None of this means that Republicans (along with the help of the media) can't blow it.

They have run out of ideas themselves (or appear to be uninterested in passing any of them).

Democrats don't realize that this is much less like 1994 and much more like 1998, when the oppostion had nothing but hate for the President.

The real problem is that the Rep. is stupid enough to believe it's bad press, and doubles down on the stupidity by acting in ways that reinforces the bad press.

Bruno:

No, they haven't. They just need to win a few seats in the Senate to finish off the big job--the Ownership Society and Neoconomics. Meanwhile they continue to forge ahead with major legislation like the immigration bill.

It also requires a belief that everything is going to stand still the next few months, or even better, that trends that have been going against the Dems for over a decade will magically and suddenly reverse during that time. And these are the same people who make fun of the religious for having silly beliefs.

I don't think the Democrats will sweep the Republicans out of office, but at this moment I'd expect a setback for the GOP and for it to lose seats. A lot can happen in the next few months, so we'll see.

I actually received a survey from Frist's office on where I stand, along w/asking for a contribution, of course.

I filled it in, cold-hearted B that I am, cut the budget including Vet's programs, education, etc.

I also wrote on the back cowards and get ready for censure.

IF I receive 1 - 2 of those a year, I'm surprised. So, they're running scared.

If the special election in California is anything to go on, I think it is going to be a status quo election. Rep. Cunningham was out because of corruption, the Democrats were running on the corruption theme in Washington and nationally, and yet the Democrat candidate couldn't change percentages from the last election.

Methinks that these kinds of campaigns (corruption) tends to hole both parties boats.

Corruption is only a major issue when a major figure is EXPOSED. A few House members are not major figures, and dealings with lobbyists are not major corruption (at least in terms of outright felony crimes). Duke Cunningham was major corruption, but it appears Mollohan and Jefferson are in the same boat. The Abramoff deal is going down the memory hole, because Harry Reid and Debbie Stabenow are tied to him up to their necks.

And, corruption can have a strange non-impact on elections, too - if Judy Topinka (?) and Ken Blackwell win their races, corruption in the GOP won't have hurt them, eh? It never hurt Edwin Edwards (until the end), it never really hurt the Clintons, it didn't affect Tom Daschle much (until the end), and like that. The public doesn't remember Jim Wright and Tony Coelho.

And, by definition, there are no major figures to expose in Congress.