On Friday’s Situation Room, CNN forwarded an idea proposed by The New Republic’s Peter Beinart- that Democratic losses in the gubernatorial races in Virginia and New Jersey this year would result in the reelection of President Obama in 2012. An on-screen graphic during a discussion of Beinart’s hypothesis read, “If The Dems Lose Next Week: How it might help them in the long run.”
Anchor Wolf Blitzer read the New Republic contributor’s idea during a “Strategy Session” panel discussion with Republican Mary Matalin and Democrat Paul Begala 53 minutes into the 4 pm Eastern hour: “Peter Beinart, writing in The Daily Beast, says...it might be good for the Democrats if the Republicans win both Virginia and New Jersey, the governors’ races next Tuesday. ‘Let’s imagine,’ he writes, ‘that Democrats lose next week because the GOP’s conservative base flocks to the polls while liberals stay home. For Obama, that wouldn’t be so terrible. The more confident right-wing Republicans become, the more likely they will nominate a Palin-like zealot in 2012.’”
Beinart sounds like he’s channeling ABC’s Clare Shipman, who, after President Obama’s trip to Copenhagen failed to secure the Olympics for Chicago, bizarrely argued that this loss was actually good for the Democrat.
Both Matalin and Begala didn’t buy this hypothesis one bit:
BLITZER: You like his [Beinart’s] logic there?MARY MATLALIN: It’s an argument supported neither by logic nor data. He argues that off-year elections are not predictive for mid-terms or subsequent presidential elections unless there’s a Republican victory which portends a negative impact on the next election. That’s illogical on its face, but it’s not supported by data either. These are not conservatives of any ilk, either, of his description, ‘kooky’ conservatives or [unintelligible] common sense conservatives. It is independents that are flocking away from the Democrats because they do not like the - those very voters that swept Obama in and expanded the Democratic majority- they do not like the aforementioned expansive government.
BLITZER: Paul?
MATALIN: They do not like the debt. In New York 23 [the New York 23rd congressional district race], there wasn’t a run on conservative social issues. It was on the debt, and that’s why Hoffman got in and that’s why independents are flocking to him.
BLITZER: All right. Very quickly, Paul- go ahead.
PAUL BEGALA: Well, the debt, of course, was created by the Republicans, and Bill Clinton, who I worked for, left the White House- he handed President Bush the greatest surplus in American history. But the interesting- I think Peter Beinart is wrong. He is a very smart guy, but he’s wrong. Mary is correct about that. It’s never good to lose, and Democrats shouldn’t think it’s good if they lose.
I’m watching Virginia, because it’s a test run of what a lot of Democrats like to do. They seem to believe in the politics of differentiation: ‘Oh, I’m different from Obama.’ Creigh Deeds, the Democratic candidate for governor of Virginia, says- would not say that he’s an Obama Democrat. He, in fact, then came out and said if the public option is passed and states can opt out, I would probably opt out. So he’s running away from Barack Obama, in a state Obama won by six points. Let’s see how that works out for him. My guess is he loses by ten points or more by trying to separate himself from his party’s president.
Neither Matalin nor Begala addressed the second part of Beinart’s theory, which concerned the viability of a “Palin-like zealot,” or, more plainly, a conservative presidential candidate for the Republican Party. But it’s certainly interesting to watch the two of them throw cold water on the hypothesis CNN seems to be forwarding.
—Matthew Balan is a news analyst at the Media Research Center.
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Anchor Wolf Blitzer read...
October 30, 2009 - 17:51 ET by MightyMouthOnce I got to that line I stopped reading...
"The bureaucracy is growing to meet the needs of the growing bureaucracy"
"If the dems lose next week
October 30, 2009 - 17:57 ET by notonmywatch"If the dems lose next week - How it might help them in the long run"
Just the dems' propaganda arm doing its bit for them, as always.
There is nothing like that from FNC on the Republicans.
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Wolfy
October 31, 2009 - 05:35 ET by RukusHe thinks he's still on Jeopardy. And he's still losing! LOL! : )
Gary
POLITICS: poly (many) + ticks (blood sucking parasites)
Hmmm
October 30, 2009 - 17:52 ET by TuariI think 0, Biden, Pelosi, Reid resigning might also help the Democrats in the long run too...
And I suppose CNN is better off being last in the ratings..
October 30, 2009 - 17:53 ET by wnaegeleSigh!
It's Democratic Inverse logic
October 30, 2009 - 17:58 ET by GalvanicSince the Dems believe that the government can spend the country into prosperity while increasing our taxes and astronomical national debt, it must seem logical to them that losing elections is the best way to preserve their political power.
