Politics
what we oppose. But we’re going them in traditionally Republican tions for additional gains next year.
to be defi ned going into the 2012 regions such as the Deep South and “We’ve tried to bludgeon that his-
presidential election by who we are Mountain West, and they now enjoy tory into our members to make sure
and what we’re for,” ex-Bush adviser a 39-seat majority. However, roughly they are very focused on this. We’ve
Karl Rove said during a fundraiser 40 of those Democrats are consid- been warning them since day one
for Sen. Robert Bennett, R-Utah. ered vulnerable in about the price
“Conservatives have to have thought- 2010. of complacency,”
ful ideas about who we are and what Adding to their Rep. Chris Van
we’ll do.” headaches next Hollen, D-Md.,
Ultimately, of course, Republicans year is history. the chairman of
have set their sights on defeating Only twice since h
“
Conservatives
ave to have the Democratic
Obama in 2012. Until then, however, Abraham Lincoln
thoughtful ideas
Congressional
they’ll try to push an argument that was elected presi-
about who we
Campaign Com-
they rejected when they controlled dent has the party mittee, said in a
all the levers of power: government that takes over
are and what
recent interview.
functions better with checks and bal- the White House
we’ll do.
ances. gained House
’’
“This cycle, his-
torically speaking,
“During the 1990s, a Democrat seats in the next will be very chal-
president and a GOP-controlled midterm election. lenging. Our ulti-
Congress were able to work together (The two excep- mate challenge is
to rein in government spending and tions were 1934, to beat history.” At
leave a balanced budget,” Cornyn when Democrats were so pleased this point, however, experts predict
said. with Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s House Democrats are more likely
“Returning two-party rule to efforts to end the Great Depression to repeat history than to beat it. Top
Washington has been an effective that they widened his major- political analyst Charlie Cook wrote
argument in many past elections, ity in Congress, and 2002, when
and I expect that next year should be Republicans were buoyed by strong
FACE-OFF GOP Rep. Rob Simmons, right, will
no different.” post-Sept. 11 support for Bush.)
try to unseat Chris Dodd from his Conn. Senate
For their part, Democrats are With that in mind, Democratic
seat in 2010, with Conn. Sen. Joe Lieberman
still relying on the GOP bogeyman leaders are trying to lower expecta- caught somewhere in between.
whose low approval ratings fueled
their drive to take back Congress
in 2006 and the White House two
years later.
“Our country is still feeling the
effects of eight years of misman-
agement under former President
George W. Bush, so one challenge
Democrats have had is reminding
the American people why we’re in
this mess in the fi rst place — because
of George W. Bush and congres-
sional Republican’s irresponsibility,”
Menendez said.
“The good news is voters are
smart and they know this,” he added.
I
n the House, the parties face
an entirely different landscape,
shaped by recent Democratic gains
that are as huge as they are fragile.
E
S
House Democrats have picked
G
A
up 54 seats since 2006, many of
I
M
P
A
34 NEWSMAX / NOVEMBER 2009
30_POL_Midterms.indd 34 10/1/09 12:03 PM
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