Griper Blade: Both Parties Handicapped in 2010

Hey look, it's 2010. Election year. The good news for Republicans is that Democrats have spent the last half of 2009 blowing it. The good news for Democrats is that voters don't seem to have forgotten that Republicans suck. Still, the GOP is poised to be the big winner in November, provided nothing much changes between now and then -- which is an impossible expectation. How big might the Republicans win be? Despite the hullabaloo about a "big Republican year," most give them a very slim chance of retaking the House of Representatives and no chance of retaking the Senate, meaning that -- in all likelihood -- dems will retain control of both Houses. My own personal take is that Blue Dogs will be the biggest losers in the Democratic caucus, which actually means that very little will actually change. The Democrats are almost certain to lose that "filibuster-proof" majority, but since that's proved to be entirely theoretical anyway, it's hard to get too worked up about it. In both chambers, it's easy to envision the same sort of legislation breaking down to the same number of votes for and against. Unlike the party, I have no interest in electing Democrats merely to elect Democrats. If you aren't going to actually do anything positive with those seats, don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out. I won't miss Democrats who've voted with Republicans most of the time anyway.

Still, gloom and doom sells papers, so gloom and doom for Democrats in 2010 is what we get. The consequences of the wins or losses are superceded by horserace coverage in the best circumstances, let alone in cases like this, where the likely consequences are pretty minimal. It's "gloom and doom for Democrats" because any other take on the story is a ywan. If you're looking for good news here, Republican triumphalism is probably misplaced and will be followed quickly by disappointment. When the smoke clears, the Republican base will expect a lot their elected officials won't be able to deliver -- and the teabaggers, known neither for their patience nor their level-headedness, will tear them apart.

Still, it's not like Democrats don't have a strategy. It's a simple plan; remind voters that Republicans suck... [CLICK TO READ FULL POST]