming they turned around the economy? The fact unemployment has been over 9.5% for thirteen months now kind of indicates you haven’t “turned it around” Donna.
Posted by: Obama is Carter | September 7, 2010, 6:15 pm 6:15 pm
Hello, Brian P. Rabbit. I thought I would help you out and let you know in advance the Democrat’s game plan for the rest of this fall:
1) Denial
2) Anger
3) Bargaining
4) Depression
5) Acceptance
It’s a shame you’re still stuck on #1. You really should try to work through these as quickly as you can.
Posted by: Elmer T. Squirrel | September 7, 2010, 6:28 pm 6:28 pm
If, as the democrats keep saying, the economy is going in the right direction, then it seems that they would run on the wonderous job they have done turning it around. But they can’t, because it hasn’t. It’s as simple as that. Four years of a democrat controlled House and Senate, has brought nothing but high unemployment and a reminder of why the majority consider themselves conservative.
Posted by: MotherRedDog | September 7, 2010, 6:36 pm 6:36 pm
” by 7 POINTS (53 to 40) voters support Republican congressional candidates over Democrats, the largest margin the history of our poll. ”
Wait till George figures out 53 to 40 is actually 13 POINTS. His head is going to explode!
Posted by: nice one george | September 7, 2010, 8:36 pm 8:36 pm
The “Comments” are most excellent.
To paraphrase the late, (boring), CPA, Financial Advisor Larry Burkett, … “the Democrats would sell the nation’s entire next year’s crop seed for pennies on the dollar, if they could get control of it and by doing so, would win them one more election.”
This President asked Congress for One Trillion Dollars to spend, They didn’t even read the bill, voted it into Law and gave it to him.
Congressional and Senate Democrats, (and Arlen Specter) are about to learn what a harsh mistress “frequent elections” are that the Founders forged into our Constitutional Document.
Posted by: Econ_Scott | September 7, 2010, 9:50 pm 9:50 pm
It is never a good thing to have a one-party government. There are no checks and balances in this administration so it has gone hog-wild with the Democrats in control of the House, Senate and White House. If Americans had any common sense they would always ensure that no one party had full control of our government of the people. This November ensure that we change this bad mistake. Vote the bums out of both parties.
Posted by: Naomi | September 8, 2010, 12:02 am 12:02 am
The House looks like a GOP certainty in November 2010. The nightmare of the Democrats is that their Senate majority may slip away as well.
Posted by: Candadai Tirumalai | September 8, 2010, 9:25 am 9:25 am
The problem isn’t Democrats not explaining what they’ve done. It is what they’ve done. It requires no explanation. When the Congress and president to conspire to shove unpalatable policies down the throat of a public that doesn’t want the government doing the things that it’s doing, it’s tough to get that government re-elected.
Posted by: Mike Dougherty | September 8, 2010, 1:00 pm 1:00 pm