As with the previous post about my local Congressman, Glenn Nye, the outlook for Congressional Democrats in 2010 looks increasingly challenging - and mostly because of their failure to deliver on campaign promises and constant caving in to the rump GOP faction in Congress, not to mention big health care and the drug manufacturers. The later two groups can deliver money, but they cannot turn out voters, especially if the voters feel they were sold down the river. Despite the fact that he ran an utterly abysmal campaign, I continue to credit a significant part of Creigh Deeds' loss to a feeling of malaise among the Democratic base. The deck was stacked in favor of systemic change and that opportunity has been largely squandered away absent some major change of course. Why get energized and work for the election of those who ignore you the moment they get what they want - your money and your vote and nothing more. The Washington Post looks at the Democrats' situation. Here are some highlights:*
WASHINGTON -- An already difficult situation for Democrats in Congress is worsening as the 2010 political season opens. To minimize expected losses in next fall's election, President Barack Obama's party is testing a line of attack that resurrects George W. Bush as a boogeyman and castigates Republicans as cozy with Wall Street.
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Four House Democrats from swing districts have recently chosen not to seek re-election, bringing to 11 the number of retirements that could leave Democratic-held seats vulnerable to Republicans. More Democratic retirements are expected.
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In the Senate, at least four Democrats - including Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada and five-term Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd - are in serious trouble. The party could also lose its grip on seats Obama held in Illinois and Vice President Joe Biden long occupied in Delaware.
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Going into 2010, Democrats held a 257-178 majority in the House and an effective 60-40 majority in the Senate, including two independents who align themselves with Democrats. But they face an incumbent-hostile electorate worried about a 10 percent unemployment rate, weary of wars and angry at politicians of all stripes. Many independents who backed Democrats in 2006 and 2008 have turned away. Republicans, meanwhile, are energized and united in opposing Obama's policies.
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A top Democratic priority is minimizing losses among nearly four dozen seats the party now holds in moderate-to-conservative districts that Republican John McCain won in the 2008 presidential race. The most vulnerable in that group include Democratic Reps. Mary Jo Kilroy in Ohio, Harry Teague in New Mexico, Frank Kratovil in Maryland, Tom Perriello in Virginia and Travis Childers in Mississippi. . . . The situation for Democrats in the Senate is nearly as grim as it is for them in the House.
WASHINGTON -- An already difficult situation for Democrats in Congress is worsening as the 2010 political season opens. To minimize expected losses in next fall's election, President Barack Obama's party is testing a line of attack that resurrects George W. Bush as a boogeyman and castigates Republicans as cozy with Wall Street.
*
Four House Democrats from swing districts have recently chosen not to seek re-election, bringing to 11 the number of retirements that could leave Democratic-held seats vulnerable to Republicans. More Democratic retirements are expected.
*
In the Senate, at least four Democrats - including Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada and five-term Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd - are in serious trouble. The party could also lose its grip on seats Obama held in Illinois and Vice President Joe Biden long occupied in Delaware.
*
Going into 2010, Democrats held a 257-178 majority in the House and an effective 60-40 majority in the Senate, including two independents who align themselves with Democrats. But they face an incumbent-hostile electorate worried about a 10 percent unemployment rate, weary of wars and angry at politicians of all stripes. Many independents who backed Democrats in 2006 and 2008 have turned away. Republicans, meanwhile, are energized and united in opposing Obama's policies.
*
A top Democratic priority is minimizing losses among nearly four dozen seats the party now holds in moderate-to-conservative districts that Republican John McCain won in the 2008 presidential race. The most vulnerable in that group include Democratic Reps. Mary Jo Kilroy in Ohio, Harry Teague in New Mexico, Frank Kratovil in Maryland, Tom Perriello in Virginia and Travis Childers in Mississippi. . . . The situation for Democrats in the Senate is nearly as grim as it is for them in the House.
*
Like many, I have to wonder what was the point of giving the Democrats both houses of Congress plus the White House only to see nothing basically change. And that's without even getting into the topic of LGBT rights where disappointment is all we have experienced other than the Hate Crimes Bill which while symbolic does nothing for the daily lives of most LGBT Americans.
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