Could 2014 Elections Be Decided By Republican Voter Apathy?

Republican apathy combined with a significant advantage in data base mining which results in larger number of Democratic voters could spell disaster for the Republicans in the upcoming midterms. Even though polls indicate the GOP is leading and has the potential to take the Senate while maintaining the House, we are uncomfortable making any declarations of victory.

One reason is that we were listening to Rush Limbaugh today (September 18) and heard a caller phone in to tell the host that he was voting Democratic to "punish the Republicans."  Could this been a set up call to make the "host look good?" Of course, however, I doubt it as in 2008 and 2014, we heard the same type of calls  to different hosts.

Republicans sat out the 2012 elections (4 million who voted in 2008 didn't vote in 2012) and we ended up getting Obama for another four years. In 2008, Republicans were not enthused with McCain and so the energy needed to elect him was not there. Are we seeing a similar trend today?

There are two trends that make us very concerned about this election.  The first is a feeling in traditional Republican groups that they have it won.  That the election is all but a cinch. We don't think so.

For example in Michigan, we have a great governor (Rick Snyder) who has balanced the budget, created a rainy day fund and has made some tough choices (Right to Work) to drastically improved the economic conditions in the state.  He is in a neck to neck race with the former state senator, Mark Schauer, who was the "go to guy" in the former disastrous Jennifer Granholm administration. He loved the spending and regulation of the former governor.

The other close race is the Senate race to replace retiring Carl Levin between Democrat, Gary Peters and Republican, Terry Lynn Land.  In this race most put Peters ahead even though he voted for such unpopular programs as Cap and Trade and ObamaCare.  Ms. Land is the former Secretary of State where she did a good job and Peters was an eight year Congressman.


The second concern  is illustrated by the previous posting:"Wonder Why Republicans Lost In 2008 And 2014? Fear They Will Continue To Lose? Catalist May Be The Answer."  In the article that follows J. Christian Adams, shows us how the Democrats mined their base and dismissed the independents which the Republicans were trying to woo. He showed how much easier and less expensive it is to mine those who agree with you rather than trying to move someone to your argument.  It is a brilliant strategy, one that Republicans don't have an answer.

To guarantee Republican success this fall, they need to convince their followers that they MUST vote this fall. Even a vote for someone who does not totally agree with you is much better than a vote for one whose goals and aspirations for the country are diametrically opposed. Punishing the Republicans will give Obama more power, not less. It  is like shooting yourself in the foot to see if it will hurt.

Republicans also need to give up on their territorial control of data. In other words, they need to share freely with other GOP and Tea Party groups. Additionally, they must come up with a competitor for Catalist, otherwise, the donkeys are going to win races for some time in the future.

In both Michigan races, polls show they are close. However, if Republican apathy takes hold, like we fear it might be or the Democrats mine their base like they did in 2012, Michigan might find itself with a Democratic governor and two Democratic Senators. Nationwide, Democrats have the potential to give Obama his dream of a Democratic House and Senate.  We hope they don't.

Senate Eliminates Filibuster. The Deliberative Branch Of Congress Now Is A Rubber Stamp For The President. Another Indication Of The Decline Of America.

Harry Reid To Force Nuclear Option, Change Senate Rules, Cut A Path For Obama Nominees UPDATE: Rules Changed

November 21, 2013 by Ben Bullard 

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) is moving forward with the so-called “nuclear option” to end filibusters by minority-party opponents of proposed legislation, a move designed to give President Barack Obama’s current batch of nominees a cakewalk through the Senate confirmation process.

Senate Democrats are expected to force a vote today, despite procedural attempts by Republicans to have the vote forestalled.

“The change we propose today would ensure executive and judicial nominations an up or down vote on confirmation,” said Reid. “Yes or no. The rule change will make cloture for all nominations other than the Supreme Court, the majority the threshold vote, yes or no.” Reid described the no-filibuster rule as a necessary measure to end partisan gridlock and “evolve” the Senate. “It’s time to change the Senate before this institution becomes obsolete,” he said.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said the decision, a product of transitory political expediency, would come back to haunt Reid and the Democratic majority.

“I realize this sort of wishful thinking might appeal to the uninitiated newcomers in the Democratic conference who served exactly zero days in the minority, but the rest of you guys should know better,” McConnell said.

“The Majority Leader promised over and over again that he wouldn’t break the rules of the Senate to change the Senate,” McConnell also said. “When Democrats were in the minority they argued strenuously for the very thing they now say we will have to do without, namely the right to extend a debate on lifetime appointments. In other words they believe that one set of rules should apply to them and another set to everybody else.”

The Senate is reportedly well-attended today, with “almost every Senator… at his or her desk in recognition of the significance of the moment.”

Under the “nuclear option,” the Senate would change its rules of procedure so that Presidential nominees could be confirmed on a simple majority vote, undercutting the 60-vote majority needed to break a filibuster opposing the nominations. The Reid proposal is expected to affect Presidential nominations for judicial and executive-branch appointments, but not Supreme Court nominations.

Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.), about as conciliatory an adversary as Senate Democrats could hope for, was evidently beginning to see the light Thursday, telling reporters, “This changes everything; this changes everything.”

UPDATE:

In a 52-48 vote, the Senate dramatically changed its rules to limit the minority Party’s ability to filibuster and prevent the confirmation of Presidential nominees. Only three Democrats, Senator’s Carl Levin (Mich.), Mark Pryor (Ark.) and Joe Manchin (W.Va.), voted against Majority Leader Reid’s proposal.

The change will clear the way for confirmation of President Obama’s nominees to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals along with his nomination of Representative Mel Watt to a housing regulatory agency appointment.

“It’s time to change the Senate before this institution becomes obsolete,” Reid said on the Senate floor.

“The American people believe Congress is broken. The American people believe the Senate is broken. And I agree.”

Minority Leader McConnell said that the Democrats had simply picked a fake fight over the Federal judgeships in order to distract Americans from the problems plaguing Obamacare.

“It only reinforces the narrative of a party willing to do or say just about anything to get its way,” said McConnell.

Republicans have been critical of the Democrats’ embrace of the nuclear option since lawmakers on the left gained control of the Senate in 2006.

In 2005, GOP Senators threatened to employ a similar tactic in order to move some of President George W. Bush’s nominees.

“To change the rules in the Senate can’t be done by a simple majority. It can only be done if there is extended debate by 67 votes,” Reid said in May 2005.

“They are talking about doing something illegal. They are talking about breaking the rules to change the rules, and that is not appropriate. That is not fair, and it is not right,” he said in April of that year.

* Sam Rolley contributed to this report.