If Toomey focuses on nothing but economics and energy policy in the 2010 race, he has an excellent chance to capture the trust of Pennsylvanians looking for a change from all of Obama’s change.
And that won’t be a bad lesson for the GOP nationwide, either.

Precisely. All about the economy stupids. Don’t sacrifice your social conservatism, but don’t let the media use it as a wedge issue. Always steer the topic back to the economy over “personal values”.

Eh, the Democratic Party picked up seats EVERYWHERE in 2006. It was Democratic Year, with a depressed Republican electorate, not really representative to what will happen in 2010.

Norwegian on May 7, 2009 at 5:56 PM

The original argument was that “minorities” don’t come out on “off-election” cycles.

So much optimism for failure! I love it.

Because that’s what captures voters. Screams of constant failure and socialism.
………………………………

ckoeber on May 7, 2009 at 4:56 PM

No one has to “scream” about anything. The evidence of economic failure is (and will continue to be, and how) all around us. Too bad so sad. Obama could have let the invisible hand slap all the irresponsible failures silly, and have had a little longer than normal recession (18-24 mos), but he chose to create a Great Depression instead.

If you think I want it to be this way, you’re mistaken. Some obviously prefer to live in the fantasy-based community and Hope® for the best. For myself, I am preparing for the worst, because Hope® doesn’t pay the bills or feed the family.

Change®! for the Worse.

(FYI, it’s not “socialism.” It’s fascism.)

Yea, that’s why in 2006 the Democratic party picked up seats in Penn State in 06…

ckoeber on May 7, 2009 at 4:54 PM

Eh, the Democratic Party picked up seats EVERYWHERE in 2006. It was Democratic Year, with a depressed Republican electorate, not really representative to what will happen in 2010.

Keep dreaming. Reagan tried that “stay the course, we are headed in the right direction” tack in 1982. Republicans lost 52 seats in the House and four in the Senate. Even when the recovery was fully underway in 1984 and Reagan was reelected in a landslide, Republicans only picked up a handful of seats.

The first midterm election in a bad economy is a bloodbath for the party in power. This economy will still be on life support in the fall of 2010. You donks seem to think our economy can just turn on a dime. This is not true even in a mild recession and it really isn’t true in a near-depression.

In addition, Democrats have far more incumbents in Republican-leaning states and districts than republicans have in Democratic-leaning districts. It will be hard to hang on to a lot of those seats with no Obama coattails bringing out the fair-weather Democratic voters.

Pat Toomey has the advantage of not being in the Congress when the Republicans jumped the shark in 2005-06, or when either the TARP or the Porkulus were voted on. He can force specter to defend all those votes without having to defend George Bush or Tom DeLay or Jack Abramoff.

rockmom on May 7, 2009 at 4:53 PM

Nice points, but so far we just hear Toomey attacking the other side with bromides and platitudes. No real plans other than the same tired mantra of tax cuts and fiscal responsibility.

The problem with your theory is that the Democratic party is far more united and organized than the Republican party. What’s out there to fire up people to swing Republican? Back then the Democratic party had different ideas to pitch.

You have time but with all of this infighting this far past November the clock is winding down.

That’s a mighty big “if,” and by “mighty big if,” I mean impossible.

Rae on May 7, 2009 at 4:50 PM

So much optimism for failure! I love it.

Because that’s what captures voters. Screams of constant failure and socialism.

Waiting for actual plans to address the issues from Toomey ………………………………

And if Specter is the Democratic nominee, do you think there will be much enthusiasm among the libtards?

Depends on how well Kos is paid by the DNC.

Dems win elections in PA based on massive welfare-recipient/minority turnout in Philly and Pittsburgh.

An off-year election will have much lower turnout that a presidential election.

And if Specter is the Democratic nominee, do you think there will be much enthusiasm among the libtards? Combine that with fact that 2010 will be a Republican year, and I can easily picture Toomey winning.

