From Charlie Cook’s Off to the Races Column at National Journal
But we keep reminding ourselves that the scarcity of vulnerable Republican seats in the House and Senate makes it almost impossible for the GOP to lose control.
Having said that, I don’t think anyone has figured into the equation that Republicans would begin engaging in profoundly stupid and potentially suicidal actions that might prove us wrong and put them back into minority status.
There are two words that should give House Republicans pause before they take a leap aboard Thomas’ proposal — Rahm Emanuel. I am sure that Emanuel, chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, is kind and loving to his wife and children and others in his immediate family.
But having known and watched the guy for almost 20 years, he does not strike me as an overly nice person. In fact, I’d lay odds that he would use a Louisville Slugger and treat like a pi?ata any Republican foolish enough to sign onto this thing. The murder scene in “Fargo” will look like patty-cake compared to what Emanuel will do to those guys.
It does not take a particularly creative mind to conjure up the television ads Democrats would air to harpoon the suggestion of a surplus. Some of the better ones would probably include Bush’s own words warning of an impending Social Security crisis. Even the least creative media consultant could successfully handle this job.
Can Liberal Agit Prop offer us some visuals?
Just because there does not appear to be enough vulnerable Republican seats for the GOP to lose control of the House does not mean the party is free to do whatever it wants without regard to electoral consequences. If a party tries hard enough, it can succeed in blowing its majorities. History holds many examples of this.