The Surprising Democratic Firewall

The Hotline ^ | October 7, 2010 | Reid Wilson

[Clintonfatigued]

I hate to say anything good about the ‘Rat Party, but this plan is a clever one, albeit one borne out of desperation. The goal is to start attacking Republican candidates in second-tier races and keep them from becoming first-tier races, than helping the most vulnerable ‘Rat incumbents after the the second-tier races are made secure.

[IllumiNaughtyByNature]

This week, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee began running ads in seats held by Reps. Bill Delahunt (Mass.), Joe Donnelly (Ind.), Phil Hare (Ill.), Bill Foster (Ill.), Leonard Boswell (Iowa), Sanford Bishop (Ga.), and John Salazar (Colo.). In each district, Democrats won re-election by significant, if not overwhelming, margins in 2008. Now, Democrats view every one of those seats as endangered.

They chose 7 seats to firewall? That alone, along with the info above should scare the he11 out of the moderarate and at-risk RATS. Guess they're making room under the bus for y'all.

[screaminsunshine]

The Democrat Borg are going down.

[Mr. Lucky]

This is sorta like the Japanese defense of their carriers at Midway. Early on, they concentrated their air cover on the American torpedo bombers which were easy prey and virtually wiped them out. Unfortunately for them, by doing so, they allowed American dive bombers to have comparatively unfettered access to their carriers.

Perhaps the Republican candidates in the California or Maryland races are reprising the role of Torpedo Squadron 8.

[JoenTX]

And who amongst them is playing the part of Ens. George Gay?

[Rockingham]

This is standard political strategy for defending an endangered majority. Our side does the same thing in a bad year.

[Mr. Lucky]

Well, to continue the analogy: in the confusion of the battle, the Democrats will think they’ve killed off somebody they haven’t; but, in any event, the ammunition they have to expend on the easy targets won’t be available for the more difficult ones.

[Castlebar]

It is a tragedy that so few Americans know that story. The words “Torpedo 8” should be sacred in this country.

[JoenTX]

It is that, Castle.....

[Enterprise]

Which Republican candidate do you consider to be an easy one to “shoot down” while the rest of them hammer the Democrat Aircraft Carrier? The part of Ens. Gay would be played by that Republican.

[Joe Bfstplk]

Firewall? Triage is probably more descriptive.

[liberlog]

That isn’t the plan at all. They’re abandoning the highly exposed races they’ve already lost. They’re fighting for dear life to hang on to the next group of exposed seats. In another week, they will likely be moving on to folks like Ike Skelton and Barney Frank. It’s going to be a bloodbath.

[randita]

I agree. This seems like a fallback and retrench maneuver.

Judging from the ranked list here, the retrenchment is occurring very near and even into the Leans D ranked seats, which is beyond the 40 gains needed for the GOP to retake the House. Retrenching in the 50th to 70th ranked likely GOP pickups indicates to me that they know they are going to lose the battle, but they are working feverishly to contain the losses.

I would not consider this a 2nd Tier (Likely D) shore up, then work up to the middle. This is starting just below the Toss Up range, which might indicate they think the GOP is going to win most of the Toss Ups. The Likely D races are meaningless to the Dems if they can't save most of their Leans D seats. They have way too many Lean D seats to defend to spread money into the Likely D and Safe D range.

See:

Key House Races Ranked List

[prairiebreeze]

In another week, they will likely be moving on to folks like Ike Skelton and Barney Frank.

From your keyboard to God's ears..

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Clintonfatigued.

Fox News Polls: Democrats Face Tough Job Building Senate Firewall ...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2597640/posts

Northeast Is the Democrats’ Firewall
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/gop/2597188/posts

Strickland Pushes Ohio’s 2012 Firewall Strategy
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2598295/posts

NYT: DEMS PLAN ‘FIREWALL’ TO SAVE HOUSE... DEVELOPING...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2583336/posts

[fortheDeclaration]

Obama/Pelosi forced the 'blue-dog' Democrats to move to the Left and exposed them to defeat.

They were expendable and they will lose.

The key issue now is for the GOP to undo the damage that Pelosi/Reid/Obama have done.

[S.O.L.]

Regarding VT-8, Tally Ho!

Fox One. Weapons Free. Fire at will. Full speed ahead. Fire for effect.

Or from a Cav officers viewpoint:

Gunner, Dems in the open
Beehive
Identified
Up
Fire
On the way!

[justiceseeker93]

This is standard political strategy for defending an endangered majority.

Exactly. The only thing the posted article reveals is that the House Democrats are in deep trouble. Each side has to maximize the efficiency of its financial resources and win the most seats it can with what is available. But even the smartest card players can't win with a bad hand, and a bad hand is exactly what the congressional 'Rats are holding right now.

[justiceseeker93]

This is standard political strategy for defending an endangered majority.

Exactly. The only thing the posted article reveals is that the House Democrats are in deep trouble. Each side has to maximize the efficiency of its financial resources and win the most seats it can with what is available. But even the smartest card players can't win with a bad hand, and a bad hand is exactly what the congressional 'Rats are holding right now.