Dining Room Table 2010

It's not outrageous to believe that Republicans will pick up some seats in 2010; history pretty much guarantees it. Majorities expand, contract -- it's typical.

What's more surprising is the number of political forecasters talking up the possibility of 2010 as another "wave election," with Republicans reaping the benefits. They're even discussing scenarios in which support for Democrats completely collapses and Republicans take back the House.

And who's to say they're wrong? By traditional measurements and past performance, they're probably right. But I'd contend their calculations do not factor in a very atypical circumstance: the challengers unraveling -- en masse.

Because the Republican Party is barreling forward without an objective. If it's a "wave" they're riding, rest assured that they have absolutely no idea where it's going to crash.

"The amazing thing," Joe Klein recently wrote, "remains not only the unwillingness of responsible Republicans -- a term that is in danger of becoming an oxymoron -- to call bull on this, but also the willingness of many prominent Republicans to join in the slinging of garbage."

It's almost laughable that the Republicans have asked for time to rebut the President's address to Congress on Wednesday night. What're they going to say? The closest thing they've offered to an alternative is a Michael Steele commercial where he essentially pledges not to kill senior citizens (subtext: Democrats will). The Florida GOP says Obama's education speech intends to "indoctrinate America's children to his socialist agenda." A quick glance at their current discourse turns up an abundance of statements and insinuations like these.

Look, anyone can understand a political party's natural inclination to oppose its rivals. But state-sanctioned murder? Brainwashing? The idea that the President is some foreign-created menace? As Dyna Moe joked, "Dining Room Table/Palin 2012" is looking like a plausible GOP ticket at this point.

The fact is that sometime before November 2010, the Republican Party will have to come to terms with what it's done: created an insatiable beast that won't be satisfied until.... well, nothing. They want to get up and scream nonsense and conspiracy and lies.

So when the Republican campaign rallies of 2010 are filled with people like the "He's an Arab" lady, who in the GOP will be brave enough to pull the mic away? Judging by the actions of the last month: no one. That'll make good fodder for the evening news.

The Republican Party hasn't just lost sight of the center -- they've lost sight of reality. They are overrun with people who don't want to solve anything (at least, anything that's not a figment of their imaginations). They have no solutions. And that's ultimately what elections are all about.

Follow John R. Bohrer on Twitter: www.twitter.com/JRBwrites

Comments

[LewDan]

Please, spare me the 2010 election analyses.

The purpose of government is to GOVERN not perpetually campaign. I get that politics is a complex and vastly amusing game to America's puditocracy but real people have real problems that need real solutions.

Government is not a theoretical exercise, it is not a side-effect of politics. The fascination with politics divorced from governing, with election forecasts revolving entirely around market manipulation rather than the actual constituents' needs is the most corrupt and self-destructive trend moving use inexorably in the direction of becoming a failed democratic republic.

I might add that an inability to see the forest for the trees does not instill confidence in your forecasts.

[wallyone]

I can't believe that congressmen will cave in to the mob. If they do, where will that lead? They have to stand up to this intimidation, even if they honestly think the mob has a point.

[listeningpost]

There's an assumption, on both sides really, that the two parties are as entrenched in the American system as the Bill of Rights. At some point, perhaps sooner than later, what adults are left in the Republican party are going to slip out the door and establish a new party that doesn't require tin foil hats as a requisite for membership. Maybe they'll form up with the 56 blue dogs.
With three or more parties cooperation will become a necessity.
As it is America is being held hostage by two calcified power blocs. Our political class has become dolted by inbreeding.

[HST]

The repubs are all about party before country.

[kevinw]

The only part you missed is that the 40 do nothing Repubs seem to be more effective in the Senate than our 60 dems. The congress and the Precident has all but told the progressives to leave the money on the night stand and hit the road. The strong arm of Rahm is going after progressives for not being good soldiers. The Dems are going into the 2010 election with what is looking to be a watered down bill that will give tons to the insurance industry with consumers being mandated to buy whatever crappy product the insurance industry offers them. If it stays in, the only thing we will get is an exchange that allows us to buy a crappy policy from anywhere in the US. We will be going in with Health Care as a failure, whether it passes or not. The netroots and progressive groups will not be fired up. Your more likely to hear "we could have done this with 52" than you will "we need a buffer for our 60". The Repubs are not confidant because they have shown any skills. They are jubilant because the Dems have wasted a unique opportunity to be transformative.

[serena1313]

Pleasing the most extreme wing of the GOP means no compromising, bi-partisanship or congeniality and anything the Democrats offer is off the table. As a result that leaves Republicans with scorched earth counterattacks and fear mongering.

