Open Thread

For general discussion and debate. Possible talking point: climate bill fight helps Republicans in 2010.

Holding minority status in both the Senate and House of Representatives after a disastrous showing in the 2006 and 2008 elections, Republican leaders think that Democrats might be writing a prescription for a Republican comeback in 2010 by passing a bill instead of curing an energy and environmental problem. "If the Republicans can frame it as, 'Oh, the Democrats are once again just trying to raise your taxes, this time with a hidden tax on energy', then that will probably have substantial appeal to the electorate, particularly if we are still in the throes of a recession," said Robert Stavins, head of the Harvard Environmental Economics Program.