2010 Midterm Elections
Midterm elections are always important but they seem to be especially important this year. Read up on this year's Congressional midterm elections and answer the following questions in your post. Please use complete paragraphs, cite your information and proof read BEFORE posting. I look forward to reading your first posts!
*What is the significance of this November's Congressional election?
*What do you predict the results from the midterm elections will be?
*What advice do you have for the Democrats and the Republicans? What does each party need to do in order to be successful in November?
Places you could start your research:
NPR: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=125693903
CNN: http://www.cnn.com/POLITICS/election.2010/the.basics/
Time article: http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,2004646,00.html
Cook Political Report: http://www.cookpolitical.com/
Nate Silver: http://www.fivethirtyeight.com
Polling Report: http://www.pollingreport.com/2010.htm
Washington Post: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/politics/2010-race-maps/house/
DUE MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 13TH by classtime
Labels: Congress, midterm elections
posted by M. Aby @ 6:29 PM
60 Comments:
The importance of midterm elections have always played a pivotal role in local governments and the direction party power will turn. For the first time in many years, the democrats control the Presidency, the House, and the Senate. If the republicans wish to take back at minimum the House, they will have to show up to the voting booths like never before; and for the first time since 1930, republican votes in the local legislature have outnumbered those of the democrats. The significance of equal representation in government provides for diversity among the lawmaking officials.
If the republicans are able to take over the senate, Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House’s job could turn over to the other side causing a friends close, enemies closer dynamic between the President and Speaker. Due to the nearly unprecedented turnout at the booths, conservatives will likely turn the tables and gain control of majority with the help of a late surge. While conservatives are turning out in record numbers, liberal voting numbers in recessing. Obama has a plan to help, but not for the 2010 elections, but rather for 2012. So in the coming November midterms, it is predicted the republicans will be able to gain seats in Congress, if not the majority.
In order for liberals to maintain their lead, many things must happen. First of all, they need to stomp anti-Obama slurs roaming around hurting the image. To do so, the Obama Administration needs to pass bills such as health care and see reform in the economy. Most American citizens make up the broad spectrum of the middle class, something of which needs to be targeted in the form of the stimulus bill. Of course if looking good doesn’t work, they can always make others look bad. By playing to the ‘crazy’ Tea-Party and delegitimize their candidates, liberals can swing the vote their way. The Republicans also have ways to attract leaning voters to their side. By focusing efforts in slight Republican-leaning regions, they can insure a vote whereas if they spend the same money in tougher regions, little output would be recorded for their efforts. Also, focus on the health care bill that people felt strongly against by the people, an issue that backfired in many respects, can help the Reps. gain votes. In a recent poll in 33 toss-up districts, health care played on as the most crucial topic on people’s minds. Both parties have their work cut out for them if they want control of Congress, and the coming months will be of the utmost importance in deciding the future of America.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129721961
http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,2004646,00.html
http://www.cookpolitical.com/
http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com
So what is this fall’s hubbub about? The talk is that the midterm elections are quickly approaching with the date set on November 2nd, 2010. This date is significant because it will be the day millions of voters take to the polls for Congressional elections. This year, ballots will be cast for 435 house seats and 37 senate seats. Also, 37 states will elect governors. Initiatives will be considered. Currently, Democrats control both the House and Senate, but Republicans have the potential to regain seats or majority in the House and Senate. Whichever party gets these seats will help determine how the people of the United States are governed(1). There are expected to be more republican voters this year then democrats. Over 4 million more republicans voted at the August primaries than democrats. This is the first time that more Republicans have voted than democrats since the 1930s(2).
November 2nd is just around the corner, and Democrats and Republicans everywhere are campaigning for the elections. Each party is concerned with gaining seats. So what does it take to have a successful campaign? For one, a professional appearance. In politics, I believe it is a necessary evil. An unprofessional appearance is of great concern, even in an area such as politics.For example, John Boehner, a Republican from Ohio, is running for reelection. In an article on John Boehner, the writer points out that Boehner is a candidate who appears to have a fake tan. Keeping the media away from such stories will help to promote politics. The author points out that if Boehner is reelected, He will get much attention from the media on the subject of his appearance. One key this year is for both parties to look professional, whether in appearances or on stances(3), and represent the people of the United States of America. Candidates who wish to be elected to government positions should also consider addressing issues the public considers to be a top priority. In a CNN poll of 499 adult United States citizens, when asked in May 2010 what the most Important issue facing the country was, the leading issue was the economy (45%) followed by deficit (12%) and health care (11%) (4). For the democrats, health care can be an uneasy topic. Republican candidates expect to gain traction from the health care bill Democrats passed this year. Polls show that at least a plurality of the country remains in opposition to the bill. Many Democratic candidates are willing to address the health care, but will have to do so more carefully(5). To be successful in November, both parties need to recognize the importance of promoting voting and elections. Especially for the Democrat candidates, many candidates will need to think of ideas to get more United States Citizens excited about the prospect of voting. According to American University’s Center for the Study of the American Electorate, Republicans are expected to be voting in far greater numbers then democrats(6).
I think the midterm results will most likely be a gain for the Republicans. The Democrats are in a position where the war in Iraq is winding down. This means Democrats cannot gain further ground by pledging a withdrawal(7). I predict that as democrats are coming out of a tough spot, republicans will gain ground. According to the FiveThirtyEight forecasting model, there is a two-in-three chance Republican candidates will claim the majority of House seats. This year republicans are estimated to have a one-third chance of gaining 40 seats(8). Each midterm election, 20 average seats are gained by the opposition party. I predict this year that seats will be gained by the Republican Party, if not a highly possible chance for a takeover of the House. This next election will be key to deciding how the government will be reconfigured and run.
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1.) http://www.cnn.com/POLITICS/election.2010/the.basics/
2.)http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=125693903
3.) http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2010/09/09/129752532/boehner-s-a-country-club-cocktain-drinking-cigarette-smoking-republican
4.)http://www.cnn.com/POLITICS/election.2010/the.issues/
5.)http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/
6.)http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=125693903
7.) http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/07/democrats-arent-running-from-health-care-but-what-are-they-running-on/
8.) http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/10/g-o-p-has-2-in-3-chance-of-taking-house-model-forecasts/
The upcoming midterm election mean many things; political ads on TV explaining why so and so candidate is the best and why the other candidate isn’t, signs in peoples yards letting the whole world know who they support in the election, and the pure fact that some Americans, but certainly not all, are going to go out and vote on that first Tuesday in November. But what is this upcoming 2010 midterm election mean? What is its significance and why should people care to go out and vote?
As many people already know, the Democrats control both houses of Congress at the moment, and that is precisely one reason why they should care. The Democrats, though they are strong now in both houses, are in danger of losing out to the Republicans. This could be good or bad, depending on which way people tend to lean on the political spectrum, but nonetheless, it is important either way. According to the results of thirty-five statewide primaries, Republicans are more enthusiastic in showing up for primaries this year than the Democrats, and Republicans have three more statewide contests then Democrats. Also, in general, the Republicans received four million more votes than Democrats in the primaries (1). Of course, the Democrats could have a bigger turn out come Election Day, but the primaries do show a greater chance of triumph with the Republicans. Regardless of the primaries, both sides of Congress realize that the Democrats may have to give up the majority they currently hold in both house come November second (2).
Whether or not the Republicans gain the majority in either house, the issues that Congress have been and will be dealing with are put in jeopardy with the upcoming election. When Americans were asked what they viewed as the most important issues on the eve of the midterm elections, forty-two percent said the economy, followed by health care at seventeen percent, the deficit at thirteen percent, and education at nine percent (3). If the Republicans take over one or both houses of Congress, major changes could be put into place regarding these current issues, particularly the one involving health care. If Democrats keep their majority, most likely, not much will change, but for many it is stressful to wonder whose hands these issues will fall into.
If I were to guess who would triumph in the elections, I would say the Republicans simply because of how well they have done in the primaries. I also feel that many Americans feel that Obama hasn’t succeeded in going through with the “change” he promised and wish for more Conservative representation in Congress to balance out the power. Also, the approval rating of Obama for independent voters has gone down from in the sixty-percentage range during Memorial Day of 2009 to around thirty-eight to forty percent in the last few months (4).
Cook’s Political Report states that Republicans will most likely gain at least forty seats in the House and seven to nine in the Senate (4). I do believe that if the Republicans are to gain a majority, it will most likely be in the House rather than the Senate. Six to eight Republicans are estimated to win the race for state Governors (4).
In terms of advice, I would tell the Republicans to do their best to get as many people who lean to the right to go and vote, and to keep up their struggle against the Democrats without being mean about it. To the Democrats, pick up your game! This is not the time to start being nervous that you are going to lose. Be confident in your voters and in yourselves!
1)http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=125693903
2)http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,2004646,00.html
3)http://www.cnn.com/POLITICS/election.2010/the.basics/
4)http://www.cookpolitical.com/node/8235
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As November approaches, tensions and competition in Washington will rise, as midterm elections take place. There are enough seats up for reelection that the Republicans are possibly primed to take the majority of the seats in both the House and Senate. Polls show that voters are seeking a change this year, as some of them are considering different Representatives instead of reelecting their present Congressmen (1). If the Republicans gain the majority in Congress, conflicting agendas and views in the Legislative and Executive branches will cause slow policy actions in Washington as the two branches struggle to set aside their differences and make cohesive public policies. The outcome of this year’s midterm election will set the tone and pace for the next two years, and with the heightened stress stemming from the economic recession and foreign affairs adding extra weight to the voters’ minds, both the Democrats and the Republicans need to make careful strategies for the next few months.
I predict that the Republicans will take a slight majority in the House after the midterm elections, as voter approval ratings for President Obama continue to decline. Voters don’t feel that President Obama has taken the correct course of action on big policy issues, like the economic crisis, and are more likely to turn to Republican Candidates as a change of pace (2). There is a tight race in both the House and Senate, and with the number of seats that could shift to either party, the Republicans have a chance to gain enough seats to get the majority in Congress. However, with more seats seeming to be fair game for either party in the House, the Republicans seem to have a greater chance of getting the majority of the seats in the House of Representatives, than in the Senate.
