Election 2006 could be a mirror image of the mid term election of 1966.
Two years before that election, in 1964, Democrat Lyndon Johnson won the presidency by a landslide. His popularity at that time might be compared to the surge that George W. Bush experienced just after 9/11.
Both presidents then dealt unsuccessfully with wars that eroded their popularity to a low level.
Also, both parties carried additional baggage into the mid term contests. Johnson had ignited a backlash in the south by championing his civil rights legislation. Today, the GOP is saddled with scandals and issues that seem to have mushroomed overnight.
The results of the mid term election in 1966 echoed the displeasure of the electorate. The GOP gained 47 House seats and 3 Senate seats.
As a result, LBJ's legislative agenda was stopped dead in its tracks and the Republican Party was handed a psychological boost that carried it through the election of 1968 and beyond.
Today, the Democrats may be on the verge of turning the tables. NPR announced just yesterday that Democratic candidates are leading in 40 House districts held by Republicans. Furthermore, control of the Senate may boil down to just three super hot races in Missouri, Tennessee and Virginia.
As in 1966, a great deal is at stake. The course of the war in Iraq and the war on terror could well depend on the results of the November 7th election, not to mention the direction and scope of many other issues.
The desperation on the part of the staggering GOP is evidenced by the tone of its recent campaigning. It has gotten particularly nasty in Tennessee, where Democrat Harold E. Ford, Jr. is threatening to become the first African American Senator since Reconstruction to represent a state in the former Confederacy.
The GOP has been running an ad that shows a scantily clad white woman winking at a black candidate and inviting him to "call me." Clearly this is a thinly veiled attempt to play on the distaste of some voters for interracial relationships.
Critics are alleging that this ad, funded by the Republican National Committee, amounts to nothing less than "race baiting," a practice supposedly disavowed by the GOP last year when it announced that it had been wrong in the past to use racial appeals to attract white voters.
Ford's Republican opponent, Bob Corker, has tried to distance himself from the ad by calling for its removal. At last check, the ad continues to run, however, and the GOP is unapologetic. This, perhaps, as much as any other example, reveals the depths to which political operatives are willing to go when times grow desperate.
The red hot Missouri race is also getting messy. Michael J. Fox has just appeared on behalf of Democrat Claire McCaskill, the state auditor, in her campaign against incumbent Jim Talent.
Evidently, Fox, who is an activist for stem cell research, intentionally stopped taking his pills for the Parkinsons disease that he has had, in order to show the viewers what the victims must endure. As expected, his video presentation showed the full affects of his affliction.
Republican hatchetman, Rush Limbaugh, swung back today, accusing Michael Fox of "faking it."
Round two of Election 2006's Desperation Tour may well occur directly on November 7. A study released just yesterday, by Electionline.org, a nonpartisan clearinghouse that tracks electoral reforms across the United States, and which is sponsored by the Pew Charitable Trusts, says that "at least ten states could encounter trouble on Election Day because they have a combustible mix of fledging voting machine technology, confusion over voting procedures or recent litigation over election rules -- and close races," according to the Washington Post.
Maryland, in particular, was cited in the report for what it calls a "dismal primary" in September that "included human and machine failures galore."
Numerous other organizations and scholars have issued similar warnings in recent weeks, according to the Post.
Only two things appear fairly certain in this hardly normal national election. One, the fireworks are sure to accelerate, and two, it will be the most important and interesting mid term campaign in 40 years.
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Comments: 41
It amazes me that people all said that if Sen. Obama was to run, that race wouldn't be a factor, but it seems that the race card is being played in so many races involving African-American candidates. Hope he's taking notes...
The Constitution gives each house of Congress the sole authority to determine the qualifications of its members.
1984 elections:
http://www.opinionjournal.com/diary/?id=110009139
...in Indiana. After a recount, Republican Richard McIntyre was declared the winner by 34 votes over Democratic incumbent Frank McCloskey. The Indiana secretary of state, a Republican, certified the McIntyre victory, but the Democratic House refused to seat him and left the seat vacant for four months while a special task force recounted all the ballots. The task force decided--and the full House agreed along party lines--that the Democrat had won by four votes. Republicans charged that the Democrats had recounted the ballots until their man was ahead and then promptly shut down the count. Newt Gingrich, the future House speaker, labeled the refusal to seat the certified winner "the Watergate of the House," and led a walkout of GOP members from the chamber.
