How the Republicans Can Take Back the Senate in 2014

[longknife]

By Zeke J MillerApril 26, 2013

Oh Lord do I have my fingers crossed!

On paper, the 2014 Senate cycle could hardly be going better for Republicans.

The Democrats are on defense, holding 21 of the 35 seats up for grabs next year. Several stalwart Democrats have announced their retirement, including Montana Senator Max Baucus, who announced Tuesday he would follow Iowa’s Tom Harkin and Michigan’s Carl Levin in not seeking re-election. Those veterans have won a combined 17 terms, and their departures leave tested political and fundraising machines on the table and give the GOP an opening in otherwise untouchable races. The implementation of Obamacare could complicate many others. History is on the Republican side; no sitting president’s party has gained Senate seats in the midterm of a second term. In recent cycles, the loss has averaged more than six seats — enough to give Republicans control.

Read more: How the Republicans Can Take Back the Senate in 2014 | TIME.com

 

[rocket88]

By Zeke J MillerApril 26, 2013

Oh Lord do I have my fingers crossed!

On paper, the 2014 Senate cycle could hardly be going better for Republicans.



Read more: How the Republicans Can Take Back the Senate in 2014 | TIME.com

For some reason I'm remembering 1 year ago when they were going to do that AND win the White House....

In fact wasn't there someone here who claimed Romney would win Illinois?

 

[CaptinSarcastic]

For some reason I'm remembering 1 year ago when they were going to do that AND win the White House....

In fact wasn't there someone here who claimed Romney would win Illinois?

The GOP has its sights set on taking the Senate, but history suggests that they will miss that target and shoot themselves the collective foot again. The GOP needs some Kevlar booties.

 

[Anagram]

By Zeke J MillerApril 26, 2013

Oh Lord do I have my fingers crossed!

On paper, the 2014 Senate cycle could hardly be going better for Republicans.



Read more: How the Republicans Can Take Back the Senate in 2014 | TIME.com

I don't think they'll take back the Senate next year. South Dakota and and West Virginia look good, but Baucus retiring actually helps the Democrats if Schweitzer runs. I don't think the GOP can beat Gary Peters or Bruce Braley in Iowa or Michigan with the candidates that seem like possibilities to run there. Seems like they'll have to pick off four incumbents out of Begich, Landrieu, Pryor, Hagan, and Shaheen. It doesn't seem too terribly likely unless 2014 is a very deep GOP cycle, possibly even deeper than 2010 where they only picked off two democratic incumbents.

 

[Fisher]

They won't retake the Senate but I expect them to make gains. The GOP is doing the best thing they can do right now--be quiet and let the dems implode in the Senate. They are definitely going to hold the House. Diane Feinstein is the best GOP fundraiser out there right now.

 

[Velvet Elvis]

Honestly, there shouldn't be any reason for the Right NOT to take both the House and the Senate.

Too bad, (once again) they'll blow it. They can't help it. They're confused. They see their base, but it's given them tunnel vision. The Demosocialists just gotta play the abortion card, and the Republicans just cart that gas can out there, and torch their own hopes.



Dear Republicans...let it go. Do not take the bait. Fight that fight another day (even though you'll never win). It's the only way to take the power away from the Jerk-in-Chief.

 

[specklebang]

So if they do take the Senate, what happens then? Will our deadlock go away? Will Obama make nice? Will Santa Claus be coming to town?

 

[Rainman05]

Here was the correct way to do it from 2010 when they took the house of representatives.

They would go to the american people in front of every major bill that was going to pass and say:
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Fellow american citizens. We will pass the legislation Obama says will make the country better. The budgets. The obamacare. The stimulus. All of it.
We will pass these things but we take on the position that the effects of these laws will be negative and will not resolve our problems. However, we are doing this because we do not want to have a political gridlock and we are not children.

If the effects of those laws are good, Obama and the democrats takes all the credit. If they are bad and lead to higher costs, more debt and further unemployment, Obama and the democrats take entire responsibility. So in 2012, when you will see the effects of the laws the democrats wanted to pass, make a decision. Either continue on the same route, or vote us in office.
---

Instead of doing this horrible, childish gridlock. These bastards, the repubs and dems in congress, have passed all the legislation that destroyed civic liberties, war and other infrigements, but have not agreed on any domestic issue that relates to the citizens wellbeing. That's the only place where the struggle is, and its in your disfavor. If they had done what I said in 2010, they may have had a better chance to win in 2012. They can still do this, now. If the republicans are smart enough to adopt this strategy, they will seem like the reasonable ones. However, I doubt any republican in Congress is smart enough to adopt this common sense strategy. They are all a bunch of morons.