In order for the Republicans to maintain their offense against the Democrats for the open Congressional seats, the Republicans should capitalize on the President Obama’s declining approval rating and continue to critique the Democrats’ actions toward the economy and other parts of their policy agenda (3). The Democrats have to show that they can use their advantage as the Congressional majority to pass bills and actually get things rolling to make policies happen. The Democrats need to show the voters that they are willing to take action instead of spending all their time simply holding out against the Republicans and their policies (4). The most important action that the Democrats have to take is to increase voter turnout. Currently, Republicans are showing more enthusiasm and willingness to vote than the Democrats, and if this continues on November 2nd, it could spell disaster for the Democrats in the midterm elections (5).
1) http://www.pollingreport.com/2010.htm
2) http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/10/g-o-p-has-2-in-3-chance-of-taking-house-model-forecasts/#more-805
3) http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/10/g-o-p-has-2-in-3-chance-of-taking-house-model-forecasts/#more-805
4) http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,2004646,00.html
5) http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129721961
All this hype about the Congressional election this November is incredibly justified, as this is a very significant election. The majorities in both the House and the Senate are currently held by the Democrats, but that could easily change in both cases this fall. The Democrats currently control 59 of the 100 seats in the Senate, a clear majority. However, this election is looking grim for them. Of the 19 seats that are currently held by Democrats and are up for reelection, 11 of them are likely to go to Republicans or are tossups (1). However, of the 18 seats currently held by Republicans, none are likely to be won by a Democrat (1). In the House the Democrats currently hold 255 of the 435 spots, but only 205 of those spots are likely to remain Democrats (2). There are 49 seats in the House that are tossups and it is estimated that the GOP will have a net gain of at least 40 seats this election (2). They only need 39 to gain the majority, so it looks as though they might gain the majority in both houses of Congress (2). This election is so important because of the possibility of both houses changing hands. Not only the Congressional elections are important, however, but the gubernatorial races are, too. This November’s results could greatly influence the outcome of the 2012 Presidential election. Governors are very influential in their individual states and the GOP is poised to control 7 of the 8 most populous states and 30 of the top 35 (3). This could help set up the GOP for a major comeback in 2012.
I predict that the elections will be awful for the Democrats. It seems very likely that the GOP will win the majority in the Senate as well as in the House. In almost every national poll conducted within the past 10 days the Republicans are ahead, and in the one where they are not winning, they are still tied with the Democrats (4). It seems very likely that the Republicans will also take control of many of the big states.
The Democrats at this point have very little hope. Many Americans (57%) are unhappy with the way President Obama has dealt with the economy and many (58%) are also upset about his handling of the deficit (1). The Democrats are being thought of negatively as a group because of this, so unless Obama does something about these two problems ridiculously quickly, the Democrats don’t have much of a chance of coming out of this election on top. The Republicans, however, have to do little to be successful in the elections. The biggest issue is their lack of a visible plan if they were to win the majorities, so if they make it clear that they will be productive if they get control, they should do very well (1).
1. NPR, The Battle For The Senate: A GOP Majority Is Within Reach http://www.npr.org/blogs/politicaljunkie/2010/09/06/129689351/2010-senate-ratings
2. The Cook Political Report
http://www.cookpolitical.com/
3. Time, How Governors Could Be Key to GOP Resurgence
http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1968638,00.html
4. Polling Report.com
http://www.pollingreport.com/2010.htm
On November 2nd, 2010, millions of Americans will cast their votes for who they want to make the decisions that will change their lives. The midterm elections are particularly significant this year because the Republican party has a good chance of regaining control of the House and Senate. In fact, many political analysts have already written off the idea of the Democrats maintaining their control. Polls show that people are frustrated with unemployment and White House big-spending policies, Republicans are voting in far greater numbers than Democrats, and talk of Republican speaker John Boehner is driving away Democrats' donors and costing them popularity. All in all, there are more than enough reasons for the Democrats to be nervous about November.
I predict that the Republicans will gain a majority in the House, but not the Senate, for the simple reason that it is easier to win seats in the House. By simply glancing at a map of congressional districts, one can see that many of them are strongly Republican, and in several cases unopposed. Also, there are more seats up for grabs in the House. It will be harder for Republicans to gain power in the Senate because they have to win over entire states. I think that Democrats will maintain some power, as they are trying to make big steps to do so, such as passing health care, promoting the positive aspects of the current administration, counteracting controversial bills, and stepping up their political rhetoric. I believe these efforts will pay off. Also, young voters that came out for Obama in 2008 will most likely help push the Democrats to victory.
To win as many seats as possible in the midterm election, I think the aforementioned Democratic efforts will be very important. However, Democrats have discovered that time is the enemy this year, so I think the plans need to be kicked into high gear and given much more attention. They need to play up Democratic accomplishments and point out Republican missteps. Many voters will be swayed by rhetoric. It doesn't seem like the Republicans need to do very much more at all to win seats at this point, other than continue to vote "no" on Democratic bills and focus on winning House seats, as it is more likely for them to win a majority there.
http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,2004646,00.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/politics/2010-race-maps/house/
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129721961
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2010/09/09/129752532/boehner-s-a-country-club-cocktain-drinking-cigarette-smoking-republican
http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/07/18/us.elections.early.rhetoric/index.html
2010 is the year for Congressional midterm elections. While these elections have been important in the past, they may be more important than ever before this year. This year, 435 Congressional seats, at least 36 and maybe 37 Senate seats (19 Democrat, and 18 Republican), and 37 Gubernatorial spots (20 Democrat, 17 Republican) are up for grabs (1). Currently, the Democrats control both the house and senate, as well as the Presidency. The election is important because if the Democrats lose majority control in either the house or senate, it becomes more difficult to pass legislation. The Republicans have pegged this election as important to “halt the free-spending” activities and policies of the Democrat controlled House and Presidency (1). While the Democrats have marked the 2010 midterms as a choice between moving forward and taking on the tough issues or going backwards to “failed” Republican policies of the past (1).
According to NPR, this year appears to have a Republican dominated voter turnout (2). Republicans cast over 4 million votes more than the Democrats did in the primaries (2). This is important because the primaries generally show the more dedicated party members, who will vote in November. This data is unsurprising to many. The Republicans are fighting an uphill battle. It is difficult to unseat so many Democrats in one election, and the Republican loyal are not only enthusiastic but are also responding well by turning out for the primaries (2). I think that while the Republicans will make gains in the House and in the Senate, the Democrats will keep control. The Democrats will lose seats, it is just a matter of how many. In fact, the President’s party has lost House seats in the midterm elections in all but 2 elections (1998 and 2002) since 1948 (4). The party loses an average of 22 House seats in each midterm election (4). I predict that the Democrats will lose more than 22 seats in the House this year, and will probably be 1 or 2 seats away from losing majority control in the Senate (4).
My advice for the Republicans would be to maintain their momentum, and try to move towards middle ground. While the “Tea Party” movement has infused the Republican loyal with new energy, which is important, the average American is not as conservative and will not vote for people who are uber conservative come November. My advice for the Democrats would be to continue to reach out to older voters, since they will be the ones coming out to vote in November, and to try to motivate the Democrat diehards as the general election approaches. While the Republicans have done a great job of energizing their loyal fan base the Democrats have struggled (3). It also hasn’t helped that President Obama has “alienated” the majority of independent voters with some of his far left policies (3). The Democrats need to be united and overcome the divide that started growing in January when Republican Scott Brown won the late Ted Kennedy’s Massachusettes Senate seat (3). The election is far from over, and either side has lots to gain, and even more to lose in the coming months.
1.http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/07/18/us.elections.early.rhetoric/index.html
2.http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129721961
3.http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,2004646,00.html
4.http://politics.usnews.com/news/articles/2010/09/03/what-does-the-generic-republican-v-democrat-ballot-say-about-election-2010.html
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Midterm Elections First Post
As November rolls around the smell of the ballots come to many Americans minds. It may not be the big Presidential election, but it is the time for the midterm elections that help figure out the seats of the House, Senate, and the local legislature. During the months before November the political discussion is amongst all of the local and national television stations. However, there is major importance to this year’s midterm election. The significance is that the members of Congress, members of the House, and the races for the Governor’s are on the hot seat (1). In the past years the Republican’s have historically been the majority of the Senate and the House, but this past year the Democratic Party has been the majority. These midterm elections will be huge because they are very close in votes for both Republicans and Democrats. All of the house seats are up for reelection and currently the Democratic Party has the majority with 257 seats (3). This is a very slim margin between the Democratic Party and the Republican Party switching the majority of the House. Also Nancy Pelosi is on the hot seat because some people are unhappy with her production being the speaker of the house (2).
When people start predicting what is going to happen in these midterm elections, it becomes a heated topic of discussion. I love to get in the middle of heated discussions, but I especially enjoy talking about politics and who I think is going to win the election. In my opinion I believe that the Republican Party is going to take control over the Senate and the House because I believe that even though President Barrack Obama is Democratic, he has many views that make him seem like a conservative. He also has disagreed with many of the previous leaders of the House and Senate. It just makes sense that the House and Senate’s majority would be owned by the Republican Party.
My advice to the Republican Party to win this midterm election is that they need to act like themselves and try not to extend their boundaries. When the Republican Party extends their boundaries they often get themselves into trouble because they tend to lie, and nobody in America enjoys liars. My advice to the Democratic Party in order to win this November is that they need to advertise well. If they don’t advertise themselves, it will be a walk in the park for the Republican Party. I think that they need to advertise themselves because not many people believe that they can continue to do the job that they are doing and by advertising, it will get their name out there and it will reinforce that they are good politicians. Each of these parties is both going to have a tough time getting votes because the public opinion changes from one day to the next. The fluctuations in the public opinion make each party have to pay more because with the changing opinions, each party wants to make commercials that reflect those opinions (4). All in all these midterm elections will be very chaotic, yet very fun and enjoyable to watch.
