Kos op-ed for CS Monitor: Boehner will fail, and Democrats will pounce in 2012

[highplainsdem]

http://www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/Opinion/2010/1108/Boehner-will-fail-and-Democrats-will-pounce-in-2012

-snip-

Without the core Democratic base at the polls, conservatives dominated the electorate, making up 41 percent of voters. In 2008, they were 34 percent of the total. Given that even moderates opted strongly for Democrats by a 55 to 42 margin this election, their relative scarcity compared to fired up conservatives wasn’t enough to offset those massive Republican gains.

The exit polls are clear, Democrats didn’t lose because of a sudden rightward switch in the country, but because elections are won by those whose voters show up to the polls. And last Tuesday, it was Republicans.

Now, this new GOP-led House will make sure that nothing of note passes, and will try to gum up the works further with investigations into President Obama’s birth certificate and other such insanities. There’s nothing Democrats can do about that, but with power comes responsibility, and presumptive Speaker John Boehner will be under pressure to walk the line between the ideological purity his tea party base demands, and the pragmatism of governing. When he fails (and he will), Democrats need to be ready to pounce.

The last three cycles have proven that the House can swing wildly from extreme to extreme. We truly have an angry, downright schizophrenic electorate, ready to take out its frustrations on whomever is in power. The Democrats took the brunt of that anger in 2010. Unless they help turn things around in America, Republicans shouldn’t get too comfortable in their new congressional digs before 2012. Especially in a year when the Democratic base will turn out.

[Tippy]

1. K&R

[OHdem10]

2. Lsst night CSpan was running Pollsters, and various groups

one after another who analyzed and diced and sliced the
election group.
Pew Research Survey official gave some interesting analysi
52 Percent of the country did NOT VOTE
A majority of non voters Liberal lower middle income.

This election , the electorate wsd older white male. They
were able to split the female vote with Democrats
which helped them win. White Women.
In most elections previously women voted heavily
for the Democratic Party. The Republicans peeled
off enough female votes to win.

While Conservatives dominated this election, Pew does
not see some great alignment. It could swing back to
Democrats in the next election.

This is wild. AEI American Enterprise Institute.
Similar findings but this is hilarious.

One of the Panelist said CNN has done a Survey since
the Election. Brace yourself.

The voters now believe and want a Stimulus to
get the Economy moving. Can you believe it.

This proves a lot peope were acting emotionally
and really just decided to change DC by voting
people out. I suppose with New People, now
give us a stimulus and see if it works.

[n2doc]

3. Wouldn't get smug about it

I've seen too many examples of completely delusional people out there to think that anything will be easy. When you have people convinced that "Obama raised their taxes" that Obama is a Kenyan" that "Obama took away their medicare", then nothing the repubs do or fail to do will matter to those folks. And my my guess, they are about 1/3 of the populace and maybe more of those who vote.

[Winterblues]

4. Especially in a year when the Democratic base will turn out.

I wouldn't count on those chickens being hatched. I am getting less enthused, not more, and I usually vote.. I usually have a reason to vote though, and that reason is quickly disappearing for me.. It is no longer enough to just say how bad the other side is, when we are constantly capitulating to them anyway....