Hoyer Sees Election Trouble for House Democrats

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Regardless of near-term economic metrics, I hope voters will turn Democrats out of office every other year in the future until the "progressives" must find a different party - or a different continent.
Then I hope the voters play the conservative Republicans off against Libertarian and Constitutional Party candidates until they obtain office-holders from any of those parties who will gradually dismember the entitlement economy.
I hope they abolish income tax, and only then replace it with a VAT or Fair Tax.
I hope Term Limits are implemented for Congresspersons and their staffs.

MKS of GA 1:49PM April 23, 2010

I can't see how either the Republican politicians or their Democratic counterparts have much to boast about. Sure hope a Libertarian surfaces in my district. The Dems at least extended the unemployment benefits for folks who couldn't follow their jobs overseas when the corps shipped them out. Also, many parts of the recent healthcare bill have been sorely needed for a long time.
All of the hullaballoo about earmarks is as phony as a three-dollar bill. I very much prefer my elected rep designating how some spending is done to relying on some faceless, appointed bureaucrat in some agency to do right by me...

Leon Maxwell of GA 10:02AM April 23, 2010

This Cook character doesn't know his ass from his elbow. Stimulus, HCR, and then new financial regulations: that's a record of accomplishment, as compared to the recent GOP record of literally nothing but obstruction. The big opposition so heavily noted in the news media (the TEA party) is basically a bunch of disgruntled republicans. Every candidate they run will take away votes from the regular GOP (see: NY-23) and Crist will do the same in the FL senate race. Lose 30-40 seats my foot.

Josef of NY 9:45AM April 23, 2010

I'm sick of how both the dems and repubs are running their games, but the economy mess/cleanup should be shared in equally by both parties. The Dems voted in the legislation forcing the banks to lend to high-risk persons and then wallstreet (repubs) got creative to try and sell the junk. Then when it all came apart, Bush (can't stand him) and his cronies did some crazy stuff, but that is initially is what saved the economy from colapsing, and then Obama (can't stand him either) came in and tried to keep it going. So blame in the mess/cleanup goes to both parties. Frankly, it's just American politics working the way it's supposed to. Anyways, don't like it, get active in politics and see if you can't make it better or stop complaining.

Redmass of CA 4:38AM April 23, 2010

I don't see why just the Democrats should be worried, fear is a GOP word. The financial mess we are in was created and ruled on by the Bush administration and a Republican Congress, that they do not have the guts to admit they made many, many mistakes and have a strategy of fear mongering, distorting information and well, just out and out lies....like creating 'death panels.' Both parties are to blame so both parties need to mend some fences with their constituents and stop kowtowing to the lobbyist. The Republicans would do well to stop inciting negative feelings by peddling their notion of fearing the government---who do they think they are if not part of that government? The GOP has not come up with one good idea so far this year, why should we believe they will do anything constructive after the mess they left us. As far as health care reform, President Obama took the plan written and approved by the Republicans, a plan they did not push because they were too busy kissisng the butt of the insurance industry. What a shame, we condemn the current adminsitration---for what we approved of in the previous one. Goes to show you how SOME people just don't think for themselves. A few thousand voters are not a majority vs millions who will have their say come next election. I hope and pray they will remember which party drove this nation to the edge of disaster.

A. Geary of IA 10:07PM April 22, 2010

DeeToo of SC
I just read your article. I am not sure whether you were trying to convince us or just convince yourself. And for someone who is exhorting others to stop being angry, you should heed your own advice.
If you intend to write that fluff and portrsy dems as Gods and Reps as evil doers of all that is bad you are of course troubled. I fault both parties for playing patty cake in the Washington sand box. I am tired of their own self interest ruling their voting button, I'm tired of their miserable half truths, smoke and mirrors plays and their petty partisan "crud" (I had other terms in mind but thought it proper to be polite.) It is time for change you can beleive in, and I promise you I daily am doing everything I can to change the status quo. Both parties, no prisoners. This administration and their name calling of us independants as "Unamerican, Misguided, malcontents" and many other things and trying to portray us as dangerous rable rousers is uncalled for, and repulsive. The only danger I pose to them is the opportunities to overthrow them at the polls which I am taking a full measure of. They have done nothing but awaken the sleeping giant in the multitudes. I have never been so motivated to take on politics as I have in the past 6-8 months. If that is attributable to the dems or the reps it doesn't matter now. What does matter is the democratic procees and the opportunity to make accountable people like Steny for their actions or lack of it. See you at the polls in November.

Don of MO 6:48PM April 22, 2010

I disagree strongly. Any appropriations could be included in the budget proposed by Congress and then voted on. This is better than putting them during after hours and not having them subject to public review. Saying the Presidents approval is the only way to obtain funds is disengenuous.

Cap of TN 2:47PM April 22, 2010

The point most important is his comment about voters just being angry about the economy.
I hope voters are careful in their evaluations of who was responsible for the bad economy, and who really has the solutions. The GOP was every bit as present during decisions that killed the economy, and they have offered NO solutions, so should not be viewed as a solution now.
Also - If you are going with the "throw the incumbants out" theory, then there should be as many Republicans leaving as Democrats. The President has been in office a little more than a year - so surely people realize that much happened under the GOP watch.
Fear should not dictate what we do in this country. Ideas and real solutions should.
Since Obama came in the economy has improved, the stock market regained 4000 points, jobs were being lost at a rate of 700,000/month when he came into office, and now we are seeing some hiring starting again, houses are starting to sell again, the auto companies are paying back loaned money and operating in the black again, TARP is being paid back much faster than expected with gains that offset some budget shortfalls, Democratic initiatives like: nuclear reduction has been agreed to by key players so there can be less threat of rogue nuke activity, SCHIP covers more kids needing healthcare, kids with pre-existing conditions can't be refused health insurance, kids can stay on their parents' health insurance until age 25, we are leaving Iraq as agreed - on schedule for over 70,000 troops gone by August, major Al Quaida leaders have been killed in Iraq, financial reform championed by the Democrats is well on its way to passage, energy legislation is being crafted - as is immigration legislation, etc.... ALL THESE THINGS WERE INTIATED BY THE DEMOCRATS TO FIX PROBLEMS LEFT TO THEM.
So - if people are angry - why? Didn't they have some responsibility for good sense at all? Maybe they didn't save enough. Maybe they bought a house they knew they could not afford. Maybe they ran up all their credit card balances without paying off the balances. Maybe they kept drawing money from the supposed value of their houses without paying anything back and expected that extra money to keep happening when it was unrealistic to think so. Maybe they bought stuff - way too much stuff - not resisting goofey advertisements and gleaming new appliances and smart new furniture and Caribean cruises and overprices weddings and backyard pools and... Maybe they shopped at WalMart and bought a bunch of junk made in Indonesia instead of shopping at a local store for products made in the USA. Maybe that's why their job went away.
So - stop being angry, stop looking for a scapegoat, and stop believing those who want to mislead with emotional rants. They want you to vote for some hayseed who wants you to pay for healthcare with chickens (like the bimbo in Nevada..). You must see how goofey that is.
Think.

DeeToo of SC 2:42PM April 22, 2010