Sites
1) http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=125693903
2) http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,2004646,00.html
3) http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1109/29048.html
4) http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2010/02/midterm-elections-will-cost-at.html
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For the increasingly desperate Democrats, the significance of the upcoming 2010 Congressional election could not be emphasized enough. As the Republican party and their friends in the Tea Party continue to gain momentum, few incumbent Democrats in the House see their seats as safe, and as the elections move closer their only option may be watching helplessly as they are voted out of office. The latest polls are discouraging at best, as the ABC News/Washington Post poll has the Republicans leading 53% to 40% on the generic ballot test, the largest lead any party has produced since 1981 (1). It is important to mention that the GOP has never outperformed the Democrats on the generic ballot as the minority party. Also, with President Obama's approval rating hovering around 40%, incumbent Democrats may not find it wise to turn to Obama to bail them out in their effort to maintain their majority in the House and Senate (1).
In my opinion, if the polls are any indication of how the midterm elections will pan out, the Republicans are going to make huge gains in the House. With support for the GOP hovering around 50% already and all the momentum seeming to swing in their favor (1), it might not even take much effort this fall for the Republicans to win. Because popular conservative movements like the Tea Party are spearheading voter's anger over federal spending, any candidates in favor of Obama's stimulus bill do not seem likely to gain much public support. In fact, Rep. David Obey (D), who is considered the author of the stimulus bill, has elected to retire this November instead of face a tough race against the GOP in his district (2).
The Republicans also seem like a very attractive vote for swing voters this year, the same ones who went toward Obama and the Democrats in '08. While most people aren't as hardcore conservative as the emerging Tea Party, that same majority of people do not seem to be in favor of Obama's policies. I would advise the Republicans to run on a platform of smaller government intervention in the economy, willingness to pay down the national debt, and opposed to Obama's healthcare bill. While the GOP has taken that stance already, it is especially important for them to do so because per a CNN poll, the top three issues to voters this year are the economy, the debt, and healthcare (3).
For the Democrats, the biggest tidbit of advice has come straight from their biggest political nemesis: earlier this summer, the Delaware Tea Party advised the Democrats to listen to the will of the American people if they want to stop their free fall in the polls (4). While the Dems have obviously had the best interests of the American people in mind with their legislation, they would stand to benefit immensely if they made decisions more popular with the people. While the majority isn't always right, in politics it can and will cost you your job if you are not willing to work with the people. The healthcare bill has been particularly unpopular with conservative activists. While the bill was designed to protect an estimated 87 million uninsured Americans, it fails to provide a public option, and most people would agree that forcing people to pay for insurance that most of the uninsured people could not afford to begin with is not protecting anything but corporate interests. Minutes after Obama signed the bill, 13 states filed federal lawsuits because they believe the bill encroaches on the sovereignty of the states (5). Additionally, Republican leaders John Boehner and Mitch McConnell have derided the healthcare legislature as a betrayal of the American people and have promised its repeal if the Republicans gain a majority in November (5). So far, the Dems' downfall has been their unpopular increase federal spending, and unless they show a willingness to cut back, the Democrats should not hold high hopes for this November.
Sources:
1) http://politics.usnews.com/opinion/blogs/peter-roff/2010/09/07/Latest-Election-2010-Congressional-Poll-Numbers-Are-Earthshaking
2) http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/05/31/issues.economy/
3) http://www.cnn.com/POLITICS/election.2010/the.issues/
4) http://www.delawareteaparty.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=258:tea-party-patriots-offer-democrats-advice-to-halt-free-fall-in-polls-and-public-support&catid=58:tea-party-news&Itemid=85
5) http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/05/31/issues.healthcare/index.html
With midterm elections slowly coming the TV’s are buzzing with commercials that aim to convince you that their candidate is the very best for this state/country/city/etc. So why are political groups, and parties so set on trying to win you over by November 2nd 2010?
This is because there are 37 spots open in the Senate, 435 spots in the House, and 37 spots open for Governor. And with all these open spots it gives the Republican Party a chance to take control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate (1).
I predict that the Republican Party will come out on top after the November Congressional Elections because Republicans are seriously trying harder to overthrow the Democrats for seats in the House, the Senate, and White House; they are at their highest casting primary ballots rates since 1970. Also there is a “distinct lack of enthusiasm among the Democratic rank and file” as Curtis Gans, director of the Center for the Study of American Electorate, states from a recent study conducted by the Center (2). Not only that, but Democrats are having a hard time with making a clear set of policy goals. Health car, energy, jobs and educations seem to be the big ones, but to the American public it seems as if they have done really nothing to change any of those issues (3). I feel as though the Democratic Party is being crippled by their ambiguous set of policies.
The advice I give to the Democratic Party to succeed in the November Elections is to, first, encourage members of their party to vote, and to try to make a clear set of policies they are willing to tackle if they were elected into office.
But I do think that this will be a bigger win for the Republicans since the enthusiasm for the Democratic Party is disappearing because of the lack of change they promised.
1. http://www.cnn.com/POLITICS/election.2010/the.basics/
2. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129721961
3. http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/07/democrats-arent-running-from-health-care-but-what-are-they-running-on/
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The 2010 midterm elections are much more publicized this year, as their results are very important to both the Republicans and Democrats. These elections are so significant this year because they will decide whether the Democrats keep their large majority in the House and Senate, or whether the Republicans will take over one or both of them [1]. Although the Democrats hold a 59-41 lead in the Senate and a 255-178 lead in the house, Republican politicians are looking strong this year and are predicted to come close to or to take over the majority. If the Democrats lose their majorities in the House and Senate, it could lead to policy gridlock because the majority will be of the opposite party of the president. Because it will be so close, both Democratic and Republican candidates are campaigning more than ever and getting the attention of the American public.
I think that it will be fairly close as to who gets the majority in the House and Senate. From what I have read and the polls I saw, there is not a huge chance that the Republicans will gain control of the Senate, as the Democrats do have a large majority, but that majority will be small after the elections [1],[2]. There are 40 Democrats in the Senate that aren't up for election this year, so Democrats need to win only 11 of 37 seats to keep a majority I think that the Republicans have a real chance of winning a majority of the House, as voter turnout for Republicans has been rising significantly while voter turnout for Democrats has been waning [1]. Also, it is likely that more people will vote for Republican candidates because they are not satisfied with President Obama and the bills that the Democrats have passed, such as the healthcare bill [3].
In order for the Democrats to maintain their majorities, one of the biggest things they need to do is get Democrats to vote. Republican voter turn out is rising, so Democrats need to counter that by getting more Democrats to vote in the elections[1]. The Obama Administration needs to focus on the midterm elections because right now it is mostly working toward the 2012 Presidential elections [3]. They also need to expose weaknesses and divisions in the Republican party, such as the Tea Party, and make the public aware of them [3].
In order for the Republicans to take over the House and/or Senate, one thing they need to do is criticize the Obama administration. If the people are not satisfied with the job of their Democrat President, they will be less likely to vote for a Democrat congressman [4]. They also need to downplay any divisions among their party, such as the Tea Party [3]. The last thing they need to do is show the American public that they have a plan to change what's going on in Washington if they achieve a majority [4].
While it is not clear which party will prevail in the 2010 midterm elections, it is clear that neither is prepared to go down without a fight and the race will become more heated as election time draws nearer.
1.http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2010/09/06/129678652/2010-elections-who-s-going-to-win
2.http://www.cookpolitical.com/
3.http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,2004646,00.html
4. http://www.npr.org/blogs/politicaljunkie/2010/09/06/129689351/2010-senate-ratings
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Candidates for both the Senate and the House of Representatives are energized and have been preparing hard for this year’s upcoming congressional election. This year’s election holds greater importance than other congressional elections have in the past. Democrats hold the majority of seats in both the House and Senate at the present time, but with Republicans more engaged and enthused this year, the race should be a competitive one. On November 2nd 2010, many citizens across America will be voting for 435 House seats, and 37 out of 100 Senate seats [1]. President Obama has introduced and acknowledged more controversial issues this term which are pleasing or displeasing to many Americans, therefore this congressional election will be a significant one because more people are predicted to voice their opinion at the polls.
With a Democratic president in office, more Republican citizens are inclined to get their views and beliefs heard. At least that is what seems to be happening, because it is the first year since 1930, where more Republicans have shown up to vote in the primaries [1]. In the past, the party that wins in the White House usually loses the majority of the seats in Congress [2]. President Obama’s approval ratings aren’t as high as they used to be either. According to Charlie Cook, Obama’s ratings from the key independent voters, which were around sixty percent last year before Memorial Day, dropped to about forty percent around Labor Day this year and hasn’t increased yet [3]. However, Democrats haven’t come close to giving up the fight. Democrats have a high status also in the Senate, which isn’t in as much danger as the status is in the House [3]. I predict that the Republicans will win the majority of the votes especially for the House. Disagreement over the economy has been pulling the Democrats down. Forty five percent of Americans agree that the economy is the biggest problem today. Many Democrats are disappointed by the way Obama has been dealing with the economy [1]. Many people are pleased with the way health care is being handled right now though, along with a few other issues because they can see the almost immediate effects due to the democratic president Obama in office. This can be a big advantage to the democratic candidates. If Republicans win the majority though, I predict that some of the controversial issues will change dramatically, especially the issue of heath care based on the fact that many Republicans strongly disagree with what’s going on.
If I were to give advice to the Republicans, I would say now is the time to get the word spread. Advertising with new technology is the easiest and the most efficient way today to do that. TV commercials are sometimes effective, but most Americans find them boring plus they cost a lot of money. Internet blogging, email, and social networking would be the most efficient and cheapest way to go. To the Democrats, I would say also to get the word out also taking advantage of all the new technology out there, but also not giving up. The Republicans will put up a strong fight, but stay concentrated and focused not on how well the Republicans are doing, but on the goal and what you are looking to achieve.
