David Broder's column in the WaPo today is quite interesting. While I usually don't bother with his ramblings, the headline caught my eye: For Republicans, A Heartland Plunge. It seems that even the most recalcitrant MSM punditocracy seems to be getting it . . . finally!!
Go here:http://www.washingtonpost.com/...
He says that Republicans feel that support for GOP candidates has nose-dived this summer because of the daily televised scenes of destruction on Iraq and Lebanon AND in part because of the dismal reputation built by the Republican Congress!!!! They're afraid of a really bad blowout.
More below the fold. . .
I had dinner one night with a group of Ohio Republicans, all with many years of experience in state politics and none directly engaged in this year's gubernatorial race. One of them said, "I'm afraid this could be another 1982," a year when recession pushed unemployment to 15 percent and cost the Republicans the governorship. Another said, "I'd settle right now for another 1982. I'm afraid it will be another 1974," the year of the Watergate election, when Democrats swept everything in sight.
snip
A leading Minnesota Republican told me that polls there show "the bottom has dropped out" of Rep. Mark Kennedy's challenge to Hennepin County Attorney Amy Klobuchar, the Democratic candidate for an open Democratic Senate seat. Kennedy has company among the corps of Republican congressmen who thought this would be a good year to move up. In Wisconsin, Rep. Mark Green is lagging slightly behind Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle. In Oklahoma, Rep. Ernest J. Istook Jr. is far worse off in his challenge to Democratic Gov. Brad Henry. And in Iowa, Rep. Jim Nussle, the strong early favorite to capture the open governorship from the Democrats, now finds himself in a real battle with Democrat Chet Culver.
Additionally, Charlie Cook writes in his column
http://cookpolitical.com/
I received an e-mail from a friend who is a senior national political correspondent for a major national newspaper: "If I were an incumbent with the least bit of worries, I'd be pooping my pants."
"POOPING MY PANTS!!!" What is this world coming to??? Scarborough calls Bush an idiot; Chris Matthews is wondering what is wrong with Rummy, Cheney and Bush; and, now "pooping my pants." Perhaps the ocean liner is slowly turning.
Even the lobbyists on K Street are starting to hedge their bets and hire Democrats. They anticipate significant Democratic gains in Congress.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/...
Lobbying managers have for years tended to hire Republicans because both Congress and the White House are controlled by the GOP, and access to officials at both places is lobbying's stock in trade. But, in recent months, many of Washington's top lobbyists said in interviews that their decision-making has been altered by an emerging consensus among election experts that the Democrats will boost their numbers in the House and the Senate in the midterm elections Nov. 7 and have a strong shot of winning a majority in the House.
As a result, the job market for Democrats has expanded, and the K Street Project -- shorthand for efforts by Republican lawmakers and lobbyists to pressure corporations and trade groups to hire GOP lobbyists only -- has faded away.
Actually, I find that part a little sad. The lobbyists will still hold sway over us. Perhaps, when we take over we will find a real hero who will push through lobbying reform.
I'm starting to feeling a sense of inevitability. I truly didn't think that Bill Clinton could win in 1992. But, then I was having lunch with the most apolitical person I have ever known and out of the blue she said, "you know, Bill might just win this thing." She called him Bill - not Clinton. And, she seemed to be pleased at the thought. I am starting to see and hear these same subtle changes in attitude. Anecdotal, I agree. But, there's something in the air.