# Karl Rove & other Republicans see a "whupping " in store for the Dems. I just don't see it **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [June 26, 2010, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karl-rove-other-republicans-see-a-whupping-in-store-for-the-dems-i-just-dont-see-it/544638 "2010-06-26T23:12:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karl-rove-other-republicans-see-a-whupping-in-store-for-the-dems-i-just-dont-see-it/544638/101 "2010-08-27T05:28:11Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > And yet so many conservatives run for office on their extensive business management career (Meg Whitman, Carly Fiorina, Bill Binnie here in NH), claiming that will give them the experience to balance the budget and create jobs. As if only we ran the government the way they ran their corporation, we could finally put the federal government on a paying basis. > > Is that funny too, **Sam**? Or does that just make perfect sense to you? Binnie should know better than to run on that in NH after Gov. Benson’s short time in politics. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karl-rove-other-republicans-see-a-whupping-in-store-for-the-dems-i-just-dont-see-it/544638/102 "2010-08-27T13:23:48Z")
> [@IdahoMauleMan](#): > > > [@Chronos](#): > > > > I also have 0% control over whether I can avoid doing business with Archer Daniels Midland. > > I challenge that notion. Please explain. The only way to avoid eating food processed by ADM is to grow your own food yourself. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2010, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karl-rove-other-republicans-see-a-whupping-in-store-for-the-dems-i-just-dont-see-it/544638/103 "2010-08-28T00:35:10Z")
> [@Zakalwe](#): > > > [@Bricker](#): > > > > And he’s right: government is not like business in several key respects. Government has no need to make a profit. Liberals view this as a good thing, undoubtedly; conservatives generally view it as evidence that a government solution will be inefficient precisely because they don’t need to worry about profit. > > And yet, as **Fear Itself** noted, many conservative candidates run on exactly the platform that they would run government like a business. This is supposed to be a good thing for conservatives. Funny that. Sure. Because the claim is that they would impose a faux “profit” requirement on government and thus attain the same salutory effects that a real profit requirement supplies in the real business world. What’s funny? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2010, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karl-rove-other-republicans-see-a-whupping-in-store-for-the-dems-i-just-dont-see-it/544638/104 "2010-08-28T00:37:01Z")
Does a placebo produce the same effects as genuine therapy? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2010, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karl-rove-other-republicans-see-a-whupping-in-store-for-the-dems-i-just-dont-see-it/544638/105 "2010-08-28T00:47:12Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > What’s funny? That you will argue both sides of an issue with equal passion and sincerity. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2010, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karl-rove-other-republicans-see-a-whupping-in-store-for-the-dems-i-just-dont-see-it/544638/106 "2010-08-28T03:39:01Z")
The GOP has the advantage that their platform consists largely of obstructionist nothin’-doin’. This makes it comparatively easy to mount aggressive hearts-and-minds campaign offensives while _still_ delivering on their campaign pledges to do nothing and not let the Dems do anything either. ---
**Author:** ![Lantern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d26b3c/32.png) [@Lantern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lantern)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2010, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karl-rove-other-republicans-see-a-whupping-in-store-for-the-dems-i-just-dont-see-it/544638/107 "2010-08-31T13:48:49Z")
The [numbers](http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/08/31/the-democrats-new-normal/?hp)are looking very bad for the Dems. A 1994 style meltdown where they lose both the House and Senate is entirely possible. It’s not inevitable but they seriously need to get their act together in the next couple of months with a co-ordinated message coming from both the White House and the Congresssional Dems. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2010, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karl-rove-other-republicans-see-a-whupping-in-store-for-the-dems-i-just-dont-see-it/544638/108 "2010-08-31T14:52:16Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Does a placebo produce the same effects as genuine therapy? That depends on the ailment. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2010, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karl-rove-other-republicans-see-a-whupping-in-store-for-the-dems-i-just-dont-see-it/544638/109 "2010-08-31T14:53:50Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > > [@Bricker](#): > > > > What’s funny? > > That you will argue both sides of an issue with equal passion and sincerity. Speaking as a lawyer, I **wish** that were funny! ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karl-rove-other-republicans-see-a-whupping-in-store-for-the-dems-i-just-dont-see-it/544638/110 "2010-09-01T05:59:11Z")
> [@Lantern](#): > > The [numbers](http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/08/31/the-democrats-new-normal/?hp)are looking very bad for the Dems. A 1994 style meltdown where they lose both the House and Senate is entirely possible. It’s not inevitable but they seriously need to get their act together in the next couple of months with a co-ordinated message coming from both the White House and the Congresssional Dems. I wonder if that will ultimately be good for Obama’s administration and re-election, though. There’ll have to be some blame-sharing going on if the Republicans control the legislative branch. And, as a raging liberal I hate to say this, but, maybe we could get something done. If it takes making the (R)-tards feel like it was their idea to get some real financial reform done, for instance, then fucking go for it. I don’t think they’ll legislate from nearly as far to the right as they’re campaigning. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 8:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karl-rove-other-republicans-see-a-whupping-in-store-for-the-dems-i-just-dont-see-it/544638/111 "2010-09-01T08:28:13Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > And, as a raging liberal I hate to say this, but, maybe we could get something done. If it takes making the (R)-tards feel like it was their idea to get some real financial reform done, for instance, then fucking go for it. They won’t have time, what with all the subpoenas and hearings about KenyaGate. Then there’s the impeachment; nope, sorry, no meaningful legislation, there’s just not enough hours in the day. ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karl-rove-other-republicans-see-a-whupping-in-store-for-the-dems-i-just-dont-see-it/544638/112 "2010-09-01T11:58:22Z")