1.NPR: : http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=125693903
2. CNN: http://www.cnn.com/POLITICS/election.2010/the.basics/
3.US politics: http://uspolitics.about.com/od/elections/tp/2010_congressional_election.htm
4.Cook : http://www.cookpolitical.com/node/8235
The upcoming 2010 November midterm elections are possibly a crucial turning point in the direction our government will take over the next term. These elections are important because they will decide who gets control over congress. Currently, Democrats control the House, Senate, and the Presidency. However, republicans are heavily contesting many seats currently held by democrats. If the republicans can manage to take over majority control, they can have much better success implementing their agenda. However, if the balance of power is too split, it is possible not much will get done. With the president being democrat, having a republican dominated congress could mean much, much slower decision making.
Currently, democrats hold 57 senate seats, and republicans hold 41. Democrats also have the majority in the house with 255 compared to the republican’s 178 (218 seats are need for a majority). [1]. Although the number of democratic representatives is higher, they have a lot to be worried about for the upcoming elections. Statistically, during midterm elections, the majority party gives up around 30 seats. As more time goes on, political analysts are saying that republican have higher chances of taking the majority, some saying the republicans have a 2 in 3 chance. [2].
My prediction for the Elections is that the republicans will take over for the majority leaders in the house. The senate races are harder to call, with many democrats not up for reelection, keeping their spots safe. However, with 11 seats in the senate being “toss ups”, it is still very possible for republicans to take over. [3]. I think the republicans have better strategies for this election. They are focusing on putting solid candidates in every race, as opposed to the democrats, who are giving much support to concentrated races, rather than smaller ones.
My advice for both parties is to focus on the up for grab races, and look for weak incumbents that can be beaten by strong candidates. The outcome of these elections will be determined by the tossups, and how many of them each party gets.
[1] http://www.cookpolitical.com/
[2] http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/
[3] http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/politics/2010-race-maps/senate/
In November the midterm election will be held. As of now The Democrats have control over both the House and the Senate, but the Republicans hope to regain control of one or both of them. A victory would be very important because the winners control Bills that come to vote [1]. These bills could have an effect on taxes, health care, and immigration. Control is particularly important in this election because the winner is in control of district adjustments which could play a huge role in elections to come [2].
Due to the extreme down cast attitudes on the economy, the job market, and the high government spending, Democrats might be in for a negative outcome [2]. Along with this, Obama’s job approval ratings are constantly dropping which is only more bad news for Democrats. The latest poll changes indicate a definite rise in Republican support. As of now the Republicans are expected to make a gain of at least 40 seats in the House. They would only need an increase of 39 however to take the lead [3]. If things continue to go the way they are, the republicans will most likely take both chambers.
For the Democrats to bounce back and pull a victory over the Republicans they would need a lot. Having strong candidates for open seats, raising more money than the republicans, properly targeting their negative ads, and for the most part choosing the right battles is what the Democrats need for a victory [4]. The Republicans on the other hand are sitting pretty they need to continue what they are doing and not lose sight of their goals. They need to stay modest and this election will most likely go their way.
My advice for the Republicans is simple. They need to keep doing exactly what they are doing. They are not going to want to get cocky, but they need to keep working. The Democrats might not be looking so good but they still have a fighting chance [2]. The democrats need to stay confident and not give up too early.
[1] http://www.cnn.com/POLITICS/election2010/thebasics
[2] http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyld=1014
[3] http://cookpolitical.com/
[4] http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,2004646,00.html
1. These midterm elections are important for many reasons, not only are these the first of President Obama's presidency, but they will also affect American citizens in more ways than they may know. This year, every American citizen was asked to answer the questionnaire on the 2010 Census. Every ten years, the census is used to reorganize the House of Representatives. Districts are reorganized and the number of representatives per state are recalculated. Also, the seats of power, literally, will shift in the Senate and in the House. Depending on the results of these elections, the Democrat majority could be strengthened, or weakened. The Republican minority could rebound, or be pushed even further back.
http://www.cnn.com/POLITICS/election.2010/the.basics/
http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/02/26/census.redistricting/index.html
2. Due to the traffic jam that has been Congress these past two years, and the inability to get anything done of the Obama administration, I predict a Republican gain. Possibly to gain the majority, but I really hope not. According to the Cook Political Report, it is estimated that the Republican party will gain up to 40 seats this election, tipping the majority into their hands.
http://cookpolitical.com
3. My advice is to make promises that they can keep, promises that will benefit our country, not send us deeper into debt (I'm looking at you Republicans). Also, make your voices heard, show your constituency and the country what you are made of. To be successful in these upcoming elections, each party must show that they can turn the country around for the better. Whether it means changing policies, teaming up with each other, or making an effort to break away from foreign dependency. Change is on the horizon, we as the people of these United States need to know whether this change will make us a better, freer country, or a more dependent, more in debt one.
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Approaching swiftly are the 2010 midterm elections, so named because they take place in the middle of each presidential term. As always, these elections determine a lot about how the second half of the president’s term will play out. This Congressional election is very important, as, depending on how the majority of each of the houses ends up falling, the president could have a lot of ease trying to pass motions through the Senate, or an immense amount of trouble. This year, the Democrats are worrying about the impending threat of the Republicans getting a majority in the Senate and the House; president Obama’s approval rating has been falling since his election and, often times, a falling out with the current president will cause the opposing party to gain favor with the general populace and take the majority in Congress (1). If the Republicans take the Senate and the House, many of president Obama’s more liberal ideas will be shot down or changed substantially, while on the other side Obama would not support many of the Republican motions, leading to, arguably, a more ineffective government.
I predict that the Republicans will gain control of Congress come this election. The writing is on the wall; Obama, ostensibly the representative of the Democratic party at the moment, has fallen from grace with much of the public, which will take away the Democrats’ purported “super majority” at the least and take away their control at most likely (1). This view is bolstered by current figures showing that, in the House, the Democrats have a very small projected lead in the House and no lead at all in the Senate (3).
In terms of advice for the Democratic party to assist them in keeping their majority in the Senate and the House, I would say that they need to emphasize the good things the Senate has done since the Democrats were in a majority, as well as while Obama was president. Another helpful tip would be to make public statements assertively quashing right-wing slander about Obama; this should seem obvious, but when 18% of polled American’s believe Obama is a Muslim, it’s vital that steps that are not being taken at the moment, are taken (2). For the Republicans, I would advise that an emphasis be made on not only the things Obama and Congress have done that the typical Republican would not support, such as the health care reform that took place, and the effect those things would have on the deficit, but also the compromises Obama has made in trying to appear bipartisan, as those compromises have angered many left-leaning moderates and may tip the scales in the other direction for them if appropriately emphasized (1).
1. Dems Start to Panic As Midterm Reality Sets In: http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,2004646,00.html
2. The President’s Faith: http://newsroom.blogs.cnn.com/2010/08/22/the-presidents-faith/
3. Campaign 2010: Senate Races: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/politics/2010-race-maps/senate/
With just 7 weeks and some odd days until the 2010 midterm elections, both Democrats and Republicans must prepare for the stretch run to November 2nd. The parties and political organizations are feverously trying to persuade voters of their candidate’s merits. Keeping a pulse on voter’s options requires constant attention for example last weeks Gallup poll had Republicans up 10 percent on Democrats in a party match up. This week that same poll has both parties tied. This shift in polling could be attributed to the very active week in politics where President Obama ended combat operations in Iraq, and Glenn Beck’s rally in Washington D.C. These events increased political chatter in the blogosphere and media (1). The change could be a temporary break for Democratic incumbents facing stiff completion from Republican challengers.
The 2010 midterm elections will be extremely important for determining where the country stands on issues that Obama has focused on in his first two years in office, such as healthcare and the economy. A poor Democrat showing would show that voters are currently unhappy with the policies that were implemented since 2008. Republicans hope to capitalize on the muddling economy and unemployment, healthcare, and the ever increasing deficit. Depending on the outcome, the election will also begin to paint a picture of what the 2012 presidential election will look like. The election will also show if 2008s increase in voter turnout of young people, was a one time thing or part of a growing trend of political activism among young people.
I predict that in the 2010 midterm elections we will see Republicans regain control of the Senate and House of Representatives. I think voters are increasingly are seeing that both parties are more of the same old policies and spending, and are looking for candidates that can shake up Washington with innovative ideas. Republicans have used this idea to bring to prominence the Tea Party’s which are portraying themselves as a group with a different way of thinking.
My advice for Democrats is to go on attack mode by continuing to bring up the republican failures from the early 2000s until 2008. Democrats can’t stand pat and play it safe as Steve Driehaus and Glenn Nye are in their re-election campaigns. They need to boost enthusiasm amongst their followers if they hope to be re-elected. (2) Democrats can’t sugarcoat this election and pretend that their majorities are not at risk as House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer says, “We’re going to lose seats probably. I’m not going to speculate on a number, but we’re going to hold the House.” (3). Republicans must attack the lack of success of Obama’s policies at the moment and the massive spending the Obama administration has done. These attack points turn this election into a referendum on Obama’s first 2 years in office which improves Republicans chance of success. Democrats must be on the attack if they hope to remain in the majority on Capital Hill.
Democrats and Republicans will continue to battle until the last possible moment, hoping to sway those always important swing votes. The outcome of this election will provide insight into Americans current, and future views on the political process.
(1) The midterm polling “Roller Coaster”: 5 theories
http://news.yahoo.com/s/theweek/
(2) Vulnerable Democrats duck public events
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0910/41849.html
(3) Hoyer Says Dems will Keep House
http://www.politico.com/blogs/politicolive/0910/Hoyer_says_Democrats_will_keep_the_House.html?showall
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This November's Congressional midterm elections will be very essential to both sides of the political spectrum. The Democrats have the majority in both houses of Congress at the moment, as well as the presidency. They need to keep the majority in order to be able to keep the President's agenda on track. The Republicans, on the other hand, have a chance to take the majority in the House and Senate during Barrack's term in office. In order to take either legislature the Republicans will have to keep their good reputation untarnished. In this midterm election, the fate of the rest of the President's agenda is at stake and whether the Republicans can stop the President's agenda.
