The Expectations Game: It Doesn't Matter This Time
The Expectations Game is being played in Washington as we head toward what nearly everyone believes to be a GOP wave in November. Will it be enough to lift the party to majority status is the House? In some quarters, that’s gone from a possibility to a probability to a lock. The Senate seems less likely to change hands, but a growing number of observers rate that chamber as in play, too.
Republicans are doing their best to tamp down expectations, while a growing number of Democrats appear to be fanning the flames of the impending Conservative conflagration. The GOP doesn’t want its supporters to become complacent, while the Dems think it might work to their advantage if the other side’s voters think a blow-out is inevitable. At the same time, they hope to prod their own base to get out and counteract those wacky Tea Party-ers.
The fact is, I don’t think any of these strategies makes a bit of difference in this cycle. The “enthusiasm gap” is real, and voters are chomping at the bit to pull the lever or mark the ballot or punch out the chad. If Republicans (and a great many Independents) could be guaranteed a change in both houses of Congress even if they didn’t vote, they’d still trudge to the polls. They want to be a part of this, and they want the vote totals to be as humiliatingly lopsided as possible. They have a point they want to make, and expectations be damned.
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Jul '10
Re: The Expectations Game: It Doesn't Matter This Time
I suspect that a lot of what we used to call "Reagan Democrats" are angry enough to march off to the polls this time - even ones who voted Democrat right through the Bush years.
Same with a lot of independents who were tired of flatulent Republicanism.
They've seen the fruits of one-party rule and they're terrified.
May '10
Re: The Expectations Game: It Doesn't Matter This Time
I just came from several different social gatherings this Sunday and even in this very liberal area I heard people say, "I cannot wait until November!" I get a sense of frustration at being powerless in the face of so much bad policy and bad thinking. With leaders and a press who are dismissive of the people. We've been forced to wait our chance to be heard, and it is finally coming. As you said, Pat, people will go just for the thrill of marking that ballot.
I wish we could dip our fingers in purple ink.
Aug '10
Re: The Expectations Game: It Doesn't Matter This Time
If we neglect to spend time burning out the undergrowth planted by ACORN and the unions, we will have an enormous,unknown number of votes that land like a bomb in the middle of all the enthusiasm.
They brag about doing it (see Bon Bon) and no one is spending any time worrying about it. It's not honest anymore guys ! Never was perfect anyway.
We can't let 'em steal it. The guy from DOJ knows. He needs to be heard, we need to act on this big detail today.
Re: The Expectations Game: It Doesn't Matter This Time
Nate Silver's FiveThirtyEight forecasting model predicts that at this juncture, the GOP has a 2-in-3 chance of taking the majority in the House and a 1-in-4 chance to claim a Senate majority. I'm liking the odds. Here's to hoping they only get better!
Aug '10
Re: The Expectations Game: It Doesn't Matter This Time
I agree with your assessment completely, Mr. Sajak. I think most Americans now realize that this is their one remaining chance to halt the conversion of this country into a socialist nation. If they don't, then let's just hope we get the Swedish rather than the Italian version. As for fraud, one can steal an election when it is a statistical dead heat, bit not a blow out. I don't see there being a lot of ties this time around. But, let's give Andrew Breitbart a big, sloppy, wet kiss for breaking the back of ACORN just the same.
Jul '10
Re: The Expectations Game: It Doesn't Matter This Time
Love Breitbart.
But I'll save the big, sloppy, wet kiss for Hannah Giles.
Edited on Sep 12, 2010 at 8:58pmMay '10
Re: The Expectations Game: It Doesn't Matter This Time
Somehow I'm not sensing a lot of complacency out there. Call me tone deaf.
The DC Republicans don't exactly have their finger on the pulse. As evidenced by this (brief) post by Byron York:
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/beltway-confidential/Thank-Heaven-the-GOP-is-short-of-funds-102640619.html
Then again, they're right about Delaware. Such an easily avoidable impending loss.
May '10
Re: The Expectations Game: It Doesn't Matter This Time
I just hope that the enthusiasm is maintained through 2012. If it is not, rolling back the most damaging parts of the insane legislation from the past 2 years will not be possible and the long term damage will be huge.
Jun '10
Re: The Expectations Game: It Doesn't Matter This Time
Personally, I think the enthusiam will be maintained, and quite possibly the national mood will be even hotter. Even if Republicans are able to capture one or both houses, Obama still has the veto pen and the administrative state (plus the media). It may take two years just to put the brakes on this mess. Charting a new course and moving toward real fiscal sanity is not very likely until post-2012 at the earliest, and frankly, I'd expect a seriously bumpy economy for the duration - which alone should keep people's attention.
Edited on Sep 13, 2010 at 9:40amRe: The Expectations Game: It Doesn't Matter This Time
You're totally right, Pat. Especially here:
This is going to be a message election. Whether anyone in DC gets the message will determine whether we have to have another one in a couple of years....
Re: The Expectations Game: It Doesn't Matter This Time
Rob: By far, the best comment you've ever contributed.
Re: The Expectations Game: It Doesn't Matter This Time
Pat Sajak
Rob: By far, the best comment you've ever contributed. · Sep 13 at 10:50am
It's amazing it took me this long to figure it out.