> [@Lantern](#): > > The [numbers](http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/08/31/the-democrats-new-normal/?hp)are looking very bad for the Dems. A 1994 style meltdown where they lose both the House and Senate is entirely possible. It’s not inevitable but they seriously need to get their act together in the next couple of months with a co-ordinated message coming from both the White House and the Congresssional Dems. The problem with those kinds of polls is that “generic” Republican doesn’t exist (nor does generic Democrat). ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karl-rove-other-republicans-see-a-whupping-in-store-for-the-dems-i-just-dont-see-it/544638/113 "2010-09-01T15:34:38Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > > [@Cisco](#): > > > > And, as a raging liberal I hate to say this, but, maybe we could get something done. If it takes making the (R)-tards feel like it was their idea to get some real financial reform done, for instance, then fucking go for it. > > They won’t have time, what with all the subpoenas and hearings about KenyaGate. Then there’s the impeachment; nope, sorry, no meaningful legislation, there’s just not enough hours in the day. In that case, what do you think the punishment would be for punching a senator in the face? Say, purely for the sake of the hypothetical, the assailant had no priors. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2010, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karl-rove-other-republicans-see-a-whupping-in-store-for-the-dems-i-just-dont-see-it/544638/114 "2010-09-05T22:13:37Z")
Gallop is always the worst of polls. The same day his came out another one had Dems and repubs tied at 41 with a large undecided. It gets play because it makes for loud TV. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2010, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karl-rove-other-republicans-see-a-whupping-in-store-for-the-dems-i-just-dont-see-it/544638/115 "2010-09-05T22:54:48Z")
I’m kind of wondering about the Republican enthusiasm peaking a bit early. Do you think it’ll last till November? Obama should start whoopin up the base in a month or so, maybe tossing some feelers out about now, if I had to guess. ---
**Author:** ![Cyberhwk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7993a0/32.png) [@Cyberhwk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyberhwk)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2010, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karl-rove-other-republicans-see-a-whupping-in-store-for-the-dems-i-just-dont-see-it/544638/116 "2010-09-06T04:14:44Z")
> [@E-Sabbath](#): > > Obama should start whoopin up the base in a month or so, maybe tossing some feelers out about now, if I had to guess. If he doesn’t it’ll be not a moment too soon. I have been kind of wondering. For as much of a warchest as the Dems were supposed to have I sure as hell haven’t heard much and for the first time in a while WA is in play. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2010, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karl-rove-other-republicans-see-a-whupping-in-store-for-the-dems-i-just-dont-see-it/544638/117 "2010-09-06T23:16:12Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Obama’s approval rating in Jan '09 was about 65 and his disapproval was about 20. Today, both of the numbers are about 47. But this doesn’t even have to be about Obama. The Dems gained a lot of seats in the anti-Bush backlash, many in traditionally conservative districts. Now, many of those seats have to be defended without Bush to point to. True, but many of those Democrats are, themselves, of the fairly conservative variety so for them to hold their seats isn’t such a stretch. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2010, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karl-rove-other-republicans-see-a-whupping-in-store-for-the-dems-i-just-dont-see-it/544638/118 "2010-09-06T23:24:43Z")
> [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](#): > > > [@John\_Mace](#): > > > > Obama’s approval rating in Jan '09 was about 65 and his disapproval was about 20. Today, both of the numbers are about 47. But this doesn’t even have to be about Obama. The Dems gained a lot of seats in the anti-Bush backlash, many in traditionally conservative districts. Now, many of those seats have to be defended without Bush to point to. > > True, but many of those Democrats are, themselves, of the fairly conservative variety so for them to hold their seats isn’t such a stretch. Strange that I haven’t looked at this thread since this new forum was created, and I find myself being quoted in the current last post! Yes, that’s true. But couple that with the anti-incumbent mood plus the fact that many of those Dems will have to run from their record, and it still looks very good for the Pubs. I look forward to the Pubs gaining at least one house in Congress. They’ll have to govern instead of just oppose. Obama isn’t going to start any new wars (I hope), and he can always veto anything outrageous that the Pubs get through Congress. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2010, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karl-rove-other-republicans-see-a-whupping-in-store-for-the-dems-i-just-dont-see-it/544638/119 "2010-09-06T23:28:06Z")
> [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](#): > > > [@John\_Mace](#): > > > > Obama’s approval rating in Jan '09 was about 65 and his disapproval was about 20. Today, both of the numbers are about 47. But this doesn’t even have to be about Obama. The Dems gained a lot of seats in the anti-Bush backlash, many in traditionally conservative districts. Now, many of those seats have to be defended without Bush to point to. > > True, but many of those Democrats are, themselves, of the fairly conservative variety so for them to hold their seats isn’t such a stretch. Quite the opposite i believe, conservative dems are not going to attract any republican voters, they are just going to lose democrat votes and enthusiasm. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2010, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karl-rove-other-republicans-see-a-whupping-in-store-for-the-dems-i-just-dont-see-it/544638/120 "2010-09-06T23:36:01Z")
> [@](#): > > Yes, that’s true. But couple that with the anti-incumbent mood… Cite? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karl-rove-other-republicans-see-a-whupping-in-store-for-the-dems-i-just-dont-see-it/544638.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karl-rove-other-republicans-see-a-whupping-in-store-for-the-dems-i-just-dont-see-it/544638.md?page=7)