The results of the mid-term elections could go a few ways. The Democrats could keep both houses of Congress. The Republicans could take the House but not the Senate. Or the Republicans could take both houses. I personally think that the first way is out of the question, the Democrats have not done the best job of keeping their word of fixing the economy and reducing the defecit (i think that's how you spell it). The second way the elections turn out seems to be the best answer to me. The Republicans are stronger than before but to me the Bush legacy is a hard thing to out-shadow so I don't think the Republicans will be able to take the Senate.
In order to keep the majority in Congress the Democrats will have to pull off something short of a miracle. They need to stop all of the negative political rumors circling around about Obama and the Democratic party in general. To do this they need to pass the health care reform bill and seek economic changes. They need to show the public that they aren't all talk and that they can keep their word. I don't see the Democrats bringing the economy around in two months so another thing is they could make the Republicans look bad. Playing the "crazy" Teapot party card and smudging the records of Republican candidates. The Republicans can swing voters their way by using their resources in more divided regions to promote Republican candidates as opposed to using resources on more one-sided regions. The Republicans just have to not do or say anything that would tarnish their credibility until November. Both parties will have a fight on their hands but the Republicans definitely have the upper hand this time around.
The midterm elections are very important because they determine which party has control of each house of congress. Currently the Democrats have a majority in both houses and the Republicans want to regain control or at least get close to a majority. The party with control in congress plays an important part of deciding which bills come to a vote, so these elections will have an impact on all Americans(2). Historically, the minority party will gain a significant number of seats after a member of the majority party is elected president, which happened in 2008(3). This year Republican support is strong and they are expected to gain about 40 seats in the House(2). They need 39 to regain control. The Senate race will also be close, but leans slightly in favor of the Democrats(3). However, as Republicans continue to gain support, it is hard to tell what will happen in the mid-term elections(1).
I think that the Republicans will regain control of the House of Representatives. More Republicans are voting and recent polls show that people are likely to vote for the Republican candidate in their district(4). Also, Americans seem to be frustrated with the state of the economy, the federal government, and with President Obama’s leadership(1). Although the Senate race will be close, I think that the Democrats will likely retain a majority. The Republicans will probably gain about 8 seats, but that is not quite enough to put them in control(3).
My advice to Republicans is to try and get as many independent votes as they can. They should do this by putting forth a clear plan of what they will do to solve the nations’ problems such as the economy and the deficit. Democrats should not focus on President Obama because he has not been very popular in recent polls. They also need to find ways to encourage more Democrats to vote in the elections.
(1)http://www.npr.org/blogs/politicaljunkie/2010/09/06/129689351/2010-senate-ratings
(2)http://www.cnn.com/POLITICS/election.2010/the.basics/
(3) http://www.cookpolitical.com/
(4) http://www.pollingreport.com/2010.htm
What is the significance of this November's Congressional election?
The midterm elections are the first national elections since President Obama took office in January 2009. With many Congressional Democrats having ridden the anti-Bush swing to election in 2008 (1), the elections will reflect the current views of US voters, evaluating performances as representatives rather than the failures of their predecessors. In addition to its reflection on the performance of the Democrat-controlled Congress, this election, coming nearly 2 years into President Obama’s 4 year term as president, is being cast by many as a referendum on his performance (2).
Should Congress fall to the Republicans in the election, America’s political climate will be drastically changed. When the party that controls the Congress does not also control the presidency, a situation of legislative “gridlock” prevails. This will make it difficult for the government to come to an agreement on what to do about pressing issues, such as the economy, the war in Afghanistan, and infrastructure spending. Without the ability to legislate effectively, Congress may see disastrous outcomes for top issues like the economy (3).
What do you predict the results from the midterm elections will be?
Regardless of whether the country is leaning liberal or conservative, it is obvious that the climate which led to the Democrats’ near supermajority following the 2008 elections is no longer present. President Obama’s approval statistics currently show that 46% approve and 46% disapprove of his job performance (9), while Congress sits at 33% approval (10). All of the House seats are up for grabs, and a quick mental survey of punditry suggests that the Democrats have a serious worry of losing their majority in the House of Representatives. However, the Democrats have a 59/100 lead in the Senate, with only 36 seats up for grabs. Of these seats, 19 are currently held by Democrats (11). The uncharacteristic lead in the Senate and small portion of the seats up for grabs lead me to believe that, although they will lose seats, Democrats will not lose their majority in the Senate.
What advice do you have for the Democrats and the Republicans? What does each party need to do in order to be successful in November?
Democrats are heading for trouble in the midterm elections. The approach of President Obama in his first two years has been to attempt compromise (4); he did not pursue investigation for Bush-administration war crimes (5), and the healthcare bill passed by Democrats was greatly watered down from its original form (6). In my opinion, compromise on policy has not helped the Democrats and will not in the future. As during the presidential election, Obama and the Democrats need to become more aggressive in their criticisms of Republicans. In terms of policy, I think that the Democrats need to stop trying to fix the economy by November. President Obama recently proposed $50 billion in infrastructure spending (7) which, while it may help the economy, gives an appearance of flailing and supplies ammunition to those criticizing Democrats’ “tax and spend” policies. Instead, I believe that Democrats should focus on gaining the support of minorities, especially Hispanics, who have seen hostility from Republicans in the form of the new Arizona immigration law (8). Garnering support from traditional Democratic groups and taking a more aggressive stance towards Republicans will help the Democrats in this election.
While the Republican’s strategy of opposing all legislation by the Democrats has proved beneficial so far, the game leaves clear vulnerabilities that Democratic attack advertisements will surely exploit. If Republicans do nothing to avoid being labeled “the party of NO,” they may fail to take advantage in November’s election. In addition, if Republicans do gain a majority, they will lose their opposition standing, requiring that they come up with policies and an agenda on their own lest the country turn against them in the Congressional elections of 2012. In my opinion, top Republican leaders such as John Boehner and Mitch McConnell should develop a platform and agenda of substantive policy changes to help the country and avoid criticism.
1. http://www.psqonline.org/?redir=/99_article.php3%3Fbyear%3D2009%26bmonth%3Dspring%26a%3D01free Page 1
2. http://www.foxnews.com/on-air/hannity/transcript/will-2010-be-year-obama-referendum
3. http://finance.yahoo.com/tech-ticker/article/535385/%22Gridlock%22-In-Congress-Will-Be-A-Disaster-For-The-Stock-Market,-Says-Vinny-Catalano
4. http://www.newsweek.com/2010/08/27/midterm-election-will-be-referendum-on-obama.html
5. http://blogs.abcnews.com/george/2009/04/obama-adminis-1.html
6. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/02/22/politics/main6231221.shtml
7. http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2010/09/obama-50-billion-infrastructure-plan-to-create-jobs-in-2011-.html
8. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/24/us/politics/24immig.html
9. http://www.gallup.com/poll/113980/gallup-daily-obama-job-approval.aspx
10. http://www.gallup.com/poll/142898/Job-Approval-Ratings-Low-Parties-Congress.aspx
11. http://uspolitics.about.com/od/elections/l/bl_2010_senate_race.htm
November 2nd Elections will be significant in many ways because it will decide who will have control over House and Senate, which is currently under democrat’s control. This election is very important for both parties because it is the first election during Obama’s term in office. Republicans are trying to get majority control of senate and House so they can be success in their political agenda. [1] The winners of this election will get to vote on bills which would have a lot of effect on the people of this country.
I think republicans would gain majority in this election due to the things going on in congress in the past years and Obama’s administrations not getting things done.[3] Downfall of economy and increased government spending in war and taxes and job loss will make democrats lose the opportunity to gain control over congress.
Democrats should sort these problems out since they have control over congress and house. [2]Obama’s administration decisions to a growth in economy and decrease in government spending could increase the potential of democrat’s success in this election. Republicans are in a very good position right now, which could give them the victory in this election very easily. [4] Democrats gain in reputation might be an advantage for them. The fate of this election lies in the hands of American Citizens
1. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=125693903&ft=1&f=125693903
2. http://www.cnn.com/POLITICS/election.2010/the.basics/
3. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/interactives/madness/
4. http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,2004646,00.html
This Years Midterm elections may result in some significant changes. With 435 House seats, 37 Senate seats, and 37 Governors to be decided on by voters there is a lot of potential for change.(1) Right now Democrats control the House of Representatives and the Senate. With the up coming elections the republicans are hoping to at least gain control of the House. With the republican voters seeming to out number democratic voters it would seem that the republicans’ hopes are not out of reach.(2) Also based on the publics feelings about the economy, many people will feel it’s time for a change. This is why it is most likely that republicans will takeover the House of Representatives. If Democrats focus on what they have done in an effort to help the economy and middle class Americans such as the stimulus package and the healthcare bill that might help. While Republicans should focus on all that didn’t get accomplished and needs to be accomplished. (3)
1)http://www.cnn.com/POLITICS/election.2010/the.basics/
2)http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129721961
3)http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,2004646,00.html
The 2010 Congressional election this November garners significant importance for both parties alike. While Democrats control the Senate, the House of Representatives, and the White House, strong anti-Democrat sentiment has been brewing since early on in President Obama's presidency. As a precursor earlier in the year, the Massachusetts Senate seat left vacant by the late Ted Kennedy was won by Republican Scott Brown which was a surprise in the traditionally Democratic state [1]. The Democratic majority lies in legitimate danger and the midterm elections will test this danger.
I predict that Republicans will gain control of the Senate, House of Representatives, and possibly both in the midterm elections. Typical political trends suggest that while the White House belongs to one party, one or both of the houses of Congress will belong to the other party. This trend will most likely reign true after the elections are over. In addition, approval ratings of the President and Congress have hit recently hit new lows [2]. Combined with the overall negative public outlook on the economy and job market and an energized Republican voting base [3], Democrats will be fortunate to preserve their lead in Congress.