The idea of end of life counseling originated from Republicans, but they decided to scare senior citizens, the most vulnerable, with fantasies of "death panels" instead.

When the economy was in free-fall the GOP called for tax cuts and freeze spending. After going apocalyptic over the stimulus bill, they went back to their districts bragging its success. Apparently the stimulus is working so well they are calling for its repeal.

July their $700 billion proposal to reform healthcare included: 1) deregulation: (a) dismantle employer provided insurance (b) allow companies to sell nationwide unregulated and consumers unprotected 2) subsidize private insurers 3) funding subsidies: 1% cut in all discretionary spending annually over 10 years (yielding $120 billion). Bottom line: government­-protected monopolies -- the antithesis to a free-market.

Fear mongering and propaganda have seniors convinced death panels will decide their fate and many others believing that a public option, which would actually make insurers compete and save money over time, will destroy capitalism. Without cost containment, competition and consumer protections reform the republican way is just another giveaway to insurance providers.

New and innovative ideas required to solve challenges in the 21st Century won't come from the GOP, not as long as extremist are allowed to run the Party.

[den1953]

It is obvious why the Republicans want President Obama to fail they simply have no solutions to any of the problems there last boss has pushed on this country it's easy to say no for every thing and stand back on the side lines and point fingers at the guy in charge. The real true American hero's are the people that want to try to make this country as great as it was and ever will be! Just look at the crop of leaders the Republicans have there all phony self centered people that are only looking toward there future and the hell with the people who put them there!

[ilse]

The republicans are worthless and they're not getting my vote. Mud slinging hate and lies and saying no to everything that might benefit the american people.

[OlongapoEd]

Those on the right don't care where it crashes because they are obviously intent on destroying the US in order to spite Obama specifically and anyone to the left of Atilla the Hun in general.

[denicci1977]

I only believe that Democrats will lose seats because more Republicans will come out to vote than Democrats. I don't know ANY valid Democrats that are voting for Republicans after their behavior the past 8 years and especially the past few months. Even the ones angry at Democrats still won't vote for a Republicans. If people come out like they did to support President Obama then Democrats will keep their seats. But some people think important elections are Presidential only..I say this sadly because we had a runoff election in Georgia and lost to Saxby no good Chambliss even though my county chose Obama 60%...Some people don't understand how all this works..You need a good Congress to support the President's agenda..Pay attention to whose in office and get out and vote.

[TiaLee]

The Repubs are in it only for themselves. They have nothing but disdain for the American people. Their only goal is to get power. And do for themselves with it.

[timetorevolt]

How can you expect the Republicans to provide solutions by government when they brag about how much they hate "the government". These are the only employees that can openly rant and rave about how much they hate their employer and not get fired. Their constituents who vote for them are too stupid to recognize they are there for power and money and not to make "the government" work for the people they represent.

[Freesia2]

The inmates took over the Republican asylum.

It happened back when they took in the disaffected (racist) Dixiecrats. They appreciated their money and their votes. But they had to cater to them so out comes the Southern Strategy. Willie Horton. They've Willied themselves silly. That encouraged them so they decided that evangelicals would be a natural playmate for the southern baptisty pentacostal Dixiecrats so they held an unholy communion with Falwell and the Moral Majority. All of that, the loss of reason and separation of church and state now replaced with white southern racism and religious fanaticism laid perfect ground for the Palins and the Bachmanns and the assorted characters who now make up the Republican party.

The crazies took over. Being crazy they like other crazy people. It makes them feel sane. But the GOP is just one big rubber room. And they think this Independent is ever going to vote for that? I'm not crazy.

[ariveria]

what the republican­/conservat­ives have done is kill bipartisanship.

if they have success in an election the dems wont work with them.

the dems should adopt the same tactics of . gamesmenshp

[Plurabelle06]

One commenter said the republicans haven't helped a single American, but that isn't true. They helped the rich get richer, the robber barons steal the store (and banks) and republican officials lie, steal,blackmail, and bully an entire populace. And the lemmings want more.

Aside from the fact that I the the GOP is made up of bullies, liars and thieves and I would never share a conservative ideology, can't we as Americans at least agree that we need serious people leading our country. People who can read and understand complex laws and hopefully a newspaper or two? You betcha! If the GOP would stop running morons like Bush and Palin, and evil people like Romney and Cheney, perhaps I could at least respect them as the opposition. Honestly, I think they should be ignored as a public service to America.