Oh, and Rosa, there was this little thing we were all scared to death by in the 60s called the "Domino Theory" -- it had a really familiar melody to current song.
If you think the vast majority of Muslims want to colonize the West, then I suppose you believe in the so-called "War on Terror"? The threats and the attacks against other countries by the US provoke disaffection and fear. Blaming the victim sells to the public . In Israel it has been used to deceive its people for many years. There is payback for this.
Mark f responded "David, I think the most telling sign that the GOP are feeling the pressure is that the dark lord, himself, Karl Rove, is out of his whole and giving interviews to NPR and CNN - and not just sound bites, full on interviews!" Where do some come up with their comments? This sounds more like a grammar school conversation and not that of people who actually dig into archives, and histories of the parties or people. For many mid term elections, the most popular and strong planners will come out and help those who need an extra boost. This is nothing new. For the democrats to actually win some seats seems to be like god coming to earth and blessing all the democrats, it is one election, and not crowning a king.
It is commendable that you have put aside your personal concerns to form and express your opinions on this election. The points you raise as to what is important to you and how others should assess their choices are without a doubt the most impressive I've read.
I'm sure all on this thread and everyone you come in contact with are rooting for you to get to the top of that list. I wish you the best, Randy, and hope to cross paths with you many more times on many more "interesting" topics....Good luck!
David, thank you so kindly for your support. I believe that we as a country have forgotten why we vote. For many, it is a popularity contest. To me, being popular is not always the best way to go. Let me give everyone something to think about. Would you rather be a manager who was best friends with your employees, but when it came to having to tell them they need to do their job, or else, and they blow you off, or a manager who is not always liked, but respected, because every decision you make is fair, well thought out, and consistent. Most employees will have more respect for the fair manager, than the best friend. So the popularity contest is a manager who does whats popular, not always what is right. Sometimes as a political leader, when given all the information, you need to make a decision, and it may not be the most popular, but your concern is fair, and honest, and real. In the end, that decision will allow you as a person to be able to look at yourself with pride in the morning in that mirror. Going back to Rania's comment. That politician was trying to be popular, and not being real, fair, or honest. By being the happy guy-he forgot about what was really needed.
I do wish people would not just respond in defiance, and indignation, but give thoughtful, intelligent discussion points.
My particular "disease" is kidney failure, and I have been a dialysis patient for nearly 15 years, and I am well over 3 million dollars old now. When I tell people I believe Medicare and Social Security, two programs I benefit from, should be abolished, they call me a hypocrite.
Like you, I do not wish to see government be the salvation for all of our society's ills. This is why I am a conservative.
David, as to your article, like a great many others, you seem to be counting all of those little chickies before they have hatched. The virtual GLEE with which the democrats parade these days, is a bit obscene itself, and could be a "factor" in the election as well.
Your colorful language like "hatchet man" aside, it is hard to come to any other conclusion than you have already made up your mind--- the republicans are dead men walking.
As for myself, I would suggest this-- wait and see.
I will never forget the picture of - now damn, I think I may have forgotten it...was it Truman holding up the newspaper with the headline "Dewey Wins?"...... Something like that, anyway....You are absolutely right, it ain't over till it's over!
Most of what I wrote was factual, but I did take the luxury of anticipating a Democratic takeover of the House. I guess we'll just have to wait and see but it looks promising...You've got to give me that, although you might use a different choice of wording.
I think Rush proved he's entitled to the moniker "hatchetman." His pantomine of Michael's affliction was insulting to all Parkinsons victims and represented a new low, even for him. I don't believe he helped the Republican cause with that performance.
I agree that there could be a last minute backlash if the Democrats get too smug about this....Meanwhile, it will all be interesting, there's no doubt about that...
I'd like to focus, if I may, on the "dismal" voting process in our country. Why is it the world's beacon of democracy can't get voting right?
Does this smell of ineptitude or intentional hanky-panky?
I hate to be cynical, but when the company that makes the machine also donates money to specific political parties, my eyebrow doth raise!
Just a thought on this- Why don't we use the purple dyed finger method that seemed to work so well in Iraq? We know there are uncouth organizations out there that get people voting more than once, (yes on both sides) why not make simplicity our prime objective? Do we need to have fancy machines? Can't we just go back to our democratic grade school process?