For Republicans, the best thing to do would be to continue doing what they have been doing for the past year. Public sentiment is in their favor, they just need to channel it in a way that will get people out to vote. For Democrats, they need a strong grassroots effort by the public to turn things around. Exposing the more radical conservative ideology like the Tea Party while placing an emphasis on the positive changes that have been enacted since President Obama has been in office will refresh the Democratic party's image to the public [4]. Essentially, they need to use the same tactics that President Obama used in his campaign for the White House in 2008.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=127845693&ps=rs [1]
http://www.mediaite.com/online/poll-obamas-approval-ratings-hit-new-low/ [2]
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129721961 [3]
http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,2004646,00.html [4]
From Bmac:
The November Congressional election is very significant, becuase the people we vote for will be the ones responsible for making important policy decisions. Also, whatever party has the majority in Congress will have the true power. Now, the democrats control both chambers, but this coming election will decide whether that will continue(cnn.com). I predict that the midterm elections will result in the Republicans pulling ahead of the Democrats in number of seats in both the house and senate. This is becasue many of the independent voters are tending to swing toward the Republican side, and there is a strong partisan gap favoring the Republicans(cookpolitical.com) For the Democrats and Republicasn to be successful this November they should put a lot of focus on the job market, and tax issues.
This November, the Congressional election is going to be a very cutthroat and significant race. At this point in time, the democratic party controls majority in Congress, but in November the Republicans hope to overturn those numbers to regain control of the House and Senate (1). If the Republicans fail to do so, the Democrats will continue on in their position of power running the committees. They would also continue to control the bills and items on the agenda. This is additionally powerful because committee’s approval can affect issues such as taxes, health care, immigration laws, etc.
Another influential factor in November’s elections are the new district boundaries being drawn due to the year being 2010. When boundaries are redrawn every ten years (to ensure even and equal representation due to population shifts over time), it can affect the House’s balance of power (2).
When you read the current polls, it appears that Republicans will regain control of the House. Up ten to thirteen points, the Republican Party seems to be at the advantage at this point. If they take control of the House, it will affect President Obama greatly for they tend to have opposing viewpoints on many of the major issues facing the country. As the economy awaits a major up-turn, many citizens are losing faith in our government and President Obama. This viewpoint is a devastating blow to the Democratic Party and may prove to be so as November rolls around.
The Democratic Party needs to start stepping up their game in order to win over more voters. Their main target should be a union group who will earn them many supporters, as well as facing their supports and being vocal about what’s currently being done in office rather than being ashamed of the polls and everyone’s outlook on the election.
The Republican Party definitely has the advantage over the next seven weeks. With the positive image they are gaining right now as it appears the Democrats are struggling to lead our country (ignoring the fact that it was no better when their party was in office) they just need to keep the discouraging comments pointed at their opposing party. The republicans should not get cocky though, with their ten to thirteen point lead in polls (1), because it is a proven fact that many Democratic voters differ from republicans in not being so loyal and vocal to particular candidates early on in campaigns.
Democrats need to gain more strong and definite support from their voters if they want to pull up or ahead to the Republican’s lead. Each party should work towards promoting their policies in order to urge people to vote. People sometimes overlook the midterm elections, even when they are crucial to our country’s survival. November is coming up, and that could spell disaster for the Democratic Party.
(1) www.cnn.com
(2) www.washingtonpost.com
This November, the Congressional election is going to be a very cutthroat and significant race. At this point in time, the democratic party controls majority in Congress, but in November the Republicans hope to overturn those numbers to regain control of the House and Senate (1). If the Republicans fail to do so, the Democrats will continue on in their position of power running the committees. They would also continue to control the bills and items on the agenda. This is additionally powerful because committee’s approval can affect issues such as taxes, health care, immigration laws, etc.
Another influential factor in November’s elections are the new district boundaries being drawn due to the year being 2010. When boundaries are redrawn every ten years (to ensure even and equal representation due to population shifts over time), it can affect the House’s balance of power (2).
When you read the current polls, it appears that Republicans will regain control of the House. Up ten to thirteen points, the Republican Party seems to be at the advantage at this point. If they take control of the House, it will affect President Obama greatly for they tend to have opposing viewpoints on many of the major issues facing the country. As the economy awaits a major up-turn, many citizens are losing faith in our government and President Obama. This viewpoint is a devastating blow to the Democratic Party and may prove to be so as November rolls around.
The Democratic Party needs to start stepping up their game in order to win over more voters. Their main target should be a union group who will earn them many supporters, as well as facing their supports and being vocal about what’s currently being done in office rather than being ashamed of the polls and everyone’s outlook on the election.
The Republican Party definitely has the advantage over the next seven weeks. With the positive image they are gaining right now as it appears the Democrats are struggling to lead our country (ignoring the fact that it was no better when their party was in office) they just need to keep the discouraging comments pointed at their opposing party. The republicans should not get cocky though, with their ten to thirteen point lead in polls (1), because it is a proven fact that many Democratic voters differ from republicans in not being so loyal and vocal to particular candidates early on in campaigns.
Democrats need to gain more strong and definite support from their voters if they want to pull up or ahead to the Republican’s lead. Each party should work towards promoting their policies in order to urge people to vote. People sometimes overlook the midterm elections, even when they are crucial to our country’s survival. November is coming up, and that could spell disaster for the Democratic Party.
(1) www.cnn.com
(2) www.washingtonpost.com
This comment has been removed by the author.
This comment has been removed by the author.
This November, the Congressional election is going to be a very cutthroat and significant race. At this point in time, the democratic party controls majority in Congress, but in November the Republicans hope to overturn those numbers to regain control of the House and Senate (1). If the Republicans fail to do so, the Democrats will continue on in their position of power running the committees. They would also continue to control the bills and items on the agenda. This is additionally powerful because committee’s approval can affect issues such as taxes, health care, immigration laws, etc.
Another influential factor in November’s elections are the new district boundaries being drawn due to the year being 2010. When boundaries are redrawn every ten years (to ensure even and equal representation due to population shifts over time), it can affect the House’s balance of power (2).
When you read the current polls, it appears that Republicans will regain control of the House. Up ten to thirteen points, the Republican Party seems to be at the advantage at this point. If they take control of the House, it will affect President Obama greatly for they tend to have opposing viewpoints on many of the major issues facing the country. As the economy awaits a major up-turn, many citizens are losing faith in our government and President Obama. This viewpoint is a devastating blow to the Democratic Party and may prove to be so as November rolls around.
(cont.) The Democratic Party needs to start stepping up their game in order to win over more voters. Their main target should be a union group who will earn them many supporters, as well as facing their supports and being vocal about what’s currently being done in office rather than being ashamed of the polls and everyone’s outlook on the election.
The Republican Party definitely has the advantage over the next seven weeks. With the positive image they are gaining right now as it appears the Democrats are struggling to lead our country (ignoring the fact that it was no better when their party was in office) they just need to keep the discouraging comments pointed at their opposing party. The republicans should not get cocky though, with their ten to thirteen point lead in polls (1), because it is a proven fact that many Democratic voters differ from republicans in not being so loyal and vocal to particular candidates early on in campaigns.
Democrats need to gain more strong and definite support from their voters if they want to pull up or ahead to the Republican’s lead. Each party should work towards promoting their policies in order to urge people to vote. People sometimes overlook the midterm elections, even when they are crucial to our country’s survival. November is coming up, and that could spell disaster for the Democratic Party.
(1) www.cnn.com
(2) www.washingtonpost.com
The midterm Congressional elections will be extremely important. Since the 2008 elections, the Democrats have controlled both the United States House of Representatives and Senate, including having a so-called “filibuster-proof” majority of 60 Democratic Senators until the recent Massachusetts special election. These large Democratic majorities in Congress, when combined with Barack Obama’s election as President, have permitted the Democrats to aggressively pursue their policy agenda over the last two years, including enacting health-care legislation and adopting economic policies involving historic spending levels.
Many of these Democratic policies, however, have been controversial, and have been opposed by large number of Americans. Recent poll results show that Republicans are likely to win a majority in the U.S. House of Representatives and although less likely, could even win a majority in the U.S. Senate. If the Republicans gain a majority in the House or Senate, President Obama certainly will have more difficulty in pursuing his legislative goals. If the Republicans win both houses, President Obama no doubt will have to make many more compromises than he has in the last two years or there could be political gridlock until the 2012 presidential election.
.
The results of the midterm elections probably will confirm what most current polls and reports are saying, namely, that despite the best efforts of the Democrats in Congress and President Obama, people are losing faith in the Democratic Party. Many people seem to believe that President Obama is not delivering the “ change” he promised. Also, the ever-increasing deficit is making many people believe their jobs and economic futures are at risk. Also, there is great frustration among many voters that no one is listening to them, and that Congress takes voters for granted or is even hostile to voters. These concerns make it very likely that the Republicans will win back a majority in the House of Representatives, perhaps by a very wide margin. In the Senate elections, the Democrats probably will hold on to their majority by one or two Senators (although the votes in crucial states like California and Wisconsin will be very close), but they will be nowhere close to their current total of 59.
For Democrats to change the losses predicted in current polls, they will have to convince voters that the Democratic majorities will listen to voter concerns, will stop pursuing policies opposed by majorities of people, will cut back on the amounts they have been spending, and will improve the economy. Given the short time (less than two months) until the elections, these seem to very high hurdles for the Democrats to overcome. Most importantly, the economy can’t possibly rebound in such a short time no matter what the Democrats do or say.
Republicans have a much easier task. Because they are out of power, and the economy is so bad, they mostly just have to avoid creating controversies or saying things that scare voters. Basically, Republicans can just say that what the Democrats have been doing is not working, and that the Republicans will pursue different policies, ones that will spend less money and will improve the economy. It’s always easier to be out of power when things are not going well. The advantage lies with the party that can talk and promise without current responsibility for delivering on the promises.
Lastly, the election campaigning most likely will involve lots of what the public really dislikes, which is lots of negativity, name calling and finger pointing. There seems to be lots of emotion and fear in the country right now. In truth, neither party likely has a good idea as to how to solve the major economic and deficit problems. Neither party will want to over promise, and thus, we can count on plenty of personal attacks.
