The GOP Is Doomed In November

Here are some highlights of a great article today from Jim Geraghty at the National Review.

I don’t doubt that the GOP base is cranky and dissatisfied, and that most Democratic voters are as angry as the lovely lady the Washington Post profiled on Saturday.

I look at the Post this morning, and I read:

“Anger at Bush May Hurt GOP At Polls; Turnout Could Favor Democrats”

“Santorum Facing Multiple Obstacles In Reelection Bid; Ties to Bush May Hurt GOP Leader”

“Pink Is The New Red; As President Bush's Popularity Falls, the Nation's Color Divide Adds a Few Hues”

You’ll recall that in 1996, Dick Gephardt and Tom Daschle were saying, “We’re going to win back the House and Senate!” But they didn’t.

And in 1998, Dick Gephardt and Tom Daschle were saying, “We’re going to win back the House and Senate!” But they didn’t. (Credit where it’s due, they closed the margin a bit.)

And in 2000, Dick Gephardt and Tom Daschle were saying, “We’re going to win back the House and Senate!” But they didn’t, until Jeffords switched parties.

And in 2002, Dick Gephardt said, “We’re going to win back the House!” And Daschle said, “We’re going to expand our majority in the Senate!” But they didn’t.

In 2004, Pelosi and Daschle said, “We’re going to win back the House and Senate!” But they didn’t.

So I’m not really all that surprised to hear Pelosi and Reid and Schumer saying this year, “We’re going to win back the House and Senate!”

In 2002, the storyline was, “Democrats were very motivated, their base was mobilized, and they’re set for some big wins.”

In 2004, the storyline was, “Democrats were very motivated, their base was mobilized, and they’re set for some big wins.”

Are we starting to detect a pattern here?