Who should be class President? (circle one)
Bobby Jenny
Who should be treasurer?
Dianne Jack
Does Joe have Cooties?
Yes No
You make a good point, Emmet. Haven't these problems been around long enough that some serious changes should have been made by now? One might suspect that those who control the power to legislate these changes simply don't want to. It is a sad situation when a party puts its success ahead of the basic viability of our electoral system, and yet what other conclusion can you come to?
You're absolutely right Tyler, there is a growing distinction between the terms "Democrat" and "liberal."
A good example of your observation is Heath Shuler, a Democrat running for Congress in North Carolina. He's pro business, and an evangelical Christian opposed to abortion and is, in fact, a conservative.
No less than sixteen Democratic candidates in the coming elections have been endorsed by the Blue Dogs, a coalition of conservative Democrats.
And, by the way, Randy, this trend is making Nancy Pelosi a kinder, gentler Democrat who may become less inclined to utter such extreme remarks in the future. She has already started to scuttle any of the grand, liberal ambitions she may have had because of the conservative trend in her party.
If we would become more engaged with the leaders of the political parties, what they stand for, and expect for those to keep their promises, or be kicked out quicker than voted in, then there would be a real sense of doing something real with our political endeavors. We accept lip service, empty promises, sugar coated reality, and then complain when things turn messy. I find it hard to believe that a black widow will change it's over all inherent traits, even after removing its venom, so i have a hard time believing nancy pelosi will change her ways. I believe that those on both sides who do not know civility need to be ousted, along with the do nothing politicians, and those that block progress for their own agendas. If we were to toss them on the sidewalk, then the message would become very clear. I am a man of my word, and i expect any politician to stand up and be a person of their word once elected, this is no free ride as far as i am concerned.
There is no other logical conclusion.
a man of his word.... I like that Randy..... you are a stand up guy. Bravo!!! At least our President is a man of his word, he cares about people who care nothing for him, and he cares nothing about popularity.
As Randy as tried to tell you, as I just stated on your next article about the evil Rove, the "machinery" exists on many levels. Each cog in the machine is required for the machine to work efficiently.
Just as the best mechanic makes a combustion engine work efficiently, the best political strategist will make a political machine work efficiently. This is what politics is all about. This is what politics in this country, has always been.
After I saw the Scorsese movie "The Gangs of New York," I was compelled to do extensive research on the era, and the politics of the time. It was FASCINATING. So much like today, yet so far removed. It was UNNERVING really, to see it so clearly demonstrated before my eyes.
All of the grand talk, all of the grand visions, and nothing has really come of it, people are still people, doing what flawed human beings do.
From the very beginning of our great nation, the political "machinery" has been well oil, and has seldom ceased to grind. In fact I would submit, the political "machinery" of this country is precisely why we are the envy of the world, and freedom reigns.
I'm sorry so many people see our government as "broken." Free will allows for so much more.
They see a flawed foreign policy based on public misrepresentations that has - for good reason - nearly destroyed our reputation in the world, and sapped our energies and monies to the extent that real problems go unattended.
They see an administration that has made a power grab that has essentially thrown the concept of balance-of-power into a cocked hat. Congress has become our national eunuch.
They see a government in power that - to be brutally frank - is mismanaging the nation's finances.
They see a moneyocracy in which politicians and corporate leaders greedily suck in huge amounts of funds at the expense of their taxpayers and stockholders respectively.
They see an increase in the gap between the wealthy and all others, caused in large part by our money based political system lavishly rewarding the rich for their financial support.
And now, on top of everything else, they see an electoral system that has been retooled to the advantage of the same government in power that is responsible for all the other problems.
This isn't the old days that were the setting for "Gangs of New York." In those days things were getting better year by year, and they gradually did.
The point is - today - things are rapidly getting worse.
Clinton was no saint, and he isn't the "other option" than Bush. That doesn't mean Bush is good because Clinton screwed up. That is what we call - illogical reasoning.
Bush Sr. was the first to "let Bin Laden go" by the way.
Oh, and didn't Bush also try and convince the people there were WMD's in Iraq? Man of his word? What about when he lies and you just don't want to hear it - delusions?