[1]
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/beltway-confidential/BC-Post-Tea-Party-popularity-should-lead-to-dominance-of-the-Republican-Party-79541072.html
The midterm Congressional elections will be extremely important. Since the 2008 elections, the Democrats have controlled both the United States House of Representatives and Senate, including having a so-called “filibuster-proof” majority of 60 Democratic Senators until the recent Massachusetts special election. These large Democratic majorities in Congress, when combined with Barack Obama’s election as President, have permitted the Democrats to aggressively pursue their policy agenda over the last two years, including enacting health-care legislation and adopting economic policies involving historic spending levels.
Many of these Democratic policies, however, have been controversial, and have been opposed by large number of Americans. Recent poll results show that Republicans are likely to win a majority in the U.S. House of Representatives and although less likely, could even win a majority in the U.S. Senate. If the Republicans gain a majority in the House or Senate, President Obama certainly will have more difficulty in pursuing his legislative goals. If the Republicans win both houses, President Obama no doubt will have to make many more compromises than he has in the last two years or there could be political gridlock until the 2012 presidential election.
.
The results of the midterm elections probably will confirm what most current polls and reports are saying, namely, that despite the best efforts of the Democrats in Congress and President Obama, people are losing faith in the Democratic Party. Many people seem to believe that President Obama is not delivering the “ change” he promised. Also, the ever-increasing deficit is making many people believe their jobs and economic futures are at risk. Also, there is great frustration among many voters that no one is listening to them, and that Congress takes voters for granted or is even hostile to voters. These concerns make it very likely that the Republicans will win back a majority in the House of Representatives, perhaps by a very wide margin. In the Senate elections, the Democrats probably will hold on to their majority by one or two Senators (although the votes in crucial states like California and Wisconsin will be very close), but they will be nowhere close to their current total of 59.
post 1 0f 2
For Democrats to change the losses predicted in current polls, they will have to convince voters that the Democratic majorities will listen to voter concerns, will stop pursuing policies opposed by majorities of people, will cut back on the amounts they have been spending, and will improve the economy. Given the short time (less than two months) until the elections, these seem to very high hurdles for the Democrats to overcome. Most importantly, the economy can’t possibly rebound in such a short time no matter what the Democrats do or say.
Republicans have a much easier task. Because they are out of power, and the economy is so bad, they mostly just have to avoid creating controversies or saying things that scare voters. Basically, Republicans can just say that what the Democrats have been doing is not working, and that the Republicans will pursue different policies, ones that will spend less money and will improve the economy. It’s always easier to be out of power when things are not going well. The advantage lies with the party that can talk and promise without current responsibility for delivering on the promises.
Lastly, the election campaigning most likely will involve lots of what the public really dislikes, which is lots of negativity, name calling and finger pointing. There seems to be lots of emotion and fear in the country right now. In truth, neither party likely has a good idea as to how to solve the major economic and deficit problems. Neither party will want to over promise, and thus, we can count on plenty of personal attacks.
[1]
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/beltway-confidential/BC-Post-Tea-Party-popularity-should-lead-to-dominance-of-the-Republican-Party-79541072.html
post 2 of 2
For Democrats to change the losses predicted in current polls, they will have to convince voters that the Democratic majorities will listen to voter concerns, will stop pursuing policies opposed by majorities of people, will cut back on the amounts they have been spending, and will improve the economy. Given the short time (less than two months) until the elections, these seem to very high hurdles for the Democrats to overcome. Most importantly, the economy can’t possibly rebound in such a short time no matter what the Democrats do or say.
Republicans have a much easier task. Because they are out of power, and the economy is so bad, they mostly just have to avoid creating controversies or saying things that scare voters. Basically, Republicans can just say that what the Democrats have been doing is not working, and that the Republicans will pursue different policies, ones that will spend less money and will improve the economy. It’s always easier to be out of power when things are not going well. The advantage lies with the party that can talk and promise without current responsibility for delivering on the promises.
Lastly, the election campaigning most likely will involve lots of what the public really dislikes, which is lots of negativity, name calling and finger pointing. There seems to be lots of emotion and fear in the country right now. In truth, neither party likely has a good idea as to how to solve the major economic and deficit problems. Neither party will want to over promise, and thus, we can count on plenty of personal attacks.
[1]
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/beltway-confidential/BC-Post-Tea-Party-popularity-should-lead-to-dominance-of-the-Republican-Party-79541072.html
post 2 of 2
So it’s upon us once again, the time that comes every few years with its relentless commercials, newspaper editorials, and opinionated blogs from even the most uninformed of America’s citizens. That’s right folks; it’s time for the 2010 mid-term elections.
Those of us who remain politically absent minded may be wondering, what’s all the fuss about if we aren’t even electing a new president? Well my unenlightened amigos, this has been called the most important mid-term election in decades (1), which is chiefly because of the fact that there are 37 Senate seats open as well as 435 House seats (2). I know what you’re thinking, “Wow, that’s a lot of seats.” And indeed it is. Our Congress has a Democratic majority, and with all of these empty seats, the Republicans are hoping to fill them with members of their party (2). The reason that all of this should matter to every American occupying the rather large space in between Canada and Mexico is because the people who end up filling these seats in Congress will be voting for ballot initiatives that set standards and make laws that pertain to everything from gay rights to taxes (2).
My prediction of the results of these mid-term elections should surprise no one. I believe that Republicans will take back a few seats in both the House and Senate, but not enough to gain them the majority in either. The map on the Washington Post’s website looks like something out of a Paint-By-Number book, showing the different districts in each state as Democratic, Republican, or open. To me, it looks fairly balanced, but there are many open districts which means it could go to either of the two parties or even a third party ( 1 and 3). Representative Mike Pence of Indiana says that people don’t want all of the costly reform policies that the Democrats have been pushing for. Though I think that you need to spend money to make money, I’m sure there are many who do believe what Pence said (4). On the other hand, Democrats say that the Republicans are simply opposing whatever the Obama administration and the Democrats are proposing (4). Even though I’m heavily liberal, I say we should give a little more credit to the Republican Party. They know what they believe and most of them are fairly intelligent people.
The advice that I’m about to give to the two parties on how they should switch up their game plans to win more of these elections may not be entirely doable, or even helpful, because the elections are less than two months away. With that in mind, I say that both parties need to stop repeating the same statements they have been for the past four years. On the television, it’s all politics as usual with absurd amounts of name calling towards other candidates (cough cough, Michelle Bachman, cough) and the repeated promises of tax cuts. Republicans, you guys want to stop free spending policies, but again, you need to spend money to make money. The economy is currently growing and maybe it’s time to switch your focus to more pressing matters, like your perceived advancement towards socialism in the U.S. Democrats, you sound like a broken record with all of the continuous rhetoric about the recession and how we can’t go back to the Bush policies because he increased the deficit. We know he did. That’s one reason he’s out of office (the fact that he couldn’t have run for another term is entirely beside the point in this example). The main thing I think that the Democrats should focus on is how exactly they want to decrease the budget deficit. Perhaps cut military spending and try to remove more troops from the Middle East. The American people don’t have ears for any subject unless you have specific plans for how you’re going to fix it.
1. The Star Tribune. “This November, the Choice is not Either/Or” by Carlos Gonzales.
2. www.cnn.com
3. www.Washingtonpost.com
4. http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/07/18/us.elections.early.rhetoric/index.html
So it’s upon us once again, the time that comes every few years with its relentless commercials, newspaper editorials, and opinionated blogs from even the most uninformed of America’s citizens. That’s right folks; it’s time for the 2010 mid-term elections.
Those of us who remain politically absent minded may be wondering, what’s all the fuss about if we aren’t even electing a new president? Well my unenlightened amigos, this has been called the most important mid-term election in decades (1), which is chiefly because of the fact that there are 37 Senate seats open as well as 435 House seats (2). I know what you’re thinking, “Wow, that’s a lot of seats.” And indeed it is. Our Congress has a Democratic majority, and with all of these empty seats, the Republicans are hoping to fill them with members of their party (2). The reason that all of this should matter to every American occupying the rather large space in between Canada and Mexico is because the people who end up filling these seats in Congress will be voting for ballot initiatives that set standards and make laws that pertain to everything from gay rights to taxes (2).
My prediction of the results of these mid-term elections should surprise no one. I believe that Republicans will take back a few seats in both the House and Senate, but not enough to gain them the majority in either. The map on the Washington Post’s website looks like something out of a Paint-By-Number book, showing the different districts in each state as Democratic, Republican, or open. To me, it looks fairly balanced, but there are many open districts which means it could go to either of the two parties or even a third party ( 1 and 3). Representative Mike Pence of Indiana says that people don’t want all of the costly reform policies that the Democrats have been pushing for. Though I think that you need to spend money to make money, I’m sure there are many who do believe what Pence said (4). On the other hand, Democrats say that the Republicans are simply opposing whatever the Obama administration and the Democrats are proposing (4). Even though I’m heavily liberal, I say we should give a little more credit to the Republican Party. They know what they believe and most of them are fairly intelligent people.
The advice that I’m about to give to the two parties on how they should switch up their game plans to win more of these elections may not be entirely doable, or even helpful, because the elections are less than two months away. With that in mind, I say that both parties need to stop repeating the same statements they have been for the past four years. On the television, it’s all politics as usual with absurd amounts of name calling towards other candidates (cough cough, Michelle Bachman, cough) and the repeated promises of tax cuts. Republicans, you guys want to stop free spending policies, but again, you need to spend money to make money. The economy is currently growing and maybe it’s time to switch your focus to more pressing matters, like your perceived advancement towards socialism in the U.S. Democrats, you sound like a broken record with all of the continuous rhetoric about the recession and how we can’t go back to the Bush policies because he increased the deficit. We know he did. That’s one reason he’s out of office (the fact that he couldn’t have run for another term is entirely beside the point in this example). The main thing I think that the Democrats should focus on is how exactly they want to decrease the budget deficit. Perhaps cut military spending and try to remove more troops from the Middle East. The American people don’t have ears for any subject unless you have specific plans for how you’re going to fix it.
