How Bad Will It Be? [Fred Barnes]

Weekly Standard ^ | 10/23/2006 | By Fred Barnes

[BeHoldAPaleHorse]

And I don't see the RNC or NRCC or NRSC saying "wait, our internal polls are showing us kicking tail!" which they've done in the past.

I am getting the impression that the GOP internals are within the margin of error. At that point, it's a matter of turnout, particularly of the base.

The Republicans I've talked to are not saying "I'm sitting this out." They're going to vote--and they're going to vote GOP.

I find it hard to believe a critical mass of people have either stopped talking to or are lying to pollsters to make polling worthless.

Want to end a conversation with a pollster?

Ask him what the hang-up rate for his polls are. He'll clam up, because it's astronomically high nowadays. I've heard that one nationwide poll got a 75% hang-up rate. Normal people just don't have time to waste on this silliness.

[BeHoldAPaleHorse]

Sure, I'll bet you 1,000 Ameros on each of them.

[NELSON111]

That's what I figured. You don't really believe what you are saying either...you just want to spout a bunch on consipiracy nonsense that makes the rest of us look like a bunch of nut jobs. It's the bizarro world of DUmmieland.

You would have fit right in back in late '98 and '99 when people were stating with the same certainty (for almost the same reasons) that Clinton would not leave office.

[#1CTYankee]

"There's a lot of denial around here. When every single poll shows things are bad it means things are bad."

Agreed, I don't pay any attention to the NYT, CNN,CBS,NBC etc. polls but unbiased, reputable polls show us losing seats.
I haven't given up by any means but it doesn't seem possible we can actually gain seats.

[#1CTYankee]

"I think we will pick up seats. There is no buzz, no water cooler talk, no one saying I am tired of the pubbies and I am voting for dims."

I don't know where your located but here in Connecticut the moderate Republicans are in trouble. Dissatisfaction the the war, and high energy prices are driving the middle of the roaders to the Dems.

Here in Connecticut we are in a unique situation because of electric deregulation, unless you live here you can't possibly fathom what's going on.
That said, I'm hoping the more Conservative states that have carried us in the past pull us through.

[Nuc1]

I am in VT currently so I understand your point. CT is just as liberal as VT. Perhaps more so. Still, no buzz, no talk, nothing except the lunatic libs that always make noise. Tarrant is running a good campaign against Sanders and while I am optimistic, the Dims and worse outnumber us about 2/1 up here. New England is the last bastion of the socialist left and CT was a target for them with Lamont intended to whip the rest of the Dims back into line. Barring a miracle Lamont is toast. The other state the lunatics are after is Montana of all places. I don't think they will win this one either. In the end the Kos Kid and Soros wing Dims aspirations are going to be a smoldering ruin. Of course I could be wrong. Hang tough my friend. Remember Reagan / Carter. The pollsters said dead heat and you know what happened then.

[#1CTYankee]

". In the end the Kos Kid and Soros wing Dims aspirations are going to be a smoldering ruin. Of course I could be wrong. Hang tough my friend. Remember Reagan / Carter. The pollsters said dead heat and you know what happened then."

I hope you're right, keeping my fingers crossed.

[Beagle8U]

"Beware the comma splice"

I don't think, that anyone, but you, cares about, your silly a$$ed, punctuation, and spell check. If thats all, you have, to add to the party, you should stick to intimidating your third graders, in your Government funded, teachers union job.

[Yardstick]

Yeah, I almost didn't say anything to you. It's the same dilemma as whether to say something to someone who's got a piece of spinach stuck between their teeth.

[joesbucks]

Of course they are. How else do you think liberal Wash. Post columnists like Mary McGrory and others were arriving at these conclusions and using phrases like "Republican onslaught" and "nail in the coffin"? From their dreams and fantasies? Don't you see, they were simply opining based on the pre-election polls in 1994.

It doesn't matter. she will finesee word her way to say you didn't prove your point. you did. You know it and I know it.

[oceanview]

I tell you this - if these dire predictions do not pan out, I am writing off ever listening to some of the conservative pundits making them.

[longtermmemmory]

I am wondering how many of this beltway conservative are being doom sayers because they don't want their democrat friends to loose their jobs.

He may also be about self fullfilling prophesy by depressing the turn out and being a big fish in a minority vs being a small fish overwhelmed by non elitist majority red staters.

[longtermmemmory]

today he was very cheering us to get out the vote.

[longtermmemmory]

I am betting some pudit's contracts will be renegotiated for lower amounts.

[kempo]

I guess I'm the only one who believes the Foley scandal in the end is going to help the Republicans.

[nwrep]

Joesbucks, I think I shut her up.