Yeah, but what if O'Donnell wins the Delaware senate seat?

[Cyrano]

Ronald Reagan was an amiable imbecile, but he was elected president -- twice.

George W. Bush was the dimmest bulb to ever graduate from Yale, but he ended up occupying the Oval Office -- twice.

Considering the average intelligence of the American public, rigged voting machines and tactics designed to keep Democrats from voting, can anyone be absolutely certain that this crazy woman can't end up in the senate?

Given that sanity seems to have become a scarce commodity in today's America, who knows what could happen in Delaware? But, I for one, wouldn't discount the possibility of a Senator O'Donnell.

And just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean I'm wrong.

[Blue Owl]

1. They get by with a little help from their friends

(i.e. Diebold/ESS)

[gratuitous]

2. I'll betcha a $10 donation to DU that doesn't happen

Talk is cheap.

[DFW]

3. She doesn't stand a ghost of a chance in an honestly conducted election

Oh, wait.

Never mind.

[KamaAina]

4. Sexist.

You left out Sarah Palin. :P

[Proud Liberal Dem]

5. It's possible I suppose

However, I think that there is arguably a difference between "amiable imbecile", "dimmest bulb" and batshit insane (with a long and well publicized history of kooky statements). The RNC was amazingly skilled in "packaging" Reagan and GWB as moderate, respectable, and adequately *qualified* candidates for POTUS. The packaging was made up of lies, of course, but they both hit the right notes and didn't say anything too wacky.

Let's not forget too that Tea Party Queen Sarah Palin scared many Indies and even Republicans into voting against McCain in 2008 and that was even before she has had as much publicity as she has now. The NY-23 voters elected a Democrat there for the first time since the Civil War(?) because of a "teabagger" in that race. "Tea Party" candidates like Rand Paul and Marco Rubio might (and probably will) be able to win seats- in more conservative areas like Kentucky and Florida respectively- but it's hard to see O'Donnell winning in more moderate Delaware (and she's already seriously behind where Coons is) and I can't even see a scenario where Sharron Angle (Reid's most amazing political *gift* ever) wins in Nevada.

Additionally, even the RNC doesn't seem to have much confidence in most of the "Tea Party" candidates nor are they really willing to go out on a limb and support them. I mean, when you have people like KARL ROVE dissing certain REPUBLICAN candidates as being too extreme, well, hell might as well have frozen over.

[Cyrano]

8. Overall, I agree with you. Nonetheless there seems to be

something in the air or water that has pushed American politics over the edge. The country survived the McCarthy era and the Nixon era. But I don't know if there's an era that can be compared to what's going on today.

[kentuck]

6. Her opponent is very handsome and charismatic....

I don't think she has a chance to beat him...

[damntexdem]

7. Then it can be designated as the Senate toilet seat?

But hopefully, Delaware will be O'Donnell wary.

[madinmaryland]

9. Ronald Reagand even George W. Bush did had previous government experience

as in eight years as governor. Reagan at least did have speaking and acting experience.

O'Donnell has none of that.

[IcyPeas]

10. nevada's race too.... sharon angle?

...watching CNN just now and they are saying reid and that dumba*s sharon angle are tied and she is actually ahead with "independents". how can this possibly be so close? whatever you think of reid he appears to at least have a brain.

what is going on?

[strawberryfield]

11. Let's worry about the right wing nuts that have a real chance.

O'Donnell? It won't happen. That pig will never fly, but there are a lot of other right wing nuts that are proving to be better candidates. We should stop focusing on the fact that Republicans shot themselves in the foot in Delaware, and start focusing on the big picture.

[lunatica]

12. I can't even contemplate the thought much less think it

[alfredo]

13. she will become the poster child for how far the GOP has fallen.

They are no longer the cloth coat republicans of my youth, they are now the unhinged Birchers* and back row shouters.

*The Koch Brothers father was a charter member of the John Birch Society. The Cato Institute is also a Koch creation.

[HuckleB]

14. The last thing I want to do is defend Reagan, but ...

... watching Reagan, even in his second term, there's no way to call him an imbecile in comparison to O'Donnell and Palin. Yes, I know. Standards appear to be getting lower.

[Ruby the Liberal]

15. 1) This isn't a national election

2) The people of Delaware will not be embarrassed by her like the unfortunate gerrymandered district of one Michelle Bachmann.

3) This isn't Massachusetts. While the people of Delaware love Joe Biden as much as the people of MA loved Teddy, DE has a viable alternative in Chris Coons where MA had a MIA candidate in Martha Coakley.

At the end of the day, DE needs to have a massive GOTV effort to keep the left energized.

[theothersnippywshrub]

16. She might win. The dissatisfaction with government is broader and deeper than I have ever seen.

However, we are witnessing the beginning of the end of the current Republican party. For 45 years the Republican party has focused its efforts to expand by appealing to bigots, racists and others consumed with similar hatred of anyone who is "different." These people now comprise the overwhelming majority of the Republican base and their insatiable appetite for hate has led them to hate not only Democrats but also any Republicans who happen to be decent human beings. Over the next several years and election cycles many decent Republican voters will be driven away from the party. Some will vote for Democrats and some will not vote at all, but eventually enough will refuse to vote Republican that the party will have to reject pandering to its far white wing which bases all politics on hatred of others.