1. The Star Tribune. “This November, the Choice is not Either/Or” by Carlos Gonzales.
2. www.cnn.com
3. www.Washingtonpost.com
4. http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/07/18/us.elections.early.rhetoric/index.html
So it’s upon us once again, the time that comes every few years with its relentless commercials, newspaper editorials, and opinionated blogs from even the most uninformed of America’s citizens. That’s right folks; it’s time for the 2010 mid-term elections.
Those of us who remain politically absent minded may be wondering, what’s all the fuss about if we aren’t even electing a new president? Well my unenlightened amigos, this has been called the most important mid-term election in decades (1), which is chiefly because of the fact that there are 37 Senate seats open as well as 435 House seats (2). I know what you’re thinking, “Wow, that’s a lot of seats.” And indeed it is. Our Congress has a Democratic majority, and with all of these empty seats, the Republicans are hoping to fill them with members of their party (2). The reason that all of this should matter to every American occupying the rather large space in between Canada and Mexico is because the people who end up filling these seats in Congress will be voting for ballot initiatives that set standards and make laws that pertain to everything from gay rights to taxes (2).
My prediction of the results of these mid-term elections should surprise no one. I believe that Republicans will take back a few seats in both the House and Senate, but not enough to gain them the majority in either. The map on the Washington Post’s website looks like something out of a Paint-By-Number book, showing the different districts in each state as Democratic, Republican, or open. To me, it looks fairly balanced, but there are many open districts which means it could go to either of the two parties or even a third party ( 1 and 3). Representative Mike Pence of Indiana says that people don’t want all of the costly reform policies that the Democrats have been pushing for. Though I think that you need to spend money to make money, I’m sure there are many who do believe what Pence said (4). On the other hand, Democrats say that the Republicans are simply opposing whatever the Obama administration and the Democrats are proposing (4). Even though I’m heavily liberal, I say we should give a little more credit to the Republican Party. They know what they believe and most of them are fairly intelligent people.
The advice that I’m about to give to the two parties on how they should switch up their game plans to win more of these elections may not be entirely doable, or even helpful, because the elections are less than two months away. With that in mind, I say that both parties need to stop repeating the same statements they have been for the past four years. On the television, it’s all politics as usual with absurd amounts of name calling towards other candidates (cough cough, Michelle Bachman, cough) and the repeated promises of tax cuts. Republicans, you guys want to stop free spending policies, but again, you need to spend money to make money. The economy is currently growing and maybe it’s time to switch your focus to more pressing matters, like your perceived advancement towards socialism in the U.S. Democrats, you sound like a broken record with all of the continuous rhetoric about the recession and how we can’t go back to the Bush policies because he increased the deficit. We know he did. That’s one reason he’s out of office (the fact that he couldn’t have run for another term is entirely beside the point in this example). The main thing I think that the Democrats should focus on is how exactly they want to decrease the budget deficit. Perhaps cut military spending and try to remove more troops from the Middle East. The American people don’t have ears for any subject unless you have specific plans for how you’re going to fix it.
1. The Star Tribune. “This November, the Choice is not Either/Or” by Carlos Gonzales.
2. www.cnn.com
3. www.Washingtonpost.com
4. http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/07/18/us.elections.early.rhetoric/index.html
So it’s upon us once again, the time that comes every few years with its relentless commercials, newspaper editorials, and opinionated blogs from even the most uninformed of America’s citizens. That’s right folks; it’s time for the 2010 mid-term elections.
Those of us who remain politically absent minded may be wondering, what’s all the fuss about if we aren’t even electing a new president? Well my unenlightened amigos, this has been called the most important mid-term election in decades (1), which is chiefly because of the fact that there are 37 Senate seats open as well as 435 House seats (2). I know what you’re thinking, “Wow, that’s a lot of seats.” And indeed it is. Our Congress has a Democratic majority, and with all of these empty seats, the Republicans are hoping to fill them with members of their party (2). The reason that all of this should matter to every American occupying the rather large space in between Canada and Mexico is because the people who end up filling these seats in Congress will be voting for ballot initiatives that set standards and make laws that pertain to everything from gay rights to taxes (2).
My prediction of the results of these mid-term elections should surprise no one. I believe that Republicans will take back a few seats in both the House and Senate, but not enough to gain them the majority in either. The map on the Washington Post’s website looks like something out of a Paint-By-Number book, showing the different districts in each state as Democratic, Republican, or open. To me, it looks fairly balanced, but there are many open districts which means it could go to either of the two parties or even a third party ( 1 and 3). Representative Mike Pence of Indiana says that people don’t want all of the costly reform policies that the Democrats have been pushing for. Though I think that you need to spend money to make money, I’m sure there are many who do believe what Pence said (4). On the other hand, Democrats say that the Republicans are simply opposing whatever the Obama administration and the Democrats are proposing (4). Even though I’m heavily liberal, I say we should give a little more credit to the Republican Party. They know what they believe and most of them are fairly intelligent people.
The advice that I’m about to give to the two parties on how they should switch up their game plans to win more of these elections may not be entirely doable, or even helpful, because the elections are less than two months away. With that in mind, I say that both parties need to stop repeating the same statements they have been for the past four years. On the television, it’s all politics as usual with absurd amounts of name calling towards other candidates (cough cough, Michelle Bachman, cough) and the repeated promises of tax cuts. Republicans, you guys want to stop free spending policies, but again, you need to spend money to make money. The economy is currently growing and maybe it’s time to switch your focus to more pressing matters, like your perceived advancement towards socialism in the U.S. Democrats, you sound like a broken record with all of the continuous rhetoric about the recession and how we can’t go back to the Bush policies because he increased the deficit. We know he did. That’s one reason he’s out of office (the fact that he couldn’t have run for another term is entirely beside the point in this example). The main thing I think that the Democrats should focus on is how exactly they want to decrease the budget deficit. Perhaps cut military spending and try to remove more troops from the Middle East. The American people don’t have ears for any subject unless you have specific plans for how you’re going to fix it.
The Star Tribune. “This November, the Choice is not Either/Or” by Carlos Gonzales.
www.cnn.com
3. www.Washingtonpost.com
4. http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/07/18/us.elections.early.rhetoric/index.html
So it’s upon us once again, the time that comes every few years with its relentless commercials, newspaper editorials, and opinionated blogs from even the most uninformed of America’s citizens. That’s right folks; it’s time for the 2010 mid-term elections.
Those of us who remain politically absent minded may be wondering, what’s all the fuss about if we aren’t even electing a new president? Well my unenlightened amigos, this has been called the most important mid-term election in decades (1), which is chiefly because of the fact that there are 37 Senate seats open as well as 435 House seats (2). I know what you’re thinking, “Wow, that’s a lot of seats.” And indeed it is. Our Congress has a Democratic majority, and with all of these empty seats, the Republicans are hoping to fill them with members of their party (2). The reason that all of this should matter to every American occupying the rather large space in between Canada and Mexico is because the people who end up filling these seats in Congress will be voting for ballot initiatives that set standards and make laws that pertain to everything from gay rights to taxes (2).
My prediction of the results of these mid-term elections should surprise no one. I believe that Republicans will take back a few seats in both the House and Senate, but not enough to gain them the majority in either. The map on the Washington Post’s website looks like something out of a Paint-By-Number book, showing the different districts in each state as Democratic, Republican, or open. To me, it looks fairly balanced, but there are many open districts which means it could go to either of the two parties or even a third party ( 1 and 3). Representative Mike Pence of Indiana says that people don’t want all of the costly reform policies that the Democrats have been pushing for. Though I think that you need to spend money to make money, I’m sure there are many who do believe what Pence said (4). On the other hand, Democrats say that the Republicans are simply opposing whatever the Obama administration and the Democrats are proposing (4). Even though I’m heavily liberal, I say we should give a little more credit to the Republican Party. They know what they believe and most of them are fairly intelligent people.
The advice that I’m about to give to the two parties on how they should switch up their game plans to win more of these elections may not be entirely doable, or even helpful, because the elections are less than two months away. With that in mind, I say that both parties need to stop repeating the same statements they have been for the past four years. On the television, it’s all politics as usual with absurd amounts of name calling towards other candidates (cough cough, Michelle Bachman, cough) and the repeated promises of tax cuts. Republicans, you guys want to stop free spending policies, but again, you need to spend money to make money. The economy is currently growing and maybe it’s time to switch your focus to more pressing matters, like your perceived advancement towards socialism in the U.S. Democrats, you sound like a broken record with all of the continuous rhetoric about the recession and how we can’t go back to the Bush policies because he increased the deficit. We know he did. That’s one reason he’s out of office (the fact that he couldn’t have run for another term is entirely beside the point in this example). The main thing I think that the Democrats should focus on is how exactly they want to decrease the budget deficit. Perhaps cut military spending and try to remove more troops from the Middle East. The American people don’t have ears for any subject unless you have specific plans for how you’re going to fix it.
The Star Tribune. “This November, the Choice is not Either/Or” by Carlos Gonzales.
www.cnn.com
3. www.Washingtonpost.com
4. http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/07/18/us.elections.early.rhetoric/index.html
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In Response to: Brian G.
You definitely brought up some valid arguments that I agree with you on, but there were a few things that I disagreed with. You wrote that you believed the Republican party would gain control of the House of Representatives because the Democrats have only a small majority currently and because some people are not satisfied with certain Democrats, like President Obama and Nancy Pelosi. I definitely agree with your statement here, as it appears that Republican candidates are fairing well according to polls and because the President’s party generally loses seats in the midterm elections. I don’t think that the Republicans will gain control of the Senate though, as they have a large majority and only some of the seats are open for election, however I do think that the Democrats will only have a small majority in the Senate once the elections are over.
You also said this regarding Republican strategy for this election: “My advice to the Republican Party to win this midterm election is that they need to act like themselves and try not to extend their boundaries. When the Republican Party extends their boundaries they often get themselves into trouble because they tend to lie, and nobody in America enjoys liars.” While I do think it is important for the Republicans to be themselves and not to lie, I do not think that those are the biggest things they need to work on. I think it would be most beneficial for the Republicans if they criticize the Obama administration and other Democrat leaders. Also, and I’m not saying they should lie, but they should try to downplay some of the divisions in their party, like the Tea Party.
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