Norwegian on May 7, 2009 at 4:33 PM

Yea, that’s why in 2006 the Democratic party picked up seats in Penn State in 06…

It doesn’t matter what Toomey does, if things evens out with the economy and Obama is popular any Democratic candidate just gets to ride the wave and sweep you with it.

Toomey may be hugely popular in the base but your base is shrinking. Your strategy will just looked tired and old amongst independants and moderate republicans.

ckoeber on May 7, 2009 at 4:27 PM

Keep dreaming. Reagan tried that “stay the course, we are headed in the right direction” tack in 1982. Republicans lost 52 seats in the House and four in the Senate. Even when the recovery was fully underway in 1984 and Reagan was reelected in a landslide, Republicans only picked up a handful of seats.

The first midterm election in a bad economy is a bloodbath for the party in power. This economy will still be on life support in the fall of 2010. You donks seem to think our economy can just turn on a dime. This is not true even in a mild recession and it really isn’t true in a near-depression.

In addition, Democrats have far more incumbents in Republican-leaning states and districts than republicans have in Democratic-leaning districts. It will be hard to hang on to a lot of those seats with no Obama coattails bringing out the fair-weather Democratic voters.

Pat Toomey has the advantage of not being in the Congress when the Republicans jumped the shark in 2005-06, or when either the TARP or the Porkulus were voted on. He can force specter to defend all those votes without having to defend George Bush or Tom DeLay or Jack Abramoff.

One item that resonates across all parties is that of corruption, and the Pelosi/Reid/Obama show is full of corruptocrats in the most ethical Congress evah!

Focus on corruption with the old guard, linking them with luminaries like Chris Dodd.

That too. Very much that too.

It doesn’t matter what Toomey does, if things evens out with the economy and Obama is popular any Democratic candidate just gets to ride the wave and sweep you with it.

That’s a mighty big “if,” and by “mighty big if,” I mean impossible.

Santorum’s social conservatism might not have played well in 2006, but he also faced some strong national headwinds in an election that was not kind to Republicans anywhere.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t Casey run against him as a social conservative, or at least as pro-life?

An off-year election will have much lower turnout that a presidential election.

And if Specter is the Democratic nominee, do you think there will be much enthusiasm among the libtards? Combine that with fact that 2010 will be a Republican year, and I can easily picture Toomey winning.

Toomey is most well-known for fiscal conservatism, almost to the exclusion of everything else. In 2010, that’s going to play much more attractively than Santorum did in 2006. After two years of massive government spending, followed by a cap-and-trade effort that will crush Pennsylvania’s coal, energy, and manufacturing sectors, voters will be looking for checks on Obama’s policies. They won’t get that from Specter, who won’t be a trustworthy figure anyway, or Joe Sestak, who will be more or less Obama’s rubber stamp. If Toomey focuses on nothing but economics and energy policy in the 2010 race, he has an excellent chance to capture the trust of Pennsylvanians looking for a change from all of Obama’s change.
And that won’t be a bad lesson for the GOP nationwide, either.

You guys really think this doubling-down is going to work.

It doesn’t matter what Toomey does, if things evens out with the economy and Obama is popular any Democratic candidate just gets to ride the wave and sweep you with it.

Toomey may be hugely popular in the base but your base is shrinking. Your strategy will just looked tired and old amongst independants and moderate republicans.

That being said; like Santorum, he would probably be a 1 or 2-term senator at the most.

However, I’d rather have one or two terms with Toomey than 7 terms with another RINO (Ridge).

Pennsylvania Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Scranton hasn’t haven’t been kind to conservatives,

FIFY

Focus on corruption with the old guard, linking them with luminaries like Chris Dodd.

The attacks are great because they are independent of economic situations. If the economy rebounds, you don’t want to have to rephrase your attacks that Person A is bad for the economy. But a politician who is corrupt is corrupt 7 days a week, regardless of the situation.

Only amongst those stupid enough to believe the stimulus had anything to do with any possible recovery.

Which is the majority.

radiofreevillage on May 7, 2009 at 3:17 PM

So, in other words, a vote for Obama or his befuddled minions in Congress is a vote for stupid?

I agree wholeheartedly.