Up is down.
In is out.
Deficit is profit.
It's just a matter of assuming the proper attitude. :-)
You could add it's Bush's
October 30, 2009 - 18:00 ET by BuffNBoneYou could add it's Bush's fault.
"Fighters are fun but bombers make policy"
Well, that's a given.
October 31, 2009 - 05:37 ET by Rukus: )
Gary
POLITICS: poly (many) + ticks (blood sucking parasites)
Well of course the left is
October 30, 2009 - 18:08 ET by bigtimerWell of course the left is going to put this out there to stay on the safe side...Gibbs today was the first clue...although being clued into politics so long I never expected them to do otherwise.
Play it down is the agenda...if it was reversed we do know what the msm as a whole would be saying before and after the upcoming Tues. elections.
Some things never change...you watch...if they do lose these races...they will make sure and report as little as possible with a big-time spin...as they are already preparing for with their talking points.
'Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea'~Breitbart
you watch...if they do lose
October 31, 2009 - 05:32 ET by DontFeedTheTrollsyou watch...if they do lose these races...they will make sure and
report as little as possible with a big-time spin...as they are already
preparing for with their talking points.
Well the D's cannot lose these, or any other, races, except through fraud. So if an R is elected, anywhere, anytime, it will be fraud, NOT a mandate and the MSM will tell us so, over and over. This is what makes ACORN so important, they need to register massive numbers of D's, real or imagined, to counter the R fraud.
D
Write your Congress and Senate and tell them what YOU think!
Keep the ILLEGALS out, join NumbersUSA to send free faxes to your reps.
An argument supported neither by logic nor data.
October 30, 2009 - 18:17 ET by ThisnThatIsn't that the Dim way? Always?
Other arguments not supported by logic nor data include: Global warming is caused by mankind -- especially the developed countries; Abortion is good; Tax-the-rich leads to prosperity; Marriage is for queers; Government can run Amtrack; Government can profitibly run Medicare; Government can run healthcare; Our military are terrorists; Hamas deserves $1B of our tax money; The U.N. is a worthwhile organization; Liberals are smart and "elite"; The MSM is fair and balanced; Obama knows the first thing about economics; Barney Frank's activities didn't cause the housing crisis; Drilling for oil harms our economy; A fish in California is more important than human beings; The ACLU is all about American rights; The Boy Scouts are a hateful organization; Teacher's Unions look out for the kids; Singing Christmas Carols in school is offensive; Sarah Palin is a zealot.
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"mmm, mmm, mm. Barrack-Hussain-Øbama↓." - The liberals coolaid drinking song
And what does not kill you
October 30, 2009 - 19:03 ET by FranksamAnd what does not kill you makes you stronger. Right?
It may leave you poorer, or disabled or brain dead, or even make you famous. I guess at least what does kill you only leaves you dead, but I don't know that for sure yet.
I'm sticking with the concept of it's better to win. As long as Democrats think that it is in their interest to lose elections, I'm not going to discourage them.
Lol Frank... I do have to
October 30, 2009 - 19:10 ET by bigtimerLol Frank...
I do have to agree with your deduction there...I like, I like.
'Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea'~Breitbart
X
October 30, 2009 - 18:23 ET by serfer62Dateline Wednesday 4th November 2009 Headlines...
Daylight Savings Time blunder causes students to miss lunch!
what elections???
Silly
October 30, 2009 - 18:54 ET by Dim BulbIt might be good for the Democrats if the Republicans win both Virginia and New Jersey...
When I was little I used to be afraid of walking by the cemetary at night, but my sister would take my hand and say "just whistle, honey. Ghosts hate whistling."
It's been several years since I've whistled passing that grave yard because I grew up and became smarter, but some people insist on remaining in a perpetual state of intellectual toddlerhood.
DB... Hey...I learned
October 30, 2009 - 18:58 ET by bigtimerDB...
Hey...I learned from, and enjoyed your post...more than you know.
...Let alone agree with the summation. :-)
'Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea'~Breitbart
Beinart is right, in an inverted way
October 30, 2009 - 19:23 ET by KC MulvilleIt's about the midterms. You see, if the public doesn't stop the Democrats, they know they'll overspend and tax the country so badly that torch-bearing mobs will grow near the doors of Congress. They'll need something to abate the public's hostility. If they have to lose a couple states and control of a house of Congress or two, that's a small price to pay to avoid tar and feathering.
This is the Democrats' way of begging: stop us before we wreck the country again.
No, seriously ...
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
October 30, 2009 - 19:31 ET by richb313ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ, that's the sound of the spin machine getting wound up to Ludicrous Speed. Whoops they have overshot and gone straight to plaid.
