DeLay warns GOP: Don't underestimate Democrats this fall

The Hill ^ | August 18, 2010 | Michael O'Brien

[re_tail20]

Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas) said the Democratic Party's strong ground game could stave off midterm losses.

Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas) on Wednesday warned Republicans not to underestimate Democrats this fall.

DeLay, fresh off having the Justice Department drop a federal investigation against him, said GOP wins in the midterm elections aren't "a given" due to the strength of the grassroots infrastructure Democrats built in 2006 and 2008.

"Over the last ten years, the Democrats, particularly the Democrats in the House, have put together one of the most powerful grassroots coalitions that I've ever seen," DeLay said during an appearance on Fox News. "So it's not a given that the Republicans are going to win all these seats this year, because the Democrats have had a grassroots organization to help stave off a lot of their losses."

DeLay was a top campaign strategist for Republicans during his time in office. He helped build up the GOP's infrastructure through a prolific fundraising machine and close alliances with grassroots conservative groups.

DeLay said it was "hypocritical" for Democrats to plead for money from donors when they were characterizing their efforts as cash-strapped, but warned fellow Republicans not to discount Democrats' ground game.

"It helped them win in 2006 and in 2008," he said. "And it's a new campaign paradigm, where they go in with grassroots people, go door to door, canvass the entire district and pump in unlimited amounts of money."

[Hostage]

Good to hear from him. Sounds like he’s getting back in the game.

Would love to see him as head of RNC.

[cardinal4]

Yawn. Same Old GOP..

[Outlaw Woman]

"...due to the strength of the grassroots infrastructure Democrats built in 2006 and 2008.

Not to mention the newer and better ways of cheating and defrauding the results. Yeah...GOP better not discount that.

[Clintonfatigued]

Michael Steel has been a big dissapointment. The political infrastructure seems to be beyond him.

[catbertz]

Tom “ The Hammer” Delay sounds like a solid replacement as GOP chairman.

[Jerrybob]

IMO — the only way the democrats could NOT lose dozens and dozens of House seats is if they have perfected the art of voter fraud; which I think they have — this was going full tilt during the Clinton/Gore years and I can’t believe they’ve given up “voting early and voting often” with non-existent votes since then.

[SierraWasp]

They will once again, become missionaries for the gospel of government saving us from our sins. Only this time, they’ll be telling the sick, the halt and the blind to “BE HEALED” by their sickening new ObamaCare revelation!!!

[mac_truck]

Tom “ The Hammer” Delay sounds like a solid replacement as GOP chairman.

He takes a good mug shot, thats for sure.

[rrrod]

He is right. The RNC/GOP is still spineless and the leadership just wants to get along.

[ProfoundMan]

“Tom “ The Hammer” Delay sounds like a solid replacement as GOP chairman.”

That would be brilliant. Given what he’s been through, he has the additional “fire in the belly” that the party needs desperately.

[JSteff]

And guys, don't forget there is still nearly 500 billion from the stimulus money that is not spent yet. That is in the bank just waiting for their blitzkrieg.

Meanwhile the Pubs are trying to do it on 5 million up to the end of this campaign cycle. That does NOT look good at all. 1/2 a billion starts a mess of accusations and dirt in like mid October which should care over to the election.

The conservatives have a mess to dig out of and it has not even begun yet. It would be surprised if they get half of what (gains) they expect. And mix that with voter fraud and the Sec of State that the dems have gotten in to key states.

Franken was just a small part of how bad it will be. Constant recount until they win.

[stockpirate]

He is 100% correct. If republicans believe the hype and some stay home because their vote won’t be needed then we fail.

[Steamburg]

I hope he is suggesting that we take strong steps to get our own out and to make sure that we remind as many hurting citizens as possible that it’s their damn democrat party that hurt them.
If that’s not the message, then he needs to shut up and stay in sugar land.

[rawhide]

Delay for RNC chairman! Replace Steele!

[o2bfree]

Tom Delay = Big spending “Conservative” in name only

[Mariner]

Every good conservative should take their cell phone camera to the polls with them.

Take a picture of everything, not just that which looks suspicious.

Everything you see on the way in, everything you see on the way out.

Just a good practice..

[Hostage]

In professional sports like American football, there are for any team an offense and a defense, and 11 players on each. Each player has a role and position.

To say that we need more conservatives that are focused on cutting spending (really cutting as in year over year decreases) is similar to saying we need better defensive linemen.

To insinuate that Delay is not an adequate ‘lineman for the defense’ is to ignore that he is a quarterback in politics and we need him quarterbacking regardless of whether he can tackle, block, intercept or receive.

It is Delay’s brilliant mastery of winning elections en masse that is what he is needed for. That said he should have on his team a defensive line of hardened conservatives that will not allow his influence to be present when it comes to spending.

[Hostage]

Actually recordings and actual evidence are not useful at all.

I witnessed the trial of Rossi vs. Gregoire in early 2005 after Rossi was robbed of the governorship.

The reason your prescription is worthless (nothing personal) is that any shenanigans admitted into court and possibly even leading to a conviction, will have no effect on the outcome of an election.

The ‘no effect on outcome’ is because the court can never determine for certain WHICH WAY THE VOTES WENT once they are into the count.

Therefore, the voter rolls must be cleaned, and stuffing ballots at the polls or in the mail rooms must be stopped before those votes get into the count.

It is very hard to do it the way I just described but it is the only way at present. We seriously need vote reform so that there is minimal opportunity for vote fraud.

Here is an excellent primer on the efforts needed to really make a difference:
http://soundpolitics.com/archives/2004_11.html

Look at the archives for the above link for November and December 2004, then into the 1st few months of 2005 when the trial took place.

The blog’s founder Stefan Sharkansky was awesome in his forensic methods of uncovering fraud.

Study Sharkansky’s methods and you will see how to stop the bastards in their tracks. Unfortunately, Sharkansky got his results after the election mostly and even though the trial judge certified over 1600 fraudulent votes (there were actually many more), the judge ruled there was no way to know which way the votes went.

Thus my point.

[ken5050]

Not to worry..remember the “broken glass Republicans of the Clinton era...well, they’re back...that’s why this election will be a true wave...the herd that put Obama over the top, and carried a lot of traditional GOP districts into he Dem column..well, they’e not coming out this time..the recent vote in Missouri..the actual numbers for the GOP shows this...