GOP Leader Defines Electoral Success As 'Only Lose Eight Senate Seats'

News of the pending GOPocalypse comes to us via TalkingPointsMemo today, where we learn that the Senate Republicans have rejiggered their definition of a successful election year: only losing eight seats.

TPM cites this story from the Savannah Morning News, in which NRSC chair John Ensign lays out the GOP's sad little scenario:

Why would the number of seats matter if it's anything less than 51 and taking the majority, a circumstance Ensign describes as unlikely? By holding at least 41, the GOP would prevent the majority party from the 60 votes required to end filibusters and to push an unpopular bill to a vote on the floor through the cloture procedure.

"With 41 votes in the U.S. Senate, you can (1) block bad legislation, and (2) you can make the majority respect the minority's rights. And you can help craft good legislation," Ensign said. "If the Democrats were able to get to 60 votes - literally even if they get to 57-58 votes because they always seem to pick off a couple or three Republicans on a lot of votes - and if they win the White House ... they will be able to do pretty much whatever they want."

So, basically, if the level of GOP participation in the Senate drops from 49 to 41, everything is going to fine, except for the fact that there are always a handful of Republicans who annoyingly demonstrate that they have a lick of common sense, so it's doom, doom, doom. Meanwhile, one wonders if Ensign might find some time to reflect on whether or not the GOP finds itself in these straits because of their own bad legislation and disrespect for the minority's rights.

Oh, well! At least we know that no matter what happens, the Senate GOP will be able to borrow some anti-depressants from their House brethren.

Comments

[sij3o]

:)

[xcrunner77]

If this is their best case scenario then Dems should really go for getting that 60+ majority (not counting Lieberman in the 60+, of course).

[Krikkit]

Well, there's also the Blue Dog factor that has to be taken into consideration. Some Republicans will vote with Democrats (like Arlen Specter), but there are also Democrats, typically from the deep south, that will vote against their party.

We need to sweep as many Blue Dogs out of the House and Senate as we replace hard-core Republicans.

[AxelDC]

"If we have 41 seats, we can still be Obstructionists!"

[incontempt]

Considering only 1/3 rd of the senate is up for election.....what percentage loss is that? is that 34 senators - 51% of democrats....down to 17...loss of 8 is 50%....Nice win at a 50% loss LOL

[AxelDC]

In 2006, they had only 13 seats up, lost 6 and barely won in TN. They are just batting .500 now in saving their seats, and 2010 looks little better for them if they don't shape up.

Remember those 5 senate seats they narrowly won in 2004? Those are up next time around, plus any further retirements.

[incontempt]

My words to the republicans,

This happened under your watch, how bad must you be at representing the american people?

oh..I know it hurts...now swallow your pill and lay in the bed you made!!

[JDJase]

Savor the day we can throw Joe Lieberman under the bus!!!!

But remember Democrats, don't get drunk with power!

[Krikkit]

There's no time for that.

[Liberoservative]

GOP.... still living in the past... it is time to move on from our partisanship and get this Nation back on its feet again. We all need to "Purple" up!

[Grunty1]

Actually, they are probably right. If, after all the damage they have done, the GOP only loses 8 seats, they have proven that Americans really are stupid enough to keep them.

[Openeyes]

GOPocalypse - I love it!

Let's make it an even dozen, 'cuz it dozen get better that!

[StrangeOne]

And the best part? Not having to rely on Lieberman to have a majority.

Congrats Joe! Maybe the Republican's will give you one of their minority commitee seats.

[JDJase]

I know! It's going to be orgasmic the day we get to throw Lieberman under the bus!

[Fotios]

I'm excited about a majority in the Senate, but I hope the Dems don't go overboard. They need to first focus on the issues critical to our nation - Ethics, Jobs, Healthcare, Oil and the War. And they need to debate these issues with the minority Resluglicans to address their concerns. We (the Dems) will be handed the full authority to steer the country in any direction we choose in November and we need to show the public that they put their trust in the right people or we will lose that authority really quickly.

[mntnguy]

i could not agree more it would happen within 2 years!

[Fotios]

Yeah, I agree, Obama and the majority Congress should make these changes within the first two years to show everyone how serious they are. Thanks for your support.

[levibatgirl]

I didn't think it was possible for rethugs to lower their expectations which are always the lowest when it comes to their own performance.

[wolf58]

every GOP member is done stick a fork in them

GOP the new white meat

That is if you like snake

[RTIII]

GOOD! I like this post - thanks!

[BethStuart]

At the moment, Republican senators appear to be filibustering their way into oblivion. Let's hope this continues until the first week in November.

[Krikkit]

Why do you think the Dems are bringing up these issues now, when they know they don't have enough votes to pass with a veto-proof majority? To bring the GOP obstructionism into the full light of day so that people will have to choose between vet care and their GOP House or Senate member, between mortgage relief and their GOPer, between the Iraq war and... You get my drift.