There's already a zealot in
October 30, 2009 - 19:33 ET by Jack BauerThere's already a zealot in the White House.
Beinart's an idiot. But he sounds a useful idiot to the conservative cause.
The more confident right-wing Republicans become, the more likel
October 30, 2009 - 20:20 ET by shawn228"
The more confident right-wing Republicans become, the more likely they will nominate a Palin-like zealot in 2012.’”
There is no doubt Sarah Palin is a very powerful voice in the Republican party, I wonder if she would get enough votes to beat Obama in 2012.
"I think we're kindred spirits."~Mr Shy to Sergeant ROCK
For Obama, that wouldn’t
October 30, 2009 - 20:24 ET by MidAmericaFor Obama, that wouldn’t be so terrible. The more confident right-wing Republicans become, the more likely they will nominate a Palin-like zealot in 2012.’”
The next election won't be about the Republican nominee. It will be about obama. The country was exhausted after the turmoil the press put the country through by bashing Bush on everything so they could get a democrat in the Whitehouse. It worked and the voters thought they would get some peace after the election of obama but he has been in our face and in our nightmares every since. All the Republicans need for a nominee is a sane rational person who cares for this country, it's traditions and institutions and will leave us the hell alone so that we can get on with our lives and not have to nervously keep an eye on the news worrying what the government is going to do to us next.
The definition of a zealot...
October 30, 2009 - 22:34 ET by needleI think, MA, that for Blitzer and like minded folk your last sentence pretty much defines a zealot.
I would be delighted to see just such a "zealot" in 2012. Personally I absolutely hate identity politics; however, I think a young woman politician form Alaska as President would efficiently fill several important voids in our political pantheon.
- Relying upon the State Run Media for your information is like relying upon an embezzler for your portfolio management.
- I didn't leave the Republican Party; the Republican Party left me.
For Obama---
October 31, 2009 - 00:24 ET by matthewdeanYes!
Yes!!
and Yes!!!
Very good, MA.
MD
"...So he’s running away
October 31, 2009 - 05:46 ET by Tom Paine"...So he’s running away from Barack Obama, in a state Obama won by six
points. Let’s see how that works out for him. My guess is he loses by
ten points or more by trying to separate himself from his party’s
president."
So, following this logic - Since Deeds is not following Obama's agenda, the voters are going to punish him by electing someone who is even more opposed to the Obama agenda. Yeah, that makes sense to me.
I wish....
October 31, 2009 - 06:54 ET by FlatlinerI wish there could be a "content alert" of some type to warn readers any time an article is going to contain the old "Clinton left Bush a surplus" lie.
Surplus of lies
October 31, 2009 - 07:29 ET by DontFeedTheTrollsYes, it seems Begala forgets how we have had a D congress since the 2006 elections and Bush, in his oh, so, bi-partisan way, signed off on every pretty penny the D's demanded be spent.
D
Write your Congress and Senate and tell them what YOU think!
Keep the ILLEGALS out, join NumbersUSA to send free faxes to your reps.
Calling people zealots is
October 31, 2009 - 08:46 ET by TenebrousCalling people zealots is just more "argument by adjective". It wouldn't do to identify Palin's positions and then try to argue how people will not vote for them, or similarly engage what few neurons his possesses. No, it's time to argue that electing folks who adhere to the Constitution as something awful and scary, unlike of course, our dear leader who thinks of the Constitution as toilet paper.
And one more thing -- regardeless of what Clinton did or didn't do -- does he really think that Obama is going to deliver a surplus? Seriously?
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Random-jumbled-thoughts.blogspot.com
Agreed!!
October 31, 2009 - 10:15 ET by Patriot IIAMERICA would be better off if the dims lost all their elections!!!
I disagee Patriot II
October 31, 2009 - 11:41 ET by shawn228Things are better when there is a balance of power. Reagan and democratic congress did great things, same with Clinton and a Republican congress.
Bush the second did not work very well with a rabid democratic congress, but things fell apart when the repubicans had total power from 04-06. Things are falling apart even worse the the dems in control of everything.
"I think we're kindred spirits."~Mr Shy to Sergeant ROCK
Better off in the long run??
November 1, 2009 - 22:30 ET by Patrick MichaelIt's like the economy, if the numbers are good - it is good for Obama because he is the smartest president ever. It the numbers are bad - it is good for Obama because he saved this country from that evil George Bush. Look how quick Paul Begala said "Well, the debt, of course, was created by the Republicans" If we had a dollar for everytime the left said that there would be no debt.